Clang! Clang! Bang!
Sparks flew in three places within the darkness.
It seemed the real battle had finally begun.
I prepared to use “Healing Magic” in case there were any injured.
Still, as a rear guard member and a healer, I felt frustrated that I couldn’t directly join the fight.
Fwoosh, Fwoosh.
Then, several foxfires lit up the battlefield, casting an eerie glow.
“Heh, not bad? To actually block my Zantou!”
Instead of the dissipating light spheres, the area was illuminated by the foxfires unleashed by Shera, no, by Sister Shera!
The foxfires floating around Sister Shera cast a dim light on the surroundings.
Sister Shera, wielding her Zantou, and Jose, the enemy vanguard wielding a knight’s sword, were locked in a strength contest, their blades clashing.
Moreover, their physical strength was equal, resulting in a stalemate.
Jose’s physical strength was truly terrifying.
The swords of Sister Shera and Jose yielded not an inch to each other, appearing to be locked in place at first glance.
However, Sister Shera’s cheerfully wagging fox tail and her serious expression, baring sharp canine teeth, told the whole story.
Beside them, Mai, gripping a short sword, and Edele, holding twin swords, were keeping the nimble Rachel, who was wielding twin whips with fluid movements—Fwoosh, Fwoosh—at bay. However, Rachel’s skill was undeniable, and they were struggling to find an opening.
The sharp swings of Rachel’s twin whips, like vicious jaws, closed in on Mai and Edele, but the agile duo easily evaded them.
Meanwhile, Rachel’s skillful whip play prevented Mai and Edele from entering her sword’s range.
Behind them, Melissa, who wielded a rapier with practical skill beyond that of a noblewoman’s hobby, was confronted by Lyusienne, who also displayed graceful swordsmanship.
Their thrusts targeted each other’s hearts, and they used sweeping attacks to keep each other in check.
It was a fluid battle, reminiscent of a light-footed sword dance.
“You’re a tougher opponent than I expected.”
“You’re pretty good too!”
Dodging each other’s rapier tips and regaining their stances, they acknowledged each other’s splendid efforts as worthy rivals.
Meanwhile, Safiya was also dueling Isabel, who wielded a rapier, with her own rapier, but she was being pushed back a bit.
However, Kirika, who was watching their exchange, seemed to be preparing something.
Furthermore, Dietlinde, who wielded a rapier, lunged forward to aid Safiya, who was at a disadvantage, but she seemed to have been delayed by the effects of the Fire Spirit Magic she had unleashed earlier.
On the other hand, Swan Hilda was protecting Alicia, Freya, Liliana, and Astarotte, whose combat prowess was lower.
As the battle devolved into chaos, the magic users, including myself, Elise, and Eria, had also retreated together. However, Elise, finding the foxfires too dim, conjured a light sphere.
“Why… why would you call me a fake…”
Liliana, who had been called a fake earlier, was dejected.
She must have been deeply shocked.
Liliana’s crestfallen appearance was painful to see.
“It was probably too dark to see properly.”
“Those people seem to worship Lady Yuliana, so maybe they’re suffering from tunnel vision?”
Alicia and Freya were comforting her.
“Lady Liliana! I believe the problem lies with our opponents.”
Meanwhile, Astarotte had a different opinion.
“Did you notice something, Astarotte?”
“Yes, Hal. Considering the situation so far, their leader is almost certainly a ‘corpse puppet,’ and the other four are so-called ‘puppet dolls.'”
“What’s the basis for that opinion?”
“The unusual accent of the enemy leader’s speech is similar to Salitori, who was watching me. Also, what was on the chest of the magic swordsman we defeated first was a dark stone solidified from miasma. That’s used to control ‘puppet dolls.'”
“I see… that’s highly credible information.”
The sense of unease I had felt towards the members of the Knights of the Azure Moon suddenly faded, and I felt a sense of understanding.
They were all inexplicably too strong.
It was likely that they were being forced to exert power far beyond their actual abilities.
“Hey, Hal. I was told about ‘corpse puppets’ before, but what are ‘puppet dolls’?”
Alicia asked with a puzzled look.
“Ah, ‘puppet dolls’ are…”
I proceeded to explain to Alicia and the others.
Both ‘corpse puppets’ and ‘puppet dolls’ are beings born from dark magic used by necromancers.
While ‘corpse puppets’ are manipulated corpses reanimated by dark magic, ‘puppet dolls’ are manipulated living beings.
As Astarotte explained, it is a dark magic that uses an evil dark stone to seal the user’s will and make them act according to their master’s desires.
I myself had never seen a ‘puppet doll’ before, but it was mentioned in forbidden books read by Cardinal Lester in my past life.
Still, it was annoying that the shadow of necromancers was lurking again.
“Serena, are you there?”
“Yes, Master. I am here.”
In response to my call, the Holy Spirit Serena dispelled her invisibility and appeared.
“When you find an opening, actively perform the ‘Old Man Attack’ on them.”
“Yes… but I can tolerate ‘puppet dolls,’ but ‘corpse puppets’ are smelly, so please spare me.”
“Astarotte’s hypothesis hasn’t been fully verified yet. That’s why we’re doing this. Besides, aren’t they your reward from Elise? And didn’t you steal Melissa’s bra, who I suspect is a ‘corpse puppet’?”
“That’s that, and this is this. There’s no sin in a bra.”
“You really…”
“That’s right, for those of us who belong to the Divine Realm, contracts are absolute. Well then, do your best.”
“…I have no choice.”
Swan Hilda joined in persuading the Holy Spirit Serena, who was trying to dodge the responsibility, and the Sex Spirit Old Man grudgingly nodded.
Meanwhile, intense combat continued in front of us.
Clang, clang, swish, ching, clang.
Sister Shera, swinging her enormous Zantou and firing surrounding foxfires at intervals, was engaged in a fierce battle with Jose, who was parrying with his wide-bladed knight’s sword.
Sister Shera’s sword strokes were more of a brute force self-taught style, but she also incorporated offensive magic, making her a difficult opponent.
Jose, on the other hand, appeared to have undergone proper knightly training, with clean sword strokes.
Furthermore, his swordplay was unwavering.
Sparks flew as their swords clashed, but neither gave ground.
Shera was naturally timid, but in the form of Sister Shera, who reflected her ideals, she fought bravely.
Jose, like a seasoned knight, calmly engaged a formidable opponent.
The area around them was too dangerous to intervene.
“…Strong…”
“It’s troublesome to incapacitate such a strong enemy without killing them. If it were intended, I should have dealt with them by throwing my chakram the moment the battle began.”
“Shut up, brats, you’re gonna die!”
Mai and Edele, facing Rachel, who skillfully wielded her twin whips, continued their fight while complaining.
Mai occasionally threw daggers concealed in her kimono, but Rachel’s twin whips deflected them all. Her combat style was exceedingly adroit.
“What swordsmanship brilliance! It’s astonishing!”
“You’re also a bothersome sight, shaking those heavy breast bags.”
“What vulgar language! It shows your upbringing.”
“Become rust for my sword! You hussy!!”
The battle between Lyusienne and Melissa, which had escalated from a clash of splendid swordsmanship to a verbal spar, also intensified.
According to Astarotte’s explanation, Melissa was already a dead ‘corpse puppet,’ but was that truly the case?
Swish, slash.
At that moment, their thrusts grazed each other.
Lyusienne’s right flank was lightly cut, tearing a part of her robe, while Melissa’s rapier tip struck the joint of her light armor, causing blood to flow from her left shoulder.
And the blood flowing from Melissa seemed black.
It was frustrating that even with the light spheres, it wasn’t as clear as daylight.
Still, the possibility of Melissa being a ‘corpse puppet’ increased.
“Lyusienne, be careful! Your opponent Melissa might be a ‘corpse puppet’!!”
I warned Lyusienne.
“Thank you for the information, Hal. This is my prey, so please do not interfere.”
Despite my warning, Lyusienne declared that she would handle Melissa.
“Tch! Just when I thought I could rip her to shreds with a grand flourish!”
Elise, who had been preparing offensive magic, clicked her tongue at Lyusienne’s declaration.
She probably thought she could use lethal offensive magic without reservation against a moving corpse.
“How strong you are! Did the knights of Espana defeat such a strong enemy!?”
“You, your sword strokes are from Espana. Suitable as my opponent.”
Safiya was driven into a defensive corner by Isabel’s rapid attacks.
And Isabel seemed to have realized from the sword’s trajectory that her opponent was a noblewoman from the Espana Imperial Kingdom.
“Die! You lustful female cat!!”
Isabel attacked to deliver the finishing blow to Safiya, her nemesis.
“Ah, kyaaaah!”
Safiya tried to escape the rapier’s tip, but unfortunately, she tripped on debris at her feet and lost her balance.
Isabel, seeing an opportunity, grinned and executed a fatal thrust.
Safiya could barely scream, and if things continued like this, her life would be hanging by a thread.
Clang!
“I managed to make it in time. Lady Safiya, I will assist you.”
“Thank you, Lady Dietlinde.”
It was Dietlinde, who had arrived just in time, who deflected Isabel’s comet-like thrust, which was about to deliver a fatal blow to Safiya.
“My le-legs! I can’t move my legs!?”
The next moment, Kirika’s summoned beast, Mimi No. 1, revealed itself from its camouflage on the ground, immobilizing Isabel.
“Serena, it’s your chance! Go!”
“Yes, Master!”
Hyeoong, Thump.
“Gyaaaaah! A giant cockroach on my chest!? Iyaaaaaa!!”
The Sex Spirit Old Man immediately charged, and though Eliza was supposed to be wearing light armor and chainmail, the next moment her upper body was exposed, revealing her small, modest breasts.
Isabel, driven into a frenzy, mistook the Sex Spirit Old Man clinging to her chest for a giant cockroach.
She frantically tried to shake him off, but her breasts, which didn’t move at all, were pathetic.
“I like small breasts too!”
Rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub.
“I-Iyaaaa… aan… aan♡ …Noooo!!”
And with a scream mixed with a seductive moan, the ‘Old Man Attack’ erupted.
*Crack*
Thus, the dark stone buried in the cleavage of Isabel’s chest was also shattered.
Now only three remained, and one of them, Melissa, might be a ‘corpse puppet,’ which was troublesome.
I also summoned my summoned beast, Mimi No. 2, and disguised it on the ground of the battlefield.
It would be convenient if they fell for it, but I doubted there would be a ‘second catch.’
As I thought this, Mimi No. 2 began to roam stealthily.
It seemed to be searching for targets on its own.
Returning my gaze to Sister Shera, she was engaged in an exchange of sword strikes with the brawny Jose, which resembled a brawl.
Both Sister Shera and Jose were bleeding from small cuts, covered in blood.
“Damn it! This is a pain! It would be easy if I could just split her torso in two!”
Sister Shera cursed her unexpected strong opponent.
“She’ll probably stop using magic soon. Die! You damn fox!!”
Sister Shera and Jose, nearing their physical limits, exchanged insults and were about to transition from wielding weapons to bare-handed brawling.
At that moment, Mimi No. 2, my summoned beast, had quietly approached Jose from behind and entangled her lower body.
“Wh-What!? I can’t move!”
“Hey, Sex Spirit Old Man, your next prey (breasts) is here!”
“I’m not fond of muscular breasts.”
“If you don’t go, it’s a contract violation.”
Elise directed a pitch-black smile, reminiscent of a demon, towards the reluctant Sex Spirit Old Man.
Astarotte, a former low-level demon standing beside her, flinched and retreated with a stiff face.
The fact that she was the “Sealed Priestess Princess” was a kind of scam.
“…I have no choice.”
“Le-Let gooo!”
Jose, her lower body restrained by Mimi No. 2, was held in a bear hug by Sister Shera.
Hyeoong! Thump.
Jose was wearing the knight’s uniform of the former Yangas Kingdom, but the next moment, her upper body was indeed exposed, revealing surprisingly magnificent breasts above her ripped abs.
“St-Stop it, stop it! Kya! Iyaaaaa!”
“A treasure find. I’ll take it!”
Rub, rub, rub, munyu, rub, rub, rub.
“…Iyan… No! …Yan, yaan♡ …Iyaaaaaaaan!!”
*Crack*
Thus, the dark stone embedded in Jose’s cleavage was also shattered.
However, at the very last moment, Jose showed a girlish reaction.
Perhaps her original personality had emerged.
Thank you for reading.
episode38-4 The Promised Reward Is… Breasts. ③ △
is scheduled for pre-release on December 8th at 0:00.
