Chapter 287 - 287. The Second Seal and the Aftermath of Battle
After defeating the Bishop and preventing the Warmes from multiplying, Nefee and I focused on eliminating them while protecting Myra.
The noxious fumes the Warmes released filled the room, creating a dizzying sensation that threatened to lull anyone into sleep if they let their guard down. I steeled myself and fired Ice Needles at the swarm of Warmes. They burst apart in a grotesque way, scattering their bodily fluids before vanishing.
Fam and Mizuki strained their strength to slash down the remaining Warmes. When the last one fell, the cloying poison gas that had permeated the room also disappeared. The door leading deeper into the complex slid open. We braced ourselves against the urge to close our eyes and, swaying slightly as we breathed, stared at it.
"Someone grab recovery potions and antidotes from storage for everyone."
"How's Marmie?"
When I asked, she weakly raised her hand from where she was huddled in the corner. Seeing that, I sighed in relief. I knelt down and hoisted up Myra, who was lying face down clutching her mace.
"Myra... here's a recovery potion."
She remained motionless with her eyes closed. Staring intently at her face, I noticed her cracking them open slightly before quickly closing them again.
"Hey, I know you're awake. Just drink it already so you can heal everyone."
"Aren't heroes supposed to be gentler when waking people up in situations like this?"
Myra answered without opening her eyes.
"Easy for you to say, covered in sweat like that? It must hurt. You should drink it quickly."
My_leg was throbbing from the stab wound. I wanted her to heal it with magic as soon as possible. But she frowned, refusing to open her eyes. Then, her lips curved slightly into a smile.
"..."
Reluctantly, I took a sip of the recovery potion and pressed it to her lips. They felt soft against mine. Gently pushing, she opened her mouth without resistance, and I poured the potion in. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed.
When I pulled away, her warm breath brushed against the tip of my nose. A faint blush colored her smudged cheeks. As I traced them with my fingers, she finally opened her eyes and stared at me with dewy pupils. My breath caught in my throat.
"Alright. Now for the antidote."
I held the antidote in my mouth and supported her head as I drew her closer. Locking eyes with her, I kissed her. Even after pouring in the antidote, I teased her lips with my tongue, then ran my hand down her chest, savoring the fullness that overflowed my palm.
Myra flustered, pulling away and slapping the hand I had on her chest.
"M-Mash!"
"You're the one who invited this."
She tried to push away, so I held her tightly against her will and covered her mouth.
"Mash, everyone's watching. It's embarrassing!"
Hearing that, I glanced up to see Fam, Mizuki, Marmie, and Nefee lined up and staring at us.
"W-What's going on?"
Before I could ask, Myra wriggled free. I exchanged glances with Fam in the front.
"Why is it only Onee-sama?"
"Of course not. If you wanted it, I'd do it as much as you liked. But you were watching me drink it earlier, weren't you?"
"Isn't that beside the point?"
"Isn't it exactly the point? It could cure anything up to a certain extent of injury. I couldn't bring myself to force her to take it… and I don't even know what side effects it has."
I turned my gaze to Mizuki.
"I'd make you drink it through your lower mouth, though."
"Why are you being so mean to me?!"
"But you're interested, right?"
"Just your lower mouth is enough for me…"
Mizuki averted her gaze, her cheeks flushed red. I felt a strange emotion rising up as I looked at her. I'd repay Myra for healing my leg by going wild with her later. And then I glanced at Marmie. She seemed to have taken quite a beating from the Warmes' poison, but she looked fine now. Her eyes were glowing. She must have taken the antidote too. For now, I'd leave her and move forward.
"...Mmm."
As I tried to turn back to Nefee, she puffed out her cheeks slightly.
"What?"
"...Say something to me too!"
Hearing her, I tilted my head.
"You know... you really toughed it out against those Wormes' poison. That's amazing!"
"...I don't need that kind of pointless compliment."
Her expression turned sulky. Although she was still physically a girl, she was a woman in her own way—I realized that anew. To think that such a beautiful girl would become jealous over me.
Had she sensed my thoughts, her cheeks puffed out further.
"Don't worry. Even if we don't line up, I'll grant any perverted wish you have."
"...Grant my wishes even if they aren't perverted!"
After Marmie's words, I shifted my attention to Nefee.
"Hey, why are you even lined up like this?"
I didn't understand why she was standing at the end. That was the biggest mystery of all. But ignoring my bewilderment, she wore her usual smile.
"Being left out isn't good, right?"
"True, but... I get what the others are doing. But is it okay for you to kiss me like that?"
"Whether it's okay or not, doesn't Mash intend to do it to me someday? If so, wouldn't it be better to do it sooner?"
"So you'd kiss anyone like that?"
The corners of her eyes twitched slightly.
"Of course not. But I've decided to dedicate myself to Mash. As long as that feeling doesn't waver, I wish you'd take me soon. Besides, we were enemies. I'm also feeling a bit embarrassed. It seems they're treating me like I'm a threat, and they don't want Mash and me to be alone. So wouldn't it be better to do it in front of everyone?"
As I looked at Fam and the others, they averted their gazes all at once. They probably didn't really think Nefee would attack me. But even so, there was no way they would feel safe around her... or maybe doing it in front of everyone was better.
"Are you an exhibitionist?"
"No! Well... I guess you wouldn't know until we tried it..."
She tilted her head slightly. I couldn't tell if she was serious or joking. That unchanging smile made it impossible to know what she was thinking.
Lost in thought, I noticed Mizuki's gaze had become sharp.
"Mash, you weren't this considerate of me! Why are you so nice to the others?!"
"You had Rakshell's permission, didn't you? Besides, you'd enjoy it if I got rough with you, right?!"
I could afford to be generous now. Proof that I had gained experience since coming to this world.
"Muuuu!"
Just as Mizuki was about to jump at me, Myra smoothly intervened. She spread her arms, one hand toward me, the other toward Mizuki.
"Even though we defeated the Boss, we're still inside a dungeon. Everyone, isn't your tension too low?!"
"Don't tell me that, Myra!"
Mizuki's voice echoed in the room.
As we finished healing and tried to leave the Area Guardian's room, only the Bishop's battleaxe remained, unscathed despite such a fierce battle. Without a single chip, it seemed to be waiting for a new owner.
"Is this what was sealed in this shrine?"
It seemed to be made of a metal different from iron. It felt similar to the gleam of orichalcum I obtained in Heilong. The long handle was equipped with both a battleaxe and a spear tip.
Myra attempted to lift it, but stumbled slightly. It was a little too big and heavy for her. But as she gripped it firmly to test it, the battleaxe changed its length to suit her frame.
"It feels like it fits me..."
Myra held the battleaxe horizontally, like the Bishop had before.
"With this, I can beat Aira!"
"Hey, are you planning to use it to fight your own sister?!"
I retorted, but she didn't seem to care and stared at the glittering silver spear tip with a radiant smile. At that moment, the tip emitted a small light. In an instant, it transformed into a crimson fireball.
"Whoa!"
Surprised, she released her grip, and the battleaxe clanged as it hit the floor, the fireball extinguished.
"Could it be that fireballs might summon Warmes like before...?"
"I don't know. Why don't we try it once?"
"Eh? You want me to do it?"
Myra stared at me with a surprised expression.
"You're the one who defeated the battleaxe's master, so shouldn't you be the one to test it?"
"Are you sure? This weapon might be one of the items inside the Ark."
Hearing Myra's words, I exchanged glances with Mizuki.
"Judging from the inscriptions, it feels like it should correspond to the sword of Kusanagi. But that Bishop was definitely not the real deal, right? It was a transfer if anything. Shouldn't it have been summoning Wormes and controlling them like a Staff? Instead it was causing arson."
"Hmm... Maybe there's another level down, and the actual seal is there?"
Mizuki muttered such a terrifying thing. But what she said was true. I shook my head to dispel the thought and turned back to Myra.
"You're the only one who can wield this kind of weapon, Myra. Try it out."
"Understood."
She nodded and readied the battleaxe. Then she pointed the tip at the wall. Myra gripped the handle tightly and focused. A fireball sprang into existence at the tip, and she fired it. The fireball slammed into the wall and burst into flames. We drew our weapons and watched the fire until it was extinguished, but it only left a black scorch mark—no Warmes appeared.
"S-Shall we head toward the exit...?"
Leaving Myra behind, we began walking toward the exit.
"Hey! Don't treat me like I've failed or something!"
Myra followed after us.