kscans

Chapter 230 - Epilogue, Part 1

The defeat of Cerberus.

We had defeated an A-Rank boss monster, one of the strongest enemies among all the dungeons.

I’d lost the wooden ox carving and the lantern I was carrying during the final exchange, but that was a necessary expense.

In fact, it was the Flügel and the Bracelet of the Flame Horse that were abnormal for having survived that battle with only scratches, their functions unimpaired. It was proof of their creators’ skill.

The golems had all sustained moderate to heavy damage but had returned safely. As for Erina-san and Mia-san, they had some bruises and burns, but nothing an Awakened Person’s natural healing couldn't fix by the next day.

It was an undeniable, resounding victory. Considering the drop items, experience, and especially the boost to our morale, it had been a very fruitful ‘adventure.’

And so, the day after that fierce battle.

"Aaargh…"

I was lying in bed, melting.

Physically and magically, I was completely fine. But I was mentally exhausted. I didn't want to think about how many times I had come close to death in that fight.

So this was A-Rank. To be honest, I never wanted to go back, but reality dictated otherwise. Which, of course, was why I was feeling so drained.

To make matters worse, I was also exhausted from being mobbed by the SDF personnel at the Dungeon Store right after we came out.

I mean, I get it. They were genuinely worried about us and were happy to see us return alive.

And I also understood that getting too close to Erina-san and the other girls would be a compliance issue. So it made sense that they all swarmed me.

But being surrounded by a bunch of buff old dudes is just plain terrifying…!

That was the first time I ever thought my neck might snap from being patted on the head so much. Towards the end, they were even tossing me in the air so high I was barely missing the ceiling. It was a bit of a horror experience.

What’s that? I’m always flying around in battle? Flying on my own and being thrown by a group of people are two completely different things…

There was a muscular old guy who was so overcome with emotion he was crying half-naked. A younger guy buried my head in his impressive pecs while slapping my back. A grizzled veteran with arms still thick despite his age threw one around my shoulders.

…I was happy they were happy, but at the same time, it was all a bit much.

While my need for validation was fulfilled, I felt like something precious inside me was being ground to dust.

As I lay there limply in bed, my smartphone rang.

I sluggishly picked it up from the bedside table. Apparently, it was a call from Aira-san.

"Hello… this is he…"

"Good mornin’, Kyouta-kun! Oh wait, it’s almost noon!"

She’s way too energetic.

"But what’s with that zombie-like voice? Are you dead?"

"If I turn into a zombie, I’m biting your head first…!"

"How scary. It's a horror movie staple for a sexy beauty like me to die at some point. Ah, to be cursed with such deadly beauty!"

"Nah. You’d be the comic relief, so you’d probably survive until the very end and then die from some careless mistake."

"What did you say?"

She’s beautiful and has a great figure, but in a movie, she’d definitely be the comic relief.

Well, for all her goofiness, she’s part of the Pervert Clan, so if she ever got serious about acting, the average pin-up model wouldn’t stand a chance.

"So, what is it? I don’t really have the energy to play games with you right now."

"Hm? Are you actually feeling unwell? I hope it’s something my [Appraisal] can see…"

"Ah, no. I’m just tired. Don’t worry about it."

Aira-san had started to sound genuinely concerned, so I sat up in bed and answered her.

"If you say so. Well, don’t push yourself."

"Got it. So, what did you need?"

"I was thinking of a victory party! Let’s all get together at my place again and have some fun!"

"Ah… no. I’m seriously exhausted, so maybe…"

"I see… that’s a shame. I was thinking of having Erina-kun and the others cosplay."

"I’m coming."

I shot to my feet. Exhaustion? My [Sage’s Nucleus] had erased such a thing.

Yes, it was purely my unique skill. The influence of my unique skill.

Not the power of my libido. You have to believe me!

"Just the reaction I was hoping for. Alright, let’s do it today! Right now!"

"Yes!"

"Erina-kun will come pick you up this evening, so look forward to it!"

"Yes! I’ll follow you for life, Aira-san!"

"Haaahahahaha! Of course, Kyouta-kun! Keep following closely behind me from now on!"

"Hooray! The solitary genius! The superhuman who never fails a class! The pro-level gamer!"

"Hmph! Hey, weren’t you not complimenting me after that first one?"

*

And so, I have arrived in paradise.

As usual, my kigurumi provides perfect defense. I’m glad I asked Aira-san to store it for me in the Arisugawa family warehouse.

…For some reason, the inside was strangely damp. I wonder if she washed it for me?

Well, that aside.

"To celebrate our successful A-Rank clear! Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

At Aira-san’s somewhat desperate-sounding lead, we all raised our glasses.

The reason for her state was probably this.

"Sorry for crashing the party."

"We weren’t directly involved, though."

It was because Shizuku-san and Aika-san were here.

Aira-san was currently hiding behind my kigurumi-clad self, sipping on barley tea. Please stop chanting ‘This is beer, this is beer, this is beer’ like it's a magic spell. It’s creepy.

"Not at all! You two were a huge help! Right, Kyo-chan!?"

"Absolutely. Thank you very much."

I agreed completely. Without the cloak and bracelet, I would have had a limb or two torn off.

I’m not sure if I could have continued fighting in that state, so their help had a major impact on the outcome.

"Yeah. I’ll accept your thanks, but…"

"You’re staring quite blatantly, Kyouta-kun."

"Yeah! Glad to see you’re doing well!"

"Wh-what are you talking about…"

I did my best to look away at their words.

But I couldn’t stop my gaze from being drawn back.

Thank you, Aira-san…! Thank you…!

First, Shizuku-san. She was in a simple bunny girl outfit. The contrast between her somewhat broad shoulders for a woman and her petite frame gave off a strange allure.

But above all, the impact of her rocket-like chest, which looked ready to spill out at any moment, was immense. I mean, if I peeked from above, would I get a glimpse of the promised land? Not that I have the guts to try.

Furthermore, the angle of the high-cut leg was intense. It completely exposed the top of her thighs, and if it shifted just a little, something that shouldn’t be seen would be. The combination of her fleshy thighs and fishnet-patterned thigh-highs was also excellent.

Next, Aika-san. She was in a china dress. Not the traditional kind, but the type you’d only see worn in more… enlightened establishments.

Her long black hair, usually worn straight, was tied up in two buns, exposing the white nape of her neck.

Separate from that ‘quiet charm,’ everything from the neck down was flamboyantly lewd… I mean, enlightened.

The thin, form-fitting black fabric clung to her slender body. Her shoulders and back were largely exposed, and the slit was deep. To top it off, the skirt length was also quite daring.

And this [Spirit Eye] of mine did not miss the fact that when she turned for a moment, the back was open so far that I could see a little bit of her butt…!

While the valley of her smooth, small buttocks was thrilling, the fact that I could see it meant… could she be wearing very low-rise underwear? My gray matter produced this brilliant deduction.

And then, Erina-san. A member of the Pervert Clan.

She was a lewd shrine maiden, so much so that I felt she should apologize to the eight million gods.

What was with that kimono, with its exposed shoulders, armpits, and side-boob? Was it even a kimono? Thank you very much.

Her slender shoulders and arms were beautiful, and her armpits, whether through care or natural perfection, were so flawlessly smooth that some people would probably prostrate themselves before them.

But personally, I couldn’t stop my eyes from being drawn to the fact that her chest would pop out if the kimono shifted just a little. To think that my orichalcum-grade self-control could be cracked. As expected of the Pervert Clan. Those wonderfully soft curves must possess their own gravitational pull.

The bottom half was just as extraordinary. She wore the red hakama of a shrine maiden, but since the top was missing its left and right panels, various things were visible from the side. Specifically, her thighs and the tops of her legs.

The most important part was thankfully hidden, but I couldn’t see any underwear lines either. Were they hidden by the hakama’s waistband, or perhaps…

She wore kimono-like sleeves from her forearms down, but there was no mistaking it. This was a lewd shrine maiden.

Even my three classmates were this devastating, but there were still three more members of the Pervert Clan present. Can you hold on, my dear reason…!

"Sis…! This outfit is just too embarrassing…!"

"Really? More than your usual behavior?"

"Sis???"

The lewd angel in a white coat. A.k.a., disappointing college student number one.

A succubus pretending to be an angel. A.k.a., disappointing college student number two.

The instigator of this paradise was wearing something more modest compared to the others. But perhaps her own senses had become numb. It was more than lewd enough.

Aira-san’s long silver hair was tied up at the back of her head, and with the nurse’s cap, she had the air of an angel in white.

Her large chest was properly covered by fabric. Though whether the size was right or not, it was packed so tightly you could practically hear it straining.

And the finishing touch was that miniskirt. Apologize. Apologize to all the nurses in the country, you original disappointing college student.

Fishnet stockings. Given Shizuku-san’s outfit, had she gotten into fishnets recently? I think it's an excellent hobby.

The contrast between her pure white thighs and the black fishnets below was magnificent. On top of that, the skirt was so short that her underwear would be visible with just a little movement. In fact, I saw it.

Black lace with purple frills…! So mature…!

Next was Mia-san, the person who should probably change her race from elf to succubus.

A white collar with a blue ribbon. A white, dress-like outfit, with even white wings on her back. Combined with her beautiful blonde hair and stunning looks, from that angle, she looked like an angel.

But as is tradition, from the neck down, she was a succubus.

Her dress-like outfit exposed all of her side-boob, and the central part was also missing fabric. If it were a swimsuit, the closest thing would be a ‘cross-holder bikini’? Though this clearly had even less fabric than that.

Her deep cleavage was on full display, and the gap was so prominent I was starting to have lecherous old-man thoughts about what purpose it might serve.

She wore a rugged belt around her waist, but below it was only a front and back flap of fabric. Seriously, why is the fabric on the sides always missing?

Her long, smooth-skinned legs were plump and soft. Those beautiful legs, which could certainly be described as such, were shyly pressed together.

Her long ears were red to the tips, and Mia-san was trying to cover her chest with her left hand. But her chest was too magnificent for her slender arm to cover completely. If anything, it only made it more erotic.

…Yeah.

"Mom… Dad… thank you… for giving me life…!"

"He’s getting emotional."

"This is amusing. I shall take a picture."

"I want to be in it too! Yay!"

I felt a flash go off, but it was probably my imagination. I was too busy burning their magnificent figures onto my retinas.

Hold on, my [Spirit Eye]…! This, this very moment, is your time to shine…!

Actually, I wonder if they’d let me take a picture if I groveled. I mean, Aika-san was holding her phone.

"Aira… I can permit a little bit of fun, but why must I wear something like this as well…"

And so sighed the Pervert Clan member… I mean, Professor Arisugawa, looking exasperated.

She was, unbelievably, in a white one-piece racing swimsuit. The black lines on it accentuated her lithe physique.

Her chest was, compared to the average of her granddaughters, on the smaller side. In fact, it was probably small even compared to the Japanese average.

But it was definitely ‘there.’ The swell of it was visible, along with her beautifully cinched waist. And the line from her waist to her hips was practically a work of art.

Was this person, elf or not, really a grandmother…? The university she taught at must be full of students with broken fetishes.

"Come on, Grandma. It would be a total downer if you were the only one in normal clothes, right?"

"I won’t deny that, but in that case, I would have just relaxed in my room."

"Now, now! You’re finally back, so it’s time for some bonding! But still… a swimsuit at your age is kinda cringe, lol."

"Hmph."

"Bwuh?!"

The first disappointing one, who had been pointing and laughing, was felled by the professor’s karate chop.

The lewd shrine maiden ninja was fooling around next to the fallen girl, yelling, "She’s down! She can’t get up! One! Two!" so she was probably fine.

"By the way, Grandma. Is it true you ranked up to B-Rank?"

"Yes. I haven’t had much time lately due to coordinating with the SDF, but I plan to start dungeoneering again. I may join the A-Rank Candidates soon."

"R-Really…!? That’s amazing…"

"My grandchildren are doing dangerous things. I have no intention of sitting back and waiting."

"As always, Erina’s relatives are insanely talented."

"Shizuku-san, you’re in the same boat from a normal person’s perspective, you know? Just in a different way."

"You think? Well, there’s a lot I can’t do, so… uh, I’m counting on you. For stuff."

"Fufu. Of course! We’re best friends, after all! I’ll cover for you where you struggle!"

"Nine! Ten! The match is over! Senpai, a heartbreaking loss!"

"Grr…! Next year, next year I’ll get my revenge…!"

"That’s the spirit, senpai! Alright, let’s start your ninja training right now!"

"Uh, no thanks."

Peacefully, noisily. Time passed as we snacked on sweets and played video games.

Honestly, I had a lot of anxiety about the future.

I still didn’t feel like I could beat the white dragon. Even if I fought Cerberus again, it wouldn’t be an easy win.

I also had concerns about the world’s decisions and the treatment of Awakened Persons. I wondered if Yamashita-san had succeeded at the UN. With the revolution in China and the turmoil in the Middle East, the world’s view of the Awakened was becoming increasingly harsh.

But for now. Just for now.

I was able to forget my anxieties and simply enjoy this pleasant time with my friends. The fatigue in my heart was healing.

I wish these days could last forever… No.

I will continue to fight to protect these days.

"Hey, Kyo-chan. Your kart has been going off-course a lot. You okay?"

"Give him a break, Erina-kun. Kyouta’s gaze is too busy to have time to look at the screen."

"Amazing. His eyes are moving as sharply as when he was fighting Cerberus."

I wish these days could last forever…!!