kscans

Chapter 287 - The Second Seal and the Battle's Aftermath

With the Bishop defeated, the worms stopped multiplying.

Nephi and I flanked Myra protectively as we began to clear them out. The poison gas released by the worms filled the room, and if I let my guard down for even a second, a fuzzy sensation would wash over me, threatening to pull me into sleep.

I steeled my resolve and launched water magic Icicles into the swarms of worms. The worms burst in a disgusting manner, splattering their bodily fluids before vanishing.

Famu and Mizuki, mustering their remaining strength, were also slashing at the worms.

When the last one was defeated, the sickeningly sweet poison gas that had filled the room finally dissipated.

A door leading deeper into the dungeon opened. We stared at it, our eyelids heavy, our shoulders heaving as we struggled to breathe.

I took out health potions and antidotes for everyone from my storage.

"Marmi?"

I asked. Though still huddled in a corner of the room, she raised a weak hand. I let out a sigh of relief.

I knelt down and pulled Myra, who had collapsed face down, still clutching her mace, into my arms.

"Myra... Here's a health potion."

She remained motionless, her eyes closed. As I stared at her face, her eyelids fluttered open slightly, then quickly shut again.

"Hey, I know you're awake. Drink this already. Then you can heal everyone else."

"Hmph, shouldn't a kind hero be a little more gentle when waking someone up in a situation like this?" Myra replied, her eyes still closed.

"Is that something you say while covered in a cold sweat? You're in pain, aren't you? It'd be better to just drink it."

My thigh throbbed with a dull pain. I wanted her to recover quickly so she could cast her healing magic on me. But though she frowned, she made no move to open her eyes. Then, she puckered her lips slightly.

"..."

With a sigh, I took a mouthful of the health potion and pressed my lips to hers.

They were soft. When I gently pushed, she offered no resistance, her mouth opening slightly, and I let the potion flow in. I heard her swallow with a small gulp.

When I pulled away, her hot breath washed over my face. A blush colored her soot-stained cheeks. As I ran my fingers over them to wipe away the grime, she opened her eyes. She stared at me with a languid gaze.

My own throat went dry as I looked down at her.

"Alright. Antidote's next."

I took a mouthful of the antidote, supported the back of her head, and pulled her closer. I held her gaze as I kissed her again.

After pouring in the antidote, I slipped my tongue into her mouth and ran my other hand over her chest, enjoying the full, soft feeling that couldn't be contained in my palm.

Myra, flustered, pulled her lips away and pressed down on the hand that was on her chest.

"M-Mash!"

"You're the one who started it."

She tried to squirm away, so I held her tightly and moved to silence her with another kiss.

"Mash, everyone's watching. This is embarrassing."

At her words, I glanced up and saw Famu, Mizuki, Marmi, and Nephi all standing in a line, watching us.

"Wh-what's going on?"

While I was still surprised, Myra slipped away. My eyes met Famu's at the front of the line.

"Why is it only my sister?"

"It's not! I'll do it for you as much as you want. But I saw you drinking yours just now, didn't I?"

"That's beside the point, isn't it?"

"No, it is, right?" It was a medicine that could heal significant injuries. I couldn't just tell her to drink it for no reason, and I didn't know what kind of side effects it might have. I shifted my gaze to Mizuki.

"For you, I'll let you drink from my lower mouth."

"Why are you so mean to just me?!"

"But you're interested, aren't you?"

"The only lower mouth I need is yours..."

Watching her blush and look away, an indescribable feeling welled up inside me. After Myra healed my leg, I was going to mess her up completely.

Then I looked at Marmi.

She seemed to have been hit hard by the worm's poison, but she looked fine now. Her eyes were practically sparkling. She must have taken the antidote herself. I decided to leave her be and move on.

"...Hmph."

Just as I was about to silently shift my gaze to Nephi, she puffed out her cheeks slightly.

"What?"

"...Say something to me too!"

I tilted my head at her demand.

"Let's see... You did a good job resisting the worm's poison. Good girl!"

"...I don't need such a stupid compliment."

Her expression soured. Despite her girlish figure, she was a woman after all, I thought. I never imagined a day would come when such a beautiful girl would be jealous over me.

As if my thoughts had reached her, she puffed out her cheeks even more.

"Don't worry. You don't have to line up. I'll grant any lewd wish you have."

"...Even if it's not lewd, grant my wish!"

After hearing Marmi's words, I looked at Nephi.

"Hey, why are you in line too?"

I had no idea why she was at the end of the line. It was the biggest mystery. But despite my confusion, she wore her usual smile.

"It's not good to leave someone out, is it?"

"Well, no, but... I get these guys. But are you really okay with kissing me over something like this?"

"It's not a matter of 'good' or 'bad.' You're going to do it to me eventually anyway, aren't you, Mash? In that case, isn't it better to get it over with sooner rather than later?"

"Is that how you are? You'll kiss anyone just like that?"

The muscle near her temple twitched slightly.

"Of course not. But I've resolved myself to entrust my body to you, Mash. I want you to make your move while that resolve is still firm. Besides, we were enemies. I have my own sense of shame, but it seems they're wary of me. They don't seem to want to leave the two of us alone, so isn't it better to do this in front of everyone?"

I glanced at Famu and the others, and they all quickly averted their eyes. They probably didn't really think Nephi would attack me. But I didn't think they would be reassured, so maybe it was better to do it in front of them.

"Are you an exhibitionist?"

"No! Well, I guess I won't know until I actually try..."

She tilted her head slightly. I still couldn't tell if she was being serious or joking. It was the same inscrutable smile as always.

As I was thinking, I noticed Mizuki's gaze had turned sharp.

"Mash, you weren't that considerate with me! Why are you so gentle with the other girls?"

"Well, you had Laciel's seal of approval. Besides, you like it rough, don't you?!"

I had a sense of composure now. It was proof that I had gained experience since coming to this world.

"Mmph!"

Just as Mizuki was about to lunge at me, Myra smoothly stepped between us.

She spread her arms, holding one palm up to me and the other to Mizuki.

"We may have defeated the boss, but we're still inside a dungeon! Aren't you all being a little too relaxed?!"

"I don't want to hear that from you, Myra!"

Mizuki's voice echoed through the room.

After we finished our treatment and were about to leave the Area Guardian's room, we noticed that only the battle-axe the Bishop had been holding remained, not having vanished. Despite the brutal fight, it was completely unchipped, and it stood as if waiting for a new owner.

"Is this what was sealed in this shrine?"

It seemed to be made of a different metal than iron. I thought it resembled the gleam of the orichalcum I had obtained in Heilon. It had a long handle with both an axe head and a spear tip.

Myra tried to lift it and staggered slightly. It seemed a bit too large and heavy for her. But when she gripped it to test its feel, the battle-axe changed its length to match her physique.

"It feels natural in my hands..."

Myra held the battle-axe horizontally, just as the Bishop had.

"With this, I can beat Aira!"

"Hey, are you planning to use that for a sibling squabble?!"

I shot back a retort, but she paid me no mind, her face beaming with joy as she gazed at the gleaming silver spearhead. Just then, the tip let out a small flash of light. In an instant, it transformed into a crimson fireball.

"Whoa!"

Startled, she dropped it. The battle-axe clattered to the floor with a dry metallic sound, and the fireball vanished.

"Could it be that if I shoot a fireball, worms will come out just like before...?"

"I don't know. Why don't you try firing it once?"

"Huh? Me?"

Myra stared at me, surprised.

"You're the one who defeated this battle-axe's owner, Myra, so you should be the one to test it, right?"

"Is that okay? This weapon might be one of the items that were in the Ark."

At Myra's words, Mizuki and I exchanged a look.

"Considering the inscription on the monument, I feel like it should be something equivalent to the Kusanagi sword. And the Bishop was definitely not that, right?"

Mizuki eyed the battle-axe with suspicion.

"No. Okita Soji wasn't the real deal either. If that Bishop was also a transmigrator, maybe he was just calling himself that? But it's definitely not the Kusanagi sword. I mean, it was setting things on fire. But summoning and controlling worms, doesn't that seem more like a scepter?"

"Hmm... Maybe there's another level below this, where the real sealed item is?"

Mizuki casually muttered something terrifying. But she was right. I shook my head as if to dismiss the thought and looked back at Myra.

"You're the only one who can handle a weapon like this, Myra. Give it a try."

"Alright."

She nodded and took up a stance with the battle-axe. She aimed the spearhead at the wall. As Myra gripped the handle as if concentrating, a fireball formed at the tip, and she launched it.

The fireball hit the wall and burst into flames.

We readied our weapons and watched the fire until it went out, but it left only a black scorch mark, and no worms appeared.

"Well, shall we head for the exit...?"

Leaving Myra behind, the rest of us started walking toward the exit.

"Hey, don't treat me like I just bombed a joke!"

Myra came chasing after us.