kscans

Chapter 300 - The Battle for the Fortress and a Breath in the Great Hall

A soft light poured from Myra's palm as she held it over my forehead. The sluggishness in my body faded. She pulled her hand back and checked my complexion.

"I wish I could use the miracles of the church... I don't know the root cause, and it might come back, so please don't push yourself too hard."

"Thanks. I feel a lot better." From her words, it sounded like the illness might be a type of curse. The feverish feeling from before was gone. As I started to get up, she supported my back. I felt fine standing up.

Seeing my condition, Famu began to walk toward the door at the far end of the hall. The other members started to follow her.

"Wait. There's something I need to say." When I called out, they stopped and turned around.

"What is it?" Famu tilted her head.

"It's not 'what is it.' It's about Nephi. She's our companion. Why did none of you help her when she was tied up by Trusar?"

"That's not true. I wanted to help, but he wouldn't have listened to us, and it would have just made things more complicated, so I thought it would be best to wait until you woke up, Mash," Myra answered in her stead.

"Everyone listens to you more than they listen to me, right, Myra? Even I trust your words more than my own."

"Have more faith in yourself! Sir Trusar is, first and foremost, loyal to Maryanne. And you're the one who saved Maryanne, aren't you, Mash? Sir Trusar may come across as a bit overbearing, as befits a warrior, but he truly respects you. And also..." Myra trailed off. I waited, but it seemed she had no intention of continuing.

"Well, that's fine. Anyway, Nephi is our companion. You all saw that in the last battle, didn't you?" I looked around at the party. Only the person in question, Nephi, was watching me with a faint smile, a complete bystander. I felt a little irritated, but I decided to keep my mouth shut, knowing that bringing it up would just make a mess of things.

"Did Sir Trusar say anything to you about that?" Myra's question made me choke. But I had a feeling that if I tried to be vague, it would only make things worse later.

The great hall was lit only by the torches on the walls. They still cast an unreliable light around the room. It wasn't as if someone had prepared and lit them. This was a dungeon. It had always been this way.

"I'm not entirely sure, but he said, 'Nephi will betray you.'"

At my words, Myra sighed. She averted her eyes, as if to avoid Nephi's gaze.

"I don't know what Sir Trusar's intentions were. But, as far as I know, there has never been a demon in the party of a hero summoned by the five goddesses."

"Is that so? Good for you! Looks like you're the first," I said, turning to Nephi. Myra puffed out her cheeks and glared at me.

"Please don't make a joke of this."

"I know. But do you agree with Trusar?" Myra gave a small shake of her head.

"I don't know. But the purpose of the heroes summoned by the five goddesses is to defeat the Demon Lord. The place they are headed is the Demon Kingdom."

"Is the Demon Lord a demon?" Myra glanced at Nephi.

"That's right. At the very least, they are the leader of the demons. And the last Holy War was also a conflict between the human and demon races. She must have made a choice. To betray her own kind, or to betray us." At her words, I looked at Nephi again, but her expression was unchanged. Looking at her now, her features were androgynous. Since she was about the same height as me, she looked like a handsome woman in men's clothing. Though the two horns growing from her head did bring a demon to mind.

"Either way, it's just a promise until we reach the Demon Kingdom, right? Besides, you're jumping to conclusions. I have no intention of fighting the demons."

"Even if you don't, Mash, what about the people around you, or the situation? If you are forced to fight, can you fight Nephi?" I looked at Nephi. As always, she didn't try to interject. I wanted her to say something, but even if she said she wouldn't betray us, it likely wouldn't clear Myra's doubts.

"Nephi, what are you going to do?"

"Even after I part with Mash in the Demon Kingdom, I will never do anything to oppose you."

After her words, I looked back at Myra. As expected, her brow was still furrowed.

"Nephi, what will you do if a full-scale war breaks out between the Demon Kingdom and the Empire?" Myra interjected.

"I am a free agent. I have no intention of siding with either country right now. As for the future, it depends on the circumstances, but isn't that the same for you, Mash?" At Nephi's words, Myra turned her gaze to me.

"Besides, don't you feel something is off, Mash?"

"Me?" Unlike Myra, I don't act with the world's political situation in mind. For now, with Famu's curse broken, we're on a journey to remove the shackle that says we can only live in this world for ten years. Our immediate leads are to collect the mirror, the staff, and the Jar of Holy Oil, which were brought here during the war of the gods. Other than that, Laciel told me to defeat the Demon Lord, so we're simply heading to the Demon Kingdom where the Demon Lord was. I hadn't thought about what would come after, or the conflict between the Empire and the Demon Kingdom.

Would Myra be disappointed if I told her what I was thinking? As I kept silent, she blushed and looked away.

"We've been together for so long, and yet... you still haven't... made a move on her."

"Hey, I've definitely groped her boobs, okay? Besides, I think there's a proper order to these things." I panicked at Myra's unexpected words. I did feel like I should do something with Nephi before she changed her mind. But I, too, had gained a lot of experience since coming to this world.

"What do you mean, you've 'definitely groped' her? And what's this about 'proper order'?!" It was Mizuki, not Myra, who shot back.

"You didn't let me prepare at all when it was my turn!" She was still going on about our first time.

"It was more exciting that way, wasn't it?"

"That's not the point!"

"But we're still together, so it's fine, isn't it? And we went on a date, too."

"Hmph... Don't say it like taking care of me makes it all okay!" Mizuki glared at me. Unlike the others, I wasn't very scared when she got angry. I had a baseless confidence that even if she was mad, she would eventually accept it.

"Alright. If that's what you say, Mizuki, I have no choice. Nephi, it seems they'll acknowledge you as a companion if you kiss me." I turned to face Nephi and opened my arms.

"I was planning to do this when we were alone and the mood was right, but this is to strengthen the bonds of Levante. Let's do it now." Nephi's smile froze on her face.

"What are you planning to do here?"

"Now that it's come to this, I plan to go as far as I can." I took a step forward, and Nephi took a step back.

"You don't want to?"

"To be honest, I have no experience. I don't want to do it in front of everyone."

"You've done it secretly before, right? We're going to be companions, and you were prepared for this, weren't you?" Her plastered-on smile twitched faintly.

"I am prepared. But being told to do it now, so suddenly, is a problem. I have feelings of embarrassment and shyness too... you know. Also, I still don't have that kind of experience..." Hearing her final words trail off, I stopped. Was it really true that she'd never even kissed anyone, let alone had physical experience? I had my doubts, but since she had agreed to be my lover, there was no need to force her now.

"I see. Well, if that's the case, it can't be helped." I turned back to Mizuki. As I spread my arms, it was Mizuki's turn to take a step back.

"Why are you running away too? Don't tell me you have no experience!"

"I don't want to do it in front of everyone, obviously!"

"Why not! We've done it tons of times!"

"It feels like an afterthought, and I don't like it!" I was about to pounce on the fleeing Mizuki, but Myra grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and stopped me.

"This isn't the time for that, is it? Sir Trusar and the others are waiting outside, right?"

"Kuh, right. Then let's all play a get-to-know-each-other game." I held up a finger, and Famu flinched.

"N-no way! N-nip—" She started to say something and then quickly covered her mouth.

"It's not that, Famu. That game is a ritual for two strangers to get to know each other."

"I don't think we got to know each other by playing that game when we first met..." Famu said, blushing and covering her chest. Mizuki was watching her with a look one might give to something indecent. And Marmi, as if thinking it had nothing to do with her, had stepped out of our circle and was yawning. I poked her on the head with my index finger.

"Anyway, that game is for two players. This is a ritual for all of us to get to know each other, so all six of us will do it."

"Does such a game even exist... what kind of game is it?" Myra, following my lead, held up a finger and moved it around uncertainly.

"It's simple. Some animals sniff each other's butts as a greeting and introduction, to learn about each other. Let's all poke Nephi's butt to deepen our friendship."

""Eek!"" The short squeals came from Mizuki and Nephi. They both covered their rears and backed away.

"Why are you running away too, Mizuki? You enjoyed it!"

"I didn't... enjoy it... but..." Mizuki averted her eyes, so I turned my gaze to Nephi.

"I-it would get dirty, wouldn't it?"

"It's fine. I have an anal plug. I tested on Mizuki that it keeps things clean when worn. I'll put it on you too." I took an anal plug out of my storage.

"Stop using my name for everything!" Ignoring Mizuki's words, I held up my index finger and walked toward Nephi. She backed away in time with my steps.

"W-wait. I was wrong earlier. I do want to kiss you, Mash. I want to, now."

Nephi took a deep breath. She stood up straight, correcting her posture. Then, with her usual smile, she spread her arms.

"Come, Mash..."

"Yeah..." I walked toward her. Her arms extended and wrapped around my back, pulling me into a tight embrace. Her cheek pressed against my temple. It was a soft and smooth sensation. Her hot breath caressed my cheek. Was Nephi's face higher than mine because I was leaning against her? Or was it her shoes? As I was thinking about such things, her cheek pulled away slightly, and one of her hands moved to my face. She caressed my cheek and gazed at me.

"...!" This felt less like I was about to kiss her and more like she was pressing a kiss on me.

I tried to voice my unease, but her slender fingertips traced my lips, silencing me.

"Mash..." Her eyes narrowed, and her lips drew closer. I heard someone gasp, and in that moment, a soft sensation covered my own lips.

"Ngh...!" I couldn't tell whose voice it was. Or perhaps it was one of Famu and the others, watching us. Then, slowly, her lips parted from mine. A lingering warmth and the remnant of a soft sensation remained on my lips. Eventually, she opened her eyes and smiled.

"It's a pleasure to be with you again. Mash."

"..." I could only stare at her, speechless.