Chapter Thirty-Three: Yanderes in Faubley
Three weeks after Naofumi's return from Kizuna's world, and almost a full month after the events that transpired in Zeltoble, an ornate carriage pulled by rider dragons traveled up a driveway towards a mansion.
A familiar blonde-haired woman was sitting in the driver's seat between two other individuals, a man with short-cropped hair and a woman more delicate than porcelain but with eyes as piercing as a snake's.
Someone who'd effectively jumped headfirst into the belly of the beast, alongside her compatriots.
The rest were in the original carriage, which traveled behind the first.
Rinya nodded and opened a small peeking window behind her to look down into the opulent carriage they'd switched to halfway through the journey. "We've arrived, Your Majesty."
"Ahhhhh, already? Couldn't this trip have lasted a while longer?" Lesty complained while resting against a bed of soft pillows.
"Come now, Lesty. We're stepping from one lap of luxury towards an even bigger one." Witch grinned, even though she was similarly lounged back.
Mald frowned, saying nothing. He instead looked to the two other girls sitting opposite them. The two hadn't spoken much to them that entire trip.
Looking at them, the man felt an icy shudder travel down his spine. He did not know why, but he wanted to get as far away from their 'escorts' as soon as possible.
He was grateful they'd been sent to bail them out and guided them here. He wouldn't deny that. But if he'd have his way, he wouldn't be around them for even a second longer.
This was probably why when the carriage came to a stop, and the door was opened by one of their new 'friends', the ex-nobleman immediately rushed out. Moving to the side so there'd be plenty of time for Ikuyo and Momiji to come out next.
The two girls, upon stepping out, looked up at the large, sprawling mansion before them.
It was a spectacle of wealth. Gold-overlaid statues ringed the property, on the roof, and along the walls. Many of the windows were made out of stained glass. Instead of mortar, the pavers in the ground were also inlaid in gold, with the steps up to the doors made of the stuff.
Instead of stone, the walls were made of the finest wood. The shingles on the curved roof were inlaid with more silver and gold, with the shingles made of bronze.
So much that'd be considered wealth in their old world… yet it was just a drop in the bucket here. A list of resources many would consider bland compared to some of the other metals and monster materials that could have been used to express true status in wealth and decor.
The two enforcers were completely silent. Even though they'd sent word ahead of their coming arrival, no one was there to greet them.
More importantly, 'he' wasn't there to grovel for mercy.
Instead, they heard the sounds of a party going on inside the building.
What a pity.
"Think we'll be allowed to make heads roll for this, Momiji?" Ikuyo asked idly, quietly enough that none of their companions heard her question. Her canines subtly elongated as a feral smile spread across her face.
"Probably not…" Momiji frowned as her eyes scanned over the various windows. Her words were soft and measured. "Their high levels make them more useful alive than dead. We won't be allowed to kill more than a few if things get out of hand."
"Ehehehe! It's fine! It's fine! I'll only gut the really bitchy ones." Ikuyo laughed softly to herself, before looking back at the carriage.
Rinya held Witch's hand as she helped the spoiled princess out. Lesty stood by Mauld, arms crossed and huffing in annoyance at the lack of a welcoming committee.
"Rinya, have the others park the carriage for us. Oh, and make sure to burn the old one after you're done offloading it. Have the beasts that pulled it immolated along with it too. They were way too slow and smelled disgusting the whole way." Malty ordered while running a finger over her face scar, revealing a different kind of twisted expression filled with glee and anticipation.
Anything that caused a Queen such as her discomfort did not deserve its pitiful existence.
"Of course, we shall fulfill your every word, Your Grace." Rinya bowed respectfully with a smile, before looking to her comrades and nodding to them.
Without another word, they moved to fulfill the First Princess's orders to the letter. Which would, sadly, include the slaughter of the beasts who'd loyally pulled the carriage such a long distance.
All for the act. Anything to earn the First Princess's trust.
Rinya then smiled as she approached Ikuyo and Momiji, with Witch, Mauld, and Lesty at her side.
"Well then, shall we enter?" The blonde upbeat woman asked happily.
"... sure. No point in waiting for them to come out to greet us any longer." Momiji returned the smile politely.
Mauld shuddered again, but Rinya smiled wider in return. And, leading Witch by the hand again, she led the First Princess and her friends up the steps to the great wide doors of the Faubleyian mansion. Holding open the door for the group before entering as well.
With a loud thunk!, the huge doors closed behind them.
The outside of the building was wealthy and opulent.
The inside was even more so.
Unfortunately, while the outside was almost meticulously immaculate, the inside was anything but.
And that was, mostly in part, thanks to the full-blown celebration going on.
Muffled sounds of music and shouting could be heard ahead, the vibrations caused by it being so loud that the walls of the mansion were subtly shaking with each beat.
"Wooo! Gooooo, Butt Stallion!" A half-naked young woman, clearly drunk despite it being the middle of the day, rode on top of a gaudy, jewel-encrusted statue of a horse by the entrance. It was made from black marble, with rubies engraved in its eyes.
It would have looked majestic, if not for the trail of vomit running down its sides, or the shards of broken bottles littering the tiled floor around it.
"Blechhhh!" The woman then heaved, emptying the contents of her stomach on the floor in front of her, forming another pool of vomit in the entryway. Then, she slipped off the statue with a giggle, landing with a thud next to another woman who was in the process of chugging an entire bottle of some clear spirit at once.
And, believe it or not, the same thing was happening on the horse statue opposite them. Except the two half-naked women there were also in the middle of a makeout session and stripping each other of the rest of their clothes.
Keep in mind, that this was only the entrance.
Rinya's smile turned into a grimace, and she got in between Malty and the sight on their left, as the red-haired princess also looked similarly disgusted by what she was seeing. "Are those the guards?"
"So it seems." Momiji drawled, glancing at the bits of armor one of them was still wearing. The rest of the other's armor though, what they weren't wearing at least, was either on the ground, laid scattered around the stud statues, marinading in one of the pools of vomit, or hanging from the chandeliers up above for some inexplicable reason.
The same was true for the weapons, the world-famous Faubley firearms being reduced to nothing more than discarded party crackers. Their ammo was wasted on the ceiling judging by the numerous holes.
Empty ammo casings crunched underfoot, making Rinya pull her leg back.
At least no drunken woman was dangling from the front chandelier. However, they did spot one in a maid's outfit hanging upside down from one further down the front hall.
"Quite the party they're having." Rinya drawled.
"Hell yea! I wonder what the main party looks like!" Lesty said hopefully.
"Let's find out," Momiji whispered under her breath.
"It's not going to last for much longer though." Ikuyo finished her friend's thought while licking her teeth.
…
The group moved forward, an eerie pressure falling over them. Even Malty was quieted by the invisible, oppressive, and unrelenting force that was being projected by the two women who'd been sent to escort her.
As they walked, Momiji vanished from view briefly. And the group took note of more things about the residence.
There were even more displays of wealth here in terms of statues, paintings, vases holding intricate flowers, and so on. Indeed, if not for all the passed out, drunk women, as well as the vomit, food stains, empty glass bottles, bongs, and… love juices, staining the floors, walls, and everything really, it would have looked really good.
Also, to note, the only other people here were women. There was not a single guy the group passed on their way through the halls and past open rooms.
One room they walked by looked like a massive library, with all the shelves and desks inside being covered in dust. It was full of first editions and other rare books, but nobody here was taking the time to read them.
It was, however, filled with a very thick cloud of dank smoke.
"Hahaha, wow, this paper is greeeeeat." Well, there was one individual in there, though, instead of drunk, she was smoking a hand-rolled joint. A torn-up copy of a rare alchemy instruction book lay on the desk next to her along with a bag of some kind of dried-up herb.
…
The group again made no comment. The pressure from Ikuyo only seemed to increase with each passing step though.
By the end of the first hallway, they entered a room with laudy gaudish staircases leading up to the second and third floors. With doors to the sides leading to other rooms and hallways in the manor. The music was starting to get louder here and the group was able to discern it more clearly.
It was unlike anything most of them had ever heard but the reincarnator girl rolled her eyes in recognition of the prince's basic bitch %$# tastes.
Momiji reappeared in front of them then, seemingly out of thin air, briefly startling everyone. But without paying them any attention, she pointed a finger at the front staircase. "Third floor, overlooking the central courtyard." She explained to Ikuyo. "He doesn't even know we're coming."
"All the better." Ikuyo grinned in anticipation.
It was another minute of walking up the steps and down another hallway, which had more girls in various states of undress, high, or drunk; whilst doing the most bizarre things, before they stopped seeing those who'd wandered from the party to detox (or otherwise, get more drunk or high with the alcohol and weed they'd brought with them), and came to the main celebration proper.
Again, there was no one but women around. Even the band playing for everyone's entertainment was made up of only women.
The music was blaring so loudly here that it was impossible to even hear oneself if one were to speak up. The instruments of the band members were clearly magically enchanted somehow. Another thick cloud of smoke lingered across the whole stage and the dance floor surrounding it.
The dance floor was filled with girls in bras and thongs dancing erotically to the pop music being played. The back of the stage opened up to a central courtyard housed in the center of the mansion complex.
Off to the side, there was a large, chocolate fountain. Yes, chocolate. One of the rarest goods in this world. Not only was it large enough to be a legit fountain, but at least a dozen girls were doing the equivalent of mud wrestling in the pool of melted chocolate.
It was, by far, the truest display of wealth to be seen in the whole manor.
The faces of those who weren't from another world changed to a mix of reactions to the strange band playing for all the women there as well as their strange music. But Momiji and Ikuyo didn't pause as the quieter girl pointed to a spot overlooking the crowd.
There sat the only guy in the entirety of the mansion. The individual for whom the two enforcers had been running errands in this world until recently.
Tact Alsaholn Faubley - Crown Prince of the Faubley Empire - The Whip/Claw/Hammer/Axe/Projectiles Hero
He was a well-built man with a handsome face. Having gold blonde hair and blue eyes that could make any girl fall for him. At an outward glance, his handsome Western appearance was not unlike that of Motoyasu's.
However, that was where the similarities between the two ended.
Tact's clothes consisted of a rough leather jacket and ripped jeans. He wore a red bandana around his head. You'd think someone in his position would have been wearing a leopard's robe or whatever, but no, he was dressed like a stereotypical B.M.O.C. His blue eyes did not reflect warmth like Moto but instead held a pompous lustful air to them just like the rest of his face.
In his left hand was a goblet filled with the finest wine Faubley had to offer. And latched onto his right arm was the latest woman he'd just finished using. A familiar, drop-dead gorgeous kitsune who'd arrived from Zeltoble a week ago to return to her master's side.
Beatrice was in the process of chugging down a whole bottle of some blue-tinted spirit, before letting it fall onto her maid outfit on the ground next to Tact's 'throne' with a clatter. She had a dopey smile on her face as she had nothing to cover herself with.
Attached to the prince's side was a distinct-looking throwing knife with a gemstone embedded in its hilt. The reason for Tact's ongoing celebration, which had been going on for over a month now.
Momiji and her group wordlessly moved through the dance floor, carelessly pushing the intoxicated women out of their way, despite their protests.
Even as they approached, the maid Tact had just finished using was helped up and back into her outfit by two other girls loyal to Tact. And the young man, after taking a deep swig from his wine cup, already looked to be leering at one of them, ready for yet another round of debauchery.
Rino's carefully crafted mask almost slipped as she was taking everything around her in. And it was as they were finally approaching the steps to the operative's throne that a fierce-looking lizard woman as well as a short girl with blonde hair finally stepped in their way, acknowledging the group.
"Halt! What business do you have with our Lord?!" The lizard girl asked with a dangerous tone, her thick, scaled tail lashing against the tiled marble floor.
"You don't look like anybody my Big Brother wants to waste his time with! Leave this instant!" The short spoiled blonde brat next to her demanded.
Compared to the others, they weren't very tall, nor were they stacked. They definitely had 'big' personalities though.
Fortunately, for the pair, another woman with a strange mask on her face materialized next to Tact and whispered something into his ear. He then looked away from the maid he was ogling, and his lips spread in a big smile. "Let them through, Leludia, Nana. Beatrice informed me of their coming.
"I've been expecting them."
The two lolis turned to pout at the powerful man, then looked away as they stepped to the sides.
Momiji finally spoke as she and the others approached Tact's makeshift throne. "And here I believed you'd have finished celebrating while at that vacation island of yours."
"Momiji! Ikuyo! It's been a while!" Tact laughed happily. Ignoring what the quiet girl had said.
His eyes then fell on Malty, and a look of shock crossed his features.
"Malty! Holy #$%! Your face! WHO THE $%& DID THIS TO YOU!?"
…
The band in the center of the room abruptly stopped playing, startled by the man's enraged roar which managed to briefly overpower the din of the music. Those who weren't passed out or high turned their heads to look in Tact's direction.
The man had jumped from his throne, now standing in front of the redhead, taking in her appearance. Her shortened red hair, the angry burning scars on the side of her beautiful face.
It was truly horrible! As deserved by a pig such as her!
…
The girl started to sniffle as tears appeared in her eyes. "Oh, Tact, it was that awful Shield Hero!
"He did this to me during one of his rampages in Melromarc on Mommy and Daddy's orders!"
For the next minute, she proceeded to tell a fabricated story, painting herself as the heroine and everyone back in Melromarc as the villains.
Her acting skills were put on full display. And, unfortunately, it wasn't as if she didn't have truths or half-truths to back some of it up.
"I tried to stop him, but, but then… then…
"Oh, Tact, it was so, so scary! He'd tried to rape me before, and I barely managed to fight him off then! But I couldn't do anything to save my people when he did this to me! So many died from his cursed flames!
"And to think my horrible parents have sided with that monster!
Home has become such a horrible place in the last few months! Even the other Heroes and my younger sister have been seduced by his wiles!
"I've missed you so much! Wahhhhhhh!" Still crying, Malty hugged the man close, burying her face in his neck.
…
Tears were falling from her eyes, but with her face hidden, the girl smiled wickedly.
Too easy.
Tact trembled, his face turning red with rage. Despite that though, he wrapped his arms around his favorite girl and held her delicately, as if she were a fragile vase that'd shatter at any moment.
"Don't worry, this blot upon your beauty will be restored in no time, my precious Myne. And afterward, the wrongs done to you shall be avenged." Tact then took a vial filled with a bright green substance from the weapon at his side.
"My Lord, is that wise? I thought that was to be set aside in case of an emergency since you only have one." The masked woman who had appeared earlier curtsied respectfully.
"With as much wealth as I have, it'll be a simple matter for me to obtain more Yggdrasil's Elixir, Melrith," Tact said dismissively. "Malty has had to live with these scars for long enough."
"... of course." The girl bowed again and stepped back into the shadows as Tact fed the world's most powerful medicine in the world to his favorite girl.
The redhead's body glowed brightly as the powerful medicine took effect.
Unfortunately, just as it had with Naofumi, the burned, ugly scars on the right side of Witch's face slowly began to vanish, being replaced with fresh, cream-colored skin.
The angry indent around her left eye vanished. Her eyebrow regrew, becoming as lush and full as her right one. Her hair grew in length, falling back down past her shoulders again.
Scars and calluses across her body that she'd accumulated from her life and hardships during her travels vanished.
In only a moment, Malty stood in front of Tact. Completely restored to her former beauty, unmarred by any past events.
"Aha. Ahahahahahaha!" The redhead began to laugh in delight.
At last, the beauty that the Shield Demon had stolen from her with his Cursed Shield had been returned. She'd escaped the consequences of her actions yet again.
And now, with Tact at her side, she could make him and the rest of those pathetic Heroes pay for daring to stand in the way of her destiny to become Queen!
With smiles on their faces, the band resumed playing, and the crowd of women began to dance and sing along in earnest.
Rinya briefly frowned again, but as Mald and Lesty both stared at Malty in surprise or joy, she smiled as she knelt in front of the First Princess. "My Grace, it is pleasing to see thy beauty restored unto thee.
"Thank you so much for your generosity to my future Queen, Lord Emperor." She then said as she directed a respectful bow to the human trash in front of Witch.
Tact laughed, looking pleased. "Well, I am not the emperor yet, but still..." The prince's expression briefly turned lustful as he eyed Rino up and down like a fresh piece of meat. "I must say, your servant is well-spoken, Malty. Is it possible for us to-" He started to ask.
"Am I not enough for you?" Malty asked with a pout, hugging his arm between her breasts.
Rinya giggled. "My deepest apologies, Lord Emperor. You have earned my eternal gratitude for restoring my Queen to her gracious appearance, but I do not wish to get in the way of her love for you." She bowed respectfully again as she said the last part. "And it looks like she wants you right now."
Malty's grin widened. Lesty sputtered where she stood, and quickly stood up straight. "Yeah! I definitely don't want to interfere with Malty's love life either! Right, Mald?!"
"Um… yes." The nobleman looked away.
Tact finally noticed the pair, and while he smiled at Lesty, his eyes looked distastefully at the man who'd dressed himself in full plate, minus the helmet.
Yep, Mald did not want to be there any longer. This place was full of beautiful women. But he somehow knew that if he so much as glanced at any of them in Tact's presence, he'd die in the most painful way imaginable, so he kept his eyes firmly pointed down at the ground in submission.
Yet even then, Tact began to take a step towards him.
"Ehhem."
Momiji coughed into her hand, standing directly in Tact's path. She was looking at him with a blank look on her face.
"Oh. Right, good work bringing Malty here. Feel free to join the party, if you want. Or do you need something else? Some more spending money, perhaps?" Tact asked the enforcer absentmindedly.
"That depends. What are you going to do now that we've 'finally' brought your favorite girl back to you?" The blue-haired girl asked while slightly lifting her head and peeking out to look at Tact from under her hood.
"... what am I going to do?" Tact repeated the words in confusion at the sudden inquiry. "I guess, first things first, I'd love to spend some time… reacquainting myself with said favorite girl." Tact grinned in Malty's direction, and Malty blushed as if she were some innocent schoolgirl.
Even though on the inside, she was looking forward to finally having someone worthy of warming her bed again. As stupid as the fool who wielded the Cardinal Spear was, he was a decent lay and Malty missed having such a competent lover.
"Then, if this 'man' there hasn't left by the time I'm done pleasing Malty and we have returned to the party, then I will kill him," Tact stated in the most matter-of-fact voice possible.
"..."
Mald's face turned as white as a sheet.
Yep, he'd been feeling more and more nervous when he didn't see any other men here. Now he knew why.
"Awww, don't be so mean, Tact! Mald has been a great help to us!" Lesty whined. "It was thanks to him that me and Malty even escaped Melromarc!"
"... And to show my gratitude for that, I am permitting him to leave my house before I take more… drastic measures, to remove him." Tact smiled coolly in the spoiled noblegirl's direction. "And if you want, I can show you a good time later too, Lesty."
"Yes! I'd love that!" Lesty swooned on the spot, earning a scowl from Malty who stood behind Tact.
Rinya frowned, but before she could say anything since some of her comrades were also male, Momiji spoke up again. And on a completely unrelated topic.
"You mean… this party is still going to continue?"
Tact laughed. "Of course! Do you know how long it took me and my girls to corner the bastard with the Projectiles Weapon?!" The man showed off the throwing knife as he moved it from his side to his hands. "In fact, if it wasn't for Nana here, I'd still be trying to hunt his #$% down!"
"Ehehehe! I'll do anything to ensure Big Brother becomes the best Hero in the whole wide world!" The little blonde brat from earlier ran up to Tact's side, hugging him tightly.
"Yep! As I always say, I'm the only Hero this world needs! And now with Malty's safe return, I have even more reason to celebrate! So long as 'stache there gets out of here now while I'm still in a good mood." Tact leered distastefully at Mald again.
"..."
"..."
Ikuyo and Momiji remained quiet for several seconds.
"Wasn't the Projectiles successfully stolen by another operative six months ago?" Momiji pressed on.
This time, her voice had a strange lilt to it. "I could have sworn that's what M'yne told us, at the very least."
"If that's true, I don't see why you'd need to steal it," Ikuyo said after her. Her voice also sounded weird.
Almost, crazy.
"Oh, is that what you think?" Tact smirked as his sister let go of him. He then proudly pointed at himself using both of his thumbs. "Yeah, that mob managed to steal the weapon and kill its original wielder, but he was just another one of those dime-a-dozen NPCs that keep flooding my server and polluting it with their mere presence.
"He didn't deserve to wield it any more than the bastard who had it before."
"... And if given the choice, would you also steal Moto-kun's weapon?" Momiji asked one last thing, her blue eyes shining from underneath her hood.
"Moto-who?" Tact frowned before his face brightened in realization. "Ah! One of the Cardinal Buzzkills Beatrice told me about!"
"Of course, he'd have to!" Malty interrupted, pouting as she hugged Tact's arm again. "He's almost as bad as the Shield Demon! And he tried to rape me too!"
"Ha! Then yeah! I'll not only steal their weapons but make this Mo Wad and Shield Whatever guys suffer in the worst ways imaginable before I finally allow them to die!"
…
…
…
Oh Gods.
Tact really was an idiot.
And Witch was an even bigger idiot for encouraging him down that line of thought.
Did they not realize who they were talking to? Had this guy not read the orders M'yne gave him on why they were here in this world?
Had Witch never figured out just how obsessed these two were with Motoyasu?
They might as well have started digging their graves right now!
Ikuyo spoke again next while Momiji's smile slowly grew. "You ain't gonna share your weapons with anyone else then, I take it?"
"Of course not! What kind of stupid question is that?!
"I'm level three hundred and &%$%& fifty! These weapons would be wasted in the hands of other NPCs when I'm the only one capable of drawing out their full powers!
"Besides, why would I have to share when I'm the only Hero this world is going to need in the end?!" Tact visibly bristled as if insulted.
"So you're saying that even if we ordered you to, you wouldn't accept?" Ikuyo continued.
"Me, taking orders from you?! Heh! Don't make me laugh!
"You two might be enforcers, but I know for certain that I'm the boss's favorite! He told me that much himself! You can't do jack $%& to me without getting on his bad si-"
All of a sudden, the deep, oppressive presence that lingered around the two enforcers before, rapidly spread out, covering up the whole massive ballroom with a suffocating smother.
The instruments the women in the band had been holding were sliced down the center. The magically enhanced speakers projecting their music falling in clean halves to the sides.
The top of the chocolate fountain fell over, crashing into the chocolate pond beneath it. Tables full of treats and booze and various other things fell over, spilling contents and broken glass bottles everywhere.
As for Tact… he had stopped speaking in shock, as a set of distinct and very familiar black chains had sprouted from his chest where his heart was and wrapped themselves over his mouth.
Momiji let out a deep breath, and a crazed look appeared in her eyes. "Alright, Ikuyo. We got the bastard to confess to everything.
"We can do whatever we want to him now."
"Ahahaha! Yes! Come on, Bitchboy! I've been waiting a long time for this!" The blonde began to laugh hysterically, sending drops of spittle everywhere as her tongue lolled out of her mouth.
The women surrounding Tact tried to act in his defense after a couple of seconds had passed.
Unfortunately, that'd proven too long, as by the time they'd finally grabbed their weapons and tried to attack the two women, Ikuyo had grabbed both Ikuyo and Tact with her hands. And they subsequently sank into the floor and vanished from view.
"What the-"
"Lord Tact is gone!"
"THEY'VE KIDNAPPED MY BIG BROTHER!"
"LORD TACT!"
The members of Tact's harem immediately fell into chaos. Some ran around like chickens with their heads cut off. Others screamed in fury while making a beeline for their clothes and weapons.
And yet more laid on the floor, passed out drunk or high from the party. Truly, it was such a mess. Nothing like what you'd expect from a group of people who were supposed to be, on average, around level 250.
Regardless, it wasn't long until those standing had roused those asleep on the floor and used healing and detox spells to cleanse their systems. And while a few were still covered in vomit, chocolate, or other fluids, the hundreds of women in Tact's harem, sans Malty, Lesty, Mald, and Rinya joined the manhunt.
The last four not joining because of the fear on their faces.
All of them knew what that look of Momiji and Ikuyo's entailed. While most of those individuals were well known for their stupidity, they were smart enough to know that intervening would not end well for them.
Malty, in particular, had seemed to sense that badmouthing the Spear Hero in their presence had been, put simply, A COMPLETELY TERRIBLE AND ABSOLUTELY BRAINDEAD IDEA.
So they hid themselves away and hoped this mess would blow over without involving any of them in it.
Meanwhile, several floors below, in the basement of the massive manor, Momiji reappeared, with Ikuyo and the now completely bound Tact on the floor in front of them.
"Wow. I forgot how tiring it is to make others phase with me." The hooded girl shook her head as she took a Soul Healing Water from her weapon. She could do it for party members at a major cost of SP, but it wasn't something she could do to an enemy unless her stats were far greater than theirs.
But thanks to what M'yne had given them, she could do so to Tact as well.
"This looks like the perfect place! I didn't know Bitch Boy had a torture chamber down here!" Ikuyo laughed in delight.
"Go make sure the vault door he has for this room is nice and sealed. We wouldn't want anyone to interrupt our 'fun' now." Momiji instructed softly.
Ikuyo continued to laugh manically in anticipation as she ran over to the door, which, unlike the rest of the place, looked to be made from a strong magic metal. At least in one of the more practical places in this blasted waste of a manor, Tact had done something smart.
Or maybe it was the member of his harem that this room belonged to?
Too bad, since right now, it'd be to his detriment.
Momiji picked the struggling man off the ground. By this point, the black chains of his soul contract were wrapped tightly around his legs and arms. He could hardly even squirm as Momiji placed him on a chair reminiscent of those found in a dentist's office.
Finally, she looked at his enraged face and smiled.
"You've been a very naughty boy, haven't you, 'prince'?"
Tact screamed into his muffle. And Momiji, curious, dispelled the chains around his mouth to hear his complaint.
"Wahnsinn Claw!"
A sharp ray of light came from the weapon at his side, slamming into Momiji's chest.
Clang!
Only for the powerful attack to shatter upon contact with her body.
"W-What?!" The sex-addicted violent man stammered.
"Ufufufu! Don't you know you're unable to harm those who hold authority over the soul contract?" Momiji giggled into her hand.
"W-What are you talking about?!" Tact screamed in a rage.
"Normally, even attempting to harm your masters would have destroyed your soul on the spot.
"Unfortunately, me and Ikuyo weren't granted access to that option.
"Still, like this, we can keep you from ever harming us for as long as you live."
"Y-YOU BITCHES! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM-?!"
"Blah blah blah." Momiji rolled her eyes as chains wrapped over the man's mouth again, cutting him off mid-sentence. "For someone who calls his fellow cohorts NPCs, you act an awful lot like them."
Tact thrashed on the chair against his bindings, seeking with all his power to escape.
"To be honest, I don't even want to be here. I've found this trip up till now to be nothing but a boring side quest with very little benefit on mine and Ikuyo's part.
"It would have been one thing if you'd at least sent the airship our way so it would have taken us two days to get here instead of a month. Hell, it would have been MUCH better, and MUCH faster, if Karn, our fellow enforcer, had been allowed to teleport us straight from Zeltoble to here in the few seconds it would have taken!
"Unfortunately, he's never even stepped foot in Faubley, as you've done a good job of making it quite clear that EVERY SINGLE male operative that comes near this nation DIES, in the most painful ways imaginable.
"And it wasn't enough for you to just kill their bodies either. You had to destroy their souls so they wouldn't respawn again. Whether they had weapons or not.
"You didn't even give them the option of transferring to another world. You have wasted so many resources the company graciously put forward toward subjugating this world.
"Dozens of operatives GODWORLD placed here are dead, all thanks to you.
…
"So instead of me and Ikuyo getting to spend time with our precious Moto, we had to waste time babysitting you. Trying to 'gently' steer you in the right direction, all whilst you sent us on a bunch of meaningless errands that weren't helping you solidify your power in Faubley since you were so, so busy pleasing most of the women in your life.
"Ahahaha. And even now, after finally bringing your favorite prized girl back to you, all you were thinking about was continuing to enjoy sex and booze."
"MMM! MMMMM!" Tact tried to scream through his gag again, but Momiji didn't drop it this time.
Based on the way he was glaring with so much hate at her, she didn't need to guess what he was trying to communicate.
"I'll be honest. Whether you'd said you were continuing the party or not, this was going to happen. You've caused me and Ikuyo too many problems to simply forgive your idiocy up till now.
"Ikuyo, are you done back there yet?"
"Almost! I'm just making sure it won't open for quite some time!" The girl called back cheerfully.
"Alright. Just remember, I'm capable of moving us through the walls again if I have to."
Ikuyo laughed jovially again in response, while Momiji smiled sweetly down at Tact's reddening face.
"Don't worry, if you think we're going to kill you, we're not. As much as we'd like to, our bosses still think you can be useful.
"I personally don't see how filth like you could ever amount to anything meaningful, but you did manage to single-handedly stockpile almost every single vassal weapon on this world, so you can't be a complete moron.
"But regardless, so long as we get our end of the deal, me and Ikuyo will do whatever 'they' tell us to.
"So long as we end up with Moto in the end."
…
Tact's body stilled in confusion.
The girl smiled, however, daydreaming about her precious Moto.
She and Ikuyo held in his firm but gentle arms. The three of them resting on a blanket under a sakura tree, laughing and smiling together at some story Moto had told them.
A picnic basket full of delicate pastries and sandwiches lying on its side. A romantic atmosphere for just the three of them.
Their knives buried in his sides.
Their teeth sinking into his neck.
His blood falling freely on their bodies, mixing with theirs as they all finally bound themselves together for all eternity.
…
Momiji giggled to herself, a red flush appearing on her face. Tact's confusion was replaced with realization, and then downright terror.
He was an idiot. But he was Japanese.
And he knew what yanderes were.
What made it worse was how, at that moment, Ikuyo reappeared as well. Her front was covered in blood, and the same crazed manic expression was on her face as she gripped the daggers in her hands.
"Can I do it now Momiji?!
"Can I?! Pleasepleasepleaseplease?!"
...
Momiji stopped giggling, but her smile remained as insane as before as she looked down at Tact, gripping the knife at her side.
"Of course, bestie. You can have his body.
"And I'll have his soul."
The knife in her hand changed in a flash of light.
Momiji Kageno - Former Neighbor of Motoyasu Kitamura, Enforcer of GODWORLD - The Vassal Knife Hero
What had formerly been a steel blade now looked like something out of a nightmare. The short blade was a translucent white, with a red line at the tip of the blade.
Soul Eater Knife
Tact's eyes boggled in their sockets. And Ikuyo began to laugh insanely again.
Ikuyo Kakai - Former Coursemate of Motoyasu Kitamura, Enforcer of GODWORLD - The Vassal Dagger Hero
In a flash of light, her daggers also changed to a blood red weapon form.
Bloodletter Daggers
It was only at that moment that Tact realized these two girls weren't just ordinary enforcers with Hero Weapons from another world.
No, they'd been connected to the Spear Hero all along.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
When Momiji dropped the gag again, Tact could only scream as the two girls punished his body and soul.
It was… not pretty.
Many of the details of what happened were glossed over in Tact's journal of the event, as well as the journals of some of his harem members at the time.
The journals and notes Rinya and those with her took were where the majority of everything that happened was recorded. But the details were too graphic to be shared outright.
So those details wouldn't be shared, and instead, here is a summary of the events that transpired:
After Tact's disappearance, it took the members of his harem an hour to organize everyone and send out search parties to find their missing Lord.
It took several more hours before someone had the bright idea to use the function of a monster crest put on Ashil, the Griffon Queen, to find out which direction Tact was in. Leading to his main group of girls going down to the basement where Tulina's torture chamber was located.
They were then waylaid a few more hours, as not only had the door been sealed shut from the other side, with the metal being strong enough to even resist their attacks. They also found all the cracks and locking mechanisms on the inside had been clogged with frozen blood, making opening it nearly impossible.
They'd want to claim that they still managed to get through the door, or found another way into the room. But the reality was, they weren't.
Tulina could have had a chance since the place was exclusively for her use, but she was busy playing around in Siltvelt. And she made the room specifically so that none of her pet projects could escape.
It was sometime after the sun had set that the heavily dented door finally slid open, revealing a smiling Ikuyo and Momiji standing on the other side.
The members of Tact's harem would have immediately slaughtered the pair then and there (useless as that would have been) if not for two things.
The first was the gaunt-looking Tact held between them. Devoid of any visible wounds on the surface of his body.
The second being Ikuyo's knife being held at his neck. And Momiji's knife held against one of the black chains wrapped around his body.
Ikuyo was viewed as the main threat here. But in reality, it was Momiji's weapon that should have had them groveling for mercy.
"From this point forward, the celebrations are over," Momiji said bluntly. "Everyone here will clean up this mess of a place, go to bed, and wake up tomorrow to get back to work and take charge of the nation of Faubley on Tact's behalf."
"Or else what?" Nana asked fiercely, scowling as she readied to body the two bitches with her superior high level.
"Or else, Tact dies. And Ikuyo here will replace him, if we don't end up killing all of you afterward that is." Momiji said, pressing the flat of her knife against the black chain.
Several of the girls stepped forward, preparing magic and attacks, but Tact screamed into his muffle. His eyes pleading for them to stop.
"L-Lord Tact?!"
Momiji nodded to Ikuyo, who grinned widely as she raised her dagger up and stabbed it down into Tact's shoulder again.
"MMMM!" He screamed as a geyser of blood erupted from his body. The fact that he'd been so easily hurt made their eyes widen in terror.
But then, to their growing horror, that geyser sprayed itself only on Ikuyo. She shook her head in disgust as the blood was absorbed into her skin and clothes.
"Blegh! Yours is the grossest blood I've ever tasted. Eat more fruit and veggies in the future, Bitch Boy."
Despite her complaints, Ikuyo's appearance began to change before all their eyes, even as the wound in Tact's shoulder closed up.
The girl's height didn't change, but the rest of her body certainly did.
Her breasts vanished, being replaced with a masculine chest. Her long blonde hair and ponytail faded away, becoming shorter and more unkempt, only falling around the sides of her face. But then, that wasn't her face anymore either.
Her eyes changed to blue, and her cheekbones shifted to a more masculine, handsome structure; even as the clothes made of blood on her body shifted into a new form along with the wearer.
Leaving her dressed in a rough leather jacket, ripped jeans, and a red bandana wrapped around her head.
…
All the girls took several steps back. Eyes widened in terror as 'Tact' took in a deep breath.
"Ugh. I even feel like I've become more stupid." Ikuyo spoke in Tact's voice, sounding oddly strange with her gyaru tilt in it.
"Well, anyway, better cut to the chase before I get sick." Ikuyo coughed into her hand. "I'm afraid to inform you all that Bitch Boy here,"
'She' pointed a finger at the true young prince, whom in all regards, she'd taken on the complete appearance and identity of. "Has made some people up top 'very' upset with his recent behavior.
"To the point that we're not just talking about his physical body dying as punishment for his failures. Nah, that'd be too nice for Bitch Boy.
"He's in danger of being soul wiped. Plain and simple.
"However, our bosses believe him and the rest of you sluts to still be of some use. So, regretfully, instead of assigning us to execute the whole lot of you and be done with it, they assigned us to put everyone here on a PIP, as in, a Performance Improvement Plan, to ensure you'd all continue to contribute to the company.
"If, for whatever reason, Tact continues to stay lacking in all regards, his soul will be destroyed.
"His, as well as all of yours."
…
…
Her words had the intended effect. The girls were trembling in fear at the doppelganger of Tact standing before them.
The doppelganger who had even the real Tact, the most powerful person in their minds, whimpering and begging for this nightmare to end.
"Not to worry though, we're not asking for anything unreasonable. All Bitch Boy has to do is take over Faubley and start growing his empire around the world on the Third Army's behalf, which is what he has been working towards this whole time, meaning that if you help him succeed, then everyone will get the same benefits and rewards he currently enjoys.
"And, even better than that, you all will get to have all the fun you want with him when the task is accomplished!
"So either you all will accept this act of mercy, listen to, and follow the orders Bitch Boy will give out from now on,
"Or, we can kill his soul right now. And I will get the pleasure of taking his place and giving those orders in his stead. Killing anyone who refuses to follow them!"
…
…
…
Ikuyo threw her head back and laughed after a long pause. "Oh, I should mention, it's not as if we're going to ban him or you all from having sex or anything while on this PIP either. Just going to have everyone being productive most of the time instead of the little you've been doing this last year. And especially these last couple of months.
"Do you all have any idea just how much sway you could be holding right now if you'd helped out even marginally with the Spirit Tortoise incident? Oh well.
"But if you aren't interested in world domination and are staying with this guy just for the sex and the easy access to the expensive anticontraceptive potions he has you all drink so you don't get pregnant, then even if we kill him, you won't have to worry!
"I have completely taken on Tact's form here. And with my body modification abilities, I can make my tool even better than his!
"It'd be far better than what this idiot could ever do too, since as a girl, I know pleasure spots better than any man! Ahahahaha!"
…
Ikuyo continued to laugh for a moment, until, suddenly, she stopped.
"Just know, it'd only happen once," Ikuyo's gyaru masculine tone shifted to a monotonous voice.
"And then, I'd destroy your soul."
Because at the end of the day, the only person she wanted to make love with was Moto and not some stupid whore.
…
…
…
After another moment of letting her words sink in, Ikuyo nodded, and then, over several seconds, her appearance and clothes shifted, until she was back to looking and wearing the attire of a female doppelganger of Motoyasu.
She gestured for her other friend to speak once more.
"Any questions?... none? Very good." Momiji clapped her hands together.
"Then let us proceed."
Momiji and Ikuyo would do just that. Cleaning up the crapshow that was Tact's manor in the following days.
The messes from the several month long party were all dealt with.
The weed and alcohol were discarded or destroyed, as they were nothing more than time wasters.
The guards who'd been posted at the front of the manor, whom they hadn't forgotten upon their arrival, were strictly punished for their lack of oversight and made to treat their jobs seriously, or otherwise, they'd be killed for their lack of sincerity to their duty in protecting the abode of the Crown Prince of Faubley in the future.
Many of the harem women after being cleaned and rested up would be sent out to begin missions throughout Faubley to bring the nation to its very knees. Be it taking over positions in banks to gain access to various funds and investments on Tact's behalf. Getting into the top circles of the military brass to assess the weak points of the current Emperor's rule. Or otherwise, assassinating key members of the Royal family amongst all the branch families who could possibly rise in power to contend for the throne after the current Emperor's death. Amongst other things.
Others would go out to assist with other missions throughout Tact's area of influence in other nations like Shieldfreeden or scout out smaller countries surrounding Faubley like the Phoenix Nation for his future plans.
As for Tact… whenever he was seen outside the political functions he now had to attend to fulfill his role of crown prince and learn the weak points of his future empire personally before he usurped his father… he never described to any of the women in his life, even Witch, what he'd gone through that day with the two yandere enforcers.
He would get super angry whenever it was brought up in Momiji and Ikuyo's absence. But he refused to even mention it in passing, out of fear that 'they' would inform the two enforcers of what he was saying behind their backs.
All that was known for sure was that, due to the two enforcers personally delivering M'yne's orders in person and etching them into the operative's body and soul, the man stopped saying he was the only Hero the world needed. And his stash of Hero Weapons that he'd stolen was shared with others thanks to control accessories Ikuyo and Momiji had picked up on the way to his manor.
He didn't raise so much as a single complaint about it despite his initial protests to the idea.
The Whip would go to Nana, his younger sister.
The Projectiles he'd spent so long celebrating with would go to Leludia, the current strongest Dragon Emperor.
The Hammer would later be delivered to Tulina, the strongest illusion magic user, in Siltvelt.
The Axe would go to Mald, the noble with the best chance of opposing the Hero Nation's influence amongst the nobility. And Tact wouldn't be allowed to touch him, or the other male comrades Rinya had brought with her either.
Killing any man because they could potentially steal one of his girls was downright stupid behavior. The two girls made sure that the message got across. The last thing the enforcers needed was Tact's chances of successfully taking over the most powerful nation in this world being smaller than they already were.
The only weapon Tact was able to keep for himself was the set of Vassal Claws.
He did not become less powerful having only one weapon. He did not lose levels or get lower stats or anything like that.
The only thing he lost was access to the skills the other Vassal Weapons had.
That was it.
Meanwhile, the benefits the others got, including higher stats (though only 50% of what it would have been since they weren't legitimate wielders but had accessories attached to the weapons that let them draw out more power as an illegitimate wielder than the 30% reincarnators normally got), SP, skills, portal skills, auto-translation abilities, auto-craft, recipes… the list went on and on and on.
The only thing they didn't have were the power-up methods. Which Tact had never bothered to learn about, and still had no idea about even following this mess because he was a major-level supremacist.
It really went to show that hoarding all the weapons to yourself was amongst the most stupid things one could do in this world.
…
Oh, and Karn was finally allowed access to Faubley. Using his portal skills to transport people and goods around more easily for the newly formed outpost of the Third Army in this world.
In short, Tact and his harem were finally shaping up to become a genuine threat.
"What…?" "Gah."
A hooded figure, hands trembling at his sides, stared in disbelief at the sight before him. The young man then quickly dismounted the rider dragon which he'd been using for the last few days to travel.
He'd been working his way across the countryside, trying to alleviate suffering and help people wherever he could, since he was the only Hero out there who could do that.
He had arrived here, to Talon, with the intent to correct one of his biggest mistakes.
The destruction of its capital city.
…
Only, as the dirty-blonde young man stared ahead, he did not see a settlement of tents full of discouraged people. No, what he saw was a city and a people going through a marvelous rebirth.
Houses of stone. Streets being cleaned. Wells being dug. Fortifications being built.
Itsuki tied his ride to a nearby boulder and then slowly approached the settlement.
It made no sense. This area was next to the path the Spirit Tortoise took. The ruins of the city they'd lived in were still visible in the distance.
A place like this shouldn't have sprung up so quickly. The people he could spot from here shouldn't have looked so happy and engaged.
This didn't make sense.
This didn't make any sense!
…
As the hooded Bow Hero slowly approached, his eyes caught sight of another detail that'd eluded him before. And this one made him stop in his tracks entirely.
Were those Bio-Plants growing out in the fields?!
His pace quickened as he approached one. Kneeling down, he found it was producing the same strawberry orange fruits he'd grown accustomed to back home.
Plucking one off a vine and biting into it, he stopped breathing for a moment.
It was a strawberry orange.
It tasted so good…
…
"Excuse me, what are you doing?"
Itsuki jumped up, heart racing as he almost pulled his Bow out from its hidden mini form up his sleeve. Several minutes had passed while he'd knelt there, and he hadn't paid any attention to his surroundings during that time.
He found an older gentleman dressed in battered red armor looking back at him.
"My friends at the gate told me they spotted a suspicious-looking individual approaching our fields. I hope you're not here to cause us any problems." The man said, a frown set on his face, and his arms crossed over his chest.
"I… no, I'm not." Itsuki shook his head. "I'm sorry. The fruit looked very familiar. I'll pay for it." He then pulled out a silver coin from his pocket and held it out to the man.
…
Hearing the tone of a young man, and seeing the offered money, Captain Duross shook his head as his frown disappeared. "If you wish to pay that much, you could simply take a room in the inn for two nights. It'd include meals and a nice bed."
"... I can't. I'm in a hurry and just passing through." Itsuki turned his head away, but he still held the offered coin out in his hand.
"Hmmm…" The knight captain thought to himself for a moment. Then, looking at the growing Bio-Plants next to them, he shook his head. "You look exhausted, young man."
"..." Itsuki said nothing.
Captain Duross turned away. "We have plenty of food for the foreseeable future, so I won't arrest you for taking a couple of our fruits.
"But I would still recommend for you to rest from the road and stay at our new inn.
"It's made entirely from Hero Block, so the rooms retain warmth from the hearths inside very well.
"It'll be better than staying out in the autumn nights here."
"... I'll think about it," Itsuki mumbled.
…
Captain Duross walked away, as well as several of his men who'd come along to back him up. They'd stayed in the background, hidden behind Bio-Plants, in case they were needed. Unlike their Captain though, they were wearing fresh, updated armor.
…
Itsuki stayed standing in his spot for a moment longer… Bio-Plants… Hero Block…
…
Using a stealth skill, he disappeared from view. Only to sneak up on the opposite side of the town moments later to eavesdrop on the people living in the rebuilding city.
Most of the conversations he listened in on were meaningless day-to-day stuff. But there were a few that told Itsuki what he needed to know.
Aksel as the Axe Hero had come here and established trade with the nation of Talon. The Hero Block Captain Duross had mentioned was a new product the Hero's Nation had developed to help people around the world rebuild.
And they were succeeding too. Talon was coming back to life, thanks to the help of the Hero's Nation.
And Itsuki, upon learning this, looked back at his last few weeks of vigilantism…
And was slapped in the face with just how meaningless his actions were.
He'd only helped out hundreds… and failed to save so many more… and here Aksel and the others were saving countless thousands. Doing Itsuki's job far better than he ever could.
It… was just so… so…
Demoralizing.
…
Itsuki left the rebuilding city soon after.
He picked a few more fruits from the Bio-Plants. But otherwise, he was not going to stay behind in this place.
And, as he'd come to find out, there was no need for him to go south any longer.
Aksel and the other Heroes… they'd continue to do his job for him. Far better than he ever could…
…
…
From one of the watchtowers on the wall, the Crown Prince slowly lowered his spyglass, watching as the hooded figure rode off towards the west on his rider dragon.
"Duross, are you certain that was the Bow Hero you met out there?" Cassius asked his friend.
"Yes, I saw him and the Sword and Shield Heroes during our battle against the Spirit Tortoise. He kept his hood up the whole time, but I had a good look at his face when I told him about the inn.
"I'm certain it was him."
…
"..." Cassius frowned, then let out a sigh. "Bow Hero, may the Gods watch over your travels."
The Crown Prince, soon to be King, made a gesture with his hand, before planting it over his heart.
Beside him, his Captain did the same.
…
That evening, when Aksel and Maya visited again with another shipment of Hero Block, they were informed about the sighting of their missing friend.
Staring up at the starry sky, Itsuki shivered in his parka.
It was a cold night. Even colder than the last one. Not yet cold enough for snow, but it made the falling rain from the storm he'd rode into that night all the more biting.
"Gah…" His exhausted rider dragon mount let out a tired groan. Its body shivered next to the small fire Itsuki had built in the shallow cave housing them.
"Fire Arrow." Firing a skill from his Bow, the wet logs began to burn more fiercely.
Yet even though they projected more warmth, Itsuki still felt as cold as the stone his back laid against.
"Maybe I should have stayed the night in that inn," Itsuki whispered to himself.
Yet even as he said it, he slowly shook his head.
Aksel had already been there. His brothers were helping out there.
He didn't want to get in the way of his friend, who'd clearly improved a lot as a Hero without Itsuki there to hold him back. And his older brothers, while getting stronger, were also proving themselves to be far more capable of helping out others than he was.
He would just get in the way.
Like always.
"Like they wanted you to be there anyway."
…
…
Itsuki felt a shiver travel up his spine as he heard his own voice speak to him again. His mount though hardly stirred by the fire.
"You saw the look on that guy's face. He was just saying what he did out of politeness.
"The people there would have kicked you out as soon as your identity became apparent.
"Just like how you kicked out your friends."
"I… didn't kick them out. I freed them from myself." Itsuki whispered softly, his body trembling even more.
This voice, Itsuki's voice… had appeared a few nights ago. And somehow, it was even harsher on Itsuki than he was on himself.
"Freed. Pushed away. Kicked out. What are a couple of words in the face of the cold hard truth?
"They'd have treated you the same way you treated those supposed 'friends' of yours, false Hero."
Itsuki bristled at the voice's favorite title for him. He was sad, and he was depressed, but above all that, he still had his pride!
"I'm not a false Hero! The Bow chose me for a reason!"
"Sure. Keep on telling yourself that.
"After all, why else would you be out here playing vigilante, while your supposed 'friends' are out there making a real difference in people's lives?
"Wouldn't you be better off helping them out, or do you just hate actually helping people that much?"
"My only purpose is to help those who can't help themselves!" Itsuki screamed. "That's my job as the Bow Hero!"
"Man, talk about being hypocritical."
Itsuki felt more anger and resentment at the words, as well as a mix of sadness and shame. "I'm just trying to do what I can."
"And just how many more will suffer for your selfishness and PRIDE, False Hero?"
The Bow Hero vaguely remembered Naofumi and Motoyasu talking about this. The insidious whispers of the Cursed Series speaking in his own voice, urging him to use it more.
He hadn't experienced it before, at least not so vividly. But what Itsuki did in the fight against the Book Hero, the oath that he broke, as well as the crushing guilt that'd mounted on him these last few weeks; all of it must have combined to finally push him over the edge.
"False Hero… False Hero… False Hero…"
Itsuki shuddered, putting his hands over his ears and laying in the fetal position on the ground.
Only like this, the voice wouldn't bother him. Yet his hands, exposed to the cold, began to tremble uncontrollably, even as tears continued to leak down the sides of Itsuki's face.
"I am making a difference. I am making a difference. I am making a difference. I am making a difference." He repeated the mantra again and again to himself as if he could bring himself to believe it, to disbelieve the mantra his own voice said to him.
But his cold hand moved to the fire for warmth, and the voice spoke again.
"You are accomplishing nothing, false Hero.
"Not even Her Majesty wants you around to help anymore-"
Itsuki covered his ears again, shutting out the voice.
Eyes closed tight, and chest wracking, he brought up his Portal list and selected Melromarc's Capital. Besides Lurolona, it was the only place he had on his list that wasn't on this side of the world. And he didn't want to go back to the Hero's Nation, not yet. He couldn't. Not now. Not when he wasn't strong enough to face everyone yet!
Error: Location inaccessible.
But just like the last few nights, since being tormented by the voice, he got the same error prompt.
More tears escaped the young man's eyes as he remained in his fetal position. Cold hands covered his cold ears, sobbing himself to sleep as he hoped the voice wouldn't bother him for the rest of the night.
…
…
…
Eventually, he'd wake up in the morning. His entire body was cold to the touch. The small fire he'd set up the night before was nothing but a pit of red coals.
"Gah…" His mount let out a weak cry of complaint. As cold and hungry as the Bow Hero, who regretted even more that he hadn't chosen to stay the night at an inn.
"Don't worry… I'll trade you in at the next settlement, so you'll have an owner that'll treat you better than me." Itsuki looked off to the side sadly.
"Gah…"
Itsuki didn't say anything to the mount, who was intelligent enough to look at him with worry, and they rode out into the storm that was still very much active outside.
There was nothing but rain and thunder that whole day. No monsters dared to come close to the Bow Hero as they were all seeking refuge from the storm.
But even in his heart, Itsuki could never escape from himself.
"Keep running, False Hero.
"Keep running. But you'll never escape me."
Nor that voice that seemed to follow him everywhere he'd go.
Author's Notes:
Ok. I can safely say there isn't much left to cover for this arc. We are fast approaching the point of transitioning from slice of life to plot once again. And, without spoiling anything, it's going to be a doozy.
Hero Clips!
Couldn't You Have Portaled?!
"Wait! Wait!" Tact screamed.
Ikuyo and Momiji, whose weapons were primed to cut into his body and soul, paused.
"I don't understand! You both have Hero Weapons too!" Tact continued, grateful that the two insane yanderes had stopped just centimeters from his skin.
"Yes, and?" Momiji asked.
"Well, if you both have Hero Weapons, then why didn't you just portal back to Faubley after you found Myne?!" Tact asked. "You had save spots set up at my mansion, didn't you?!"
…
…
…
You know what, as the narrator, I agree. Why didn't the two crazies just portal back instead of taking a month to travel via carriage?
Screw Karn choosing to be a dick and not helping his allies out in the slightest by portaling them and the carriage part of the way there, just to ensure that Tact would receive an even greater punishment for not helping out in any way, shape, or form.
This was a huge plothole and would have readers foaming at their mouths for how blatant it was if it was never explained.
…
…
…
"Ehehehe." Ikuyo and Momiji both let out giggles at the same time. Their cheeks heated up in embarrassment.
"Well, we did have a save spot set up here before we left," Momiji admitted.
"Butttttttt…" Ikuyo started to drool.
One month ago
The paladin and her party were left in the middle of the street. Confused by their chance encounter with what they'd later discover to be the Spear Hero of Legend and his Filolial Queen.
Most of the group then shrugged and walked up the road towards their inn. Two individuals who'd been traveling with the group, however, were still staring in Motoyasu's direction. Their eyes were wide with realization, and breathes came in and out quickly.
"Moto…"
"That was Moto…"
Ikuyo and Momiji looked at each other.
After what'd felt like centuries…
…
Grins spread across their faces.
Yep, they were thinking the exact same thing.
During the week Motoyasu spent in Zeltoble, fighting in the arenas, meeting up with Sadeena and other gladiators, and the like; he did not realize there were areas he went to frequently.
Areas where he could easily be spied on at times of the day.
One was the bedroom he and the others were given. Thanks to his rule that they be back by sunset, he was always there around that time.
Allowing the two enforcers to set up a save spot in the vent outside the room to watch him.
They had to do that since they couldn't have snuck into the room while he or someone else was there. But there was just enough space for the two crazies to observe the Spear Hero through the vents.
And it, was, heaven.
However, to their disappointment, Motoyasu portaled home each night. Meaning they didn't get to watch him sleep.
Meaning they had to find other spots where they could observe Moto. Because naturally, that's what any other normal girl would have done in this scenario.
Nothing weird about that or anything.
And so, they ended up setting up save spots at the fighting arena Motoyasu normally had his matches in. The bathhouse he'd visit to relax. The restaurant with the strange sheep chef that Motoyasu preferred to eat at. The bathroom Motoyasu-
YOU KNOW WHAT, it was safe to say the two bat&%$ insane yanderes had save spots set up almost everywhere on Motoyasu's schedule in Zeltoble, allowing them to spy on him and swoon over the Spear Hero without his knowledge at any time of day.
And while they did try to leave one spot for Bitch Boy's mansion in Faubley, when Motoyasu had to change rooms after that sleezebag 'whatever' council guy they couldn't bother to remember the name of ended up forcing Hickwaal to change rooms out of fear for their lives, they used their last save slot that'd formerly been set in Faubley for the new room Moto and his party had been moved into instead of using the old save spot they'd had set up in the old room's ventilation.
Because love makes you do stupid things in the heat of the moment for some reason.
"BUT THAT WASN'T EVEN A MOMENT! THAT WAS A WHOLE WEEK OF STUPIDITY THAT-" Tact started to scream.
"Hush, Bitch Boy. It's time to start your punishment now." Momiji deadpanned with dead eyes while placing her Soul Eater Knife against his armpit.
"Ehehehe! Good luck, Bitch Boy! You're gonna need it!" Ikuyo, laughing, stabbed her daggers into the blonde man's sides.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Tact screamed in pain, frustration, and fear that was to become his life.
Too bad for him. He shouldn't have been such an idiot in the first place.
Even Kyo lasted way longer as an interesting antagonist, lol.
And that was canonically why Ikuyo and Momiji didn't teleport everyone back to Faubley with their Hero Weapons.
…
No, I'm dead serious. This was the actual canon reason why it happened like this.
Why are yanderes so freaking crazy and obsessive?! I'm not paid enough to cover the therapy dealing with this!
Someone please save me-!
Till Next Time
Allen