Watching Luscelt, the guildmaster of Heinichen, collapse to the ground, I let out a sigh of relief.
Wow, it had been a long time since I engaged in close combat, and the tension was so high I could barely breathe.
Honestly, close combat, where a single mistake could be fatal, isn’t my strong suit. I much prefer staying at a distance and acting as a magical artillery.
“Master, you were amazing. So cool,” Soulgros said, walking over to me as I was lost in thought.
“Are you okay? No injuries?”
“Oh, it’s nothing serious. I healed quickly by absorbing water from the lake,” Soulgros replied with a casual smile.
Well, being a slime, she would probably be fine… but as her guildmaster and someone who saw her almost like a daughter, the sight of her with a hole in her abdomen was terrifying. That was why I had engaged in close combat with Luscelt. I wanted to repay him with my fists for hurting her.
“Yeah, that really pissed me off.”
“You fought for my sake… Oh no, I’m feeling all sorts of things,” Soulgros said, writhing a bit.
“Feeling what?”
I could only chuckle at Soulgros’s exaggerated reaction.
“You’re really strong, Master,” Lucil said, approaching us.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, thanks to you.”
“That’s good. It’s been a while since I teleported someone else, so I was a bit worried.”
Lucil nodded, still in awe of the fight that had just transpired.
“Master, can I ask? How did you manage to defeat the undead Luscelt? It looked like you stopped his healing too…” Lucil asked, looking up at me with curiosity.
“Ah, it’s a bit strange to agree with Lucil-dono, but I’m also curious. Is there such a spell?” Soulgros added, her curiosity piqued as well.
They were both asking about the spell I had used before attacking Luscelt. That spell had the effect of causing pain to those who normally don’t feel it and preventing self-healing. The latter was essential to ensure victory. If he kept regenerating, it would have been a losing battle. As for the former, I was a bit upset seeing Soulgros hurt and wanted to teach him a lesson about the pain of harming others.
While I may not be the most righteous person, it felt necessary at that moment. Soulgros had mentioned there was no such spell, and she was right. “I created it on the spot out of necessity. Fortunately, it worked as intended.”
“Creating a spell? Is that even possible?” Lucil asked, looking bewildered.
“Master is a great mage?” Soulgros muttered to herself, still in a daze.
“Yes, it’s relatively straightforward. As long as you have a clear idea of what you want the spell to do and follow the proper steps, anyone can do it. Being able to do it in the middle of a battle is something that comes with experience… though I’m still quite young, of course.”
“Ugh… ooo…”
As we chatted, a groan emerged from below. It was Luscelt, still alive despite only having his upper body left after my kick.
As expected of an undead, he wasn’t dead yet, not even unconscious.
“Persistent, isn’t he? Like a cockroach,” Soulgros said with a hint of disgust.
That’s harsh, Soulgros.
Well, considering Luscelt kicked her and put a hole in her abdomen, she has the right to speak harshly.
“Why didn’t you kill him?” Lucil asked, glaring at Luscelt with intense hatred.
To kill an undead, you either need powerful holy magic or a weapon blessed by the Church of Angels. Since I’m not a follower of the Church, my only option was the former. But trying to use such magic in close combat against someone as skilled as Luscelt would have been risky. Luscelt, as expected of a guildmaster, possessed formidable strength.
Though I couldn’t forgive him for hurting Soulgros and killing Apollo and Ligg, I decided to leave the final decision to Lucil. Soulgros seemed indifferent, merely watching Luscelt with a lack of interest, and my irritation had subsided.
“A… ahaha…”
While I was considering this, Luscelt let out a sickening laugh.
It was impressive that he could still speak with only his upper body left. The resilience of the undead was remarkable.
“Do you think you’ve won… Yerkchira the Messianic Legion…?” Luscelt glared up at me, his eyes filled with malice. I held Soulgros back with a raised foot, preventing her from stomping on him for daring to glare at me.
What could he mean? The battle seemed clearly decided.
Or perhaps Luscelt still had some ace up his sleeve, something that could turn the tide even in this situation.
“Ahaha… This isn’t just a duel between you and me. It’s a war between our guilds… Heinichen the Steel Matriarch against Yerkchira the Messianic Legion. My subordinates are certainly in action too, aren’t they?” Luscelt declared, his voice tinged with triumph.
“Hoho!” Soulgros reacted with unexpected delight. If Luscelt’s words were to be believed, it meant that members of Heinichen were also attacking my guild members.
Why is Soulgros so pleased about this?
Despite Luscelt’s boast, I wasn’t worried. My guild members weren’t weaklings who would be easily defeated. If I could handle an opponent like Luscelt, they certainly could too.
“Master, where are you going?” Soulgros asked, noticing my movement.
Lucil called out as I turned on my heel. “Hey, Master! Where are you going?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just have something on my mind. It’s not like I’m worried about everyone and need to check on them to make sure they’re okay.”
“Master! Let’s discuss, in detail, what to do with Luscelt right here and now!” Soulgros cried, clinging to me.
“Let go, Soulgros. I can’t think about Luscelt until I make sure the others are safe. Lucil, do whatever you want with Luscelt! I’m going now!”
As I tried to walk away with Soulgros still attached to me, a shrill female voice echoed through the forest.
“What do you think you’re doing, clinging to Master like that, you slimy creature?!”
“Ugh…”
It was a voice I knew all too well. Soulgros grimaced, and I turned to see the source of the voice. A woman with long, silky blonde hair and a lavish red dress—so ostentatious it seemed almost poisonous—stood glaring at us. It was Vampille.
“Why is she here…?”
“What do you mean, why? I returned to the guild to share my heroic tales, only to find that Master hadn’t come back yet. So, being the kind soul that I am, I decided to personally come and find you!” Vampille declared, placing a hand on her ample chest and arching her back confidently.
Heroic tales? Did she complete some significant task?
“Indeed! I… What was it called… Something like… Scrap Iron?”
“Heinichen the Steel Matriarch, you clueless ojou-sama,” came another familiar voice, offering assistance.
And then there was Schwarte, wearing her distinctive long-skirted maid outfit.
“It’s been a while, Master. I’m so moved that I can finally see you. All thanks to that foolish ninja dragging you around…” Schwarte said, bowing gracefully.
Soulgros grimaced. “Ugh… Not only Vampille, but Schwarte too…”
Seeing Schwarte’s polite bow and hearing her kind words, I felt a mix of happiness and confusion. After all, we had just seen each other two days ago. And Soulgros, your reaction doesn’t exactly scream camaraderie. Nevertheless, having two members of Yerkchira here at once… What on earth is happening?
“Master, I’m here too,” came a sultry voice, accompanied by a tug on my sleeve.
I turned to see Krankheit, with her gray hair and an alluring smile, standing behind me. What? Krankheit too? This was getting more confusing by the second.
“N-No way… Th-Those are…” Luscelt stammered, his voice strained due to his condition.
Well, with only his upper body remaining, it’s no wonder he had difficulty speaking. In fact, it’s a miracle he can talk at all.
“What’s this upper-body ghost doing here?” Vampille remarked, looking at Luscelt on the ground with a disdainful expression. She added a soft “Looks disgusting” under her breath.
“This is the guildmaster of Heinichen,” Soulgros announced proudly. “Master defeated him in a magnificent battle.”
Soulgros’s boastful report made me feel a bit awkward. It wasn’t exactly a magnificent battle, but still…
Vampille and the others blinked in surprise at Soulgros’s words, then smiled.
“Oh, come now. That can’t be true. Master, who’s been away from the front lines for so long, defeating another guildmaster? Impossible!” Vampille’s words struck me like an arrow.
It hurts so much…
“Master, you don’t need to do anything. I’ll take care of everything for you,” Krankheit whispered, her hand gently caressing my cheek with a seductive smile.
“Krankheit, could you please stop caressing my cheek so seductively? And what do you mean by ‘don’t need to do anything’? Is my competence really that doubted…?”
“Serving Master is my job,” Schwarte countered, glaring at Krankheit.
“Ugh… Sure, I’m not as strong as you two, but I can fight a little, you know…”
“No way! You have to see Master’s greatness firsthand to understand. So far, it’s just me who has seen it!” Soulgros chimed in, trying to lift my spirits with a smile.
If that’s the case, then Lalladie probably knows too, right?
“But why are you all here anyway? You’re in the way.” Soulgros’s question brought my wandering thoughts back on track.
“Right, why did they gather here in the first place?”
“Ah, that’s because…” Vampille started.
“To report this to Master,” Schwarte cut in, her tone serious.
“Report this?” I tilted my head in confusion. “What were they talking about?” Vampille and Schwarte seemed to be on the same page. Each of them placed something in front of me.
“You… you all…” Luscelt’s voice trembled with disbelief.
What they placed before me were two human bodies.