Chapter 146 Moonlit Heroine Berserker
The dark, unlit path at night seemed so dark that I couldn't see a step ahead, but it wasn't really like that.
Especially tonight, the moon is big, which probably helps. Compared to modern neon lights, it feels a bit unreliable, but surprisingly, it's not too much of a hassle. Maybe it's because I'm getting used to this place.
"⋯⋯."
Kingdom. Beast. Magic. Knights. In modern Japan, all of these feel like distant fairy tales. But now, they feel so close and natural. When I first arrived, I was wide-eyed at everything. It's still romantic, but in moments like this, it feels a bit like a ticklish nostalgia. It's strange and a little amusing.
I guess I'm lost in thoughts like this because of that dream I had. The familiar scenery of modern times gently slowed my hurried pace.
(Moon's lookin' mighty bright tonight)
(Wow, you're getting a bit romantic here. You've been feeling oddly calm for a while now, and that's kinda creepy for a Master, you know?)
(Don't go gettin' your knickers in a twist. Everyone needs a moment to themselves.)
(If you're gonna show off that mature side, at least walk with a girl next to you first.)
(You sound like one of those boring old men now, this iron pipe.)
As expected of Ruthless. She doesn't care about the sentimental atmosphere at all.
(So, is moping the way to get chicks these days?)
(Definitely better than being childish all the time. Oh, but I actually prefer Master to be straightforward and simple. Easier to handle, right?)
(If ya didn't say that last part....)
(It's fine to be straightforward and simple. Well, you do treat me like a girl, so that's a high score for you, Master.)
But Ruthless doesn't feel like a beast. In that dream the other day, she was a gothic lolita girl, so maybe that's pulling me in that direction.
Ruthless. My partner role is starting to fit, but there are still a lot of mysteries about this girl. In the port town, it seems they called her Amela.
(But seriously, Ruthless. I gotta ask ya somethin. Not just 'bout the magic boost, but how you got me all hot and make my heart run at full speed?)
(What? Oh right, I haven't told Master a lot of things. Actually, the magic boost is just a byproduct (sub-option) of my ability, you know.)
(Huh? So what's the real deal then?)
(Controlling blood.)
(Wait, you're just revealing that so easily!?)
That's totally different from the magic boost. Controlling blood sounds super dangerous. It gives off 0 hero vibes and feels more like a villainous ability.
So, does that mean she forced my heart to move by manipulating my blood flow? I get the gist, but it's a bit creepy.
(But for that, I have to mix in my blood. It's a huge hassle. The boost can be done without mixing, though.)
(Ruthless's blood? So mine right now is mixed with yours?)
(Yup. My blood is mixed in and blending with yours. Ahaha, doesn't that sound a bit naughty, Master?)
(Oh snap! You serious about this!!?)
I didn't hear about this! Seriously, I had no idea!
I just got hit with this shocking fact, and I'm totally confused. The naughty sound thing is really the least of my worries.
(When the hell did this happen?!)
(Well, remember when we helped that witch? You had a big hole in your stomach, right? At that time, I just kinda... asked if I could mix it in, you know?)
(Nah, man! I was out cold! That ain't countin' as an ask!)
(Eh, but if I hadn't done that, Master would have died, so it couldn't be helped. It's not my fault.)
(Guh...)
So that hole was fixed by Ruthless? It feels like a scammy move, but it's true that I would have bled out otherwise. I can't really complain about it.
(Don't whine too much. Being able to control your blood means I can do a lot of things, you know? For example, I could manipulate your body through your blood flow, just a little?)
(Nah... really?)
(Who knows? ───Want to give it a try?)
(Hard pass.)
(Ahaha, you're so cute, Master.)
I'm in control the whole time, so Ruthless is in a good mood. Seriously, this guy has a terrible personality. Shura's naming sense was spot on.
If Ruthless could control my body, she definitely wouldn't do anything good. I really hope this is just a joke from her. Wiping the cold sweat off my forehead, I suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Huh?"
Maybe because I was lost in thought, I had wandered quite far from Helmel.
("Damn, spaced out and wandered off too far. Where the hell am I now?)
(Eh, please don't tell me we're lost, Master... Oh, but this road looks pretty well-maintained. Isn't it a route that leads to Asgardam?)
(You're damn right! Didn't even realize I walked this far.)
(A midnight stroll for a shady-looking guy, huh? If you get arrested as a suspicious person, how long will you be stuck in a cell this time?)
(Three times already? That's pushing it.)
What a casually ominous thought. But with all the random attacks and library incidents happening in Asgardam lately, it doesn't seem like a joke anymore. There's a theory that RPG protagonists have a thing for prisons, but even a saint has their limits. This time, Sara might actually cry.
(Well then, I guess I should head back... Huh?)
I'm not feeling sleepy yet, but it's about time to wrap things up. I can't just keep walking and end up lost; that would be no joke.
As I scratched the back of my head and turned to head back, I noticed something straight ahead. From the direction of Asgardam, a 'pure white figure' was approaching.
"...A woman?"
When I saw it, I couldn't help but mutter in shock. The silhouette illuminated by the moonlight was clearly that of a woman.
A lady in a pure white kimono, with a matching white cloth covering her head, was walking toward me.
(Huh? ...Ain't no spook, is she?)
(Ahaha, Master, you're getting scared!)
(No, no, but seriously, who wanders 'round like that so late at night, huh?)
(How would I know? It could be someone running away or eloping or something!)
Ruthless's reasons are all pretty murky, but if we're talking about something being "a bit off," I guess it's not impossible. While I was still fumbling around with those thoughts, the white-clad woman didn't stop walking. Thanks to that, her appearance became clearer, and I was a little freaked out.
She was stunningly beautiful. A black-haired beauty in pure white attire that suited her perfectly. Under the moonlight, she radiated an almost otherworldly presence.
And here she was, walking toward a shady-looking guy like me in the dead of night. Was this a ghostly encounter or not? Even as she got closer, I still couldn't tell.
"Good eveninggg~"
"Uh? O-oh..."
So when she spoke to me, I ended up stuttering. Her voice had a slightly accented intonation, but it was elegant.
I hurriedly replied, and she gave a graceful nod before casually walking past me.
"..."
I felt a bit let down.
It seemed like she was just passing by. I was on edge, so this was embarrassing. As I tried to suppress a groan of shame, Ruthless suddenly noticed.
(Huh? Master, that person dropped something.)
(Oh? What is it? Oh sweet, yeah, looks like a fancy hair clip.)
She must have dropped it while walking by; a violet hairpin was rolling on the ground. It definitely belonged to the kimono-clad beauty. I picked it up and called out to her back, which was still right in front of me.
"Yo."
"Yes? Is something the matter?"
"Found this on ya. Looks like you lost somethin'."
"Oh my, you're a kind gentleman."
She placed her palm on her cheek and smiled sweetly.
Her gestures were graceful, almost modest. She had that fragrant, traditional beauty of Kyou (Kyoto), but I never expected to meet someone like this even in another world.
As I handed her the hairpin, our fingers brushed. It was warm, and I could feel her body heat. Thank goodness, she was a living person. The ghost theory was debunked. I was the one who raised it, though.
I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
For a moment.
Then my mind went completely blank.
"...Catch you."
"...Huh?"
(...Huh?)
The kimono beauty hugged me tightly.
Yep, tightly.
What the heck is going on here? What's going on? Did she trip and grab onto me in a panic? That's quite a bold move.
Yeah, that must be it, no doubt about it.
So, it's just my imagination that I feel like she's sniffing my chest...
"Ahh... Mister... This is no good... I can't resist... You're making me crazy with that alluring scent... Ahh... I can't hold back..."
"Hold on there! You think this is a game?!"
Nope, it's definitely not my imagination. This woman in a kimono is licking her lips with a dreamy look, and her gestures are so seductive and sensual. My mind is in complete chaos.
What is happening here? Why am I being treated like this, as if she's courting me?
Could it be that she fell for me just because I picked up her hairpin? Is this the power of the protagonist's charm?!
No, no way, that's impossible. Calm down, me. It can't be that. If that were the case, she'd be way too easy to fall for someone.
"Sigh... Ahh... Yes, this is so good... The scent of Hametsu... I can't help it... I can't resist... Please forgive me, mister..."
"Hametsu? What the hell you talkin' about? Get off me!"
"Nope~..."
It's not me who should be saying that, it's her! She's now rubbing her chest against mine while breathing heavily, and she doesn't seem to be calming down at all.
What she's saying doesn't make any sense, and she's so soft and smells so nice that I can't calm down either. So, I desperately tried to pull her away.
"You're so mean, mister... But even that stubbornness of yours is so cute... I thought this would be a troublesome job, but to have such a wonderful encounter... It was worth coming all this way... You must be the one destined for me..."
"Destined... What are you talking about since earlier?!"
"No, not you... Please call me 'Zetsu.'."
"Z-Zetsu?"
"Yes! Call me with more love, please!"
"U-Um..."
Oh no, I'm being overwhelmed.
But Ms. Zetsu, the woman in the kimono, has violet eyes that are filled with a lustful fire, and it's a little scary how intense they are. Her cheeks are flushed pink, and she looks like a delicate and lovely lady, but her words about being destined sound like she's fallen for me at first sight.
Oh, could it be...?
Is this the heroine's grand entrance, albeit late? Is my youth about to begin on a summer midnight like this?!
It's not just youth, it feels like we're sprinting up the stairs to adulthood!
The situation is escalating so quickly, and the more I try to process it, the more I'm stuck in a dead end, going in circles.
As I was caught up in my thoughts, Ms. Zetsu was staring at me with a smile, seductively licking her lower lip.
"Ahh... I can't hold it in anymore."
"..."
For some reason, her gesture reminded me of a snake's tongue when it's about to prey, and it sent shivers down my spine.
Hey, what's going on here? I can feel cold sweat running down my back. My 6th sense, my instincts, are screaming at me.
"Hey, mister. The moon is so beautiful, isn't it?
So... from now on, Zetsu and I... let's love each other?"
The beautiful woman in a kimono, who just uttered the first 'I love you' I've ever heard, gracefully gathered the white cloth she was wearing into her palm.
In the blink of an eye, she transformed the white silk into a pitch-black sword and pointed the tip towards me.
(Oh... I see. I see. So it's that kind of love, the killing kind of love...)
Umm...
Dear Goddess, this is protagonist speaking.
Um, just to be sure, this psycho, beautiful kimono-clad woman... she's not my heroine, is she?
No way.
Seriously, come on...
This is way beyond the level of 'heavy loveeee'!!!!
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