Volume 2 Chapter 21 The Strange Beasts’ Reckoning and the Night of Gratitude
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The teleportation dropped Hirose and the others right outside the entrance of a derelict, abandoned factory. The whole area looked run-down and shabby, a place with poor security that felt like a perfect hideout for shady types.
”E-everyone… this,” Asami murmured, pulling five animal masks out of thin air.
There was a Black Goat, a Blue Deer, a White Tiger, a Red Shark, and a Pink Hawk. Their colors were certainly outlandish, but anything to hide their faces was a welcome favor for Hirose and the group.
”I’ll take the Goat, and Hidou-senpai will be the Deer… please choose the rest as you like.”
With the two favored masks already claimed, Hirose’s team made their choices. Hirose took the Red Shark, Hibiki the Pink Hawk, and Koharu the White Tiger.
And just like that, the bizarre, colorful hero team, the Strange Beasts², was born.
”I can see, but… Asami-chan, how do you manage to fight while wearing that?” Rindou Hibiki wondered.
”Well… I can fight even with my eyes closed, so it makes no difference whether I have it on or not,” Yaginuma Asami responded flatly.
”You’re seriously the strongest, aren’t you?” Hirose muttered in amazement. Asami’s power seemed truly boundless.
”Also… I’m going to cast this, just in case—’Mimicry’.”
A stream of Asami’s magic power enveloped the five of them, and their forms vanished, seemingly blending into the backdrop. Though they could still see themselves, their enemies could not.
”With this… the enemy won’t notice us easily. I’ll layer on a few other effects, too.”
Asami proceeded to cast several more Gift effects onto the others, one after the other.
Once their preparation was done, Asami stepped forward alone. Behind her, Hidou Kirino and Kushima Koharu positioned themselves to guard Hirose and Hibiki.
”I’m going in—”
With that, Asami stepped into the abandoned factory.
Clomp. Clomp. A soft footfall echoed within the wide, high-ceilinged space where several unfamiliar, discarded machines remained. The air was thick with dust, which kicked up in tiny clouds with every step, proof the place hadn’t been touched for quite a while. Still, patches clear of dust revealed where people had recently walked.
After walking for a while, Asami arrived before a door. She stopped when she heard voices talking inside.
”Abaa…”
She glanced back. Hirose and the others were not following, standing guard near the entrance as planned. After confirming their location, Asami slowly opened the door.
* * *
”…How long do you plan to keep me like this? I won’t talk, you know.” Fuyutsuki Koharu was there, tied to a chair for nearly half a day. The strain of being bound without food or water for so long was beginning to show, leaving her looking a little frail. Yet, her skin and hair remained perfectly glossy, her beauty unnaturally pristine, with only her expression betraying her exhaustion.
”You’re staying put until Ryuui-san gets back. Keep quiet.” one subordinate sneered.
”But man… Guh-heh-heh… you’ve got a great body, don’t you?” the other leered.
The ropes cinched her suit, emphasizing her enormous chest. Her well-hidden bust was a feast for the eyes of the low-level adventurer.
”Hey, stop it. Ryuui-san will get mad!”
”Nah, come on… a little touch wouldn’t hurt. He won’t be back for a while yet.”
One of the two guards wiggled his fingers, closing in on Fuyutsuki.
”We might not be able to hurt you, but we can definitely touch you.”
”…!” Fuyutsuki glared, but the man’s hand reached out toward her chest—
”Agh…gah…”
”Huh…?”
Suddenly, the man collapsed as if all his strength had been drained. Alarmed by the anomaly, the second man spun around to check behind him for an intruder.
”Agh…!”
Before he could react, a shock hit his neck, and he crumpled to the floor, his knees folding.
”W-what… what just happened?” Fuyutsuki whispered, stunned. She saw nothing but the two men suddenly lying on the ground.
The next instant, a small figure wearing a terrifying Black Goat mask materialized before her.
”Kyaaah!?” Fuyutsuki screamed, terrified by the sight of the ominous Black Goat.
”Abaa… it’s alright now…”
”Eh…?”
The Black Goat girl, Asami, severed Fuyutsuki’s bonds with a quick, clean hand chop. Fuyutsuki, who had been gaping in surprise, realized this person was not an enemy. “Oh, thank you,” she whispered her gratitude.
”There are fewer people…”
”Huh? The others? They all stepped out for their lunch break. There are at least five more, though.”
”—’Appraisal’.”
”Eh—”
”So, that was it…” Asami checked Fuyutsuki’s status and nodded to herself, understanding something.
”Stay right here. We’ll handle the rest. Now—’Teleportation’.”
”Eh… EEEH!?”
Fuyutsuki was left utterly bewildered, her mouth hanging open. She had been freed, and then Asami had simply vanished.
* * *
Meanwhile, back at the factory entrance, Hirose and his companions were frozen, breathing shallowly and paying the utmost attention not to move.
Right in front of them, a chilling conversation was unfolding—
”—Ryuui-san, what should we do?”
”Hmph. I was planning to use the water torture today. That’s a simple one, but it works best.” Ryuui sneered.
”As expected of Ryuui-san. I can’t wait to see the woman cry and beg—”
”—Oi, hold up.”
Ryuui and his four subordinates had just returned from outside, but he suddenly stopped, sensing something. Hirose and the others nearby held their breath, completely still. Hibiki clutched at the sleeve of Hirose’s shirt, visibly scared.
”Water Jet!”
Instantly, a narrow, five-centimeter-wide stream of water shot from Ryuui’s right hand—it passed right next to Hirose and the others, effortlessly piercing the factory wall.
”…”
”What’s wrong, sir?”
”Tch. My mistake, apparently.” Ryuui tilted his head, then started toward the factory again.
But then—
”Water Jet!”
He fired the water jet again, as a feint.
”Hah hah… it seems my gut feeling was right after all!”
The stream of water was abruptly deflected, dissipating into a mist in mid-air right where nothing should have been.
”Haa… haa…“
It was Koharu’s ‘Reduction Barrier’ that had blocked it. The invisible defensive wall had shielded Hirose and the group from the attack.
They had been exposed. But moving separately would only increase the danger. Though ‘Mimicry’ still kept Hirose’s team unseen, Ryuui and his four men were already drawing their weapons and assuming a battle stance.
”—Freeze.”
The next instant, Kirino unleashed a blast of absolute-zero ice, targeting the five men. The expectation was that the massive, icy attack would paralyze them instantly—but it didn’t happen.
In the very next moment, the stream of water Ryuui had used earlier shot out and sliced through Kirino’s ice. His companions were still able to move, though some were affected by frostbite.
”—Koharu-chan. I’m counting on you to protect them.”
”Got it…!” Koharu shouted back firmly.
Kirino stepped forward alone, wearing the Blue Deer mask and wielding two swords forged of ice.
From there, the fight became a one-sided massacre. One after another, the subordinates fell to the ground, defeated without understanding what had hit them—all except for one man.
”Hoh… you’ve got some skill. Well, then, how about this—”
From his hands, a massive dragon made of water appeared and began to rampage indiscriminately.
”Kuh…” Kirino grunted.
”Koharu!” Hirose yelled worriedly.
”I’m fine…! This is nothing compared to a Minotaur Lord!”
The water dragon slammed against her, and Koharu’s barrier shuddered under the impact. Still, she held firm.
”Haah! Take this! With this—!”
Kirino used her ice blades to freeze and shatter pieces of the water dragon one by one. But Ryuui simply created another water dragon and repeated the attack.
”It’s clear you don’t have much combat experience, kid… Take that!”
”Kyaah!?”
Water was supposed to come from Ryuui’s hands, but that was a partial truth. A second water dragon suddenly appeared behind Kirino—she managed to raise an ice wall instinctively, but the water dragon’s sheer force blew her and the wall away.
”—Kirino!?”
”No! Both of you, don’t move!” Koharu yelled, stopping Hirose and Hibiki from rushing to Kirino’s aid. If they split up, she couldn’t protect them all. Their promise to Asami was to stay put.
So, they could only trust and wait—
”Is that all you’ve got? You seem to have a strong Gift, but you’re still soft… like a child!” Ryuui growled, slowly approaching where Kirino had been blown.
He created another water dragon and prepared to launch it at Kirino—
”Huh?”
—The water dragon instantly dissolved into mere droplets. It was a dragon created with condensed magic, and while being frozen earlier was shocking, this was something else entirely. The magic itself had disintegrated, preventing it from holding form. This was a phenomenon totally different from mere destruction.
”Aba, baa…”
Suddenly, someone appeared next to the fallen Kirino, near the entrance. It was a mysterious figure with the Black Goat mask—like a Baphomet—but wearing cute female clothing from the neck down.
”You look like you’ll be fun, then!”
Sensing something, Ryuui pulled a wicked-looking knife from his waist and changed targets. The Black Goat girl had released her ‘Mimicry’ and revealed herself.
”—’High Heal’.”
The Black Goat girl, Asami, approached the still-invisible Kirino and cast a healing magic. Kirino, who couldn’t move a moment ago, instantly stood up.
”I-I’m sorry… I was careless,” Kirino apologized immediately.
”It’s fine… you’ll only grow stronger… Hidou-senpai has the right potential.”
After a brief exchange, Kirino stood down. Asami slowly advanced on Ryuui.
”Then—let’s go!”
Ryuui charged Asami and thrust his knife. Clang! A high-pitched sound rang out as it was instantly repelled.
”Hah—are you the same as that woman!?” Ryuui shouted in disbelief.
”Shallow… I am different.” Asami denied that the effect was the same as Fuyutsuki’s ‘Golden Time’ status.
Ryuui then created water dragons again, but these were nothing like the ones before.
”I call this the Yamata no Orochi³, but how do you like this?”
The Yamata no Orochi is the eight-headed monster of Japanese mythology. However, the number of water dragons Ryuui created was easily over thirty.
”Go, Yamata no Orochi!”
Though his last attack was dissolved, Ryuui was certain she couldn’t handle this sheer number. Thirty water dragons surged toward Asami all at once.
Yet, Asami didn’t move. She didn’t need to.
”—’Reflection’.”
The next second, all thirty water dragons that had attacked Asami reversed direction. Moreover, their speed and power had been doubled, and they instantly lunged at Ryuui.
”What—how is that even allowed—Guaahhh!?”
Ryuui was consumed by the torrential, doubly powerful water, unable to breathe. After a short period, the assault stopped, and a soaked, unconscious Ryuui lay on the floor.
”Abaa…”
A sudden silence fell over the place.
”Is… is it over?” Hibiki whispered softly.
”It looks like it… haha, Asami… you’re truly incredible…!” Hirose was speechless, moved by Asami’s overwhelming strength. It was the kind of ultimate, heroic power that any aspiring adventurer would idolize.
”—’Good Sleep’.”
Just in case, Asami cast a soothing sleep magic on the five unconscious men.
”‘Mimicry’—release. Takanashi-senpai…”
Hirose and the others became visible again.
After thanking Asami and checking on Kirino, the five of them headed into the factory.
* * *
”—Kyaaaaahhh!?”
Inside, Fuyutsuki was sitting alone on the chair, her bonds now gone. When she saw the five Strange Beasts approaching, she couldn’t help but scream.
Five people in bizarre, suspicious masks were bearing down on her. Anyone who didn’t know them would be terrified by their appearance alone.
”Ah… I forgot I was wearing this—Fuyutsuki-san! It’s me! I’m Takanashi Hirose!” Hirose exclaimed, quickly pulling off his Red Shark mask.
”Heh…”
The moment Fuyutsuki saw Hirose’s face, her eyes immediately filled with tears.
What was this emotion? Seeing his face just made her cry. Was it because he had protected her body from harm? Or did he look like the hero who had come to her rescue in her darkest hour? In any case, Fuyutsuki felt relief, and the tension she had been holding finally broke, making her legs give out.
”Fuyutsuki-san!”
Hirose rushed forward, supporting Fuyutsuki’s shoulder as she nearly tumbled from the chair.
”Hirose-kun… I… I’m so…”
”It must have been terrifying. I’m just glad you’re safe, Fuyutsuki-san… you can leave the rest to us, so please just stay seated for a while. Look—everyone’s here.”
Hibiki and the others also removed their masks, smiling at Fuyutsuki.
”Oh… everyone… I don’t know what to say… not only did you save Asumi-san, but you saved me as well…” Fuyutsuki was profoundly grateful for this fateful meeting.
Perhaps this connection would never have formed if she hadn’t been the one to perform the ‘Appraisal’ that day. If she hadn’t gone to appraise her old acquaintance, Asumi, Hirose might have never thought to use his Gift for her.
That was why Fuyutsuki felt such deep gratitude toward Hirose and the rest of the group.
* * *
Following the incident, the adventurers, led by Kuramoto Ryuui, the leader of the
Since this was a private matter, Fuyutsuki didn’t tell the police everything. Specifically, she kept quiet about the Black Goat girl, as Hirose and the others had asked her beforehand not to report it. She complied, and the entire victory was officially credited to Kirino. This meant that Kirino’s grandfather, Hidou Genroku, the chairman of the Adventurer’s Guild Association, and her father, Hidou Gori, the president of the Adventurer Dungeon Guild, now knew of her true skill. However, Kirino was already planning to reveal her identity anyway to formally register as an adventurer.
The trickiest item to deal with was the ‘Dungeon Core’. Ryuui and his men were silenced about it by Asami’s ‘Mouth Seal’ Gift, meaning only the six people present knew of its existence. Items found in a dungeon belong to the finder, and since the item had left Ryuui’s possession, ownership was legally transferred to Hirose’s group. Fuyutsuki left the handling of the ‘Dungeon Core’ entirely up to them. While she considered handing it over to the Guild for safekeeping, there was always the risk of criminals attacking the Guild to steal it.
In the end, it was agreed that Asami, the strongest among them, would store it in the extra-dimensional space of her Gift ‘Storage’.
* * *
—One week after the incident.
It was the beginning of September, and the weather was slowly starting to cool. Fuyutsuki had returned to her work as a Guild employee, having taken a few days off as a victim of the crime.
This particular Saturday, Fuyutsuki visited a certain house.
Hibiki opened the door after the intercom rang.
”Fuyutsuki-san, come on in, come on in!”
”Please excuse me,” Fuyutsuki replied politely.
Inside the room, Hirose, Koharu, and Kirino were waiting.
”The room isn’t very big… but at least the bed is a little wider,” Hibiki noted cheerfully.
”Yes…”
Today’s meeting was for a purpose they’d planned a week ago: to show off Fuyutsuki’s now-perfected, beautiful skin.
”Well then…”
With the four of them watching, Fuyutsuki slowly undressed, stripping down to her lingerie. The sight of her incredible, explosive bust surprised both Hibiki and Koharu, who were seeing it up close for the first time. Hirose, who had seen it before, and Kirino, whose mother was similarly endowed, remained composed.
Fuyutsuki, already a beauty, had become even more stunning, perfectly gorgeous from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
”Again… thank you all so much. And Hibiki-san… thank you for lending me such a wonderful boyfriend…”
”Aww, Fuyutsuki-san, you’re being too formal! Let’s talk a little more casually, okay?”
”I think calling you by your name is already a bit casual for me…” Fuyutsuki countered mildly. Even with younger people, Fuyutsuki remained exceedingly polite; it was an occupational habit from dealing with countless adventurers through ‘Appraisal’ at the Guild.
”In that case, I’ll call you Saori-chan in private, then!” Hibiki decided brightly.
”That would be fine.”
”I guess I’ll do that too.” Koharu chimed in.
”I will as well, then.” Kirino followed suit.
”I… I can’t just do that yet…” Only Hirose remained stuck.
”Hirose, you’re such a tease~” Hibiki scolded playfully.
”You won’t call me, Hirose-kun…?” Saori asked, her tone slightly disappointed.
”W-well… she’s older than me! I feel completely unworthy!” Hirose stammered.
”You say that after having sex with her multiple times!” Hibiki immediately called him out.
”Hey…! You can’t say that when Hibiki is standing right there!” Hirose groaned in defeat. Usually, it was Hibiki who suggested the Gift be used on someone, but this time, Hirose had initiated it to repay Saori. And using the Gift often led to highly intimate acts. He was eternally grateful to the benevolent God Hibiki for allowing it.
”Then… Saori-san it is…”
”Yes…” Saori’s face flushed slightly at his concession to call her by her first name.
There was another reason for their gathering today. When a group of them met at home instead of outside, there was only one activity to pursue—
”—Alright, let’s take these off,” Hibiki announced.
At her words, everyone began to undress, stripping down to their lingerie.
”This is… my first time doing this with multiple people…” Saori admitted nervously.
”Saori-chan, just leave it to us! In the end, Hirose will probably be the most exhausted, but he’s built up some stamina lately!” Hibiki reassured her with a confident grin.
”Oh, I see…”
Today, it was all five of them together. Could Hirose’s lower body hold up?
Hirose, of course, had no right of refusal. It was the weekend, where the sexual desire that the boss and god, Hibiki, had suppressed during the weekdays was finally unleashed. While they certainly made time during the week, it was often short. The weekends, however, offered a full day to devote to pleasure.
So—
”—Today, we’re going to make you feel wonderful first, Saori-chan!”
Hibiki settled Saori onto the bed, and the other four eagerly leaned their faces close to her body.
* * *
—Several hours later.
”…I learned it.”
The room was thick with the concentrated scent of sweat and sex. The five of them were scattered across the bed and the floor, completely spent, when Hirose suddenly murmured.
”You learned another one…?” Hibiki and the others were usually more energetic, but their exhaustion limited their reaction. Still, the content was intriguing.
”What did you learn?” Hibiki asked, snuggling her head onto Hirose’s right arm.
And the skill that Hirose spoke of was—
”—’Sensitivity Improvement’.”
The name of the skill was for curing frigidity.
—
Summary:
The strange but powerful Strange Beasts team launches a daring rescue mission at the derelict factory, where Asami’s unparalleled Gift of Reflection defeats the arrogant water-user Ryuui and frees the beautiful Fuyutsuki. The intense danger melts away into overwhelming relief and heartfelt gratitude, cementing the team’s bond. Later, Fuyutsuki repays their heroics by joining the group for a passionate and intimate weekend encounter where Hirose’s unique Gift manifests a new, potent ability: ‘Sensitivity Improvement’. This sensual conclusion marks the end of the second arc, promising more erotic adventure and character epilogues.
—
Character Insight:
Asami, the powerful, quiet protector, reveals a level of skill that even her comrades find awe-inspiring, reinforcing her position as the team’s secret strongest member. Fuyutsuki’s professional facade breaks down, showing her emotional vulnerability and deep sense of gratitude, which blossoms into trust and affection for Hirose and his crew, marking her entry into the main harem romance.
—
Behind the Scene:
The chapter closes the Ryuui storyline with the Dungeon Core secured via Asami’s Storage Gift, confirming the successful acquisition of a major adventure item. Kirino’s combat skills were officially logged, setting the stage for her formal adventurer registration. The final intimate scene introduces a new Gift—’Sensitivity Improvement’—which will play a critical role in the continuing explicit romantic storyline.
—
T/L:
1 Teleportation: The Gift used by the group to instantly move to the factory. ↩
2 Strange Beasts: The comical/bizarre name for the team derived from their animal masks (Black Goat, Red Shark, etc.). ↩
3 Yamata no Orochi: A famous eight-headed serpent from Japanese mythology, used by Ryuui as the name for his water-dragon attack. ↩
4
Notes:
• Rindou Hibiki – Hirose’s cheerful, bold classmate who is the first to request his Beauty skill. Hibiki (F, pink bob hair, 158cm, F-cup) is outgoing, expressive about her interests, and quickly becomes Hirose’s girlfriend after an explicitly intimate scene. Her reactions help set the adult tone of the story.
• Yaginuma Asami – 16-year-old 1st-year, many inherited/stacking gifts, stores items, reflects attacks, teleports, resists conditions, mixed Japanese-English.
• Kirino – Strikingly beautiful with blue long hair (F, 168cm), Kirino is gifted with ice magic and feels isolated because of her appearance. Hirose’s Beauty skill helps her improve her self-image and social comfort, directly affecting Kirino’s relationship with her family and classmates.
• Kushima Koharu – A reserved, literature-loving girl (F, 156cm, G-cup, black braid) who struggles with family problems, including bruises and emotional stress. She experiences dramatic physical and emotional improvements after Hirose’s skill use, revealing a hidden wild side during explicit nighttime encounters.
• Ryuui – Long-haired tattoed-man, who kidnapped Fuyutsuki Saori.
• Kuramoto Ryuui – 17-year-old classmate, leader of Water Dragon Guild, A-rank, controls giant water dragons, arrested after battle.
• Genroku – Kirino’s grandfather (M, 74yo, short white hair, 182cm), president of the Adventurer Guild. Though intimidating, he is deeply caring for Kirino, protecting her throughout the narrative. His character signals the balance of authority and affection.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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