Volume 14 Chapter 30 The Feelings of Iska
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Iska’s Perspective
As the final operation was set into motion, a messenger weaved through the Monster Hunters. For the past month, we’d been exterminating the unusually proliferated ‘another world monsters’ daily. Due to maintaining a constant possessed status for the sake of subjugation, my body had been adorned with various monster traits, leaving me anxious about whether I could return to my original form.
However, if we don’t win this battle, not only will I be unable to protect Kent’s child, but I’ll also lose the chance to enjoy lively meals with everyone at the Rootless Weed (Deleracine), the place I’ve come to call home. Having lived mostly alone for years, the thought of having gained companions and loved ones without perishing as a lonely wild creature makes me feel that the threads of one’s life are connected by a mysterious fate.
Moreover, despite my half-sister Manon’s occasional nitpicking, she also has her moments of endearingly acting like a little sister when we meet at Kent’s residence. Even though we have different fathers, as sisters born to the same mother, I couldn’t let the world end for her sake.
”Iska… Are you sure your body is okay? Should I tell Sir Kent to let you lead the charge?”
Rosalinda, fully equipped, peered into my face with concern.
”Hm? I’m fine, really! I’ve had a couple of days to rest. My condition has improved a lot, and it’s an honor for us, the Rootless Weed (Deleracine), to take the vanguard in this century’s great war. We should be more excited. We’ve been recognized as a top-class Hunting Group, both in name and in reality, of the Abyss Vena.”
To cheer up the worried Rosalinda, I suppressed the pain in my body and tried to joke in a bright voice. But my body was filled with the mana of the monsters I’d absorbed, sending a relentless pain and a destructive urge that threatened to consume my consciousness.
…If I can just stay conscious through this fight… and then, if I win, spend some time alone, and once the urges fade, go back to everyone…
Having fought ‘another world monsters’ constantly, the possession has deepened, and my body is becoming like a synthetic Beast Monster (Chimera), with organs from various monsters growing, often making it hard to tell friend from foe during combat.
”I… if that’s okay. Don’t overdo it, alright? The point of this fight is for everyone to come back alive! We’re not going to die! Everyone, remember that!”
Rosalinda, fully equipped, warned the members waiting to depart.
”Hey, hey. We just gotta focus on protecting Iska’s back, right? At least let us do that much, yeah?”
Heta, clad in metal armor, was unceremoniously patting my back.
”Even us, who crawled through the bottom of society as orphans and beggars, we want to protect this world more than anyone else. Right, Renge?”
”I just don’t like those machines that become ingredients, I just want to slash them to pieces. Besides, they don’t talk about how delicious the food is, you know? Right, Heta?”
”Yeah, after this battle is over, I’ll be Renge’s exclusive Cooking critic and eat her cooking every day. That’s the promise, right? I’ll even help gather ingredients.”
”…Oh, that was the promise, wasn’t it? Strange, I thought I’d be dead, eaten by ‘another world monster’, and I lightly agreed, but you’re surprisingly resilient.”
”That’s harsh! Don’t you think I tried REALLY hard for my promise with Renge?”
Heta and Renge knew each other from the Southern Region’s large-scale monster subjugation, and seemed to have started caring about each other back then, and Heta shyly revealed the other day that they’re now in a relationship.
…How nice, if I could eat Renge’s cooking every day, I’d take Renge as my wife…
Her monster cooking is so exquisite it’s addictive to the brain, tongue, and stomach—it feels like a waste to let Heta hog it all.
”Renge, if Heta ever says he can’t eat it, let me have it instead. Or better yet, why don’t you marry me? Three meals, naps included, and all the ingredients you want to hunt. What do you say?”
”Whoa! Iska! No way! No! Renge would totally ditch me for you! No! No!”
”Oh, Iska’s offer is tempting… but I’ll think about it if Heta turns out to be a coward and dies in this battle.”
”Whoa! I can’t die! I’ll definitely come back alive!”
”Heta, Iska, Renge, enough goofing around. We’re going into serious mode now.”
””””Yes.””””
Rosalinda snapped everyone’s focus back to the battle ahead. Then, on the grand stage at the center of Felward’s fortress, Demon Lord Shifa, Kent, and the other leaders appeared. The soldiers erupted in cheers at the sight.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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