Chapter 107 Chihiro Yuki ⑬
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Just a reminder: Honoka’s maid outfit is the maid version of the infamous ‘Virgin-Killer Sweater’ ¹. Yes, it’s a Virgin-Killer Maid Outfit. Natsumi isn’t a virgin, so he’s safe from its effects, lol.
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The battlefield fell deathly silent, the air heavy with the weight of what had just happened.
Nishiyama had charged headlong into the swarm of Killer Army Ants ², only to be instantly buried under a mountain of chitin. While his erratic behavior raised several red flags, the local Monster Hunters didn’t seem to care. Given the sheer amount of grief he’d caused the people on the streets of Varity, their faces were etched with a single, spiteful sentiment: “He got exactly what was coming to him.”
But the real shock came afterward.
It was inhuman enough that Sieben was dual-wielding greatswords, but then he used those twin blades to conjure a literal cyclone. Ants are creatures of habit – they march in single file – and that horizontal vortex simply inhaled the entire column.
Wait, could you even call that a tornado? Unlike a natural one, it didn’t stand upright; it spun sideways, a localized engine of slaughter.
Then there was the other nagging doubt.
That vortex wasn’t sorcery. But if you asked if it was a martial art, that didn’t feel right either. I knew instinctively that I couldn’t replicate it. My innate skill, ‘Natural Talent’ ³, allows me to instantly understand and mimic any technique, sorcery, or skill I lay eyes on. But it has one fatal flaw: I can never acquire another person’s ‘Innate Skill’.
In other words, that move was a unique ability. It was likely ‘Magic Sword’ ⁴… Akiyama’s signature power.
’Is Sieben actually Akiyama?’ I wondered.
No, that was impossible. Their builds were worlds apart. Besides, if Sieben really were Akiyama, why the mask? Why the secrecy?
Then who is he?
The Board Chairman – Lord Chairman to his staff – had once mentioned that descendants of Heroes sometimes inherit Innate Skills. Perhaps there was another ‘Magic Sword’ user out there, and Sieben was their progeny. It made sense, in a way, but…
Now wasn’t the time to play detective.
The vortex dissipated, and the ants that had been outside its reach surged forward again. Sieben just stood there, greatswords low, showing no sign of repeating the feat. At this rate, he’d end up just like Nishiyama.
Just as a sense of dread gripped me, I realized my fears were entirely misplaced.
With a single, effortless arc of his blade, Sieben cleaved an ant clean in two. These monsters had exoskeletons harder than tempered iron, yet he cut through them as if they were made of silk, ignoring the armored plates entirely. His blades didn’t stop. He swung those massive greatswords as if they were feathers, a relentless storm of steel. It was beautiful and horrific. Ants were being bisected, minced, and scattered like ash.
I see. Sieben’s boast wasn’t just talk. He was the storm.
But even so, he was one man against an ocean. The ant horde rushed forward like a tide of black sludge, eventually burying Sieben under a mountain of black carapaces. Naturally, that dark deluge then came crashing toward the rest of us.
Some hunters dropped their weapons in despair. Others gripped their hilts, steeled to take at least one bug to hell with them. But amidst all that tragedy, the members of Sieben’s clan remained perfectly calm. The wolf-eared woman even let a faint, predatory smile play on her lips.
And then, every witness on that field was left utterly speechless.
From the spot where Sieben had been buried, a darkness deeper than any shadow erupted. It began to swallow the ants. No… “swallow” wasn’t the word for it.
It devoured them.
A cold shiver raced down my spine.
What was that? Sorcery? If it was, it had to be dark-attribute, but I had never seen or heard of anything like it. And more importantly… I knew for a fact I couldn’t copy it.
”What on earth is that?” Kodama whispered to me, her voice trembling. Her tanned skin had turned a sickly, ashen gray. She felt the same primal terror I did. “Chihiro, could you even do something like that?”
”No way,” I replied. “It’s not even a question of ability. I can’t even begin to grasp the concept. Don’t tell me that’s…”
’Could it be? Was that the ‘Taboo Magic’ the Chairman warned us about?’
I turned to Narumi, who was standing nearby, watching the carnage with a strange light in her eyes. “Narumi, did you know he could use sorcery like that?”
”Nope! First time for me, too,” she chirped. “But he’s Master, after all. This is just another Tuesday for him.”
Narumi looked like she found the horror perfectly natural. Her eyes were moist, her gaze so full of adoration it was nauseating.
That wasn’t an explanation. And “Master”?
”Narumi, when you say ‘Master,’ what do you mean by -“
”Hmm?” Narumi’s face practically melted into a doting, vacant grin. “I’m Master’s servitude ⁵. I’ve given him my body, my soul, and everything in between.”
She didn’t look like a woman in love; she looked like a woman utterly lost in a drug-like, lewd devotion.
”Honoka, quit the idle chatter,” the wolf-eared woman barked, her voice cutting through the air. “Save the stroll down memory lane for when the job is done.”
”Ugh… I only answered because he asked,” Narumi grumbled, huffing. “It’s not like we’re friends or anything.”
The wolf-eared woman scolded her, and Narumi puffed out her cheeks, muttering to herself. It was true we weren’t close – the tension from the Natsumi incident was still a raw nerve.
”Yes, yes. Whatever you say,” the wolf-ear said, her eyes turning toward us. “But I don’t think you lot have the luxury of standing around looking so relaxed.”
She was right. But the look in her eyes was a chilling cocktail of blatant hostility and pure hatred.
What the hell did we ever do to her?
That was a question for if we survived. First, we had to handle the stragglers that had slipped past Sieben’s abyss.
* * *
The battle against the Killer Army Ants was a nightmare of ferocity. Even with Sieben holding the center, each individual ant was a lethal threat. We were only holding our own because the ‘Renegade’ clan was comprised of monsters.
Sieben was in a league of his own, but his teammates were terrifying. A red-haired warrior in bikini armor was currently splitting ant heads open with an axe. Her raw strength was staggering.
”How’s that! I’ve still got it – whoa!” Mime shouted, nearly losing her footing.
”‘Fire Lance’!” Mercedes yelled, incinerating an ant that had tried to pounce. “Mime, quit showing off and pay attention! They don’t just die because you cracked the shell!”
”Haha… sorry, Mercedes! Don’t be so grumpy ssu!” Mime laughed, swinging again.
She was a total flake, but she was effective. Mercedes, the sorceress who looked remarkably like our Board Chairman, kept her on a short leash.
Elsewhere, a female priest was busy treating the wounded. Her movements were clinical and brisk, despite her syrupy, slow way of speaking.
”There we go~, all better now~,” she cooed.
”Th-thank you… you’re like a Saint,” a wounded hunter stammered.
”Oh goodness, no~. I’m nothing that grand~. I’m just a simple Shrine Maiden~,”
”A Shrine Maiden… hey, once this is over, you want to spend the night with me?”
”Yes~, of course~. I’ll be waiting for you~ at the church in Foxia~.”
”HELL YEAH! Alright, I’m gonna kill every last one of these bastards! You damn bugs, get ready!” the hunter roared, reinvigorated.
I remembered then that Shrine Maidens in this world often doubled as prostitutes. Honestly, I wasn’t interested in the details.
Then there was Himezaki. Dressed like a spear-wielding warrior from a video game, she was proving her worth as a Hero.
”Take this! ‘Whirlwind Spear’!”
She launched a vacuum blade from her spear, a kamaitachi ⁶ that shredded the ants. She looked exactly like a Valkyrie from a Norse legend.
Narumi was also on healing duty. She was currently tending to a woman whose face had been hideously melted by formic acid.
”This is a medical procedure, so it doesn’t count… it doesn’t count… mwah.”
To my shock, Narumi kissed the woman right on the lips. She breathed into her like she was performing CPR. Then, the impossible happened. The woman’s melted face began to knit back together, the skin regrowing as if time were being reversed.
”Ah… I… my face… it’s fixed!” the woman gasped.
”Phew. That was a close one,” Narumi said, wiping her mouth. “Normal healing magic wouldn’t have touched that kind of acid burn.”
”Thank you! Thank you so much!”
The woman bowed repeatedly. Narumi gave a troubled little laugh.
”Oh, Big Sister… I will follow you for the rest of my life!” the woman cried out.
”Big Sister?! Rest of your life?!” Narumi yelped.
I’d be confused too. But Narumi’s troubles were just beginning.
”Hey, did you see that?” a hunter whispered. “She heals with a kiss.”
”Yeah… and look at that outfit. It’s barely there.”
A group of men and the rescued woman began chasing a frantic Narumi.
”ME TOO! ME TOO! I’VE GOT A HUGE INJURY RIGHT HERE! GIVE ME A SMOOCH, PLEASE!”
”Ugh?! You guys aren’t even hurt! Normal magic is fine for you! GET AWAY FROM ME!” Narumi screamed as she fled.
”Wait for me, Big Sister!”
…What a mess.
Still, to provide complete restoration with just a kiss… that had to be ‘Lourdes’ Breath’. Also, her skirt keeps flying up… is she seriously not wearing anything under there?
Anyway, setting Narumi’s comedy routine aside, the only reason the front line was still standing was thanks to the two wolf-eared sisters.
”Hah! Take that!” the younger one shouted.
She was swinging a greataxe twice her own height. Her strength was absurd. The ants she hit weren’t just split; they were pulverized into the dirt. The area around her was a wasteland of craters and mashed insect parts. The wind pressure from her swings was so intense that no other hunters dared get close.
And then there was the other one. She wore a qipao embroidered with a white wolf and heavy gauntlets. As a group of ants rushed her, claws extended from her fists, but she didn’t even take a stance. She just walked forward, calm and serene.
Then, she vanished.
No – the moment she disappeared, she was already behind them. The ants fell apart into pieces, shredded by invisible blades. Her speed was on a completely different level from anyone else on the field.
But we weren’t just sitting on our hands.
Mei, the older Kijima sister, fired twin magical arrows that struck ant heads with unerring precision. Her younger sister, Rei, swung her spear like a naginata, precisely slicing through their leg joints. She’d studied the Hassou-in style ⁷, and honestly, she looked more natural than even Himezaki.
Kodama was clearing the field with lightning sorcery; she definitely had the highest kill count among us. Nakim was focused on her protection, raising stone walls to intercept any stray attacks.
As for me, I used the Dual Wielding I’d learned from watching Sieben and his ‘Storm Edge Slasher’ technique to mow them down. It was meant for greatswords, but I adapted it for my blades. I couldn’t match his raw power, so I kept ‘Weapon Enchantment’ and ‘Physical Boost’ running at full throttle.
The battle raged for a full day and night. We managed to keep the town’s streets safe, and with the guards joining in, we could finally rotate out. But even with shifts, the exhaustion was set in, and the casualties were mounting. Through it all, Sieben never slept. He stayed at the front, a god of death.
I’d lost count of how many I’d killed. I didn’t even want to think about the number.
But the end was finally in sight.
An ant far larger than any we had faced yet emerged from the shadows. She was finally here.
The Queen Ant –
—
Summary:
Sieben and his clan ‘Renegade’ defend the town of Varity from an army of Killer Ants. Chihiro observes Sieben’s terrifying new abilities, including a dark ‘devouring’ power that might be taboo magic. The battle culminates after 24 hours with the arrival of the Queen Ant.
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Trivia:
- Chihiro’s ‘Natural Talent’ skill cannot copy Innate Skills.
- Sieben is dual-wielding greatswords, a feat previously thought impossible for humans.
- Narumi (Honoka) is technically Sieben’s ‘Servitude’, implying a slave/servant status.
- Mime’s axe attacks pulverized the ground, creating craters.
- Shrine Maidens in this specific setting double as prostitutes in Foxia.
- Narumi’s healing method involves ‘Lourdes’ Breath’, a kiss-based restoration
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Character Insight:
Chihiro is struggling with the gap between his own ‘talented’ growth and Sieben’s overwhelming, inexplicable power. Narumi shows deep, almost fanatic devotion to Sieben, abandoning her previous identity.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Virgin-Killer Sweater’ is a real-world 2017 internet meme in Japan. The quote ‘You are already… voted’ is a parody of Kenshiro’s ‘Omae wa mou shindeiru’ from Fist of the North Star.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Natsumi – The protagonist. Height 168 to 171 cm, weight 57 to 59 kg. He has a baby face, but he hides his eyes with his bangs. He was bullied by the Sugita gang just because his name sounded like a girl’s name.
• Honoka – A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki, now a bound slave to him.
• Sieben – Young man with black hair and a mask covering his eyes. He purchased Honoka and Ria.
• Chihiro – Height 178 cm, weight 70 kg (Male). Natsumi’s childhood friend. A handsome, athletic top student in the soccer club.
• Kodama – Kodama Satomi. A self-proclaimed fan of Chihiro. A bronzed girl with bleached hair. She uses Lightning Bolt sorcery. Her stats are noted to be higher than a Gargoyle’s, though she is not built for melee.
• Narumi – Narumi Honoka. A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki. Black hair, black eyes.
• Ren – Height 169 cm, weight 50 kg. A cool-headed guy with glasses who aimed to be a lawyer. He viewed bullying as a minor issue and stood by while Natsumi was tormented.
• Mime – Former mercenary with short red hair, cat-eyed warrior, wheat-colored skin, and a toned, athletic build with visible abdominal muscles.
• Mercedes – A girl with black hair, rare in the world. Small chest, thin pubic hair trimmed in an inverted triangle. Large, upturned eyes that lost their light due to trauma.
• Mei – One of the Kijima twin sisters. She uses a longbow that creates arrows of light. She is part of Chihiro’s party in the Envyos Labyrinth.
• Rei – One of the Kijima twin sisters. The eldest one. She uses a spear and acts as the frontline defense for her sister. She demonstrates ‘perfect sync’ with Mei.
• Nakim – A thirteen-year-old boy with soft, androgynous features; the creator of the Dispel spell.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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