Chapter 222 Yamato Hina and the Demon King Medinilla ㉕
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The sand worm¹, a monstrosity as thick as an ancient redwood, slammed its colossal frame into the earth. It was hell-bent on crushing us into the dunes, sending a blinding spray of grit and dust dancing into the air.
”Bolgano! You didn’t say these things got this damn big!” I shouted over the roar of the impact.
”Guhahahaha! I didn’t know either!” Bolgano let out a boisterous laugh. “But a worm like this is worth the effort of killing. I’m itching for a fight-nou!”
Bolgano wore the grin of a man who lived for the slaughter. Between him and Orcus, it seemed like every guy who ended up on my side was a total battle-maniac. Well, except maybe Tatei and Yokoo.
I had reunited with Bolgano on the night we annihilated the Ogre-kin soldiers. Just as I was about to hold a victory party separate from the Envyos kishi² and soldiers, he appeared. We were all stunned. He claimed it was the “Power of the Phoenix,” but apparently, he can’t be summoned again for another fifty years, and naturally, he can’t resurrect. He offered to tag along as a guide, but his real reason was that hanging out with me seemed “interesting.”
I didn’t mind the extra muscle, and I didn’t have a personal grudge against him, so I agreed. Yamato Hina and Ise-especially Ise-were dead set against it. Honoka, Mihiro, and Reese followed because it was my call. Kagaya let her curiosity get the better of her and agreed to the accompaniment. It caused a rift between Yamato, Ise, and Kagaya, but I didn’t give a damn.
The problem was what was happening right now.
A sand worm. Just like the name implies, it’s an earthworm in the sand. Except these “maggots” are usually two to five meters long with circular, leech-like maws packed with rows of serrated fangs. Getting swallowed by one is a one-way trip to the afterlife. Usually, the ones that attack people in the desert are small-at most fifty centimeters-like sand lizards. Fun fact: sand worms are supposedly packed with collagen, so eating them is a beauty hack for your skin. Because of that, the Monster Hunter Guild³ gets constant requests for their hides.
But the one looming over us now was big enough to swallow us whole without chewing. Most of its body was still buried, so there was no telling how long the total length actually was.
”You guys crossed this desert to get to Envyos, didn’t you?! Why didn’t you know there was such a titan here!?”
”That’s because we flew! I am a Phoenix, and my subordinates rode Wyverns⁴!”
”Are you shitting me!?”
No wonder their march was so fast. I’d heard they reached Fort Misone in less than ten days after the Demon King gave the order. If they were using Wyverns as air cavalry, it made sense. Apparently, the Wyverns headed back to the territory of the Demon King after dropping them off. Must be tamed. Every country has thought about forming Dragoon units, but they give up because the time and food costs are astronomical.
But still…
”Ise, you’re completely useless against something that big, aren’t you?”
”Since my weapon is short, it can’t be helped, can it? Therefore, everyone, please do your best.”
Ise parried my sarcasm with a perfectly composed face. She just stood there cheering from a safe distance. I wanted her to act as a decoy and cause a distraction, but she completely ignored me. Meanwhile, Yamato was imbuing her blade with attributes. Since fire was her specialty, she used ‘Heat Weapon’⁵. Her glowing sword carved through the worm’s body like a hot knife through butter, but her reach was just too short. Kagaya was hanging back, methodically testing spells.
”Sieben, I’ve heard that water-types are effective against desert monsters. Is that true?”
”Who knows? Give it a shot.”
”…I’ll pass. That works in fantasy games, but reality is usually different.”
Kagaya plays video games? That was a curveball.
”Ugh, ptui! I got sand in my mouth…”
”Everything feels gritty-wan…”
That’s what happens when you leave your mouths hanging open, Honoka, Reese. And seriously, how long is Reese going to keep up that “-wan” verbal tic? Honoka was a mess, covered in grit and trying to brush it off. She was hiking up her clothes, basically flashing her chest to shake off the sand. I couldn’t tell if she was doing it on purpose, but I was definitely getting an eyeful.
The only one who looked pristine was Yukiko. Her ‘Aegis’⁶ was keeping the sand at bay perfectly.
And then there was Mihiro.
”NOOOOOOOOOO! I HATE WORMS! NOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Mihiro has a legit phobia of earthworms and was completely combat-ineffective. I mean, I don’t like ’em either, but come on.
”Worms… anything but worms, please!”
”Then get back in the Prydwen⁷! Why did you even come out here?”
Tatei and Yokoo had been knocked unconscious when the worm slammed into the Prydwen, and Alice and Sango were looking after them. I wasn’t expecting anything from the non-combatants anyway.
”Guhahahaha! This is glorious! My heart is racing-nou!” Bolgano laughed.
”Go, go, Milady! Fight on, Milady!” Ise cheered hollowly.
”Damn it, the hide is too thick. I can’t get a killing blow!” Yamato grunted.
”Maybe fire? Or perhaps lightning would work better…” Kagaya mused.
”Ugh, sand is even in a place like this… I’ll have Goshujin-sama⁸ take it out for me later.”
”Me too-wan!”
”Worms are scary, worms are scary…”
”WOULD YOU GUYS TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY!?” I roared.
In the end, the finishing blow came when the worm tried to ram Yukiko’s ‘Aegis.’ It stunned itself on the shield, and Honoka took the opening to cleave the body in half with an ‘Air Slash’⁹.
I’ll have to give those two a reward later.
* * *
”Ah, this is going to need some serious work-de-gozaru.”
Tatei was back on his feet, looking at the Prydwen with a grim expression.
”It took a hell of a hit from below-de-gozaru… the frame and axles are all warped. We’re lucky the engine is still intact-de-gozaru-yo.”
”Seriously? How long is it going to take?”
Tatei rubbed his chin. “Well… if I start now, I might have it fixed by midnight-de-gozaru.”
”Fine. We’re camping here for the night. Fortunately, we’ve got dinner.”
I’d hauled the sand worm’s carcass into my Item Box¹⁰. Since it was full of sand, it’d need some prep, but it was on the menu. Except…
”W-worms… I can’t eat a worm…”
Mihiro still hadn’t recovered from the trauma, so the cooking duty fell to me.
As it turned out…
”Oh! This is actually incredible!”
”It’s surprisingly tender. Not too greasy, either. I can see why women like it.”
”The ingredients are just high quality. Anyone could make this.”
Bolgano was inhaling his portion, while Yamato used a knife and fork like she was at a five-star restaurant. Ise was stuffing her face while still finding room to complain. If you’re going to complain, don’t eat it, lady. You’re a maid-cook your own damn food.
I’d gone with sand worm steaks. Just salt and pepper-simple, manly food-but it was a hit. Well, with everyone except one person.
”Ah… Goshujin-sama’s home cooking… haa… haa…”
Why the hell was she getting turned on?
”Honoka, eat it before it gets cold.”
”Y-yes! Of course! Thank you for the food. Amu… ngh… mmmmmm! It’s so good! It tastes just like Goshujin-sama-shuruu. Haa… haan!”
I… okay? I’m glad she liked it. But “tastes like me”? What is that even supposed to mean?
”Um… can I have something else?” Mihiro asked, still hesitating. I get it, but life’s too short for picky eaters.
”Just trust me and eat it. It’s good.”
”U-uuu… if Sieben says so… hamu! Mogu-mogu… wait! This is amazing!”
”Told ya.”
Watching Mihiro clear the plate was satisfying. I’d have to save some for Lil and the others back home. Nadja is a better cook than me, so I’ll let her handle the prep next time. I can already see the look on Lil’s face.
”You look happy, Sieben,” Bolgano noted.
”Yeah. I was just thinking I want to let my wife try this soon. It’d make her happy.”
”What!? You’re a married man, Sieben?”
”I’ve got a kid, too. Leki-chan. She’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.”
”Imagine taking a man like this as a husband,” Ise interjected, her voice dripping with poison. “That woman must be absolutely blind. Or perhaps her standards are just in the gutter.”
”…Excuse me?”
The good mood evaporated instantly. I could handle her taking shots at me, but I wasn’t going to let her drag Lil through the mud.
”Hey, watch your mouth!” Honoka snapped, standing up. “Goshujin-sama is a great man, and Lil-san is wonderful! Don’t you dare talk about her like that when you’ve never even met her!”
Honoka wasn’t the only one. Mihiro, Yukiko, and Reese were all glaring at Ise now.
”I don’t need to meet her to know,” Ise continued, unfazed. “Any woman who would wag her tail for a man like this… she can’t be in her right mind.”
”Ise… you bitch…!”
Honoka raised her hand to slap her-
Smack!
A sharp, dry sound rang out. But it wasn’t Honoka who had landed the blow.
”…Eh?”
”Maya,” Yamato said, her voice cold. She was the one who had slapped her own maid. “That was too much. You are being beyond disrespectful.”
”!? I… yes. You’re right. I apologize. I let my emotions get the better of me.”
Ise bowed her head. I didn’t buy the apology for a second. It was clear she was only saying it because Yamato had ordered it.
”I’m sorry for my maid’s behavior,” Yamato said, turning to me. “As an apology, we’ll take the night watch. Consider it a thank you for the ride.”
I didn’t see a reason to say no.
—
Summary:
The party is ambushed by a giant Sand Worm in the desert, which they eventually defeat through a combination of Yukiko’s defense and Honoka’s attack. While camping for repairs, Sieben cooks the monster’s meat, which proves surprisingly delicious to everyone except the worm-phobic Mihiro (at first). The chapter ends in a heated confrontation when Ise insults Sieben’s wife, leading Yamato to slap her own maid.
—
Trivia:
- Bolgano’s arrival was very recent (the night after the Ogre-kin fight).
- Bolgano and his troops used Wyverns to travel, which is why they were so fast.
- Honoka’s reaction to Sieben’s cooking is borderline erotic/obsessive.
- Sieben explicitly mentions his wife (Lil) and daughter (Leki) to the group.
- Ise’s name is revealed to be ‘Maya’ by Yamato Hina
—
Character Insight:
Honoka’s loyalty to Sieben (and Lil) is fierce, nearly leading her to violence. Yamato Hina shows a sense of honor or at least social boundaries by disciplining her maid for insulting Sieben’s family.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘beauty benefits of monster meat’ is a common light novel gag used to justify female characters eating bizarre creatures.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Bolgano – Flame Demon General of the Ogre-kin. A head taller than other ogres with short-cropped red hair and red skin. Wields a massive jagged cleaver. One of the Six Demon Generals. Large-bodied Ogre-kin male. Wields a barbarian sword (hanka-tou) and commands a legion of Ogres. Can summon a Phoenix.
• Orcus – A former orc born from Yuko Oshiro and an orc. To be exact, he is a High Orc Brave. Now a ‘Rakshasa’ and Natsumi’s subordinate after being defeated. Over 190cm tall, muscular, bronze skin, messy long red hair. Wild, masculine features.
• Tatei – Full name is Tatei Kozoo. Natsumi’s otaku buddy. Used to be tall and solid, now he’s 186 cm of skin and bones after anorexia wrecked him (52 kg, yeah, rough). Has the skill Materialization Alchemy and once crafted gear for the whole class. Ended up making the X‑shaped restraint stand used for Sugita’s execution—dark twist for a guy who just wanted to make cool equipment.
• Yokoo – Natsumi Sasaki’s otaku friend. His appearance is based on ‘Yoko’ from ‘Comic Party.’ Possesses ‘Materialization Summoning’. Accompanied by a Living Armor.
• Tate – Male Otaku friend of Reese. Gaunt and thin, wears glasses. Possesses Materialization Alchemy skill.
• Honoka – Petite, cute “transistor‑glamour” girl with high‑level healing magic, built like a tiny bomb of lewdness and huge breasts. Started as a cold‑hearted slave mocking Sasaki, then flipped into full devoted “Goshujin‑sama” maid mode, obsessed with his scent and desperate to bear his child. Used to be Hidaka’s obsession, later violated by Sugita, which left her furious and tightly protective of the protagonist. Bashful smiles, but the second anything touches him she goes nuclear. Usually in a sleazy maid outfit, the anti‑aesthetic to Lotte and Nadja’s clean uniforms.
• Kagaya – Female student from Earth. Specialized in sorcery and information gathering. Obsessed with knowledge and has mastered the local language through self-study. Yamato Hina’s classmate. A sorcery specialist who uses a staff. Capable of ‘Fire Wall’ and ‘Aqua Spread’. Has purple hair.
• Mihiro – Post-gender swap of Yuki Chihiro: Height 160 cm, B-W-H: 82-55-80. Futanari. Short haired black hair, handsome.
• Yamato – Yamato Hina. Student council vice-president. Serious, beautiful, with long straight hair and sharp eyes.
• Reese – Jessica’s sister. Described by Alice as a beautiful blonde lady. She was previously under the control of Sugita’s skill and left in a state of despair and exposure after the effect ended.
• Hina – Yamato Hina. Student council vice-president. Serious, beautiful, with long straight hair and sharp eyes.
• Sieben – Young man with black hair and a mask covering his eyes. He purchased Honoka and Ria.
• Yuki – Yuki Chihiro. Height 178 cm, weight 70 kg (Male). Natsumi’s childhood friend. A handsome, athletic top student in the soccer club.
• Alice – A small, adorable girl summoned by Yokoo. Based on the ‘Red’ and ‘Black’ Majin versions. Stronger than Tate or Yokoo. Celadon Rank Monster Hunter.
• Sango – A bunny-girl with long white hair and red eyes; younger sister of Torimaki Ichigo.
• Nadja – A female goblin. She was treated as a breeding bed for orcs and was r*ped, but Natsumi (Sieben) saved her. Now, former goblin who underwent Anthropomorphism. Sun-kissed skin, milk-white short-cut hair, large golden eyes, a single small horn on her forehead, and small pointed ears.
• Lil – One of the heroines. Height 166 cm, B-W-H: 90-56-90. She is a top-tier beauty with long indigo hair down to her waist, a large scar on her abdomen and sharp golden eyes. She has wolf ears and a tail.
• Leki – Lil’s daughter. Height: 140 cm, B-W-H: 70, 54, 69. She looks more like a Siberian Husky puppy than a wolf. Honestly, she just looks like a stuffed toy, recently transformed into a human form. Now use great axe as weapon.
• Maya – Ise Maya. Yamato’s attendant/maid. Short hair, cold gaze, wears a maid outfit.
• Kishi – Height 165 cm, weight 84 kg. An unattractive guy with a face full of acne. A chuunibyou who calls himself a holy knight. After being kicked out of Plaudix, he went to Greedia where Natsumi humiliated him.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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