episode_0151

The work went smoothly.

It was, quite literally, simple labor.

Like managing logistics or loading and unloading cargo, I incessantly carried objects of all sizes.

Using my body after a long time since the final exams, blood began to flow to my stiff limbs and strength surged.

However, shall we say I found a couple of things inconvenient due to unfamiliarity.

One was the problem of my… breasts and penis bouncing around as I ran here and there, because I wasn’t wearing any clothes.

Humanity in civilized society doesn’t wear clothes for nothing.

Beyond fashion, bodily protection and ethical considerations… it’s a high-performance tool enabling comfortable movement. I only realized this after taking my clothes off.

Therefore, we shouldn’t take wearing clothes for granted.

It doesn’t mean we should go naked, but rather we should be thankful to our ancestors, who established this clothing culture.

My bouncing chest could somehow be secured with mana, but the other issue was a disaster I couldn’t solve.

That is, the stench emanating from the Demon Realm beast’s stomach.

A creature’s digestive system is supposed to digest the food it eats, and so all sorts of biochemical reactions occur, making it impossible to smell good.

However, this demonic beast is no ordinary creature.

The musty, smoky smell emanating from its thick magical energy.

To compare it to my experience, it was similar to the smell of burning charcoal residue.

In other words, the smell we’re currently experiencing could be described as the smell of burning food waste and charcoal scraps simultaneously.

“Uwaek—”

“…Fine, don’t hold back. Throw it all up over here.”

“Kulu— Sorry, I… Gwaeek—”

A rainbow-colored waterfall (censored) flowed from Tier’s mouth.

Even for me, cleaning the Demon Realm beast’s stomach was a first, and my head throbbed so badly that I could hardly think straight.

But as I said, that was separate from the fact that the work was going smoothly.

It was a job that didn’t require any brainpower.

And I turned those idle thoughts outwards to carefully organize my next plan.

‘I’ll be out of the water soon… I wonder if those guys will be waiting for me.’

I might have caused them worry again. I have a social standing, you know… if I keep disappearing like this, those around me might go crazy.

If I have a worry right now… it’s the excessive worry of Yuri and the others.

* * *

At the same time, Libertyport’s beach.

“Well… she’ll return somehow. As always.”

Unlike Nari’s worry, the most nonchalant answer came from Yuri, of all people.

“Just in case… maybe she’s getting it on with that saintess right now.”

Even Lulu, who always thanked Nari—and was shy about expressing that gratitude—didn’t side with her this time.

Separate from her respect for Nari, the memories of being severely beaten multiple times in magical battles and… sex, spoke otherwise.

Who here would object?

Nari is a top-tier expert and also a sinister lecher. Furthermore, her companion is the saintess, known as the most beautiful woman on the continent, so the idea of them making love is more than plausible.

“The black onyx pendant Nari always wears, that’s my main body, you know? Unless that incredibly strong core is broken, they’re both absolutely safe. Khuhhih—”

Nix’s final words, confirming Nari and Tier’s safety through solid evidence, were the icing on the cake—or rather, the final nail in the coffin.

Every time they are in danger, Nari miraculously returns, repeating her amazing mad movie, causing everyone to suffer from safety complacency.

Of course, it’s not that we don’t worry at all.

But the strong faith several times larger than that worry settles in our hearts, so the worst-case scenario of Nari not returning got knocked out in the preliminary round.

However, not everyone felt that way.

“There’s no guarantee that safety will last forever, is there? I haven’t fought a demonic beast, but I think we shouldn’t let our guard down.”

Cautiously and calmly.

Aspi spoke dispassionately, according to her own beliefs.

She had recently been learning how to agree with others, to empathize with their feelings, but she felt she had to say this, even if it went against the grain.

“There’s no guarantee that the demonic beast was a single one… we need to gather information on the situation by joining forces with the adventurer’s guild.”

We can’t just sit on the beach and leisurely wait for Nari’s return.

The beach, which was bustling with many people until the morning, was completely deserted due to the appearance of the demonic beast.

Nod-

After everyone agreed with Aspi’s opinion, each gathered their belongings and left.

.

.

.

Unfortunately, the information held by the Libertyport Adventurer’s Guild was far inferior to the strategy guide written by my past self.

About how it appears around summer, swallows people whole, and then disappears into the distance.

I even thought that it would have been better to find a local sailor and listen to their story.

“Khuhhuh—”

However… as a mana spirit born from the darkness, a knowledge spirit that has lived for hundreds of years collecting vast information.

For Nix, that was enough of a clue.

“Everyone, I think there’s no need to worry.”

“How do you know…?”

“I’ll explain on the way, come on—”

Once again, she led everyone out of the Adventurer’s Guild.

While walking towards the beach, along the path we came, she suddenly pointed to a nearby restaurant.

“Kk- that hot dog looks delicious…!”

Then, she ran over and bought one, opening her mouth wide and quickly devouring it.

The others watched her exaggerated, theatrical display and just stood there on the sidewalk for a moment, dazed.

“Come and get one each! It’s just about time to get a snack.”

Watching Nix beckoning them over with a wave of her hand.

“Ah—”

Lulu was the first to notice.

“That’s it…!!”

“What do you mean—?”

Ssiik-

Nix smirked slyly, handing each of them a hot dog before walking towards the sea again.

“Why do you think that whale-like demonic beast showed up at this time of year? It’s very simple.”

“Because it’s hungry…?”

“Mnyam— you got half of it right.”

She shoved a second hotdog into her mouth and gestured to her surroundings.

“Summer, a lot of events, the right time, and most importantly… ‘crowds’ of people.”

“You mean it’s attracted by a lot of people…?”

“Yes, to be exact I think it’s the ‘mana’ that people possess.”

Yuri, too, knew enough about the demonic beast’s habits that wouldn’t embarrass her adventurer’s pass.

“So… the saintess and Unni were attacked because of that mana, huh?”

“That’s right. And once it felt it had secured sufficient food, it returned to the deep sea where it originally lived.”

That also means it will be difficult to escape. Just like Nari thought, surfacing from several thousand meters underwater would be tantamount to suicide.

“But if, for some reason, it suddenly gets hungry again… what will it do?”

By then, Yuri and Aspi had fully understood the story.

“It will be drawn again to people with mana…”

“…and return here.”

Chulpeok- Chalbak—

The group arrived at the beach.

“So… we know what we have to do, right?”

“We should use a whole lot of magic to attract it as much as possible.”

Jeobok- Jeobok-

Lulu and Yuri took the lead.

Nix, too, was proficient in magic, but her main field was the theoretical knowledge of incantations and concepts, so when comparing only their actual magical power, she was inferior to the two women.

“Yuri, do you know how to cast that spell?”

Sogonsogon-

Lulu whispered something to Yuri.

“Um— I’ve learned the incantation itself… but it’s too difficult, I’ve never actually used it.”

“Then, come here.”

Sabak- Sabaksabak-

The two walked on the soft sand, faced each other, and pressed their bodies close together, coordinating their breathing.

“Slowly, we’ll overlap the flow of our mana.”

“Uh-huh… I think I’m getting the feeling.”

The mana emanating from their bodies began to merge as one, its power gradually intensifying.

“This is…”

“[Resonance Magic]. It’s what I’ve been researching lately. Once we match each other’s mana wavelengths, we can cast one spell together.”

At first glance, it seems like the effect is halved, but the actuality witnessed by all was a two or three times increase in magical power.

“…So you weren’t just slacking off.”

“Right. I didn’t even have time to relax, I only worked.”

Aspi smiled subtly, seemingly impressed, and Lulu replied.

For a short time, the two had been colleagues with the same goal: to become instructors at the academy, and so their friendship ran deep indeed.

“Enough chit-chat… I’m going to fire it off. Ready, Yuri—?”

“Yeeees—!!”

Yuri and Lulu closed their eyes simultaneously.

Together they matched their breathing, overlapped the flow of their mana, and superimposed one’s control over the incantation of the other.

What began as a dual spell ended up being a unified force.

The magicians who had unified their consciousness chanted in unison.

“Frost Nova—!!”

“Frost Nova—!!”

Chichi chichiching—!!!

Soon, icy tendrils surged forth, splitting into two waves.

Each part froze the seawater it touched, leaving in their wake a chilling cold that belied the midsummer heat.

After casting that extremely powerful [Resonance Magic], everyone felt the same ominous sign.

Ssiik—

However, such an ominous sign couldn’t have been more welcome.

Between the two frozen paths in the sea, a dark shadow gradually grew larger.

Soon, the Demon Realm beast, along with its terrifying magical energy, appeared.

“Booooooooo—”

It let out a loud, booming sound with its snout, but it didn’t last long.

Skkang—!!

A powerful, pure white sword strike split its head in half.

And from within, as expected…

“I’m back—!!”

Appeared a naked princess carrying a naked saintess.