Ch.116The NPC Taking an Exam (4)

Even with a wish token that excludes sexual things, I’m honestly scared. That’s the emotion I’m feeling right now.

To put it simply, Ray and Ragni are already convinced that ‘that day’s’ event wasn’t sexual. Honestly, with Gore, just seeing her a few days ago was quite shocking.

I’m a man too, and human. Even if they come at me with non-sexual intentions, my rationality is starting to crumble.

Just thinking about that time makes my heart pound like it’s about to burst?

“I have something to give you too, so I’m being sincere in my own way.”

“Right, then. We should be sincere too.”

“Shall we do what we prepared for that day?”

[Are you really going to do that to Master? Won’t he get hurt?]

As I shrug my shoulders while speaking, the three women look at each other and discuss something. That? That day? When did they prepare what? What are they planning to do?

“Let’s do it. He’s a man who can deflect swords with his hands and catch bullets. If our husband goes all out, it’ll be over before we can even attack.”

“Yes! Maybe what we prepared won’t work, so I’ll go all out!!”

[Hmm. I’ll decide after seeing how it goes.]

What on earth did they prepare?

I was hoping our kids would coordinate and break through against someone stronger than themselves, but it seems like they’re planning to completely crush me. Well, anyway.

“No enemy will just stand still waiting for you to make your move.”

-BAM!!

I stomp hard on the ground and rush toward Gore in front of me, who opens her eyes wide in surprise.

Surely, as per her habit, she’ll counter with [Mimicry] again…

-CRASH!!!

“Oh?!”

[I’m not stupid enough to keep using Mimicry after it’s been countered.]

Gore strikes the ground with her fist, causing debris to scatter, and quickly retreats backward.

Hmm, good judgment, but if you retreat, Ragni and Ray are completely exposed…

“My back, it’s easier to target me now. That’s what you thought, right?”

“Huh?”

A sharp voice that seems to read my thoughts exactly pierces my ears, and I instinctively turn my eyes to see Ragni coming through the scattered debris.

What? Ragni?!!

“Your special technique!! Mountain Keeper Punch!!!”

“Are you crazy?!!”

-SMACK!!!

“Hey!! Where are you aiming…!! That’s not even a punch…!!!”

As I barely block Ragni’s kick that she called a punch but was precisely aimed at my groin, I retreat backward and see her cute face winking at me.

Crazy!! You call me husband and master while making sex jokes all the time, but you aim for Jack Jr.?! Are you insane?!!

“Hehe, I knew you’d block it!!”

-SMACK!! POW!!

“Ugh!”

Ragni rushes at me using hand-to-hand combat with her [Divine Talent] instead of her gun, and I start to get pushed back, a bit flustered.

I thought she would definitely maintain a rear position since Gore and Ray are here, but I was completely wrong!!

She must have completely seen through my movements and thoughts with [Blue Ruler’s Wisdom].

“Hup!!”

“Eek?!”

Unlike the sturdy tank Gore, I couldn’t kick Ragni with full force or punch her. After blocking all her punches, I push her away lightly as if tapping her shoulder.

If it were Ray, I could at least make a fist, but with Ragni as my opponent, I can’t bring myself to clench my fist!!

“Kufufu! How gentle! Is it because it’s me that you won’t punch?”

“There won’t be a next time? If you let your guard down, I won’t hesitate to hit your jaw next time.”

“Hmph! I don’t want a square jaw, so I’ll stop the close combat here.”

What? After just pushing her away slightly, Ragni smiles and pulls out a gun from her waist, starting to fire rapidly at me.

Oh no?! Blocking all the magic bullets coming at point-blank range is impossible even at my current level!!

“Waaaah!!”

“Ahahaha!! Being dominated by you feels good, but tormenting you also feels good in a different way!!”

As I roll on the ground desperately avoiding the magic bullets, Ragni raises her voice in laughter like her game character.

It’s a bit scary?! Don’t tell me she’s suddenly becoming a raid boss?!!

“E! Nough!!”

-THUD!!

“You’re really a monster!! That’s cheating!!!”

When the distance opens up a bit, Gore grabs a stone from the broken floor and intercepts the bullets. Ragni shouts in disbelief. This gives me a chance to regroup…!!

“[Wind Riding. Form 1: Wind of Containment.]”

What? What did I just hear…

This should be the academy’s indoor testing ground, but a sudden wind blows. And my thoughts freeze at the voice.

I have the illusion that the surrounding space is tinged with green, and I see Ray holding her sword vertically in a thrusting stance in the direction I was rolling.

Wait. No way!!!

“Jack, please dodge without getting hurt. I can’t control the power yet.”

The surrounding green light is all covered with sharp silver light, and it feels like only Ray and I are left in this world.

Dodge? Can’t control it?! Why do you even know this technique in the first place…!!

-SLASH!!!

Contrary to my bewildered thoughts, my body reacts on its own and I roll on the floor once more.

If I had stood still, an invisible sharp thrust that might have taken my head off drew a silver line in the air.

I couldn’t even see her legs move, but Ray has already passed me and is sheathing her sword behind me.

Taking a stance like a samurai from the islands who might say “I’ve already cut you,” Ray doesn’t seem to care at all that I completely dodged her attack by rolling, and just turns her head to smile at me.

“Hehe. As expected, even when there’s an opening, Jack can dodge my sincere attack? If you had time to prepare, would you have deflected the sword again?”

“Crazy. What exactly did you learn from Green Stone? How did you…”

“My teacher said he felt deprived by my talent. I worked harder than usual to stand by your side, have I become a woman worthy of you?”

A woman worthy of me? This is insane. I can’t help but smile.

I check the kids’ status windows every day, but she didn’t have a skill like [Wind Riding]. In other words, she really learned Deus Ex Machina’s technique through her own effort and talent.

Is this right? Are you perhaps the protagonist?

You learned the elven vision sword for me? You’re so lovable it’s driving me crazy?

“Still, letting your guard down isn’t go…!!”

[Master. There’s no reason it should end just because you dodged two people’s attacks.]

-WHOOSH!!!

“Aack?!!”

-THWACK!!

“Ugh!!”

I was planning to take advantage of the opening while Ray was sheathing her sword and smiling, but suddenly a status window blocked my view. And simultaneously, a gust of wind wrapped around me.

And in between, I was caught by a palm larger than my body that emerged.

I had completely forgotten. Because Ragni and Ray’s coordination was so threatening and clean, I completely forgot one person. No, one monster!!

[We call this situation checkmate.]

“Wait, when did you grow?!”

Gore has grown to over 5M in size and caught me. This is ridiculous?

I didn’t notice Gore growing? No matter how urgent the situation was, this doesn’t make sense?!

“Hehe! This is the coordination we prepared. I face the enemy first and push them into Ray’s line of fire, then block their vision, and in that gap, Gore grows giant and finishes it. We originally planned to use this in the situation you prepared ‘that day’. What do you think?”

As Ragni says this, she rolls her eyes to look at the Chancellor, and I finally understand her words.

She must be talking about the day I planned to make her beat up the Chancellor as part of my project to restore her self-esteem.

Ha. You were preparing this behind my back? Then, did you all know Ray could use that sword technique?

“No. No one knew until dawn that day. When you wouldn’t wake up, I revealed everything to make Ragni plan the strategy.”

“…Wait, then. The fight was over, why did you keep hiding it from me?”

[Actually, Ragni suggested it. She said we might need to hide our prepared battle method from Master.]

What? Wait, don’t tell me.

“Hehe. You worry a lot. I thought you’d be anxious because you didn’t see our combat level that day. So, I thought you might send us back to ‘that dungeon’ to fight a boss, and we were planning to surprise you then. I didn’t expect to use it against you though?”

[What will you do? Do you want to see my finishing attack?]

“Let me ask first, what are you planning to do?”

Completely restrained in Gore’s hand, I’m now totally defenseless.

Honestly, if I went all out and used my strength to shatter one of Gore’s fingers to escape, I don’t think it would be impossible, but I don’t want to go that far. I’d like to hear the conclusion.

[I’ll grow to maximum size, which I can maintain for about 10 seconds at maximum MP. I’ll be about the size of a small mountain, and then I’ll slam you into the ground. For the finishing move, I plan to fall from the air and hit the opponent with an elemental attack from the spirits I’ve consumed.]

“Who exactly did you plan that for? That’s complete overkill!”

What are you saying? Were you planning to use that on me? Gore-gore?

I start to sweat a little and try to raise both hands, but then realize I can’t because I’m restrained by Gore’s hand.

Geez. Even though it wasn’t their full power, to be caught so helplessly.

“I surrender! I surrender!! I lost! I lost!!”

“Nice!! Wish token!!”

“Hehe. What should we ask for?”

[Since the same thing would be less stimulating, we should prepare something that feels even better.]

Gore slowly puts me down and releases her giant form, and the two women hug each other in joy.

What are they so happy about?

“Phew, anyway. The test is over. Do as you please. And don’t hesitate to ask the Chancellor for help when things get really dangerous.”

“Yeah, got it.”

“Yes! Don’t worry! We’ll protect Miss Ira!”

[If that time comes, I’ll protect her even at the cost of my life. Well, only the golem would die though.]

After saying that, I turn around again.

The Chancellor at the bottom of the testing ground was watching our duel with quite some interest, and as for Miho.

“This is their passing grade. What about you?”

“…Eh?”

“Can you land a hit on me like they did?”

“Ah, um. That, well.”

As expected. Just as I aimed for, seeing our kids’ fight completely crushed her spirit. Her tiger ears drooped as if drained of energy, and her tail was dragging on the floor.

Honestly, she recently reached nearly 100 levels and exceeded 140, but Miho doesn’t know her recent combat power.

Surely, this alone would have conveyed what I wanted to say.

“Can’t answer? I thought so. My judgment after seeing you these past few days is ‘fail.’ Any objections?”

Show our kids’ strength. And completely crush her spirit.

Finish by announcing it while Ira is asleep.

Behind me, my companions were chattering excitedly, and I directed a cold gaze at Miho, making sure they couldn’t see.