Ch.312Trusted NPCs. (3)

“The characteristics of the Seven Deadly Sins we defeated? Well. Ira, do you remember?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure. Since you rushed in and smashed most of them before I could, except for the two I defeated, I don’t really know? What about Miho… our white tiger?”

“Grrrr.”

“She says she doesn’t know.”

“…How exactly are you understanding her?”

“Huh? Well, we sleep together and do night activities, so I just understand her?”

“Grrrr~”

“……”

I realized I had been transported to a time similar to Jack’s when I fell into the old Siltra Forest to undergo a trial about two days ago. After being “attacked” by a white tiger much larger than myself, being forcibly licked all over, and then licking back in revenge, I met people called “Forest Keeper Jack” and “Saint Ira.” When I heard their names, I wondered if it could be true and mentioned “Future Jack,” and it turned out they really were the people who had met Jack.

“Well, Lust. Luxuria was my first love and benefactor. So that’s not much help.”

“…She was kind.”

“I-I see. What about the others?”

“I defeated Wrath and Envy before meeting Jack. Wrath was a demon that grew as large as a mountain. I broke its legs with a hammer infused with holy power, then struck its head until it died. And Envy had tentacles…”

Saint Ira. A woman with the same red hair and purple eyes as Jack’s sister Ira, whom I wanted to serve. Of course, I clearly know she’s different from the Lady Ira I know, as she has a much more mature appearance. Above all…

“So, I pulled it like this! And then BAM!! I grabbed its thing and…”

“Hahaha!! Ira, your way of speaking has become quite similar to mine.”

“Huh? Well, I’ve been away from being a saint or serving gods for almost 10 years now? I don’t want to bother with unnecessary formalities. And of course my speech is similar to yours. You’re the person I love.”

“Hmm, that’s true. I love you too.”

“Hehe.”

“Grrrr!”

“Don’t worry, Miho. Of course I love you just as much.”

“…Gulp.”

This one isn’t a little sister, but a proper wife. And somehow, that white tiger with the same name as me. The similar scent she gives off makes it certain she must be my ancestor. However.

‘Saint Ira is different. Her scent is completely different.’

As for Jack, honestly, I’m not sure. There’s a similar essence, a feeling of familiarity, but the Jack I’ve fallen for has a more wild scent? Somehow, this man’s scent seems similar yet feels like a different species.

“Ah, sorry. You probably didn’t want to watch our display of affection.”

“No, I actually think it’s nice to see, and it gives me courage too.”

I’m a beast-person, but that Miho is a ‘real’ tiger. Seeing her(?), a complete beast with no human features, sharing love with a human makes me think that being a beast-person like me isn’t so bad.

“So, about the Seven Deadly Sins’ characteristics? Honestly, it’s been so long I don’t remember well. Instead, I could show you the punches I used to defeat them.”

“Oh! I’d love to see that!! I’m a martial artist too!!”

“Well, in my case it’s more forest keeper techniques than martial arts, but sure. The first of the Seven Deadly Sins I defeated was…”

The reason I asked about the Seven Deadly Sins that day. Honestly, while I enjoyed both combat training with them and hearing old stories, I asked because I had a purpose for undergoing this trial.

“And for Greed, well. Before he could do anything, Miho found him by scent. And when his mouth opened, I immediately rushed in and planted my fist right in his jaw to shut it.”

“Was there a specific stance or technique when you hit his jaw?”

“Just like this!”

-Woosh!!

“Since he was too tall for my fist to reach properly, I crouched down as much as possible and then swung upward with force.”

“Oh, what a clean trajectory!”

Jack defeated the demon of Wrath and the Elven Grand Elder. So I too…

“Like this?”

-Woosh!

“No. Pull your waist back more and gather strength in your thighs. Like this!”

-Woooosh!!!

I want to be his strength too. I want to be like him. When he fights demons again, I want to be a female who can help him.

“Hnnng!!”

-KWANG!!!

“Oh, aren’t you swinging better than me now? Once you gain more strength, you’ll easily be able to shatter demons’ jaws.”

“Hehehe, thank you.”

“Grrrr! Lick!!”

“Ahng?! Eek!! I told you not to lick me just because you’re being praised!!! Lick lick!”

“Purrrr~”

That’s how my trial concluded.

*

“M-Miho?!!”

“You punched it with your bare hands…!! Is your arm okay?!!”

“I’ve been watching its attack timing all along. The surrounding space wasn’t torn when it was loading something into its mouth. So I thought that moment was my only chance.”

My attack power alone isn’t enough. Even if I use claws enhanced by beast transformation and holy magic, now that I know it can consume holy power, simply striking at an opening won’t do damage. But what if the attack it was trying to use explodes inside its own mouth? Especially if it’s “holy power it just learned to eat,” and multiple mouths cause chain explosions? At the very least, it won’t come out unscathed. Moreover.

“Haha, I was seriously thinking about releasing my power and running away, thinking I might actually die.”

“If you run away, we all die, you know?”

“Like I said, I could take Miho and Chikuyo with me. The rest would be impossible.”

Despite acting casual, Luxuria was sweating profusely, seemingly genuinely considering escape—whether due to her torn wings preventing flight or the holy power Greed had shown. Of course, I don’t want to blame her for prioritizing her own life, but I want to do my best to save as many people as possible. Wait, is it because she kissed my sister? She was calling us beast sisters earlier, but suddenly she’s using our names?

[AAAAARGH!!!] [FATHERRRR?!!] [I AM OF HOUSE HELGOT!!! THE DUKE’S FAMILY!!!] [GOD, WHY!!!]

“So noisy.”

“…That’s not enough to kill it.”

“More importantly. Haven’t their numbers increased? There were about twenty before, but now I see…”

“Ugh. Why, why would anyone do such things?! Even demons like Luxuria exist, so why?!!”

Despite the massive holy explosion, the creature’s flesh and mouths have multiplied, now completely filling the surrounding landscape. How are we supposed to defeat this? When we had the advantage in numbers, I thought we could somehow coordinate to bring it down, but being chased by a multitude…

[No matter how massive and enormous it becomes, there is only one main body. And those who are swallowed cannot be saved.]

“Huh?”

I recall what Saint Liselotte repeated earlier, something she heard from Jack. Wait, could it be.

“Ugh, I absolutely cannot forgive this. I don’t care if I’m a saint or a servant of God! A demon who does such things to people, to living humans…!!!”

“Haha, my ears hurt. That’s just that pig being true to its desires. Honestly, I can’t say much. Anyway, I’m still receiving magical energy, so let’s try again.”

Liselotte’s body glows with holy light, while Luxuria leaks demonic energy as she repairs her torn wings. My sister and the Elder readjust their grips on their swords. As I watch them begin attacking the nearest flesh mass again, I quickly hide in the forest and conceal my presence. If what I’m thinking is correct, what Jack meant was…

“Second Form Protection…?!!”

-Pipipipipit!!!

“Kyaa?!! T-this is the Elder’s sword energy?!! This is insane!! It shot sword energy from its mouth?!!!”

“You damn pig!! Even my demonic flames…!!! I shot them so you couldn’t eat them, how?!!”

-Puk!!!

“Ugh?!! C-could it be. That was just now Miho-san’s fist?! No, teeth shaped like a fist…?!!”

[Give, give me you. I’ll eat you. Come here.] [For Ponia!!] [I’m getting married after this war ends.] [My only brother is waiting at home!! Please!!!] [The Empire will be eternal, right? My sacrifice…]

Countless mouths spew various words while mimicking our attacks, tearing space, and regenerating. Like an infinitely multiplying, infinitely devouring situation. And then.

[Are you hiding again?]

“Hup!!!”

-Puk!!

[Ah?]

Sure enough, another mouth appeared behind me. This time, before it could tear space, I turned and kicked the maw before creating distance. Even the Elder can’t find me when I hide, and besides Jack, no one has ever found me, including demons. But this demon finds me. No.

[Phantom Illusion Sword.]

“Ah, no way…?”

“Chikuyo!! Focus!!”

-Kagagagagagagak!!!

[Holy magic, holy magic, holy magic. Holy explosion.]

“You idiot!!! You’re one of the Seven Deadly Sins, what holy power are you using?!! Even I couldn’t do that 8,000 years ago, how can you?!!”

“I’ll shove holy power down your throat…!!”

[Demonic bullet, demonic explosion.]

“Kyaaah?!!”

“Lise!!!”

“…It’s eating our skills, mimicking our skills.”

Creatures perfectly mimicking our attacks, and mouths that can perfectly track even my concealed presence. Additionally, some of their attacks resemble ordinary human movements or spear thrusts. Those must be Imperial soldiers’ attacks. Moreover.

-Kaang!!

“Ugh, whose swordsmanship is this?! It’s neither mine nor Chikuyo’s!!”

“A heavy sword focused on power. Isn’t this greatsword technique?! More importantly, how is it using swordsmanship with teeth!!!”

An adventurer’s sword, or someone else’s technique. This confirms it. This is…

“Sister!! Everyone!! Retreat!!! Gather around me!!!”

“Huh? Miho, what are you saying?!”

“Wait!! If we stop here, this thing will grow more…!! I don’t have much time left either?!!”

“Ugh!! Miho-san!! Absolutely not!!! If we don’t free these people’s souls here!!!”

“No, Miho is right. I’ll create an opening for a moment. Everyone, retreat!”

When everyone was refusing to listen to me, only the Elder seemed to notice something and stepped forward, readjusting his grip on his sword. I’m glad the Elder realized I’ve figured something out.

“Wind Riding Seventh Form. Autumn Island Wind.”

The Elder’s sword gently traced the ground, creating a small whirlwind that slowly began to grow.

[Huh? What’s this? Wind? Flying?] [I don’t want to die!!] [It hurts! It hurts!! Stop!!!] [Don’t chew!! Don’t chew!!! Don’t cheeeeew!!!]

“You just stay torn apart for a while.”

The Elder’s massive whirlwind, enveloping all the giant mouths, created blade-like winds that slowly and surely tore apart Greed’s mouths, blocking them. During that time, we were able to escape their encirclement.