Ch.327327. Kidnapping

“…Calivan.”

[What.]

“Is that what they call a waste of talent?”

[…Probably?]

Listening to Calivan’s incredulous response, Darwood also stared at the devastation around him with slightly dazed eyes.

While demonic powers vary between individuals, they’re generally extremely well-suited for combat.

Seeing these people gathered together, pouring out all manner of abilities in perfect unison just for what amounted to an emotional squabble was almost enough to make one lose their sense of reality.

-!

Violet demonic energy primarily supports other energies and is difficult to manifest independently, but when two assassins with exceptional skills use it to amplify their own powers, it becomes a disaster in its own right.

Two Furries move with lightning speed, creating a dazzling dance of blades. It’s mesmerizing just to watch. Almost majestic, even.

The problem is…

Everyone gathered here treats such attacks as mere parlor tricks—and rightfully so.

Red demonic energy envelops the surroundings. Brown demonic energy follows. Blue and white energies paint the area in a spectrum of colors.

The shockwaves from colliding energies alone devastate everything around them—it’s almost chilling.

Sword strikes, flames, magic, formulas, divine power… all brilliantly illuminating the area.

“…”

Wait, hold on.

Divine power?

“…Holy Maiden?”

Darwood muttered absentmindedly.

Somehow, there was someone he never expected to join this kind of situation, so without thinking—

No.

What is she doing there again?

Darwood frowned and focused his attention on Lucien. He wanted to hear what she was saying.

Let me just check—

“Let us have a taste too-!”

“…”

“Why do only you get to do the good stuff while Yuria and I-!”

“…”

“I’m already dying of loneliness having never even held a man’s hand! All I get is being leashed and dragged around-!”

“…”

—Let’s stop listening.

Darwood ran his hand through his hair with a gloomy expression as he diverted his attention elsewhere.

A Holy Maiden is supposed to be a role model for all religious people across the continent.

Is this really okay for the continent?

Is this the right situation—a Holy Maiden violently scattering divine power everywhere because she wants to experience something beyond being leashed…

“Hey, no cutting in line!”

And then, a voice vehemently interrupts.

It’s His Majesty, the Emperor. Though his dignity was significantly diminished by dangling from the side of the Sword Saint—who was responding to attacks flying in all directions with an expression that said “why am I even doing this”—his anger toward the Holy Maiden seemed quite genuine.

“If you’re from the Holy Empire, have the decency to let others have a turn with the imperial citizens! What kind of conscience do you have, approaching a man you’ve only ever harmed—”

“Shut up, you fountain nun!”

“…”

Everyone fell silent as the Emperor was verbally sunk.

Triggering the Emperor’s deeply buried trauma might be cruel, but it’s certainly an effective way to subdue him…

“—A person can act like a fountain sometimes—!”

…Or maybe not.

Everyone’s faces filled with shock as the Emperor immediately recovered.

He endured that?!

How?!

“…”

The Sword Saint carrying her at his side had moved beyond despair into a realm of transcendent detachment, but the Emperor’s demeanor remained dignified as she spoke those words.

“It’s not like I’m the only one with embarrassing memories. If I were to expose all of yours, none of you have done fewer crazy things than I have—!”

“…Crazy things?”

Darwood blankly repeated.

“Did you all do something to me when I wasn’t aware?”

At that question, everyone’s eyes dimmed slightly.

In most cases, they remained silent because they were clearly guilty of something, but with so many people present, there were bound to be some whose relationship was intense enough that they didn’t care about such concerns.

“I know one! It’s a bit trivial, though!”

Serath declared proudly, puffing out her chest and pointing at Riru.

All eyes silently turned to Riru as the accusation pierced through the chaos.

“That person stole Darwood’s underwear!”

“…”

“Not just one or two pieces, but a whole week’s worth. I even saw her bundling them up and running away with—”

“S-s-s-shut up-!!”

“…”

Wait.

Really?

“…I did feel like someone was going through my closet.”

There were memories he had dismissed, thinking he’d simply misplaced things himself.

But to think someone was doing such things without him noticing…?

When even Darwood gave her a dumbfounded look, Riru’s face turned explosively red.

Her stammering was completely unlike her usual rough way of speaking—a clear sign she’d been caught red-handed.

“…Wait a minute.”

And realizing something, Darwood quietly muttered.

“If that counts as a trivial crazy thing, what on earth have the rest of you been doing behind my back?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Everyone fell silent.

It was perhaps the only moment when the battle—which had been destroying everything around it with each collision—temporarily ceased.

After a long silence…

“—So what you’re saying is that I have the right to be penetrated by Darwood—”

“—Stop saying crazy things-!”

At some point, as if by mutual agreement, the women around them started fighting again.

It seemed they had collectively decided to forget the question Darwood had just asked.

Or rather, they seemed to be fighting even more intensely to cover up that question.

“…”

Will my future be okay?

Surrounded by women who consider stealing someone else’s underwear in bulk as trivial, women who are fighting to the death for the “right to share a bed” or whatever with him—is this really okay?

What kind of future awaits if things continue like this…

Darwood contemplated such thoughts with an expression of utter resignation as the situation grew more heated.

Until he felt a ‘different’ presence behind him.

“—Hm?”

With the feeling of something covering his shoulder…

Darwood’s body was suddenly pulled somewhere.

Amid the dizzying heat of battle, two presences stood out particularly:

Elia wielding her holy sword, and Elnore with gray demonic energy enveloping her entire body.

“Darwood—!”

With a voice full of determination, Elia took her stance and pointed her sword.

“To be honest, he prefers active and easygoing types like me over troublesome people like you—!”

“Ah. If we’re talking about being troublesome, aren’t you worse?”

“Hon-estly, who likes obsessive women? They’re just annoying—!”

“She talks as if she’s not obsessive herself. This shameless woman.”

…The subject they were fighting over seemed rather trivial for humans with such power, but the scale of the battle was certainly magnificent.

‘—But.’

And even in such a playful battle.

There was something that felt ominous.

Elnore frowned as she looked at Elia.

‘…Was she this strong?’

She herself had become incredibly adept at handling demonic energy, raising both her specs and combat abilities to ridiculous levels.

But.

Her opponent was keeping pace.

In speed, power, and even in conceptual realms like “authority.”

“…”

Something has changed.

There hadn’t been any special events that would have caused such growth, yet it felt as if she had been naturally strengthened.

As if she was receiving forced “adjustments” because “it was time” for her to be at this level.

As if she would soon be assigned an important role.

While thinking this, she suddenly heard a strange voice from across the battlefield.

“…By the way.”

Elnore, who had been crossing swords with Elia, suddenly muttered.

“Where did the teacher suddenly go?”

“…Hm?”

Elnore blankly asked, looking toward where Darwood had been.

Precisely, where he “had been.”

“…”

“…”

Seeing no trace of him whatsoever, Elnore let out a bewildered sound.

“Huh?”

●

A dimly lit space.

Since no alarm has been triggered, they probably don’t have hostile intentions toward me. That’s mostly why I allowed myself to be taken.

“…Who are you?”

It’s too dark to see their face clearly. I can barely make out eyes, nose, and mouth.

But somehow, the silhouette feels familiar.

Seems like someone is trying to kidnap me again.

Thinking this and sighing inwardly…

“Hello.”

—Instantly.

A chill ran up my spine.

A familiar voice.

But one I never imagined I would “suddenly” hear in a place like this.

“I think this is the first time you’re seeing me without my mask?”

The Luminary said, winking.

●