The Witch's Provocation and the Gacha's Call
Haa... haa... haa...
The 2nd Legion Commander, her face flushed crimson, kept panting as she clutched the area around her heart—the most exposed part of her body—and glared at me.
Just then, a sharp, piercing sound echoed from high above, audible to everyone present.
Phishing—
Shooooooo—
Kwang!
A long, silver spear engraved with intricate patterns, about three meters in length and radiating a brilliant white light, slammed into the ground between us and the 2nd Legion Commander with a deafening roar.
"Who goes there!"
The 2nd Legion Commander shouted, looking up at the sky.
"To mobilize two legions at once... do you even have a conscience? Ah, wait—you're a demon, so you don't, do you?"
"You...!"
A voice, so insufferably smug that even I felt annoyed listening to it, drifted down from the heavens.
I tilted my head back to see an angel clad in a full set of pristine white armor, flapping her wings and looking down at the 2nd Legion Commander with a resolute expression.
Where did that mesugaki-like tone come from...?
Wait!?
...Is that angel, by any chance, that bumbling airhead angel?
Whoa...
What’s with that serious look on her face...?
Where did the ditzy, clumsy angel go, and why has she transformed into someone who looks like a powerhouse?
The 2nd Legion Commander, who had been locked in a standoff with us, seemed to sense that the sudden arrival of the airhead angel put her at a disadvantage; she frowned, looking visibly tense.
Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from behind the 2nd Legion Commander.
Thump, thump, thump, thump—
"Legion Commander-nim!"
Judging by the sound, it was clearly the reinforcements of the 2nd Legion.
As they finally revealed themselves, the 2nd Legion soldiers—true to their commander—were all dressed in highly revealing outfits.
Whoa...
Bikini armor here, bikini armor there... Are they even wearing clothes? Oh, wait, half of them are...
As if to confirm that this truly is a gender-reversed world, they seemed to have no shame whatsoever regarding their lack of attire.
Soon, under the command of a blonde, tanned woman wearing an eyepatch, the 2nd Legion began to surround us.
No, seriously, what is going on...?
Is this for real?
Didn't you say you were bringing your own legion?
Did you eat it for breakfast or something?
Why did you come alone, you airhead angel?!
Seeming to sense my frustration, the 2nd Legion Commander looked up at the angel hovering in the air and asked with a mocking smirk.
"Are you alone?"
Say no! Please... just say no!
Right? There’s no way she came alone, right!? Huh!?
Whirrrrrrr—
As the airhead angel reached out her hand toward the sky, the spear embedded in the ground began to rotate with a humming sound and flew back into her grasp.
Wow, that’s actually badass...
Clack—
Catching the returning spear, the airhead angel smirked and replied.
"...Did you really think I brought the whole legion? As if! I, too, have brought my entire legion."
"What? Where..."
5252, are you serious!!!
Where are they!
Show me, quickly!!!!
Calm me down, for heaven's sake!
Pristine white magic circles appeared in every direction, and heavily armed angels began to pour out.
In an instant, the angels emerging from the magic circles began to surround the 2nd Legion in turn.
Ohhhhh!!!
"Humans... thank you for your hard work. Because you bought me time, I was able to bring my entire legion! Hehehe!"
Isn't that obvious? We came to clean up the mess you made, didn't we?
It would be disappointing if you couldn't even do that much...
After glancing at her legion surrounding the 2nd, the airhead angel slowly flapped her wings and landed right next to me, where I was barely standing by using my shield as a crutch.
Then, she reached out and stroked my face.
"You worked so hard..."
W-what is this?
What are you doing?
Are you crazy... We aren't... that close, are we?
Tap—
"It’s... a bit... unpleasant... Please... take your hand... away..."
"Ah... right, I-I'm sorry!"
The airhead angel hung her head, looking utterly dejected.
Seeing her so crestfallen because of my reaction made me feel a bit uneasy.
Was I really that cold-hearted?
But then again, it’s pretty unforgivable that she thought I was dead.
While I was lost in these complicated thoughts...
The 2nd Legion Commander in front of us burst into raucous laughter.
"Pwahahahaha!"
Only then did the dejected airhead angel, perhaps feeling embarrassed that she had shown such a pathetic side of herself to the enemy commander, flush bright red. She tightened her grip on her spear and shouted, glaring at her.
"I'll kill you!!!"
"Hahaha! Then come and get me!"
"Everyone, charge!"
"Wipe them all out! Break through!"
"Waaaaaah!"
No sooner had the war of words between the airhead angel and the 2nd Legion Commander ended than the two legions collided head-on.
"Evenie... were you actually thinking of running away just now? Hmph. That’s a terrible joke. After seeing that... you aren't leaving here in one piece today. I’m going to bury you."
"Why are you blaming me for you getting rejected?"
"...Grrr!"
Evenie? Is that the 2nd Legion Commander's name...
The moment the 2nd Legion Commander deflected the airhead angel's desperate spear thrust, the heroes' coordinated attacks linked up again, making things even more difficult for her.
"Ughhh!"
Finding it impossible to block everything, the 2nd Legion Commander unleashed a massive amount of demonic energy, blowing all the attacks away.
"Let's go again like this!"
"Of course!"
"...Grrr!"
It was just when the 2nd Legion Commander was being pushed back by our side's relentless, non-stop offensive that darkness suddenly fell over the sky.
Everyone on the battlefield panicked and looked around.
A slightly sticky, sultry voice that seemed to drip with maturity echoed from the sky.
"Wouldn't it be better to fight with a bit more balance?"
As the voice faded, a blue sphere wreathed in black currents plummeted toward the ground at high speed.
Kwooooooong— Pwaaaaaaaaaaang—
As soon as the sphere touched the ground, it spread out like a black veil, pushing back all the angelic soldiers.
From the spot where the sphere landed, a woman stepped out, wearing a black dress with a corset that cinched her waist to highlight her curves, and a witch's hat with a sharp, black brim.
Wow...
This is insane...
A corset with a medieval witch aesthetic...?
Side slits here... side slits there... the only thing I can say is that her figure is incredibly sexy.
Even her voice is perfect...
My heart is truly swelling with awe...
Just as I had imagined, a sexy witch-themed beauty appeared right before my eyes.
The 2nd Legion Commander, happy to see the beauty who had come to support her, waved her hand.
"You're late, Livia!"
So the witch-themed beauty's name was Livia.
Unlike the 2nd Legion Commander, who was clearly happy to see her, Livia replied in a cold tone.
"Sister... didn't I tell you earlier? Not to overdo it. Why don't you listen to me? The eldest sister specifically assigned me to help you... I told you to be careful... Tsk..."
"...S-sorry..."
"This is why... the physical types never work out."
"..."
Sister... sister... Could she be... the 3rd Legion Commander?
The 2nd Legion Commander, who had been rampaging just moments ago, couldn't even talk back to Livia—who was presumably the 3rd Legion Commander—and hung her head in shame.
"Kuh... Grrr..."
Seeing Livia’s attitude, the blonde, tanned woman with the eyepatch seemed to have her pride wounded and trembled with rage.
Livia, noticing her, called out.
"What. Do you have a problem?"
"N-no... I don't."
"Then stay quiet. Shouldn't you have stopped her or done better yourself?"
"..."
Wow, the verbal abuse is insane.
Even here... the reality of military life is perfectly replicated...
Even in a gender-reversed world, the military is the same...
Livia didn't even spare a glance for the airhead angel; she turned her gaze directly toward me.
???
Why me???
I’m struggling just to stand here while holding onto my shield...
Why are you looking at me with such intense eyes?
Don't make me nervous, why are you doing this...
"..."
"...?"
Livia, who had been staring at me for a moment, opened her mouth.
"You... the human male who sucked up to our mother, Diablo, and gained her interest... I’ve seen your ability. It’s quite interesting, isn't it...? It makes me want to kidnap you right now."
"I-I never did that...!! Huk!"
At Livia's words, all the heroes around me glared at me.
When did I ever do that!
Sucked up to her...? What are you talking about!
If someone heard that, they'd think I was out there seducing everyone!
Is she crazy?
Who is she trying to frame here...!
And what's with the kidnapping!
Livia, seeing that things were going exactly as she intended, fanned the flames further.
"Today doesn't seem to be the day, so... we'll withdraw for now... but if you want to fight more, come to the base we've occupied. We'll fight you with everything we've got. And... human male, let's meet alone later...♥ Okay? I'll be looking forward to it~♥ Fufufu...!"
"N-no! That's not it! That's... a frame-up!"
No, why are you saying it so suggestively, with a heart implied in your voice!
And what are you looking forward to...
There's no way a beauty like you would be looking forward to anything from me!
As expected of a demon... saying things like that...!
She's really committed to the concept!
How dare you seduce people like that!
This is a frame-up!
I spat blood and desperately denied it, shouting that it was all a setup.
Livia responded to me with a wink.
Why are you winking at a time like this...
Is this how I get trapped?
Ah... it's over... this is...
The expressions on the faces of the surrounding heroes were already looking ominous.
Anything I say now will just sound like an excuse, right?
"Ah! They're trying to run away!"
Despite the airhead angel's urgency, the heroes didn't even look at her; they surrounded me, grabbing my collar and shaking me as they reprimanded me.
"Quiet! That's not the problem right now!"
"That's right! That's not the issue!"
"You, are you some kind of succubus, no... incubus? What? Alone? Looking forward to it?"
"Are you a sex maniac? Why do demons keep taking an interest in you! What have you been doing!"
"Again... again... that monster was mentioned by the Legion Commander... Every Legion Commander we meet knows you! How can we believe you when you say it's nothing? What? A frame-up? It's not a frame-up, it's 'what-are-you-up-to'!"
"...Ugh!"
While I was being harassed by the heroes, the demons finished their preparations for retreat via teleportation and were being sucked into the magic circle.
...
I know nothing about this...
Just let me live...
Shake— shake—
Riiiip—
As I resigned myself to my fate and closed my eyes, letting my body go limp in the shaking collar to exercise my right to remain silent, I heard the sound of my military uniform top being ripped apart by someone's grip.
Startled by the sound of tearing fabric, I opened my eyes to see a piece of my uniform clutched in Cheonma's right hand, fluttering in the wind.
"..."
"... S-sorry..."
"Hey, yamete..."
Gulp—
I heard Cheonma swallow hard right in front of me.
Hah...
She reacted to yamete like that...?
Did just saying yamete sound that strange...
Hah... I'm exhausted. I just want to rest for a bit...
"For now... let's stop and head back... the enemy has retreated..."
"T-that seems to be the right thing to do. Although we lost the base we occupied last time... the enemy has retreated. It seems we've overcome the biggest crisis. I think we need to reorganize, gather again, and hold a meeting on what to do next."
"Yes... since we stopped the legion's advance without major losses, the other Archangels shouldn't have much to say. Everyone worked hard. I have to deal with the troops that were stationed there... I have a lot to do, so I'll move out first. Oh, and I saw your ability to change the tide of war today..."
To my suggestion, which was filled with a desire to rest, Cheonma—who seemed a bit self-conscious about what had just happened—agreed and suggested we hold a meeting after regrouping. The airhead angel agreed without any objections and moved to reorganize her legion.
Watching the airhead angel move, Merlin, who had been silently standing by my side, stepped forward.
"MASS TELEPORT!"
Whoosh!
Wrapped in green light, we began to move toward the campsite where the campfire—or rather, the tents—would be.
I wonder... how many coins... did I acquire...
Considering how much blood I spat out...
Today, I'm definitely getting something good.
I'm looking forward to it...
I trust in my luck...!