Chaos in the Capital and Klea! (2)
...It's so noisy out there...
There's still some time left before the exam ends, but for some reason, things outside sound chaotic. The auras inside the building feel strangely urgent. Why is that? Did something happen?
At some point, I can't sense the priests' auras anymore... So whose are these fear-stricken ones I'm feeling now...?
...Maybe this is the final test before the exam ends.
I should keep my position like this until it's officially over.
Somehow, it feels like something ominous has been approaching from afar since earlier... but it's probably just my imagination...?
It feels familiar, like I've sensed this foreboding somewhere before... If something were really happening, someone would call for me...
"Sister Klea! Is that you, Sister Klea!?"
The moment I thought that, urgent knocking sounded at the door, followed by a man's voice I'd never heard before calling my name.
"Yes. That's me, but..."
"You need to get out now! A Hero Eater is heading toward the church!"
"What!?"
A Hero Eater...? So that ominous feeling wasn't my imagination...?
I jumped up and turned toward the door in a hurry, and the man burst in, grabbing my hand.
"The other candidates have mostly escaped! You're the last one, Sister Klea!"
"Th-then the people still inside the building...!?"
"It's the kingdom's knight order! The priests are waiting outside!"
No way... A Hero Eater... My detestable Master's enemies are here...!
...?
What is this sudden surge of rage...?
Master's enemies...? Why did I think of it that way...?
"The Hero Knights have gone out to subdue it, but it's approaching fast! With that massive size and what looks like high defense, it'll take time to take it down!"
As the knight leading me explained, I sensed the aura outside. It's... really close... At this rate, it'll be here any second...!
Ah!
"D-danger!"
At the central entrance. As we passed the goddess statue placed in the middle, I felt the Hero Eater's aura closing in rapidly.
It's probably arriving right... here...
The instant I shoved the knight aside, a wall collapsed behind me with a crash, and I spotted a massive, ominous presence.
"Kieeeaaaaaaa!!"
A chilling shriek like a scream. Is it targeting me...?
...No, that's not right.
No time for a defensive barrier...
...Master. I'm sorry...
Eh?
...This is... Master's aura...?
"Kleaaaaaaa!!!"
- Kuuaaaaaang!!
I squeezed my eyes shut in resignation, and at that moment, I sensed Master charging in... Then a massive impact right in front of me, as Master blocked the lunging Hero Eater.
The goddess statue ahead crumbled, and there stood Master before it, radiating an even greater aura than before, protecting me.
It was as if... Master had taken the place of the fallen goddess to shield me.
Master, emanating that same massive aura that filled me—the one that made me want to worship him.
My body felt empty from hunger and fatigue, my senses numb, yet Master's aura enveloped me, filling me up.
......Ahh. So that's how it was. I get it now.
Why I was drawn not to Baul, but to Master.
Why I hesitated to choose, even calling it a "resolve."
What I truly desired...
This. It was this all along.
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The moment I entered the building, the ceiling caved in, revealing Yormungand lunging at me with its maw wide open.
At the same time, I saw Klea's back—standing right where its jaws were aimed.
Faster than I thought possible, I shifted to my mine form, shouting her name as I leaped in.
"Kleaaaaaaa!!!!"
- Kuuuuwuuung!!!
Thankfully, I wasn't too late. My transformation complete, Yormungand's massive mouth clamped onto my two arms and the legs with their hooves.
One leg I'd thrust back to brace myself sank halfway into the floor, and my arms holding its jaws bulged with muscle on the verge of bursting.
This fuckin' snake bastard... Flying at me like that...!
The foot pinning its lower jaw trembled. If I eased up even a little, it'd chomp me right up.
Part of me wanted to rip this gaping mouth apart...!
Fuck, this thing's strong as hell...!
"Grrk...! Grraaaah!!"
"Master!!!!!!!!"
As I shook, holding its mouth, Lizbet's shout came from behind me, followed by fireballs slamming into the back of Yormungand's head and exploding.
At the same time, I saw blue flames flickering from the rubble behind the collapsed building, flying toward us.
"Kieeeaaaaaaa!"
Yormungand shook its head, breaking free from me, then reared up, spread its legs, and burst out of the building.
Blue flames pursued the escaping Yormungand, harrying it relentlessly.
Whew... We got through that one.
"Master! You okay!?"
"Yeah. I think... not. Ngh... My arms hurt now..."
Taking that bulk head-on must've been rough—agony shot through my arms now that the adrenaline was fading. Not unbearable, but... not broken, right?
"Where's Marte's sister? What's it like outside?"
"Left her with the priests for now. Outside, everyone saw the Hero Eater flying in and the priests are shielding people while evacuating them far back. Master. Here."
Lizbet, who'd somehow grabbed it, wrapped a cloth around my waist.
She even brought the loincloth from Marsie? My bitch has good instincts.
"Klea okay... Huh?"
Catching my breath and tying the cloth as I turned to check on Klea behind me... she was kneeling before me, hands clasped like in prayer.
"Uh... Hey. Klea?"
"Ahh... Master..."
Her face looked lost in ecstasy... No, this isn't the time for prayer...
"Klea. We need to get out of here first..."
"Master himself... is my god..."
"Huh? God?"
Suddenly bringing up gods...? Wait, what'd she just say? Me, a god?
"That's how it was. Master is my god... The one sent by the goddess, my true master...!"
Uh, no. The goddess didn't send me...
Klea's expression looked totally spaced out... Kinda scary...
I just protected my bitch, that's all... Even so, god treatment's a bit much, isn't it?
"...Hehe. Klea. You get it now?"
"Yes! I do! I really get it now, Liz! Ahh. Master... Master...♡"
Seeing Klea like that, Lizbet smiled faintly, approached, and helped her up.
Liz isn't fazed by this?
"Yeah. Glad you've awakened. Let's get out and treat Master's arms first."
"Ah! Did Master hurt his arms!? Ahh... Because of me..."
"Uh, uh, yeah... It's bearable for now..."
As I led them out of the building, Klea clung to my arm and started healing it right away.
Klea's behavior was... beyond the wall crumbling; it felt excessively weird...
...Eh, whatever. As long as she's safe. Yeah.
"Klea, you hurt anywhere?"
"Ahh... To think you'd worry about me... Yes. I'm unharmed. I'm sorry for causing you concern, Master."
Once outside receiving treatment, I asked Klea, and she teared up as she replied.
Man... Was the ascetic prayer that tough? Gotta let her sleep it off tonight.
"...Yes! All done, Master."
"Oh. As expected of Klea. The pain's completely gone. Impressive."
"Your undeserved praise humbles me, Master. But for this Klea, your slave... it's only natural. Leaving my Master's wounds untreated would be utter shame as his slave."
Uh, um... I just complimented you, but kneeling like that and reacting so intensely is kinda scary, Klea...
"Hehe... You're truly ready now, Klea."
"Yes. Liz. With my resolve, I'm prepared too."
The two gazed at each other, nodding as if sharing some understanding.
...Hmm... What's this...?
"...The Hero Eater now..."
Unsure what to make of the situation, I turned my eyes away and looked at the Hero Eater, now somewhat distant.
The Hero Knights and knights were holding it back, but subduing that thing—which had grown to an inexplicable size from who-knows-where—would take time.
Its cylindrical body was chipping away under the Hero Knights' attacks, but every time a sword aura or similar hit, it slid off.
Its legs got severed or broken, only for black smoke to pour out and regenerate them...
"...You going?"
"We'll follow Master's will. We're ready."
Sensing my hesitation, the two looked at me and nodded.
Hmm... Honestly, the capital's people mean nothing to me, and with the Hero Eaters slowly pushing back, if I sit this out, the heroes will handle it...
"...Yeah. Let's go."
Still... Better to lend a hand than let this mess fester, right?
With that thought, I charged toward the distant Hero Eater with my bitches.
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"Citizens, this way! Please evacuate while we maintain the defensive barrier!"
Klea, who'd blessed me, blocked falling debris with a defensive barrier nearby, guiding civilians to safety.
"Master! One leg's out!"
Lizbet, atop a collapsed building via Esser Kinesis, hurled fireballs to cover me.
"Crushing Strike! Crushing Strike! Crushing Strike! Die, you fucker!"
I unleashed skills from below Yormungand's body, slamming it repeatedly.
"Mages, focus fire on the head and legs! Warriors, block it from advancing below!"
At the same time, assembled adventurers followed the knights' orders, attacking Yormungand.
Heavily armored knights protected the close-range adventurers, while countless warriors and knights targeted its body.
Complementing them, heroes soared about, relentlessly firing sword auras at its torso.
Hard to see against its black hide, but those scales must've been deflecting attacks.
But that's over now, you snake fuck. Take this for missing out on Bivora!
"Crushing Strike Pasei! Whoa...!"
We pinned Yormungand in place like that for about ten minutes of pummeling. As I landed another Crushing Strike, its body wobbled...
And then, a hero's sword aura blew its head clean off.
"""Got it!!!"""
As Yormungand crashed to the ground and its body dissolved into scattering black smoke, cheers from adventurers and knights echoed through the capital's central streets.