Stronger Than Enchantment
A famous episode from the past.
It had been made into a movie in Tigrova and even turned into a book—a true story.
One day, succubi poured out from a dimensional rift.
The tale of a man who resisted their enchantment but awoke from a kiss by the woman he bickered with daily, the one they called his sworn enemy.
The two survived the ordeal created by the rift and confirmed their feelings for each other. Now, they were married.
The citizens endlessly retold that story, filled with hope and sweetness, to forget the horrific tragedy of the dimensional rift.
That incident became one of the more popular tales associated with dimensional rifts.
Once this story spread, when succubi emerged from rifts, many people tried similar acts on those afflicted by enchantment. But the actual success rate was abysmally low.
Only a handful of success stories made it a known countermeasure.
The clever girl named Ichinose Yui knew even that slim chance was basically zero.
Besides, the succubus they were facing was far from ordinary in strength. Challenging it that way was sheer folly.
Yet, that method popped into her head first because...
Ichinose felt something fateful in her connection with Rohan.
"...I-if this doesn't work, I'm really going to chop you up!"
Ichinose pulled Rohan close and pressed her lips to his.
The girl's first kiss wasn't romantic—it was filled with urgency and desperation. But if it woke Rohan, it might become a cherished memory.
"Haha! You think a childish prank like that will work?"
Olivia burst into laughter at the sight.
Each laugh made her torn abdomen scream in agony, but she couldn't hold it back.
Sure enough, what could someone so wary of her do besides something as childish as a kiss?
Still, has she read too many fairy tales?
Olivia was confident her thick, viscous enchantment wouldn't yield to such child's play.
After all, she was the ruler of the Nest of Dream Demons.
"Little girl. Every man who's fallen to my enchantment without exception... Huh?"
Olivia's eyes widened in shock.
The pink mana boiling from Rohan's body was subsiding.
Even after regaining his senses, Rohan felt disoriented.
A dream? Or is this still the enchantment...?
The unpleasant, sticky intrusion that had burrowed into his mind and tried to consume it was gone.
He couldn't tell if the forced sweetness had vanished because he'd been fully overtaken or if he'd finally overcome it.
Heroines Who See Only Me
Reduces mana consumption of unique skills when with heroines
Heroines gain resistance to status ailments when with Rohan
Behind the floating alert windows, he saw the girl with her eyes squeezed shut, lips pressed to his, trembling.
The soft touch on his lips conveyed pure happiness.
Ah.
Rohan realized it.
Ichinose had pulled him from the enchantment's abyss with this special method.
Rohan wrapped his arms tightly around Ichinose's waist.
"...!"
He parted his lips from the girl's wide-open eyes, regretfully.
And leaped to the side at the same time.
Boom!
Olivia's whip crashed where they'd stood, shattering the salt line.
Seeing the succubus's face after her ambush attempt, Rohan read a mix of emotions.
Impatience and shock filled her. Losing her main arm made her whip strikes clumsy.
"Ro...han?"
Ichinose, held in his arms, reached out disbelievingly, touching his face.
Rohan accepted the touch and conveyed his gratitude.
"Thanks. Let's finish this."
He released his hold on Ichinose.
And picked up Gwanghwi from the floor. He drew the seal from its holster.
Ichinose watched intently. He hadn't turned into a pressure stone.
Rohan's actions were the same as always. It felt like a dream.
"Yeah...!"
At the best possible outcome, Ichinose's lips curved up.
She assisted Rohan's movements and charged at Olivia.
They both knew this was a chance they couldn't miss.
Rohan gripped his weapon, ignoring his gaping wounds.
Ichinose deflected the awkwardly incoming whip with her scabbard, clearing a path for Rohan.
"Tch, damn humans!"
Olivia had no smugness left. The situation was dire.
Creating a new enchantment would drain her mana completely. And without her whip, she couldn't control it.
Her deep abdominal wound made brute force movements impossible.
She had no choice but to give ground to Rohan and Ichinose.
Closing in on Olivia, Rohan feinted a big overhead sword swing.
He aimed his gun barrel at the succubus's thigh as she tried to block with her whip handle.
Psychological warfare worked easily on enemies blatantly on the defensive.
Bang! Bang!
He cleanly fired his remaining rounds.
"Kyaaak!"
Olivia screamed as bullets pierced her thick thigh.
She hates loud noises like that.
—Crack! He smashed her temple with the pistol butt.
And thrust the brilliantly glowing Gwanghwi into her heart.
"Ah, aaah...?"
Was pain stealing her voice? Or had she sensed death?
Olivia froze in place, letting out a final gasp.
Of course, the two had no intention of stopping.
As Rohan released the hilt and stepped back,
Whoosh!
Ichinose lunged like she'd been waiting, slicing off Olivia's head.
The severed head thudded onto the mansion floor.
"..."
Rohan and Ichinose kept their guard up in silence.
Victory didn't feel real enough to savor yet.
The signal of Olivia's life ending reached Rohan at the same moment.
The mirrors plastering the mansion cracked! and shattered powerlessly.
Now, the mansion's layout finally clicked for Rohan and Ichinose.
Seduction Cutter
Obtain Random Point Pouch
Model of Ironclad Strike
Physical durability increased
Is that ironclad the ironclad I think it is?
Rohan let out a wry chuckle at the unfamiliar achievement.
His whole body went limp, and he sank to the floor.
"Phew..."
Now he had to find the Monolith inside the mansion, but he had no strength left.
Every dungeon he'd entered, the Monolith's room changed, so he knew he should move quickly.
But without even receiving the full heal reward, his eyes were drooping.
Afraid he'd die if he let his guard down, he popped a potion into his mouth.
"Rohan! Are you okay?"
Ichinose rushed over without savoring the victory, her face full of worry.
Rohan desperately clung to consciousness and nodded.
"Gotta... find the Monolith."
"I'll look for it. You rest here."
"No, let's go together. It might just teleport away."
Ichinose couldn't say that wouldn't happen.
If it did, Rohan would be left alone.
"I'll support you..."
Ichinose clung to Rohan as he staggered up with the potion's power.
Doors hidden by mirrors.
The two began searching them one by one.
"Doesn't seem to be here either."
"Then only the last room left."
As they rummaged through rooms, neither mentioned the kiss.
They focused solely on finding the Monolith.
Maybe it was Rohan's way of showing respect.
Or perhaps his wrecked body left no room for words.
Besides.
Ichinose wanted to bring it up but also hoped Rohan wouldn't—caught in contradictory feelings.
I'm scared to hear his thoughts... What a mess I've become now...
The girl named Ichinose Yui was the overthinking type.
If urgency hadn't pushed her, she never would've done something so impulsive and risky.
The desperation let her act without considering the aftermath.
What if the kiss had done nothing...?
That alone would've shattered the one-sidedly loving girl's spirit.
Ichinose was the type who preferred blissful ignorance out of cowardice and fragility.
Did he wake from the mental shock alone? Or does Rohan... feel the same...?
The girl couldn't decide what face to make.
She couldn't even meet Rohan's eyes.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Supporting the staggering Rohan, Ichinose reached the largest door in the mansion.
Creeeak! She opened it.
The Monolith's distinctive aura poured out starkly.
Inside stood a pitch-black stone slab.
Destroy that, and they'd go home.
"Baby Yui."
"...Yes."
Fearing they'd be separated, Ichinose gripped Rohan tightly.
"Sorry, but I'm tapped out right now. Can you smash it for me?"
"Got it. And before we go back..."
"Yeah?"
"You probably know, but after treatment, we'll have to give a report for the intel."
"Yeah. I know."
Now that she was saying it, the sensation lingered on her lips.
Blushing, the girl gripped her sword's hilt.
"Wh-when we talk, ju-just the essentials... You get it, right...?"
She didn't wait for confirmation.
After her one-sided declaration,
She cleaved the Monolith.