Am I Dying Like This?
Yunet instinctively squeezed her eyes shut. But "...?" Nothing happened. "...Huu?" And then, a bizarre sight filled her vision.
"You damn bastard! What the hell kind of trick is this!!" Luzadio thrashed desperately, spewing a crimson aura like bloodied pus, trying to break free. And there was Huu, gripping him one-handed.
"Huh?!" Even after barely escaping mortal danger, Yunet couldn't suppress her curiosity. It wasn't just surprising that Huu was pinning down that massive frame with raw strength—no, how was he enduring it with just those bandage-wrapped hands...? That aura was Kali's holy power condensed to a vicious extreme. It rotted humans on contact and empowered monsters with its malevolent divinity. Why was he fine??? Without even manifesting his own holy power?? And moreover,
"Grrraaah... gruuu... killll..." Kali's holy power was rising from his body too. Red vapors flowed along and enveloped him.
"What the hell is that! Why is Huu...!" No, more precisely, Kali's holy power was being absorbed into Huu's body. The red energy pouring from Luzadio slowly flowed along the arm Huu gripped, into him.
Crack.
"Gaaahhhh!!!" Amid the prolonged tug-of-war of power, Luzadio's scream erupted first. His swollen arm twisted into a grotesque shape and contracted. The arm went limp, flapping powerlessly. Splurt!!
"Aaaagh!!!"
"?!" Like uprooting some haphazardly buried crop. Huu casually tore off Luzadio's arm. Jet-black blood and screams sprayed everywhere.
"Grrraaahh...(Time for your massage, sir.)" Huu tossed the severed limb aside carelessly. No emotion whatsoever. He just let out a bizarre groan from his mouth while glaring at Luzadio.
"Hic!" Yunet, watching from the side. Sanity returned to her for the first time in decades.
I wonder if the customer is satisfied. Embarrassing to admit, but I'm a total newbie at this. Never gave anyone a beatdown massage in my past life either.
Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow!! Definitely incomparable to the premium massage Luzadio gave me earlier. That was all rapid-fire machine-gun style, but mine's just honest. One. Solid. Hit. All I can rely on is this freakishly overflowing strength and passion? Man, why am I in such great condition today?
"Grr... gruu... y-you... bastard..."
Sure enough, a massage done with full sincerity always touches the customer. Did it feel so good his arms and legs went completely slack? But he's still not taking off that armor. What is he, an armorhead?
"Gruuuu..."
Of course, Luzadio didn't melt into bliss from the start. He screamed bloody murder at every knotted spot, tried to flee who-knows-how-many times. But in the end, he was won over by my passion. Seemed to love the thorough massage from shoulders to waist, thighs, all four limbs. Especially complained his arms itched, so I yanked both clean off—boy, did he love that. Now he's meekly taking his massage, off to heaven.
"Grrraaah...(Satisfied yet?)"
Whew, did I overdo it? My whole body's steaming hot like a sauna, drenched in sweat. And from all the exertion, my head's spinning, vision all wonky. Why's everything looking reddish like I'm in a sea of blood?
"I... lost..."
"Grraa.(What?)"
Pow! Thud! Pow! Thud!
Sleep-talking or something? Mumbling, but I can't make it out. Totally spent now—no reaction even to my slow, deliberate hits. Like a corpse. ...Asleep? Then leave him be.
Thud.
Tossed him into a corner for now. During the massage, he sweated out so much of that black, sticky goo. He'll wake up refreshed. Makes me proud.
"Grrraaah...(Ludia?)"
Looking around, no sign of anyone. Wrapped up today's work great—now just hot springs with Ludia. But where is she?
"Huu!! Huu!!! You crazy bastard!!!"
...Damn! Who's making all that racket? Turn to look—some woman I've never seen is snapping at me. And what's that? A spear??? Gripping a bladed weapon, face shocked. Dangerous! And why's the spear on fire???
"GRRRAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! (Hey, you can't go around holding that.)"
Thwack--!!!
"Gaaahhhh!!!"
Seemed too worked up, so I reached to calm her—and suddenly she flew way off. Just barely brushed her. Why's she doing that? Did she jump herself? ...Crazy woman.
"Lord Huu!!! Snap out of it!!! You can't let Kali's holy power consume you!!!!!"
"Grraa...(You her friend too?)"
Now another woman. Armored ponytail knight-lady. Friends with the one who flew off? Kinda resemble each other. But why's she bellowing just like that one? So annoying.
"GRRROOOOAAAA--!!!!!!!!!!(Calm down, please, relax...)"
Swoosh--!!!! Reached out like before, and she flies way off too. Just trying to talk this time, but off she goes. Like hit by a shockwave. What's with that...? Some new trend? Joking around way too dangerously.
"H-Huu... Lord Huu..."
"Grrraa...(You friends with them too?)"
Long black-haired woman. Pretty face, killer figure. Standout beauty anywhere. Knows the flying ones? Difference is, she isn't screaming her lungs out...
"I-It... hurts... doesn't it..."
Big doe eyes spilling tears, whole body trembling.
"Grraa?(Cold?)"
I'm hot though. From all the action earlier, can't feel the chill. This is passion, huh? ...Ah! Bandages trapping the heat. Should've ditched 'em—no sweat then. But why was I wrapped up anyway?
"I-It's fine... I'll... I'll manage somehow..."
"...?"
I'm fine, but she keeps looking at me all pitiful. She needs taking care of more—clothes torn ragged, filthy with dirt, teary-faced like something bad happened. Why's she even here? Thought she'd fly off absurdly too, but thankfully, no sign of that yet.
"H-Hot springs! Our hot springs...! We have to go! Remember??"
"Grraa.."
Oh yeah, hot springs with Ludia. Kinda an escape trip, but... can't say I'm not looking forward. Pretty girl like that. Nah, might be too frantic fleeing. Gotta dodge Mari properly. ...But where is she now? Can't find her.
"GRRROOOOAAAA--!!!!!!!!!(Ludia, where are you?)"
"Kyaaah!!!"
Couldn't spot her, so bellowed loud toward the ceiling for better echo. Wonder if it'll work? Snort-worthy, but heart wants what it wants.
"Grrgrrr....(Huh? Why are you face-down there?)"
That black-haired girl was sprawled out. Hit by sudden sleepiness?
"S-Sorry, Lord Huu..."
Tear-and-snot-choked voice as ever. But she's crawling toward me, scraping the dirt floor with limbs. Hurt somewhere falling earlier? Ah, sprained ankle.
"I should... have... hic... helped. Sorry..."
Keeps mumbling—barely "sorry" over and over.
"Grrgrrrrr....(Hey, lying there you'll catch a cold.)"
"You worked so hard earlier... hic... and now too..."
Snap.
She'd grabbed my ankle before I knew it.
"I got too greedy... hic... probably..."
Tried to stand, but "Eek!" Thud. Collapsed from the ankle, but didn't give up—leaned into my leg and hugged tight.
"Grrraaa..."
Warm and soft. Trembling touch. One leg suddenly heavy, walking awkward... ...Huh... this scene feels familiar.
"Stop... please stop suffering now... okay??"
"......"
Girl clinging to my leg, looking up. Eyes soaked in tears, quivering—but staring into them pulls me somewhere. Into those unwavering black pupils. Deep abyss-like. But cozy. Absolutely unshakable.
Your resolve is my strength.
"...?"
A voice echoes in my head. Deep, calm male voice. Sounds familiar, heard once before.
What was your resolve?
"Uuu..."
My resolve? What was it? Something urgent, intensely craved... wait...
"...Ah."
Protect her. Promised to protect Ludia. Even if corpses or bones swarm. Gonna guard that slipshod but pretty girl, yeah.
Don't forget.
"....."
Whoosh...!
Vision slowly sharpens. Fading heat drains strength from my body. Everything that was just red regains color at last.
"L-Lord... Huu??"
Back in that underground dungeon. Floor littered messily with black blood and stone chunks, walls massively gouged or crumbled—hard to find an intact one. Total pandemonium.
"...Grraa?(Ludia?)"
Familiar voice—look down, it's Ludia. Where'd she vanish to when I was searching? And why's she clutching my leg again? Teary eyes... huh? Why's she smiling??
"Lord Huu!!!"
"(What?! What's wrong?!)"
Whoosh! About to ask why she's ragamuffin-ing like this—suddenly Ludia springs up. Wraps me in soft, full-body embrace like claiming me.
"Thank goodness!! I was so worried!!!"
Ludia bawls louder, sobbing. "Don't scare me like that!"—bold words, bonus frenzied nuzzling and rubbing.
"Grraa?"
No clue what's up, but poof. That scent I'd wanted to savor again... couldn't help hugging her back with both arms.