The Hero's Rival
Man, it's been a damn long time since I've said this.
When I opened my eyes, it was an unfamiliar ceiling.
Where the hell am I now, you son of a bitch.
The last thing I remembered was walking out of the Sea God's Cave.
People with their own emotions and intentions had swarmed in.
Among them, Alfred's face, filled with killing intent, had left a strong impression.
I recalled how he had questioned the existence of Strangers and gods the last time we spoke.
I heard the crowd bombarding me with frantic questions, and then I blacked out.
Once I'd finished everything I needed to do, my body went on strike. "This goddamn body is done. I'm resting now."
That goddamn body of mine.
Well then…
"You son of a bitch."
"......"
Who was this bastard who didn't even flinch at being cursed at right off the bat, like he'd gotten used to it?
Who else? Kaits, that bastard.
Why the hell wasn't it Meiyal or Almiraj nursing me, or at least Remi, even if she is a slut? Why did I have to wake up to this goddamn bastard's face?
"...No. Phew."
Still, without this guy, I really would've died this time.
He was the one who blocked Nanar's power and Mind Realm Declaration until the very end. In fact, he screwed over Nanar more than I did.
I knew he was strong, but I didn't expect him to be on a completely different level.
He must've been putting up with my constant grumbling all this time.
That's why he's even more of a pain in the ass.
I wanted to curse him out a bunch because it pissed me off, but I decided to thank him first.
"Thanks for this time."
"......Hearing that from you feels unpleasant."
"No, you son of a bitch."
I tried to reach out, but a lightning-like pain shot through me and I twisted my body with a scream.
Just moving hurt deep in my bones...!
"Don't move. Nanar's attacks are fundamentally imbued with destruction. It's already miraculous that you've regenerated... That regeneration ability of yours, is it another hidden trump card?"
"...I wouldn't call it my trump card."
As I groaned, recalling that transcendent figure who had surpassed even Mangshin's power, Kaits clenched both fists tightly.
"...You're incredible."
"Huh?"
"To think you'd actually defeat that Nanar... And that wave of power, you used the Artifact's 'Resonance,' didn't you?"
As expected, he was quick to catch on.
"Yeah."
"Artifacts can only be used by someone at least at my level if they're not from the Ten Great Families. And to unleash that much power on your first try..."
Kaits's eyes sparkled.
"You're a special existence. No doubt about it. It makes sense that Nanar was taken down in one hit. Even I couldn't unleash an attack that powerful."
"Why are you hyping me up like this? It's making me nervous."
Kaits's eyes held a certain longing.
That burdensome gaze toward me carried a creepy suspicion, so I asked without thinking.
"Don't tell me... you're into that kind of thing? You're not, right? Right?"
"What the fuck?"
His face had been passionate a moment ago, but it instantly turned cold, his expression shifting to disgust.
"......"
"......Sorry."
"No, I'm the one who's sorry..."
Thank god.
This guy was a normal person like me after all.
First time I'd heard him say "fuck." I really messed up this time.
"It seems we should talk after you've had more time to stabilize your mind and body. Rest."
"No, I'm not sleepy."
I was wrong, you bastard.
I won't ask that kind of question again.
"Rest even if you have to force it. Things are quiet now, but... we don't know what Nanar will do next."
"......"
"Honestly, I thought Nanar would descend again even if it meant defying causality, but it seems something unexpected happened."
Mangshin had said something similar.
"Let's meet again in a day. Then, I'll tell you about my goal."
"What goal?"
But true to form, Kaits ignored my question and stood up.
"Hey, hey! What happened to the others? Like... Rena or Gold?"
I was worried about Meiyal too, but she was just exhausted, not seriously injured.
But Rena's cute face had been covered in blood, and Gold's arms had literally turned to ash...
"Most of them are fine. Three days have passed since you passed out, and almost all their wounds have been treated during that time."
"...What? Three days?"
That long?
"Considering the power you unleashed, it's not surprising. During that time, your classmates from Pryunar Academy and the preliminary match participants came to visit you. The gifts by your bedside are proof."
"Oh, so that's what those were."
"I'll be switching shifts now. Rest."
"? Switching shifts?"
Had they been taking turns nursing me?
"I only came because it seemed like you were about to wake up. The ones who stayed by your side the whole time were mostly women."
"Who said that?"
"They said some unpleasant things."
"No, fuck, I know that! Who the hell wanted me to wake up to this shitty sight?"
Kaits glared at me until the very end, as if my earlier words had been truly disgusting, then left the room.
"Son of a bitch..."
A sigh escaped me.
Anyway, it seemed like things had been wrapped up.
If there had been any problems, Kaits would've told me. It looked like everything with Nanar, the Graise family, and so on had been smoothed over.
The Sword Emperor Coalition and Revelation... so Reina and Makia, what happened to them? Given their strength, they probably returned safely.
Leor... he'll probably stay quiet.
At least for a while, he won't try any tricks.
But Nanar?
Damn it.
If that guy comes back in any form, will I be able to stop him?
No. I can't.
Right now, even if I died and came back to life, I absolutely couldn't.
Unless I use my trump card... but that costs a life, so it's out of the question for now.
[No need to worry too much.]
Mangshin.
[The mad god gathered a massive amount of causality in exchange for the title of leader of those stiff-necked bastards, but he's probably broke now. No matter what, he won't be able to attack you again within at least a year. Besides...]
"Besides?"
[He probably ran into an incredibly powerful being in the world he lives in. He'll be busy running away.]
Incredibly powerful, huh...
"More than you?"
[Am I that incredible?]
"You were insanely strong."
Honestly, I was surprised.
I thought he was just a perverted peeping tom who kept saying "fuck" and "eat."
[You really don't hold back with your lifesaver, do you?]
"Lifesaver. It was a contract."
[That it was.]
"...So. What are you going to make me do?"
[Can't you guess?]
Of course I could.
This fuck-muttering bastard would obviously demand that I fuck everyone.
I wanted to do that too.
But every time I did something that weighed on my conscience, that voice would ring out, so how was I supposed to?
[It's fine. I've already thought of a way.]
......A way?
What was with that ominous tone?
[More importantly, someone's about to come in.]
Come in? Who?
[One of the ones who was nursing you. I'll let you enjoy a good show.]
What...
The door clicked open.
When I turned my head... there stood a girl with goddess-like beauty, holding a wet towel.
Her surprised face was...
"Asita."
"...You should've said something if you woke up."
She didn't give the dramatic reaction I'd expected. Instead, her response was surprisingly dry.
But well, seeing her hand tremble slightly as she approached me, she must've been worried.
Once the wet towel became unnecessary, Asita placed it on the side table and spoke in a flat tone.
"Deuret."
"Yeah?"
"You're actually reeeally weak, aren't you?"
"?"
What the hell was she saying?
"If I don't see you for a bit, you show up all beaten up."
"......"
Rather than anger... her outfit caught my attention.
She was wearing casual clothes instead of her uniform, and even had those round glasses on, probably to avoid attention. But her skirt somehow emphasized her hip line.
I wanted to touch it.
Just so you know, I was filled with dark emotions because I hadn't been able to kill Leor.
Those emotions were something I couldn't resolve on my own, so following my instincts, I spoke.
"Asita."
"Yeees~? Weakling Deuret?"
"You said our training would start again in three days, and those three days have already passed, right? So when's our next training? Now?"
"Huh, what?"
Asita's face turned bright red as she blinked, and it was adorable.
Before she could say anything, I boldly grabbed her slender wrist and pulled her in.
"Wh-what are you doing?! Grabbing my arm like that... sexual harassment?!"
"Yeah."
"?!"
Realizing I was acting differently than usual, Asita, who would've normally screamed by now, just opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish.
Good.
Let's not give her time to collect herself.
I used the cheek-touching technique I'd tried on Makia earlier.
Normally it wouldn't be very effective if I did it, but perhaps because of our suggestive training relationship, her face turned even redder.
"Asita."
At my whisper, Asita nodded very slowly.
"Can I touch your butt?"
"...What are you saying?! Have you lost your mind?!"
Ah. The cutesy speech pattern disappeared.
Whatever.
"You worried about me for nothing!!"
"You were worried?"
"...N-no!"
"Yes you were."
Seeing my hand slowly reaching out, Asita let out a "hyah!" and grabbed my wrist tightly to stop me from going further.
Her grip was weak enough that even I, with all my stats confiscated, could've shaken it off, but instead I pulled her arm and dragged her onto the bed.
The sensation of Asita's rather large breasts pressing against me as she fell on top felt amazing.
Her face bright red and trembling, Asita looked at me and screamed.
"P-pervert! Pervert!!"
"What can I do when you're this pretty?"
"......!"
Even I thought I was acting pretty weird right now.
But I didn't really want to hold back.
Asita, as if giving up, buried her face in my chest.
What was with this comfortable atmosphere?
I wanted it to turn erotic.
I raised my hand and grabbed her heavenly butt firmly.
"Hyaaak?!"
Asita's eyes slightly glazed over as she let out a seductive moan.
When I bit her earlobe, her body trembled.
"Asita."
"A-au, auuu..."
"Let's hold hands."
"Y-you're acting weird today. Deuret..."
Huh. She dropped the formal speech?
Hot.
"Don't want to?"
"......"
When I held her hand, she let out a small sound but didn't resist.
And there was that setting most people had probably forgotten.
Because of what happened during the Frostia incident, Asita felt sexual arousal when holding hands with me.
"Ha, haa... haa... haa..."
"You feeling it?"
"Wh-what do you mean..."
"Asita, down there..."
"I-I don't know..."
"Asita."
I whispered in her ear.
"Touch it with your hand."
"......N-no. If I, i-if I touch it... I'll get turned on..."
"No you won't. This is training."
"I-it's not..."
"It is. Don't you trust me, Asita?"
When I stroked her head, she muttered "it's not..." but slowly lowered her hand toward my crotch.
Her eyes were filled with excitement and anticipation...
Knock knock.
"Hyah?!"
Asita jumped like a cat.
She quickly got off the bed and fixed her clothes.
The slight dampness on her crotch was really cute...
Jin.Seung.Hwa
.....?
There hadn't even been a notification that it activated, so why?
I tilted my head at the sense of unease.
I understood why I'd been acting like an idiot earlier... but why really?
"Come in!"
Thinking it wouldn't do any good to stall any longer, Asita called out.
The person who entered was... unexpected.
"Laiet?"
"I heard you woke up."
She let out a sigh of relief, looking as cool and dignified as ever.
"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"No. I'm fine. Asita took good care of me..."
"A-ah, no! We! Asita and I took turns nursing you!"
"?"
"As Asita said, the students took turns staying by the instructor's side."
As she spoke, Laiet stared straight at Asita.
Her gaze swept over the wrinkled bed, my slightly disheveled clothes, and Asita, who was breathing somewhat heavily.
Asita must've felt that gaze clearly.
"A-ah, right! Shift change... it's shift change time! I'll be resting now!"
Then she glanced at me, mouthed "next time," and ran off.
Next time, huh...
Hehehe...
"Instructor."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Are you having trouble holding it in?"
"......?"
This... what did she mean by that?
No matter how I thought about it, it sounded suggestive.
"I meant the bathroom. Even though magic was used to handle everything, you haven't been to the bathroom in three days."
What did she mean by "everything"?
"A-ah... yeah. I'm fine."
The only thing I was "holding in" was semen.
Asita should've been cuter.
"There are a lot of people outside right now, so we don't know who might come in. I recommend refraining from any secretive activities."
"Yeah. Sure..."
She noticed after all?
Still, it didn't feel tense because she'd also had a similar fling with me.
...Thinking about that time was getting me worked up.
Laiet had a model-like perfect figure... whenever I saw her, I couldn't help but think about that erotic yet perfect body.
"Instructor."
"!"
Suddenly she was much closer, and I was startled as hell.
Her beautiful face carried a mature charm unlike a typical student. Her breath was warm and sweet.
"Once you're discharged, I'll introduce you to the bathroom."
"...The bathroom."
"Yes. The bathroom."
...What did she mean?
If it was the kind of bathroom I was thinking of, it was a vulgar word to come out of her mouth... but there was no reason for her to specifically introduce an actual bathroom...
"And if possible, could I ask for a private consultation later?"
"...I'm not experienced enough to give advice to anyone, is that okay?"
"Yes. Rather, no one else can do this consultation except Instructor Dre."
"......"
What?
Why did her tone suddenly sound so damn erotic?
Was she always this lewd...?
"Then, Instructor... rest well."
Laiet pulled away just as quickly as she'd approached and bowed before leaving the room.
......
I'm so turned on...
Feeling awkward just lying there, I got out of bed.
The doctor and nurse I ran into in the hallway were startled and made me undergo a quick checkup.
They decided I was fine, though they said "for now," but thankfully they let me go.
Let's see...
This place was in Sers, the capital of the Entiaere Kingdom.
It was strangely luxurious for a hospital, but apparently it was a private hospital for the Ten Great Families.
Gold should be somewhere here.
If there was one person I needed to see first, it had to be the guy who lost both arms trying to save me.
I asked a passing nurse for directions.
They said he couldn't even move, so I had to go to him.
Gold's hospital room was easy to find.
The door was the largest, and the golden nameplate was shining brightly.
Knock knock knock.
I knocked three times.
But there was no response.
I could hear voices inside...?
I suppressed my presence and slightly opened the door.
"M-Master..."
"Hey now. You took a vacation, didn't you? I gave you a year off, and not even four months have passed. I told you to rest."
"But how could I rest when you're like this..."
A woman sniffling as she spoke.
Silver hair...
A small ripple stirred in my chest.
"Yulis. Go back for now. Okay? That person is here too. If you run into him..."
The beautiful blonde woman standing beside him, Refelt, was comforting her when she looked my way and her face filled with shock.
"Brother?"
At Refelt's gaze, Gold recognized me... and his expression shifted from joy to dismay.
At their reactions, the silver-haired woman also turned her head.
Her face went blank, then she flinched and trembled before freezing like stone.
Her eyes were wide open.
One eye had been gouged out, but it had regenerated.
That aside, she'd gotten quite thin.
I opened the door and spoke.
"Yulis."
It was the face of my old enemy, whom I hadn't seen in a long time.