Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Erasure Squad -1
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It was in the past.
A committee had formed to dress up Pink Lez, who stubbornly stuck to suit fashion only. As chairwoman, alongside the Magic Tower Master as president, we were in the midst of recommending various outfits to her.
That's when we discovered a black uniform in Pink Lez's cabinet.
The uniform, made of pitch-black fabric, had no name tags, emblems, or any decorations whatsoever. Its shape alone made it visually recognizable as a uniform.
The Tower Master, finding it odd, asked her about it.
"What's this outfit?"
"Ah..."
That awkward void packed into the ellipsis.
How to describe it? Imagine a prisoner living freely among his fellow inmates, laughing and chatting away. Then, he glances down at his ankle.
And there it is—the shackle he'd been desperately ignoring. In that moment of rediscovering his captivity, he's no longer free.
It was a silence like that: the realization that she was still bound by something.
Instead of prying into the black uniform, I pushed forward with the miniskirt plan for Pink Lez. Out of respect for her. Yuri Lanster, as I'd come to know her, was a strong person. It felt rude to dig deeper.
Wasn't it enough just to stay by her side, letting her laugh and chat? That's what I thought.
...Should I have probed further back then?
There's an entrance inside the academy leading to the 『Nest』.
The succubus queen's pocket dimension, the 『Nest』, was a complete unknown—no one had grasped a single detail about it. The only speculation was that it functioned like the dimensional gates on the eastern front.
Which made this opportunity precious...
With me, a powerful illusion mage, and Yuri Lanster, a Defense Bureau agent of the succubus race, right by my side.
If we could pinpoint the 『Nest's』 location through investigation, the Empire could deploy the boy knight with a single snap. Game over.
The succubi would soon meet their queen's severed head...
Kerby oozed confidence in the Empire's decisive weapon, but I couldn't help asking with a touch of snark.
"...But isn't that shota knight a guy too? If he gets seduced, wouldn't it be a total disaster?"
"The Sword Saint is immune to all foes."
What terrifying nonsense.
Kerby clammed up after that. But I got one thing: the shota knight had solid mental defenses too. Illusions probably wouldn't work on him either.
Anyway.
After ages of pursuit, the Defense Bureau had dispatched Kerby for this shot at the succubus queen. And Kerby had called in the 『Erasure Squad』 for the investigation and tracking.
Which left me no choice but to ask.
"What's the Erasure Squad?"
"A sub-department of the Bureau. You didn't know?"
How would I? I showered her with question marks, and Kerby cleared her throat before continuing.
"Since Agent Yuri Lanster was once a member, I figured you'd heard. Apparently not."
"What do they do?"
"An elite unit of high-combat solo operators, first in on high-risk missions. They're on their way since we called."
"Oho."
Special forces vibe. Makes sense—Yuri, who'd reached transcendence, couldn't have been just any agent. That'd be a waste of talent.
I waited with Kerby, sipping tea. Then a figure approached from the academy's south gate, footsteps thudding.
A jet-black uniform, utterly plain.
Through thick gray bangs hanging to her nose, pitch-black, painted-over empty eyes rolled. Less a person, more a shadow silhouette propped upright.
Her gaze lingered on me especially long.
Snap.
She snapped a crisp salute and spoke. Her ponytail swayed with the precise motion. A whip hung at her waist. The whole vibe felt oddly familiar.
"Imperial Defense Bureau 『Erasure Squad』, Ceris reporting. Joining the 『Nest Pursuit』 operation effective immediately."
Something about it rang a bell.
Right—identical to Pink Lez's first self-introduction. The movements, the lines, even the natural lilt in her accent. So the next line would be...
"I like Yuri-senpai. Looking forward to working with you."
This bitch.
"You're not needed. Get out, 『Black Lez』."
"You're not my commanding officer, 『Crazy Mage』."
Sparks flew between Black Lez's and my eyes. That exchange made it crystal clear: we were enemies.
As I summoned the Heavenly Demon and Black Lez reached for her whip handle, Kerby rapped the table, breaking the tension. She popped a madeleine into her mouth and said,
"Let's eat first."
"......"
"......"
We sat without shaking hands and waged a staring war. It promised to be a long battle...
Kerby wasn't a field agent, so she couldn't handle the grunt work. No brawn to chase succubi and yank them by the hair.
Thus, it ended up as just me and Black Lez investigating the academy.
Kerby advised me to "definitely call Yuri Lanster and operate as a trio," but I had no intention of doing so.
"Let Pink Lez—I mean, Yuri Lanster—rest."
"Pardon? But her abilities are essential for this investigation."
"I have them too."
Overflowing, even.
According to Kerby, Pink Lez harbored hatred for the succubus queen after her village was destroyed. No clue if the grudge lingered, but poking it wouldn't end well.
I didn't want to see her suffer inside. So first, I'd wipe out every last incubus in the academy.
Black Lez, seeing my stubbornness, wordlessly spun on her heel and started walking.
I eyed her closely as she led. She'd even tied her hair in a ponytail to mimic Pink Lez, but some things couldn't be copied.
Like that violent figure. Flat-chested and narrow-hipped Black Lez couldn't reach those heights.
I shot words at the back of her head.
"Where to?"
"Investigating."
"Where exactly."
"Asking the obvious. Somewhere succubi thrive—musty with bachelor stink, obviously."
Solid logic.
Men long alone would fall easiest to seduction. Male dorms first?
Or thriftily repurpose the black mage's magic circle I'd swiped. Use its original emotion amplification to pinpoint the vulnerable.
While I mulled it over, Black Lez marched without hesitation to a building door.
Plaque read: Professor Alexon.
"?"
Bam!
Black Lez kicked the door open. Inside the office, Alexon—watering potted plants—jumped and turned to us.
"Professor Alexon, word is you're a bachelor over forty who's never held a woman's hand. You're a suspect. Submitting to inspection."
"......!!"
Alexon staggered from the sudden personal nuke, deeply wounded. How did words so vicious shred the heart like that!
I rushed to his side and propped him up. He dry-coughed like a soul torn asunder.
"Urk... hack hack."
"Hm. Stuffy room reeking of bachelor, messy, filthy, beard unkempt like zero self-care. No wonder no lovers."
"Eek!"
"Alexon, ignore her! Damn, how can she spit such venom...! Even if no women around you and female profs avoid you, there are lines!"
"You're the worst, you bitch!"
Couldn't hold back at the open goal—joined the attack.
Paid for it with a punch.
Having been verbally mauled by a young woman, Alexon looked haggard as he asked what was up. I calmly explained: hunting minds webbed by succubi.
"...If that's it, I'll cooperate. Go ahead—inspect away!"
He agreed readily.
"Good. Drop your pants."
"?"
"Succubus-charmed males get milked regularly, vitality plummets. Gotta verify that part. No swaps, so do it here under my watch."
"......"
Then it clicked—Kerby's advice. Call Pink Lez for a trio because this unbridled filly Black Lez needed reining in.
Alexon, at the squared rudeness, seemed torn on grabbing his axe. Then decided axing was fair game.
Now just an aging academy teacher, but Alexon was once a famed mercenary.
And wolf packs like that overlook pranks, never insults.
────.
No telltale precursor, that's the phrase.
Alexon, casually seated watering plants, hurled his handaxe without so much as twitching. To the mana-weak, it'd seem to spawn from thin air.
Black Lez reacted too.
This one's blatant. Eyes bloodshot with murder as the blade flew, like she'd lose an arm but win. Whip lashed.
Keyiiing──!!
Quick simulation. Mediation needed just a shockwave. Flick fingers—small air burst.
Breaks combat flow.
"......"
"────."
Alexon and Black Lez halted attacks, eyes on me. I cheekily addressed Alexon to defuse.
"That was a joke. No need."
"Not a joke."
Ignored Black Lez.
"Oh? Good then. What inspection?"
"Eye contact a few seconds. That's it."
No need for detours. Who am I? Violet Magic Tower's terrifying genius illusion mage. Charmed by succubus? Instant tell.
Peer calmly beyond Alexon's eyes. No anomalies. OK.
"Clear. Withdrawing, Black Lez."
"Not my commander, Crazy Mage."
Said that, but Black Lez meekly exited Prof. Alexon's office. Respecting my skills and expertise?
If respecting me, respect Alexon too—why charge like desperate for trouble...
Ah!
"You provoking on purpose? So to control you, they need Yuri Lanster. 'Hurry bring her.' Inducing that?"
"...No."
"Pity. Plot ends here. Wrapping succubus hunt myself."
Solve sans intrusion.
Brain spins, assembling spell. No hunting succubi—we'd lure them.
Data from devouring charmed succubi fully memorized; formula derived to 'tempt' them.
Mix mana into special pheromones. Succubi-only. Hits them with unbearable lust hunger—they'll swarm...
Area-wide temptation.
Then leisurely dispatch trapped ones, uncover Nest entrance easy.
I scattered magic pheromones everywhere.
Of course, I'm no fool. Didn't forget Pink Lez's succubus race. Exception handled—effect sharply reduced for her.
Unless guzzling heavy doses up close, fine.
"Crazy Mage, what're you doi...ng, fu...ck."
"Ah."
Ah.
Now not fine.