The Winner of the Second Bet (2)
'Seeing him made me feel strange.'
Lamora, the centaur. She was resting in a tent with her subordinates. In the corner, she clutched her chest alone, her face deep in thought.
'Like something from a dream... but I can't remember the details.'
The hero Kang Naru, who had saved her life. She'd heard he'd helped her in that desperate, life-or-death moment, and she was truly grateful.
Yet there was this odd feeling. The first time she saw him, it felt like more than a simple encounter. Why else would his cock vaguely come to mind? Even through his pants, she could somehow picture its shape.
'I've never seen him naked, so why?'
She racked her brain trying to recall what had happened between them, but nothing surfaced.
'No idea.'
Lamora shook her head.
"Logana."
"Yes, Captain!"
"The hero Kang Naru just gave me the antidote and left, right?"
"That's right."
"Tell me again what happened."
"We ran into him by chance on the mountain path and asked for help. He pulled the antidote from his pack and handed it over without asking for anything in return, then left. It was strange."
"Nothing else unusual?"
"No, nothing."
"Got it. Make sure we're ready to head out tomorrow."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Logana replied briskly, then quietly glanced at the subordinates. All four looked tense. But no one was showing outright fear. They exchanged glances, silently conveying: 'Keep your mouths shut.'
"Assistant Professor called Angelina, Hazel, and Lydia earlier, but not us, right?"
"Must've needed help with something."
"Does helping take that long? And don't we have hands?"
Fires crackled here and there in the pitch-black night. Rachel and Roan were chatting.
"Those three must be really close to the Assistant Professor. Calling them aside to play around like that."
"I'm glad he didn't call me. Professors just make you work anyway."
"Not me. What do you know? With your tiny dick."
"Hey! Mine's not tiny!"
"Hahaha! The centaurs made fun of his little dick~"
Rachel teased Roan briefly until he got pissed off, then parted ways. Heading alone to the girls' tent, she recalled the day's events.
'The Assistant Professor's bulge was impressive...' None of the boys at the academy had a bulge like that. Even clothed, his cock was practically bursting out—long and thick in outline.
'Wonder what the real thing looks like.'
She'd wanted another peek out of curiosity, but Naru hadn't called her. Disappointing, especially since he'd only summoned the girls from her RS group. Was he playing favorites?
She'd never paid much attention to academy professors before. But now, Naru had piqued her interest.
It happened when I infiltrated Sesiah's mental world via [Tempest].
'He altered the memories...! Huh?'
Sesiah's life experiences flashed before me like a panorama. Showing the opponent's past must be one of [Tempest]'s abilities.
It didn't reveal everything—just fragmented glimpses. Even so, the info was valuable.
"Sesiah. I'm going to die soon..."
The king lay on his deathbed. Erkness's face appeared. An elderly man with a kindly face. So that's what he looked like.
"Living alone will be lonely... It might be good to serve a new master... Whatever. Do what you think best..."
The scene shifted. Having lived over a millennium, Sesiah had naturally gained the power to transform into a human girl. She gazed wondrously at her reflection in a stream.
Another shift. Deep in the mountains. Sesiah descended from the sky, landing and discovering a glowing white orb hidden in the underbrush.
That's an Isle.
Sesiah swallowed it. The [Clone] Isle, which created a clone with 70% of the original's power! That's how I realized in her mind that the Sesiah we were fighting was a fake—and killed her without implanting memories, figuring the real one would come looking.
And she did.
"Knew you'd show up. I've been waiting."
"Hero Kang Naru."
Sesiah, staring intently at me, finally spoke. Her voice matched her girl-like appearance.
"Erkness's lasso and helmet. Where did you get them?"
"Curious about that, huh? Makes sense—they were your master's. Took a lot of effort to collect them."
"You stole them?"
"Hey, don't say that. Adventurers don't steal. I acquired them through adventure."
"Their owner is Erkness."
Sesiah's expression turned icy. A stare-down? Fine.
"Current owner is me."
"Meaningless."
I could guess why she was acting this way. Both the lasso and helmet were fatal to her. Better to reclaim them now before they became a real threat.
No way I'd hand them over nicely.
"Naru!"
Aquina whispered urgently.
"Tempest. Tempest."
"Won't work. Not on her."
Hero's intuition told me: I could peek into memories, but not manipulate them. Unlike the fake, the real Sesiah was no ordinary foe.
"Want them? Take them fair and square."
"Fair and square?"
"We fight. I win, you're mine. I lose, you get the lasso and helmet. Simple, right?"
Sesiah let out a small scoff.
"I reject your proposal. I'll simply take them. If you won't return them..."
Her eyes sharpened.
"I'll crush you by force. Follow me."
The final showdown began.
"Gahack! Se-Sesiah! Sesiah's here!"
"Sh-She's fighting Hero Kang Naru!"
"What's going on? Does anyone know the details!? Why's the Sesiah who fled suddenly battling the hero?!"
"Whoa! Even fiercer than before! Hero's drawn his sword!"
The quiet camp erupted. Those about to leave turned back and ran over; sleepers bolted awake to watch Naru and Sesiah clash.
"Sesiah's appeared?!"
Grand Mage Glenn rushed out, staring in shock. The centaur group gawked blankly at the crystal orb. Dwarf warrior Hokan stomped the ground in fury.
"Why's she always picking fights only with that damn hero! Grrraaah! Son of a—!"
The red dragon Isla had already flown far away.
"Look at that lightning in the night sky. Insane... Gonna go deaf."
"Hero's holding his own—amazing!"
"Gaaang~! Naaaru! Rooouu! Fight on, hero!"
"Woooooo!"
"Hero's the best!"
"Everyone, make way! I'm an artist here to paint this! Clear some space quick!"
"If the hero wins, I'll sleep with him one night! Kyaa!"
"I'll turn it into a song and spread it far and wide! Hero's the star, obviously!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Hero, we believe in you! Smash that Sesiah!"
"Great! My son's name is Naru from now on!"
Rumble-crash! The relentless thunder and lightning, like the world ending, finally stopped.
"...I lost."
The match ended ridiculously fast. Sesiah, now in pegasus form before me, dropped her hostility.
"...?"
I was puzzled. Neither of us felt like we'd done much fighting. She could've sent a clone for a 2v1, but didn't.
"What's your angle?"
"No angle. I lost, so I lost."
Hooves clopping, she approached.
"Once I befriended those who blow hot and cold winds, I can't win. Plus, you're wearing his helmet. It's a hindrance."
"Hot and cold winds? Who?"
"You humans. Erkness would blow hot breath on cold days to warm his hands, and cool breath on hot meals."
"Ah."
"Erkness said not to live alone... After he passed, I spent ages solo. Now I'll make companions. That fight was just to gauge your strength. With the lasso and helmet, you qualify to own me. Erkness did too."
Sesiah's face brightened, lost in memory.
"Erkness often gave me sacred offerings for the gods. Is your house's liquor good?"
Was that her way of committing? We didn't brew liquor, but I played along.
"Spicy good."
She seemed pleased, bending her four legs to lower herself. I strode up and mounted her back.
Then, the bird chirps from earlier echoed in my ears.
East General Lord Monarch smiles contentedly.
West Wind Yona shakes her head, tricked by Sesiah's clone.
Ancient East Wind Vera beckons you to come see her soon.
'Heh. Vera must be dying to ride her.'
I smirked—
Lords Vera, Monarch, and Yona approve and sponsor equipment.
Huh?