Mermaid Princess's Skin Armor (3)
Melissa stepped outside in her light outfit, a loose gown draped over her shoulders. A female student stood at the front gate, clutching some books. Melissa scratched her head irritably as she opened the door.
"Hazel, I'm off today. Come back Monday if you have questions."
"I came to see Assistant Professor Naru."
"Naru's not here."
"Did he go out?"
"Yeah, on some errand. Why Naru?"
"I have a ton of questions for him. I wanted to study together..."
"Study?"
Melissa chuckled. What's gotten into her? A failing student suddenly wants to hit the books. It was rare enough to be noteworthy. As a teacher, Melissa wanted to encourage Hazel's sudden motivation. If the girl was willing, why not let her? She'd have sent a regular student packing, but a flunker needed all the effort she could muster—even on a day off. Melissa flung the front gate wide open.
"No clue when Naru'll be back. You wanna wait anyway?"
"Yes."
"Come on in."
"Thank you."
"But seriously, why's your skirt that short? Your panties are gonna show."
Melissa gave Hazel's ass a playful smack and led her inside, pouring tea and setting out snacks.
"Sip this, then head to the study room down the hall. Study or chill while you wait."
"Got it, Professor. I'll study and wait."
"So why the sudden urge to study? On a holiday like today."
"Assistant Professor Naru's lessons are so fun, I got hooked. And I had some questions I couldn't wait till Monday to ask..."
"Naru's a good teacher, huh? Real skilled. Anyway, what's bugging you? I can help if I can."
"Hang on. Let me show you the book."
Hazel pulled a random textbook from her bag and pointed vaguely.
"This problem."
"Ah, that one... "
While Melissa explained earnestly, nothing registered in Hazel's ears. Her mind was elsewhere. It's weirdly thrilling knowing I swapped her birth control pills... Feels like I'm sneaking around with Assistant Professor Naru behind the professor's back. But they weren't even dating, so it was fine, right? Damn, I wanted him to pin me the second we met. Where the hell is he?
Hazel felt a cool breeze between her legs. She was going commando.
"So that's how it works. Got it?"
"Ah, yeah. I get it now. Thanks."
"Anything else? Ask about anything but magic."
"Nope, that's it for now. I'll ask if more come up."
"Cool. I'll go rest then. Do whatever in that room."
Melissa stood.
"Wonder if Naru'll be back early."
"Is that picture from when you adventured together?"
"Huh? Which one?"
"That one."
Hazel pointed to a large framed portrait on the wall: a younger Naru, Melissa, Rock, and Ariana with arms around each other, beaming brightly.
"About four years ago? Yeah, after we took down the Desert Lord Morogas. Naru's expression there—cute, right?"
"Super cute. But how strong is the assistant professor? Like, insanely strong?"
"No joke. He never told you kids?"
"Nope."
"Before he got sick, he was the strongest in the kingdom."
The comet of Relitz Kingdom. Guardian of the city Akite. Dimensional Hero.
"He had more than a few titles like that."
Melissa's eyes grew distant with nostalgia. She sat back down.
"Want me to tell you a bit about Naru?"
"Yes, please. I'd love to hear it."
Hazel swallowed, listening intently. Stories of Naru she didn't know—his epic past exploits—had her hooked.
A massive muscle pig loomed before me. Bald head, height pushing two meters easy. His forearms, chest, and traps were ridiculously thick.
"Me, warden. You, jail. Dead. Torture."
The brute spat broken words and swung his iron mace at me. Thud! Crash! I dodged, and furniture shattered around us—bookshelves splintered and collapsed, bricks crumbled. Brutal destructive power. I blocked, stabbed, slashed, evaded. For the first time here, it took real time. Two whole hours to drop the bastard.
When he finally hit the floor, sweat beaded on my forehead.
"Hah... tough son of a bitch."
Anyway, down he went. I pressed on. Upstairs again. And again. Twelve hours in already. Stomach growling. No food. Should've grabbed jerky from Sophia. My bad—first adventure prep in ages, forgot rations. Didn't expect it'd drag this long.
"Get lost! Can't go farther!"
The raging wraiths suddenly flipped, groveling.
"Please turn back!"
"No armor!"
"If we lose the armor, we're all doomed!"
Begging tactic, huh. I shook my head.
"Hand over the armor and move on to the afterlife, all of you."
Stuck as ghosts was the real problem, folks. When I didn't budge, they charged in fury.
"Heartless bastard!"
"Won't even cry for us? Die!"
"This is our kingdom! Scram, looter!"
No time for one-by-ones. I slammed my sword into the floor. Hero's signature AOE. Light waves rippled out in a circle from me. Wraiths touching it melted and scattered into the air.
"Huff... huff... whew."
Even I don't have infinite stamina. Over twelve hours in, I'm feeling it. Gotta ration mana now.
Climbing red-carpeted stairs led to an ornate grand door. No more stairs up. Single room. Top floor at last.
Creeeak. I shoved it open with both hands.
At the far end of the vast chamber sat an elderly ghost in a crown, solemn and still. To his left, on a stand: emerald armor. Fin-like ears on the helmet, webbing between the glove fingers. Instinct screamed: Mermaid Princess's Skin Armor.
"Are you the prince?"
"You call Us prince too."
He chuckled bitterly.
"Father lived to ninety. I didn't inherit till past seventy. So late, they mix up 'king' and 'prince.' Settled on prince, I guess—overheard them using it among themselves. Infuriating, no?"
The prince seemed kindly, but something dark lurked. It put me on edge.
"Here for the Mermaid Princess's Skin Armor."
"Silence!"
His voice boomed suddenly, wild.
"The armor is mine. Forever."
"You're not worthy to own it."
"Heard the tale behind it, then."
"Gruesome stuff."
"I regret my youthful sins deeply. Too late now. This armor must never see the world."
"Bet the armor hates being near you."
"I know... I know..."
The prince's eyes gleamed mad as he caressed the armor slowly.
"If this child escapes, my sins spread far. Proof right here, blatant. Betrayed the mermaid I once loved! Tore her corpse to shreds for armor! They'd curse me as the worst prince!"
"Everyone already knows."
"Just an ancient fairy tale to them. No one believes it's real—except you."
Thud, thud. I gripped Rangser and advanced. Mission time.
"Stop. Best if you do."
The prince reached for the armor.
"One incantation, and it's dust. Drop the sword if you value it."
"..."
Hostage play. I halted, unsummoning Rangser. The blade in my hand dissolved into particles.
Shit. What now? Lose the armor, and it's all for nothing. Olivia and the guild are watching my first post-recovery quest. Can't come back empty-handed. Placate the psycho? How?
Two steps from the armor, then lunge and kill...
"I don't care if I die. But this armor comes with me to the afterlife. Kuhahaha!"
As I pondered gravely, he cackled insanely.
"Now!"
Sophia's voice—out of nowhere. Behind the prince. She shed her cloak of invisibility and plunged a dagger into his back.
Stab!
"Gaaah!"
"Go!"
I bolted, leaped.
"Rangser!"
The sword flashed into my grip. Gripped two-handed, massive swing mid-air, landed.
Under two seconds. Result:
"Gaaaargh...!"
The prince's head sheared clean off, rolling across the floor.
"Nooo...! Don't let me be remembered as a cruel tyrant...!"
Whoosh. His ghostly body smoked away.
"How'd you get here?"
I looked at Sophia approvingly. She fidgeted.
"Well, today—Sunday—is my second daughter's birthday. Promised to celebrate, wanted to wrap up quick... found myself here while searching."
"Got it. Let's head out."
As we grabbed the armor to leave, a blue orb lay where the prince vanished.
Charm orb?
Charms: rare drops from monsters' deaths. Held one of the deceased's abilities; processed with magic, the user gained it permanently, like a spell.
Prince had skills? I pocketed it quick. Semen volume potion, Mermaid Princess's Skin Armor, charm orb. Solid haul today.