Subjugation War (6)
“You goddamn monster—!!!”
Slash! The terrified scream cuts short.
The severed head rolls across the snow, leaving a trail of blood like a brush dipped in paint, coming to a stop at his feet. It tumbles without resistance before snagging on his boot. The head's eyes bulge wide, as if oblivious even in death.
“F-Fuck…”
Assassin No. 2's eyes trembled at the sight. This has to be a dream. Impossible.
It had only been five minutes. In just five minutes, the leader and eight others had been wiped out in an instant. All the dead had managed was to shatter Ideal's mask.
Impossible. They'd been trained from childhood to kill people.
“Hey, snap out of it!!”
“H-Huh, hah.”
His comrade bellowed beside him. Somehow, it pulled Assassin No. 2 back to his senses.
“Mission's failed! We retreat!”
“R-Right.”
“Split up in both directions. One of us has to survive and report back!”
He looked ahead. Crimson eyes stared back, chilling him to the bone. Her skin was spotless, not a drop of blood despite the slaughter. It looked utterly alien.
A mad killer…
They'd messed with the wrong person. Ideal wasn't someone they could touch. No wonder she was called the Nightmare of the Eastern Front.
“I'll signal. On three, we go different ways.”
Crunch. His comrade stamped the ground.
Their muscles tensed throughout their bodies.
“One, two—”
“Three.”
A familiar voice rang out—but not his comrade's. It was the same condemning tone that had echoed with every death.
Assassin No. 2 turned trembling eyes to the side.
Rip!
“Wh-What—”
His comrade's face twisted in confusion. Blood gushed from the diagonal slash across his body. His pupils drifted upward as life faded.
Thud. The body crumpled to the ground.
Now, his last comrade was gone. He was alone.
“Now you're the only one left.”
A sweet voice licked at his ear. Goosebumps prickled his neck. Assassin No. 2 couldn't even think of moving.
Shake.Ideal flicked her sword clean. The blood-soaked blade gleamed a bit cleaner.
“What's your name?”
She leaned in, lips curving playfully. Her ample breasts sagged downward under gravity's pull. He swallowed dryly.
“N-No name.”
“Okay, then I'll just call you Mr. Assassin.”
“…”
Her smiling eyes snapped open. Crimson irises gleamed at him.
“Who sent you?”
“…Can't say.”
“Yeah, didn't really expect you to.”
She shrugged casually, but he felt no will to resist.
“Then let's make a deal.”
“A deal…?”
“I'll let you live. In exchange, tell me everything as payment for your life.”
“…”
She leaned closer. A vulnerable stance, but he couldn't move.
Dizzying blood scent mixed with her godlike beauty and sweet body fragrance. Was he entranced or just terrified? He couldn't tell.
“How did you know who I am?”
The assassin hesitated, then answered. He was dead anyway. With his comrades gone, silence meant nothing.
“…The client told us.”
“The contract details?”
“Assassinate Ashu Kan Hart and the woman beside him, Ideal.”
“Who was the client?”
“…Don't know.”
Her brow furrowed. The blade's chill edge neared his throat. He raised his hands desperately.
“I-It's true! Clients never reveal their identities!!”
“…You expect me to believe that?”
“I swear on my heart if you want.”
She looked displeased, sword still poised.
“Fine. Then how'd you get in here? Guards were everywhere.”
“—We just walked in.”
“Liar.”
“I-It's true! No interference. Didn't even see a guard.”
She nodded. Tension drained from his rigid body.
“S-So, can I go now?”
“Sure. Of course.”
Stab!
“If you can walk, that is.”
“Gah!!”
It was instant. She lunged forward, thrusting smoothly into his chest like flowing water.
“Wh-Why… You said you'd let me go…”
“Idiot. Would you let someone like yourself go?”
He collapsed face-down. Blood wouldn't stop. Vision blurred. His body grew cold.
“And I hate leaving loose ends.”
She crouched, smiling brightly.
“C-Crazy bitch…”
With that, Assassin No. 2 breathed his last.
“Haa…”
Exhausted. So damn tired. First real fight in ages—mental strain was no joke.
Good thing I brought a spare mask. That was close.
She swung her sword through the air. Blood splattered off.
Looking around: total carnage. Corpses everywhere. Empty spots splashed with blood.
“Ah…”
How to clean this up? Her vision darkened.
Chirp chirp. Birdsong jolted Ashu's eyes open. The tent was bright—morning already.
She said she'd wake me…?
They'd agreed to take turns on watch.
Did something happen to her?
Ashu grew seriously worried. Ideal was airheaded. Could've dozed off and gotten ambushed by beasts.
Damn!
As he bolted up—
“Nom nom…”
Something sucked on his finger. Chills ran through him. He turned.
“…”
Ideal suckled his index finger, smiling dopily.
“Y-You…!”
He nearly yelled but clamped his mouth shut.
No top on. Just a tank top, breasts fully exposed. Their soft swell made him swallow hard.
A new sensation—chest heating up. Not unpleasant.
So, Ashu stayed still. Just for a bit. Really just a bit.
“Yummy chupa-chups…”
Of course, she snuggled closer and he snapped.
“You crazy woman!!!”
“Eeeek!!”
The tent flipped. Thus began Day 2 of the subjugation war.
…I'd fallen asleep without realizing. Meant to rest after cleanup, but passed out.
Ridiculous.
Falling asleep unguarded? Unthinkable.
Was Ideal's body that frail? Or combat stress after so long? Either way, serious issue.
Good nothing happened. But the real problem was now.
“D-Disciple. My arm hurts now.”
“Hold it straight!”
“Eeeeng…”
Getting scolded by her precious disciple since dawn.
“H-How dare you suck my finger so shamelessly…!!”
Apparently I'd ravaged his finger. Total injustice.
At my age, sucking a kid's finger? No way.
“I-It's unfair…”
“What?”
“Eep! S-Sorry!!”
Tentative protest, but his murderous glare shot her arm up high.
And he doesn't even think about how I saved him yesterday!!
Okay, I hadn't told him! Still, felt wronged after the work.
“…Haa, whatever. Eat breakfast and let's move.”
“Yes…!”
Arm dropped instantly. Shoulders already ached from her chest; holding it up felt like tearing.
…Disaster bags, seriously.
How did Ideal fight with these? Impressive.
Post-labor hunger made the jerky divine.
“But you.”
Ashu narrowed his eyes, observing.
Tension rose; she gulped unchewed jerky.
“Why're your clothes covered in dirt?”
“Cough!! Cough!!”
He handed water. Gulping it down cleared her throat.
“Th-Thanks…”
“More importantly, why the dirt?”
…Thought it'd pass, but he's persistent.
Can't say corpse cleanup. She pulled her prepared excuse.
“Ahaha, w-well… Fell during night watch yesterday and rolled around.”
“…Yeah?”
“Y-Yes.”
He nodded, convinced.
“Makes sense for you.”
“…”
Somehow insulting. What was she to him?
Jerky was sweet, mood sour. Day 2 of subjugation began.