46. Nighttime Insects and Conquering the Bikini Armor!
I'm on night watch.
We're rotating guards with two people each from Levante, Altail, and the Mateo Merchant Company.
Our Levante group—Mash and Ira, Myra and Mizuki, Fam and Cecily—got our pairings by drawing lots.
That said, Levante. I have to keep reminding myself that's our party name now, or I'll forget. Even if someone calls out to us, I'm not sure we'd realize it was for us.
Ira and I are sitting around the campfire. We'd managed to erase the writing on our foreheads using a selection of slime oils. Fam had put up a fight when it was time to wipe hers off, so that was a hassle.
The starry sky is as brilliant as ever. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a drop of rain since coming to this world. Does it even rain here?
"What was that at dinner?"
Ira spoke up.
"What do you mean?" I played dumb, looking at her.
"Everyone's mad."
"You too, Ira?"
"...Yeah."
"Really? I figured you weren't the type to get angry."
"Don't mess around."
"I haven't told you or Cecily, but I've got a deal going with the Mateo Merchant Company."
I explained the whole situation where Mateo had basically told me to do whatever I wanted with Claire.
"What do you think?" I asked her.
"What do I think? Just do whatever you want, right? No one's gonna outright oppose you. Everyone likes you too much to cause a real rift, and in the end, things'll go your way anyway."
"You too?"
"...What're you on about?"
Ira's expression hardened.
"Nah, just thought maybe you liked me."
"...I don't."
Ira stood up and stared off into the forest.
"Something wrong?"
I got to my feet too and followed her gaze, but I couldn't see a thing.
Just the sound of wings fluttering. Sounded like bugs.
A tiny dot came buzzing toward the fire like it was drawn to it, then dropped at my feet.
I picked it up and held it aloft.
"A stag beetle. Pretty big one—maybe a Miyama stag?"
I showed it to Ira.
"Eek!"
Ira backed away. Guess she's not a fan of bugs.
"Scared of insects, huh?"
"I'm not scared. You just startled me, popping it out like that."
"Oh yeah? Wanna hold it then?"
I held the stag beetle out toward her.
"Eeee!"
Ira backed up further.
"Knew you hated 'em. Why lie?"
"I-I don't hate them."
Why's she getting so worked up? Better not shove bugs in her face anymore. If she screams loud enough, it'll wake the whole camp.
"Wonder if I could catch a bunch and sell 'em in town."
"A-a bunch...?" Ira went pale.
"Not boobs, y'know. Back home, stag beetles fetched good money."
"What kinda creepy town was that?"
"..."
Couldn't argue with that. I'd always thought beetle hunts were every boy's dream, no matter the world.
Then I heard more wingbeats.
A black speck landed right on Ira's left tit. Another fine stag beetle.
She froze stock-still, rigid as a board.
"Want me to get it off?"
Ira shook her head.
"Why push yourself like this?"
"You like bugs, right?"
"Eh, if you ask if I like 'em? Kinda meh. They hype me up a bit, but not like I'm a fan."
The stag beetle on her looked ready to go.
"Hey, Mash, put the one in your hand on my other tit too."
"For real?"
Ira nodded.
I placed it on her right breast. She was still frozen in place. Should I say it suits her?
"...I wanna cry."
"No clue what's going on. What're you even trying to prove?"
"'Cause you hate me."
"I don't hate you."
"But you think I'm a pain."
"Nah. I figured you didn't like me much either."
"That's true."
"Ouch, way to twist the knife!"
"...What if it pinches the tip?"
Is she saying she wants it to pinch? Which is it?
"You want it to pinch?"
"Seemed like it'd make you happy."
What the hell does she think I am?
"...Then just lemme grope 'em normally. I don't like pain either—hold still."
I removed the stags from her glorious rack and released them into the darkness. Sorry they freaked you out, Ira, but grow strong out there.
We stared into the shadows for a bit. Nothing changed.
"Hey, what're your plans once we hit Migurutto?"
"Dunno. Haven't decided."
Ira looked up at the sky, her face lost and forlorn.
The next morning, before we set off.
Mash, Fam, and Mizuki were doing morning training with Aver and Beers from Altail. Fam's idea to make it a daily routine starting today. Aver's in charge. Right now, we're just doing basic swings.
Ira's watching over us in case someone gets hurt—I'd asked her last night.
By the way, Beers is sticking with the name Beers from now on. Apparently it gets better reactions. Changing your name for popularity feels off, but since he's part of Altail now, maybe it's fine.
Aver's eyeing my swings closely.
"Yours are the cleanest."
Figures it'll be Mizuki and Fam lapping me soon anyway. After that horse-riding fiasco, I'm kinda resigned.
"You think? Could I clear the 4th floor of Rishel's dungeon now?"
"4th floor? Everyone knows you beat a B-rank who'd cleared the 40th."
"We're F-rank. We soloed up to the 3rd on our own."
"Least the 10th, easy."
"Someone said the same, tried the 12th. Nearly died."
Aver gives me a skeptical look. Can't blame her—it's the truth.
"Whatever. First day, wanna gauge you all. Sparring matches, one pair at a time."
Lots drew me vs. Mizuki, Fam vs. Beers.
"Finally, payback time for all those grudges."
Mizuki grinned fiercely, gripping her wooden stick.
"Hold up. What grudges?"
"Grudges are grudges. Haven't forgotten losing my virginity either."
"...You might actually Super Kill me for real."
"Don't worry. Won't trigger it. Probably."
Mizuki takes her stance—wooden stick in right hand, shield on left arm.
I grip mine like a sword, facing her in chudan no kamae.
"You'll be fine, Shu-sama. You absolutely won't lose."
Fam cheers me on. What kinda guy does she think I am?
While I'm pondering that, Mizuki closes in. Fakes a thrust, so I parry her stick to throw off her rhythm.
"Ngh!"
I pull back to reset distance, but she presses harder, shrinking it to issoku itto no ma. Tension builds.
I time her overhead wind-up and swing for her wrist.
It was gonna connect for real, so I froze.
That's when Mizuki's strike came down on my head.
"...Ow."
I woke up in Ira's lap pillow.
Mizuki, Fam, Aver peering in; Beers hanging back a bit.
"Sorry. Really sorry."
Mizuki apologized, face on the verge of tears—total opposite of her earlier bravado.
"Nah, this guy's fault. If he hadn't stopped, you'd have dropped your weapon with a wrist hit. Why'd he freeze?"
Aver said.
Couldn't say it was 'cause I didn't wanna see Mizuki hurt. They're serious about training. Can't fight with sappy emotions—bad for both sides.
"Uh, figured I'd get to cuddle Ira after."
"...Gonna beat that attitude outta ya. My turn next."
Aver declared.
"Wait, isn't one match per day?"
"Haven't even exchanged a full strike yet. Get up."
No choice. I stand—my stick's gone. Fam's holding it.
"Sorry. Lost."
I say to her.
"..."
Fam glances at me cautiously.
"Shu-sama... Me too...? No, win next time."
I take the stick from her.
Same chudan stance as before.
Feels one-note, but it's all I got.
Aver mirrors Mizuki but no shield.
I'm brainstorming moves when she lunges. Fast.
She's faster closing than I am retreating.
She raises her stick. I go for the wrist clash like before—miss. Gotta body-check her or eat a hit. Try to shove, but she absorbs it easy. Blade-lock.
"Nice dodge."
Aver grins.
"Shut it."
Try pressing—her muscles don't budge. Impressive.
She two-hands and shoves back.
Wanna counter on the pullback, but balancing takes everything.
Then her onslaught hits. She's swinging wild to land one hit, every angle.
I'm pure defense, backpedaling and blocking.
Know backpedaling sucks, but no options.
"That all?"
Aim for do as she taunts— she backsteps easy.
Distance resets. I'm heaving. Deep breath, recenter to chudan. She resets too—no sign of fatigue after that barrage.
Doomed. Nothing lands.
Her pressure's breaking my spirit.
But defending her attacks gives me ideas. Gotta focus.
I jiggle the tip up-down to stay sharp.
She bites, lunges. Try to parry—too slow again.
Another rush. Defense only.
Her strikes target the head mostly.
Then a front kick. I circle away. Counter chance, but arms won't move. Distance again.
Heavy, breathless slog. Heart pounding.
"Not bad."
Aver laughs.
Wanna snark back—nothing comes.
"Finally got the will to hit back against a girl?"
She saw right through me.
"...How'd you know?"
"Hate guys like you."
Aver thrusts her tip at my throat. Killer intent—she's ending it next.
But peeking her mindset calms me.
Something's jiggling. Her tits, in that bikini armor.
How'd I miss it? They bounced huge during clashes. Now subtle with her breaths.
Never even looked. Wanna punch past-me.
Reset to chudan. Tip at her solar plexus, just shy.
No need to force in or tank hits. Just swing my sword. Her one weak spot against my sturdy style: that bikini string. One-point breakthrough.
"Aver, this is getting dangerous. Call it?"
Fam calls from the sidelines.
"Oi, she's babying you."
Aver laughs.
"Nah, babying you."
I get it—Fam reads me perfect.
"Hilarious."
She stops laughing anyway.
Perfect. Rage narrows her vision.
I press aggressively.
Issoku itto no ma—I parry her stick.
She pins to break my guard. I half-circle up, deflect, and dive in, dropping for the wrist.
"Same old wrist spam, idiot!"
She retreats, swings overhead. Feint baited.
"You're the idiot!"
I charge her. Target: bikini top's central string, that one knot.
Tip touches. Resistance—but it'll cut. Swing through—pop.
"Bikini armor... conquered!"
"You moron!"
Her stick cracks my undefended skull.
If you think I'm a moron, quit hitting my head to prove it.
I blacked out without my reward: those bare tits.