༺ The Light And The Candidate ༻
– Sizzle… sizzle…
Exhausted, Isolet walked down the corridor, her sword dragging and creating sparks along the ground.
“Haa… Haa…”
Numerous wounds marred her body, concentrated mainly on her chest and arms.
“Frey…”
During the intense battle with the group of assassins, she had successfully blocked most attacks aimed at her abdomen.
“…Ouch.”
Yet, that didn’t mean she could avoid all strikes.
She had nearly awakened her swordsmanship skills, but that didn’t make her opponents any less skilled. They also had a numerical advantage.
Isolet allowed herself to be hit in the abdomen only three times while shielding Frey, located near her belly, from severe injuries.
“…I will protect you.”
Undeterred, she pressed forward. Every opened door complicated her path, with assassins persistently emerging.
Having sworn allegiance to Frey, she served as his exclusive knight, determined to ward off all threats.
“…Slurp.”
“Mm.”
Perhaps due to the deep connection between their hearts, Frey, who had been closely nestled against her abdomen, resumed licking her belly.
“Lick, lick.”
“……….”
Initially startled by his slightly rough yet gentle tongue, she accepted it after witnessing silver dust seeping into her wounds, easing her pain.
“…Thank you.”
‘It feels… good.’
There was a reason why she felt oddly warm and pleasant whenever he licked her belly.
“Frey, by the way, you…”
After allowing Frey to stay on her belly for a while, Isolet, now resting, peered into her clothes with a worried expression.
She was drenched in enemies’ blood and her sweat. She worried Frey might catch a cold.
“Meow…”
“Hmm?”
Unexpectedly, Frey grabbed her clothes, emitting a sorrowful sound.
“…Ugh.”
With some effort, Isolet lifted her clothes, clenching her teeth immediately.
Serious wounds marked the back of Frey, now transformed into a silver cat and crouched on her abdomen.
“Lick…”
Even then, Frey appeared unfazed, persistently licking the wounds on her abdomen.
– Squeeze….
“Meow?”
While gazing at Frey, Isolet shielded him with her clothes and enveloped him tightly with both arms.
“I’ll protect you… I’ll surely protect you…”
She began to stroke her belly, overwhelmed by maternal instincts and a fierce desire to protect.
– Fzzzt…!
“Huh?”
Then, a golden aura erupted from her protruding belly.
“Damn, it’s almost time.”
Startled by the situation, Isolet realized the Miniaturization – Animal Transformation Scroll’s usage time was nearing its end.
“It’s okay… I still have one more Miniaturization Scroll left.”
In this tense moment, though moving to a random location, Isolet had kept an eye on the building entrance drawing closer.
“So, just a little more… hang in there a bit more…”
She started to move, clenching her teeth.
– Sizzle, sizzle…
From her sword, a stronger aura emanated.
Unaware, Isolet had reached a level surpassing the strongest sword energy she ever produced during training.
Now, she stood on the cusp of awakening as a Sword Saint.
– Sizzle… Sizzle…
“What’s that?”
As she continued walking, she heard a buzzing noise near her ears.
– Ah, ah. Frey! Can you hear me?
Anticipating another enemy transmission, she tensed up. However, upon hearing a gentle female voice, she breathed a sigh of relief.
– I’m taking the kids with me now~! Hang in there a little longer~!
‘…I am feeling relieved after hearing from the Demon King’s army; I must be at my wit’s end.’
Frey had given her this tiny magical communication device when he had agreed to her strategy while blushing; this confirmed his affiliation with the Demon King’s army.
“Um… excuse me…”
– Huh? Who is this?
Reluctant to accept this fact, Isolet cautiously spoke.
“Who… are you?”
– Shouldn’t you answer me first?
“I’m… Frey’s exclusive knight.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
– Well, there’s no way he would’ve had his transmitter stolen, right?
After a brief pause, the woman mumbled cheerfully.
– I’m the third-ranked Combat Executive in the Demon King’s army! I don’t have a name!
She proclaimed confidently.
‘A third rank… Combat Executive? Frey commands someone of that rank…?’
Isolet was surprised.
“…….Anyway.”
Glancing nervously at Frey, who began to lick her navel as their eyes met, she muttered with a smirk.
“You cheeky little guy.”
Frey used to bravely challenge her every day, only to lay defeated on the ground beneath her, sobbing and covered in dirt.
“I, I too… want to… defeat Sister…”
“…Hmm.”
She felt sympathy for the boy, finding him adorable as he struggled.
During their training, she spent more time overpowering him than crossing swords.
Consequently, she always rewarded him with ice cream after their sessions.
Frey, seeming to forget his earlier defeat, happily munched on the ice cream, looking up at her with a beaming smile.
Now, that same Frey had become the biggest bastard in the empire, joining the Demon King’s army and commanding Combat Executives…
“………”
Caught in this stark contrast, she stood there holding Frey for a while.
‘Well, even if he joins the Demon King’s army… He won’t be mistreated.’
With a remark that would’ve surprised her younger self, she started walking.
The female knight, unable to forget their childhood bond and memories, had chosen love over ideals. She walked down the corridor with a calm expression.
– Oh, by the way, I have to tell you something! Can you relay a message to Frey~?
“What?”
Another transmission reached her ears.
– The Hero Party is chasing after Frey to kill him! I heard from the kids they are using tracking magic.
“…..!”
Isolet froze upon hearing that.
“Is it this way?”
“…Spatial magic is still affecting that area. Let’s head to the point where it’s broken, whoever broke it.”
Then, she heard the voices of her new disciple and Vener.
“Sizzle…
“Me…ow…”
She broke out in a cold sweat when Frey’s transformation, tied to her stomach, began to unravel.
” …Ah. “
She quietly turned her gaze to the side.
Initially created for the Hero party to use and demonstrate, the door to the makeshift weapon storage was unusually not distorted by spatial magic but torn apart.
“Maybe… over there might be okay…”
During her recent battle with the assassins, her sword’s aura had surpassed its limits, tearing through the spatial distortion itself.
“I… first… need to hide…”
Unaware of this, Isolet had no other choice. Just before Frey’s transformation would wear off, she held him closely and dashed into the adjacent room.
“…………”
Then, silence followed.
“Damn…”
The weapon storage was spacious, but it lacked hiding spots.
The few old cabinets there needed to be bigger for Isolet to fit into, and the drawers and baskets were also impractical.
And, even if that weren’t the case, the Hero Party was reportedly using ‘tracking magic.’
“Meow…”
“……”
If Frey could remain a cat, she might somehow be able to make an excuse, but now, Frey’s transformation was about to wear off.
To miniaturize him again, she needed at least a few minutes.
“Ugh…”
So, Isolet anxiously surveyed the room.
“…..Gulp.”
She soon discovered something and began to swallow hard.
“Maybe… that might work.”
A while later, the sound of straining echoed in the weapon storage.
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.
.
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– Step, step…
A few minutes after Isolet rushed into the room, footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.
“Is this the place?”
“…It’s here. No doubt.”
Arianne, exuding confidence, spoke to Vener, who tilted her head.
“I cast a powerful tracking spell before coming here. Given it’s still active, I’m sure.”
“Hmm…”
Vener, swallowing at Arianne’s words, surveyed the corridor.
“Yes, seems like it.”
When she looked at the door Isolet had slashed open, her eyes lit up.
“”………””
And so did everyone else’s.
– Creak… Creaaak…
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the torn, swinging door.
Their motives differed, but they shared a common goal.
Vener pursued justice, the Paladin aimed to remain untainted, Arianne sought to save a friend, and Alice sought freedom.
Their objective was to end the life of the loathsome Frey Raon Starlight.
At this moment, they were united in that grand mission.
“FREYYYY!!”
“………!!!”
Except for one person.
“I know you’re in there!! Come out now!!!”
From somewhere, Ferloche appeared, frowning in frustration, banging on the window.
“Damn it! Break it!!”
Taken aback by her actions, Vener urgently kicked the door open and entered.
“Frey, you bastard. Your life ends today…!”
Her eyes blazed as she shouted.
“…?”
Soon, confusion etched her face.
“”…….!?””
The rest of the group, who followed her, shared in the confusion.
Against their aggressive approach, it wasn’t Frey they encountered.
It was a massive suit of armor.
“What? Is it malfunctioning? This can’t be happening…”
Caught off guard, Arianne fidgeted with the scroll, her face showing confusion.
“Maybe it could be on the upper or lower floors. That scroll only shows a flat perspective, after all.”
“But I felt the strongest sensation here…”
Watching Arianne, Alice spoke with a serious expression.
“Hmm?”
Sensing something amiss, she looked at the armor.
– Shhhh…!
Vener felt the same way.
“Identify yourself.”
Feeling a strangely familiar aura from the armor amidst the weapons, she demanded, pointing her sword.
“Or else…”
– Clank!
As her eyes grew cold and she stepped forward, the visor of the armor’s helmet opened.
“”……..””
A long, heavy silence ensued.
“Ahem.”
Breaking the silence, Isolet, inside the armor, spoke.
“I was fatally wounded by the enemy and had no choice.”
Blushing for some reason, she continued.
“The armor I originally wore inside my clothes is busted. So, I had no choice but to change into this armor. For a knight, armor is as important as life.”
“But… that looks purely decorative…”
“Ah, anyway, we have to get out of here. We need to leave this place quickly…”
Flinching, Isolet closed her eyes tightly when she felt a sudden chill and stepped forward.
– Rummmble…!!!
The entire building shook violently.
“…What?”
Vener was startled by the unusual trembling.
– BOOOOM!!!
“Agh!!”
“Damn it!!”
The dagger the Church had prepared had found its place in the building.
“Ahhh! It’s a bomb!”
“It’s a trap! We have to get out of here now!”
“No, we need to save the people first!”
The Hero’s Inauguration Ceremony was hurtling toward disaster.
“Move! Do you know who I am?”
“Ahhhh!!”
“…Damn.”
The greedy nobles’ shouts, the terrified screams of the maids, and the Empress grinding her teeth because of a falling pillar added to the chaos.
“We prioritize rescuing Lord Frey, that’s final.”
“Even if we die here, we will take down Frey. That’s final.”
The Demon Army and the assassins moved even more efficiently after receiving the orders.
“Finally… The era of the Church has come…!”
The Pope observed the collapsing building from a distance with his followers.
It was a time of massive panic.
“Haah, haah…”
Yet, no matter how deep the darkness, there was always light.
[100m to reach the Hero]
[Guiding Automatically…]
※Caution: This function can be used only once a month when the Hero is in danger…
“The Hero… is in this building…!”
With a pale and horrified expression, Glare sprinted with all her might, eyes fixed on the navigation.
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Meanwhile, at that time, in the relatively less damaged lobby on the first floor.
“…Gulp.”
Dmir Khan, Lemerno, and numerous Combat Executives anxiously observed someone.
“………”
Before them stood Lulu, wearing a cold expression.
“It’s a pureblood, right? High legitimacy and succession rights. Moreover, the magic pattern in those eyes…”
“Mm…”
“…What do we do now?”
“I’m not sure. This situation is out of my expectations.”
In response to Lemerno’s question, Dmir Khan replied nervously while adjusting his glasses.
“But… one thing is certain.”
He whispered in a hushed voice.
“If we don’t clarify our position… Frey’s standing could be at risk.”
Upon hearing this, all the executives tensed.
“…Kneel.”
Glaring at them, Lulu commanded in a chilling voice, her Magic Eyes glowing.
“Ugh…”
“Eurgh.”
“This is indeed…”
To everyone’s surprise, most of the executives knelt.
“So…”
In this unprecedented situation, Dmir Khan did not kneel with the Combat Executives.
“…What’s your relationship with Frey?”
He asked in a nervous tone.
“Me?”
Lulu replied.
“…A pet.”
She answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“What?’’
“I am Frey’s pet.”
Dmir Khan looked at her in shock as Lulu proudly displayed a collar with a name inscribed on it.
“…..Huh.”
Dmir Khan stared blankly at her.
‘The pet Frey occasionally boasted about…’
He murmured to himself with indescribable emotions.
‘…Was another Demon King Candidate?’
Lulu’s eyes, shining a ruby light, met his gaze directly.
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