Rope of Fate

14 days after returning to Japan.

I was back in the Imperial Capital, Kainzberg, for the first time in a while.

I'd basically spent the last two weeks observing how things were going.

"I'm back…! This is my third time in the capital…!"

[Heh… I wonder what kind of women we'll get to sleep with this time. I'm already looking forward to it…!]

Man, this bird is still a pervert.

Well… so am I! I mean, come on—I just wanna unlock a bunch of ero-skills and have some good ol' fantasy sex already!

As usual, my first stop after arriving in the capital was selling clothes.

The stall vendor guy had already seen me a couple times, so he bought them without a fuss.

"Hey, thanks as always! But seriously, your clothes… no matter how many times I look at them, I can't figure out how they're made. Where the heck do you even buy stuff this high-quality?"

"I've got some connections. I'll keep bringing clothes here to sell, so I'm countin' on you."

Just like always, I exchanged the clothes for new ones and got paid. This time, I earned 200,000 Eruk.

While wandering around the capital for a bit, I started chatting with Kyui.

"Hey Kyui, you can gather info pretty easily, right? I mean, you managed to dig up stuff about Kurumi."

Kurumi's the woman I met at a part-time job I picked up after quitting my last job.

She's apparently studying at a voice acting school. Bit cocky, but we've been getting along pretty well lately.

[Indeed. If I had my full powers, I could simply fly about a little and gather far more detailed information.]

"Huh…"

Still, thanks to stalking Kurumi, we also learned about that brothel owner Ishidate and his buddy Kida.

What a convenient little creature… I was just thinking that when Kyui read my mind.

[You want to know about Elinabelle, don't you?]

"Oh, you caught that?"

Exactly. I was thinking maybe Kyui could look into Elinabelle—the noble lady and strongest female knight.

See, the thing is… I kinda slept with her and then dipped.

If you looked at it objectively, it's like I seduced and ditched one of the so-called Twelve Radiant Knights or something.

She seemed to have a lot of influence too. I've been worried she might kill me on sight the next time we meet.

I mean, this is a pretty savage world, and it's super feudal in structure.

[It'll take some time, but I can find out a few things. Hmm… you're staying in the capital tonight, right?]

"Yeah, that's the plan."

[Then I'll do some scouting tonight. She's on my personal list of favorite women, so it shouldn't take too long to track her down.]

Wait—what is that list!? Also, how does that even work?

If Kyui takes an interest in someone, does that mean they're easier to locate…?

[Anyway, got any plans?]

"Hmm… I didn't get to do much sightseeing last time, so I'll just explore the capital a bit."

I tried doing that last time but ended up running into Elinabelle.

"This time, I'll snack my way through the city and, come nightfall, hit up a good place to meet some girls. I'd like to enjoy myself for about a week, if possible!"

[Let's see if your money lasts that long.]

"If I run out, I'll just pop back to Japan."

After all, the only way I can make money here is by selling clothes…!

I've heard there's a place that assigns day labor, but come on—why the hell would I go all the way to another world just to work!? Yeah, no thanks. I've got zero intention of working in this world.

"Oh yeah! And magic! I wanna learn to use magic too!"

[Hmm… then maybe buy one of those stones imbued with mana. After that, find someone who can use magic and learn how to control it.]

"Alright…! Time to buy a magic stone!"

Following Kyui's directions, I headed toward the store where I bought one before.

On the way, I asked something that had been on my mind.

"Hey Kyui, in the other worlds you've been to, did they all have magic?"

[Yes.]

"Man, it'd be cool if Earth had magic too…"

From what I've seen, it feels like more worlds do have magic than not.

Though honestly, I have no idea what kind of worlds are out there or how many.

[Earth does have something like magic… or I have at least observed a power similar to it.]

"Wait, seriously!?"

[Seriously. But given how far science has progressed, using that power just isn't worth the cost… which probably stunted its development.]

I had no idea…

Maybe those random stories about psychic powers or spiritual phenomena—or even people who say they can stop time—are actually tapping into that kind of mysterious energy?

(Things like "remote touch" or qi-gong might actually be based on what this world calls magic…)

Still, no point overthinking it.

Well, either way, I can't use it right now, so it doesn't matter.

"Anyway, you've got some knowledge about magic power from your past experiences, right, Kyui? So I figured, if I can just get my hands on those magic-infused stones, I should be able to use magic too… is that how it works?"

[That's only a possibility, nothing guaranteed. But in a previous world, people without innate magic could use powerful, magic-infused gemstones as catalysts to cast spells.]

According to Kyui, this world also had people both with and without magical power.

Like Aria and her crew—the ones I first met who hunted magical beasts.

Apparently, they also carried a few magic stones with them.

"So that's how it was, huh…"

[They likely didn't have magic themselves. But they had alternative means to use it.]

So during that battle I saw, Kyui had already figured out most of how magic works in this world. His information-gathering ability really is top-tier…

As we chatted, we arrived at a street lined with all sorts of shops.

This was the southwestern district of the capital—pretty lively, probably because of all the stores.

"By the way, didn't Elinabelle say she was responsible for maintaining order in the eastern part of the capital?"

[She did.]

"So then…! If I stay on this side, the chances of running into her drop pretty low, right…?!"

[Even if your odds of running into her go down, you might still be a wanted man, you know.]

"… Yeah, I've got no comeback for that."

In other words, even if I stay in the western district, there's still a chance it'll get back to Elinabelle if someone sees me…

I mean, a guy with black hair, black eyes, and a white bird perched on his head stands out way too much!

"Hey, Kyui. Get off my head."

[Heh…]

"Don't give me that 'heh' crap."

But Kyui didn't budge an inch. Typical…

[Ah, also—your physical enhancement rate is lower in this world than it is back on Earth.]

"Huh? So you're saying I'm not as buffed here as I was on Earth?"

[Exactly. Your body is naturally more compatible with Earth. That's affecting the enhancement rate. However, your libido-based power boost hasn't changed.]

So, basically, the more pent-up I am, the more my physical abilities increase—same as always.

Which means, after I do the deed here, Kyui's power-up effect will probably drop off a cliff…

Well, I doubt I'll run into any real danger. Tonight's plan is already set: head to a nice place and enjoy some quality time with a lovely lady.

I didn't come all the way to another world to skip the local flavor just because it might nerf my stats. That'd be a total waste!

I kept Kyui's warning in the back of my mind while browsing through stones.

With Kyui pointing out the ones filled with magic, I ended up buying five for 100,000 Eruk.

"These were a bit more expensive than last time."

[They contain stronger magic. And if you can take them back to Japan, you could probably sell them for an even higher price.]

"'If' I can take them back…"

I stashed the stones in a leather pouch and tucked it into my coat.

By the way, the shopkeeper told me that these stones can be found not just in mines, but also in caves. And that when larger gem crystals are processed, smaller fragment stones are created too.

As I wandered through the western part of the capital taking in the fantasy-style castle town, I eventually realized the sun had already set.

"Man, just walking around is fun by itself!"

Wherever I looked, beautiful women with totally different facial features from back home, and buildings full of that exotic, out-of-this-world feel.

It's still new and exciting now, but I'll probably get bored eventually.

When that happens, maybe I'll head out beyond the capital walls.

(Even if something dangerous happens, Kyui can always get me back to Japan. Once a little more of Kyui's seal is broken, maybe I'll go on a little adventure outside to search for stones…)

Well, that's a plan for another day.

I stopped by a random tavern and ordered some food. When the meat dishes and ale arrived, Kyui hopped down onto the table and started pecking at the meat.

"Damn, food in this world's actually pretty good!"

[I rather enjoyed the prosciutto we had back in Japan, but I'm craving steak now. Next time we return to Japan, I demand a Hida beef steak.]

"When did you even learn the names of Japanese wagyu…?"

And I definitely don't have that kind of money! … Well, depending on how much I can resell these stones for, I might consider it.

Kyui does help me out a lot, after all.

And so my first day in the capital wrapped up smoothly.

But before heading to the inn, there's somewhere I need to stop by…!

I left the restaurant and started walking down the street, aiming for the nightlife district. Even in a town with no electricity, the main roads were bright, despite the sun having completely set.

"There are these glowing stone-like things installed here and there."

[Some are even embedded into the walls. Most likely, someone is assigned to infuse them with magic at night.]

"So the stones glow faintly once infused with magic, keeping the main streets lit. Pretty handy."

On the flip side, areas without these stones were fairly dark—like the back alleys, for example.

Well, not like I'd go wandering into those by choice!

"Hey there, you with the bird on your head."

"Hmm?"

A voice called out from behind me.

Turning around, I found a glamorous lady radiating a sultry aura standing there.

[Oho… Height: 161 cm. Bra size: F-cup. Total number of times she's had semen ejaculated inside her: 1,223. Total number of sexual encounters, including anal: 2,345. Number of pregnancies: zero. Number of orgasms: 1,566… but around 70% of those were from masturbation. Only two orgasms from actual sex? For all her experience, she's barely climaxed from actual intercourse. Also, her current chance of getting pregnant is zero… must be using some kind of contraceptive.]

"?!?!?!"

Wait, we can actually see people's erotic stats!?

No, that's not the point! Or—well, it is insane, but not the main thing right now!

1,223 times with internal ejaculation!? Over 2,000 total sexual encounters including anal!? That's not just experienced, that's like… elite tier!

And despite all that, she's been super strict about birth control and has only climaxed from sex twice…!?

While I was reeling from the secret info-dump from Kyui, the woman continued talking casually.

"If you'd like~ there's a place nearby where you can get friendly with some girls. Interested?"

So this is… one of those places, huh!

Judging from Kyui's scan of her 'lewd stats', it's nearly certain she works in the nightlife business!

She was wearing a thin, revealing top that accentuated her cleavage and a miniskirt. And yeah, my junk responded to her sultry vibes almost immediately.

"… I was just about to head to a place where I could talk to some girls, actually."

"Oh my…! Then how about hearing me out for a sec?"

"Well… just a bit, maybe…"

Though honestly, I was already super into it.

Trying not to let it show on my face, I listened to what she had to say.

"There's a street just ahead that's completely filled with shops like that."

"An entire street?"

"Mhm. You pay a toll to enter the street."

According to her, girls line up along the walls of this street.

Customers can chat with them, and if they hit it off, they can take a girl with them right then and there.

(Sounds kind of like Mimina's place, but outdoors…)

A dim backstreet setup where you can flirt and, if the vibe's right, go somewhere more private afterward.

Honestly, sounds like a fun little establishment.

"The price's this."

She held up three fingers.

"… Well, your pitch is definitely tempting. Hmm, what to do…"

I feigned indecision for effect.

But she was clearly used to this kind of response and didn't drop her smile.

"It's your first time, right~? How about 20,000 for the toll? And if you don't find a girl you like, we'll refund half."

"… I see. And the location?"

"Hehe… it's just around the corner. And there are more girls than usual tonight."

"… …!"

Most likely, this was where girls who, for whatever reason, couldn't—or didn't want to—work at places like Mimina's ended up.

They were probably doing what they had to do to survive.

"Alright then, lead the way."

"Yay! Thanks, mister!"

I followed behind her as she led me into a dim alleyway.

Just as expected, girls in skimpy outfits were lined up along the wall.

A few men were also present, checking out the girls and chatting with the ones they liked.

Some had probably been reeled in the same way I had. Others might've been regulars.

(This vibe though… It's got this underground feel that's actually kinda cool…!)

There's no way you'd find anything like this in Japan…! It really feels like an inter-cultural exchange…!

Even as I was riding the high of the atmosphere, a thought crossed my mind.

(This country is in the middle of a civil war… and it's been going on for a while. There must be kids who lost their families in the chaos…)

It's possible some of these women standing here were among them.

Maybe they were just doing what they had to in order to survive.

(…Stop. Thinking about this any more is just going to kill the vibe of my otherworldly erotic adventure.)

I'm just a regular Japanese guy.

Even if this world is one that needs heroes and is soaked in blood, there's nothing I could really do about it.

And so, just as we were about to enter the street lined with girls, the woman turned back toward me.

"Alright, that'll be 20,000. Upfront payment, please?"

"Sure."

 

*

 

I handed the money to the lady. She took it and tucked it away into her bosom.

"Hehe… then enjoy yourself."

With her seeing me off, I started walking down the street.

The girls' appearances were all over the place—different looks, different ages.

"Hey there, mister! Want to chat with me?"

"Oooh, cutie, how about we have a little talk?"

Every time I passed in front of a girl, someone called out. Some were already chatting happily with other male customers.

"Ah…"

"… Huh?"

From another alley came a faint voice. Curious, I peeked in that direction—and saw a man and a woman.

"What the…!?"

It was a dark and narrow alley, so I couldn't see their faces, but judging by their movements… there was no mistaking it. They were doing it.

A large man had a woman pinned against the wall, moving his hips as they faced each other.

(They're seriously doing it out in the open!?)

Looking closer, it wasn't just one pair. I could spot other couples a little farther down too.

"Hey there, mister~"

"Wah!?"

While I was totally distracted by the alley action, someone called out to me from behind.

I turned around—and there stood a cute girl.

"Surprised? Some folks just can't wait and get straight to it in those dark alleyways."

"H-Huh…"

She looked about my age? Her short-cut, navy-blue hair gave her a spunky vibe.

Wearing a bright, friendly smile, she looped her arm around mine.

"Why don't you come chat with me, mister? Come on, come on!"

She tugged on my arm and dragged me away from the main entrance of the street. We ended up in a slightly quieter spot.

"Is this your first time on this street, mister?"

"Yeah. I mean… this is something else."

A man wrapped his arm around a girl's waist, and the two of them left the street together. Definitely not something you'd ever see in Japan.

Still, even if the mood's hot, starting right outside the street entrance is a bit much…!

To someone raised in Japan, it honestly feels a little unhygienic. But maybe that very sense of being totally outside the norm is what makes it so exciting.

Besides, wasn't I pretty much looking for this kind of thrill when I came to another world? If I don't enjoy this now, what's the point?

"So where are you from, mister?"

"Outside the capital. Just got here, honestly—don't know the area at all."

"Whoa, really!?"

With that, I decided to just enjoy the conversation.

She told me she was born and raised in the capital, and during the day she worked in a dye workshop.

"And the workshop manager is just the worst! He dumps impossible work on us like it's nothing!"

"Ugh, I know! Those types totally kill morale without even realizing it!"

"Exactly! He doesn't even get how much everyone hates him!"

Having had my own run-ins with power-tripping bosses, I found myself nodding along.

We were getting along well, but then—she pressed her palm gently against my chest.

"… Hey, mister. Wanna get out of here?"

"… …!"

This was it…! She was making a move…!

Not that I was going to say no. I mean, honestly, I'd been getting into it too.

She just beat me to the punch, but we both knew where this was heading.

"Alright then—"

Just as I was about to say "Let's go!"… a voice rang out from above.

[Wait.]

"Eh!?"

[Soldiers are surrounding the street… Scratch that, they're entering now.]

Startled, I looked around—and sure enough, I could spot soldiers in the distance.

Other customers noticed too, and began to panic, trying to flee from the soldiers.

"H-Hey, miss…! T-That…!"

"Wha…!? Those are Imperial troops…!?"

She'd seen them too.

No, no, no, no! I was just about to head off for some fun—why now!?

Could this be it!? Is this street illegal!? Are they doing a surprise raid!? Don't screw with me!!

"Don't move!"

"Anyone who resists will be detained immediately!"

"Everyone—on your knees!"

Soldiers were coming from the other end too.

There's no way out of this now…! I was fully in the mood, and my junk was totally revved up and ready to go…!

After all this teasing… you've gotta be kidding me!

While my lower half was furiously frustrated, the girl with me knelt obediently on the ground.

"Better do what they say. You never know what those guys might do…"

"You think they're here for a crackdown?"

"I doubt they've got time to go after people like us for fun. There's probably a reason… but if you resist, you could get cut down on the spot."

"… … …!"

Dammit…! Don't go showcasing how wild this world is in a moment like this…!

"You there! Why aren't you kneeling!?"

"Suspicious bastard!"

Before I realized it, I was the only one still standing.

Maybe it was just a difference in how seriously I took the threat compared to the locals. I was a little slower to react.

With a sigh, I dropped to my knees. But apparently, the soldiers didn't like how reluctant I looked.

"A defiant one, huh…? I bet you're a rebel informant!"

"The hell!?!"

With those words, the man drew his sword. Hey, hey—no questions asked!?

"If you defy the soldiers of the Empire… you'll learn the hard way!"

Saying that, the man raised his sword high.

Faced with a deadly weapon for the first time in my life, you'd think I'd panic… but I didn't.

Strangely enough, I felt completely calm.

Just like when Kida punched me, the movement of the sword also looked slow.

I instantly dropped my body sideways and dodged the incoming blow.

"What!?"

"You bastard…!"

"Damn! Were you actually trying to kill me!?"

"You must be one of Alchrom's collaborators who use this street as a hideout…! I won't forgive you…!"

"Eh!?"

Who the hell is that!?

The soldier adjusted his stance, this time pointing the tip of the sword directly at me.

Unlike before, it looked like he was going for a thrust.

No way! I mean, sure, I enjoy thrusting with my sword into women, but I don't want to get poked by some medieval murder stick!

On top of that, I've got all this pent-up sexual frustration with nowhere to release it. My lower half's on edge! Either way—I need to dodge this next strike…!

That's when it happened. A loud crash rang out from above.

"!?"

I looked up instinctively—just in time to see someone crashing through a second-story window and leaping out.

The figure landed right next to me and, without missing a beat, kicked the soldier square in the chest.

"Gah!?"

The soldier went flying several meters away.

The sheer force of the blow ignored all physical logic…! Just like Elinabelle from before…!

W-Wait, is this guy also enhancing his body with magic…!?

The man was dressed in black light armor, a large and ornately-decorated longsword strapped to his back.

He looked like a wandering swordsman… at least at first glance. But—

"Gah!?"

"Owgh!?"

"Gyaaugh!?"

The swordsman-type guy mowed down the Imperial soldiers one after another.

He's handling all of them by himself!? It's like watching the strongest manga protagonist in action…!

Before I knew it, the moaning couples around us—including the woman I'd just been talking to—had all bolted.

Kyui fluttered down from above and perched on my head.

"Hey, Kyui. That guy…"

[Hmm… he's quite skilled. I also sense a strange, unique power emanating from the sword on his back.]

"What's that supposed to mean…"

Still, this is the first time I've been in the middle of a brawl like this. And every single Imperial soldier here had drawn their weapons.

In other words—what's unfolding before me is a real, deadly battle.

And yet… I'm perfectly calm. Normally, someone would've wet themselves and collapsed the moment a sword was pointed at them.

And instead, my lower half's still all riled up. Even now? Am I seriously hornier than I am scared right now…?

"Why the hell… am I so chill watching all this happen…?"

[It's likely the result of unleashing the Kyui-Woos—my forced arousal ability.]

"… Huh?"

[The original Kyui-Woos is a skill that acts strongly upon the mind. Even though the effect is completely different now, the foundation is unchanged. Also, due to the lowering of my internal seal, your spirit has probably grown a bit stronger to make you more worthy of being a hero.]

"The hell does that mean…"

According to Kyui, this was just another side effect of being his contractor.

Apparently, releasing his sealed powers didn't just enhance physical abilities, but also influenced mental fortitude.

[A hero can't flinch every time a weak soldier swings a sword.]

"Guess that makes sense…"

Well, maybe this is what people from Kyui's Heroic Realm consider to be a proper hero.

Still, yeah—I guess a hero who cowers from some random kid swinging a sword wouldn't really inspire confidence in times of war.

While I was thinking about all that, the remaining soldiers fled the scene.

Holy crap… that guy…! He really drove them all off by himself…!

The only ones left were a few unconscious Imperial soldiers lying on the ground.

Damn…! That lady ran off with my 20,000 Eruk…!

Just as I was wondering what to do next…

The man picked up the sword from his back and started walking toward the unconscious soldiers.

"… Wait, what?"

He raised the sword overhead beside one of the soldiers.

"Whoa, whoa—wait a sec!"

I couldn't help but call out to him.

"… … … … …"

The man turned and shot a glare in my direction.

Ugh… Kyui said my mind was stronger now, but still… this guy gives me chills…

"Hey… don't tell me you're planning to kill that unconscious soldier…"

"And what if I am?"

He spoke with a low, simmering voice—like something dark was boiling beneath the surface.

Yikes… He's scary in a totally different way from Ishidate or Kida…!

"L-Look, I get that the Empire's soldiers just pulled a sword on me too. But still—do you really need to kill them…?"

"… Is this soldier someone important to you?"

"No, not really. I mean, I'm an outsider here. But even so…"

"Then don't interfere with my revenge."

It was clear the man had lost all interest in me—his gaze locked back onto the soldier.

And just as he was about to strike—

"!!"

He jumped back.

At that same moment, five long spears rained down from the sky onto the spot where he had stood.

"What the—!?"

Those spears weren't made of any kind of metal I'd seen. They were… clear. Looked like ice, honestly.

Still, despite appearing to be made of ice, the spears firmly embedded themselves into the ground.

"I never thought I'd get to see you in the Imperial capital… Alchrom the Armor-Cleaver."

A voice came from behind us. Standing there was a woman with absolutely massive breasts.

[Hmm… My magic eye is being resisted. I can only read limited info—about 160 cm tall, G-cup…]

That's plenty!!

The woman had her light purple hair tied up, and her eyes were completely closed.

How the hell is she walking around like that?

 

 

But the clothes she wore looked expensive no matter how you saw them. And she was holding a staff embedded with an excessive number of beautiful stones.

The moment that staff gave off a faint glow, five translucent spears materialized around her.

"Wha—!?"

[Ice-element magic… I see… that staff—it's quite the artifact. Most likely, it's close to a mythical-class holy staff. I understand now—by using the staff as a conduit for magic, she's able to channel her strong magical power much more efficiently.]

I—I have no idea what you're saying! And did you just say ice element…!? So those really were spears made of ice!

Whoa…! This is the first time I've seen real magic in action…!

The spears that had formed around the woman shot toward the man at high speed.

But the man didn't dodge. Instead, he knocked each spear down with his sword as they came at him.

He's incredible too…! How does he manage to strike down those fast-moving spears so precisely…!?

Actually, his sword swings were so fast I couldn't even see them…!

Keeping his gaze fixed on the woman, the man slowly spoke.

"… That staff. It appears to be from the Imperial Relics of Illumination. Then you must be one of the Twelve Radiant Knights. For a high-ranking noble to arrive in the slums so quickly… I see. You anticipated I would be here. But how did you know this place?"

"As if I'd tell you."

"… Come to think of it, I heard there's a girl with precognition in the capital. Are you somehow connected to her…?"

"… … … … … …"

This is turning into a super serious conversation…! Am I even allowed to still be here…!?

I've totally missed my chance to leave!

But while continuing the conversation, the woman had subtly moved closer to me.

[Hmm… she's focusing her attention on you. She's likely trying to protect you from that man.]

Seriously!? She's looking out for me that much!?

Eventually, she moved right behind me and gently spoke to me.

"This place is dangerous. While I hold him off…"

But the moment she began to speak kindly to me, a gust of wind suddenly rushed through the narrow alley.

Before I realized it, the man was already right in front of us, swinging his sword down.

"… …!"

But the woman grabbed me and pulled me back.

There's no way we could move faster than his sword—was what I thought, until five ice spears suddenly fell from above.

"What…!?"

The spears struck the ground between us and the man, intercepting his attack. Three of the five shattered, but the remaining two managed to stop his sword.

In that moment, the woman and I widened the gap between us and the man.

"She had ice spears stationed in the air beforehand…!"

Whoa…! So she had set up those spears before she even came here…!

From the man's perspective, he has no idea how many more of those spears she has prepared, so he has to stay cautious.

But the woman, with a tense expression, was holding me protectively with one arm.

[Those were the last of the pre-prepared spears. She likely used what she was saving as a trump card to protect you.]

Wha—seriously!?

[And the man has realized she's trying to protect you. From here on out, he'll probably target you directly as well, swinging his sword to strike both of you at once.]

"… …!"

So he's planning to exploit the fact that I'm a burden and attack when she's forced to protect me…!? I really am just dead weight!

She knows it too—that's why she's seriously thinking about how to handle this situation now…!

But things didn't stay still for long. Like a living creature, the situation shifted again. A new figure appeared from the opposite direction, sandwiching the man between them.

"That's far enough, Alchrom! You'll regret showing yourself before me—wait, wha—!? O-Oh, it's… y-you…!?"

"Huh…?"

The dainty maiden who'd just appeared was wielding an oversized axe that didn't quite match her petite frame.

But I remembered that face all too well. After all, she's the one I had unprotected sex with before ditching immediately after!

"Oh hey, Elinabelle! Long time no see."

I casually greeted her. Elinabelle turned bright red, all the way to the tips of her ears.

Ahh… I know that look. She's totally remembering the sex we had the other day…!

[Mmummummu…!]

From the little creature on my head came a weird growling noise.

[Elinabelle Vonrod…! Her masturbation count, which had been at zero, is now fifty-five…! However, the number of orgasms, sex acts, and creampies remains at two…! It seems the pleasure she experienced during sex with you has left a lasting impression…!]

Is that info really necessary right now!? …Actually, yeah, it kinda is! This is getting me more hyped…!

The woman with the staff, noticing Elinabelle and me, looked puzzled.

"… You know each other?"

"Eh?"

"Wh-Who would know some commoner like him!? M-More importantly, Ambelta! Why are you clinging to him like that!?"

"He just got caught up in the fight with Alchrom. I was wondering how to proceed from here… but now that you're here, perfect. Let's capture Alchrom together."

So it seemed the woman with the staff—Ambelta—and Elinabelle knew each other.

Elinabelle readjusted her grip on her axe and glared fiercely at the man named Alchrom.

"Like I'd ever cooperate with you…! Just stay out of my way!!"

Then she charged forward at blinding speed and swung her axe at Alchrom.

But Alchrom didn't dodge. He took the blow head-on, parrying the axe with his sword.

A high-pitched metallic clash rang out through the alley, followed by a shockwave.

"Holy crap…! Just the impact of their weapons clashing stirred up a wind like that…!"

"Now's your chance. Get out of here."

Ambelta stepped in front of me and raised her staff. As its tip began to glow faintly, three small ice daggers formed around her.

The daggers flew straight toward Alchrom, who was still locked in a weapon clash with Elinabelle.

But he must have been keeping an eye on Ambelta as well. He deflected Elinabelle's axe with a powerful sideways kick and immediately knocked down the ice daggers with his sword.

"… …!"

(Whoa…! Even Elinabelle's axe, which would have been fatal…! He just kicked it away like it was nothing!?)

Even I, a total amateur, could tell—Alchrom was a seriously experienced warrior…!

"Ambelta! Stay out of this!"

"You can't take him on alone."

"What the hell!?"

As far as Ambelta was concerned, she probably wanted to make sure they crushed Alchrom with a pincer attack…

Well, Elinabelle is said to be the strongest knight in the Empire. With it turning into a two-on-one, it didn't look like that guy had much of a shot… or so I thought.

Alchrom held his longsword horizontally. Then, slowly, he opened his mouth.

"That axe… Is that the Goldflash Axe, Arcumald? Which would make you the Fifth Seat of the Imperial Twelve Radiant Knights, the Fortress-Smasher—Elinabelle Vonrod…"

"You can tell just by looking, can't you? Well, since it seems like you know who I am, I'll give you points for that. But… doesn't that also mean you realize you don't stand a chance?"

Apparently, the so-called strongest knight really was something special. She had an over-the-top title and an axe with an intimidating name.

And yet, even in this situation, Alchrom somehow gave off an air of calm confidence.

"Ku… kukuku…! Hah, hahaha…! Two of the Twelve Radiant Knights…! I never imagined I'd be so blessed with such an opportunity…!"

"Huh? Are you even aware of the situation—?"

"O' mighty mechanical greatsword—Raidele! Reveal your true worth… here and now!"

"…!"

From the horizontally held longsword, particles of light burst forth.

And then, in the next instant, with a satisfying click, the blade began to transform.

"Whaaaaat!?"

So coo—no, wait, what is that sword!?

[Ho… Quite an intriguing weapon.]

Kyui was clearly fascinated—a seemingly rare occurrence considering his usual disinterest in anything that wasn't a woman.

The sword named Raidele completed its transformation in a flash.

It was nothing like before. Now it was a massive greatsword, broader than Alchrom was tall.

And the blade glowed faintly. What kind of mechanism was powering that thing…!?

"Hrah!"

"!!"

Alchrom charged at Elinabelle, swinging the huge blade like it was a bamboo sword.

"You—!"

Elinabelle blocked it with her axe, but the force of the blow clearly transmitted through the weapon.

[On top of the difference in physique, Alchrom's swinging that massive sword as if it's weightless. Not an easy opponent for someone like Elinabelle.]

So… the one with the upper hand is Alchrom?

Ambelta had her staff at the ready, but since the two were fighting at close range, it looked like she was struggling to find an opening to cast a spell.

"What's wrong!? Is this the symbol of the Empire's martial might!?"

"Don't underestimate me!"

My eyes had started adjusting—I could just barely track the trajectory of their weapons.

Angered by the provocation, Elinabelle pushed forward and swung her axe in a wide arc.

"Hah!"

But for the first time, Alchrom didn't meet the attack head-on. Instead, he kept his left foot planted and twisted his body hard to evade the strike.

"What—!?"

Then, using that planted foot as a pivot, he immediately sprang back upright and slammed his sword down at her.

"Guh…!"

She managed to block with her axe just in time, but the impact clearly rattled her.

Alchrom pressed the advantage, unleashing a relentless flurry of blows against the unbalanced Elinabelle.

[That man… He's trying to finish it here. To think he can swing a greatsword like that as if it were a twig… Elinabelle's weapon isn't inferior, but in terms of mastery, the gap is showing.]

"What are we gonna do…!?"

[What's this? Worried about Elinabelle?]

"O-of course I am!"

I blurted it out without thinking. But Kyui was right—I was worried about Elinabelle.

I mean, sure, I ghosted her after raw-dogging her that one time, but still!? We used Kyui's Ero Skill together for the first time, and she's, like, my ideal type—super strong knight chick and all!

[Hmph… Then let's use about 90% of your current Hero Points to loosen my seal. With that—]

"… Huh?"

Even now, Kyui was showing me there was still something I could do.

I wasn't sure if I had the guts for it, but I really didn't want to just sit there and watch Elinabelle get taken down.

(That guy… He's keeping close to Elinabelle because he's wary of Ambelta's magic! Which means while he's watching her, he's not paying attention to me…!)

Ambelta looked like she was waiting for the right moment to intervene, but she probably couldn't risk friendly fire while they were so close.

Still, those floating ice daggers were circling nearby. Once the two fighters put some distance between them, she'd probably launch them all at once.

That meant Alchrom could see them too—and it was dividing his attention.

But even with that split focus, Elinabelle was still being pushed back. And then—

"Crap—!"

Alchrom slammed his greatsword down from above again. Elinabelle dropped to one knee, her right leg buckling slightly. Alchrom wouldn't let that chance slip.

He immediately swung his greatsword horizontally, aiming to cut Elinabelle in two—

"Gah—!?"

"!!"

And caught a rock, thrown by me, square in the side.

[You're pretty worked up from earlier, which means your libido is high—so your physical stats are also elevated. You threw that rock with more power and precision than expected. I bet it hurt like hell.]

Alchrom staggered back, losing his stance. That gave Elinabelle all the time she needed to recover.

"Hah!"

She swung her axe with all her might.

Alchrom blocked it in the nick of time, using the recoil to launch himself backward.

And that's when the hail of ice daggers rained down on him.

"Guh…!"

The small swords flew in a loose homing trajectory, chasing after Alchrom. However, he deftly deflected them with his greatsword and agile movements, effectively nullifying their threat. Then—

"Rahh!"

He kicked a barrel nearby—straight at me.

… Wait, huh!? He's aiming at me!? And that barrel is huge!

I tried to stay calm and dodge, but in the blink of an eye, Elinabelle moved in front of me and smashed the barrel apart with her axe.

"Whoa!?"

The moment the barrel broke, some kind of powder burst out of it.

Wait a second… Did that guy just kick this giant, powder-filled barrel like it was a soccer ball!?

Is body enhancement magic really that powerful!?

"This is…"

"Flour…? Why is that even here…?"

The powder quickly spread through the alley, creating a light smokescreen.

Elinabelle and Ambelta stayed alert for a moment, but eventually let out cautious sighs.

"Looks like he ran."

"Tch… And I was just about to finish him off, too."

I was the one almost getting finished off, thank you very much!

Maybe my feelings were showing on my face, because Elinabelle shot me a sharp look, half-lidding her eyes.

"What? Got something to say?"

"Nah, not really. I'm just glad to see you're okay."

"… Hmph."

Ambelta watched our exchange with mild interest.

… Her eyes were still closed, but she was watching… right?

"I never imagined Elinabelle had a commoner acquaintance… This is quite surprising."

"Don't be ridiculous. He's just some clueless guy from the streets… What are you doing with Ambelta anyway?"

"Uhh…"

I couldn't exactly say, "I tried to leave the alley with a woman I just met, and then we got caught in a battle."

Not that she was trying to help me, but Ambelta answered Elinabelle's question.

"He just happened to get caught up in all this. But he did save the life of one of the soldiers."

"… Huh?"

"Alchrom was about to cleave a fallen, unconscious soldier in half. This man stopped him."

Come to think of it, I hadn't seen that unconscious soldier around. Maybe he woke up and ran off?

While I was wondering about that, Elinabelle looked shocked for a different reason.

"W-Wait… then that horrifying corpse in the alley—!?"

"Thanks to him, that grim prediction was never fulfilled. I believe this may be the first time Miss Filmeria's foresight has ever been wrong."

What…? Sounds like there's a lot more going on here. But anyway…

"Well, you both seem busy, so I'll just be on my way—"

I tried to quietly slip away, but of course, Elinabelle wasn't about to let me go.

"Hold it. As a key witness, I'm taking you in for questioning at my residence."

"… Huh?"

"You don't mind, do you, Ambelta?"

"… I suppose not. It would be easier for Elinabelle, as he is someone you know. Still, is it really necessary to drag him all the way to the noble district…?"

"This guy vanished from the guard station once before. It's just a precaution. Come on, dude."

"Wait, what?"

Elinabelle suddenly pulled out a rope from who-knows-where and tied it into a loop. Then, with smooth, natural movements, she slipped it around my neck.

"Let's go."

"What do you mean, let's go!? What is this!? This thing tightens if I don't walk in step with you!"

"Then there's no problem if you keep up. Come on."

"Are you kidding meeeeee!?"

This is insane! This is how you drag criminals around—not grateful heroes who just saved your butt!

As I raged internally, I heard Kyui's ever-calm voice.

[That man… This is a rare chance to gather information. And besides—]

"… Besides?"

[With your remaining Hero Points, you have just enough for one more use of my Forced Arousal Skill. And now, you're heading to Elinabelle's house. You understand, don't you…?]

"… …!"

Another chance to do that wild, lust-fueled mating session again…!

Perfect. I've been left high and dry and my dick is beyond frustrated right now…!

"What's the hold-up? Let's go."

"… Roger that."

[Heh… As expected of my contractor. You truly are a man who makes decisions with his lower half…]

And so, I meekly allowed myself to be escorted to the noble district—eager for another night with Elinabelle.