Chapter 143 : Wipeout (5)
Wipeout (5)
Ian took a communicator out of his pocket.
An artifact that transmitted voice and images through warp.
It was a gift from Aris, who suggested they keep in touch often.
'I've hardly had any reason to use it until now.'
But from now on, I'll probably use it frequently.
Every time I catch demonic humans or demons, I'll have to make contact.
― Bzzzt...
The communicator was activated with a slight infusion of magic power.
Select a registered contact inside, infuse magic power again, and the connection begins.
― Bzzt!
[Young master Ian?]
Aris answered the call not even a second after Ian initiated the communication.
... He hadn't expected her to answer this quickly.
"Yes. Lady Aris. It's me. Ian Greysel."
[Hehe. It's truly been a while since you contacted me. I was beginning to think young master had forgotten about me.]
"... That would never happen."
[Hehe. Then please contact me a bit more often. A maiden always waits with her heart yearning, you know, Ian Greysel. You always only seek me out when you have a request, so this maiden feels a little hurt.]
"I will probably have to contact you more often from now on."
[Oh my. Really? That's delightful. But that's not something you'd usually say... Did something happen?]
Ian got straight to the point.
"Yes. I have captured seven demonic humans to be put into the containment facility."
[Oh... This must be about the magic power extraction project, right? That's news I've been waiting for. And from the fact that the young master himself contacted me directly... They must be quite powerful individuals, aren't they?]
"Yes. That is why they must be safely transported to the facility. Strong escorts will be required. It would be best if you could send your personal order of knights."
[Oh ho... Hehe. You sound quite confident. Very well. I'll dispatch my knights immediately... It's been a while since I saw young master's face, so I'll come in person as well.]
"... Yes, understood. Then, the location here is..."
Ian gave her a detailed explanation of their current location.
She arrived at the hideout in less than two hours.
"Wow... Young master Ian..."
As soon as Aris entered the circular clearing, she looked at the captured demonic humans, her mouth dropping open.
"You said you caught some formidable demonic humans, so I was secretly curious about what kind of individuals they'd be... But to think you would have detained such heavyweights... I never would have imagined."
To think, not just one but six bishops—who are just below the rank of archbishop—and even the top executive archbishop from the Grand Cult of Sin...
"How on earth did you capture them, young master Ian...?"
Aris's face was blank with rare shock.
These demonic humans held critical positions in the Demon Cult; their movements and locations were always highly secret, each of them formidable in their own right.
Just tracking them down is already a tremendous feat, but to wipe them all out at once is even more so. Capturing them alive, perfectly, is another matter entirely.
"Their limbs and mana circuits have been cleanly severed... And you've left their mana circles and dantians intact. This is truly perfect and terrifying."
Even Aris, who was numb to slaughter, felt goosebumps at how perfect—how perfectly prepared as magic power generators—these captives were.
― Murmur murmur.
The Heavenly Beast Knights, Aris's personal order, reacted similarly.
"Damn... that's a golden robe. That's what bishops of the Cult of Greed wear."
"The one in the center is an archbishop...!"
"Hah. What the hell happened here? How is the young master here alone in a place like this?"
"Quiet. Best not to be nosy right now."
"Yeah. If there's anything we need to know, the lady will tell us herself."
― Gulp...!
Roxy Lockberman, the captain at the very front, swallowed nervously.
'Ian Greysel...? Ian Greysel was the one who summoned Aris?'
Roxy had never seen Aris respond to someone else's call with such urgency before.
To think there's a man who can make Aris come and go like this with just a single communication.
On top of that, Aris had an important meeting scheduled with a foreign minister.
But when Ian contacted her, she immediately canceled the meeting and flew straight here as if she'd grown wings.
And further...
'And what she saw upon arriving... What the hell is this...!'
The sight of a large number of the Demon Cult's core executives all captured alive.
And everywhere, the countless bodies of demonic humans lay scattered in pieces.
Strangely, every corpse was shriveled like jerky.
And the archbishop and bishops were sprawled out, limbs cut off like slaughtered pigs...
'What on earth happened here...!?'
And just what on earth was Ian Greysel, to be standing in the very center of this scene?
― Gulp!
'One thing is certain...'
Roxy, the canine beastkin, had her keen survival instincts warning her.
'Never, ever get on Ian Greysel's bad side!'
The being Roxy feared most in the world was Aris Hisperion.
A woman so malicious, it wouldn't be strange if venom ran instead of blood in her veins.
Roxy's body was twisted and conditioned in all sorts of ways due to punishments and "training" she had received from Aris.
Now, when Roxy heard Aris's bell, she couldn't hold her bladder; if Aris shook a rattle, her whole body would become strained and she'd twist uncontrollably.
All because of the brainwashing and training she'd received from that woman.
Yet as time went on, Roxy began to enjoy it.
When she realized that she was waiting expectantly for Aris's punishments and 'training', it sent a cold, complicated chill through her.
She felt happiness and terror at the same time.
Enough time passed, and Aris now became an absolutely godlike presence to Roxy.
But now, to think that there was someone whom even the terrifying Aris Hisperion served that dutifully.
And that "someone" was just a nineteen-year-old... Ah, no, no!
At this point, Roxy didn't care to know anything about Ian's true nature. She wouldn't try to find out.
She simply lowered her gaze, wouldn't even dare look at his toes, and would only do as told.
"H-hey everyone! Let's start working! Team 1, secure the demonic human bodies! Team 2, search the cave! And Team 3, move according to the young master's orders with me!"
The senses honed to the extreme at Aris's side finally shone at this moment.
* * *
― Kyaaa!
― Aaaaagh!
Archbishop Bertolf and the subordinate bishops were all moved to the containment facility and had magic power extraction spikes driven into their dantians and hearts.
"Hehe."
"Kuuuuugh...! Aaaaagh!!"
While personally stabbing a massive spike into a bishop, Aris spoke to Ian, who stood beside her.
"Doesn't it feel like we're newlyweds? I build the house, and you fill it with things."
"...."
Ian pretended not to hear.
If he stayed silent, she'd surely keep teasing, so he quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.
"The facility is truly excellently designed. I fully entrusted it to you, but it appears to be built even better than I'd expected."
Though the topic change was abrupt, it was also 100% sincere.
The demon containment facility built by Aris was so flawless that, even referencing [Archbishop Bertolf's Magical Knowledge: 8th Circle Lv.92], there was nothing to criticize.
The isolation cell's walls were endlessly thick and synthesized from durable materials, so that even a giant magic beast couldn't break through by force alone. Additionally, everything was thoroughly layered with magical wards.
Of course, the surveillance system was tight, and the mana circuits connecting the artifact for magic power extraction to the storage tanks were an aggregate of cutting-edge technology.
Extraction speed, contamination prevention, minimizing magic power loss, ease of maintenance—every aspect was considered for optimal design.
"No, it's not thanks to me at all. It's because you, young master, provided a bounty of rare materials and parts from somewhere."
Aris gave credit to Ian.
Thanks to Ian mass-producing all sorts of rare minerals, materials, and advanced artifacts, they could construct the facility to such a high degree of completion.
"Thanks to you, young master, we didn't have any budget constraints, so the design was easy. Even the magic engineers were thrilled. They finally got to build the sort of high-end creations they'd only dreamed of before because of cost. But honestly, I'm still curious. How did you get your hands on such expensive and rare materials... so much of it...? Some items I requested, like dragon's blood or ancient Luminari steel, are impossible to find even with money."
"...."
Ian deliberately averted his gaze.
However, catching those trying to escape was Aris's specialty.
Aris leaned in closer to Ian, almost uncomfortably so.
Now, even though Ian was much taller, somehow it felt like she was the one bearing down on him.
"Besides, I never even properly explained the design of this place to you, yet... the fact that you can assess the facility's level without an explanation... it's quite strange. Considering your age, you must've been busy just training swordsmanship—could it be that you're also knowledgeable in architecture or magic engineering?"
"Hmm..."
"Really~. It's not as if you're even trying to hide it. Isn't it about time you told me your secret? We've exchanged enough between us by now, wouldn't you say?"
"...."
Aris felt especially persistent today.
Ian gently pushed her away.
"I'm sorry, but a secret is a secret because I can't reveal it."
Aris's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Oh ho... So there really is a secret."
"Well, that's..."
Ian quickly changed the subject again.
"If you're expecting something in return for building this facility, I can grant something else. Is there anything you want?"
"Hmm..."
Aris poked Ian in the chest with her finger.
"That's a lonely thing to say. This maiden only wanted to get a little closer to you, young master."
― Spin.
Aris's finger drew a circle on Ian's chest.
"And you don't have to go out of your way to personally return the favor, young master. If I ever want a reward, I'll simply take it myself."
― Swish.
Circling half a turn, Aris linked arms with Ian.
"Just being alone with you in a secluded place like this is a reward for this maiden."
Ian felt goosebumps rise and quickly pulled his arm free.
"Please, enough with the teasing."
"Hoohoo. What's the harm? There's only the two of us here. You did say you'd give me a reward, didn't you? Then, why not—let me take the lead this time..."
"No. That's not going to happen."
Ian once again pushed away the approaching Aris.
By this point, even Aris was a little sulky.
"Hmph. It's because of Yuria, isn't it? The reason you keep rejecting me in the end."
"...."
"You're not denying it. You really do like my youngest sister that much?"
"...."
"If it were any other man, he would have already given in long ago. Human chastity is generally quite easily swayed. But you, young master, are different... Perhaps that's why you're especially worth staying by."
Then, Aris suddenly broke into a mischievous smile.
"So... how far have you gotten with my sister?"
"... What."
Ian's face grew a little hot.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"But you do, don't you?"
"... Ahem."
Ian cleared his throat and answered.
"You seem to be misunderstanding something. Lady Yuria and I aren't like that."
"... What?"
Aris, unexpectedly, looked genuinely startled.
"You're... not dating?"
"Yes. Isn't that obvious?"
"No? It's not obvious! So you haven't even kissed, hugged, or held hands?"
"...."
"No way... Why not??"
"... What do you mean, why?"
Of course, Ian loved Yuria.
As his vassal, and as a woman.
But he had not yet confessed. Nor had she.
He'd been putting it off, making excuses that it wasn't the right time for romance.
But the truth was... he was probably just afraid of ruining things.
Because she was so precious, so important—and because he was clumsy at such matters—he was being excessively cautious.
"Unexpected, young master Ian."
Aris's smile turned meaningful.
"... What do you mean?"
"You like Yuria, right? And Yuria likes you. I can guarantee you—if you suddenly disappeared one day, Yuria would be devastated. She relies on you for everything: emotion, life—literally everything."
"...."
Ian didn't deny it.
He sensed that, too.
By now, Ian had become someone indispensable to Yuria.
To her, Ian was a wall that blocked every adversity, the sunshine that helped her grow, the roots—everything that had become the very foundation of her life and existence.
Ian hadn't intended it, but Yuria had become someone who couldn't do anything properly without him.
"So I thought, of course, things would have progressed further by now, but to think you haven't even kissed."
"... Are you teasing me?"
"Oh, come on~ Would I do that? I only wish to help you."
― Step!-
Aris once again drew very close.
"Just in case... If it's because you're inexperienced and afraid, I can help you, you know."
"...?"
"After all, I and Yuria were born of the same blood..."
"...??"
"So, in a way, I'm half Yuria myself. Wouldn't I make for a good practice partner?"
"...???"
Aris whispered in his ear.
"With my body, you can practice first."
"W-what? What is that supposed to—get away from me!"
"Pffffff. So jumpy. I've found your weakness, young master Ian."
"... Kuh, dammit!"
Truly, Aris's way of thinking was unconventional.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Tsk, tsk.
When it comes to Yuria, Ian can easily be teased.
Tsk, tsk...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】