Bel, clad only in white lingerie, was rummaging through Princess Brigitte’s wardrobe.
This was because there wasn’t a single outfit suitable for the capital in Bel’s own closet.
All of them were clothes that prioritized extreme efficiency.
Thus, none were appropriate for a date stroll through the capital with a man.
“Her Highness’s clothes are all too… bright.”
Bel despaired as she stared at a radiant sky blue dress!
“…I can’t wear this.”
Brigitte’s eyes were focused on Bel’s thighs, which moved elastically every time she bent her knees.
‘Wow, she’s got a beautiful body.’
The muscles that wriggled like they were alive were truly wondrous.
Bel weighed the pink cardigan against the sky blue dress, but ultimately chose nothing.
“What, what should I do?”
Bel tousled her turquoise hair wildly.
Brigitte found Bel’s actions, desperately trying for her date with Yuma, quite adorable.
“Just go as you are. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to wear what you usually wear.”
“Huh?”
Bel’s eyes widened at Brigitte’s words.
“Isn’t it just a matter of asking Yuma to buy you something? There are plenty of clothing stores in the capital.”
“…Ah.”
Bel nodded slightly as if she had realized something.
Brigitte leaned in and whispered to Bel.
“Just tell Yuma to pick something pretty for you.”
“Oh…!”
Bel couldn’t help but get a little excited.
“You seem to know more about this than I thought, Your Highness!”
‘Of course, I’ve never actually voiced that myself.’
Brigitte kept that thought to herself.
She didn’t want to discourage Bel, who seemed determined to wear her usual activewear style on a date.
*
“Did you wait long?”
Yuma wasn’t the type to dress up extravagantly.
Even so, to Bel, he looked quite well put together.
His slightly thinner, chestnut-colored trench coat blended perfectly with his dark gray hair, much better than the black coat he had worn on the battlefield.
“Yeah, no. My Lord. I just came out.”
They had reconvened about thirty minutes after lunch.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay!”
Yuma moved ahead first, with Bel following closely behind, her footsteps light.
The capital of the empire, Barnak.
Barnak bustled with lively activity befitting a capital city.
“There are a lot of people.”
The vast scenery of the imperial capital reflected in Bel’s pink eyes.
Couples laughing and chatting.
The aroma of food wafting from all directions.
The summer in this continent was quite brief.
Hence, even in August, a chilly breeze began to rise. People lined up at stalls selling what looked like hotteok.
Yuma and Bel enjoyed warm hotteok while sipping coffee.
“Hoo—hoo….”
The sight of Bel puffing up her cheeks to cool the hotteok was perfectly adorable.
Yuma sipped his warm black coffee slowly.
The moderately bitter aroma of the Americano welcomed his sense of smell.
“Lately, I’ve been thinking you might be hiding something. It feels like my suspicions are right, and it’s been nagging at me.”
Yuma continued slowly.
Bel, with her head slightly bowed, nibbled on the hotteok.
She then barely opened her mouth and spoke softly.
“Yeah, I have something to say… Can I tell you after today? On the way back?”
It seemed she had resolved to say something during the return trip.
Bel smiled lightly.
“I just want to enjoy this moment, Yuma.”
“Sure, let’s talk on the way back.”
“Okay.”
Bel opened her mouth wide and eagerly bit into the hotteok.
“Mmm…! It melts in my mouth!”
After enjoying the hotteok and coffee, they headed to a clothing store.
“My Lord, you choose for me.”
Unable to directly say “pick for me,” Bel reverted to using the formal title. Yuma nodded slowly.
Yuma slowly nodded his head.
“Got it.”
Yuma pondered seriously.
It was a gift for a precious companion, someone he would be trekking through rough paths with for a long time.
“Try it on.”
The first thing Yuma handed over was a pure white dress.
And the second was a set of leather jacket and jeans that highlighted both practicality and fashion.
“T-This… you want me to wear this…?”
Bel looked at the white dress with wide, surprised eyes.
It was her first time facing such a billowy white outfit up close. There was simply no need or value for such clothes in the land of the Endless Night.
“Customer! You can try it on over there!”
A short female staff member walked over energetically, pointing to the fitting room.
Bel decided to first try on the more manageable leather jacket and pants set.
The black leather brought out the vibe that Bel originally had.
“Not bad.”
It seemed perfectly fine to wear anytime casually.
“Yeah, it suits you well.”
Yuma nodded his head in agreement.
Bel gulped once, staring at the remaining challenge.
Now, she was about to wear something completely outside her usual style.
Ssssch—
Bel entered the fitting room, took off her clothes, and slipped into the white dress.
The staff member, who saw Bel’s appearance before Yuma, dashed over and said,
“Sister, you look beautiful! But you need to tighten the straps a bit more!”
The pink-haired staff whispered to Bel, lifting her heels slightly.
“Ask that gentleman to tie it for you! Sister!”
Unfortunately, Yuma overheard everything.
“Could you… tie the straps for me?”
At Bel’s request, Yuma tied the back straps of the dress.
With her toned upper body and lack of excess fat, the form-fitting dress accentuated her curves beautifully.
“It looks great.”
“…Really?”
Bel was momentarily captivated by her reflection in the mirror.
She was quite shocked by the contrast between her usual battle-ready attire and her current appearance.
“Let’s go out like this.”
“Should I?”
The small staff member, who had been assisting until now, chimed in.
“Absolutely! You should leave in that white dress! Let’s help you with the payment!”
Quickly!
Thanks to the staff member’s speedy actions, Bel ended up leaving the store in the white dress.
“Yikes…”
Bel stepped out with a slightly stiffened expression.
It seemed like she’d need quite a bit of time to adjust to walking around in this white outfit.
After leaving the clothing store, Yuma and Bel had a light dinner.
Then Bel realized she hadn’t given Yuma anything in return. So she dragged him into the nearest clothing store.
She wanted to buy him a scarf.
Bel was feeling confident!
She had received pocket money from Princess Brigitte!
“This sky blue is pretty. Hehe.”
Bel lifted her heels and pointed excitedly at the deep purple scarf she wanted to give Yuma.
“Then I’ll go with this.”
“Okay!”
Thus, they each exchanged gifts.
Just like how Bel left in her dress, Yuma stepped out wearing the scarf.
The sunset was slowly setting.
“Shall we head back now?”
“Yeah.”
At Yuma’s words, Bel nodded slowly.
Even in a crowded city, at some point, it felt like only she and Yuma were in their own world. They were having too much fun.
Yuma and Bel walked side by side.
Thud thud…
Just as they stepped out of the city and onto the path toward the palace, it happened.
Boom──
Something started falling from the sky.
With a red lightning flash.
It was a red knight.
A knight clad in full plate armor that resembled a red full-body suit.
Boom─ Boom─!
The problem was that it wasn’t just one red knight falling from the sky.
There were five.
Five red knights plummeted from the sky like a meteor shower.
The Red Knight fell from the sky like a meteor.
Duke Yuma suddenly fixed his gaze on one of the Red Knights that appeared out of nowhere with [Search Eye].
[Lv.???]
Red Knight
Race: ???
Class: Sword Master
Note: Created by divine power.
Something that cannot be interpreted by [Search Eye].
I’d seen this situation before. When I used [Search Eye] on the God, Incrinew. There were parts that were left blank back then too.
And the evidence supporting that reasoning was clearly written in the notes.
‘Is it sent by another Evil God?’
Yuma said to Bell.
“Be careful, they’re Master-level opponents.”
Just after Yuma finished speaking, Bell’s voice overshadowed his words.
“Don’t step in, Yuma.”
The voice directed at Yuma was undoubtedly affectionate.
But her eyes shone with a deadly glare.
‘I can’t let Yuma use any power.’
Bell didn’t care about what she was wearing right now. That didn’t matter at all.
Making sure he wouldn’t have to use any power at all.
Ensuring his body wouldn’t suffer any strain.
That was the most important thing for Bell right now.
Bang!
She stomped the ground hard.
Her thoughts accelerated. It became clear what sword technique she had to use in this situation.
[Cherten Style]
It was time to use that exquisite sword art passed down from Yuma.
A blue aura spread throughout her body.
[Iron (鐵)]
The first technique of Cherten Style. A powerful vertical sword strike.
The Red Knight reached toward the sword path.
Crack!
The sword of the Red Knight clashed with Bell’s [Iron] and was instantly shattered.
Fights between Sword Masters.
Most of them end in an instant anyway.
A fleeting gap.
Since they had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, that tiny difference was required even more than in previous levels.
That’s why it’s rare for battles between Sword Masters to exceed a dozen blows.
Just a single strike.
The body of the Red Knight at the forefront was split in half along with his armor.
And he dissolved, scattering a crimson aura.
Four Red Knights remained.
Crack!
Three knights simultaneously sprinted forward.
Bell’s eyes watching them were chillingly cold.
“Die.”
Bell was furious.
The reason was simple. She felt that those knights were approaching not for her, but solely for Yuma.
Swoosh!
The sword of the Red Knight right in front charged at Bell.
Crash!
The sword was smashed to pieces in an instant.
[Breaking Sword (破劍)]
It shattered both the sword and its blade entirely.
And Bell’s wrists twisted.
She immediately prepared for the third technique.
[Thunder Flash (雷閃)]
Boom!
The lightning-like thrust shot through the air.
The second knight dissolved.
‘Weak. The durability.’
Those red swords are incredibly sharp.
But they are just like any person. If you slice them, they die.
If the fundamental principle is the same, there’s nothing to fear.
‘Not a single one.’
I can prevent them from reaching Yuma.
I can end it from my side.
Swish—
The strong energy that spread throughout Bell’s body concentrated completely on her sword.
She swung it.
Once again, she refined the sword path that bloomed beautifully yesterday.
Cherten Style, fourth technique.
[Hell (黃泉)]
A cyan sword energy. From the threads of that energy, blue flames flowed infinitely.
Swoosh!!
An extreme horizontal slash swept through the space.
The waists of the Red Knights were brutally severed along with their crimson armor.
Yet, Bell’s gaze shook violently.
Only two of them had dissolved.
“….”
Duke Yuma glanced at the Red Knight charging at him with a bored look.
Swoooosh!
A stab shot out, wrapped in a gust of crimson energy.
[Extreme Focus]
He observed the impending attack.
‘The end of the gale.’
The tip of the sword.
Yuma unsheathed Balmung from his waist and swung it.
KA-CHING!
A clear metallic sound rang out.
A golden circular impact spread, indicating a successful parry.
[Absolute Counter]
KABOOM!!!!
The reversed crimson wind sliced through the remaining Red Knight’s body.
A whirlpool of sand rose from the ground.
Just when he thought the commotion was over.
A strange voice floated over.
“Mortal.”
Yuma turned to the side.
There stood a woman.
A woman with orange hair.
Dressed in a very ordinary brown shirt and black skirt.
Thud…thudd—
Dark blood flowed from her mouth. Blood trickled from both eyes.
Her right arm and left leg twisted grotesquely.
The woman slowly approached Yuma like a zombie.
“It’s certain that you killed Incrinew…”
With each word, blood gushed out violently.
Yuma fixed his gaze on her with the Search Eye.
[Lv.81] Yuriana
Race: Human
Alignment: Neutral
Class: Saintess
Caution: A saintess devoted to an unknown god.
Currently, that unknown god is ‘descending’ into Yuriana’s body.
Her body is rapidly collapsing.
“I still can’t grasp the rationale of your prowess. After seeing it once… Gah!”
A mouthful of blood spurted from Yuriana’s lips.
“An evil god, are you?”
The corners of Yuriana’s mouth twisted grotesquely.
“Well… let’s meet again next time, human.”
KABOOM!!!
Yuriana’s head exploded.
The body without its head fell to the ground. Blood soaked the floor thickly. The remaining body slowly began to evaporate, bleeding red energy.
It was complete physical dissolution.
Even her clothes burned away and disappeared.
The only thing left was a necklace.
A necklace with a silver pendant.
Yuma opened the pendant.
Inside was a photograph. A recently deceased Yuriana, alongside a boy who appeared to be her younger brother.
“….”
Yuma placed the pendant with the seemingly useless photo into the Spatial Pocket.
One thing was clear: another Evil God had noticed his existence. They had begun to take an interest in him.
‘This guy seems like a careful type.’
Just like Incrinew, he didn’t descend directly but approached him under the guise of a god.
As he sorted his thoughts, Yuma gazed at Bell beside him.
“Bell.”
Bell’s once-white dress, now was covered in a thick layer of dirt.
“Why did you seem so reluctant for me to step in?”
Bell’s pink eyes shook violently.
“I think it’s time to hear the reason. You’ve been overly concerned about my well-being lately… .”
Yuma swallowed the rest of his words.
Bell suddenly wrapped her arms around him tightly.
She buried her head against Yuma’s chest.
“Yuma’s hurt… Yuma’s hurt….”
And she said slowly, quietly, while sniffling.
“Throwing up blood and saying there isn’t much time left while climbing the stairs… it’s all because you overexerted yourself….”
Bell lifted her head.
“It’s my incompetence that keeps putting you in situations where you have to step in….”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Yuma thought.
He needed to go back to the princess’s palace fast and have a long talk with Bell.
