Chapter 85

Stepping off the boat, I passed through the nearest inn with a hot spring and entered the area inhabited by monsters.

Well, I immediately wanted to go back after starting to level up with the women who used to be Motokazu's.

"You should know, if you don't cooperate, your hero will suffer, so think before you act."

"I know that without you saying it."

"Are you stupid?"

"...That's you being stupid."

Really, why do I have to go monster hunting with such awful women...

Looking around, it's clear we're in the middle of a level-up event.

Adventurers are fighting monsters here and there.

It feels like I'm participating in an event from an online game in my original world.

The problem is with my companions, though.

"Hmm..."

It seems this area is inhabited by monsters like Violet Blob, Magenta Frog, Yellow Beetle, and Cactus Worm.

They don't seem very strong.

As I was analyzing, a Magenta Frog jumped out from the bushes and attacked.

"Whoa"

I pushed the Magenta Frog's belly with my shield.

There was a squish sound, and the Magenta Frog stuck to my shield.

"Hey"

I gave instructions to the women who used to be with Motokazu.

"What?"

"Use your sword or magic to fight."

"I know that!"

Really, do I have to explain everything to them?

"Fire Slash!"

The woman next to the bitch, who seemed strong-willed, cast a spell and swung her sword.

A flaming sword attack flew from the tip of her sword, slicing the Magenta Frog.

I gained 95 EXP.

Hmm... The experience points are good for the strength of the monsters.

"Let's go hunting for a while."

"...Okay."

"Really..."

Their lack of cooperation is beyond the limit. I want to refuse to participate, but...

There's no way to verify the method to become stronger.

"It's true that you can't attack on your own."

"Yeah, it's lame."

"...Huh!"

Who's lame, huh!

"Are you saying your hero is a fool who only lives for women?"

"What! Are you insulting Lord Motokazu!?"

"Is it not true? If not, I want to know how you usually fight."

"Then I'll tell you."

The bitch, woman 1, and woman 2. These are Motokazu's companions.

Woman 1 seems strong-willed and carries a sword. She looks athletic. She's the one whose shoulder was pierced by Raphatalia. She has shoulder-length brown hair.

Woman 2 changes her expression frequently, makes a fuss, and carries a rod. She's probably the magic user.

They all provided magical support... but how do they usually fight?

The bitch follows but ignores me.

"Our job is to cheer for Lord Motokazu when necessary."

"Huh!?"

I couldn't help but let out a high-pitched voice.

What are they talking about?

"Otherwise, we follow Lady... Abazure's instructions and provide magical support for Lord Motokazu."

"...Do you not fight yourselves?"

"We fight in chaotic battles. But Lord Motokazu protects us so it doesn't come to that."

Protects us... My head hurts.

So, while Motokazu is fighting, their job is to cheer from the back?

Occasionally provide magical support... and usually, Motokazu fights alone?

"Basically, yes. If we can handle weak monsters, I use my sword, and she uses magic."

"What about Abazure?"

"Abazure does the same."

All the strong monsters are handled by Motokazu, and the rest are defeated by the women...

That sounds like the princess play in online games...

Ah, I guess the bitch used to be a princess.

"Lord Motokazu always tells us, 'It doesn't suit you, my cute ones, to engage in the dirty and bloody battles of level-up.'"

"That's why we rest and regain our strength for important battles."

"Right! We focus on learning new spells and maintaining our equipment."

"Also, our job is to heal Lord Motokazu's spirit. We pay attention to every moment with him."

...Disgusting.

They just watch from the back.

The strong-willed one is swinging her sword and scattering the attacking monsters... but if it's a tough opponent, Motokazu fights, right?

"I wish Lord Motokazu would rely on us a bit more."

"True. But it's cool that he's strong even without our help."

"Yes, he's not the type who can't do anything without a shield."

The bitch, as soon as she opened her mouth, started comparing herself to me.

"Alright! But now we're here to hunt monsters with me. I don't care about Motokazu, but I need your help."

"...Worst."

"The worst are you!"

Really, what's fun about bringing three parasites along?

"If we're attacked by monsters, Lord Motokazu will protect us."

"Isn't that great!"

"Yeah!"

Annoying!

I want to go home!

What's wrong with these people?

Probably, Motokazu is somewhere looking cool and saving them.

Then what?

Awesome! Hug me!

I can't understand what they find attractive about these loose women.

It's like a background story.

When a very strong monster appears, I take the lead and defeat it one-on-one!

I can imagine how he fights.

Why are they evaluating me so harshly?

Well, it's under the bitch's jurisdiction, and Motokazu probably badmouths me a lot.

Disgusting.

Still, they follow my basic instructions, and the bitch, woman 1, and woman 2 use magic and swords to defeat monsters.

They can fight, but...

The bitch keeps interrupting her spells.

I wonder why there are moments when patterns appear.

I can guess, but...

After about 30 minutes of hunting, when the area was clear, I was acting as a shield, waiting for magical support.

"The next queen, the source of power, commands. Reinterpret the universe and---"

"The next queen, the source of power, commands. Reinterpret the---"

I thought they were trying to cast a high-powered spell, but a shadow appeared and put a knife to the bitch's neck.

"Ah!"

"You're emitting too much killing intent, Lord Abazure and your companions, even in the spell phrases."

"We're not doing anything. We're just cooperating with the shield."

"I don't believe that."

"What's going on?"

The shadow interrupted the spell and warned the bitch.

"I've been watching you mumble for a while."

"So? Did you figure it out?"

"I did."

"What?"

"They were trying to find the restrictions of the slave mark."

"Ah... I see."

The slave mark can have multiple restrictions set.

I know this because I've set them on Raphatalia and Filo.

Raphatalia is strong, so she sometimes acts familiarly with me, breaking the restrictions I set.

Now, I'm not being strict, so I tend to forget.

"The queen has never exercised exclusive slave rights, so she was probably looking for a weak spot."

The queen set the restrictions. If not...

I remember what the queen set.

"The condition is an attack on Mr. Iwata. Whether it's poison, magic, or a direct attack, it will activate. Absolutely do not attack!"

An attack on me... If they were going to do it, it would be...

"Have one of the companions attack as a proxy, or use a ranged spell on a monster to attack me."

"Correct."

"No, it's not!"

Then why did the pattern appear multiple times just now?"

"That's... because the shield might get involved."

A desperate excuse.

"Right! We were just casting spells as the shield instructed!"

"The power was concentrated in your casting just now."

"That's necessary to defeat them!"

I doubt it...

Actually, the five Hi-Cactus Worms attacking me now can't even scratch me.

Honestly, they're just grunts.

Filo would have eaten them before I got close.

"Is the shield hero not in pain?"

"Not at all."

"You're tough..."

The shadow made a silly sound.

"Anyway, you don't seem to be repentant."

"I don't care!"

The bitch, caught, is lashing out.

The shadow sighs.

"Can't be helped."

The shadow raised a finger and cast a status spell.

The bitch's pattern appeared.

"What! Why!?"

"The queen entrusted me with the slave rights of the former princess."

Well, that's expected.

"AAAAAAH!"

The pattern activated, and the bitch rolled around.

The women 1 and 2 turned pale and looked at the shadow.

"I assume you understand that I will report this to the respected hero and impose a penalty. I will also inform your families."

"That's---"

"If you understand, follow the shield hero's instructions."

The women held their breath.

They must have realized they were in trouble. But I'm also at my limit.

"Shadow."

"What is it?"

"I have my limits too."

"..."

The shadow, looking worried about breaking the promise with the queen, stepped back.

"Shadow, temporarily remove all the restrictions on the bitch."

"Then what will the former princess do?"

"Yes, I know. Look, bitch. You hate me so much, don't you? I'll fight you. No tricks, just a fair fight."

"Grr..."

The restriction of the slave mark subsided, and the bitch glared at me with hatred.

"Come on, then."

If she attacks me in close combat, I'll burn her with Larse Shield.

"Ah, just the bitch. The others, watch."

"A, ah..."

"Y, yes."

Women 1 and 2 nodded and stepped back.

"I'll definitely kill you!"

The bitch, not hiding her killing intent, glared at me and cast a spell.

"The next queen, the source of power, commands. Reinterpret the universe and burn this one with the fires of hell!"

A spell... a reasonable choice. And probably the bitch's strongest spell.

Let's see what kind of spell it is.

"Dryfa Hellfire!"

A large, burning fireball appeared in front of the bitch.

"Dieeeeee!"

I braced my shield to receive the high-speed fireball.

"Are you stupid? My strongest spell---What!?"

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