NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43
“Uh… Uhmm… You’re, you’re touching there?”
The Dragon Slayer.
“That area is sensitive and very much a sensory organ.”
A name given to one who was merciless, even towards those created from their own fragments.
“How can you touch so carelessly!”
That noble and solemn woman, who looked like she wouldn’t bleed even if pricked…
“…What a shameless act!”
She bit her lip, her face completely crimson.
All due to that incredibly obscene scene happening far away!
“What in the world… Is this what’s considered dignified behavior?”
As if she had seen something she shouldn’t, she raised her arm to her head.
A Dragon Maid helped steady her.
“Miss, if it wouldn’t be too rude, may I ask what’s causing your turmoil? If it’s something unclean, we’ll take care of it.”
At the Dragon Maid’s question, the Dragon Slayer slightly opened her covered eyes and began to peek again.
She resembled a curious child, despite her protests, trying to sneak a look through her fingers.
“This is… Yes, those children I sent… trembling under a man’s touch… Ahhh! I can’t put it into words!”
The Dragon Slayer swung her hand, erasing the scene from view, and reached for the maid.
“Here’s a new fan.”
Thud.
Receiving the new one in place of the broken fan, the Dragon Slayer opened it to cool her flushed cheeks.
“What the hell… what the hell.”
The way she panted in embarrassment suggested she had never seen anything so inappropriate.
“Why on earth would that man do something so shameless?!”
“Could it be that the masked human who annoyed you brought this child as a counterpart?”
“That’s right, that’s it.”
Closing the already cracked fan, she frowned.
“I must give him a good scolding.”
#
“Hgh, Sorry… haaah…!”
“How’s this, is it okay here?”
“N-no, don’t touch me there…!”
“This spot is the most responsive.”
“Th-that’s… EEK?!”
Every poke at her weak spot made her wriggle in discomfort; it was quite the sight!
Watching her like that filled me with joy.
Meanwhile, the other Dragon Maids were exhausted and collapsed, unable to move.
Only this one remained.
I wonder.
Was this what ‘Leydan Tanton’ liked?
I felt a tinge of empathy for his feelings.
Dopamine was practically exploding out of me.
“Th-there….”
“Yes, this is the spot.”
It seems I’m almost there.
Time for my final blow for this little one.
“Hah!”
“Uwuuuu!”
The Dragon Maid lifted her upper body, then sank back down.
Letting out a refreshing sound.
“Uhh, that feels so good….”
The ecstatic expression she wore while getting a massage was truly delightful.
Huh?
What’s with that suddenly strange remark?
I haven’t made any wrong statements.
I was merely relieving the tension in the most knotted areas with my thumbs.
They were just too relaxed to even move.
Oh right, I heard something from a hunter earlier.
To the hunter, playing with the Outsider looked like a fight.
If the Super Coward mode is about censoring the ethical fears, isn’t hunting the same?
My gentle touch was, in the eyes of the outsiders, an attack.
Indeed, just as the outsiders’ expressions faded into nothing while experiencing pleasure.
As for that, it was suggestive of what the White Mask said about Tanton facing the outside by himself.
It must be that since the character was formed in a mode, the approach differed and headed in the incorrect direction, but this way could have been Tanton’s method of dealing with outsiders.
A resolution quite different from killing.
While the activation requirements were tough, just loosening this much tension bore such strong execution power against outsiders…
How powerful could Tanton really become if he fully unleashed himself?
“….”
For some reason, I felt a piercing stare from the being on my back.
Why? What for?
I’m not doing anything wrong, legally or morally.
If anything, I was merely executing justice.
“…pervert, scum, attempted rape, Leydan Tanton.”
Why on earth!
And why is ‘Leydan Tanton’ naturally slipping in there?
Of course, it’s a harsh term, true.
Either way, this is so unfair!
I merely dealt with outsiders!
Was this how Tanton felt when he was caught for attempted outsider rape?
As I pondered this, there was a startling sound from behind me.
Curious, I turned around and was shocked.
Muyun was shuddering and looking at me with wide eyes.
“Mu-Mu-yun?”
“Instead of just suppressing the dragon… You’re torturing her?”
“N-no, that’s not it….”
“It’s okay… I’ll understand that side of you, Tanton!”
Oh…
I expected her to feel scared, but what’s with that vibe?
At this point, Muyun was kinda frightening.
“Human!”
I suddenly heard Bell’s voice echo in my head.
Right, you’re the only one who genuinely likes me.
“Uooh… You’re saying you’re giving me careful attention instead of the dragon?”
Hmm.
That sounds like something that’d get me thrown behind bars if I explained it at the police station.
If I wanted to pass out Bell, I’d need something more substantial than mere petting.
As those thoughts crossed my mind, the gardener yawned and spoke.
“…I should be off soon. Staying longer might not benefit you either.”
The gardener carefully withdrew the arms she had embraced me in.
Why does that feel so regrettable?
Earlier, she’d mentioned there were restrictions whenever I used my abilities.
“So what on earth is the cost?”
“Your life force.”
…Pardon?
Did I mishear that?
“Nope, you heard right.”
“…That means I’ll die sooner?”
“…Not your lifespan!”
The gardener sighed heavily.
“The vitality to survive the day will be drained. If you use too much, you’ll probably faint in minutes.”
“Come on, there’s no way it could be that quick.”
“…Tanton! Be careful!”
…I may have said it nonchalantly, but I felt my body sway and would have fallen if Muyun hadn’t helped me.
What the heck?
Is that kind of effect from just one use?
“Don’t worry. You should still last until tonight.”
“…Isn’t that a bit unfair during longer fights?”
“True. If you keep using it when you reach your limit, you might really take your lifespan.”
R-Real lifespan?!
That’s just a fancy way of saying my health will go down, right?
They say power comes with a price and yet…
The gardener twisted her mouth as if to suppress a smile.
“Once our relationship deepens, this will improve… You thought something weird, didn’t you?”
Clears throat.
Why the sudden focus on random nonsense?
With a friendly smile, I felt a sharp impact on my back.
“Ugh!”
“…Tsk. Anyway, I’m going back now. Try not to play that flute too much today.”
With those final words, the sensation on my shoulder completely disappeared.
She vanished as naturally as Bell.
“Tanton… Who were you just speaking to?”
“Ah, that outsider I mentioned.”
Muyun started trembling in fear, possibly suffering from PTSD after hearing that name.
Given how timid she was, it was surprising she hadn’t fainted yet.
This was still a big leap for her, even if she didn’t awaken her powers.
“Now that everything’s done, can’t we just go back?”
“True. We should be able to head back now, but I could go up alone, but taking you with me might be a bit tricky….”
“Why are you all trying to end things on your own?”
Suddenly, a third voice cut in, not from Muyun or me.
Startled by the unfamiliar voice, Muyun’s eyes widened in fright as she trembled.
People only reacted like that for a singular reason.
Turning toward the direction of the voice revealed a woman standing there.
She had one long horn atop her head, hair tied into braids, and yellow eyes.
She wore what could only be described as noblewoman attire from a storybook.
This was certainly not the outfit to be flaunting in a place like this.
Unlike the Dragon Maids, she was adorned in an elegant dress that screamed aristocratic vibes.
Moreover, flanking her were three maidservants.
The conclusion was clear.
“…Why is the Dragon Slayer here…?”
Muyun trembled with fear, foam forming at her mouth.
“Muyun!”
“Hmm… I didn’t come here to see the reactions of commoners.”
Ignoring her, the Dragon Slayer dramatically pointed her fan right at me.
“Especially you.”
The mere act sent alarms ringing in my head, and I pressed Muyun down to the floor.
A pink wind swirled as if trying to rip us apart.
My body felt like it would fly away, but thanks to my reinforced physique from the chef’s food, I managed to stay grounded.
“Ugh…!”
“I’ll commend you for not being blown away.”
Yet, the Dragon Slayer only said this and continued extending her arm toward me.
“What a shameless one.” (Maid A)
The three Dragon Maidens beside the Dragon Slayer murmured among themselves.
“Uoooh, what’s shameless mean?” (Maid B)
“I heard from the lady that it means touching someone with your hand.” (Maid A)
“Hmm… Wouldn’t that just be physical contact?” (Maid B)
“If the lady says so, then that’s what it is!” (Maid A)
Overhearing the maids gossiping from behind, the Dragon Slayer’s face turned red as she shouted.
“If you laid a finger on my maid, you’d better prepare to die!”
The gardener tried to intervene, but there was no turning back now.
Time to play that flute again…
Just then, someone grabbed my body, causing me to float in the air.
Startled by the abruptness, I turned my head, seeing a familiar figure that brought me some relief.
“To think the Dragon Slayer would appear now. We retreat.”
It was the White Mask.
A strong wind engulfed us, yet my body didn’t get pushed back.
Instead, White Mask rode the flow of air, effortlessly soaring upward.
“Don’t worry, I can get away faster than anyone from that lizard.”
With that, White Mask began scaling the wall to climb higher.
From afar, I could hear the Dragon Slayer shouting as her wings spread toward us.
“Wait! Don’t you dare escape!!!”