NOVEL NEXT Ch44 - Finale 1★
Chapter 44: Finale 1★
“…I’m still nervous… Does this outfit look okay? Is it strange?”
“It’s super strange! And really scary!”
“Yeah, it might make someone faint if they saw it in the dark. It’s very intimidating, Onee-chan. That scary mask and robe go really well together.”
“Really? Alright, then it’s perfect! …Let’s put on a great show for the finale!”
“Ooh!”
Rena giggled, then resolutely put on the ominous mask, a stark contrast to her sweet face. The three Alices also giggled and put on similar masks.
Mothra and Patricia should be finishing the preparations for the ritual on the rooftop by now. Faint screams and rumbling sounds could be heard in the distance. The final chase seemed to be going smoothly.
“Alright. Rena Todo, commencing operation!”
The girl declared brightly and stepped out of the control room.
The thugs, or rather, what was left of them, were running with tears streaming down their faces. Only three remained. They had fallen into various traps, their butts repeatedly kicked by the white mini macho men appearing out of nowhere, and their comrades had mysteriously vanished. This was a truly terrifying experience.
For those enjoying the live commentary of their punishment, let’s review the various traps set by Rena and her companions.
For instance, they were chased by a swarm of bees. Lured to the pond as Lily had planned, they jumped in only to be launched into the air by a magically created torrent. The moment they landed, “Everyone, out!”
Or, Alice, who they were chasing, suddenly ran towards them. As they looked closer, her face was horribly decayed. They screamed in terror, only for Alice to restore her face and smile. “Everyone, out!”
Then, their dwindling numbers suddenly increased. Confused by the announcement, they checked each other’s faces, only to find Gordalo among them. One of them received a fist—or rather, a lariat—to the face from the guardian. “Everyone, out!”
They were also subjected to a hot wind mixed with mustard powder. They touched Alice only to be electrocuted. (The Slimes, with their [All Status Effect Immunity] Gift, were unaffected.) They slipped on a floor covered in slime gel, becoming shiny, lotion-covered messes.
Those who foolishly tried to dodge the White Macho Men’s kicks were met with a Shining Wizard to the jaw. One should not defy fate.
And finally, the current “drive hunt.” To lead the remaining thugs to the rooftop, the party’s heavy hitter finally made its move.
Tonight, with no [Illusion] to hide its magnificent golden fleece, Hamal began chasing the thugs from the end of the first-floor hallway!
“What is that!?”
“Could it be… the mansion’s guardian!?”
“Don’t be stupid! …It’s disgusting!”
Forcing their exhausted legs to move, the thugs ran with the last of their strength.
Hamal, whose current form was the unsettling Sheep-Sphinx with only its head humanized, looked even more grotesque with the ominous mask.
“…I don’t care what you think of me. But I don’t appreciate it… I’ll have Rena-sama pamper me later.”
What a resilient sheep.
He was flaunting his beautiful golden fleece to make the villains mistake him for a divine beast guarding the mansion. The final boss was waiting on the rooftop. This was just a setup to enhance the climax’s terror.
“Uwaaaaah!!”
Their tear- and snot-streaked faces were a mess.
“There, there, there!”
The villains, unable to understand Hamal’s words, found his heavy breathing and bleating incredibly creepy.
Nervously anticipating the stairs transforming into slides, they climbed the two staircases and finally reached the rooftop…!
The rooftop was a demonic realm, far exceeding the demonic flower garden in its unsettling atmosphere.
The moment they arrived, the thugs froze, only to be run over—or rather, trampled—by the sheep. Squish!
“Ugh!”
“Gah!”
“Ugh… Heavy…!”
“Hmph. Rude people.”
The sheep, with a haughty sniff, slowly stepped over the thugs and headed towards its master on the platform.
“Rena-sama!”
“Oh, welcome back.”
“Praise me~?”
“Fufu. Later.”
Rena had already switched to Onee-sama mode.
At first glance, she was unrecognizable. Her braids were undone, her long black hair flowing in the wind. Wearing heels to appear taller, she donned the most ominous mask, held a fancy-looking magic staff, and dramatically swept her blood-red robe—an overwhelming presence. A chilling aura filled the air, making their skin crawl! This was the effect of the “Robe of Dread,” a magic tool.
Alice and the others clasped their hands as if in prayer, gazing at the queen on the platform. The two butlers knelt respectfully, Patricia’s shoulders trembling slightly. The sheep proudly bleated behind the queen, and a fairy descended from nowhere, their golden fleece and silver hair shining brightly in the darkness.
The queen stood at the top of the makeshift altar. Between her and the three remaining thugs lay a pile of their bound comrades. Bound like turtles… ahem.
Torches blazed behind the altar. Dozens of large wooden boards inscribed with complex magic circles were scattered across the rooftop. The masked mansion staff began chanting strange incantations. “Fate! Fate!” they cried. For the thugs, it was a scene straight out of hell.
“H-Hiiiii!”
The three remaining thugs involuntarily recoiled. However, they wouldn’t be left unattended with their limbs free.
“Aqua!”
Patricia paused her chanting and cast the Aqua spell.
“Skill [Throw]!”
With practiced ease, she used her newly acquired skill, winding up and throwing the water sphere she had created—with all her might! Her target was the magic circle board closest to the rooftop entrance. A pink seed was embedded in the center of the circle.
Splash! A sound far too loud for a water sphere echoed, and the Super-Speed Whatchamacallit Flower, having absorbed plenty of water, happily sprouted. A delicate white stem spiraled upwards, reaching a height of 2 meters, and bloomed with peach-colored flowers. The frilly petals were girly… but something was off. A bulging bicep. Yes, this was…!
—The Super-Speed Macho Man Flower.—
A mini macho man with peachy, smooth skin appeared, wearing a skirt of frilly petals. It was an assault on the senses. Patricia, who had created this, had been scolded by Alice, “Who would even want this!?” But its moment to shine had arrived sooner than expected. There was no better tool for this kind of punishment.
The Macho Man Flower was more plump and slightly knock-kneed than the White Macho Men. The thugs, filled with an indescribable terror at its wriggling movements, began to back away from the stairs. Rena’s sharp voice echoed from the platform, preventing their escape.
“You vandalized someone’s flowerbed, didn’t you? It seems you’ve angered the flower fairies!”
The Macho Man Flowers spun gracefully like ballerinas before striking a macho pose.
“…What part of that is a fairy!?”
“That’s a yokai!”
The thugs couldn’t help but retort. How conscientious of them.
“Now, now. Such impudence. Is your vision clouded? They’re so divine. Don’t you agree? –You lack awareness of your wrongdoing! Fairies, how about you deliver fate’s judgment upon these fools?”
“Divine” might have been referring to the oily sheen of the Macho Man Flower’s bodies, glistening with nectar.
<
Lily, the royal candidate fairy, operated the smartphone on behalf of the queen. She winked at the thugs and grinned mischievously.
“Everyone, out. …How about a Manji-gatame? It’s all fate. Fufu.”
With the queen’s decree, the fate of the three thugs who had vandalized Patricia’s flowerbed was sealed.
The Macho Man Flowers charged. Thanks to the tearful confessions of their comrades, these three had been identified as the flowerbed vandals. The pink macho men swarmed the thugs, one grabbing an arm, another a leg, and several working together to execute the Manji-gatame, giving a thumbs-up to their boss, Patricia. Patricia responded with a thumbs-down, prompting the macho men to tighten their hold. Her minions were terrifyingly intelligent.
“Higyaaaaaah!!”
How many times had they heard such manly screams in this mansion already…?
…Onee-sama, also enraged by the thugs, ignored their cries, dramatically sweeping her robe and resuming her chanting while gazing at the burning torches.
“~~~!!! …! Guardian deity of this mansion, please reveal your form to us!”
As the Red Queen finished her prayer, the scattered torch flames merged into a single, larger blaze. The thugs gulped at the unnatural and overwhelming spectacle. The giant flames, reflecting against the night sky, illuminated their strained faces. Lily’s [Illusion] skill was truly convenient.
As the thugs stared in stunned silence, Rena solemnly uttered the final “fate.”
“A sacrifice, you say? …Very well.”
“~~~!?”
“Hah. Do you think the likes of you are worthy of being noble sacrifices? Know your place!”
The men stirred at the thought of being offered as sacrifices, but Onee-sama quickly dismissed them. The roles had already been assigned. They needed to offer a beautiful, worthy sacrifice.
“Hamal, Lily.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Go. …But make sure you come back.”
“Yes! Rena-sama, you’re so cool! We’re thrilled!”
Hamal and Lily, with cheerful expressions, praised their master, bowed gracefully, and jumped into the blazing flames without hesitation. Only the clueless thugs were surprised. The mansion staff calmly watched the mythical creatures seemingly burn and disappear, a truly bizarre sight…
It would be unnatural without the smell of burning meat. Izumi, with her precise control, secretly used Aqua magic to sprout Simir Flower seeds, affecting the thugs’ sense of smell. The ominous masks had a built-in gas mask effect, so only the men were affected.
“…It seems that’s not enough. Mothra, you’re next.”
“It’s an honor. All according to fate.”
Next to ascend the altar was the tall, elegant butler with glossy black hair. The bound thugs fidgeted nervously.
With a bow, the butler stepped into the flames without hesitation.
And finally, the guardian deity revealed itself…!
As the butler’s body vanished in the flames, the dimly moonlit night sky turned pitch black.
<
A monstrous roar echoed from the smartphone. Crimson wing patterns, dazzlingly bright, appeared against the blackened sky, flashing faintly and intensely, reminiscent of the butler’s crimson eyes.
—Had he been absorbed!?—
—Was that monstrous being, capable of such a feat, the mansion’s guardian!?—
The thugs, confronted with the true form of their opponent, paled and broke out in a cold sweat. As their eyes adjusted to the crimson light, they realized it was a giant black butterfly with outstretched wings. The three who had vandalized the flowerbed trembled even more, wondering if the butterfly was also angry about their actions.
Mothra used [Intimidate].
…Glared at by the monstrous being, the thugs lost all their will to fight, falling into a daze. Some even fainted, their eyes rolling back.
“You must not lay a hand on this mansion.”
Rena muttered dreamily, her gaze fixed on the 15-meter Mothra in the night sky. Her soft voice, carried by the tailwind of [Beloved Child of the Sky], reached the trembling thugs.
“And you must not harm Alice Stuart. The guardian deity recognizes Alice as the current head of the house. And it’s very angry at you for trying to kidnap her. If you ever try to harm her again… you understand what will happen, don’t you?”
<
Mothra used [Intimidate] again, knocking several of them unconscious. Rena turned to the remaining whimpering men and declared,
“It seems this is your only chance. Be grateful to the guardian deity. –Everyone, out.”
<
The opening bars of “fate” echoed through the mansion. The Macho Man Flowers delivered powerful chops to the backs of the thugs’ necks, knocking them all unconscious as they cried out in despair.
“…It’s over. Have you learned your lesson?”
Rena looked down at the unconscious thugs from the platform and sighed.
“Good work, Rena. Wow, that was super cool! Pffft! Hahaha!”
Patricia patted her shoulder, finally giving in to laughter.
“Rena! Look, look! The pose of obedience!”
The Slimes, having reverted to their true forms, jokingly bowed deeply to the queen. Everyone involved in the prank laughed heartily at the sight of Onee-sama Rena simply petting Coo and Iz.
…This should be enough. Alice and the mansion should be safe from these thugs, at least. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the battered and bruised men. The plan had been a complete success. They congratulated each other on their hard work.
Alice stepped forward and bowed deeply to Rena.
“…Rena-onee-chan. Thank you so much.”
She seemed to have decided that further words would be disrespectful to Rena, who had helped her out of kindness. This single, heartfelt phrase conveyed Alice’s gratitude perfectly. Beneath the ominous mask, Rena smiled happily.
“Patricia-onee-chan, Mothra, Coo, Iz, Lily, and Hamal. Thank you all so much…!!”
“You’re welcome!”
Bright laughter filled the rooftop once more.
A short while later, Mothra, his gaze fixed on the gate, informed his master of a visitor.
“Rena-sama. It seems the idiot son has arrived. …Alone.”
He sounded displeased, as if the visitor was ruining the pleasant atmosphere. Though no one was visible, a puddle of dirty yellow water had appeared on the ground. Mothra exchanged glances with Lily and nodded.
The “drive hunt” for the sons was scheduled for later, but since someone had breached the barrier, it was likely one of them.
Lily, who had “seen” their souls, confirmed Mothra’s statement. She had secretly identified and memorized the sons’ souls using insect tracking beforehand.
“Oh. One is enough. I just received a communication from Lulu. …It seems things have changed. Sorry for the late notice. We’ll proceed with the plan as discussed. This is the true finale… I’m looking forward to it.”
“Oh? Is that so? Roger. …Aqua! Skill [Throw]! Take this!”
“Understood, Rena-sama. Skill [Gust]!”
As Rena spoke, Patricia created water spheres and threw them at the remaining magic boards, sprouting the pungent, irritating Super-Speed Flowers. Once the flowers bloomed, Mothra used [Gust] to spread the intense smell around the mansion gate. Lulu and her group, who were maintaining the barrier nearby, wore masks as gas masks.
The sharp-eyed fairy and butterfly clearly saw the sewage puddle rippling. The visitor must have been suffering from the smell. Lily stuck out her tongue and gave Rena an OK sign.
“Let’s go.”
All that was left was to push the idiot son into the depths of despair when he was at his most vulnerable.
Two figures stood at the gate: a tall, slender man in an expensive suit, and a plump, short man, both allies of Alice.
The foolish sons, who had betrayed their father of their own free will, were about to experience the greatest terror, humiliation, and despair of their lives.