Vol 9 Chapter 3.4 (2/2)

Elemental Bind

Beams of all the colors of the globe extended towards Kotone and Onimaru.

The beams, moving as to avoid s.h.i.+n, wrapped themselves around the possessed priestess and her katana.

In this condition, they would temporarily be unaffected by outside attacks, but could not move in any way. This did not change even if the target was tainted by miasma.

Depending on the caster, the target could break free right away, but if s.h.i.+n was the caster, even the over-level 900 Kotone could not move.

Divine-type magic was not included, but maybe because the skill included 7 magic elements, it managed to suppress miasma as well.

If only it was faster, though

s.h.i.+n stopped pinning down Kotone and stood up while mumbling to himself.

Elemental Bind was an extremely useful skill, but the beams of light it released were much too slow; they would definitely miss if used by themselves.

Because of that, in the game era the quick Shadow Bind and Arc Bind, which combined both speed and strength, were both used more often.

s.h.i.+n made sure that Kotone couldnt move and asked Mitsuyo to recover Onimaru, which was lying on the ground at a small distance.

Thanks to Elemental Bind sealing the miasma and the effects of Miracle Drug of Holy Skies, nothing happened even if Mitsuyo touched Onimaru.

Turning towards Kotone, s.h.i.+n saw that Suzune was desperately calling to her.

OK, the last nuisance is that guy then.

s.h.i.+n looked towards Mad Sword Legion, which had become much smaller due to Schnee and the others attacks.

s.h.i.+n didnt know how much of a will the main Mad Sword Legion had, but it looked like it was frantically trying to avoid Schnee, Tiera and Kagerous combined attacks.

If Schnee and the others used their full power, they would have defeated it long ago.

It was still alive thanks to its particular multi-unit structure and because they were fighting in a closed s.p.a.ce, so Schnee and the others didnt use wide-range attacks, out of concern of hitting their allies too.

Now that they had captured Kotone, though, s.h.i.+n wanted to start the purification immediately, so he did not feel like shaving off the monsters body little by little.

Schnee! Protect everyone but me!

Schnee nodded to s.h.i.+n, and he picked the skills he wanted to use.

Continuous Casting, Gun Fire!!

The skill he used first allowed to cast the skill used after it as long as MP allowed; this time, s.h.i.+n chose the Flame-type Magic skill Gun Fire.

A great number of fireb.a.l.l.s formed around s.h.i.+n, then shot one after the other towards Mad Sword Legion.

The size of each fireball was about 15 cemels; as they were not very fast, the weapons floating in midair could easily avoid their trajectory.

Just as it looked like they pa.s.sed by without doing anything, the fireb.a.l.l.s suddenly burst, scattering small 5-cemels fireb.a.l.l.s all around.

The fireb.a.l.l.s exploded all together, filling the s.p.a.ce with smaller fireb.a.l.l.s and turning the weapons forming Mad Sword Legion into ashes and dust.

It was an attack that targeted friend and foe indiscriminately, but the ice barrier Schnee created prevented their allies from taking damage.

The Mad Sword Legion, the number of its weapons already reduced by Schnee and the others attacks, now saw all its weapons destroyed; like Mudou Kanemitsu before, they turned into dust.

All that was left were the bound Kotone and Onimaru.

Onimaru was tended to by Mitsuyo.

Tiera! The purification, please!

Tiera hurried to Onimarus side after hearing s.h.i.+ns shout.

.you should hold her hands.

Tiera whispered this piece of advice to Suzune as she pa.s.sed next to her and Kotone, then started Onimarus purification.

Differently from the Depths of h.e.l.lfire boss, this time Kotone had to be purified too: thus this time s.h.i.+n would use Dispel Omen on Onimaru, while Schnee did the same to Kotone.

The miasma shrouding Onimaru gradually disappeared. At the same time, a strained voice leaked from Kotones lips.

Sister! Kotone!

Kotone winced in pain, and Suzune kept calling her name desperately. She was trying to break free, but s.h.i.+ns Elemental Bind completely sealed her movements.

Phew, its over.

After some time, Tiera announced she had finished, while wiping sweat from her brow. She was steady on her feet this time: the purification had been less taxing than the previous one.

The rest is up to you, s.h.i.+n. Please.

Leave it to me.

Tiera pa.s.sedOnimaruto s.h.i.+n, who gave it a long, careful look.

Its durability had decreased by about 20%, but compared to Dojigiri it had suffered surprisingly little damage. s.h.i.+n concluded that the situation wasnt as critical as last time.

s.h.i.+n related Onimarus state to Mitsuyo, and her expression softened with relief.

Okay then, youre next.

s.h.i.+n entrusted Onimaru to Mitsuyo and turned towards Kotone. He didnt know how the miasma had affected her, so she was still bound.

s.h.i.+n asked Suzune to step back just in case and checked Kotones condition.a.n.a.lyze didnt display her as boss anymore. The miasmas corruption seemed to be no more as well.

Possibly because she had lost consciousness, her eyes were now closed.

At first glance, it doesnt look like there are problems.

I cant feel any miasma anymore, so I think you can release her now.

Tiera, the most sensitive member to miasma, gave her approval too, so s.h.i.+n followed her proposal.

Elemental Bind caused Kotone to float in midair, so s.h.i.+n prepared to support her as not to let her fall to the ground.

Hn

Kotone mumbled, maybe the impact of falling into s.h.i.+ns arms had woken her up.

Are you alright?

Uuh.Iam?

Sister!! Koto!!

Having heard her sisters voice, Suzune rushed to her side, opposite to s.h.i.+ns. No one felt it was appropriate to comment about how Suzune changed the way she called her sister.

Its me!! Suzune!! Do you recognize me!?

YesI do.

She appeared to have fully regained her senses as she talked with Suzune: a kind smile appeared on Kotones lips, to Suzunes relief.

Can you stand?

Im sorry, my body is sti

Sti?

Kotone was hiding her face out of embarra.s.sment, and she stopped talking mid-sentence.

s.h.i.+n inquired what was wrong, and Kotones body started shaking.

W-w-why am I dressed so shamefully!?

She apparently had not yet noticed the state her clothes were in.

While she was bound the beams of light hid it, but now that they had disappeared, it was clear that her priestess robe was so torn and tattered that it could hardly be called clothes.

Her current state was thus even more seductive than being naked, prompting Kotone to try desperately to twist her body to hide it.

Ah

Ehw-why!?!

Maybe it happened because temporarily, she was cla.s.sified as monster.

Or maybe twisting her body gave the coup the grace. Kotones robe turned into sand and vanished, just like Mad Sword Legion did.

What was left was just Kotone herself, in her most natural state, still held by s.h.i.+n.

s.h.i.+n quickly looked away, but he couldnt avoid to see Kotones ample bosom and curves, which occupied his field of view before he looked elsewhere.

Use this!

Schnee rapidly pulled out new clothes and covered Kotone with them.

Anyone, please, switch with me!

s.h.i.+n had turned his neck all the way away in reaction to the sudden situation, but was close to his limits, so he asked for help.

Thanks to Schnee, the front side of Kotones body was covered, but her back was still bare. He didnt notice it when she was still clothed, but now that she was naked the sensation of touching her skin was transmitted vividly to his hands.

s.h.i.+n let Suzune, who was in front of him, support her sister and immediately backed away.

s.h.i.+n, we have to talk later.

.Id prefer to solve this peacefully.

Schnees smile was scarier than the miasma right now.

Despite their mission being accomplished, s.h.i.+n somehow didnt feel relieved at all.

The group had succeeded in saving Kotone and recovering Onimaru, so they headed to the exit of Cadaver Realm. Kotone still couldnt move well, so she was transported by one of Suzunes spirits.

Anyway, good thing the contents of the item box were safe.

Kotones clothes had crumbled to dust, but now she had changed to clothes she had in her own item box. A rare occurrence for an inhabitant of this world, Kotone possessed one too.

Im sorry forshowing yousomething so shameful

Kotones face was fiercely red as she answered. She would sometimes peek at s.h.i.+n, then hide her face out of shame.

Ah, er.I think its better to just forgwhoops!

He meant to say forget it, but was interrupted by the sudden attack of a flying spirit. After dodging it, s.h.i.+n noticed that Suzune was glaring at him with a certain amount of killing intent in her eyes.

She was walking next to Kotone, hidden from s.h.i.+ns view, but moved between them with frightening speed.

If you even whisper the fact that you saw my sister naked, Ill come for your head.

Im not saying a wordhey, I couldnt even if I wanted to

s.h.i.+n answered with a small sigh.

The reason why Suzune was so belligerent was that Kotone, after realizing she had been seen naked by a man, lamented that I cant marry anymore now and asked s.h.i.+n, the cause behind it all, wont you take me as your bride?.

Maybe because she had seen the exchange between s.h.i.+n and Schnee, while still being embarra.s.sed Kotone showed what appeared to be a teasing side. Suzune, however, didnt take it as a joke and became extremely wary of them.

The two priestesses were orphans and were each others only blood relative. Even if she felt grat.i.tude towards s.h.i.+n, she wouldnt accept that her sister married him just because he had seen her naked.

Im never letting you marry my sister!!

Wait!! I told you that I dont have the least intention of doing that from the beginning, didnt I!? Im getting scary looks already, so dont say that!!

Even if Kotone had been serious, s.h.i.+n wouldnt have accepted. He was instead worried that Suzune would cause an even bigger commotion.

You truly are very nice people.

Kotone looked at s.h.i.+n and Suzunes exchange with a peaceful expression on her face.

If you think so, then please do not trouble s.h.i.+n too much.

Im sorry. I was just happy that he reacted like that even to someone like me.

Kotone honestly lowered her head in response to Schnees rebuke.

Kotone was aware that, having been corrupted by miasma, she would be shunned. Her expression was somewhat shadowed too.

Wellin small doses, its okay.

You will forgive me?

When s.h.i.+n saw Kotone naked, Schnee was the one to exude the most frightening aura. Kotone had noticed it, so Schnees reaction surprised her.

Im going to have him spoil me too a bit in return.

Kotone was perplexed for a moment by Schnees reply, said with a very serious tone, then laughed softly.

Hehe, then I think Ill tease him a little more.

Afterward, Kotone faintly said You would touch even a body as tainted as mine?, so s.h.i.+ns position became even more difficult.

No, well, its not tainted or anything, isnt it? The miasma has been fully purified, you are totally pure, Kotone. That was something like force majeureor so Id like you to think.

s.h.i.+n looked distressed, as Kotone was looking at him with imploring eyes, transparent teardrops glistening from their edges.

Looking at her expression, s.h.i.+n even ended up thinking that she could be serious.

What, my sister isnt enough for you!?

Wait, are you in favor or against it?!

s.h.i.+n couldnt help pointing out the inconsistency in Suzunes angry words.

I see you get along well with Suzune.

He does!? Sister, are you sure you arent still sick somewhere?

I hadnt seen you express your emotions so openly in a long time.

Saying this, Kotone laughed softly.

Kh, my back feels targeted

Throughout this conversation, an extremely annoyed aura emanated from Tiera and Mitsuyo, in the rear of the group.

Even if it happened coincidentally, it was a fact that s.h.i.+n saw Kotone naked, so he took her teasing in stride.

Mitsuyo and Tieras annoyed mood was, however, clearly visible on their faces, and Schnees smile, completely lacking any intimidation, was the scariest one.

(Why isnt there a teleportation point in the boss room, just like the game?)

s.h.i.+n ended up wis.h.i.+ng that feature remained.

s.h.i.+n knew it would just postpone the problem, but he wanted to escape the current situation as soon as possible.