Chapter 538 - Flames of Destruction (IX) (2/2)
”What?” Alison asked, taking the moment's respite to catch a breath.
”How would you rank yourself amongst your friends?”
”… that's a rather sloppy way to buy time, isn't it?” she asked back instead of replying.
”You're clearly not the strongest,” the man ignored her, continuing as though he was talking to himself. ”Both that nutty woman over there setting the entire cosmos on fire, as well as that nuttier thing moving in shadows and killing like it's nobody's business, are clearly stronger than you. F.u.c.kin' hell… aren't you people supposed to be a newly-born world? What the hell is this shit?”
”…” Alison grew slightly confused but still kept her attention sharp. For all she knew, this was a ploy set up by the man to make her lower her guard. ”Should you really be saying that? I was confident I'd be able to run amok, yet here I am, being tied up by a single, ugly creature.”
”… oi, isn't that a bit uncalled for?” the man finally looked at her, sporting a pained expression. ”I know I'm not the handsomest lad ever, but I nobody ever said I was ugly…”
”Bah, I'd avoid even vomiting on you…” Alison said, crying inside; this was a 'tactic' that Lucky taught her for when she was facing a strong opponent. She still clearly remembered Lucky's words as she was 'teaching' her – 'if you can't smack 'em with a sword, use your tongue! Lash out like a frog and let 'em have it!'
”… that was genuinely the most hurtful thing I've ever heard in my life…” the man seemed to be on the verge of tears, causing Alison's faint façade to immediately crack.
”I'm sorry! I really didn't mean it!” Alison quickly cried out, for some reason comforting her enemy. ”You—you really are handsome! I love your eyes! And you're clearly not a bad man! You could have not fought me, but instead, you chose to jump in to save your friends! How can someone like that be ugly?!”
”…” Jonttar pulled back slightly, his mind a trickle of confusion. He was simply playing along, yet the strange woman in front of him took him seriously and was now ascribing him attributes he certainly did not have. Jumped in to save them? He questioned. I just… I just wanted to test your strength, though…
”Ah, you're still in shock!” the woman cried out once again. ”I am truly sorry! I listened to stupid advice and I inadvertently hurt you…” Shouldn't that be your main goal, though?! ”I am thoroughly ashamed of myself. I should have never listened to that vile wife of mine…” Wife?
”Wife?!” Jonttar exclaimed, his eyes suddenly turning star-eyed, startling Alison who pulled back from their lockdown.
”W-what?” Alison asked warily.
”Alright, I've decided.”
”… huh?”
”I'll join you guys.” Jonttar said, puffing his chest out in pride. Unknowingly, in front of this strange woman, he had reverted back to his childish personality that he had spent countless eons trying to cull.
”… what now?” Alison questioned, certain she had heard him wrong.
”I said I'll join you,” Jonttar replied. ”You're super-powerful, so are your friends, and that dude fighting up there… f.u.c.k, I nearly pissed my pants when that blade thingy got spat out. Sheesh, can you imagine the absolute hell they're causing over there? Anyway, you said you have a wife? Are marriages between women common on your world?”
”… h-huh? Ah? What?” Alison was barraged by a continuous extension of confusion, unable to wrap her mind around what was happening.
”Ah, no, don't tell me!” Jonttar shook his head. ”I like surprises! Hoho, I can already imagine it… ha ha ha ha…” Why… why is he suddenly laughing like a madman?! ”No wonder you jumped in like that into the heart of your enemy's force! Your wife was in danger! Aah, tell me, is there anything more beautiful than the purest of loves between two women? No, there certainly isn't! Plus, both of you are insanely strong! Honestly, it gives me shivers… aah, I'm so thankful I can finally stop fighting you. My poor life would have been in danger if we continued… ah, no, it's still gonna be in danger 'cause now I have to fight hundreds of people instead of one. Ah, no matter, no matter. You can count on me—uh, what's your name?”
”… Alison.”
”You can count on me, Ally!” he quickly assigned her a nickname as though the two had been friends for years instead of having just fought with their lives on the line. ”I'll protect the purity of women's love—I mean, I'll protect your homeworld! Of course, in concert with your friends. Ho ho, if I was strong to kill all of them, ho ho, would I be here? Ho ho…” … I knew it, Alison thought, on the verge of crying. I've picked up Lino's halo! I'm attracting weirdos now as well! Why me?!! Little did she know, it was not Lino's halo…