Chapter 48

A few seconds after throwing myself using Bell's power.

In that brief moment, I charged towards the Dragon Slayer at a speed impossible for a human body.

The Dragon Slayer, with a surprised expression, tried to block by swinging her fan and creating strong winds, but perhaps thanks to just having gained Bell's power, I could slip through the gaps in the air currents like a loach.

Not only that.

I could even use that wind to my advantage and approach the Dragon Slayer's chin.

"Yahoo! This is fun!"

Excited by the high speed, Bell even howled like a wolf.

So this is how much movement it takes to satisfy you.

I had long since given up on trying to resolve this through dialogue with the Dragon Slayer.

Then the only option left was to inflict physical damage.

Thinking I might throw a punch at her, the Dragon Slayer spread her fan wide, preparing to protect her body.

In reality, she was probably covering her body with her wings.

But what I was trying to do wasn't such an ordinary jab.

"Woof woof!"

Bell barked fiercely as if trying to add more power to the action I was about to take.

Thump.

Something hard yet warm was caught in both my hands.

The Dragon Slayer's horns.

Honestly, I didn't think I could damage a Greater Outer God with a human body even if I hit her directly.

I had noticed her being extremely wary of anything touching her horns.

This action stemmed from the judgment that this part might be her weak point.

"...?!"

For a moment, the Dragon Slayer seemed greatly flustered, but my body, already commanded by my brain, reflexively grabbed the horns and was about to throw her.

"Here we go!"

Bell shouted excitedly, stretching out her fist forward.

As if that became the driving force, I felt the Dragon Slayer's body, which seemed like it would never move, being lifted.

"Hyaaah!"

"Kyaaah!"

Even while using Bell's divine power, this was not easy to break.

Having no choice, I threw the Dragon Slayer to the opposite side, and with a scream, she flew and crashed into the opposite wall.

Due to the impact, snow from above started to fall, quickly burying the Dragon Slayer under a snow mountain.

I landed carefully on the ground while staying alert, and just as I was trying to regain my balance, my body swayed greatly again.

This is...

It seems there's a recoil as the Gardener mentioned, but more than that, a pain like bruising rushed to my biceps and back muscles.

Is this strain from exceeding the normal force my muscles can produce?

If I use this multiple times, I might end up with rhabdomyolysis.

For now, it seems the limit is using it just one more time.

"Human, are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah. I think I'm still fine."

"...Hmm, I don't like it when humans are hurt... Should I act a bit more calmly?"

"No, when we do something, we should do it thoroughly."

Even after I said that, Bell seemed sorry and was licking my ears diligently.

As I was assessing the limitations of the ability borrowed from Bell, a loud noise started coming from where the Dragon Slayer was buried.

I lowered my posture and focused on the unusual sound.

Whoosh!

With a sound like firewood burning, a pillar of fire shot up high into the sky from the center of the snow mountain.

The heat was so intense that all the accumulated snow melted into water, soaking the ground, and some even flew towards me.

"Ugh."

Despite being outside in such cold, the water temperature was as hot as if it had just boiled.

Steam formed around what used to be the snow mountain due to the temperature difference, and beyond that, something presumed to be the Dragon Slayer's form was standing intact.

Unlike earlier when she had maintained a dignified posture, her arms were now hanging loosely, and that appearance even felt like she was enraged.

"...This time you've borrowed the power of another Outer God, subordinate."

"Yes."

"My legs are trembling. It seems the next one will be my limit. Let's help make that last one count."

White Mask, who had approached without me noticing, came closer while breathing heavily, and Muyeon, though still with frightened eyes, seemed to be trying to unify her mind with her mouth firmly shut.

Whoosh!

The steam swirling around the Dragon Slayer disappeared in an instant.

It was swept away by a single fan motion from the Dragon Slayer.

The flames that the Dragon Slayer seemed to have shot earlier.

If water can turn into steam all at once, it must be a temperature that humans couldn't withstand with bare skin.

That should be what we need to be most wary of.

"H-How dare..."

The Dragon Slayer's voice was heard.

But the voice, which I thought would be cold with anger, was somehow trembling finely.

"M-My horns...!"

As she said this and raised her head, I was dumbfounded when I saw the Dragon Slayer's expression.

A sulky expression, moist eyes, and a reddened face.

Usually, in media, they depict women who have been sexually harassed with such expressions.

The moment of confusion was brief.

I resisted as much as possible against the sudden storm that felt like it would blow me away.

"Argh!"

Muyeon, who was holding the heaviest weapon, was blown away first, and it seemed White Mask would have been blown away too if the storm had lasted a bit longer.

"Huff... huff..."

The Dragon Slayer who had unleashed that, exhaled heavily and then pointed at me with her fan, saying:

"Once this situation is over, I will definitely...!"

And then she just stared at me uncomfortably.

The Dragon Slayer, who had been looking at me with her words cut off, shuddered once more.

"To you...!"

For some reason, her face was turning even redder, to the point where I was worried she might burst soon.

Then suddenly, she took her eyes off me and made a slightly embarrassed expression.

"Ah, forget it. I'll just defeat you!"

She suddenly accelerated.

What on earth were you trying to say!

You're really annoying!

As if not giving me time to think about that, the Dragon Slayer was taking a stance to swing her fan again.

But beside me, White Mask had already regained her posture.

Boing!

White Mask's sword, which instantly kicked off the ground and advanced towards the Dragon Slayer, collided with the fan, making a sound like a spring bouncing.

But unlike before, had she entered a berserk state?

Boing!

"Kugh...!"

As the Dragon Slayer roughly shook off the fan, White Mask's body crashed hard into the wall right next to me in the blink of an eye.

"Master!"

Fortunately, the wall didn't collapse.

But when the snow dust settled and I approached White Mask, her condition wasn't good at all.

White Mask, who had only shown strength until now, was trembling and complaining of pain, and the cloth wrapped around her face was on the verge of breaking.

"Are you alright?"

"...Haha, I've shown an unsightly appearance. Perhaps a human body really can't match a Greater Outer God after all."

Judging by how tired her voice sounded, it seemed that even White Mask would find it difficult to move anymore.

An unknown being that even White Mask, who corresponds to the top combat power in the Knight Order, can't handle.

Greater Outer God.

The overwhelming difference in combat power was keenly felt.

The problem is that from here on, the number of effective hits I can make using Bell's divine power is only once.

But looking at the state of the Dragon Slayer, who for some reason is staring at us with wide eyes and an angry expression, it won't be enough to subdue her.

Moreover, although Muyeon had regained her posture, her eyes were half-glazed, suggesting she wouldn't last long either.

"D-Dare you... After toying with me like that, you're already concerned about another woman...!"

...It's mood-breaking to say this, but how can her words sound exactly like a villain princess?

It's not easy to act like that.

This Super Chicken Mod, looking at things like this, it seems to be translating well?

...Anyway, is it right to take a step back now, even if it means taking a risk?

While gently scratching Bell's chin, who was cutely growling as if angry at the Dragon Slayer's words about defeating me, I calmed my floating mind.

"Hawooong..."

Thanks to Bell, who was rubbing her cheek against me as if it felt good, my thoughts started to organize.

If a conclusion has been reached, act quickly.

Our original purpose was to defeat the lesser dragons.

The Dragon Slayer was an unexpected variable from the start.

I tried to quickly leave this place using Bell's power while supporting White Mask.

Swoosh.

Suddenly, I heard something sliding on the snow, and when I turned my head towards it, I couldn't help but be surprised.

The maid outfit I had bought in the village and brown hair tied in twin tails fluttering.

With her brow slightly furrowed, Asti was approaching, sliding on the snow with just her two feet down the slope.

W-Why?

Why is she coming here now?

As the slope disappeared and she reached the cliff, Asti kicked off the wall and leaped towards me.

Thump.

Landing right in front of me with a quiet sound, Asti slowly stood up and took a maid-like posture as if nothing had happened, looking up at me.

"Asti... Why did you come here...!"

"You looked in danger from afar, Master."

"But you shouldn't come here because of that! Now you too...!"

But Asti shook her head at my words and said:

"It's not proper for a servant to just watch when their master is in danger."

Asti murmured indifferently as if it was obvious.

Servant?

More than that, what is this full of duality behavior?

Actually, since the day we spent in the village, I couldn't figure out what tune to dance to with her.

While she tried to kill me several times, she also adhered to all the etiquette that a maid should maintain.

No, it was even more than that.

The fact that the room I was in was neatly tidied even on the morning she tried to kill me.

On the day she tried to poison me, the breakfast served was not only delicious - of course, I ate it after confirming that White Mask ate it without hesitation and was fine - but she even wiped my mouth and did the dishes afterwards.

Moreover, the pained expression she showed before coming here.

What exactly are your intentions, Asti?

"I would be grateful if you would allow me to protect you from now on, Master."

After saying this formally, Asti held up the sword she had previously used to try to stab me with both hands.

And unlike when she was about to stab me, the sword seemed to glow red.

"Please make your decision, Master."

Seeing that ominous aura, I felt that even if I refused, this child would do her duty even if it meant disobeying orders.

After pondering with a troubled heart, I finally gave my answer.

"Alright, I'll allow it."

"Then."

As soon as my answer fell, Asti rushed towards the Dragon Slayer.