Reflexively, Mumei threw up her arms to shield herself. It was futile. If she'd been alone, she would have died instantly.
But Rei Ao was with her. He merely flicked a finger through the air:
"Shing!"
A massive, razor-sharp sword slash pierced the sky.
"Splurt!!!"
The giant hoofonce blocking out the sunwas sliced apart with one blow. In the blink of an eye, the slash cut straight through the towering horse, through its core, and through Amatori Biba's protected heart within. But the sword aura didn't stop there. It carried on like a silver bolt of lightning, streaking up into the sky. Where it vanished, the blue sky split with a massive gash, as though the heavens themselves were torn open. The aftershocks alone were enough to shatter the nearby mountain ranges.
Rei Ao eyed the devastation he'd wrought, his face impassive.
Sword Qi was probably one of the weakest of his abilities, yet using it to finish off Biba felt like killing a chicken with a cannon a total waste.
""
Sensing the sunlight falling back over them, Mumei lowered her arms. She saw the shattered mountains, the halved Black Smoke, the rent sky. Everything was laid bare before her.
"!!!"
She'd witnessed wonders more than once, but this level of destruction surpassed all she'd seen. She gazed dazedly at Rei Ao's profile. Each time he appeared, he did so like a true god.
Rei Ao snapped his fingers, and any attempt by the colossal Black Smoke's remains to break apart was burned away, leaving nothing. Then he patted the stunned Mumei on the shoulder:
"Let's go back."
~~~
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Chapter 197: Let the Trade Begins!
Inside the Koutetsujou
Having learned the general situation from Ayame, Horobi never imagined she would be savedby that man she'd briefly seen, the one who draped his jacket over her. The fact that he had somehow returned her from a state of hyperactive virus infection to being fully human was more than enough to astound her.
At the same time, Horobi was also taken aback that the one who requested Rei Ao (the man who saved her) to do so had been Mumei.
"Why would she save me?"
Horobi couldn't comprehend it. She had sacrificed herself for the young master's plan, and as a member of the Hunters, she was fully resolved to carry out every one of his orderseven if it meant giving up her life. She believed Mumei, as the young master's loyal 'claw,' would do the same, even though Mumei might be unaware of how the young master was using her. Yet Mumei's actions directly undermined Biba's plan and might have cost him everything.
"Why would Mumei do something like this?" Horobi muttered, deeply perplexed. Of course, Ayame and the others couldn't answer for Mumei; the only one who could was Mumei herself.
Just then, Mumei returned with Rei Ao. In Horobi's disbelieving eyes, they appeared out of nowhere inside the carriage. She stared at them silently, no idea what sort of power could accomplish such a sudden teleportation. One thing was certain: it was definitely not the work of Kabane or Kabaneri. Words like sorcery or witchcraft sprung to her mindperhaps even the label god, given how talk of a "god and priestess" had spread through the Koutetsujou.
Rei Ao gave Horobi a once-over.
"Looks like you're doing well. There aren't any side effects, right? I'm pretty confident in my methods."
Horobi shook her head gently.
"No No discomfort at all."
She bowed her head in gratitude.
"I don't know how you managed to restore my humanity, but thank you."
"Don't thank me too soon," Rei Ao cut in.
"Your dear 'young master' just got wiped out by me."
"What?!"
Horobi shot to her feet, eyes wide with disbelief, and glanced toward Mumei. The other girl's expression was complicated, but she nodded.
"My brother has lost in the challenge against Rei Ao-sama."
Mumei tactfully chose the word lost rather than outright died. It was her last small gesture of respect for Biba in Horobi's eyes.
"..."
Horobi fell into a dazed silence. She knew little about the exact details, but she could guess the broad strokes: the so-called 'god in the Koutetsujou' was the man Biba had wanted to test by turning her into a Black Smoke. Judging by the resultshe was alive while Biba, her young master, was deadhis plan had failed catastrophically.
It was over. Everything Biba had worked toward was for nothing.
A bitter yet liberated smile flickered across Horobi's lips.
"So now I'm your captive. Do with me as you will."
To her mind, any enemy would naturally kill off loose ends. She was ready to die.
"Do you want to die?" Rei Ao asked, brow raised.
"Idon't know." Horobi's response was surprisingly honest. On one hand, she wanted to live. On the other, with Biba gone, she had no purpose. She'd lived to fulfill Biba's plan, and now that plan had crumbled.
"You're pretty straightforward." Rei Ao gave a thoughtful nod, then turned to Mumei. "Anyway, I only saved her because of your request. Whatever happens next is up to you two to talk out."
He then motioned for Ayame, Kajika, and Yukina to follow him out.
"The rest of you, come with me."
Leaving the space to Horobi and Mumei.
They locked eyes a moment.
Horobi spoke first, "Did the young master give any final orders before he left?"
"No," Mumei answered with a shake of her head.
"I see"
Horobi didn't probe further about Biba. Instead, her gaze drifted to the ribbon on Mumei's neck. Then she asked softly, "Mumei, do youwant to become human again?"
"Me?"
Mumei froze. She had never considered it. Until now, she was Biba's 'claw', a Kabaneri whose sole purpose was to kill Kabane. Human or not, that was all she had cared about. But now she was no longer bound to Biba. Did being Kabaneri matter anymore? If anyone could restore a Kabaneri to being fully human, it would be Rei Ao.
Mumei's mind spun. Horobi just observed her expression and silently made up her own conclusions.
Meanwhile, Rei Ao hadn't spared a thought for Ayame and Kajika; instead, his gaze rested on Yukina, making her squirm in discomfort.
"Rei Ao-sama, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?" she asked hesitantly.
"No," Rei Ao replied. "But I heard from Ayame and Kajika that you, too, wished to become a 'priestess'? Like they are?"
"Ah?"
Yukina spun around to see Ayame and Kajika giving her little thumbs-up gestures of encouragement.
"!!!"
That was when she realized she'd been set up by those two.
From their expressions and gestures, Rei Ao also pieced it togetherthey had secretly told him about Yukina being shy, wanting to ask but never daring.
"So it seems, Yukina, that you weren't entirely aware of this?" Rei Ao said with a small smile. "Ayame, Kajika, that trick of yours might warrant some punishment."
"Eek!"
Both women stiffenednot from fear but excitement. Their breathing quickened. For them, so-called punishment from Rei Ao was the greatest reward.
"Sigh."
Rei Ao could only roll his eyes at their reactions. Pampering them too much clearly had its downsides.
"Anyway, if it was all a misunderstanding, let's just forget it," he said, unwilling to force the issue.
But Yukina suddenly found her voice.
"II do want to become your priestess, Rei Ao-sama, just like Ayame and Kajika. I want those amazing powers as well."
Yet her expression was still uncertain, as though something weighed heavily on her mind.
Sensing her worry, Rei Ao asked gently, "You seem anxious. Want to tell me what's wrong?"
After a long pause, Yukina finally mustered courage:
"Rei Ao-sama I'm afraid that someone like me isn't someone you'd ever want."
"Oh?" Rei Ao was intrigued. "And what sort of person do you think you are?"
Biting her lip, Yukina lifted her shirt slightly, revealing the slender lines of her toned stomach and a faint outline of abs.
She murmured self-consciously:
"I'ma total gearhead who loves machinery. I'm 'muscley'not womanly or graceful, nothing like Ayame-sama's beauty or Kajika's sweet empathy. I'm the opposite of a ladylike princess."
Indeed, she'd never asked for a trade before because she assumed her more athletic physique would put Rei Ao off, that he'd find her unattractive. But that was where she was mistaken. Not only did Rei Ao accept all sorts of "special" women, but her body was hardly unfeminine. She was trim, her muscles simply lean and tight. Her toned midriff possessed a subtle definition that Rei Ao found rather appealing.
"Mmph!"
Yukina, bracing for rejection, suddenly let out a yelp as Rei Ao leaned down and placed a slow, warm kiss upon her absso swiftly that she only managed a tiny squeak before slapping a hand over her mouth.
Her eyes went wide with alarm. She could feel his breath gliding over her skineven circling her navel brieflymaking her head spin.
Moments later, Rei Ao straightened and pulled her into his arms.
"I find this quite appetizing, actually. Do you think that's a sign of dislike?" he teased.
"Ugh!"
Yukina's face blazed scarlet. She was certain she had never felt so embarrassed in her entire life. Meanwhile, Ayame and Kajika watched enviously from the side. Yukina, in her mortification, felt something else, too: relief. The insecurities she had about being "too tomboyish" ebbed away.
Relaxing into Rei Ao's embrace, she whispered, "Rei Ao-samaplease let me become your priestess. I'm ready to give you everything."
[Ding! Yukina has initiated a Trade Request!]
[Trade Details]: She's willing to devote herself to Rei Ao.
[Ding! Please set the Trade Terms!]
Having come this far, Rei Ao obviously wouldn't leave anything out. A new trade alert appeared:
[Ding! Trade initiated!]
[Trade Partner]: Yukina
[Trade Details]: She dedicates herself to Rei Ao.
[Trade Terms]: "Unlimited Body Usage Rights."
[Duration]: 24 hours
Chapter 198: Another Trade! Horobi... Hmmm not bad
Stella: "What the heck?"
Stella: "I'm just waking up, and now Rei Ao has taken in two more girls?"
Stella: "And what was he doing, leaning over that girl just now?"
Having gotten up in the middle of the night, Stella glanced over the chat messages in confusion.
Mumei, Yukinatwo of them!
Frieren: "Basically, Mumei wanted Rei Ao to save someone who'd transformed into a sort of Kabane-like state, so she made a trade with him."
Frieren: "As for what Rei Ao was doing just then, it looks like he was kissing that girl named Yukina on her 'insecure abs,' giving her confidence in her body."
Frieren: "And well it went from there."
Frieren: "Sigh, Rei Ao is really something. With just a few words, he's got another young lady wrapped around his finger."
Stella: ""
Stella had to believe ither roommate Kurogane Shizuku had fallen for Rei Ao at first sight.
Sometimes she even wondered whether Rei Ao had some succubus-like power or something.
Otherwise, how could he conquer so many women both inside and outside the group chat?
Yomogawa Ayame: "Actually, Yukina has admired Rei Ao-sama for a while, but she was hesitant, so Kajika and I gave her a little push."
Stella: "I really don't get you all."
Yomogawa Ayame: "Eh? Why do you say that?"
Stella: "If you all like Rei Ao so much, why do you keep 'handing him off' to others? Don't you feel any jealousy or possessiveness?"
That was what Stella truly couldn't understand. In her view, people should be selfish, more possessive. If it were her boyfriend, she'd definitely chase other women away. Why not keep your man's love all to yourself?
Ayame had her own answer:
Yomogawa Ayame: "Well, we aren't exactly Rei Ao-sama's 'lovers.' We're his priestesses, serving him. We're not in a position to question his choices."
Yomogawa Ayame: "And besides, Rei Ao isn't the kind of man who can be 'looked after' by just one or two people."
Frieren: "Right. Remember that time in Akame's world at the hot spring? There were a bunch of us there."
Akame: "Yes, five people."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "How did that go?"
She was intrigued. Five people at once? Shinoa didn't really get shy about these topics.
Akame: "Everyone ended up completely limp and exhausted, but Rei Ao was still full of energy."
Shinoa: "Got it. So Rei Ao, the group leader, really is inhumanly overpowered."
Stella: ""
She didn't want to comment. She'd been right there at the hot spring, listening to every bit of noiseone voice after another reaching high pitch, followed by the wet slapping overwhelming all other sounds, until everything quieted down. Rei Ao had obviously emerged the big victor: when he stepped out of the water, Akame and the others were trembling, while Rei Ao was completely composed.
Stella understood Ayame and the others on some level:
"Such a pervert!"
But all she could do was mumble it behind his back. Seeing that Yukina finally got what she wanted, Kajika was also relieved. Yukina got her wish, and they gained another companion to serve Rei Ao together. Ayame and Kajika alone weren't enough. Even if they each had three places touse, it was nowhere near enough. Add Yukinaand maybe Mumei if she came around
Just as Kajika was thinking that, Mumei emerged from the carriage.
"She says Horobi seems to have something to tell you," Mumei informed Rei Ao respectfully. She didn't know why Horobi suddenly requested to speak with him, but she was just passing on the message.
Rei Ao raised his eyebrows. "All right, I'll go see what she wants."
Going in alone, he found Horobi sitting there in a dogeza position, naked except for the jacket lying to one side. She'd placed it aside, bowing deeply, waiting for him.
"What are you doing now?" Rei Ao asked, puzzled.
"Rei Ao-sama."
Horobi lifted her head, speaking seriously:
"Mumei saved my worthless life. Even though I was fully prepared to die, the fact remains that she saved me. I owe her a debt of gratitude."
"I've learned about the trade Mumei made with you. Would it be possible for me to pay her side of the cost in her place?"
"No."
He refused without hesitation. A long time ago, Yuriko Takagi had asked the same question, and his answer hadn't changed. There were certain rules he wouldn't break.
"I see"
Horobi showed no surprise; she wasn't arrogant enough to think her "long-trained body" could sway him, especially compared to the petite youthfulness of Mumei. Still, she wasn't dejected, either. Instead, she unveiled a second suggestion to repay the debt:
