[Ding! Yukinoshita Yukino has initiated a trade request with you!]
[Trade Content: Give her three protective charms!]
[Ding! Please choose trade conditions!]
But Rei Ao didn't pick any condition.
"No need for another formal trade. I'm right here, so if you still feel uneasy about it in your mind, we can keep going until you're at your limithow about that?"
Rei Ao pressed a light kiss to her earlobe, feeling the heat radiating from it grow stronger.
"Mmph okay"
Yukino agreed in a soft voice. He couldn't see her eyes under her arm, but he knew she was dying of embarrassment.
"In that case, I'm not holding back. Yukino, if you can't handle it, let me know."
"!!!"
Her eyes opened wide. A no-longer entirely gentle Rei Ao revealed himself, and the atmosphere instantly changed. Little by little, Yukino lost the thing called rationality.
~~~
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Chapter 421: Z-City, Fubuki (Bonus Chapter)
A certain street in City Z.
"Have you decided how you want to die?"
A woman stood coldly on the street.
She had short black hair, was not particularly tall, with fair skin.
Her face was attractive, her gaze sharp, her waist slim and bust ample.
She wore a green qipao (cheongsam), which perfectly showcased her curvaceous figure.
She was Fubuki, a hero of the "Hero Association," and leader of the hero faction known as the "Blizzard Group."
Right now, she was up against a being that retained certain humanoid features... a car.
Its name: "Car Monster"!
In this world, monsters were a very common kind of disaster.
A monster is something that has thrown away its humanity and departed from the human realmthis can include mutated humans due to destructive obsessions, stress, or genetic anomalies; products of scientific tampering; creatures mutated from environmental pollution; or special intelligent life.
Such beings are extremely dangerous, posing a major threat to humankind.
They are classified by threat level, from high to low: God, Dragon, Demon, Tiger, Wolf.
Sometimes, that same system also describes the monster's strength:
God: May bring about the extinction of the human race.
Dragon: Could destroy multiple towns.
Demon: Could cripple or destroy an entire city.
Tiger: Could cause casualties.
Wolf: There's a dangerous element present.
Although these monsters are frighteningand countless cities have been destroyed by monster attacksfortunately, there exist "heroes."
Heroes from the Hero Association serve as humanity's main force against the disaster of monsters. They belong to an organization where heroes receive corresponding pay based on their contributions.
To qualify as a hero, one must pass a written exam and fitness test, 50 points each, for a total of 100. Those scoring 70 or above get a hero license.
Licensed heroes are further categorized by combat strength and social contribution into four classes: S, A, B, C.
S-Class: The pinnacle of heroes, capable of confronting DemonDragon disaster levels. Other heroes call them "monsters." They have extremely intense personalities and tend not to cooperate. Such powerful heroes almost always operate solo.
A-Class: A major goal for most heroes, can handle TigerDemon level threats.
B-Class: Far stronger than the average person, can handle WolfTiger level threats.
C-Class: Stronger than normal people; their main job is stopping thieves, smugglers, and so on.
At present, there are 16 S-Class, 38 A-Class, 101 B-Class, and 390 C-Class heroes. If a C-Class hero doesn't achieve any contribution for a full week, they get removed from the listing.
Right now, Fubukiranked #1 in B-Classstood in the street. The Car Monster, at Tiger level, was well within her capacity to tackle. Hence she came.
"Wretched humans! It's because you all ignore traffic laws that we cars keep getting wrecked!!!"
Fumes spurted from the monster's tailpipe, and its engine rattled to life. It had become a monster from the grudge of a car tossed away after a traffic accident caused by human negligence of traffic rules.
"You humans must pay the price!"
Revving at full power, the Car Monster charged toward Fubuki like a real vehicle.
Fubuki's expression remained calm.
She had every reason for that composure: she was one of the rare espers, able to freely manipulate windeasily levitating in midair or making objects float. She could guide the wind with telekinesis, which made her attacks especially potent. Through training, that power could be both offensive or defensive.
Facing the Car Monster's ramming attack, Fubuki raised both hands.
"Since you want to die so badly, perish amid the raging storm!!"
She spoke icily, in a stern tone. The next moment, fierce winds stirred, whipping her hair and the hem of her clothes. She unleashed her finishing move: "Hell Storm."
This technique gathers scattered rubble into a swirling tempest, sending countless stones hurtling at the targetan instant, devastating move.
Right now, for instance:
"Aaaah!!!"
Enveloped by the swirling debris and wind, the Car Monster howled in anguish. Before long, the gusts subsided. Its automotive body was torn to pieces, and whatever flesh had blended with it was shredded and broken.
"Eek!"
Thud!
Its final breath gone, the Car Monster crashed heavily to the ground.
"Hmph, yowai."
Fubuki, sneering, withdrew her gaze.
At that moment, a group of men and women dressed in black suits emerged from various alleyways, excitement and awe plain on their faces.
"Boss, that was incredible!"
"Boss, you're amazing!"
They gathered there, exclaiming and cheering. Fubuki curved her lips in satisfaction. They were the members of her Blizzard Group. Today, destroying this monster also served to boost the Blizzard Group's morale.
Of course, there was another major purpose: publicity.
She glanced at a member holding up a phone:
"How's the video look?"
The subordinate gave a thumbs-up.
"Perfect, Boss. We can start making the Blizzard Group promo clip right now."
"Good, then do it quickly."
"Yes!"
Another layer to all this was for her to show off her own powerful presence as the Blizzard Group's leader, attracting more people to join. That desire stemmed from her longing and obsession:
Fubuki wanted to be number one.
But she couldn't.
High above her stood a sister who possessed the same abilities but was overwhelmingly stronger: Terrible Tornado, #2 of the S-Class. The gulf between her top rank in B-Class and her sister was like an impassable chasm, driving her to despair. She had spent her life in the shadow of the ultimate esperTatsumaki, Terrible Tornadounable to surpass her.
Tornado had a twisted sense of protectiveness toward Blizzard, which only made Blizzard feel stifled and pressured, leaving her deeply conflicted and unwilling to bring up her sister.
Because she was nowhere near as gifted as Tornado and overshadowed by her superior ability, she felt inferior. Thus, unlike her sister's lone-wolf ways, Blizzard went to the opposite extreme: gathering and recruiting B-Class heroes to form the "Blizzard Group," and suppressing those who refused to join.
She aimed to prove her worth and capability in the Hero Association by building the Blizzard Group, striving for higher status, while also resisting her sister's dominance and seeking independence and freedom.
Suddenly, her expression froze.
"Huh? A 'trade chat group?' What is that?"
[Ding! Fubuki has joined the chat group!]
~~~
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Chapter 422: Campione, Erica Blandelli
"This divine artifact is quite a headache."
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl in Milan, Italy wore a troubled expression.
The cause of her troubles lay in the strange object she carried.
It was shaped like a jet-black obsidian medallion engraved with images of snakes and a female monster.
This was the "Gorgoneion," a divine artifact.
And the girl's name was Erica Blandelli.
Known by the moniker "Crimson Devil," she was the young lady of the famous Blandelli household in the magic world.
She also belonged to the Italian Mage Association "Copper-Black Cross."
She held the rank of Great Knight and bore the nickname "Red Devil." Her beloved sword was "Cuore di Leone" (Heart of the Lion).
She practiced a magic called "Iron Alchemy," which allowed her to freely manipulate steel objects.
Personally, she excelled at creation, transformation, destruction, and reinforcement spells.
The reason she was troubled about the Gorgoneion she needed to escort was because it was related to a Heretic God (a "God Who Does Not Obey").
Because one of her ancestors was a "Devil King," she knew information about Devil Kings and Heretic Gods.
"Devil King" was also called a "Campione." (TN: "" can translate to "God-Slayer" or "Campione," meaning someone who overthrew a god.)
This world contained two opposing yet deeply intertwined forces that could affect the balance of power worldwide: the "Heretic Gods" and the "Campiones."
Should a Sun God descend, the entire world might become unbearably hot.
If a Sea God appeared, gigantic waves could swallow everything, sinking it into the ocean.
If a God of the Underworld arrived, plagues would spread to every corner, turning the world into a city of the dead.
If a God of Judgment manifested, everyone living here would face all sorts of punishments.
Even just passing through this world, such a deity would bring tremendous impactan unsettling God who shaped calamities in a form of Their own choosing. That is a god who does not obey, a "Heretic God!"
All the weapons humanity could create on Earth could not harm such gods in the slightest.
No matter if it were gunpowder, explosives, or chemical weaponsthese creations of ordinary humans could not deal any damage to gods.
And the "Campione"
As the name implies, a "God-Slayer": one who kills Heretic Gods.
By slaying a deity, one devours Its spirit and thereby gains a body beyond human measure and obtains that god's authorities (divine powers).
Currently in the world, six such Campiones reigned. They were also respectfully called Devil Kings.
This was the world's greatest secret.
Only certain associations and organizations knew the truth about Campiones and Heretic Gods.
Erica was one of those in the know.
And the Gorgoneion in her hands was connected to a Heretic God of disastrous proportions, certainly enough to worry anyone who understood how terrifying Heretic Gods could be.
[Ding! Erica Blandelli has joined the chat group!]
"What is this?"
An unfamiliar voice and an unknown floating screen suddenly appeared. Instantly on guard, Erica brandished her beloved sword, Cuore di Leone.
But after remaining cautious for a while, she found no immediate danger.
Yet upon that "chat group" interface, lines of text scrolled past, as if several people were conversing.
Piecing it together with the new knowledge emerging in her mind, Erica stood astonished.
"An inter-world 'chat group'? How fake is that?"
Frieren: "Welcome, newcomer. If either of you two new folks are here, feel free to say hello. Maybe introduce yourselves."
Yomogawa Ayame: "I wonder if this newcomer will be like some folks who start off extremely wary."
Mai Sakurajima: "The chat group's info is all transmitted directly into everyone's mindsthat's the best proof, unless the newcomer's world has truly formidable powers."
Megumi Kato: "Mai, haven't you gone to bed yet?"
Mai Sakurajima: "Ugh, I can't sleep. Rei Ao might be right next door."
Megumi Kato: "Yukino?"
Mabel: "Waaaah, just now Yukino was so loud, but it's quiet nowmaybe they finished?"
Tohru: "Impossible! It hasn't been that long. Rei Ao can easily keep going for hours. I'm aware of that barrier technique he uses."
Izawa Shizue: "So that means Rei Ao deliberately blocked the noise."
Sui: "They're already up to barrier-level defenses, so it looks like Rei Ao has gone full power?"
Frieren: "Er is Yukino actually okay with that?"
Mabel: "Ugh, I hope Yukino won't die."
She was Mabel's meal ticket, after all, so Mabel didn't want Yukino being wrung dry.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Mabel, you! Shut up!!!"
Mabel: "Wah! Yukino's alive!"
At the unstoppable motions, Yukino was humiliated and furious enough to kill.
Why bring up these matters in the chat group now, of all times?
"Yukino, you're tensing up too much. That's going to hurt. Relax,"
Rei Ao reminded her.
Then, tagging Mabel in the chat:
Rei Ao: "@Mabel, if you have any ideas, you're free to come substitute for Yukino. I'll allow it."
Mabel: "Eh?"
Mabel: "Um that I'm dead tired, good night, good night!"
She fled. She was scared, after all.
Rei Ao was one to do exactly as he said.
Huddled under the covers, Mabel glanced nervously at the door in the darkness, worried that Rei Ao's big hand might smash it in and pin her down for a thorough session.
"Mabel"
Seeing how ungrateful that person was, Yukino clenched her teeth again. She regretted it once more.
She should never have taken her in back then!
After reading that, Rei Ao laughed.
"Yukino, see? Mabel absolutely needs a lesson. Next time, why don't you and I have a go at punishing her together, see about getting you some payback?"
"Fine."
Hearing she could get revenge, Yukino blurted it out almost reflexively. But she quickly realized something wasn't right.
Next time?
At that shocking thought, Yukino regained some composure. Glaring with wide eyes, she said, "I-I never said there'd be a next time!"
"Too bad, you already agreed. And honest Yukino wouldn't go back on her word, right?"
Rei Ao smiled mischievously.
"But that isn't"
"Mmph!"
He didn't let her finish. Bending down, he kissed Yukino again, stifling her rebuttal. Yukino's eyes went wideyet she offered no resistance. In fact, for reasons unknown, she clung to him with even more initiative.
Her mind told her not to think so muchright now, her body felt happiness.
As for whether they actually took that verbal agreement seriously? No one knew. No one could say.
~~~
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Chapter 423: Self Confident Women
Fubuki: "This chat group really isn't some kind of monster's doing?"
