Chapter 76 – The Sage and Body Transmogrification
76 – The Sage and Body Transmogrification
I urged the kids to go back to playing, so they started walking toward the playground equipment.
They still keep glancing our way occasionally, but I don’t think they’ll interrupt us.
「They care for you deeply.」
「Hm? I guess so… Well, we get along really well.」
「Do you feel that you could regain your wholesome childhood by playing with children?」
「Doesn’t hurt to try, right? Actually, it’s quite difficult.」
「I see. I…see.」 Alchemy was silent for a moment.
「Anyway, you mentioned our discussion being interrupted, what did you want?」
「Would you believe me if I said I just wished to see your face?」
『As if.』 snarked Mika.
「Well, I’d think that that’s unusual for you.」 I said.
「Heh.」
The person in front of me clearly made such a noise; but at the moment, I could scarcely believe it.
「Did you just…」 Laugh? The perpetually expressionless Alchemy…laughed?
「What is it?」 Alchemy returned to her expressionless face.
「N-nothing…」
「I see. My purpose today is to report to the Demon King Army and review information.」
「Ah…」
The Kingdom of Jarsti, the country of Demons that I am staying in, is cooperating with several countries from Human Territory. It’s the Six Saviors who connect the two. Still, this arrangement is not widely publicized. It is a secret cooperation. The War God deemed this the easiest way to cooperate.
Case in point, he’s right. In fact, it was a success.
Miasma fills the air in Makai. A Rift, a distortion of mana, connects Makai to this world. From that Rift, not only do Demons come forth, but miasma pours out as well. Humans cannot live on land that has been violated by the miasma. Humanity is fighting to avoid the worst-case scenario where miasma covers the entire human realm, causing our destruction.
The miasma also has the effect of deforming Demons and making them savage. That’s why those guys that we call evil Demons are crazy about fighting. Conversely, the Demons who still have their senses and live in the country of Jarsti put up a barrier to keep out the miasma, so that they could keep their sanity.
「This country’s intelligence officers are superb. Their information is extremely accurate. Thanks to that, Demon extermination has been proceeding smoothly.」
「Is that so?」
There is one aspect of the miasma that can be used. When a killing occurs in miasma-filled areas, the soul of the loser goes to the victor. You are able to steal the defeated enemy’s strength. That’s most likely why the killing never stops in Makai.
Among the Six Saviors, only the Hero – me – the Saint Marie, and the Sage Alchemy can do battle within miasma contaminated soil by protecting ourselves with mana. In other words, much like the evil Demons, we can get stronger by defeating our enemies. In fact, I am far stronger now than I was before I left Human Territory, even though I was already called humanity’s strongest at that time.
「I came to confirm just how much stronger you’ve become, Rain, but…it is evident. I hardly recognize you.」
『All that considered, you call that a greeting?』
「The Rain of the past would not just sit on a bench and let his mind wander. Doesn’t it make sense that I suspected that his peaceful life had dulled his senses?」
Oh. She did say something like “What am I doing staring dumbfounded while the world is in crisis?”
「You know as well as I do, there’s less and less to do. I’m free to do whatever I want in my free time, right?」
The evil Demons are scheming to summon a God-class – the strongest form of Demon. In order to do that, they need an amount of mana larger by orders of magnitude.
Demons have a tendency to obey those with overwhelming superiority, and it is not uncommon for them to offer their lives. We are fighting them to prevent the high-ranking Demons from sacrificing themselves. This is what Alchemy referred to earlier as ‘Demon extermination’.
Because we’re subjugating them faster than the intelligence officers or the War God can gather information, there are times when we’re on standby.
「You have a point. In that case, I am free to do what I wish in my free time.」
Saying that, Alchemy sat next to me. At that moment, her breasts swayed. Due to her height, her feet don’t reach the ground and just sort of dangle there.
「……Are you in good health?」
「Hm? Oh, yeah. I’m doing fine. You?」 It’s rare for her to make small talk.
「Physically, I am fine.」
「I see. That’s good.」
『”Physically”, huh? Interesting choice of words there. What? Did you get lonely when Rain left? You’re not gonna start talking like that rampaging Saint, are you?』
「Rain, I believe you can silence the holy sword, yes?」
「She seems to hate that. Hey Mika, could you let me have a little chat with Alchemy, please?」
『……Fine.』 Mika kept quiet, albeit reluctantly.
「I was worried when you disappeared.」
「Ah…」 One of the Six Saviors suddenly disappears. Of course, that caused a fuss.
「Not many knew you were gone; perhaps that was Gladius’s doing.」
「Huh… But, I guess that makes sense. We usually went all around the world.」
The information that the average person knows about the Six Saviors is that they came and beat up some Demons. That, and that the Saviors now operate individually. The Swordmaster appeared and defeated the Demons. Thank goodness. The end. Nobody then asks where the other five Saviors are. Even if they wonder, there’s no way to know. There are six Saviors operating across the world, so even if one of them were to go missing…
It would take a lot of time for that information to spread across the world. There is no method in this world for a person to instantly spread information across the land. However, if no one has seen the Hero do anything for a long period of time, they’d probably feel that something is out of place.
「By the way…」 Alchemy turned her head to the side to look at me.
「Yeah?」
「What do you think?」
「About what?」
「About this chest that young Carro mentioned.」 As she said that, my gaze fell to her chest.
「What do I… Well, I’m surprised, I guess.」
「I used a Body Transmogrification spell to make them smaller.」
「Huh? Really?」
「Large breasts on such a small body catches attention.」
A Body Transmogrification spell itself is not uncommon. There are also Demons who make either themselves huge or just a part of their bodies huge. However, having to keep up that transmogrification on yourself constantly raises the difficulty significantly. Even the Demons who become huge only do that when they’re in battle or when they’re in a pinch.
If she merely made her breasts smaller when she was in the public eye, that would already be mana manipulation worth marveling at; but she also kept it a secret from her magic using allies like me and Marie, and still performed her duties as a Savior.
「Uhm…did you hide it because you hate getting attention?」
「I have gotten used to odd stares, but to add lecherous gazes on top of that would be extremely unpleasant. In addition, they make it difficult to see one’s feet, as well as cause stiff shoulders. To say they are useless would be an understatement.」
『…Hey, if you’re so good at Body Transmogrification, then why didn’t you just change into an adult body? That way, you’d even get rid of the funny looks.』
「You’re just like a Human, holy sword.」
『…What?』
「That is Human logic. Isn’t it odd that a sword can speak? But speak, you do. Why? You have will and heart, and both desire to express emotion. In other words, you speak because you want to, even if it is odd. Am I wrong?」
『What’re you getting at?』
「No matter how one looks at me, I do not feel ashamed of my height, so I will not make myself taller. Do you understand?」
『…! …No, I understand fully. Also, I apologize. I was rude, I am sorry.』
「I accept your apology.」
Her large breasts cause trouble for her, so she makes them smaller, but her small stature only concerns others, so she doesn’t do anything to change that. That must be the difference.
「I understand what you’re saying, but then why return your breasts to their normal size now?」
Alchemy was silent when I asked that. Expressionless, she looked up at me without a word.
Eventually, she said… 「Do you really not know?」
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