Setting aside the fact that a tribe of wild elves was now hunting Bennett, my priority was to clarify our objectives.
“So, what exactly do you need help with, Bennett? Are you planning to add all these elves to your harem or something?”
“Of course not⋯⋯ it’s about killing the Dark Wizard.”
That aligned perfectly with my own goals. I had my own reasons for pursuing the Puppet Master of Red Flavor.
Duke Red Flavor had previously sent the assassin Roderus after me. As long as we were at odds, the Puppet Master would eventually come for my head too. We had to use this opportunity to capture her while we still could.
Of course, the circumstances weren’t exactly in our favor ethier.
My stats had plummeted, I’d switched my class from Illusion Magic to Fire Magic, and I was in a vulnerable position without the dependable support of Yuri and Yuna at my side.
Shouldn’t we prepare more before taking the fight to them?
No.
The reason I was willing to take the risk of fighting such a strong enemy in my current state was simple—because that Puppet Master bastard was also vulnerable right now.For someone who specialized in controlling meat puppets from a distance, being forced to insert her main body into a puppet⋯⋯it meant that she wouldn’t have any spare pieces at her disposal.
She had been caught in the Goddess’s 『Forced Exile』 and dropped into foreign territory with no time to prepare. She had no support from the Duke Red Flavor and, most likely, didn’t have enough puppets at her disposal either.
Her ability was incredibly troublesome.
The moment she returned to the Red Flavor family, we would be swarmed by self-destructing puppet ambushes, popping up like cockroaches whenever they pleased. But now, the original had exposed her tail. We had to catch her in one go.
And while we didn’t have Yuna, who had reached Sublimation⋯⋯ I realized, after thinking about it, that our current party was still a super elite party in its own right. This was a fight we could take on.
I twitched a finger.
“Crow, come back.”
“Oh no, Bennett, please save me! Mr. Original is trying to absorb me! My consciousness will dissolve like cotton candy in a waterfall!”
“Cut the ridiculous nonsense and get back here, you idiot. Do you want to be responsible if we lose due to a resource shortage mid-fight?”
“If the tragic day ever comes where Mr. Original perishes and I survive⋯⋯ caw caw caw ! I shall carry on Mr. Original’s will! Ah, don’t glare at me like that—I was just joking. I get it.”
The ominous crow clamped its beak shut, as if sulking that it couldn’t even crack a joke, before flapping its wings and landing on the back of my hand. It was strange.
This was the first time I had seen a Mima fragment with such a strong sense of self. Could the large fragments that split off develop this much independence?
I casually voiced my thoughts.
“⋯⋯What, you want to move out and live on your own?”
“ Caw caw ! If Bennett would accept me, joining that party could be fun too. I could watch how Bennett, Tara, and Niolle tumble around every night!”
“I won’t accept you. And watch your beak unless you want to end up as crow skewers.”
“That’s right! Alas, since I have nowhere else to go, I must remain nestled in Mr. Original’s warm embrace. Let’s return.”
Crow Mima blinked once before slowly melting into my skin, as if sinking into water.
The sensation was unsettling. My mind got slightly complicated.
Was there a difference between the NPCs born from me and the fragments created through my own division? If I respected the former, didn’t that mean I should respect the latter as well?
I had thought I was merely reclaiming lost pieces of myself. But was I actually sacrificing independent beings with their own will? The realization gnawed at me.
Seemingly reading my thoughts, the crow—half-merged with me—let out an amused chuckle, its red eyes gleaming.
“Mr. Original, we were always one body. Each piece simply embodies a different aspect, but in the end, we are all fragments of the nameless Crazy Wizard. Do you know what that means?”
“⋯⋯Not really.”
“It means we’re stubborn. When something doesn’t sit right with us, when we want something, when something happens that shouldn’t—we throw ourselves into it with everything we’ve got. Isn’t that right?”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Since we were about to face the Red Flavor Puppet Master, this meant that Crow Mima had accepted that being “absorbed” was necessary to strengthen the original’s combat abilities.
After all, we were the kind of people willing to risk our lives to do what had to be done.
At the same time, he was saying that if he truly wanted independence, he would have smashed everything—whether it was the original or not—and simply run away. The crow was subtly trying to reassure me.
That pitch-black bird let out a cheerful cackle(probably excited by the thought of sacrificing itself for the original).
“I’ve already accepted it, so stop worrying needlessly, Mr. Original. Also, I have an interesting hypothesis. Would you like to hear it?”
“Go ahead.”
“Things that have been created don’t just disappear so easily—not minds, not personalities. And everything that came from you⋯⋯well, they’re particularly tough! When you and I merge, I believe a stylish crow will take up residence in some corner of your mindscape⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Seurerereuck.
The crow melted away and vanished.
I clenched and unclenched my fist repeatedly. Some of my cognitive abilities and memories returned—everything the Crow Mima had experienced in the Elf Great Forest⋯⋯ along with detailed information on the wild elves’ models.
This guy⋯⋯⋯ you really carved them out meticulously.
Each Mima fragment was different in size. I had recovered four so far, but that didn’t necessarily equate to 4/30.
Taking my complete self as 100%, I was currently at about 20%. Since Yuna and Yuri were probably gathering pieces as well⋯⋯ full restoration wasn’t too far off from now.
I clapped my hands to get everyone’s attention.
“Alright, listen up. I’ve received information from a rather wise crow. Our target, the 『Puppet Master』, is currently on the move through the forest. It seems like she is aware of Bennet.”
“What’s the connection between being aware of Bennett and moving through the forest?”
“Because the forest is the elves’ domain. Judging by the fact that Bennett is safe here, it seems the elves can’t enter the city⋯⋯ but if we step into the forest, it’ll be a different story?”
“⋯⋯Oppa, why are you suddenly speaking so formally to me?”
It was a tribute to the crow.
I patted Selvier’s head as I wrapped up my explanation. Since the Elf Rangers were hunting Bennett, the Puppet Master would be traveling through the dense woods where the wild elves could exert 100% of their combat power.
Essentially, she was trying to lure us in—to get us caught and fuck us over.
I had heard that elves were ridiculously fast in forests, and the crow’s data confirmed it. A party with two no-stamina wizards wouldn’t last long before getting caught.
In short, if we wanted to capture and punish the Puppet Master, we had no choice but to break through the Elf Rangers first.
Forcing our way through was certainly an option. We had Guardian’s Dream Bennett , Flame Angel Selvier, and, well, just me—Mima. But wouldn’t it be a bit barbaric to steal their Holy Relic, knock them around, and drive them out?
If possible, I wanted to resolve things peacefully. Then, an idea struck me.
“Bennett.”
“Hm?”
“Why don’t you try rizzing up the elves? I’ll help you.”
“⋯⋯Are you crazy?”
Why does he call me crazy every time?
===============================================================
Before anything else, I first informed Cicel about the situation—the fact that the Dark Wizard had stolen the elves’ Sacred Artifact and was now on the run, while Bennett had been falsely accused.
Whether it was her inability to overlook the threat of a Dark Wizard, despite being a retired knight, or simply her sense of justice, Cicel Yurensto spoke with determination in her eyes.
“I see. In that case, I’ll help you. A knight’s sword shines with glory no matter where it is wielded.”
“Thank you for offering to help. That puts my mind at ease.”
I gave Cicel a grateful look. She could have easily chosen to sit this one out, but I was relieved she stepped up willingly.
She also seemed to approve of me taking down the Dark Wizard without waiting for Irid’s orders. Something about me being a righteous wizard, apparently*.*
Now, with a top-tier Metamorphosis user joining the party, things were falling into place. We were all set to charge in and wring the Red Flavor Puppet Master’s neck.
While Cicel and I were exchanging silent words of appreciation through eye contact…
Selvier struck right through the gap.
“⋯⋯Hey, uh, but what exactly can a singer contribute? Cheerleading?”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯!”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯!!”
Right. This girl was Bunny Princess right now.
Since it felt awkward to expose what she was hiding, I hadn’t explained it to Selvier yet.
Cicel, in a panic, twitched the rabbit-ear headband on her head while scrambling for an excuse.
“Well⋯⋯ I’m close friends with Cicel Yurensto. I can ask if she’d be willing to help. That’s what I meant by helping.”
“⋯⋯Then why did you say something about a knight’s sword or whatev⋯⋯?”
“Uh, well, we must hurry and pursue the Dark Wizard! As luck would have it, Cicel is nearby. I’ll go call her right now!”
Tadat.
She bolted out of the inn room hastily, then reappeared 10 minutes later, now a pristine fully-armed knight. With a cold and righteous expression, she introduced herself like a cool warrior.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Cicel Yurensto.”
“⋯⋯You sound very similar to the person who just ran out of here. Same body shape, too.”
Her carefully constructed facade crumbled instantly.
After five seconds of excruciating silence, Cicel blurted out a crude excuse.
“W- We’re twins so⋯⋯.”
“Ah, riiiight.”
Selvier had finally arrived at the undeniable truth—she got red-pilled──the Eastern Front’s Ace Knight had a secret hobby of singing while dressed as a bunny girl.
Selvier leaned in close, pressing her lips to my ear and whispered.
“⋯⋯So, is it necessary to be a pervert to reach a certain level of power? Oppa’s like that, that person is like that… even the Saintess is like that.”
“Hey now. That’s rude, Selvier. Higher exposure naturally means higher defense. And if you’re going to talk about things like that, at least cast soundproofing magic first.”
Knights have good hearing, you know.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Cicel, now drowning in silent shame, fixed an endless glare onto the innocent floor, her face glowing red like a ripe tomato.
Now, it was time to track the Dark Wizard and drive out the elves.
===============================================================
Meanwhile, in the Elf Forest—
Leader Eldar of the Elf Rangers clutched her forehead, overwhelmed with frustration unlike anything she had ever felt before. It was a trial she had never experienced in her long, long years.
Due to a deadly trap laid by the outsider who had infiltrated the forest, all of the elf trackers were showing abnormal behavior.
They had even let their targets escape once!
Eldar’s gaze settled on a leaf-covered snowman. She pointed at it accusingly.
“You there, your clothing is far too heavy! Covering yourself with that many leaves to the point where you can barely move—that’s a mistake only forgivable when you’re young!”
Peek.
A small, flushed elf face poked out from the leaf snowman.
“B-But Leader⋯⋯ If I don’t cover myself this much, it will show. My naked body will show!”
“⋯⋯We are the sharpest arrowheads of our people! We cannot be swayed by such, such emotions we never had. Take off those leaves immediately!”
“Kyak! KKyaaack!”
Eldar mercilessly dismantled the puffed-up leaf ghillie suit, which had been fluffed up like a summer Pomeranian puppy. All that remained was a shivering elf, arms crossed desperately over her chest, twisting in embarrassment.
And next.
“You there! Stop pressing your legs together! How do you expect to shoot a bow in that stance?!”
“S-Sorry Leader. But I can’t help it. Kkugh⋯⋯! W-When I imagine someone staring at me… i-if the enemy locks eyes with me with those kinds of intentions then⋯⋯!”
“It’s all an illusion and trap! Overcome it! Stand tall, chest out, and display your dignity!”
“Keuuuck⋯⋯!”
The tall elf stiffened, forcing their posture upright as commanded. As glimpses of his pale skin showed here and there through the scattered leaves, Eldar instinctively averted her gaze in embarrassment.
This wouldn’t do. At this rate, they wouldn’t be able to recover the sacred artifact or properly punish the culprit. Drastic action was necessary.
“⋯⋯If we cannot break the enemy’s curse, we’ll have to deal with its effects for now. Brave elves who can endure being seen by others⋯⋯step forward!!”
At Eldar’s command, several elves took a step forward. They were the elites—those with strong, disciplined minds who could set aside embarrassment and take action when needed.
“Hat, haaht, heu⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Well.
Among them, there was one elf who seemed to be enjoying this situation a little too much. Eldar chose to ignore her. She didn’t want to understand either.
“We, the Special Operations Squad⋯⋯ will undertake an additional mission to ensure smooth tracking and exact vengeance for our people.”
“And what would that be, Leader?”
“We shall steal clothing from the human city. Unlike leaves, proper clothes will have no gaps. With them, we will no longer feel this disgrace⋯⋯!!”
How wise. As expected of their leader!
The shy elves, fearful of their leaves shifting out of place at any moment, clapped hesitantly in agreement. Yes, they wouldn’t have to be embarrassed if they had real clothes.
This shame—this peculiar sensation—seemed to intensify when certain areas of the body, particularly those linked to reproduction and prosperity, were exposed. The solution, then, was to obtain clothes that would fully cover those regions.
Such clothing did, in fact, exist. Eldar lifted a piece of underwear, holding it up as a symbol of their mission.
“⋯⋯Obtain as many of these triangle-shaped clothes as possible!”
“Yes, Leader!”
Under Eldar’s command, the elves launched their clothes-stealing operation.
And the result—
“This is as far as you run. Hand over the stolen sacred artifact at once and submit to your punishment!”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
“Wa⋯⋯ now this is a fashion show.”
“⋯⋯Where do you think you’re looking, Oppa? Close your damn eyes?!”
It was an ambiguous scene where elf archers in various styles of underwear were aiming bows from the trees.
I honestly unsure whether I should be amused or concerned.
***
https://ko-fi.com/genesisforsaken