Episode 73: Nebula Arts
The magical power released from the pipe shone brilliantly, distorting the surrounding scenery like a heat haze.
The overwhelmingly beautiful light seemed to attract people like a moth to a flame.
At least one person here had their heart completely captured.
“Ah! What a fantastical radiance! This is truly the power of a Demonbane Warrior, no, even more! Lord Saint, you are indeed the savior of this world—the Starfall Instructor…!”
“… “
Right next to me, the voluptuous sister was getting excited.
I didn’t understand what she was saying, but she was probably one of my fanatics (fans).
She’s the second female fanatic (fan) after Nicoletta.
She’s about the same height as Nicoletta, but if Nicoletta’s body type is that of a sporty girl, Evelyn’s is that of a gravure idol.
Her twin peaks jiggle with every slight movement.
Even the slightest vibration is transmitted without any attenuation, jiggling softly.
They must be quite full.
Now, let’s get back to the topic.
I’ve decided to call this magical power “Nebula Arts.”
If normal magical power is like gasoline, Nebula Arts is a higher-level magical power controlled by “a single will.”
Nebula Arts itself organically moves using my magical power as fuel.
“Align.”
As if responding to my command, it forms a sphere at the tip of the pipe and stops perfectly still.
In this way, Nebula Arts changes shape according to my will.
It has a high degree of freedom in its transformations, swaying like an amoeba or becoming spherical, making it doubtful whether it can even be called magical power anymore.
Its movements are somewhat comical and cute, and during practice, I felt like I was teaching a dog tricks.
“Groooo! Why do you use Demonbane Magical Power! That magical power is mine!”
“… No, what are you talking about? It’s not yours.”
The monster man started shouting something strange.
Did he become senile or something?
“Let me! Eat it!”
“You wanted to eat this? Then I’ll let you eat as much as you want.”
The monster man will soon enter my range.
That will be the end of him.
I concentrate my mind and issue the command to give Nebula Arts maximum firepower.
“—Burn.”
Nebula Arts gushes out from the tip of the pipe like a gas burner.
The air undergoes thermal expansion, and a heat wave rages around with a roar.
“Hyaa! I-It’s amazing! What divine magical power! This, this is the guiding light! The true p-power of Lord Saint…! It’s hot!”
“… “
Evelyn, in her excitement, tried to get closer to me and got burned by the heat wave.
She’s rolling around on the ground, her twin peaks jiggling.
“What are you doing? Don’t do anything that would disturb Lord Sharka’s concentration.”
“I-I’m sorry. I got a little carried away…”
Evelyn was scolded by Nicoletta and dragged away.
I guess this sister might be a bit of a klutz.
“Fool! You let your guard down! I’ll take that magical power!”
The monster man seemed to think I had an opening.
His reflexes and athletic ability are so far removed from the human standard that they can’t be measured.
The fact that I have the余裕to glance at Evelyn’s breasts means that there’s no way I can lose to an inosuke-headed boar who can only charge.
“I didn’t let my guard down. I was waiting for you to come this close.”
Probably the highest firepower technique among my attack methods at the moment, competing for first and second place.
The magical power consumption is by far the highest among all my spells.
The one that even cut Barbat’s Star Tool melts and cuts everything—a super-high magical power blade.
“Burner Knife.”
I simply swing the pipe down in one motion.
The Nebula Arts gushing from the tip traces the monster man’s body.
“Gyaaaaaaa!”
As soon as a single line appears on the monster man’s body, he splits in two from there.
It’s more like a knife than a sword after all.
Instead of hacking it down, it removes and excises the enemy.
From the base of his neck to his waist, like butter—
“… Cough, to think… it would be this much. I’m sorry—Lord Serpens.”
The monster man said the name of someone I didn’t know and collapsed to the ground with a thud.
(Serpens? Is that his boss or something?)
Well, whatever.
I retracted the Nebula Arts.
“Phew, it’s over.”
Zanshin.
Just to be sure, I confirm that the man is dead.
Poke… yeah, he’s definitely dead.
“Still, what kind of diversion was this guy acting as?”
“Lord Sharka!”
Nicoletta calls my name in a tense voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“Black-cloaked men are rioting at the Home Castle. It’s clearly a planned movement.”
“What did you say?”
From Nicoletta’s expression, I gather that something troublesome is happening.
At the Home Castle, huh?
I’ve made preparations, but there’s no guarantee that there aren’t more beings like this monster man.
“Currently, the Military Officials are responding, but there are casualties due to their elusive nature.”
“That’s bad. So, have you figured out their objective?”
“Yes, it seems their objective is to capture the Naia prisoners.”
It’s a big deal that we know the objective of the Naia black cloaks.
“So, they came to rescue the prisoners. Naia is more loyal than I thought.”
“No, it’s the opposite.”
“?”
“Naia’s objective is to silence them. The assassination of the prisoners.”
I put my hand on my chin and think.
There’s really only one person that comes to mind.
“—Their target is Nephthys.”
“Probably.”
I don’t know if I should say the timing is good or bad.
Certainly, Nephthys seems to know a lot about the internal affairs, and now that he’s captured, he’s probably a concern for Naia.
Silencing him is probably more realistic for Naia than rescuing him.
Roa went to the trouble of undoing the curse seal, and Nephthys has become a good-natured old man who tells me things I didn’t even ask for.
I can’t just let him be killed.
“Nephthys is a pitiful guy. To have assassins sent after him despite having served them all this time.”
“The fate of a captured Satella-Class commander is miserable. There’s no need for sympathy.”
“Is that so? But if Nicoletta were captured, I would definitely go and save you.”
I put my hand on Nicoletta’s waist.
I feel the urge to stroke her butt, but I resist.
“… You don’t need to say such things to me.”
Nicoletta is expressionless, but she seems embarrassed.
Her face is completely red.
She seems to be struggling between her awareness as a subordinate and the dependency inherent in the Satella-Class.
Being needed by a Stella-Class that she has deified is the greatest joy for a Satella-Class.
But Nicoletta, who is suppressing that feeling and trying to devote herself to her duties, is touching.
Maybe I can attack her in this direction.
What am I thinking so nonchalantly when Nephthys’s life is in danger?
As I’m thinking about that, suddenly, a man speaks to me.
“Lord Sharka.”
I wondered who it was, but it’s the nomadic-looking group that I was a little curious about earlier.
To interrupt my conversation with Nicoletta, what an unrefined bunch.