I parted ways with Megadia after telling her I was heading off to eat.
There was a restaurant district on the lower floors. Nice. Maybe I'd take a stroll through it later.
"But I was surprised that Haiyan turned out to be a woman."
Still, her overly brazen sexual harassment felt off.
That kind of harassment — if a man did it, he'd be behind bars in any era.
But if it's a woman... no, even between women, it'd still land her in cuffs.
The white-robed rabbit, Haiyan, crossed her arms.
"I'm male now. It's just that my original body happened to be a woman, that's all."
"...You did that kind of harassment back when you were a woman too?"
"Back then, I didn't need to lay a finger on anyone to attract the opposite sex. This passionate attack mode only started after I got this body."
Thinking of it in terms of how closely this body resembled Megadia, it sort of made sense.
So the harassment had started after becoming a rabbit.
"You said you didn't like your original body, but..."
"That's nothing deep to think about. I just don't find that type appealing. But I was surprised. Truly surprised. To think I actually have a longing for my original body."
She started talking like a robot.
"Oh, my body!"
"...Come to think of it, what happened to your original body?"
"Someone took it over. That same person is who put my soul into this rabbit."
Haiyan stated this rather shocking fact as though it were someone else's problem.
"Do you know who the culprit is?"
"More or less. But they're probably long dead by now. For all I know, young Megadia might be a direct descendant of my original body."
"So that means they had children using your stolen body, right?"
"That would be correct."
What an utterly detached response.
Having children produced with a body stolen by someone else — from my perspective, it was nothing but revulsion.
I even found it horrifying. Then again, Haiyan herself was pretty horrifying.
As I was thinking that, someone approached from ahead.
The first thing that caught my eye was jet-black hair bound together with white cloth.
Her eyes were inexplicably covered by white cloth. Her long, pointed ears immediately marked her as an elf.
Even among elves, who were all beautiful, hers was a strikingly dignified and elegant face.
Her sharp beauty evoked the flash of a blade.
She could definitely cut. Cleanly, right down the middle... her beauty gave off precisely that impression.
She wore white hakama with headless armor and had a large black hat strapped to her back.
She carried two blades at her hip. Which meant swords.
In the memories of my past life, this was what they called a "samurai."
She wasn't as tall as Megadia, but close to 170 centimeters.
"Oh my. A rabbit and a child — what a peculiar pairing."
She smiled like a blossoming flower.
"H-hello."
"My, what a blade-like beauty you are."
Haiyan gave an accurate compliment but, sensing the danger for once, didn't leap at her.
I also made sure not to step into her range. Did she notice?
"Rabbit. Child. Fear not — I won't draw my blade without cause."
"S-sorry."
"Besides, my reach is nearly twice what you'd expect, little one."
"What?"
That meant even where I was standing was within range — a chill ran down my spine.
"Hmm. An imaginative and perceptive child — how reassuring. You'll be fine."
She approached and gently patted my head. The gesture was surprisingly tender.
Oh right, I'd forgotten.
"U-um, my name is Wof."
"Haiyan."
"Wof? The witch's apprentice?"
"Yes."
When I nodded, she fell silent. Then she opened her crimson lips.
"My, how remiss of me — I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Kaede Akima. My epithet is 'the One-Stroke Bisector.'"
So she was the One-Stroke Bisector... looking at her, the name fit.
"Class I?"
"Indeed. And I am also called by another name: 'the Impregnable.'"
"Ah..."
"That's right. We — those who challenge the 'Impregnable.' To you, Sir Wof, I suppose I'm one of your targets as well."
She pressed a finger to her lips and smiled alluringly.
Wait, what?
"Those who challenge...?"
What?
"Indeed. I'm impressed that you've already brought down four of the 'Impregnable.'"
"...Brought down?"
What? What has this woman been saying this whole time?
Right? Right? I shifted my gaze to Haiyan, seeking agreement.
Haiyan glared at me resentfully, biting her handkerchief.
"I'm sooooo jealous!!!"
What is she going on about?
Her original body was a dead ringer for Megadia? I kind of felt sorry for Megadia.
Kaede continued, taking note of my confusion.
"I have no experience in this sort of contest, so it's rather exciting."
"Um..."
"Nyaa!"
Dagaa cried out. I'd brought her along today, even though she'd been sleeping in knife form.
"Hmm? What's the matter?"
"Hey. Someone's coming from that direction."
From the direction Haiyan indicated, someone was indeed heading this way.
And there were several of them. Not wanting to get in the way, I cleared the path.
One after another they came.
"Oh."
Flowing golden hair. Sharp black eyes. A face that was strikingly refined and vigorous.
A beauty mark beneath his right eye. He wore a red cloak draped over one shoulder and pristine white armor.
An air of mystery so potent it seemed to tremble the atmosphere.
His noble features carried the overwhelming presence of a solitary king.
I knew only one man like this. My mouth moved on its own.
"Alverd von Lautbelto."
"Oh?"
I instinctively blocked his path.
Looking up at him, our eyes met.
"[Banish]"
"[Crash]"
A jarring, repulsive metallic ring and shockwave swept through the surroundings.
The clash of two Relics.
My eyes glowed an unnatural, vivid blue. Because I was using [Deep Stillness].
"Wh-what was that?"
"What happened?"
"Did that brat do something?"
"Wait, wait, what on earth..."
And then I noticed. Just behind and to his side was Reold, and... wait, why — my eyes met with hers.
Juicy!? Juicy Tassan was standing to Alverd's left.
"Hmm. So you really were the same type after all."
Alverd's voice brought me back to my senses.
"Thanks to you, I've grown stronger."
"I see."
With apparent disinterest, Alverd averted his gaze and walked past me.
Reold followed with a wry smile, and Juicy just looked at me without a word.
They were probably Kuun Hunt guild members. They glared at me with open hostility.
I especially sensed killing intent from the twin girls.
"Yo, kid. You've been doing something interesting."
"Sheshu."
"See ya."
Sheshu Tassan. Juicy's older sister.
She gave my shoulder a cheerful, light slap before leaving.
I watched them go.
Haiyan spoke.
"So that was Alverd... What a looker."
"Your type, by any chance?"
"I prefer women, so that's out of the question. Also, handsome men must be annihilated."
"I can agree with that."
"You fall into that category too, Wof. In fact, you're top priority for annihilation."
"Why?!"
"Sir Wof."
Kaede called out.
"Wh-what is it?"
"To the best of my knowledge, you are the first person I've seen who openly opposes that 'Ruin Breaker.' Truly a remarkable individual."
"I will face him again and beat him."
"Oh? When I fight him, it becomes an all-out battle to the death."
Kaede's aura shifted. It felt as though a blade had been pressed to my throat.
"I'll win."
I didn't flinch. If I flinched here, I'd never win.
With a sudden shift, Kaede laughed.
It was clear she wasn't laughing out of mockery.
"Interesting. You really are an interesting one, Sir Wof. I've taken a liking to you. I see. It all makes sense. You're becoming fascinating. How vexing."
"Um, what exactly is making sense?"
"If — though I don't care for gambling — but if Sir Wof were to defeat Alverd, then I, too, would face you not as the One-Stroke Bisector, but as a maiden's 'Impregnable' — fair and square."
"What?"
Seriously, what?
Without answering a single one of my questions, Kaede walked away looking quite satisfied.
Haiyan spoke with deep emotion.
"Wof. The 'Impregnable'... more than worthy opponents for you."
"What?!"
I shouted at the top of my lungs.