Chapter 35: A Chaotic Victory and a Looming Promise

I didn’t have high expectations.

All I wanted from Carl was to hold out until the elves recovered enough to fight.

If the elves joined in, turning the tide would only be a matter of time, so I’d asked him to buy us that time.

Boom!

But contrary to my expectations, Carl was tearing through the theocracy’s forces, carving a path.

…While chanting something utterly embarrassing.

“Naughty wish, naughty wish, naughty wish, naughty wish, naughty wish…”

What kind of monster did I awaken?

His eyes, gleaming with desire, were starting to scare me.

He’s this excited already—what kind of wish will he make?

Knowing how creepy he can be, it’ll probably be beyond imagination.

A grope? A one-night stand? Or maybe dating?

No way… marriage?!

No, no way! Even he’s got some shame. He wouldn’t bring up marriage, right?

It’ll just be a one-night thing! Yeah, I can handle that!

He basically saved us from gang-rape hell, so it’s just a gesture of gratitude, not love!

Steeling myself and glaring at Carl, the dragonian Rui, who’d been helping fend off an Inquisitor trying to take us hostage, shot me a pitying look.

“…At this point, can’t you just admit it? Anyone can see you’re into that idiot.”

“Shut up! Who’s into who? It’s not affection, just gratitude!”

“My mother once said strong denial is as good as strong affirmation. Hmm, you right now…”

“Zip it!”

Snarling with menace, I shut Rui up, and she refocused on fighting the Inquisitor.

About time.

I’m already on edge—did she have to pour fuel on the fire?

Firing a dark mana bolt into an approaching Inquisitor, I glanced at the elves.

It’s about time they helped.

I’ve done this much—shouldn’t they handle some cleanup?

But these were the notorious Erophs.

As always, they exceeded my expectations in the worst way.

“Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph!!!”

“Sister, this one’s resisting too much. What do we do?”

“Pull out a bit more. When he climaxes, he’ll weaken—then bind him.”

“Yes, sister♡ Ohh…♡”

…The paladins Carl took down and the Inquisitors Rui and I handled were becoming the elves’ meal.

In a way… perfect cleanup, I guess.

Watching that maddening scene, I spotted familiar silhouettes among the captives.

Kotath, the orc gourmet who got sick from eating the Apostle’s flesh, and Veldum, the battle-crazed elf who’d been napping after a satisfying fight.

Dumping the Inquisitors on Rui, I sprinted toward the elves.

“You crazy bitch, how am I supposed to handle this alone?!”

Her plaintive cry echoed behind me, but I had nothing to offer.

Sorry, Rui.

Saving those brutes comes before helping you.

I vowed to pet her thick, glossy tail later as I blocked the Erophs preparing to warp.

“Hey, you vile bitches.”

“Hm? What’s this about?”

“What’s this about? You’ve got some familiar faces in there, and you dare say that?”

“…Tch.”

Crushing their magic circle with a surge of mana, the lead elf clicked her tongue regretfully but, surprisingly, handed Kotath and Veldum back.

Guess her strength hasn’t fully returned.

Definitely a race you can’t let your guard down around. Pointing at Carl, I snapped.

“Don’t dig your own grave. Help him out. You look like you’ve got energy to spare with all that nonsense.”

“…”

“I saw you raping them with my own eyes. Don’t play dumb—help him. Unless you want to get dragged to the theocracy and never see the ‘m’ in mating again.”

Under my threat, the elves, with sour expressions, finally started aiding Carl.

…Do I have to keep smacking them in the back of the head to feel satisfied?

Sure, it was a verbal promise without a contract, but isn’t this too much?

I get the mating.

It’s their top priority, and it had a cleanup effect, so I wasn’t going to criticize that.

But—

“You’re not the only ones who can backstab. One more stunt like that, and I won’t let it slide.”

This kind of creative betrayal is just too much.

I bought them time to avoid the theocracy, and they repay my kindness with this?

“Damn bitches.”

I’ll make them pay with a massive betrayal.

One so intense it’ll blow their minds.

Grit!

As I sharpened my blade of revenge, the battlefield began to clear with the elves’ help.

The Inquisitors were all bound with grotesque turtle-shell ties.

The white-armored paladins were mostly incapacitated, their armor wrecked.

Only one remained on the battlefield.

Lorian, still wielding her mace, facing off against Carl.

She didn’t look good.

Her once-pristine robes were soiled with dirt.

Shallow, untreated bruises marked her body.

Unlike her usual leisurely demeanor, she was panting, visibly desperate.

Anyone could see she was on the defensive.

Yet, Lorian stubbornly refused to give up, charging at Carl again.

“I’ll never… give up…!”

“Who’s talking! You think I’d hand Beatrice over to a creep like you?”

“You’re not even lovers with her!”

“We will be! The wish ticket is invincible! Beatrice is a goddess!!!”

Is this what they call a battle of stubborn fools?

Watching their absurd banter, I saw the fight resolve.

Crack!

“Kyaaah!!!”

The winner was, of course, Carl.

He smiled brightly at Lorian, sprawled on the ground with her shattered mace.

“I won… I protected my pride as a man…!”

And then—

Thud.

He collapsed beside Lorian, passing out.

It didn’t take long to clean up the chaotic battlefield.

Handing all the captives—or rather, “daily rations”—to the elves, negotiations went smoothly.

Promising a “top-tier” later, they nodded in unison and began warping with the theocracy’s forces.

“Let’s meet again. Hopefully with good news next time.”

“Yeah, no idea when that’ll be.”

“What?”

“Safe travels, elves. Oh, and take this one too—special bonus.”

Right before the warp activated, I tossed Lorian into the magic circle.

The circle turned chaotic with the crazed maniac’s addition, but what can you do?

The warp was already in motion.

“Witch!!! I’ll never forgive you!!!!”

The lead elf roared in fury.

I grinned and waved lightly.

“Why so mad? You did the same thing. Shouldn’t have backstabbed me.”

If they hadn’t pulled that stunt, I’d have let them go nicely.

I didn’t want more bad blood.

But these vile vixens repaid kindness with betrayal, and I wasn’t about to forgive that.

Almost dragged to a theocracy dungeon ending—forgiving this would make me the biggest fool.

Waving off the departing elves and theocracy forces, I carefully lay down in the ruins.

Feels… refreshing.

The Great Forest arc is done, the western arc is done, and even the sudden crazed maniac is dealt with.

What’s next? More rabid elves chasing us?

Thinking about what’s to come, I shook my head.

No, let’s not think about it now.

I’ll enjoy this brief rest.

There’s still one tough task left—deal with that first.

Pat, pat.

Anxiously stroking Rui’s thick, glossy tail, she flared up, spitting fire.

“You’ll wear it out! Stop touching it!”

“Sorry, just sorry. I dumped everything on you earlier, so this is my apology.”

“W-Was that it? No, that’s not—!”

“I’m gonna check on Carl. I’ll pet you again later, so wait up.”

“I don’t need it!!!”

Leaving the fuming dragonian behind, I slowly approached Carl, lying on the ground.

“Sigh.”

Why does seeing his rugged face only make me sigh?

…Was giving him a wish ticket too much?

No, allowing naughty* wishes was the mistake. I should’ve kept it to normal ones.

People before and after borrowing money are different.

It’s pathetic, but I was starting to want to take it back.

But if I did…

“He won’t awaken when we really need him.”

I steeled my resolve.

As long as it’s not “be my lover” or “marry me”…!

I’ll grant anything! If it’s a normal wish, not something creepy, that’d be perfect!

Praying inwardly, I woke Carl.

“Get up, you dimwit.”

His eyes snapped open, and he spoke immediately.

“Naughty wish.”

My vision went dark.