The Heroines All Want to Kill Me

"Quick, quickly catch this anomaly who's disrupting the plot...!" "The Demon King's minion...! Where have you been? Come out quickly!" "... Cough cough." The voices of the imperial princess and the saintess echoed from the distance. I hold... tightly Kania, and blood began to well up in my mouth.

"... Over there!" Kania's face showed panic, and her body trembled slightly. I held her even tighter and simultaneously activated the information - detection skill.

[Name: Kania]

[Abilities: Strength 3 / Magic Power??? / Intelligence 7 / Spiritual Power 4]

[Special Conditions: Frail / Weak / Unstable Magic Power / Self - Destruction Curse]

[Traits: Trusted Servant]

"... The transfer of vitality should be almost done." I saw that in her special conditions, it changed from "Critical" to "Weak". Just as I was about to draw the sword at my waist...

"Die..." "... Ugh!" Just then, Isolte, who had stabbed a knife into my back, twisted it hard. I couldn't help but let out a scream, and my hand involuntarily loosened.

'If this continues... I'll die...' Although the caffeine - based drink and the blessing of the stars had a synergistic effect, making my vitality abundant at the moment, with a knife stuck in my back, it was impossible to remain unharmed indefinitely. So, I had to find a way to get out of this predicament before the duration of the synergistic effect ended. Thinking this way, I艰难地turned my head and stared into Isolte's unfocused eyes, and activated the information - detection skill.

[Name: Isolte Allum Bywom]

[Abilities: Strength 8.5 / Magic Power 5 / Intelligence 7 / Spiritual Power 7]

[Special Status: Right Arm Injured, Mental Control (Gradually Weakening)]

[Tendency: Knight]

'... So it's not lifted immediately, but after a delay. No wonder it's an ability bestowed by the Demon King for his favored Yucarius.' For Yucarius, who had top - notch mental - control abilities, the "Slave Mark" ability bestowed by the Demon King was an overpowered skill that could unconditionally dominate those with lower spiritual power than him, regardless of their abilities. Of course, since Yucarius, who obtained the ability from the Demon King, was already dead, the Demon King could no longer use this ability. However, this was hardly a blow to the Demon King.

"... Ugh ah!!" "....." Just as I was thinking this, Isolte twisted the blade again. I spat out a large mouthful of blood and grasped the sword hilt with my trembling hand.

"... Ugh ugh." However, for some reason, I couldn't exert any strength in my hand. Perhaps it was because I had transferred too much vitality to Kania all at once, and my body couldn't take it. Just like this, as I held Kania and my consciousness was gradually fading...

"... I, I'll help you." Kania held my hand that was grasping the sword hilt and slowly drew the beloved sword from its sheath.

"... Ha ah!" ".....!" immediately, Kania used all her might to swing the sword at Isolte. Isolte quickly pulled the sword out of my back and retreated to dodge the attack.

"... Cough ah!" After Isolte pulled the sword out of my back, blood began to soak through my clothes and robe, and a pool of blood gradually formed on the ground.

"It's, it's okay..." "... Give me the sword." Hearing my words, Kania carefully tried to hand me the sword but suddenly stopped her movement.

"... What's wrong?" "....." In response to my question, she pressed her lips tightly together. Her expression stiffened for a moment, and then she handed me the sword and asked, "Who are you?"

"Me? I'm, the he..." I was about to answer that I was the hero, but to rule out any possible accidents, I changed my words halfway. "... An ordinary citizen." After saying this, I gritted my teeth, stood up from the ground, and pointed the sword at Isolte, who had been staring blankly at us.

'... Just hold on for a few more minutes.' I made up my mind to stop Isolte before she regained her senses and immediately flee the auction house the moment she woke up. So, I gripped the sword even more tightly.

"Ha ah!" - Clang!! At that moment, my sword collided violently with Isolte's.

"... Missed." "... Ugh." After the swords clashed and we were locked in a brief struggle, I felt a sharp pain in my back, and my strength ebbed away. Isolte seized this opportunity and thrust her sword forward suddenly. I managed to twist my body to avoid the blow, but I lost my balance and staggered a few steps. Seeing that she was seizing the opportunity to gather energy on her sword, I fell into a moment of thought.

'... If it were normal, I would have subdued her long ago.' In the previous training, I deliberately consumed those disguised dark - magic badges that could react to divine power to hide my true strength. That is to say, usually, with her right - arm injury, Isolte could be easily suppressed by simply using a bit of "The Power of the Hero". However, now, even with the assistance of the stimulant drink and the full - force blessing of the stars, her body was still overwhelmed, her recovery was slow, and she even had a serious injury on her back. In other words, if this continued, it would be very dangerous. So, I had to decide the outcome here...

- Swish!! Just as she tightened her grip on the sword to deliver a fatal blow, a dark energy suddenly surged around her, enveloping Isolte.

"...Ugh!" However, when Isolte released her sword energy, the dark energy retreated temporarily and began to circle around her, waiting for an opportunity. At the same time, a painful groan came from the side.

"...Ugh ah." I saw Kania stretching out her hand in the distance, trying to control that dark aura, but her body began to sway unsteadily. I hurriedly shouted at her.

"Don't use magic! Leave this to me!" "....""... Ha, you're really crazy." However, my words seemed to have no effect. She lost consciousness again due to over - exertion and fell to the ground. With a worried heart, I used the information - detection skill on Kania. Fortunately, the result showed that she had just fainted, not experienced a magic power rampage.

'... This is actually better. I can go all out.' - Whoosh... Just as I was staring at the unconscious Kania, thinking about these things, the dark aura lingering around Isolte suddenly dissipated. She brandished her sword, and her eyes locked onto me again as she began to approach.

"... Shouldn't you be awake by now, sister?" "Ugh ugh..." I tried to inject starlight magic power into my voice so that only she could hear it, but Isolte was still in a daze. Realizing that the decisive moment had arrived, I tightly gripped the sword hilt and continued to send her my voice.

"Sister, do you remember the day we first practiced swordsmanship?" "Stu... stu..." "At that time, you easily subdued me and said a word to the angry me." "....?" Isolte's expression was blank, and she tilted her head, as if she was gathering her sword energy to the limit. I quietly watched her and softly uttered the advice that I still remembered to this day.

"... It's not to slay the people in the dark, but to protect." As soon as the words fell, we simultaneously launched a fierce attack on each other.

- Whoosh whoosh whoosh...! It was just one strike. At that moment, the legendary battle between the former hero and the first - generation sword master was briefly reenacted. Although it was not as dazzling as the bright sun nor as long - lasting as the soft and hazy moonlight, the light shining with star magic power was the most beautiful and resplendent existence in the world. Among the numerous swordsmanship families, the Bywom family had the longest heritage. The first - generation sword master of this family had even taken the Demon King's left eye in the decisive battle a thousand years ago. The two sword auras sliced through the air, intertwined, and merged into a dazzling light that engulfed everything around.

".....""....." Just as the light was about to dissipate, Isolte and I passed each other and fell into silence.

- Thump. In the silence that lasted for a moment, Isolte finally quietly fell down. Hearing the sound, I turned around, looked at her who had completely lost consciousness and fallen to the ground, and whispered softly, "...To be honest, at that time, I thought you were teasing me, but now that I'm in the same situation, I finally understand." And the beloved sword that I had been holding tightly in my hand, just like she always ended battles with the flat side of the sword to avoid hurting her opponents, was now with the flat side facing up, reflecting her figure.

"...Sure enough, no matter what the situation is, knocking someone out is the best choice." I immediately used the information - detection skill on her. After confirming that her mental control had completely disappeared, I smiled and turned to leave.

"... You." ".....!" And the moment I turned around, Kania had quietly approached and was staring at me with a fierce look.

"... Who are you." "...." Facing her question, I hesitated for a moment and then tensed my legs...

"... Ah, that." "...?" I pointed behind Kania. The moment she turned her head, I bolted towards the exit.

"... Wait, wait!" Kania tried to chase me, but obviously, she was also too exhausted to accelerate with all her might.

"... What on earth is going on?" "Could that be dark magic?" "... No way. Even in the back alley, it's not likely that someone would blatantly use dark magic with such a large range, right?" "... Fortunately, the crowd is dense." I quickly rushed out of the auction house, found that there was a noisy crowd gathered around, and immediately plunged into it.

"Yeah, probably that cursed item in the auction house was accidentally triggered. Those idiots, I knew something like this would happen sooner or later... Ah! What, what's going on!?" "... Sorry, my mistake." "Hey! Do you think you can get away with just an apology after bumping into someone!?" After successfully blending into the crowd, just as I was about to quickly hide, I bumped into a burly man who rushed into the crowd. The man grabbed my collar and started yelling.

"...I'm kind of busy." "Ah, okay." I helplessly drew the sword from my bosom. Seeing this, the man immediately backed off, then quietly loosened my collar and bowed his head. Freed, as I walked leisurely towards the exit of the back alley, I thought about Kania, who was quietly staring at the place where I had rushed in from the darkness behind.

"...I should be unnoticed like this." I used starlight magic power to change my voice and completely covered my figure with a mask and a black robe. Although exposing the beloved sword was a bit of a fatal move, it was one of the few weapons that could withstand starlight magic power. If I hadn't used it just now, I would definitely be dead. So, I had no choice. Moreover, I had never shown this sword to any of the heroines, and they should not be able to deduce my identity from it. However, it seemed that I needed to change my weapon. After sorting out my thoughts, I emerged from the hole and came to the center of the market, waiting for the system to prompt the completion of the main quest. However, for some reason, the completion prompt never came. I tilted my head in confusion, then patted my forehead and muttered, "...Right, the real main quest hasn't started yet." Why on earth did our ancestors play such a crazy game?..... Just as Frey walked out of the market desolately, grabbing his pushed - on back with a blank expression,

"...." Kania quietly stared in the direction where he had disappeared. Suddenly feeling the movement behind her, she hurriedly turned around.

"... It's really you." "... You, you are!?" The imperial princess Klana and the saintess Pelosh looked at Kania, each showing different yet similar reactions.

"... You're here, which means you're also a returnee, right?" "Could, could it be... Miss Kania, you've also returned!?" Kania, who was quietly watching them, replied briefly.

"... Yes." At this time, Klana threw a question at her with sharp eyes.

"I'll only ask one question. Are you Frey's enemy or ally?" "An enemy." "You answered so straightforwardly. I like it." After Kania replied a bit nervously, seeing that the imperial princess believed her so easily, she frowned and asked, "...Aren't you suspicious of me?" The imperial princess chuckled and answered with a confident expression, "Because I've endured too much... So telling lies is something I'm all too familiar with."

"...Aha." On the other side, the saintess Pelosh stared blankly at the conversation between the two, and then eagerly started to ask, "Then, then, imperial princess and Miss Kania, have you really experienced the return, just like me!?" "... Yes, it seems so." "Wait, wait a minute... Could it be that Frey has also...!" Pelosh said, widening her eyes. The imperial princess shook her head and said, "No, I've observed for a few days... There's no sign of it at all. He's just the same as that good - for - nothing in the academy."

"... That's right. Frey really hasn't changed much." Seeing that Kania also agreed, Pelosh sighed and said, "Phew... That's good... If that evil guy has also returned... That would be really terrifying..."

"... This isn't the time to talk about this." "... What?" Klana, who interrupted Pelosh, started to speak with a serious face.

"... Because we've returned, things are starting to change." As Klana spoke, she pointed at Yucarius, who had reverted to his hideous demon form with his head severed, and began to tell what had happened.

"... The 'Stone of Domination' that was supposed to be sold at a low price today was supposed to be snatched by the Demon King's troops when it was about to fall into the hands of the buyer. You know this, right?" "Is... Is that so...?" "But suddenly, this demon and a mysterious man started bidding, and in the end, the Stone of Domination was sold for more than fifty thousand gold coins." "Then... Then does that mean... Could it be...?" "Yes, it means that some variable has emerged." Hearing these words, Pelosh's expression froze instantly, and Klana crossed her arms and continued,

"... It's necessary to figure out why this demon appeared at the auction house and who that unidentified anomaly is. It would have been better if we had caught him and interrogated him just now."

"... That, that prosecutor is also the Demon King's minion, right?" "... Why do you say that?" Klana asked, and Pelosh answered, sweating profusely.

"Uh... Because only the Demon King knows about the Stone of Domination... Anyway, he should be from the Demon King's side, right?" "... If he were really the Demon King's man, he wouldn't have opposed the demon." "... Ah." Klana looked at the blank - faced Pelosh with a somewhat helpless look, then turned to Kania and threw a question.

"By the way, did you capture this demon? Or was it the eldest daughter of the Bywom family lying over there who caught it?" "...." Hearing this, Kania fell into a brief silence. Seeing her attitude, the imperial princess tilted her head and thought for a while, then squatted beside Yucarius, carefully observed the severed part of his neck, and then said,

"Well, judging from the cut surface, it shouldn't be your doing. It seems that not being able to capture such a demon makes you quite ashamed, right?" "...""By the way...As expected, she's amazing, Miss Isolte. This time, I must help her become the next sword master." After speculating on her own, the imperial princess stood up, pointed outside, and made a suggestion to Kania and Pelosh.

"Anyway, it's a fate to meet here. How about going to a nearby restaurant with me? It's a place I often went to when I was struggling in the past." "....?" "Ah, what?" Hearing her words, Kania and Pelosh tilted their heads in confusion. Klana then showed a cold smile and continued,"...Why don't we have a good discussion there about how to deal with Frey, okay?" "...Ah! Okay!" When the saintess heard this, a bright smile bloomed on her face, and she nodded. Klana, who had been smiling quietly, then looked at Kania and said,

"...You come too." "...What?" "Don't you also hate him? And, even if you're a dark mage, as long as you're strong enough, I won't discriminate." "...""...We'll try to control our abilities well. You don't have to worry." Hearing this, Kania nodded slightly, then suddenly stopped and stared straight at Isolte beside her.

"...Judging from the steady breathing, that lady will wake up safe and sound soon. So, don't worry too much. Come with us quickly." "...Okay." Hearing Kania's answer, Klana showed a satisfied smile and, with Pelosh, whose eyes were shining, started walking towards the exit.

"...By the way, after I died, what happened to the empire?" "...It perished." "Then, then what about the people of the empire!?" "...They're still alive now. We're also alive. So, as long as we work hard not to let that kind of future repeat itself." "...Yeah." Although their relationship had been rather awkward in the previous reincarnations, unconsciously, the two were chatting like sisters. Kania quietly watched them.

'Judging from the build and strength, that person is obviously not the head of the family...' She muttered in a solemn tone."But the sword in that man's hand just now... was exactly the same as the one the head of the Starlight family used to drive away the hooligans who were bullying my younger brother on the day I was hired by the Starlight family..."

Shortly after, Kania arrived at the entrance. As Klana cast a cognitive - interference spell on her, she continued to murmur in her heart. "Could there be an illegitimate child in the Starlight family? I must look into this matter thoroughly." Making quite a reasonable speculation, Kania walked outside. She had intended to quickly catch up with the imperial princess and the saintess, who were deftly making their way through the bustling crowd. However...

"....!" Just as the imperial princess and the saintess passed through the crowd, Kania caught sight of a familiar item in the gap they left behind. Instantly, she froze in her tracks. "...What's that?" The all - too - familiar brooch glistened brightly in the sunlight.