With Kureha Cryleth, a beautiful girl with almost no implications of being the godlike Swordmaster with hundreds of demons on the kill list, defeated, Keyaruga safely carried her to his room, where she, stripped of her enchanted armor, would lie on a double bed, breathing unevenly. The man had two reasons for such an act. First, sleeping inside this chunk of metal wasn't so comfortable for the silver-haired girl. Second, as much as that set was cursed by the sheer impracticality, it also carried the blessing of runes, carved on the inner side, and much more in the ruby at the tie at the neck, and leaving it on the foe wouldn't be too wise. After all, even having shown all those atrocities and smearing her ruined body with healing potions wouldn't help much if her loyalty to Jioral persists.
Under all the clothes, Kureha's skin was full of scars. Most of them healed along with her right arm, but not all. Mostly, those on her abdomen. She should awaken soon, and when the fencer does, the hero has a lot to explain. Of course, changing her like Freia would be a lot quicker and easier, but that would ruin the warrior he knew and respected… Despite everything she foolishly believes in. And, even so, with the sorceress starting to doubt the reality, only one thing held the lad from ending her...
"Master Keyaruga." That was Setsuna's voice. She was holding onto the sleeve of the healer who had sewn it back recently. Her eyes were shamefully lowered.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Your fight with her, it was good. You really good. Setsuna no can do that, Setsuna fears." There goes our pride warrior of the ice wolves tribe. The girl had only started feeling confident with Keyaruga boosting her limits, and now that feeling has been shattered by witnessing the confrontation of the titans. The healer decided to pet the she-wolf to comfort her.
"You can and will surpass us. You're a genius, Setsuna. You're not going to lose to her, much more to me. This is why I told you to watch and learn — to improve, you have to see, feel, and do what you have never done before. This is why you're much better as Freia's teacher." — The red-haired man said it, meaning every single word, while his gray-haired protégé illuminated him with a happy smile.
"Uh-huh, Setsuna will do. And sur… prass you. But, when master Keyaruga has time, teach me battle arts. Hyo-rou urid is not enough."
"Of course, I will teach you battle arts, provided we have enough time." — The healer promised, thinking about how his willing slave fared in a fight. Short answer — like a beast with nothing but claws and fangs. Maybe I should make her learn how to use a sword? Not like she needs it anyway with those razor sharp ice gauntlets, but at least knowing how a swordsman like Kureha fights would be good.
Freia, though, was not smiling. She sat at the table, gazing at her initial face, either lost in reverie or the flood of upcoming memories. Both heroes knew about the sorceress' true nature, but to what extent the latter did — that was a mystery.
"Hey, Freia. Do you remember our little script?" — Keyaruga asked his toy, sitting right next to her. "I'm Keyaru, the Hero of Healing, who stood against the kingdom and got thrown into a dungeon before we managed to escape together. And you're Flare, the princess who got saved by me."
"It's… Not even a script. My lord, you ARE the Hero of Healing. Otherwise, you couldn't have changed my face that way. I know. I tried studying a few healing spells, so I understand their limits." — The caster spoke, wisely deciding to stop before voicing her concerns about her similarity to the presumably dead heir to the Jioral's throne.
"I am. But don't speak too loudly about it. Remember, I'm a wanted man." — The lad warned, while watching the walls with the jade eye, just in case another nasty spy listened to them. Fortunately, there was nobody there.
"As you wish, my prince. After all, I'm but your humble attendant." — The pink-haired girl replied. The healer sensed her doubts but also the acceptance of her fate. "Although, if you really wanted anonymity, then you should've chosen a more… cryptic name…"
"And you should've treated me better, Flare." Damn! My tongue slipped.
"What?" Fortunately, the girl pretended to not understand the implication.
"Nothing. From now on, I will call you Flare. Are you fine with that, Your Highness?"
"Absolutely, Sir Keyaru. Would… that be good?"
"Yes. She should wake up in an hour or two, so we will wait until then. I need to fix my saber too..." But for now... "Gather up, you two. Time to explain the magic disruptors."
…
Magic disruption was possible with either mana draining or putting the caster's mana currents in disarray. While the latter would barely hurt a non-spellcaster, the former sipped everyone it could. Either way, the only way to make such a nasty nuisance was to tarnish a mana crystal.
"…and remember, girls. You can always brute-force your way through minor disruption, just like we've encountered today. All you have to do is keep your focus despite the pain. But… if you're not as resilient as I am, such traps are better left to be avoided." — The Hero of Healing explained, tinkering with his damaged weapon.
It's been some time since Keyaruga and his girls returned to the inn. The sun had long since set, but Ranalitta never truly slept. Neither did the Hero of Healing. Instead, he proudly gazed at his saber, now improved by doping the steel with adamantine. What was left of the Swordmaster's main weapon was melted and then merged with his trusty blade, and now a reddish net covered it whole. With no refractory forms, the red-haired lad literally had to do it in the air. Fortunately, Flare was always ready to help him with her spells. To watch that green-eyed witch genuinely smiling at him, loving him, assisting… This felt so wrong. Keyaruga wanted his Freia back, and soon.
"Ugh… N-no… Please…" Finally, Kureha growled. She was close to awakening. Too close.
"Setsuna, Flare…" The man nodded at them, and both girls disappeared behind the door. The princess even wore a coat, covering her new-old face with a hood. And with that, Keyaruga remained alone with the fencer, who was the closest to decapitating him.
The healer liked Kureha Cryleth. Not only as a fellow fighter, but as a woman as well. Her moderate waist, cute face, even the character. After all, Silver Death may have been naïve, but she was brutally honest about everything she thought and did. But first, she had to be recruited. With the picturesque chapter of Jioral's crimes, she should have gotten disillusioned at the very least.
"A-A-A-A-A-A!!! STOP IT!!!" Now that's a loud way to get up. I hope the strain wasn't too bad for her psyche."Haa… Haa… Y-you! What have you done to me! What trickery is this?" Of course it wasn't. She's been through worse.
"Trickery? Do you mean the way I beat you?" Kureha was perplexed. Looking around the place, she desperately tried to find her equipment. "It's our room, please, get comfortable." — The lad spoke snidely, watching as his first patient struggled with the anxiety and realization of defeat.
"You grabbed me and made me suffer through the illusions? Just what kind of abomination are you?" The girl asked, looking for a way out. She could have ripped the rope easily, but then what? Her foe proved troublesome enough with her full weaponry, and now he stripped her of all the metal.
"First, I merely showed you the truth. Second, they were memories of your fellow soldiers, not illusions. If anything, all you have seen has happened in reality."
"Lies. The Kingdom of Jioral is the holy shield, protecting humanity from vile demons! We just couldn't have committed such heartless acts!" Oh, that magical "we"…
"Maybe. The Confederation's longest border is with Jioral. It really does protect the human domains. But here's the thing, the story is much different with demi-humans. Our dear brethren use them as labor. Come on, even you must have seen, just how many slaves are out there. Have you ever wondered where they come from? The answer is simple; humans raid villages, rob them, and then sell the survivors." As Keyaruga spoke, Kureha listened to him, painfully creaking her own teeth. After all, it was all there, she just preferred to look away.
"We tried to do something! But... the noble fractions are too divided to tackle the issue. While there are sellers, the buyers will always find their place. I… I know, Jioral has troubles with slavery, too much unaccounted trafficking, and shady fractions, but I can't believe our own troops are involved as well. "The swordswoman still couldn't grasp the entire truth. But even so, the hero wouldn't give up.
"And in the face of calamity, Faran spoke: "Let there be human, my chosen creation. The true born masters of every creature on this earth." Kureha, have you ever been to one of these fucking preaches? Whenever those fat priests open their mouths, they spout nothing but bigotry and hate. Let me remind you, this sect is domineering in Jioral, and its local archbishop, whatever this thing is, has been a good friend of your cursed king! If you still can't trust me, then get back to Capital and see for yourself!" Keyaruga snarled, pointing at the door. If there was anything he hated more than his "companions", it was Faran's church, a monastery of racial disputes and mass brainwashing.
"Go? Are you letting me go?" Kureha was startled by his last words. And the first ones made her doubt. Even though Cryleths only honored Takemikazuchi, they could go nowhere without at least hearing about Faran's rotten doctrines.
"Godsdammnit, wom… Listen, if I wanted you dead, I would've done it already. You've been sleeping for four hours! Think, why would I bother explaining all of that to you?"
"Because you want to drag me on to your side. Even after all that happened." She thought it was stupid, though.
"I do. And I'm sorry we couldn't talk without almost murdering each other first. But you know what? You were right, I really am an abomination. I think Panakea just hates me with every bit of her immortal soul."
"What do you mean? What does the goddess of healing have to do with that?"
This was to be expected. After all, to comprehend the implications, the fencer had to understand what the lad went through. She didn't. But that didn't matter. The hero turned his head away, sparing the swordswoman the abhorrent sight of his transformation. And when he faced the silver-haired girl…
"K-Keyaru? Ha… Ha-ha-ha… Oh, so that's what it means? It all makes sense now." Kureha couldn't contain her laughter. "Your alias just couldn't be worse!"
"Worked on you, though." The man with a boy's face parried with an acrid remark. "Will you believe me now?"
"Haa…" A long exhale. It's not that easy, is it? "I'm so sorry, Keyaru. You're my savior, and I know I failed to repay the debt. But now… After you killed Princess Flare and fled, I just… You're a criminal, a traitor! I can't forgive you for such a sin." And thus spoke Kureha, with a whole palette of emotions on her face. From relief to disappointment, from the joy of reunion to the deepest frustration.
"So that's what you think? Actually, I didn't kill Flare" Perhaps I did, but that's just a matter of perspective."Against all odds, I saved her. This kingdom is rotten to the core. Its corruption tainted it whole. Even king Margurth is a part of it. Flare and I tried to tackle this filth, but, well, Leonard agreed to be her executioner, so we had to fake Flare's death and run." While somewhat true, the part with lies was so horrendously distorted that it took Keyaru quite a lot of strain to not burst into the wildest laugh. Maybe someday he would tell her the truth, but now…
"Why are you lyi-?.." Still unconvinced, Silver Death tried to rip her rope, but then…
"Hey, Flare! Can you come in?" After the young man's call, another actor appeared from beyond the curtain, much to the fencer's surprise. The dead but alive...
"Princess… Flare?.."
"It's been a while, Kureha Cryleth, the fabled Swordmaster. You've heard Sir Keyaru's part of the story, now let me share mine. About how he saved me, and about our journey to save the world."
While his toy conveniently told their made-up fairy tale, the hero gazed at his own reflection in the window. His young face felt so alien, so spiteful and unfitting, that the healer felt the urge to rip the odious skin from his own skull. He hated Flare, Blade, Bullet, and Margurth. The boy craved revenge, and he swore: "I will not let anyone else hurt my Freia. But Blade will have no place near me. Neither will Bullet. I will gut them, crush their souls and hunt them down, wherever they go."
If Flare had been any good at something aside from magic, it would be deception. She could talk for hours about how her own father made her own captain murder her, and how the brave healer saved her from that miserable fate. Even faking emotions like sorrow, guilt, or remorse wasn't outside of the sorceress' expertise.
"So, you too had your face altered? Oh, gods, and I almost killed you myself. With my own hands…" Finally, Kureha broke, along with any semblance of resolve.
"Yes. Since then, I have been living as Freia. Me and Keyaru travel together." The green-eyed witch spoke with a cold rehearsed smile on her face.
"I… see. Lady Flare, there is... something on my mind. Would you answer my question?"
"I will gladly tell you everything."
"I heard Keyaru got incarcerated. Is it true? And if so, why?" That question was surprising to hear, but not entirely unexpected. The higher nobility should have at least heard the rumors, and Cryleths for damn sure are a part of the nobility. The man prepared his toy for this question.
"It is true. And the fault is mine." Flare replied with the utmost honesty, making the conflicted hero even more unsettled. "And yet, even with Sir Keyaru's capture, I never stopped looking for the truth. Jioral is an evil empire, and I tried to reform it. But I failed. And if not for my savior, I would have been silenced for good."
"Damnation…" Kureha finally accepted the truth about her beloved kingdom after the princess's words, even as exaggerated as they were. "I believed fighting for the sake of Jioral was a good thing. We all did. And now, after all you've told me…"
"You were not wrong to follow your principles. Neither is the house of Cryleths. All the guilt lies with my father and his corrupted confidants. He even made a deal with the demon king to start this bloody war. Ten years, only to become renowned as the shield from the threat we have caused ourselves." Although it was the truth, hearing it like that made Keyaru worried once again. After all, the girl he had fought with at the end of the first world and the mastermind behind this bloodshed were supposed to be two different people.
"So, is this true as well? Then, all these corpses… What have we done?" Kureha grew pale, looking at her hands.
"This is why we chose a different way. Instead of waiting for either Jioral or Confederation to fall, we aim to bring peace and reform to our lands. Will you join our cause, like Setsuna did?" This was the end of Flare's long speech. Kureha watched with awe, ready to shed tears. Judging the princess's role was done, the hero decided it was his turn again now.
"I thank you, Flare. Now, would you be so kind as to give us some room?"
"As you wish, Sir Keyaru. I shall await you in the room next door." Good. Even with a hood, walking around with the princess' face would really endanger us.
For a moment, with the Hero of Magic gone, there was a heavy silence in the air.
"…Forgive me." The swordswoman spoke first. I took you for a criminal and tried to kill you, not even listening to what you had to say. You two are saving the world, and I was ready to murder you." With that said, a tear finally poured down Kureha's cheek.
"I actually am a criminal. Even with the best intentions, I killed three guardsmen and two maids. And my carelessness led Leonard to where he is. I may fall into the deepest pits of hell." Not until I take my two other "friends" with me, though. Providing it's not another Faran's bullshit to keep the flock in check."But before that, I'll make sure to fulfill Flare's dream."
Finally, Kureha stood up from the bed. Through the glass, the young man saw her face. Pale and upset. After all, she might have known someone the healer had killed on his way out. So, what will you do, my darling?
"You… are a great man. You have my promise. I will help you. Just like all the other members of the Cryleth family." — She said, stopping a couple of steps away from the hero.
"Hm. I thank you for believing in our words, Kureha. I doubt I could take another duel with you." Finally, he turned around.
"Neither could I." After all, while she got stripped of her weaponry, the lad was never truly defenseless, even without his primary weapon. "With this, I have to rethink my ways of justice. For what reason should I raise my blade?" Now she touched Keyaru's shoulder, as if trying to break his posture of a cold statue. "Do you remember what I told you when you healed my arm? My promise. It is still intact. Let me be your strength." The girl said, lending her arm for a handshake. All according to plan.
"Thank you." The healer said, kissing the other side of the fencer's palm. "Now, I presume you're hungry. If so, you could join Flare and Setsuna, talk, eat, and settle your differences."
"You have my gratitude, Keyaru. But first… I would like to repay my brutality." The girl asked, her eyes now wet and her cheeks red. After all, the healer used his chance to spill some more of that sweet poison on the window sill. She grabbed his arm. Her body, so strong and resilient, now trembled with lust. Cryleths revered individual power, and the red-haired lad was the one who defeated Silver Death in a duel to death.
"To hear that from such a charming girl. You really are making it hard to hold on, Kureha." The lad murmured, encircling his prey in a net of deceptively sweet embrace."Are you fine with that?"
"If it's with you, Keyaru, then I am."
Flare's revelations broke the barriers, and the arousing fumes made the healer look like the most charming man on earth. The blue-eyed beauty kissed the hero. Although awkward, that intimacy held true passion. Her tongue intertwined with his, but if Silver Death would never let her foe gain the upper hand willingly, then the girl behind the cuirass entrusted herself to the Keyaru whole, as the latter ripped the rope around her arms. Kureha's body grew hot, and the lad's frivolous touch made it only worse. As he undid the buttons of her white shirt, more bare skin was now revealed. Sweaty skin the healer would gladly lick.
"This is so embarrassing..." The girl said, being released from the man's embrace. Now she smiled, proudly revealing her naked breasts. "Men prefer them bigger, don't they?"
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"Don't worry. You have your own charm."
Keyaru once again kissed her trembling lips. His arms laid her back on the bed, and then his tongue huddled the girl's crotch. Carefully caressing the tidily cut, almost invisible. hair, the man enthusiastically licked the labia.
"Ah!.." His every move was answered with trembling and sweet moans. And although Kureha's sweet spots were different from Flare's, that barely hindered the man from raising the fencer to ecstatic pleasure. With the hymen not as tight as Setsuna's, Keyaru quickly got it ready for more.
"It's your last chance to stop. There won't be a way back from it." The man warned, steadily stripping down.
"Do it. Let me… redeem this way." Kureha's reply was met with a grin. The Swordmaster had many chances to lose her innocence, but marrying a cousin, some unknown knight, or even her own brother Arian, just to become a breeder of new warriors, who would fight and die for this rotten kingdom? Even without the last part, Kureha never wanted to be a part of it. But offering herself to a mighty man with an ambitious dream? To someone, who would spare her from becoming a human incubator for someone she would never love? "I am ready to give myself to you."
"Then it's settled." The Hero of Healing smiled. His rod got erect enough even with no foreplay on his part. The lad impaled the Silver Death. Slowly, steadily.
"Keya… ruga!.." While the girl moaned his name, the man did everything he could to make her first experience like this as painless as possible. But still…
"Are you hurt?" The trace of blood looked everything but pleasant.
"Just barely. I… I think I'm fine." Kureha replied, inspiring the healer to be more daring. A few more seconds of wet squeezing, and… "Haa… Haa… You are… All the way in."
"Good." Keyaru spreaded her flexible hips widely and started moving. With no need for the purple boots, the man started to pull them down. To make the process even more erotic, the healer caressed the bare hairless skin with his tongue. As the frictions of his penis continued, her sour sweat made the hero even more aroused.
"Ah!.. Haa!.." Kureha gasped, squirming on the bed. She bit her lower lip, and her fingers relentlessly grasped the sheets, as the red-eyed lad struggled to find her weak spots. Even though he had long-term plans for this warrior, now he just enjoyed their time together.
"Are you happy?" The man asked with a smug grin, warping his young true face. A rather repulsive sight...
"I… Ah! I am!" The girl replied, clinging to Keyaru's back with her legs. "I feel… happy!"
"Excellent. Because we've only begun!" With that said, the hero stopped resisting his urge to ram that womb. His raging phallus made its way through the narrow damp path time after time, while the hands twisted the pink nipples. Keyaru opened her door to a new world of humid lust and mindless happiness.
"Ah! Aah! I love you! A-A-AH! I LOVE YOU, KEYARUGA!!!" Kureha screamed as the wave of orgasm blew through her sanity. The vagina trembled like a cave in an earthquake, threatening to squeeze every bit of semen from the lad's scrotum. Yet he persisted.
"So, how do you like your first sex?" The hero inquired wryly, rubbing sweat from his forehead.
"I… don't know. This was so intense, and I… I desire more!"
"Good, just don't fight that feeling. Now, turn around and let me ravage you more!" The healer decreed. Now, with Silver Death obeying her new master, the latter grabbed her hips and plunged his phallus deep and hard.
"A-AH!" And although that made her scream, Keyaru now strived to give the fencer so much pleasure that she wouldn't forget it for her entire life. Even if now the revered Swordmaster looked nothing more than a bitch in heat. A weak girl, dominated by a mighty warrior, who would break her shackles of strength and let her feel vulnerable for once. And the hero would happily oblige. His manhood now wouldn't reach the dead end, for there was too little to grind, but the moves kept their exalting relentlessness. That muscled, scarred back, the elegant butt, silver hair waving at their mistress' will — the mere sight made Keyaru a content man.
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"KEYARUGA!!! KEYA…RUGA!.. I… LOVE YOU!!!" With a wild and lustful yell, Kureha came, along with the healer, now having her level raised to the terrifying point of fifty-two. But that mattered not. The Silver Death had fallen once more, and under the new moon, a new toy was born. Keyaru was satisfied with his work, although less than the girl herself. But there was someone who found this turn of events revolting.
Princess Flare… Freia watched as her friend sat under the wall. Setsuna listened to her master mating with the Cryleth's brat, pleasing herself. The Hero of Magic never blamed the she-wolf for what she was, but what she did condemn was that arrogant woman who got into her prince's bed for her sheer power. If anything, the caster was perceptive. And while the sorceress would remain loyal to her prince despite everything, Kureha was about to see the real Flare.