The next morning.
I woke up in Ophir and the kids' former hideout.
After the fight, Ophir had persistently asked me to embrace her, so
as per her demand, we'd went back to the temple and tried to do it
there, but then Turbo-sama had chased us out with a face seemingly
on the brink of flipping out: "Scram!"
Well, she likely did it out of concern for the children's mental health.
Rather, honestly speaking, Ophir, whom Turbo-sama treated as her
own daughter, was the one at fault here. After all, she had brought
back a man and tried to do things inappropriate for underaged in a
home full of kids; no wonder Turbo-sama had told us to scram.
At least if I was her father, I'd probably so shocked that I went bald.
"...Hm?"
Anyways, as I was gently patting Ophir's head, who was still asleep,
I suddenly felt presences of people from the direction of a pillar.
""...""
――Stare~.
"Ah, umm…"
Needless to say, they were Arca and Magmell.
Since yesterday was kinda like a wife admission ceremony, the two
read the room and didn't utter a complaint, for better or worse; but
looked like they had reached the limit of their patience.
The two were staring at us from behind the pillar as if saying that it
was about time we finished up.
Please, at least say something…
I felt awkward, as usual…
◇ ◇
After bidding farewell to Turbo-sama and the children, I flew south in
phoenix form, aka Fire God Form, with the three girls on my back.
Until now, I'd mainly used Vermillion Bird Form because Fire God
Form was too conspicuous, but thanks to the Magic Art granted by
Turbo-sama—"Invisible Coating", I was now able to become
invisible during flight.
As such, it had become our main means of transportation. The girls
enjoyed it too, it was like strolling in the sky, they said.
"Still, this party sure has become quite big. I miss the time when
there were only the two of us." Arca remarked.
"If I'm not mistaken you two met in the martial arts city, Leolinea,
didn't you?" Magmell asked.
Arca replied with a nod, "Ahh. I happened to come across him when
I was on a journey to test my ability. This guy appeared as an
adventurer representing a rival shop. The Martial God Festival was a
tournament for all arms shop in the town, after all."
"Hee, that sounds fun. Had I participated, I would've swept the floor
with ya guys," said Ophir with a grin.
"Really? Even though you lost to Exa yesterday?"
To Arca's words, Ophir said while lying down, "Ha, ain't it obvious?
At that time, Exa only had "False Sword Saint" Derivative Skill,
and he hadn't mastered Vermillion Bird Form."
"Good grief, seems like not only your strength, but your intelligence
is also at the level of an Ogre, huh."
"Whatddya say?" Ophir raised body, pissed off.
Arca then said with confident face, "The essence of Exa's power lies
in 'infinite growth'. The stronger the opponent is, the stronger he
becomes. In other words, even if you fight Exa of that time, he will
still use your strength as nourishment and reach greater heights, all
the same. As such, it's impossible for you to win against him."
"Ahh, 's that so. Our Great Saintess Arcadia is all-knowing, it
seems." Ophir said sarcastically.
Arca puffed up her big breasts and said with a triumphant look,
"Fufu, isn't that a matter of course? After all, I'm Exa's 'legal wife'."
""(snap)""
Girls, you can do anything you want, but please don't fight on my
back…
Contrary to that wish of mine, Ophir, "Now that ya mention it,"
crossed her legs and said, "why did ya get to become the legal wife
just 'cause ya were the first one he met?"
"...What did you say?" Arca asked.
"I-indeed! If it's according to the depth of love, I think I should be the
legal wife because I'm the one who loves him the most!" Magmell
chimed in animatedly.
"Look, Wife No. 2 voiced her dissatisfaction too. With this, it's now
two against one," said Ophir.
Arca answered back with a snort, "Humph, so what? It's self-evident
that Exa and I love each other from the bottom of our hearts. My
case is different from you two."
"If that's your basis, we love each other a lot as well!" Magmell
shouted.
"Yeah, he made love to me plenty yesterday too, remember?" Ophir
said.
Magmell replied with a blush, "T-that's not the kind of love I'm talking
about. Anyway, my point is—"
Then,
"—Watch out!"
"""!?"""
The next moment after I yelled.
――Ka-whoooooooooooooosh!
Something that looked like an arrow of light brushed against us.
"W-what was that just now!?" Magmell asked, surprised.
"Oi oi, didn't you see it yourself!?" Ophir said.
"I-I did, but…" Magmell replied hesitantly.
"It's coming again! Everyone, hold tight!" I shouted.
――Ka-whoooooooooooooosh!
Another one flew at us, but we dodged it by a hair's breadth.
I didn't know who was it, but looked like they completely grasped our
position.
"We're sitting ducks here! Let's hide in the forest below!"
"Got it!" "Alright!" "Yeah, got ya!"
After the three nodded, I lowered in altitude and escaped into the
forest.
I then tried to release Fire God Form and check if everyone was
safe, but,
"—Stop your useless resistance. You are already surrounded."
""""—!?""""
Since when was she there?
From atop a tree, a girl was aiming a bow at us with an inhuman
expression.
Moreover.
"—Stop your useless resistance."
"—You are already surrounded."
"—Stop your useless resistance."
"—You are already surrounded."
A number of girls with exactly the same face also came to surround
us and continued to repeat the exact same words.
Who on earth are these girls?
We looked around suspiciously, but Magmell then suddenly said with
a startled expression, "I-it can't be… These girls are all
—'Saintesses'…"