Chapter 43: Secret Harvest

Chapter 43: Secret Harvest

So this happened. It was after clearing the graveyard forest, getting to the next fairy square, heading out from there, getting to another, similar Zombie filled area, and after finally reaching our 3rd fairy square.

I made up my mind and asked her.

“U-uhm, Futaba-san, you...”

“Eh, what is it?”

That smile turning towards me, you’d never think she’s been spending a so many days in a dreary dungeon. Her complexion is great, and her skin looks healthy. Such a wonderful smile makes it a bit hard to say. But I must, I shan’t delay it any longer, I’ll give it to her straight.

“Y-you erm... lost weight right?”

“EEehhhh!?”[1]

Her eyes looked as if they’d pop out in surprise. And that reaction being so unbelievably forced, must be my imagination.

“I, I don’t see it at alll! Me, losing weight, no way!”

“No no, you did, you slimmed down like, a ton!”

Even a good-for-nothing like me can declare wholeheartedly, that Futaba-san, has gotten visibly thinner.

I mean, I’d obviously notice right? That waist that looked like a barrel had somehow become hourglass shaped.

No, to be accurate, she’s still got more inches around there than the average girl, but due to that overwhelmingly massive bust and hip, the whole thing looks relatively squeezed in. Nonetheless, it’s clear as day that her figure went through a big change.

Plus, those thighs that looked like tree trunks had now gotten somewhat defined. The form of her porcelain legs peeking out from her skirt looks toned, drawing a beautiful curve down.

Futaba-san now has in her possession, a body that is the envy of women, with sex appeal to make men stand fully in attention.

“Maybe, you’re right... ehe, ehehe...”

That shy, bashful thing must be an act. But no doubt she’s happy about it. She must’ve been concerned about her figure, even a little.

The current, thinner Futaba-san, with her round face that has much less fat around the edges, and with her big, round eyes, looks almost like one of those baby-faced idols. At this rate, she’ll be true idol-tier in no time.

“Yup, believe me, you’re seriously thinner. Must be all those harsh battles. And those power seeds too.”

“Yeah, I think so too... I’ve been getting more exercise than at school at least”

Going to town with a rabid pack of Goars with a single axe isn’t what I’d call merely exercise there, miss.

“The calorie consumption should be intense, but does everything feel alright? Any dizziness?”

“Nope, none at all. See, after becoming a Berserker, my whole body’s much lighter”

And in contrast, her attack damage has become tremendous. She can absolutely destroy a Goar’s bulky skull with one swing after all.

“That’s fine and all... but losing weight too fast and getting worn out will be bad too alright?”

“Eeh, no way, but I can’t get to normal size if I’m like this!”

That’s not the problem here.

Or more like, I myself couldn’t bear to see her get even thinner and become like those slim models you find anywhere. To lose that super-sized bust and hip that’s so alien to the Japanese populace, it’d be simply dreadful.

“Anyway, don’t force yourself. If anything feels weird, we’ll take a break right away. Fairy square’s are safe, and if it’s a few snakes, I can go hunt them myself.”

I’d be hard pressed to order her to Get fatter! or something, so I’ll have her maintain what she has now.

Still, her waist has gone down so much, but the bust and hip seem unchanged. No, if my trained eye hasn’t seen “any changes” then there’s no doubt to be made. Do you realize just how solemnly I’ve been gazing at those treasures every single day? Secretly of course. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt anyone.

“Yeah, thank you, Momokawa-kun...”

Getting all bashful like that, Futaba-san is now no inferior than any pretty-girl(bishoujo). With those massive jugs in her arsenal, it’d be fair to call her one of the big three beauties of class 2-7 alongside Souma Sakura and Reina A. Ayase. I’d even take the initiative to start her very own fan club and appoint myself chairman.

But yeah, seeing as I’m not getting light headed and my pulse hasn’t rised drastically even when I’m with such a beautiful girl (the type I’m not used to even looking at), it must be that. Going through all this hell together must’ve made this bond. I could even call her a comrade and friend. At least, she is for me.

“Uh, Uhm, Momokawa-kun... I kind of, wanted to say something, too”

“Eh! What’s that?”

Could it be, do I look tougher now too, is it that? Woah, this’ll be great, it’s perhaps time for me to finally upgrade into a manly man.

As if. I deny the thought looking at my twig arms that can’t even break off a solid fairy walnut branch.

“First names, can we... go by first names?”

“Ah, sure, of course! We’re a proper party now, so first names should be natural yeah”

It does seem a bit too distant to call someone you’re entrusting your life to by their last name. Plus, it’s these little things that tend to deepen bonds between allies all the more, the psychological effect is no joke. In fact, I’d have asked for first names myself in due time, so it’s a great suggestion.

“Sure, go for it”

“Wow, thanks so much, um, err... Kotarou-kun”

Oh man, what even, skipped a beat there. My nutbladder won’t hold out.

Yeah, this is it. My, it’s my first name being called like this by a girl, first time since birth. Like, those girls I played with in kindergarten only called me Momo-chan.

“Huh, Uhm... did I, say it wrong?”

“Uaahh!? No no, it was perfect!”

I got dazed for a bit from the shock. Noo, so embarassing. I gotta get it together, or she’ll take it the wrong way.

And so, it must’ve been hot for her. Even when I, a perfectly valid male was right on the other side, Futaba-san had lowered the zipper of her jacket all the way to the middle.

Blitzing into my eyes, was the cleavage between those milky white breasts. A valley so profound, it rivals any mystical mountain.[3]

“—!?”

Carnal Crest The intermediary of sex and magic. Love being itself a mode of curse, sexual intercourse is a ritual for—[4]

There was this curse description-like thing entering my head for a bit, but I had absolutely no mind to pay attention to something like that. What I mean is, if you’re a man, you’ll get it.[5]

“... Hah”

And there, we get back to the present. My big sigh comes not only from my emotional state, but also from a consequential loss of stamina. Didn’t think I could let out twice in a row. I don’t even need this much.

But I don’t have any other use for this, and it’s scary to think what’d happen if I secretly disposed of it at a corner here, so let’s just use all of it for the mud doll.

That’s right, I’m doing all this for my Vile Mud Doll. It’s totally not because I wanted to relieve myself.

“Kay, I’m doing this, I’mma do this dammit”

Having rid myself of worldly desires, I now fully concentrate on the curse.

With complicated feelings, I smear on the final ingredient over the mud doll, and we’re set.

“On trials not of will. On fate not of honor. On destiny of such aversion, I will carve my own path — Black Bloodline”

I can already make the blood without all that chanting, but at times like these, I imagine it’s more effective if I do. So it’s just in case.

“Rise from chaos, bind in foul blood, stand on stained earth—”

Falls a drop of blood. One, two drops. Have more, have as much as you want.

The drips penetrate when falling on the mud, and on the cloudy white, they mix to create a sickening color.

It’s fine, sickening or ominous or whatever. Because this is a curse. Look as evil as you want, and get stronger.

“— Vile Mud Doll”

With that, I finish the aria. That time when I fainted, it was before I got to finish, so this means it worked. It’s just, feels like I lost more energy than that double shot just now, so it must’ve drained a fair bit of mana.

Now, let’s see how it went.

“Uaahh!”

The change was so drastic I let out my voice.

With the mud doll at the epicenter, thick liquid like in Rotten Bog was bubbling out. Can’t be, I’m sure I got the right curse. The aria was perfect, and my mental image was spot-on too.

And looking closer, that muddy place wasn’t crimson like Rotten Bog, but black as night. But I could also see blood red color peeking out here and there.

Is this, that so called Chaos?

As if answering my thoughts, the mud doll sinks into the boiling bog of chaos—

“Ah!”

I exclaimed, as the chaos bog started disappearing like it was only an illusion. After that, what was left, was but a small figure.

“Y-yes... It worked...”

It was a Skeleton, of jet-black bone. It had a black luster, a slight metallic polish that’s perhaps from the Goar materials.

It’s height was upto my hips, so the size of a child. The limbs were also short so it looked like a child’s bones made into a Skeleton.

Well, looks don’t matter. The crucial point is if it’s strong.

“Try this”

I hand over the Goma made spear, that I’ve put to almost no use myself, to this black Skeleton of a Mud Doll.

“Ga, Gaga”

Acknowledged, it seems to say as it clicks its skeletal jaw-bones while receiving the spear. Taking stance, and a thrust. It’s spear skill, even I can tell it’s pretty awkward. I can’t say it’s good at all but—

“Good, very good! This much is enough for now”

But I’m now sure of it, of this Skeleton’s talent. Just being able to swing a spear, it’s proof that it now has human level strength. Plus, it’s got good thrusting speed too. Looks like it’s got around the same strength as me, maybe a bit less.

In sum, it’s no longer that weak Mud Doll that had dismantled as soon as it got wet. That is to say, I can totally use this as a decoy or for kamikaze attacks. It’s become a fairly convenient sacrificial pawn, and it adds to our numbers too. With its current size, I can have it do spear attacks, and next time, it’s sure to do well distracting monsters. And when the time comes, it’ll become my life-saving shield.

It doesn’t have much fire power, but I got myself a good, obedient little soldier to use.

“Man am I glad that went well...”

With that feeling of relief, I drop to the ground as if some strings were cut. Both mana and stamina drained to the limit. My eyelids are so heavy, I’ll just—

________________________

[1] Pans to the sky... (lol)

[2] 見抜き — Minuki — Lookout. There isn’t an English term for it afaik, so I made this up. Something funny

[3]深山幽谷 — Shinzan Yuukoku — Deep valley mountains, Wiki yeah...

[4] 淫紋 — Inmon — Carnal Crest... I have no words. Well, I kinda do. I may change this when we get the full description.

[5] I believe he’s talking about this.