Necromancer Melvis

The next day, we visited the Garzas arena.

Even with Griera, Ursula, and the others accompanying an S-Class Master's visit, there was no particular stir.

A tournament was on today, so the place was lively for that.

"So, what were the rules of this tournament again?"

"Fight a few challenger qualifiers, and if you win, you challenge the champion."

"… But if you just fight normally and win, an S-Class Master winning is taken for granted, isn't it?

"Can we recruit Melvis that way…"

"That depends on the prior negotiation. I set up the appointment, so you can at least talk with Melvis."

We headed to Melvis's waiting room.

Necromancer Melvis was a beautiful girl with white skin, carrying a skull-headed staff.

Her hair was a ghostly bluish-white, and her slanted eyes were the same pale-blue, like will-o'-the-wisps.

She was staring me down.

"… S-Class Master Naoto Akai-sama. Pleased to meet you. I am Melvis. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

She greeted me politely.

"Pleased to meet you. S-Class rank 24, Naoto Akai. Thank you for the introduction through Griera, and for granting us a chance to talk like this…"

"… The honorifics are unnecessary. You are my superior, after all."

Even as she said that, she seemed wary of me.

"Then… I'll speak normally. Good to meet you, Melvis."

I extended my right hand. In this world, the habit of a handshake existed among Masters… but she didn't take it.

"… You've tamed Griera well, haven't you?

"This wanderer, who never let anyone shape her, now wags her tail at 'Naoto, Naoto' like a loyal hound."

… She didn't seem to think much of me.

"… You call Garumon 'comrades'?"

"Ah, yes. I think of Garumon and Masters as equal comrades."

"… Hmph."

Melvis snorted.

"I too have power now and live freely, beholden to no one… But once, I was defeated and chained to a Master.

"… That was hell.

"Never again do I wish to taste hell like that. Drop your impossible dream of taming me."

So Melvis brushed me off coldly.

"That so… how did you escape from that?"

"Simple. I lured the Master into a trap, drove him to his death, and refused his dying command to save him."

Melvis smiled wickedly.

"Someone like me, you'd want as a comrade? Heheh, do you have the nerve for that?"

She looked at me provocatively.

"Sounds good. Wonderful. By all means, I'd want you as a comrade."

When I answered immediately, Melvis's eyes widened.

"W-what are you thinking? I'm telling you I disobeyed my Master's command and killed him because I didn't like him."

"And I told you Garumon are equal comrades to me.

"It's only natural not to follow a command you can't accept.

"A person who can defy when it doesn't sit right is better than one who silently submits by force. They always weigh whether their own judgment is correct.

"I prefer that kind of person. By all means, I'd want you as a comrade."

"… W-what are you saying? I… I killed a Master, you understand? Master-killer. It's the worst of crimes for a Garumon. No Master would ever appear who'd want to make me their Garumon again."

"Nah, if the Master was infuriating enough to kill, then killing them is natural.

"Because apart from that, there's no other way for Garumon to leave their Master right now.

"… That's why I want to grant Garumon the right to leave their Master.

"… Mind if I ask — specifically, what kind of trap did you spring?"

"… A simple maneuver. He didn't realize — the swamp had unstable footing, and while I walked through the air, guarded by spirits of the dead, he followed me unaware… and sank into a bottomless mire.

"After that, all I had to do was keep refusing his 'save me' command until he sank completely.

"And so I was freed. And so I came to be called Master-killer, hated and shunned by all."

"I see… clever."

I was impressed.

"… I might do the same to you, you know, if you make me angry."

Melvis kept trying to threaten me, even as her rhythm grew shaky.

"Yeah, I'd prefer you held that mindset.

"I'd rather be killed than force a Garumon who hates it to obey by Master's authority."

I too answered seriously.

"… Now, about the treatment if you became my comrade…"

I ran through the explanation.

"Freedom to quit!? A salary!? You don't have to obey commands you hate!? Are you stupid?! There's no way any Master and Garumon work like that!"

I got scolded.

"But I want to maintain that kind of fair relationship with my comrades.

"Changing this world's structure won't be easy, but…

"If I can first build that kind of relationship with my Garumon and then become overwhelmingly strong on top of that, anyone might come to imitate my approach.

"Then naturally, this approach might become the norm.

"If even Master-killer Melvis stays on as a comrade willingly, the publicity effect would be even greater.

"… By all means, I want you as a comrade. If there are conditions for that, I'll accept anything."

"… Ugh…"

Melvis turned, troubled, to Griera.

"… Right? Amazing Master, isn't he?"

Griera winked mischievously.

Geez, what had Griera told her in advance?

"… Words can claim anything. But once you're a Garumon, you absolutely cannot disobey…"

"No, if you join as a Knight, unless it's a full-authority contract, there are no such restrictions.

"For now, that's fine.

"Observe my way up close, and if you really feel there's no problem, then formally become a comrade.

"If you don't feel that, stay a Knight as long as you like — worst case, even leave."

"… You really are… a strange Master. Is that odd thinking because you came from another world?"

Melvis sighed.

"… Understood."

Oh…?

"For now, I'll be your Knight."

Oh!

"… Eh, you don't need me to fight and prove my strength?"

"… Do you understand your own position? I'm not in such a lofty place that I get to test the strength of an S-Class Master. I may be called arena champion, but I'm just a C-Class Master…"

Melvis gave a wry smile.

"That said, I'll be fighting in this champion match.

"… Naoto Akai. I already know your strength.

"So how about I see your Sub-Masters' strength instead? I want to see how much power those who fight under you can draw out."

So she said provocatively.

"I see… well, then, Ursula?"

"Ursula-sama is also a former S-Class Master, isn't she!"

"… Then let's see how far Haru and Yuria can climb."

"Mm!"

"Sounds fun. All right, let's compete, Haru."

"Good timing — let's try fighting with the attack-operation party."

"Sounds good. Then for the other party, let's settle by rock-paper-scissors."

The two played rock-paper-scissors, and starting with the winner Haru, they took one party at a time in turn.

"The tournament's a string of back-to-back matches, right? In that case… having Kanan there would help."

"Got it, Haru. I'm off then, Naoto."

"Mm, do your best."

"So Kanan's party got taken… clones with no technique cost are the strongest in back-to-backs.

"For high attack-count parties… Suzanne, Saria, Klara, I guess?"

"Fufu, here's to working together, Yuria."

Six per side, taking on the arena. With 24 entrants in twelve-each rotation, 8 of them seeded.

The S-Class Sub-Masters Haru and Yuria got seeded.

Kanan was said to be fairly peaky, but her coordination with Haru, who'd been with her for so long, had reached a considerable level.

Kanan defending, Adelia and Maika finishing — the flow was so smooth it was as if I were giving the orders…

Or rather, given the opponents' levels, that much was natural.

Suzanne, Saria, and Klara's coordination had no issues either. Klara's buffs let Suzanne and Saria smash opponents in quick strikes — no defender needed, no problems.

Sorry, but they were on another tier.

Lios had also entered and ran into Yuria, but Suzanne and Saria casually pummeled him into oblivion under Klara's buffs.

The tournament finals would undoubtedly be Haru vs. Yuria… But since it was a 1-day tournament, one of them would have to yield in the finals.

I was looking forward to whether Melvis or that winner would take it.

… The matches themselves went smoothly.

But disturbance came outside the matches.

There was a VIP room from which you watched the arena.

As an S-Class Master, I was shown there.

It was a guest seat that overlooked everything from the arena's top floor.

Watching with me were Griera, Ursula, and Himeno.

"Hmph, Haru and Yuria fight, do they… I see, having capable Sub-Masters is also a qualification for Father's successor! Like Father's Sub-Masters, Richard and Philip!"

I see. So she wanted to compare Richard and Philip's fighting with Haru and Yuria's.

"… What about Ursula, then, as a Sub-Master?"

"Ursula Onee-sama is in a separate league! She's not someone who'd really be your Sub-Master, so she's outside the count!"

Unreasonable… well, can't be helped.

Some other VIPs were present too, it seemed…

And among them, one man with terrible manners.

"Hahaha!"

The man laughing in high spirits about something was…

"… Ugh…"

The feeling of having seen something unpleasant.

He had a Garumon arched naked in a bridge, and was sitting heavily atop her.

For the back rest, another Garumon stood; for the footrest, another crouched; for the armrests, two more knelt and presented their breasts…

All of them stripped naked.

A reclining chair made from five Garumon.

… Tch, this kind of Garumon-tormenting Master — I really couldn't forgive him…

I felt a strong irritation.

… Well, he did look comfortable, but…

Yet no one else there voiced any complaint at that Master.

Was he a Master of some high rank?

Or was it mutual non-interference among Masters? Don't meddle in what others are doing…

I wondered. Was it okay to complain? No, probably not.

However repulsive it was to outsiders, between that Master and Garumon, maybe it was a willingly accepted relationship.

"… Hey!"

The man called out gruffly to a girl waiting nearby.

The girl was… still young. Maybe 12 or 13.

A young frame…

But she'd been made to wear thin, see-through cloth, so her still-hairless crotch and her faint, small breasts were clearly visible.

… She was a beauty striking enough to take your breath away.

A breathtaking beauty that could rival even Himeno, hidden behind me.

Slightly reddish black hair, large slightly-drooping eyes…

Truly beautiful.

Ordered roughly, she hurried to present the man a glass of drink.

But the straw shifted and slipped slightly past the man's mouth.

At that moment…

"What the hell are you doing, you clumsy fool!"

The man snatched the glass and hurled it at the girl with all his strength.

Crash!

Naturally, the glass shattered and the girl was drenched in its liquid.

"Hey!"

In that moment, I reflexively shouted at him. I was out of patience.

"Aaaaan…?"

The man turned with his bearded face… I'd seen him somewhere…

"Face I've seen somewhere. What? You…"

Glare…

The man fixed me with glittering eyes.

The girls who'd been chairs glared back at me one after another, as if to protect the man's back.

… They'd apparently been serving him willingly enough.

… But the girl who'd had the drink hurled at her stood alone, sopping wet, head bowed.

She trembled, looking pained.

… This girl alone wasn't enjoying it, no doubt about it.

Thick arms. A harsh face… When a roughneck like that menaced you, it was a little frightening.

Even knowing that in this world Masters couldn't match Garumon.

But… I steeled my courage.

"I know it's your taste, but this is beyond what I can ignore.

"The taste of tormenting Garumon is unpleasant to many people. Stop flaunting it in public."

Glad my voice didn't tremble, I said it firmly.

"… Stop, you said? You ordered me?"

The man grinned. A grin is the act of baring fangs in intimidation — so went a manga line I'd once read, and I felt it keenly now.

Scary… but I crushed that fear down.

I was an S-Class Master.

With that pride.

Glad my body didn't shake. That kind of thing was reflex, so you couldn't stop it.

Well, having Ursula and Griera waiting near me was reassuring.

Plus, Himeno watching was a big factor too.

… But that bearded face, I'd seen it somewhere… uh…

"… Hahaha. You, who do you think you are? Telling off the great S-Class rank 16, Bandit King Julian — think you're somebody to mouth off to me? Eh?"

… Ah, right. The S-Class Master's face I'd seen in the Garumon Almanac.

Rank 16… Julian. That was this man's name.

I remembered hearing the title "Bandit King" somewhere too… Was he self-proclaiming it?

"Julian is an S-Class Master, but he absolutely refuses any Garumon battle unless Garumon are wagered. The nickname Bandit King comes from continuously plundering Garumon that way."

Ursula and Griera stepped up beside me.

"… Oh, if it ain't Ursula.

"Heh? So this is the guy, Naoto Akai. Ha! Couldn't tell from his pathetic mug!"

"… S-Class rank 24, Naoto Akai. Fellow S-Class Masters are nominally equals. If you're acting in a way I can't ignore, I have both the right and the responsibility to call you to account."

"Hmph… Ursula… you were a good woman, weren't you? You became this runt's property? Wasteful… well, that's fine too, maybe. Makes for the fun of snatching you away…"

Slurp…

Julian licked his lips with his long tongue.

"Stay away from Ursula. I'm the one you're talking to."

I stepped forward as if to shield Ursula.

"Don't get cocky, you little shit… want me to grind you to pulp here and now…?"

"… If you want to, I'll accept."

I glared at him. He stood at over 190 centimeters, a full head taller than me. He was looking down at me completely from above, but…

I looked back up firmly.

If it came to a fight… could I win? My opponent was S-Class 16th. I was down 12 members. But I had Ursula and Griera… it wasn't impossible at all.

In ranking, he was above Eclair.

But Silvana had commented about my fight with Eclair, "if she's that strong, she could've challenged 16th" — which meant in skill she'd judged Eclair as on par with him, or that Eclair had a chance to win.

In which case… I absolutely had to be able to win.

"Stop. Private duels between S-Class are forbidden."

Ursula stopped me.

"… Hmph."

Julian looked away. All right, I won… Not really, though.

But there was kind of a rule that whoever looked away first lost, right!

"… Tch, you… I'll grind you to dust…"

"Yeah, I'd welcome it… Hey, Julian.

"I happen to have business calling for a private duel within S-Class. I plan to submit a request at the next S-Class Council.

"… If you'd like, why don't you join too? You can wager the opponent of your choice, and I'll accept the match.

"In exchange, if I win, you hand that girl over."

I pointed at the drenched girl.

"… Oh?"

Julian's appetite seemed piqued. He looked at Ursula.

"… You mean to fight consecutive matches?"

Even Griera seemed surprised.

"… Tcheh, having to submit a joint request with some smug asshole pisses me off… but pulverizing you and making Ursula mine — that's not bad.

"And what you're wagering, that useless Sonya? Hah, what a joke! You really do have a shit eye for women!"

Gahahaha!

Julian laughed like a fool.

… Good, if he bit, one vote in favor was locked in.

"… Fine, that'll do… next S-Class Council. I'll pulverize you… cheeky little shit… Gahahaha!"

Julian laughed and walked off.

"Good, one vote secured."

"Honestly, thou'rt… Julian is formidable. The position of S-Class 16th is no decoration.

"S-Class divides into ranks 17-24 lower tier and 16-9 middle tier; strength differs sharply between them.

"… He has the strength to anchor that middle-tier wall. Don't assume he'll be easy to beat."

So Ursula warned me.

But she didn't say I couldn't win. In which case… I'd show him.

I steeled myself.

The finals were settled by Haru and Yuria's rock-paper-scissors — Haru won, and Yuria yielded.

Then came the champion match: Haru vs. Melvis.

Melvis's first party had 2 Garumon. But the third was a huge skeleton warrior at her side.

… That had to be an undead summoned by Melvis's ability.

Higher level than Bumir-chan. Looked strong.

Now, watching Kanan, Adelia, and Maika fight from the outside was something of a rarity.

In mock battles I'd seen it many times, of course, but in actual combat this might be the first.

A beautiful young-lady-type figure, Yuffie. A black-haired demure young-lady type vaguely similar to Maika, but her skill at slicing through Kanan's defense was remarkably high.

Tythis kept weakening Kanan's group with debuff-line skills.

And then Necross's overwhelming offense!

"Ah, ah…"

A bit more over there — ah, that way! Whoa, too slow!

… To fight opponents of this level, Haru's skill was still a step behind.

"Demon Art — Cocytus!"

Maika's ice element only marginally affected the Spirit element.

But if it was Adelia…

"Nyaaaaa!"

She broke through Yuffie's defense and splendidly downed her!

"Yes, got her!"

A solid fist pump.

But…

"Demon Art — Spirit Curse!"

Tythis's attack slowed everyone's movements.

Then Necross's attack! Kanan went down.

"Aaaah!"

If it had been me, I could've given a teleport order a moment sooner…!

… Haru still had a ways to go.

This was bad. Adelia attacked at the very last moment, but Tythis's debuffs cut into the damage and she couldn't finish them off.

Maika's attacks, debuff layered on debuff…

Sadly, the 1st party was eliminated.

"Aah…"

… A shame.

The 2nd party was Haru, Patty, and Irana.

Tythis and Necross continued.

… Ah, I see. The debuffs also carried over to the next party.

Tythis's debuff hit all three. However…

"Ultimate Barrier!"

Not letting the debuff through, Irana blocked.

"Demon Art — Plantain Fan!"

A swift kill by Patty's attack.

Technique counts had been chipped, but she'd dragged out the 2nd party.

"… Fufu, you've got more than I thought, Haru-san.

"Yuria-san was strong too… So you're not just a one-man team built around Naoto.

"Interesting. I like you more and more.

"… But this is the chance for this Melvis to show her arm. To be thought weaker than you would be a slight.

"… I'll be going at this seriously."

Melvis stood up.

And summoned two undead monsters simultaneously.

… The naming felt offhand, but the monsters she'd summoned looked strong!

That Iah in particular. No doubt about it, a unique monster.

Translucent white. Pale-blue skin. White… her impression was a little like Moruna-chan's… but with no sense of vitality. Rather, a dense aura that spread death.

Death-aura, maybe you'd call it.

This was… terrifyingly strong-looking.

"Demonize, Demon Art — Plantain Fan, Light!"

"… Abyss."

Patty's attack got sucked entirely into a hole Iah opened.

A defensive skill like that existed…!

"Deadly Breath!"

Boom!

The Dragon Zombie Necron, from heaven knows where, blasted a heavy black breath.

Haru defended desperately, but HP got slashed away in one go, and she gritted her teeth.

… Strong…!

"Summon Undead!"

On top of that, Melvis summoned a skeleton warrior.

A skeleton warrior with the same stats as the earlier Necross appeared and slashed in.

"Karakuri Knight!"

Irana desperately defended.

Next turn…

"Bull King Charge, Demon Art — Plantain Fan, Light!"

If it landed, it'd wipe them out, but…

"Abyss."

Nothing got through. Even guaranteed-hit!? How on earth do you break that?!

Maybe a wide all-target attack like Suzanne's Tempest could've broken through.

Combo-type attacks might not work…

"Summon Undead."

Melvis summoned skeleton warrior after skeleton warrior.

Necron and two skeleton warriors launched simultaneous attacks, and that was just…

"Aguh!"

And… Haru went down.

"Bull King Charge, Ogre God's Great Spirit Strike!"

Boom!

This one, at least, dealt damage.

But with buffs insufficient, she couldn't wipe them out in one go.

"… Death is sleep. Death is peace… slumber. Demon Art — Mortal Fatality."

Iah opened a massive hole, from which countless death-spirits emerged.

They grabbed Patty and Irana… and dragged them into the hole.

"Hieeee…"

"… This is… s-so scaaa～ry…"

"Aaaah…"

The sight of those two, plump and fleshy as symbols of life, being invaded by death felt a little erotic, but…

The result was absolute death that didn't even let them grit through.

If it weren't a battlefield, they really might have died.

… Strong! Insanely strong! … Eh, this strong? On first sight, even if I went all-out, I might not have won.

Someone this strong was going to be my Knight…? Was that all right… when I hadn't really beaten her properly yet?

"Strong! A magnificent victory for the champion!"

Mm-mm-mm…

I was getting depressed. Haru losing was a shame, but even I, fighting on first sight, might not have won.

… Still, this hadn't been the full lineup to seriously fight Melvis.

If I solidly stacked Light-attribute members like Lyuka, Luna, and Suzanne — ones who could counter debuffs — I had a fair chance.

… But Garumon battle was fundamentally all about that first-sight fight.

Did I, who had lost, have the right to make Melvis my comrade?

… As I worried, Melvis came back, having defended her title.

"How was it? My power… worth a high price, no?"

So she asked.

"More than… I'm the one worrying whether I have the right to take you on as my Knight.

"… Sorry I showed you such a poor fight. It probably wasn't what you'd hoped for."

"It wasn't that. Haru and Yuria were both strong. I get that you're stronger still.

"… It's only that I, as someone about to serve a new Master, couldn't very well fail to show off my own power.

"… I look forward to working with you henceforth. The charm of yours that has so utterly captivated Griera — let me see it for myself."

So Melvis said, extending her right hand.

… Honestly, it did feel like being shown mercy…

But this was also the result of Melvis deliberately not drawing out my full strength so that she could showcase her own against my comrades.

"… Understood. Looking forward to working with you. Whether I'm really a person worth serving… I'd like you to watch carefully in the next fight."

I took her hand.

For now, just a collaborator. Whether she'd truly come to trust me and become a real comrade hung on the coming battles.

I mustn't forget that.