I reached out and seized the glowing orb.
The orb resisted.
It struggled around in my palm, trying to tear away.
It felt like my palm was being burnt as the fiery light filtered through my fingers; it quickly turned into rampaging beams, piercing the empty space.
I ignored all that and kept firmly grasping it.
I put more strength in.
This place isn’t the real world; it’s a spiritual realm where fellow Cursed Swords are connected.
Physical strength isn’t the only deciding factor here to determine whether you win or lose.
It requires your own force of will and, more than anything, the strength of your Cursed Sword.
「My strength is Papa’s!」
「I’ll lend you mine for now」
The mother and daughter pair said.
The next instant, power gushed forth from within me.
It was an amount that Kushifos couldn’t hold a candle to.
I loaded all of it into my hands and tightly grasped the orb.
Red light began to flicker; it was pulsing even more vigorously than earlier.
It reminded me of an alarm.
The orb showed irritation, resistance and, finally, desperation.
Those feelings were transmitted to me.
Of course, I ignored them; I grandly ignored all of them.
I packed even more strength into my arms.
The orb of light was shattered into countless, gumball-like objects.
The result of being warped to the limitーーit snapped.
It was like drops of water being scattered everywhere.
The red glow then vanished like a mist.
While it was melting away…
ーーI shall never forget this humiliation!
…there was a voice.
It was the hoarse voice of an old man.
A cursing voice filled with hatred.
In reality, it was just the grumbling of a loser.
「That just now wasn’t the voice of the King, was it?」
「It was Kushifos’ voice」
「Do you two know each other? But, he said that he wouldn’t forget thisーーahh!!」
「Did you remember? Yup. The bastard's other half is still in Aigina」
「I see. I see how it is」
I completely forgot.
It was the thing that Mercury’s King wanted to take back.
Since Kushifos still had his other half, he made such a remark before fleeing.
It appeared that there would be another battle between us in the future.
Whatever, that’s fine.
I just need to crush him again when the time comes.
As soon as I thought of that, the empty space was dyed in a black light.
There was no need for an explanation; it was the aura of Eleanor and Hikari.
I closed my eyes and perceived the world around me; the existence of the two of them, Eleanor and Hikari.
It felt like it both existed within me and was wrapping around me.
It was a mysterious feeling.
I had never felt like that before; it was the first time I felt so close to the mother and daughter pair.
I came to my senses.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
It was a world filled with “reality”.
I saw the King and the soldiers, all tattered after the battle..
The scent of blood and the remnants of magical power were drifting about, here and there.
I unsheathed my Cursed Swords.
The two of them, Eleanor and Hikari.
Their handles felt more familiar to my grip than ever before.
It felt as if they’d become parts of my body, a new sense of unity.
I’d really reached a whole new level. [TN: And it’s not even his final form.]
It was such a feeling.
「Kakeru」
Iris called out to me.
I sheathed the Cursed Swords and turned toward her.
「It’s over; this time, for real」
「Yeah, I saw」
「Is that so…」
Well, everyone’s so tattered, you'd know that it was over even if you didn’t want to.
Now then, since the incident has finally been settled…
I hugged Iris.
At long last…
This time, there are no more obstacles.
「Let’s go」
「Un……」
With a quiet response, Iris shyly nodded.
Holding her in my arms, I used the Warp Feather and went back to the mansion.
Hikari turned back to her human-form and left the room.
I pushed Iris down on the bed
「Kakeru」
「What is it?」
「Is there something else I can do? What should I do to make Kakeru even happier?」
Iris stared directly into my eyes.
Her words weren’t that of a girl preparing to have her first time.
She didn’t tell me to be gentle.
Her expression was anything but tense; those eyes of hers are determined.
That’s just like Iris.
「It’s not enough just falling in love with me?」
「Well, I’m just thinking that there must be something I could do for yーーhnngu!」
I interrupted her with a kiss.
「……puhaa」
「Raise your voice」
「Eh?」
「Don’t hold anything back. Just scream as loudly as you're enjoying it」
「Scream……」
「Got it?」
「Y-Yeah……」
Iris nodded, blushing.
As I’ve declared, and as requested…
I spent the whole night making love to Iris.
— —