Chapter 13: The Grand Opening of Summer Harvest Mountain
Natsuba Hanae recognized the form the leader of the Circle of Light had taken.
It was called a Chimera.
Using a unique, forbidden technique, a human and a supernatural being were forcibly fused. Although the supernatural user’s inherent power didn’t increase…
Their physical abilities were amplified significantly.
Moreover, it was said that there was a minuscule chance of inheriting the supernatural being’s unique “Rule.”
Of course, supernatural beings with Rules were at least Calamity-level, the stage above Elite.
What surprised Natsuba Hanae was that a Chimera had appeared so early.
In her previous life’s game, Chimeras didn’t appear until the latter half of the second expansion’s storyline.
This suggested that Chimera research was still in its early stages, and the technology likely wasn’t perfected.
The leader of the Blissful Truth religion was undeniably a madman, but also a genius.
A hybrid of human and supernatural, devoid of the chaotic consciousness of a supernatural being, possessing the ability to think, making the Chimera easy to control while retaining the supernatural being’s physical prowess. It was seemingly perfect.
However, the Chimera’s growth potential was severely limited.
And in prolonged combat, they would descend into madness, depending on the strength of the human’s will.
These pieces of information flashed through Natsuba Hanae’s mind.
Beside her…
A glimmer of hope appeared in the second member’s eyes. According to his sensory abilities, although the leader had transformed into a monster, he was undoubtedly the strongest presence here.
Moreover, he had taken the Second Miss hostage. If the leader attacked, the maid bodyguard would definitely be constrained.
And the leader’s large size would provide excellent cover. As long as the leader came closer, he could hide among its scales, and all his problems would disappear.
This was a sure win!
A triumphant smile appeared on the second member’s lips.
However, just then, the Second Miss’s gentle voice reached his ears.
“Sorry.”
“I don’t have time to play with you any longer.”
“So…”
Natsuba Hanae’s lips were curved in a smile, but her red eyes were filled with cold indifference, like a beautiful yet deadly poppy.
“Would you mind dying?”
She slowly extended her fair hand, slightly raising her head to look at the leaping goat-headed Chimera.
She murmured,
“Ubume.”
As she finished speaking, the tips of Natsuba Hanae’s swaying silver hair were tinged with black.
An invisible, powerful pressure enveloped the area.
Suddenly, a grotesque bird’s head, wreathed in surging Sanctuary Flame, emerged from her hair. Its black and white feathers looked eerily beautiful, and its violent, crimson vertical pupils were filled with hunger.
Its eyes, as large as the rising sun, shone brightly, rivaling the moon in the sky.
The bird’s head alone was ten meters in size.
The goat-headed Chimera looked like a small, laughable child in comparison.
“Eat it.”
The Ubume opened its massive maw, revealing rows of sharp, crisscrossing teeth. The Chimera, unable to change direction mid-air, flew straight into its mouth, its eyes filled with terror.
“No!! No!!”
“Don’t kill me!!”
“I’ll do anything!”
The Circle of Light trio had no moral compass to begin with, and their surrender was even more shameless. But Natsuba Hanae wouldn’t accept their pathetic allegiance.
Besides, it was too late.
The moment had arrived. The Ubume’s beak snapped shut.
“Bang—!”
A muffled, explosive sound echoed as the B-rank Chimera was effortlessly crushed and devoured.
A bloody rain drizzled down.
It stained the ground crimson, flowing like a small stream, nourishing the forest.
The second member, drenched in blood, stared at the Second Miss in horror, his eyes devoid of light, his body trembling uncontrollably.
In his perception, if the leader and the maid were blazing flames…
Then the being before him was a radiant, surging sun.
Just a single glance had scorched his supernatural senses, causing unbearable pain.
The dagger had long since fallen to the ground.
Against such a powerful being, not even this laughable dagger, let alone a supernatural blade crafted from a Nightmare-level entity, could inflict a fatal wound.
Both girls were monsters.
Just what kind of bad luck had befallen them tonight?!
He was filled with regret.
Seeing this, Chikari Makoto quickly ran to Natsuba Hanae’s side.
She raised her hands and cheered.
“Yay!”
“Mom is the best in the world, the best in the universe!”
“No one is stronger than Mom!”
Hearing this, Natsuba Hanae glanced at Chikari Makoto.
“Makoto, don’t think you can sweep your mistakes under the rug with flattery.”
“If you were skilled enough, you could have killed the first one in two moves, and he wouldn’t have had the chance to become a Chimera.”
“Therefore, you failed this test.”
“Double your training when we get back.”
Natsuba Hanae ignored her further and walked into the forest.
“Eh?!?”
Chikari Makoto pouted.
She thought praising Mom would distract her, but it failed.
Although she enjoyed the fight, that kind of training…
Chikari Makoto shuddered at the thought.
Natsuba Hanae’s red, glass-like eyes looked into the distance.
Next, she would head to the battlefield where the elite-level supernatural being and the Nenba branch were fighting.
But not as the second daughter of the Natsuba conglomerate.
But as…
—The leader of Summer Harvest Mountain.
Natsuba Hanae gently touched her face, and Sanctuary Flame ignited.
As it died down, a beautiful, black bird mask with ornate feather patterns covered half her face, her red eyes gleaming within, beautiful and eerie.
Seeing this, Chikari Makoto quickly pulled out a golden bird mask from her skirt and put it on.
The two walked away.
Leaving the second member, still clinging to a sliver of hope, overjoyed.
“I… I’m still alive?!”
He was at a loss, then immediately thought of contacting the Blissful Truth religion.
However, he saw the enormous, grotesque bird’s head slowly dissipating in the air, its crimson vertical pupils fixed on him.
Then, it swooped down!
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh———!”
His screams echoed through the night.
Announcing the grand opening of Summer Harvest Mountain.
…
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