Chapter 34: Knight Attendant ⑪ – The Challenger of “Impregnable”
After saying, “Well then, I’m off to get some food,” I parted ways with Megadia.
There was a restaurant district on the floor below. Nice. Maybe I’ll explore it later myself.
“Still, I’m surprised Haiyaan turned out to be a woman.”
Though honestly, that level of bold harassment had already made me suspicious.
That kind of thing… if a man did it, he’d be arrested in any era.
Then again, even if it’s a woman… actually, even as a woman, that’s still arrest-worthy.
The white-coated rabbit, Haiyaan, folded his arms.
“Right now, I’m male. My original body just happened to be female.”
“…And when you were a woman, did you do that kind of harassment too?”
“Of course not. Back then, I was already popular enough among other women without touching them.
It’s only since I got this body that I’ve been passionately pursuing my desires.”
If I think about how this rabbit looks just like Megadia, it kind of makes sense.
So that over-the-top harassment started after becoming a rabbit, huh…
“You said you didn’t like your original body…”
“That’s not something to think too deeply about. It just wasn’t my type. But I must admit… I’m surprised. Truly surprised. To think I’d ever feel nostalgic for my original body.”
Now she’s talking like a robot.
“Ah, my body—my precious body!”
“…By the way, what happened to your original body?”
“Someone took it over. The same person who placed my soul into this rabbit.”
Haiyaan said that enormous revelation as if she were talking about the weather.
“Do you know who did it?”
“Roughly. But they’re surely long dead by now. In fact, it’s possible that Megadia-san is a direct descendant of my original body.”
“So you’re saying the body was used to have children after it was taken over?”
“That’s right.”
She really is saying it like it’s no big deal.
The idea of someone taking over your body and using it to bear children— to me, that’s just horrifying.
Disgusting, even. Though honestly, Haiyaan himself is already kind of horrifying.
While I was thinking that, someone appeared ahead of us.
The first thing that caught my eye was long, jet-black hair tied with a white cloth.
Her eyes were hidden beneath the same white cloth.
The long, pointed ears made it obvious—an elf.
But even among elves, who are all stunningly beautiful,
this woman’s refined, razor-sharp features stood out.
Her beauty carried the edge of a blade—elegant but lethal.
She looked like she could slice you perfectly in half, and make it look graceful.
She wore white hakama pants under partial armor with no helmet,
a large black kasa hat strapped to her back, and two swords at her waist.
From my past life’s knowledge, she looked exactly like what you’d call a samurai.
She wasn’t quite as tall as Megadia, but close—around 170 cm.
“Oh my, a rabbit and a boy. What a peculiar pair.”
She said, smiling like a blooming flower.
“Uh… h-hello.”
“My, what a beauty as sharp as a blade.”
Haiyaan complimented, though even he seemed to sense danger and refrained from pouncing.
I also made sure to stay out of her striking distance. She must’ve noticed.
“No need to worry, rabbit and boy. I do not draw my blade without cause.”
“S-sorry.”
“Besides, my striking range is nearly twice what the boy imagines.”
“Eh?”
So even where I’m standing now is within range… That sent a chill down my spine.
“Hmm. You have quite the vivid imagination and awareness, boy. Admirable. You’ll be fine.”
She stepped closer and gently patted my head—surprisingly soft and kind.
“Oh—uh, I’m Wof.”
I introduced myself.
“I am Haiyaan.”
“Wof? The witch’s apprentice?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
She fell silent for a moment, then her crimson lips parted.
“My, how rude of me. I’ve yet to give my name. I am Kaede Akima, though I am better known by my epithet—‘One-Cut Ryoudan-sai’.”
So she’s ‘One-Cut Ryoudan-sai’… yeah, she definitely looks the part.
“First-class.”
She added.
“I see.”
“And also called—‘Impregnable.’”
“Ah…”
“Yes. I am one of those who belong to ‘Impregnable.’ And you, Wof-dono, are among those who challenge us.”
She pressed a finger to her lips and smiled sensually.
Wait, what did she just say?
“‘Challenge’…?”
“Yes. I am impressed, truly impressed, that you have already conquered four of the ‘Impregnable.’”
“…Conquered?”
What is she even talking about?
I glanced at Haiyaan for help.
Haiyaan glared at me with jealous fury and bit his handkerchief.
“So jealous I could die!!!”
What the hell is wrong with him too?
And this pervert rabbit used to have a body that looked just like Megadia’s? That poor woman…
Kaede continued, amused by my confusion.
“I have no experience with such contests, so I look forward to this one.”
“Um—”
“Na!”
Daga let out a cry. I’d brought him along today—he’d been sleeping in knife form until now.
“Hm? What is it?”
“Hey, someone’s coming from over there.”
Haiyaan pointed, and sure enough, several figures were approaching.
We stepped aside to let them pass.
“Oh…”
Flowing golden hair, sharp black eyes, a strikingly dignified face.
A beauty mark beneath his right eye.
A red cape slung over one shoulder, white armor gleaming.
The air itself seemed to hum with his presence.
His noble aura was overwhelming—like a lone king, radiating power.
There was only one man I knew who fit that description.
My mouth moved before I could stop it.
“Alweld von Rutevelt.”
“Oh?”
I naturally found myself standing in his way.
When I looked up at him, our eyes met.
“Vanish!”
“Crash!”
A sharp, metallic clang exploded between us, reverberating through the area with a harsh vibration.
Two relics had just collided.
My eyes were glowing unnaturally bright blue — because I was using [Deep Silent].
“W-what the hell!?”
“What happened!?”
“Did that kid do something?”
“Huh? Wh-what’s going on…?”
Then I noticed — diagonally behind him stood Leold, and… wait.
Our eyes met.
Juicy-san!?
Juicy Tasan was standing just to Alweld’s left.
“Hmph. So you really are the same type.”
Alweld muttered.
His calm voice brought me back to my senses.
“Thanks to you, I’ve grown stronger.”
I said.
“I see.”
Without even a flicker of interest, Alweld looked away and walked past me.
Leold followed with a wry smile, while Juicy said nothing — she just looked at me in silence.
The others behind them must have been from the Coon hunt Guild.
They glared at me with open hostility, especially the twin girls — their gaze practically dripped with killing intent.
“Yo, kid. Doing something interesting there.”
“Shesh-san.”
“See ya.”
Shesh Tasan — Juicy’s older sister.
She laughed lightly, gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder, and walked off.
I watched them leave.
Then Haiyaan spoke.
“So that was Alweld… quite the handsome man.”
“Don’t tell me he’s your type?”
“I prefer women, so he’s disqualified. Besides, handsome men must be exterminated.”
“Agreed.”
“In fact, Wof, you’re on that list too. You’re the top priority for extermination.”
“Why me!?”
“Wof-dono.”
Kaede-san called out to me.
“Y-yes?”
“To my knowledge, you are the first person to stand directly against that man — the Destroyer of Ruin. Truly admirable.”
“I’ll fight him again… and next time, I’ll win.”
“Oh? You realize that if you were to face him, it would be a fight to the death.”
Kaede-san’s presence suddenly changed — I felt as if a blade were pressed to my throat.
“I will win.”
I didn’t back down.
If I flinched here, I’d never be able to win against him.
Then, as quickly as it came, the tension vanished — Kaede-san smiled.
It wasn’t a mocking smile; I could tell that much.
“Interesting. Truly interesting, Wof-dono. I like you. I see now — it all makes sense. You’ve caught my attention, and I find that… frustrating.”
“Uh… what do you mean?”
“I dislike gambling on ‘ifs,’ but if — if you should defeat Alweld, then I, too, shall face you — not as One-Cut Ryoudan-sai, but as a maiden, one of the Impregnable, and challenge you honorably.”
“What?”
Seriously — what?
She didn’t answer my confusion.
Looking utterly satisfied, Kaede-san turned and walked away.
Haiyaan spoke in a solemn tone.
“Wof… ‘Impregnable,’ hm? A fitting opponent for you.”
“What are you even talking about!?”
I shouted from the bottom of my lungs.