CHAPTER 35

Swatting Flies

“Phew… What a sick, twisted, vulgar goddess… Huh?”

Just when I thought we could catch our breath after running away from Eros, the other side of the gate is chaos. Waiting for us outside my gate before Olga Fortress, soldiers are frantically running around, as is the elderly soldier Carlo, who rushes over the moment he sees us.

“Oh, you’re back! I—I need your help! It appears Madam Rosalie went to the flies’ nest alone!”

What?! She really did it?! Even after we told her to wait?! And she went alone, at that! How reckless can you be?!

“We have to go after her!”

“Sir Bhat and his men have already gotten on their horses and gone after her, but we can still catch up if we leave now!”

Carlo and I are panicking, but…

“Relax. Everything is going according to plan.”

Seiya, on the other hand, is perfectly composed.

“Judging by her personality, it was easy to predict she’d do something like this. It hasn’t even been an hour since we left, so she won’t have run into Beel Bub yet.”

“B-but there are massive scout flies circling the giant tree that their nest is in! She might be attacked by them…!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll catch up with her in no time.”

And just like that, Seiya begins to gently levitate. While floating in the air, he glances my way.

“Come on, Rista. We’re flying.”

After getting the location of the nest from Carlo, Seiya and I take flight, carrying Mash and Elulu, respectively. Following Seiya, I do my best to keep up with his blistering speed. A colossal tree a few dozen meters wide eventually starts coming into view.

Due to the countless number of giant flies, the tree serving as their nest has become a jet-black wood perch. Scout flies are patrolling the surrounding skies just like Carlo said they would. Getting close isn’t going to be easy. In fact, there are already a few scout flies lurking around here, despite being relatively far from their base.

Before the scout flies notice us, Seiya turns around and gives me the signal without saying a word. I nod, then descend shortly after him before landing in a grove with a cluster of trees. Seiya looks up at the sky while silently walking past the few meter-tall trees until he comes to a sudden stop.

“Hmm. This spot should do. It’s hard to see from above, and we have a sweeping view of their nest.”

Just like he said, we have an extensive view of the giant tree they use as their base, but at the same time, I can’t believe what I see.

“Huh?!”

Someone is heading straight for the nest, which is swarming with countless buzzing flies. It’s a woman with azure hair and gold-inlaid armor: the Warmaster’s daughter, Rosalie.

Ack! How reckless…! But in a way, it’s so brave…!

The giant flies keep an eye on the intruder, but they cannot approach her. After a closer look, I notice a pale aura of light emitting from Rosalie’s body. I checked her status once earlier, but it looks like she’s using the special ability Light’s Blessing to ward off the weaker flies.

Nevertheless, before long, the swarm surrounding Rosalie splits into two and makes way…for the Aerial Assault Flies’ leader—Beel Bub. The tension causes my heart to race, but Seiya sounds as calm as always.

“She turned out to be a good decoy. I can snipe Beel Bub from here.”

When I look back in disbelief, Seiya has already materialized Shining Arrow.

“‘Snipe’…? D-don’t tell me…you knew this was going to happen, too? You…expected Rosalie to get angry and head toward their nest?”

“Flies are easy to swat when they’re preoccupied with food, after all,” Seiya casually remarks as Mash and Elulu squint behind him.

“Man, I can’t see a thing…”

“M-me neither…”

It seems ordinary humans’ eyesight isn’t good enough to see Rosalie or Beel Bub from here. Seiya’s vision must have considerably improved during his training with Mitis.

“We don’t have much time. Look over there.”

Seiya points at a swarm of scout flies gathering in the sky above.

“Eek! But why…?”

“Flies have an exceptional sense of smell. They must have smelled Rista’s goddess stench.”

“…! What do you mean ‘goddess stench’?! Are you implying I smell?!”

I sniff my armpits. I don’t think they smell…but I have to make sure just in case.

“Hey, Mash! Elulu! I don’t smell, right?!”

“Y-yeah, you don’t smell that bad!”

“Y-yeah! It doesn’t really bother me at all!”

“…?! Wait! So I do smell a little?! What kind of smell is it?! Come on, tell me!”

“Shut up. They’re going to find us if you don’t be quiet.”

Seiya then points the magic light bow in Beel Bub’s direction.

“I only have one chance. I’ll aim for the head.”

“C-can you do it?”

“I won’t miss.”

What confidence! If Seiya is that confident, then I’m sure he’ll be able to do it! Beel Bub will be dead before we know it! It’s going to be an anticlimactic end to the battle, but I guess that’s what sniping is all about!

But out of nowhere, we are unexpectedly ambushed. Galloping into the grove comes Rosalie’s right-hand man, Bhat, and a few dozen of his men on horses.

“Oh, hey!! If it isn’t the Hero! I had no idea you were already here!”

The flies soaring above all stop in unison in reaction to his deafening cry.

“K-keep your voice down! The flies are going to find us!”

Elulu scolds them, but she’s loud, too.

“What?! How could I be so stupid! I am terribly sorry about that!”

Bhat apologizes even more loudly than before, triggering Mash to panic and turn to Seiya.

“M-Master! The flies are heading this way!”

“Relax. I can still snipe.”

Seiya remains calm, even after being interrupted by our allies and spotted by the flies overhead. His magic bow is still aimed at Beel Bub.

“…I expected this to happen.”

“Seriously?!”

It’s a little hard to believe, but it’s probably true if Seiya says so.

But at the very next moment, standing before Beel Bub near the enemy’s base in the distance, Rosalie shouts in a voice so loud that we can hear her from here.

“I am the daughter of the Warmaster, Rosalie Roseguard! Beel Bub, I challenge you to a duel!”

Ack! Sh-she told them who she was?! What in the world has gotten into her?!

Just then, Seiya’s nose appears to twitch slightly.

“Seiya?!”

“…It’s fine. I expected this to happen. Yep.”

“Wait! Why did you add a ‘yep’ at the end?! You don’t have to force yourself! You can be honest with me if you want!”

Seiya lets out a sigh, then gradually lowers the magic bow to his waist.

I—I figured this was unexpected… He’s so stubborn…

That’s when Beel Bub starts hauling Rosalie away.

“Y-you bastard! What is the meaning of this! L-let me go!”

How didn’t she see this coming? Of course you’re going to be taken hostage if you tell them you’re the emperor’s daughter!

But even if we want to save her, we have our own problems to deal with now. Ten giant scout flies have surrounded us.

When I turn to Seiya for guidance, he’s looking right back at me as well. Then, without saying a word, he begins aggressively poking my breasts with his sheath.

“Gyaaah! That hurts! My tiiits! They’re gonna cave iiiin! Don’t take your frustration out on me!”

“I’m not. Rista, go.”

“Huh?”

“I’m telling you to fly. Get over there before they take that stupid woman away.”

…A-all by myself?

“I’ll catch up after taking care of these flies. Until then, buy us some time.”

“Wh-what…?! Even if I do somehow catch up with them, how do you expect me to slow Beel Bub down?!”

“Hmm… Say, Nice weather we’re having today.”

“‘Nice weather we’re having today’?! Is that really going to work?!”

“In any event, don’t take your eyes off Rosalie. That’s all you need to remember.”

“F-fine! I’ll do it!”

With grim determination, I spread my wings and take to the air when a giant, grotesque fly’s face appears right in front of me!

“Eeep?!”

But by the time it tries to grab me, Seiya has already put a magic arrow through its head.

“I’ll open a path for you, so don’t worry. Now go, balloon woman.”

“O-okay! Thanks! …Wait! Who are you calling ‘balloon woman’?!” I yell as I take off alone, chasing after Beel Bub and the kidnapped Rosalie.

Heading north, Beel Bub holds Rosalie tightly in its arms as she struggles. Noticing me, it grimaces and laughs, “Bzz, bzz, bzz!”

“Heh-heh-heh! Well, look what we have here! Those white wings—you’re a goddess from another dimension! Which means that the Hero has finally made his appearance!”

“Yeah, and I have a message from him! Let her go this instant!”

“No problem! After all, I was just planning on using her to lure the Hero out! I have no use for her anymore!”

I inwardly chuckle to myself.

Seiya won’t be able to shoot while you’re holding her! So hurry up and let her go so I can catch her! After that, you’re dead meat!

“Bzz, bzz, bzz, bzz! I’m going to become one of the four generals once I kill the Hero!”

However…contrary to what it said, Beel Bub ascends even higher without releasing Rosalie.

“Huh?! H-hey…!”

I’m taken aback but pursue Beel Bub.

“You said you would let her go!”

“I am! Right after I fly a little higher! Gotta celebrate the Hero’s defeat with some amazing reverse fireworks!”

Wh-what did it just say?!

“Stop right there!”

But Beel Bub only continues to fly higher. I somehow manage to keep up as it soars toward the heavens at an incredible rate until eventually coming to a sudden stop, flapping its wings in place.

“What do you think?! Quite the view, huh?! Your body would literally explode when it hits the ground from this high up! Splat! I can only imagine the beauty!”

Even then, Rosalie cries out with strength in her voice:

“You’re despicable! Apologize right now for what you did to my men!”

“Huh? Do you understand the situation you’re in? You’ll be meeting them soon enough!”

“Gr…!”

Unable to move and seething with rage, Rosalie grinds her teeth, then fixes her gaze on me.

“Hey!! What happened to the Hero?! Where is he?! Did he not leave to train?!”

“Y-you idiot!”

Beel Bub quizzically tilts its head.

“Hmm? Training, you say? Is he going to try to shoot me with a bow and arrow from the surface, by any chance?”

C-can things get any worse?! It saw right through our plan! Why does this woman always say things that put her at even more of a disadvantage?!

“Looks like I’ll just have to fly even higher before I let her go!”

Thereupon, Beel Bub begins ascending once more with Rosalie in its arms. I try to go after them, but no matter how high they go, there is no sign of them stopping.

J-just how high is it going to take her?!

I suddenly glance down while chasing them and turn completely pale. All I can see below is a sea of clouds. The surface visible between them looks no bigger than a tiny speck of dust.

You’ve got to be kidding me! Even a magic bow won’t be able to reach this high! More importantly, does Seiya even know where we are?!

Beel Bub eventually stops when we’ve reached an elevation where it’s hard to breathe. Then, with a note of amusement in its voice…

“Bzz, bzz, bzz! Not even a magic arrow will be able to hit me this high up! Now, let’s see you gloriously splatter!”

Beel Bub starts to unhand Rosalie but then glances at me and buzzes in laughter.

“Oh yeah! I’m gonna have to throw as hard as I can so the goddess can’t catch her!”

Shit, shit, shit, shit! Beel Bub has predicted every single one of our moves! I’d be able to catch her if it just dropped her but not if it throws her!

“Y-you cowardly monster! Return to the surface and fight me one-on-one with honor!”

Beel Bub lifts Rosalie over its head, ready to throw her at any second.

Ahhhhhh! What am I going to do?! O-oh yeah…!

Seiya’s advice replays in the back of my head, and I decide to give it a try.

“N-nice weather we’re having, huh?”

A brief moment of silence goes by before Beel Bub responds, annoyed.

“…What are you doing?”

Yeah, what am I doing?! Have I lost my mind?! Ahhh! I can’t save her! Seiya, do something!!

…Just then, I see a faint light out of the corner of my eye. A ray arises from the sea of clouds below before instantly passing by my ear without making a sound.

“Uwoooh…!”

Beel Bub softly moans…while gradually falling off-balance. Instead of launching Rosalie into the ground, its hands unconsciously let go of her. Gravity begins drawing Rosalie back down to the surface, but…

“Rosalie…!”

I immediately reach out to her. The moment she touches my hand, I pull her straight into my arms.

Ack! Her armor is heavy! B-but I managed to catch her! I don’t take my eyes off her for even a second, just like Seiya told me!

“…I-I’m sorry,” Rosalie whispers in my ear, but I’m more focused on trying to process what just happened.

…That must have been Shining Arrow! The magic arrow made it all the way up here! So Beel Bub must have been startled and accidentally let go of Rosalie! Anyway, I can’t believe he was able to reach this height. It’s almost as if he used a sniper rifle with an enhanced scope—no, it was even more precise than that!

I’m moved by Seiya’s talent, but still, I gulp.

“Hey now, you’ve gotta be kidding me. A magic bow? Even though I’m this high? That’s impossible…”

More surprising than the arrow reaching this far up is that Beel Bub was able to dodge it…