Volume 4 Chapter 101: Invitation

“Hum, Noil, wait here for a moment.”

The manager, now on the ground, gently set me down a short distance away and spoke.

I was a little surprised she chose not to fight while carrying me. Normally, fighting while holding someone would be absurd. But with the manager, well, she’s not exactly normal.

Up until now, she’d carried Noel or Fiona, treating it as a kind of self-imposed handicap. With her abilities, she doesn’t even need to bother responding to attacks head-on. If she got serious, it’d be over with a single magic needle. Anyone facing her would simply be at her mercy.

Still, she always let Noel and Fiona attack first, giving them the chance to strike. In other words, this has all been a game to her. Carrying me while fighting was just another way to entertain herself.

So, for someone as ridiculously strong as the manager to stop carrying me now—it means Sierra must be an opponent so formidable that even she sees a reason to take things more seriously—

“Sierra’s magic gear is too big. If it hits Noil by accident, I can’t fight at full strength.”

…Okay, so that’s not exactly an acknowledgment.

Yeah, I kind of figured.

Basically, she set me down so Sierra could go all out. All for her own enjoyment, of course.

The manager patted my head once before stepping away. She stood at a set distance from Sierra, feet planted firmly, exuding confidence.

“In exchange, I won’t move a single step from here.”

And now she’s giving herself a new handicap.

Seriously, this woman…

Unable to move my body, I could only turn my face toward them to watch. Sierra’s expression was anything but calm. Though her face was blank, I could tell she was seething.

I mean, who wouldn’t be furious after being mocked like that?

“…Regret—”

“Don’t be absurd.”

The manager cut Sierra off, spreading her arms wide, clearly enjoying herself.

“Don’t get cocky. Even after all your efforts, you haven’t managed to land so much as a scratch on me. Not even a speck of dirt. That’s the difference between us. Utterly disappointing. Noil alone is far more entertaining than you two combined. I thought I’d find a worthy challenge, perhaps even get some good exercise while having fun. But you’re nowhere near enough.

You’ve improved, I’ll give you that. But not enough to matter. I even dangled the perfect bait right in front of you, and this is all you’ve got? Your so-called resolve clearly isn’t enough to bridge the gap between us.

You think you can take Noil? Don’t make me laugh. You lack the strength, the determination. I, on the other hand, have plenty of both. That’s why Noil is mine. Always has been, always will be.

You’ll never step into the world Noil and I share. He doesn’t even see you. To him, there’s only me. You’ll never reach us. And even if you did, it wouldn’t matter. Noil will always belong to me.”

Uh, for the record, I’m with Mar-chan.

Strength has nothing to do with it.

I just want a peaceful world, free of conflict.

At least Noel and Fiona are unconscious. If they’d heard this, I don’t even want to imagine their reactions. It’s unbelievably rude, and while Noel might let it slide, Fiona probably would’ve gone on a rampage.

Manager, if anyone here is being arrogant, it’s you.

“I’ll kill you!”

And there goes Sierra, snapping completely.

Murderous intent blazing, she launched herself at the manager. Enormous jet-black wings sprouted from her back, flapping once with incredible force to propel her forward at terrifying speed.

“Oh?”

The manager crossed her arms, smirking as if amused.

I’d assumed Sierra’s magic gear was poorly suited for fighting the manager. Its sheer size made it an easy target.

But Sierra seemed fully aware of that. She was selectively activating parts of her Witch Hunter gear, making it harder to destroy.

Using her momentum, Sierra dismissed the wings and swung a massive, armored fist at the manager.

It was an impressive move. Switching magic gear configurations like that in an instant takes serious skill. It’s not something anyone can just pick up. Sierra’s talent is extraordinary.

But—

“Shifting your magic gear piece by piece does change the weak points…”

Sierra’s punch didn’t land.

The manager stopped it with a single finger.

And in that brief moment of contact, she pinpointed a flaw in Sierra’s gear and exploited it.

The jet-black arm shattered effortlessly.

“There!”

“Huh?”

It seemed Sierra had anticipated this outcome.

From the shattered black arm emerged numerous dark chains.

It was a flawless, two-step attack, designed with the assumption her arm would be destroyed.

This move would normally be difficult to counter, and with the manager’s self-imposed rule of not taking a single step, it seemed even trickier.

For a moment, I thought, Maybe this time…

“The durability is lacking.”

Until the manager smashed all the chains with a single punch.

Why? Just why can this woman destroy unexpected chain attacks coming from all directions?

And with one hand! Aren’t hands supposed to be softer than chains?

“Now then.”

“Be crushed!!”

The manager, having destroyed all the chains, looked up.

There, a massive black leg loomed dangerously close, ready to stomp down.

Apparently, while I’d been distracted by the chains, Sierra had leapt high into the air and transitioned into her next attack. It wasn’t just a two-step plan—it was a three-step assault.

Ordinarily, she’d have crushed her opponent without a hitch.

“Not bad.”

But not against her.

The manager had already dealt with the attack. Whether she’d noticed it while breaking the chains or reacted instantly, I wasn’t sure. The armored leg was obliterated by one of her magic needles just before it reached her.

“!?”

Sierra tried to jump back again, but she couldn’t fully cancel the momentum of her attack.

The manager grabbed her by the ankle.

Once it came to this, there was no escape.

In an instant, she channeled mana into Sierra, knocking her unconscious. She caught Sierra as she collapsed, cradling her effortlessly.

“Humph. So, this is all there is.”

I couldn’t say anything.

Not that I could physically speak right now, but even if I could, what could I possibly say?

Fiona, Sierra, and Noel are all strong.

It’s just that the manager is completely out of their league. I already knew that, but witnessing it again was a harsh reminder of her inhuman capabilities.

“It wasn’t much of a workout… but at least it was somewhat enjoyable, so I’ll let it slide.”

…Okay, sure.

The manager gently laid Sierra down on the ground and began walking toward me, speaking as she approached.

“Noil, wouldn’t you consider sparring with me once in a while?”

No, absolutely not.

As she crouched beside me and peered into my face, I turned my gaze away.

“Hmph… Why do you dislike the idea so much?”

Anyone who’s just watched what happened would hate the idea, obviously. All I’d get is a one-sided beatdown.

“Well, fine.”

She puffed her cheeks for a moment, then let out a faint smile—

“Now then.”

And for some reason, climbed on top of me.

A terrible sense of foreboding sent cold sweat pouring down my back.

I shook my head furiously, trying to signal my resistance, but the manager gently cupped my face with both hands.

Though her touch was soft, I couldn’t move an inch. It was baffling.

And then, without hesitation, she leaned in closer.

What on earth is she planning?

Please stop. Stop! I’m begging you!

Hey, we need to leave! Let’s take everyone and go home already! Tesea’s waiting for us outside!

We don’t have time for this—oh no, oh no, I’m going to get defiled!!

“Hm?”

Wait, what?

Just as her lips were about to reach mine, my hand moved on its own, inserting itself between us.

Both the manager and I widened our eyes in surprise.

I stared at my right hand in disbelief.

I hadn’t moved it myself.

I’d been trying desperately to move, but my body had refused to respond. Yet now, it was moving on its own.

—Don’t touch Noil!

The moment that voice echoed in my mind, my body moved again without my input.

My right arm swung wide, as if to fling the manager off me.

The manager leapt away just in time, dodging the attack and putting some distance between us.

While I sat there, confused, my body stood up on its own.

I was moving, yet it didn’t feel like I was the one controlling it.

It was as if someone else was using my body…

Oh.

Oh no.

Could it be… one of the Sextet?

If so, then that voice I heard in my head earlier must have been—

“Hoo… so you’re one of the ones residing within Noil, huh?”

The chilling voice snapped me out of my thoughts, bringing my focus back to the person in front of me.

Gone was the cheerful demeanor from moments ago; now, the manager’s icy glare bore into me, freezing me in place.

“What do you think you’re doing, controlling my Noil’s body? Do you really think I’d allow such a thing?”

Uh, given the circumstances, wasn’t it kind of fair game? I mean, I’m not complaining—honestly, it saved me big time.

So, um… could you maybe calm down a little?

Although I was now able to stand, it was clear I couldn’t move freely. My movements were stiff, almost mechanical.

Judging by how clumsy my motions were, whoever was controlling me seemed to be forcing my body to move. Fine motor skills were clearly out of the question.

“…Noil, I will give you My Garden.”

The manager, who had been glaring at me sharply, closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again and calmly saying those words.

I had no idea what she meant.

Why was she suddenly offering me a divine artifact?

“Invite those souls into My Garden.”

Her arms crossed, the manager’s declaration left me stunned.

She wanted me to summon the souls residing within me into My Garden.

I wasn’t sure if that was even possible. But if they were originally sealed within a divine artifact, maybe it could work.

My Garden allows its owner to invite only those whose forms or existence they can clearly recognize. The souls within me are collectively treated as “me,” but what happens if I, as the holder, attempt this?

And what if the members of the Sextet choose to manifest on their own?

Even Tesea’s Analyze identified the souls within me as separate entities when they rose to the surface.

Ever since I awakened as the Transformer, their presence has become even clearer.

In the past, I might not have been able to invite them. But now, I know what each member of the Sextet looks like, and I can clearly recognize their presence.

I had no idea what would happen until I tried, but the manager’s suggestion seemed worth exploring.

The Healer, the Guardian, the Magis, the Coachman, the Hunter, and the Transformer.

Their faces appeared vividly in my mind.

“We need to have a little talk, don’t we?”

My body nodded on its own, responding to the manager’s words. It seemed the Sextet had no objections.

In that case—

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill them.”

…Please, keep it peaceful.

That’s what I hoped for as I looked at the terrifying manager and my body, which had taken up a fighting stance all on its own.