Jobless Rising! ~I’ve Become a NEET. I Acquired Lewd Skills and Lived a Life of Sex in the Other World and in Japan. Before I Knew it, I Was Impregnating A Harem of Ladies?!~

Chapter 54: Me vs. Alkrom, With a Silver-Haired Beauty on the Side

T/N: Christmas special, 3 chapter unlocks!

I edged closer to Filmeria-chan while keeping my eyes locked on Alkrom.

“Who’re you fighting for…? That’d be your master, Yubababaan or whatever, the royal, right?”

“Yugdovarn-denka…! And I, along with His Highness, fight for you commoners…! And yet you…!”

Just as Erinabel explained… Young, capable, but low-born. Those types are probably the ones most devoted to Yugdovarn. Well, with that emperor, it’s not hard to see why…

For those with talent who’ve been overlooked, meritocracy must sound incredibly appealing.

I mean, I’m a former salesman myself. I get the drive to thrive in an environment where you can prove yourself and earn your keep. But…

(Deep down, I’m not from this world. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about the conservative emperor versus his reformist brother…)

To be precise, I’d rather keep my distance. I don’t want to get too tangled up in this world’s affairs.

…Well, I’m a Fifteenth Count, and since Erinabel’s looking after me, staying completely uninvolved might not be an option.

(Come to think of it, last time, Alkrom wasn’t even targeting me… He was overpowering Erinabel, and I just caught him off guard with a stone…)

From Alkrom’s perspective, it must’ve felt like some random commoner he was supposed to protect chucked a rock at him. But what’s done is done, right!

Besides, I’ve got no intention of diving into political messes. My employer—and the woman I can have steamy sex with—Erinabel, is worth more to me than the rebels.

“So, yeah, sorry, but I can’t root for you.”

“…? What are you talking about…?”

I sorted out my feelings, but… Erinabel, hurry up already…!

Alkrom stared straight at me, raising his longsword.

That sword… it transforms into a greatsword, doesn’t it? No clue how that mechanism works…!

“I’ll say this once. You threw that stone out of some chivalrous urge to save her. I respect the spirit. But…! That girl must die here…! Step aside! I’ll spare your life for now…!”

I felt an aura from Alkrom, similar to Harakara’s. Killing intent, maybe?

But thanks to my contract with Cui, it didn’t shake me.

“Huh!? Why the hell should I stand by while a cute silver-haired girl’s about to get killed right in front of me!? Plus…! You hurled a barrel at me last time…! Time to return the favor…!”

I drew Alkrom’s attention to me. The knight-like woman beside him stayed in a watching stance.

“Fool… You, with barely any magic, think you can face me…? Me, Alkrom Avalfar, wielder of the Mechanical Greatsword Raidel…! The only reason you hit me with stones twice was dumb luck and surprise attacks…! If you stand in my way, I won’t spare you, commoner or not!”

Alkrom lowered his stance and closed the distance in a flash. So fast!

“Gah!”

He swung his longsword, a fluid motion from an overhead strike to a sweeping right slash.

I dodged the first by stepping back and the second by dropping low.

“Hmph!”

As Alkrom finished his swing, I aimed a low jab at his torso. But he quickly raised his left knee, blocking my hand.

“Hah!”

He followed with a kick from that raised knee. I tried to guard but couldn’t react in time and got kicked back.

“Ow!?”

It hurt about as much as Harakara’s attacks, maybe a bit more…! Damn, is this his magic-enhanced strength…!?

Alkrom charged again for a follow-up, swinging his sword in rapid succession…

(…!? What… I can see his sword movements better now…!?)

Even with his enhanced abilities, moving like a normal person’s motions at double speed, Alkrom could swing twice in the time it took others to swing once.

But my eyes were starting to track him. Relying on instinct, skill, and vision, I dodged every strike.

A single misstep in this deadly dance would mean being sliced to bits. Yet my mind stayed calm, unshaken.

And then…

(…! Now!)

The instant Alkrom finished a swing, my eyes caught the briefest opening.

My body, edging closer to a hero’s, moved naturally to exploit it.

“Guh…!?”

My right fist slammed into his torso. Alkrom staggered slightly, his balance faltering. That new opening practically begged for a follow-up.

“Oraaa!”

I unleashed a flurry of punches with both hands. Alkrom blocked with his gauntlets, barely avoiding direct hits.

At near-zero distance, he couldn’t swing his longsword freely.

I could keep pressing… or so I thought. Alkrom, clearly battle-hardened, countered by kicking at my legs while I was focused on punching.

“Ugh…!”

This time, I lost my balance. But Alkrom didn’t pursue, instead leaping back and fixing me with a wary glare.

“Who… are you…?”

“Huh…?”

I glanced over, and the knight-like woman was staring at me in shock too.

“No magic… I feel none. You’re fighting like this, yet no magic leaks from you. It’s clear you’re not a magic user. So how can you keep up with my movements…!?”

Ah, I get it. Same as with Harakara. He’s creeped out that I can match him without enhancing my physical abilities with magic.

All thanks to my contract with Cui! Who knew enjoying a fantasy ero-life would come with such sweet perks!

“With power like yours…! No, a man like you should join our Liberation Army! His Highness would value your skills fairly, regardless of your commoner roots…”

“Hm…?”

What…? Am I being recruited…?

“Haven’t you been used by those less capable than you? Wondered why your talents go unrecognized? You’re one of us. We can walk as comrades… Come, join us.”

“…”

Talk about high ideals! It’s like he’s saying, “Can you stand being bossed around by a manager with worse sales numbers than you?”

And that their side would fix those frustrations.

A while back, I might’ve been swayed by that pitch. But sadly, I can’t just say, “Sure, I’ll join the rebels!” Because…

(I’ve finally built a foundation in this world! Why the hell would I go off to some random place now!?)

There are other reasons, but that sums it up.

If I’d been born and raised here, I might’ve weighed ideals like “I support the current emperor” or “His Highness’s path will brighten the empire’s future.”

But I don’t care that much about the empire’s fate. I’m just siding with what’s convenient for me.

And that’s Erinabel’s camp… which, by extension, means the puke-happy emperor’s side. …That’s kinda annoying when you think about it!

Anyway, time to shut this down!

“Hahaha… Sorry, dude, getting recruited by another guy doesn’t exactly thrill me!”

“…”

“Yeah, like you said, I’m a commoner. But recently, someone took me on as a retainer.”

Speaking of, I haven’t even checked how retainer pay works…!

“I’m a Fifteenth Count now. Sure, the emperor’s got issues, I’ll admit. But unless my master switches sides, I’m not joining you.”

“…I see.”

The air around Alkrom shifted. I know that vibe from Harakara…! He’s getting serious…!

“Not just Filmeria… You too…! I must take you down here…! You’ll be a massive threat in the future…! Right here, right now, I’ll remove all obstacles to our Liberation Army! Mechanical Greatsword Raidel, show your power!”

Alkrom held his longsword horizontally. Light particles burst from the blade, and with a sharp kashun, the blade extended.

In an instant, it transformed into the massive greatsword I’d seen before.