As a recap, Nowa was fighting the brainwashed Leina, then Fio managed to turn her back in a way that didn't resemble a sexual thing at all!
Enjoy!
Chapter 5: Sacred Arena (Dolores)
“Marvelous, simply marvelous. Saria's the best, as always.”
Menace jumped about, hopping happily like a child, holding the telescope firmly. She had felt such a stir the moment the serenading sword touched Leina's lips, her hairs standing on end.
“I’ll make her mine again, along with that weapon! What was it you said last time? Everything that is in this oasis is mine, was it?”
As the ruler of the Khan Oasis, it was only natural that everything inside it belonged to Menace.
“Ah~, that is right, but…”
Devil Setra made a troubled expression as he continued:
“This is hard to say, Milady, but… you should drop that idea.”
“Why?”
"That weapon is a kind of sacred treasure that gives the user an advantage against otherworldly beings. Milady, since you've died once and been resurrected, it's too dangerous."
Devil Setra told her all he knew about the Sword of the Unicorn.
"I don't want to part with you again, Milady, especially now that we've managed to meet again after all this time."
“Is it that strong?”
“It is. See for yourself.”
He pointed to a corner of the oasis. In the meticulously cleaned streets, they could barely see a pile of sand.
“Is that… Nubia?”
"To be precise, it's the mass of sand that used to be Nubia. Since you were brought back with a physical body, Milady, it's not that big a deal to you... But for the Nubias, who are just sand cursed to move, that music a while ago is lethal."
Nubia was created by Amaran sorcery. After being dispelled, only sand would remain...
“By the way, that girl ain’t Saria. She’s Fio, half of that weapon.”
“...Half of a weapon?”
Menace asked back, tilting her head at the unfamiliar term.
“Well... a bit like me.”
“How wonderful. Saria comes with a weapon too.”
Menace gave a small clap, a blooming smile on her face.
“Like I said, Milady, that ain’t Saria.”
“I don’t care about her name. I want her!”
Devil Setra hung his head, disappointed. When Menace got like that, she didn’t listen to anyone.
“In that case, you'll have to fight on your own.”
Against his will, Setra suggested his princess to fight alone.
[I told Fio not to use the Sword. I don’t trust him completely yet, but at the very least I think he’ll keep his word.]
“How about you do a preliminary battle, and exercise your rights as the winner? Then say to hand that weapon over.”
“Hm~”
Menace furrowed her brow. It seemed she was having difficulty understanding why she had to fight to get something that was already hers.
“Milady, you might not get it, but this is how the modern law works. If you really want her, you’ll have to fight Leina.”
“Miss Leina? Why must I fight her? She’s my servant, the Guardian of Amara.”
“She was, until a moment ago… Take a gooood~ look again.”
The brunette used the telescope to look at Leina.
[It sure is weird.]
She focused her consciousness and tried to get her words across... but there was no reaction.
“It appears she’s back to her senses… I guess you can’t communicate telepathically either?”
When he said that, Menace tried to focus her consciousness again.
“Hm~~~~”
No reaction came back. It wasn’t just that Leina wasn’t replying; the princess couldn’t feel herself getting through at all.
“How is it? Doesn’t she feel different?”
“It’s as you say, Setra. There are no signs at all of my telepathy reaching her.”
Menace sighed in sorrow.
“It’s sad, but it appears Miss Leina has become my enemy again.”
“That’s the way it is. Now, what will you do, Milady? Will you wait for her here, or go on your own…?”
“But of course, I will go…”
She looked up at him, and let out a chuckle.
***
She felt refreshed. Comfortable.
[...Why is Fio on top of me?]
Silently, Leina moved her gaze left and right to try and figure out the situation.
Around her, she could see men wearing clothes peculiar to the desert. Oddly enough, they were all slouching in an unusual way.
“...Fio?”
“Thank goodness… you came back to your senses.”
Fio smiled at her, still straddling her with the Sword of Unicorn in his hand.
“To my senses…? I see, back in the temple with Menace…”
The heiress shuddered when she recalled what had happened. With that massage, Menace’s hypnotism had taken her sanity from her.
“We had a hard time here, so be grateful, okay?”
“I’ll say thanks for now… but how long are you going to stay on top of me?”
“W-Well, I thought that if you reacted badly, I could shove this fella on to your lips again?”
Leina wiggled her hips, making Fio move the Sword left and right.
“Ahyahya, no good, I’m ticklish.”
Fio’s legs were pinning her down her sides, and Leina tried to kick up, struggling to get free.
“Ticklish?”
“There’s something prodding me, it’s kinda ticklish…”
The Sword was half of his body, so naturally, a certain part of him had grown bigger and harder…
“Ah… sorry…”
He blushed when he noticed what was prodding her.
“D-Dummy, hurry and get away.”
Noticing what had happened to his body, the color of her face changed to match his.
“S-Sorry.”
He rushed to move away from her.
“Sheesh…”
She moved to sit up, muttering - until she saw her reflection. Her brain just couldn't process it.
The part she should be covering as a woman was laid bare for all to see.
Though Leina always had a lot of exposure - her armor didn't cover a good part of her - not wearing anything down below made all the difference in the world.
She was so overwhelmed, her voice didn't even come out.
That was why the men had been slouching.
Acting as though nothing happened, she rolled the apron around her back, and tied it to the belt holding her sword so it wouldn't slip.
...It wasn’t really comfortable, but it was better than being exposed.
“Fio…”
She stared at him, her gaze full of resentment.
“W-What? Just so you know, I don’t have any spare panties!”
"It's not about panties. Couldn't you have at least covered it, or hit it from view?"
"Like I could afford to do that! Facing a Queen's Blade participant, even for a bit, is reckless enough!"
As he said that, he fell to his knees.
“Fio?”
She reflexively rushed to his side, and that’s when she saw his feet. The pale leg peeking from the pure white skirt was red and swollen.
“...I might have overdone it a bit.”
The Sword of Unicorn could cure curses, illnesses, and injuries. As its other half, Fio had the ability to cure the wounds of anyone he kissed. Despite this, he couldn't apply it to his own wounds.
“Fio… No way, did you…?”
“What, I can’t work hard for once?”
Fio mischievously stuck out his tongue.
“Well, it was worth it if you came back to your senses.”
He smiled sweetly, and turned to look at the fainted Nowa behind him.
“Who's she?”
“Nowa. She’s an elf child who’s helped me get this far.”
He approached the girl, Sword in hand. As he regained his composure, the weapon’s size had changed to that of a common one-handed sword.
“Without her, I’d never have been able to bring you back.”
As he went to take care of the half-elf, Leina watched over with an awkward expression.
[What kind of expression should I make when she wakes up? Is it enough if I thank her, like Fio said?]
It was frustrating for Leina to face a situation brought on by her own carelessness.
***
With the sword at his waist, Fio stood beside the unconscious Nowa. Lou was perched on her chest, giving a low growl as he saw the boy coming, protecting her as always.
“C’mon, don’t be angry.”
[Leina came to her senses. Now it’s time to heal Nowa. It’d be a waste not to use this talent I have.]
“It’ll just be a small kiss.”
But, the very moment Fio brought his lips to the girl’s face…!
“Ukkii!!”
“Gyawah!”
Lou hardened his fur, and stabbed his face like a needle!
“W-What are you doing, Lou?!”
The boy fiercely fired back.
“I'm your friend…”
He tried to explain his actions to the monkey... until he noticed the atmosphere completely change. Men who had been watching the two warriors fight suddenly prostrated themselves.
“It’s surprising to find people in this oasis who don’t lower their heads when they see me.”
A dignified voice echoed from the sky.
“Fio, above you!”
Both Fio and Leina could see a pale glow floating in the night sky.
There, carried by Devil Setra’s chest, was a beautiful raven-haired woman in clothes that didn’t hide her skin:
Menace, ruler of the Khan Oasis.
As her subjects bowed down, she slowly landed in front of the two, Setra still carrying her.
“Saria~!!”
Menace jumped off Setra's chest and hugged Fio without breaking her momentum.
“Eh?”
Fio could only blink, unable to comprehend what had suddenly happened.
“Aah, you were revived as well~”
“W-What? What do you mean?”
Despite himself, the tight hug made him feel like he was melting. It wasn’t only the warm, soft sensation from her breasts, a pleasant smell also wafted from her body.
“Sigh, Milady. I thought I told you she ain’t Saria~”
Raising his voice in exasperation, Devil Setra separated the two.
“Ahn…”
She protested when he separated them, scowling at him.
“Even if you look at me like that, it won’t work.”
“But Setra~”
“No buts, Milady, there’s something you should do. So, do it!”
Hands on his hips, he scolded the princess like a teacher chiding a misbehaving student.
“W-What did she come here for?”
“As if I knew.”
Casting a sideways glance at the argument in front of them, Fio and Leina kept themselves between the newcomers and the fallen Nowa - observing how things played out.
“Now, Milady, let’s start from the top.”
Devil Setra patted Menace’s shoulder, turning her gaze towards Leina’s party.
“Ehem. Everyone, raise your head.”
After addressing the oasis residents, she went on to stare straight at Leina.
The warrior found herself overwhelmed by those deep blue eyes - so much so, she found herself reaching for her sword before that all-knowing gaze.
“Err, Miss Leina. Nice to see you again~”
“W-What?”
Being addressed frankly all of a sudden only confused Leina. All the tension she was feeling dissipated at once.
“Will you become my servant and hand me that sword~?”
“That sword?”
“Yes. The magic sword Saria has.”
“Just who IS Saria? You’ve been calling Fio that name for a while.”
Leina was perplexed.
“Ah, I think she means me. I hear I really look like an acquaintance of Miss Menace.”
Fio gave an outline of the conversation he had had with Devil Setra, while he lightly rubbed his aching face—a memento from Lou’s attack.
“How about it?”
Menace asked again as soon as they finished talking.
[The answer is obvious.]
“I’ll refuse both. I am Leina the Exiled Warrior, nobody else’s servant, and the Sword of the Unicorn is Fio’s. And we intend to remain that way.”
“Is that so...”
For only the briefest of moments, Menace’s face turned down in disappointment, but then she displayed a bright smile as if she had figured out a solution.
“Then, we can only fight~”
As soon as she heard the words, Leina’s hand went for her sword.
“In that case, I’d like to have a preliminary!”
The blonde declared, looking straight at her opponent.
[If it’s a preliminary, it’ll be a one on one between Menace and me.
I don’t have any confidence I'll be able to beat Devil Setra, let alone protecting Fio and Nowa while at it. But, if it’s just Menace, my chances are good enough.]
“Milady, it’s time to warm up before the crucial moment!”
Menace’s companion accepted the battle before she had the chance to. He then opened his mouth wide, two crystal balls appearing from within.
One was Menace’s. The other was Leina’s, stolen after Menace’s hypnotism made the blonde her servant.
“I’ll give this back, can’t very well start without it.”
Leina caught the ball Setra spat out without hesitation.
“Fio, use the Sword to treat Nowa.”
Leina made the first move. Knowing Fio, he’d probably tell her to use it some way or another. However, the Vance heiress had no intention of using the Sword and its mighty power.
[I’m still immature.]
That night... the night where she not only lost to Devil Setra but surrendered to Menace...
Leina had realized that she wasn't yet a suitable vessel for the Sword.
“Got it… watch out, Leina.”
“Thanks to you, Fio, I’m in perfect condition. I don’t feel like I’m going to lose.”
Leina whispered, reassuring him.
And it was true; she really felt in top shape. Thanks to the Sword's blessing, she had fully recovered from it all: The exhaustion, the desert heat, and the wounds she received in her battle with Nowa.
Hearing that Leina wouldn’t be using the Sword made Menace's smile even wider.
“Wonderful. You’re wonderful, Miss Leina.”
“W-What now…?”
"I'm very impressed with your resolve - even casting away your advantage. Therefore, I would like to settle this not with a preliminary, but with the Sacred Contest handed down in our dynasty."
“Sacred Contest…? You can’t mean *that*…”
Setra’s voice was trembling.
“Yes, the Sacred Arena Dolores, Setra.”
“Fufufu… Dolores? Now that I’m lookin’ forward to.”
“Err, I don’t get what you’re talking about.”
Leina had the confidence in being able to fight in any kind of arena, but something about the way the other two had gotten pumped up worried her.
“Be at ease, Miss Leina. You need only come with me.”
With a bright smile, Menace walked back to the temple that served as a palace, accompanied by her servants.
***
Night came to the Heavens, allowing the starry sky to shine.
“Nanael, I shall be assigning you a new mission.”
The Head Angel’s commands always came without warning. Unfortunately for Nanael, she was a lower ranking angel, and could not refuse.
“And what is it, Head Angel?”
"A sacred treasure thought lost for ages has just surfaced."
Along with the Head Angel's voice, an image of the sacred treasure was projected in front of Nanael.
*Glup*
Nanael instinctively swallowed a lump in her throat.
For men of faith, a sacred treasure was easy enough to understand. They took the shape reflecting the source of life force as they knew it - to be exact, reproductive organs.
And the sacred treasure in the image was exactly that - a sword whose grip took that shape.
“The name of this sacred treasure is the Sword of the Unicorn. It’s a weapon with an extremely powerful healing ability, a weapon that can vanquish an undead monster in an instant. Leaving such an item on earth isn’t desirable from a power balance standpoint.”
“So, I should retrieve it?”
“That’s right.”
"Then, please give me more Holy Milk - or put a lid on my bottle~. I can't display my full power because I'm always worried about this!"
In place of an answer, the Head Angel dropped lightning right beside the blue-haired angel! The flash and the thunderclap made Nanael reflexively stiffen!
“Holy Milk is an important item to measure how elegantly you behave as an angel! Giving you more? Putting on a lid? Preposterous!”
“Y-Yes ma’am…”
Nanael tried her hardest to look respectful when she saw her superior's angry face. Any more backtalk would likely end with the next thunderbolt hitting her!
“Then, Nanael. Be sure to succeed.”
As her boss said this, the Holy Milk in her bottle filled more than usual...
“Uh, Head Angel, at this rate, it will spill right away...”
The milk reached the top of the bottle - It could very well spill with just a small movement.
“...Alright, this is a special case.”
The other angel snapped her fingers, and the shape of the bottle changed.
“Thank you very much. Now I will be able to fulfill my duty.”
The brim of the bottle hanging from her waist was smaller than usual. It wouldn’t be likely for it to spill now.
“It’s this time only. If you spill it like this… surely you understand what will happen.”
“Y-Yes… then, your humble servant Nanael is on her way!”
***
The Sacred Arena, Dolores, was a legendary ritual of armed battle throughout the Amara dynasty.
It was an ethnic dance of Amara, coming from a folk story of a snake and cat trying to claim each other's territory on the fertile mud after a flood.
After the battle, the cat swore allegiance to the snake - said to become a family guardian of the Amaran dynasty, which was represented as a snake.
“Meenace! Meenace!”
Though it was almost dawn, voices chanting the princess' name echoed in the desert. The desert people, wearing black clothes, filled the stadium. Decorating their foreheads was a serpent headdress - displaying their status as subjects of the Amara dynasty. Their gaze was fixed on the princess they so adored.
For there she was, the beautiful woman in revealing clothes standing in the mud-caked arena!
The legitimate successor of the Amara dynasty, Menace I, the young princess and the hope of the desert people, revived after thousands of years!
Facing her was the blonde warrior, Leina. Known as the Exiled Warrior, a woman of chivalry, who helped the weak and crushed evil!... Though in this battle she felt slightly out of her element.
The people she intended to help had no need of her help.
Despite that, something was clear to the heiress - those people should be living with their families.
"We'll begin the Holy Contest now. Let your flesh embody your prayers to God."
After announcing the beginning of the fight at the top of the auditorium, Devil Setra's neck flew towards the arena!
“Sorry to make you wait, Milady.”
“I can’t fight without you after all, Setra.”
Discarding his metal body, she firmly clenched him as her scepter.
The tension Menace was subjected to could be felt in the air - the people in the stadium, once loudly praising her, fell silent.
“The Ancient Princess, Menace, challenges you to a preliminary.”
A small crystal ball energetically flew out from Setra’s mouth.
“The Exiled Warrior, Leina, accepts.”
Another ball flew up from Leina’s hand, displaying magic characters, and they stopped in midair!
“Skirmish approved!”
The voice of the court magician responsible for the fight echoed in the arena, making two magic circles appear in the arena and in the sky above. Having accomplished their mission to establish the boundaries of the Queen’s Blade preliminary, the magic circles disappeared like fireworks floating in the night sky.
The voice of the court magician responsible for the fight echoed in the arena. Two magic circles appeared - one in the arena itself, the other in the sky above!
Having finished their role - establishing the boundaries of the Queen's Blade preliminary - the magic circles faded like fireworks in the night sky.
***
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