"I'm doing great, so you don't have to cry so much."
He patted Hazumi's back while she sobbed quietly, asking her not to cry.
Even if he really had a little sister, Hal doubted whether he would comfort her like this. Ever since he was young, Haruga Haruomi had been a cold egoist. Acting like a reliable older man as he was doing now did not match his style and was making him feel a little embarrassed.
However, if this was enough to stop the tears falling from his junior's eyes, it would be a trivial burden to bear.
"Sorry, I panicked a lot when I thought you would never open your eyes again, Senpai..."
The kindhearted girl immediately stopped crying.
Hazumi's eyes were red from crying, but she still smiled demurely at Hal and quickly separated herself from him.
He had forgotten. Until just a moment ago, they had been hugging together.
Finally, Hazumi sat down politely in seiza roughly half a meter away from the cross-legged Hal, face to face.
Then she smiled again.
This time, it was an angel's smile. Her innocent smile as always.
"Fufufufu. I don't know the reason, but I currently feel the same as I did earlier. Very happy and satisfied."
"As you did earlier?"
"Yes. Umm... Like when you said that chests like mine are fine too."
"......"
The angelic smile was always supreme in soothing Hal's soul.
However, this time it made Hal's heart skip a beat. For some reason, he sensed something "womanly" about Hazumi's vibe.
Was it because the discussion topic had been a bit perverted just now? Was it because he had felt the sensations of her delicate limbs directly after embracing Hazumi earlier?
Or was it because—some kind of change had occurred to Hazumi?
Could it be all of the above?
The pounding of his heart was disrupting Hal's thoughts more and more. At that moment—
"Lord Haruga."
Shamiram called out to him. Unnoticed by him, she had arrived by his side.
Truly elusive in her comings and goings. However, she was an ancient witch and no ordinary person. This was nothing to be surprised about. Hal replied calmly, "It was quite a close shave, but at least we overcame the crisis."
"I am terribly sorry for not helping much. After all, my covenant was formed with Ashkelon, who is also one of the vassals serving Master Solomon..."
"Helping to deal the final blow to the Crimson Queen was more than enough."
Hearing Hal say that, Shamiram smiled.
"Thank you, Lord Haruga. It is most fortunate that you and Lady Hazumi are unharmed and even hitting it off."
"Hitting it off?"
"Fufufufu. Excuse me but I saw everything. The moment when the two of you embraced passionately, confirming each other's safety and affections."
"......"
Shamiram smiled suggestively.
Hal wondered if he should clear up the beautiful witch's misunderstanding but chose to shut up in the end. If she viewed Hazumi as "Hal's romantic partner," she would rein in her overly passionate services.
Hazumi said happily, "Do Senpai and I seem that close?"
"Yes. Besides, Lady Hazumi, for you to do that undeterred by the fact that Ashkelon and I were watching from the side, do not claim that you two are not hitting it off."
No, but don't brothers and sisters hug each other too?
Next to Hal who was thinking silently, Hazumi smiled innocently.
"That is definitely true... I am somewhat glad. Fufufufu."
What was going on? From appearances, Hazumi seemed almost like a girl secretly in love with Hal, except that she had not discovered these feelings herself.
...Could it be that?
...No no no. Definitely not likely.
Anyway, one must not jump to conclusions. Also, if such thoughts of his were to come to light, it would undermine his dignity as the senior.
"By the way, Lord Haruga. The rune you used just now—"
While Hal was desperate, trying hard to stop the pounding in his heart from showing on his face, Shamiram said to him, "An interesting spiritual power seems to reside within it. The vanquishing of evil to uphold justice—A grand technique of exorcism, how astounding. Lord Haruga, do your powers of dragonslaying include more than just the bow?"
"It seems to be a rune of twin swords."
Hal opend his right hand to reveal the cross-shaped runic symbol.
After examining it for a while, the ancient beauty said in puzzlement, "Hmm... With just the spiritual power of this rune, it should only take you one hit to purify dead souls lingering in the living world such as myself or my master."
"You can see that? You're amazing."
Hal was very impressed by Shamiram's eyes of wisdom.
The Rune of the Twin Katana was capable of severing evil energies. In that case, one would expect it to be very effective against the likes of ghosts and the living dead.
However, an ordinary slash could not inflict a critical blow against a ghost of King Solomon's level.
Ultimately, Hal hoped to land a strike powered by a technique of assured annihilation.
"This rune is a bit hard to control. Right now, I don't think I can draw out more power than I did just now."
Hal still did not trust her completely, so he gave an ambiguous reason.
The twin katana's technique of assured annihilation was a mystic technique of extreme difficulty. Even Asya and Luna Francois were unable to use it singlehandedly.
Even if he asked Hazumi, his only companion at the moment—
Very unfortunately, given her capabilities, it most likely would not go well.
"What a shame when you have this rare sharp blade... No, hold on."
Shamiram suddenly began to ponder.
"In that case, allow me and Ashkelon to confer the spiritual power of exorcism to your Bow, Lord Haruga."
"Huh?"
Hal was taken aback. Shamiram continued, "If you attack my master using two types of dragonslaying power simultaneously... Victory might be yours."
"Is that kind of thing possible!?"
"Leave it to me. After all, like Lady Hazumi, I possess the ability to control a goddess' spiritual power."
If the sword of exorcism alone was unable to erase the evil spirit, just add a bow of exorcism.
The beautiful witch from the ancient kingdom brought up a simple theory effortlessly. The modern and inexperienced witch asked in surprise, "E-Excuse me. May I ask what do you mean by like me?"
"Didn't you experience it just now? Minadzuki is her name, isn't it? Praying to a 'serpent' that has a goddess' divinity residing within her so that she sends down an oracle to show you the right path."
Like healing magic, it was an outcome arising from special techniques.
"I remember that move, isn't it impossible to perform using pseudo-divinity of ordinary alignments...?"
Hal muttered.
Modern leviathans basically fell under one of the four attributes of Earth, Water, Fire or Wind. At the same time, there were "serpents" with extremely special attributes, such as Rushalka's Moon or Glinda's Gravity.
However, goddess power did not belong to any attribute.
"Well, Lady Hazumi, you seem to still be unfamiliar with this path... However, a priestess capable of awakening the 'sacred goddess' aspect of a serpent' is extremely rare."
The ancient priestess stared straight at Hazumi and spoke quietly.
"I believe you are already amazing simply for achieving this. Yes."
There was nothing alike between the uninhibited Shamiram and the innocent Hazumi.
However, Hal expected Shamiram would be considered as having a special and outstanding talent among the priestesses serving King Solomon, possibly even surpassing modern master-class witches.
Sufficient to be chosen as the gravekeeper out of King Solomon's numerous retainers and favored concubines.
Apparently skilled in 'this path' since ancient times, the senior witch was showing an expression of worldly wisdom while praising the junior who had been born in the modern era.
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