The Elemental Sword Demon King
Episode 146: The Curse-breaking Ritual
Upon learning that Kaizo is actually a male, Hilda nearly faints on the spot, and only manages to stay sober thanks to Tiana's eloquent explanation.
"I-I, if I'm disrespectful, it's because it's my first time talking to a man."
"Su-already. I should have apologized for barging in on you all of a sudden like this."
Seeing the Queen nod her head apologizing towards him, Kaizo also lowered her head in response. Despite clearly being the daughter of the highest ranked girl in the continent, she remained humble and polite.
Because of his rank, Kaizo should have used polite formal language when addressing him. However, despite that fact, she still looked like an ordinary young girl, so Kaizo could not help but talk to her as an equal.
"Hee hee, little Hilda is still as cute as ever." Tiana smiled mischievously and reached out to feel her small chest.
"ah! S-sister Tiana, what are you doing!?"
"You seem to be getting a little bigger?"
"Oh, I-I really haven't..." Hilda blushed and twisted her body in self-defense.
(Even if he is indeed an old friend, doing such a thing to the Queen and pushing her a little is it not too rude, right?)
Kaizo broke out in cold sweat and averted his gaze awkwardly. The two girls reminisced fondly for a while.
"Hilda, actually, I want to ask you something." Tiana made her request with a serious expression.
"A favor, huh?" Hilda blinked, not understanding.
“Mmhmm, I need to borrow your powers, to break the curse on him, Kaizo."
"You mean this man has been cursed?" The Fire Queen asked, turning to look at Kaizo.
"My sword spirit may have been trapped by this curse. Please save him, please." Kaizo placed both her hands on the ground and pleaded with Hilda with all her heart.
"It's a very strong curse even I can't break it. However, you have received the blessing of the Elemental Lord Fire, with that power you can definitely break even the harshest of curses."
Hilda lowered her head and muttered, "You're right. If I use «Fire Holy Judgment», any curse will turn into smoke, but..."
It is only natural that he doubts. Even on the orders of one of his best friends, Tiana, he could not immediately accept it. But he is a «Ratu» who must follow the rules and do something well.
Using the power of the Fire God Elemental for personal gain was an action that would never be forgiven. A long silence ensued, and Hilda said the answer.
"I know."
"Huh?" Hearing that, Kaizo raised his head and looked at Hilda in confusion.
The Fire Queen sighed, and nodded her head as if making a decision, "Because that's my senior's request I accept it, but just this once, I won't make this an exception anymore."
****
"Now, let's start the ritual."
Hilda, who had changed into a set of pure white ritual clothes, knelt politely in front of Kaizo. Her calm and reassuring appearance was in stark contrast to the nervous and embarrassed young girl just a moment ago.
They look like two different people. In order not to disturb the ritual, Tiana had retreated to a corner of the room to keep them from afar.
"I'll leave everything in your hands, No-nona Hilda."
"Please, call me Hilda, Kaizo's sister." The Fire Queen smiled softly, then stroked Kaizo's hand gently.
"Are you going to be afraid, I mean, of touching a man's body?"
"To be honest, yes, a little scared, but you are my senior brother's friend."
"It seems you trust Tiana a lot."
(The relationship between the two seems to be deeper than just friendship.)
"Also, I can feel it, you're not a dangerous bad person."
"Is that so?"
"Don't judge me based on my appearance and age. After all, I am a Queen, and I am quite confident in my ability to judge people." Hilda said with a sincere smile. Her smile was full of charm, and could easily charm someone who saw her right then and there.
"Well, then, brother Kaizo, please take off your clothes."
"Oh, hmm-hm..." Kaizo nodded, and took off the thin tunic she wore under the princess ritual dress she wore.
«The Darkness' blessing» on his chest, positioned just above his heart, had turned into a pitch-black wound.
"Ahhh, i-it's really something..." Hilda clapped both her hands to her cheeks, blushing red and muttering, "I-this is the first time I've seen la-male's body..."
"Oh, so..." Kaizo threw away her face, feeling a little uneasy. Her naked body that was carefully observed by a girl made her mysteriously embarrassed.
Standing at the side of the room, Tiana coughed a few times, "Kaizo, your face is so red."
Hilda reached out her hand nervously to touch Kaizo's chest, "Very, very firm and sturdy!"
"It's okay, this is the result of all the training in the Instructional School."
The Queen's slender fingers wandered along Kaizo's bare upper body, making her a little itchy. However, where his fingers touched, he suddenly felt a wave of pain.
Then, Hilda closed her eyes, and earnestly began chanting the curse purifier in the spirit of language.
*ᚠ ᚢ ᚱ ᚲ ᚷᚢ ᛃ ᛇ ᛏ ᛒ ᛖ ᛗ ᛚ ᛜ ᛞ ᛁᚠ ᚨ ᚲ ᚾ ᛁ ᛃ ᛇ ᛉ ᛋ *
"O supreme ruler of all earthly fire, our harsh judge and great warrior!"
These are the prayer words for the ritual dedicated to «Elemental Lord Api». Hilda's hair started fluttering wildly as if it was being blown by a gust of hot wind, and a white light shone on her fingertips.
*ᛏ ᛒ ᛗ ᛜ ᛟ ᛈ ᛋ ᛖ ᚢ ᚦ ᚨ ᛉ ᛋ ᛖ ᛚ ᛟ*
"Fire the Holy Judgment, atone for our sins and cleanse our filth!"
The words that came out from his thin and pale lips were the ancient language of the supreme spirit. The little girl in front of his eyes seemed to be possessed.
"Ouhhhhh!" Kaizo let out an uncontrollable groan of pain. The bright blue flames from Hilda's fingertips burned her skin, burning her flesh.
"Owhaaaah!" The unimaginable pain seemed to turn into a terrifying roar like a ferocious beast coming out of Kaizo's throat.
He felt a sharp sword, as if fireworks were exploding in his head. Sweat came out from each of his pores, and his muscles stiffened so hard that they almost broke his bones.
* ᚦ ᚨ ᚱ ᚲ ᚹᚺ ᚾ ᛇ ᛈ ᛖ ᚢ ᚦ ᚨ ᛁ ᚱᚲᚺ ᚾ ᛁ ᛃ ᛉ ᛋ *
"Become ashes and dust! Your fire can purify all darkness, burn all curses!"
«The Darkness of» imprinted on Kaizo's chest suddenly began to burn intensely. Kaizo shouted without a word. In his rapidly fading consciousness, Kaizo felt a dull pain coming from his right hand.
(Could it be, the Nyx Spirit sign!?)
Just as he saw, from the corner of his eyes, his spirit marks started emitting a bright light. Kaizo lost consciousness and fell into darkness.
...
*Connected.....
*Note: This story is fictitious. If there is a similarity in the name of the character, the scene, or the story, it is a mere coincidence and there is no element of intentionality.