Chapter 4: A New Temptation

"Hero-sama, you must be exhausted, mustn't you? Please, come to my tent tonight. I would like to offer you a... special prayer."

As soon as we finished setting up camp, Fiona had invited me into her tent. To be honest, if her intention was just another attempt at seduction, I should probably refuse. But we were a party now; I couldn't just give her the cold shoulder. Besides, there was always the slim chance she was being genuinely kind.

"Fiona, I'm coming in. Whoa..."

The moment I stepped inside, the air hit me—it was thick with incense, a sweet, cloying scent that made my head feel oddly light.

"I have been waiting for you, Hero-sama."

"W-What are you wearing...?"

"These are my formal vestments for a special prayer. Do they... suit me?"

What kind of Saint has a "formal uniform" that's this slutty?! I wanted to scream. She was draped in a single layer of translucent cloth, even thinner than her usual attire. The fabric clung to her skin, masquerading as pious purity while obscuring almost nothing, emphasizing the swell of her breasts and the curve of her hips. With every slight movement, she seemed on the verge of exposing everything.

"Now, please. Lie down here."

"O-Okay..."

I swallowed hard. Fiona’s eyes glittered as a sultry smile played across her lips, and she guided me onto the sleeping bag. Sure, my Charm Resistance made it so I couldn't be magically bewitched, but that didn't mean I was blind to a sexy outfit.

Wait, is this just a fantasy massage parlor now?

"Fiona... do you usually do this sort of thing for people?"

"What?!" She pouted, her lips thinning in uncharacteristic annoyance. "Of course not. I told you, this is a special prayer... I would only ever do this for the Hero."

The sight of the usually serene Fiona looking genuinely grumpy was actually kind of refreshing. It felt like I was seeing the real her.

"I... I apologize. That was quite unseemly language for a Saint."

"You think? I actually liked it. It felt fresh, seeing a different side of you."

"Wh-What are you saying? There is no value in a Saint who doesn't act like one."

She turned her head away with a huff, looking more natural than I’d ever seen her. That’s when I noticed an empty wine bottle rolled over on the floor. I thought she’d been acting a bit weird...

"Fiona... are you drunk?"

"Wine is the blood of the Gods... I was merely... partaking in their strength. We shall speak no more of it. More importantly, let us begin the prayer."

Changing the subject, she pulled out a small vial containing a thick, translucent liquid. A sweet, carnal aroma wafted up with the steam.

"This is a specially formulated aroma oil. Its effects are heightened when applied directly to the skin."

Fiona drizzled the oil onto my back, her smooth hands beginning a slow, rhythmic massage. The warm oil spread across my skin as her fingertips expertly kneaded the tension from my muscles.

It really IS a fantasy massage parlor! And then...

"Fiona... your chest..."

"I'm pressing them against you on purpose. Men like this sort of thing, don't they? You can be honest with me."

Yes! I love it!

She leaned over me, her breasts squishing against my back as she worked. It was a calculated assault on my sanity. The oil made everything slick and supple; the soft yet elastic sensation transmitted through my back while her long hair brushed against my collarbone. Every time she moved, that sweet scent filled my lungs.

Between the sensation of her breasts and her breath hot against my ear, I was reaching my limit.

"Lord Hero, do not hold back. I will accept all of you. You may... release yourself."

Whispering with a heat that was the polar opposite of her usual ladylike demeanor, she gently pulled me up to face her. She gave me a seductive smile, her soft hands tracing a path from my chest down to...

"It must be getting quite painful by now, isn't it? Perhaps I should relax this area as well... Wait... Why is it... still small...?"

My skill, <Charm Resistance: Perfect Rejection>, had completely shut out her blatant "calculated seduction." Despite the feel of those soft breasts, my lower half remained as still as a mountain.

Force Sage Mode initiated. This is helpful, but it's so depressing! Here I was, in the exact situation I’d dreamed of in my past life—a beautiful, pure Saint trying to ravish me—and I felt absolutely nothing.

"Th-Thanks, Fiona. That really helped. My shoulders were killing me, and now my whole body feels lighter."

"How... my prayers had no effect? Impossible... Could it be... that the Hero is impotent...?"

She looked devastated, muttering to herself with the light gone from her eyes. I took the opportunity to bolt from the tent. I’m pretty sure she just made a horribly rude assumption about me, but I figured it was best to leave it alone.

Being a virgin AND impotent would be way too much to bear!

But peace was a luxury I didn't have. No sooner had I escaped Fiona than Cecilia intercepted me for our nightly "training." I barely had time to wipe the oil off my back before she dragged me away.

And tonight, Cecilia was... different. In a bad way.

"Lord Hero, let us begin our nightly discipline."

"Look... I might be late to the party on this, but what are you wearing? That's not even protecting anything."

"Ugh... This is a traditional garment passed down through my knightly order. Pay it no mind."

"Knights fight in that? That's just... perverted."

"Enough talk! Training begins now! Show me your form with some practice swings!"

She wasn't even wearing bikini armor anymore. It was a white micro-bikini. The "I need to see my muscles move" excuse had been completely abandoned. Because she was so well-endowed, every time she swung her sword, her chest bounced so violently I was terrified she’d pop right out of it.

"Phew... That was quite the workout."

"Yeah... tell me about it."

When it came to actual training, she was dead serious, which I appreciated. I just wish she’d stop glaring at my crotch with a disappointed scowl every time she noticed I wasn't reacting.

"I guess that's enough for tonight..."

"Wait. Would you accompany me a bit longer? I found the perfect place to soothe our fatigue."

I followed the nearly-naked Cecilia to a small spring. Steam was rising from the water.

"Is this... a hot spring?"

"They exist in your world as well, I believe? We call them 'Healing Springs.' Nothing beats a soak after physical exertion."

She grabbed my hand and led me into the open-air bath, the full moon shining brightly overhead.

"S-Surely it's not a good idea for us to go in together while you're dressed like that?"

"Wh-What are you saying? This is the ancient formal attire of a knight. There is no shame in it!"

Cecilia’s face was beet red as she made her excuses. We sat facing each other in the water. The warmth was incredible.

"You're right... Hot springs are the best."

"Heh, aren't they? I used to soak with the other female knights during long campaigns."

She smiled, her toned, tanned skin glistening under the moonlight and steam. Her wet hair clung to her neck, exposing her collarbone and the swell of her breasts. The heat had flushed her skin a rosy pink, giving her a soft, innocent allure that clashed with her usual sternness. The thin strings of that white bikini were practically digging into her skin, barely covering the essentials. Every ripple in the water offered a tantalizing glimpse behind the fabric, and I found my eyes drawn to her.

"Wait, I shouldn't..."

"Heh... Do you wish to see so badly? If... if the Lord Hero desires it, I suppose I could... show you... specifically... Ooh-la-la."

Cecilia struck a bashful pose, squeezing her breasts together... but it was incredibly awkward. And because it was flagged as "seduction," my skill kicked in, and I immediately regained my composure.

Yeah, she's definitely forcing this...

"Thanks, Cecilia. I feel totally refreshed. I can feel the blood flowing; I feel like a new man."

"Wh-What?! My perfect strategy... failed?!"

"Look... I don't know what's going on, but if you're worried about something, you can always talk to me."

As I spoke to the stunned Cecilia, her eyes went wide.

"Instead of being seduced... he pitied me... What a humiliation... But why... why does my body feel so hot?"

For some reason, Cecilia looked... excited.

Wait, why are you getting turned on by that? You're scaring me...

Still, something bothered me. When she was training, she was natural. But when she tried to come onto me, it felt forced.

I returned to my tent, head heavy with thoughts, only to find Iris poking her head out of her sleeping bag, looking miserable.

"Finally... where have you been? I was freezing!"

"Wait, this is my tent, isn't it? Aren't you being a bit too clingy?"

"Hah?! I'm only saying this so you don't get sick! It's not like I feel more relaxed sleeping with you or anything!!"

"Well, I just got out of the bath, so I might be a bit too warm..."

I gave her a wry smile as she spat out textbook tsundere lines, but then her eyes narrowed into a glare.

"Hey... You smell like Fiona and Cecilia... What were you doing?"

"J-Just talking! About various things!"

I sounded like a cheating husband making excuses. I suddenly remembered how my past life ended and felt a wave of self-loathing.

"Hmm. You have a pretty perverted look on your face for just 'talking.'"

"No, I don't..."

I couldn't exactly tell her I’d just been subjected to a nude oil massage and a mixed-bath session. Wait... am I turning into a scumbag?

"Fine, whatever. But... you're still being my body pillow tonight."

"I keep telling you, I'm a guy, you know?!"

I pulled back the covers and froze. It was no wonder I shouted in surprise. She was wearing lingerie... complete with cat ears and a tail.

The Loli! The Cat! The Erotic Lingerie! If it weren't for <Charm Resistance: Perfect Rejection>, I would have lost my mind right then and there.

"W-What are you wearing...?"

"Th-They're just pajamas! It's not like I'm wearing this because you said you liked cats or anything!"

She looked up at me with those wide, innocent kitten eyes. It actually made me happy that she’d remembered our conversation at the shop. Her sweet voice and shy gestures sent a faint tremor through my chest.

Wait... did my heart just skip a beat?

For a split second, I felt my skill waver against a temptation it usually blocked effortlessly.

Why...?

"I see, I see. You're just a lonely little kitten, aren't you, Iris?"

Trying to hide my agitation, I played it cool and gently stroked her head.

"I told you that's not it! You're just... just a human hot water bottle!"

She barked at me, her face bright red, but I just watched her with a smile until I closed my eyes. Soon, I heard the rhythmic, cute sound of her light snoring.

Still... why is everyone trying to seduce me?

I’d been skeptical before, but their actions tonight confirmed it. This wasn't about romance; they were doing this for some other reason. And I didn't like the idea of going along with it without knowing why. My goal was a "True Love Harem," after all.

Besides, I was worried that as long as I had this skill, I might never be able to truly "love" anyone. A harem without love wasn't what I wanted.

"But... that moment with Iris... what was that?"

When she’d come to my bed to try and seduce me like the others... my heart had definitely thumped when I held her. I didn't know what made her different from the other two. But if... just if... one of them was trying to seduce me because they actually liked me... I wanted to take that seriously.

Just as I was thinking that, a massive wave of mana washed over the tent.

"W-What is that?!"

"This mana... it's insane!"

Iris woke up at the same time I did. We scrambled into our clothes and dashed outside, meeting up with Cecilia and Fiona, who were already in combat stances. But...

"Wh-Why are the Lord Hero and Lady Iris in the same tent...?"

"I see... so the Lord Hero prefers that type... No wonder he has no interest in me."

Cecilia turned red with misunderstanding, while Fiona gave a bold, knowing laugh. You've got it all wrong!

"I-It's not like that! It was just cold, so we were sharing body heat!"

"Yeah! It's not like we were doing anything 'naughty'!"

"Heh, I understand. So she is the same as me, then? Regardless... this presence..."

"Yes. This much mana... whoever it is, they are no ordinary foe. Lord Hero, be on guard!"

The playful atmosphere vanished instantly. Iris raised her staff, Cecilia drew her sword, and Fiona clasped her hands in prayer, casting a detection barrier around us. I could tell from their reactions that this was on a completely different level from any monster we'd faced since leaving the castle.

The space at the edge of the forest distorted, and countless magic circles manifested. From each one, gales of fire, ice, lightning, and darkness swirled and shrieked toward us.

"I will not allow it! <Let There Be a Barrier>!"

Fiona’s chant brought forth an invisible shield, but as the different elemental spells slammed into it from three sides, cracks began to spiderweb across the surface.

"Ngh...! By striking with different attributes simultaneously, they're maximizing the strain on the barrier...!"

"Cecilia! You and I will cut down the spells! Iris, use your magic to find where the enemy is hiding!"

"Heh, a sound judgment, Lord Hero."

"Leave it to me! I don't know who they are, but I'll show them my magic is superior!"

The cracked barrier shattered. As the spells came raining down, Cecilia and I moved to intercept.

"Our nightly training wasn't for nothing!"

"Heh, indeed. You have been an apt pupil, Lord Hero."

"Stop being so gross...!"

With <Physical Prowess: Overdrive> boosting my stats to the limit and the muscle memory from my duels with Cecilia, we worked in perfect sync, cleaving through the oncoming magic.

"Now, leave the rest to me! <O Giant of Flame, Incinerate My Enemies>!"

A towering giant of fire erupted from Iris’s staff, breathing a torrent of white-hot flame.

"How's that?! The power of the high-tier magic I mastered in the last town! There's no use hiding!"

The flames roared, threatening to consume the entire forest. And boy, did they consume.

"That's a magnificent spell, but... the whole forest is on fire. Isn't this kind of bad?"

"Isn't this a bit much...? There are animals living here, you know."

"I feel like we're doing worse things than the Demon Lord's army right now..."

The forest was officially a localized inferno. Is this really okay...?

"You told me to do something about the enemy! Why are you backing off now?!"

"I meant find them, not firebomb the ecosystem!"

"If I burn it all down, they have to come out! Then we’ll know where they are!"

My mage is a total muscle-brain. I never dreamed she’d use scorched-earth tactics. Just as I was wondering how this would end, the flames were suddenly snuffed out, and a figure emerged from the smoke.

'Hmph. To think you would see through my illusions... I suppose you earned your title by defeating the Demon Lord after all.'

"Wait, what?"

"S-See?! I told you! All according to plan!" Iris shouted. Of course, none of us knew that, and given the cold sweat rolling down her face, she didn't either. But hey, results are results.

'To think you would detect the shadow of one of the Four Heavenly Kings! Impressive!'

Ignoring our confusion, a monstrous figure clad in a pitch-black robe and a grotesque mask revealed himself. The mana radiating from him was immense—easily on par with the Demon Lord.

"The Four Heavenly Kings... that robe... could you be...?"

'Indeed. Men call me the "Fallen Sage," a name they utter with more fear than respect. Do not grow arrogant simply because you defeated a brat with a bit of mana.'

At the mention of a "brat," Iris’s eyes narrowed.

The Fallen Sage... If I recalled, they were the Demon Lord’s inner circle. But calling the Demon Lord a "brat"... the hierarchy wasn't what I’d imagined.

"Of all people, the Fallen Sage... this is troublesome."

"Was he someone famous before he 'fell'?"

"Yeah. He was once hailed as the strongest mage in my country. A genius who mastered every element. I heard he betrayed us to join the Demon Lord’s army, but I never thought we’d meet him here..."

'Hahaha! Do not misunderstand. I swear no loyalty to a Demon Lord who relies on such petty tricks. I merely used that power for my own ends. And now, by slaying the Hero who defeated the Demon Lord, I shall stand at the apex of all monsters!'

The Fallen Sage sneered, and magic circles erupted around him again. At the same time, the ground shook as clay golems rose from the earth. Familiars, probably. But...

"A sage leaving himself this exposed is just sloppy!"

The moment his attention shifted toward Iris, I pushed my physical stats to the absolute limit and lunged. As Cecilia said, closing the distance is the basic strategy against a mage. Elemental magic rained down on me, but <The One Who Overcomes: Overload> already recognized the Fallen Sage's patterns and nullified the incoming spells.

"Foolish. Physical attacks are meaningless before me."

Just as he was about to unleash a more powerful spell, I was already in his guard. I accelerated with <Physical Prowess: Overdrive> and thrust the Holy Sword toward his mask.

"<Holy Sword, Grant Me Your Light>!"

The blade erupted with divine radiance, striking the mask, but it only managed to crack it slightly. It wouldn't break.

"Ho... so that is the blade that shattered the Demon Lord? To think you could scratch my <Absolute Defense>..."

"I can do more than scratch it! The next one ends you!"

"Heh heh heh... Did you truly think I would face the Hero who slew that brat without a plan?!"

The mask glowed with an eerie light. My vision distorted, and the world rapidly lost its color. Before me stretched an endless white void. And in the center stood a single girl.

"...Ayaka-nee...?"

The name slipped from my lips involuntarily. My first love from my previous life, my childhood friend, Ayaka. The one I wanted to confess to but never could. Why was she here...?

Ayaka looked at me with a worried expression and a small, fragile smile.

"Kamiya-kun... I wanted to see you. Actually... the truth is, I’ve always loved you."

It was the voice I’d heard in my dreams a thousand times. A nostalgic, gentle sound. My heart hammered against my ribs. The joy of seeing the person I thought I’d lost forever surged through me.

"Me too... Ayaka-nee... But someone like me... surely Kazuki was more..."

"I told you never to say that. I love you so much more than Kazuki-kun."

She said the words I’d always wanted to hear. She reached out her hand, and I’m sure my face was a picture of pathetic, lovestruck bliss.

"Hehe, really? I'm so happy, Kamiya-kun."

"!? !? !?"

Blushing at her cute smile, I instinctively looked away, and that’s when I saw my party members in the distance. They were frozen. Cecilia, defending against the golems, had her eyes wide with shock. Fiona, maintaining the barrier, bit her lip hard. Iris, mid-chant, looked at me with pure horror. In their eyes, I saw shock and... was that a flicker of jealousy? Not out of duty, but something else. But right then, I didn't care.

"Heh heh heh... This illusion reflects one's ideal partner. And as a genius, I can move that phantom as I please. Drown in my technique! Wallow in the ghost of your first love!"

The Fallen Sage’s boastful voice echoed, but it didn't reach my ears. My consciousness was entirely possessed by the phantom Ayaka.

"Hey, Kamiya-kun... I... I've always wanted to do this. Will you... take my first time?"

"Wait... here? Right now...?"

She began unbuttoning her blouse, her face flushed. I told her to stop, but I couldn't look away. The sight I’d fantasized about for years was unfolding before me. But as I stared, I heard a voice in the back of my mind.

Wait. Wasn't I... in the middle of a fight?

"Kamiya-kun, forget about the war. Just stay with me. Who cares about the people of this world?"

"Ayaka-nee..."

A jarring sense of wrongness struck me. I snapped back to reality. As the half-dressed phantom Ayaka moved to embrace me, alarm bells rang in my head. This was an illusion. It wasn't Charm, but it was powerful enough to sway the heart.

I activated the skill in the depths of my mind. I took complete control of the surrounding mana, dissecting the structure of the Sage’s illusion.

"Yeah. I thought this was too good to be true."

As the skill parsed the magic, I realized with chilling clarity that this Ayaka was nothing but a construct. I identified the core of the Fallen Sage's spell and crushed it.

"Wha—Impossible...!"

The Sage let out a strangled cry as I glared at him, my head clear. The phantom Ayaka vanished. Before me stood the grotesque, masked Fallen Sage.

"You... how did you break my illusion?!"

He faltered, eyes wide behind the mask. I didn't miss the opening.

"You've got a lot of nerve, defiling my first love! Ayaka-nee is a kind person. She would never say the people of this world don't matter!"

If the Sage hadn't made her say that, I might have stayed trapped in that "perfect" version of her forever. But he pushed it too far, and that inconsistency woke me up.

"This time, I'm ending it!"

I boosted my stats to the absolute limit again, closing the gap instantly. I funneled mana into the Holy Sword with <Mana Mastery: Infinity Mana>, swinging it down with the intent to shatter his mask and everything behind it.

"But my <Absolute Defense>... Why? Why won't it activate?!"

"I've already seen through it! <Holy Sword, Shatter the Wicked>!"

My strike pulverized the mask. Beneath it was the face of a surprisingly young man. He grimaced in agony.

"I-Impossible... Someone like me... I was going to take Loresia for myself... I hate to admit it, but... your plan was correct after all... Demon Lord..."

As he screamed his final words, he looked not at me, but at my companions behind me. His body, severed by the Holy Sword, began to crumble into ash. Having sold himself to the Demon Lord's army, he’d long since abandoned his humanity. I stood there, staring at the spot where the Fallen Sage had been.

"That was a nasty dream..."

As I frowned, remembering both Ayaka and my brother, I realized Fiona, Cecilia, and Iris were staring at me as if I were some kind of alien. Fortunately, the golems had collapsed the moment their master died.

'Impossible... the Fallen Sage was defeated so easily...?'

Just as I let out a sigh of relief, my ears—still boosted by <Physical Prowess: Overdrive>—caught a voice I’d heard once before. The voice of the Demon Lord. I spun around.

"What?!"

"Lord Hero... that 'Ayaka-nee' person... who exactly was she?"

Fiona’s voice was trembling as she asked. Cecilia said nothing, but her eyes were fixed on me with intense scrutiny. Iris was beet red, biting her lip as if she wanted to scream.

"I-It's nothing! I was just caught in the Sage's illusion!"

I tried to hide my agitation as my party members pressured me with a strange, heavy atmosphere. But I’d definitely heard that voice. It was the Demon Lord. And my <Mana Mastery: Infinity Mana> had caught a faint, unmistakable trace of mana.

That mana... it belonged to the Demon Lord.

Immediately after the Sage died, my skill detected it—a sliver of the same "wicked mana" I’d felt when I supposedly killed the Demon Lord, coming from one of my party members.

Those whispered words. The Demon Lord’s mana. And the way the Fallen Sage looked at one of them with regret, not at me.

And the Sage had called the Demon Lord a "brat." That implied the Demon Lord was a girl. When he’d said "relying on such petty tricks," he’d looked at us... because the Demon Lord was among us.

I forced a smile and checked on them, but cold sweat was trickling down my back.

"Is everyone okay? Any injuries?"

The three of them replied with "I am fine," "No issues," and "More or less," but their faces were masks of deep confusion.

I smiled at them, trying to act normal. But inside, I was screaming.

Is the Demon Lord... one of them?

The Demon Lord wasn't dead. I thought I’d won, but that must have been a double, or a weakened avatar. And now, the true body was hiding right here in my party.

Cecilia, Fiona, Iris. One of them was the Demon Lord. One of the three girls trying to seduce me.

I looked at their faces again.

Which one of you is it?

The question rattled my brain.

And more than that, a terrifying thought took hold. If the Demon Lord was among them, could I really trust them? Could I keep this journey going? And what if... what if I actually fell in love with her?

The heart that had been growing soft from their constant temptations froze solid in an instant.

Late that night, after the fierce battle, the group had taken rooms at a nearby inn. After a dinner where Kamiya seemed lost in thought, the three girls gathered in secret.

"Everyone, I have something serious to discuss. Could you spare a moment?"

Fiona started the conversation. Her face wasn't wearing its usual saintly smile; she looked tense.

"What is it? Has something happened to the Lord Hero?"

"He did look like he was brooding over something... probably thinking about that woman he saw in the illusion."

Cecilia frowned as she asked, while Iris, though looking annoyed, kept her eyes on Fiona.

"No. Not about the Lord Hero. About us."

Fiona checked to make sure they weren't being overheard, then lowered her voice.

"I know that both of you, like me, want the Hero’s seed. A power that can instantly slay even the Demon Lord... an heir sired by such a man would be peerless. It is only natural that the Church, Cecilia’s Order, and Iris’s Mages' Guild all desire it."

"S-Seed?! Fiona, what are you saying?!"

"Yeah! Th-That's perverted! It's not like I want to... with him..."

Fiona gave a small, knowing smirk at their flustered reactions before continuing.

"Your faces tell a different story. I know you've both been trying to seduce him. But do you think we can continue like this? The Lord Hero hasn't wavered, not for us, not even for a succubus. He likely has some sort of skill. Honestly, it's the only explanation for how he could ignore me after everything I did."

"Ugh... You have a point. That bikini armor... I suspect he truly saw it as nothing more than defensive gear."

Cecilia blushed as she recalled her failures.

"No matter how much I try to be proactive, he just treats me like a child..." Iris huffed, puffing out her cheeks.

"But remember the fight with the Fallen Sage. The Hero was clearly shaken. He was almost seduced."

"True... I've never seen him look so... lovestruck."

"Hmph. That pervert. I wonder what kind of dirty illusion he saw."

"The point is, the Lord Hero does have a weakness. That is why we three cannot afford to be at each other's throats. If we do not cooperate, far from making him look our way..."

Fiona paused, casting a meaningful look at the other two.

"...we might lose him to someone else entirely."

The color drained from Cecilia and Iris’s faces.

"What?! I will not allow it! I could tolerate losing to one of you, my comrades, but for some stranger to swoop in and take him? My pride as a knight would never recover!"

Cecilia gripped the hilt of her sword as if preparing for war.

"Me too! There's no way I'm letting someone else have him after all the work I've put in!"

Iris balled her fists, her tsundere act crumbling under the threat.

"Exactly. Which is why I propose a truce. As representatives of our respective factions, and as women, we should cooperate to make him fall for us. We shall have a temporary alliance. We won't interfere with each other’s moves... what do you say?"

"Cooperation...?" Cecilia crossed her arms, looking thoughtful. "Actually, it is not a bad strategy. I believe I have a manual in my bag about multiple women coordinated assaults..."

"I guess I have no choice. I’ll help. But only to make him fall for us! It's still a competition to see who he chooses first!"

Iris tried to sound reluctant, but she couldn't hide her excitement. Ever since the Hero had protected her and she’d seen his kindness, she hadn't been able to get him out of her head. The idea of being closer to him made her heart dance.

"I am glad we are in agreement. Though... it's not as if I completely trust you both, either."

"...You're actually pretty devious, aren't you?"

"Hehe. One cannot survive as a Saint on platitudes alone."

Fiona gave a dark, confident laugh as Iris gave her a judging look.

"So, do you have a plan? They say three squires are worth one knight, but we need a strategy."

"Of course. I noticed something during the fight with the Fallen Sage. The Hero's conversation with that phantom wasn't sexual. But he was completely captivated. Based on that..."

"Hmm. I see. That's worth a try."

"Indeed... it is like a campaign. One must change their tactics when the enemy's defenses are too stout."

And so, the "Honey Trap War" for Kamiya’s heart entered a new, coordinated phase—completely without his knowledge.