Chapter 135

Translator: Lizz

Proofreader: Xemul

Anyway, we have to find the culprit of this incident and deal with them .

Lapis went deeper into the forest with Loren accompanying her .

She actually also wanted to bring Klaus along to increase fighting power, as he was still able to behave normally under this circumstance . But if she did, the three girls who were affected by this phenomenon would become a problem . Of course, they couldnt leave them and carrying three unconscious people would seriously affect their mobility . If something were to happen, it would become troublesome . As a last resort, Lapis had ordered Klaus to watch over the girls and gone into the forest with Loren, or rather Shayna .

As Lorens physical strength and stamina were pretty much retained, Shayna was able to move fast enough to keep up with Lapis, who was leading the way .

Onee-san, Im sorry but-

Would you stop with that onee-san?

Interrupting Shaynas attempt to talk to her, Lapis stopped and turned around . The expression on her face somehow looked like both anger and perplexity .

Onee-san, I cant call you that?

Ah no, its alright if Shayna-chan calls me that, but your appearance is now Loren-sans, isnt it? To be called onee-san by a well-trained swordsman bigger than me is in no way comfortable

The tone of her voice had returned to normal . Lapis told Shayna in an embarrassing voice, as she didnt seem to notice it .

But onee-san, I cant speak like onii-san .

I wont tell you to imitate him, but Can you manage somehow?

Not sure if it was discouraging or motivation-dampening but to Lapis, Shaynas way of speaking was a more serious problem than the strange phenomenon happening in the forest right now . Unless she managed to do something about it, she didnt think she would be able to muster up the energy to face the culprit of all this .

I-Ill try?

Please do . It directly affects my spirit .

So, uhm, Lapis-sasan? Theres something I think we have to do before we deal with the culprit .

Even though she still stuttered, Shayna seemed to have really considered her words . Lapis could accept it more or less, and prompted her to continue .

To be honest, Lapis didnt really enjoy being called san by something with Lorens face, but when she thought about it, she didnt really want Shayna to address her without any honorifics either, so she couldnt say anything .

The villages and soldiers, if we dont find them first then with their number, they will be a hindrance later when we face the culprit, wont they?

I dont think so .

Lapis immediately rejected Shaynas suggestion . It was so decisive and immediate that Shayna tilted her head and wondered if there was any reason behind . Lapis explained to her:

This strange phenomenon doesnt seem to be caused by people being manipulated . I think we wont be able to make the villagers and soldiers move at will under the current circumstances .

This is like a hive mind behavior . So theyre not being controlled?

Shayna examined the current happening in her own way . After all, this was something that could easily incapacitate her host Loren . For her own safety as well as for her host to be able to return, she had to figure out what exactly had attacked the villagers and soldiers by affecting their minds . She was wondering if those affected were being controlled, but Lapis seemed to disagree .

This is not a systematic mind control, I think .

Lapis had started walking again; she told Shayna, who was walking behind her, in a preaching tone .

When controlling others, if the ones under control are not in a stable state by themselves, itll become a laughable situation even if the control is good .

It was impossible to control someone who was acting wildly . If one could be controlled, they wouldnt act wildly, and it would be strange if they didnt move in some sort of order . From Lapis point of view, Loren had seemed to be trying to endure something out of control before switching with Shayna; it was difficult to imagine controlling him in such a state .

So its some factor that makes everyone act wildly?

That information doesnt remain inside Loren-san, does it?

Lapis tried asking with some anticipation, and Shayna shook her head .

I rarely synchronize with onii-sans senses . I could feel that onii-san was very flustered before we switched, but I dont know anything about his state of mind .

I see . Ive anticipated this Its just like my guess .

So you guessed it .

Hearing that, Lapis puffed up with just a tiny bit of pride . Loren would have said something about this, but unfortunately it was Shayna in Lorens body now, and Shayna just intently waited for her next words . After keeping her proud expression for a while, Lapis just gave up and quietly sighed .

This is so difficult

Eh? Eh? Did I make a wrong reaction just now?

If I make such an expression, Loren-san would interrupt and say something like I know, or dont do useless things .

Im sorry, Lapis-sasan I-I will try harder .

Shayna clenched her fists in a motivational pose; but as it was Lorens body, it looked somehow eerie .

Well, its alright . Talking about guessing, judging from the girls reaction, I guess this is something related to libido getting out of control .

Libido?

Think of it like a man pushing a pretty woman down and keeping at it all night, or a woman being pushed down by a handsome man and pushed back, and they grappled with each other in a mess .

Lapis just wanted to give a super simple explanation to Shayna, who looked like she didnt really understand . But the question Shayna threw back at her made her face froze:

Lapis-sasan also wants to do that?

This is not the time to talk about what someone wants to do or not .

Lapis couldnt answer that frank and pure question, so she changed the subject . She was furious at herself for being unable to answer it immediately and decently, but her cheeks also became hot due to the feeling of being made fun of by that question of Shayna, who was certainly younger than her in age, not to mention in race .

W-well, this somehow seems to be more about lust than libido . And with the idleness and gluttony, I can kind of guess the culprit of this incident .

Lapis-san, are you alright? Your face is a bit red .

A-Anyway! I dont expect the villagers and soldiers to be manipulated to attack us, so lets leave this for now .

With that decisive declaration and a glare from Lapis, Shayna lost the will to delve deeper into that subject and just nodded .

So, lets make finding the culprit our top priority .

Haa But Lapis-san, this is so difficult to say

What is it? Even if its difficult to say, it might be something important . Please just speak clearly!

As Lapis said it would be a problem if she didnt tell her something because it was difficult to, Shayna pointed to the trees and said:

I think were surrounded .

Eh? You dont say

Lapis looked around in panic . She had thought that she didnt see or hear anyone, but now she realized for the first time that the gaps between the trees were full of human figures who looked to have completely lost their senses . They were surrounding her and Shayna .

I, of all people

Sis no, Lapis-san, please hold on! Everyone makes mistakes once or twice .

That tone, with that face makes me feel so exhausted No, its alright now . Lets vent my anger on them .

Lapis said, half desperate, and raised her left hand .

Thinking that it was becoming more an annihilation before going forward rather than a retreat, Shayna reached for the greatsword on her back and lifted it up . Regardless of who was inside the body, Lorens well-trained arm easily raised the sword; even though she knew nothing about the techniques, Shayna thought she would be able to at least swing the sword around to defend herself against anyone coming near .

Until onii-san comes back, I wont let anyone touch Lapis-san, even just a finger!

With a slashing sound, Shayna unsheathed the sword in one take . She was in a ready-to-fight stance when she saw the figures coming out from the trees and involuntarily gulped . Lapis was also in a fighting stance with fists clenched, and she could also sense her gulping .

Human figures were coming out from the trees shadows . There were only twenty of them, but the problem was how they dressed .

Wh-what

Lapis couldnt continue after the interrogative word .

That was not unreasonable: Of all things, the ones who came out were all men and looked to be a mixed group of soldiers and villagers based on their attire, and while there were no problems about their upper bodies, they didnt wear even just a single piece of clothes on their lower bodies . In short, the things that shouldnt be seen were swinging and danging in plain sight .

Even Lapis was at a loss for words due to the surprise of it, and Shayna switched to holding the greatsword with one hand while covering her eyes with the other .

Lapis-san?! What on earth is happening?!

Even if you ask me As theyre under the influence of lust, maybe to be able to go at it right away? Or maybe they come here right after doing it and dont have time to put anything on?

Wha-wha-wha-what should we do?! I cant fight while looking at those things!

Aside from being very young, Shayna had originally come from a good family; asking her to fight while seeing mens bare lower bodies was impossible .

As for Lapis, her mind had already been not-calm due to the thing with Loren; now that she was suddenly presented with such a sight, she had absolutely no confidence that she could keep her composure .

Lets draw back! Lets go refresh our mind and body somewhere .

Roger . Well do a strategic withdrawal!

It was more running away than withdrawing, but once a plan had been made, Lapis was quick to execute it . She immediately used <<Force>> to clear a corner, then grabbed Shaynas hand and ran off through that opening .