Chapter 51 - The Mark of the Beloved by Spirits

"The Flame Spirit says he'll give me the secret treasure, 'Pyro Stigma'!"

"No, I don't need it!"

If I foolishly accept it and by some mistake it falls into Lespar's hands and he brings it back, he'll become the King!

"Receive it! The Mark of Flame!"

Crimson light burst forth from the Flame Spirit's fingertip.

The light stretched out in a straight line like a laser and hit me.

Something like a character was carved into my chest where the laser struck...

"The ritual is complete. The Mark of Flame has surely been carved upon you."

"Um, what is this...?"

"You don't know? This is the mark of one acknowledged by the spirits, the crest of Napalm, the Flame Spirit: 'Pyro Stigma,' the Sacred Mark of Flame."

This is it?!

The Flame Spirit's secret treasure wasn't a physical object but a carved crest.

"We spirits bestow our marks and blessings upon those we favor. You, who have been marked with 'Pyro Stigma,' shall henceforth possess the blessing of flame, repelling all fire disasters and gaining the ability of heat."

"That's a good deal, isn't it?"

"My brethren and compatriots, the spirits of earth, water, wind, light, and darkness, will also carve their marks on those they favor. If you obtain all six spirit marks, something good might happen."

"Is it like a stamp rally?"

The rune-like mark carved on my right chest flickered with a red light for a while, then eventually dimmed as if falling asleep.

However, the mark itself didn't disappear.

It would probably be engraved on my body for the rest of my life.

"I feel like I've received something grand...!"

What would happen if I, an attendant, got the crest that was originally meant for someone taking on the King's Trial?

Huh? That's right!

Lespar should still be wandering this volcanic region, trying to obtain the 'Pyro Stigma'!

What if he encounters the Flame Spirit and, by some chance, is favored...?

"Flame Spirit! Um, listen!"

I hurriedly explained the trivial matters of human power struggles to the Flame Spirit. I wondered if it was alright to tell such worldly affairs to a higher-dimensional being, but it was a big deal for us, so I became desperate.

After stumbling through my explanation and finally feeling like I'd conveyed it, the Flame Spirit...

"Nonsense."

...Cut me off with a single word!

Right, from the perspective of a spiritual being who governs the world's workings!

"Nonsense. There is no reason for spirits to interfere in the petty, desire-filled squabbles of humans."

"You are absolutely right!"

"However, the scoundrel who came to receive my mark at Laeva's behest, that's him, isn't it? The one who stabbed you from behind, isn't it?"

"That's correct!"

Flame Spirit, did you witness that moment?

"Brutality is fine, but a coward who ambushes from behind and fears counterattack is not to my liking. Rest assured, I will never favor such a scoundrel."

"Thank you!!"

So, the possibility of that bastard Lespar becoming king is now zero!

Serves him right!!

"Now that you're relieved, I'll send you to that important enemy."

"Eh? Why?"

"Since you were stabbed and almost killed, you must seek revenge. Is the hero who received my mark going to just let his enemy go?"

This spirit, surprisingly, is a pain in the neck.

To impose her own ways on someone she's given her blessing to.

Of course, I don't intend to let this go. If I'm hit, I'll hit back twice as hard, but I'd like to carry out my revenge with a broader perspective.

Human society has laws, after all.

"For that purpose, I'd like to keep an eye on his movements, but...!"

"Very well. Then, I shall move you to a spot somewhat distant from him, where you can observe his movements without being noticed."

"Ah, wait a minute."

The Flame Spirit was about to use some kind of transfer magic, but I interrupted and hugged the fiery female body.

Then, without permission, I pressed my lips against hers.

"Hwah?! Mmmwahhhhhh~?!"

A passionate deep kiss, like an affirmation of love between lovers.

After confirming there was no resistance, I pushed her down, spread her right and left legs, exposing her crotch, and inserted my erect penis into the hole within.

"Nng-oah! ❤️❤️ Ah-hic! ❤️❤️ Hwaaahhh-aaaaahhh...! ❤️❤️"

The sound of flesh striking the spirit's fiery body.

"Since we're here, let's have sex one more time before we go. It's not often you get to experience a spirit pussy, so I want to thoroughly work it one more time."

"You shouldn't suggest it after already putting it in...! ❤️❤️ To prioritize lust over revenge on your enemy, you're a hopeless hero...! ❤️❤️ However, if that's your unique characteristic as a hero, then it's righteous to spread your lust as you please."

"Then, without hesitation, I will use the Flame Spirit as my sex doll and violate her."

No, since it's a Flame Spirit, not a "meat doll" but a "flame doll"?

Well, whatever.

"O-go-heeeeee! ❤️❤️ My pussy, recreated with flame spirit energy, is being ravaged! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Being made into a toy to generate pleasure at will by human lust and carnal desire! ❤️❤️"

It's different from humans, but sex with a spirit is still good!

This pleasure is making me awaken to interspecies relations.

Soon after, another volcano erupted, signifying the spirit's climax.

After thoroughly enjoying sex with the Flame Spirit, I decided it was time to seriously crush the enemy and took action.

Guided by the Flame Spirit, we went over hills, crossed rivers, and circled around, and I could faintly make out their figures in the distance.

"Be quiet. We've approached quietly, circling around so as not to be noticed."

We moved to a high vantage point, like a steep hill, within the volcanic region.

From there, we could see the scene below to some extent, and at a certain spot, there was bustling activity.

"Ah, it's that shitty prince."

More accurately, not a prince, but the Queen's nephew.

However, Lespar, who is undoubtedly a scumbag, seemed to be in a precarious situation.

"Are they fighting something?"

"Indeed, it's a salamander."

Lespar's party seemed to be under attack by some kind of strange entity.

Something huge.

Something covered in flames.

We were attacked by that kind of thing right after stepping into the volcanic zone, so it wasn't surprising the second time.

But this was clearly a big one, different from the small fireballs that attacked us first.

It was enormous.

A giant flame lizard.

It was large enough to be called a dragon, but given its skeletal structure and the way its head flicked its tongue, it was a lizard.

A giant lizard covered in flames, meaning a salamander!?

"Is that also a subordinate of the Flame Spirit?"

"A Guardian, a clone created by dividing my power."

Napalm, the Flame Spirit, explained.

"Sometimes, unscrupulous humans who seek to defeat me and gain fame enter this land. It's troublesome to deal with each of them, so I have such Guardians roam around to automatically incinerate them."

"I see...!"

"The Guardians vary in strength. The 'hitodama' (human-shaped flames) you first defeated are beginners, while that Salamander boasts superior strength. If one is strong enough to defeat a Salamander, I might acknowledge their bravery and deign to face them myself."

However, it wasn't Lespar himself clashing with the giant flame lizard.

It was his companion, the giantess Martha.

Even the great knight was struggling against the giant beast enveloped in flames, but...

"Is Lespar just cowering in the back again, not fighting himself?"

Wasn't it like that when he fought the hitodama too?

He usually struts around like a knight commander, but when it comes to actual combat, he shows no sign of being useful.

Hasn't he achieved numerous feats as a knight commander?

"No way...?"

Was that also a lie?

Is he secretly rewriting Martha's victories, who is loyal to him, as his own?

His bellowing voice could be heard from afar.

"What are you doing, Martha! Hurry up and crush that beastly lizard! It'll be harder for me to rewrite it later as me having instantly killed it!"

Just as I thought.

He's giving all his achievements away, so why does Martha serve him so devotedly?

Did Martha resolve herself at her master's exhortation? She dropped her weapon and hugged the giant flame lizard!?

"Guaaaaaaahhh!!"

What a suicidal act.

The Salamander, created by the incarnation of flame, is itself a mass of fire; if a person touches it, they'll be burned to ashes by the intense heat!

Indeed, even through her armor, Martha's armor began to glow red and melt, scorching her skin.

It seemed Martha would be roasted alive, but before that...?!

"Ugh-aaaaahhh!!"

She crushed the giant flame lizard!

With her long, thick arms, crack-snap-squelch!

"Ho, well done."

The Flame Spirit, watching with me, also looked impressed.

"Indeed, my clones are given form by flame, so they do not possess the robustness of physical beings. To exploit that weakness and crush it with brute force is splendid."

However, the cost was high.

Martha, who had been in full contact with the flames, suffered extensive burns all over her body and collapsed on the spot.

Even though she fought with her life on the line, her master Lespar didn't even show concern...

"Oh, oh-oh-oh...!"

He seemed fixated on something.

In the center of the scattered and crushed Salamander's remains, was there a particularly shining ruby-like jewel?

"What is that?"

"That's the Salamander's core. My clone need even a small tangible form like that to materialize in the material world."

Lespar picked up the flame core and burst into laughter.

"This is it! This jewel must be the secret treasure 'Pyro Stigma'! This dazzling crimson glow! It's worthy of the name of the secret treasure!"

No, it's not.

"So that flame dragon was the Flame Spirit Napalm! Defeating a spirit and obtaining its secret treasure! This is truly befitting the deeds of a hero!"

"Huh?"

At his distant remark, the Flame Spirit got angry.

"To equate me with a mere clone—what impudence! My strength and beauty are beyond comparison with a salamander. Do you want to experience it for real? Huh?"

"Flame Spirit, please calm down!"

If Lespar just misunderstood it on his own, that's perfectly fine.

He can just present the fake and get disqualified.

After celebrating for a while, he finally went to Martha, who was half-dead from severe burns all over her body.

"Kukukukukuku...! Well done, Martha. Thanks to you, I've successfully obtained the 'Pyro Stigma.' With this, my becoming the next king is certain!"

That jewel is not the "Pyro Stigma".

"O-o-oh... Congratulations, Lord Lespar...!"

Even with fatal injuries, she still didn't forget her loyalty to Lespar.

Martha's devotion here is rather frightening.

"You've been incredibly useful in getting me this far. I wouldn't have climbed this high without you. You are truly the first contributor to my path to kingship."

"Such undeserving words, sir...!"

"That's precisely why..."

An unprecedented evil smile spread across Lespar's face.

"You're no longer needed. Die here. That will be your last act of loyalty to me."

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