Riftiel, a woman considered a future executive of Vinyudan, had a dream.
– All women should have equal mana!
This was both the motto of Vinyudan and her personal aspiration.
There was no need to elaborate on what “equal mana” truly meant.
Mana, after all, symbolized a woman’s innate motherhood and nurturing qualities.
– We must destroy that vile Bread Academy!
She aimed to dismantle the so-called Academy that claimed equality yet perpetuated discrimination from the moment of admission.
Her resolve was born when she was 17, stepping onto the train bound for Esdinas Academy. The station staff, glancing at her chest, muttered, “That must be tough for you.”
She wasn’t entirely oblivious.
But she hadn’t expected the divide to be so stark.
Even in a world revolving around nobles, the gifted, and the so-called elite, an institution proclaiming itself a sanctuary of education would deprive people of opportunity?
Outrage at such hypocrisy drove her to join Vinyudan.
After joining, she felt as though she’d awakened to a hidden truth.
The world was flawed.
Surrounded by like-minded individuals, she decided to share their vision.
Thus, the plan to attack the resort was born.
Even though their target was Silverstar, and retaliation from Silverstar Trading Company was daunting, wasn’t their wealth also a product of privilege and the mana they’d been nurtured with since birth?
Their assets deserved to be redistributed for equality.
If the executives’ plans succeeded, Vinyudan would emerge victorious.
– I am the other you.
Sometimes, she listened to the voice whispering from within.
– Don’t you wish to level the world?
The voice, sweet like that of a demon, offered her a proposal.
– Lend me your body briefly, and I will fulfill your desire. I will merge everything into one and distribute it equally.
It was a dream-like proposition.
Yet in those dreams, she witnessed herself firing enchanted bullets at women, the bullets absorbing their mana and reducing their size.
The women in uniform at Esdinas Academy screamed, their mana diminished far below what they’d had upon admission.
It was a world she yearned for.
Executive Estella assured her that such a world was possible if she followed her lead.
But…
What had the executive done?
What had Vinyudan’s executive, Estella, really done?
Despite knowing she was captured by the enemy, Estella abandoned her and fled.
It was an unspoken rule among Vinyudan members that their captors wouldn’t outright kill them.
But emotions are fragile, easily bruised by even the smallest betrayals.
Already wavering, Riftiel couldn’t help but falter further when an executive betrayed her trust.
– I will soothe your wounded heart.
Though she didn’t say it aloud, the words lingered in her mind.
Standing before that man, assisting in defeating an S-rank monster, she realized something profound.
The actions of the executives and Vinyudan weren’t all that different from those of the S-rank monster they were fighting.
If anything, they were worse—manipulating human emotions to burden others with the guilt of murder, forcing those unwilling to shoulder that guilt into terrorism.
– Listen to me!
A voice within her cried out.
– I am an Angel! I am your guide to a new path, and that man is a servant of the Demon King!
The voice denounced the mysterious man who promised to nurture motherhood for all.
– Do not trust him! Resist the sweet words of the Demon! Trust the Goddess, and trust me!
The voice grew increasingly desperate.
Had she continued her life as just another member of Vinyudan, she likely would have followed that voice.
But she wouldn’t live like that anymore.
She would leave Vinyudan and seek a new life.
Instead of a lifetime of terror under Executive Estella, she would find herself, build her body, and live with reason and companionship.
– Oh, small one! Know that your modest chest is your charm!
“Shut up.”
Riftiel resolved to reject the voice in her heart.
And that sentiment, she believed, wasn’t hers alone.
“Hey… you too?”
“Yeah… me too.”
Disappointment with Vinyudan.
But this disappointment wasn’t mere resignation for lack of alternatives—it was because they had found new hope.
“Let’s trust one more time.”
“Yeah. It’s too soon to give up everything… after all, we’re still relatively young.”
Vinyudan’s executives.
Despite their outward appearances, most of them were in their early to mid-thirties.
On the other hand, the majority of Vinyudan members were in their early twenties.
There was still hope for those who weren’t yet executives.
And now, the apostle of that hope stood before them.
Though surrounded by buxom women, he wouldn’t reserve hope only for them.
Hadn’t he already bestowed the miracle of the “Magic Pants” to countless men?
Who knows?
Perhaps he’d invent something akin to a “Magic Bra” as well.
If so, perhaps even after thinking they’d stopped growing…
“Hope.”
It was harder to believe in than the destruction promised by the inner voice’s vision of leveling the world, but precisely because it was harder, it was all the sweeter.
“You can still grow.”
Even if hope faltered for a moment, it hadn’t disappeared yet.
* * *
‘Is that… angels screaming?’
The [Gerrquan Wiperus] was dead.
Under Instructor Esta’s sword strike, its head split open, spilling its vast reserves of ink as it breathed its last.
The battle was over.
“We won!!”
Evangeline shouted in joy, while Yunia and Ludmila, maintaining their composure for a moment, finally lowered their weapons.
There was no need to ask, “Did we get it?”
Swoosh!
Instructor Esta swung her sword downward, something ejecting from her strike as she leapt back.
The ink spewing from the body of Gerrquan Wiperus began to corrupt even its own form, turning its massive frame pitch black.
Landing on the ground, Esta extended her hand upward.
Thud.
A massive magic stone, larger than a basketball, landed in her grasp.
Though the stone was covered in black ink, it evaporated in an instant under the power of the mana emanating from Esta’s hand.
Fssshhh.
At the same time, the black ink splattered across the resort began to disappear one drop at a time.
Though it looked like ink, its nature was a curse—a lingering malice tied to the beast.
As the surrounding corruption faded, the Gerrquan Wiperus began to fold in on itself.
Crack.
Its massive body, entirely engulfed in the black curse, started to shrink and contort violently, its once-mighty form crumpling into a grotesque mass.
No matter how powerful a beast, without its magic stone—its true heart, the source of its mana—it could not survive.
And thus, the curse it emitted consumed its own body, leading only to its annihilation.
Declaration.
“We’ve won.”
“…Whew.”
“Senior Yurha, first—”
“Amazing!!”
Before the next sentence could form, Yurha leapt forward and embraced me.
“!!”
“S-Senior!!”
Ludmila gasped in shock, and Yunia stammered, calling out Yurha’s name.
“Incredible! To extract an S-rank magic stone so perfectly! Without a single fracture or damage—this is the first time anyone has done it!!”
Yurha, her face flushed with excitement, hugged me tightly and began rubbing her face against mine.
“Hah, I guess it’s all about making money.”
Evangeline, dismissing her summoned bear, landed on the ground and shook her head in disbelief.
Watching her, I couldn’t help but think, ‘She’s still so innocent.’
Yurha Silverstar.
It was clear Yurha was genuinely happy, but this wasn’t her usual way of expressing it so intensely.
Physical contact like this wasn’t just innocent enthusiasm. She was probably trying to throw off my composure to subtly negotiate the price of the S-rank magic stone later, using her body to make up part of the payment if necessary.
You could call it a “service” if you wanted to.
“Senior Yurha, please calm down for now. There are many eyes on us.”
“Oh, right, right! Sorry!”
Yurha fanned her face and stepped back, her gaze momentarily dipping downward before retreating.
It seemed we had briefly brushed against each other.
She had hugged me tightly enough to press against my stomach, yet now she was embarrassed by the lightest contact.
‘Just wait until the next surprise—how much will she be shocked then?’
The profit wasn’t going to end with just the S-rank magic stone.
“Senior Yurha.”
“Y-Yes?”
“We’ve defeated an S-rank monster. Naturally, we should have a party, right?”
“O-Of course! After all, this resort is meant for parties…”
“Then everyone who participated in the raid should enjoy the party together, shouldn’t they?”
“…What?”
“Ahem.”
I climbed onto the edge of the pool’s wall, spreading my arms wide toward Vinyudan, who stared back at me with dumbfounded expressions.
“Let’s celebrate our victory together. For today, let’s forget our differences and enjoy everything this resort has to offer.”
“W-Well, uh, that’s…?”
“That sounds nice, but…”
Yunia pointed to someone.
“That person…?”
There was one exception.
“Don’t be ridiculous! Vinyudan, what are you all doing?!”
While the curses on others had dissipated, there was still one person entirely covered in the dark, censorious curse.
“Don’t fall for their sweet temptations! We are proud members of Vinyudan! It’s an honor to have nothing—ah, ahh! What are you—ugh!”
With a thwack, one of the Vinyudan members struck Executive Estella on the back of the head.
Without any special gear to protect her, Estella collapsed immediately, and the other members began glancing nervously at her unconscious body.
“So, uh… given our outfits, is it okay to just enjoy ourselves?”
One of the women looked at me with uncertainty.
I gestured toward Yurha.
“Senior Yurha. These folks might come here for their honeymoon someday after getting married, don’t you think?”
Catching my cue, Yurha stepped up beside me.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. Swimwear isn’t sold exclusively to Esdinas Academy students, you know.”
“Oh, then…?”
“We’ll lend you some. In fact, I’ll make sure it’s free of charge.”
Spreading her arms wide like I had, Yurha smiled warmly.
“We’ve prepared plenty of one-piece swimsuits and dresses for everyone. Feel free to choose any design you like.”
“…”
“This place can accommodate up to 500 people, after all.”
Raid End.
It was only fair to celebrate with comrades who had fought alongside us in this 5-star hotel resort.
“Senior Yurha.”
“What is it now?”
“Just one small thing.”
I leaned in and whispered to Yurha.
“Could you lend me a pair of sunglasses?”
“…Huh?”
