Vol. 11 Chapter 1.1 – Prologue: Hide Fortress

It stood quietly within a dark, deep forest.

It was an ancient, ancient castle. No one knew anymore who had built it, when it had been built or for what purpose.

Countless vines were entwined around the outer wall that separated the forest from the castle grounds. Yet the wall itself did not bear so much as a single scratch, much less show any sign of crumbling. Beneath the faint moonlight filtering through the forest, it gleamed black and cold, like the surface of a mirror.

The gate doors were gone, perhaps having already rotted away, leaving the entrance wide open.

Inside the outer wall stood six crude wooden huts, completely unlike the wall surrounding them. They appeared to have been hastily constructed.

Faint light leaked from them, smoke from cooking hung heavily in the air, and the voices of Shinigami could occasionally be heard.

Farther beyond them towered a single enormous mansion. Its exterior walls shone black and beautiful, much like the outer wall—or rather, even more so.

Almost no light could be seen within the mansion.

“…Nn… haa… haa… ah, nhaa… ah… aaah…”

Faint moans drifted from the great hall.

Unlike the rest of the mansion, countless candlesticks stood throughout the room.

Amid the flickering candlelight, a young woman lay upon a cold stone platform.

She wore a simple garment made from a single piece of cloth with a hole cut into it—a tunic. The upper and lower portions of the cloth were merely held in place with a cord around her hipbones, leaving the sides of her body exposed.

What was more, the young woman’s breasts were so enormous that they looked ready to burst, and the cloth could not fully conceal them.

Illuminated by the candlelight, it was plainly visible how her breasts sagged beneath their own weight.

“Ha, haaan… nn, nhaa… ah, aaahhh…”

The young woman moaned again.

At that moment, a faint light surrounding the platform flickered.

Sweat slowly trickled down her breasts, emphasizing their sag and the curves of her body.

“Ahfu…nn… ah, aaahhh…nooo…Ryo… Ryousuke-kuuun… nhaaah…”

Delirious murmuring mingled with her moans.

This time, a distinct light appeared around the platform. Countless runic characters could be seen forming a circle around it.

A spell formula.

It was a power manifested by Shinigami using human spiritual energy. Spell formulas had been engraved throughout the entire hall.

“Hmm. Just as there is a membrane that protects a maiden’s chastity, it would seem there is also a membrane that ought to protect a maiden’s innocence.”

A chair had been placed at the foot of the platform upon which the young woman slept.

It was a large chair with a tall back and thick armrests, all covered by the hide of a single bear. Though crude, it possessed a dignity befitting a throne.

“Or perhaps, Ookura Mina, your innocence is simply that unwavering and powerful.”

Meiz Galdabroeg picked up a horn cup from the side table and took a sip of wine.

“Those old fools from 《Týr Hagal, the Hail of the Thunder God》 were hiding some rather fine wine.”

As he swallowed the red liquid, Galdabroeg stared straight ahead.

The young woman—Mina—lay upon the stone platform.

From Galdabroeg’s position, he had a clear view of her enormous breasts rising prominently from her body.

The highest peaks of her breasts were drawn taut beneath the fabric, like the ridgeline of a mountain.

At the point where the ridge reached its highest elevation between its right and left edges, there was a small protrusion. The cloth was stretched taut from that protrusion.

Whenever Mina moaned, it would occasionally tremble along with her voice. The faint candlelight accentuated every movement, making it the finest possible accompaniment to Galdabroeg’s wine.

“I never tire of this sight. Large breasts truly are wonderful. Large breasts paired with small nipples—it is precisely within that imbalance that beauty exists. Do you not agree?”

At Galdabroeg’s words, the door quietly opened.

A tiny, tiny young woman stood there with her head bowed.

“What business do you have? I am currently savoring the life force of Ookura Mina, the 『Irregular』, while enjoying the sight of her as well.”

“My apologies.”

A young woman who looked only a few years past ten—Helga Kivileft—entered the room after bowing once. She was dressed in hot pants and a lightweight hooded jacket.

“However, we’re still only testing the spell formula’s operation before the main ritual. There is no need for you to remain here the entire time, Galdabroeg.”

With a stack of documents tucked under one arm, Helga strode briskly toward him—tsuka-tsuka.

“Indeed, at present, the amount of life force—spiritual energy—being taken from Ookura Mina and transferred into 《Fafnir》 should be negligible.”

“That cannot be solely because we are still conducting the test. The amount being seized is lower than anticipated. Ookura Mina is unconsciously resisting the theft of her life force—her feelings for Kaga Ryousuke.”

“…Most likely.”

Helga, who had stopped beside the throne, gave a small nod.

“And that stack of documents contains the solution?”

The stack of documents was handed to Galdabroeg’s casually outstretched hand. He flipped through them, then tossed them onto the side table without saying a word.

“You’re rejecting all of them?”

“Worthless.”

Galdabroeg rose and walked over to Mina’s side. Looking down at her from above, he could clearly see how her breasts sagged beneath their own weight.

From Mina’s slender frame, her breasts drooped and spilled broadly out to either side.

“Helga. When a man takes a woman for himself, petty tricks are not what he needs.”

Galdabroeg extended his fingertips toward her breasts, then gave a slight shrug and withdrew his hand. He returned to the throne and sat down once more.

“Helga. Change Ookura Mina out of that dreary tunic. Dress her in a manner befitting someone who is to be taken by me.”

“Then I shall immediately prepare the finest dress available.”

“Are you an idiot?”

“Wha—”

Helga’s expression changed. Glancing briefly at her face, Galdabroeg let out a small sigh and spoke with a yare-yare.

“Listen. Ookura Mina may be a human—livestock belonging to us—but she possesses magnificent, beautiful breasts worthy of my admiration. What use is there in choosing an outfit that does not emphasize them?”

“R-Right…”

“Furthermore, she is a precious existence whose immense life force as an 『Irregular』 will activate 《Fafnir》 and transform me into a dragon. Such a young woman will lose her feelings and her power to live as a human—in other words, she will be reduced to an empty shell. At the very least, should she not spend her final moments dressed in an outfit that allows Ookura Mina to shine at her most beautiful? Would that not be an act of mercy?”

“…………….Yes.”

After staring at Galdabroeg for a long moment, Helga voiced her agreement as though sighing.

“Then what kind of outfit should I prepare? A brassiere?”

“No.”

“Then rough rope?”

“Not bad, but I am not in the mood for it.”

“Bondage wear?”

“She does have a face that arouses one’s sadistic urges, but no.”

“Body painting.”

“That is hardly clothing. Besides, she is unconscious. She would feel no shame from being exposed. How dull.”

“…Adhesive bandages.”

“That would make me a pervert.”

“…………….”

Helga opened her mouth for an instant, then fell silent.

“Yare-yare. Truly, having an incompetent comrade is such a burden.”

Galdabroeg took a sip of wine. With his elbows resting on the armrests, he clasped his hands together and rested his chin upon them.

He stared intently as Mina’s breasts rose, fell, and swayed with each breath.

They truly were magnificent breasts.

It would be a waste to keep them hidden.

No—more importantly…

“With this garment, I cannot see her cleavage.”

“Because it is covered. Then perhaps a dress with a low neckline?”

“I will generally be sitting here throughout the ritual. I would not be able to see her neckline from this position.”

“…………….True. Then a swimsuit should be fine.”

“Not bad. However, it covers too much surface area. You see, I also enjoy watching sweat trickle over breasts.”

“Just do whatever you want.”

Helga inadvertently let her true feelings slip, but they never reached Galdabroeg’s ears.

“Hmm. Prepare a micro bikini.”

“What is that?”

“It is a swimsuit that barely conceals the private parts—one that hardly serves the purpose of a swimsuit at all. With that, no one can accuse me of leaving her naked, yet I can still admire her as though she were. Indeed, it is an outfit befitting Ookura Mina, whose magnificent, beautiful breasts are worthy of admiration, as she approaches her end.”

“…………………………”

Helga simply nodded in silence.

“Fufufufu… fuhahahahaha! Ookura Mina in a micro bikini, writhing in agony as every one of her feelings and all of her life force are stolen away… Excellent. This makes my blood boil—does it not make my blood boil? Kukukuku… Kaga Ryousuke, I wonder whether you will make it here in time. Kukuku… hahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

Galdabroeg threw his head back in booming laughter and drained the wine from his cup in a single gulp.

At the end of his gaze, Mina was moaning in pain…

“Nnngh… ah… aaah… Ryousuke… kun… nn, nhaaah…”