Episode 15: No matter who the opponent is, I'll settle things

　A bandit came out of the tent, grabbed a silver-haired girl in a headlock, and held her hostage at knifepoint.

"Oh come on, Aria!"

"Lady Ilia!"

　It appears that the captured girl is Ilia.

　The girl, who appeared to be a junior high school student, was not injured and did not appear to have been assaulted.

　I guess... they were being used as hostages to demand a ransom, and their safety was guaranteed to a minimum extent.

"If you move I'll kill this brat! Don't even squeak an inch!"

"ok……"

　A knife is held to Ilia's neck.

　If he moved even a little, the sharp blade would cut through her soft skin.

　Teleport, touch the thief, turn him to dust... It'd probably be okay, but there was no guarantee he'd be able to pull it off without causing any damage.

"Well, maybe I should give it a try?"

　If he failed, the knife would stab the girl in the neck, but that was just how it was.

　It would be much better than surrendering to the bandits.

"Woman over there! If you don't want that brat to be killed, then cut down that man!"

　However, the thief gave some surprising instructions.

　He demanded that Aria kill Uta.

"Damn... how cowardly!"

"Eh... Seriously?"

"Kill him quickly! Otherwise...!"

"Ouch…!"

　The tip of the knife plunges into Ilia's neck.

　Blood flows, and the red blood spreads onto the dress she is wearing.

"Lady Ilia...!"

　Aria's expression distorted in pain as she looked at Uta.

　Hesitant eyes.It was floating in the water.

　Should I comply with the thief's demands, or should I refuse? The scales are swaying back and forth.

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"Forgive me...!"

　It seems the scales were tipping in favor of the thief's control.

　Aria, with a look of anguish on her face, swung her sword at Uta.

"Wah..."

　A sharp slash cut through Uta's chest.

　Bright red blood splatters, staining the ground red and black.

　Uta fell onto his back and didn't move at all.

"Well done! Let go of Ilia-sama!"

"Hehe... Hey, I never said I'd let her go if you killed that guy!"

"Damn... how despicable...!"

"Now put down your weapons and get naked."

"What the...!"

「That's because I'm a coward! I won't be satisfied until I've completely neutralised you!」

"Damn it...!"

　Aria did as she was told, dropping her weapon and stripping off her clothes.

　She removes her armor and jacket, leaving her in white underwear.

　Although she has a slim figure, Aria has a surprisingly large bust.

　Her eyes roamed over her shapely, voluptuous breasts as if she were licking them.

"Okay... be a good kid. Just kneel on the ground."

"…………"

"Ah, Aria..."

"Ilia-sama... please, don't look..."

　Aria looked away from her master and lowered her eyes.

　Aria, now on her knees in her underwear, was in no position to resist.

　Even if there hadn't been any hostages, it wouldn't have mattered.

"Heheh..."

"Kya..."

　The thief abandoned the hostage, Ilia, and approached Aria.

　He moves his fingers seductively and reaches out to Aria's breasts.

　His fingers will soon reach it... Aria's expression distorts and she bites her lip hard.

"Damn it... Kill me!"

"Oh, I was killed."

"fart……?"

"A female knight really says that. I'm quite moved."

　Uta, who was supposed to have been slashed by Aria, had somehow gotten up and was standing behind the thief.

"You..."

"Yes, yes. That's enough now."

　Before the thief could scream, Uta lightly patted him on the back.

　The bandits turned to dust and scattered across the ground, and the battle ended.

　All that was left behind was Uta, who didn't even have a scar from the slash, Aria in her underwear, and Ilia lying on the ground.

"...I see you're safe."

"Well, I'm safe. And in the first place... you didn't intend to kill me, did you?"

　Because Uta is an evil god, he rarely gets injured, but even so, Aria's slash earlier was not enough to take a life.

　Although it looked like she was swinging her sword dramatically, in reality she was only making shallow slashes.

　It seems she pretended to kill Uta right from the start.

"But still... one hit is still one hit. How should we settle this?"

　Uta tilted his head and asked.

　I don't think Aria's judgment is so wrong.

　She prioritized the safety of the hostage, Ilia, and slashed Uta just enough to avoid killing him.

　Aria knows that Uta can use healing magic (or something like it), so she judges that even if she makes a mistake, I won't die.

　It must have been an unavoidable decision as Ilia's guardian.

"I think it turned out well in the end. The thieves abandoned the hostages, leaving them wide open."

　But... Uta isn't really convinced.

　Even if Aria's judgment was correct, the fact remains that she was slashed.

"Of course. I'll make amends."

　Aria, still in her underwear, picked up the sword she had discarded earlier.

"Please stab me to death with this. It will be my apology for killing you."

"Oh, so you're fully prepared."

"Of course. I repaid my ally with evil. I'd have to offer up my life for it to be worth it, wouldn't it?"

　Handing the sword to Uta, Aria spread her arms wide as if to say, ready to go.

"Oh, if you say so..."

"Wait, stop!"

"Wow."

　However, at that moment, a small shadow stepped between Uta and Aria.

　The girl who had been held captive by the bandits until just now... Ilia stood in Aria's way, acting as a shield to protect her.

"Stop it!"

"Lady Ilia?!"

　Aria let out a shriek as she saw her master leap out in front of her.

"I know that Aria did terrible things to you because of me, but... it's not her fault. It's my fault!"

"Ilia-sama, what are you saying...!"

"What my servants do is my responsibility as their master... so if you are going to punish them, please punish me instead!"

　Ilia was trembling and her face was pale.

　Still, she stood in front of Uta, desperate to protect Aria.

"Yes yes, what a beautiful master-servant relationship."

　Uta was impressed.

　Once, a soldier from the castle tried to kill Uta.

　When they reprimanded their master, the king, he made a lame excuse: "I didn't know. My subordinates did it on their own."

　Compared to the king, how noble the girl named Ilia is.

"That being said... here we go."

"a……"

　Uta stabbed Ilia.

　Without hesitation, he stabs himself through the heart with the sword Aria gave him.

"Lady Ilia!"

　Aria caught Ilia as she collapsed, bleeding.

　Aria's hands were wet with Ilia's blood. The master she had risked her life to protect was slowly growing cold in her arms.

"Why, why... Lady Ilia...!"

"No, because I was told to do it."

"You bastard...!"

"Here goes."

"Guh...!"

　Next, I'll stab Aria as well.

"Kahaha..."

"Well, we're even now."

　Uta smiled cheerfully as the master and servant collapsed on top of each other.

(Ahh... I failed...)

　He kills people and then laughs nonchalantly.

　This man is evil.

　It was only when she was on the verge of death that Aria realized she had asked the wrong person for help.