Chapter 025

"So what's it like, not having a body...?" asked Kisara, lying to Leon's left with her head resting on his invisible shoulder. She also rubbed his chest and abdomen, but while he had discernible contours, it was impossible to get a feel for his shape as it constantly shifted.

"Mmm...it's difficult to describe," replied Leon. "But it's not pleasant, that's for sure. I haven't been able to turn my brain off since I arrived here, and though I can feel sensations and associate feelings with them, I'm unable to experience relief or satisfaction. It can be pretty frustrating...especially in situations like this..."

Punctuating his words, Leon gave Kisara's pert and remarkably toned ass a squeeze. She was someone who fought primarily using kicks, so her ass and legs were truly exceptional.

"Then the solution is simple," said Mordred, lying on her side to Leon's right, head propped up on her hand and elbow as she used the toes of her right foot to scratch her calf, adding, "We just need to hurry and get you a body. With our current numbers and strength, we should have no problem defeating the first floor's Guardian."

"Before that...mind explaining to me what this is about...?" asked Leon, referring to the current situation.

Acting like it was no big deal, Kisara rose to a seated position, stretching her arms over her head as she stated, "Just think of it like a pledge or an initiation ceremony."

Piggybacking off Kisara's words, Mordred explained, "We're putting together an all-female Knight Squadron called the Crimson Valkyries. Kisara is going to be my second-in-command. That is, so long as she continues to prove her worth and remains loyal to our cause."

"Is that why you asked me to commission Wakana to reproduce your innerwear? You're all planning to dress like that...?" questioned Leon.

Shrugging and holding her hand up, Mordred replied, "Uniformity is the glue that holds a unit together. It is also a symbol for those who wear it to take pride in while inspiring esteem, reverence, and fear in those who see us as protectors or adversaries..."

"And you're okay with this, Kisara...?" asked Leon.

"I don't see a problem with it," replied Kisara. "The Captain already said we could customize our uniforms to fit our combat style, and it's not like we can stop people from ogling us. All I care about right now is getting stronger, and sticking with the Captain is the best way to ensure I have the resources and opportunities necessary to stay ahead of the curve..."

"That's a very pragmatic way of looking at things..." remarked Leon. Then, pulling out a shimmering orange crystal from his Storage, he handed it to Mordred and added, "But if this what you've decided for yourself, I'm not going to spew platitudes or try and talk you out of it. So long as you work hard, your efforts will be rewarded. Simple as that."

"Oh, and, just to be clear..." said Leon, adopting a wry smile as he looked at Kisara, adding, "That wasn't my way of suggesting we should continue doing things like this. I sure as hell wouldn't mind having some 'actual' fun with the two of you, but I'm not the kind of guy who can split his focus or interest between several women. Want a casual fuck? Sign me up. But if you're looking for romance, I've got my heart set on someone else."

"You're also not qualified to be his Queen, so don't get any ideas," said Mordred, her expression becoming serious. She knew the person Leon was referring to was her, but as she was similarly not qualified, she had no intention of reciprocating his feelings.

"I won't," assured Kisara, her expression equally serious as she added, "Like I just said, all I care about right now is getting stronger. Becoming Queen? No offense to you, Leon, but I couldn't care less about marriage or ruling over others. Besides..."

Directing her gaze to Mordred, Kisara adopted a distinctly catty smile as she appended, "I not against men, but I've always been more interested in women..."

Adopting a smile of her own, Mordred remarked, "And I'll be sure to take care of you. Just remember that Leon is our Lord and Master. Don't think I won't toss you out like a stray if you betray or do something to offend him. And if you dare to plot against him..."

"Are you mad...?" asked Kisara, smiling but looking incredulous as she pointed out, "You're even more freakishly strong than Miu. I'd have to be touched in the head to consider opposing you or betraying Leon. Give me a break, Captain."

Maintaining her serious countenance, Mordred hummed as she looked between Kisara and the orange crystal Leon had handed her. She hadn't outright promised to give it to Kisara, so it wasn't too late to return it and continue gauging whether the maroon-haired woman could be trusted.

"If you're wondering whether Kisara can be trusted, take my word for it," said Leon, causing Mordred to stare at him with a raised right brow while the woman in question blinked in surprise.

With the gazes of both girls focused on him, Leon stated, "From what I can remember, Kisara was someone who cared deeply about her friends and allies. Maybe not at first, but definitely after the Ragnarok fiasco and her inclusion in the Shinpaku Alliance. She isn't going to betray us unless we give her a reason to. And if it comes to that..."

Recalling Leon using nearly identical words in the past, Mordred exhaled a tired sigh before handing the palm-sized crystal over, stating, "Be grateful to our Lord..."

"I'll save it for when he gets his body," responded Kisara, directing a wink at Leon before pressing the pointed end of the orange crystal against her chest, between her modest breasts. Nothing happened initially, but after she said, "Confirm..." the crystal sank into her body, producing ripples that spread to every inch of her, causing her to vibrate from the depths of her soul. The process only lasted a few seconds, but when it was over, Kisara collapsed, her chest heaving as she sported a glazed-eyed, exceptionally satisfied smile.

"That felt incredible..." panted Kisara, extending her hand to her abdomen and tracing the middle finger of her left hand around her navel.

"The process seems to amplify emotions that are already present, so you can thank our little 'play' from before for how great it felt," explained Leon, simultaneously opening Kisara's Status to confirm, "As for your stats, they doubled from what they once were, and you obtained a Skill called [Feline Faculties]. According to the description, it improves your five basic senses and enhances your vision in low-light environments."

"Yeah, well, that's not the only thing it does..." contended Kisara, rolling onto her side to present her ass and back for Leon to see. Before, she just had cute little dimples above her butt. Now, ostensibly as an extension of her spine, she had a patch of maroon hair covering the small of her back and a literal tail protruding from the peak of her intergluteal cleft, slapping the bed as she showed it off.

"Looks like I have one more reason to call you my kitten," mused Mordred, grinning as she eyed Kisara's tail with fascination. Her comment prompted several questions in Leon's mind, but instead of asking any, he extended his invisible hand to gently grab Kisara's tail, allowing it to slide across his palm as he asked, "Do you feel any discomfort...?"

Though she narrowed her cat-like eyes slightly when Leon grasped her tail without asking permission, Kisara responded, "Not really. I can feel your hand grazing it, but most of the sensation is around the base. You can try squeezing it, but not too hard..."

"Hmmm..."

Moving his hand to the base of Kisara's tail, Leon gently squeezed it as he ran his hand along its full length. Kisara's ass and lower back twitched as he did so, but she didn't seem to despise it as she narrowed her eyes and stared at him with a faint but increasingly rosy hue spreading through her cheeks. More notably, as she gazed back at him and relaxed her body, her spine twisted a lot more than a normal human's, effectively allowing her to lay comfortably on her back and her side simultaneously...

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"With Kazuko, Miu, and now Kisara, I'd say it's reasonable to assume that promoting someone from Red to Orange doubles their stats," affirmed Wil, keeping tabs on his and Leon's conversation in a journal.

"But I kind of feel like it was a waste..." said Leon, causing Wil's brows to rise until he clarified, "I definitely could have worded that better. But if our guess is correct and a person's stats retroactively upgrade, reaching the peak of a Red's growth and Leveling up up would allow someone to reach their max potential a lot easier. Now, if the growth rate of a Red was 1000 in each stat, Kisara will need to gain 2000 to Level up..."

"But it's also true that people with higher growth rates have more Skills and gain stats more quickly," contended Wil. "Our hypothesis might very well be true, but it's not easy to ask someone to restrict their growth with the promise they will 'eventually' become much stronger..."

"Yeah, that's why I brought up the topic at dinner," explained Leon. "She didn't lash out or throw a fit, but she's definitely been on edge since Miu's grade increase. This is pure speculation on my part, but I imagine she's desperate to overcome the powerlessness she likely experienced before her death..."

"Mmm...Mordred might not be the best role model, but she'll definitely be able to help Kisara overcome her weakness.." affirmed Wil. "I'm personally more concerned about Miu. Based on what you've told me, it seems likely she'll experience an emotional or mental break in the future. Routines can be a double-edged sword in that regard. Alternating between training and working at your estate likely helps, but the only way to get out of a rut like what Miu's fallen into is to 'achieve' or 'create' something. Change is what drives people forward. Letting her dwell on the past and a possible future is keeping her in place."

Nodding in agreement, Leon said, "I feel the same way. The problem is her Grandfather and their shared belief in the Katsujinken, the Life-Giving Fist. I respect Hayato immensely, but if everyone heeded the principles of the Katsujinken, we'd never advance beyond the first floor. What confuses me is the fact he eats meat and fish without issue but refuses to fight and take the lives of monsters..."

"Yeah..." droned Wil, adopting a wry smile as he added, "I've had my fair share of dealing with individuals who were set in their ways, even if they didn't make sense. The Angels of Misanshel come to mind..."

"Since we're on the subject of your world...did you even meet a nine-tailed fox woman called Kohakuren?" asked Leon. "Back when I played the game I know you from, well, let's just say she left a particularly deep impression on me..."

Though he maintained a smile, Wil reached up to massage his forehead in response to Leon's question. To say he knew Kohakuren would be a gross understatement, as, even after he got married, the vulpine woman hadn't cut back on 'teasing' him in the slightest. Rather, she began extending her antics to those in his surroundings, including his wife...

"Kohakuren is an exceptionally beautiful woman. That much is certain..." said Wil, lowering his hand to meet Leon's gaze with a wry smile as he added, "But unless you enjoy being teased, tormented, and drunk under the table, I 'strongly' recommend leaving her to her own devices. Rather, now that you've brought her up, I believe it would be prudent to prepare a palace for her to reside, preferably in a volcanic, difficult-to-access region of the Tower..."

"Is she really that bad...?" asked Leon.

Shaking his head, Wil's expression became serious as he clarified, "It's more accurate to say she's...intoxicating. She'll make you question your love for others, and the moment she has you in her palm, she'll toss you aside for being weak-willed. She's also a bottomless pit for alcohol, so if we open any taverns, she'll drink them dry or run up a tab higher than the sky..."

"Then we just don't let her open one," contended Leon, shrugging as he added, "Besides, everyone who's summoned starts out relatively weak. If she wants to behave as brazenly as you describe, she'll need to enter the Tower and work pretty hard to regain her strength."

"Just don't underestimate her..." warned Wil, his expression more severe than Leon had ever seen. Thus, while Kohakuren was still his favorite sub-heroine from Kamidori, Leon decided to take Wil's words to heart and take caution should the voluptuous, vulpine beauty appear...

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