Episode 142: Her
It is said that it handles several abilities that have been seen before.
It is said that it operates in the shadows without revealing its true identity.
It is said that it has an abnormal obsession with Solciera.
It is said, it is said, it is said, it is said—it is the enemy.
“Mar-Chans!”
Clam’s judgment was quick.
Due to all the angels being killed, the enemy became just one person.
Nameless, the mysterious ability user whose shadow still cannot be grasped.
She, who is abnormal even within the framework of an explorer, truly deserves no other title.
“Explode, you fool!”
The man-eating frogs leap toward Nameless and explode one after another.
An excessive amount of explosions for a single explorer rains down upon Nameless.
“Idiots are tough… When you label someone as an enemy, Clam does tend to get mouthy,” she remarks.
But from within the explosion, she calmly steps forth.
“Don’t act like you know so much! I’ve already heard about how you mistreated my Solciera!”
“It’s not yours anyway.”
Ignoring the words from behind her, Clam continues to spawn more man-eating frogs.
Pointing at Nameless, she commands,
“Go, Mar-Chans!”
Her voice overlaps with that of the girl standing before her.
Realizing this fact in the next moment, Nameless finds herself surrounded by a large number of summoned frogs.
“It’s a choir of frogs, isn’t it?”
“…Who did you get permission from to copy that?!”
With a shout, the man-eating frog leaps.
Simultaneously, the opposing frog also leaps out.
The frogs collide mid-air, causing multiple explosions.
Pushing through them, Clam advances closer to Nameless.
“Let me land a punch.”
“Oh wow, scary,” mocks Nameless.
By detonating a man-eating frog conjured beneath her foot, Clam achieves high-speed movement.
Though straightforward, few can keep up with her speed.
(I never thought I’d end up showing the results of my special training like this!)
This is one of the fighting styles Clam acquired during a hellish simulation battle with Teruue Mizuki, an S-Rank explorer.
Man-eating frogs attached to her limbs explode at will, accelerating her attacks irregularly—a combat style unique to her bare-handed fighting technique.
“That sword is your source of power, right? Once I take it, you’re mine!”
“Now now! That look in your eyes is scary,” teases Nameless.
Clam’s punch, accelerated by an explosion, heads towards Nameless.
However, it misses every time.
“Huh, why?”
“I’ve seen enough already. It’s embarrassing when people are surprised like that.”
With light steps, Nameless dodges the attacks while laughing.
Her graceful movements resemble a dance, which only frustrates Clam further.
“You…!”
Suddenly, pain shoots through Clam’s right leg.
In the next instant, she collapses on the ground.
“I’ve severed the tendon in your right leg. You won’t be moving anymore. Tsk tsk.”
“Mark-chanz!”
The man-eating frogs spawned behind Nameless explode.
However, they are all blocked by black wings that sprout from her back.
“This is Act 2. How do you like it? I think it suits me quite well, don’t you?”
Though the color differs, there’s no way Clam could mistake it.
“That’s Hikari’s ability, right?!”
“Correct answer. You understand well.”
Nameless gives a lackluster clap and uses her black wings to knock Clam away.
“Ugh!?”
Leaving Clam rolling on the ground, Nameless turns her gaze to Solciera.
After observing Solciera’s appearance, she bows her head.
“I’m sorry, this is entirely my fault.”
Solciera, already standing up and holding her weapon, responds.
“But… what do you mean?”
Though prepared, Solciera lacks her usual determination, and Nameless shows no signs of caution.
It is clear to everyone present that she is weakening even now.
“Standing must be painful too, right?”
“…Hmph, if I need your concern, then I still have much to improve,” replies Solciera with a smirk.
However, each time the thorns wrapped around her neck pulse, she emits a faint sound of agony.
“Run, Solciera!”
“How could I possibly leave you behind?”
Smiling, Solciera answers Clam’s plea.
“Ah, you really should rest instead of pushing yourself.”
“I’m not the type… ugh!??”
Suddenly, Solciera collapses onto both knees.
Cracks run across her face as she falls to the ground.
“Solciera! No, you have to run quickly!”
Seeing this, Clam lets out a scream.
She attaches a man-eating frog to her injured right leg, forces herself to stand, and flies towards Solciera.
Despite rolling across the ground multiple times, Clam manages to reach Solciera and kneels protectively before her.
Witnessing this scene, Nameless sighs.
“Phew… Listen, Clam…”
Nameless points at Clam with an exasperated expression and says mockingly,
“Why are you pretending to be her knight-in-shining-armor?”
“…What?”
Confused by these words, Clam stops.
Though unspoken, Solciera’s mind is filled with questions as well.
“Protecting someone precious… That move doesn’t suit you, seriously.”
Nameless, unable to hide her irritation, says this and binds Clam with black chains, restraining her on the spot.
Then she moves in front of Solciera and crouches down to peer into her face.
“Hmm, the invasion is severe… Hey, didn’t you nullify that thing?”
“Ghh… Wha… What thing…?” Solciera mutters in pain.
While watching her suffer, Nameless shakes her head and forms a magic circle on her palm.
“If I say ‘Trans Anchor,’ would you understand?”
Solciera’s body is enveloped in light.
Instantly, her pained expression softens as if none of it had happened.
“How’s that? Feeling better?”
“This… is…?”
It seems Solciera has lost consciousness.
As her head tilts toward the ground, Nameless catches her and gently leans her against some debris.
“The Trans Anchor isn’t a toy for changing genders. It fixes the target to their ideal state. This is its true use. Miuye’s version is more like an adaptation, or something we came up with long ago…”
Speaking with a nostalgic tone, Nameless stands up.
Then, addressing the unconscious Solciera, she says,
“This time, it was my fault for assuming the Trans Anchor would function properly. I’m sorry. That’s why I helped you.”
“What are you?! And undo these chains already!”
“Do you want me to teach you something? Scary, isn’t it?”
Nameless smirks mischievously.
Then, leaning close to Solciera once more, she presses her lips forward—
“Mph!??”
Caught off guard, Clam freezes in place, unable to move.
Fortunately, Solciera remains unconscious and shows no reaction.
Looking at Solciera’s slightly moistened lips, Nameless stands up satisfied with a nod.
Watching this scene while still restrained, Clam couldn’t possibly remain sane.
“AAAAAAAAAHHH!? What are you doing, you?! I’ll kill you! Mark-Chanz! Go!”
“Act 1.”
All the leaping frogs turn to ash.
To Nameless, the man-eating frogs aren’t even threatening.
“Kill! I will definitely kill you!”
“Annoying. Anyway, it seems like you’re mistaken… Solciera is my girlfriend.”
Upon hearing this, Clam shouts back.
“She’s my girlfriend!”
“Are you not understanding what I’m saying? She’s my girlfriend. I am the most suitable one! Only I can truly understand her!”
Both parties, ignoring the actual person involved, sneer and look away simultaneously, clearly unimpressed.
“Just pretend she’s your girlfriend. She’s far beyond your reach anyway.”
“Huh? I’ve already pushed Solciera onto the bed!”
At this, Nameless’s tone drops significantly.
Unlike before, she appears genuinely angry now.
The atmosphere around them becomes heavy.
As both glare at each other, ready to fight again, Solciera’s groan reaches their ears at just the right moment.
“Ugh… Hmm…?”
Regaining her senses, Clam spits out her words coldly.
“I really want to blow you up, but Solciera comes first right now.”
“Uh… Yeah. I don’t think I can bring her back with me anyway, so I’ll leave her in your care, Clam.”
“Don’t call me so familiarly. We’re neither friends nor anything else.”
“…Haha, you’re right.”
Nameless turns around and opens a transfer magic circle.
Without looking back, she waves goodbye.
“See you later, sidekick girl.”
“Mark-Chanz!”
Frogs leap towards her.
But Nameless has already moved to the other side of the transfer magic circle.
With their target gone, the frogs jump around aimlessly.
Clutching her fists, Clam watches them, her restraints having already disappeared.
“My first kiss… stolen… damn it…!”
This was one of the most regrettable moments of her life.
“Sorry, Kei. If I were stronger…” Clam apologizes while stroking the unconscious Solciera’s hair.
There’s no response from Solciera to her words.
And rightly so, because inside her mind…
(Oh my gosh! I got kissed!!)
(Oh my gosh! NemSol saw it!!)
She’s panicking more than ever before.
