The Neighborhood High School Girl, Miss Isezaki, Is the Great Saintess Returned from Another World~ And I, Suddenly Awakened as Her Exclusive Mana Supply Uncle, Travel Between Earth and Another World with Time-Space Magic~ - 166. Snack Necklace

166. 166. 166. 166. Snack Necklace

The snack necklace faintly glowed. However, Maristel stared at Isezaki with frightened eyes, seemingly unaware of it.

While touching Maristel’s neck, Isezaki spoke, “In that case, there’s something I want you to do.”

“W-What could it be…?”

“This magic stone mine will come under the control of Lady Levia. But the Digram army will likely come to retake it, won’t they? So, if you could help protect this magic stone mine, it would be greatly appreciated…”

“I-I see! If that’s the case, leave it to me! Fortunately, there are still plenty of corpses around here, and the magic energy is abundant! I can easily handle those Digram soldiers!”

Maristel pitched herself confidently. Indeed, if she could assist in defense, it would be very helpful for us.

However, whether she could be trusted enough to be entrusted with such a crucial role… That was debatable.

Could it be that a friendship, only understood between Isezaki and Maristel, had bloomed during the battle just now? I wondered, but Isezaki continued to look down at Maristel with her usual cold gaze.

Glancing briefly at the necklace still emitting light, Isezaki resumed speaking.

“I also think you’re suitable for protecting this place. Although the master has spoken, it’s a relief that I didn’t succumb to momentary emotions and kill you.”

“R-Right… I’m truly capable! Please look forward to my future contributions!”

“Now that your life has been spared, you mustn’t betray us… Understood?”

“N-No way I’d betray you! I-I-I’d never do such a thing!! Hahaha!”

Maristel answered while avoiding eye contact, looking quite suspicious.

However, paying no heed to her demeanor, Isezaki added as if recalling something, “Oh, and one more thing. I forbid you from speaking about the entertainment I showed you.”

“Why!? It’s a waste to bury that talent here! In fact, I was thinking of using it to entertain everyone, especially that orc—”

“Silence. And nod.”

*(Nod nod nod!)*

Smiling warmly, Isezaki spoke, and Maristel nodded repeatedly while covering her mouth. What kind of entertainment was it? I’ll ask later.

After observing Maristel for a while, Isezaki gently removed her hands from both Maristel’s neck and my hand. The glow of the necklace faded.

“Well then, that’s it. For now, let’s return to the garrison and introduce you to Captain Higuner. So, come with us.”

With that, Isezaki moved away from Maristel. However, Maristel remained seated on the ground, not getting up.

“Maristel?”

In response to Isezaki’s call, Maristel sluggishly got to her feet. Placing a hand on her chest, she took a deep breath, then grinned mockingly.

“Hehe… You may not know, but… To human beings, demons recover magical energy at an unbelievable speed.”

“I see… And?”

Crossing her arms, Isezaki prompted Maristel for more information with an uninterested expression. Maristel slowly backed away from Isezaki and began to speak.

“It’s unfortunate that I can’t taste the master… But being in front of a terrifying woman like you is already nauseating. Don’t ever show that face to me again. Goodbye—[Leap Warp]!”

At that moment, Maristel disappeared from sight.

“There she is!”

Colin pointed to where Maristel was, near the entrance to the workshop. It was the [Leap Warp] magic. I activated [Leap Warp] to chase after her—

“Hey!”

But before I could move, Colin dashed forward. Like being propelled, she rushed toward Maristel.

In no time, Colin closed the distance and seemed to intend to tackle Maristel, diving straight toward her abdomen.

But even as Colin approached, Maristel still seemed composed, sporting a faint smile. However, her face suddenly stiffened—

“Hold onnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!”

Taking Colin’s tackle head-on, she was slammed violently into the ground from her back.

“We’ve got her!”

Colin promptly straddled Maristel’s abdomen. Maristel, pinned down, thrashed her legs wildly.

“Should we punch her until she behaves!?”

As we approached running, Colin asked while raising her fist. She was quite a violent little girl.

“It’s okay, Colin-chan. Look.”

Isezaki pointed at Maristel’s face. There, Maristel was squinting, her face turning red as she let out pained groans.

“W-What…is th-this…? I-I can’t…breathe…”

Maristel, still flailing her legs, clawed at her neck area. The necklace was deeply embedded, constricting her neck. What on earth…?

“Maristel, suppress any rebellious intentions against us. Then, the necklace will loosen.”

Looking up at Isezaki murmuring softly, Maristel nodded vigorously. The string of the necklace, constricting her neck, loosened, and Maristel took a deep breath.

“I…thought I was going to die… Wh-What is…this…!?”

With her face drenched in sweat, tears, and saliva, Maristel lifted the necklace and Isezaki quietly answered, “Sacred Oath. It’s a magic that compels the target to abide by the oath at the risk of their life… So, you can’t betray us anymore.”

I see. It seemed that the cute little snack necklace had transformed into something akin to the headband on Sun Wukong’s head from “Journey to the West” due to Isezaki’s magic.

Well, if it tightens just for having rebellious intentions, it feels much tighter than Sun Wukong’s headband. And it’s around the neck, too.

“Colin-chan, you can let go now.”

“Yes!”

As Colin got off, Maristel got up while touching her neck.

“Haha…A Sacred Oath, you say? What a lie. I, a demon, have never heard of such magic! But even if such magic exists, a thin necklace like this—”

Maristel grabbed the string of the necklace and tried to pull it forcefully left and right… But—

“Hnngh! Hnugh! Hgggh! Hggh, hggg…! Hnnggggggghhhh!!”

No matter how much force she exerted, Maristel couldn’t tear the thin string of the necklace. And again, the necklace tightened around her neck.

“I can’t…die! I’ll…be strangled! I’m…suffocating!!”

The necklace loosened again. Maristel slumped to her knees, breathing heavily.

“W-What is…this…? What does this mean…?”

“Of course, the string is infused with plenty of magic. It wouldn’t break so easily, would it?”

“S-So, if the infused magic runs out…”

“Yes. If the magic infused in the necklace runs out, of course, the effect will disappear. And then, you’ll be released. You’ll work hard to make up for the trouble you caused us, won’t you?”

“T-That’s… But, um, how long until the magic runs out…?”

“Well, probably… about a hundred years? I’ll be counting on you during that time.”

“H-Hundred years…”

With a gentle smile, Isezaki and Maristel, who dropped to her knees while tearful, had apparently settled things. 

As I watched from the sidelines, my sleeve was tugged. It was Regina, who had been silent until now.

“I thought Matsunaga-san was bad enough, but that lady is seriously scary, isn’t she? Matsunaga-san must be having a hard time too…”

Whispering in my ear, Regina stared at Isezaki with a horrified expression.

…Is that so? Seeing Isezaki so lively compared to usual, I felt quite warm inside. If I could see her like that, then today’s hardships weren’t so bad after all.

Anyway, with this, the turmoil surrounding the magic stone mine finally came to an end.