'The right frame of DK has some minor damages in it, please refrain doing such actions again' Lilith notified me

'Sorry, couldn't resist' I chuckled before leaping back

The Centipede slammed its tail, the moment it hit the ground. I jumped in and pulled Azazel out, I retreated and watched the centipede closely. It started to emit a thick green smoke, it kept releasing it as it headed straight towards me, destroying any bamboo that blocks its way. It opened its jaws wide and tried to bite me but I jumped up, the centipede bit the ground. I activated Azazel's ability as I fell down, leaving a trail of reddish light

[Crescent slash] I slashed down, the released energy cut through the shell and exposed the soft head of the centipede

I held Azazel with both hands as I aimed for the exposed head

'Zeno, to your right!' Lilith warned me

I immediately defended my right side without even looking and soon enough, I felt a whip hit my body, shooting me down to the ground. The centipede used its antennae as a whip, the centipede then swung its spiky tail. I couldn't get up in time and was swept away, the bamboos all around me broke my fall.

The centipede started charging towards me again

'Lilith, ready the thrusters on the sole of my feet'

'Got it!'

I jumped up just as the centipede dug its jaws deep into the ground, the thrusters underneath my feet boosted my jump and now I was currently 30 feet high in the air. Gravity then started pulling me back with my feet pointing towards the sky, I spun my body and held Azazel with both hands, this is my second attempt at that cracked head.

The centipede looked up and tried to use its antennae as a whip

'Lilith, activate the thrusters on my shoulders!'

The thrusters on my shoulders shot me down faster, the centipede couldn't even react when I stuck Azazel deep inside its head.

[Crescent slash]!

I slashed the sword with so much effort before unleashing a crescent wave of energy that tore through the body of the centipede. It collapsed on the ground, releasing blood everywhere.

My job here is done, I just hope nothing bad has happened to the others. I switched to speed and headed for the carriage, the moment I got out of the carriage, I saw a centipede get bashed to the ground with Gram's shield.

They took down all of the centipedes without suffering much of a damage themselves, I heaved a sigh of relief and rejoined our group

"Where did you get these weapons? are they weapons from your homeland?" Brunhilde asked as she stabbed the rapier, showing me how efficiently she uses it

"You could say that" I replied

"Is it too much if I ask for more?" Brunhilde asked

"I'm sorry but that's all I've got" I shook my head

"...oh... I see" Brunhilde was naturally disappointed

"*sigh* women, so hard to please, seriously, thanks for these weapons, they're sharp, durable, and heavy" Gram swung the sword a couple of times

"Heavy? mine is as light as a feather though" Brunhilde gave the rapier to Gram

"Hmmm, true, it is light, maybe these were made custom for us?" Gram chuckled

"Is what you wish but that's impossible" Brunhilde chuckled along with her father

I could only stay silent

"...Don't tell me they are" Gram noticed my silence

He tried to make eye contact with me but I looked to the side out of habit

"I need to meet the blacksmith who made these!" Brunhilde declared

"I'm sorry but you can't" I replied

"Why?" Gram asked

"She a reclusive person that concentrates on studying, having her make these weapons was something I personally asked her to do, if possible, I do not want to hinder her studies" I replied

"I see, so is she from your country?" Brunhilde asked

"Yes" I nodded

"That's too bad" Gram shook his head

"Anyway, it's starting to get dark, let's move away from here and camp" I suggested

"Alright, let's go with that" Gram nodded and we all board the carriage with me and Gram in the coachman's seat while the two women take a rest inside

We found a good camping spot and set up our tents but there is a slight problem, one of the centipedes gnawed on the two tents that were neatly rolled up behind the carriage. Gram roasted some food that he brought for the journey, it was our dinner.

Now it was time what to do with the sleeping arrangements

"I suggest that my daughter and Zeno go to the same tent" Gram suggested

""No!"" Brunhilde and Cynthia answered at the same time

I also said no but my voice was too weak to be even heard

"Come on Brunhilde, I'm helping you out here" Gram tried to talk to her daughter

"No, sleeping together in the same tent is something l-lovers do!" Brunhilde was flustered

"As things stand, Cynthia will snatch Zeno away from you" Gram answered

"No! I only did so because Zeno only has Alissa!" Cynthia probably got it in the moment and blurted some unnecessary stuff

"Alissa?" Brunhilde looked at Cynthia and me

"*sigh* she's the woman I was talking about earlier, also, she's my lover" I explained

"I-I'm sorry Zeno... it's just that Alissa asked me to watch over you, she told me that you're too kind sometimes and asked me to protect from untrustworthy people" Cynthia explained

"So I'm untrustworthy?!" Brunhilde was starting to get mad

"I didn't mean to say that" Cynthia replied

"Then what do you mean?!" Brunhilde was fuming now

"Let's stop this, let's just eat, Me and Cynthia will be in one tent, while you guys occupy the other, I was going to suggest that both Gram and I sleep in the same tent but after this situation, you two might just go at it in the middle of the night" I suggested

"I too feel that that is for the best" Gram nodded

After eating dinner, we separated and headed for our tents, I get the first watch, Cynthia is next, then Brunhilde, the last watch would be Gram

The night passed without any problems, the next morning, we headed back into the bamboo forest. I just need to determine how many more centipede nests are in here, we walked for an hour when we saw bamboos covered in thick web with white ooze hanging from the webs

"What's this?" Gram asked as he touched one of the white ooze and smelling it, he was even about to lick it when I stopped him

"...Gram... that's uh... sperm... centipede sperm" I explained while stifling my laughter

The two women who heard my explanation also stifled their laughter, Gram, on the other hand, was silent for a second. He looked at the ooze in his hands before looking at me, then realization struck him, he quickly threw the ooze on the ground as he kept washing his hands even though he's wearing metal gloves

Brunhilde couldn't take it anymore and just started laughing out loud

"Why didn't you warn me earlier?!" Gram looked at me, his expression was like a man has just stabbed in the back by his best friend

"Well, it was kinda funny at first" I looked to the side, avoiding eye contact at all costs

After a good laugh, Gram asked

"So what's the deal with these sperms hanging on webs"

"Male centipede weave a web where they leave their sperm for female centipede to use to impregnate themselves" I explained

"Didn't know dad was a female centipede" Brunhilde couldn't help herself and teased her own father

Gram kneeled to the ground, it felt like a thousand ton of stone just landed on his shoulders

We kept exploring till midday and when we found nothing, we returned to the carriage and headed back to the castle