Chapter 54

I want to run away.

"Hello, big brother."

When I fled from the room where Yuell was and opened the clinic door, there was Aria with a smile.

"Y-yeah, Aria. It's been a few days... "

"Yes, I've been really busy since then. I didn't even have time to come and see my big sister."

"S-so, it must have been tough."

I had always thought she would come eventually.

What for, it was already decided.

To confront me about the kiss with Ruruka at the Miss Contest.

Aria had been calling Ruruka her affair partner.

The future developments were already clear.

It had happened before.

I was about to be questioned by Aria about the affair.

Depending on how I defended myself, she might say something like, "I can't leave my precious big sister with an unfaithful person who talks about making a harem!"

It would be a valid point.

...But, it is a valid point, yet if Aria said that, I would answer, "That's not true."

A harem, in the context of being offered "touch me (heart)" by a girl, is a form of honesty for someone like me who would definitely touch and cheat if given the chance.

I am obsessed with harems because I understand my character better than anyone else.

If it's monogamy, it's cheating, but if it's a harem from the start, it's not cheating.

I don't want to make girls sad.

If possible, I don't want to betray them either.

That's why I want to increase Elise and Ruruka's affection and lead them to a direction where they say, "Let's get married in a harem! And have sex!"

I haven't thought about whether it's realistically possible.

I plan to explore the possibilities.

...But, Aria won't accept such sophistry.

Aria loves Elise so much.

She might even say, "I can't leave my precious big sister with someone as weak-willed as you. I'll introduce her to a handsome and honest knight!"

No, stop.

Please don't introduce a handsome knight to Elise.

Seriously, don't.

"...Big brother, why do you have such a strange look on your face? Is there something on my face?"

Well, a handsome knight, or a handsome prince, is something that women often dream about.

A perverted healing mage who walks around with a young slave girl and a honest, handsome knight who protects the city shouldn't be compared.

They absolutely shouldn't be compared.

...No, wait.

Hold on.

"Aria... did you just call me big brother?"

"Yes. You're my big brother, after all. Would you prefer big bro?"

"N-no, that's not what I meant."

Unless Aria suddenly developed a brother complex, this sudden "big brother" call is definitely meant to be "brother-in-law."

This means Aria still wants me and Elise to be together.

...She didn't come to confront me, did she?

She didn't come to separate me from Elise, did she?

With this doubt, I looked at Aria, and she peeked into the clinic, asking,

"By the way, is big sister here?"

"A-ah, yeah, she's making lunch in the back."

"Is that so?"

Aria listened and then turned her gaze back.

She took a deep breath and let out a sigh as if to show me.

Then, with a reluctant tone, she said,

"I'll say this while big sister isn't here, it's important. ...I'm sure of it after seeing big sister's reaction at the Miss Contest. Big sister likes Shiki. There's no doubt about it."

"...Really?"

I thought she would say something unexpected.

But, it's a valuable opinion.

...I don't really understand how Elise feels about me.

I was once kicked out of the clinic.

Elise has a rather principled personality, and it's possible that we're living together now just because I bought back the clinic.

Elise might think of me as a "special and wonderful man living with her," or she might think of me as a "perverted man she's letting live with her out of obligation."

She might even think of me as a "Lolicon who buys young slave girls."

"It's true. I, her little sister who knows her better than anyone, can guarantee it."

However, according to Aria, I am liked.

I thought I wasn't hated that much, but...

But, I doubt if she likes me romantically.

She gets angry when I touch her inappropriately.

"No, but Aria, I was kicked out by Elise once. I don't think that's the case."

"I heard from big sister about kicking Shiki out and the debt."

She heard it.

She really heard it.

She heard about me being kicked out for being perverted.

In terms of the situation, it's like Aria, a police cadet, is standing in front of me, the perpetrator, after hearing the story from the victim, Elise.

Even if Aria doesn't mean it that way, the situation is the worst possible.

I could be handcuffed at any moment.

But, Aria, unaware of my inner thoughts,

"I think the main reason big sister kicked Shiki out was that she didn't want Shiki to know about the debt. It was a huge amount, almost the same as the clinic, and big sister didn't want to worry or trouble Shiki. So, I'm sure it's not because she disliked Shiki."

Aria said this, slightly lowering her gaze.

She must feel guilty about the debt.

It was for Aria's knight school tuition.

Her way of addressing me had also returned to the casual "Shiki."

I see.

That makes sense.

I thought it might be the case.

...But, that's one reason, but the main reason is probably different.

"But, the way Elise was angry the day before I was kicked out, I think that was the real reason."

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"You must have heard it, right? It's about me being perverted to Elise."

"Se-! Se, Se, Se-pervert! Shiki, what did you do to big sister!?"

Aria let out a surprised voice, as if my answer was unexpected.

Wait, didn't she hear it?

She said she heard the story earlier...

...No, she didn't hear about the perverted part.

Elise must have left that out... I thought she had heard it.

Well, thinking calmly, I wouldn't tell my little sister such a thing.

Especially not Elise.

Aria seemed quite shaken, saying, "Wait a minute," and started muttering to herself, looking down.

This is bad.

I can see the arrest course.

I need to say something.

I need to bluff.

"Well, let's put that aside! If Elise gets angry about perverted acts, it means she doesn't have romantic feelings for me, right?"

And when I continued,

Aria suddenly raised her face.

Aria frowned, as if she didn't understand what I was saying, and looked into my eyes.

Her face looked like a "Huh?" or maybe a "Haaaaa!?"

"...Shiki... I don't think you believe this, but... do you think that lovers can do anything they want to girls anytime, anywhere?"

Aria looked at me with a very shocked expression, as if she couldn't believe I would call her "big brother" just now.

It's the kind of look that says, "This is why virgins are... "

A look of disbelief at such a foolish person.

This look is bad.

...I can read the air.

I know what to do in such situations.

"B-baka, of course not! J-just kidding! Don't take it seriously!"

I'll bluff for now.

But... it didn't work.

Girls get angry even when they like someone if they are perverted.

Lovers can't just touch each other's breasts whenever they want.

I learned this for the first time.

"...Well, if big sister likes Shiki, including that aspect, I'll support it... I'll support it, but..."

Aria, with a conflicted look, held her head.

She seems to be struggling.

Apparently, my previous statement was a mistake.

Probably, my reputation with Aria has plummeted.

"Hmm... I don't have much time, so let's get back to the topic."

But, Aria shook her head and looked at me.

She's quick to move on.

"Big sister likes Shiki. I'm sure of it. Shiki says he was kicked out because of perverted acts, but it's probably because Shiki didn't take the proper steps."

"Steps?"

"Big sister even thinks about marriage before kissing. ...When you were kicked out, you probably just pushed her down without trying to court her, right?"

"Maybe I did something close to that..."

I was peeking at Elise in the bath and got carried away, so I pretended it was an accident and pushed her down and touched her breasts while she was naked.

I only intended to peek, but Elise's body was so erotic that I lost my mind.

I apologized after regaining my senses, but I still think it was too much.

I deeply regret it.

So, please don't arrest me.

"See, I knew it! Of course she would get angry! If Shiki had properly asked her out, married her, and then suggested having children, big sister would have happily accepted. Big sister loves children."

If I said I want a harem because I like Elise and Ruruka, how would she react?

...

I can't say it.

...Actually, I don't want her to naturally suggest having children with her sister.

I don't mind her suggesting it, but if she tempts me too much, I might take it seriously.

This is something that can't be undone if it goes wrong.

I would probably be kicked out of the clinic.

I managed to get back in the first time, but probably not the second.

"Anyway, I'm supporting big sister's shy love to come true."

"So, that's why you call me big brother."

"Yes. It's important to build small facts like this. I felt a bit strange calling you, so I'll just do it occasionally."

If it's about building facts, how does Aria see the fact that I kissed Ruruka?

She must have seen it.

...No, maybe in Aria's mind, it's more important how Elise reacted to seeing it.

Of course, she might also think it's cheating, but her main concern is how "Elise" feels.

"...We've been talking for a while, but we shouldn't be talking about this. Shiki, can you call big sister right away?"

"She's inside. Why don't you come in?"

"No, I really don't have time... It's urgent, but I've been appointed as a guard for the Holy Maiden's return to the capital. I came to say goodbye to big sister today."

What did she just say?

The Holy Maiden is returning to the capital, right?

And it's happening now?

"Returning to the capital?"

Ruruka said the Holy Maiden came to this city for a purpose.

But, she never approached me.

And now she's returning to the capital.

...This means I was indeed not part of the Holy Maiden's purpose.

"Yes. The Holy Maiden decided that staying any longer would be dangerous if there's another large-scale attack like the one at the Miss Contest."

Come to think of it, the Holy Maiden didn't bring many guards.

There were only three or four at the Miss Contest.

She must be a skilled mage.

But, if Yuell hadn't been there, the dragon would have continued rampaging, and the petrification breath would have caused significant damage.

If there's another attack, the lack of manpower can't be denied.

"But, it's really sudden."

"I want to stay in this city too... A few days ago, the lord sent a large investigation team out of the city for the Crankheight Turtle incident. The personnel for VIP protection are really short-handed. I was directly appointed by the Holy Maiden and couldn't refuse."

Aria said, pouting.

The shortage of knights is serious.

Well, I've seen the knights fight a few times, and they are incomparably stronger than Eito or Geizer.

To maintain that quality, the number must be limited.

"Got it, I'll call Elise. Wait a moment."

...The Holy Maiden is leaving this city.

It feels like a fish bone stuck in my throat has been removed.

The lingering unease has cleared up.

I would like to hear more from Aria about Elise, but if it's work, I can't help it.

I decided to go back into the clinic to call Elise.

"Can you watch the fire for me? Please make sure the stew doesn't burn."

Elise said this, and I took her place at the stove, watching the pot.

It seems I have to cook while Aria and Elise talk.

"But... it's inconvenient."

I continued to supply weak magic to the magic stove, adjusting the heat.

This magic stove.

If it were like a gas stove where you just click and the fire stays on, it would be fine, but because it's a cheap one, you have to keep supplying magic during use.

Moreover, the heat changes depending on the magic you supply.

It's a bit nerve-wracking and troublesome.

If you supply too much, it smokes and breaks like an electrical appliance short-circuiting.

I broke one when I first came to this world.

Honestly, this type of magic device doesn't suit me with my vast magic power.

Yuell is here, but she has no magic left after practicing healing magic.

I can't leave it to Yuell.

...I hope Aria and Elise don't talk for too long.

I'm not breaking it now, but my magic control is still poor, so the heat is unstable.

If I let my guard down, the stew will burn.

"Master, is there anything I can help with?"

While watching the pot, Yuell asked.

She seems to have nothing to do and is restless.

"Not really. You can do whatever you like."

"Whatever I like?"

Yuell asked, as if unsure.

Maybe she thinks it's wrong for a slave to relax while her master is cooking.

But, it seems there's nothing left for Yuell to help with.

I feel bad for Yuell, who is looking around for something to do, but I'll have to ask her to stay still.

--But, Yuell's expression suddenly brightened as if she had an idea.

Yuell then took out a holy book.

...Yuell, who doesn't miss a chance to study even in a small gap of time, is great.

Yuell started reading the holy book.

Can she read it on her own?

I observed her out of the corner of my eye.

Yuell seemed to like the illustration in the holy book and started staring at it blankly.

It was the same illustration I had seen.

The illustration of the succubus and the saint in Chapter 3.

After thoroughly looking at the illustration, Yuell slowly read the text.

But, her expression gradually darkened.

She probably didn't understand some of the words.

And within a minute, Yuell's eyes completely stopped moving.

Yuell looked up from the holy book.

At that moment, I shifted my gaze back to the pot.

"..."

I kept my gaze on the pot, sensing Yuell's presence.

...I can feel her gaze.

Without a doubt, Yuell is looking at me.

Probably with puppy eyes, asking for help.

If our eyes meet, I can't ignore her.

I feel like she's asking me for a detailed explanation of the story of the succubus making humans lustful.

I stirred the pot while adjusting the heat.

I just watched the pot, hoping Elise and Aria's conversation would end soon.

Happy New Year, and thank you for your continued support this year.

The next update will be in about three days.