Chapter 63

Summary:

Shiki, who collaborated with the knights of the surrounding towns to repel the succubus, was actually a saint from the holy book.

That night, after repelling the succubus, I was deeply engrossed in reading the holy book in one of the rooms in the lord's mansion.

— The reason I am in this world.

Until now, I thought there was no way to know.

I had given up, thinking I lacked the necessary information to think about it.

But now, I can understand.

This book mentions a person who was in the same situation as me.

Currently, a victory celebration for the successful repulsion of the succubus is being held in the lord's mansion.

However, I left early to read this book.

The saint and the lord tried to stop me, saying the main character should attend, but I forcefully returned to the room and locked the door.

Of course, it was to concentrate on reading the holy book.

"Sir Shiki, everyone understands that it was inevitable for you to be controlled by the succubus. The female knight who laughed at you will be given a one-month pay cut by the lord. So... please, won't you cheer up and attend the victory celebration?"

The voice of the saint came from the other side of the door.

...It's not that I'm hiding in my room because I'm embarrassed that many people saw me easily controlled by the succubus's desires.

I won't deny that, but it's not the whole reason.

"…I don't care about that at all. I just want to read the holy book. Please leave me alone for a while."

I'm not really bothered by the fact that I was almost made to take off my pants by Yuel after being controlled by the succubus and wandering around aimlessly.

Besides, it has already subsided naturally.

I wish you wouldn't say things that could cause misunderstandings.

Yuel's elf ears, which are usually long, are moving restlessly, as if she's already misunderstood.

"Hey, stop saying things that could cause misunderstandings. I'm really just reading the holy book."

"No, no, it's fine if you don't hide it. Although the succubus has been repelled, it hasn't been confirmed that they have been completely defeated. It's important to handle your desires to avoid being controlled again. ...However, even if it's consensual, it's not a good behavior to do it with a young slave girl. If that's the case, I thought it would be necessary to clear the room as a precaution."

Please, don't say any more.

Yuel is probably in an unstable state again because of the kiss from Elise.

— When we returned to the lord's mansion and took a bath together, I saw it.

In the changing room, Yuel was swaying her hips modestly while taking off her panties, as if imitating the succubus's actions.

Of course, I didn't approach her, and Yuel looked a bit disappointed.

After that, during the victory celebration, when I met Elise's eyes and felt embarrassed, I saw Yuel's eyes filled with despair.

"!!"

Perhaps because of the saint's words, Yuel suddenly opened her eyes, sat up in front of me, and started to sit seiza.

With an expression that seemed to realize she had made a terrible misunderstanding, she patted her head to fix her hair and straightened her posture again.

Then, with a tense body, she looked down and occasionally glanced at me.

I don't know what Yuel is thinking, but this situation is not good.

"No, no, it's different! I really haven't done anything to Yuel, and I have no intention of doing anything in the future! I just want to read the holy book!"

I strongly denied it.

Then, the saint laughed for some reason.

"I see. I misunderstood. I apologize. ...I will come again in the morning, so please take care."

Then, the saint left the room.

Did she believe me?

But, it seems too quick to be convinced.

...No.

Perhaps the saint never thought I was with Yuel.

She laughed when she heard my voice.

And that saint, when the archbishop was purged, said she would definitely retaliate for what was done to her.

It's possible she was teasing me as a form of revenge for leaving the celebration.

But if that's the case, I really wish she would stop.

Even if it's a minor tease for the saint, if I mishandle the nervous Yuel, it could be a disaster.

I cautiously looked at Yuel.

— There, Yuel was looking at me with tears in her eyes, a look of despair.

Sitting seiza in front of me, she was trembling.

She looked like she was about to cry.

"From now on... I will never... touch you... I guess I'm not... good enough for Elise..."

...I recalled what I had just said.

It's bad.

I have no intention of touching the young Yuel, but saying I will never touch her in the future was a very hopeless statement for Yuel.

Honestly, I can't even imagine what Yuel will look like when she grows up, so it's not a completely wrong statement.

But I know that Yuel confirms her chest size and measures her height every day after bathing, and gets excited or disappointed depending on the results.

I have to mislead her here.

"Yuel, it's just until you grow up. I can't predict what will happen after that. So... don't worry, okay?"

I tried to explain.

But Yuel, who knows I won't touch her while she's a child, should understand this, so I think it's fine.

...But Yuel is still looking down and trembling.

"..."

She didn't say anything.

...No, she looked like she wanted to say something and glanced at me for a moment.

But then, she looked down again.

"Yuel? What's wrong?"

Even when I asked, Yuel didn't answer.

She just looked down and trembled.

— Then, I saw a drop of water fall onto Yuel's knees, which were sitting seiza.

At the same time, I heard Yuel's sobs.

...She's crying.

She's really crying.

"Yuel!?"

This is bad.

It's really bad.

Drops of water are falling onto Yuel's knees.

As I was confused, I heard a thin, strained voice from her throat.

"By the time I grow up, Master will probably... marry Elise. Then... I won't be able to stay by Master's side..."

The word "marriage" came out of Yuel's mouth.

Well, I was just kissed by Elise after being controlled by the succubus.

It's understandable that she would think that way.

"Elise is very kind to me. So... I want her to be happy. Elise has very, very big breasts... and I think she suits Master. But... but I... want to be with Master forever and ever..."

Probably, in Yuel's mind, marriage means that even as a slave, she can't stay by Master's side.

Even if I get married, I have no intention of sending Yuel away.

Whether it's a monogamous society or who I marry, I will probably keep Yuel by my side.

Besides, I aim for a harem, so such societal norms don't apply to me.

It's a trivial matter to me.

But from the look of Yuel, it's a big issue for her.

"...Yuel"

Yuel seems to be more depressed than when I talked to Ruruka.

She might think she has no chance against Elise.

Well, Elise is a woman who can even win over a succubus with her natural sexual charm.

Indeed, Yuel has no chance in that sense.

"...By the way, I haven't really talked about myself to Yuel before, have I?"

So, I need to divert Yuel's attention to something else.

I came up with a brilliant plan from the holy book I was reading just now.

This will make Yuel stop crying.

I'm sure of it.

"About Master...?"

Yuel seems confused by the sudden change of topic, but I continued.

"Let me reiterate. I haven't said this before, but I'm not from this world. Apparently, I'm a similar existence to the saint mentioned in the holy book."

"...I've always thought Master was an amazing person."

She answered solemnly, though her voice was still tearful.

But she's interested in what I'm saying.

"Have you read Chapter 2 of the holy book yet?"

"...Yes, there were some words I didn't understand, but I've read up to there."

"I haven't read past Chapter 2 either, but it says that the past saint could only use a special sealing magic. He had almost no close combat skills. So, he always had companions to protect him. Have you read that part?"

The past saint could only use special sealing magic.

I don't know much about sealing magic, but it was said to have immense power, capable of sealing away the most powerful demons and their disciples.

However, it required a lot of preparation and was difficult to use, often putting the saint in danger during close combat, which was described in Chapter 2 of the holy book.

"Yes, it says that a very strong companion defended and repelled the demon's disciple when they attacked the saint. I couldn't read the name, but it was said that no one could match him in swordsmanship. ...I admire him."

She admires him.

That's convenient.

"Yuel, what you couldn't read wasn't a name. It was a title."

"Title?"

"Yes. That companion was known as the Hero in the world."

The shield and sword of the saint, weak in ambush and close combat.

The strongest swordsman of the time, who lived with the saint day and night, always protecting him.

That's the Hero in this holy book.

"This Hero is an amazing person who always protected the saint and even repelled the demon's disciple alone at times. Isn't that right, Yuel?"

"Yes, I think he's amazing."

Yuel answered, slightly looking down.

The topic has shifted from Elise, but she still seems to be thinking about it.

So, I said it.

"It's just like you, Yuel, isn't it?"

"!?"

Yuel looked at me with wide eyes.

Perhaps the gap between the person in the holy book and the slave Yuel is too wide for her to see the connection.

"You protected me from the succubus, a disciple of the demon, without letting her get close. And in the labyrinth and the forest outside the city, you always protected me."

As I continued, Yuel showed a confused expression.

"But, I'm not as strong as the Hero in the holy book."

"That's because you're still a child. If you train for another ten years, you could become a swordsman with no equal if you wanted to."

I'm serious.

Yuel's sword skills are already on par with a regular knight, and she shows a tendency to use magic.

Her healing magic has already been enhanced by being around me, and with a little more training, she could use Heal.

Even without much faith or knowledge, she can use healing magic, so she will likely be able to use offensive magic as well.

And she's only twelve.

If Yuel trains for many more years, she could become a complete upgrade of the Hero described in the holy book.

"Hero... I'm Master's Hero?"

"Yes, you're the Hero. Hero Yuel."

A slave, but a Hero.

Slave Hero Yuel.

...No, that title won't do.

It sounds similar to "slave knight" or something like that.

It sounds like the title of an erotic novel.

Hero Yuel.

"Amazing! I'll work hard to become Master's Hero!"

The Hero designation plan, successful.

She looks happy.

She's not crying anymore.

It seems Elise is out of her mind.

"When I get stronger... Hero... Master's Hero..."

Yuel looked at me with sparkling eyes.

She might be dreaming about her future when she gets stronger.

If I'm the saint, Yuel, who is always by my side and already quite skilled, could truly become a Hero.

...But Yuel's face soon clouded over.

She looked at the empty space next to me and looked down.

Then, she started trembling again, as if she couldn't hold back.

It seems she imagined a bad future.

Elise is a deep-seated issue for Yuel.

Hero designation plan, failed.

"Besides, Yuel"

...It seems I have to use my trump card.

I didn't want to say this because it's risky, but there's no other choice.

"I'm an amazing person."

"Yes, Master is amazing."

"There is a system called harem for such amazing people in the world."

If Yuel is sad about monogamy, I'll tell her that I aim for a harem.

I didn't want to say this because I didn't know how Yuel would react, but now there's no choice.

"Harem? ...I think I remember the succubus saying something like that, but I didn't understand what it meant."

"A harem is a polygamous system. One man marries many women."

"!?! Such... such a convenient thing is allowed!?"

I flinched for a moment at the word "convenient," but Yuel probably didn't mean it in the sense of "convenient for me."

She's probably saying, "Is such a convenient thing really allowed?"

That's probably it.

A harem is unfamiliar to commoners.

At most, it's something that only a few nobles or wealthy merchants might have.

It's not strange that the young slave Yuel doesn't know about it.

"It's allowed, of course. As you know, I'm amazing."

Honestly, I don't know if I'll include Yuel in my harem when she grows up.

She's still a child, and I don't want to look at her that way.

But I need to mislead the pure child.

I don't want her to cry anymore.

"Harem..."

Yuel muttered, dazed.

"Harem, harem! Amazing, amazing! Harem, amazing!"

Then, Yuel's expression brightened.

She started jumping up and down with joy.

Ah, that?

Her reaction might be even better than when I designated her as a Hero.

...Ah, I put a lot of effort into that idea.

"I always thought that when Master got married, I wouldn't be able to stay with him!"

Well, that's usually the case.

"You can marry me, but I'll continue to sleep with this slave girl every day" is not something you can say.

At least, the bedrooms will be separate from now on.

"I'll tell Elise and Ruruka! This way, everyone can be happy!"

I reflexively grabbed Yuel's shoulder to stop her as she tried to run out of the room.

"Wait, Yuel! You don't need to tell Elise and the others! ...Well, you see, Yuel didn't know, but it's something adults take for granted! There's no need to tell them!"

Yuel, being a child, accepted it without resistance, but I doubt Elise and Ruruka will accept it immediately.

My plan for a harem will be exposed.

It will be exposed eventually, but it's not the right time yet.

I need to increase their affection for me more before they can accept it.

"...Is that so?"

"Yes, that's right. Understand, Yuel. Everyone takes it for granted, so there's no need to tell them, okay?"

...I lied on the spot, but it should be fine.

"Understood, Master. ...I'll definitely repel the succubus if they come back! I'll protect Master like the Hero in the holy book! I'll work hard to stay with Master forever and ever!"

Yuel, with a smile, clenched her fist.

It's a bright smile that doesn't seem like she was crying just a moment ago.

She seems very enthusiastic, probably because I designated her as a Hero on a whim.

I plan to have the knights in this mansion protect us until the succubus's fate is clear, so Yuel doesn't need to work so hard.

But it's better for Yuel to be more vigilant.

I'll just make sure she doesn't overdo it and stay safe in this lord's mansion for a while.

The fourth volume of "I'm a Healing Magic User in a Labyrinth City in Another World" will be released tomorrow.

There's an additional episode in the book that describes the scene right after Elise and Shiki were rescued from the archbishop.

Please look forward to it.