Ch.169169. Ah! Is This All Because of Me?

“You spoke so boldly about standing at the front yesterday, yet here you are in the rear?”

“Then why are you in the rear too?”

“Mages are supposed to be in a support position at the back, aren’t they?”

This place is the Succubus Sanctuary.

The crows’ cawing still irritates my ears, and to make matters worse, Rebecca is chirping away beside me.

If it were up to my temperament, I’d like to punch her right in the face, woman or not.

Why did I think this crazy woman was pretty when I first met her?

I barely suppressed my anger and shrugged nonchalantly.

“Nobles are also supposed to be in the rear position, aren’t they?”

“That noble nonsense again…”

“If you have a problem with it, why don’t you get your own territory and become a noble yourself?”

Rebecca shook her head as if she had nothing to say, then turned her gaze back to me.

“But don’t you think something’s strange?”

“What now?”

“I heard the Succubus Sanctuary should be crawling with succubi, but there don’t seem to be many around.”

“Ah! Is that all because of me?”

“How would I know?”

A day has passed, so Evalin must have taken all her following succubi and left.

However, they must have been few in number.

If she had many succubi following her in the first place, she wouldn’t have lost the queen’s position to Moranas.

I folded my arms heavily and spoke.

“Aren’t all the succubi gathered near the mansion in the Succubus Sanctuary?”

“Is that so? I’ve never dealt with succubi, so I wouldn’t know.”

Since we’re alone at the back, should I just kill her without anyone knowing?

No, she’s a mage and a necessary companion for the protagonist.

Rather than killing her and risking my sweet life, I should endure.

I gritted my molars and smiled broadly.

“I told you before. Don’t just use your head for getting angry; try thinking for once.”

“I should just stop talking.”

“You always start the conversation first, but your final reaction is always the same.”

“…What am I supposedly not thinking about?”

“With Rio, Luna, and Rinadiel here, does it make any sense that I would side with the succubi?”

“You have a history of doing so.”

I shook my head at Rebecca.

“History? Are you saying that exchanging information for Lake Territory is the same as this?”

“What’s different? You’re still dealing with succubi.”

“That’s why I’m telling you that you don’t have a thinking head.”

“Even if it was a misunderstanding, I won’t apologize. That’s just how nobles are perceived.”

I had just shed my image as the scoundrel from the eastern continent’s edge, and now she’s bringing up my social status?

If she weren’t the protagonist’s companion, I’d want to kill her several times over, this crazy woman…

It seemed better for my longevity to avoid interacting with her altogether.

When I kept ignoring her attempts at conversation, Rebecca’s chirping gradually subsided.

Moreover.

As we ventured deeper into the Succubus Sanctuary, groups of succubi began attacking our party.

Serion and Rio wielded their swords at the front, along with Luna.

Rinadiel, positioned slightly behind them, was busy drawing her bowstring.

And whenever things got tough, Rebecca’s ice magic would invariably rain down from above.

Watching this scene, all my previous stress vanished at once.

My heart was even racing, perhaps?

The battle scenes I had only read about in “The Youngest Son of the Illustrious Family” were now unfolding brilliantly before my eyes.

Swoosh-!

Whirlll-!

Boom-!

Even though not all of the protagonist’s members had gathered yet, such firepower…

At this rate, world peace seemed maintainable without my intervention for the rest of my life.

“Everyone, let’s take a short rest here.”

At Serion Lykus’s command, everyone sprawled on the ground, catching their breath.

Naturally, I was the only one at ease.

As I stood there blankly, Luna slunk over to me.

“Young master… what were you talking about with that woman for so long?”

*Ding* ♪

━Luna’s Affection Deficiency

= 05 → 35 changed [↑ 30 increase]

Cursing at Rebecca might lower Luna’s affection deficiency, but creating discord between future companions could lead in a bad direction.

So I quickly improvised a response.

“I asked her to cast magic around you. I was worried about you getting surrounded by succubi.”

*Ding* ♪

━Luna’s Affection Deficiency

= 35 → 00 changed [↓ 35 decrease]

Luna’s face turned bright red, her mouth opening and closing before she ran away in the opposite direction.

I feel like I couldn’t bear it if their relationship deteriorated despite all this effort.

“Lord Selden Alphonse, are you alright?”

Just then, Serion Lykus approached me respectfully.

Despite being exhausted from fighting monsters, he had checked on everyone else before coming to me—truly befitting a protagonist.

“I was just standing in the back doing nothing, so of course I’m fine.”

“Still, the energy here is murky; it can cause dizziness or nausea.”

Does he mistake me for some sheltered noble young master because I’ve been too passive?

Well, I’ve only shown him getting hit by Rebecca’s magic in front of him, and haven’t done anything else.

“I can endure this much. Are you alright, Sir Serion Lykus? You seemed to be struggling earlier.”

“I feel much better after receiving treatment from Rebecca.”

I clapped my hands in admiration.

“Wow! We really can’t do without Rebecca. I saw from the side that things could have gone badly if she hadn’t cast her magic!”

“This is all thanks to you, Lord Selden Alphonse.”

“…What?!”

“I noticed Rebecca’s skills have improved significantly today. What kind of magic did you use on her?”

I just stood by, yet Rebecca’s skills improved?

Riden Solice reported that she spent all her time training alone with mercenary guild members while in Lake Territory, but I didn’t expect such noticeable improvement.

What kind of magic did I supposedly use?

I tilted my head at Serion Lykus’s words.

“I haven’t done anything special for Rebecca though?”

“As expected… Lord Selden Alphonse, you seem to be the most humble noble I’ve ever met.”

After receiving several unexpected compliments, we continued on our way to the mansion in the Succubus Sanctuary where Moranas resided.

As I walked with my arms folded behind everyone, Rebecca made another comment.

“…You really aren’t doing anything.”

“Hey, rock-head. I came here not to hunt monsters, but to prove I have no connection with the succubi.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Yes, please do me a favor and stop talking to me.”

We finally arrived at the mansion in the Succubus Sanctuary.

It was situated in a dark forest.

The exterior walls were built with old bricks, but there was an extraordinary aura emanating from it.

It felt unnecessarily grand for a monster’s dwelling, you could say?

It had more of a fortified castle atmosphere than a mansion.

“Is everyone ready? Then let’s go in.”

Everyone followed Serion Lykus into the mansion.

Even after entering, persistent succubi continued to fly around in resistance.

However, they were no match for the novel’s protagonist and his companions who had already established their teamwork on the way here.

Creeeak-!

Clunk-!

Opening the worn wooden door, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

As if we had entered an imperial palace, a red carpet was laid out, and at the end sat a succubus who appeared to be Moranas, leisurely resting her chin on her hand.

In terms of appearance, she might not be on Evalin’s level, but even from a distance, her charm seemed palpable.

Sliiiing-!

Serion Lykus drew his flame sword from its scabbard again and took his stance.

To witness with my own eyes the scene of confronting Moranas that I had only read about in the novel…

Just as I was quietly expressing my admiration, the battle began.

Whirlll-!

Clang-! Clang-!

Even while crossing weapons with Serion Lykus using her whip, she easily blocked Rinadiel’s arrows and Rebecca’s magic with her other hand.

Luna and Rio immediately joined the fray.

Clang-! Clang-!

Boom-boom-boom-!

I felt a bit awkward just standing there, but what could I do?

To them, Moranas was nothing more than a stepping stone for growth.

So I could only watch for their experience.

“Kugh-!”

Moranas soon coughed up blood, perhaps from overexertion.

There was a reason she was being overwhelmingly pushed back.

In the original story, only Serion Lykus, Rio, and Luna were present when conquering the “Succubus Sanctuary.”

But now, Rebecca and Rinadiel had joined.

They were on the verge of victory much faster than in the novel.

Whirlll-! Thud-!

Then, Moranas, seemingly at her limit, leaped backward and stretched out her hand, raising her voice.

“Veil!”

She spread her wings wide and instantly flew in front of Rebecca and me.

Looking around, I saw we were suddenly surrounded by a sticky veil.

-Rebecca!! Are you okay!?

-Y-Young master!!

I could hear Serion Lykus and Luna’s voices from outside.

As I tilted my head at this scene that hadn’t appeared in the novel, Moranas slowly approached Rebecca and me, speaking.

“I’ll deal with the weakest one and the annoying mage first.”