Ch.246Messed With the NPC That Shouldn’t Be Messed With (4)

I feel like this story has been around for a long time, but anyway, this world is the Eight Continent. And it operates with a structure similar to the online game [Eight].

Even if you firmly state that this world isn’t a game, the city names, country names, and even the names of people here are the same as those in the game. Well, people like Ira, Miho, Gor, and Elder Perna never actually appeared in the game to begin with, but that’s beside the point. And, as demons began invading this world, Ponia was destroyed, and when Aigram was attacked as a Level 1 village, the player—the “protagonist”—began to move.

At that point, players can create a character and choose the protagonist’s gender. If male, it’s Zeke. If female, it’s Liselotte. The names are fixed, and both protagonists have their own special powers and backgrounds.

The male protagonist is a swordsman and saint who wields holy power from another continent. The female protagonist is a saint from the Eight Continent who is “truly” blessed by God, specializing in healing and purification. To put it simply, she’s someone with abilities specialized in killing demons. And the blonde woman with golden eyes standing next to Greendol is the character that appears when you choose a female protagonist for this world. Saint Liselotte.

“Hahaha! Isn’t this amusing? Really, I can guess what’s going on without even looking, but I can’t stop laughing!!”

“G-Greendol, sir?! Is this a situation to laugh at?! The opponent is a demon!! Judging by the immense magical energy I’m sensing, it’s at least a high-ranking demon, not a low or mid-tier one?!”

[-Occupation: Combat Saint- Level: 421 Name: Liselotte. Age: 22.]

Yeah, this really is a laughable situation!! Why is her level over 400? That’s strange? Since Ponia hasn’t been destroyed yet, the tutorial shouldn’t even be over, right? With a level of 400, wouldn’t she just one-shot the Demon of Envy upon encounter? Plus, Combat Saint? Weren’t you specialized in healing and purification?!! What on earth happened in her life?! Moreover, shouldn’t you be in Aigram right now? Why are you in Ponia…!!!

“Hey, what’s with that woman? Just looking at her makes me feel bad, even worse than that bastard who tried to steal my power.”

“L-Look at that!! Even her speech is disgusting!! As expected of a demon!! Saying vulgar things I don’t even understand!!! Surely, Greendol, your friend must have been bewitched by a demon…!!!”

“Friend? Greendol, since when did you and I become friends? Isn’t there quite an age gap between us?”

“Jack and the Elder are friends? Even so, that’s a bit…”

“More importantly, who is that beautiful person beside you who’s shouting so loudly? Elder, please introduce her to us.”

“Ah, this is Sai—… Liselotte. She’s a high-ranking clergy member and the benefactor who healed the demonic energy that was clinging to my arm.”

“Oh? Now that you mention it…”

“Huh? Elder? Were you perhaps a lizard beastkin and elf hybrid? Your arm has grown back? Wasn’t it cut off below the shoulder?”

“Greendol!! Don’t ignore me!!! Demons!! Demons must be eliminated!! Surely, they’re the ones who attacked the Poria barrier…!!!”

It’s confusing. So confusing. Saint Liselotte is screaming that the demon Luxuria must be killed, while Miho and Chikuyo are touching and marveling at how Greendol’s arm—who used to be Shanks—has grown back. Luxuria is hiding behind me, saying things like “She feels like an extremely disgusting bug…” about the saint. Haha, what a mess!

“Greendol!!!”

“Ah, yes. This is Jack, the very strong adventurer I mentioned. Jack, this is Liselotte. She’s a clergy member. Ah, do you remember the request you received?”

“That’s not what I was asking for?!!”

“Ah, yes. Hello. I’m Jack. And regarding the request… it was to transport holy water, right? I remember.”

I took out the holy water from the pouch at my waist, and Greendol began to continue the conversation, completely ignoring Liselotte’s opinions. Right, I had a request to complete before losing my adventurer status. Wait a minute? Huh? That…

“…What? This holy water. It’s only arriving now?”

“Huh? What?”

“Hmm. I heard that if you don’t complete a request quickly, your ID disappears. Is that right?”

“Y-Yes, that’s right?”

Wait a minute. I’m sure the time I was told was…

“…Um, that request was canceled quite a while ago.”

Looking at Liselotte, who was saying something like “It was canceled about 3 months ago,” I stared at Greendol with a devastated expression. Wait, no? Then, I…

“I’m afraid your adventurer status is gone by now.”

You fucking elemental water bitch!!!

*

“Um, really. That demon won’t attack people?”

“Hmph! I never gave such an order, and now I couldn’t even if I wanted to!!”

After I screamed in anger at the fact that my adventurer ID had disappeared, the chaotic situation quickly settled down, and in the meantime, I was able to explain about Luxuria. More precisely…

“Now I have to live only by this man’s words! My first kiss!! My body, my heart, and even my freedom in battle—I’m a slave who’s had everything taken away!!”

“That’s not right. I only made a contract saying you shouldn’t attack people who don’t attack you, and to report to me before moving away from me if possible, right?”

After the previous Luxuria disappeared, I made a contract with the current Luxuria, whose body and demonic energy had fully recovered, late at night. It was a bit thrilling since it was a contract with a demon, but basically, there were no restrictions other than what I just mentioned, so it wasn’t much of a constraint.

“First kiss?!! Jack?! When did that happen?!!”

“Wait, this is important? Even we sisters haven’t had ours yet. You’re saying this demon who just joined us got it first? We need to talk.”

“That’s for later…”

“Tonight!!”

“We absolutely must hear about this tonight.”

“Fuhuhu! Didn’t I tell you? It would come back as karma.”

“Greendol, is this funny? Is this situation funny to you?”

This is driving me crazy. Because Luxuria threw out that kiss comment, Miho and Chikuyo’s eyes started burning with anger. Even their tails and ears, which usually sway gently, are now standing on end like those of enraged beasts. Wow, they seem genuinely furious to the tips of their hair. How am I supposed to resolve this?

“Ahem! Well, please have such conversations when it’s just you all. Now then, that demon.”

“I’m not just any demon. Luxuria! I have a proud name as one of the Seven Deadly Sins—Luxuria!!”

“…Sigh. Seven Deadly Sins… Fine. Luxuria. So, are you going to keep that appearance?”

“Why? Got a problem with my looks?!”

When I tapped Luxuria’s shoulder as she growled and snapped back at Saint Liselotte whenever spoken to, she flinched, then cleared her throat before speaking again.

“Ahem!! Is there a problem with my beautiful appearance?!”

“…I’m not asking you to change yourself.”

“Sigh, there are nothing but problems. If you say you’ll just follow that man and disappear, I won’t particularly try to stop you. But if you head toward the barrier city like this, there won’t be anyone who won’t recognize you as a demon. If that happens…”

“It will definitely lead to combat. We already had attacks from monsters, demon followers, and even forest keepers bewitched by demons just a few days ago. If they find out that the master of this demon is a human without an ID, there won’t be any room for excuses.”

The saint and Greendol made obvious points, and I completely agreed with them. Only Luxuria was saying things like “Why? I’m pretty, aren’t I? Even if I just stand still, they won’t trust me despite my beauty?!” but Miho and Chikuyo just shook their heads in disbelief at her words.

“The continent is already in turmoil because of demon followers, other demons, and the Seven Deadly Sins. Rather, it’s a miracle that our Elder and that clergy person over there are even listening to us.”

“Can’t you use transformation magic like the Elder? As it is, you’re just a hindrance.”

“Hiiing…! It’s not like I chose to be a demon?! This is discrimination!! I just came to catch a man who would accept me for who I am!!”

Luxuria, who was stomping her feet in apparent injustice, finally admitted that she didn’t know how to use transformation magic. Hmm, since Greendol knows how to use it, couldn’t he cast it on her?

“Casting it on myself is fine because I can maintain it with my own magic power, but casting it on someone else has a limit of 30 minutes. If I have to recast it every 30 minutes, doesn’t that mean I’d have to follow that demon around for the rest of my life?”

“I’m not asking for a lifetime, just to get through today. We’ll enter Poria today, rest for one day, and leave tomorrow. I’ve achieved all my goals here, and the day I promised my little sister is approaching. I plan to leave after finishing the task requested by the lord of that domain.”

“Even so, it’s a problem. Currently, the barrier city of Poria has installed magic detection crystals to identify intruders. If it’s discovered that she’s a demon while we’re entering, it will be difficult for us to stay here as well.”

Damn it. I just wanted to complete former Prime Minister Goodwin’s request, rest for a day, and leave, but even that’s impossible?

Should we just depart now? It’s not even lunchtime yet, and if I ask Greendol to write a letter instead… Huh? Wait a minute.

“Greendol. You’re talking as if you’ll be staying here longer? The demon-related incident is over, isn’t it?”

“Well, about that…”

“…Mr. Greendol has formed a party with me. He agreed to stay with me until his arm fully heals.”

“Huh?”

“…What?”

-Ears perking up!

“…Hah! This sensation!! This feeling resonating in my lower abdomen?!!”

Liselotte, who awkwardly averted her gaze and spoke curtly. And Greendol, who embarrassedly scratched his head with his arm that had grown back to the wrist in response to her words. W-Wait, what is this…?

“J-Just a moment, Greendol. Come here.”

“Huh, what?!”

Sensing the strange atmosphere that not only I but all our women felt, I instinctively pulled him aside to create a men-only space. No, wait. This is weird. No way? No, could it be…

“Greendol. Don’t tell me…”

“Ahem. What do you mean?”

“…Don’t tell me, with the saint?”

“S-Saint?! N-No! I… I don’t know who you’re talking about…?!”

“Bullshit! You old geezer!! Your face is turning red!!”

What’s going on with you two?! How did you end up like that with the protagonist?!!