Ch.255While That NPC Is Away. (1)

“…So that’s how it is. So, Liese. Was it really okay not to meet him?”

“Yes. This is right. And even if I didn’t talk to ‘him,’ what he conveyed to me was enough.”

After Jack disappeared from in front of the cabin like a literal storm, his companions decided to stay in the mountain cabin for now. I would help by delivering things like dishes and blankets for them to use, and later when we leave Poria and move to the imperial border, we would travel together.

When I delivered this message to the golden-haired, golden-eyed saint Lieselotte who was waiting “at the foot of the mountain,” she nodded with a slightly bitter smile.

“But he’s the person you’ve been fighting for, enduring, and waiting for in this country. If you had just talked with him…”

“No. That’s impossible. Now, I’ve given up on being the ‘Child of God’ and I’ve chosen my ‘partner.'”

“Hmm…”

Last night. Unlike Jack, Green Doll, who had [definitely] made progress, swallowed hard at the words Lieselotte spoke with a beautiful smile.

Though he had said such things to Jack, the moment he confirmed that she harbored such feelings for him, there was no reason for him not to convey his true feelings to her. And so, they crossed all the lines that a man and woman with united hearts should cross. Yes, Liese is no longer a [virgin].

“…Well, I’m saying this after everything’s already done, but do you really not regret it?”

“My goodness? Is that what you have to say after embracing me so passionately yesterday?”

“Ahem! As you know, I’m an elf. Comparing our lifespans would be foolish, which is why I couldn’t turn away from my feelings…”

“Because I’m a human who will only live for a fleeting moment compared to an elf. Because I’m like that, you embraced me right away. Why are you being so roundabout about it?”

“…I’m ashamed.”

Yesterday, while Green Doll and Jack were talking separately, Liese was dealing with the Seven Deadly Sin, Luxuria. At first, they only exchanged wary glances, but eventually, the conversation progressed. When Liese heard Luxuria claim that she had become “the possession of a human man who would live incomparably shorter than herself,” Liese found herself listening intently.

[…But, humans live much shorter lives than demons, don’t they? Y-you. Could it be that you don’t truly love him…]

[Huh?! I’ll kill you?!! How dare you doubt my love!!! So what if the man dies first!! Just because he lives only for a moment compared to demons, are you saying I shouldn’t love him?! Who decided such a thing?!! Did your god say so?! This is why god’s lackeys are…!!]

[…What do you plan to do with the world after he dies! Find another man, another love. Are you saying that because you’re the demon of lust?! Don’t tell me you plan to attack humans again after he dies…]

[Your body seems fine but your words are stupid? When he dies, he dies. I just need to love him passionately and be obedient while he’s alive!! There’s a ‘truth’ that I gave my all to him during that time, so why worry about what comes after? Are you the one with the absurd idea that your man should rot in a room thinking only of you after you die?!]

[T-that’s…!!]

[You, you like that elf, don’t you?]

[Ugh!!]

[Hmm~ But. Are you afraid that after you die, that elf will get along well with another woman? I guess since elves live disgustingly long lives, you might be scared of that. But you know…]

Stroking Green Doll’s cheek as he seemed embarrassed and apologetic at my reaction, I convey to him what that demon had said yesterday.

“Hehe, don’t be ashamed. During these three months with you, I’ve also made up my mind. And…”

[Because humans live short lives, they can love more passionately during that brief time! Neither demons nor long-lived elves can spend nights as passionately as humans! Does God’s lackey not even know that?!]

“I’ll make sure to love you passionately ‘every night’ so that even thousands of years later, you’ll feel that there was no better woman than me.”

“…Oh.”

Yes, more than the “faithful love” I had learned for years as a saint called the Child of God in the church, I learned much more from the sincere words of that demon yesterday. And the one who gave me the opportunity to learn such feelings was none other than…

[Encounter with the Savior D-day –1 day.]

“You must accept my love that even the [Savior] gave up on, until the end, okay?”

“…Gulp. Yes. I’m a man too. I’ll take responsibility until the day I die.”

Someone among that group (excluding the demon) must have been the savior determined by the god of this world, but Lieselotte deliberately didn’t ask or talk about anything to the two beast-people and the human male. Clearly, it’s unknown whether this will be a choice for the good of this continent or the start of its destruction, but.

‘Even if one of them was such a being, I can just take their place with ‘my love,’ that’s all there is to it.’

Lieselotte, looking at the lovable man who still showed a cute side by blushing even after living for 4,000 years, made that resolution.

*

“Nom nom nom, gulp! Thank you for the meal!”

“Th-thank you for the meal.”

[I’ll clear the dishes.]

After finishing a delicious breakfast at a table much larger than usual, a girl with sun-red hair and galaxy-purple eyes brightly smiles and gives her thanks. Everyone except for a blonde swordsman and a gray maid golem nods with warm smiles.

“Hehe, was it delicious, Ira?”

“Yes!! This home cooking is really delicious! But Gorr’s cooking is delicious too!!”

[…Thank you for that. Would you like me to cook lunch?]

“No, that cannot be! In the name of the head of the Mueller family, I cannot ask our benefactors to do such things!! I will speak to the hunters and serve an even more delicious meal for lunch!!”

“Y-you don’t have to go that far? W-we just followed Miss Ira, and, um… we’re not really benefactors…”

“Hoho. Strong and humble too. You saved our Mueller family and our people, how could we treat you poorly? However, I would like to taste the meal that our cute Grace’s friend praises so highly. Isn’t that right, dear?”

“Oh! That’s right! Well, constantly refusing would be uncomfortable too. And you said your profession is a maid! Then, shall I have the servants go shopping to prepare fresh ingredients for you?!”

“…Father, Mother. You’re too excited. Let’s talk about that before lunch, shall we? We’ve just finished breakfast. And, Grace? You haven’t forgotten about having tea with your sister and Ira, have you?”

“Of course not! Ira! Sister said she prepared very delicious snacks! Let’s play—I mean, let’s talk in my room and then go to sister’s room!!”

“Yes! What shall we play today? I think spirit liquor with Grace is the most fun—”

After a meal that was a bit too modest to call simple, yet not extravagant enough for a noble household, the red-haired girl Ira left the dining room first, holding hands with her new friend, the brown-haired girl Grace Mueller. The margrave of the borderlands, who could have shouted that a commoner’s behavior was disrespectful in such a setting, nodded with a kind smile, saying that children should be like that, then rose from his seat saying he had much work to do and left. Thus, the blonde swordsman Ray Sol ended up having tea brought by another maid and engaging in various conversations with the lady of the Mueller house and her eldest daughter, with a stiff face.

‘…Gorr, when are you coming back?! You didn’t get washed away with the dishes, did you?! You didn’t abandon me, did you?!!’

But her mind was far from peaceful. How on earth did it come to this? Clearly, they had been living very peacefully in Natie for about three days after Miss Ira’s academy break began. Yes, exactly three days. How did they end up coming all the way to the Empire after that, sitting in someone else’s house, a noble family’s house, drinking tea like this?

-Creak.

[I’ve baked a cake. Since I need to be with Miss Ira, I’ll take my leave now. Have a good time.]

‘Where are you going?!! Don’t be ridiculous!!! Don’t leave me!!!’

Gorr, who had written the message using slime liquid on her fingertips, simply left the pastries and went to Ira’s side without looking back at Ray. The lady of the margrave’s household and her eldest daughter let out small exclamations of delight at Gorr’s masterpiece cake. Of course, Ray silently screamed, but Gorr noticed and still left her behind.

[Ray, there’s no answer. Someone always needs to be by Miss Ira’s side. It’s just that it’s me, the maid, instead of you, who is supposed to be the ‘guardian.’ That cake is a tribute. May you rest in peace.]

“Oh my. This cake is truly amazing! Mother, I’ve never seen such a cake even in the capital.”

“I see. It seems the maid golem really does have excellent cooking skills. Look at this fruit cake, doesn’t it look so sweet? I wonder how long it’s been since I’ve eaten something like this…”

“Hoho, this is all thanks to Miss Ray Sol for saving our domain. And now such a delicious-looking cake too, I’m truly grateful.”

“Aha, ahahah. It’s not really that much…”

“Hoho. While modesty is a virtue, too much modesty from a beautiful person will only make the larks chirp?”

“Mother, please. All ‘the birds that were in the house have been taken care of’ anyway, so what does it matter?”

“Oh my, that’s true too? This and that, truly all thanks to Miss Ray…”

“Ah, ahaha…”

‘What are they talking about? I’ve never had a conversation with nobles before. Larks? Birds in the house? Who are they talking about? I don’t think they’re actually talking about keeping birds at home…?’

Forcing a laugh and appropriately agreeing with the noble mother and daughter, Ray wondered how she ended up like this, and why she had come all the way here. Suddenly, she remembered a blue-haired, red-eyed woman with a large chest, and felt a vein pop on her forehead.

“Oh, Mother. May I give Miss Ray one of my dresses? I’m sure it would suit her very well.”

“I see, then. Before having tea with the children, shall we go to the dressing room? Miss Ray, please think of this mansion as your own home and feel comfortable…”

And Ray, unable to understand how the conversation had turned to her wearing a dress, barely nodded her stiff neck in response to them while inwardly screaming.

‘Ragni!! I will absolutely, absolutely never forgive you!!! When I see you again, I’m going to spank you until your buttocks are swollen!!!’

Of course, her scream, without any telepathy, doesn’t reach anyone.