episode_0035

000

In the end, their act finished much later than expected.

Ferdia and Cleon both explored each other’s bodies to the point of exhaustion.

They fell asleep on one bed.

The next morning.

When Cleon opened his eyes, Ferdia was gone.

Only his own figure, cleanly wiped and sleeping on the bed, remained.

“…I did too much.”

Regret echoed in Cleon’s head.

However, he cleanly brushed it off, thinking there was nothing he could do about what had already passed, and got up from his seat.

There was something he needed to check first.

After changing into some appropriate clothes, he went to the next room.

He saw Luvella sitting with her back against the bed.

She was looking out the window on the opposite side of the hospital room entrance.

And when she turned her head at the sound of Cleon opening the door,

her tired-looking face came into view.

Cleon asked, a little flustered.

“…What, didn’t you sleep?”

“…How could I sleep? Squeak, squeak, aah, aah, right next door. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“… …”

He was trying to be as careful as possible…

No, from the middle, he completely lost control.

“…I’m sorry.”

When Cleon apologized as if he had no face to show, Luvella stared at Cleon for a moment.

Then, she covered her mouth and laughed, “Hehe.”

“It’s fun. Playing pranks on people.”

“…?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. Actually, I slept soundly. About 10 minutes after you guys left…? So, I only heard a little bit.”

It seemed that Luvella’s personality was a little… she liked tormenting others.

Cleon briefly wondered if this was also an effect of the demon sword, but.

He easily understood, recalling the venomous remarks and violence she inflicted on Eustace in the guild.

“Did you dominate that child too using the power of the demon sword?”

Then she asked Cleon.

Certainly, the imprint of domination was imprinted on Ferdia as well.

If he wanted, he could borrow her power and move her body freely.

But, what about it?

Ferdia’s attitude had been like that even before they mixed bodies.

From the sexual act performed with the intention of repaying his kindness.

“… …”

That’s why Cleon was troubled by the answer.

If it was interpreted as the imprint of domination being imprinted, then he was certainly dominating Ferdia.

But if he was subordinating her will, that was not the case.

Luvella was silent for a moment at Cleon’s appearance, then sighed.

“Something. It’s different from what I thought.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The appearance of an awakened demon swordsman. Handling power more violently, freely deceiving and dominating others.”

Luvella looked down at her hand.

And she looked at her sword ‘Varisada’ standing next to her.

Her demon sword, which was inside the black sheath, had a different appearance and atmosphere from Cleon’s.

The width was narrower than Galatea, but the length was longer than Galatea, which was a longsword.

The direction of the blade was also a single edge.

The cross guard was a thin and small oval shape.

The handle with an antique design looked like a work of art.

“Yesterday. I thought I heard her voice.”

“The demon sword’s… then you too.”

Luvella turned her gaze back to Cleon and shook her head.

“No. You appeared right before I drew the sword. I can’t hear it after that.”

“… …”

Then Cleon stared at Varisada with a momentarily stiffened face.

He felt like Galatea was cackling and laughing at his waist.

“…You don’t have to be so stiff. I’m not really resenting you. Rather, I don’t know what would have happened if I had awakened and rampaged there.”

Cleon breathed a sigh of relief at Luvella’s words.

Luvella covered her mouth and laughed once again at Cleon’s easy-to-understand reaction.

“But you’re really easy to read. That you’re Cleon, the one who brought down the hero Albein.”

“Did I introduce myself?”

“No. But there are more than enough reasons to know. The top student of the academy has acquaintances, the black magic family that handles the demon sword. I heard the story from Marquis Hughes. The Marquis was a supporter of Albein.”

Cleon closed his mouth.

The story of Albein was one of the reasons, but.

As he remembered, it seemed that Marquis Hughes was indeed supporting Albein.

“Cleon. What does revenge feel like? Is it sweet? Or is it bitter?”

Luvella leaned toward Cleon and asked.

Then Cleon closed his eyes for a moment, pondered, and answered.

“…Experience it yourself. There’s nothing you shouldn’t trust other people’s opinions as much as the evaluation of taste.”

Luvella blinked for a moment at Cleon’s words, then narrowed her eyes and stared at Cleon.

“That’s an incredibly appropriate answer. But as you said, this revenge is mine. I can’t help but ask for other people’s impressions.”

Luvella, who felt a strange understanding even though she seemed a little dissatisfied, leaned back against the backrest of the bed.

A brief silence flowed.

She had a polite attitude, but she harbored playfulness inside.

She seemed as cold as ice, but she was busy burning the flames of revenge.

Cleon found her a little difficult to deal with.

At that time, there was a knock on the door of the hospital room.

“It’s Ferdia. Cleon-nim. And ma’am. May I come in?”

When Cleon told Ferdia, who was being strangely polite, that it was okay, the girl opened the door and came in.

She was wearing not a nurse’s uniform worn in the clinic, but a girlish white one-piece dress.

“Good morning. Cleon-nim. And…”

“It’s Luvella.”

“Luvella-nim. Did you sleep well last night?”

Luvella nodded, carefully examining the girl’s appearance, and turned to Cleon.

“She’s small. This pervert.”

“?”

Ferdia tilted her head at Luvella’s words.

Cleon covered his mouth and turned his head.

He couldn’t deny it.

Luvella nodded in response to Ferdia’s question just now.

“There are no problems with my body.”

“Is that so. That’s a relief. First, after a simple examination, take your medicine and replenish your energy.”

Luvella was silent for a moment at Ferdia’s words, then nodded.

“And Cleon-nim. I have something to tell you…”

If you looked closely, she was holding a parchment scroll in her hand.

A blue seal.

It was from the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Did you go to the guild?”

“Yes. Some of the children will be working as temporary employees at the guild starting today. I went to see that and found this.”

Ferdia said that and handed the scroll to Cleon.

When he opened the received scroll and looked at the contents, Cleon couldn’t help but stiffen.

[Looking for a black-haired, black-eyed female swordsman! She can swing a mithril greatsword lightly and is skilled enough to fight on par with the head of the living forest!]

[Addendum: A beauty as a bonus!]

“Last night. Marquis’s family’s son caused a ruckus at the guild trying to find such a woman and was stopped by the staff.”

“Wait a moment. Show it to me too.”

Marquis’s family’s son.

Luvella’s eyes lit up at the story related to Eustace and she took the request form.

Then, with a dumbfounded expression, she let out a dry laugh and turned back to Cleon.

“This is it. The reason I was banished.”

“No, um…”

Cleon instantly felt like a thorny seat had sprung up from the chair he was sitting on.

Luvella was looking at him with half-open eyes.

That gaze hurt.

Luvella stared at Cleon, who was openly feeling sorry, for a moment, then turned her head again.

“Really. You’re easy to read. You.”

Then she sighed and returned the request form to Cleon.

“It’s not your fault. Eustace is originally that kind of person. Selfish and arrogant. He easily shifts his gaze to things he’s interested in.”

A voice as if she was fed up with it.

Spending 13 years next to him only made her want to fill the remaining term quickly and leave this hellish mansion.

She could even fake loyalty for him.

She could even support them while deceiving herself.

“So, don’t think about apologizing.”

“…Okay.”

Cleon ruminated on Luvella’s words and looked at the request form once again.

“But this might be an opportunity.”

“An opportunity?”

Ferdia perked up her ears at Cleon’s words.

She already knew the situation because she had been told that she was investigating the marquis family.

More than that, she seemed to have a strange longing for Cleon’s undercover activities.

“If the opponent is someone like Eustace, my disguise won’t be discovered. And I can gather information about the marquis up close.”

“…Are you okay? Let me tell you, you’ll be meeting Marquis Hughes too. He’ll want to check the person he’s putting next to his son.”

Cleon seemed to be worried for a moment at those words, but he nodded.

“It’s okay. Marquis Hughes isn’t a magician, right?”

“Yes. He’s someone who’s been a merchant his whole life.”

At Luvella’s words, Cleon got up from his seat and used three magics on his body.

Then, the same lightly armored female swordsman appeared in that spot.

“This is… certainly. It’ll be difficult to notice even if you get close.”

Luvella widened her eyes and admired the sight of the young man transforming into a woman before her eyes.

When she stepped on his back yesterday.

Clearly, that feeling was not that of a man.

That means-

Luvella stretched out one hand and grabbed Cleon’s chest.

“… … Hey.”

“No. I checked because Marquis Hughes might touch you. Certainly, there’s a feeling.”

“I don’t have any sensation, though. It feels like I have a sponge attached to my chest.”

Since the organs made with Polymorph could intentionally block sensations.

He didn’t need sensations like a chest that would get in the way when he moved.

“Then it might be good to do some acting.”

“Acting… are you telling me to moan or something?”

“If that’s possible, it would be best, but. I don’t think your pride will allow it.”

Certainly, the thought of himself moaning in front of that pig marquis made Cleon feel a little nauseous.

“Well. Marquis Hughes values people with skills. Appearance is also included in that skill, but he won’t immediately lay a hand on you.”

“Then I should hurry. If I’m suddenly attacked by a pig, I might not be able to hold back and cut him down.”

[I’ll do it even if Cleon doesn’t.]

Galatea added to Cleon’s words.

“I’d like to follow you and watch from a little distance, but…”

She looked at the mark of banishment engraved on the back of her hand and clenched her fist as if she was frustrated.

“I can’t approach or even look at the Woodnocker family right now.”

“Is there a way to remove it?”

Luvella seemed to be worried for a moment, but she shook her head as if she didn’t know.

“I’m going to investigate.”

“…Then.”

Cleon turned his gaze to Ferdia.

“Ferdia, guide her to the mansion.”

“I understand.”

“…Mansion? Is it something you own? Considering you’re someone who disappeared from the city, you’re moving around quite freely.”

Luvella spoke to Cleon as if she was a little surprised.

“No. I don’t own it… or rather, I’m borrowing it without permission.”

“Ah. So it was trespassing.”

Luvella nodded as if she understood. Her expression said, “That’s what I thought.”

Cleon closed his mouth for a moment, looking at that expression, but he soon turned his body and left the clinic.

He patted Ferdia on the shoulder, entrusting the back to her.

When Cleon left the hospital room, a strange silence lingered between Ferdia and Luvella.

“Did you want to show off your relationship with your lover?”

Ferdia smiled softly at Luvella’s words.

“Yes. It seems that Cleon-nim has quite a few women around him. I haven’t been able to spend much time with him either…”

The words “Another competitor is likely to appear” were omitted.

Her ashen eyes were filled with the light of reverence for her beloved and the darkness of wanting to monopolize him.

“To be like this without brainwashing. What kind of person is he?”

“If you want to know what kind of person Cleon-nim is. You can come with us to the place we’re going to now.”

Luvella listened to Ferdia’s words and nodded, getting up from her seat.

Then, she quietly looked at the leaning Varisada and took her to her waist.

001

The bustling scenery of the guild.

The guild master had changed from a cute woman to a pig-like ugly man, but there were no major changes to the guild itself.

It was originally a place where violent and energetic people gathered.

Moreover, the atmosphere of the guild that Luti Sions had created over 10 years would not change so easily.

If only there wasn’t the unwelcome presence of an uninvited guest.

Bang! A man slammed the employee’s desk.

“So! If you put out a request, someone should take it and carry it out! I’m asking what the situation is now!”

“Th, that’s… Eustace-nim. I’ve told you several times, but if there’s progress on the request, we’ll be sure to deliver it to the client.”

The female employee who looked like she was about to cry tried to stop Eustace, but he didn’t seem to care at all and caused a ruckus.

“Then why isn’t there a single guy who’s coming to find that woman!”

A personality that wasn’t satisfied unless things went his way, like a child throwing a tantrum.

The surrounding adventurers frowned as they watched him.

That a guy like this was causing a ruckus with his father’s power behind him.

It would be nice if someone would step up and say something to him.

However, even though there were many people with rebellious spirits here, there was no one with that kind of courage.

It would be nice if his servant, like yesterday, would step up and quiet him down.

Her figure was nowhere to be seen.

They could only hope that this man would tire himself out and become quiet.

“You guys… You’re not looking down on me because you think I’m my father’s baggage, are you…?”

“Th, that can’t be! Eustace-nim is a proud member of our Adventurer’s Guild!”

“Then show an attitude that corresponds to that!”

Eustace finally raised his fist.

The moment some of the adventurers judged that there would be an incident no matter where that fist was directed.

There was someone who took the initiative to grab that fist.

“Hey. Stop it.”

A husky female voice echoed in the guild.

Who dared to grab his hand?

Eustace frowned and turned his head, then his eyes widened.

There, the female swordsman of the black magic family who had saved him yesterday was holding his hand with a scowl on her face.

“Oh, oh! You’re the one from yesterday! You heard that I was looking for you and came on your own!”

Cleon’s head started to ache, but he quietly nodded there first.

And when he released the hand he had been holding-

“Ahem. Let me formally introduce myself.”

Eustace, as if nothing had happened to his violent appearance until now, took a dignified and exaggerated pose.

“My name is Eustace Woodnocker. The eldest son of Hughes Woodnocker, the guild master of this guild, and the man who has been chosen as the hero who will save the world.”

“… …”

The entire guild became quiet as if cold water had been poured on his introduction.

“…Leona. Just an adventurer.”

“Just an adventurer! You wield a greatsword as tall as you are freely and pierced the heart of that monster-like bear!”

At those words, Cleon’s desire for Eustace to shut up rose to his throat.

Gulp. He swallowed and put on a fake smile.

“That was… because I was with your servant. By the way, I don’t see her anywhere?”

“Ah… Luvella, was it? She unfortunately lost her life after you left. Even if she’s alive, she wouldn’t be in her right mind.”

Eustace put on a seemingly sad expression.

Then Cleon overlapped Albein with Eustace’s appearance.

Ah. Certainly. Whether it’s a hero or a hero candidate.

Most of the guys with power are like this.

“That’s why I need you. Please become a member of my party!”

“…Alright, but can you do something about that cheesy tone?”

Eustace coughed in embarrassment at Cleon’s words, but soon smiled and said.

“Really? Well, if that’s more comfortable for you. No, more than that, will you really join my party?”

Cleon had no choice but to add the word “I have no choice” to Eustace, who was asking with sparkling eyes.

“If I didn’t join your party, you would have continued to cause a ruckus at the guild. It’s `really because I have no choice`.”

“No! No no. That won’t happen. Haha! But well, it’s better for me if you join cleanly.”

Eustace said something like, “It’s good to be good!” and grabbed Cleon’s hand.

“…So? What are you going to do now? Are you going to take on a request right away? If it were me, I would recruit at least two more people…”

“No! Before that, a greeting to Father! Then a greeting to your father…”

Someone shut this idiot’s mouth…

Cleon sincerely screamed in his heart.

002

The Woodnocker’s mansion in the city was not as large as Count Gordian’s mansion, but.

Among the buildings in the city, it was the most ornate and stood out as much as a large number of guards were stationed there.

As Cleon remembered, this building was previously a mansion that had been abandoned as the lineage of a fallen noble in this city had been cut off.

The city had the ownership, but there was no one among the adventurers, who were the majority of the residents, who could buy such a mansion.

Hughes Woodnocker bought and renovated it when he came to this city this time.

As expected of a merchant, his handling of work was swift. He started working right after his appointment was decided.

It was certainly admirable that he had everything prepared by the time he arrived.

As Eustace walked proudly ahead, Cleon quietly followed behind him.

The inside of the mansion was also filled with ornate decorations here and there.

It was Hughes Woodnocker’s hobby, but there were also some decorations that looked a little unpleasant.

Among them, what stood out was a bizarre mask with a large iron spike embedded in the middle of its forehead.

No matter how you looked at it, the shape was not that of a human.

Sharp teeth that were all exposed. Heinous eyes.

A nose that looked like fire would come out.

“…What is this?”

Eustace looked around there for a moment at Cleon’s question and said nonchalantly.

“Ah. That’s an `evil sealing mask` that Father bought at a high price.”

“…Evil sealing mask?”

Certainly, it had an evil appearance.

“You should be careful. That demon is still alive. It’s something that a high-ranking priest sacrificed his life to seal, and it seems that it will be resurrected if you pull out the spike.”

Cleon felt a headache once again at Marquis Hughes’s bad taste in decorating his house with such a thing.

He repeated encountering strange decorations like that several times and reached the innermost part of the mansion.

The two stood in front of a large room designed to be the safest from external intrusion.

Eustace, where had his relaxed appearance until now gone, knocked on the door with a slightly nervous expression.

“Father. It’s Eustace. I brought the adventurer you mentioned yesterday.”

A moment of silence.

And the answer that came from inside was Hughes’s.

“No. That’s enough. You take care of it. Whether it’s a female adventurer or a male adventurer.”

“… …Pardon?”

“I’m busy right now, so I’m telling you to take care of it! Understand it in one go! You ignorant guy!”

Hughes spewed out harsh words to his son.

Cleon did not feel sorry for Eustace, but it was true that he felt disgusted with Hughes.

“…Th, that’s what he said. That’s good. I was honestly a little worried.”

“Worried?”

“Yeah. Father is getting old, but he’s a little… too much that way. He has double-digit mistresses left at the main house.”

Eustace grabbed his shoulders and trembled.

“If you saw your beautiful appearance, Father might have strange thoughts…”

“…That’s enough. Stop there. I don’t want to imagine it.”

“Right? You made me take unnecessary steps. Then shall we go back to the guild as it is?”

It was an opportunity to enter the Marquis’s family, but Cleon thought that acting strangely and making Eustace suspicious was not a good idea.

He had no choice but to nod and the two walked down the hallway again.

Cleon could only sigh as he looked at the exhibits in the hallway that he was still not used to.

003

Hughes, confirming that the two’s footsteps were moving away, sighed and continued talking to his guest.

“I’m sorry. Our lacking son is not discerning the time.”

“No. It doesn’t matter. He’s at an age where he’s going to be like that.”

The man laughed, “Hehe.”

He roughly gulped down the liquid in the cup placed in front of him.

“…I didn’t expect you to say that you wanted to meet me first.”

“Is it strange? I just wanted to get along with the new master of the guild. This is a rural area, but it’s still a place where I lived for a while in the past.”

The man was sitting with no etiquette, as if it was his own house.

However, Hughes could not say anything to such a man and could only bend over and stay still.

“You’re not dissatisfied that I came to visit, are you?”

“Of course not! I also want to get along with you.”

The abacus in Hughes’s head was moving quickly.

Losing Luvella was painful, but this was an unexpected profit.

To think that this man would approach him favorably.

Of course, there might be something up his sleeve.

However, at least this man had a common purpose with him.

Thinking that, it felt like he had already gained an army.

“Please take care of me. Sword Saint Talcheck-nim.”

Hughes gave a bitter smile.

And Talcheck was giving a crazy smile as he looked at such Hughes.

Little by little, the sound of the wheel of a new fate turning could be heard.