episode_0196

000

Adventurer’s Guild located in Elesia. The first floor is always bustling with adventurers, and in contrast, the second floor, where office work is handled, has a quiet hallway that stretches endlessly.

Inside the guild master’s office, the most important room, Guild Master “Wind of Happiness” Luti, who could be said to be the owner of the room, and her little collaborator, apprentice doctor “Perdia,” were enjoying a tea party while talking about recent events.

“So… the Golden Mine Count’s mansion is being dismantled after all.”

“Yes. Now that Sir Cleon has left and the barrier has been dismantled, it seems the consensus is to dismantle it before monsters start flocking to it again.”

Looking at the report Perdia handed her, Luti nibbled on a small cookie topped with strawberry jam, her small mouth moving busily before she poured down some black tea.

“Even though it was only temporary, it’s sad to see a place that was used as a base disappear.”

When Luti said that, Perdia gave a small, bitter smile and nodded.

Of course, considering that only the Inquisitors of the Saint’s Blessing Order were originally aware of this information, the weight of the information being handled was not very light.

Recently, Perdia had been working with Luti to gather information from various places on the continent.

Of course, there was also the goal of helping Cleon, who was struggling to save Lesia, but it was also due to Luti’s hunch that an unfavorable wind seemed to be blowing through the continent after she parted ways with him at the academy.

Now, Perdia hardly does assassin work anymore, and it could be said that being a doctor is her main job, having washed her hands of the dark world.

Nevertheless, with the desire to help Cleon and Luti, who could be said to be one of her benefactors.

She used her unique infiltration and information-gathering skills as an assassin to deliver the news Luti needed by her side.

This news was also one of those, and Luti asked for an investigation because she had recently felt a concerning reaction of divine magic power near here.

Moreover, judging from the fact that the reaction moved from place to place in an instant, it was not a typical member of the Order but a human with special abilities.

Unfortunately, she was unable to grasp the identity of the reaction, but it was a gain to have grasped the movements of the Inquisitors while chasing her.

Thanks to that, it seemed that all traces of Cleon and his party that remained in the mansion could be dealt with in advance before they came.

“I’ll put up a request for trustworthy adventurers, so I don’t think you have to worry about the mansion anymore.”

Perdia also nods at Luti’s words.

“Then. Let’s leave the work talk there. Next is – ta-da!”

Saying that, Luti took out from her drawer a letter from Cleon that was still sealed.

Perdia, looking at it with her hands gathered and her eyes shining, was like a puppy looking at its owner who had taken out a snack.

“It arrived yesterday. I wanted to see it with Perdia.”

“Thank you, Lady Luti…!”

Luti wiped her nose with a “hehe,” and Perdia repeatedly bowed her head as she watched Luti.

The two people have now become like a well-matched boss and subordinate.

Luti carefully broke the wax seal on the letter envelope with a smile on her face.

And she took out Cleon’s letter from inside and began to read it.

“Hmm~ I see… hohoho…”

As she looked into the contents of the letter with Perdia, Perdia’s expression gradually brightened, and Luti’s expression darkened.

The reason for that would be the contents written in the latter half of the letter.

[I think the monastery I’m staying at is short-handed. If it’s okay, I’d like Perdia to come to the royal capital. Please think about it.]

“I’ll go! Right now…!”

“Why only Perdia~!!”

Perdia raises her fist in victory, and Luti buries her face in the desk, holding her head.

To be serious, it is impossible for Luti to leave Elesia for several days like that because she is busy with her work as a guild master.

Even if Perdia’s clinic is open every day, customers will come, but most of them are men who have nothing to do and come to see her.

Even though the perception has improved, it still seems difficult to beat the temple’s medical services.

As Perdia holds the letter, her eyes sparkling, and spins around in place as if she is excited, Luti pouts and looks at her with a sigh and a bitter smile.

It’s easy to forget thanks to her position as the older sister who leads the children of the former assassination organization and her unique quiet atmosphere.

She is a girl even younger than Sasha.

After losing someone as precious to her as her father, it was understandable that she would have special feelings for Cleon, who was a new person she could rely on.

“Since Cleon is calling you, it’s best to go quickly. I’ll prepare a carriage for you.”

When Luti said that, Perdia suddenly came to her senses, stopped moving, and cleared her throat.

“Th, thank you. Lady Luti.”

“It’s nothing,” Luti shrugged her shoulders and was about to take out a pen to prepare the related documents when.

There was a knock, knock on the office door.

“Excuse me. Lady Luti, Sister Perdia.”

Then, the door opened, and the guild receptionist, who had been working hard at the desk recently, appeared.

Perdia couldn’t help but smile when she saw the wing-shaped badge on the uniform she had received as a formal guild employee a while ago sparkling.

She was also a girl who was a member of the former assassination organization, and she had been so intelligent since she was a child that her teacher and she had talked several times about whether it was right to raise this child as an assassin.

Perdia was relieved that she had found a job that she could do with her head held high.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen downstairs?”

When Luti asked the girl that, she shook her head and approached her boss, Luti, with quick steps.

“N, no, that’s not it. The stock of scrolls for writing requests is almost exhausted. I came to write and submit an order form because it seems like it will probably run out by Monday next week.”

When she said that and handed the prepared document to Luti with a nervous look, Luti also glanced at the document and wrote her signature on it.

“It seems like you’re completely doing your part now. The other employees were also praising you.”

“Th, thank you…”

Blushing at Luti’s compliment, the girl, who had received the order form back, turned around and made eye contact with Perdia.

“…Sister, you seem to be in a good mood?”

“Can you tell…? Actually, I’m going to the royal capital. Sir Cleon called me.”

At Perdia’s words, the girl also smiled brightly and was happy as if it were her own business.

“Orca. While Sister is away from Elesia, please take good care of the other children.”

The height difference was not that great, but when Perdia put her hand on her head, the girl called “Orca” also nodded.

Orca also understood how precious Cleon was to Perdia.

Orca is one year younger than Perdia.

When the assassination organization was still alive, they were competing for the position of the next “Apostle of Shadows,” but she herself always felt that her assassination skills were insignificant compared to Perdia’s.

Moreover, they are like family. She also knows how much Perdia worries about the children’s future.

What supports her heart is the “predecessor” – “teacher” “father” who saved her and took her in when she was crawling on the ground and eating bugs.

Although he took his own life as the price for failing his mission, it was in accordance with the rules as an assassin, which he had cherished throughout his life.

After that, the coward who wore the mask of a hero who attacked them.

It was Cleon who saved them from being held hostage to prevent Perdia from laying a hand on them.

In other words, Cleon was the benefactor of Perdia and all the children of the former assassination organization.

Orca herself also thought that it would be good if Cleon and Perdia were to be together.

And at the same time – Orca herself also thinks of a target she has a faint, girlish affection for.

Come to think of it, I haven’t heard from him since he went to the royal capital.

“Hey, Sister Perdia. There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“A favor? It’s rare for Orca to ask for a favor. What is it?”

Orca closed her mouth for a moment, then hesitated to organize and choose her words.

“Y, Youst-”

001

“I see… that child.”

Perdia walks down the hallway with a woman who is both Youstes and Youstina.

I heard all the explanations about the situation from Iona, whom I went to see as soon as I came to the city, but it was not easy to believe that the beautiful girl in front of me was that Youstes.

“I have to write a letter. I’m healthy…. It’s not a lie.”

There didn’t seem to be any masculine side left on Youstes’ face as she said that with a bitter smile.

Perdia clears her throat as she looks at Youstes, who has become more feminine than she expected.

After Cleon left for the academy, Youstes was starting over as a low-level adventurer for a new start.

Perdia, who had often witnessed Orca and him being together, had been secretly following him for a while to judge whether he was a human being she could trust.

After that, after successfully passing the screening, they had been living like neighbors….

`What on earth happened to his body and mind….`

I heard from Iona that he was cursed by a succubus, but I couldn’t find out more details than that.

The fact that all the women other than the nuns who were seen on the way to this room were originally men is as shocking.

First of all. Let’s convey what needs to be conveyed first.

“Youstes-sama. Orca probably thinks that it won’t be a problem even if Youstes-sama becomes a woman.”

“Huh? Ah, ah… th, that’s right.”

Youstes answers as if she doesn’t know what Perdia is saying, and looks at the outside of the hallway – the feminized humans in the same situation as her.

The number of people wearing men’s clothing was less than before.

“I was worried and had a hard time for a few days after I became this body…. But now I’m okay. I’ve finished organizing my feelings. As a result, I realized that I haven’t changed much.”

Looking at her making an expression like a sage, Perdia replies as if she doesn’t know what to say, “H, haa….”

“But, I’m glad Cleon let you come here…. Divine magic can’t properly judge whether you have a disease or something.”

“Yes. Fortunately, Youstes-sama’s body is healthy in itself.”

Perdia says that, nodding as if she is glad that she brought all the necessary equipment in her medical bag.

What Cleon asked for was this.

Layla’s potion is preventing people from becoming female, but there may be side effects of the drug that they don’t know about.

That’s why he asked Perdia, who has medical knowledge and is a trustworthy person, to come to the royal capital and take a look at the people in the monastery.

Youstes, who was glancing at the difficult technical terms written on the medical chart Perdia was holding in one hand, felt dizzy but shook her head and said to her.

“You’re young, but you’re amazing. When I was your age, I was just a kid who could only think about myself….”

Youstes makes a nostalgic expression as if she is recalling her embarrassing childhood history, and Perdia closes her mouth for a moment.

“Orca is the same. To be honest, she was helping many more people than someone like me at that guild.”

Perdia stops walking for a moment and looks at Youstes, who continues to belittle herself.

When she stops walking, Youstes has no choice but to stop walking as well, so silence flows between the two.

“I evaluate – no, I acknowledge what you have done. Youstes-sama. Sir Cleon and I as well. Surely, the first impression may have been close to the worst. But you protected Elesia – my siblings’ nest with your courage.”

Perdia says that, clenching her fist and looking up at Youstes.

“I am truly grateful for that. So please don’t try to belittle yourself like that. That is, rather, rude to the people who trust you.”

When Perdia says that with a worried look, Youstes widens her eyes for a moment, then smiles softly.

“You’re telling me a similar story to Cleon…. Thank you.”

“No. I just said what I wanted to say.”

Even while thinking that, Perdia had one hypothesis as she looked at Youstes, who felt a little softer in personality, or rather, weaker.

The curse affects not only the body but also the mind.

The more feminine a person becomes, the faster the feminization of their appearance progresses, and their mind gradually changes to that of a woman.

She wondered if Youstes had entered that stage.

However – even so, he still had a masculine side.

His usual way of speaking. His attitude towards others. The greasy expression with strength in his eyebrows.

In contrast, other body parts other than his facial features – parts like his chest, waist. Even though the parts like her hips and the sometimes-seen kind tone were completely feminine.

Sometimes acting like a woman, and sometimes acting like a man, Youstes.

`…Considering that other patients are leaning to one side, I can see that his current state is quite unusual…. Why?`

Thinking that, when she opens the door to the room where today’s last patient is.

There, she saw the figure of Rosaria, a pink-haired woman sitting on the bed and staring blankly out the window.

Rosaria tilts her head as she looks at the two of them, reacting to the sound of the door opening.

“You are-”

“You’re the `Rosaria` who came here today. I’m Youstes. I’m in the same situation as you.”

“…Same situation. So, you were originally a man…. No, I can tell from your tone.”

Rosaria nods as if she understands.

And naturally, her gaze turns to Persia, who is standing next to Youstes.

“Ah – I’m a doctor who came to check the physical condition of the victims of the monastery. My name is Perdia.”

“Miss Perdia…. You’re small and cute….”

“…Yes?”

“Ah, no… nothing.”

Perdia wondered if she had misheard something for a moment, and asked back without realizing it.

Rosaria hurriedly averted her face and cleared her throat.

Youstes also felt strange about her, so she made eye contact with Perdia, but soon approached her as if she didn’t know.

“I heard from Liza. You lost your memory…. That’s a big deal.”

“Is, is that so? … I myself am rather less burdened because I don’t know anything…”

Rosaria trails off her words as if she is refraining from saying that she feels guilty.

“Amnesia… is it?”

Perdia also listened to her words and pondered.

There are many reasons why amnesia occurs, but there are also many ways to treat it, and it is really unknown which one will work.

Applying physical shock is of course the worst method, but even excluding that, there was mental shock therapy.

Perhaps it is a curse from the succubi, so purifying the entire body with divine magic may also be a method.

“…Is there any way? Perdia.”

“The person’s will is the most important, but…. What do you think, Miss Rosaria? Do you want to regain your memory?”

Rosaria closed her mouth for a moment after hearing Perdia’s question.

“…To be honest. I still don’t know. The me I know is a woman who serves male customers in a brothel…. But before that, I was a `man`. I can’t really imagine it…”

The two nod because there was some truth to her words.

`Memory` `Past` `Truth`

As such keywords swirled within Rosaria, Rosaria suddenly. I remember someone talking to me at times like this –

She recalls the same, `memory`.

“But-”

“…But?”

Yes. Surely, it’s not a friend or a colleague, but my one and only….

“But. If… I have a `family`…. I want to regain my memory, even if it’s to meet that family.”

At Rosaria’s words, Youstes and Perdia looked at each other once again.

Soon Perdia nodded and looked back at Rosaria, checking her pulse.

“According to the explanation I heard from Miss Iona. I heard that most of the victims were men living in the royal capital. If you want to regain your memory, how about tracing the traces of your past self?”

“…Traces…”

As Rosaria follows the word as if she doesn’t know what it means, Perdia spreads out the index finger of her right hand and speaks as if explaining.

“Yes. You go around the royal capital and find the places where you lived or your sphere of life. Because you don’t have any memories. You’ll have to go around the royal capital as it is.”

“But, according to Liza-san, you can’t go outside until your body returns to normal….”

“Don’t worry about that part. If people who know the situation accompany you and are careful, you can go outside.”

When Youstes answers that, Rosaria looks at Youstes.

“…So, Youstes-san?”

“Of course. I’ll help if I can.”

Rosaria looks greatly pleased at Youstes’ words.

Soon, she rushes towards Youstes in a hurry.

Youstes, whose body itself is the same woman, stiffened in surprise as she felt a soft sensation touching her body.

Rosaria clung to such Youstes and rubbed her body against her, saying.

“I, there’s something I have to tell you.”

“… …?”

“The current me likes girls even though I’m a girl.”

At the sudden coming out, Youstes and Perdia couldn’t say anything for a while and opened their mouths.

Rosaria humming.

Youstes blushed after a while and replied.

“I, I have someone I like!”

“!? Is it Orca by any chance!?”

When Perdia reacted to those words, Youstes immediately replied and denied it.

“No! Cleon-”

“… …”

And oops. Perdia looks at Youstes with the same expression.

Her gaze changes from shock to understanding, and then – quietly…

It was changing to a look of restraint towards a ‘rival in love’.

“Youstes-sama…”

With Perdia’s arrival, Youstes had an ominous feeling that her life in this monastery would become a little more complicated.

She could only sincerely wish that Cleon would come back soon.