episode_0009

“Let’s put off the talk about marriage for now.”

After composing himself, the first words spoken by the king were unexpected.

Did he realize his mistake belatedly? It would be right to judge based on conscience or mother, but who is the other party?

Considering his age and past actions, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had neither.

Judging from the suggestion to put it off, he’s probably thinking of some dirty trick.

I doubt my judgment will be clouded by mere alcohol, but from that moment on, I vowed never to drink while in this world.

No, even water needs caution. In a fantasy-like world, it wouldn’t be strange if there were drugs that increase sensitivity by 3,000 times.

“But wait, is there a way to be cautious?”

It would be wise to consider methods for distinguishing poison or cultivating resistance.

Or perhaps contraceptive magic. Such a thing should never happen, but in the worst case, as long as no child is conceived after spending a night with her.

If she were a pure virgin, Penny Princess, then maybe there could be an argument that her value doesn’t change even if she’s secondhand.

Regardless of whether it’s once, ten times, or a hundred times, secondhand is still secondhand.

No one can refute the fact that its value remains unchanged.

“Or is there a way to prevent arousal itself?”

I’m not sure how the goddess would react if she heard this thought, but I vaguely thought it was related to the realm of purity.

Isn’t this also a kind of chastity belt? Can’t we do something with the power of the goddess?

With that thought in mind, I went to find Jarvis. He was resting in a guest room prepared by the royal family.

He was alone in a room without any sacred artifacts, praying while facing the wall. When I arrived, he immediately stood up and turned to look at me.

“Hero, are you feeling better now?”

“Yes… It was just a temporary loss of energy. I rested well and ate, so I recovered quickly. But by any chance, does this world have anything like religious relics?”

“Yes?”

“In the world where I lived, when praying to God, we would kneel before a cross… I mean, in front of a relic. I was wondering if there is such a culture in this world.”

In the temple, and even now, he prays to the empty air without any relics.

Perhaps it’s just that he wasn’t prepared. Curious, I asked, and Jarvis replied with a solemn face.

“No, they do exist. They have simply been forgotten.”

“Forgotten?”

“After the arrival of the first and last hero 1,000 years ago, many teachings, including relics, have been lost. Of course, efforts have been made to restore them, but due to the long time that has passed, there hasn’t been much progress.”

“But this is a world where gods actually exist. Haven’t they given any divine revelations or something?”

“Unfortunately… Since the first hero, no one has received a revelation from the goddess. Naturally, the influence of the church has been declining day by day, and the temple has become what it is…”

“Well, then, tell me next time we meet. I want to know a little about what relics are.”

“Ne-Next time…?”

“Oh, didn’t I mention it? We met when I fainted before.”

“W-We met?!!”

Excited, Jarvis grabs my shoulder and exclaims.

Seeing my surprised and frozen reaction to his unexpected behavior, Jarvis regains his composure belatedly and quickly releases his hand, saying,

“I-I apologize! It’s just so hard to believe…”

“If you’re a hero, don’t you meet everyone?”

“No, as far as I know, even if someone is called a hero, they haven’t personally met the goddess.”

“I see…”

“But… What kind of conversation did you have with the goddess…”

Even though it’s called a conversation, honestly, more than half of the strange stories I couldn’t understand.

“I have a mission other than subduing the Demon King. It’s about the duality of purity and the answer to the Chain of Non-Virginity… Do you understand what I mean?”

“Well, I’ve never heard of such a story before… Maybe the High Priestess might know.”

“The High Priestess?”

“The supreme leader of the sect, who acts as the representative of the goddess until the arrival of the hero. Normally, the High Priestess takes charge of guiding the hero, but our sect’s High Priestess travels the world to fulfill the will of the goddess…”

“So, you don’t know where she is.”

“It seems so.”

Finally, there was something to learn, but it’s strange that the sect can function properly with a High Priestess like that, who wanders around without a home like some runaway teenager.

Starting from the author called the High Priestess, this whole situation seemed absurd if the sect was running properly.

“Finally, there was something to learn…”

“To learn something?”

“That’s right.”

The story that began from there criticized the flaws of this country.

Jarvis couldn’t bear the anger towards the tyranny committed by the king as a citizen of this country before being a devotee of the goddess.

His pale face started turning red. His bony arm, the only thing left, clenched tightly and began to tremble.

“H-How dare you…!!!”

“I’m not surprised anymore. So, is there no way?”

“Unfortunately, I haven’t experienced such a thing, so I don’t know about miracles. But if the hero prays to the goddess, she will surely perform a miracle.”

“Sigh…”

A hero who asks for a miracle to prevent an erection from the goddess, even thinking about it makes me laugh because it’s so absurd.

Aside from being shameful, would she grant such a prayer?

…Surprisingly, it seemed like she might.

“Alright, I understand. I’ll be leaving for the royal capital soon, and as for you, Father, will you…”

“I’ll stay here. It won’t be of much help if I go, and there might be a lamb who seeks the teachings of the goddess.”

“…I doubt it.”

There would be no humans aspiring to enter the village I saw at least until this point in my journey.

I am by no means a person who defiles virgins, but it’s impossible for someone who has even once recognized the importance of purity to have such a number hanging over their head.

“Well then, please take courage. All I can offer is these words.”

“Just those words are enough to give me strength. As a devotee of the goddess, to directly witness her grace at the end of my life, what could be happier than this?”

“Why make such an overreaction…”

“No, it’s definitely not an overreaction. You are undoubtedly…”

Just as Jarvis was about to say something, someone knocked forcefully on the door.

“Hero! It’s time to depart. (Experience acquisition: 5 people)”

“Understood. So, what did you want to say?”

“It’s nothing. You’ll find out when the time comes, so there’s no need to worry. Now, let’s go…”

Jarvis pointed to the door with a kind smile.

What was he trying to say?

Setting aside that question for a moment, I stepped out of the door.

*****

“It must be him.”

When did Jarvis become so certain?

He clenched his fist tightly, as if holding onto the conviction that surged in his heart, and recalled the previous day.

The day the hero and Galleon first met. The hero expressed his aspirations without hesitation, even in front of the king of the nation.

A noble white shield that does not forsake the virtue of purity, even if it means facing death.

The moment Jarvis witnessed the scene, it was as if he personally experienced the reproduction of a myth and felt the existence of the goddess for the first time.

Noble. Beautiful. Devout.

There may be countless words to describe a martyr who sacrifices their life for their beliefs, but no matter how many words and sentences related to virtues in this world are brought together, they cannot possibly explain the appearance of that day.

Yes, it’s definitely him. That hero. Without a doubt…

“The one who brings freedom to all virgins when the meaning of purity fades and the world is tainted by lust…”

Cherry Boy

With the legend of the first pure-hearted hero who appeared 1,000 years ago, a legendary existence passed down within the sect.

Jarvis was convinced. That hero was undoubtedly the Cherry Boy who brought freedom to all maidens.

*****

Although not intentional, I embarked on the path to the royal capital with the king in order to be officially recognized as a hero and cultivate the power to handle growth.

I was worried about what would happen if I were ordered to march all the way to the royal capital, but fortunately, it seems that I will be traveling by carriage.

The king’s procession was surprisingly modest, with only four carriages resembling props often seen in dramas or movies set in medieval times, accompanied by dozens of mounted knights following behind.

Considering that there wouldn’t be any fools foolish enough to attack a procession displaying the king’s banner, this amount of force might be sufficient.

Although they may appear to be ordinary humans at first glance, those knights are unquestionably residents of the world of swords and magic.

It’s merely because I have repelled all their attacks in the past that they seem insignificant, but perhaps they are the elite among the elites.

“This is the carriage for the hero to board. (Experience acquisition: 4 people)”

The second carriage, slightly behind the front. The knight pointed to a beautiful carriage reminiscent of a jewelry box.

“How long will it take to reach the royal capital?”

“If nothing unexpected happens, it will probably take around ten days… (Experience acquisition: 4 people)”

“I hope my buttocks can endure….”

Although this is my first time riding in a carriage, the feeling of riding won’t be comparable to modern cars.

Feeling both anticipation and anxiety about riding in a carriage for the first time, I opened the carriage door. And…

“……. (Experience acquisition: 1 person)”

I sincerely began to contemplate the ten-day march.