Episode 10
Perhaps embarrassed, Isti averted her eyes from mine.
My entire body was languid from the aftereffects of intense sex.
When I came out after washing up, Isti was waiting for me. As if she had something to say.
"What's going on?"
"I have to go back to the kingdom's capital."
"Right now?"
"Yeah. The mission originally entrusted to me was to deliver urgent orders to Marun.
I have to go back and report that it was completed successfully."
Hearing her out, I realized it was unavoidable.
"But I'll come right back as soon as the report is done. Back to your side, Dekal."
I stroked Isti's cheek. Isti rested her face against my hand and acted spoiled.
"Okay, go and come back safely."
"I wish you could come with me, Dekal."
"I still have things left to do here."
I had no particular reason to go to the kingdom, and going there just to get beaten by Selric didn't suit my temperament.
"So finish your work and come back to my side. Isti."
"Yeah! I'll come back quickly."
I thought of something I needed to ask before Isti left.
"By the way, what's this urgent mission the kingdom entrusted you with? And what's the next Hero selection?"
"Dekal, you don't know about the Hero selection?"
Isti seemed surprised.
"I came from very far away."
There was no longer any reason to hide the fact that I came from another world, but I spoke circuitously.
Because I still didn't know much about Isti.
Besides the fact that she was a lovely elf.
"The kingdom's army has been fighting the Demon King's army for a very long time.
The plan to train those who will become Heroes is called the Hero candidate selection."
"What about the current Hero? Don't we already have one?"
"Those selected are placed under the Hero's command."
Ah, so if the Hero were to die, one of the candidates below would fill that position.
I understood.
"Then the urgent mission must be extremely difficult.
They're trying to pick out only those qualified to be Hero candidates, right?"
Isti nodded.
"How strong does one need to be? As strong as you?"
"I'm stronger than the cadets. By adventurer standards, about upper Gold rank."
It didn't seem like a mission someone like me—not even Bronze—could handle.
It might be possible with Isti's help, but it was merely a matter of possibility. I had no desire to do so.
Why would I bother with something as troublesome as being a Hero candidate?
"Do you know anything about the Hero?"
"The current Hero? One who appeared in this world as the Goddess's proxy. A very strong and noble person."
The Goddess's proxy—so it was indeed the Hero.
It seemed best not to show my face anywhere near the kingdom.
And in this world, the existence of gods or their proxies didn't seem to be hidden.
"I get the gist."
"Yeah. I'll be off now. I'll be back by night."
"Okay."
Isti started to leave but hesitated and turned back around.
She seemed to have something else to say.
"What is it?"
"···."
Isti stood on her tiptoes, raised her chin, and closed her eyes tight.
A silent appeal for a kiss.
When I kissed her, Isti wrapped her arms around my neck, kissed both my cheeks, and then looked me in the eyes.
"Dekal, if there's anything you want from me, just say it. In the name of the elf Isti, I'll do whatever you want."
"Is that the elven way?"
"Yes. Elves devote their lives to the one they gave their purity to. I haven't forgotten my ancestors' teachings.
But it's not simply because I gave my purity. It's because it's you, Dekal—I wanted to do it. I felt that from the bottom of my heart."
"Do you love me?"
"I love you."
I kissed her once more.
After seeing Isti off, I was suddenly lost in old thoughts.
If a woman who gained false perceptions through suggestion loves a man, is that love real or false?
It was nothing much, but there was a time when I used to ponder such things.
Of course, now it was all settled within me.
"Hm?"
I opened my Inventory to take out a water bottle, but the "Great Octochrome Clam" was glowing on its own.
Should I take it out? It was colorful and pretty, but also enormous and seemingly useless.
I carefully set it down slowly, worried it might smash the wooden floor.
It was large enough that I had to hold it with both arms, but it was lighter than expected.
The Octochrome Clam emitted a strange light.
I watched it, but nothing much changed.
"What is it?"
I tapped the clam with my foot.
Then, a status-like menu activated and appeared before my eyes.
(Do you wish to move to the Octochrome Clam Castle? Y/N)
As if entranced, I touched Y.
The surrounding space seemed to distort suddenly, and I felt myself being sucked somewhere.
When I came to my senses, I was inside a castle I had never seen before.
A vast, empty hall of a castle.
An empty throne with no retainers and no king.
I had just been at the Water and Grass Inn, but it seemed I had suddenly been teleported somewhere.
It was even cold, so I huddled up without realizing it.
Then.
Flames ignited simultaneously from the candelabras inside the castle, illuminating the surroundings.
A red-haired goddess with white wings descended upon the empty throne.
At her elegant figure, I lost my words without realizing it.
"It seems you've finally learned how to use it. I've waited a long time."
"Belleira."
Rank 4 Goddess Belleira. The goddess who sent me to this other world.
She wore a displeased expression, perhaps still remembering what I had done to her.
"You should have taught me how to use it then."
"Did you think I bestowed that item upon someone like you because I wanted to? Do you even know what kind of clam that is!"
She seemed sulky because her precious clam had been taken.
Actually, things had been quite rushed at the end, so I hadn't had the leisure to listen to item usage explanations.
"It's all... it's all because of that strange magic you cast on me!"
"Ah, hypnosis?"
"Hypnosis?"
Belleira seemed furious to the very tips of her hair.
"Only you would give such an insane brainwashing ability a cute name like 'hypnosis.' It's like giving a puppy name to a dragon."
"Why are you so angry? Tell me honestly."
[You will answer my questions truthfully.]
Because of that keyword, Belleira couldn't hide her inner feelings.
"Whether I'm sleeping or walking, I keep thinking of you, so I couldn't stand it."
"Good girl, well said."
Belleira squeezed her eyes shut, seemingly suppressing the shame rising from deep within.
She must have been incredibly angry, yet she maintained a goddess's dignity. Impressive.
"What I just said isn't my true feelings."
"But you can't help but speak truthfully when I ask you something, can you?"
"That's exactly it! The reason I'm so desperate for you is because of that perverted suggestion you planted at the end."
The final suggestion.
That's right. Before being transported to this other world, I had already implanted the keyword to obey commands, yet I had layered another suggestion on top of it.
Belleira had asked what I had done to her, and I had answered.
"Did you think to make a goddess your slave? Aren't you afraid of divine punishment?"
[Become my slave.]
Because of this suggestion, Belleira had come to act for me even without being commanded.
Or so she seemed to believe.
"I'm delighted to have a beautiful goddess like Belleira as my slave, though."
"Ugh...!"
Belleira crossed her arms and turned her head away sharply.
Seeing the corners of her mouth twitch, she seemed pleased.
"Don't get the wrong idea—I'm not happy about what you just said. It's only because of the suggestion you planted."
"I suppose so. Of course."
In truth, Belleira was mistaken.
She seemed to mistakenly believe that I had made her my slave, causing her to think of me of her own volition.
But the final suggestion I had planted was [You feel pleasure when submitting to me].
An extremely fatal keyword for a woman with as much pride as Belleira.
The reason I embedded this at the end was simple.
Let's say I ordered her to hand over all the items the goddess possessed and send me to a good world.
But what if the goddess harbored a grudge against me after the commands ended?
To prevent such a situation, I decided to utilize one of several keywords I had experimented with.
That keyword was [submission].
A proud goddess who suffered the humiliation of forcibly carrying out commands cannot harbor a grudge against me.
Because I had turned the situation during that otherworldly transfer—which had merely been shameful—into Belleira's sexual fantasy.
She must have been recalling it constantly.
Imagining being trampled and humiliated by me.
Unable to understand why she enjoyed it, she had decided to think this way:
That it was because of the [Become my slave] suggestion that she had such thoughts.
However, if I had actually planted a suggestion to become a slave, Belleira's sparkling charm and individuality would vanish.
That was why the current situation was so enjoyable to me.
Because I secretly knew that Belleira was inwardly happy when ordered to obey commands.
"So what exactly is this place for?"