Episode 59
"Wabid. Forget everything that happened today. And no matter the form, do not involve yourself with Dekal or Veil Noah any further."
"Yes."
Wabid would forget everything upon waking.
Even if he obtained any clue related to me afterward—information about me recorded in documents, for instance—he would be incapable of thinking about it or intervening.
Using hypnosis, getting closer to someone you just met was simple; conversely, making an interpersonal relationship as though it had never existed was just as easy.
Because he blocked information related to me of his own accord, this security was not easily breached.
Of course, before doing this, it wasn't as if I'd had nothing I wanted to ask Wabid.
How the Executor's reporting system worked, and whether investigating me had been Veil Noah's independent decision.
Questions one might ask such an Examiner came to mind, only to vanish just as quickly.
I could simply hear the necessary information from Noah.
Honestly, Wabid was beneath my notice now.
I manipulated the secret switch to reopen the passage and slung Noah over my shoulder like a piece of luggage.
And before leaving the passage, I clapped my hands.
Clap!
"Hm?"
Leaving behind a bewildered Wabid looking around with a dazed expression, I escaped the dungeon.
It was already late at night outside.
"......Look at that."
The few adventurers there whispered when they saw me.
I had taken care to adjust Noah's clothing so her bare skin wouldn't show, but a man carrying an unconscious woman on his shoulder couldn't possibly look respectable.
Especially in this other world, where you might be targeted by thieves or even attacked by fellow adventurers.
Fortunately, no one picked a fight, but things were a bit different when I arrived at Maureun Village.
Perhaps because I appeared looking like a criminal no matter where one looked, a guard approached with fire in his eyes.
"What are you doing? Why has the lady with you lost consciousness?"
"She fainted in the dungeon."
"The dungeon? You must be an adventurer. May I check your license?"
I handed my adventurer's license to the guard.
At that, the guard jumped in surprise, removed his helmet, and bowed his head.
"It was you, Sir Dekal. I apologize for blocking your busy path."
Surprised by the unexpected response, I closed my mouth.
Then the guard continued in a kind tone.
"You aided us in wiping out the thieves. Afterward, Captain Salina ordered us to cooperate so that you would experience no inconvenience when passing through the gate."
"It was an order from Captain Salina."
"Salina did?"
I appreciate that.
"I'll pass through, then."
"Have a pleasant night."
To think a guard I was seeing for the first time knew my name. It was the first moment I truly felt my fame.
Before I knew it, I had become a renowned adventurer in this village.
"Nngh......"
Noah stirred. It seemed she had come to her senses in the middle of the square.
"Can you walk now?"
"Ah... yes."
I set Noah down.
"My apologies for the trouble."
"It's fine. It wasn't hard. Besides, it happened because of me."
"......."
Noah fidgeted.
"What became of Wabid?"
"He's someone unrelated to us now."
No further detailed explanation was necessary.
Noah bowed her head deeply, as if she understood everything.
"Thank you for your delicate consideration."
"I need to introduce you to the other two, don't I? Since you're my bitch now."
"......."
"Or not?"
Noah pressed her lips together tightly, then nodded.
"Yes, from now on I am...... Sir Dekal's loyal bitch."
"Good. Ah, I brought a blindfold too. Shall I put it on you?"
"Please."
I placed a black blindfold over Noah's eyes.
"There."
"......Thank you."
"Before we go in, there's something I need to talk to you about. Regarding the supplementary exam."
"The supplementary exam, sir?"
"I don't mind failing myself, but couldn't you let Karen pass?"
Noah's expression stiffened.
"That is impossible."
I figured as much.
I had considered manipulating Noah to make her pass, but it seemed I had no reason to go that far.
Surprisingly, it seemed I had been earnestly taking the supplementary exam and accepting its results.
"Because you two have already passed. I hadn't informed you yet."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"May I tell you at Miss Karen's location?"
"That seems best. Then......"
"It's the Water and Grass Inn, yes? Let's go."
As if she knew my destination, Noah strode ahead to lead the way.
I had forgotten. Noah was the Executor who had tracked me, wasn't she? Except for the period I stayed at the Clam Castle, it wouldn't be strange if she knew everything about what I ate and where I stayed on a normal day.
She was frightening as an enemy, but I thought Noah's abilities would be quite reliable as an ally.
We arrived at the Water and Grass Inn.
According to Anais, the two had taken a room in my name a few hours ago and had not come out.
I immediately went to the second floor and knocked on the door.
"Oppa's here!"
Karen's voice rang out from inside.
"Darling. Opening now."
Esty, who opened the door, revealed wariness in her eyes when she saw Noah standing beside me.
"Noah."
"May I enter?"
Esty looked at me as if seeking my permission.
"It's fine. Noah is family now."
"Okay."
The moment I entered, I felt a suffocating stuffiness.
Three people could somehow endure it, but with four people in this cramped room, there was far too little space.
"You've been staying in a room like this? ......Even though there are many good inns in Maureun Village."
"Right. We need to move. Everyone, let's relocate to the Clam Castle."
I took out the Giant Eight-colored Clam from my personal storage.
"Clam Castle?"
"Dekal. Wait. Before we go, I want to check whether Noah has given up on harming Darling."
Esty revealed hostility toward Noah.
I had forgotten for a moment. Esty fundamentally did not trust people.
Karen had built a good friendship with Esty thanks to her honest and lively personality, combined with the incident where she helped me, but Noah's background was entirely different.
Esty could not simply understand and accept Noah, who had secretly tracked our movements and held intentions to directly harm me.
As taut tension filled the air, Karen tilted her head.
"The Examiner harmed Oppa? Why?"
......Though it likely wasn't a remark made with intent, thanks to Karen, the sharp atmosphere softened.
What had happened in that stone chamber was a non-event to Karen.
In other words, Karen didn't know that Noah had viewed me as a person of interest and had tried to carry out summary judgment.
As Esty closed her mouth, Noah naturally began to speak.
"I am an Examiner, and at the same time, an Executor who tracks and judges criminals."
"Th-then...! You came to capture Oppa?"
The reaction of clueless Karen was adorable.
"At first, yes. There were also circumstances where many women had suffered harm."
"I don't know about the others, but I'm not a victim. I'm Oppa's cocksleeve, so I wasn't sexually assaulted or anything. I wanted it......."
Karen rambled disjointed words in her extreme fluster.
"I know, Miss Karen. Please calm down."
"......Yes."
This is amusing to watch. Seems she was shocked to learn Noah is an Executor.
Even the sight of her defending me by calling herself a cocksleeve was a masterpiece.
"Continue. You're saying that's not the case anymore?"
Esty pressed Noah.
"Yes. I have decided to become Sir Dekal's loyal bitch and serve him."
"......What!?"
Karen widened her eyes in surprise enough for three people combined.
"I can't believe those words coming so suddenly."
Esty spoke bluntly, but Noah didn't cower in the slightest.
These two were polar opposites. It seemed they'd have trouble getting along.
In Bella's case, she was a goddess to begin with, so she tended to look down on Esty, but.......
It felt like a problem I had roughly glossed over until now had finally erupted. Esty didn't trust anyone but me. Even if she did trust someone, she tended not to acknowledge them without a connection through me.
That was probably why she had been called the "Aloof Huntress" until now.
"Examiner? What are you talking about? Oppa's bitch.... Oppa! What on earth did you do?"
Karen suddenly turned her arrows on me.
Oh, is it finally my turn to speak? Good. I'll sort out this complicated situation simply.
"We had sex."
"Se-......"
An awkward atmosphere settled.
"It's not as if men and women get close without having sex."
"......."
"An obsessive streak of seventeen consecutive creampie se—"
"I-I heard you, you don't need to repeat sex, sex!"
"I was about to tell you how Noah became my bitch."
"I don't think I'd understand even if I heard such an explanation. The Executor suddenly becoming Oppa's bitch...."
"What about Esty?"
"......."
Esty, who had been hiding no hostility, suddenly spoke with a refreshed expression.
"If it's sex with Darling... I understand. It can't be helped."
"Y-you mean Esty gets it!?"
"Yeah. Didn't you understand too, Karen?"
"I...... well, I thought I was the only one whose mind went strange when having sex with Oppa."
Karen made a strange confession, her voice crawling lower and lower to the floor in embarrassment.
"Seventeen times in a row…. How was it, Noah?"
Isti asked in a suggestive tone.
"It was incredible. I passed out intermittently, and my sense of time grew strange……"
Karen gulped, swallowing hard.
Watching the elf and the Executioner—whom I had thought were polar opposites—bond over my story was awkward.
"Shall we talk inside? It's too cramped here. Isti, are you alright now?"
"Yeah. At the very least, I've gained the confidence that you won't harm Darling."
It was a relief that Isti wasn't so stubborn. Perhaps, ever since the incident where I had set my sights on Karen, she had been preparing herself in her own way.
I led the three of them to the first-floor hall of the Eight-Colored Shell Castle.
Bella was sitting on the throne, waiting for us. It was a familiar sight by now.
"One more person?"
As Bella rose from the throne, Noah spoke nervously.
"This sacred aura. An elegance rivaling that of a queen, or even a goddess, of any nation……. Please forgive this lowly one's ignorance for failing to recognize one so exalted."
Bella giggled.
"You brought a child with some proper discernment? Master, you have quite the eye for people."
"Master?"
Noah seemed deeply shocked.
I naturally stepped to Bella's side and introduced her to everyone.
"Allow me to introduce her. This is Bella, my slave. She's a former goddess."
Watching the reactions every time a new member joined the family was amusing too.
"I'm Bella. I'm Master's pussy slave. I was a goddess once, but I've set that aside for now."
"A goddess……"
Noah froze on the spot as if turned to stone.
No matter how sharp her intuition was, how could she have possibly guessed?
That a dignified, elegant woman sitting proudly upon a throne was once a goddess and was now my pussy slave.
"Now it is your turn to introduce yourself. Did you lose your tongue because I am too beautiful? Come, speak your name."
Perhaps pleased that Noah had recognized her as a goddess at first glance, Bella spoke haughtily, like a goddess herself.
"Are you perhaps Master's new cock sleeve? Was the previous one demoted to a candidate?"
"Ah, no!"
Karen cried out in denial.
"I am Oppa's cock sleeve. ……Right, Oppa?"
"Yeah. Karen is my cock sleeve."
Karen stroked her chest in relief, reassured by the confirmation of her place as my cock sleeve.
"Noah is a bitch."
Bitch, cock sleeve, lover, slave…….
The composition had certainly become diverse.
"I am a lowly bitch whose only merit is a nose that listens well."
Noah placed her hand over her navel and bowed respectfully.
"You may raise your head. I like polite children. Your name?"
"I am Veil Noah."
"Very well. Noah, I hope you find happiness while you are Master's bitch."
"Thank you for your precious words."
I slapped Bella's buttocks with a sharp smack.
"Ahng!"
"Acting all haughty with your Master right beside you. We need a place to talk, so guide us to a suitable location."
"Yes, Master♥"
We followed Bella's guidance to the reception room on the second floor.
I had seen it on the map data, but this was my first time visiting in person. Contrary to my expectation that it would feel barren, it was a room with a warm atmosphere, untouched by human hands.
Decorations in dark-red hues were used extensively, much like in the castle lord's chamber, and crimson lighting softly illuminated the center of the room.
I realized anew that this castle was truly excellent for habitation. Everywhere was as clean as if meticulously tended to.
"Everyone, sit wherever you like."
With those words, I took the seat of honor first.
Right beside me, as if it were only natural, sat Isti and Bella. Next to Isti was Karen, and next to Bella was Noah.
……With such a full-fledged gathering assembled, it felt as though we were about to begin a conference upon which the fate of the nation rested.
"Noah. Shall we start with the supplementary exam? The content was, yes, catching the Lich on the lowest floor of the Bordeaux Dungeon, right?
We failed to catch the Lich. Someone beat us to it, which is why I said it was a shame, remember?"
"Yes."
"But what does it mean that Karen and I passed?"
Karen's eyes went wide.
All eyes focused on Noah.
"The words 'it's a shame we couldn't catch the boss' truly meant exactly that.
The boss of the Bordeaux Dungeon was not a Lich."
Huh? It wasn't a Lich?
"The conclusion is that it was my mistake.
The supplementary exam was an unscheduled event, so there was insufficient time to investigate.
When I brought up the Lich, I did attach the caveat 'in my estimation,' but the fault lies largely with me for failing to explain in detail."
Ah, right.
She had definitely spoken in such terms.
We had been confused by the sudden news as well, so we had failed to consider the obvious question: what if there was no Lich in the dungeon?
"The boss of the dungeon was not a Lich, but a 'Skeleton Emperor.' Just as with the mass orc outbreak, it was a commotion caused by a single skeleton bearing a red soul stone going on a rampage."
"No wonder there were so damn many of them. I was wondering where all those bones were coming from."
From the moment she heard they had passed, Karen had been fidgeting, unable to hide her excitement though she hadn't said a word.
She seemed unable to contain herself after hearing such joyous news.
"A supplementary exam is administered when an examinee has completed an emergency mission, but the process is deemed suspicious. It is a pass when the examiner judges that the examinee possesses the ability to complete an emergency mission.
The inadequacy of the mission details is my mistake. However, the two of you demonstrated sufficient ability in the process of heading toward the chamber where the Lich was presumed to be, and so you were already in a situation recognized as a pass. However……"
"However?"
"At that time, I was thinking that I would pass Miss Karen, while Sir Decal would be arrested as a criminal, or perhaps even killed on the spot……"
Noah confessed her honest feelings.
Given the circumstances at the time, it couldn't be helped.
"It's fine. It's in the past. Going forward, I hope you will take care to ensure no danger befalls me."
"Yes, that role. I will gladly accept it."
"The one who has been protecting Darling…… is me."
Isti wilted, looking dejected.
"It's not that you aren't helpful, Isti. Danger can appear at any time, in any form. Honestly, even if I remain constantly vigilant on my own, there is a limit. When danger reveals itself directly, I will need your help, Isti; before that, I need Noah's help."
"You mean my role is to cut off the buds of danger before they bloom."
"Yes……. 'Cutting off' sounds a bit ominous, though. Rather than eliminating them, report them to me. Let's think together about what to do. Can you do that?"
"Yes."
"Shall we summarize? In truth, there was no Lich in the Bordeaux Dungeon, and because Karen and I proved our abilities fairly, we were recognized as having succeeded in the Thin Wolf hunt. Right?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"You hear that?"
"Oppa!!"
Karen sprang up from her seat and rushed into my arms.
It felt like dealing with an overgrown child. The momentum was so great that my chair nearly tipped backward.
"Hwaang."
"There, there. Congratulations."
I hugged Karen and gently stroked her back.
Now, Karen was on track to become a Hero candidate. What about me?
Since Bella was here as well, I thought I should gather and organize all the information in this meeting and clarify my position.
Depending on the outcome, my next destination could very well be "Hero School."