The Priestess and the Hunter's Insidious Scheme (1)
The Priestess and the Hunter's Insidious Scheme (1)
#
I opened my eyes. And right in front of my nose were a pair of eyes staring straight into mine!
"!!!"
Rebecca retreated at a speed that was nothing short of ghostlike. What in the world had just happened? What had that woman been trying to do right in front of my face?
"..."
Rebecca looked down at me wordlessly, as if nothing had happened. But the way she kept blinking... this woman was flustered. Seriously flustered.
"...What're you doing?"
"It is mealtime. You did not answer when I called, so I took the liberty of entering despite the discourtesy. Even you must be exhausted in various ways, Yoo-jin, and I was concerned that something might have happened."
Rebecca answered my question immediately, so naturally that it was as though she'd expected me to ask. However, the Holy Sword asked in puzzlement:
"Huh? You called? I didn’t hear anything, though?"
"...........Did you not say that you were originally a sword, Holy Sword? You cannot be accustomed to human form, so you are presumably unfamiliar with using its senses as well. I believe it's only natural that you didn't hear anything."
....What kind of bullshit was that?
"No? I definitely..."
"In any case, the meal is ready. Your companions have already returned, so I think it best you go down now."
Rebecca cut in before the Holy Sword could say another word. This woman, she was changing the subject pretty damned blatantly. She had zero intention of explaining why she'd done it.
"...Fine. Got it. Let's head down."
At my intervention, Rebecca let her shoulders droop slightly. She had been relieved. Relieved that I had not pursued the subject any further.
But the Holy Sword couldn't hold back and dropped another bomb.
"Ugh. No. Last time the stuff that one gave me tasted weird."
"Y-you little—! What kind of way is that to speak? Someone put care into looking after you, so you should not say something like that!"
Rebecca turned to look at me. My face had gone pale with alarm.
"I've prepared the Holy Sword's meal separately. It seems her palate differs from an ordinary person's."
"...I'll go then!"
#
I stopped Rebecca from chasing after the Holy Sword, who had scampered away. Rebecca looked rather unsteady, her body moving stiffly and awkwardly.
"You okay? Seems like you're doing an awful lot all by yourself."
Even at a glance, Rebecca had a ton of work. The basics were looking after her mistress, preparing meals, and managing the mansion. Now we were here, so she had to play host, and now she was even cleaning up after the Holy Sword's messes.
The last one especially seemed to be a huge mental drain. Much more than when she and I had infiltrated together.
Rebecca answered in a slightly tired voice.
"....Thank you for your consideration."
"Want a massage too? Wasn't it pretty good last time? You've already experienced the effects, so you know what it's..."
"Thank. You. For. Your. Consideration."
Hmm. I was joking. Don’t cut me off and stress every single word like that.
Rebecca shot me a sideways glance and then continued.
"...The procedures to recover the property Sivter extorted are currently underway. Even if we cannot retrieve everything, we should be able to recover some of it. Once that happens..."
"Once that happens?"
"If that happens, I intend to hire additional maids. The mansion has been neglected for a long time, so I plan to address that as a priority if possible. We will need to conduct interviews, of course."
"Yeah?"
Maids. It was an old-fashioned word, almost archaic.
But there was something about that word that made my chest thump.
Naturally, I pictured a beautiful woman in a maid uniform calling me master. Master!
What man wouldn't want to be called Master at least once in his life?
I studied Rebecca's figure as she walked ahead of me.
What this woman did wasn't actually much different from a maid's work, but instead of a maid uniform, she wore a butler-style outfit resembling a suit. Perhaps that was why even her appearance felt so stiff.
I wished I could have a personal maid instead of someone this stiff...
"...!"
A thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
"Hmm. Hey."
"Go ahead."
"Last time at the Guild, Ariel said we should use this place as our clan house."
"...I see. If that is what she said, then it's only natural for this place to become the clan house. Understood."
"Hmm. No, I wasn’t finished. Anyway, if this place becomes a clan house, wouldn’t I have some authority to sit in on maid interviews too? You said you’re hiring maids to manage the mansion, didn’t you?"
"..."
Rebecca stopped walking and turned to look at me. Wh—was that a vein bulging on her forehead?!
"...Of course. If Lady Ariel said so, naturally you have that qualification as well, Yoo-jin."
"Right?"
Rebecca was not finished.
"And your companions would have that authority too. Please make certain all three of them are brought to the interviews."
Sh-she was using my girls against me?! But at her words, I couldn't help picturing what those interviews would look like.
"..."
Whoa.
"...N-no. Never mind. Come to think of it, a non-expert like me butting in wouldn’t be much help. You’re right—you should handle it yourself. Haha. Yeah. Right."
"Thank you for understanding. Truly."
Rebecca gave that answer, spun around, and started walking again.
Hmm. Strange. I'd thought I'd established a clear hierarchy with this woman not long ago. Why did I feel as though I could not stand up to her at all?
# # #
The entire party except me had gathered around the table.
The Holy Sword was peering intently into the pouch set in front of her, and Reni and Yuri were whispering to each other. Awfully close, too. Their foreheads were practically touching. What'd you two do without me to get that close?
"Ah, Yoo-jin!"
"You're a little late. Guess you two had a lot to do?"
At those words, Reni openly watched Yuri's reaction with an uneasy expression. Yuri, however, merely kept her arms crossed as though she had no intention of explaining.
Ominous, ominous. That weird smile of hers is ominous.
Once I took my seat at the table, Rebecca brought the food out.
Bread, vegetable soup, eggs, and sausage. And for the Holy Sword, something like a salad made of vegetables and fruit.
"It is not much, but please help yourselves."
"U-um, Ariel is...."
At Rebecca's greeting, Reni tilted her head in confusion. Rebecca glanced at me, then opened her mouth in a flat, dry voice.
".....She said that she was feeling unwell and would rest instead of eating. She asked me to convey her apologies for the discourtesy and request your understanding."
"Why is she indispos...oh."
At Reni's last word, a silence fell over the table. The only sound was the Holy Sword poking suspiciously at her vegetables.
Hmm. This was unbearably awkward. Of course, it was my own fault for tormenting Ariel like that, but why did they have to bring it up now?!
"Ack. This is bitter!"
The Holy Sword broke the silence. She took one bite of salad and contorted her entire face in disgust. A groan came from behind me, and when I turned around, Rebecca had gone rigid from head to toe. How the hell was I supposed to deal with this Holy Sword?!
A silence even heavier than before flowed over the table, and the Holy Sword shoved the salad plate far away as if she didn't care about anything at all.
"This is too bitter, I can't eat it. Can't I have the stuff you gave me?"
"H-Holy Sword! I told you, you have to have that after you eat!"
"Well, I have finished eating, so it should be fine."
A flustered Reni tried to stop the Holy Sword from reaching into the pouch, but the Holy Sword paid her no attention, pulled something out, and put it in her mouth.
"Kek."
The Holy Sword chewed, let out another blissful moan, and passed out. Reni had no idea what to do.
"...What was that?"
"I-I bought some sweets thinking the Holy Sword might like them, but I-I never imagined it would h-happen like this again..."
"..."
What a complete mess!
...
After the meal finally ended through all those twists and turns, it was time to decide the most important event of the day.
But still, silence reigned. Everyone was eyeing each other, waiting to see who'd speak first. No helping it. At times like this, I had to step up.
"Hmm. Everyone, who am I sleeping with tonight?"
At that, Yuri shot me an incredibly pointed glare.
"Ha! You did it with Ariel during the day, didn't you? Did it so much she couldn't even eat dinner? And you're still not satisfied? No. Just rest tonight."
This could not be happening!
I turned to look at Reni, but Reni was avoiding my eyes.
How could Reni do this to me!
Yuri snapped at me like she'd made up her mind.
"No. I'm tired. Reni's tired too. Somebody didn't come back last night, so we were worried sick all night and went out looking for him first thing in the morning, so we're way too tired. Can't. Just sleep."
This could not be happening!! How could you two do this to me!!!!
I was too shocked to continue speaking, but Yuri's mouth kept running regardless.
"Aren't you tired too, Yoo-jin? Leaving aside what you did with Ariel, you were stuck for a whole day inside a dungeon. Or did you do something that wouldn't make you tired?"
Flash, flash. Yuri's eyes flashed.
"...."
If I opened my mouth here, I would practically be admitting that I'd enjoyed myself with the Witch. I had no choice but to keep quiet and let it pass.
"....Fine, okay. Goodnight then. See you tomorrow...."
I hoisted the Holy Sword onto my back and rose from my seat...
"Why're you taking her?"
"Well. She's passed out, so I should put her away somewhere....."
"No. What are you planning to do to a sleeping girl? Give her to me. I will lay her down."
"A room was assigned separately for the Holy Sword. This way, please."
"....."
Wordlessly, I had no choice but to separate from the girls.
Yeah. Come to think of it, I'd pulled an all-nighter too.
Now that I thought about it, I did feel kind of tired. A night without sex. Well, some days were just like that.
I comforted myself with that thought as best I could and lay down on the bed.
#
-Knock knock.
Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard a knock. Who would come looking for me at this hour?
...Who else. It could only be Reni.
Yuri had resisted so much earlier that her pride would not let her come now. Rebecca was busy and probably had no particular reason to see me. Ariel would be recovering.
Then that left only Reni.
-Creeeak.
I narrowed my eyes and watched the door open. Shining gold hair in the dark hallway. See. What'd I tell you.
And anyway, it was just like Reni. She must've been too busy watching Yuri's reaction to say anything earlier, but there was no way she'd just let the night pass!
Yet she had entered on her own even though I hadn’t answered. At this point, it had to be a habit. Still... this habit? I liked it.
She hesitated at the door, so I cracked my eyes open a little for a quick look. She must've already washed up—she was wearing something like a bathrobe.
You were clearly raring to go tonight, Reni!
With a happy heart, I waited for Reni's next move.
"Yoo-jin. Are you... asleep?"
I pinched my thigh and desperately forced down the corners of my mouth. Fine. I would lie still and pretend to sleep, so hurry and pounce on me! Reni, with your sleep-sex hobby!
Reni grabbed my wrist. I felt her slightly cool hand trembling. For someone who had tried to have sex with me in my sleep several times, she was trembling awfully hard now. She should have been accustomed to it by this point, yet Reni always seemed as fresh and innocent as though it were her first time.
Reni trembled as she took both my hands and pulled them above my head. Was she raising my arms first so she could embrace me? That would have been nice too...
-Clack.
Clack?
A cold, distinctively metallic sensation touched my wrist. What was this? For some reason, it felt a little uncomfortable...
"?!"
Handcuffs?! Reni handcuffed me?!
"Reni?!"
"Eep!"
"Reni! What the hell!"
I tried to bolt upright, but for some reason I couldn't move my body. I stared up at Reni, utterly horrified, and she stammered with a face red enough to burst.
"S-sor, s-s-s-s, s-s-sorry! I'm sorry! B-but...!"
"What're you trying to do! Reni! Take these off!"
"Ugh... Y-Yuri!"
Instead of answering me, Reni cried out toward the door, and at once, Yuri threw the door open and barged into the room.
"Heh-heh.... you womanizing bastard! You'd better brace yourself for tonight. Cause I'm gonna drain you to the very marrow!"
Yuri approached with a devious grin.