#4 Time of Pleasant Internal Affairs (Reisi - Unaware Sexual Harassment) (2)
I learned about Vice-Captain Reisi while interrogating Holy Knight Noa Florence.
"Reisi is far superior to me in faith, knowledge, and experience..."
"Lemon sis... the Saintess trusts her too..."
Noa had nothing but praise for her. That must mean Reisi was someone exceptionally trustworthy and capable. I thought Noa was impressive for speaking so highly of a mere soldier.
I also felt a spark of curiosity about this vice-captain who had earned the trust of both a holy knight and a saintess.
'Not a Hero Unit.'
Noa was one, but Reisi wasn't. She was just a standard soldier unit, yet unlike the others, she had several extra skills and abilities.
Faith +1
Unit Morale +1
(Multiple squad support skills equipped)
Just as Noa said, she seemed like an outstanding and useful soldier.
"I pay my respects to the King of Ruin."
As I was checking Reisi's status window, she approached and knelt before me.
She was a priestess of the Goddess Church. Wondering why she would kneel like that, she continued,
"Please release Holy Knight Noa. You can do whatever you want with us for it. We'll do anything you command."
Her voice was resolute as she made that declaration out of nowhere. I was a bit surprised—not just because she offered herself, but her entire squad too.
Glancing at the other captured female squad members to see if this was her solo decision, they all wore determined faces, steeling themselves despite faint traces of fear. They seemed ready to overcome it.
"...What are you talking about? I don't quite get it."
"Exactly as I said. We've all steeled ourselves, so please release Holy Knight Noa... At the very least, guarantee her survival."
Reisi pressed on. Noa was still young and inexperienced as a holy knight. Though Reisi and the other female soldiers weren't much older, they all adored Noa like a little sister.
Not just Reisi—the rest of the squad waiting behind chimed in one by one.
During Noa's interrogation, she'd called them "sisters" assigned to her by someone she didn't know well. But it turned out they knew Noa first and foremost.
Most had volunteered for this expedition over the saintess's request.
"Lady Noa may be a new holy knight, but she helps the weak, speaks up for the powerless, takes on the dirty and grueling jobs others avoid, and never acts arrogant."
"We're not the only ones who admire her. Even ordinary citizens of the Holy Light Kingdom have fans of Lady Noa."
Noa had her own popularity. Executing her would stir up those followers, they implied.
Reisi was subtly threatening me with that.
"......."
"Please, we beg you. Just release Lady Noa. If you're worried about retaliation afterward, we'll convince her ourselves. She'll surely listen to us."
Their attitude and words touched me somewhat.
I knew Noa worried about her captured reconnaissance squad. But they felt the same toward her.
Mutual care. Full of love for each other. Willing to sacrifice themselves.
I love stories like this. Anyone who doesn't must be twisted, broken, or have some weird sensibilities.
"First off, let me say this to ease your minds."
I extended my hand and assured them.
"I have no intention of killing you or hurting you. And that goes double for your precious holy knight."
"You keep misunderstanding—I’m not some King of Ruin. If anything, I want to save you all."
I tried saying that, but unfortunately, their eyes still held suspicion. Can't blame them—who'd believe "I'm a good guy" at face value?
Then I'd just have to prove it with actions.
I immediately summoned the hotel maids.
"You barely slept locked up last night, right? Let's get you washed up, fed something delicious, and then talk."
* * *
Vice-Captain Reisi and her soldiers followed the maids into the grand bath hall.
Besides the bathrooms in each room, the hotel had large communal baths for groups. Not super luxurious with multiple pools, but to Holy Light Kingdom soldiers, it was shockingly opulent.
They even got attended by maids the whole time. Unimaginable for mere soldiers.
Shampoo, body lotion—these were novelties too. Though the Goddess's blessings of war and beauty prevented dramatic effects. They already had glossy hair and flawless skin without much, plus similar cosmetics back home.
Still, the unfamiliar scents and ease of use felt fresh.
The squad's gloomy mood from the night lifted as they soaked in the warm water. Some even giggled like they were on vacation.
Reisi wondered if they were too relaxed and needed a warning, but let it go. They knew their situation.
'It's a bit different from expected, but that doesn't mean I can trust him yet.'
She sank into the bath, lost in quiet thought.
He was the man presumed to be the King of Ruin. He might use tricks or sweet talk to deceive them.
Suddenly, even the bathwater seemed suspicious. Maybe poisoned, or laced with something to muddle their minds.
She knew it was excessive paranoia, but experience taught her suspicion was safer than none.
Problem was, neither her knowledge nor holy spells could detect it—and she'd already dunked in before thinking that far.
Even she had to admit it was careless. No excuse for such vulnerability.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"...Just... if there's something weird in this bath... like poison...."
"Good lord. Who'd do something that horrible? I'm the one saving everyone—why would I? Maybe some bath bombs, but nothing else."
"R-Really...?"
"Yeah, so relax."
Vice-Captain Reisi nodded at King Gaon's words as he joined her in the massive bath. A king wouldn't lie, after all.
She'd been startled when he first entered, but realized it was "natural" and "expected," quickly apologizing.
"Sitting alone must be boring, huh?"
"P-Pardon? No, that's...."
"C'mere. I'm bored."
Pulled by King Gaon, Reisi ended up sitting between his legs. She felt his firm body against her back.
A few years older than Noa, but she'd had no experience with men. None of the squad had.
"I see. So you're all virgins, then?"
"Y-Yes... surely... ahhn...."
King Gaon's hands groped her rice-bowl-sized breasts, fiddling with them. Flicking or circling the nipples sent ticklish jolts up her nerves.
Those hands slid down her skin, covering and rubbing her mound.
Of course, this was all new to Reisi. She couldn't tell if her flushing head was from the hot spring or something else.
Thus continued the bath with the recon squad, their attending maids, and the King Gaon they should see as enemy.
* * *
After the bath, they donned light provided clothes and headed to the dining area—a buffet.
Frankly, Holy Light Kingdom food wasn't great. Scarce meat, holy consecration skipping ingredients, raw dishes galore.
But here? Top-tier ingredients, fresh even the tricky ones. Even common apples were huge, firm, juicy—better than home.
The formal dishes, unfamiliar but eye-opening in flavor, had the squad devouring happily.
For these ascetic priestess-soldiers, tasty food was rare joy.
But Reisi couldn't indulge like them.
Food this delicious can't be normal.
Not scripture, but she'd heard rumors of the King of Ruin and evils tempting humans with otherworldly feasts—eating them drags you to demon realms.
This felt exactly like that. Devil's cuisine? Irreversible consequences?
Worries bubbled up.
"Vice-Captain not to your taste? Why just stand there?"
As she stared at the buffet table, King Gaon—ever by her side—asked. His hand kneaded her ass through thin pants. Breasts smallish, but butt to his liking, apparently.
Reisi shared her unease, but like in the bath, he dismissed it as needless worry.
"Nothing like that, eat up. No poison either. If I wanted harm, it'd be another way. I hate messing with food."
Reassured, Reisi plated food and sat with King Gaon to eat.
His hands roamed and groped her body the whole meal, but Reisi paid it no mind.