Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: The Final Key to Curse Treatment (1)
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Only three days remained until our return to the capital.
In three days, we had to leave this place.
Just thinking about it darkened my expression.
'I wonder if I can manage to appease the sulky Hero in the meantime.'
In the end, the Hero had bolted midway.
The moment I noticed, I chased after her, but I couldn't even find a trace.
A sigh escaped me naturally.
The worst possibility loomed in my mind.
'If she just vanishes completely like this, we're in big trouble.'
If she gave up on treatment and ran away, it was game over.
Of course, I'd done it confident she absolutely wouldn't.
With her personality, there was no way.
Lumi and Minerva agreed too.
'But now that it's actually happening, I'm getting cold feet.'
Was she avoiding me more than expected?
Or did she just need some time alone?
For now, only the Hero knew...
'The good news is, the curse has been lifted a ton.'
That was why I wasn't panicking yet.
Yesterday, we'd undone a massive amount of the curse.
The Hero was already about a fifth of the way healed.
How much was that?
Her sense of taste, which had been completely gone like Lumi's, had returned.
So she must be feeling it big time.
I doubted she'd run knowing that.
'So please come back, Hero-bao!!!'
I clasped my hands and prayed earnestly.
Gazes gathered on me.
"What are you doing first thing in the morning?"
"Praying that the Hero search wraps up within three days."
"Come to think of it, Sir Yi Hyun returns in three days."
"Right. His Majesty specially procured a magic stone, so Yi Hyun can teleport back first. We'll withdraw soon after and follow."
"......"
Luna, where'd you get the magic stone from this time?
You said they were all tapped out, but the empire's top dog pulls through, huh.
Another sigh slipped out.
This felt off.
"I'll politely decline that."
"Are you insane!? Even the Imperial Princess wouldn't defy His Majesty's orders!"
"Even as Imperial direct affiliates, my heart's home is the Imperial 2nd Knight Order. We stick together to the end."
"...Yi Hyun."
"Can't rein him in, can you?"
I declared my defiance at my discretion.
The mood softened thanks to it.
"Alright. Then let's hustle on the Hero search with the time we have left."
"Leave it to Hilde! I'll sniff her out with this nose of mine in no time..."
"Ah, just rest. I'll handle it."
"...Won a bit at paperwork and now you're cocky? Think I'm too dumb to help since I'm below you?"
"Didn't say it that harsh. Insecurity talking."
"Kyaaah!? You, you bastard! Just wait, I'll hire a tutor and...!!"
Of course, soft by our standards.
The 2nd Knight Order's top idiot, fuming solo, saw it differently...
-Creak.
"———Captain Blanc, and Yi Hyun!!"
The peaceful vibe didn't last.
All eyes turned.
"Layla? What's up?"
"Message from Saleos!! Treatment's fully complete, requests to meet Yi Hyun!!"
"...On my way!"
Saleos, the high demon who'd turned to humanity's side.
She'd finally finished treatment.
We set up in the prison.
A seat to confirm Saleos truly wouldn't harm humanity.
Five participants.
Saleos herself, me and Blanc who'd fought alongside her.
And finally, Luna and Liriana.
"Your Majesty, can you see alright?"
[No issues. Liriana, you good?]
[Down to the last downy hair.]
Naturally, the two in the capital joined remotely.
Just their faces peeked through the crystal orb.
Stiff speech for an official occasion was par for the course.
'Whining about when I'd come yesterday.'
Anyway, crucial spot for truly enslaving my slave.
Tension filled the air.
The subject, meanwhile, was chill.
"Heeeng♡ Master, whaddya think? Cute outfit, right?"
"Pretty, but where'd you get it?"
"Begged those inferior human grunts... and they hooked me up♡"
"......"
'You wouldn't know, but that's my money?'
Come to think of it, I'd told them to get her whatever she wanted on my tab.
Explains the flashy clothes.
Nearly sighed.
Unlike my feelings, the interrogation went smoothly.
[You wish to form a slave contract with Yi Hyun?]
"How many times do I gotta say it, you inferior... er, Your Majesty."
Saleos hiked her skirt.
'Sex Slave' graffiti glowed on her lower belly.
Why she went this far, even Luna of all people couldn't guess...
[Can you prove the effect? Evidence it's not dangerous?]
"I swear on my horns."
[Demons excel at mocking foes with lies, I thought.]
"Us? Pfft~ If we stoop to lying to inferior trash, our kin treat us like total retards on Balram's level. What do you take us for?"
Why bother lying to the likes of you? Fresh logic, absurd enough to build trust.
Contract proceeded swimmingly.
[Contributed to slaying two high demons, so I'll trust.]
[Liriana! The risk if she...]
"It'll be fine. Come here, Saleos."
"Yess♡"
[W-Wait! Listen to me...]
"Up you go."
Hand on Saleos's lower belly.
Hoo—
Poured in mana.
The glowing 'Sex Slave' sank into her skin.
A slave contract that'd make Martin Luther King weep.
The target has acquired the curse - 'Plaything'.
Curse - Plaything (Semi-permanent, Irremovable)
A forbidden spell that steals oneself.
Completed by calling the name hidden in the deepest place.
"Contract complete."
"Waa♡ I'm Master's now♡"
Struck a cool pose for the crystal orb.
That thumbs-up dealers flash after scamming a sucker.
Saleos mimicked it spot-on.
This time it wasn't a scam—she begged for it. Anyway.
"So, my slave? It says call the hidden name to complete—what's that mean?"
"Slaves don't need original names♡ Master names me, and body, heart, soul—all yours♡"
"Aha."
Sudden naming time.
Normal folks would ponder.
Lifelong name, even for a slave—natural to think it over.
But I didn't hesitate.
I'd mulled names for things before, only to scrap them.
"———Manko."
"...Heeeng?"
"Your name from today is Manko."
'O-shiri' never got—the crown of Manko.
Yours now.
I smiled warmly.
Manko cluelessly smiled back.
Bonus: hiked skirt to show the glowing letters on her belly.
"Nehet♡ I'm Master's Manko now♡"
[Yi Hyun, what's 'Manko' mean?]
"Just a pretty name."
[You... er, you'd never pick something ordinary.]
"It's fine. Really pretty name."
Japanese for pussy, sure.
They'd never know, perfect.
Name slid by.
Rest followed suit.
"Manko, sit."
"Yess♡"
"Not sprawl comfy—hands up like a dog, squat."
"...Heeeng♡ L-Like this?"
"Good girl."
Manko obeyed my orders to a T. No, Saleos.
My commands, of course,
"Just in case, obey Captain Blanc, Her Majesty the Empress, and Imperial Princess too. Got it?"
"...Huh? Treat those inferior trash same as Master?"
[Manko, sit.]
"......Heeeng♡"
Even Luna's remote order.
Obviously bruised pride, yet blissful face.
[Stab your own throat.]
"Hah? N-No! That's a bit, eek!!"
[Not suicide—light nail scratch fine.]
"...Heeeeng♡ Toyed with by inferior human♡"
Even went for her throat, only stopped by Liriana's intervention.
...Slave contract too damn solid.
Human rights folks would bawl.
[No lies, seems. Yi Hyun, order her never to harm humans directly or indirectly.]
"Hear that? No nasty business to people from now on."
"Yess♡"
[For self-harm orders, only obey with two-plus of us four agreeing.]
"Yees...♡"
[And more...]
In the end, Saleos. No, Manko.
She got humanity's green light, hung with rules galore.
Felt excessive, but,
"Heeeng...♡ H-Humiliated by humans like this♡ Demon disgrace♡"
She loved it.
Happy ending anyway.
After, I took Manko to the hot springs.
No Hero, so bang while the bath was empty.
"Yi Hyun, where to?"
"Keeping a promise to her."
"Sex slave..."
Openly declaring affair before my marriage-promise girl.
Blanc sent us off without fuss.
"You love me most, right?"
"Naturally."
"Have fun. You too, go all out down there. As much as you want."
Even tossed Manko a mini cheer.
High demon or not, no chance she'd out-sex me in her mind.
"...Heeeng?"
Manko blinked blankly, but she'd learn firsthand.
I led her on, unbothered.
And the moment I opened the hot spring door...
-Shing!!!
"...Sir Yi Hyun, and the demon."
"Waaak!!?"
We ran into the Hero.
The empire's strongest, sword of the woman gone mad from demons, aimed at us.
Serious situation all around, but,
-Grin.
'Perfect timing, Hero-bao!!'
I saw my treatment angle here.
One rivaling a Hero party 3P, even.