Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Even Though I Look Like This, I'm Still a Virgin
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"...Um... What exactly does that mean?"
I never expected it... and at the same time, it felt a bit too extreme in several ways—the story that Polena had brought up.
I directed a questioning gaze at her and asked once more. Watching me like that, Polena replied with a smile playing on her lips.
"It means exactly what I said. If you truly succeed in saving those poor people, then from that moment on, I will serve and attend to you as my master. In a professional sense... and in a physical sense as well."
With those words, she flashed a meaningful smile.
At that, I began to feel flustered for an entirely different reason.
'What the hell... In other words, if I just handle this job successfully, she'll become my slave from now on... something like that?'
And from the way she said it, it didn't seem like she meant just a slave for manual labor. It felt like it included becoming a slave in a sexual sense, too—one who could do all sorts of things.
And... as I started thinking from that angle, my eyes involuntarily drifted to her incredibly voluptuous figure.
'Sorry for saying this, but... purely in terms of body, she's on a level even Kazeros Sophia can't match...'
Her lower body was at least somewhat comparable, but when it came to the rest—especially those massive, beautiful breasts—no matter how I tried, I couldn't even dream of comparing.
To put it in perspective, it was like the overwhelming difference between a cherry tomato and a watermelon.
Meanwhile, as if sensing my gaze on her chest, Polena slowly approached and whispered to me in a sweet, honeyed voice.
"By the way... even though I look like this, I'm still a virgin. If you handle this job well, I'll give you everything I've kept safe until now. What do you say?"
"!..."
She probably said it to firm up my resolve a bit more.
However...
The moment I heard it, rather than fixating solely on the pleasurable aspect, my attention snapped back to reality.
'...This... no matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem like just a simple offer...'
To be honest, when she first offered herself, I'd pegged her as a flighty woman with loose morals.
After all, she worked in a tavern, so she must be used to casually selling her body, and I figured her proposal was just part of that.
But... hearing her claim she was a virgin made me realize this offer wasn't ordinary for her.
Especially considering she'd maintained her chastity in an environment like a tavern, rife with all sorts of filthy entanglements...
As that realization sank in, I hardened my expression and asked Polena in a calm voice.
"Is there some circumstance you can't speak of?"
"!..."
At my words, the smile faded from her face, and her expression stiffened slightly.
I stared straight into her eyes and pressed on with earnest seriousness.
"For a woman to stake her virginity on entrusting a job... this clearly isn't a simple matter. What is it you're so desperate to stop, even at that cost?"
"..."
She fell silent at my question. But after a moment... Polena looked at me and spoke in a voice heavy with an emotion utterly unlike before.
"...If I tell you... will you take my request? Make the contract?"
"I'll say it depends on the story— that I might. What's your choice?"
"...Haa..."
At my response, she let out a sigh as if she had no choice.
Then Polena's ever-bright face took on a bitter expression as she began her tale, looking at us.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Polena had come to this land as a traveler from a foreign country and ended up settling in Münhel because she took a liking to it.
Despite being an outsider, thanks to her naturally cheerful personality and her knack for livening up any atmosphere, she quickly blended in among the city's residents and built friendships with many people in the process.
Polena had maintained close relationships with all sorts of people, regardless of status, age, gender, or faith.
However... her life, filled day after day with joy shared among so many, was shattered one day...
By the sudden gale called the heretic purge.
Just a short while before, her friends and acquaintances had been laughing and chatting together, sharing happiness— but now they began frequent arguments upon seeing each other, eventually ceasing to speak at all.
From Polena's perspective as a born outsider with little interest in religion, the situation was uncomfortable and hard to comprehend... but at least, she vaguely sensed the growing danger as days passed.
Watching the strife among people born of religious differences and the ever-widening emotional chasms, Polena realized things were heading in a dire direction...
And finally, from that point on, the worries she harbored began manifesting in reality.
Mobs rising up under the banner of driving heretics from the city.
Among them were many she knew personally and had grown close to, and they took advantage of the darkness to raid the homes of those branded 'heretics.'
The result... that 'heretic' and his family were slaughtered overnight, and the shop they ran was looted of everything before burning to ashes.
And... the person killed like that... was Polena's friend, just like the ones who killed him.
Another friend murdered at the hands of her own friends in a single night...
Faced with this absurd situation, Polena began to feel deep anguish, but compared to the countless tragedies that followed, it was merely the beginning.
After that day, raids on 'heretics' occurred nearly every day.
Under the pretext of executing justice in the name of the church and God, countless people had their property plundered and lost their lives. The once-peaceful, warmth-filled city of Münhel became a slaughterhouse where people butchered one another in God's name.
And... witnessing all this from one step removed...
Polena was seized by a despair too profound for words.
These people, convinced they were carrying out religious righteousness in accordance with God's will.
But from Polena's viewpoint, it was nothing more or less than a mad spectacle of her acquaintances slaughtering each other— not for God or justice, but sheer insanity.
A wretched situation no human could tolerate.
Yet... even knowing this, Polena could do nothing.
All she could do against the mad actions of mad humans was watch.
And... when it got too painful and unbearable... when she could no longer bear the mental torment...
All she could do was force a bright smile.
Tilting her glass happily,
Putting off tomorrow's worries until tomorrow with pleasant words.
Shouting loudly that worrying and agonizing changed nothing anyway.
And so... she forcibly adapted to this hellish reality, making it to today.
Burying unspeakable pain deep in her heart,
As a woman smiling brightly while serving drinks in the midst of hell...