Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Rice Cake Justice(?)
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Na and Ellis didn't leave the inn until the sun had risen high into the midday sky. Our sex had wrapped up around dawn, and since checkout time was approaching, I'd slipped some bills under the door to make it look like we'd already paid. I added extra for laundry and cleaning too. Thanks to that, the innkeeper didn't disturb us, letting us sleep curled up tightly in each other's arms until now.
A few hours into lunchtime had passed by the time we finally got up and shared a meal at the inn's restaurant.
Afterward, I took her back to the park—the first place we'd met, where she'd been sleeping rough. It probably looked like we were on a date, like a couple in love.
Once we stepped out onto the streets, Ellis clung to me tightly, refusing to let go. She'd recharged her mana fully, so she wasn't casting Perception Lowering Magic on herself to avoid unintentionally charming others, but her natural allure was so potent that passing men couldn't help stealing glances at her.
The more they did, the more I pulled her close, draping an arm over her shoulder and letting her lean into me, showing her off. Every now and then, I'd brush against her breasts, and she'd practically send out heart eyes in response.
Thanks to Ellis, I could walk with my back straight and chest puffed out.
"Guess it's about time I head back."
A regular soldier.
Reality came crashing back down on me.
"Can't I come with you, Master?"
"Even subtle temptations like that won't work."
I had to admit my current situation couldn't accommodate her.
I lived in the barracks inside the castle walls, sharing a room where someone else slept right next to me. Breaking through the barrier around the castle was a secondary issue; first, I needed to secure a private space for myself.
And to do that, I'd obviously need to get promoted.
"I'll stop by as often as I can during outings, so for now, go stay with the person I introduced you to. I've left living expenses and even written a letter, so she'll understand."
When we'd formed our master-servant bond, it felt a bit impulsive... but I planned to leave her with someone I could trust completely. I was scraping together every coin I had to invest in Ellis. But it was worth it.
Sure, I'd called her a toilet and all that in words—but I had no intention of letting her go. I'd keep her safe nearby, out of any other man's reach.
"...Let me say it again: I'm not staying a lowly soldier forever. I'll climb higher."
It felt a little embarrassing saying it out loud... like I was just posturing in front of my girlfriend.
"I know. I believe you'll rise much higher, Master!"
Thankfully, Ellis had unshakable faith in my success. Now was the time to lay it out for her...
My plan.
"Ellis. Listen closely from now on."
"Yes."
I checked that no one was around before finally spilling my plan.
"The continent might not know it yet, but the Demon King will launch his invasion soon."
"...Pardon?"
She tilted her head, confused. No word had reached the succubi yet. At this point, probably only the Demon King's direct subordinates knew. But I did.
I knew the Demon King would declare war on the entire continent, and a Hero Party would form to stop him.
"How do you know that?"
"Well..."
Telling her I'd regressed from the future was way too soon. No, I planned to take that secret to my grave unless absolutely necessary. The moment I told Ellis, she'd probably blab to others, and word that I knew the future would spread. That could derail everything ahead...
I couldn't let that happen. It was one of my strongest weapons from the previous timeline.
"Sometimes, I get visions from the goddess."
So, I threw the gods under the bus.
"The gods? From the goddess herself? Does that mean Master, you're the Her—?"
"No. Nothing like that."
Let's cut off talk of that arrogant bitch right there.
"I can't say more. Sorry."
"It's fine. If it's related to the goddess, I won't pry."
Aww, such a good girl, my princess.
...Heaven won't strike me down suddenly, right?
"Anyway, I'm preparing to stop not the demons, but the Demon King himself."
"Not the demons, but the Demon King...?"
Not all demons were evil.
The Demon King was just a war-crazed lunatic. In the previous timeline, he'd invaded fueled by the fervor of his fellow psychos. That bastard wasn't just talk... he was insanely strong. Even that godlike, damnable Hero bitch couldn't handle him.
"You'll understand when the time comes. That's why—I'm counting on you big time."
I told Ellis straight up that I trusted her.
"I heard over lunch earlier—you're good at making all sorts of things, right?"
"Making things... Thanks for the compliment."
Her creations were the real deal, aside from the niche or perverted ones. Just her aphrodisiacs and stamina potions—I could vouch for those effects myself. She wasted time on useless stuff, but if I guided her toward what I needed, she'd be a huge help.
Plus, with mana that could make her the future Succubus Queen, she'd be invaluable in every way.
"Rent a room at the place I told you about and stay there, helping me out. And... I'll let you know what sells well from now on, so make and sell those to earn your keep."
"Things that sell well?"
Maybe because of her past failures in business, Ellis seemed obsessed with making money. I'd support her enough to live on, but this enthusiasm was a win for me.
"Yeah. So, help me out a lot like that... and I'll love you even more in return."
"Master...♡"
They call this rice cake justice, huh.
We'd confirmed our deep affection with that one pounding. I pulled Ellis's body close, knowing I wouldn't be able to touch it while stuck in the castle.
I'd demeaned her during sex, but she held no grudges, so in moments like this, I could treat her sweetly. The ones worth kicking around... well, those were separate.
"Keep your mana suppressed tight and stay hidden. Learn about human society from your landlord, experiment with making stuff."
"Yes! I love you... Master♡ Meeting you is the greatest luck of my life!"
Ellis rose on tiptoes and covered my lips with hers. I felt eyes gathering around us, but I ignored them, savoring the sticky kiss.
It wasn't goodbye, just a short parting... so we shared this warmth mouth to mouth.
After parting with Ellis, I returned to the barracks before dinner time. It hadn't been long since lunch, so I wasn't hungry, but soldiers couldn't skip meals without reason—it was a rule to maintain combat readiness.
A quick workout and separate snack would be ideal, but I had no choice but to hit the mess hall and force down a little food. I sat on a log bench next to the dining area to think and rest a bit.
"Did you see the Hero who came here for lunch earlier?"
"Yeah."
"Man, to think that kind of power comes from such a slender woman."
...No wonder it was noisier than usual.
The Hero.
That Hero bitch?
She wasn't in my memories for this time.
Ah, right—in the previous timeline around now, I'd been bedridden with burns from Tyke's bullshit, treated like a critical case.
"But being the Hero, she was seriously pretty."
"You saw her companions too, right? One more guy and woman."
Two women including the Hero bitch, and one man. Ah, those guys.
"That dude's lucky. Sandwiched between two beauties."
"Heard the Hero and that guy are an item or something."
"For real?"
"He was pretty handsome."
Jed.
Probably the guy the soldiers were talking about. A refined pretty boy with top-tier sword skills—he had it all.
"If he's really with the Hero, maybe that other woman likes him too."
"Traveling together like that, feelings sprout naturally."
Grand Mage Elinne... yeah, that was her. Short, just over 150 cm, with big tits. I vaguely remembered seeing her from afar. As I watched the two soldiers walk away, someone approached from the side.
"You missed breakfast and lunch, so you wouldn't have seen."
"Huh? Yeah."
It was Ray, standing next to me before I knew it, basket in hand.
"Where've you been?"
"Just stepped out of the castle for a bit."
"Overnight?"
"Yeah. But why're you here?"
"You've been asking me to prep extra food for days. I was gonna give it to you at breakfast and lunch too, but you weren't around—do you know how flustered I was?"
She'd been looking out for me that much?
Ray opened the basket, showing me some sweet potatoes, and suddenly looked adorable.
"W-What? Why're you staring like that."
"You brought them in such a pretty basket? And only the good ones too."
I patted her head, and she swatted my hand away, backing off fast. Seemed like she'd finally realized what she'd been doing.
"D-Don't get the wrong idea, asshole? I'm just giving them to you! J-Just!"
Emphasizing "just" like that made it even more obvious.
"Seriously!"
I just smiled, and Ray got more heated, insisting louder. So cute, adorable.
I wanted to tease her more, but I held back. Push it too far, and I'd get dinged for disrupting discipline.
She yelled "I'm not giving it anymore—!" and ran off.
In her rush, she left the basket. She doubled back mid-escape, chucked it at me, then bolted again.
Today was late, but next time, I'd dote on her properly.
Seeing Ray purified my soul. Saintess Ray was just immature, that was all.
...Extremely immature, sure.
"Anyway."
The Hero.
The Hero.
That fucking Hero bitch.
And that Jed bastard.
The soldiers had said he and the Hero were dating, and yeah, that was true.
Thinking of that shitty couple pissed me off royally.
I hadn't run into them today, but I had no intention of seeking them out. It wasn't time yet. Until I could do it decisively, I needed to build my strength first.
And when the time came.
I'd pay it all back.