Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Reunion with the Goddess
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Belatedly embarrassed, Esty avoided my gaze.
My entire body felt languid from the aftereffects of our intense sex.
After washing up and stepping out, I found Esty waiting for me. She looked like she had something to say.
"What is it?"
"I have to head back to the kingdom's capital."
"Now?"
"Yeah. My original mission was to deliver urgent orders to Marn, after all.
I have to go back and report that it's been carried out."
From what she told me, it sounded unavoidable.
"But once the report's done, I'll come right back. To your side, Decal."
I stroked Esty's cheek. She leaned into my hand, acting spoiled.
"Alright, safe travels."
"It'd be nice if you came with me, Decal."
"I've still got things to take care of here."
I had no real reason to go to the kingdom, and leaving after only getting thrashed by Sellik didn't sit right with me.
"So finish up your business and come back to me, Esty."
"Yeah! I'll hurry back."
Before Esty left, something I needed to ask came to mind.
"By the way, what was this urgent mission from the kingdom? And what's this about selecting the next hero?"
"You don't know about the hero selection, Decal?"
Esty seemed surprised.
"I came from really far away."
There was no reason to hide that I was from another world anymore, but I phrased it indirectly.
I still didn't know that much about Esty, after all.
Other than that she was an elf and utterly lovable.
"For a long time now, the kingdom's forces have been at war with the Demon King's Army.
The hero candidate selection is part of a plan to train people who could become heroes."
"What about the current hero? Isn't there already one?"
"Those who are selected end up serving under Hero-sama."
Ah, so if the hero dies or something, one of the candidates below steps up to fill the position.
That made sense.
"Then this urgent mission must be a big deal.
They're trying to pick out only those qualified to be hero candidates, right?"
Esty nodded.
"How strong do they have to be? As strong as you, Esty?"
"I'm stronger than the candidates. In adventurer terms, upper Gold rank."
It didn't seem like a job for someone like me, who wasn't even Bronze.
I could probably do it with Esty's help, but I had no desire to—just whether I could or not wasn't the point.
Why bother with something annoying like becoming a hero candidate?
"Do you know anything about the current hero?"
"Hero-sama right now? The one who appeared in this world as the agent of the gods. Incredibly powerful and noble."
The goddess's agent—yep, a hero after all.
Better steer clear of anywhere near the kingdom.
And it seemed like the existence of gods and their agents wasn't some big secret in this world.
"Got it, more or less."
"Yeah. I'll head out now. I'll be back by night."
"Alright."
Esty started to leave, then hesitated and turned back.
She looked like she had more to say.
"What?"
"..."
Esty stood on tiptoe, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes gently.
A silent plea for a kiss.
After I kissed her, Esty wrapped her arms around my neck, planted kisses on both my cheeks, then looked up at me.
"Decal, if there's anything you want from me, just say it. I swear on the name of Elf Esty—I'll do whatever you desire."
"Is that an elven custom?"
"Yeah. Elves devote their lives to the one they give their purity to. I haven't forgotten my ancestors' teachings.
But it's not just because I gave you my purity. It's because it's you, Decal—I want to do it from the depths of my heart."
"You love me?"
"I love you."
I kissed her once more.
After seeing Esty off, I found myself lost in old memories.
If a woman under hypnotic suggestion develops feelings for a man, is that love real or fake?
There was a time when I'd ponder trivial things like that.
Of course, for me now, it was all settled inside.
"Hm?"
I opened my inventory to grab a water bottle, and there was the Giant Eight-Colored Shell glowing on its own.
Should I take it out? It was pretty with its rainbow hues, but huge and seemed useless.
Careful not to smash the wooden floor, I set it down slowly.
It was bulky enough to require both arms, but lighter than expected.
The eight-colored shell emitted a strange glow.
I watched, but nothing much changed.
"What is this?"
I nudged the shell with my foot.
Suddenly, a menu like a status screen activated in front of my eyes.
(Would you like to move to the Eight-Colored Shell Castle? Y/N)
As if entranced, I touched Y.
The space around me distorted, and I felt myself being sucked somewhere.
When I came to, I was inside a castle I'd never seen before.
A vast, empty hall in a gigantic castle.
An empty throne with no vassals or king.
I'd just been in that inn with the water and grass, but now I'd been teleported somewhere.
It was even cold, making me huddle instinctively.
Then.
Flames burst from the candelabras throughout the castle, lighting up the surroundings.
A red-haired goddess with white wings descended onto the empty throne.
Her elegant figure left me speechless.
"Looks like you finally figured out how to use it. I waited forever."
"Belleira."
The 4th-class goddess Belleira. The one who sent me to this other world.
She still remembered what I did to her, judging by her displeased expression.
"You could've just taught me how to use it."
"You think I'd bestow something like that on a guy like you because I wanted to? Do you have any idea what kind of shell that is!"
She seemed sulky about me taking her precious shell.
In the end, things had gotten pretty rushed, so I didn't have time to listen to item usage instructions.
"This is all... this is all because of that weird spell you cast on me!"
"Oh, hypnosis?"
"Hypnosis?"
Belleira looked furious right down to her fingertips.
"Who else would give a ridiculous brainwashing ability a cute name like 'hypnosis'? It's like naming a dragon 'Puppy.'"
"Why are you so mad? Be honest."
「You will answer my questions truthfully」
Because of that keyword, Belleira couldn't hide her true feelings.
"Whether sleeping or walking, I kept thinking about you nonstop, and I couldn't stand it."
"Good girl, that's honest."
Belleira squeezed her eyes shut, as if suppressing the shame rising from deep within.
She must've been livid, yet she maintained a goddess's dignity. Impressive.
"What I just said wasn't sincere."
"But you have no choice but to tell me the truth when I ask."
"That's why! The reason I'm so worked up over you is that perverted suggestion you planted at the end."
The final suggestion I'd planted.
Right. Before being sent to this world, even after implanting the keyword to obey commands, I'd given Belleira one more suggestion.
Belleira had asked what the hell I'd done to her, and I answered.
"To think you'd try to make a goddess your slave—are you not afraid of divine punishment?"
「Become my slave」
Because of this suggestion, Belleira would act for me even without direct orders.
At least, that's what she thought.
"I'm thrilled to have a beautiful goddess like you as my slave, Belleira."
"Urk...!"
Belleira crossed her arms and turned her head away sharply.
Her lips twitched—she seemed pleased.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not happy about what you just said. It's all because of that suggestion you planted."
"Sure, sure."
Truth is, Belleira had it wrong.
She thought she'd started thinking of me voluntarily because I made her my slave.
But the final suggestion I'd planted was 「You feel pleasure when submitting to me」.
A deadly keyword for a prideful woman like Belleira.
The reason I planted it last was simple.
Say I command her, strip her of her items, and go to a good world.
But what if she holds a grudge afterward?
To prevent that, I used one of the keywords I'd tested: 「Submission」.
Even after the humiliation of a proud goddess forced to obey, she couldn't resent me.
Because I'd turned that otherworldly transfer—mere shame at the time—into Belleira's sex fantasy.
She must've recalled it endlessly.
Imagining being trampled and humiliated by me.
Unable to understand why it made her happy, she decided it was because of the 「Become my slave」 suggestion.
But if I actually made her a slave, Belleira's spunky charm and personality would vanish.
That's why I was enjoying this situation so much.
I secretly knew she was thrilled inside whenever she obeyed a command.
"So, what is this place, anyway?"