Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Noah Joins the Family
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"Wabid. Forget everything about today. And no matter what form it takes, don't get involved with Decal or Veil Noah anymore."
"Yes."
Wabid would forget everything upon waking.
Even if he came across any clues about me afterward—whether written records or information about me—he wouldn't be able to think about them or intervene.
Using hypnosis made it simple to get close to someone I'd just met or to completely erase our relationship as if it never happened.
Since he was blocking information about me himself, this security measure wouldn't be easily breached.
Of course, before doing this, I did have some questions for Wabid.
Like how the inquisitor's reporting structure worked, or whether investigating me had been Veil Noah's decision alone.
Those kinds of questions that an inquisitor might ask came to mind and just as quickly faded away.
I could get the necessary information from Noah.
Honestly, Wabid was out of my interest now.
I operated the secret switch to open the passage again and hoisted Noah over my shoulder like luggage.
Before leaving the passage, I clapped my hands.
Clap!
"Hm?"
Leaving Wabid behind with his bewildered face as he looked around, I exited the dungeon.
Outside, it was already late at night.
"...Look at that."
The few adventurers around whispered as they saw me.
I'd straightened Noah's clothes out of consideration so no skin was exposed, but a man carrying an unconscious woman on his shoulder wasn't going to look good.
Especially in an isekai where you could get targeted by thieves or attacked by fellow adventurers.
Fortunately, no one picked a fight, but things were different when we arrived at Dry Village.
Perhaps because I looked like a criminal no matter how you sliced it, a guard came rushing over with fire in his eyes.
"What are you doing? Why is the woman with you unconscious?"
"She passed out in the dungeon."
"Dungeon? So you're an adventurer. Mind if I see your license?"
I handed my adventurer's license to the guard.
He jumped in surprise, removed his helmet, and bowed his head.
"It's you, Decal. Sorry for blocking your way."
I was so taken aback by the unexpected response that I shut my mouth.
The guard continued in a friendly tone.
"You helped wipe out those thieves. After that, Captain Salina instructed us to cooperate so you wouldn't face any inconveniences passing through the gate."
"Salina did?"
That was appreciated.
"Then I'll be on my way."
"Have a pleasant night."
A guard I'd never met before knowing my name—it was the first time I truly felt my fame.
Before I knew it, I'd become an adventurer known by name in this village.
"Mm...."
Noah stirred. She seemed to have come to right in the middle of the square.
"Can you walk now?"
"Ah... Yes."
I set Noah down.
"Sorry for the trouble."
"It's fine. It wasn't a hassle. Besides, it was kind of my fault you ended up like that."
"......"
Noah hesitated.
"What happened to Wabid?"
"He's unrelated to us now."
No need for more detailed explanation than that.
Noah bowed her head as if understanding everything.
"Thank you for your thoughtful consideration."
"Now I need to introduce you to the other two. You've become my loyal bitch from here on out."
"......"
"Not happy about it?"
Noah bit her lip, then nodded.
"Yes. From now on, I am... Decal's loyal bitch."
"Good. Oh, I brought an eyemask too. Want me to put it on you?"
"Please."
I fitted the black eyemask over Noah's eyes.
"There."
"...Thank you."
"Before we go in, there's something I need to discuss with you. About the additional exam."
"The additional exam?"
"I'm fine with failing, but couldn't you pass Karen?"
Noah's expression hardened.
"I can't do that."
Figured as much.
I'd considered manipulating Noah with hypnosis to pass her anyway, but there didn't seem to be a reason to go that far.
Surprisingly, I seemed to be taking the additional exam seriously and accepting its results.
"You two have already passed. I haven't told you yet."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Could we talk about it where Karen is?"
"That sounds good. Then..."
"The Water and Grass Inn, right? Let's go."
As if she knew my destination, Noah strode ahead confidently.
I'd forgotten. Noah had been the inquisitor tracking me. Excluding the time I spent at the Eight-Colored Shell Castle, it wouldn't be strange if she knew what I ate and where I stayed every day.
She was terrifying as an enemy, but her abilities would be incredibly reliable as an ally.
We arrived at the Water and Grass Inn.
When I asked Anais, she said the two had rented a room in my name a few hours ago and hadn't come out.
I headed straight to the second floor and knocked on the door.
"Oppa! You're here!"
Karen's voice came from inside.
"Darling. Opening up now."
Esty, who opened the door, eyed Noah standing beside me warily.
"Noah."
"May I come in?"
Esty looked at me as if seeking permission.
"It's fine. Noah's family now."
"Got it."
The moment I stepped inside, I felt suffocated by the stuffiness.
I could handle three, but with four in this tiny room, there wasn't enough space.
"You're staying in a room like this? ...Dry Village has plenty of good inns."
"Yeah. We should move. Everyone, let's head to the Eight-Colored Shell Castle."
I pulled the Giant Eight-Colored Shell from my personal inventory.
"Eight-Colored Shell Castle?"
"Decal, wait. Before we go together, I want to confirm Noah's given up any thoughts of harming you."
Esty directed her hostility at Noah.
I'd momentarily forgotten. Esty basically didn't trust people.
Karen's honest and lively personality, combined with the incident where she helped me, had built a good friendship with Esty, but Noah's background was completely different.
There was no way Esty would simply accept Noah, who had secretly tracked us with clear intent to harm me.
Tension hung thick in the air as Karen tilted her head.
"The inquisitor harming Oppa? Why?"
...It probably wasn't intentional, but Karen's words eased the charged atmosphere.
What happened in that stone chamber was, to Karen, as if it never occurred.
In other words, Karen didn't know that Noah had marked me as a person of interest and even tried to judge me on the spot.
As Esty fell silent, Noah smoothly continued.
"I am an inquisitor, but at the same time, an enforcer who tracks and judges criminals."
"Th-then...! You came to catch Oppa?"
Karen's clueless reaction was adorable.
"At first, yes. There were circumstances where many women had been victimized."
"I don't know about others, but I'm not a victim. I'm Oppa's cocksleeve, so I wasn't raped or anything. I wanted it..."
Karen, in her panic, blurted out a jumble of words.
"I know. Miss Karen. Please calm down."
"...Yes."
This was entertaining to watch. She must have been shocked to learn Noah was an enforcer.
Her defending herself by calling herself my cocksleeve was a masterpiece.
"Go on. So not anymore?"
Esty pressed Noah.
"Yes. I have decided to serve as Decal's loyal bitch."
"...Yes!?"
Karen alone reacted with enough surprise for all three, her eyes widening.
"I can't just believe that out of nowhere."
Esty spoke curtly, but Noah showed no sign of intimidation.
These two are polar opposites. They'll have a hard time getting along.
Bella's case was different from the start—she was a goddess who looked down on Esty.
It felt like a problem I'd glossed over so far was finally erupting. Esty only trusted me. Even if she trusted someone, without a connection through me, she wouldn't acknowledge them.
That was probably why she'd been called the "Lofty Hunter" up until now.
"Inquisitor? What's going on? Oppa's bitch...? Oppa! What the hell did you do?"
Karen suddenly turned her ire on me.
Oh, finally my turn to speak? Great. Time to neatly sort out this messy situation.
"I had sex with her."
"Sex..."
An awkward atmosphere settled in.
"There's no better way for a man and woman to get close."
"......"
"Seventeen consecutive creampie sessions that were so intense..."
"I-I heard you the first time, so stop repeating sex, sex!"
"I was about to explain how Noah became my bitch from here on out."
"Even that explanation doesn't make it clear. The inquisitor suddenly becoming Oppa's bitch..."
"What about you, Esty?"
"......"
Esty, who hadn't hidden her hostility, suddenly wore a refreshed expression.
"If it's sex with Darling... I get it. Can't be helped."
"Esty, you understand!?"
"Yeah. You don't, Karen?"
"I... thought only I got my brains melted from sex with Oppa."
Karen made a strange confession, her voice trailing off shyly.
"Seventeen in a row... How was it? Noah."
Esty asked in a meaningful tone.
"It was incredible. I passed out midway, and my sense of time got all messed up..."
Karen gulped.
Watching the elf and the inquisitor, whom I thought were at odds, bond over stories about me was embarrassing.
"Should we talk details inside? It's too cramped here. Esty, you good now?"
"Yeah. At least I'm convinced she won't harm Darling."
Good thing Esty wasn't stubborn. Maybe after that incident where I eyed Karen, she'd prepared her heart in her own way.
I took the three to the first-floor hall of the Eight-Colored Shell Castle.
Bella was waiting for us on her throne. A familiar sight by now.
"One more person?"
As Bella rose from the throne, Noah tensed and said,
"This divine aura. Elegance rivaling a queen or goddess of some nation... Forgive my ignorance in not recognizing such a noble figure."
Bella giggled.
"You brought someone with proper discernment? Master, you have a good eye for people."
"Master?"
Noah looked quite shocked.
I naturally went to Bella's side and introduced everyone.
"Let me introduce. Bella, my slave. Former goddess."
Seeing reactions every time the family grows is fun.
"I'm Bella. Master's pussy slave. I was a goddess once, but I'm shelving that for now."
"A goddess..."
Noah froze in place like a statue.
No matter how sharp her instincts, how could she guess?
That the dignified, elegant woman seated regally on the throne had once been a goddess and was now my pussy slave.
"Now your turn for introductions. Speechless from my beauty? Come on, say your name."
Pleased that Noah recognized her as a goddess at first glance, Bella spoke in a lofty, goddess-like manner.
"Are you Master's new cocksleeve? Did the previous one get demoted to candidate?"
"N-No!"
Karen denied it loudly.
"I'm Oppa's cocksleeve. ...Right, Oppa?"
"Yeah. Cocksleeve is Karen."
Karen sighed in relief at the confirmation.
"Noah's the bitch."
Bitch, cocksleeve, girlfriend, slave...
The lineup was quite diverse now.
"I am a pathetic bitch whose only merit is her obedient ears."
Noah placed her hand on her navel and bowed politely in greeting.
"You can look up. I like well-mannered girls. Your name?"
"Veil Noah."
"Got it. Noah, I hope you're happy serving as Master's bitch."
"Thank you for your kind words."
I smacked Bella's butt.
"Ahng!"
"Don't act all high and mighty with your master right here. We need a place to talk—show us somewhere suitable."
"Yes, Master♥"
We followed Bella's lead to a reception room on the second floor.
I'd seen it on the map data, but this was my first time visiting. Contrary to my expectation of it being empty, the room felt warm despite no signs of recent use.
It was decorated in deep crimson tones like the lord's chambers, with scarlet lighting softly illuminating the center.
It really hit me again—this was a great castle to live in. Spotlessly clean everywhere, as if meticulously maintained.
"Everyone, sit wherever you like."
I said that as I took the head seat first.
Naturally, Esty and Bella sat right beside me, Karen next to Esty, and Noah next to Bella.
...With this setup, it felt like we were about to start a national council meeting.
"Noah. Let's start with the additional exam. The task was, right, to catch the lich in the deepest part of Bordo Dungeon?
We didn't catch the lich. Someone beat us to it, so I said it was unfortunate, remember?"
"Yes."
"But what do you mean Karen and I passed?"
Karen's eyes widened.
All eyes turned to Noah.
"What I said about it being unfortunate for not catching the boss was exactly that—literal.
The boss in Bordo Dungeon wasn't a lich."
Huh? Not a lich?
"It's my mistake in the end.
The additional exam was unplanned, so I didn't have time for a full investigation.
When I mentioned the lich, I did preface it with 'from what I estimate,' but it's largely my fault for not explaining in detail."
Oh, right.
She had phrased it that way.
We were just as confused by the sudden announcement, so we didn't think to question what would happen if there was no lich in the dungeon.
"The boss in the dungeon was a 'Skeleton Emperor,' not a lich. Just like the orc outbreak, it was chaos caused by one rampaging skeleton with a red soulstone."
"No wonder there were so damn many. Where do all those bones even come from?"
Karen had been fidgeting excitedly ever since hearing she'd passed, barely containing herself.
She was so thrilled she could hardly sit still.
"The additional exam is given when an examinee completes an emergency mission but the process is suspicious. If the inquisitor judges they have the ability to achieve such missions, they pass.
The inaccuracy in the mission details was my error. However, you two demonstrated ample skill on the way to the chamber presumed to hold the lich, so you were already considered passed. Except..."
"Except?"
"At that time, I thought I might count Miss Karen as passed and arrest Decal as a criminal... or execute you right there..."
Noah confessed her feelings honestly.
Can't be helped in that situation.
"It's fine. Water under the bridge. Just make sure to watch out for threats to me from now on."
"Yes. I'll gladly take on that role."
"I've been the one protecting Darling..."
Esty looked dejected.
"Not saying you weren't helpful, Esty. Danger can come in any form anytime. Honestly, I can't stay on edge alone forever.
When danger shows itself directly, I need your help, Esty. Before that, Noah's help."
"So, my role is to nip dangers in the bud ahead of time."
"Yeah... 'Nip' sounds a bit brutal. Rather than remove them, inform me. We'll decide what to do together. You can do that?"
"Yes."
"Let's sum it up. There was no lich in Bordo Dungeon, and Karen and I legitimately proved our abilities, so we're recognized as having succeeded in the Thin Wolf hunt. Right?"
"Yes. That's correct."
"She says so?"
"Oppa!!"
Karen jumped up from her seat and threw herself at me.
It felt like dealing with an overgrown kid. Her momentum nearly toppled the chair backward.
"Hwaaang."
"Yeah, yeah. Congratulations."
I hugged Karen and gently stroked her back.
Now, with Karen becoming a hero candidate... what about me?
With Bella here too, it seemed like the right time to gather all the info, organize it, and clarify my position.
Depending on the outcome, my next destination might be the Hero Academy.