Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Man Who Opens His Eyes to a New World
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We arrived at the Yuteron Baron's mansion.
We'd returned in less than a week since departing.
"You've had a hard journey."
The Yuteron Baron hurried out to greet us.
His surprised expression was impressive, as if he hadn't expected us back so soon.
The Yuteron Baron didn't ask about Grape's head.
He rolled his eyes to check out the menacing noggin, but he instantly realized it was a topic best left untouched.
"We took down one of the demons that appeared in the Yuteron territory. A report should have gone to Baria Village and the Church, so you can verify it there."
"...You really exorcised a demon? Incredible..."
The fact that it had been less than a week, and that we'd successfully hunted a demon—the truth left the Yuteron Baron in awe.
"Please, come inside. I'll have a meal prepared right away."
"I want to wash up first."
"We'll heat water for the bathhouse. Or you could use our bath. It's not as nice as the annex's, but it's decent for cleaning up."
"Heat water in the annex. I want to rest quietly."
The Yuteron Baron nodded.
He gave orders to one of the servants.
A butler scurried off toward the annex.
"Shall I take the horse back?"
"This one's pretty smart."
"We've trained it since it was young. It understands its master's commands perfectly and responds optimally. It must have been honored to serve you, Hero."
I returned the horse we'd borrowed from the Yuteron Baron.
We'd secured plenty of horses on the way to Baria Village, so there was no need to take his.
"I'd like to use these horses to pull a carriage."
"A carriage? Of course, we'll provide one. You saved Yuteron lands and Baria—what wouldn't we give you?"
Of course, we handed over the horses and received a carriage in exchange.
Ashy had every right to make such a demand.
'Considering the losses we prevented from that demon, we're being pretty generous.'
From the Yuteron Baron's perspective, a single carriage was something he could happily provide.
We settled on a modest two-person carriage, nothing too grand or oversized.
We could have taken something bigger.
But Ashy didn't seem interested in gathering companions.
"Let's go, Puppy."
We parted ways with Yuteron and headed to the annex.
Ashy tugged on my collar.
One hand held Grape's head, the other my collar.
It was quite the sight.
"Feels like it's been forever."
We returned to the room we'd used just a few days ago.
It hadn't even been a week since we left, but it felt like coming home to a place I'd missed.
I set down our luggage lightly.
Everything except Grape's head.
"Agh...!"
Ashy tossed Grape's head onto the room floor like a ball.
Grape's head cracked open.
Blood oozed out.
Black demonic energy rose, beginning to repair the wound.
"It's good to smash it periodically. Keeps its body from regenerating."
"That wasn't your first time doing this, huh?"
"I've done it a lot before."
The "before" Ashy mentioned referred to her time prior to regression.
Since she'd been with me right after regressing, any unknown past meant her previous timeline.
Grape's head, slammed into the floor.
Its hair writhed as it spat out what it wanted to say.
"Is this how a hero should act? Treating a fellow human like this?!"
"Yeah, it's fine. A hero just needs to kill demons and black mages. The rest is up to me, you piece of shit."
Ashy kicked Grape's head while cackling.
"From now on, just gather up all the trash and summon demons right away. We can clean things up in no time."
Ashy spun her happy little fantasy.
Before demons could appear, summon them ourselves and take them out.
Clean up the demon world, and peace comes to the continent.
A simple, straightforward path only the strongest hero—and regressor—could conceive.
Grape heard Ashy's plan.
Bleeding and knowing it'd get hit anyway, it still asked her.
"You're going to summon demons just to kill them?"
From a black mage's perspective, it was probably hard to comprehend.
If things went according to Ashy's plan, Hell-Chain could drown the continent in evil without lifting a finger.
"You're completely insane. Demons aren't as weak as you think. Screw up, and the continent might perish! Heh heh heh, actually, I like it. Thanks to this clueless hero, it'll be easy for us!"
"Nah, that won't happen. I'm fucking strong."
Ashy was brimming with confidence.
And from my view, her strategy felt reliable.
Awakening made it even more solid.
"Puppy, let's go wash up."
Ashy led the way, dragging me along.
She punted Grape's head down the hall toward the bathhouse like a soccer dribble.
"Phew, I wanna wash up quick."
The moment we entered the changing room, Ashy stripped off her clothes in one go.
She yanked mine off too and marched into the bath.
The annex bathhouse was filled with steam.
They'd been heating the water diligently since our arrival.
"Pfft. Thought there was something dangling between that guy's legs... No way, is that a chastity cage? Keh heh heh heh!"
"......"
Grape's mocking laughter echoed from the floor.
I glanced down at the pink cage encasing my dick.
The familiar pressure of the chastity device came rushing back into awareness.
My face burned red.
I felt shame, embarrassment.
But amid it all, one emotion stood out sharply.
Ashy stood there utterly naked, not bothering to cover herself.
Grape stared wide-eyed, scanning her up and down, determined not to miss a single detail.
The jealousy I'd felt with Drake bubbled up fiercely.
I hurriedly shielded Ashy's body.
Blocking Grape's line of sight completely.
Grape flew into a rage.
"The hero wants to show off, so why are you blocking it? You overstepping pet! Move aside!"
Grape wanted to see Ashy's naked body.
Like every male, but it didn't hide its lust—it flaunted it.
Utterly indifferent to the pain it'd feel later.
Prioritizing immediate pleasure above all.
Ashy slyly pulled me into a hug.
Her soft skin enveloped my back, waist, and stomach.
"You don't want me showing my body to others, right?"
Ashy's voice dripped with playfulness.
She was deliberately flaunting her nudity to Grape.
Why?
'...Just like with Drake.'
She wanted to see me jealous.
She hoped I'd fiercely express my possessiveness, cherishing and claiming her exclusively.
Drake died because of my emotions.
This time was the same—Ashy was asking me.
What should we do with Grape?
...Or so it felt.
We couldn't kill Grape.
We shouldn't.
Its filthy, lust-filled gaze pissed me off, but I had to endure.
To summon demons ourselves and speed things up, we needed its power.
But letting it slide wasn't an option either.
That lecherous stare scanning Ashy made my chest tight and sour.
Half-killing it crossed my mind, writhing in my head.
'Ashy's awakened now, right?'
A brilliant idea suddenly hit me.
Keep Grape alive without killing it.
Just crush its damn eyes so it can never look at Ashy again.
That way, we could use its power while punishing its overreach.
"...Let's take its eyes."
"Eyes? Ah ha."
Ashy giggled.
She squeezed me tight, clearly delighted with my conclusion.
"So that's... what you decided after thinking it over, Puppy?"
"Think it'll work?"
Celestial power purifies demonic energy.
Annihilates it.
It could even purify a black mage's body.
Purification in name only—it leaves permanent damage on a body reliant on demonic energy.
'It's regenerating with demonic energy. Damage the eyes and purify...'
Purify the demonic circuits in its eyeballs, permanently blinding Grape alone.
That was my punishment.
A trick I could think of because I knew the original story's rule: wounds from celestial power against the Demon King couldn't heal.
"What... what are you talking about?"
Grape muttered in a trembling voice.
It was asking us, but seemed to know the answer already.
Take its eyes.
Using Ashy's celestial ki.
"Of course it will."
Ashy released me and picked up Grape.
Ashy spread the wings symbolizing her celestial heritage.
Not at full power, so they were small and delicate.
Like a baby angel.
'...Her body's anything but.'
Ashy's figure was the epitome of femininity.
Her large, voluptuous breasts and hips clashed completely with "baby."
"Fuck, shiiiit!"
Grape thrashed desperately to escape her grip.
Struggling with all its might.
"Hero! You showed it to me yourself, and now this?! You fucking bitch, you... you did this on purpose...!"
"So what?"
"You slut, pissing yourself down there from excitement! Crazy bitch, psycho whore!"
Grape bellowed.
If yelling could save it, it wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.
Ashy extended her index and middle fingers.
Slowly stabbing toward Grape's eyeballs.
"No... no...! Nooooooo!"
"No my ass."
Pok-.
Ashy's fingers pierced the soft eyeballs.
Black blood spurted out, flowing across the bathhouse floor.
"Gaaaaahhh!"
Grape screamed in agony.
Ashy invoked her celestial ki, purifying its demonic energy.
"Aaaagh! Aaaaaaaaagh!"
Blood-curdling screams.
I could almost feel the pain it was enduring.
Eyeballs burning fiercely.
Once purification finished, Ashy withdrew her fingers.
Only empty sockets remained.
"Phew, now let's wash up."
Ashy casually tossed Grape's head into a corner.
Shook the blood off her fingers and tugged my collar.
I slipped into the bath with Ashy and spent the time leisurely.
Ashy nestled in my arms, washing away her fatigue in comfort.