Chapter 127. I'll Take Responsibility.
"...Berdia."
"I trusted you. I thought... that you two would have at least resisted...."
"I was in the wrong, so please just calm down—..."
"But after seeing you both submit in the end, I figured I'd end up the same way no matter what, so I told myself there was no point holding back—but if I'd known it would be like this... if I'd known, I would've...!"
The sound of sobbing filtered through the hands covering her face.
And from that sound, I felt something beyond sympathy bearing down on me—guilt.
To think I'd driven tears from the eyes of a woman who was one of the 10 Strongest of the Continent, the Shrine Maiden of the God of War, and destined to be the shield of humanity's savior.
"If word of this gets out, anyone would call me disqualified—as a knight, and as a clergywoman... wouldn't they?"
No. If mere tears were the worst of it, I'd be getting off lightly.
A short while later, still curled up on the spot, she began burying her head deep between her arms as if trying to crawl into a mouse hole.
"N-no, even if it never gets out, I still know, don't I? A holy knight who must stand tall with a clear conscience wherever she goes cannot simply overlook something like this...."
"...Berdia."
"Yes, I am the shame of humanity. No—worse than a mere worm, filth lower than refuse... so it would be best for everyone if I set aside all my duties now and entered a convent. If this—if by even the slimmest chance this were ever exposed, I would... I-I... uwaaah!"
...She's utterly broken.
In the past, I'd have counted myself lucky to have kept my life and moved on. But if I meant to ensure Serika's safety and make our way into the Demon King's army's territory, I needed her help.
If she stayed in this shattered state, that goal would be dead from the start.
And more than anything, on a personal level... I didn't want to see her fall apart like this.
No matter how much pent-up frustration I'd been carrying, that first act may have been a little....
No—I may have gone quite a bit overboard. But still, she'd genuinely enjoyed the act with me. I couldn't bring myself to dislike her for that.
"......I'll take responsibility."
So whatever it took, I had to help her pick herself back up.
I whispered the words, putting that sentiment into them. As she registered my hand resting on her shoulder, her head slowly began to lift.
"What?"
"I said I'll take responsibility for you, Berdia."
Yes. That was what I needed to tell her right now.
No matter how much I'd acted for Serika's sake, the one who'd dragged Berdia into this without considering her feelings was me. So all the problems that arose from it—the lion's share of the blame rested on my shoulders.
"I'm the one who started this, so... whatever happens from here on out, I won't leave you to suffer alone, Berdia."
She'd told me she'd stand by me despite the trouble I'd caused her. So whatever path she chose from here, I had to make sure I regarded her not as a stranger, but as someone I was bound to.
When I stated that resolve firmly, she began staring at me blankly, her eyes still brimming with tears.
"W-wait... th-that... are you saying...."
As if she'd just heard something she couldn't quite believe.
It didn't take me long to realize what had triggered that reaction.
"If you say you'll take responsibility, then... does that mean... y-you're... proposing... to me?"
"......Huh?"
"W-wait—!"
The moment she'd voiced that dazed question, Berdia stiffened and stumbled backward.
Then, flailing with both hands as if she had no idea what to do with herself, she averted her gaze from me and stared down at the floor.
"Ah, u-uh, w-wait.... Th-that, um, I mean.... this sort of thing is... a f-first for me, so, that...."
Her voice trembled in a way that didn't suit her at all.
And through her fingers, I could see her face had flushed bright red, as if heated by a blaze.
Anyone could see it—the face of someone deeply embarrassed.
Berdia, of all people.
None other than one of the 10 Strongest of the Continent—completely flustered by what I'd said.
"D-Dave, you... d-do you really think... someone like me is... okay?"
The timid whisper came paired with a bashful glance.
The moment I saw that, my breath caught in my throat, and I felt my mind go utterly white.
What...?
What just happened?
"...Ah, nngh!"
Before I could grasp the situation, Berdia had clamped her hands over her mouth and buried her face again.
She seemed to be trying desperately to calm her racing heart, but she couldn't hide the heat radiating through her fingers.
"S-sorry. It's just... I've never had anyone say something like that before, and I just... got embarrassed.... I-I don't even know how I'm supposed to react."
She was so flushed that even her sweat seemed to evaporate on contact. I couldn't bring myself to step closer.
Just moments ago, she'd seemed like a wild beast I'd longed to touch but couldn't. Now, I found myself worrying that if I so much as laid a finger on her, she'd crumble like a baby squirrel or a chick.
Yes—as hard as it is to believe even to myself—just a little....
Enough to compare the mightiest of warriors to a baby animal. I'd ended up thinking of her as, of all things, cute.
"Blech."
But it seemed someone else didn't share that sentiment.
Yumir, who'd been watching the whole scene, stuck out her tongue in a mock-gag. Heira, standing beside her, turned her way with a puzzled look.
"What's wrong, Yumir?"
"Oh nothing. Just that watching an old lady older than me throw a simpering tantrum at a younger man is making my stomach turn a little...."
"D-don't call me an old lady!"
That got Berdia snapping again, her voice raised in indignation.
As if the jab about her age had struck a raw nerve, she thrust a trembling finger toward Yumir and began pointing furiously.
"F-for your information, my body still hasn't even passed thirty! That's far too young to be considered middle-aged, so why do you always disparage me like that?!"
"Well, our dear Lady Berdia is a lofty figure favored by His Majesty the King, and in high society, late twenties is already considered advanced in age~"
"Th-then what about you, Yumir?! With your standing as a Grand Archmage, aren't you at an age where you should be watching your back?!"
"Oh, well, I've already finished my research, so I don't really care about that title anymore. Also...."
Yumir sauntered toward me as if deliberately provoking Berdia.
Then, wrapping her arms around one of mine and burying it against her chest, she shot a smirk at Berdia.
"I've already got someone I've pledged my future to. So I should be called a married woman, not an old lady. Isn't that right, darling?"
"Wh-what?!"
Berdia reeled in shock at Yumir's sudden move. I was less shaken than her, but still just as thrown.
What's gotten into this girl? Has she gotten such a kick out of teasing Berdia that she's openly provoking her now?
"I... too."
As I stood there faltering, I felt a weight press against my other side.
It was Heira—she'd leaned her small body up against me.
"I also... decided to stay with Dave."
"Ah, yeah. Right. Heira too...."
"Until a child comes. We'll keep staying together."
......Right.
Now that I think about it, Yumir had persuaded you too, hadn't she?
Even when we were laying plans to blackmail Berdia earlier, Heira had been just like Yumir—she'd stated plainly that she wouldn't cooperate unless I finished inside her.
I'd already resigned myself to that, so it didn't bother me much. But the problem was the one watching all this—Berdia, who had only just lost her virginity.
And that aside, she was someone with an intensely rational sense of chastity, the earlier sexual rampage notwithstanding.
"D-Dave, you... now that I think about it, you have Serika, and yet you're quite comfortable with the two of them...."
After all, what would an outsider make of two women clinging to one man without the slightest friction?
As I was wrestling with how to make her understand, Yumir pressed herself even tighter against me and spoke toward Berdia.
"The little one gave her permission."
"......What?"
"Something like... a true Hero ought to be magnanimous enough to embrace the people who love the person she loves—or whatever."
Yumir let out a soft laugh as she brought up Serika.
But that smile, unlike before, was tinged with a very bitter shade.
As if to show it wasn't just a joke. As if she too kept that naive hero—absent from this room—tucked somewhere in her heart.
"I may not look it, but I'm a woman with a conscience. You think I'd just steal another woman's man? There's a reason I can trust it'll work out."
"Serika really...?"
As if sensing the sincerity in those words, Berdia's agitation began to subside.
She still looked dubious, but Yumir's face as she faced her held something close to magnanimity.
"If you've more or less got the picture, quit agonizing like it makes you wanna puke and just come over here already."
So saying, Yumir gently tugged on my arm.
Reading her intent, Heira pulled on my other arm as well—opening my embrace toward Berdia.
...So that's what Yumir was thinking.
She'd been provoking Berdia on purpose, so she wouldn't feel left out.
"Berdia. This way."
"Ah.... Nn, nngh."
Berdia let out a soft, hesitant groan at Heira's call.
But in the end, she stepped closer to me. And then, pressing her body tightly against mine, she buried her face against my chest.
"L-like this... is this right?"
"Well done~ Just keep doing that from now on~"
Yumir soothed Berdia and glanced back at me.
She gave a little twitch of her eyebrows, looking rather pleased with herself.
'That should smooth things over going forward. I did good, right?'
...That's probably what she was thinking. This cunning little archmage.
"Well, yeah. Guess that'll do."
And so, with the three of them gathered in my arms, I quietly took a moment to study each of them.
A Grand Archmage, one of the 10 Strongest, and on top of that, an elf who'd lived over a hundred years....
Each member was certainly remarkable in her own right. But more than that, what struck me was the sheer improbability of holding all three at once.
Up until now, I'd had to keep my true identity hidden at all costs, and with my power's use limited, I'd only ever exerted it on one target at a time.
And before long, there might be one more to add. Serika felt just as sincerely about me, after all.
Even if she still didn't know my true identity or the things I'd done....
"......."
"...Dave? Why's your face like that?"
"It's nothing...."
Right. Serika probably wouldn't resolve as easily as I'd like to think.
No matter how much of it was chance, in the end, I'd done terrible things to her.
Yumir had suggested that hiding my identity from Serika to the very end was one option, but I couldn't shake a nagging unease about it. It couldn't be helped.
"......It's gotten late. Shall we get some sleep?"
But agonizing over that right now wouldn't yield any clear answer anyway.
So for now—for the moment—I'd simply savor this situation and use it to prepare for the days ahead. That would do for tonight.
"Indeed. You must be quite tired as well, Dave. I think it best we each return to our rooms."
"Heh. You're not planning to go straight to your room and console yourself with what happened earlier, are you?"
"I— I will do no such thing!"
The two of them started bickering again the moment they slipped out of my arms.
But that too was a sign that they weren't truly distant from each other, I thought—watching them with quiet satisfaction. That's when I noticed Heira, who'd left the room with us, staring fixedly at a spot down the corridor of the mansion.
"Heira? What is it?"
"......I hear something. From Serika's room."
"A sound?"
A sound? I couldn't hear anything....
But even if the building was well soundproofed, an elf's innate senses might be sharp enough to pick it up. At the very least, it wasn't a mistake, I thought, and I asked Heira—
"Is it Serika crying?"
"...No. The sound of glass breaking."
"What?"
"The window."
Heira pulled her gaze from the direction of Serika's room, turned to look at me, and relayed exactly what she'd sensed.
"Something... broke the window in her room."
"......Oh, shit!"
It didn't take long to grasp the situation.
I rushed past Heira and dashed straight for Serika's room, urgently shifting my gaze toward the bed inside.
No—toward the spot where Serika should have been.
Just as Heira had said, shards of broken window glass were scattered across the room's interior.
And atop them, the bed lay completely empty.
"What—what's going on?!"
"Dave? What's wrong?"
Yumir and Berdia came rushing in late, drawn by the commotion.
I told them both exactly what I'd grasped.
"Serika's been kidnapped."
Damn it. I knew things were going too smoothly.