Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Come Sit Down
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I finally requested a conversation to calm down Maribel, who had completely lost control.
I sat down at the table in her bedroom and invited her to take the seat across from me.
Maribel hesitated for a moment before pressing her bare bottom right against the chair—without even her underwear on.
Would her butt print be left perfectly imprinted on the cushion once she stood up later?
That kind of tantalizing thought was already stirring a reaction down below.
Maribel's outfit was that lethal.
I knew full well just how dangerous it was in every way, and I could have told her to put some clothes on.
But as a man, I just couldn't bring myself to give up on the naked apron look.
So, we ended up having our talk just like that, without changing her clothes.
"First off, I get how much responsibility you're feeling for this mess."
"...I'm sorry for disappointing you."
Her excitement had died down a bit, and now she was hanging her head low.
She'd been embarrassed when we first faced each other, but I wondered what she must be feeling now.
She probably wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground if she could.
Still, I couldn't tease her when she was already so down and filled with shame.
"I wasn't disappointed at all. So there's no need to apologize."
"But...!"
"Don't talk back. Your lord says it's fine, so why are you deciding on your own that you're beyond saving?"
"I'm sorry..."
Until now, I'd always been soft on Maribel.
She was so outstanding that she hardly ever gave me any headaches, so I couldn't help being lenient.
But acting all friendly even in this situation felt like it would backfire.
Sometimes you need to crack the whip, so I decided to switch tactics and take a firm approach this time.
Time to unleash the pissed-off Heinz inside me.
"I'm not disappointed that you failed to protect me properly. What disappoints me is that you're showing such weakness after just one failure."
"I'm truly sorry for my disgraceful behavior..."
"Enough. I don't want to hear any more apologies. What I want to hear is, 'How will you handle things from now on, and with what mindset will you strive forward?'"
"..."
"We can chalk up the first time as a mistake, but anything after that is just arrogance. And I hate arrogant people without the substance to back it up."
Though I'd played the wastrel to lower the cult's guard, it was all an act.
If it brought no benefits, I'd have ditched the wastrel persona ages ago and shown a diligent, upstanding side.
A wastrel who hates other wastrels.
So it was fine for me to be one, but I couldn't tolerate it in others.
Naturally, I had no intention of keeping wastrels or arrogant fools under me.
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"You're telling me to pinpoint the problem exactly and find ways to improve?"
"Exactly."
What Maribel lacked right now was nothing but experience.
I had high hopes that the day she became as seasoned as Kizen or Lena would come, and she'd shine even brighter than them.
"Looks like you can overcome this on your own without me saying more."
As I offered Maribel various bits of advice, my excitement and arousal faded away at some point.
Humans really are creatures of adaptation—now I could stare straight at her naked apron outfit with no reaction whatsoever.
I barely held back the urge to just pounce on her.
I knew Maribel had feelings for me, but right now, I needed her as a bodyguard more than a wife.
If I could handle the Nidhogg Cult without her, I'd seriously consider it, but the situation wasn't advantageous enough for me to slack off.
"That's all I wanted to say, so I'll head out now."
"W-Wait a second!"
"Is there something else you want to add?"
"If you haven't eaten yet, would you try my cooking?"
"Oh, you can cook too?"
I'd had plenty of the black tea she served me before, but her homemade cooking was a first.
Since she made such great tea, I had high expectations for her culinary skills too.
"My dream is to be a bride loved by her husband. Even though I've decided to continue guarding you, Master Heinz, I haven't given up on that dream."
"Alright then, let's see what you've got."
"I'll have it ready in no time!"
Maribel jumped to her feet and turned toward the fireplace with her back to me.
I wondered why there were ingredients and cooking tools in the bedroom, but it seemed she'd been practicing while holed up in her room.
Never wasting even a single moment—that was so like Maribel.
'Well then...'
Ugh.
I'd thought I'd built up a tolerance to her outfit, but seeing her from behind felt entirely different.
The apron covered her front, but her back was completely bare—not a thread on it.
Her curvaceous hips and soft-looking rear were exposed in all their glory, sending a lightning bolt of stimulation straight to my groin.
I had to look away when she started to squat down.
If I kept staring, I wouldn't be able to hold back my lust and would end up jumping her from behind.
"This isn't easy."
I closed my eyes and continued battling my inner turmoil.
Reciting the service creed I'd memorized to death during my two years in the pepper fields helped, until Maribel's cheerful voice rang out.
"It's ready!"
To guard against any potential rear-end mishaps, I cracked my eyes open and saw a pot steaming away.
Peering inside, it was a thick white broth loaded with floating veggies and chunks of meat.
There were some finely chopped greens too—probably parsley or something.
"Cream stew, huh."
"Yes, that's right!"
Cream stew was on the easier side of dishes.
It even looked appetizing, so I ladled some into a bowl.
I piled meat and veggies onto my spoon and took a big bite.
The next thing I knew, my face was plunged straight into the bowl.
"M-Master Heinz? Are you okay?!"
This is weird. It definitely looked like a perfect cream stew on the outside.
But the moment I took a bite, all strength drained from my body, and I couldn't control myself.
Even more shocking, my senses seemed completely numb—I couldn't even feel the stew's heat.
My consciousness was fading, and even Maribel's voice sounded distant.
Maribel's cooking skills were impressive in a whole different way.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Your unworthy Kizen, reporting back."
"We're home!"
"Welcome back."
The day after I'd sampled Maribel's cooking.
I'd come out to greet Kizen and Coco, who had returned to Altesia.
Their training wasn't over yet—it was just a temporary recall.
To properly get revenge on Viscount Beldah's house, I absolutely needed Kizen.
"It's Mummy Bro!"
"Not a mummy."
Having face-planted into that scalding stew, I'd burned my entire face.
Luckily, this world had ointments that healed burns without a scar, so no worries there.
But since air exposure was bad for the ointment, everything except my eyes, nose, and mouth had to be wrapped in bandages.
That was why Coco was calling me a mummy.
"For Maribel's breach of etiquette against you, Young Master, I apologize on her behalf and accept any punishment."
"It's fine. There was no malicious intent."
"Still..."
"Tch! If I say it's fine, it's fine."
"U-Understood."
Like father, like daughter—both Kizen and Maribel had this stubborn tendency to worry.
Just drop it when I say it's okay.
"That's right! Bro's super strong, so no need to worry about him at all!"
Coco came running and leaped at me.
She stuck to me like a cicada and even climbed up toward my face, giggling that it was fun.
I wished she'd worry about my condition instead.
Still, her bubbly smile put my mind at ease.
Even after Kizen's grueling training, Coco's bright personality hadn't changed a bit.
"I heard you've made plans for revenge against Viscount Beldah's house."
I grabbed the scruff of the wolf-girl shaking her tail while stuck to my face and peeled her off.
Coco went limp like a drenched puppy with her neck held.
With my head finally free, I nodded.
"Is this Princess Rosmel's plan?"
"No."
Since Princess Rosmel was handling it, Viscount Beldah's downfall was guaranteed even if I did nothing.
But that wouldn't be satisfying revenge, would it?
Ruin should be the ending, and the process was what mattered.
I had to craft Viscount Beldah's tragedy for maximum catharsis.
"How are you going to get revenge?"
"Well, you see..."
I sat cross-legged right there on the spot.
When I patted my legs, Coco perked up and wriggled free from Kizen's grasp.
She trotted over and hopped onto my lap.
"What's the way to make your enemy suffer the most?"
"Wound them just enough not to die and let them perish slowly!"
"Unfortunately, wrong."
"Huh? Then what is it?"
"It's..."
...to make them grab their own throats themselves.