10 - Chapter 7: Episode 7 [Phew]
As soon as they entered the reception room, the Comrades were met with an unbelievable sight.
It was
Enma tearing my shirt open and pouncing on me.
Aria, the first to grasp the situation, spoke.
"What are you doing?"
Her cold, low voice echoed through the room.
Gulp.
Her expression alone told me how angry she was.
But
"Ugh..."
Why wasn't Enma even scared of Aria?
Even amidst all this, Enma was still caressing my body.
"Heh, it's the Hero's party?"
"Since things have come to this, how about we all fuck the Hero together?"
Huh?
Why was Enma saying such things...
What would Aria do to her if she said something like that now?
Aria clenched her fist tight, a clear threat to Enma.
"Enma, have you finally gone mad?"
"Haha, of course not."
Enma rummaged through my torn shirt.
She defiantly caressed my body and smiled.
"Ugh..."
"I'm saying we should all share the Hero's body."
"Only those who know this secret, of course."
And she's still toying with my body, spouting such nonsense...
"Enma, please snap out of it, it's not too late a...ah hnnngh!"
"Hero, please be quiet. If you don't want to be fucked like a dog."
Gulp.
Still, this had gone too far.
I couldn't protect her any longer...
Aria summoned her mace.
"Aria, st-...hnnngh!"
"Hmph, you, even in this situation..."
"Still, excluding the Saintess, the two behind you seem interested, don't they?"
"Yes, I think that's not bad either."
"Lily! Have you finally gone mad?"
"And if I have?"
"I don't dislike Enma's words either."
"Cynthia!!!!!!"
I couldn't believe it.
How could Lily and Cynthia?
My trusted Comrades...
Why me...
Why were they agreeing to Enma's words about fucking me?
Perhaps they liked me all along?
No, those two didn't like me.
Lily always maintained a cold demeanor,
and Cynthia always snapped back at me, picking fights.
Why...?
Why on earth...?
Why?
"All of you, have you finally gone mad?"
Aria, gripping her mace tightly in one hand, stood tense.
If those two turned against me here, I...
Fuck...
A terrible scenario played out in my mind.
Just
when I'd just got fucked like that by Enma,
I'd felt waves of pleasure strong enough to make me faint.
But
Oh no.
If I got gang-banged by my Comrades,
could I really endure it?
No way.
This body, which couldn't even endure and fainted during the act with Enma,
was it supposed to endure against three women?
No way.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
No way!
Yes,
Death from Overexertion was imminent.
Yes,
I'd die.
I'd definitely die!!!
Please!
No.
All I could do now was
in my heart,
hope that Aria solved this problem.
"All of you, the moment you lay a finger on Yuria, you'll die right alongside him."
"Pfft, Aria, you have the best ability to protect allies, but"
"the ally you need to protect is in our hands, isn't he?"
"Why on earth are you doing this?"
"You were the first to break the contract with us and promised to share a future with Yuria, didn't you?!"
"Did you think we wouldn't know?!"
"Huh? What's that?"
What were Lily and Cynthia talking about?
That's the first I was hearing of it too.
Aria and I promised to share a future?
Aria and I were just Comrades, that's all?
"I never did!"
"Hmph, you're denying it right to the end."
"I'm not denying it, but!"
"Alright, then I'll tell you what I heard back then."
"When this is over, we'll go down to a quiet rural village together and live a peaceful life."
"I distinctly heard you say that, didn't I?"
Oh, that was just
Aria and me discussing what we'd do after defeating the Demon King.
"Hmph... this is absurd. I never imagined you'd eavesdrop on our conversations."
"So, you admit it, don't you? That you violated the contract?"
"No, I don't admit it. Because that wasn't that kind of conversation."
"Just as I thought, you won't admit it easily."
"Yuria, you tell us! What conversation did you have then?"
Finally, I had a chance to speak.
"Back then, after Aria and I defeated the Demon King, I was just talking about what kind of future each of us envisioned!"
"Huh?"
"So I just said that I wanted to go down to the countryside and live there!"
"Then..."
"The 'together' part wasn't just about Aria, but all of my Comrades; it was just my wish to share the food I cooked and live with all of you!"
"Th-that kind of thing..."
"Didn't I tell you already? That you all misheard and misunderstood it on your own!"
"Hey, Cynthia, you said it was certain!"
"N-no, th-that's..."
"What's the problem? I'm still fulfilling the contract!"
"Is that so? It seems we misunderstood. I'm sorry."
"Alright, then you agree to save Yuria from Enma's hands, don't you?"
"Of course. We thought you broke the contract, and we also acted rashly, so nothing like that will happen again. I'm sorry."
"Phew... that's a relief."
Good!
Aria, as expected.
I trusted her!!!
My end won't be Death from Overexertion.
To be a Hero who killed the Demon King and returned honorably, only to be recorded as dying from overexertion—
I avoided that worst possible ending!
Thus, my Comrades were persuaded,
and all that remained was Enma, still caressing my body.
As Aria approached Enma,
"Don't come! If I give the Hero a command, you'll see!"
Oh no.
Right now, I was at the level of a biological weapon.
This was serious.
If Enma gave me a command now...
Just as I was thinking that,
Swish.
Thwack!
"Huh?"
Cynthia came up behind Enma and struck her precisely on the back of the neck.
Fortunately, before Enma could do anything more, Cynthia stopped her.
"Thank you, Cynthia."
"Hmph, it's not like I did it specifically for you."
"I get it. Thank you."
What a relief.
Cynthia stopped it just before it could escalate to the worst possible situation.
"Alright, if there's really a misunderstanding, let's resolve it with words."
"I'm sorry. When the situation actually arose, we weren't able to make rational judgments either."
Good, the conversation ended on a warm note.
That's a relief.
Division among Comrades is the worst possible outcome, after all.
Now then, it's time to sort everything out.
"Let's sort out the situation! I'll go change my clothes, so Aria, please take care of Enma."
"Understood!"
With the situation settled, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The chaotic incident had been sorted out,
and we gathered again in the reception room to discuss future plans.
"Everyone, you heard the whole story from Aria, right?"
""Yes.""
"Before we start talking, first, I want to apologize!"
Due to my mistake, I was in a position where I had to ask for help.
I had to apologize to them first.
And for my sake, their strength was desperately needed.
"If I had been a little more careful, such a misfortune wouldn't have happened."
""No.""
My Comrades denied it in unison,
my infinitely kind Comrades, who insisted it wasn't my fault.
Precisely because they were such women, all the more reason
I couldn't just rely on their kindness.
"This is clearly my mistake, it's true. So, for the last time, lend me your strength!"
I bowed my head and asked.
Now that they had even defeated the Demon King, I couldn't force them, now heroes, to help me.
All I could do was ask, hoping they would help.
"Of course."
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Yes!"
"Thank you all so much."
Fortunately, they helped me without hesitation.
I'd never find Comrades like these again.
"So, what's the plan?"
I cleared my throat and explained the plan I'd organized.
"First, it's certain that the Demon King cast this Curse."
"Therefore, I'd like someone to go back to the Demon King's Castle and investigate the magic formula."
"We'll have to decide who goes."
"Honestly, Lily and Cynthia would be the best ones to go, right?"
Naturally, Aria tried to send the two of them.
"But even if I can't go, Aria, you could go, couldn't you?"
"But is there anyone with abilities more specialized in protection than me?"
"..."
Indeed, true to her name as the Saintess,
she was the pinnacle of protection among us.
When it came to protection, there was no one who could surpass her.
"Hmph... Aria, if you break the contract, curse removal or not, I'll come back and destroy everything, understand?"
"Of course. I have no intention of doing that either."
"Yuria, while we're gone, don't go anywhere, and stay safe within the Imperial Palace, alright?"
"That's right. There are so many wolf-like women out there who'd devour you, so you need to be careful."
"Understood. Don't worry and go."
"Alright. I will protect Yuria even if it costs me my life, so don't worry."
"Hmph... that's not very reassuring, but fine."
"Then we'll depart immediately today."
"Immediately?"
"Well, we need to break your Curse as soon as possible."
"Thank you..."
I could only offer my deepest thanks in my heart for their tireless efforts.
"Then we'll head out right away."
"Don't worry and go."
"Yuria, it's just the two of us now! Hehe."