Chapter 62: ☆Good, isn’t it?
It was 7 AM in the morning after last night’s commotion.
I had breakfast with Nimi and was drinking tea after the meal.
Nimi had a calm expression as she continued washing the dishes.
Although she had suffered light burns on her legs, she was completely energetic.
The fire had been extinguished safely, and none of the adventurers were injured.
However, because they had jumped into the flames, their clothes were quite tattered.
They had returned to [Suzuya] in those same clothes, which caused panic.
It would have been fine if they had just been scolded, but Nimi and Erika and Elysia had cried, and when Chale reported that she had jumped into the fire, Erika had scolded me with tears in her eyes — I couldn’t even protest.
When I reported that I had saved the butler from the fire, Elysia and Erika had let out relieved sighs and thanked me.
I honestly told them that I didn’t know his condition, but they both smiled and said that as long as there was hope, it was fine.
While recalling yesterday’s events with a wry smile, I stood up and hugged Nimi from behind while she continued washing dishes.
Nimi’s body was well-proportioned and pleasantly soft.
Even though I hugged her, Nimi didn’t seem surprised and kept smiling while washing.
"What is it?"
"...No, I was worried about last night."
"Fufu, I’m not crying anymore. I’m glad you’re safe. Also..."
When Nimi finished washing, she wiped her wet hands with a cloth, turned in my arms, and looked up at me.
She gently touched both of my cheeks with both hands and smiled in a troubled way.
"Even if I scold you, you’ll still go, won’t you?"
"...Sorry."
"Fufu, you’re honest."
Nimi laughed happily at my words, wrapped both arms around my back, and pressed her chest against me.
I answered by tightening the arms around Nimi.
I gave her a light kiss on the lips, then tried to pull away to go clean the inn.
But Nimi held my arms tighter.
I tilted my head in confusion and saw that she was shaking her head with a smile.
"You can’t today. Please rest... okay?"
"Eh, no..."
"It’s good, isn’t it?"
Nimi smiled with an atmosphere that wouldn’t allow any argument and squeezed my arms tighter.
In response, Nimi’s marshmallow-like breasts changed shape as they were pressed against my chest.
Indeed, today was the academy holiday.
Actually, yesterday had been the holiday, but the academy had changed the schedule to today for some reason.
I gave a wry smile and asked if even a little help was no good.
"It’s not allowed. At least until noon, please rest... It’s good, isn’t it?"
I had known for a long time that Nimi wouldn’t yield in situations like this.
I nodded in resignation with a wry smile, and Nimi happily let go of my arms.
Nimi went back to cleaning the inn, and since there was nothing left for me to do, I sat down on a chair.
While I was wondering what to do next, there was a knock at the door leading to the reception counter.
I tilted my head and answered, and Chale’s voice replied. I stood up and approached the door.
When I opened it and confirmed that she had entered the room, I closed the door.
I invited her to sit at the table and prepared tea for Chale.
While preparing it, Chale’s cheerful voice came from behind.
"Fufu, it seems you were told to rest?"
"I was told to rest until noon."
"That makes sense."
I placed the prepared tea in front of Chale and sat in the opposite seat.
The cup disappeared, and a while later it reappeared.
That meant she was drinking it.
"...This is a report."
At Chale’s single word, the atmosphere changed to something serious.
I sat with my arms folded, my expression serious, and waited for Chale’s words.
"Several suspicious people were captured near the fire scene by my comrades. They are being interrogated now. And the magic bag the butler gave us contained a lot of material that can completely drive Baron Deus into a corner."
"You mean... you don’t want to hear the details?"
"As much as possible..."
At Chale’s ambiguous tone, I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
That meant if I asked her to tell me, she would.
I was eager to know, but I held back.
I took a sip of tea, shook my head with a smile, and said,
"No, I’ll pass... If you think I need it, tell me."
"Then... there is just one thing."
"There is?"
At Chale’s immediate proposal, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Whether it was a joke or serious, it was unfair.
Chale’s voice also carried a hint of laughter, so I guessed it was probably a joke.
Chale changed her tone to serious and asked me,
"Do you have any recollection of the name ’Stro Zernez’?"
"...No, I don’t."
"Is that so... That’s all the report. I’ll be nearby. Call me if anything happens."
"Ah, wait."
I stopped Chale, who was about to leave, and asked her one more thing I wanted to know.
I had to ask this — I definitely couldn’t relax after yesterday.
"What about the butler’s condition?"
"I’m sorry, but I can’t say anything right now. Although his external injuries are fortunately minor, his stamina..."
"I understand. Thank you."
"No... Well then."
Chale stood up and left through the door.
When I confirmed that the door had closed, I let out a huge sigh.
The moment Chale mentioned the name, my heart had been racing.
It wasn’t joy — I was surprised and shaken.
...This is bad. I never imagined the name would come up.
Stro Zernez — the man who had been a priest in the Demon God Association.
The man who supported Dil and tormented players and Roy.
He supported them with magic, plotted strategies, and in the early stages used his eloquent tongue to deceive the players.
Stro Zernez’s ending was that he was swallowed up by the collapsing church along with Dil and the others.
The problem here was that there was a scene in which Dil was defeated, but there was no such scene for Stro Zernez.
The only thing written was his final line: "My dream... is this far, huh?"
I had been careless and thought Stro Zernez wouldn’t appear because I wouldn’t involve Dil.
...Because I had made it impossible to involve Dil, was he searching for the next target?
Wait, no — why was he involved with Baron Deus in the first place?
...Could the source of the funds be the Demon God Association?
But how would I explain that to Chale or the kingdom?
What I knew was only from the game I had played in my previous life.
I couldn’t just tell her something that hadn’t happened and expect her to believe it.
So... there was only one thing I had to do.
I let out a sigh and went to my room to take a short nap.
Honestly, I was completely exhausted.
Mostly mentally... What a troublesome enemy this was.
I lay on my back on the bed, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.
Profile
Atla
Title: Sister Atla
Height: 171 cm Age: 27 Hair: black, shoulder-length
Expression: calm Atmosphere: calm
Body: slender but with a slightly large butt Breasts: watermelon-sized
She was a sister at the Santony church.
She was the same generation as Mayor and her close friend could be called a best friend.
She was called "Sister Atla" by the six children from the royal capital church.
She had fled to the royal capital church after being saved by Raide in Santony.
She secretly wants to know about male bodies, but she is now afraid because of the incident.
