“Hey Derus, something big has been discovered!” Nina’s voice greeted me the moment I returned.
Wondering what was going on, I twisted my numbed legs and looked, and there was Anju, dressed in an incredibly cute girl’s outfit!
“Wow! This is an amazing discovery! She’s so cute!”
The cute outfit, primarily pink and black, suited her tanned skin. If she approached me in such a state, I felt I’d be saying, “Derus, Ganbarimasu!”
“That’s not it, Lord Derus. Anju-chan has registered as a follower of the Church of the Goddess.”
“Huh? I mean, religion is a matter of personal freedom, but for a Party member…”
“Derus, to put it simply, Anju is abnormally gullible.”
“Ehh, what does that mean?”
“After hearing she was taken in and then returned by a noble, I had a bad feeling and asked around.”
“Anju-chan, what did that Magician boy tell you back in your academy days?”
“…He said that to increase her magic power, she needed to… do things with the opposite sex…”
“And you believed that and did it?”
She nodded vigorously. That’s seriously bad.
“Derus, what’s more, Anju still believes that.”
“Eh?”
“The guys hanging out at the Magician’s den in the Adventurer Guild…”
“Ah, no more, please!”
“She also seems to fall for anyone who’s even a little kind to her.”
Ah, that explains it. So that’s why she took such a liking to me. If she fell for me just because I called her a companion or a friend, then yes, she’s incredibly gullible and dangerous.
“So, you invited her to the Church of the Goddess as an experiment, and she accepted right away?”
“That wasn’t the only reason I invited her, but she also seems to lend money out easily.”
“Well, the lender is also at fault for lending money without having much income, Derus, do you understand how problematic this is?”
“Yes, it’s a straight path to ruin and bankruptcy. Is that why Miro-san, a prominent figure at the Adventurer Guild, mentioned brothels?”
Ah, now that I think about it, when he mentioned selling her to a brothel, he was completely assuming she was a girl! I’m such an idiot.
“Think about her future. If she becomes a Level 50 Illusionist at this young age…”
“Ah… her life will be completely messed up.”
“Yes. Before Anju-chan went out, when you, Lord Derus, praised her a bit intending to support her, she already thought you were her lover. That’s why both Nina-san and I were worried.”
“Ah, Derus. To fall for someone within minutes of meeting them, there’s no way she won’t be deceived by bad men. It’s abnormal.” Looking at Nina, I don’t think she’s one to talk.
“Lord Derus, that’s why, though it feels a bit early and I felt bad, I got the religion section marked as the Church of the Goddess to preemptively eliminate it.”
“Eliminate it! But I agree, if she becomes a high-level Illusionist, those kinds of recruiters will likely flock to her.”
“And the Party, too.”
“Party?”
“Just stay put, Anju-chan!”
Ah, she suddenly looked dejected. I patted her head.
“Until now, she was an Illusionist whose level likely wouldn’t increase permanently, so she had no value. But if she reaches Level 50, all those people from before will surely change their tune.”
“It seems she’s been through some quite terrible experiences. If she could get some payback, that would be good, but…”
“Probably, if she’s apologized to once, she might even forgive them without an apology.”
Yes, she seems cautious, but the barrier was breached quickly and easily, meaning, she’s gullible.
“So, Derus, become Anju’s lover.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“If Anju-chan gains more value, won’t all sorts of bad men start swarming her?”
“In other words, you want me to fill in the lover slot for her.”
“…I, if it’s really you, Derus-kun… I, I really don’t mind.”
She’s blushing again, and with that outfit on, it’s just too unfair.
“But if I do that, aren’t I no different from a bad man?”
“You are Derus, so I can trust you.”
“I know Lord Derus isn’t like that.”
“R-really?”
“Hey… Derus-kun, am I… not good enough…?”
Ahhh, don’t look at me with those big, teary eyes! It hits me right in the heart when your eyes meet mine!
“Nina-san, is that okay with you?”
“Yes, as long as I’m the main wife, I’m fine with it.”
“Clarice-san?”
“We’re Party companions, and also fellow followers of the Church of the Goddess. Clarice and Anju-chan will be offerings to Lord Derus.”
“Don’t treat me like an object! Ah, speaking of objects, I remembered.”
I took out the blonde doll from my Item Box.
“I received this as thanks for the transport. One per person.”
“I see you’ve worked hard. But is this sellable?”
“Come to think of it, it looks like an idol of an evil cult. Even though you’re a benefactor.”
“…What is this scary thing?”
“This, you know, protects you from status abnormalities with a 3% chance. Even from Instant Death Attacks.”
I hugged it tightly.
“Yeah, I think the system is to blame for that.”
Startled by its speech, I dropped it on the floor!
“…What was that just now?”
“It’s a doll that says strange things I don’t understand. I can take it if you dislike it.”
“No, it’s a present from Derus-kun, so I’ll take it.”
I put it in my Item Bag. I thought you already had that, but since it’s clean, you must have bought it earlier.
“Apparently, it doesn’t work unless it’s displayed outside. If you’re going to equip it, let’s use a string or something.”
“…Yeah, I’ll thread it through my head. The doll’s.”
That’s a bit questionable in itself.
“Derus, do you dislike it? Anju is completely in character.”
“I’m a bit hesitant to take advantage of her gullibility.”
“Lord Derus, please protect Anju-chan, so she won’t be taken by bad men.”
My chest ached. Certainly, Anju-chan is in trouble like this. If I can protect her as her lover, there’s nothing better… But then, I remembered Mijuki, my ex-Party member and former Fiancé, my Older Sister. She always devoted herself to me, but I feel like I couldn’t do anything for her.
“Anju-chan.”
“…Derus-kun, what is it?”
“Is it okay if we start from being friends who might become lovers?”
“If that’s what Derus-kun wants… it’s fine.”
“Thank you. I’ll protect you.”
Ah, she’s clinging to me! She’s completely fallen! I hugged her back tightly. Yes, a firm hug. She smells nice now, no longer pungent, and she’s soft.
“By the way, Derus.”
“Yes.”
“You’re quite gullible yourself.”
“Ah…”
“Are you aware of it?”
It’s not that I’m unaware.
“Lord Derus.”
“Yes.”
“When did I say you could stop kneeling?”
“Ah!”
“Tonight, you’ll be punished in bed.”
The Lustful Berserker has increased without me noticing!
