Chapter 48
The Labyrinth City of Hermes
It was also called the City of Opportunity, and for many adventurers, it was a dreamlike city.
It was said to have produced countless veteran adventurers, but because quests were posted and taken up most actively there, and powerful monsters inhabited the surrounding area, it had paradoxically become the most famous place.
Well... that's how it was explained in the game, but in reality, calling it merely a city of adventurers would be generous; it wouldn't be wrong to call it a city obsessed with adventure—and power.
With so many adventurers, it was a place where “survival of the fittest” applied better than anywhere else.
They say the adventurers there are a rough bunch, so I might end up suffering something even worse than having someone touch my butt at the inn.
In fact, since it was a game with extremely high freedom, it was even possible to drive the heroines insane and make them sell their bodies in that city.
Of course, I never did anything like that.
Anyway, every party member except the Hero was female, and aside from miraculous powers, the Saint had no real ability to deal with people, so I couldn't help worrying.
Well, in the game, the Hero protected everyone automatically, so I thought it would be fine... but I couldn't help worrying, because who knew what might happen while the Hero wasn't looking.
If worst came to worst, I'd use magic to protect Cecilia.
Ruril could handle things perfectly well on her own even if I didn't step in, so there was no need to intervene; it would be best to stick close to Cecilia as much as possible.
Of course, that didn't mean Cecilia was completely incapable of dealing with people, but since it was a city of adventurers with many strong ones, it was better to be safe than sorry.
From what I'd heard, it was called a city, but in reality it was no different from a lawless land, and apparently it was acceptable to use force if something happened.
If so, there was no reason to hesitate.
As I looked out the window while thinking about how we'd conduct ourselves there, Cecilia and Ruril called out to me.
I turned to look, wondering what they wanted, and saw Cecilia and Ruril wearing sly expressions.
There was only one reason those two would be making faces like that.
They were probably going to ask me again what they'd tried to ask earlier.
The Hero had been persistently asking why I'd used magic, and as a result, those two had started suspecting me.
Common sense dictated that there wasn't much reason to use magic inside an inn, so something had obviously happened. Since those two were the likely ones to have put the drug in the drawer, they must have guessed that I'd done some sort of... act.
In other words... judging by their lewd smiles, they were clearly wondering whether I'd masturbated yesterday.
Or they suspected that something had happened between the Hero and me.
Maybe I was jumping to conclusions, but the fact that they wore expressions like that made me feel as though they were practically announcing their suspicions.
As I wondered what I should say, I suddenly remembered once again that I couldn't speak.
I couldn't talk anyway, so I wouldn't answer.
Above all, I didn't want to answer a question like that.
What business was it of theirs what someone else did?
They had been suspiciously intent on bringing the Hero and me together, so it was understandable that they would be interested in what I'd done yesterday, though.
Perhaps noticing that I had no intention of answering, they changed targets and approached the Hero.
For some reason, I could swear those two gave off serious tabloid-reporter vibes...
“Hero! Do you really not know what kind of magic Lumia used yesterday?”
Even though they knew I couldn't speak, they were asking so openly...
Perhaps because they knew I might be able to hear them, the Hero couldn't answer properly and kept glancing at me.
It didn't matter whether he answered or not, since he didn't know why I'd used magic either.
They say the true enemy is within.
To be perfectly honest, I almost felt grateful instead.
In any case, my aversion toward the Hero had diminished much more than before.
But my aversion diminishing and their putting that kind of drug in the drawer were entirely separate matters.
Though I wanted revenge, their personalities made them impossible to hate.
Aside from occasional displays of the Saintly side, Cecilia was just an ordinary cheerful girl who was very interested in love stories.
I figured Cecilia and Ruril were so interested now because of what had happened between the Hero and me.
Well, if they were merely trying to set us up normally, then considering they'd put something like that in the drawer...
Still, it would probably be best to refrain from such speculation for now.
All I knew was that I'd assumed they'd put it there after seeing the Hero and me making suggestive expressions; it might have been there from the beginning.
In the first place, it was hard to believe that Saint Cecilia would put something like that in a drawer.
My mind was a mess.
I didn't know whom to trust...
“You really don't know?”
“I-I told you, I don't know... Back off..!”
One thing was certain...
I didn't like Cecilia clinging to him so insistently just to ask one question.
I didn't understand why she was clinging to him when she was the one trying to pair the Hero and me.
If you're going to take a stance, pick one side and stick to it.
Cecilia seemed to be clinging to him out of genuine curiosity, but couldn't she spare a thought for the Hero's position?
...
If I were the Hero, I suppose I would have felt pretty good about it.
Cecilia had fairly large breasts, though not as large as Ruril's, so having them pressed against my arm would probably feel rather nice.
What was this feeling?
Until recently, I would have watched her with envious eyes, but now all I felt was irritation.
I sighed, stood up, and approached the Hero and Cecilia.
When I approached, I pulled the puzzled Cecilia and the Hero apart, then sat down between them.
I stepped in because they seemed to be having trouble?
And because if Cecilia kept asking like that, I'd be in trouble too.
The fact that I'd masturbated using the Hero's scent—and fantasizing about him—was something I would take to my grave.
Of course, the Hero didn't know, but if they kept asking like that, it made me anxious, and I hated it.
No one could ever know.
Cecilia looked down at me with a peculiar expression as I sat there pretending to be distracted.
What? What?
I'm not moving. Nyah-nyah.
The Hero smiled awkwardly.
Why are you laughing too, you jerk?
I jabbed the Hero in the waist with my elbow as if telling him not to smile.
Naturally, as I was the weakest one here, how much could it possibly hurt when I hit him with my elbow?
The Hero didn't look even slightly hurt.
Bastard...
.
.
.
The city we arrived at was none other than Latikan.
If someone asked why we'd come back here after saying we were leaving on a journey to a distant place, I could only say we'd returned because it was too far.
Who travels to another country by carriage these days?
Since it was common knowledge that the capitals were connected via magic circles, it would be best to use Latikan's teleportation magic circle to head to Hermes quickly.
Unless we were going exceptionally late, we wouldn't normally need to hurry all the way to the Demon King's castle, but right now, we were in a situation where we needed to grow as strong as possible.
The Hero was strong enough already, but Cecilia and Ruril were still at the level of novice adventurers, so it couldn't be helped.
“Phew..”
I'd worried that someone might recognize us and ask why we'd fled, but no one did.
It was probably because we were wearing cloaks that concealed our appearances.
Of course, we'd have to show our faces if we wanted to use the magic circle, but we could simply silence anyone who saw us.
“Lumia?”
The Hero's voice rang softly beside my ear.
Ever since I took on Lumia's body, it seemed I'd started sleeping much more.
I must have dozed off without realizing it.
“You really need to wake up soon..”
Ah, let's stay like this a little longer..
I couldn't say why, but it was incredibly comfortable to sleep with my head resting on the Hero's shoulder.
I was already so sleepy I could die, and with him offering me his shoulder like this, I simply couldn't stay awake..
I wanted to stay like this a little longer, but when the carriage came to a complete stop and it was truly time to get out, the Hero forcibly woke me by lifting me in a princess carry, and only then did I wake up.
I struggled, trying to get him to put me down, but the Hero didn't seem to have any intention of letting go.
Even though I had woken up, I'd deliberately kept using his lap or shoulder as a pillow, but still, this kind of humiliating display in front of people really wasn't okay..!
I covered my face with both hands.
No, don't look..
Aah..