Chapter 74
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I was introduced to the star rabbit tribe's demon king candidate by nonchalantly asking about it.
As she was afflicted with a severe disease, I expected to grab hold of the star rabbit tribe's leader, Carol's, weakness if it went well, but…
It was beyond expectations.
Carol's daughter, Lapis, was not affected by the likes of a disease.
It was poison. For quite a long time, she was deceived by the demon king's subordinates and made to drink poison, believing that it was medicine.
I am kind, so I properly told Carol the truth. He is sharp, so even if I don't tell him the answer, if I give him the material, he should be able to realize that they were willfully deceived by the demon king. And, he won't just keep suffering damage.
I thought the star rabbit tribe would be a hindrance for when we attack the demon king's castle and town, but now they might have become the best weapon there is.
"Kearuga, you're making an evil face again." (Eve)
"Setsuna doesn't hate that sort of face, Kearuga-sama." (Setsuna)
On top of the futon, Eve and Setsuna are looking up at my face from below while nude.
Today is Eve and Setsuna's day.
"How rude. Even though I saved a poor girl." (Kearuga)
"… You definitely have another goal." (Eve)
"Kearuga-sama doesn't always lie. Setsuna's life and village was saved. Even you are still able to live because of Kearuga-sama." (Setsuna)
"That’s true, but…" (Eve)
Eve and Setsuna are both girls that were saved by me.
They both are extraordinarily talented, and even as my property (toys), they can be used as part of my fighting power, so they’re useful.
Even now, I feel quite attached to them.
Our bodies' compatibility is good as well.
"I do have another goal this time though. … Well, I'll aptly do it. Before that, I'll teach both of your bodies that I am a good person." (Kearuga)
"Kya-, so sudden." (Eve)
"Kearuga-sama, come." (Setsuna)
Today's the day I turn up at Lapis's place to look at the progress of the disease. Incidentally, this is the third time now.
Since just that would be boring, I might as make Lapis fall in love with me. She seemed to have become quite attached to me the second time as well. By doing that, it will be harder for Carol to dispose of me. While I'm at it, I'll also pour oil into Carol's flames of revenge.
While thinking about that, I gave plenty of love to both of them.
By giving plenty of love to Setsuna and Eve from the morning, I'm completely empty.
This time, I deliberately poured in all my s.e.m.e.n.
I want to behave like a saint as much as possible.
… No matter how hard I try not to, I think in an offensive way in front of cute girls or beautiful women.
Therefore, I will go *sage mode right from the start. If I do that, I will be able to act as the pure Kearuga. (TL Note: *Period after o.r.g.a.s.m when a man is free from s.e.xual desire and can think clearly.)
Once I arrive at Carol's residence, instead of the detached room from before, I am guided to the second floor of the residence.
By informing them that it was not an airborne or infect through contact disease, it appears they released her from isolation.
While heading to Lapis's room, Carol began talking to me.
"We tried hard to make the potion from the recipe we received from you, thinking we might somehow be able to make it, but it was impenetrably difficult." (Carol)
"It can't be helped. That would be impossible unless the best alchemists make it." (Kearuga)
That's the kind of recipe I quickly wrote.
There are probably only ten people in this world that could make that.
"… I am very sorry, but could I keep asking for it from you from now on?" (Carol)
"I don't mind. My comrade that will fight together with me is troubled. It's only natural, right?" (Kearuga)
Now, what is Carol planning to do?
If he plans to trap and kill me when we attack the demon king, his daughter won't be saved. I'll regulate it so that I can slowly cure her over three months.
A pessimistic idea of abandoning his daughter and at least calming down her pain while I'm here.
Or possibly, he might plan to stop being the demon king's dog.
I'll be watching to see how Carol will move.
We arrive at Lapis's room.
While putting her hand against the wall, she is desperately walking.
Because she had been lying down from illness, her stamina and muscle strength has fallen, so she is rehabilitating.
If I feel like it, I can return her muscle strength to its prior state, but then there's a risk of【Recovery Heal's】abnormality being noticed.
I purposely stopped at just healing her external wounds.
I'm just pretending to use a【Recovery Heal】that a healing magician with tremendous ability could use.
"h.e.l.lo, I came to meet you." (Kearuga)
"Kearuga-sama, thank you for coming!" (Lapis)
Lapis tried to rush over here, but her body couldn't follow, and she almost collapsed.
In a rush, I catch her in my arms.
Then, she fixedly looks at me with a bright red face.
"Your stamina still hasn't recovered yet. Don't overdo it." (Kearuga)
"Ye-, yes, sorry." (Lapis)
In a princess carry, I bring her to her bed.
During that time, Lapis was tightly holding onto my clothes.
… This reaction means she has probably fallen in love with me. Fumu, even though I was still just a good person to her, this is strange.
Is this what's called 'the time you don't meet develops love'?
I did consider that as a convenient way to make someone hold feeling for me, but I didn't think she would really fall in love with me on her own without me having to do anything.
To her, I am probably a prince on a white horse that saved her from h.e.l.l. By piling up delusions she created everyday, she imagined the perfect person and fell in love with that person.
If that's her wish, I'll behave like a prince.
"Take out your hand, I am going to examine your condition." (Kearuga)
"Yes, ple-, please do." (Lapis)
I clutch Lapis's white hand, and only carry out the first step of【Recovery Heal】, which gives me information about the target.
I can understand Lapis's physical condition as if I can see it right in front of me.
Alright, she hasn't healed too much. If I lose focus, I might accidentally cure the illness. If so, I won't be able
"You are properly getting better. How admirable. It seems you have been doing your best for rehabilitation as well." (Kearuga)
"I am glad. My body was healed by Kearuga-sama, I was able to go back to being a normal girl like before, there is no pain after I started drinking the potions, and I really am happy!" (Lapis)
"That's good. … But, this is all I can do. It's up to you whether you can return to your everyday life." (Kearuga)
"Yes! I will properly complete the rehabilitation menu you taught me!" (Lapis)
Her stamina has recovered more than expected.
Even though we have been talking for quite a long time, she doesn't seem to be tired.
It must be because she's part of the star rabbit tribe.
"… Um, Kearuga-sama is a human right?" (Lapis)
While we were chatting, Lapis suddenly asks me that.
"Yeah, I'm a human. Are you scared of humans?" (Kearuga)
"No, you are not scary at all. Everyone says humans are inferior creatures that are greedy and weak, but Kearuga-sama is cool, kind, and strong enough to protect Eve from the demon king's evil influence, so I was surprised as you are completely different to what I heard about." (Lapis)
Humans are inferior, greedy, and weak, huh.
I won't deny it. A great majority of humans are like that.
"There are various types of people among humans. There are greedy people, weak people and uncool people, and the star rabbit tribe is the same, right?" (Kearuga)
"Certainly, that is true. Ahaha, now that you mention it, it's only natural. Even though there is no way one race would all be the same." (Lapis)
"That is true, but since there are many people that don't understand that, I think that's why each race make war… ah, sorry. I said something a bit painful." (Kearuga)
"No, um, I think so too." (Lapis)
My real thoughts accidentally came out.
In my party, there are humans, a demon and a demi-human.
As far as I'm concerned, the logic that 'they are our comrades because we're of the same race, and they are our enemies because they are of a different race' is absurd.
No matter what race it is, I will help them if I like them, and kill them if I don't like them. An egalitarian, so to speak.
"Well, I know your condition, so I can start preparing the potion. Your stamina recovered more than I expected. Now your body would be able to put up with a stronger medicine. I think you will heal faster than expected." (Kearuga)
While saying that, I started tidying up.
Incidentally, I just said that on the spot. To make a patient fall in love with you, saying things that sound good to the ear is best.
"Um, Kearuga-sama." (Lapis)
"What is it?" (Kearuga)
"I know you are busy, but could you tell me more stories? I want to know more about what you have seen outside. Since I have only been sleeping in a room for so long." (Lapis)
"… I don't mind, but it's up to what your father says." (Kearuga)
A human's adventure can only be poison to a demon princess. It is probably not that desirable for Carol.
Carol opens his mouth.
"Thank you for your concern. Kearuga-sama, I also want you to do so. I will return to the office, since Lapis would be happier that way. It is troublesome, but could you come there later?" (Carol)
"Yeah, I understand." (Kearuga)
Carol leaves the room.
Then, Lapis's eyes s.h.i.+ne and she waits for my story.
… I'm not stupid enough to tell her cruel stories about demons. I'll make sure to play it safe and tell her adventure stories where demons don't appear.
Thankfully, there are countless memories in my head from when I used【Recovery Heal】.
There are plenty of stories she would probably enjoy.
I was restrained by Lapis for around two hours.
I was going to finish up much earlier, but it's because she kept pestering me. She would become excited over each and every adventuring story I would tell, raise shouts of joy, and the way she looked at me became more feverish.
… That was dangerous. Mainly my reasoning power.
She's basically a pure princess that loves me dearly. Furthermore, she's honest and isn't corrupted.
Seeing things like that make me want to mess them up.
However, that would be taking the path of ruin. I should at least act as a good person.
I arrive at the office.
I take a step forward, and become surprised from the serious atmosphere. It seems Carol has decided on something.
"Kearuga-sama, thank you very much for not only curing Lapis's illness and even saving her heart as well." (Carol)
"I haven't done anything great." (Kearuga)
"It has been several years since that girl laughed. If you weren't here, even if the illness was cured, she wouldn't have truly been saved." (Carol)
"You are overestimating me. … You can be happy, the state of her recovery is going well. I'll hand you the potions for next week." (Kearuga)
I take out two potion bottles from my pouch, and he carefully receives them.
"I have a request to Kearuga-sama. First of all, this." (Carol)
He hands me a treasure box with a magnificent ornament on it.
Inside it, there is a necklace mounted with a blue gem that looks like it has the radiance of the stars locked in it.
Furthermore, I sense mana. It's a natural treasure-cla.s.s treasure.
"It's too expensive to be given as a thanks for the medical treatment. This is the star rabbit national treasure, isn't it?" (Kearuga)
"I am surprised you realised. Star tear. It is our treasure that was made in the age of the G.o.ds. Its worth as a jewel is high as well, but if you wear that, your leg strength will increase and the wind will clear away arrows." (Carol)
You can't put a value to this.
To obtain this, people might even turn a town into a sea of flames… there are probably a great amount of people like that.
Why he gave me this.
I will wait until that reason comes out of his mouth. Carol fixedly looks at my eye and smiles.
"I am going to gamble after this, and I will probably be killed. If something happens to me, I am entrusting my daughter to you. Unfortunately, thinking about what I am going to do after this, I can't rely on my star rabbit brethren, nor the other demons. I can only entrust her to you." (Carol)
"So you won't tell me what you're going to do huh." (Kearuga)
"You will probably understand tonight anyway. A once in a lifetime do or die game. Everyone will probably scorn me. Either the demon king's subordinates will kill me, or the demons of this village will kill me… therefore, I wanted to entrust her with you beforehand." (Carol)
Ah, I see.
So he chose that path.
"I understand, let's make a promise. If you die, I will look over Lapis. I received something like this after all. I will properly do my job well." (Kearuga)
And then, our talk ended.
I leave Carol's office.
From my back, Carol calls out to me.
"Kearuga-sama, didn't you actually realise it a long time ago?" (Carol)
"… I don't know what you’re talking about." (Kearuga)
To think he noticed I realised it.
Now I'm looking forward to tonight.
It's night, and we are having a meeting about how to take the demon king's castle and town.
We are going to execute it in three week's time, so the atmosphere is tense.
I am there with Ellen.
Normally, Carol greets everyone at the start of the meeting, but he has a face that shows he's brooding over something.
At last, it seems he's going to start.
"My brethren who have continued being tormented by the demon king, I want you to listen to me. At this rate, our plan will definitely fail." (Carol)
Everyone starts making noise.
"Therefore, I think we should take measures." (Carol)
Carol claps his hands.
Then, the star rabbits, behind several tribe patriarchs and their attendants, appear and restrain them. … They are the elites of his intelligence force.
"I will make a confession. Myself, and the three tribes my subordinates captured have been selling everyone's information to the demon king. That is the reason the plan will fail." (Carol)
The commotion becomes louder than ever.
The words "you betrayed us" are flying about. From the traitor tribes that are restrained, and from the non restrained tribes as well.
"We had our weaknesses grabbed hold of by the demon king's subordinates… however, I want to stop that now. What is necessary for this strategy to work, is for us to send false information and outwit them. We will use the trust we have won during the time we were traitors. … Once this strategy has ended, I don't mind if you behead me. My private property will all be offered as reparations. Therefore, I want you to save the star rabbits other than me. And, please." (Carol)
Carol strongly grasps his fist; strong enough for blood to appear.
"Send the iron hammer to the demon king that played with us." (Carol)
I can't control myself from breaking into a smile.
… I thought Carol was a capable man, but to think he would go this far.
He's taking revenge while planning to die.
Well, no matter how hard he struggles, Carol won't be saved. The demons here are not naive enough to forgive the betrayals he has done until now.
However, I will take responsibility for just his daughter and save her. That's the kind of promise we made after all.
TL Note: Thanks for all the pick up suggestions! The suggestions of chinese novels were a bit questionable though… I mean, I guess I should have properly said I can only translate j.a.panese novels… Well anyways, there were a few that looked interesting, so I was planning to read the raws of them, but I wanted to check with people that have read Nagai Koto if this is the raws → The other one on syosetsu seems to have been the sequel of this, and the translations of this novel had a lot of differences to these raws (like the t.i.tles of chapters and the actual content), so I was just wondering if I'm missing something~