As a Reward for Saving the World, I Was Reincarnated Into a World Where Girls Are Super Aggressive and Chastity Roles Are Reversed!! …Or So I Thought, Until It Turned Out to Be an Overbearing Yandere Harem of My Former Companions Who Loved Me Too Much - 5-6

Chapter 5: The Floundering Saintess and the True Power of the Former Hero

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The western forest, perhaps still bearing traces of once being a Demon Lord’s army base, remained dark even in the daytime, steeped in an eerie atmosphere. I advanced cautiously, as though trying to regain my old instincts.

“Celestia, don’t push yourself too hard. We can always switch the vanguard at any time.”

“Y-Yes! But please leave this to me. I will surely guide and protect you!”

Walking one step ahead of me, Celestia lifted the hem of her saintly robes, brimming with enthusiasm. In her hand—where had she pulled it from?—was a weathered parchment map.

To protect me… Just those words alone made me feel once again that this world truly was a ‘chastity-reversed world.’ After all, back when we fought the Demon Lord, it was always me and the Sword Saint on the frontlines. 

For someone like her, a rear guard, to be pushing herself forward would have been unthinkable. I had told her I would take the vanguard, yet she insisted, “Please allow me to protect you,” and would not yield.

“According to this map, the goblin nest should be just ahead, in the rocky area to the northeast! Come, this way!”

Celestia, looking both tense and determined, pointed through the thick brush. She was about to advance when—

“Wait, Celestia. There’s a trap there. Goblins use tricks like this, so it’s good to remember.”

“Eh?”

I quickly grabbed her arm to stop her and pulled her close, pointing to the ground.There were clear signs something had been buried there. Step on it, and it would probably trigger a bear trap or something similar.

“Kazuki-sama… Uum… You’re very close.”

“Eh?”

In my haste, pulling her had resulted in me practically embracing her. The soft sensation and sweet fragrance made my head spin. Our eyes met by chance, and she blushed deeply but still looked back at me.

“Ah, sorry… I’ll let go right away—”

“T-That… It’s my first time, so if you could be gentle, I’d be glad!!”

For some reason, Celestia blushed and puckered her lips toward me.

“What’s the matter?”

“No, that’s not what I meant just now. I only got flustered because I was desperate to be of help to you! Let us hurry and head for the goblin nest!!”

That startled me… She looked just like she was waiting for a kiss. Not that I’d know, being a virgin…

Celestia quickly moved away, her face still red, and kept walking. Perhaps because this was a chastity-reversed world, even someone as pure and proper as the saintess might fall into strange fantasies when she got too close to a man. 

Well, back in my hero days, when a girl’s chest brushed against me in a dungeon, I also got a little aroused even in the middle of an adventure.

“Don’t worry about it. More importantly, don’t overdo it—just stay behind me. I’m already more than happy that you’re trying so hard, even though you’re not used to trekking through the forest.”

“But Kazuki-sama… I failed you again… Someone like me has no value in living…”

She sank with guilt as though she had only dragged me down. I gave her a smile. She might have been a bit heavy-handed, but she was still the same earnest girl.

“It’s fine. There’s a saying: the right person in the right place. That doesn’t change, no matter the world. Like before—I’ll walk up front, and if I get hurt, Celestia will heal me. That works just fine, doesn’t it?”

“…Does that mean you’ll continue to take me along with you?”

She asked nervously. Perhaps she had lost confidence after what happened. Despite clearly not being used to it, she had pushed herself to act as the guardian of a rare man like me. That alone made me genuinely happy—and adventuring with a beautiful girl really did lift my spirits.

“Of course. I’m counting on you. I didn’t say it much before, but with you behind me healing my wounds, I could always fight without fear.”

“Kazuki-sama… For you to think of me that way…”

Those words were no lie. Honestly, she was my type in appearance, her healing ability was exceptional, and I already knew she was a kindhearted girl. When I lightly patted her head, Celestia let out a tiny “Ah…” and lowered her gaze.

Crap. I just did the head-pat move that only good-looking guys are supposed to pull off. What if she gets mad…? Last time I did it to the elf in our party, she glared daggers at me…

“Sorry…That was—”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, Kazuki-sama, I feel better now. I’ll do my best.”

When I looked at her anxiously, Celestia returned a beaming smile. My worries turned out to be groundless.

Oh no. She’s way too cute…! 

Of course, I wasn’t deluded enough to think a highborn beauty like her actually liked me. Still, in this world, when a man patted a woman’s head to encourage her, it seemed to make her happy. Better make a mental note of that.

But contrary to my carefree thoughts, Celestia’s heart had been consumed by far more dangerous feelings.

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Celestia recalled the sensation of being embraced by Kazuki, and even in the midst of goblin extermination, her cheeks flushed red. She was glad she had mustered the courage to accompany him.

Ah… Kazuki-sama… How kind you are… To encourage me so gently without a word of blame for my failure. 

I normally hate being touched by men, yet when he touched me, it filled me with happiness. And above all, his reply to my fearful question had thrilled me.

“…Does that mean you’ll continue to take me along with you?”

“Of course. I’m counting on you. I didn’t say it much before, but with you behind me healing my wounds, I could always fight without fear.”

That was what he said.

Had he refused, I might have been so devastated that I’d have taken my own life right there. But instead, he permitted me to remain by his side. That must mean… He at least welcomed my feelings, even a little.

And then—he patted my head. The very gesture I had read about and longed for in romance novels. That alone left my emotions reeling.

“This man… I must not allow goblins, or anyone else, to ever put him in danger. I’ll purify every last one of them…!”

Within her eyes, love burned brightly—and alongside it, an even darker fire began to blaze all the stronger. Kazuki, of course, had no idea about this.

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Chapter 6: What Lurks Within the Cave

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And so, we arrived at the cave carved into the rocky cliffside. This place was the entrance to the goblins’ nest.

“This is it. I can smell goblins and blood.”

When I tightened my expression, Celestia swallowed hard and gripped her staff tightly.

“Kazuki-sama, leave the rear to me. I, Celestia, will protect you even if it costs me my life.”

“Ha, that’s an exaggeration. Still, I’ll be counting on you, Celestia.”

At my words, she nodded as if steeling her resolve. It was a rather heavy line, but in her eyes I could feel a strong determination to defeat the enemy at all costs. As expected of a Saintess, she simply could not allow the existence of monsters.

Inside the cave, torchlight flickered and the shrill voices of goblins echoed. There were perhaps a dozen or so. I no longer carried the holy sword I once wielded, but my abilities as a former Hero were still intact.

“Time for a warm-up!”

“Gob gob!!”

I dodged the club swung down by the nearest goblin and drove a fierce kick into its exposed torso. The goblin let out a shriek as it slammed into the wall and fell motionless. Unlike that certain Gob〇n Slayer, the goblins of this world weren’t such troublesome opponents. They were the kind of monsters that showed up around the starting town. They were no match for me.

“You shall not approach Kazuki-sama, you filthy creatures! Sacred Arrow!!”

From behind me, Celestia’s dignified voice rang out. As she raised her staff, several dazzling arrows of light shot forth, piercing the goblins that had been rushing toward me.

“Your magic is as amazing as ever, Celestia! But go a little easy on it—the cave might collapse!”

“M-my deepest apologies! I just couldn’t forgive those lowly beasts who dared to harm Kazuki-sama…!”

Her magic was clearly overkill against goblins. But thanks to it, I could fight with ease.

Though… She seemed a bit more aggressive, even sharp-tongued.

Ah, I see. She just really wants to protect me, a precious man. How reassuring!

While I interpreted her fervor in a positive light, the goblins continued to fall one after another until their numbers dwindled rapidly. And then, Celestia and I reached the deepest chamber of the cave. But what awaited us there was not the goblin chieftain.

“Kuku… So, you’ve come after all.”

Illuminated by the wavering torchlight was a beautiful young man, sitting elegantly with crossed legs atop a throne of piled-up bones. Long silver hair, eyes as red as blood. The lavish noble attire he wore was far too out of place in this filthy cave. Around him, the surviving goblins knelt in reverence, and beside them, a young girl trembled in fear inside a wooden cage.

“Welcome, former Hero who harbors impure desires. And of course, the lewd Saintess. I knew you two, carrying your naïve sense of justice, would come.”

The aura radiating from the youth… From this being, was so ominous it eclipsed even the Demon Lord’s top generals. My entire body was sounding alarm bells.

“You… You’re a demon.”

“Correct!! My name is Astaroth. The one who loves truth and exposes lies. Though the Demon Lord is gone, I sensed the fascinating radiance of your souls. I descended here for that reason. Be grateful.”

“This magic power… It’s on the level of the Four Great Demons? To think such a powerful demon would appear in a place like this!!”

Celestia’s shock was only natural. Demons were powerful humanoid monsters, wielders of immense strength. With the Demon Lord gone, most had retreated back to the Demon Realm. For one to appear this close to human lands was unheard of. Such a being could single-handedly destroy an entire city.

“Kazuki-sama, this time I will protect you no matter what!!”

“Kukuku, so spirited, Saintess. Very well, let me see your truth. You appear so virtuous, but let’s uncover what secret filth you’re hiding!! Women who look serious on the outside usually have the most twisted desires!!”

“W-what?! I don’t have any weird fetishes like that…!”

“That’s right! Celestia is a pure and noble Saintess! There’s no way she’d be thinking of anything indecent!!”

I shouted back, furious at the insult to my companion. But Astaroth only gazed at Celestia with a smile full of cruel delight. And beside me, staff raised at the ready, Celestia kept darting glances at me, beads of cold sweat running down her face.

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