(Chastity Reversed) I'm Sorry, My Lady. I Had Sex With Another Woman Again - Chapter 50: I Never Thought There'd Be Such a Gap Between Mom and Me...!

The smell of rocky shores and sea breeze.

As I, Shia, drew closer to my hometown, I was greeted by the unmistakable scent of the fishing village, a deep, permeating aroma that felt as though it could soak right into your skin.

“Haah… I’m really tired…”

The overpowering smell of fish.

The scent of wooden houses rotting, similar to something half-dried.

The village’s famous old men, drinking moonshine from daytime and vomiting it all over the place.

I hated the smell of this run-down village.

◇

“My! Shia! What brings you back so suddenly? I didn’t hear anything about this.”

“…Mom. Well, the academy told everyone to ‘go home once.’ I’m so tired.”

A wooden structure that looked like it could collapse at any moment.

The house, forcibly built by my mom who lacked proper knowledge, was wide despite our poverty-that was its only pride.

When I opened the curtain-like door of the house, I found my slightly plump mother inside.

“Did you walk here? You should have used a carriage, what were you thinking…”

“No, that would be a waste. It’s fine. Besides, it’s good training.”

“There you go again…”

When I was suddenly told to return home from the academy, I was troubled, but.

I was also happy to see my mom after so long.

I sprawled out in the living room, which seemed to have accumulated more small items while I was gone.

“Nee-chan, that hurts!”

“It’s your fault for being there!”

There were already about four people sitting at the kotatsu.

My now larger body had kicked my foolish younger siblings’ legs, but I didn’t care anymore.

If I worried about such things, I wouldn’t survive in my family, the Gordons.

I enjoyed rolling around on the floor of my home for a while.

“…Huh? Where’s Dad?”

However, even after an hour had passed. Dad, who should normally be at home, was nowhere to be seen. When I asked Mom about it, I could see her face cloud over even from a distance.

“…Shia, actually. Dad is in the hospital.”

-Hospital.

At those words from my mother, my eyes widened.

“H-hospital!? …W-what about the money!?”

To worry about money rather than his safety. A part of my mind thought I was being cold-hearted, but I couldn’t help but worry.

It was not that I disliked my father.

If he was injured, I was concerned, and naturally I wanted him to live without illness.

But for our family, our poor family, to have someone hospitalized.

We couldn’t pay hospital fees. There was no way we could afford that…

If that happens, the entire family would be ruined. That thought wouldn’t leave my mind.

“W-well. We borrowed it. From a kind person…”

“I-idiot!!! You trusted them!? It’s obviously suspicious! Something like that!!!”

I stood up and shouted at my parent. Seeing me like this, my younger siblings started crying, but I still couldn’t hold back.

“I-it’s alright~. Don’t worry. You know this person too, they’re respectable. It’s not suspicious, geez.”

“…Someone I know… Who? Who is it!?”

As far as I know, there were people I could trust.

There were few who have both a relationship close enough to lend money and the wealth to do so.

Unable to come up with an answer, I glared at my mother.

With a loose smile on her face, she mentioned a name I never would have expected.

“It’s Orka-sama. You were in her care before, right? And look, she attends the same academy as you. Now she’s… the newspaper club president, I believe.”

◇

“…Orka-san, it’s been a while. I heard my father is in your care, so I came to pay my respects.”

It was like a local demon lord’s castle.

Somewhat distant from the run-down fishing village. In a forest where the smell of the dilapidated fishing village couldn’t reach.

A cluster of mansions standing in rows.

The villagers call it the “Rich Village,” and at its center stood. A tower-like tall building called “Dragon Tree.”

It was a place with deep connections to me as well.

When I was in elementary school, it was difficult to commute from the fishing village, so I lived at “Dragon Tree” for a few years, working as a servant.

It’s a place filled with various memories.

However, I couldn’t hide my tension facing the woman before me, “Orka,” the mistress of the tower.

“It’s been a while, Shia. You never came to greet me at the academy, I was lonely.”

“…I’m sorry. I was busy right after enrollment.”

Two years older than me.

I once had a close relationship with this dark elf girl, who had silver hair grown to about shoulder length.

You could even say we were as close as real sisters.

But somehow, that relationship had fallen apart.

“Were you perhaps held back by Suberia? It’s no good if you believe what someone like her says. She’s a demon race, so she can never understand our feelings.”

“…!!! No, Suberia has nothing to do with this.”

She was harsh toward Suberia.

No—rather than just Suberia, she was extremely strict toward those considered part of the privileged class: the wealthy, or certain races.

It was precisely because she was kind to those who were discriminated against that her severity stood out even more.

That contrast… was what made her so frightening.

“Excuse me. I came to talk about my father today. I heard you lent us money.”

“Hm? Ah, don’t worry about it. It’s about helping each other. You can pay me back someday.”

“N-no. That’s… I-I’m sorry, thank you very much!”

If possible, I didn’t want to be indebted to Orka.

However, the hospital fees I heard about from Mom were far, far more than I could ever pay.

Even while feeling uncomfortable, I simply bowed my head. After a moment, when I raised my head, Orka had a refreshing smile on her face.

Feeling a bit relieved, I also let out a smile.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s about helping each other. If you help me, that will be enough.”

“H-help, you say…?”

But with that same refreshing smile. She was threatening me to cooperate.

“Yes, I want you to help me. To assist in creating the ideal world I’m aiming for.”

“Ideal…? What are you talking about?”

“I think I’ve told you this before. I hate the current situation where dark elves are discriminated against, and I hate this country for allowing it. I want to change that. In other words, a world without discrimination. That’s my ideal.”

Speaking as if in ecstasy, Orka spread her arms. I wasn’t sure if she was looking at me in front of her, or something else much bigger.

She was facing me, but somehow our eyes didn’t meet.

“But it’s quite difficult to eliminate discrimination. I created the newspaper club and repeatedly published articles with the theme of helping the weak and crushing the strong, but nobody paid any attention. In the end, people are emotional creatures; I learned then that they only see what suits them.”

“I-I see…”

“I was troubled. Can the emotion of discrimination be eliminated from human beings who are driven by emotions? The answer eluded me for a long time. -However, just recently. A demon girl who used to be a discriminator visited the newspaper club room where I serve as president. Finding this strange, I asked her the reason. …She silently presented me with a photograph. When I saw it, I finally got my answer.”

Orka must have reached the height of her excitement. She spread both arms wide, as if looking up to the heavens. She was praying towards something unknown to me.

“A god!!! We need a god! Under god, we are all equal! By liberating and spreading the word of god, we can finally become one! I realized by sharing values and laughing together with that former discriminator! God will save the world!”

With gleaming, bright eyes. Orka shouted to the heavens. Overwhelmed by her seemingly insane atmosphere, I couldn’t say anything.

Borrowing from such a person was indeed a mistake. What kind of cooperation would she force me into…?

This is bad; it would surely cause trouble for Suberia and the others.

That, I absolutely cannot allow. Making up my mind, I threw words at Orka, interrupting her ecstatic state.

“I-I’m sorry! Regarding the debt, I’ll repay it quickly! So please, spare me!”

“…Don’t say that, Shia. You are crucial, essential.”

As I tried to escape with trembling legs, Orka’s body clung to me, draping over my shoulder. She whispered sweetly into my ear as I froze.

“If you can’t repay it immediately, leave Suberia’s party. It’s one or the other… Understand?”

“T-that is…”

“Or should we try asking Suberia for money? She might give it to you, pitying your poverty…”

“…!!!”

Orka stroked my head teasingly. In that moment, my head boiled, and I raised my fist to punch her.

-However, I couldn’t actually hit her.

My fist weakly lost its strength.

“When you return to the academy, leave the party immediately. Don’t worry, if you cooperate, I’ll clear your debt right away. Rest assured.”

“…”

In the end, with the weakness of debt, I couldn’t say anything. I just silently endured Orka’s taunting words.