Gluttony Demon King with the Swampman ~A Man with No Magic Power Who Dreamed of Magic, Wielding Knowledge from His Past Life Through Steady Research and Hard Work to Become the Most Vicious Final Boss~ - Chapter 45: I Offer This Body to You

Chapter 45: I Offer This Body to You

Crack, crack, crack—the creaking sounds came one after another.

The hero lost his balance, dropped to one knee, and stared at his own arm with eyes that refused to believe what they saw.

The right arm that had turned into a doll now hung limply from his shoulder.

“L-Luek-sama! Your arm!”

“Hyiii—aaah, aaaaaah…! W-why is my body…!?”

The hero had completely released his spell.

The wave of gold stopped, and with only the portion of magic power left for body enhancement, the dollification did not progress any further.

I felt Oz retying her blindfold behind me.

Now, what to do? I looked at the hero.

“A-are you going to kill me…? You’re going to kill me…!?”

The hero was thoroughly terrified.

Come to think of it, the eight ink legs were still stretching from my back.

…What should I do?

Of course I have no intention of killing him, but the problem is how to settle this.

They are still acting under royal orders, and it’s also true that we opposed them.

I want to help Oz, but even if we drive this hero away, more assassins will probably keep coming.

Is there no good compromise—?

Just as I was thinking that, a sudden gust of wind blew.

“…!”

It was an instantaneous blast.

The ink supported my body as I staggered in the fierce pressure.

What the hell—when I turned forward again—

A gigantic old man had suddenly appeared, bent his huge frame, pressed his forehead to the ground, and bowed deeply.

“I am so, so, so, so sorryyyyyyyyy!”

“…Huh?”

To put it simply, I was being dogeza’d at.

By a complete stranger of an old man.

Me, Zaria and the others, Oz, even the hero and his attendant—everyone froze as if time had stopped, mouths hanging open.

But then Zaria muttered.

“L-Lord Witruwius…?”

—What did she say?

Lord Witruwius. If it’s that name, I’ve heard it… no, there’s probably no one born in this kingdom who hasn’t.

Larksi Witruwius.

One of the “Seven Sages,” the kingdom’s foremost grand magician, and the retired elder of the Witruwius grand ducal house.

His bloodline is one of the two grand ducal houses called the “Twin Heads of the Kingdom,” and his prestige far surpasses even House Levi Duke—frankly, the next most noble existence after the royal family.

This is not someone you can let keep his head bowed in a place like this.

“Lord Witruwius…! Why are you bowing to those criminals!?”

“Y-yes, teacher! I—I’m still—!”

The old man cut off the shouting hero and his attendant with a single “Shut up!”

The air itself seemed to crack. The two instantly fell silent, and after a beat, the old man spoke.

“I am truly, truly sorry! This entire incident is completely due to my failure in supervision, and I have caused you unimaginable trouble!”

“Uh, well…”

“But please! Please spare the life of this idiot! He is still the hero—the hope of the world!”

I was overwhelmed by the vigorous, air-shaking voice.

Either way, this is not someone I can let keep bowing.

When I told him to please raise his head first, Larksi slowly lifted his face and straightened his back.

“…You’re huge…”

Even sitting, he’s taller than me.

A massive frame that might reach two meters, perfectly straight, and the stern-faced old man stared straight at me.

“Let me introduce myself properly. I am Larksi Witruwius, currently serving as tutor to the Golden Hero. Please overlook this incident.”

“…I-I never intended to kill him in the first place.”

“How gracious! I am deeply grateful for your magnanimity.”

I hurriedly stopped the old man from bowing deeply again.

When I glanced behind me, Zaria and Noiche had gone completely pale and were opening and closing their mouths like fish.

Yeah, that makes sense.

That’s the kind of person he is.

Anyway, there are things I need to say.

“…Lord Witruwius.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Well… what will happen to Oz?”

At my words, the old man turned his gaze to Oz.

“So Oz is the magic-eye user over there. As for the Golden Hero, I will have him stand down for now.”

“…”

“However, the fact that this magic-eye user is likely under the Demon King’s influence remains unchanged… so there is still a very high chance that other heroes, the kingdom’s knights, or the Magic Association will continue sending pursuers.”

Yeah, that’s right, I nodded.

This old man isn’t saying anything wrong.

In the end, even if we get through this, Oz’s position remains bad.

She has turned several people—villains though they were—into dolls, effectively committing murder.

However, Larksi continued.

“If you spare the life of the Golden Hero this time… as compensation, I have prepared this.”

“…?”

The old man took a card from his pocket.

Holding it carefully with both hands, he respectfully handed it to me.

It was a guild card.

But the design and color were different from mine, and every part was decorated with gold leaf—

“…A-rank adventurer?”

—It certified Haro Swampman as an A-rank adventurer.

“E-eh, A-rank…!?”

“…R-really?”

Zaria and Noiche were shocked, and Egiy let out a “Hyin!” and gasped.

A-rank must be that high. The fact that even the Levi sisters haven’t reached it shows how extraordinary it is.

“Just a moment ago, through a recommendation from the Witruwius grand ducal house, the guild issued it. If you accept the conditions, as of today you will be an A-rank adventurer.”

“…Why me?”

“Well now. It gets a little complicated, but the Adventurer Guild is an organization independent from any nation.”

Adventurers travel all over the world.

Especially as a countermeasure against monsters, every country and city needs them, so the guild that manages their flow is an independent organization that accepts no interference from any single nation—Larksi explained.

“And adventurers belonging to it also possess, according to their rank, the right to repel interference from any country. One of those rights is ownership. If you are A-rank, even a royal decree cannot confiscate what you own.”

“…!”

Is he telling me—to own Oz?

As if reading my thoughts, Larksi nodded.

“That magic-eye user will soon be arrested as a criminal in the doll incidents and sold as a slave.”

“…”

“But if A-rank adventurer Haro-dono purchases her—no one, not even we, will be allowed to lay a finger on Oz-dono ever again.”

…Is that really okay?

I’m fine with it, and she won’t be killed. But what about Oz’s own will?

When I looked back, Oz slowly stepped forward and stood beside me.

“I have no objections.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, Haro-sama. Without your help, I would already be dead. Therefore, please allow me to offer this body—and these eyes—to you.”

Even if they are tainted with monster blood—

With those words, Oz knelt, bowed low, gently lifted my left arm, and kissed the back of my hand.

“…It is decided, then.”

Larksi slowly stood.

He looked down at Oz, who had offered herself to me, and let out a breath that seemed slightly relieved.

“Ah, that’s right. Haro-dono.”

“…Yes?”

“Oz-dono will soon become your slave, but that will only settle her past crimes. If in the future her magic eyes run wild again, responsibility will fall on you as the owner.”

Well, that’s only natural.

If a pet dog bites someone, it’s the owner’s fault.

When Larksi asked if I had a way to control the magic eyes, I nodded.

“I do. Since we’re here, I’ll show you in front of everyone.”

“…What?”

“That way everyone can feel at ease.”

I touched Oz’s cheek with my left hand—

And then the blindfold wrapped around her face.

“Oz, from now on I will control your magic eyes. Do exactly as I say.”

Everyone present held their breath.

Before cleaning up the battlefield, I’ll take care of this first.