I Was Transported to Another World with a Male-to-Female Ratio of 1:3000 and Made into a Breeding Pet for the Demon Lord’s Army - 116

Chapter 116: A Convenient Existence

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“Here, this is tea made from tea leaves harvested by the Human Tribe.”

“Mm… That helps.”

I received the cup Arz offered and gently brought it to my lips.

“Thank you again for coming here despite your busy schedule.”

“No, no, it is only natural that those who protect the male should help one another.”

“Eh, but Luna-san, before we came here you were saying, ‘Why must I go with Ken-chan to such a countryside place!’ and got so mad—mff!”

I lightly jabbed Fiilia in the stomach to shut her up before she could say anything more unnecessary.

“I’m sure there are many difficulties. You can continue to rely on me in the future, you know.”

“Hearing you say that is reassuring.”

At those words, Arz let out a gentle smile of relief.

“If you don’t mind, could we share information for the future? I’d like to hear about mental training methods that help a male remain calm even when placed before a large group of demons.”

After she brought that up, the topic shifted to everyday life with Ken-chan. I spoke about the small things I experienced with him, while Arz listened with keen interest and recorded everything with a serious expression.

“Throwing him into a room full of magical beasts and having him live with them… That’s an idea I would never have thought of. Very interesting.”

“Fufuun! Magical beasts are wonderful! Their gestures, their expressions, all so cute! They’re simply the best! Just being surrounded by them soothes the heart!”

“I suppose that would be what’s called animal therapy… I recall when I was researching method to fix Kushina-sama’s mental state, I heard that interacting with animals had a healing effect on the mind.”

“I don’t really get it, but yes, that’s exactly it!”

“To focus on such a thing—how fitting of Luna-sama, an executive of the Demon Lord’s army.”

“Um… I don’t think she thought that deeply about it. Honestly, it really is a mystery to me why Ken-chan is still alive…”

“What are you saying, Fiilia! Magical beasts properly understand our words, and as long as you’re careful, they obey. They even serve as conversation partners, so there’s no danger!”

“Is that really true? Some of them don’t listen at all, even when I use telepathy. Especially that fox called Gon—I’m not good with her… She bit me really hard the last time I saw her.”

That’s just because she looks down on you. Besides, biting is also a form of communication!

“I see… From what I hear there are some concerns, but overall it’s not bad. Since Kushina-sama has no one to converse with, perhaps we should bring in a small pet magical beast for him.”

Saying that, she happily took more notes.

“What, you don’t talk with Kushina? Unlike Ken-chan, that boy understands our language, does he not?”

“Unfortunately, he completely ignores me when I try. The last time we had what could be called a conversation was over a year ago, and even then only briefly.”

“I see…”

Arz dropped her shoulders slightly, her face showing a resigned sadness.

“Say, may I ask something now?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I fully understand your loyalty to Kushina. But why do you devote yourselves to someone who hates you so much? I’ve even heard he cannot mate unless… It rises. Honestly, it puzzles me.”

I too was prepared to throw away my life for Ken-chan, but I still struggled to discard my pride as a member of my race. Even something as small as clipping my claws gave me pause. Pride and attachment were ingrained into us demons—it wasn’t something easily set aside.

“Well… Everyone may have different reasons, but for me, it’s simply because I regret what I did.”

Saying this, Arz gazed out the window as if recalling a distant past.

“It was more than five years ago now. Back when Kushina-sama traveled the demon world as a stud. When he came to my village, I was given the chance to mate with him.”

“I see… Wait, you mated with him?”

“Yes, is there a problem with that?”

“N-no, nothing. Please, continue.”

I stumbled over my words, forcing myself to speak and encourage her story. I had thought he never mated with anyone, but apparently he did. So then… Could it be that she was aiming to marry him after his retirement as a stud, just like my mother had?

“Heh, Kushina-sama was truly adorable then. Even now, when I recall mating with him, my body aches.”

Sluurp…

She sipped her tea happily, as if to cool her heated body.

“But…”

Clink…

“But when the mating ended, and I looked at Kushina-sama ready to enjoy some pillow talk, he was crying.”

“Muttering, ‘I want to go home, forgive me’ as great tears streamed down his face.”

“……”

“I was at a loss for words. Before mating with him, I believed males lived for mating. Even in mating books, they always depict the male resisting at first, but eventually accepting, and in the end everyone is happy.”

“That’s true. It’s said that all males love mating. I’ve even heard their alluring appearance exists to entice more females for efficient mating.”

I once read in some mating book that although males feared females, they still loved the act of mating itself. According to Aura, in ancient times ninety percent of males who mated would become husbands, so perhaps the theory had merit. Which meant… If back in the forest, when I first met Ken-chan, had I known he was an adult who could speak—I might have forced myself upon him.

“But the truth is different. The reason both humans and demons have prospered until now is not because males love mating, but because they sacrificed their bodies and hearts for us.”

“Sacrifice…?”

“Yes. But by the time I realized that, it was too late. Kushina-sama had already been passed from one mating partner to the next, trampled upon… People say his heart broke because of forced mating with the mantis species, but I don’t believe that. Every demon who joined with Kushina-sama bears responsibility.”

Crack…

Her hand squeezed the teacup so hard it almost broke.

“That is why we attendants will never again seek to mate with Kushina-sama. We serve with the resolve to dedicate our entire being to him. This is atonement for our sins.”

Sluurp…

“—And that is why I serve Kushina-sama.”

She took a sip of tea and quietly concluded her story.

“I see…”

As I listened, I thought to myself. 

Kushina hates mating from the bottom of his heart, and hates demons who forced it upon him. Then what about Ken-chan?

He had mated with the Demon Lord, so I assumed he would accept mating with me too. But maybe, in truth, he hated his current life? Maybe somewhere I couldn’t see, he was crying? When I lay with Ken-chan, would he too scream “I want to go home” in tears?

And if, lost in my excitement, I failed to notice, would I end up breaking his heart? It felt as though the relationship between those two mirrored what my future with Ken-chan might become, and a chill ran down my spine.

What is true happiness for Ken-chan…?

“Arz-sama, do you have a moment?”

As I, unusually for me, sank into deep thought, one of the attendants approached quietly, face hidden.

“I am entertaining a guest at the moment. Save your business for later.”

“It’s fine. Don’t hold back on our account—carry on with your duties.”

“If Luna-sama says so… Very well, speak briefly.”

“Ugh… Now that you put it that way, it’s not really urgent, so it feels a little awkward to bring up, haha.”

The attendant looked away awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.

“Well, I’ll say it anyway—since yesterday the laundry has been piling up. Do you know why?”

“Laundry? This week it should be Firu’s turn… Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her.”

“Arz-sama!~”

Another attendant rushed over in a hurry, cutting across Arz’s brooding thoughts.

“Some merchant is barging in saying she wants to trade, could you deal with her instead?”

“A merchant…? Strange. We already finished trade negotiations the day before yesterday.”

Her voice carried a trace of irritation.

“I told her that too, but she said she has ‘no memory of it’… Honestly, I have no idea what’s going on anymore~”

“…”

“Um, Arz-sama?”

Even as she heard them, she sank into deeper thought.

“…Don’t tell me…!”

Bang!

She leapt up, kicking her chair back, spilling the cup on the table. But Arz paid no attention to that. She continued rushing with hurried steps toward the room where Kushina was.

“Could it be—something happened…! We must go too!”

“Y-yeah!”

Before we could even grasp the sudden emergency, we were already hurrying after the attendants.

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