Chapter 39: Starry Sky 5

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“—Huh? Finn was taken…?”

Carla had just returned home after finishing her training and let out a stunned voice. Her face showed utter confusion, as if she could not comprehend what she had just heard.

However, the light had vanished from Marianne’s eyes as she stood before her and her expression devoid of all emotion. Had there ever been a time when everything drained from her face to this extent—no, there had not.

“Yes. He was taken away by a harlot claiming to be Finn-san’s childhood friend and a vixen claiming to be his master.”

“No, this is a request, isn’t it? And isn’t it Nee-san’s party…”

“…But, Astrea. If Marianne is in this state, then this situation is anything but ordinary.”

“She loses her composure pretty easily when it comes to Finn though.”

“Hey! Please take this a little more seriously!”

Bang!

Marianne slammed her hands on the desk and stood up, but while Carla remained composed, Astrea did not seem particularly concerned.

“Look, Carla. Client: ‘Starry Sky.’ Target: Finn Debyura.”

“Mm… The format and justification are both proper. There’s nothing else we can do about it. It’s unavoidable, I guess?”

“It’s not unavoidable at all!!”

Bang, bang!

The desk cried out under the second blow. Carla, originally from the Eastern nations where propriety and justification were highly valued, felt no suspicion toward the request itself. Astrea, meanwhile, had an attitude that suggested she did not think it was a big deal. Their sense of crisis differed from Marianne’s, who had directly faced the situation.

“What are you being so nonchalant about…? Listen carefully. The opponents are the ‘Hero’ and the ‘Heavenly Saint.’ One is his childhood friend of the same age, and the other is a beautiful dark elf. They are surely planning to seduce Finn and forcibly take him away from me—no, from us!”

“Were you about to say ‘from me’?”

“Mm, without a doubt.”

“Details don’t matter! What are we going to do if Finn-san is taken from us?!”

Marianne trembled as Carla calmly reasoned with her.

“Think about it rationally. The ‘Hero’ and the ‘Heavenly Saint’ are certainly renowned, but a forceful recruitment would carry appropriate risks. Marianne has the backing of the Church as a Saint. I have ties to the Eastern nations. Astrea… Well, it could cause internal family complications. Would they demand Finn while taking on such risks?”

“The possibility is not low. From what I observed, both the ‘Hero’ and the ‘Heavenly Saint’ seemed to have feelings for Finn.”

“I-I see…”

A serious pressure emanated from Marianne’s eyes. If she insisted that strongly, the other two decided to accept it and began considering what to do.

“The forced request itself is legitimate. We cannot refuse it. We need to come up with a plan quickly. I would prefer not to fall further behind.”

“Let’s barge in. I have a connection to my sister, so that’s reason enough.”

“It would not be bad to go without justification either. It would be a good opportunity to show the world that Finn is important to us.”

“If Marianne’s concerns are correct, we might need to use force. I’ll handle Nee-san and the ‘Heavenly Saint,’ so please take care of the ‘Hero.’ She’s probably the type I’m worst with.”

“Leave her to me. Is that acceptable, Marianne?”

“…Yes. I’m counting on you.”

(If Finn-san has been led astray… I’ll have to bring him back to his senses no matter what…)

Marianne thought with darkened eyes. The opponent was the ‘Heavenly Saint.’ The most powerful mage in history, still bearing the title of the strongest. Despite their encounter lasting less than an hour, Marianne had been made to feel she could not defeat Vasily.

Magic beyond comprehension. She spoke of incomprehensible concepts, fully aware that she could not understand them. In other words, she was making it clear that the difference in knowledge alone placed the two of them on a different level. In truth, Marianne had barely understood what Vasily had said.

“Flow,” “Prophecy,” claims that she was originally meant to die… If only she had been mocking her as a joke… But she understood it was neither false nor jest. Because her ally Astrea herself had been manipulated by “Prophecy.”

A long-lived monster who knew “Prophecy.” Whatever methods she used were unknown, but it would not be strange if she excelled in brainwashing or indoctrination. If she desired Finn, Marianne suspected she would use any and all means.

A complete superior being, unaffected by the name of “Saint” or the power of the Church. An unreasonable existence that felt like reality itself. An enemy trying to take away the person most precious to her.

I love Finn-san more than anyone. I know him better than anyone. We have walked hand in hand. Unlike those two who were strong from the beginning, I have supported him from behind all this time. We have walked at the same pace.

That day, when I saw Finn-san being trampled before my eyes, my chest felt like it would burst. I saved him. No one else. I saved him. Before and after, I alone can save Finn-san. I will never yield him to anyone. Finn-san is the one I will protect.

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“May I have a moment?”

After finishing Master’s cooking and taking a break, Alicia-san spoke to me. We did not have much connection. Sure, we had a common link in the form of Astrea, but we did not talk about it. She had even said they had not interacted for decades, so she probably did not know anything about me.

“What is it?”

“Oh? Polite speech? You can talk normally with me.”

“Really? Then I won’t hold back.”

She was the client, someone I barely knew, and a party member’s relative, so I had been using awkward polite speech but if she said it was unnecessary, I would not hesitate.

I’m just a farmer, after all. I’m not used to that kind of talk. The stiff politeness slips quickly. Though don’t you think I hide my inner self pretty well? If my masochism were exposed, my life would be over. I’m betting my life on that chicken race. There’s only a thin line between genius and fool. I’d say I’m unquestionably a genius as a meat shield. Finding joy in being attacked is a one-of-a-kind talent.

There’s no way I’d throw away this talent! “It’s okay to live even if you’re special,”—Aria, I still carry your words in my heart…

“Can you lean in for a moment?”

“Hm? Sure, I don’t mind…”

She beckoned me closer, so I leaned in. Then Alicia-san slowly brought her mouth near my ear…

Ah, this is way too suggestive! Covering her mouth with her hand as she approached is already suggestive enough! This is the prelude to something indecent! For someone who’s both a masochist and a virgin, this stimulation is too much…!! If she suddenly shouts at full volume, my ears will die…

As I writhe in agony, she’d coldly say, “Why would I be gentle? You’re only human.” Then pin me to the ground with arrows, strip me, humiliate me—

“—You’re actually quite expressive, aren’t you?”

!!!!!?!!?!??! W-What do you mean? Me? Expressive? I’m clearly a cool, aloof guy. Sure, I writhe in pain and pleasure when being attacked, but otherwise I pride myself on being a fairly humorous young man. Otherwise Astrea wouldn’t treat me so casually—wait…!?

D-Don’t tell me… Does everyone know and just choose to ignore it…!? They sense I enjoy being a masochist but leave it alone because pointing it out would be gross!? Am I the only one who thinks I’ve hidden it well!?

“Surprised? I can read people’s emotions just a little.”

Is that a death sentence? Marianne, Carla, Astrea. Sorry. I won’t be returning to you. If Alicia-san threatens me, I’ll become her slave.

“If you don’t want this exposed… You understand, right?”

From that single phrase, my life turned to despair. The aim of the “Demonic Archer” was precise. She had targeted the one domain I never wanted exposed. A sacred ground that must never be violated…

Ever since my masochism got exposed, Alicia-san’s violence began without regard to time or place…

『…It’s not that different from now, is it?』

Haah…That’s Dark Marianne for you. Listen. My masochism is just a fetish. I don’t want it to be my main identity. I’m a Gold-ranked adventurer. I take attacks because the job requires it, and as a result my masochistic tendencies are satisfied. My daily fantasies are just the runaway libido of a virgin. If I lose my virginity, maybe my heart will calm down… maybe… probably… I want to believe that…

『Like I said, it’s not that different from now, is it?』

Yes. I suppose it isn’t very different. I am trash, scum, a masochistic virgin. Astrea! Please direct your sister’s violence at me! Sister bowl! Astrea’s wind accelerates Alicia-san’s arrow and pierces my heart! Between life and death! I want to taste it again!

“So… You can tell what I’m thinking, then.”

“Ah, not that much… but I can tell you were thinking something improper just now.”

Ah. My life is over. Master, thank you for believing in me all this time. I’m actually a masochistic virgin with runaway libido.

“Oh, I’m not angry, okay? If anything, I’m relieved you’re properly a boy.”

“…………”

“Hey, don’t look so down! That’s perfectly healthy! You’re a boy your age, after all!”

Alicia-san… Such… such a kind person… And I imagined her bullying me… Ugh… I’m pathetic… And being pathetic excites me…

“A-Anyway. Finn-kun, you’re holding back a lot, don’t you?”

“Hold back…?”

“You’re so expressive emotionally, yet none of it shows on your face or in your attitude. That’s not good for your body.”

I’m not holding back at all… The only reason it doesn’t show is because it can’t.

“Even if you lived a little more honestly, I don’t think you’d be punished for it.”

Really? Then, Alicia-san, could you just punch me for now? When I get treated unjustly out of nowhere, that’s when I’m happiest. Confusion, shock, anger, pleasure… a single move that lets you savor multiple flavors at once. Violence when I’m not on guard… That, to me, is dessert.

『Idiot.』

We’re moving to dessert already!?

“—Oh my. We have guests.”

Alicia-san, who had been talking with me, turned her gaze toward the window as if she noticed something. Right then, Master returned.

“The way you said it makes it sound like we’re villains. Do something about it.”

“Hehe, but it’s true, isn’t it? I’m happy. Finn has formed this many bonds.”

“How overprotective…”

“I’m not Finn’s parent. That would be disrespectful to the ones who gave birth to and raised him.”

“Yeah, well…What you’re saying sounds admirable enough, but…”

According to Alicia-san, I had been holding myself back too much.

C-Can I really live more honestly than this…? N-No! Stop it, me! You’ll regret it. I mean, sure, it’ll feel good, but you’ll regret it! Masochism is just a fetish, and being a virgin isn’t something I desperately want to discard! I like who I am now! Marianne, Carla, Astrea. I love the days we fight and spend together. So…! I don’t want to abandon this daily life as much as possible…If possible…

『At least say that decisively.』

Dark Marianne! I’m trying my best, okay? But my fetishes get in the way. I am, after all, a masochist.

After Master said she would go greet the guests and wandered off, Alicia-san and I remained. Meanwhile, Aria was still passed out drunk.

“Well, whatever happens… Anyway, don’t carry everything alone, okay? You’re certainly an amazing kid, Finn-kun but you’re still human.”

“…Thank you. Your words truly make me happy.”

“If you truly can’t endure it anymore, confide in someone you trust. There’s no one who would abandon you. …In fact, they’d probably gladly accept it.”

Alicia-san is a good person. If my masochism is exposed and everyone abandons me, I’ll ask her to take me in. If you can understand my emotions, that means you can precisely satisfy my desires. If that happened, I’d end up falling for you…

“…Ah, n-no, spare me from that. Okay? Just think of me as a meddlesome old lady. Please don’t drag me into your whirlpool. Okay?”

!!!!!?!!?!??! I got rejected without doing anything…!? S-So this is what it feels like to be rejected by a woman…! Ughhh! If this hurts when it’s someone I’m not even close to, what would happen if Marianne and the others rejected me!? Just imagining it excites me!!

The more history built up, the brighter the shine when it’s denied. That’s the most basic stuff and also the most ultimate secret in this universe. I’ve learned something valuable. I’ll keep doing my best, Alicia-san.

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