Returnee from Another World - Chapter 40: Hatred and False Affection

Chapter 40: Hatred and False Affection

“My deepest condolences. Thank you for being so close to Kaede during his life. It’s truly heartbreaking that it came to this…”

“Thank you. Yuuki must’ve been happy to have met Kaede-chan.”

In a corner of the hospital’s lounge, Sayaka and I sat across from the Satou couple on sofas.

I nodded silently alongside Sayaka’s condolences, expressing my sympathies.

I should’ve said something, but I hesitated, worried they might realize I had some connection to Yuuki. Overthinking my words, I missed the chance to speak.

“I heard it was a traffic accident,” I ventured.

It felt a bit rude to ask grieving parents, but I pressed on, curious if Yuuki’s death was tied to the fate I altered with the Poison of Muleduel. Another nagging concern lingered too.

“Yes. On our way back from a family dinner, a car hit us from the side at an intersection. Yuuki, in the backseat, was the only one… My wife and I weren’t even injured. Just bad luck, I suppose.”

“That’s…”

“Dear! His illness was finally cured, and he was about to live a normal life. To call it bad luck… Yuuki was practically killed!”

“Stop it! What good does saying that to the Hojos do?”

“But if we brush it off as bad luck, it’s too cruel for him.”

A fierce black (【Hatred】) aura flared up.

I’d noticed a dark emotion flickering in the Satous, beyond their gray (【Sorrow】).

“‘Practically killed’? Forgive me, but it was a traffic accident, right? I’m sorry for prying as an outsider, but it sounded so serious.”

“No, it’s fine. Part of me wants someone to hear this,” the husband said.

“I’m James Masuda, a distant relative of Sayaka’s. We’re happy to listen if it helps. We may not solve anything, but we can be a sounding board.”

Sayaka nodded silently, trusting me. We’d already aligned our story about being distant relatives for hospital visits, so there was no issue. Still, this wasn’t my place to speak, yet Sayaka left it to me—a sign of her complete trust.

I wasn’t sure why I made such a bothersome offer.

The couple’s dark emotions intrigued me, but I had no real interest in them or desire to comfort grieving parents. The wife was mildly attractive but paled compared to Sayaka, so it wasn’t lust either.

“Maybe talking it out will help. Could you, please?”

“Of course. Let it all out.”

“The accident happened when their car hit ours at an intersection. Our light was green. They admitted it at first, but later claimed their light was green. The police said a witness backed them up, saying their light was green.”

“Are you saying they found a random witness?”

“No, likely not random. We remember a woman matching the police’s description nearby during the accident. We don’t know how they found her, but her witnessing it seems genuine.”

“So, she’s mistaken, or… You’re certain your light was green?”

“Absolutely. I saw it, and so did my wife from the passenger seat.”

“I see. What’s the other driver like?”

“A man in his late 30s, Kenjirou Kusunoki. He drove a luxury car and brought a lawyer to the scene, so he’s probably someone important—”

“Kenjirou Kusunoki…?”

The name echoed in my mind.

It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place a face, suggesting I’d only heard it somewhere.

“Yes, apparently the brother of Seichirou Kusunoki, the prefectural assemblyman.”

“Seichirou Kusunoki, the assemblyman? I think I’ve met him once,” Sayaka said.

Her work likely involves meeting politicians. I’d ask her about him later.

“Yes, that Seichirou Kusunoki. To be blunt, we suspect Kenjirou Kusunoki bribed the witness to lie.”

“Exactly! He admitted to missing the light at first. Killing Yuuki through negligence is bad enough, but covering it up? I’ll never forgive him.”

“It sounds suspicious, but if they bribed the witness, overturning their testimony will be tough.”

“Yes, I think it’s nearly impossible. So, every Friday night—the same time as the accident—we go to the site, asking passersby for other witnesses.”

“Every week? That’s grueling. We may not offer much, but we’ll help however we can. Keep at it.”

“Thank you. Just listening helps lighten the load a bit.”

Honestly, I doubted they’d find new witnesses.

But I couldn’t stop them, consumed by hatred and clinging to slim odds. I was like that not long ago.

We talked more, but I found no link between my actions and Yuuki’s death triggering a karmic backlash.

One thing was clear: I felt almost no guilt or sympathy for the Satous.

Even without the Poison of Muleduel, Yuuki likely would’ve died from his illness. I don’t know his original fate, so it’s just a guess.

I felt a twinge of pity for his short life.

If I wanted, finding new witnesses, digging into Kenjirou Kusunoki, or interrogating the witness wouldn’t be hard. But I had no reason to go that far.

The Satous are strangers. There’s little benefit, and turning them into allies like Sayaka seems pointless.

It’s cold, but I’m no hero. After talking, we parted ways and returned to Kaede’s room.

◆

“Your faith is still lacking. Serve more thoroughly. That is your duty, bestowed by our god.”

A woman bobbing her head vigorously, sucking a cock with wet sounds, was addressed by a man.

Burying her face in his flabby belly, she gazed at the penis as if it were a divine gift, listening to him with a dreamy expression.

“Yes, Miki. You can do it. Now serve with your filthy pussy.”

“Y-Yes, Founder. Thank you for your mercy.”

Miki had joined the Gospel Love Church just over two weeks ago.

Yet, being in a position to serve the Founder filled her with immense joy.

The daily hassles of the secular world were bearable because she could serve as a shrine maiden with her body, all starting from the day she received the holy wine.

The moment the Founder’s penis entered her pussy, Miki nearly climaxed from happiness and pleasure.

But realizing her lewd pussy had grown accustomed to his cock made her flush with shame.

That first time with the Founder was the most sublime experience she’d ever had. After such ecstasy, she knew instantly she could never sleep with another man.

Since that day, just smelling his penis made her pussy drip with shameful juices.

Miki had never disliked sex. But after the Founder, she realized her past experiences were mere child’s play.

She thought she knew men well. Confident in her alluring body, working at a cabaret club, she often got propositions. The Founder was one such man.

Unenthused, she demanded a million yen, but soon regretted it, nearly missing this blissful experience.

She didn’t take the money. Now, she willingly donates to the church.

Miki understood the holy wine’s power, but believed her body couldn’t live without the Founder’s penis regardless.

Her pussy convulsed, a mess from the hard cock thrusting inside. Having climaxed repeatedly, all she could think about was the pleasure of being penetrated. The Founder, once just a lecherous fat man, now felt unbearably dear, her pussy in ecstasy.

Miki had to admit her primal instincts as a woman had fully surrendered to this cock.