The Healer in a Japanese-Style Game World: Mastering Healing to Save My Favorite Character in a Brutal World, Only to Find Everyone Around Me Becoming Obsessed - Chapter 12: Shuraba!

Chapter 12: Shuraba!

This happened back when I could still use the surname Shiranui.

“Listen, Yomi-sama, a man only bows down when protecting something precious or apologizing to a truly furious woman.”

I remember a servant saying that while smiling and groveling to his own wife. His broad, strong back, which usually seemed imposing, looked small at that moment.

“It’s not what you think, Shuri! I just couldn’t turn down everyone’s invitation!”

Seeing my servant desperately banging his head against the ground, saying the same thing over and over again, I thought to myself—maybe I should practice groveling too.

That servant, who had served me for many years, always said that Shiranui men had never been able to win against women. To repay his advice and for his sake, I decided to learn the sincere apology known as groveling. This memory has stuck with me.

Of course, I never intended to anger a woman, but it’s always good to be prepared. Better safe than sorry… and my efforts.

Now, here they pay off!

“Explain, Yomi. I am not calm right now.”

“―Forgive me, really, I’m not at fault here. I don’t even understand it myself, Kagura.”

“I’m not looking for an apology or a bow… I just want an explanation―why is she here?”

Ah, it seems I’m done for… yes.

―――

――

―

I was allowed to lift my head and, still feeling stiff, I sat down in a chair. 

Just then, Makami, who had been watching me bow, hopped onto my lap. Her long hair tickled my nose, and she smelled nice.

“…Makami, please don’t sit on me.”

“But… I like it here.”

“Huh, she seems really attached to you.”

“I don’t understand why either…”

“Master… cheer up?”

The cause of this… was Makami. 

 Sitting on my lap, she looked around with wide eyes, curious about everything. 

Her ears twitched and her tail wagged, making her look genuinely happy and adorable.

“Is it really only the second time you’ve met today?”

“That’s what I thought, but why is she so attached to me?”

“Because you saved me, Master.”

Even though she says that, all I did was break the curse.

It was a bit challenging, but it was Kagura who asked me to do it… I didn’t do it voluntarily.

“It was Kagura who asked me, so shouldn’t she be your master?”

“I don’t know. But I remember it was you who helped me, Master.”

“That’s true, but… I’m really not that impressive.”

“…Yomi, don’t belittle yourself. So, I want to ask, why was Makami in that state?”

Kagura pointed out my bad habit and then turned to ask Makami.

I was curious about it too, so I listened closely. She became visibly sad, but slowly began to tell us what happened.

She used to be a divine beast protecting Takamagahara.

However, she was defeated by a Yokai and corrupted by miasma, leading to her exile from Takamagahara.

She spoke of the madness and pain she endured, the slaughter she committed, and her deep regret, trembling more and more as she talked.

“Before I knew it, I was in that forest… I tried not to attack anyone, but then people came… and you saved me, Master. It was warm.”

“It’s okay now.”

I said, holding her trembling hand.

I just couldn’t stand seeing Makami shake, and somehow I related to her situation, imagining her pain and feeling sympathy for her incomparable loneliness. 

Moreover, it seemed that my dear goddess also cared about her loneliness.

“Why… are you holding my hand?”

“Because I want to.”

“I see… fufu, Master’s hand is warm. Really warm.”

She leaned her head against me, smiling faintly as if to feel my warmth. Thinking of her, my answer naturally came to me.

“Makami, do you want to stay with me?”

“Yes… I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

“Okay, that’s fine then. Kagura, is that alright with you?”

“Yes, it’s fine. I’m not that heartless, and I understand how she feels.”

With that decided, there are some things we need to take care of.

We’ll need to let the neighbors know since we’ll have a new housemate, and we need to get her some proper clothes.

“Alright, Makami. Let’s get along from now on.”

“Really… is it okay?”

Makami, unable to believe it, asked with teary eyes for confirmation. I patted her again and looked into her eyes.

“Yes, let’s all live together. Yomi’s Store will now have three members. Let’s do our best, Makami.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best. I’ll be in your care, Master!”

“Makami, I’ve always wanted to say this… but stop calling Yomi ‘Master.'”

“No, not even if Kagura-sama says so—absolutely not.”

“Uh… it would help if you two didn’t fight.”

“But, Yomi looks troubled.”

It’s true that being called ‘Master’ by someone who seems older could lead to misunderstandings and it does trouble me… but come to think of it, why does she call me ‘Master’?

“…But I don’t want to stop. You’re my Master.”

“…Is there a reason you call me that, Makami?”

“I don’t know, maybe… instinct?”

What do you mean?

What does it mean to instinctively choose a master? As I pondered this, I waited for her to continue. “Oh, but…” she said, gripping my clothes tightly, her breathing becoming heavy, and her eyes turning glazed.

…Isn’t something strange here?

As I grew increasingly anxious watching her sudden change, Makami said this:

“Master, Yomi… when you bound me, disciplined me from above… and when you were gentle, my body heated up… It was the first time I felt this way, so I decided you would be my master.”

Her eyes, as she spoke, were clearly those of a predator. I felt a primal fear.

“Makami, you’re forbidden to stay in the same room as Yomi.”

“Why?”

Maybe, am I… in trouble?