The Strongest Adventurers’ Mental Caretaker ~ Somehow I Ended Up Involved with Every Beautiful Girl in the Hero’s Party ~ If You Have Time to Fight Over Me, Please Go Save the World - 6

Chapter 6: The Heroes’ Dangerous Hands

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The next morning. I woke up feeling refreshed and opened the shop’s shutters.

“Phew… The past few days were a relentless grind.”

The hero, the knight, and the mage. Serving those S-rank monsters one after another had left my mind and body enveloped in a profound sense of fatigue. However, the results were excellent. They had left satisfied, and a substantial sum of money now rested in my pocket.

(This should have allowed them to blow off some steam, so peaceful days will probably return for a while.)

Right as I was leisurely stretching and preparing to start setting up the shop, the sound of footsteps resembling a military march echoed from all directions. When I peered outside with suspicion, an unbelievable sight revealed itself before me. It was not just in front of the shop. All the way to the exit of the back alley, fully armed Royal Guards had packed the area, completely surrounding the place.

“W-What on earth?! Has a war started?!”

While I was panicking, the ranks of soldiers parted, and three women calmly walked out. Familiar jet-black armor, silver plate mail, and a deep purple robe. It was the trio from “Valkyrie.” However, the atmosphere was bizarre. The brutal aura from before was gone. In its place, a sticky aura of obsession drifted about, sending a shiver down my spine.

“…Good morning, Cain.”

Standing at the forefront, the hero Freya smiled brightly. However, her eyes were not smiling. A pair of heavily clouded eyes, entirely devoid of highlights, pierced straight through me.

“You bastard… It appears you embraced the knight and the mage as well?”

“T-That is…”

“And to think that, of all things, you went all the way to the end with both of them!”

The knight Aeris shouted, her face turning crimson.

“To think that the three of us would be embraced by the same man. This kind of thing is called, if I remember correctly…”

“…Pole sisters.”

From the side, the mage Luminara added a detached, expressionless supplement. At that far too direct term, Aeris let out a shriek, crying, “Hie?!”

“H-How filthy! How scandalous!”

“Those are… my lines… Which one was it… that stole a march on the rest…?”

“Mmph… W-Well, that is…”

Aeris faltered at Luminara’s cold retort. Apparently, information sharing had already concluded among them.

“Well, whatever. A conclusion has been reached anyway.”

Freya stepped right up to my face and declared with an overwhelming pressure that allowed for no argument.

“Come along, Cain. We are not letting you escape anymore.”

It was as if eyes with hearts mixed with madness were floating in her vision.

◇◇◇

Without even a moment to resist, I was shoved into a luxurious carriage bearing the royal crest.

Outside the window, I could see “Phantom Dragon Hall ” fading into the distance.

(Farewell, my peaceful daily life. Am I going to be killed? Am I being sent to the execution scaffold for the crime of violating the nation’s heroes?)

While I sat shivering and rattling, the carriage passed through the gates of the royal castle and was led straight into the audience chamber. The King sat upon the throne, and before him stood the three members of “Valkyrie” lined up in formation.

“…So, Hero. Is that person the one in question?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Freya took a step forward and pointed at me, chained up as I was.

“We shall add this man, Cain Raymond, as a new member of our ‘Valkyrie.'”

“…Ha?”

A dumbfounded sound leaked from my mouth. Not an execution? A member?

“W-What are you talking about?! I am just a simple shopkeeper, and as for combat…”

“Approved.”

The King cut in and gave an immediate reply.

“These individuals stated that they would abdicate their positions as heroes if you were not present. Furthermore, if the heroes linger in the city forever, we will fall behind other nations…”

The King’s eyes spoke volumes, saying, “Just give up.” Apparently, my escape route had already been completely cut off by state power.

Checkmate. There was no way out. There was no right of veto.

(My life ends here—no, wait a minute?)

I stole a glance at the three of them out of the corner of my eye. They were looking at me with faces like carnivores that had secured their prey. However, what lay deep within those eyes was not murderous intent. It was an intense dependence and obsession.

(If I cannot escape, I will make use of them.)

Something clicked within me.

(If I am going to drop into hell anyway, I might as well become the king of that hell.)

Having survived numerous critical situations in the red-light district, I immediately resolved myself and flashed a daring smile while remaining bound in chains.

“…Understood. I respectfully accept.”

“Oh, aren’t you understanding.”

“Do not misunderstand.”

I cut off Freya’s words and glared around at the three of them.

“As an adventurer, I am dead weight. I cannot defeat a single slime. Therefore, I will not engage in combat whatsoever.”

“Yes, that is perfectly fine. We do not expect that from you.”

“In exchange…”

I raised my voice. This was the gamble of a lifetime to protect my dignity as a human being.

“To ensure you perform at your absolute best, I will thoroughly manage your nights and your hearts. …This is a contract. I am not your property. I am the one managing you.”

A confident declaration. Even if I were beheaded for being impudent to the nation’s heroes, I could not complain. But—

“…Management…”

“…You say you will rule over us?”

“…A contract…”

The cheeks of all three flushed cinnabar simultaneously. Their eyes melted into a daze, and hot breaths leaked out. My declaration of dominance was apparently an unparalleled reward for them, who were mentally starved.

(These girls are way too easy.)

Their gazes intersected.

(A business? Hehe, that is fine for now. But I am absolutely going to make you say “I love you” from your own mouth…)

(Managing my mind and body, you say… Exactly what I want. I will squeeze you dry to the very marrow of your bones.)

(Management… Observation… Experimentation… It means I can do whatever I want, doesn’t it…)

I felt on the verge of being overwhelmed by the silent pressure, but I held my ground as a professional.

“The negotiation is concluded, then.”

I approached Freya and respectfully held out my shackled hands. Freya took my hands with a delighted look. Behind her, Aeris and Luminara smiled mysteriously.

“Yes, let us go. …First, the three of us have been talking about how we should exchange information with each other regarding what kind of treatment we’ve received.”

“Ha…?”

My feet came to a halt at Freya’s words. The three of us? Interchange?

“Let us see your serious side, shall we?”

“Three people with a single rod… I am curious to see how you will handle us…”

Aeris breathed heavily through her nose, and Luminara licked her lips. This was hell. A hell under the name of a sensual paradise, where my limits as a man would be tested. There was no turning back now.

Bracing myself, I started walking accompanied by the three strongest beauties.

“…Well then, it is time for work.”

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー