Chapter 83

Sorry for not posting any side stories at all...

I have an announcement: The manga adaptation of "The Healer Mage" has started on Monster Comics today.

For more details, check the activity report.

Summary:

When Yuel warmed a dragon egg in her arms and put on maternity wear, she decided to run away from home due to the rumors that even young girls were getting pregnant from her sexual nature.

She ran away from the lord's mansion with Yuel.

Thinking of going to a random tavern, they walked through a back alley.

It was the shortest route to the nearest tavern.

As they walked down the alley a bit, Yuel, stroking her large belly, spoke up.

"Hey? The ones we just passed...?"

Yuel turned back with a puzzled look on her face.

In front of her gaze were Eito and Geyzer, apparently returning from the tavern, looking drunk.

Those two, who usually pester us when we get close, didn't even call out to us today as we passed by.

It was as if they didn't recognize us at all.

...Yuel seemed to sense something suspicious.

"It's the power of this recognition-blocking magical item. See, I gave you that necklace earlier, right? It's a magical item that makes it hard for people to recognize that you and I are you and I."

"...Make it hard to recognize, you say?"

"To put it simply... thanks to this, Eito and Geyzer see us as complete strangers right now."

It looks like just a necklace.

But in reality, it's a highly advanced magical item that combines recognition blocking with other magical items.

Its effects include blocking individual recognition and allowing those wearing the same magical item to recognize each other.

It's quite an expensive magical item, but I'm a saint now and a hero who defeated the evil god.

Gifts from the country, the church, and various organizations keep arriving.

This is one of them.

"Probably, Eito and the others only feel that 'an adult man and a small girl are walking together' or something like that?"

"It's a magical item. It's a bit sad not to be noticed, but it's amazing...!"

As Eito and the others walked away, Yuel sighed in admiration while looking at the necklace.

"Since we're running away now, it's better not to be noticed by acquaintances. Besides, I'm too well-known as a saint in this town. If we go out together, it's better to wear something like this... huh?"

While looking at Eito and Geyzer with Yuel, they suddenly turned around.

For some reason,

It seemed like they were staring at us.

They also seemed to be whispering to each other.

"Huh, what's up? ...Maybe they noticed us?"

Was the recognition-blocking magical item not working properly?

I had checked its effects and thought it was fine...

However, if the magical item wasn't working well, it wouldn't be good for Yuel and me to go out together.

I'm a saint now.

If I go out normally, I'll definitely be surrounded by enthusiastic female priests of Medine and women who admire me as the hero who defeated the evil god and saved the world.

Being pampered is fun, but I don't have any guards with me now.

To be serious, there's also the possibility of being assassinated by someone who doesn't like the existence of a saint.

"...I need to check the effect."

While saying this, I entered a nearby side street.

After walking a bit, I called out to Yuel.

"Yuel, can you hear their conversation from here? Tell me what Eito and Geyzer are talking about. If they noticed us, we need to go back to the mansion immediately."

In the mansion, the maids are spreading rumors that I'm a sexual deviant who assaults women regardless of age.

The atmosphere is very uncomfortable, but it can't be compared to personal safety.

"Yes, I can do it."

Yuel nodded strongly, shaking her long elf ears.

It seems she can hear them easily even at this distance.

"Then, I'll repeat what Eito and the others are saying."

Yuel's voice is a bit quieter.

Maybe it's to prevent Eito and the others from hearing our conversation.

To make it easier to hear, I crouched down, and Yuel leaned forward, whispering in my ear.

"...Did you see that just now?" (Yuel is whispering)

Yuel's high, childlike voice.

Her breath was so close that it touched my ear.

From the slightly reserved intonation, it was probably an imitation of Eito's voice.

To be able to tell just from the voice, Yuel is a subtle actor.

She has a good grasp of the speaking characteristics.

"Yeah, I saw it." (Yuel is whispering)

This time, it was a careless, bold reply.

It was definitely Geyzer.

But what does "saw" mean?

Is the recognition-blocking magical item not working properly?

...If I'm recognized as an individual, it might be a bit dangerous even on the way back.

"I couldn't help but look away the moment our eyes met. I didn't expect someone to impregnate such a small girl. ...No doubt, she's due any day now." (Yuel is whispering)

...So that's it.

I see.

It seems the recognition-blocking magical item couldn't block the recognition of Yuel's belly.

Well, what's actually in Yuel's belly is a dragon egg, and she's wearing maternity wear, so she looks pregnant.

In a way, it could be said that the recognition is being blocked.

But in other words, it means this:

Eito and the others can't recognize Yuel and me as individuals, but they can recognize the criminal combination of "a pregnant young girl and an adult man standing next to her."

Is this the current situation?

However, I now have a good understanding of how effective the recognition-blocking magical item is.

As long as it doesn't identify us as individuals, it's fine.

The safety of Yuel and me is secured.

I think we've heard enough.

Just as I was about to tell Yuel that,

"Is the man next to her the father of that baby?" (Yuel is whispering)

"Probably, right?" (Yuel is whispering)

Yuel repeated the line.

...I glanced at Yuel out of the corner of my eye.

I couldn't see her entire face because she was in a whispering position, but from her eyes, she seemed normal.

Her emotions were hard to read.

—But for a moment, I saw Yuel gently stroke her belly.

...Why did I have Yuel repeat it?

Eito and Geyzer's conversation is nothing but harmful to Yuel.

I knew that, yet...

I should have left quickly.

"Yuel, I think that's enough repeating..."

I decided to tell Yuel to stop, even at this point.

However, Yuel's mouth started to form words again, overlapping my voice.

"That girl we just saw, she's probably around Yuel's age, right? I was really surprised. Even Shiki wouldn't go that far with such a small girl." (Yuel is whispering)

"...I'm not so sure about that." (Yuel is whispering)

"No, no, Geyzer, Shiki is, you know, a big-breast lover. He's quite perverted, but he wouldn't touch a child, no matter what." (Yuel is whispering)

"Yeah, that's true. That's how it should be. ...But, you know, I heard about Shiki's recent activities. And there was something a bit suspicious among them." (Yuel is whispering)

"Suspicious?"

"Among a large group of guards, he was almost seduced by a succubus in the form of a child." (Yuel is whispering)

"...I remember hearing that too." (Yuel is whispering)

"Even though I told Yuel she has no interest in that, he was seduced by a child succubus. Maybe, deep down, he's...?" (Yuel is whispering)

"Come to think of it, you're right. Even Shiki... might do it?" (Yuel is whispering)

It was a great performance.

A vulgar conversation as if Eito and Geyzer were right in front of us.

It was spun by Yuel's voice.

"Would he do it..."

Yuel's natural voice, neither Eito's nor Geyzer's, reached my ear with her breath.

...Even after our engagement, I've drawn a line with Yuel in that regard.

Actually, with Yuel's good hearing, if we engage in any intimate activities in the mansion, there's a high chance she'll hear.

I'm currently timing things with Elise, Ruruka, and the holy maiden Filene.

I had been planning to use this recognition-blocking magical item to go out incognito soon.

"Y-Yuel, you don't need to listen to Eito and Geyzer's conversation anymore! Let's go somewhere else... yeah, a hotel! Let's get a room!"

While thinking this, I realized that if Eito and the others were so shocked, other townspeople would probably be shocked too if they saw us.

...It's a good thing we noticed in a back alley with few people.

If we had gone to a tavern, it would have been a disaster.

For now, we should seek refuge in a place with few people.

When I said this, Yuel met my gaze and then looked down, blushing.

"A, a hotel? Uh... Master, we might get separated with the recognition-blocking magical item."

Then, she muttered.

She seemed a bit fidgety.

...I guessed she wanted to hold hands.

Yuel and I can recognize each other thanks to the limited解除 effect of the magical item.

We won't get separated even with the recognition-blocking, but... well, it's fine to hold hands.

I extended my hand to Yuel.

"...!"

Yuel's face lit up, and she happily took my hand.

She interlocked her fingers with mine, holding it firmly.

...This is what they call a lover's grip, Yuel.

But Yuel looked at our intertwined hands and smiled happily.

She gently squeezed and released my fingers, which was quite cute.

I was a bit concerned about appearances, but since the recognition-blocking magical item prevents them from recognizing me, it's fine.

...Well, this much is okay.

Let's go to a place with few people and dash to the hotel.

"Ah...! S-stay?"

"Yeah."

"Is the young girl staying in the same room?"

"...Yeah."

While being given a shocked look by the front desk lady, I completed the check-in.

I randomly chose a nearby hotel, and it turned out to be a fairly expensive one, costing 2,000 zennies for one night with two meals.

When we were shown to our room, it had a proper bath.

"Ah, Master, this room..."

"Hmm? Oh, right, I remember."

Yuel's words and the front desk lady's shocked expression reminded me.

This is the same hotel we stayed at right after I bought Yuel.

...Back then, I was shocked for a different reason, bringing a damaged Yuel.

This front desk lady is always shocked by us.

"It feels nostalgic."

Yuel looked around the room, seemingly lost in thought.

Well, for Yuel, this might be a memorable room where she received treatment for her damage.

"Yeah. Let's stay here for a while."

"Is that okay?"

"The hotel provides meals and has a bath, so it's perfect for a long-term stay."

Yuel smiled happily when I told her we'd be staying here for a while.

I also want to stay here until the rumors in the mansion calm down.

While I'm here, I want to find a way to take off Yuel's maternity wear without making her sad.

While thinking about this, Yuel whispered quietly.

"...I never thought I'd end up like this."

What does "like this" mean?

That Yuel, who was a damaged slave, is now so lively?

That she's being treated well as a slave now?

Or that she's engaged to me?

I don't know what Yuel is thinking, but her words convey a sense of "I'm happy now."

Thinking about Yuel when I bought her, I feel a bit sentimental.

She's so lively now.

Back then, she looked much less healthy.

I suddenly felt like making Yuel eat something.

I want her to be even more lively.

"Yuel, let's have a sandwich. The sandwiches here were delicious the last time we stayed. I'll go get some."

"Ah, I can do it."

As I was about to leave the room, Yuel tried to stand up, holding her large belly.

"Ah, right, you're not just one person anymore. It wouldn't be good for the dragon in your belly. Please rest."

"...! Y-Yes! For the baby's sake... I'll rest... I'm resting."

When I treated Yuel like a pregnant woman, she sat back on the bed.

She's easy to handle.

But treating Yuel like a pregnant woman made me feel like I lost something as a person.

I'm not sure what it is, though.

But I don't want to be shocked again.

Before Yuel changes her mind, I left the room and headed to the front desk.

"A single room for one night. ...Two thousand zennies!? That's quite expensive... I don't have much pocket money left..."

Then, I saw a familiar girl standing in front of the front desk.

A girl with wild, drill-like blonde hair and a flat chest.

"F-Fran!?"

Surprised, I blurted out her name.

"...Who are you? Hmm, hmm...? I feel like I've seen you before, but I haven't. ...This feeling, you're using a recognition-blocking magical item, right? Take it off. It's polite to talk face-to-face."

Moreover, she immediately saw through the existence of the recognition-blocking magical item.

When I took off the magical item, Fran made a visibly displeased face.

"Ah, sorry. But you figured it out pretty well."

"...It's you. Rich merchants and high-ranking nobles sometimes use such magical items. You get used to it after a while."

"Is that so?"

While talking, Fran looked away, looking a bit embarrassed.

I wondered if she was looking for us after we ran away from the lord's mansion, but it didn't seem to be the case.

From her irritated tapping of her feet, it seemed that meeting me here was inconvenient for Fran.

"...So, why are you here?"

Looking closely, neither Ruruka nor Sera, who usually accompanies Fran, were with her.

Sera is like a brake for the easily angered Fran.

A Fran without Sera is like a dangerous explosive that could go off at any moment.

I don't want to get involved, but since I plan to stay here for a while, I need to know her purpose.

"That's... um..."

She hesitated to say it, as if it was hard to say.

But her current expression was familiar.

...Right.

I remembered, it was that time.

After defeating the Crank Height Turtle and the Armored Ogre in the forest and receiving an award at the lord's mansion, when I was pretending to be on good terms with Fran to return to her family.

It was a face mixed with pride, disgust, and anxiety.

It smelled like trouble.

As I looked at Fran, she seemed to be unable to bear the silence and muttered as if spitting it out.

"...Eh."

"Eh?"

"I, I ran away! I ran away from home!"