In the Living World

The days from when Yoal experienced his first death until he was resurrected in the living world.

It had been a long and arduous journey, but summarized briefly, it goes like this.

"21 years ago, I definitely died. After death, I tried to cross the Underworld sea by boat, but the boat sank midway and I nearly drowned. There I happened to be saved by my master—the witch Sherah—and apprenticed to her. I also heard from my master that Almaeira was ruling as queen here. Once my training was complete, I came here immediately. That's it."

Yoal said this with a completely straight face.

He greatly abbreviated the middle parts. Sherah, who went into seclusion to avoid trouble, hated having people talk about her in detail.

Not causing trouble for Sherah. That was his oath with her.

Yoal told the two because he was certain it wouldn't cause problems for Sherah.

He accurately conveyed only landscape memories through the Lewd Crest, but even those were just for reference.

Nyrn widened her eyes and froze for a while, then suddenly kicked over her chair and stood up.

"Hey, Yoal"

"… What?"

"You're not joking, right? There are too many things to point out. Besides, there's no way Aery-sama would be convinced by that story. Right, Aery-sama?"

"I'm largely convinced."

"See? Right——eh?"

Ignoring the dissatisfied Nyrn, Aery stood up straight.

She straightened her collar properly, brushed off her skirt hem, and bowed.

"… You accept that I'm the real Yoal Yaotl?"

"Reluctantly, I must accept it as truth."

"—Honestly, quite surprising."

"… W, what do you mean…?"

Nyrn shook her head in utter confusion and sat back down quietly.

Aery glanced down at her and opened her mouth.

"I've heard about the afterlife—the Underworld—from Alma-sama. And Yoal-sama's memories match Alma-sama's accounts remarkably well. At the very least, there's no room to doubt that you've returned from the Underworld."

"… I see."

"Though I'd somewhat like to believe that Sherah was pulling the strings."

"You know her?"

"I faced her several times by the Demon King's command—unfortunately, I never won."

Aery grimaced slightly and lowered her head.

Nyrn jiggled her plump thighs discontentedly and puffed out her cheeks.

"… I don't get it. Why would someone like Lady Sherah take interest in a lowlife man like you?"

"I completely agree. Almaeira-sama would surely be disillusioned knowing Yoal-sama has fallen to being a rapist. Go ahead and report whatever you like; it will end up being futile resistance anyway—"

They both cursed Yoal in unison, glancing at him to gauge his reaction.

Their almost piercing gazes hid heat, their pupils moist with rapture.

"… Staring at me like that won't make me do anything."

"Why not!?!?"

"Because it wouldn't be any punishment at all, you semen toilet."

"… A, haaa…💕 Please, curse me more…💕"

Ignoring Nyrn trembling with pleasure from being called a semen toilet, he glanced at Aery.

She looked somewhat lost, eyes downcast, her palm pressed flat against her lower abdomen.

"So, Aery. To the main topic. There's something I want you to do."

"… … Yes."

She must have already steeled herself. She took a few steps back and waited obediently for her master's instructions.

"Can you subtly distance Charlotte from Alma?"

"… It's difficult. Her search range is slightly less than mine, but she can easily cover the territory except for forests. Her close-range detection ability actually surpasses mine. Contacting Alma-sama without eliminating her is realistically impossible."

"… I see."

Yoal looked at Aery while thinking silently.

Her expression was still impassive, but she exuded a somehow resolute air.

—If he ordered "kill Charlotte," she would nod easily enough.

"Give me your hand."

"…? Y, yes."

Though confused, Aery held out her small hand.

Yoal gently took her wrist and pressed a small object into her palm, closing her fingers around it.

A small bottle containing a thin, watery liquid. Made of opaque metal, its contents couldn't be seen from the outside.

"You have it? Keep it on your person without letting it be found."

"… What is this?"

"You don't need to know."

Yoal stated flatly.

No need to burden the executor with guilt. It was a statement that he was the one making her do it. Naturally, responsibility lay with Yoal.

"… But"

"I don't intend to take her life. Just impede her actions. If possible, I'd like you to slip it into her food or drink, or even her dishes, but if that's difficult, anything among her personal belongings is fine. It works through skin absorption, not just mucous membranes. Accessories, or mixing it into her skin toner—can you do it?"

"… Y, yes."

Aery widened her eyes in momentary surprise, then nodded.

"But Yoal-sama, suppressing Shal with drug effects alone is extremely difficult. Equipped with numerous counter-spells, she's like a walking magical fortress. To neutralize her, we should employ some additional means as well."

"So that means my turn!"

"You're just for navigation."

"Grr."

Nyrn pouted openly, but it would be cruel to count a mere witch as combat strength.

Yoal scratched his head roughly and turned toward her.

"You're just to guide me."

"… … You just rephrased it politely!?"

Saying that, Nyrn's cheeks softened slightly.

Yoal sometimes wondered if she was really a witch—she was too easy.

"Anyway, don't worry. I'll be the one to take action. I'll handle it myself."

"… If I openly defect, I think at least some degree of psychological shock could be expected."

"Unnecessary. You support Charlotte as usual. I'll be the one to break the link. Feel free to come at me with full intent to kill."

"… Wha?"

Even she hadn't expected this. Aery was suddenly at a loss for words.

She shook her head as if in thought and looked Yoal straight in the face.

"… Why?"

"Aery and Charlotte… you two have been with Almaeira since 20 years ago, right?"

"That's correct, but what about it—"

As Aery tilted her head, Yoal said that's exactly the point.

"I figured Almaeira must trust you two. Otherwise you couldn't have been together for 20 years."

"Presumptuous as it is, I believe she places her trust in us."

"I'll believe those words. So I won't go so far as to take her life. I don't intend to destroy the relationship either. I don't want to sadden Almaeira. Just neutralize her."

"… You are"

Aery's expressionless face broke for just a moment, her eyebrows curving into a faint smile.

"You only have Alma-sama in your mind, don't you."

"That's right."

"… I'd like to call you a bastard, but understood."

Aery gripped the small bottle tightly and tucked it into her bosom.

She sighed softly, then turned on her heel and started walking.

"Let's give it a try. I was once the top elite of the Demon King's army intelligence unit, after all. Pulling off deceptive ambushes using every trick in the book is my absolute specialty."

"I'm counting on you. I'll be watching you at all times."

"… What an unpleasant curse to cast."

"Sorry. My distrust of humans just won't go away."

The day Yoal died.

He felt betrayed. The young days when he swore to be sincere to the nation and devoted himself to loyal service.

Still, Yoal's case was relatively mild.

How must Almaeira have felt—she who gave her heart, poured out her soul, and continued to serve the people selflessly. A young Saintess who lived for the people, only to be killed by those same people. Rumor had it that behind the scenes, the nation had maneuvered against her, resentful of her reputation—.

"Well then, Yoal-sama"

"Just Yoal is fine."

"No, it's not impossible that you'll be my future husband."

"Who knows."

20 years is enough time to change a person's heart.

Almaeira lived in seclusion without overtly acting as the Witch Queen, and Yoal spent his time in almost ascetic training.

Yoal's spirit had been utterly ravaged. The only thing unchanged from that day was his affection for Almaeira. Everything else—he no longer thought of people as people. In the end, Nyrn and Aery were just usable tools to him.

—Then, what about Almaeira?

"Heh, so even you get anxious sometimes."

"Human hearts aren't something I can control."

"That's not something you should say when you toy with people's hearts, is it…?"

Nyrn sighed involuntarily.

When Yoal prompted her to continue, Aery nodded slightly.

"By the way, if Yoal-sama were to be united with Alma-sama,"

"… Yeah?"

"Would you keep us as mistresses by your side—"

"No."

"That was immediate."

"I'd like you as guards, though. There'll be more trouble to deal with."

It wasn't hard to imagine making enemies of both demons and humans at the same time, as Sherah once pointed out.

"Muu. At least take responsibility for what you've done to us."

"I could always dismantle the curse marks."

"You're refreshingly scum…!"

"I won't deny it."

Leaving their banter aside, Aery nodded in understanding and turned her back.

"Well then, I'll take my leave."

"Yeah. I'm counting on you."

"And the truth is, Yoal-sama,"

"… What?"

Aery left these parting words while opening the cabin door, without turning back.

"Rather than the Demon King, I'd prefer she be united with you. That's my honest feeling now."

"… That's quite a statement."

"He already has about three wives."

"Ah, so that's the reason…"

"Moreover, he prioritizes his duties over his wives."

"That's the hard part about being king…"

He could understand those circumstances, but it wasn't Yoal's concern.

"I hope Yoal-sama isn't like that. Above all, childhood friends once separated by death being reunited… isn't that a story worth dreaming about?"

Aery smiled jokingly and quietly left the cabin.

He wasn't worried about what came next. Her actions could be observed in real-time through the Lewd Crest.

Anyway, it was somehow settled before dawn.

Yoal slumped against the sofa exhausted. Nyrn peered down at him.

"… I haven't given up, you know? Second wife."

"Don't need one."