The Hero and Niku

Maybe I went too far by squeezing 2.3 billion yen out of him.

I thought that while collecting the chips and dice from the table, but when I looked at the destroyed table, I decided it was fine after all.

… Even with [Create Golem], fixing it is such a pain. It has decorations, and there's the strength issue too.

"But if you have such strong comrade-protecting skills, Kehma-san, why did you name her 'Niku'?"

Hero Wataru asked with a puzzled look.

"It was at her own request. It was originally the name she had when I picked her up."

"Even so, to give her a name with such an obscene meaning…"

"Hm? At worst, doesn't it just mean 'meat shield' or 'meat wall'? That's what I was taught, at least."

When I said that, the hero clapped his hands together.

"Ahh… I see, I thought something was off. That's mainly the meaning for male adventurers. Since this girl is so small and cute, people would definitely see it with a different meaning. Well, the slang does vary quite a bit by region though…"

Hmm? Is that so?

"Then let me confirm. What does 'Niku' mean?"

"Goshujin-sama, 'Niku' means tool. Mainly as a wall or shield."

I meant to ask the hero, but Niku answered instead. Yeah, that's what I heard from Ichika too.

"… Um, ahh… that's not wrong, but… That's when it's applied to men. For women, it mainly means—"

"Waaah! Waaah! You hero! If you dare harm Goshujin-sama! I'll be your opponent!"

Niku with the interception! The hero got cut off! Hey, hold on!

"Niku? Could you be quiet for a moment?"

"… …"

Niku slumped dejectedly.

That's the first time I've heard Niku raise her voice that loud. In other words, Niku knows the meaning the hero was trying to say. And she really doesn't want me to know it.

"Hey, could it be… the meaning is really bad?"

"Saying it means 'tool' isn't wrong either. However, it has a sexual meaning attached."

… I looked at Niku.

Her expression was the same as always, but her face was red, tears welling at the corners of her eyes, trembling as if embarrassed.

If it's that embarrassing, why did she insist on keeping the name?

"And that meaning is generally the most well-known. The sexual meaning, of course."

"Hey, Niku?"

This time, Niku trembled with a start, the color draining from her face.

"Niku, go to my room with Ichika. I have something to talk to you about."

"Y-yes."

Niku seemed quite frightened, her ears and tail drooping listlessly as she went to get Ichika.

Watching all of this, the hero timidly asked me.

"… Um, what are you planning to do?"

"… I'm going to scold them, obviously. And have them write an apology, and punish them too."

"Ah, that's quite gentle of you. I was relieved you didn't say you'd kill them or sell them off."

There's no way I could do something so wasteful. Both Niku and Ichika are indispensable to this inn and dungeon.

Well, I'll have to give them a somewhat harsh punishment, but I have no intention of letting them go.

"Yeah. Also, I should probably give her a new name."

"That would be for the best."

That said, it's a name she persisted in keeping the meaning hidden from me, her Goshujin-sama. I don't know what she liked about it, but she clearly did like it. Changing Niku's name at this point would be a pain for me too, but… I have no intention of using her as a 'sex tool' either…

Ahh, this is so annoying. Maybe I'll just give her a proper surname. I can just call her by that in front of people.

For now, I successfully saddled the hero with the massive debt of 2,300 gold coins and continued to dodge his suspicions about me being Japanese as I left his room.

As for the broken table, I'll have a maid golem move it later. Maybe I'll have Kinue-san handle it.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

And when I returned to my room, there were two people below my line of sight. Yep, Niku and Ichika were doing dogeza.

The two of them were doing perfectly aligned, beautiful dogezas.

"I-I'm sorry, Goshujin-sama…"

"I'm soooooo sorry～!!!"

"Alright, you two, how about you raise your heads? Let me at least hear why this happened."

Even when I said that, Niku kept her head down. So I had no choice but to hear from Ichika, who raised her head with a forced laugh.

"Well, y'see～, yeah. I knew what 'Niku' meant. I knew, okay? That's why I said it was a bad meaning. Hey, ya don't wanna make a girl say somethin' like that out loud, right? It's embarrassin', y'know? Um, I was also called 'Niku' at my previous place, so～"

"But didn't I tell you to point out things like that?"

"… I mean, I thought Goshujin-sama would've figured it out and already knew? Hey, ya bring Niku-senpai to yer room every day… I totally thought ya knew the meaning properly."

Ugh, that's a weak point for me. Even if I just use her as a body pillow, I definitely have been bringing her to my room.

Then, Niku timidly raised her head and answered.

"… Goshujin-sama can't be wrong. That's why, I'll do my best as Niku…"

"Then why did you try to stop the hero from telling me what 'Niku' means?"

"… Huh? Why… did I…?"

Niku answered like that, and it seemed she genuinely didn't know.

It seemed even she didn't understand why she didn't want him to say it. It felt similar to a child telling a lie to cover up a mistake.

Wait… I'd almost forgotten because she's so capable, but Niku is still a child.

"Ahh, right. It's probably, y'know, a beastkin instinct thing. Beastkin really value their names, so she mighta thought it'd be bad if he said it. And maybe her body moved on its own 'cause she was scared she'd be thrown away if ya found out?"

"Ah, that makes sense as a reason."

I nodded at Ichika's explanation.

… If she didn't mean any hostility, then it's probably fine. I'd be shocked if she actually harbored a grudge against me while I've been treating her well. I don't have the courage to use someone as a body pillow if they resent me.

"Anyway, I don't plan on throwing you away. I'll keep working you hard, same as always."

When I said that while patting Niku's head, she looked a little relieved.

"Listen. I'm human too. What I don't know, I don't know. I can make mistakes too. If you notice something, tell me. Got it?"

"… Yes."

"Got it. I'll tell ya straight next time without holdin' back."

"Alright. I'll forgive you this time… But I'm still giving you a punishment."

That's right. Mandatory loose socks OR knee-highs should work. Of course, no using [Purify] on those socks for two, no, three days. Plus loafers while working. I'll let them wear sneakers during physical training.

Kukuku, what a fearsome punishment if I do say so myself. Though only fellow comrades would understand how fearsome it is.

And well, for about a month, mandatory foot-stepping massages and a gambling ban. Also, the quality of their meals will drop to this world's standards. That should do it.