The Disappointing Elf and a Lie Detector (2)

I decided to press for more details.

"Let me get this straight. By Sally, you mean one of the members of [Dungeon Busters], the party led by the [White-Winged Goddess]?"

"That's right. In fact, I heard that Sally-sama and Kehma-sama are close."

"Hahahah, we're not close at all."

"I heard you've shared drinks together."

"… That never happened."

The crystal ball glowed red in my direction.

Good, the lie-detection magic tool is working properly. (Ahem.)

… I added another magic stone. Haah, wasted one for nothing.

"Master, that doesn't mean my anpan is forfeit, right?"

"Nah, I won't count that one."

"That's a relief. But I never would have guessed that Master and Sally-sama were drinking buddies…"

"I wouldn't exactly call us friends."

The ball didn't glow red at me. Good.

Now then, let's dig out the truth.

"Alright. I know you don't hold any ill will toward me… so tell me more about your situation."

"You confirmed I have no ill will, yet you still wish to continue?"

"I just want to verify the facts. Even if you have no malice, there's the possibility you're being used… Do you have any skills that affect others' bodies or minds?"

"Skills that affect others… [Body Enhancement]! The effect is weaker, but I can cast it on other people too."

"Have you ever used it on me?"

"I have not."

No glow. Hmm, seems honest. Could she be phrasing things in a way that skirts the truth?

"Any others?"

"Hmm, not that I can think of…"

"Anything besides skills that comes to mind?"

"I don't know! At the very least, I only have a little desire to do something with Master Kehma!"

No glow. A little? Something like what? Huh?

"I like Master enough to want to be your body pillow… See? No glow. I'm serious～"

Shikina smiled sweetly.

… And just as she said, the crystal ball didn't glow at all. She's for real?

"… Seriously? But I have Rokuko, so I refuse."

"You have Kuroinu-dono too, so isn't a body pillow fine?"

"Niku is in my daughter slot!"

The crystal ball glowed red. At me.

I-I guess calling my body pillow my daughter was pushing it a bit～?

Or maybe, uh, pet slot? Yeah, that's it. That's what set it off～

"I don't think that's actually okay even if it were true."

"Kuh! Forget that happened!"

"Master, I'll keep quiet about this if you let me try being your body pillow for one night."

Whoa, what? Am I being blackmailed?

… She really has grown…

I pretended to add another magic stone.

"You've grown, but Shikina, that was an act."

"What!? Then you don't have feelings for Kuroinu-dono…"

"None whatsoever."

"It didn't react…"

That was close… I quite like Niku's feet, so it definitely would've reacted if I'd actually put a stone in.

I secretly slipped a magic stone into the ball from my sleeve. I'd planted a magic-arm golem and spare stones in there for exactly this kind of situation.

"So, getting back on topic, tell me in detail what orders you received from Sally-san."

"My orders were to learn 'underhandedness' and 'dirty tactics' from Master."

Same as what I heard before.

"Did she say anything else? Like how you should behave, or any direction for your actions?"

"Hmm… oh, come to think of it, she said that Master Kehma can't refuse when people ask him for things, so I should try coaxing you in various ways…"

"Coaxing, huh."

"Like this… Master, I want you to make me your body pillow. I'll do whatever you say."

With that, Shikina looked up at me with upturned eyes, her index finger against her lips, eyebrows drawn together in a pleading expression as if to say "please, help me?"

… When a beautiful elf puts her mind to it, the destructive power is quite something.

"No. Rather, I think I see it now. The scheme…"

"A scheme?"

"Yeah."

This probably has Haku-san's fingerprints on it. And the goal is probably…

"A honey trap."

"Seduction…? I was sent here for that?"

Shikina's eyes went wide with shock.

Understandable. She'd been used as someone else's pawn without her knowledge. And by her idol, the commander of the First Chivalric Order, no less.

Then Shikina shut her eyes tight and started trembling… It must have been a huge shock. As her master, I should comfort her――

"In other words, this body of mine was judged useful to the Empire! I'm so happy!"

Wow, she was thrilled.

What is with this girl? She's devoted her very body to the Empire. The crystal ball didn't glow at all, which means she actually means it.

"But you know a honey trap is finished once it's been exposed, right?"

"… Oh no!? Master, Master, can't you do something about this with your power!?"

"Even if I could, why would I?"

"… W-Well, it's not certain yet that seduction was my purpose here. I'm sure the main goal was to learn from Master. Probably. I want to believe that. Definitely!"

She was flustered now.

"… I'll try contacting Sally-sama. I just remembered she gave me stationery for occasions like this. I was originally told to use it once I'd achieved satisfactory results, but…"

That's totally honey trap stationery. Yep.

"Right. I don't know what Sally-san was thinking when she sent you, but for now I'll just continue with the education I was asked to handle… I've been paid for it, after all."

"Yes! I look forward to your continued guidance, Master!"

"However, to prevent too much contact between us, I'll be handing most of your education over to Ichika and Niku from now on."

"I'd rather you teach me directly, Master…"

"Let's see… I can teach you in the afternoon, from about three to five. Less than what it's been."

That should let me reclaim some sleep time.

By the way, the village has golem clocks here and there that are ostensibly things I found in the dungeon. Unlike Tsuia, there's no hourly bell-ringing. Which means no bells disrupting my sleep.

There's also a pocket watch version available as a rare dungeon drop.

"Muu, if that's how it is…"

"Well then, that settles it… I'll be getting back to my work now."

"Sir! Good luck with your wor… ah."

The crystal ball glowed red. At me. Crap. Now she knows I was just going to sleep.

"… You're going to sleep, aren't you? Then please let me accompany you!"

"I said no, you honey trap agent. Go do your work at the inn."

From here on out, I'll operate under the assumption that Shikina was sent here as a honey trap.

… Shikina never told a single lie the whole time. I'll have to give her the day off tomorrow and the anpan.

I told Niku, who was sitting at the inn's reception desk, to swap with Shikina and come to my room, then headed back.

Now then, time to go back to sleep～