Kehma Makes a Decision

The magical drug that Maiodoru brought, [Futanaru], makes one's sex chaotic. Why did Lord Vonodoru of Tsuia send this to me?

"Why would I want this?"

"Please don't worry about it. Think of it as just a betrothal gift, he said."

We're talking past each other. I don't need a drug like this in the first place.

Why? Is he telling me to drink it? Who would benefit from that?

Right. Who benefits. That's the question.

Let me think about this for a moment. Why did Vonodoru prepare this drug?

In other words, who is he saying to use this on?

The effect is to make one's sex [Chaotic]… in other words, to become intersex. And the key point is that she said "with this, the engagement can proceed without issue." That means this is something crucial to making the engagement happen. In that case—

Is he saying to use it on Niku?

I see. It would be bad if people found out his daughter's fiance is a woman, so he prepared a drug as a countermeasure that can physically make something grow.

But why does he think I wanted it? I have absolutely no memory of asking for such a thing.

But no matter how I think about it, the only ones this could be used on are Niku or Maiodoru… If it was for Maiodoru, there'd be no need to show it to me… so by process of elimination, it has to be Niku after all.

Still, to think there's a drug that can change one's sex… this world is amazing.

And the name is [Futanaru]. The person who first made this was definitely a hero.

—A certain calamity with a black ponytail and red eyes, the eternal seventeen-year-old, flashed through my mind.

No way, did Leona create this? For what purpose?

No, knowing her, she wouldn't even need a reason. "To mess with people" would be reason enough. Rather, the fact that it's a futanari drug instead of a proper sex-change potion is very Leona-like.

… Well, let's be cautious.

"Um, Kehma-sama?"

"Oh, sorry. I was just lost in thought."

"I see… Um, Kehma-sama. May I call you Father-in-Law from now on?"

Hmm? But it's almost been a month already, hasn't it?

"Mai-sama, surely you haven't forgotten that it was a temporary engagement?"

"Yes, which is why this magical drug was prepared to formally establish our connection with you, Kehma-sama. By having me become engaged to your daugh—… relative, Kuroinu-sama, everything will be complete."

"Haah… However, I expect you to honor the one-month deadline."

"So the one-month contract will end once… and we'll need to do it again? Then I'll save this drug for that time."

Saying that, Maiodoru put the magical drug away in her [Storage].

Well, it's not like I could hold onto it anyway, so that's fine. It seems like something that's hard to obtain and probably expensive.

If I carelessly accepted it, she'd surely use that as an excuse for various demands. If so, it's actually better that Maiodoru keeps it.

"So then, Father-in-Law."

"I don't recall allowing you to call me that yet, Mai-sama."

"Oh well… Kehma-sama."

I casually blocked her from calling me Father-in-Law and continued the conversation.

"Um, well… I'd like to stay here for a while. May I rent a room?"

"Sure, please choose whichever room you like at the inn. As long as you pay the accommodation fee and no other guest is staying in it, there's no problem."

"O-Okay! Thank you very much."

"Oh, but the suite currently has a guest, so it'll have to be a regular room. Please understand."

"Hmm, I see… But the suite's rates really are expensive, so I was going to pass on it anyway."

I'm definitely not letting you stay for free.

"Well, it's just until my house is ready."

"… Mai-sama, isn't your house in Tsuia?"

"Don't you think it would be nice to have a second residence near one's fiancé? The arrangements have already been made; it should be complete in a few days."

Seriously? So she's building one of the houses in the residential area then… There's no way to stop it.

… This is clearly Tsuia keeping tabs on me. Is surveillance their goal? I wonder how my taxes are handled. I'm not evading any, right? I should check later.

"Well then, I think I'll deepen my friendship with my fiancé. Right, Kuroinu-sama?"

"… Huh?"

"I'm saying let's get along."

"… Umm."

Niku looked at me… Having her act as a fiancé does bother me a bit, but I don't think there's anything wrong with two girls becoming friends normally.

"That's right. Well, getting along is fine. Just become normal friends… Oh, Mai-sama, I think you should refrain from doing improper things like earlier."

"U-Um. It was just a normal massage though…"

"If you must, it's better to do it in a room with a lockable door."

"Well, if you say so, Kehma-sama, I'll be careful."

I'd be in trouble if I accidentally peeked and was told to take responsibility.

… I-It's not like I want to look, okay? She's still a child.

Just then, Mai opened her mouth as if she'd just remembered something.

"By the way, Kehma-sama. Is there no church in this village?"

"A church?"

Come to think of it, Maiodoru attends the church of the White Goddess Faith, which worships Haku-san—the White Goddess.

There haven't been any requests for one so far, but maybe I should build one for the villagers' peace of mind?

"There isn't one in my village, but… yes. Maybe I should make one?"

"If you do, would it be for the White Goddess Faith? Golen Village is an adventurer's village, after all."

… The deity herself visits quite often though…

Wait, if I think about it that way, isn't my inn like a pilgrimage site? Could it become an object of worship?

If so, maybe I don't need to build one. Making one would be such a hassle…

"… I don't think I need to build a church for the White Goddess Faith specifically."

"In that case, how about a church for the Beddhism that you follow, Kehma-sama?"

… Beddhism… church…?

Something inside me burst open.

I… I have to build it. I have to enshrine it. This is a divine revelation.

"That's wonderful. I'll build it right away. I'll build it immediately. I'll start building it now."

"Eh, um, in that case, please allow the Tsuia Family to contribute to the construction costs."

"No, there's meaning in me building it myself. After all, it's Beddhism."

I don't want anyone meddling with it. Besides, frankly speaking, I'm the only follower of Beddhism. In other words, I'm the founder. I'll build it and increase the number of followers!

Viva sleep! In pursuit of supreme sleep! Prayer is sleeping! It's an easy prayer anyone can do for hours every day.

If it's for religious reasons, there's nothing wrong with sleeping in twice or taking afternoon naps, right?

This is huge, a major discovery. I absolutely must build it. Must build, shall build, build it? Enough, construction time!

"Well then, something urgent has come up, so I must take my leave."

"Oh, okay."

And with that, I left the room.

… I'm gonna build a church! A freaking HUGE one!