The Heroines All Want to Kill Me

"Kania, how did the exam go?"

"Are you talking about that?"

After the final exams ended, as I was walking back to the dormitory, I threw a question at Kania, who was silently following beside me.

"As you know, I still remember what happened in the last cycle, right? So, of course I couldn't have missed it."

"...Yeah."

She replied with a look that seemed to say "Why are you asking this?" Then, she looked around, lowered her voice, and started to speak. "And, asking such a question outside like this, I don't think it's a wise move. After all, the Young Master is struggling even to walk right now..."

"...Got it, sorry."

I interrupted her, leaned against the wall, and gasped for breath as I murmured, "It's just that, this is one of the things I've always wanted to say since I made friends... I just took this opportunity to say it."

Hearing this, Kania let out a soft sigh and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry. But in this situation, if the Young Master is discovered by anyone else, it may be irreparable..."

"No, it just shows that you're thinking of me so much, doesn't it? Thank you, Kania."

As I answered, I quickened my pace and hurriedly took out a handkerchief from my pocket and started to cough.

"Cough! Cough!!"

In an instant, the handkerchief was stained bright red.

"Kania, help me find a handkerchief with automatic cleaning magic."

I stuffed the handkerchief back into my pocket, trying to act calm, and put forward my most urgent need at the moment to Kania, who was quietly watching me.

"I'll prepare the most high - end one for you."

After Kania replied like this, before we knew it, we had arrived in front of my dormitory. As she opened the door, she said in a serious tone.

"Ah, there are two important things to report."

"...Really?"

Seeing Kania's unusual expression, I also became serious and sat on the edge of the bed to listen to her attentively.

"First... we seem to have found a clue about the 'Space - Transfer Scroll'."

"...Really!?"

Hearing such exciting news from her mouth, my eyes sparkled, and I asked eagerly.

"So, which damned guy swapped it?"

Kania showed a slightly embarrassed expression and shook her head.

"No, we haven't found the person who swapped it."

"Then what is it?"

"We found the source of the scroll."

Hearing this, I was a bit disappointed, but then I thought that the source of the scroll was a rather important clue, so I cheered up again and asked her to explain in detail.

Kania gently tapped her notebook with a fountain pen and continued.

"Do you remember the time you asked me to track down the 'Magic Artisan'?"

"Why bring that up all of a sudden? Wait, does that mean..."

"Yes, recently I heard a rumor that there's a person in the back alley selling scrolls who matches the appearance you described."

Hearing this, I couldn't help frowning, and Kania lowered her voice and added.

"And most of those magic scrolls are fake, especially the space - transfer scrolls."

"...How elaborate are those scrolls?"

"It's said that only a precise analysis in the Magic Tower can identify them. It's understandable that Miss Ariana was deceived."

"This is driving me crazy..."

I felt a splitting headache. The shopkeeper, who had never used any fraud on me, how could he be peddling fake scrolls everywhere? And the level of craftsmanship was such that even the Magic Tower had to admit it. I already knew that his skills were so superb that ordinary magic item makers couldn't hold a candle to him... But since the Magic Tower had recognized it, things were quite different.

'No wonder... Although he was defeated, from the moment he could fight Isollette with the magic items he carried, I felt something was off...'

Isollette, although she is now a teacher in the academy, she indeed has the potential to become the next Sword Saint. To be able to fight her to a certain extent, even if defeated... Sure enough, the shopkeeper is no ordinary back - alley merchant.

"...Do your best to win over that shopkeeper. Bribe him with money if necessary. If money doesn't work, use force."

"Understood."

I needed to figure out the shopkeeper's purpose of swindling with fake scrolls everywhere, why he didn't target me, and where his extraordinary strength came from. Therefore, I gave Kania a strict order and then continued to listen to her report.

"The second report is about... the punishment decision made by the royal family and the Order regarding the Young Master."

"...Punishment?"

I tilted my head and asked, and Kania slightly frowned and replied.

"Yes, although you did it because of'mind control'... but the fact that you were on the side of the Demon King is undeniable, and the public opinion across the country can't be ignored, so this is just a punishment for show."

"...So what's the punishment?"

I asked Kania with a bit of unease, and she sighed and replied.

"It's mandatory volunteer service at the nursery we established."

"This is insane."

Hearing this, I couldn't help cursing and hurriedly asked Kania.

"The relationship between me, my family, and the nursery has been completely severed, right?"

"Yes, it has been perfectly handled. As long as the Young Master doesn't reveal the truth personally, it won't be discovered."

Hearing this, I was glad that I wouldn't die from my blood boiling. Suddenly, I frowned and asked.

"But why... exactly the orphanage we established?"

"Probably because the largest orphanage in the empire currently was established by the Young Master, and it's located in the capital, and the difficulty of the work is also appropriate, so this decision was made."

"...I see."

Fortunately, listening to Kania, it seemed that the information hadn't been leaked. Also, if the information had been leaked, I would have been dead already.

"Then, when does the volunteer activity start?"

"From today."

"...Uh."

I was sighing in relief when I heard that I had to do volunteer work from today, and I couldn't help frowning and holding my head.

"My body is already in so much pain... and now I have to do volunteer work..."

"...However, Young Master. Are you really okay?"

As I was complaining about the soreness all over my body, Kania asked with a worried expression.

"In case... if volunteer work is considered a 'good deed'..."

"...Don't worry about that."

I showed her a reassuring expression and opened the'skill panel' that I hadn't opened since the freshman welcome party.

[Permanent Debuff: The Destiny of the False Villain]

Description) Whenever one's 'False Villain' identity is exposed, vitality and lifespan will decrease. (Special stacks only reduce vitality.)

[Stacks: 2 Special Stacks: 1]

I silently stared at the debuff window, which had an additional special stack description at some point, and answered Kania in a low voice.

"As long as I try to be lazy, not cooperate at all, and not show any signs of reflection, I won't be punished even if I do volunteer work."

"But..."

"It's okay. Anyway, the punishments from the royal family and the church are just for show. As long as I properly hold the bottom line..."

"...Miss Pelosh will be in charge of guiding the Young Master's volunteer activities."

I was trying to soothe the worried - looking Kania, but when I heard this, I couldn't help opening my mouth wide.

"The Order assigned Miss Pelosh as your counterpart to discipline the Young Master. Therefore, from now on, the Young Master will have to spend a certain amount of time with Miss Pelosh every day."

"Ugh..."

"And after the volunteer service, you also have to go to the building of the Sun God Order and pray with Miss Pelosh..."

"...Is there any way to change this punishment?"

Considering that there would be many headache - causing problems if I had to be tied to Pelosh for activities now, I eagerly asked Kania, but she shook her head repeatedly and replied:

"...The current public opinion environment is not good. If we intervene rashly, the situation may worsen."

"That's true..."

In the end, I realized that I had no choice. Frowning tightly again due to the shortness of breath, I said, "Well, I'll take a nap first. Wake me up when it's time for the volunteer work."

"...I'll wake you up in 30 minutes."

"Okay, then... wait, 30 minutes later!?"

I was slowly closing my eyes when I was startled by the time of 30 minutes and hurriedly asked.

Kania showed a helpless expression and explained, "Even if it's just for show, punishment is still punishment... The time is set."

"Sigh... Everything has been going wrong lately... Cough! Cough!!"

Hearing her words, I closed my eyes tightly, murmured a few words, and suddenly started coughing.

Kania gently wiped the corner of my mouth with a handkerchief and said, "Recently, you seem to be coughing up blood more often than spitting it up."

"It seems so... Cough!"

I was about to answer her, but I couldn't help coughing again. Looking at Kania, who was covered in blood on her face and body with a guilty look, I said, "I'm sorry, Kania... I can do it myself. You go first... Ugh...!"

"...A servant is there for times like this, Young Master."

But Kania seriously wiped the corner of my mouth again, looked down at the handkerchief that was already soaked in blood, and said, "You still have to go to the volunteer activity. Although it can only last about a day and the effect will be reduced... but I still personally applied the automatic cleaning magic to the Young Master's handkerchief."

"Thank you, Kania."

I smiled in response to her thoughtfulness, slowly closed my eyes, and whispered softly, "You really are the best..."

However, before I could close my eyes completely, I couldn't resist the overwhelming drowsiness and fell asleep quietly under Kania's gentle touch.

"...No matter what the following words are, they are too much of a compliment to me."

As my consciousness was about to dissipate, Kania's murmured words with a hint of sadness seemed to faintly reach my ears.

.....

"...Could it be that you went through another trial?"

"No, I slept soundly this time."

Half an hour later, Kania woke me up and asked worriedly. I smiled and answered her.

'...So it seems?'

Of course, that was just a white lie. The trial didn't torment me with painful or happy scenes, but locked me in a dark and enclosed space that I hated the most.

"Then, Young Master, please be careful."

"Okay."

Although my physical condition hadn't improved at all, I still forced a bright smile, waved goodbye to her, and then pushed open the front door and stepped out.

"...Hello."

"..."

At this time, Pelosh with a cold expression appeared in my field of vision.

"It seems that your physical condition is not good. So..."

Pelosh sized me up for a moment, unconsciously released her divine power, and walked towards me, but then stopped in place.

"No, this is what you deserve. So don't expect me to treat you."

"...I didn't say I wanted you to treat me."

I replied with a bitter smile to her firm words, and Pelosh's expression suddenly became a bit complicated.

[Pelosh Astrad's Current Emotions: Hatred / Guilt / Hesitation]

Looking at Pelosh like this, I couldn't help worrying whether the kind - hearted her was worrying about me again, so I hurriedly used the'mind - reading' skill. Fortunately, it was just my overthinking. However, from the fact that 'guilt' appeared in Pelosh's emotions... Sure enough, she still has the qualifications to be a Saintess.

Leaving aside her hatred for me, with her eyes that are proficient in healing techniques, she should be able to see at a glance how broken my body is. However, she is now in a position where she has defeated me and is ready to kill me. Therefore, it's really difficult to ask her to treat me.

That is to say, although the person in pain in front of her is the me she hates deeply, she feels guilty because she can't help.

"T - then let's go..."

As expected, she deliberately avoided my gaze, said in a trembling voice, and started walking along the corridor.

"...Cough."

"Uh."

I tried to cough as carefully as possible, for fear of being heard by Pelosh, but seeing her suddenly tremble in the distance, it was obvious that she had noticed.

"...This is really troublesome."

It seems that the skill of "Increased Life Recovery Speed" must be bought.

.....

"Ah, hello..."

As soon as Pelosh and I entered the door, a female staff member who was working inside came up, sweating profusely. Looking at her expression, she seemed to be under quite a lot of pressure. Also, from her position, it's no wonder she's like this when two important figures from the empire suddenly come to work in the unit where she works.

"Hello! I'm Pelosh! Are you the owner of this nursery?"

"Ah, that... actually..."

"Wow... This place is so spacious and comfortable... It's several times larger than the nursery run by the Order..."

Pelosh shook hands warmly with the female staff member, then her eyes sparkled, and she started wandering around the nursery.

"Um, Mr. Frey? That is..."

"...What's wrong?"

I was staring blankly at her when the female staff member beside me spoke in a trembling voice, and I responded casually.

"Uh... You have to change your clothes..."

"No."

Seeing me answer impatiently, the female staff member hurriedly bowed and explained.

"P - please. We only received the notice from the church yesterday, and we were really caught off - guard... If Mr. Frey can't complete the volunteer service well, our budget may be cut..."

"...What does that mean?"

Hearing the news that the budget might be cut, Frey frowned and asked. The female staff member bowed again and replied:

"Y - yes... That is to say, our orphanage has an anonymous donor... The donation amount is quite substantial..."

"And then?"

"The person who can donate such a large amount of money must have a close relationship with the royal family or the church... It would be disastrous to offend them in this situation..."

Listening to her words, I couldn't help thinking that as an ordinary female staff member, she was quite smart, so I replied.

"This isn't my part - time job."

"B - but... If that's the case, the children in the orphanage may be on the streets again!"

She seemed very restless, and suddenly closed her eyes tightly and let out a cry.

"What's your name?"

I had a good impression of her, so I asked for her name. The female staff member secretly observed my expression and replied.

"...My name is Ruby."

"Ruby..."

I repeated her name several times to remember it. Just then, she suddenly knelt down in front of me and started sobbing.

"P - please! Please save our orphanage...!"

"What, what are you doing?"

After a while, she grabbed my leg and started pleading, attracting the attention of everyone in the orphanage.

"You! What are you doing now!"

Just as I was looking at the sobbing Ruby blankly, Pelosh, who was walking around in the orphanage, frowned and walked towards me.

"...What?"

"Making a kind - hearted staff member cry...! She didn't do anything wrong..."

Then, Pelosh, who was standing in front of me, seemed about to give me a fierce lecture, but...

"...Huh?"

She suddenly trembled all over and started looking around.

"...What's wrong?"

She looked quite uneasy, and I couldn't help asking with a bit of worry. Just then, Pelosh, who had been looking around, suddenly frowned, grabbed my arm, and started walking in a certain direction.

"...W - what? What are you doing?"

Before long, Pelosh found an empty warehouse, took me in, and then stared at me and said.

"What tricks are you up to again!"

"...What?"

"O Sun God in the sky, have mercy on us and save us from the abyss of evil..."

Immediately after, she started chanting spells and released her divine power. The divine power that emanated from her body gradually condensed and then poured towards me like a tide.

"I can't stand it anymore! Prepare to die! Minion of the Demon King!"

Pelosh released her divine power for a while, then gasped for breath and started looking me up and down.

"...Why are you okay at all?"

But seeing me frowning, completely unharmed, she showed a confused expression, approached me, and started poking various parts of my body with her fingers.

"That's strange... I clearly felt that aura..."

"What are you doing?"

I was so angry being messed with like this that I pushed her away and wanted to leave the room, but Pelosh grabbed my arm and said in a stern tone, "From now on, you have to answer my questions seriously."

"...Okay."

Because my condition was really bad, I didn't have the energy to argue with her, so I perfunctorily agreed and started listening to her.

"What's the most dangerous operation of the Demon King's Army recently?"

But when I heard the words from her mouth, I could only laugh bitterly.

"D - don't laugh! I know you're from the Demon King's Army!"

"...I see."

"That's right! Although I don't understand why you're still okay after being hit by my divine power... but anyway, you must be from the Demon King's Army!"

As Pelosh spoke, she shot divine power towards various parts of my body and started glaring at me.

"Forget it, let's go to the volunteer activity..."

"Then answer me this question. What on earth is going on underground in the Order?"

"...What?"

Pelosh, who was shooting divine power towards various parts of my body, saw me pick up the broom in the warehouse and hurriedly threw out the question.

"What's that..."

[Main Quest Triggered!]

I looked at Pelosh, who suddenly asked about the secrets underground in the Order, with a puzzled expression. All of a sudden, a quest window popped up in front of me.

[Main Quest: The Secrets of the Sun God Order]

- Quest Content: Uncover the secrets of the Sun God Order and dispel the darkness.

[Reward: Increase the awakening degree of the Brave's equipment]

[Failure Penalty: The death of Pelosh Astrad]

"...If it's about negotiation, perhaps I can help."

After reading the content of the quest window, I quickly changed my words. Indeed, I didn't even have a chance to catch my breath.