Published: September 4, 2025
※2/11 Typo corrections made.
※10/17 Revised.
This is Satou. People have various values, but regardless of the differences, the saying "the grass is always greener on the other side" seems to exist in every country. Of course, that applies even in another world.
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"Oh? 'Tempura,' is it?"
At the banquet hall, the hero’s first words, after appearing with a group of beautiful women, were exactly that. Deliberately saying only the word "Tempura" in Japanese—how sneaky.
"No, this is a dish called tempura. It’s a hidden specialty known to those familiar with the northern city of the Duke's territory."
"Hey, Satou."
"I'm honored the honorable hero remembers my name, but since it stretches the last syllable, I'd appreciate it if you called me Satou."
"I see, my bad. Satou."
"No, no, please don’t worry about it."
I don’t mind the hero knowing I’m Japanese when I’m Satou, but being exposed like this in front of everyone is troublesome.
The hero took the plate of tempura that Lulu handed over.
"Wow, I’m surprised. I’m used to seeing beauties daily, but I’ve never seen a girl as stunning as you. Wish I had met you five years earlier."
Even the hero showed some restraint by not saying the "five years earlier" part out loud. He probably didn’t think I was lip-reading.
Lulu’s face turned pale in public, insulted by the veiled sarcasm. The hero seemed to be quietly scolded by Lady Ringlande or someone like that. Although he smiled on the surface, the two people flanking him didn’t share that smile.
After lightly patting Lulu’s head, he asked her to go get some ingredients from the kitchen.
I’ll make sure to follow up properly later.
When Arisa returned to take Lulu’s place, the hero froze upon seeing her.
"My honey!"
"Well, honorable hero Hayato, it’s been a while."
Arisa spoke in a proper tone, aware of the time and place. Still, "honey"? Seriously?
Lady Ringlande and Princess Merryest quietly confirmed among themselves whether they knew Arisa. The other members of the hero’s party seemed less interested in Hayato’s romantic history and were busy savoring the tempura and aspic. Isn’t this supposed to be a hero harem?
"I’m glad you’re alive, Princess Arisa."
Voices from the sidelines murmured, "Princess?" and "Who is that maid talking to the hero?"
"I thought you had died caught up in the political upheaval—"
The hero’s expression froze as he cheerfully confronted Arisa.
Uh oh, I have a bad feeling.
I smoothly adjusted my position so the table would be between me and the hero.
"Hey, Satou! Have you forgotten the spirit of YES to Lolitas, NO touch!"
So he saw Arisa’s title, "Satou’s slave." Still, I’m not that interested in younger girls to the extent that such a principle is necessary.
"Hero, what are you talking about?"
"Indeed, it was Satou-sama who saved me from a dire situation. The reason I am a slave is because when the Yowalk Kingdom invaded, they cast a compulsion (geass) spell on me."
From the part about being a slave onwards, she whispered so only the hero could hear.
The hero whispered to Princess Merryest and the cleric Loleiya to confirm, but both shook their heads. Even the hero party can’t break the compulsion (geass)? How strong must it be? I had the chief shrine maiden check through Sera before, and she also said it couldn’t be broken.
In the end, Loleiya even used truth judgment magic to prove that Arisa had not been touched. Technically, she shouldn’t have needed to undergo truth judgment magic, but she agreed because she didn’t want to be misunderstood as a lolicon.
"I see, you haven’t touched her! Man, looks like we can drink some good sake together."
"I’m honored."
If he went on all night talking about the charm of young girls, I’d probably throw up.
There seemed to be much more to talk about, but I couldn’t monopolize the hero, so we only promised to meet again later. I didn’t get another chance to speak with the hero that day.
Earlier, some women who had been clinging to the prince tried to cozy up to the hero but were swiftly driven off by Lady Ringlande and Princess Merryest.