Chapter 260 - Growing Worse

And so, the events of the morning after dealing with the bandits.

Raphtalia: “Naofumi-sama! I’m home~!”

Raphtalia opened the door and entered the house.

We met just a few days ago, but feeling like we haven’t seen each other in a while is because we’re now in the village, or because we’re in the house I live in with Raphtalia, huh.

I can’t tell.

Naofumi: “Hm…ah, Raphtalia, welcome home.”

Firo: “Onee-chan, welcome home~”

Kiel: “Ah, welcome home Raphtalia-chan~”

Imia: “Welcome home, Raphtalia-san.”

Gaelion: “Kyua!”

Raphtalia looked around in wonder at my surroundings.

It’s not a reaction I see often.

Raphtalia: “It’s gotten worse than before!”

Raphtalia exclaimed in astonishment right after returning.

By the way, on the bed was Firo and Gaelion, as well as the loinclothed dog and Imia.

Raphtalia: “What’s the meaning of this, Naofumi-sama!”

Naofumi: “Ah, I invited Firo to my bed as a countermeasure against Atla in the beginning, but Firo caused a problem after a short time so I had Kiel and Imia stand guard instead.”

Raphtalia: “Sadina onee-san!”

Raphtalia questioned Sadina, who was lying on the other bed with Atla.

Sadina: “As I promised, I haven’t let Atla-chan into Naofumi-chan’s bed.”

Raphtalia: “That’s not what I’m asking about!”

Raphtalia staggered and then leaned against the wall.

Is she alright?

Naofumi: “Are you tired from training? You’d better rest well. I can cast recovery magic if you like. Recently I’ve worked out a way to increase its effects.”

Raphtalia: “It’s not that!”

Raphtalia was in denial.

I was thinking of showing her the newly thought up Liberation-type magic though.

Ren: “Naofumi, what’s up? What happened?”

Hearing the commotion, Ren and Rishia and Itsuki exited their temporary house.

Their response is good.

It seems they’ll be able to cope when an incident occurs.

Raphtalia: “…Why are the Sword and Bow Heroes here!”

Naofumi: “Huh? I haven’t told you?”

She came out from the Castle as if it was natural so I thought she knew, but she didn’t know?

To begin with, she should have heard that I was cooperating with Motoyasu to protect the Castle Town but… ah, that was after Raphtalia broke out, huh.

Speaking of which, Motoyasu views Raphtalia as a pig so they can’t hold any conversations.

Because Raphtalia is female.

Ren: “I had some growth as a human being, and came to work in Naofumi’s place after I thought about fighting for the sake of world but…”

Even I would like you to hurry up and be independent.

Saying ‘hey, hey’, he came to reside in my village for some reason.

Well, it might be fine like this in terms of management.

Fohl: “Atla!”

Fohl came into the room and embraced Atla.

Fohl: “Nii-chan finally came home!”

Atla: “Please stop, Onii-sama, Naofumi-sama is watching.”

Fohl: “Hmph! Now that I’ve returned, don’t go thinking you can continue as you have been doing!”

Naofumi: “Ah, yes yes.”

It looks like Fohl’s really glad to officially be back, that Sis-Con.

He’s actually crying. So he liked Atla that much.

Huh, Fohl is alright.

Raphtalia: “Naofumi-sama, please explain!”

Naofumi: “A lot of things happened.”

Raphtalia: “A one-liner! Aren’t those just some convenient words. If you don’t explain properly, I won’t be accountable for what happens.”

Naofumi: “Ask the person himself.”

At my reply, Ren started talking about being deceived by Witch and then being defeated by us, which led to him coming here for rehabilitation.

How Rishia defeated Itsuki in the same way and Itsuki being in recuperation was also explained.

Because the current Itsuki has become a ‘Yes Man’ and will obey everything that is said.

Raphtalia: “Sigh… I understand the circumstances. Come to think of it, such a terrible thing happened in the village so it’s a likely situation.”

Naofumi: “Is there really such a change?”

Raphtalia: “There is! Hasn’t the village’s surroundings become a dense forest! Moreover, there’s also a farm nearby with Filorials that look like Firo!”

Naofumi: “It is like that, now that you mention it.”

Raphtalia: “It really does look like a lot of things happened while I was away.”

Naofumi: “I suppose.”

Come to think of it, even though it’s only been a month and a half since Raphtalia left for training, I feel like there’s been a lot of fighting.

Bringing down each of the three heroes is still fresh in my mind.

Some of it can be called beating, but there are also some shady things mixed in.

It can be taken as lengthy too… or is it short, it’s been a series of battles day after day.

Sadina: “Now then, Raphtalia-chan’s return means Onee-chan has completed her duty.”

Naofumi: “That’s right.”

Raphtalia: “It’s disappointing that you didn’t understand what I meant, Sadina Onee-san.”

As far as it goes, was she helpful?

Well, Atla didn’t enter my bed.

Sadina: “And so, Raphtalia-chan, I’ll be taking Naofumi-chan~”

Raphtalia: “What are you saying!”

Naofumi: “What are you saying!”

Sadina: “Er… I am… seriously aiming for Naofumi-chan?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Sadina calmly answered while swaying.

Stop it, that’s disgusting

Sadina: “Perhaps Naofumi-chan prefers this human form? Then shall Onee-chan gallantly take care of you in my human form?”

Raphtalia: “Sadina Onee-san…… are these your true feelings?”

Sadina: “That’s right~”

Atla: “Then now that Raphtalia san has returned, you can finally start the fight.”

Atla asked for confirmation as if it was a matter of course.

This wasn’t a preparatory period!

I can tell you like me from your attitude but all your heads are just filled with flowers.

Especially Raphtalia.

Sadina: “That’s right. I did as promised with Atla, and I waited until Raphtalia-chan returned. Now then, won’t you assault Naofumi-chan together with Onee-chan.”

Raphtalia’s expression turned pale before my eyes and she turned to face me.

Raphtalia: “Naofumi-sama… could you possibly have …… had a drinking competition with Sadina Onee-san?”

Naofumi: “Yeah, we did.”

Raphtalia bent back and facepalmed as if she received a shock.

What’s with that?

Raphtalia: “Naofumi-sama… Sadina has been telling the villagers about a certain rule for a long time now.”

Naofumi: “Sigh…”

Kiel also nodded in agreement.

What the hell.

Raphtalia: “Sadina Onee-san said ‘My life companion must be someone who can drink more than me! If I meet someone like that, I’ll never let them go so everyone should be prepared~'”

Naofumi: “Hmm…”

Kiel: “If Sadina nee-chan is designating Nii-chan as her future husband to that extent, then Nii-chan must have had a drinking competition and won or so everyone in the village has been thinking.”

Naofumi: “Come again?”

Well it’s true I had a complete victory in the drinking competition against Sadina.

Eh? So that’s the reason Sadina wanted me as a husband?

I thought it was just a prank.

When I looked towards Sadina, she was in her human form, holding her cheeks with her hands and looking bashful.

Sadina: “I really enjoyed the days of watching Naofumi-chan’s sleeping face every night.”

Ugh… not just Atla, the perverts are increasing!

I’m not interested in that.

Kiel: “Nii-chan, how did you win against Sadina nee-chan?”

Naofumi: “I just ate a Lukor fruit?”

Kiel & Slaves: “””Of course…”””

Kiel and the other village-born slaves nodded unanimously.

It seems Imia also nodded.

Was it well-known because Sadina played the role of Big Sister in the village?

Naofumi: “It was shown sometime when we went peddling, I think.”

Kiel: “Eh? That was the Lukor Fruit? I thought it was a sign of welcome.”

It’s about the guy who made me eat Lukor Fruit as a countermeasure against impostors calling themselves the Hero of the Shield to become famous.

As expected, it seems there are no other guys who can safely eat Lukor Fruit apart from me.

It was thought to be some kind of reception and a tool to judge imposters.

Itsuki: “…I see, Naofumi-san is an ability wielder of Intoxication Neutralization. Everything points to that.”

Itsuki just said something incomprehensible.

Ren and I slowly turned to face Itsuki,

Naofumi: “Ability wielder?”

Ren: “Was there such a system?”

I have abilities that resemble a resistance against abnormal status conditions.

Can I say it’s like that?

Unfortunately, I don’t recall an ability to neutralise intoxication.

Itsuki: “No, that’s not it. Us dimension travellers only attained these abilities before we came to this world.”