Only after receiving a firm promise to replace the Shadow Knight could we finally have a calm conversation.
"Do you know your current situation?"
"Uh... my situation? Hmm... not really."
"...I'll explain."
He pressed his temple and slowly continued.
To sum it up, it went something like this.
My exploits(?) were spreading inside and outside the castle without regard for borders, but those exploits were so bizarre and peculiar that they were being exaggerated and distorted on their own, reaching even the surrounding territories.
Among the common folk, I was called a prophet, an enlightened one, a vessel of the gods, an avatar... and so on. Just hearing the rumors made it seem like I'd already transcended humanity.
"Haha, none of that's even close."
"The problem is the Elixir."
"Elixir?"
Gulp!
I blew into the bottle and slumped back.
"Phew... I haven't said a word about the Elixir."
"That's not the issue. Rumors are spreading that you, who knows events from hundreds of years ago and has pierced through the secrets of the high demons, might know where the Elixir is hidden or how it's made."
"Heh~"
I let out a lazy sigh of disinterest, and Urtega's eyebrow twitched.
"Sigh... That's why we assigned a Shadow Knight."
"I see. Still, I don't want to hang around some dark-skinned brute, so send me a big-titted, big-assed beauty."
"...Mess with a Shadow Knight, and you won't get off lightly."
"Hahaha! No worries there. I've completely quit those sleazy, promiscuous habits. Hands off entirely."
Urtega looked utterly unconvinced, but he nodded slightly as if letting it slide for now.
"Anyway, avoid going out for the time being."
"Sure thing~ I was planning to anyway. My whole body's aching after all that hardship this time."
"...Alzen. So, do you know the Elixir's ingredients?"
"Of course. I do."
I answered without a hint of hesitation, and his piercing gaze bore into me.
I smirked slyly, watching his reaction.
"...Pretend I didn't hear that. You can go now."
"Thanks for your hard work, Dad. Your worthless son will take his leave~"
I sauntered out of the office with light steps, drawing stares from the waiting retainers.
Doubt, wariness, suspicion, envy, respect, goodwill... I smirked at the prickling gazes.
"Lord Alzen, in this war you were truly..."
"Great work, Lord Alzen."
"Lord Alzen, care to dine with me later?"
"Outta the way, everyone~ I'm heading to my room to get smashed and pass out. Oh, not the thing to say in front of you all working for the Duke's family? Heh..."
I pushed through them with a swagger and leisurely made my way to my room.
As I lounged on the sofa, enjoying booze and smokes to kill time, a silhouette of a prostrating figure slithered up from the table's shadow.
"Huh...? Drank too much?"
"I am Murel, assigned to guard and attend Lord Starnassila Alzen."
"Ah, the Shadow Knight. Hmm..."
I widened my bleary eyes and scanned her up and down.
Navy blue hair shining like the predawn sky, matching navy eyes.
Even with her expressionless face, her deep, defined features overflowed with allure.
And that body—curves so steep they dropped my jaw.
"Wow, those tits."
"..."
I couldn't help but blurt out in admiration.
Peaks bigger than her head... and her ass was even more ridiculous, like full moons... How does someone with that figure pull off being a Shadow Knight?
"You really a Shadow Knight?"
"Yes."
"Huh. What rank?"
"...First."
"Oho. Must've killed a ton of your fellow trainees then."
Her eyes flickered slightly.
As if wondering how I knew.
Man, those lashes are insanely long and thick. Like curtains.
"Anyway, not important... Murel, right? For now... huh?"
I couldn't tear my eyes from her face and figure, and she seemed to misunderstand.
She shot up and stripped naked on the spot.
"...Wow."
Not what I wanted, but I ogled anyway.
Her razor-honed, dizzyingly steep curves made my eyes dart up and down.
The large and small scars etched across her body stood out against her healthy skin and muscles, but to me, they weren't flaws.
If anything, more appealing.
And not a hair in sight down there... Natural? Or does she shave?
"You can take me freely without worrying about heirs."
Her voice snapped me back; I met her gaze.
"...Dad approved?"
"For the mission, I'll do anything."
"Hmm...?"
I sensed a slight evasion.
That old man wouldn't allow this, so it's her own initiative... What's she thinking?
"Eh, whatever... Put your clothes back on."
"...? Understood."
No expression, but she looked puzzled as she dressed.
"You usually wait in the shadows?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, that's kinda... From now on, come as a maid."
"Pardon...?"
"Guard and attendant duty, right? Maid outfit suits better."
"...Understood."
Can't say I had zero personal desire.
Booze poured by a beauty would taste better for sure.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Murel changed into the maid outfit right away and from then on stuck to my side without a break.
"Kuh... Eye candy heaven."
"...Thank you."
Same uniform as the other maids, but on her, it looked stunning.
Just eyeing her seductive beauty and killer curves made the booze go down easy.
Gulp gulp!
I nursed the bottle with her as an appetizer for a while, then exhaled hot breath and steadied my spinning head.
"Phew... So, guarding and attending solo—when do you sleep?"
"I can nap appropriately in spare moments, so no need to worry."
"...What? How?"
"I can sleep with eyes open. Or half-sleep, awake but resting."
"..."
"Trained to sense and react during sleep, so no issue guarding."
"Sleep lying down comfortably."
"I can't. Guarding and attending you is my duty."
"Fine... If you insist."
Gulp.
I chugged again and grabbed some snacks.
"Oh, right. How strong are you?"
"Can't quantify exactly, but by standard knight rankings, top-tier Aura User."
"Oho..."
Just below Sword Master... Dad really pulled out the stops.
"Good. Let's get along. Probably not much to do."
"Yes. Pleased to serve."
I sipped as she bowed politely.
Officially guard and attendant, but her duties surely included spying and reporting on me.
"..."
No plans to hide anything now anyway, so business as usual—but still soured the mood.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Despite appearances, I'm pretty busy.
I stumble around all day with booze and smokes, but in my head, I'm sifting through stories and settings, predicting future events.
...Okay, delusions, basically.
The Duke's family was supposed to be wiped out, but it's fine now, and with Urtega reaching demigod level, the future's shrouded—no peeking ahead.
For battles, I can't fight, so I've brainstormed ways to support and buff the protagonist... but honestly, doubtful.
'Origin World' is a tough game.
Basic plot: Hero chosen by holy sword gathers five artifacts, slays Demon God. Simple, but the journey's brutal.
Felt it playing; now guiding a clueless real-world hero to do it—without foreseeing the future...? Tsk, possible?
Frustration boiled.
To kill Demon God, need the holy sword.
If other ways existed, even trash Starnassila Alzen's body could've cheesed a build.
With Duke's backing now, not hard.
Regrettably, only protagonist can wield holy sword.
"Haa..."
Might need to brace for death and regression a few times.
A few times, yeah.
If it hits dozens, hundreds...
"...Damn."
Powerless tedium gripped me; I guzzled booze.
"..."
Murel stared blankly.
Her long, thick navy lashes like curtains, doll-like blank gaze.
Well, pretty enough—that suffices.
"Murel. Pour me a drink."
"Yes, Lord Alzen."
She approached at once, sat beside me, and poured with neat, restrained grace.
"Oh, nice."
Drinking from a glass instead of the bottle for once—taste seemed different.
Effect of a peerless beauty?
Requesting a hot Shadow Knight was genius.
"Phew..."
I downed it, felt the world spin, and leaned back.
"..."
Truth be told, demanding a beauty from Urtega was half-serious.
Other half: Poke back at his surveillance.
"Another?"
"Yeah, please."
"Yes."
Glug!
She leaned close—shoulders touching—tilting the bottle politely.
Warmth and sweet scent through her clothes.
"..."
Only facing her did I realize: 'Overwhelming beauty' calms the mind, melts stress.
Body heating up, endorphins flowing... Is Starnassila Alzen's body reacting on its own?
Whatever—better booze is a win, but no touching.
Accidental pregnancy? Couldn't handle that.
Kid from this body is Alzen's, not mine.
Living his life is tough; raising his kid too?
That'd be hell, plain and simple.
"..."
Mood soured hard.
Knock knock!
A firm knock echoed.
"...Who."
"Who is it? Please state your name."
Murel asked politely before I could, rising gracefully.
"..."
The more I see, the better she gets.
A mature, weathered voice from beyond.
"Butler Billet here. By Lord Starnassila Berga's order, come to escort Lord Starnassila Alzen."
Murel glanced at me.
"..."
Annoyance creased my face already; I nodded at the door.
She got it, opened up.
Billet entered, bowed to me immediately.
"Greetings, Lord Starnassila Alzen."
"Yeah... Brother called for me?"
"Yes."
"Where? Why?"
"Just ordered to bring you, Lord Alzen."
"Haa... Ugh, why drag people around?"
I thought, then jerked my chin at Billet.
"Tell him no."
"P-Pardon?"
"Tell him I'm not going."
"Uh, um... Understood. Then."
The butler bowed crisply and exited neatly.
Murel, ever poised, gave him a light nod of respect.
"Sigh... Murel. Sit, pour more."
"Yes, Lord Alzen."
As I resumed drinking, another knock soon followed.
I shook my head at rising Murel.
"Who?"
"Quino, aide to Lord Starnassila Berga."
"What for?"
"By Lord Starnassila Berga's order, to escort Lord Starnassila Alzen."
"Haa... For what?"
"...To discuss the information you possess."
"Aigoo... Tell him I don't know. It just came to me one day. Got it? Go."
"Uh, um... Ah, understood."
Quino hesitated outside, turned to leave, then spoke again.
"Lord Starnassila Alzen."
"What now?"
"Thank you. Thanks to you, my home village survived."
"...What bullshit is that?"
"If the Duke's family fell to evil demons again, my village inside the territory wouldn't have survived. Would've met the horrific end you warned me about before. So you're our village's hero."
"That's bullshit artistry. Quit yapping, relay the message."
"...Heh. Yes. Understood."
I sighed as his deliberately loud footsteps faded.
Moments later.
"Pardon the intrusion, Alzen."
"Insolent punk. Made you come yourself?"
The eldest son showed up personally.
And the second daughter too, for some reason.
"Agh..."
I clutched my forehead at the prescient throbbing headache.