Chapter 161 - High Priest Philia
Philia's expression had returned to that of the cold-hearted High Priest.
A fighting force balanced on a razor's edge with danger.
...I have no choice but to manage this somehow.
I used the recoil of my legs to stand up, then grasped Philia's hand.
"I owe you one. It helps if you're willing to lend me your strength."
"...Please don't misunderstand. I simply want to kill Erin; it's not as though I've become your ally."
"Huh?"
"This is a temporary truce. Once Erin is dealt with, next I will kill you, Hero-dono. And then I will die as well."
"You sure don't waver."
Her resolve to die with me seems firm. How on earth am I supposed to persuade her? I released Philia's hand with a strained smile.
"...So, where is Erin right now?"
"She went shopping. I asked her to get a bunch of things... well, how should I put it, since Erin is unfamiliar with the culture of this world, I think it'll take her time to buy everything. Her apparent age will definitely be a bottleneck, yeah."
"What on earth did you ask her to get?"
"...Food and stuff. Anyway, I don't think she'll be back right away. That said, we can't exactly take it too easy either."
"Hmm."
Philia placed a finger to her lips, deep in thought.
"What should we do? Wait for Erin to return here and ambush her with the two of us, or escape and regroup?"
"Isn't it reckless to fight in a mage's home base? Who knows what traps there might be. Let's leave."
"...A sound judgment. Very well."
Then first—we both simultaneously fixed our gazes on the front door.
"It would be nice if we could get out through there."
"She probably won't let us out that easily."
Philia advanced down the hallway and gently opened the front door.
However, beyond it was not the outside, but the first room where I had been sleeping. The door that had been beside the bed was connected to the front door.
A residential structure that defies the laws of physics, impossible in reality.
"I figured something like this would happen."
Apparently, exiting the front door of this house sends you to another room.
If that's the case, how about going out a window? I leaned out of a nearby window, but this too led to the first room.
It's a room crafted by manipulating space, designed so you can never leave again.
"Erin was able to go outside. There must be some kind of mechanism."
"She might have constructed the spell formula so that only that girl can leave. Or perhaps, one cannot exit without following the correct procedure."
"What should we do?"
"That is what we will think about now."
"...I'm going to get changed first. I can't think straight while half-naked."
I opened the front door and proceeded to the first room, gathering the clothes that had been scattered around the bed.
After hurriedly changing, I pulled my smartphone out of my pants.
The current time was revealed to be 4 AM. That's fine—but I can't connect to anything.
I can't even browse the internet.
When I launched a social media app, I saw messages from Angelica and Ayako-chan from hours ago. Where are you now, are you okay, what happened? Lines of text expressing concern for me were lined up, but as long as I'm in this room, I can't send a reply.
I had expected it, but this means calling for outside help is also impossible.
I shoved the smartphone deep into my pocket and returned to Philia.
"Did you figure anything out?"
"..."
"Philia?"
"...Ah, Hero-dono. Good timing. Would you mind firing a magic spell at my head?"
"...Should that be lightly? Or strongly?"
"With all your might, strongly."
"Got it."
I don't know what Philia's aim is, but she must have thought of something. I focused magical power into my right hand and fired a light bullet with full force.
The compressed bullet of light struck Philia directly, and with an explosive sound, her cranium burst open.
Brain matter scattered, and the backspray of blood splattered onto my face with a splat-splat-splat.
"Philia?"
"..."
"Philia? ...Hey, Philia? Philia!?"
And then, the world went dark.
A sensation of floating, accompanied by a physiological disgust, began, and the world was rewritten.
By being killed by another person, Philia's time reversal skill had activated.
My consciousness and Philia's were sent back to the world of several minutes prior, and death was overturned.
Philia stood before the front door as if nothing had happened, looking at me with an uninjured form.
"...What was that about just now?"
"How was it, Hero-dono? I had the sensation of the light bullet penetrating my skull, but did it open a hole in the wall?"
"...No... I don't think it did. So that means physically destroying the room is also difficult. ...Don't tell me you had me fire magic just to confirm that? ...If so, there was no need to deliberately hit you with it..."
"You know the performance of my skill, don't you? By being killed by someone, I can return to the world of several minutes prior together with the one who killed me—an extraordinary time shift. ...Therefore, by having you kill me every few minutes, only we can obtain a nearly infinite amount of time for deliberation. Think for a few minutes, then kill me. The two of us return to a few minutes prior. Think for a few minutes again, then kill me. The two of us return to a few minutes prior. By repeating this, we can formulate as many strategies as we like before Erin returns."
"No, that's way too inhumane."
I mean, just seeing the sight of your head bursting open once is enough to cause trauma.
And that idea is completely something a villain would come up with. It's not a method a Hero and a female priest should be taking.
"Can't we go with a slightly more decent method? I hate the idea of watching you die over and over."
"...You're as soft as ever."
Even as she says that, is it just my imagination that her face looks somewhat happy?
"Well, fine. If it comes down to it and time runs out, and Erin returns, we simply have to fight her together."
"I don't really want to fight her either, you know. It seems like it would be endless."
"Stop your grumbling and how about we first investigate the room? Your combat instincts seem to have dulled considerably."
"It can't be helped, I've been living a part-time job life for nearly a year."
"Wherever did that Boy Hero go, who was as sharp as a drawn sword..."
"The kind older sister priest I admired has also gone missing. In her place, a seriously dangerous splatter sister has shown up."
While exchanging these prickly complaints, the two of us crouched down.
When trapped in a dungeon, first, you investigate the floor. That's a fundamental for adventurers. Whether it's a pitfall, an escape route, or a rare item, most things are lying around at your feet.
"This kinda reminds me of when the two of us used to adventure together."
"...I've already forgotten about that."
Philia got down on all fours and brought her face close to the shoe removal area. Her well-fleshed buttocks were pointed in my direction, a very alluring sight at first glance.
But because the lines of an adult-sized paper diaper were showing through her clothes, everything was ruined.
"Ah, right, Philia."
"What is it?"
"Inside your diaper, isn't it pretty full? It looks kind of swollen."
"D-Diaper!?"
Letting out a startled cry, Philia turned around sharply.
"Isn't it uncomfortable? You should take it off. It looks like you might get a rash."
"...What are you trying to do, shaming a lady like this?"
"I'm saying this out of kindness, you know. ...If you want, shall I take off your diaper and wash around your crotch for you?"
"...Are you serious?"
"Because, you know, it was written in the remarks column that you find joy in having me change your diaper."
I thought that if I could raise her Affection Level with this, she might properly become a companion.
"...What nonsense... In what world is there an adult woman who is pleased to have her personal care attended to by a younger man? Are you trying to mock me?"
"Even as you say that, you're spreading your legs in an M-shape and putting your hands between your knees. It looks to me like you're just wanting me to take off your diaper."
"...!? This is...!?"
"..."
Surprisingly, Philia herself was also startled.
That movement just now might be something ingrained in her body, unrelated to her own will.
"...Philia, you..."
"...No... it's not... Yes, Erin! Erin must have tampered with my mind!"
"I see... Erin really is a bad person, huh."
"Yes. She is truly troublesome."
Incidentally, Philia still had her legs spread wide open even now.
"Well then, let's try Dispel. Here. This should have erased the brainwashing Erin cast on you."
"...I suppose I should offer my thanks."
Philia hung her head, enduring the humiliation with a truly pained expression.
...No.
Isn't this not enduring shame, but enduring the urge to have me wash her crotch...?
If that's the case, isn't there an opening to exploit there?
"Come to think of it, this place does have a bathroom. It even has a shower."
"...And what of it?"
"Having your crotch washed using that would feel absolutely amazing, wouldn't it? Inside your diaper, it's all sweaty and stuffy, right?"
"!"
"You put soap on your fingers and scrub-a-dub-dub. I think it would be quite refreshing."
"...If Hero-dono absolutely insists on doing it, I have no reason to refuse. Please, feel free to wash my body as much as you like."
Well, it can't be helped that you're interested in a woman's body, Philia said, acting composed as she swept her hair up.
Though I hate to repeat myself, Philia still had her legs spread in an M-shape, showing her diaper to me.
"Aren't you misunderstanding something?"
"...Huh?"
"It's not that I want to do it. The one who chooses is you."
"...What do you..."
"Right now, you can't make the excuse that you're brainwashed. You're one hundred percent the sane Philia. That's right, isn't it? That's exactly why it has meaning. If you continue to lend me your hand from now on, and formally become my companion... I'll hand-wash your crotch as many times as you want. Every day will be a manual bidet."
"...C-Can I possibly betray The Kingdom on such terms...!?"
"It would be unprecedented, I'm sure. I've never heard of an adult woman in a position of standing switching sides because she wants a man to take care of her personal needs."
"R-Right? There's no way I could agree to such a deal."
"What, you can just think of it as a bit of early nursing care. Actually, considering your real age, in that other world, you're almost at the age where your legs and back start to weaken."
"Don't mention my age..."
Philia is slightly teary-eyed. That was a pretty nasty bit of sexual harassment just now. I'm reflecting on it too.
"Remember this. The one who chooses is you."
I walked around the room and rummaged through the chest of drawers. If it comes down to taking off Philia's diaper, a change of underwear is necessary. Isn't there something?
If Erin built this house from scratch, it would be hopeless, but since it has the atmosphere of an existing private house that was remodeled, I have a feeling we might find something if we search.
"...I knew it."
I found what I was looking for.
Panties with a light blue stripe pattern—so-called striped panties.
Apparently, the original resident of this house was a teenage girl. A high school student living alone, perhaps?
I hooked the striped panties, which even a teenager would likely be embarrassed by, onto my index finger and approached Philia while twirling them around.
"Have you reached an answer? Philia."
"...What is that, those unsightly children's panties...!?"
"They're a change of clothes for you. Once you take off the diaper, this will be your new partner."
"There's no way they would suit me!?"
"Yeah. A Caucasian woman who looks to be in her late twenties, standing around the mid-160 centimeter range, and with nearly a seven-heads-tall proportion like you, is going to be put in children's panties. It'll be an incredibly perverse sight."
"Just how far do you intend to insult me...!?"
"But, I bet wearing children's panties and being spoiled by a younger member of the opposite sex would feel like ascending to heaven. You'd be able to return to being an infant, body and soul."
"...Body and soul..."
I increased the rotation speed of the panties and continued speaking.
"We are mammals. Creatures meant to be raised by our parents. We're made to feel pleasure in being nurtured. It can't be helped... our souls are made that way! Everyone keeps a baby inside their heart. That baby's thirst can only be quenched by baby-talking with a younger member of the opposite sex. I understand it too. I also want Angelica to nurse me, and I even think about wanting to take up permanent residence in her womb."
"I can barely comprehend what you're saying..."
"I'm starting to understand you. ...In the past, I thought you were a creepy older sister. I thought it was scary, you being fixated on me when I'm thirteen years younger. But now that I know the joy of a teenage mom, I get it. ...You saw a shota papa in me, didn't you?"
"...Have you become possessed by a demon or something?"
"What's possessing me isn't a demon, it's a baby."
Philia turned pale, her lips flapping wordlessly.
"Admit it, Philia. You want me to act as your young papa, don't you? You want to be spoiled while having your diaper changed, don't you!?"
"Pervert!"
"What kind of way is that to speak to your father!"
I slammed the panties onto the floor and stomped my foot.
Philia's shoulders jumped with a start.
"...Hero-dono, you're scary..."
"Ah, sorry about that. That was Papa's fault just now. There, there, I'm not angry anymore."
I gently stroked Philia's hair and asked in a calm voice.
"I'll ask one more time, Philia. In exchange for hand-washing your crotch, you can betray your country, right?"
"..."
With her lips still pressed firmly together, Philia nodded vertically.
"I see, good girl. Then from now on, you are my Party Member... Even after we defeat Erin, you will cooperate with me and fight for Earth. You can do that, right?"
Philia gave another small nod.
"Alright, then let's get that diaper all clean-clean right away."
"W-Wait, please."
"What is it?"
"...There are a few things I want to confirm."
"...Try me."
"When you are washing my crotch, is it acceptable if I call you Father? E-Even if I act like an infant with this appearance, you won't be put off, right?"
"I don't mind. Return your heart to that of a little girl as much as you like."
"...Also, will Hero-dono be disrobing as well?"
"If that's better, I'll strip."
"Please, by all means, do strip. ...And also, I would like you to wash me while saying that Philia is cuter than Maria..."
"Who the hell is Maria?"
"She is my older sister."
"...Got it, I'll do it."
"I would like you to wash me with a firm touch, while smiling gently and saying, 'Philia may be shy around strangers, but she's better at her studies than Maria, you know, she's Papa's pride and joy.'"
"I'm sensing some distortion in your home environment... Well, whatever."
Please and thank you... Philia whispered, covering her eyes with both hands.
Her face was hot enough to ignite, bright red.
"Well then, shall we?"
I scooped Philia up in my arms and carried her to the bathroom.
It was the moment the strongest female priest of the other world swore her loyalty in a most peculiar way.
＊ ＊ ＊
【Party Member, High Priest Philia's Affection Level has increased by 9999】
【High Priest Philia has newly acquired the skill "Father Complex (Diaper)"】