Chapter 274 - The Corrupted Saintess
I don't think it's actually the case that Philia betrayed me and secretly summoned this man—but still.
Since that guy has a criminal record, it's probably best to probe him just in case.
"Did something happen to Philia?"
"..."
I drive a backfist into Odoric, who is wearing a fearless smirk.
In an instant, splat!—a red liquid splashes against the wall.
"It's just blood for now, but next time, your teeth and tongue are gonna be flying everywhere."
Even as blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, Odoric made no effort to hide his thin smile.
It seems he has some resistance to pain and suffering.
...He's a troublesome opponent.
"My apologies, Hero. I've undergone a full course of torture training."
"I wonder how long that bravado of yours will last."
"Naturally, forever."
"Keep talking shit."
"Say what you will. I cannot surrender until I have rescued Lady Philia."
"...Rescue Philia?"
Odoric screams with Bloodshot Eyes.
"That's right! That lady is a goddess! The Saintess of Salvation! For her to be abducted by a yellow monkey from a foreign land is an unthinkable tragedy!"
"Uh, hold on a second. Who's a goddess?"
"Lady Philia, of course!"
"..."
That diaper-maniac woman in her late forties?
That middle-aged woman with a special obsession with urination, who gets an Affection Level increase of 1000 when I hold her from behind and go pee-pee?
The Saintess of... Salva... tion...?
"By any chance, do you like Philia?"
Odoric doesn't answer.
However, from the light dwelling in his eyes, I could sense intense hatred and jealousy.
"I see, I see. So that's the motive for coming here. ...Just so you know, it's not like I kidnapped her by force, okay? She's staying at my place because she wants to."
"Silence! Lady Philia is a daughter of nobility and the finest priestess in the Kingdom! There is no way she would succumb to a wretch like you!"
At this rate, I might be able to draw out information if I involve Philia.
I pulled my smartphone out of my pocket and held it up in front of Odoric.
"You seem pretty used to this world, so you know what this is, right?"
"..."
"Don't tell me you don't know? A smartphone. A tool that lets you communicate with people far away."
"..."
"I'm going to use this to contact Philia now."
"Wh—...!"
Ignoring the visibly agitated Odoric, I operated the screen with one hand and opened my address book.
Once I found the target number, I tapped the call button with my thumb.
After a moment, Philia's voice came through in a flustered manner.
'Wh-what is it, Hero-dono? I still don't really understand smartphones, so I'm scared!? This thing won't suddenly explode, will it!?'
"Are you a grandma or something... You really are weak with electronic devices. Since I went through the trouble of giving you one, you should practice how to use it."
'How rude. I practice every day, it's just that it won't stick in my head; I have the will to learn.'
"...I see. You aren't young anymore, after all."
As Philia's voice began to squeak with anger, Odoric opened his eyes.
"L-Lady Philia's voice..."
I brought my face close to the smartphone so that Odoric could hear easily.
"Hey, I just caught a knight who says he came to save you. Does that ring a bell?"
'If you tell me his name, I might remember.'
"Odoric."
'...Who is that?'
"Y-you've forgotten, Lady Philia...!" Odoric sobbed.
"In the audience chamber! I am Odoric, the one who received a smile from you! The son of Ahim!"
'............Ah! That knight who was always watching me from the corner. You came here as well?'
"Oh... To be able to exchange words with Lady Philia like this, it's like a dream...!"
I glared at Odoric from the corner of my eye while asking my question.
"This Royal Knight over here thinks I kidnapped you. Say something to him."
'That is quite a predicament...'
On the other side of the screen, I felt the sensation of Philia catching her breath in bewilderment.
'Did you say Odoric? I am terribly sorry, but I am living with Hero-dono of my own free will. I am not some pitiful hostage, but Hero-dono's concubine.'
"That's a lie!"
Odoric screamed like a madman.
It seems this kind of psychological torture works well on this man.
I brought the smartphone close to my mouth and spoke in a whispering voice.
"He says he loves you. That's why he went out of his way to chase you down."
'...I-is that so?'
"This is troublesome, isn't it? Since you're my woman."
'Wait! No matter how much of a Kei-kun you are, doing that in public is—'
"Huh? You're my woman, aren't you?"
'...Yes.'
Philia's embarrassed affirmation and Odoric slamming his forehead against the toilet happened almost simultaneously.
"Philia, what is it about me that you like?"
'Eh, wh-what is this all of a sudden?'
"Let me hear it. Let's show this slow-witted knight reality, shall we? I like Philia's hair and breasts. And also that maiden-like side she shows occasionally."
'I-it's embarrassing, though...'
"I said it, so you say it too."
'...U-um... I like your sturdy body... and your black hair and black eyes. You have a somewhat mysterious atmosphere. A-and, I also like your shallow features because they make you look younger than your age. A-and, I like your scent too... Even though you seem delicate normally, that aggressive, manly side you show occasionally is my weakness... That's why, right now, Hero-dono's sadistic attitude is making my heart race so much... I-I'm somehow getting excited...'
"What, are you happy or something?"
"Kill meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
"Please kill meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Odoric shrieked.
"Come to think of it, what do you think of blonde-haired, blue-eyed men?"
'Eh? I find them physiologically repulsive. That's the kind of look that's rolling around everywhere in my hometown, so it's not interesting at all.'
Odoric, who was blonde-haired and blue-eyed, looked as if he were on the verge of death.
"What's it gonna be, Mr. Knight? If you don't spit out the information, this hell is going to continue forever, you know?"
"...Kill me..."
It seems he's still not ready to talk.
Can't be helped, time for the final resort.
"Hey, Philia."
'Y-yes, what is it?'
"Hearing your voice has me getting horny, so why don't you go have some solo sex?"
'——————Huh?'
"Let me hear your cute voice."
'Um, Hero-dono?'
"While thinking about me, and while saying what you like about me, loud enough for Odoric to hear too."
'...'
"You get it, right? I'm irritated right now. I can't stand the thought of other men hitting on you. I want to make you realize who you belong to."
I thought he'd be happy with this request, but as for Philia's reaction—
'I-I'm sorry, Hero-dono. Even for you, that's...!'
"What, you can't do it?"
Just as I was about to back down, thinking it couldn't be helped, Philia casually dropped a bombshell.
'No, it's just... actually, I just did it a little while ago... doing it a second time in a row is a bit...'
"Huh?"
'I am terribly sorry! I was hugging Hero-dono's pillow... and I couldn't hold back...!'
I saw Odoric's eyes roll back into his head.
"Hmm. So basically, you just finished playing by yourself using my pillow, huh?"
'...Are you angry?'
"Why don't you tell me how you played?"
'I-it was nothing special, really!'
"Then what exactly is 'nothing special'?"
'...Um, rubbing, and stuff...'
"Rubbing? Where?"
'...All of your sensitive spots, one by one...'
Philia's voice was starting to take on a heat.
It seemed she was getting excited while reporting her own lewdness.
She's a slut who's hardly worthy of being called a Saintess.
"Just rubbing? Anything else?"
'...I smelled it, and kissed it.'
"While calling my name?"
'Y-yes. How did you know?'
"Did it feel good?"
'...Very much.'
Odoric no longer moved a muscle.
He might have suffered a mental breakdown.