Chapter 38: Why is this happening again??

  "Um, by "offer," do you mean... As a husband?"

  ?

  "Hmm? ... Well, I guess so. I don't care if they're lovers or servants or whatever. You can take as many as you want."

  ?

  ... This again! They didn't need overp with Alness Vilge with such a useless tradition!

  Certainly, I understand that marriage is effective in terms of putting roots in a pce!

  But, this time is even worse than Alness Vilge.

  Back then, it was more of a "candidate", so the elf's own will was involved. Either way, it was a nuisance for me, but putting that aside.

  Just now, Kassim-san said he would "offer".

  In other words... He's treating they as a "thing", not a "person".

  There was a pause when I asked him about being a "husband", so I guess he meant something like 'an offering to the miko'. As for whether the will of the person being offered is taken into consideration... I don't think so.

  A lover or a servant, and to top it all off, any number of people... What on earth does this person think of me?

  Does he assume that just because he does it, others must do the same? Is the reason why people around don't stop him because it's "a common occurrence in Airo Vilge"?

  ?

  ... I don't like it, ah, I don't like it...!

  ?

  The urge to scream runs through me, but I hold it in for now. I don't want to lose my temper and turn the Miko against me, and I don't want to give him a bad impression if I can avoid it. As two of the few Mikos in this world I want to cooperate as much as possible, and the Creator God would be sad if we were to fall out...

  If there is trouble I can avoid by holding back, then it's best to do so.

  ?

  "I'm already married, so I refuse that sort of thing. I don't need a lover or anything like that."

  ?

  "Oh? What kind of person is he?"

  ?

  ... Huh? What's the point of asking something like that?

  ?

  "Our vilge is home to many people who are not only good-looking, but also have great abilities. Don't you think you would want someone who is most suitable for you, Miko-dono?"

  ?

  "..."

  ?

  …… Heh? Hmm? You dare to say something like that?

  Of course, there are people who have better abilities than my cute Fricka. If anything, she's a total loser when it comes to physical abilities. Her magic is intermediate, and she's still a beginner at making things. I myself have a long way to go, so I can't really say much about other people.

  But I do know how hard Fricka has worked. If she's reached that level after just a few months of teaching, that's more than enough.

  Her personality is also impeccable. I worry that she's a bit reserved and doesn't say what she wants to say clearly, but I have a lot of trust in her sincerity, and she trusts me too.

  And, and this is the most important point... She loves me. Even though she knows I'm an immature miko full of fws. Even though I'm a heartless being that sees corpses as materials.

  I absolutely do not want to marry without love, and if I were asked whether she's worthy or not, I would think, "Maybe it's me who is cking.".

  How can you say something like this when you don't know anything at all... On top of that, how can you expect me to go along with a proposal from someone who clearly only wants my abilities as a miko? Do you think I don't notice your obvious mockery? I've had enough of your nonsense.

  ?

  I let out a sigh, put all my strength into my stomach, and refused for the umpteenth time.

  ?

  "I decline."

  ?

  "... But--"

  ?

  "I love that person with all my heart. I have no intention of getting a divorce, or taking another person, or of course having a lover."

  ?

  With a smile, but also with overflowing anger that only the most dim-witted person could notice.

  Although it was unpleasant to be insulted myself, I could still swallow it. But I'm not a good enough person to remain calm when even Fricka is being insulted. I don't want to be that kind of person.

  I just said that it's best to avoid trouble? Hahaha, even if Fricka isn't listening, there's no way I can keep quiet, right? Ah, I'm really gd she wasn't here.

  ?

  Kassim held his breath for a moment, perhaps because he had never been denied so clearly given his position, or perhaps because he had simply never been contradicted by a young girl before.

  The surrounding vilgers, who had been listening to our exchange, also became quiet and the atmosphere was somehow tense.

  As the silence fell, with not a single person able to speak, Kassim, whose eyes had been wide open, gradually drew together, his eyebrows twisted, his mouth twisted, his face turned red, and he began to tremble.

  Hmm, I wonder if he's going to lose his temper?

  I was prepared to retaliate at any time, but... He never exploded.

  That's because the only person in the pce who could restrain Kassim was able to stop him.

  ?

  "Kassim, stop it already."

  ?

  "... Ah, brother..."

  ?

  "That's an exaggeration. It's disrespectful to Rion and her husband."

  ?

  I can't bring myself to make a pointless correction like "I don't have a husband." I wasn't lying, It's their misunderstanding (though it's understandable that most people would think that), right?

  However, I have mixed feelings, conflicted between the relief and the wish that he had stopped the talk sooner.

  ?

  "I'm sorry my brother was rude, Rion."

  ?

  Kamil-san remained seated, but bowed deeply to me and offered his apology.

  A murmur erupted at the fact that the most important person in the vilge, the Miko, bowed his head, even though it was to a fellow Miko... The person who made Kamil-san bow was clearly gring at me with eyes that seemed filled with extreme resentment, even hatred, taking advantage of the fact that Kamil-san couldn't see him. But was it because his brother had bowed to me, or was he only thinking about himself?

  Regardless of what was going on behind his back, Kamil-san, with his head bowed, didn't convey any ill will. So I decided to accept it even if the person in question showed no remorse whatsoever.

  ?

  "Kamil-san, please lift your head ... It seems he had some alcohol, so I'll let it slide this time and say it was due to intoxication."

  ?

  "However..."

  ?

  "However... There will be no second time."

  ?

  "... I get it. Thank you."

  ?

  Kamil-san shook my outstretched hand, and the tense atmosphere eased for the time being.

  In the meantime, Kassim must have been trying to save face as he spoke to me with an apologetic voice and gestures.

  ?

  "Miko-dono, I'm sorry for my outspoken remark."

  ?

  "No."

  ?

  "As an apology, please enjoy some of Airo Vilge's finest sake."

  ?

  As usual, it sounds like a superficial remark. But pointing it out would only cause trouble, so I ignored it.

  With a cp of the hands, the waiter brought beautiful gsses of sake. Regulus and Liese were also given some.

  ?

  "Come on, one sip."

  ?

  Where has all the anger from before gone? Kassim was offering them with a creepy grin.

  Even so, he had made a mistake because of his drunkenness, so how can he still offer ous sake? He seems pretty thick-skinned, doesn't he?

  ?

  I was about to reluctantly pick up the gss, but then stopped.

  I signaled to Regulus and Liese with just my eyes and declined. Is it rude to refuse something that's been offered to me? I don't care.

  ?

  "Sorry, we don't like alcohol..."

  ?

  "... It's fine, it's very tasty and easy to drink. Could you please have at least one sip..."

  ?

  I decided not to say, "If it's that tasty, please drink it yourself."

  It seemed best to still 'pretend not to know.'.

  ?

  "... Then I'll have just one sip."

  ?

  ... Sigh, what is he trying to do by making me drink alcohol ced with sleeping pills?

  The effects of the all-purpose resistance potion are still working, so this much should be fine...