Episode 65: The Goat-Horned Demon
Lately, I feel like I’ve been working a lot, so I want to take a break for a while.
I have a burning desire to rest.
That’s right, let’s close the shop.
My shop, “Andrews’ Apothecary,” takes irregular holidays in addition to the regular “day of rest” every weekend.
You might think, “Is that okay?” but… when it comes to positions, the seller is basically superior, so treating customers like dirt is kind of the default in this world.
“The customer is God!” That’s a story from a distant world. Even at my level, “polite service” counts as something special. I mean, I’ll treat even a disabled person from the slums if they have the money.
Besides…
The thing is, Count Missgancia keeps asking me for sudden surgeries. Although I say irregular holidays, half of them are spent on emergency surgeries for important people brought by Count Missgancia.
That’s why I want to rest sometimes.
Ah, no, I’m still taking breaks here and there, but what about Tristia?
“Eh? A holiday, you say?”
“Yeah, Tris. Let’s take a break today. Tris has been working hard lately, so it’s good to rest and recharge sometimes.”
See! Look at my kindness as a master! Compassion! Giving a slave a day off is usually unheard of!
Tris will be happy with my kindness…!
That’s what I thought, but Tris didn’t look pleased.
“Then, I’ll be in my room.”
Ah, ah…
Well, that’s how it is.
Tris has nothing to do even on a holiday…
If she goes out alone, she might be discriminated against and hurt by heartless people.
She’s in a position where she can’t even go on a date.
That’s what it means to be in the “Discriminated Class.”
A sad world, a sad world.
The reason I can breathe easy is simply because I’m strong.
If you’re weak, even a cute and good girl like Tris ends up like this.
After all, you shouldn’t romanticize medieval fantasy worlds…
I gently hugged Tris and asked.
“Is going out not an option?”
“No! If it’s Andrews-sama’s order!”
Tristia makes a smile, makes one for me.
Ah, as expected of a slave. She’ll do anything to please me.
That’s why I want to be kind to her too. I like to make people who please me happy.
“Hmm, it’s okay if it’s not. Don’t you want to go out? Do you want to stay home today?”
“…If that’s the case, um…”
“Hmm?”
“I want to take a walk… a little.”
So, we went for a little walk.
Tris probably doesn’t want to be cooped up inside all the time either.
After all, people need to go outside and bask in the sunlight, or they’ll get depressed.
Mazoku are also mostly human physically, and from a health perspective, being a shut-in isn’t good.
We went outside for a bit, held hands, and walked.
“Let’s go, Tris.”
“Yes!”
We left the slums and went to the back streets. The main streets would be a bit dangerous for Tris, being a Mazoku. The back streets have fewer people, and even fewer decent people.
“This is Earl Street. It’s just a short turn from the shop, but… it’s a back street, so there won’t be anyone bullying you.”
“Even though it’s a back street?”
“Yeah, the slums are safer in a way. I’ve told Hookclaw about you, and they’ll be considerate.”
“For me… you did that?”
“Of course. You’re my precious woman. I’ll protect you properly.”
“…Andrews-sama! ♡”
Alright, I’ve earned some goodwill!
My cute, adorable Tris clings to me and acts spoiled.
She’s completely in love with me…
Her eyes are melting, she’s letting out sweet sighs, and she’s wriggling her hips.
Ah, cute!
“Oh, look, Tris. Lavender. I told Count Missgancia before that it would be good to plant plants inside the castle walls to help in case of a siege… it looks like he did it.”
“Is that so? I don’t know much about battles… but having flowers makes the place more cheerful, doesn’t it?”
“Over there… a young beech tree. Acorns can be used for feed, and people can eat them if they want. The tree looks good too. A good choice.”
“Hee… Ah! Butterflies!”
“Oh, is it that time of year already? They’re beautiful.”
“That means… we have to do a big cleaning of the kitchen. Bugs will start appearing.”
“Yeah. Let’s prepare insecticide and herb sachets to repel insects. …That’s right, why don’t we make herb sachets together? It’s something good to know.”
“Yes! I’ll listen to anything Andrews-sama teaches me! I’ll do anything!”
“Is that so? If there’s something you want to do, you can do something else.”
“Something I want to do…? I want to be helpful to Andrews-sama.”
“You’re already doing enough. Well, I’m happy to hear you say that…”
…It’s been almost ten years since Tris has been with me, but she seems to have no interest in anything other than me and the things around me.
She has an appalling lack of interest in anyone else.
She remembered the faces and names of my lovers, but she hardly remembers the customers who come to the apothecary or the acquaintances who come occasionally.
It’s not prosopagnosia… it’s more like she judges everyone and everything unrelated to me as worthless and can’t put them in her brain.
…Isn’t that super yandere?
Well, it’s fine as long as she’s cute.
Besides, she can respond normally on the “customer service” protocol, so there’s no problem, not really.
“So… where are we going today?”
“Hmm? It’s just a walk, so I don’t have a destination… That’s right! Then let’s go to the bookstore on Iprof Street today! I’ll buy you a book there.”
“Wow! Really! I’m so happy!”
Of course, Tris isn’t interested in books.
But she often reads books that will help her make conversation, so she can talk to me for even a little longer.
So pathetic, so cute.
She’s too dependent on me, and she can no longer walk her own life on her own two feet, a pitiful and weak girl.
If I abandoned her, she would end her life on the spot, pure, innocent, and hopelessly foolish… my cute, adorable woman.
I must cherish her forever…