March 25th, 2023

Beta Reader: My_Own_Worst_NPC

=============================================================

A pair of Iwaos were shaking a large barrel downstream of the river.

The barrel contains laundry, water, and detergent. In other words, it’s a golem-powered washing machine.  After the barrel was shaken for 15 minutes, the dirty water was then let out into a sewage tank where the slimes are already waiting. [1] After repeating the process twice, the clothes should be clean enough.

The washed laundry is then placed in a large net, and then spun overhead by the Iwaos. Yes, it’s to remove the water.

After most of the water is gone, Goku and the others hung them out to dry on a clotheslines stretched over the palm trees. It was nice to see the white sheets swaying in the wind under the blue sky.

With this, the morning work was done, and now we can relax until it’s time to start preparing dinner. All the guests have gone to the dungeon, and Sierra and I are the only ones around here.

Today, Sierra is helping me hanging the laundry, which is actually a bit unusual.

Anyway, she might be short, but since she can float in the air, she has no trouble hanging the sheets out to dry. It’s been more than a month since Sierra came here, and I no longer take payment from her anymore. In a way, it feels like we’re living together now.

Maybe because she keeps calling me ‘big brother’ or ‘elder brother’ all the time, I think I’ve unwittingly considers her as my younger sister, even though I know she’s actually 42 years old. It really feels like I’m running an inn together with her as a family.

I think it’s the sense of closeness that allow us to live together without any kind of feeling of awkwardness; we don’t feel bothered by each other at all.

Also, I’m informing you now so you don’t get any wrong idea, but we didn’t do anything sexual. It would be a lie to say that I don’t have any lust toward her, but I like our current relationship just the way it is now. [2]

We sometimes take baths together, but it’s only for fun; the only thing we did was washing each other’s hair and rubbing each other’s backs, that’s all there is. Of course my Little Joe got hard whenever I saw her naked, but we never cross the line. Partly because Sierra is unable to turn me into her familiar, and partly because I really don’t want to lose my own sense of self by becoming her familiar.

I don’t think the phrase “more than friends, less than lovers” applies to us either.

Sierra once said, “it’s like we’re real siblings, isn’t it?” But real siblings don’t take a bath together when they already grow up, do they? And so I answered, “Siblings, huh… Well, I gotta admit that our relationship is special after all.”

And when I said that, Sierra laughed happily.

I don’t know why she looked so happy. I asked her about it, but she just wouldn’t tell me.

“I think it’s about time for lunch, then. What do you want to eat, Sierra?”

“Hmmm…. I want a mackerel sandwich.”

It’s the type of sandwich that’s made by using grilled mackerel. Some people are surprised by the combination of mackerel and bread, but it is surprisingly delicious, it is also a specialty of the Turkish city of Istanbul.

Grilled mackerel, lettuce, tomato, sliced onion, and lemon are all harmoniously combined in this sandwich; which produces juicy and delicious taste. Since lettuce, a highland vegetable, can never be harvested on this subtropical island, I am the only one who can make this dish. I made this the other day when the Cimas caught some mackerels, and Sierra seemed to love it. 

I had the rest of the mackerel frozen and stored for later use, so I can make more of it anytime I want.

“Alright, I’m going to make some lettuce so wait here, okay?”

“Uh-huh. …Shirou, wait. Someone is coming.” Sierra looked toward the forest path.

I turned my head in the direction of the forest path… and I saw red flowers blooming in the green forest… No, that’s only my imagination.

In reality, it was a woman with a flowing red hair.

“Cecily…”

I subconsciously muttered her name. I held my chest in nostalgia and relief that she was alive.

“Shirou!”

Cecily also recognized me and picked up her speed, quickly approaching me.

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, so how about giving her a big hug? Well, she would probably turn red in embarrassment.

…and I was about to approach Cecily with that thought in my mind when suddenly, out of the blue, Sierra jumped in front of me and threw punches at her.

“Sierra!?”

She might be small in stature, but a vampire’s physical capabilities easily surpass those of humans, which means normally a human would be easily overwhelmed by a vampire seriously charging at them.

Cecily, however, is also a formidable woman who goes by the nickname of Bursting Flame Cecily. She was able to defend herself just in time to avoid a direct hit.

“You wench… What the hell is your problem?”

But Sierra completely ignores Cecily’s words and continue attacking. High punches and low blows, until she finally lands a hit on Cecily’s cheek.

“Sierra, stop! What is wrong with you?!”

I stopped Sierra by hugging her from behind, but only then did I realize that Sierra’s body was twitching uncontrollably. Also, Sierra’s body was hot, as if she’s having a fever suddenly.

“You…! Do you know what Shirou went through because of you?!”

With that one sentence, I understood now why Sierra did such a thing. Sierra is blaming Cecily for me being raped by Janice.

“Sierra, you’re wrong! It’s not her fault…!”

I can’t let Cecily know about Janice. There’s no way she should know about what happened. Cecily always takes things seriously, and if she hears about the incident, who knows what she will do if she gets stricken with guilt.

“What are you even talking about…” Cecily stood up, wiping the blood that trickled from the corner of her mouth.

“I’m talking about Janice!”

“Sierra! Stop right now!”

I finally got to stop her from talking, but it was already too late. As that one name has been said by Sierra, the implication started to dawn on Cecily.

“Janice? But she’s already dead… Shirou, what does she mean by that?”

Since it come to this, there’s no choice but telling her what happened.

“Janice came to this island. She was badly injured.”

I then told her what happened that day, and about how Sierra saved my life.

“That’s… Because of me, Shirou was…” Cecily fell to her knees and looks completely devastated.

For me, it’s already a thing in the past, but for Cecily, it must be a shocking revelation. She doesn’t know, though, that I have a slightly different mental structure than the men of this world, which allows me to quickly move on with my life. Sure, there’s still the lingering feeling of frustration and fear because I was almost killed, but I’ve gotten past it.

“Cecily. Don’t worry, I’m fine now.”

“But, Shirou… Because of me, you were…”

This is troubling. I don’t know what she might do if she keeps up like this.

“Cecily? Hey, look at me…”

Cecily was still slumped over and avoid looking up to face me. I thought it can’t be helped, so I gently cupped her face with both my hands so she can look straight at me.

“Here, look carefully at me.”

Cecily stared at me with tears in her eyes.

“What do you see? Do you think I’m dirty now?”

Cecily strongly shook her head.

“Do you think I’ve changed? Do you think less of me now?”

Again, Cecily fervently shook her head.

“So that settles it, right? I told you I’m fine now!”

I said those words with a smile to lift her mood, but Cecily shook her head slowly to deny it.

“No, I have to make amends to you…”

“Like I’ve told you, Cecily, the one responsible is Janice, and not you. Okay?”

“No. It’s my fault, since I didn’t properly make sure that she was dead…”

As I feel a coming headache, I threw a sideways glare toward Sierra. This is all because she said something unnecessary. Give me a break already!

“Alright, this conversation stops now, okay? Sierra, you too, no more talking about it.”

“But still…”

“Don’t tell me you want to keep reminding me about the rape?”

“T-that’s not it.”

I then pulled both Sierra and Cecily into a hug.

“Sierra, Cecily, I’m fine now, I really am. Thank you for worrying about me.”

‘And if you’re still worried about me, how about comforting me in bed, both of you,’ is what I’d like to say, but of course I couldn’t say it because it would ruin the moment.

Cecily has been looking downcast without moving, but she finally looks up with a determined expression. She then put one knee on the ground and held my hand.

“Shirou, will you marry me?”

“…what’s this all of a sudden?”

Even being impulsive has its limits, you know.

“Shirou, I want to take responsibility of what happened to you. I promise I will make you happy for as long as I live. So, Shirou, will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?”

…

It finally happened; Cecily’s overreaction because of completely struck with guilt.

=============================================================================

1 Dang. That’s so environmentally friendly.

2 Not to mention that she’s forbidden from having a sexual relationship with a human not her familiar.