Chapter 59: Training the Saint
It was the first time Ren had received a visitor at Babaa's house. Naturally, it wasn't what Ren wanted. On the contrary, it was the worst kind of visitor.
The living room was just inside the front door. Ren was sitting on a chair at the table there, looking as if he was biting a bitter bug in front of Shizuru, who had suddenly appeared.
"Sorry for interrupting you so suddenly."
"Yeah. It's a nuisance."
It was Ren who cut it off in one fell swoop, but Shizuru would not retreat to this extent.
"...I have a favor to ask of you."
"I don't want to."
"...At least listen to what I have to say. Actually."
Despite Ren's clear refusal, Shizuru continues to talk.
"As usual. Tell me. How can you be so brazen?"
"I'm in trouble"
That was not an answer to Ren's question at all.
"So you're allowed to do anything?"
"No, I just want to talk to you."
"Why me?"
"I don't have anyone else I can talk to."
"...There is, right?"
Ren has an idea of who Shizuru can talk to and who can say words that make Shizuru happy.
"Yuya is cold. He seems to be avoiding me."
"Ah, so he finally cut you off?"
"…………"
Shizuru looked down at Ren's words. Shizuru was also vaguely aware of the reason for Yuya's change in attitude.
"He seems to be aware of it."
"...As expected, you understand. That's why I'm in trouble."
"Telling me that doesn't solve anything."
Ren had no intention of intervening between Yuya and Shizuru. Ren doesn't think Yuya will listen to him, even if it were.
"That's not it. After the monastery became like that, I actually lived with Yuya."
"That is?"
"It was hard for me to stay."
"Why? If it's a knight order, they don't care about that."
The Knight Order is also a church organization. He doesn't think Shizuru, who is a hero candidate, would complain about staying there. In any case, they have to prepare a place for Shizuru to live somewhere.
"Not so. Yuya doesn't come back to the residence very often."
"...So?"
Shizuru was worried about something else.
"I've been feeling kind of uncomfortable."
"...I understand. Kisaragi spends most of his time with his real lover. But for some reason, another woman, pretending to be his lover, has been staying with him for a long time. You don't want to be seen as [what's with this woman?]."
Although Ren rarely goes to the academy, he is quite aware of the activities of the hero candidates.
"...It's a terrible way to put it, but that's how it is."
She is simply concerned about the eyes of those around her. The eyes of the people around her that she cares about are also an aspect that Shizuru is overly conscious of, but that is something that Ren does not understand. It doesn't matter if he doesn't understand.
"Then why are you coming to me?"
"I want you to let me stay with you for a while."
"…Are you serious?"
Shizuru's request was unexpected for Ren.
"I'm serious."
"I see. I respected you for the first time."
"Eh? Really?"
Shizuru is delighted to be praised by Ren. Naturally, Ren is not praising her. She just doesn't notice the sarcasm.
"I'm impressed that you're so shameless beyond contempt."
"...That's terrible."
"Do you even know who lives here?"
Of course, there was a reason why Ren was impressed.
"Ren"
"No. Orphans from the monastery now live here."
"I know."
"Kazuki was their mother figure. Don't you think about what they think of you?"
"…They might hate me."
"Might. You're hated. Do you really want to die? The reason you came here is to get killed?"
Ren is truly dumbfounded by Shizuru's naive thinking. The children have no hesitation in killing Kazuki's enemies. Part of their revenge has already been carried out.
"No. I want to make amends."
"Don't you think that means getting killed?"
"...Something else. If possible, in her place."
"You... are you serious?"
For Ren, the words are almost taboo. Ren's gaze at Shizuru changed from being cold to looking at filth.
"……I'm sorry"
"Disappear"
"…………"
Even Shizuru couldn't say anything unreasonable to that gaze. But there was an unexpected rescue ship.
"She should make amends."
"Luna?"
Luna suddenly appeared. Ren was surprised by Luna's unexpected words.
"Let her regret ever having spoken of atonement so flippantly."
"...That's true. Are you going to let this one live here?"
"If you let her take care of the children, she will run away in less than a day."
"……Surely"
There is no way Shizuru would be accepted by the children. Ren knows that even if they didn't kill her, she's going to have a pretty rough time.
"So it's settled then. If you want to live here, you must take care of the children."
"I understand. I'll do my best. To get the children to accept me."
"…………"
Ren was a little impressed not only by her shamelessness but also by this extremely optimistic idea. It even makes him think that not being able to understand other people's feelings is actually a blessing.
◇◇◇
A place past the back door of the house. That is where the children's rooms are located. It was originally part of a warehouse where gravestones and other items were stored. The warehouse was rearranged and an extension was built to connect it to the house, and the rooms were built.
When Shizuru was brought to that place, she suddenly felt depressed.
All the eyes looking at Shizuru are cold. The coldest of them all.
"You are taking care of the children? Are you serious?"
It was Rin's attitude that was completely cold even the tone of her voice.
"Yes. Starting today, I'll be in charge."
"I'm afraid that's a mistake."
"...I will take care of it."
Shizuru rephrased as Rin had said. She thought she couldn't be kicked out for something like this.
"Ren-sama, are you sure about this?"
"Yeah. I thought it was necessary to correct her arrogance."
"Arrogance?"
"This woman said, she want to take Kazuki's place."
The surrounding atmosphere was disturbed. Anger at Shizuru's arrogance stimulates the children's feelings.
"...I see. That should certainly be corrected."
A replacement for Kazuki. Rin knows that there is no such a being. Rin is frustrated with herself for not being able to do so.
"Yeah. What, she'll soon learn."
"Yes. Then I'll leave it to you."
Rin said to Shizuru, Her gaze was even colder than before.
"...Please leave it to me."
"Now it's time for the younger children to take a nap. The older children are studying next door, so don't disturb them."
"Yes"
Shizuru listens to Rin's explanation. She seemed relieved to be entrusted with it somehow.
"After that, it's time for the younger children to study until dinner. What about math?"
"Of course, I can."
“Then, you are in charge of their studies.”
"Yes"
Good at studying. Moreover, she is not at all worried about teaching math to elementary school students. Shizuru's face broke into a smile as she realized that she would be able to successfully complete the task entrusted to her.
"When dinner is ready, Babaa-san will call you. Then study time will be over."
"Okay"
"After dinner, take the children to the bath."
"Bath?"
Shizuru was slightly surprised by Rin's words.
"You don't like it?"
"No. In this world, you are not allowed to take a bath every day."
It was the same in the monastery and in the mansion of the deputy knight commander where she was staying. Shizuru was surprised that she could take a bath in this house, which was not considered wealthy by any means.
"We don't take a bath every day. Once every two days. On other days, we just wipe ourselves with hot water."
"I'm still happy."
"Are you going to take a bath, too?"
"That's right……"
Shizuru, who had naturally thought that she would also be able to enter, suddenly lost her excitement.
"Did you get Ren-sama's permission for that?"
"No."
She doesn't think she got permission. She just heard about the bath.
"Then it's no good."
"Wait!?"
"Ren-sama is the master here. I can't allow you to live in luxury without his permission."
"…Ren, is it okay?"
In that case, Shizuru asked Ren to get permission.
"No, it is, [Can I have your permission? Master]."
"...Um, that is"
As expected, Shizuru felt resistance to this restatement.
"Then bathing is not permitted. You should wipe yourself every day."
"Can I... have your permission?... Master."
Even her ears turned bright red, Shizuru finally said this to the end.
"Do whatever you want. Also, don't ever call me master again. I have no intention of becoming your master."
Ren, who was told this, is in a bad mood. Ren wants Shizuru to leave, and he wants her to disappear.
"But, that's!?"
"Don't say it."
"……Yes"
Under Ren's cold gaze, Shizuru became smaller. Her cheeks are red.
"Mumu?"
Luna reacted to Shizuru's situation.
"What's wrong, Luna?"
"Is this a woman who can't say no?"
"Can't say no? It's not that she can't say no, it's more like she's trying to put on a good face for everyone at all times."
"...It's a little different."
That's not what Luna is looking for. It's quite the opposite.
"What?"
"It's nothing. It's just Luna's imagination."
"I see."
While saying it's nothing, Luna is thinking about something. Ren somehow knows that it is an evil trick. But if that person is Shizuru, then there is no need to stop it.
"Then Ren-sama. What should I do?"
“Rin… you can rest, you know? You can also prepare for the night training.”
Ren knows that Rin is quite tired from hard training at night and helping Babaa with housework during the day and taking care of the children.
"No, that is... resting just because there is training is not training."
"......Then help me teach them to study."
Thinking that even if Rin didn't want to rest, she could at least do a job that didn't make her tired, Ren decided to have her help him.
"Okay. Then we will be in the next room. Please be quiet."
"Yes"
"...But I'll tell you."
Ren tried to leave the room, but he stopped and opened his mouth.
"What is it?"
"Not you. The children."
"Yes……"
Shizuru's eyes shrank from Ren's stern gaze.
"Right now, this woman is now disliked by everyone around her. She seems to be in a certain amount of trouble, so please let her live."
"Eh?"
Shizuru is surprised by Ren's words. Proof that she did not take his words about the children hating her seriously.
"You don't have to kill her and make it easy for her, you know."
"...Tch."
"Eh? Did anyone click their tongue just now?"
Furthermore, Shizuru panicked with the children's reactions.
"It's just your imagination. No matter what happens, keep quiet. The only time you can call me is when you get fed up. I'll kick you out right away."
"…………"
Leaving the speechless Shizuru behind, Ren and the others left the room. The rest were children under the age of eight.
"Hey, terrible woman."
"Eh?"
As soon as Ren and the others are gone, Shizuru is badmouthed by the children.
"It's about you. You murderer."
"...A child shouldn't use such words."
Shizuru tried to calmly tell the children.
"What kind of word is it then? What do you call a murderer?"
"That's... you shouldn't say murderer."
"Don't say that, you murderer."
“…………”
“Enough. Get out of here."
"Ah, that's right. Where is the futon?"
"Find it yourself"
"...Um"
When she looked around the room, she immediately found a door that looked like a closet. Walking in front of it, Shizuru opened the door.
"Kyaa!?"
There was no mistake that it was a closet. However, an avalanche of futons that had been stuffed tightly fell down and crushed Shizuru.
"Alright! Now!"
"Crush her!"
"Kill her!"
The children, who expected this to happen, ran up to Shizuru, who was buried in the futon, and jumped onto the top with that momentum.
"W-wai... it h-hurts..."
Even though they are children, she couldn't easily push them away if several people were on top of her. In the futon, Shizuru continued to gasp.
"I wish she could just die like this."
"But Ren said no."
"Then just wrap her up?"
"That's better. Don't make it easy for her."
Children uttering disturbing lines. Shizuru didn't hear those voices. she couldn't afford to listen to it anymore.
"...P-plea, se. No... m-more..."
"I think she's going to die."
"Well, that's all for now."
"It can not be helped"
The children, sensing Shizuru's limitations, get off the futon and leave her buried under it.
"Huh? Did she die?"
"Well then, let's go digging."
One by one, the children move the futons that are covering the still Shizuru. Eventually, they saw her legs and then her arms.
And when the last sheet was peeled off, Shizuru was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.
"She was alive"
"She looks fine."
"She's soaking wet."
"We need to get her wet clothes off."
"I agree"
"Then let's get them off."
"Eh?"
This time, the children swarmed Shizuru and peeled off her clothes.
"You can't do that... stop playing pranks."
At first, Shizuru stopped the children like this.
"No! No! No! Stop! No more! No!"
The children's behavior does not stop. They suppress Shizuru who doesn't like it and peel off her clothes one after another.
"...No way!? Why can't I move!?"
Shizuru tried to shake it off, but her body that was pinned down didn't even twitch. Shizuru's upper body is exposed, and finally, her underwear is touched.
"No! Don't go any further! Please! I beg you!"
"Shut up! Be quiet!"
"Ren!?"
Ren's yelling echoes through the room. However, Shizuru, who was pinned down to the floor, could not see Ren's appearance.
"What!?"
Ren shouted in surprise at the sight that met his eyes.
Her upper body was naked, and her skirt had been slid down to below her knees, exposing her underwear. Shizuru is lying on the floor in that state. Surrounded by children.
"Ren, stop the children."
"Stop? The kids are just watching."
"...But right now."
The children who were holding her down are now taking a distance. Shizuru sensed a cunning that was unthinkable for a child.
"Whatever, you, how long are you going to show your naked body to me?"
"……Ah"
Realizing what kind of condition she was in, Shizuru raised her upper body in a hurry, pulled a sheet nearby and wrapped it around her body.
"So? What were you making a fuss about?"
"The children..."
"What did you guys do?"
Ren turned his question to the children around Shizuru.
"This woman suddenly became naked."
"Yes. She asked us to touch her body."
"When we said no, she hit us."
The children gave Ren answers that Shizuru had never expected.
"Huh...?"
Ren was taken aback by the children's answer.
"No! I didn't do that!"
Shizuru hurriedly denied it.
"No way! I don't want to be naked!"
“That’s right! Ren, this woman is weird!"
And the children have vehemently denied it. It's the children who are lying...
"You…… I thought you were jealous, but wasn’t it just jealousy?"
"...What are you talking about?"
Shizuru didn't understand what Ren was saying.
"It's about Kazuki."
"That's……"
Even though she was told that it was about Kazuki, Shizuru didn't understand why Kazuki was mentioned here.
"In other words, isn't that it? You weren't jealous of Kazuki for approaching Takamiya, but you were jealous of Kazuki herself."
"What do you mean?"
Shizuru still didn't understand what Ren wanted to say. She answered her question with a dubious face.
“You blamed Kazuki for it, but did you really want them to do it to you?”
"What?"
“You wanted what those men do to Kazuki do to you, right?”
"Eh? How can that be! Why is it like that!?"
Shizuru is surprised by Ren's misunderstanding. She looked flustered and asked why Ren thought so.
"Because you are like that right now, aren't you? You're naked and being played with by a lot of people, and your partners are children. In other words, you're just a pervert."
"No! I...!"
"Get out. The children are not your toys."
"……It's wrong"
Ren doesn't lend an ear to her words. Knowing that, Shizuru is depressed. And then, another rescue ship appears.
"Well, it may be an expression of affection peculiar to perverts."
"Huh? Luna, are you serious?"
"Luna doesn't understand the feelings of a pervert. It's just an imagination."
"No, even if that were true."
This is not acceptable behavior for young children. It's a ridiculous misunderstanding, but Ren thinks so and doesn't seem convinced by Luna's words.
"Pervert. Is that so? Did you do that because you like children, right?"
"I……"
Shizuru is asked a question by Luna, but she doesn't know how to answer.
"If you don't, you will be kicked out immediately."
"...I like children."
When she is asked that, she has no choice but to answer in this way.
“Is that why you have committed perverted acts?”
Furthermore, Luna pushes Shizuru further.
"That's……"
"Is it wrong?"
"...I did. I'm sorry."
Not wanting to be kicked out, Shizuru apologizes for something she didn't do.
"Then there are extenuating circumstances. All we have to do is ask the children."
"...But are you going to put such a pervert on the children's side?"
When she said her apologies, Shizuru was confirmed as a pervert in Ren's mind.
"That, of course, we won't let her do it anymore!"
"That's obvious...... how about you guys?"
Ren asks the children what Luna said. Ren thinks that the children will never forgive Shizuru.
"I'll forgive her this time."
"Yes. It can't be helped."
"There is no next time"
"……Eh?"
Ren was surprised at the children's forgiveness.
"They know the spirit of forgiveness. They are good children."
In addition, Luna makes remarks to lift the children. This is because she doesn't want Ren to ignore the children's wishes.
"...Then, I will forgive you this time. There will be no next time."
"Yes"
Even though he looked unsatisfied, Ren forgave Shizuru and went back to the next room.
And the remaining children.
"But I'm worried"
"Yes. Because it's weird."
"We have to make sure you don't do anything strange."
They still had no intention to stop blaming Shizuru.
"I didn't do anything weird."
Shizuru pouts in dissatisfaction at the children's words.
"But……"
"Then just tie her up so she won't do it again."
"Yeah, yeah. That way, I can sleep in peace."
It doesn't matter to the children if Shizuru is in a bad mood. They speak among themselves.
"Tie me up? Eh? Me?"
"Who else?"
"But……"
Originally she did nothing. Despite that, Shizuru couldn't accept it even if they said they would tie her up.
"We're just going to tie you up lightly. Then take a nap."
"That's right. If you don't hurry, we'll run out of time for a nap."
"...Really light?"
Maybe she just has to hold on a little longer. Such a silly thought popped into Shizuru's head.
"We can't tie you up too tight."
"...But what about strings?"
“There are. Here, there are a lot of them."
"A lot?"
"Okay. Then let's go get it."
In the end, regardless of Shizuru's consent, the children decided to take action. The children brought strings from somewhere. Without giving Shizuru time to refuse, they lightly tied her wrists and ankles with the string.
"...Then take a nap."
"Yes"
As promised, the children were sleeping in their own futons.
"I'm still worried."
“Yes. As expected, I'm still worried
The children, who should have taken a nap, woke up while saying they were worried.
"Let's tie her up properly a little more"
"That's right. It's safer."
"Eh? What does that mean?"
Shizuru expressed her anxiety, but that was all she could do.
"No, hey, this is... eh? Where are you tying me up?"
The strings that were only tied around her wrists and ankles were stretched all over her body in no time.
"I thought about it earlier, but this one is huge."
"Really. It's really big."
"If you tie it up, it's even worse."
"Then let's try it."
"Yes"
"No, stop! You can't do that!"
The front of her jacket was opened and her breasts were exposed between the ropes. Shizuru's face, not only her face, but also her exposed bare skin, is stained red with shame.
"I knew it was big."
"Is it a good idea?"
"...Will it come out?"
"Kazu-nee didn't let it out."
“Yes. No matter how much we tried, it didn't work."
"...But Kazu-nee said she was just a substitute for our mother."
"Kazu-nee..."
The unrest from just a moment ago is erased, and the children become sad. And when she was shown such a state, Shizuru would inadvertently try to show her kindness.
"...Um, I'm not going to let it out either."
"So what?"
"If you will only suck it. Harumoto-san did that too, right?"
"You are different from Kazu-nee."
Shizuru's kindness is rejected by the children.
"That's right. But if it brings you a little closer."
"...If you really want to, just a little bit."
While saying this, the children showed happy expressions and brought their faces closer to Shizuru's chest.
“…………”
"Anhh"
"Strange voice"
"I'm sorry. It tickles me a little."
“…………”
"Nhh."
Shizuru tried hard not to let out her voice, but she couldn't completely suppress it.
"What?"
"...It's nothing"
“…………”
"Ah... no... don't suck so hard."
Finally unable to endure it, Shizuru called out to stop them. At that moment――
“Hey, you perverted woman! Knock it off!"
Ren's screams echoed through the room.
"Ren!?"
"...How perverted are you? Do you even have a hobby that makes you happy to be tied up?"
Seeing Shizuru rolling on the floor while being wrapped in a string, Ren looked genuinely astonished.
"No, it's not!"
"What do you mean no? ...Get out this time."
"That woman tried to take Kazuki's place."
Yet here Luna followed up on Shizuru.
"I can't forgive you even more."
"But this time, the children wanted it. They remembered their mother, and Kazuki as their substitute mother."
"...Luna, what are you planning?"
As expected, Ren began to become suspicious of Luna's actions. It seems to Ren that Luna is trying to keep Shizuru in this house.
"Nothing. Even if I'm plotting something, it's to punish that woman."
"...Then, this is the last time. There's no more next time."
Ren wasn't completely convinced, but he still held back from kicking Shizuru out. In the end, however, Shizuru continues to anger Ren many times.
But somehow, the day was over and Shizuru, exhausted, wanted to go to bed and get a good night's sleep.
"Nh... Nhh..."
Shizuru was in bed all the time. The cause.
"You're a pervert. You love being teased by people."
"Nhh... t-that's wrong..."
The sleeping Shizuru responds to Luna's words whispering in her ear.
"Admit it. You're a perverted woman who enjoys being teased by people."
"Nh... Nhh..."
"You should be happy. Ren saw your perverted side. Your body trembled at Ren's cold gaze. You felt it."
"Uu... y-yeah"
"Pervert, you're a pervert. Show Ren your perversity."
"……Nhh."
"...Alright. I'll leave it at this for today."
Luna pulled her face away from Shizuru's ear and told Rin behind her with a satisfied look on her face.
"Is this charming?"
With a red face, Rin asks Luna what she was doing.
"No. It's not related to magic, but imprinting it on this woman's head."
"Does it work?"
"……Maybe."
In fact, Luna does not know if it works or not. She did it for no reason, just for fun.
"I see... hey, Luna."
"What is it?"
"You didn't do the same to me, did you?"
"…………"
"Luna?"
Rin panicked at Luna's silence.
"I was joking. I thought about it at first. But then I reminded myself that I wanted Rin to just look at Ren and fall in love with him."
"……Why?"
In the beginning, it was Luna who said that Rin was just a comforter. She wondered why Luna had changed her mind.
"I'm sure Ren can see through the other person's feelings. Ren is able to see through whether it's real or fake."
"I see. Can I be the real thing?"
"You already are. Ren believes in Rin. If Rin betrays him, he will only feel that it can't be helped."
"That's not love..."
Rin's affection for Ren is that of the opposite sex. Luna talked about Ren's feelings for Rin's loyalty. Not what Rin wants.
"It can't be helped. Ren doesn't know love."
"I see."
"This woman exists to do something about it."
"I don't know about that."
A dissatisfied expression appears on Rin's face. Rin does not approve of Shizuru. She doesn't like Shizuru approaching Ren like that.
"This woman's feelings are fake. Naturally, Ren knows that."
"I hope so."
"And the more Ren knows the fake, the more he wants the real thing. That's Rin."
"......Tell me one thing. What was Kazuki?"
Rin believes that Kazuki is the real thing. Rin admits that it is Kazuki. That's why she couldn't allow Shizuru to replace Kazuki.
"Kazuki is the real thing."
Luna's answer was exactly what Rin had expected.
"Right. I knew that. And I can't be Kazuki-san."
"That's only natural. Kazuki lost a lot, but even so, she gave Ren what little she had left. Luna would not ask Rin for that."
"You think I can't do it?"
Rin herself is prepared to give everything to Ren. She would like to do so.
"It's not. Ren and Kazuki are too much the same. Both of them have no regrets in this world. Ren will easily throw everything away."
"......I'm beginning to understand a little. But I still don't understand why this woman is necessary."
"It's necessary. Kazuki taught Ren about the existence of love. And she was the one who was supposed to make Ren aware of that existence."
"...Ren-sama, Kazuki-san."
"He loved her. Before Ren realized that, Kazuki died. I'm sorry Rin, but I honestly don't have confidence that Ren will ever love Rin."
"I see……"
Luna is not afraid to say things that hurt Rin, even though she refuses to say them. And Rin says nothing. To Luna, Ren is everything. Everything else is trivial to her.
"This woman robbed Ren of his only chance to know love. Luna cannot forgive that."
"A tool"
"That's right. Luna only thinks of this woman as a tool."
Luna, who is all about Ren, said she would use Shizuru as a tool for Ren's sake. Rin would eventually come to realize the enormity of this.
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