15 – Deprived By a Devil
“Hey...Tatsumi.”
”Yes, what?”
Tatsumi pulled up a bucket filled with water from the well and poured it in the bucket he brought with him.
Then he threw the water well bucket back into the well. After confirming that the bucket completely sank down, he once again began to draw it up.
Verse, who was standing behind Tatsumi waiting for his turn finally asked Tatsumi who was busy repeating the sa actions over and over again.
“Why are you, of all people working as a temple assistant?”
“Why? Well....This is our job right?”
The job that was assigned to Verse and him today was to transport the water drawn from the well.
Just like yesterday after Tatsumi went to Bogart’s place Bogart simply grinned at him for a while and then gave him the water transportation job.
“From what I saw yesterday, you won’t mind if I give you so heavy lifting works right?”
After Bogart explained the procedures to Tatsumi, he collected the water bucket ant for transportation and the shoulder carrying pole. After that he headed for the back garden where the well was.
He t up with Verse on his way. It seems like he too was assigned the sa job today.
“No I an, Your wife...Well, the person who’s going to beco your wife earns quite a lot right? So even if you don’t work as an assistant like this....rather, even if you didn’t work at all wouldn’t it be enough for you to live a good life?”
“Err. For to let only Chiiko work while I do nothing...I, I really don’t have the intention to beco a gigolo you know.”
“Gigolo?”
“Ah right. In this wor-....I an, In this country do they not call n who don’t work pushing all the work on the won’s shoulder ‘Gigolo’?”
“Nope, there is no such term. Certainly people look down on n who don’t work making their wife do all the earning, but that’s not the case if the wife is a magician. Magician’s are special after all.”
According to Verse, a Magician won’t be troubled financially with just that.
Even if it was only a small magic that could only be used to light candles or a stove. The townsfolk would employ it in exchange for money, daily necessities, or foodstuff.
Unlike Tatsumi’s world this world didn’t have things like lighters so if that work could be done with magic then of course it would be convenient. Moreover, if one could use the spell [Light Orb] then at night they could sell those light orbs as ‘Lamps’ to people. One can earn quite a bit over night.
While listening to the standpoint of magicians in this country Tatsumi continued to draw water from the well and pour it in the water bucket.
“Well yeah, I guess the amount of things I can do is very limited but...but even if I can help Chiiko out just a little, I’ll still do it.”
“Is that so. Well I don’t hate that kind of mindset ya know? Do what you can and help out your wife.”
“Aye.”
After responding to Verse’s encouragent, Tatsumi was fired up as he carried the poles on his shoulder.
The pole which had two large water buckets suspended on both sides was of course very heavy. But just like yesterday’s case, it didn’t feel that heavy at all.
While being a bit confused about his own body, Tatsumi concentrated on his work.
After seeing off Tatsumi, it was now Verse’s turn to draw up the water but then he realized sothing.
“Now that I think about it, why does that guy call the ‘Chiiko’?”
***
The pole with two suspended buckets filled with water was supposed to be heavy.
Nevertheless, Tatsumi did not feel it. As if the buckets were empty, Tatsumi continued to transport the water.
The destinations were the Kitchen and the Bath. Because the bath was quite large and it needed a huge amount of water, he had to make quite a few round trips.
Though the other Junior Priests who had the sa duty as Tatsumi and Verse were already on their last breaths after a few round trips, they looked at Tatsumi in wonder as he continued on quite easily.
Tatsumi himself couldn’t help but be bewildered at his own body just like yesterday.
And it was the sa when he thought about the violent feeling of exhaustion he felt after work the day before. As Calcedonia said it, the symptoms were like when a novice magician completely depletes his mana, but of course, Tatsumi has no recollection of using any magic. Moreover, Tatsumi didn’t know how to use magic in the first place.
At first he thought it was a body correction he acquired after crossing over worlds but now that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Even though he thought of many possibilities, after Tatsumi judged that none seed appropriate, he turned his mind towards another topic.
“I’ll be living with Chiiko from now.....T-Together....”
Even though no one asked him, he muttered.
In his mind the visage of a wonderful maiden with white hair floated up.
A slim figure. But with a soft plump body. Extrely beautiful and well ordered looks. A clear voice like ringing chis.
And the thing that was etched into his mind the most were the pair of –by no ans too large but still on a level where it could be called as ‘huge’– voluptuous breasts, which of course were totally to his tastes.
The reason why that was the most morable was of course for soone going through puberty like him it’s the thing that keenly interests him.
Even though Tatsumi would be living together under the sa room with her in the near future. Tatsumi himself agreed to this. Though a part of him just went along with the flow– it would be a lie if he claid he truly wasn’t nervous at all.
He was a bit mindful of the fact that a few high standing people starting with Giuseppe, wanted him to marry Calcedonia.
Of course it wasn’t like he disliked Calcedonia.
There’s the fact that Calcedonia claims she’s the reincarnation of Chiiko, which shouldn’t be false. But most importantly, when soone shows that much devotion and goodwill towards you there’s no way you could hate them.
Furthermore, her appearance hit the bull’s eyes for Tatsumi’s personal tastes. As a man, there’s no way his heart wouldn’t flutter in this sort of situation.
But the reason why he feels nervous after all of that, would in the end be because of the sudden reality of marriage bashed into him right from the beginning.
Just a few days ago, Tatsumi almost got tired of living. Then suddenly telling Tatsumi to get married, it’s like telling him a pun he didn’t get.
All the more so when that marriage partner of his is soone whom he t only a few days ago.
Anyone’s ntal state would beco like Tatsumi’s if they were suddenly extorted into an arranged marriage eting and then suddenly learns their marriage has been decided.
Well, Tatsumi already thought of Calcedonia as family.
The last remaining family of Tatsumi, the small and adorable Chiiko. Even if Calcedonia is simply Chiiko’s reincarnation, and her actions and air only matches with Chiiko’s from his past world, and even if her figure has changed. She’s still Tatsumi’s family Chiiko.
And that’s not the only thing that bugs him.
That is, if one had to say it in modern terms, Calcedonia was sothing sort of a Top Idol for the people of this world.
She’s the Holy Maiden who’s na spread far and wide, not limited to this city alone. If that idol suddenly married soone they’d never even heard of before, a lot of random speculations and crazy rumors would certainly begin to spread.
Tatsumi is worried that their marriage might negatively effect her standing and image in the future.
“....Well, for now I don’t really have any other ans of living other than to rely on Chiiko......”
Though he had finally obtained a bit of standing in this world, it’s not like he could live on with just that. Then, the status he obtained was because of Giuseppe’s kindness.
“.............Well in the end it seems Chiiko herself is delighted so....It’s okay right?”
When he was in the city yesterday with Calcedonia, she looked really happy while buying their living-wares.
If, by any chance that was all an act, without a single doubt Tatsumi would never trust another woman in his whole life.
It would be a different story if Calcedonia herself was against the marriage, but it seems like she herself couldn’t look more forward to it.
Then without thinking too much, let’s just happily live under the sa roof with Chiiko, in tis with supporting her, and in tis with her supporting . [Marriage] is also a form of being family.
And this ti, no matter what happens, Tatsumi swore to protect his family.
As Tatsumi was thinking all that, he adjusted the pole on his shoulder and headed for the bath.
He didn’t notice at all that he was being watched by a sharp, malicious glare.
***
Calcedonia was walking through the temple hallway calmly with her usual stern expression.
But she stopped and turned around when her na was called suddenly by a familiar voice.
After she turned around, a familiar figure stood in front of her.
Seeing that person, her stern expression softened.
“I want to ask you sothing....Do you have so free ti now?”
“Yes. I don’t mind.”
It was kind of awkward to talk while standing, so they headed for the courtyard of the temple.
The courtyard of the temple is a place where believers gather for ets. There were people gathered together in group here and there and they were chatting on various everyday matters.
If soone famous like the Calcedonia suddenly appeared there, then obviously their attention would shift to her.
Moreover, she was walking together with a man. Seeing that, the believers began to whisper various speculations to each other.
Of course, there were so among them who were gazing at Calcedonia enchantingly.
As if she was used to all these whispers and gazes, Calcedonia threw her chest out and continued on.
After spotting so empty stools in one corner of the courtyard, Calcedonia and the person with her sat down.
“Then, what would you like to ask?”
“....You’ve recently gone out of the temple to prepare a house right?”
The person asked the question as if it was sothing very hard to ask, but Calcedonia softly smiled and replied
“Yes. That’s correct. Did you hear it from grandfather?”
“No, I didn’t directly hear it from his holiness though......”
“Well what you have heard is correct. And I am going to live together with a certain gentleman.”
Thinking of the person who she will live together, she showed a truly delighted expression while visibly being bashful.
And when the person beside her saw that glamorous smile, his heart churned in anguish, and he certainly felt sothing dark being born in his depth.
“T-The man you’ll be living together is him right.....? The boy that ca to the temple together with you a few days ago and started working as a Junior priest yesterday.....”
“Yes, that’s right. You have also t him right? That person...It is precisely that person who I have always been yearning for.”
And She radiantly smiled once again. And his heart also creaked again.
“......Are you...serious.......?”
“Eh?”
“A person...of your status, soone who is even called the of our temple, for you to be together with a re Junior Priest like him....Do you really think you can obtain happiness like that!?”
He said it with an expression not like his usual kind self. While Calcedonia noticed he wasn’t acting like himself, she didn’t remove the smile nor the happy expression from her face and clearly said to him
“No, it’s a bit different than that. Well, actually it might not be different at all. That person isn’t the one who is going to make happy, It’s the opposite. I am the one who is going to make that person happy. And.....And if that person can beco happy, than that in itself for will be the highest level of happiness I can ever obtain.”
Tatsumi, he’s soone who experienced a bitter past. And Calcedonia summoned him to this world in order to guide that person to happiness.
If Tatsumi could have led a happy life in his past world, then she wouldn’t have been able to summon him. Certainly reuniting with Tatsumi once more was her dearest wish, but it wasn’t sothing she should be fulfilling even if it ant completely destroying Tatsumi’s everyday life in his previous world.
“Living side by side with that person is the greatest happiness for .”
“Is that so....that decision...You aren’t going to change it huh....”
Compared to Calcedonia who had a smile like the blossom of hundreds of flowers, the man had his head lowered and used both his hands to cover his face.
Crestfallen, both his shoulders...No, his entire body began to tremble violently.
“W-What’s wrong...?”
Calcedonia instinctively frowned after sensing his strange atmosphere.
The first ti she t him was when Giuseppe adopted her. After that, she’s known him for a long ti. And the man in her mories always had a calm personality with a kind smile.
And that kind person was emitting such a bizarre aura. Calcedonia sensed an abnormal sight, and was about to reach out for his trembling shoulders.
It was at that mont that she suddenly realized the man was grumbling sothing in a small voice while facing the ground.
“............Are.......Mi............ne......”
An ominous voice as if it was coming from the pit of abyss. Calcedonia imdiately retracted her hands and reflexively stood up.
“.....You....It can’t be....”
A trembling voice escaped from Calcedonia’s beautiful lips.
As if responding to her voice, the man finally lifted up his head and looked at her with eyes filled with madness. He floated a sickening grin.
“Calcedonia.....I won’t hand you over to anyone...You are....You are mine alone.....”
His motionless eyes which were staring at Calcedonia glowed in an inhuman Red colour.
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