I Became a Burden to the Conscienceless Party

‘Fufu.’

Esmeralda must have finally been unable to resist the temptation of the book.
Irina opened her eyes slowly, confident that her plan was meshing together like gears.

“Uh… T-this…”

As she opened her eyes, she saw Esmeralda, as expected, deeply engrossed in reading the book with a completely flushed face.
Irina grinned and crawled towards Esmeralda.
She was so focused that she didn’t even notice Irina approaching.

“…”

Just as Irina reached out, intending to surprise Esmeralda,

‘Wait, is she this focused? What kind of content is it?’

Even though her hand was close to Esmeralda’s face, she couldn’t take her eyes off the book.
Considering the Hero’s senses, it wouldn’t have been strange if she had noticed long ago.

“…”

Irina continued to crawl closer, this time quietly peeking from Esmeralda’s side.
And some time passed.

“Ah, h-how, how can this, O-Oh Celestial God… This is blasphemous. This is blasphemy. How can such blasphemous…”
“There’s such… Oh, no, is this even possible…?”

And so, the two finished reading the book.

Jim was still driving the carriage, looking up at the warm sunlight.
And the two sitting in the cargo area of the carriage were silent.
Both Esmeralda, who had said she wouldn’t fall for Irina’s schemes,
And Irina, who had been thinking of teasing Esmeralda.
Neither could say anything.
It was uncomfortable to look at each other’s faces.

‘Jim… You were really holding back in what you usually imagined about me.’

Esmeralda understood Jim.
Of course, that doesn’t mean she would accept Jim’s sexual harassment.

‘Ah, ah, th-that… How could… What should I…’

And Irina was agonizing.
This book was a gift from Milia to Jim. That means the two of them exchange books of this level.
Irina had to raise her guard against Milia even higher.
The woman she thought was inexperienced, stupid, and lacking in social skills was in the most dangerous position.

‘That lewd woman with just big breasts…’

She will be an obstacle when it’s time to get Jim after everything is over.
But Milia is stronger than Irina. Unlike her, who is a priestess, Milia is essentially a strategic weapon specialized in firepower.
She can’t win with strength.
And it’s hard to see the current Celestial Order surpassing the Magic Tower in terms of forces and power.
Yes, she’s falling behind.

“…Hero.”

Then what should she do?
How can she gain an advantage over that woman whose lewdness extends from her head to her chest?
Honestly, she thinks she’s better in terms of appearance. Her chest might be a bit smaller, but it’s not small by any means.
She might be behind in power and strength, but her education and personality are perfect.
Then what’s left is one thing.

“…Shall we try this?”

Knowledge to seduce men.

“Irina, what are you saying? Have you finally gone mad? No, I knew you were crazy, but…”
“Hero, you have an obligation to cooperate for the sake of our contract relationship.”
“I never made a contract with you…”
“You said you’d give me Jim.”
“I said I’d think about it.”
“So you don’t want to?”
“No.”
“Then I guess there’s no choice.”

Irina nodded. It wasn’t that she understood and gave up.
It just means she’ll force it.
Light began to gather around Irina. She created long, flexible strings by giving physical form to her holy power.
Although made of holy power, these strings that wriggled unpleasantly somewhere instantly bound Esmeralda’s limbs, who had been watching Irina with a contemptuous expression.
Esmeralda, who had been secretly curious about what she was trying to do, finally turned her gaze back to the book she had sealed away in a corner as if it was forbidden.
And she understood.
What Irina was trying to experiment on her now.

“Uh… If you’re going to do that, you should do it to yourself, not me…”
“To maintain mental strength, I need to stay in a cold state.”
“Hiyak?!”

The wriggling tentacles eventually begin to caress Esmeralda’s body.
It didn’t feel good. It was just creepy and unpleasant.
But considering that the female knight in the book also had such a monologue at first, it’s obvious what will happen if this continues.

“Don’t be ridiculous…”

Esmeralda snorted.
She is someone who has always overcome trials. She’s the Hero.

“If you’re that curious, you should try it on your own body, you know?”

In an instant, she mimicked Irina’s action with mana, binding Irina’s limbs in the same way.

“Oh my, Hero. Let me go.”
“You should let go first.”

The two look at each other and smile brightly.
But even so, they didn’t remove the tentacles that bound each other’s limbs and wriggled over their bodies.

“Let go.”
“You let go first.”

A childish pride battle.
Rather, they were only tormenting each other’s bodies more intensely.

“You… ugh, started it… first… Kyaa?!”
“I… Hiyak?! At least I didn’t… ugh! Try to do such lewd… haah! Things like the Hero…”

The two were surprisingly focused on tormenting each other.
They didn’t even think about removing the tentacles wrapped around their own bodies.
Just listening to their words, it might sound like they were fighting by pulling each other’s hair, but in reality, they were just engaging in obscene and vulgar actions.
Yes, it was attack rather than defense.
Gradually, the two’s breathing became rough and their faces turned red.
Between their words, saliva flowed out shamelessly, and moans began to fill the carriage.
It was a sensation too novel for the world’s purest saint and the hero who had lived her whole life just working.
The two were teary-eyed but didn’t bend their pride.
Wouldn’t it seem weak to be fixated on removing the tentacles here?
What exactly would seem weak was a matter only the two of them knew, but they were serious for now.

“Haa… Haa…”
“Ugh, huuh…”

And finally, when they could barely speak to each other.

Bang!
With a loud noise, the carriage hit a tree and stopped.

“Oh, dear.”

Only then could the two discover Jim staring at them with wide eyes.

“Don’t mind me, please continue.”

[Note: I’m preserving this moment with a record-saving magic.]

“Ah, did you sleep well last night? Hero.”
“Ah, yes…”

Esmeralda bowed her head when she encountered Jim coming down from the second floor of the inn.
Jim didn’t run away today either.
Well, even if he had tried to run away, he would have only suffered by hitting Irina’s barrier. Still, the fact that he’s fine means he didn’t even try in the first place.
Esmeralda tilted her head at the recent changes she saw in Jim.

[Note: He’s continuing deep contemplation on the principles of all things, life and death, and the essence of humans and demons.]

Yes, this is it.
What on earth could have happened?
He looks as if he’s become a sage who has realized the truth.
After the obscene war with Irina, every time he slept alone at the inn, Jim would appear like this the next day.
Well, even that doesn’t last more than 3 hours, but isn’t it strange?
Unfortunately, Esmeralda had only learned about sex from books, so she couldn’t even guess what the reason might be.

‘Well, it’s much better than having lewd thoughts. I wish he would always show this kind of appearance.’

Truly unfortunately, Esmeralda couldn’t know that she was already steeped in all kinds of sexual harassment in Jim’s mind.
If she had known that fact, how would she have acted?
Well, whatever she does, the sexual harassment towards her will be endless.
It’s a happy thing that those gazes have been halved as much as Irina is there.

‘Indeed, this guy has changed.’

More precisely, his sexual desire has increased.
And his intelligence has decreased.
If there’s anything she can guess, it’s only Jim’s unidentified characteristic.
She only regretted that she fainted without seeing the end of that power that day.

‘Honestly, it doesn’t seem related.’

The appearance of Jim, who stood up even in a critically wounded state at that time, felt somewhat transcendental.

-Mr. Jim is the Celestial God. Yes. Right now, his memories are confused because of the dirty demon blood…

Irina’s nonsense flashed through her mind.
At that time, she thought Irina was completely broken, but now she’s doubting it too.
Of course, she doesn’t think Jim is the Celestial God either. She thinks he might be a being with a special bloodline, literally similar to that.

‘…The Demon King’s illegitimate child?’

Honestly, she couldn’t deny that it was the most plausible assumption.
A person of Major General rank tried to rescue him, and a Corps Commander came personally to behead him.
She was about to reach the same conclusion as some aide somewhere.

‘But, the half-blood part bothers me.’

But she was different.
She was a little smarter than Lilith.
Of course, if they were to compete in strategy, Esmeralda would likely end up burying the army she commands.
They just have different roles they’re good at.

‘If I discuss it with Irina… Ah, that crazy woman was claiming he’s the Celestial God. Right.’

No conclusion can be reached.
Esmeralda eventually had to stop thinking, leaving the question unresolved.

“Good morning, everyone.”
“Irina. Did you sleep well last night?”
“Of course. Someone locked the door from the outside so I could sleep really well.”
“That’s good. It was worth the effort to try not to let the hammer sounds be heard.”

Esmeralda had been constantly trying to prevent Jim from escaping.
This party must be maintained. That’s why she tried her best to stop it.
But as a result of such efforts, another person is now trying to escape.
And she’s trying to escape by kidnapping the one who was trying to escape earlier.
What the hell is going on? Just when she thought she had solved one problem, it came back as an even bigger issue.
Actually, she knows the reason.
It’s probably because she judged that kidnapping and running away with the Celestial God (self-proclaimed) is better than catching the Demon King.
Esmeralda was struggling because of the completely insane Irina.

‘Moreover, unlike Jim, this woman’s brain works well.’

She can’t let her guard down.
Even now, seeing her smiling brightly is just unsettling.
She can’t let Irina take Jim and escape.
If that happens, not only will it weaken their force, but Milia will go berserk.
That’s why Esmeralda decided to go find Milia herself and bring her, rather than waiting for her as she usually would.

‘I need to maintain balance.’

Two people who have feelings for Jim.
She needs to set a counterfire against those two.
It would be even better if Jim agonizes over choosing between the two.
Of course, she’ll have to interfere so that he can’t choose either side.

‘Wow, there’s so much to do! It’s great! I won’t be bored!’

For Esmeralda, who had thought the carriage journey was boring just a short while ago, the thought of having to walk a tightrope of death from now on couldn’t be more welcome.
She secretly burned with fighting spirit as if she wanted to behead the Demon King right now.

“Ah, Saint. Please wear this. Hero, you take this too.”

While Esmeralda was grimacing alone thinking about the future, Jim handed fur clothes to the two.
The Glacies Magic Tower was chilly all around, probably due to the field they research.
The area near the Glacies Magic Tower is always cool even on hot summer days.
Of course, it’s even more severe in winter.

“Ah, thank you, Mr. Jim.”

As it was now entering autumn, the weather was no different from winter in other regions.
If he prepared considering such things, his preparedness is quite good.
And his consideration is good too.

‘Well, he passes as a porter.’

Despite everything, Jim never does things halfheartedly when it comes to work.
It would be nice if he took care of his own life more seriously.
That’s why Esmeralda thinks Jim is pathetic.
If he had acted as well as his usual attentiveness, if he had done less useless things.
How good would it have been for both of them.

“Ah, I ordered breakfast earlier, so it should be coming out soon. I asked for a simple warm soup since it’s morning.”
“Ooh…”

Esmeralda was impressed by Jim’s thorough preparation.
For her, who had thought of him as just a demon spy and a mental health supplement for party members until now, such consideration felt fresh.
The fact that she’s realizing this now is probably because of Irina, who is still looking at Jim with eyes dripping honey, moved by him.

‘No, it’s not honey dripping, she’s casting brainwashing.’

She thought her eyes were unusually sparkling, but she was casting brainwashing.
Esmeralda quietly slipped between the two to interfere. That was enough.
And so, another day of Esmeralda’s heart-pounding daily life began.
But…

“Mr. Jim.”
“Yes, Hero.”
“Isn’t this… a bit much?”
“Is it? Isn’t this normal?”

Esmeralda was shocked by the amount of food filling the inn’s dining table.
It’s a lot. No matter how you look at it, it’s a lot.
Considering the amount they usually eat, it’s enough to make her wonder if Jim is making some kind of protest.
But judging by Jim’s expression and surface thoughts, there was no such sign.
He really seems to purely think they can eat this much.

“Let’s eat for now. If it’s not enough, we can order more.”
“Ah, yes…”

It won’t be insufficient, though?
Esmeralda sat at the table without time to think, urged by Jim.
She exchanged glances with Irina, who also sat at the table, but it was hard to understand what this situation was.

“Thank you for the meal.”

And so the meal began.
Jim ate all the amount that Esmeralda and Irina thought was too much.
His appearance seemed almost as if he was obsessed with eating.

After the meal.
They decided to head towards the Glacies Magic Tower again after taking a short rest.
Of course, they could depart right away.
But basically, the two can only depart when Jim, who is essentially the porter, finishes his preparations.
Yes, that means this is the perfect time for the two to legally conspire.

“What do you think?”
“He was cute.”
“You crazy woman, not that. Don’t you think it’s clearly strange?”
“That’s right.”

Esmeralda glared at Irina, who was spouting nonsense again, and asked in a serious tone.

“Honestly, just looking at that, I don’t know what the problem is. I can’t just forcefully apply holy power to heal Mr. Jim right now, can I?”
“Why not? Isn’t he the Celestial God?”
“The current Celestial God is in a weakened state due to the poison of the vermin.”
“…So that’s the setting.”
“It’s not a setting, it’s real.”

Esmeralda nodded obediently after reading something like madness in Irina’s eyes.
There’s no point in arguing about this topic. It would only end up provoking her unnecessarily.

“What about you, Hero? Do you have any guesses?”
“Guesses… Actually, I do have one.”

Esmeralda confided in Irina about Jim’s condition.
About his unidentified characteristic and that even if they combined their powers now, they probably couldn’t easily subdue Jim.
Listening to that story, Irina asked with a hardened expression.

“Was there no other abnormality besides that?”
“…”
“There was, wasn’t there?”

Esmeralda wondered if she should really say this.
Honestly, isn’t it private?
Of course, it’s funny that Esmeralda, who can see such private matters without filtering, is saying this.
She sees it involuntarily, doesn’t she?

“No matter what I hear, I won’t despise Mr. Jim, so why don’t you just tell me?”
“…His sexual desire seems to have increased a bit.”
“Oh my.”

Seeing Irina grinning contrary to her earlier promise, Esmeralda felt unnecessarily sorry for Jim.

“Hmm, I see. Lust and gluttony… Then maybe?”

Irina approached Jim, who was preparing the carriage, as if she had recalled something.

“May I check the luggage?”
“Ah, sure.”

Once Jim gave permission, Irina began to carefully examine around Jim.
She’s putting on airs.

“Hmm, no problem. Can I check the other luggage too?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then excuse me.”

While Esmeralda was watching this series of pretentious actions with half-closed eyes.
Soon after, Irina, who had crawled onto the carriage, began to search around.

“Hero.”

And not long after, Irina beckoned to Esmeralda.
So when Esmeralda also lightly jumped onto Jim’s carriage.
Irina opened one of the numerous luggage boxes and showed its contents to Esmeralda, saying:

“What do you think?”
“It seems to have increased somehow.”
“These are things Mr. Jim has been replenishing little by little every time we stop at a village.”
“I didn’t notice because I wasn’t paying attention, but now that I see it…”

Isn’t this a bit much?
Esmeralda couldn’t finish her words and looked at Irina.
To that, Irina spoke with a more serious expression than usual.

“Hero, do you know about the Five Desires and Seven Emotions (五慾七情)?”