I Became a Burden to the Conscienceless Party

Something suddenly came to mind.
A desire rising from deep within, creeping up.

“I want to be promoted.”
-…Pardon?

That’s right, promotion.
Come to think of it, I’ve been in the hero party for 3 years and have done my part, but I’m still a Lieutenant.
Unlike what the Colonel said about accumulating achievements, now that I look at it, nothing has changed.
Well, it’s not like I’m in a place where I can receive a salary even if I get promoted right now.

“Hasn’t it been quite some time since I was dispatched to the hero party? I’ve delivered quite a bit of information during that time, can’t something be done?”
-Uh… Ah, there’s no reason it can’t be done. Of course, Lieutenant Jim. No, from now on I should call you Captain Jim. I’ll inform the personnel department.
“Haha! As expected, Major General Lilith is the only one who thinks of me.”
-Ahem, hem, hem… It’s nothing. We’re close, aren’t we?
“That’s right?”

Actually, I’ve noticed something recently.
Major General Lilith is unusually kind to me.
I didn’t realize it because I always only saw her cold expression from afar, but now I see she has quite an affectionate personality.
So I made a request that might be a bit rude, and sure enough, she gladly granted my request.

“Ah, we’re currently heading towards the Glacies Magic Tower. I hear the goal is to make contact with the magician Milia Aslin there.”
-I see. Do you perhaps know where the next destination might be?
“It’s my personal opinion, but judging from the Hero’s recent actions, I think the next might be going to pick up the thief… no, the scholar, Tina.”
-Indeed, the movements are a bit different from before. I’ll keep that in mind and move the operation team accordingly.
“Yes!”

After such a series of conversations.
I was promoted to Captain Jim.
Honestly, I wanted to ask to be promoted to Major, but I still have a conscience.
I know my abilities are a bit lacking for field grade.
It’s unfortunate. The fact that I can’t become a field grade officer because of just a small difference.
Well, but it’s close now.
Just a little more and I’ll be able to reach the position I want.

“Mr. Jim.”
“Captain Jim… Ah, no, I mean. Yes, Saint. What is it?”

That was close.
I thought she might have heard, but Irina’s expression was her usual smiling face.
That’s right.
Honestly, I’m not sure.
But if she had found out, she would have immediately smashed a morning star into my head, so she probably didn’t.
After all, isn’t she someone who calls demons vermin?
I’m precariously half a vermin, but there would be no exceptions.

“I was thinking we might have entrusted too much luggage to Mr. Jim recently.”
“What are you saying? That was naturally my job.”

I acted humbly as usual. After saying it, I thought for a moment that if I complained about it being difficult here, couldn’t I quit? But that’s unlikely. It’s obvious that I’ll have to keep carrying luggage while just souring the mood like before.

“It must have been very painful. So after much deliberation, I…”

Irina stops speaking while holding my hand with both of hers.

“I…”

Not only is her face getting redder, but a bead of sweat falls down her forehead. Can that be called holy water too? I would call it that.

“I…”
“Yes, Saint. Please continue.”

I gently pushed her back to help Irina, who kept getting stuck at the “I…” part.
Is there something difficult to say? Could she be trying to confess?
Honestly, looking at the recent atmosphere, I think there’s a possibility.

“I’ll give you a reward, Mr. Jim.”

For a moment, lewd thoughts flash through my mind at Irina’s word choice.
I quickly came to my senses, but…

“So, how about it?”

An awkward but seductive expression I’ve never seen before.
Irina brought my hand towards her chest, and I came to the conclusion that what I thought was correct.
Then there’s only one conclusion.

During the time Jim was secretly communicating with Lilith.
Esmeralda and Irina, who had checked the amount of luggage loaded on Jim’s carriage, were also continuing their own conspiracy.

“So… You’re saying Jim’s current state is being swayed by those Five Desires and Seven Emotions? That he’s full of anguish?”

The Five Desires (五慾)
Refers to the five desires: desire for wealth, desire for fame, desire for food, desire for sleep, and desire for sex.

And the Seven Emotions (七情)
Refers to the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, love, hate, and desire.

These are things to be cautious of to become a god, passed down from the past.
Many of the gods worshipped by various religious groups also became gods by shaking off such anguish.
Among them, the Celestial God was just the most famous for granting miracles.
Gods were not unique.
Because they weren’t unique, they believed anyone could become a god.
And it was the previous Pope of the Celestial Order who committed sins while trapped in the Five Desires and Seven Emotions, caught up in that arrogance.

“The unidentified characteristic that the Hero mentioned… That might be the root cause troubling the current Celestial God, that is, Mr. Jim.”
“Uh, umm… Is that so?”

For Esmeralda, the idea of Jim being the Celestial God was utterly implausible.
He occasionally makes chilling remarks and actions, but can that really be called the dignity of a god?

“First of all, it’s certain that Mr. Jim became strange because of that characteristic, right?”
“I… guess?”

Wouldn’t it be the opposite?
Esmeralda had such a thought for a moment, but soon shook her head. There’s no evidence, is there?
If it’s a situation where both sides are just speculating without evidence anyway, it’s easier to avoid unnecessary conflict. Honestly, she’s not that interested.

“If that power is shaking the foundation of the Celestial God and trapping him in the Five Desires and Seven Emotions, it’s a big problem.”
“What’s the big deal?”
“Because it could lower the Celestial God’s status.”
“I see.”

Honestly, it doesn’t matter either way.
She doesn’t have a god she believes in.
Esmeralda still had objections to Jim being the Celestial God, but decided to follow Irina’s opinion.

“We need to free him. Just recently, lust, gluttony, and even greed have started to become prominent.”
“So how?”
“…Maybe we could relieve him a bit?”
“Wow, are you really a saint?”
“I! I… Do you think it’s easy for me to say such things?!”
“But you did say it.”

You lewd woman.
Esmeralda silenced Irina with just a glance. It was one of the few moments she could have the upper hand against Irina.

“So you’re going to do it, right?”
“…What?”
“You weren’t thinking of telling me to do it, were you? He’s your Celestial God, isn’t he?”
“Uh… well…”
“Let me tell you in advance, I absolutely refuse. Unlike you guys, I don’t look at Jim that way.”

Rather, Esmeralda couldn’t understand how they could have feelings for such a guy.
Isn’t he a pervert?
Of course, she only thinks this in her head.

“O-Of course! I-I should do it!”

Irina expressed her bold ambition.

The plan to seduce Jim began with Irina’s bold ambition.

‘Huh? Huuuh? Huuuuuh??’

Yes, this was an action she committed to try to seduce Jim in her own way.
It was good that she led Jim’s hand towards her chest, but…

‘Huuuuuuuuuuh?!’

Grope grope grope grope.
The moment Irina was overwhelmed by Jim’s unhesitating lust, her mind went blank and she fell into terror.
She thought he would at least hesitate at first. She was planning to somehow persuade him with words and suppress Jim’s lust.
She thought a soft and beautiful, fresh love would begin.
But Jim is a man who lives for today.
A person who managed to endure for 3 years in the hero party.
He wasn’t a coward who would back out of an opportunity that came right before his eyes.

“Ugh! W-Wait…”

Irina started to back away in shock.
But Jim followed her, matching her pace.
As Irina retreated and Jim followed as if entranced.

Thud.
Irina finally reaches the wall.
Now there’s nowhere else to run.
Jim’s expression as he eagerly gropes her chest is even serious.
He’s seriously molesting Irina’s chest.

“Uh, w-wait a moment? Um, um… uuu…”

Irina, who finally couldn’t do anything, started to cry.
Although she was familiar with all kinds of political and fraudulent activities, she was still an infinitely inexperienced girl when it came to first love.
But there was someone who saved her…

Smack!
It was none other than the Hero of justice.

“Irina, what do you say?”
“Th-Thank you for saving me…”

Esmeralda, who had knocked Jim unconscious by hitting the back of his head, asked Irina while looking at her with eyes that seemed to say she was pathetic.

“What do you mean, save you? Because of you, I’m the bad guy again. I hit Jim’s head when he did nothing wrong, after all.”

Esmeralda clicked her tongue at this ridiculous situation.

‘I didn’t think she’d really do it. And I couldn’t imagine that bastard would commit to it so boldly either.’

He was so focused on groping that he didn’t even notice someone approaching from behind.
Esmeralda clicked her tongue and laid the unconscious Jim straight.
She still had some human heart left, so she didn’t want Jim’s mouth to go crooked from sleeping on the cold floor.
And Esmeralda had an obligation to bring Jim to the Demon King while keeping him ‘single’.
That’s the only way this unstable party won’t collapse.