162 CHAPTER X EXAMINATION OF FEAR





 I can never get up on my own all the time, but for some reason, I only wake up early when I sleep with Belle. .......
 As I was thinking about this, I was watching Belle's face as she slept, when her eyelids finally opened.
'Good morning . Did you sleep well?

"...... Good morning . Hehehehe...... it's Mr. Leo.
 To Belle, who is laughing funny, hmm? Are you delirious? As I was thinking, Belle's lips met mine.

'Mmmmmm ...... I kissed you again.'
 Hey, hey, hey! Mr. Bell, what's wrong with you?
 I was confused by the sudden kiss and the unusual character, and then Belle's face came closer again .

'Yes . Stop!
 Bang! And with a loud bang Sherry and Lina came in .

I was worried about you two not coming to dinner last night when I heard that Mr. Lou was mad at Leo yesterday. ...... It sounds like you had a lot of fun last night?

No, what? Oh, um, ......
 I mean, it's not like it was all fun and games, was it?

In the meantime, would you like to have breakfast and then we can talk at length about it?

'Yes, yes ......'
 I couldn't think straight in my sleep, so I couldn't argue with any of the ...... or even speak any words .

 Then Belle and I ate breakfast in a flash, and Elsie and Lou joined us, and the interrogation session began in my room.
 I voluntarily sat upright on the hard floor while Belle stood apologetically behind me.

 Lou, by the way, is still sleepy and curled up in my bed.
 She probably won't be joining in on the conversation.
 So, Sherry, Leena, and Elsie began their interrogation.

So, where the hell were you yesterday? Lou seemed to know what was going on, but he was one of those people who asked Leo about it: ....... What the hell is going on?
 Hey, Lou, you kept your promise.
 Now I have to feed you lots of dragon meat as I promised.
 Well, I had to tell you everything anyway.

Well, ...... yesterday, we were in the Demon Forest.

"'Demon Forest!'?
 Their eyes widened in surprise at my words.
 Is that really such a surprise? What's the third time I've been to the Devil's Forest?

'You promised your mother you wouldn't go until you were older, didn't you?'
 Oh, yeah. I forgot about your appointment too: .......
 Please. Don't tell your mother! I wanted to say that, but I didn't have the time to say it, so I quietly began my defense.

''That's why ...... these days, I ran out of material when I was building a wall or something, so I convinced ...... Belle to let me go on the condition that I would leave as soon as she deemed it dangerous.

'So ...... what happened with that? But you weren't just collecting material, were you?
 Sherry has been quietly going on with the story .
 This is scary...... I'm scared that Sherry is so quiet...... I'm scared that my normal Sherry would be really angry with me in the morning when she saw me and Belle sleeping together, revealing her emotions. .......

'Well, uh, ......, can you not say anything else about what I'm about to tell you?'

'Does it bother you if someone finds out? Then I understand. I promise.

'You won't keep talking to me unless I promise, will you? Then I promise.

I promise not to tell anyone.

Thank you. As a matter of fact, the Demon King is still alive in the Demon Forest.
 I got the confirmation from the three of them, so I started talking about the Demon King.
 Just in case it's a secret that the Demon Lord is alive over there, I think it's better to keep it a secret.

The Demon King?
 Yeah. I'm sorry I've been giving you a lot of surprises.
 But just be prepared for more surprises to come, okay?

'Yeah . But it doesn't mean that he's going to do anything bad, and you don't have to worry about him . I used to meet the Demon Lord every time I went to the Demon Forest, but the first time I met him, he helped me with my training, and he's a nice guy .

It's so different from the Demon King in the stories, I can't even picture it.
 It's a true story, but it's still a story. It's a true story, but it's not interesting unless you add a little more to the story.

But still, he was one of the strongest men in the world, and Belle couldn't even stand in front of the Demon King.

'What? Oh, of course. Belle was with me yesterday. Belle, what was the Demon King like?

''Once I got used to it, I wasn't afraid . But the pressure of the ...... magic power was too strong, and I was so close that I couldn't get my legs and feet to work.
 When Sherry spoke to me, Belle spoke nonchalantly about the Demon King she met yesterday .
 The pressure of magic power. ...... I couldn't feel that, could I?


 Can't you feel it because I'm too high on magic?

So much ....... So what have you done with the Demon King?

"What I've done, or rather, ......, is I've learned a lot of things. . about this world.

'About this world? That's pretty vague. What did you learn, for example?

'Yes. ....... Like, for example, the fact that Belle's father was the king of the Beastmen race?

'What? Belle, were you royalty?
 At my words, all three of them turned to Belle in surprise .

''No, no ...... it seems that the land of the beastman race has already been destroyed . So, they're ex-royalty to be exact .

'Destroyed! Why?

Someone killed them all.

Who is?

Yes. ......
 Can I explain the incarnation now?
 If I told you, what would be the inconvenience?
 ...... Is there anything in particular you can think of?
 Either way, I was going to tell you that I had memories of my previous life, and I'm not sure if it's still a problem ...... or not.

Actually, .......
 Then I explained to Sherry and the others that I had memories of my previous life and that the Demon King had told me yesterday.

""......"

''Well, let's see, ......, does that mean that Leo is a so-called reincarnate and will now have to kill other reincarnates?''

Yes.

Such as .......
 When I nodded, all three of them looked very sad.
 Well, I don't like the idea of killing each other either.
 Hey, I fell asleep early last night.
 Thank you for sleeping with me, Belle.

What kind of memories does ...... Leo have of this past life? Is that why you've always been like an adult, Leo, and were able to do such great things?
 After a short pause, this time Leena asked me a question.
 I knew that question was coming: .......

It's ...... right. I think I was able to do a lot of things because of my memories of my past life. You can train your magic from a young age, get a perfect score on an exam without studying, know things that aren't in this world and make them as if you invented them ...... that's about it.

'I see. ....... But that's what you are now, Leo, isn't it?

Yeah, I do.
 I mean, is your ego completely leoned already?
 I think I'm stronger as a Leonce than I was in my previous life, and .

'Then it's all right. If you're no different than the Leo I know, there's nothing wrong with that. Right? Sherry?

Yeah. It's just that Leo was more capable than we knew.

Hmm, my feelings aren't particularly different.

Thanks to all three of you.

'Hey, more importantly, what do you mean I only live to be a hundred years old?
 As I was bowing to the three of them, I heard Lou get up out of bed, miffed.

'Oh, oh! Come to think of it, Lou was one of those incarnations, wasn't he?

If you ask me, I have the ability to nod to that too, but ......

I can't imagine having more than ten people like Lou.

Lou, like me, has memories of his previous life. Well, I don't know why, but right now she doesn't seem to remember it because of her amnesia.

Yeah, I don't remember that at all.

As I said before, me, Lou and the new Demon King will only live to be 100 years old at the most. I'm a human race, so I don't know if I'll live to be a hundred years old, but Lou seems to die when he's a hundred years old.

I see ...... that means I won't be the only one left in the world, right?

Uh-huh.

Okay then!

"......
 I don't know how you'd react if you were happy to die early .
 We got an indescribable air of Lou's smile .

'I feel like I'm going crazy with all this information. It kind of explains why Belle and Leo had a fight yesterday after we got home.

Well, there's a different reason for that: ......
 This time, I explained in detail how I almost died in the dragon's lair, how Belle got mad at me for breaking my promise not to do anything dangerous when I got back, and how I made up with her in the form of becoming her lover .

 I'm afraid Shelly is going to be mad at me, but ......
 If you have to say something anyway, the plan is to say it now while the information is still being processed and leave it vague .

''Well, uh, ...... you broke your promise to your mother and then further broke your promise to Belle?''
 When she heard the general gist of what I was about to say, Leena immediately hit me where it hurts.
 Leena, you know how much she loves you. ...... She's very angry that I broke my promise to her.
 I'd like to apologize for this.



'Yes, yes ......, I'm sorry.

"So, Belle got angry, but she remembered ...... that she was a maid and said it too strongly, and that she and Leo-kun were nothing more than a squire, and she was crying in her room... ...
 My kneeling was overlooked and Leena moved on to talking about Belle .
 It's sad, but ...... it's my fault, so I'll just keep it quiet.

'Yes, yes ......'
 Belle nodded weakly, and Leena turned to me again .

'And then Mr. Lou told you to go apologize to him and Leo-kun rushed after Belle?

Yes. Yes, I'm sure.
 Ugh...... Leena and the others are staring at me and it hurts .
 I can't check because my head is on the floor, but I feel like I'm being stared at?

Leo is totally to blame for this, isn't he?

"Yes, sir. I think Leo was wrong. Also, I deduct points for going after him after Lou warned me.

'Yes, yes ......, I'm sorry.
 I got down on my knees and apologized again.
 I don't have the courage to raise my head anymore.

After Leo went into Mr. Bell's room, Leo told me that he was extra upset with Mr. Bell and that he was beaten up. ...... What did you do to get angry enough to be beaten up by Mr. Bell?
 Now it's Elsie's turn. There's that cold voice again.

"Well, I'll keep it quiet for the sake of ...... Bell.
 It's not like I can say anything about my underwear.

Yeah. I must have done something really bad to piss Belle off.

I'm sure of it.
 Is that right? Well, I guess it was a very bad thing for Belle to do .

''So, after hitting Leo-kun, Belle-san couldn't stand what she had done and tried to quit as a maid, right?

...... Yes.
 Elsie's question was answered by the bell behind her.
 I'm really glad I didn't quit.
 I mean, if I hadn't regained consciousness so soon, wouldn't Belle be here now?
 So I guess I have to thank you for your regeneration skills as best I can.

''You didn't have to quit just because you punched Leo anymore.
 Ta, I'm sure that's true, but it hurts when you say it like it's so obvious, doesn't it?

'And wasn't it also because you liked Leo-kun too much to be a maid when he came out afterwards?

'Even if it's for that reason, Belle is so serious . The person who will be most troubled by Leo's disappearance is definitely Belle rather than us, and I know that Leo cares about Belle, so I shouldn't have to worry about it . Rather, now that we know she's a princess of the beast race, it would be more unpleasant if she were to remain in her maid status on the contrary.
 Huh?
 I looked up in surprise.

'What? Sherry, do you think you might have a fever or something?

What? What are you talking about? He's perfectly healthy, okay?

It can't be true. Because if you're your usual Shelly, you would never say Belle is the best, would you?
 Yes, yes, yes! It's not Sherri who doesn't get jealous!

...... Is that right? Well, I'm going to grow up, too . That said, I'm the one who likes Leo the best, and I'm his rightful wife, right?

"Ugh ...... Sherry is starting to have the luxury of a real wife. But you can't lose your love for Leo, can you?
 Well, there's room for a regular wife. .......

Hey, want to play?
 No, no, no, no. You don't want me to get in the way of that.
 Well, after all, Sherry is Sherry.

"Oui, oui, oui. Okay. I'll let you two guys just leave it at that. It's just not going to happen. We'll mix me in on that game later on, strictly speaking.
 Hey, hey, tell me if you're trying to break up the fight or not.
 I mean, what kind of game are we playing, exactly?

Gohon. So let's get back to it. Leo, what is it going to be like for you, Mr. Bell?
 Clearing her throat, Elsie returned to the subject .
 That's how you handle the bell: ......

Yeah, ...... my girlfriend and caretaker?
 Since I'm no longer a maid, ...... is the only way I can describe it.
 But even if she is no longer a maid, she still has to be paid for her care and attention.

In other words, what Belle does is the same as before, but she is no longer a maid, right?

Well, yeah. So that's it?

''Ha, yes . Um, ...... everyone, are you sure it's okay for me to be Master Leo's lover?
 I turned around and checked with Belle, and she was nodding and looking at ...... Shelly and the others.

'Huh? You've slept in the same bed as Leo, and now you're asking me that?



'Oh, yes ......, sorry.'
 If you think about it, it's not a maid and master relationship anymore when you're sleeping together a lot.
 Sherry is right, it's a bit late for that.
 Well, I've always thought of Belle as family, not a maid.

Well, that's good. Belle had a hard time expressing her feelings because of her position as a maid.

'Yes, ...... but it really doesn't feel like a new thing, does it? It's been a given in my mind that Belle would marry Leo since we got to know each other in the dorms, so it's not okay or anything to be a lover now, is it?
 Did you guys get along in the dorms? You used to hate me for a while, but now you're just saying that.
 Well, you're good friends now.

Well, it's true, you two were like family long ago and you're more than just lovers. I don't know what to do now that you ask me for permission.
 Yeah, because we're family.

So I guess you don't have to worry about being pissed off, huh?
 I smiled and turned back to Belle.
 When I looked back, Belle's face was broken down in tears.

"Uh-uh-uh ...... gus! Thank you, both of you.
 Wiping away the tears, Belle bowed to the three of them .

'What? Did they ever worry about you being mad at me?

I can't help it. No one can imagine Sherry being that mature.
 Mm-hm. I didn't expect Shelly to be able to afford a regular wife.

"Huh? I'm not supposed to! Hmm, I'm still a kid anyway!
 Then, angry at Leena, Shelly walked over to Belle.
 Then she hugged Belle, who was crying .

'Uh ...... Belle? You don't have to make any reservations about us. We're family now. I mean, we bathe together so much, so why should you be reserved?
 At those words, Belle broke down crying until she couldn't speak.

Yes. We're Leo's women now, and we're a family that's irreplaceable.

Oh, let me join you!

'Hmm, I love you as much as I love Leo-kun, Belle.
 Leena, Lou and Elsie followed suit and hugged Belle, and the four of them smiled and laughed at Belle .

'Thank you all ...... I love you all too, Shelly, Leena, Lou and Elsie ...... sir.
 Yeah, what can I say about ...... that makes me so happy.
 Then I watched the five of them hugging each other, my legs were numb as I lost the chance to stand up.

 Also, Leena was really mad at me for breaking my promise to my mom.
 I didn't expect the sermon to last until dinner. .......