Chapter 52 Lil and Honoka and Reese
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
With Logan-san finally finishing up with the customers and clearing out the stock, my work for the day was done. Being a guard in a place like this doesn’t offer much in the way of actual protection work, but I suppose I functioned well enough as a “booth babe” to draw in the men.
To be honest, I can’t say I’m thrilled about it, but given how impractically revealing this gear is, it’s probably inevitable. Between the cleavage on display and my thighs being completely bare, I really have to wonder why anyone would design a combat character to dress like this. Well, I’m the one wearing it, so I guess I can’t talk.
Since I had nothing better to do, I headed back to the inn. The only person in the common room was Lil-san, stretched out on the sofa and fast asleep.
Even like this, her beauty is just unreal. She has straight, indigo hair that runs all the way down to her waist, and her eyes – slightly upturned at the corners – are a striking gold. With her sharp nose and pale pink lips, she’s the kind of absolute bombshell who makes every guy stop and stare. Plus, she’s got that “ideal” figure where everything is exactly where it should be. It’s enough to make any woman jealous.
But what really grabs your attention are the triangular ears on top of her head and the big, bushy tail poking out from her backside. They aren’t just costume pieces; they’re the real thing. She doesn’t have human ears on the side of her head. Sometimes those ears twitch at a stray noise, or her tail starts swaying whenever she’s sitting next to Natsu – or “Sieben,” as he asked us to call him now. It’s the kind of movement you could never pull off with an accessory.
She’s a total mystery. I’m not even sure if she’s “human.” But the biggest head-scratcher of all is that she’s married to Natsu. I really wanted to know what kind of sequence of events led to a relationship like that.
I decided to wake Lil-san up. Even though there’s a fireplace in here making it warmer than the outside, she’s liable to catch a cold if she stays passed out on the sofa. At least, that was my excuse.
”Lil-san, wake up. You’ll get sick if you sleep here,” I said, giving her a gentle nudge.
”Ugh… nnn…”
She let out a soft, sleepy mumble when I shook her, but she didn’t seem interested in waking up. Her ears twitched and her tail began to sway rhythmically.
…I want to touch them. I really, really want to touch the ears and the tail. I know I shouldn’t, but my hand is just moving on its own!
”Fu… n… nnn…”
Every time I brushed against her ears or tail, Lil-san let out a soft, breathy sound. The texture of the ears was surprisingly firm and pleasant, and the tail was so incredibly fluffy I didn’t think I could ever stop –
”…”
”Ah.”
My eyes locked perfectly with Lil-san’s as she blinked awake.
Scritch, stroke, fluff.
”…Um, could you please stop that?” Lil-san asked.
”…”
Lil-san looked up at me with teary eyes. Her face was flushed bright red, and her breath was coming out noticeably hot. She didn’t look angry, exactly, but she looked extremely troubled.
…I am so sorry.
* * *
”That person touches them all the time, so I get why you’d want to, Rieslett-san, but please at least ask first. It’s just… the sensitivity is a bit much,” Lil-san explained.
”I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again…” I replied, keeping my head bowed in a full kowtowⁿ.
Apparently, the ears and tail feel a little too good, which leads to all sorts of awkward problems. Because of that, she usually feels a strong sense of disgust if someone she doesn’t like touches them. For my sake, she at least doesn’t seem to hate me. She mentioned that Honoka-san touches them once in a while, too.
In that case, I found myself feeling pretty envious of Natsu, considering he gets to touch them whenever he wants.
”…By the way, how long are you going to stay in that position?” Lil-san asked.
”…My legs are asleep. I can’t stand up,” I admitted. I’d been sitting in formal seizaⁿ for way too long.
”Hmm. Is that so?”
Lil-san stood up and walked behind me. I didn’t like the look on her face. Actually, I had nothing but a bad feeling about this.
”Why are you flexing your fingers like that?” I asked.
”Oh, this? It’s just payback,” Lil-san said.
She reached out and poked my exposed, tingling leg with her finger.
”Pi!? Gyahhhhh!“
…………I really don’t think this punishment fits the crime.
* * *
”By the way, Lil-san, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you,” I said.
”Something you want to ask?” Lil-san replied.
Once the pins and needles in my legs finally went away, I sat down next to her to satisfy my curiosity.
”I was wondering about how you and Natsu first got together,” I said.
”How we met?” Lil-san asked.
”Yeah. I mean, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m just curious,” I added.
”Hmm… I don’t mind. He didn’t tell me I had to keep it a secret,” Lil-san said.
She began to recount the story bit by bit.
”I met that person – Na – Sieben, in the forest. It’s a place humans call ‘The Forest of the Greedy Foolⁿ.’ That’s where I ran into him. The moment I saw him, it felt like an electric current ran through my entire body. I fell in love instantly,” Lil-san explained.
”Wait, so it really was love at first sight!?” I asked.
I hate to say it, but even if Natsu has a bit of a baby face, he’s pretty plain-looking. I didn’t think he had the kind of looks that would make someone fall in love at a glance. Then again, I started liking him after he saved me, so I guess I’m not one to talk about looks.
”No, he just hit me with an Allureⁿ spell,” Lil-san said.
”Wait, what!?” I shouted.
What kind of villainous crap is he pulling!?
”After that, I introduced him to my daughter, Leki, and she took a liking to him right away. Oh, he didn’t use Allure on Leki, though,” Lil-san added.
Well, I would hope not. If he started charming kids, he’d be a lost cause as a human being.
”So for a while, it was just one man and two animals living together…” Lil-san continued.
”Wait. One man and… two animals?” I asked.
”Ah, I might look like this now, but I’m actually a wolf. Sieben used his power to give me this form,” Lil-san explained.
”Ehhhhhhhhhh!?“
I was floored. I’d always thought her personality was a bit un-human, but to find out she actually wasn’t human… though, in a way, it made total sense.
”And then -” Lil-san began.
To summarize the rest of the story: the boss of the pack Lil-san belonged to found them, and when the boss tried to attack Natsu, Lil-san threw herself in the way. She took a hit that left her on the verge of death. Seeing that made Natsu snap; he wiped out the entire pack, starting with the boss, and then he healed her. But the method he used to save her life was…
”Sex is…” Rieslett muttered.
Apparently, Natsu had looked incredibly guilty about it afterward. Even if it was a medical necessity to save her life, he felt terrible about doing it without her consent.
”That was when it happened,” Lil-san said, resting her cheek in her hand with a small smile. “That was when I fell for him for real. Sieben deactivated the Allure after that, but I’ve felt like I’ve been under his spell ever since.”
She really does love him, doesn’t she?
”Well then, I’ll speak with Honoka-san after that,” Rieslett-san said.
”I suppose… though I think it’s best to hear the details from her yourself. Honestly, I haven’t heard the full story either,” Lil-san replied.
”Is that so? Then let’s go ask her together right now! It sounds fun, like a little girls’ night out.”
I stood up and headed straight for the room where Honoka-san was. I was riding high in that moment, a feeling I would come to regret intensely.
Honoka-san’s story was far heavier than I had ever imagined—
* * *
”The story of how Master and I first met? It’s not exactly a pleasant memory… ngh,” Honoka-san muttered.
Honoka-san had become a permanent fixture on her bed, looking as though her strength had been sapped. Her complexion didn’t look terrible, but her breathing was labored and heavy.
”In the beginning, I hated Master. He was just an Otaku, hiding his eyes behind his hair—it was gross. That didn’t change even after we were summoned to this world. I was always the one healing Master’s injuries, but back then, I absolutely loathed him.”
I wondered how they had ever ended up in this kind of relationship. Whenever Natsu was around, Honoka-san clung to him like a shadow.
”It’s because… I was abandoned by my lover. By the person I thought was my friend. No, that’s not quite right. They tried to abandon me,” Honoka-san said, her voice trembling.
Her face twisted into a mask of pure spite as she began to recount the events of that day.
”Let’s start here. My classmates… no, we… we left Master for dead that day.”
I already knew that part of the story; I’d heard it from Tate and Yoko. But it seemed Lil-san was hearing it for the first time. As she listened to Honoka-san’s monologue, her expression went blank, like a cold Noh mask, radiating a quiet, simmering fury.
”It’s no wonder Lil-san is angry. We deserve whatever comes our way for what we did,” Honoka-san said with a self-deprecating laugh.
Honoka-san wilted under Lil-san’s gaze. She looked like she wouldn’t even protest if Lil-san decided to end her life right then and there.
”I heard the gist of it from Tate and Yoko, but… Natsu is alive, isn’t he?” Rieslett-san asked.
”That isn’t the point. Let me ask you: back then, at Level 1, do you think anyone could survive being cornered alone by a ‘Level Unknown’ Barghest and its pack?” Honoka-san asked.
”I…” The words died in my throat.
I’d read about Barghests in a dictionary once. Honestly, even now, I wouldn’t stand a chance against one. Their ‘Intimidation’ skill is a death sentence; you’re paralyzed, and then they tear out your throat. It’s over.
”We left him in the middle of that pack, led by that giant wolf. He should have died. In fact, I’m certain he did die once. He must have been resurrected by a unique skill or some fluke of fate. That’s why we deserve his vengeance… we earned it.”
In reality, Natsu had tried to escape, but Sugita Manabu had kicked him back into the chaos and left him behind.
”So, yeah. Being Master’s slave is partly my way of atoning for that,” Honoka-san whispered. “And because I never want to be away from him,” she added in a voice so soft it was barely audible.
Anyway, I finally understood the ‘why,’ but I still wanted to know the ‘how.’ To be honest, my opinion of Natsu was hitting rock bottom. I needed to understand why he had actually gone through with making her his slave.
”After that, we all acted like Master had never existed. A few people couldn’t stomach it and fled the castle early on,” Honoka-san continued.
She went on to describe the fallout. After Natsu was gone, the group’s trust in Sugita Manabu crumbled. They tried to rush a ‘Hero’s Debut’ to save face, but by then, nine people—including Tate and Yoko—had already deserted. The survivors scattered; only half remained in Plaudix. The rest formed small parties and crossed the borders into other countries.
Honoka-san and her group had planned to head for Greedia once they had leveled up and saved enough funds.
”Sugita Manabu always looked at me with those… disgusting eyes. I couldn’t stand it, so as soon as the debut was over, we vanished from the castle.”
The mere mention of Sugita Manabu’s name made my skin crawl. It was clear the trauma hadn’t faded for her.
”Ah, sorry. It was tactless of me to bring up that guy’s name. Everyone at the Academy knew about ‘that incident’… anyway, let’s get back to the story.”
Listening to how things ended for Honoka-san’s party, I couldn’t feel any sympathy. It was the definition of karma. They abandoned Natsu, they abandoned the Monster Hunters they worked with, and in the end, Honoka-san was abandoned by the very people she called friends and lovers. I couldn’t defend them.
”To think your own lover would use you as bait just to save himself…” Rieslett-san muttered.
”And the worst part? Master saw it all coming. He showed it to me in a dream before it even happened… Hah, I really am a pathetic judge of character.”
Honoka-san scratched her head with a bitter smile. Apparently, Natsu had broken her spirit with a ‘Nightmare’ spell. Now, she was completely devoted to him. It felt less like a master-slave dynamic and more like a twisted, codependent romance.
”The dream about Koganei and the others is what broke my will, sure. But I truly went cold when it actually happened—when he really did try to use me as a decoy. It was exactly like the dream. I couldn’t even be mad; I just had to laugh at how pathetic it was.”
She had been following Natsu as his slave ever since. But a question nagged at me: Why keep her? It sounds cruel, but once he had his revenge, why not just cut her loose?
Honoka-san’s explanation was chillingly simple.
”Master says I’m useful, or that our situations are similar, but I think the truth is that he hasn’t forgiven me. He didn’t want to just toss me away and be done with it. He wants to keep the debt open.”
”Is it… is it not out of pity?” Rieslett-san asked.
”Maybe. But I’m pathetic enough to take whatever he gives me. I don’t regret it.”
”Even if you’re never forgiven?”
”Yeah. It’s much better than being alone. Besides… I’ve become someone who literally can’t survive without Master.”
Honoka-san gave a shy, embarrassed giggle. There was no shame in it, no self-loathing. She actually looked… happy.
I had to ask.
”Honoka-san… are you happy right now?”
”Yeah. Perfectly. Because I’ll be ‘unforgiven’ by him for the rest of my life.”
Unforgiven. She said it as if it were a synonym for loved. If she’s happy, maybe that’s all that matters. It’s warped, but it’s their world. It’s not my place to judge.
”And one more thing, Rieslett-san. I know you’re probably disgusted by… you know, the things we do. It’s okay if you hate me. But please, don’t hate Master. We’re the ones who broke him. We made him this way.”
Her words made me look at Natsu in a new light. Deep down, he was the same person. He was just… distorted. Despite everything Honoka-san said, keeping her close felt like his own twisted version of mercy.
I still wasn’t comfortable with the s*xual side of their ‘contract,’ but that was none of my business. Fine. I’ll try to treat him like the old Natsu. He’s a teenage boy, after all. It’s only natural he’d be interested in… ‘naughty’ stuff at his age, right?
”Oh, but… the peeping. It’s a bit… I mean, Lil-san and Leki-chan are one thing, but having other people watch is… it’s embarrassing… ngh…”
…I’ll do my best to give them space. Man, Natsu is really popular. Maybe one day I’ll—
…………
”Rieslett-san? Your face is beet red,” Honoka-san said.
”Wh-wh-what?! It’s nothing! I definitely wasn’t thinking about me and Natsu ending up in a relationship like yours! Not even a little bit!”
”Heh…”
”Hmm…”
”What?! What is it?!”
””Nothing.~””
Ugh! These two!
* * *
”A-CHOO!”
”What, you catching a cold?”
”No, I think someone’s talking about me.”
”Whatever. Forget that—back to business! ♪”
”Wait—AGHHHHHHHHH!”
—
Summary:
Rieslett returns to the inn and finds Lil sleeping. After an awkward incident where Rieslett can’t resist touching Lil’s wolf ears and tail, the two share an intimate conversation. Lil reveals her true origin as a wolf and how Natsu (Sieben) saved her life through a controversial healing method.
Rieslett-san and Lil-san visit the bedridden Honoka-san to hear the truth about her past with Natsu. Honoka-san reveals a dark history of betrayal, where her classmates and lover abandoned Natsu to a Barghest pack to save themselves. Now, Honoka-san views her status as Natsu’s slave as both atonement and a twisted form of love, having been mentally broken by a nightmare spell.
—
Trivia:
- Lil is not naturally human but a wolf transformed by Sieben.
- The ears and tail are hyper-sensitive zones for Lil.
- Sieben explicitly asked the group to stop using his old name, Natsu.
- The initial ‘love’ Lil felt was magically induced by an ‘Allure’ spell.
- The healing s*x was done while Lil was unconscious/dying, causing Sieben great guilt
- Honoka-san was originally the group’s healer.
- Natsu likely died once and was resurrected.
- Sugita Manabu is the primary antagonist of the backstory.
- There were nine deserters from the original hero group.
- The ‘Nightmare’ spell was the catalyst for Honoka-san’s submission
—
Character Insight:
Lil shows deep emotional maturity and forgiveness, acknowledging that while Sieben used magic and non-consensual methods initially, his genuine guilt and care are what made her fall for him for real.
—
Behind the Scenes:
This chapter serves as a world-building bridge to explain the power dynamics of the ‘Seven Sins’ and the protagonist’s questionable moral alignment.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Lil – One of the heroines. Height 166 cm, B-W-H: 90-56-90. She is a top-tier beauty with long indigo hair down to her waist, a large scar on her abdomen and sharp golden eyes. She has wolf ears and a tail.
• Sieben – Young man with black hair and a mask covering his eyes. He purchased Honoka and Ria.
• Rieslett – A half-Japanese, half-Swedish girl with a youthful appearance. Often mistaken for her mother’s sister. A blonde or brunette girl. Currently wearing a black cloak over a white shirt, accented with a red ribbon tie. A navy-blue, knee-length pleated skirt, black knee-highs, and brown leather shoes.
• Honoka – A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki, now a bound slave to him.
• Leki – Lil’s daughter. Height: 140 cm, B-W-H: 70, 54, 69. She looks more like a Siberian Husky puppy than a wolf. Honestly, she just looks like a stuffed toy, recently transformed into a human form. Now use great axe as weapon.
• Tate – Male Otaku friend of Reese. Gaunt and thin, wears glasses. Possesses Materialization Alchemy skill.
• Barghest – A massive wolf the size of a warhorse with bluish-gray fur. It is the King of the Forest of the Greedy Fool.
• Sugita – The leader of the Sugita gang and the primary bully of Natsumi Sasaki. His grandfather is the Superintendent General and his father is a Police Superintendent, so the two of them covered up all his crimes. Because of this, he does whatever he wants wherever he goes.
• Koganei – Height 166 cm, weight 56 kg. A mood-maker in the baseball club. He was only after Honoka’s body and worked with Oshiro to steal her from Akiyama.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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