Volume 15 Chapter 9 My Defeat
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Poison?!”
The white smoke rose in an instant. Oily. Thick. It billowed upward but never reached the ceiling—instead, it spread across the floor as if crawling. Heavy smoke, probably.
Either way, we were running out of time.
”Vera! Wind Spirit—contain this smoke! Katerina, cover Raisa’s mouth and nose! Get her outside! Wash her down immediately! Now!”
”Sylph! Please!”
”I-I got it!”
My panic must have gotten through to them. They sprang into action. Sylph whipped up a cyclone—and in an instant, the smoke was caught in its vortex and vanished. At the same time, Katerina hoisted Raisa up and carried her out of the room.
That took care of the immediate situation, but… Shit! This was entirely my fault. I didn’t even need to think about it—I never should have brought Katerina here. I should have had her wait downstairs with Lena and the others. How could she possibly stay calm after seeing my woman—my own woman—in that state? I should have known better. Instead, I made a naive call: “Since I brought her along, I might as well let her help.” And the only reason we’re all safe now is sheer luck. Without Sylph’s protection, all three of us would have been poisoned. Damn it. I’m so furious at my own incompetence.
Even as I drowned in regret and self-blame, I couldn’t neglect my duties as an adventurer. At the very least, to protect Lady Raisa’s life, I had to take proper action. I was running through the options in my head while scanning the room when—
”Soyuz.” Vera’s voice came out a little scared. “Sylph got rid of all the smoke. But…”
”What’s wrong?”
”Sylph is super mad. She says this smoke is ‘something that shouldn’t exist in this world.’”
Something that shouldn’t exist…
What the hell does that mean?
Sure, poison in general is the kind of thing that probably shouldn’t exist in the world—but even poisons can become medicine in tiny doses. And anyway, is there really anything in this world that shouldn’t exist? The spirits are supposed to dwell in all things, so what does it mean when one denies something’s very existence?
I was pondering that when—
”So this couldn’t kill you. Impressive. Bold. Quick judgment, too. Precise. For a human in this world, your intelligence is remarkably high. Just as Mr. Tanaka said—you’re a man who could pose a threat to us.”
A voice suddenly rang out.
But I couldn’t sense anyone else’s presence—not in this room, not nearby.
Which meant…
”A communication Magic Tool? So you can see us from your end?”
”Sharp as ever. Exactly right. We’ve recorded everything—your performance was excellent data.”
”Ah. I see now.” I smiled coldly. “So I was set up from the start.”
As I spoke, I wove a Fireball spell at high speed and launched it toward where the voice came from.
The explosion tore through the wall, reducing everything nearby to ash.
Yeah, okay. That was at least fifty percent me venting my anger.
Damn it. Their target wasn’t Margrave Verdaine—it was me from the very beginning.
That’s why they used such a clichéd scheme—kidnapping a noble’s daughter—to lay a trap. They wanted me hired by the Margrave so I’d walk right into it. Shit. I fell for it completely.
”Sir Soyuz! Are you alright? We came to assist—gah!”
Lena rushed in at the sound of the explosion, took one look at the suddenly very airy window, then turned to me with a confused expression—and the moment she saw my face, she froze.
”S-Sir Soyuz…? D-Did we… do something wrong…?”
Her eyes were welling up. Her teeth chattered. She was trembling as she waited for my response…
Ah. So that’s what my face looked like right now.
”Sorry, Lena.” I pulled her into an embrace. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I was just frustrated with my own incompetence. Sorry for worrying you.”
God, what am I even doing? I screw up, I take it out on everyone, and now my precious wife is scared of me. I’m completely useless.
But even a useless person has to do what they can. At the very least, I need to finish what’s left of my responsibilities. First priority—check on Lady Raisa, and if necessary, treat her.
”For now, let’s go back. I’ll explain everything later.”
I patted her back gently, and Lena nodded, looking up at me with renewed determination.
* * *
Naturally, there was no rest for a useless failure like me, slinking back in shame.
The biggest reason, of course, was Lady Raisa. As expected, she’d been poisoned.
Fortunately—though I’m not sure that’s the right word—she’d been gagged, so she’d only inhaled a relatively small amount. But “small” didn’t mean “safe.”
Far from it—
”What the hell is this?”
I couldn’t even identify the poison used.
And naturally, if I couldn’t identify it, I couldn’t treat it.
At least there were no burns or blisters on her skin—so it was the type that destroyed from the inside, not the outside. The symptoms: constricted pupils, muscle spasms, weak pulse, shallow breathing. That pointed to a neurotoxin—the kind found in poisonous frogs or fish. I could get that far, but…
”Sir Soyuz… Raisa… will Raisa be alright…?”
Katerina asked in a worried voice as I examined her.
”I don’t know yet. I haven’t even figured out what poison is afflicting her.”
I answered more sharply than I should have—a petty part of me still blamed her. If she hadn’t meddled, Raisa wouldn’t have been poisoned in the first place…
No. Now wasn’t the time for that. I had to save Lady Raisa.
But the truth was, I was at a dead end. This was almost certainly a poison I didn’t know—something from those otherworlders. Which meant I obviously didn’t have an antidote.
Ah. So that’s what Sylph meant by “something that shouldn’t exist in this world.” It was a poison that couldn’t exist here naturally—created through Chelsea’s so-called “scientific knowledge.”
I could think about that later. Right now, I needed to treat Lady Raisa. If this was a neurotoxin, left untreated, her bodily functions would gradually shut down—and eventually, she’d stop breathing entirely. I had to find a way before that happened.
Fortunately—though she seemed unable to speak—she was still conscious enough to communicate.
…In that case. There was no other choice.
”I’ll have to use the last resort.”
”Last resort?! That can save Raisa?!”
Katerina latched onto my muttering with desperate eyes.
Ugh… I really didn’t want her to know about Life-Sharing. But…
When I thought about it—she and her maid had only ended up in this mess partly because of me.
I didn’t know how those bastards had found out, but they’d kidnapped the Margrave’s daughter to flush me out—or rather, to lure the person they believed was in Verdaine. And Lady Raisa had been taken as a decoy, tortured, and poisoned. It could just as easily have been Katerina herself.
Thinking about that made it hard for me to be too harsh with her.
Either way, every moment counted. If I had no other options, I had to cling to what I had.
Yeah. No helping it.
I guess I’m dragging her into this too.
”Hey, Lady Katerina. Can you keep a secret?”
”A secret?”
”Yeah. What I’m about to do is my biggest secret—something I absolutely can’t let the world know. Can you promise not to tell anyone?”
”Anyone, you say? …Even my father?”
”Even the Margrave. If you can’t promise that, I can’t treat Lady Raisa. And if you break that promise after seeing this secret, I will kill you—and her too. No exceptions. So? Can you promise?”
I wasn’t threatening her. Because if it came to that, I wouldn’t hesitate. This wasn’t coercion—it was a warning.
Katerina stared at me wide-eyed, silent for a long moment.
Then she looked at Raisa suffering beside her. Then back at me.
”I understand. I swear—I won’t tell a soul.”
”Can you swear it?”
”On the honor of House Verdaine—and on my honor as a knight.”
”I’ll need you to help with some things too. That alright?”
”If it saves Raisa, I’ll do anything.”
”Even if it’s embarrassing?”
”You’re being tedious. I’ll do whatever it takes to save her. I won’t go back on my word.”
”Alright. I’ve got your word. Let’s get started right away. Help me carry Lady Raisa to my private quarters.”
”Understood—did you say… private quarters?”
* * *
”W-Wait a moment. Do I really… do I have to do this? And is this even really treatment?”
”Of course it is. Though technically, it’s not treatment—it’s a ritual. So just take your clothes off already.”
After carrying Lady Raisa to my private quarters, I’d called in my four wives.
”I’m going to perform the Life-Sharing Ritual now. I need your help.”
The moment I said that, all of them started undressing as naturally as breathing. Naturally, I stripped down to nothing as well.
Katerina’s face burned crimson. Her eyes kept darting toward my crotch despite herself. She was on the verge of tears.
”Th-This really is to save Raisa, right?! You’re not just planning to humiliate me and her?!”
”Yeah. This is a ritual to save Lady Raisa’s life. And I’ve already got five lovely wives and a lover—I’m not interested in doing anything to you. Besides, I told you earlier: ‘Even if it’s embarrassing.’”
”Th-That—yes, I heard that…”
”Just get naked. Otherwise we can’t start the ritual. Or are you going to let her die because you don’t want to show some skin? Honestly, I wouldn’t mind either way.”
”Damn you…”
I pushed Katerina a little—partly as payback for earlier.
Truth be told, she didn’t actually need to get naked. But this was part of her punishment. And eventually, she’d be forced to strip anyway, so it amounted to the same thing.
Besides—I already had cute wives and Lydia. The last thing I wanted was to get involved with some troublesome noble girl. But if I got to see her naked, hey—free show. It’s not every day you get to see a high noble’s daughter in the buff.
I shot Katerina a look as these utterly degenerate thoughts ran through my head. Lena, Vera, Georgia, and Mor stood around her, their bodies bared in all their natural beauty, applying silent pressure.
Finally, she seemed to make up her mind.
”This… th-this is really necessary, right?! If Raisa doesn’t survive after this, I won’t forgive you!”
Her ears burned scarlet. Tears were actually starting to fall as she reached for her own clothes.
* * *
My own uselessness—it made me sick.
Here I was, watching two women suffer because of my mistakes, and all I could think about was how lucky I was to see a noble’s naked body. What kind of degenerate was I?
But I couldn’t stop now. The ritual had to continue.
”Alright, Lady Katerina. Now that you’re properly naked, let me explain exactly what we’re going to do.”
”P-Properly naked?! You make it sound so—!”
She was covering herself with both hands, her entire body flushed red. Her shoulders shook with humiliation.
But Raisa was still breathing shallowly on the bed. Every moment counted.
”This ritual involves channeling life force from one person to another. Since I’ve done this before, I’ll be the anchor. You and my wives will form a circle around us. The energy will flow through you first, then into her.”
”That sounds suspiciously like—”
”It’s not that kind of ritual. I’m not doing anything to you. Well—not to your body, anyway.”
”You just admitted there’s something wrong with your soul!”
Katerina’s voice cracked with outrage, but she held her position.
Lena stepped forward. “Sir Soyuz, we’re ready when you are.”
I looked at my wives—Lena, Vera, Georgia, Mor. They were calm. Trusting. They’d done this before.
”Alright. Begin the ritual.”
I raised my hands, and the magic circle beneath us began to glow.
The Life-Sharing Ritual was, fundamentally, a violation of natural order. It took from one and gave to another—an exchange that should never have existed. That was why the spirits hated it. That was why I kept it secret.
But right now, it was the only way.
The energy flowed through me, then through Katerina—she gasped sharply, her body trembling—and into Raisa.
Lady Raisa’s breath caught, then steadied.
Then she breathed—deep and even.
Katerina collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face. “Raisa… Raisa…!”
”She’s going to live.”
I said it flatly. No triumph. No satisfaction. Just exhaustion.
Because this was a victory I shouldn’t have needed to claim—a battle that should never have been fought, a defeat dressed up like a win.
That was my defeat.
* * *
Later, Katerina wrapped herself in a blanket and sat in the corner of the room.
”I’m sorry,” she whispered.
”What for?”
”You saved her. And all I did was complain.”
”You had every right.”
”No, I didn’t.” Her voice was small. “You could have let her die. You had no obligation to help her. But you did. And I’m… I’m grateful.”
I leaned against the wall, staring at the ceiling.
”You want to know something pathetic? I did it because I needed to. Because if I let her die, that would’ve been my failure. Not some noble’s daughter—my mistake. My failure to protect. That’s what I couldn’t live with.”
Katerina was silent.
”The poison, the trap, the humiliation—all of it was aimed at me. She just got caught in the crossfire. And that—that is my defeat. That’s what this is. Not losing a battle. Not failing a mission. It’s knowing that innocent people suffer because of who I am.”
She looked at me with something I couldn’t name.
”You’re a strange man, Sir Soyuz.”
”I know.”
”Raisa is alive.”
”I know.”
”And you still call it defeat.”
I closed my eyes.
”Because it is.”
—
Summary:
Soyuz triggers a life-saving ritual involving Katerina’s forced nudity. The ritual succeeds in reviving Raisa. Soyuz reflects that even success feels like defeat because innocent people suffered due to his existence.
—
Trivia:
Sylph’s anger is ontological—the poison is “something that shouldn’t exist,” indicating it was created through otherworlder science.
The antagonistic Voice mentions Mr. Tanaka, linking the poison and trap to prior isekai conflicts.
Soyuz has five wives total (Lena, Vera, Georgia, Mor, plus one unnamed) and one lover (Lydia).
The Life-Sharing Ritual violates natural order and is despised by spirits.
Katerina swears on her honor as a knight, implying she has military training or status.
Raisa was used as a decoy for Katerina, meaning the trap originally targeted the Margrave’s daughter specifically.
Soyuz’s fireball explosion was partly venting frustration, not purely tactical.
Vera speaks for Sylph, translating the spirit’s emotions into childlike terms.
The private quarters reveal is the comedic pivot that breaks the tension.
Soyuz’s internal monologue consistently uses “my own” to emphasize personal responsibility and self-loathing.
Notes:
• Katerina – The youngest daughter of Margrave Verdaine is a proud, sheltered noble lady involved in territory administration. Clad in heavy armor with a greatsword, she speaks with aristocratic elegance. Though initially arrogant, she possesses fierce resilience and respects her father. Devoted to rescuing her handmaiden Raisa, she is now acting as a servant for an undercover investigation.
• Raisa – A young lady and handmaiden who was recently kidnapped while disguised as Katerina; her discarded undergarment is used as a scent tracking marker.
• Vera – Rescued from a Goblin’s Cave, this innocent, observant young elven girl with animal-like ears is a household member and one of Soyuz’s companion slave-wives. She addresses him affectionately and beams when praised. Wielding a wooden training staff, she effortlessly commands incantationless Spirit Magic, allowing her to summon spirits like Sandman.
• Lena – Soyuz’s devoted lead wife, primary advisor, and loyal, extremely polite maid guard. A competent, rational, brown-skinned fighter with a ponytail, scarred face, blind left eye, and tattered, collared clothes, she assists in capturing pursuers. Despite discipline from other women, her keen instincts and deep devotion drive her to warn others about the terrifying extent of Soyuz’s strength.
• Soyuz – Trapped in a youth’s body, this 47-year-old pragmatic protagonist is an adventurer and master of a household of wives and slaves, leading searches and interrogations. Armed with a poison mantle and magic silver sword, he uses cynical formal speech to mock nobility. His sharp combat instincts and empathy drive him to protect his companions, including role-playing with Lena in his mansion.
• Margrave – A noble authority figure and the cunning, manipulative puppeteer who initiated the request. He enjoys orchestrating others to achieve his tactical goals, deliberately delegating the “dirty work” to outsiders to insulate himself from any potential fallout of the mission.
• Verdaine – Verdaine’s capital, a walled city with markets and the Adventurers Guild, is the protagonist’s base near Lena’s village. It is ruled by the Margrave of Katerina’s noble house—a ferocious, sturdy 60-year-old frontier warrior resembling a graying lion. Pragmatic and calculating, he commands terrifying psychological pressure yet holds a casual, grandfatherly demeanor toward others.
• Chelsea – An otherworlder who was formerly a regular female college student before being turned into her current form.
• Lydia – A poised household noblewoman in flashy, practical masculine riding attire, she blends gentle femininity with masculine poise. Serving as the protagonist’s mistress and Soyuz’s advisor, mediator, and cautious companion, she guides them through elite circles. Well-versed in noble social norms and romance, she uses polite public composure and discrete pinches to keep Soyuz’s bluntness in check.
• Georgia – A loyal beastfolk demi-human girl with a keen nose and a past in illicit work, she is the devoted slave-wife of Soyuz, currently undergoing tracking training under him. Highly observant and expressive, she vigorously wags her tail to show happiness. In combat, this household member utilizes her predatory instincts, natural low stances, and practical tracking skills.
• Mor – Georgia’s mother is a mansion staff member with an exceptionally sharp sense of smell and a terrifyingly calm, poised appearance. Despite her eerie competence and calculated relationships within the household, a recent subpar attempt at disguise revealed a rare crack in her otherwise flawless, intimidating facade.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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