I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble and Want to Enjoy a Laid-Back Harem Life – I Have No Intention of Getting Involved in the Main Story, Just Want to Live Comfortably with My Female Slaves, but Everyone Around Me Keeps Treating Me Like a Hero - Chapter 2.21

The monster was frozen solid—then shattered into nothingness.

With its destruction, I finally dispelled the barrier.

“Oh, we’re back to normal.”

In an instant, our surroundings returned to their original state.

“Well, that takes care of that.”

With the World Tree’s stolen magic restored, the large-scale spell fueled by it was now nullified.

“How does it feel, perverted pig? Watching all your plans crumble to dust?”

“…Ah… aaaaaah….”

Hamenos—

Her schemes, her revenge—

Everything had been completely and utterly shattered.

I gazed down at her coldly as she sat there in stunned despair.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

She screamed, clutching her head as the weight of her failure crashed down on her.

“Wh-What… What are you?! You just showed up… you just—!!”

After venting her sorrow, she suddenly lunged at me, trying to grab hold of me.

“I was invited. Not so strange, is it?”

“If only… if only you hadn’t been here…! I was so close! I could have had my revenge…!”

“Tough luck.”

Hamenos’s vengeance was dead.

From this point on, there was nothing she could do to change that.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

She collapsed again, wailing in anguish.

“…I… I have nothing left…”

Then, without warning, she pulled out a hidden knife and pressed it to her throat.

“That won’t do.”

“Agh!?”

With a swift kick, I sent the knife flying from her grasp.

“Your Majesty.”

“…W-What?”

Turning to the Queen behind me, I spoke.

“This concludes my mission. Would that be a fair assessment?”

“Hmm… Yes, I’d say so.”

“Then, I would like my reward.”

“A reward, huh… That is only fair. What is it you desire? Though, should we not discuss this in a more formal setting?”

“No, it must be now. The reward I desire… is the custody of Hamenos. I want her transferred to me.”

“What? …I’m afraid that is a difficult request.”

“But if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even know who the culprit was. I’ll keep her under control. Besides, isn’t this kingdom’s system partly responsible for creating someone like her?”

“…That is… a fair point.”

“I was the one who found her. I was the one who captured her. Wouldn’t it be safest if I were the one to handle her?”

“……”

The Queen hesitated, a troubled expression crossing her face.

“Hmm… Perhaps detaining her here serves little purpose. Very well, can I trust you with this responsibility?”

“Of course. I—”

“W-Wait!”

Just as the decision was being finalized, the person in question finally spoke up.

“Why…? Why do you even want me?!”

Hamenos glared at me, demanding an answer.

“Hmm? You’d make for a fine bodyguard.”

“A b-bodyguard?! What… What am I supposed to protect you from?!”

“Didn’t you offer yourself as a slave before? This isn’t much different. And as a slave, you don’t have the right to refuse.”

“…Damn it.”

I turned back to the Queen.

“So, is this arrangement acceptable?”

“Hmm… Yes. As your reward, I officially grant you custody of this individual.”

With those words, the Queen finalized her decision, handing Hamenos over to me.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Yes! I just acquired an adult slave!

With this reasoning, no one could criticize me for taking in a beautiful elf as my property.

Even if people still had expectations of me as some kind of hero, this wouldn’t be seen as a betrayal of that image.

Now… if only the actual protagonist of this world would hurry up and live up to the title of “hero” so everyone could forget about me and my nonsense expectations…