The Appraising-Eye Slave Trader ~ A Blind Boy Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Dominates with the Power to 'See True Talent' ~ - Episode 13: The Straight-Laced Saint, Defeated by the Appraising Eye

Episode 13: The Straight-Laced Saint, Defeated by the Appraising Eye

Today, again, I was staring down paperwork in the reception room of the mansion.

Lately, the scale of my work as a slave trader has grown. And the procedures have become a pain.

“…Haa. Isn’t there a skill where the paperwork finishes itself…?”

Muttering such things, I bit into some bread.

*Knock knock—*

There was a knock at the door.

“Ouji-sama, a messenger from the church…”

The maid reported with a slightly troubled face.

“The church…?”

Don’t tell me they’ve come to complain about me being a slave trader—

With that feeling in my chest, I stood up.

◆　　◆　　◆

Waiting in the reception room was a single girl.

Silver hair, pure features, a dignified bearing.

Wearing the pure white robes of the church, she radiated a chill, polished atmosphere.

Just one look and I could tell.

This girl isn’t just some messenger.

She’s in another league.

“My name is Famnale Le Shafalm.”

(Wait a sec… no way… I’ve heard that name before…)

I swallowed dryly in my mind.

From the original story—the light novel I read in my previous life—that *saint*.

—Famnale Le Shafalm.

The main heroine on the protagonist’s side in the original.

A symbol of purity, one of the church’s greatest powers.

And—

If I remember right, she’s the one who sentenced me—Ouji Grandfalm.

(Ohhhhh craaaaaaap!!!!)

I screamed in my mind.

This isn’t just a pinch.

It’s a death sentence.

Famnale looked down on me with an icy gaze and spoke quietly:

“Ouji Grandfalm-sama. You are under suspicion of heresy.”

*DHUARRRR!!!!*

Sound effects exploded in my head.

This saint shows no mercy.

And she went straight for a “heretic” label.

Of all things, connected to the very thing I least want revealed—my “Appraising Eye”.

Famnale stepped forward and declared:

“A power that sees people’s talents—is that not a heretical technique that infringes upon the realm of the gods?”

With confidence.

Coldly.

With absolute conviction.

…Yeah, well my heart’s pounding like crazy over here!?

(Wait! If I get labeled a heretic… that means… execution? Burning at the stake?)

(I’m really screwed here!!)

Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.

Right now, I seriously think fighting monsters would be better.

But—

Panicking here means I lose.

I desperately spun my thoughts.

(Calm down… this Famnale, timeline-wise, she hasn’t met the “original protagonist” yet…!)

(Then—if I can win her over now—)

I grit my teeth.

(I can survive. No, more than that… I might be able to rewrite my fate from the original…!)

◆　　◆　　◆

I narrowed my eyes calmly.

And then—

Activated the appraising eye.

(—Now, let’s see the truth of this “saint.”)

Saint Famnale.

Respected and revered by all.

But through my 《Appraising Eye》—yes, I saw everything.

When I probed for secrets—there it was, plain as day.

《Appraisal Result》

Name: Famnale Le Shafalm

Age: 17

Occupation: Saint

[Special Notes]

* Every night past midnight, masturbation activity 3+ times (high frequency)

* Fetish: strong desire to be **** by force

* Interest in subject: budding (Ouji)

* Libido: abnormal level SSS

* Virgin

(Hmm…)

Without even smirking, I shrugged mentally.

(This is why you can’t trust a “perfect person”… no matter how they look on the outside, they can’t hide the inside.)

Especially not from my eyes.

I gave a light laugh.

Back when I read the original, she never showed even a hint of this…

This is some serious closet perv.

Was she even looking at the protagonist like that…?

What a lewd saint…

“…Past midnight… three times in one night. That’s quite… dedicated, huh.”

The moment I said that—

Famnale’s body stiffened with a jolt.

“Wha… what, are you…?”

Her voice trembled.

Her face turned red in an instant.

Even seeing that, I stayed composed.

“No, I was just impressed. You’re such a hard worker. Nightly, overcoming your own vows, training diligently in… lower body techniques, huh?”

“～～～～～～～～～～～～～～っっっっ!!!”

Her ears turned bright red.

She reached for her sword—but stopped halfway.

Too embarrassed and shaken to move properly.

I pressed on.

“And also…”

I paused deliberately.

“You prefer it… when you’re **** by force, huh.”

“Wa-wa-wa-wa-WAIT!! T-that’s…!! S-stop saying any more…! If you say another word, I’ll kill you…!!!!”

Famnale covered her face with her hands and trembled.

Every time she tried to deny it, her ears turned red again.

That gesture—strangely adorable.

(…Saint-sama, you’re ridiculously innocent for someone so hidden… closet case.)

I grinned mischievously and whispered by her ear:

“Relax. I won’t tell anyone. I’m not into exposing a saint’s ‘nightly habits’.”

Famnale hung her head. She was barely breathing.

While hiding her face, she whispered in a strained voice:

“…Wh-why… how do you know…?”

“Who knows. —Maybe I just have an eye for things. Could even be a heretical forbidden art…”

I shrugged and returned to my chair.

Famnale glared at me, trembling—and then looked down.

At this point, I had total control.

Heh… she’s fallen…

◆　　◆　　◆

The emotions oozing from Famnale’s heart were clearly visible to me.

Shame. Humiliation. A sense of defeat.

…And a faint sliver of expectation.

(Alright… now she’s mine.)

Saint Famnale—

In this moment, she had undeniably fallen into the palm of my hand.

――――――――――――――――

【Side: Famunare】

My heart pounded painfully hard.

Shame. Humiliation. Anger.

And… overwhelming confusion.

Before Ouji Grandfalm—

I had been utterly defeated.

He had seen through everything.

My secret nights I could tell no one.

My desires I’d never shown anyone.

It felt like he had reached straight into the depths of my heart.

(…Why… how could this…)

I was too embarrassed to lift my head.

I had never been this shaken in my life.

But—

Even so.

I couldn’t raise my blade against him.

Because somewhere in my heart, I’d already realized—

I couldn’t win against this man.

Clenching my trembling hands, I squeezed out a hoarse voice:

“…Regarding the heresy… I judge that no further investigation is necessary.”

I couldn’t oppose him any longer.

My heart itself wouldn’t allow it.

Trying desperately to remain calm, I stood up.

Then bowed deeply to Ouji.

“…Thank you for your cooperation.”

I tried my best to sound formal.

But my voice trembled. And he probably saw through it.

Without raising my head, I left the reception room.

◆　　◆　　◆

On the road back to the church, I took deep breaths over and over.

(Calm down, calm down… I’m a saint. I mustn’t be shaken by something like this…)

But no matter what, my heart wouldn’t settle.

That man’s face kept floating into my mind.

That mischievous smile.

Those sharp eyes that saw through everything.

(…Unfair.)

For some reason, that word floated in my chest.

Unfair.

Way too unfair.

And yet—

Why…

Why am I so drawn to him?

I clutched my chest.

It was painful, ticklish, a strange feeling.

(…Ouji Grandfalm. You are…)

My steps halted.

(…A very dangerous man.)

Even so.

I knew—

I would never forget him.

That night, I didn’t stop at the usual three times.

I climbed the mountain peak seven times—

—But that’s a secret I’ll never tell anyone.