The Reincarnated Transcendent Wants to Fill the Hole in Their Chest - Episode 2: Love Potion

Episode 2: Love Potion

— Slave Harem.

That was a term that had been seen a lot in Japanese creative works for some time now.

The main character buys beautiful slave girls and surrounds himself with them.

He treats them kindly and gets liked in return, or does horrible things and is hated.

The content comes in various forms. And in recent years, it can’t be summed up in a single phrase. But well, it was that kind of thing.

In short, it could be called a man’s dream.

Konoe had also read those kinds of stories in his younger days.

…That’s why, Konoe’s heart was shaken by the instructor’s words without thinking.

Because he had envied them. The protagonists of those stories. Surrounded by beautiful women, able to do anything.

You could do improper things, or pretend to be a kind person. You could live that kind of life.

How many people are there who read such stories during puberty and didn’t fantasize in bed? At the very least, Konoe had done it many times.

If it were slaves, maybe even someone like him could be loved. If it were another world, maybe he could walk together with someone.

Those kinds of delusions.

But they were impossible. They couldn’t come true. So he sighed and gave up.

It’s meaningless, it’s stupid—he told himself.

But those fantasies—

◆

“Oh? So, you want a slave harem?”

—suddenly appeared in reality.

“I see, I see.”

“…Ah, no.”

Konoe panicked, reacting to the words “slave harem” in front of a woman. But the instructor only grinned and smiled.

Then she nodded repeatedly and patted Konoe on the shoulder.

“Nothing wrong with that. It’s a man’s dream, right?”

“…Well, um…”

I get it, I get it. That’s how men are.

She said things like, “Some things never change, even in another world.”

“You can expect it. Whether it’s a few or dozens. Once you master life magic and get recognized—become an Adept, you can earn 1000 gold coins easily.”

“Go to the slave market and buy all the cute girls one by one!” she said.

Her too-blunt attitude made Konoe forget to be wary and seriously listen.

“Buy a mansion in the capital, surround yourself with many slaves—yep. Well, the training is strict. But if you get through that, then it’s a life where you can do whatever you want!”

The instructor was saying very convenient things like, “How about it? Great, right?” while slapping his shoulder.

Konoe’s vision shook—and at the same time, his heart swayed a little.

…Could it really be possible? Something like that, really?

He thought it had to be a lie… but the instructor had sworn to the gods earlier.

Then even someone like him could really have a slave harem?

Which meant—

‘—Was there any meaning to my life?’

—This time, maybe he wouldn’t have to die alone in a hospital room.

This time, not just some random nobody, not someone who’s a burden—even if he’s socially awkward.

Even if he can’t properly build relationships, this time, maybe he could be with someone.

“—”

…He wavered. His heart was wavering.

He felt like she mentioned something about strict training. But he was shaken enough not to care anymore.

“The path to Adept is tough. But someone serious and hardworking like you will be fine. Don’t worry. Life magic education is well-supported. We’ll look after you to the end, even if it takes years or decades.

—I swear to the gods. I have no ulterior motives or ill will. For people, for the world, for the gods—I’m scouting you because I see your potential.”

(—Potential? Me? Really? Because I’m serious?)

Konoe took pride in being serious. He had lived that way.

He had no choice but to live that way.

Otherwise, he couldn’t hold any standing.

Konoe the nuisance. Konoe who couldn’t even make small talk properly.

To live in society, he had to wear the mask of seriousness.

“…….”

If he could master life magic, he might earn a lot of money.

If he earned money, he might be able to build a slave harem.

This time, maybe he could live surrounded by people.

Thinking that, Konoe’s vision blurred.

Because he didn’t want to die alone anymore.

No one to reach out to him no matter how much he suffered, 

no one to mourn his death—

At least that kind of end, he didn’t want—

(—No, no, wait. Calm down.)

His brain was spinning—but Konoe regained his calm.

His deeply ingrained skepticism held him back.

He repeatedly told himself to calm down.

There’s no way things would go that conveniently.

Had anything in his life ever gone so well?

(…Right, even if I bought slaves in the first place—)

He went back to the root of it.

Even if he bought slaves, there’s no way things would go well.

The protagonist of a story easily gets along with slaves. But that’s because he’s the protagonist.

Even if they’re called slaves, they have free will. They have the right to choose whom to love.

…In other words, Konoe, who can’t even make friends, could never have a harem.

Maybe he could buy slaves.

But whether he could get along with them after that depends on the character of the master.

With Konoe, it’s easy to imagine being disliked.

Talked about behind his back, hurt.

What’s supposed to be a harem might turn into isolation instead.

“…….”

He’d lived a hopeless life.

A meaningless life.

Konoe thought that someone like him could never get along with people now.

“…What’s wrong?”

The instructor asked with a puzzled face.

Probably because Konoe suddenly turned calm.

“…No, I’ve decided to decline. …Excuse me.”

“Huh? Why? Wait, wait.”

He tried to forcibly leave and got caught again. She grabbed his shoulder.

So he reluctantly said what he had just thought.

That people have their limits.

That someone like Konoe can’t maintain a harem.

That human relationships would fall apart sooner or later.

That’s why he should live a safer life like before—Konoe thought.

“Hmm, maintaining it and relationships, huh… Don’t worry! If that’s it, there’s no need to worry!”

“—Huh?”

The instructor laughed.

And squeezed the hand she placed on Konoe’s shoulder.

“If that’s how you think, then maybe you should become an Adept.”

The instructor stared closely at Konoe.

And smiled sweetly.

“Okay? Slaves basically have no human rights. They don’t have the right to refuse orders.”

“……”

“And, Adepts of life magic are allowed to do more than regular people. It’s because of the nature of their work. For example, the use of certain special potions. Other blessings don’t allow that. Alchemists can make them, but using them is forbidden.”

“…And what does that mean?”

“Listen. In short, if you’re an Adept—you can use Love Potions, even the restricted kind.”

“——————————”

—Konoe. To that.

Konoe, who was never needed by anyone.

Konoe, who could never talk properly to anyone.

“……………………………………………………………………..yes.”

Konoe gave in to desire.

He leapt full-force at the carrot dangled in front of him.

◆

—About the love potion, Konoe thought.

A potion that forcibly makes someone fall in love.

A devil’s drug that manipulates emotions at will.

It was far too selfish, a drug that strayed from the path.

The ethics he gained in Japan were screaming,

and the calm part of his mind was cursing himself as trash.

It could never be forgiven.

It should never be allowed.

“……”

But… was there any other way?

Konoe had lived nearly thirty years without being able to connect properly with anyone.

Wherever he went, he was always alone.

Even talking face-to-face was hard.

For someone like him, he couldn’t think of any other way.

There was only one thing he could hope.

Even someone like Konoe, even someone this socially awkward—

(…With a love potion, could someone like me become someone’s number one?)

To be someone special to someone.

He had always longed for that—

◆

—And then several days passed.

That day, the first class for transferred people ended.

Except for a few, most of the transferred people left the dorms and began walking their chosen paths.

Those who wanted to become adventurers went to the Adventurers’ Guild.

Those who wanted to become mages went to the Magic Guild.

“…”

…And Konoe, too, knocked on the door of the Life Magic Guild.

He was warmly welcomed. But he then depressed at himself for only being able to say “Thank you” and “I’ll do my best.” And he was taken into the back of the guild.

There, he saw what he had heard about—the physical manifestation of the god.

The god appeared as a pure white girl with angelic wings.

With a beautiful face and innocent eyes, she welcomed Konoe.

“Do you wish to walk the path of life?”

To that, Konoe—

“Yes.”

—replied with just one word, averting his gaze slightly.

He thought it was rude. But he couldn’t look her in the eye.

Even so, the god smiled again at Konoe.

“Then, my blessing. May your future be filled with many smiles.”

With those words, light filled the area.

Konoe felt something warm settle inside his body—

◆

—And then, thirty days later.

Konoe was on the verge of death in a corner of the training grounds.