—Almast—

Together with Raust, we went into a room that hardly anyone entered in the adventurer guild.
Being brought to a room like that, Raust was visibly wary.
If I didn’t force him with my position as a guild’s receptionist, no doubt Raust would try to escape from me.

But so far, it was according to plan, so I laughed a little in my mind.

「Raust-san, I would like to apologize.」

「Eh? No,」

The next moment, I bowed deeply and apologized to Raust.

At that moment, interestingly, Raust started to be flustered.
His reaction was what I expected from him.
As I thought, Raust was slow against ill-will that was directed at him.

Despite showing a reaction that could be called excessive when it came to ill-will against his comrade, he was flustered by me who bowed at him while spouting nonsense.
Perhaps, after he is abused for so many years, his sense is distorted.

After making that conclusion, I smiled with my face still facing the ground, thinking that I might be able to use him this way.

「This may not be enough to atone to what I have done, but……」

「Gh!」

And then, while pretending to be guilty with my expression, I started to strip off my clothes.
Seeing my appearance, Raust became more flustered…

I was about to laugh unconsciously when I saw his reaction.

My aim was to take advantage of Raust’s feat to offset my crime.
Raust subjugated the hydra I was hiding.
It was just a coincidence.
Raust just happened to be near the hydra and he happened to be able to defeat it.

However, what if Raust defeated the hydra because I secretly asked him in anticipation of his ability?

Even then, I would still be getting fired from being a receptionist and given some penalties.
But, it might be possible that my crime would be pardoned enough that I would avoid becoming a slave.

Of course, in reality, I never asked him to do so.
However, that could be made up from here on.

All I needed was for Raust to testify that I asked him.
To that end, I decided to attack using seduction.

When I took off my uniform and in my innerwear, Raust looked away with discomposure.
From his reaction, I believed the seduction method was working.

Raust had been abused until now.
He probably never been tempted by the opposite sex like this.
The martial artist looks fond of Raust, but beauty aside, my body is more mature.
There is no way Raust could escape from my temptation.
Thinking so, a provocative smile formed on my mouth.
If this is the case, just one more push and Raust will try to push me down.

This way, even if Raust doesn’t become my accomplice, I can use this to threaten him.
Currently, Raust who is in a position to be called a hero should hate to have an unwanted scandal and would nod to my request.
After thinking so, I smiled.

Having escaped the worst situation somehow, I felt relieved.

「It might be rude to say this in this situation, but…」

However, contrary to my thought, I couldn’t hear any discomposure from Raust’s voice.

「I’m sorry, I’m not going to put my hand on you.

……Physiologically, it’s impossible if it’s you.」

「…………Huh?」

And then, even while having a hard time saying it, Raust still told me that straightforwardly.
For a moment, the meaning of those words didn’t register in my mind.
However, after a short time, when I realized it was words of refusal from him, blood drained from my face.
It can’t stay like this, with that feeling as the impetus, I opened my mouth.

「W-Wait! You can do anything as you like to me, so…」

If I didn’t make him my accomplice here, I would be ruined.
That was why, I tried to show as much skin and be as sensual as I could to get some attention.

「Kh!」

……However, I stopped my hand before I finished taking off more of my clothes.
Late as it was, I realized now my seduction tactic had no meaning.

The gaze Raust sent at me was filled with unconcealed disgust.

Seeing Raust bewilderment so far, I thought he was embarrassed.
But that was only a misunderstanding.

………The reason for his confused expression against me who exposed my skin and turned his head away was because of disgust.

From the beginning, my seduction tactic never worked.
The moment I realized that, I was losing my strength.

Raust certainly didn’t show his anger toward those who had previously oppressed him.
But, that didn’t mean he forgave those people.
Just, as long as those people didn’t get involved with him, then it was fine for him, he was just cutting them off his mind.
I understood that now.

Raust turned his cold away toward me and then opened his mouth.

「Also, I now won’t turn my eyes toward any woman.」

「———!」

I couldn’t hide my agitation when I heard his words.

Raust didn’t say any name specifically.
……However, even without him saying, I already knew who was on his mind when he said that.

「Nar…sena…」

I previously thought I had more womanly charm than her.
I could only be dumbfounded from the defeat that came out of nowhere.

「Well then.」

After shortly saying his farewell toward the still-dazed me, Raust left the room.
…I didn’t have the energy to follow his back anymore.