“Hmm, I see. Yes, I see-o. This is quite unforgivable-o. Who on earth made something so vile-o! Whoever made this is out of their mind-o!”
The hentai was grumbling about something while keeping his hand pressed against Ana’s forehead.
I was grateful for his help, but I couldn't shake the feeling that letting this guy touch Ana was somehow defiling her. It kept me on edge.
Still, this was for her treatment. I just had to endure it.
“I’ve finished my diagnosis-o. Milly-tan, can I borrow your body-o?”
At the hentai’s request, Milly gave a small, silent nod.
The next moment, the hentai’s consciousness entered Milly, and her small frame went limp for a second.
“—!”
Lady Elizaveta gasped and rushed forward to support her.
“It is all right, Liza. Milly’s body is currently being controlled by me, a Spirit of Light. I am Roh, one who serves Loringas the Unselfish Great Sage.”
“Eh? Lo... Lorin... gas... Teacher?”
I watched with a lukewarm gaze as Elizaveta’s eyes widened in shock.
Even a guy as twisted as me wasn't about to rain on their parade right now.
“Liza, your daughter has grown into a strong and kind-hearted woman. And you, too, have become a magnificent mother. Loringas is truly pleased by your growth.”
“Ugh... ah... ah... Teacher!”
Ignoring the fact that she had an audience, Elizaveta threw her arms around Milly’s small body and began to sob uncontrollably.
The hentai, currently operating Milly’s body, used his small hands to pull Elizaveta’s head close and began gently patting her.
Watching the scene, I... well, yeah. I decided to keep my mouth shut.
After a while, Elizaveta managed to compose herself.
“M-my apologies. I’ve made quite a fool of myself.”
“It matters not.”
The hentai smiled warmly through Milly’s face.
The smile of a beautiful elven girl was the very definition of angelic. It was so radiant that even Elizaveta couldn't help but smile back.
However, knowing exactly who was on the inside, I couldn't bring myself to take it at face value.
I mean, I know this hentai is technically a good hentai, but still...
Sigh. There really are some things in this world that you're better off not knowing.
Truly. God, truly...!
“Now then, allow me to relay the results of the diagnosis.”
The hentai’s expression shifted to one of dead seriousness.
“Please.”
“I will be blunt. Anastasia’s soul is currently in a state of deep slumber within the recesses of her heart.”
“Th-then, will my daughter wake up?”
“She is not dead. Theoretically, she can be woken, but it is not something I can do.”
“What?”
“W-what do you mean by that?”
Elizaveta looked like she was on the verge of tears again, and I found myself asking in a sharper tone than I intended.
“As she is now, Anastasia has sealed her own soul. Had she not done so, her soul would likely have been torn asunder and lost by now.”
“Then shouldn't we just break the seal?”
I pressed him, feeling desperate for any kind of hope.
“Indeed. However, I do not know the key to the seal.”
“The key?”
“The power that triggered the seal is my own. When I bestowed my blessing upon Anastasia, I made it so that I could lend her my power through that hair ornament. Since it is my power, I naturally understand the mechanics of the seal. However, because this is a seal created to protect her own soul, it cannot be easily undone from the outside.”
The hentai took a breath and continued.
“To break the seal, one needs a key. It might be a person or an object she cherishes from the bottom of her heart, a memory, a place, or perhaps even something she was looking forward to. If the nature of the key is identified, the seal will break easily. However, if one attempts to force it open, the soul will shatter and be lost forever. If that happens, there is no turning back.”
“Oh, no...”
Elizaveta covered her face with her hands.
“Thus, there is nothing more I can do here. You all are far better suited to searching for the key. Ah, also, I do not know why she is wearing that Magic-Sealing Collar, but please leave it on until she regains consciousness.”
“Wait, that thing? Those guys put it on her...”
“I see. So that is the case. Even without a key, that can be removed by simply destroying it. It is a mere trinket that prevents the use of magic, so do not worry. However, if it were removed now, her magic might go haywire at the slightest provocation. Leave it on until she wakes up.”
“I see... understood.”
Listening to him talk like this made him actually sound like a Great Sage.
At this point, I could barely believe he was the same person.
“More importantly, please take me to the Magic Sword that caused this state.”
I nodded and led Milly and Elizaveta toward my room.
When I opened the door to leave Ana’s room, I was greeted by the sight of the Duke and Friedrich sitting slumped against the wall, looking utterly drained.
The maids were frantically tending to them.
“Duke?”
“Dear? Friedrich?”
“They are fine. They will be able to stand shortly. Any who harbor impure thoughts toward my contractor, Milly, find themselves in this state if they try to approach her. Had they intended her true harm, I would have taken their lives. Since they survived with this much, I assume they were merely plotting something calculated. Now, please, continue the way.”
“...Yeah.”
Terrifying. His passion for his elven loli was absolutely no joke.
If she had this kind of Auto-Defense, no wonder the Queen felt safe letting her go outside.
Wait. Does that mean me and Ana were...?
The hentai answered my silent question as if he were reading my mind.
“Allen, that is exactly what it means. It means that you, Anastasia, and Liza never harbored any wicked thoughts of exploiting Milly.”
“O-oh.”
W-wait a second. What about you, the perpetrator...? Actually, never mind. I’ll say nothing.
Once we reached my room, I handed over the bundle containing the Magic Sword.
“So, this is the Magic Sword...”
The hentai gestured for me to place it on the floor. Apparently, Milly’s small body couldn't handle the weight.
When he touched the bundle, the makeshift sand sheath I’d crafted crumbled away, and the Magic Sword was revealed.
The hentai, still using Milly’s body, reached out and gripped the hilt without a moment’s hesitation.
“Hey, watch out!”
I yelled, but nothing seemed to happen.
“I see. It is just as I thought.”
The hentai murmured sadly and began chanting a spell.
A dazzling light flooded the room before collapsing inward, sealing itself inside the Magic Sword.
“The Magic Sword is now sealed. You must transport this to the Elven Village. This blade is an abomination that should not exist in this world.”
“What do you mean?”
“This sword was forged using souls as its base—the souls of many young children who were repeatedly abused, driven to despair, and slaughtered while starved of love.”
“What...?”
The sheer horror of the description left me speechless.
“There is no one in the human world capable of purifying this. Only a Saint—specifically, one known as the Saint of Benevolence—could possibly manage it.”
“The Saint of Benevolence?”
I repeated the term, caught off guard by the specific title.
“Yes. A woman who has received a Holy Blessing and whose wish has been recognized by an Artifact is called a Saint. There are many types: the Healing Saint who excels at mending wounds, the Blessing Saint who excels at buffs, and in the past, even rare cases like the Pugilist Saint who fought with her fists. Among them, the Saint of Benevolence is one who specializes in prayers and words that save the hearts of the dead, the weak, and the wounded.”
I see. Everything just clicked into place. So that’s how it works.
“However, as far as I know, no such person exists in this world today. Therefore, it is best if I take it to the Elven Village and purify it myself over the course of several centuries.”
“I... right.”
“Lord Roh, thank you! Thank you so very much!”
Elizaveta was practically weeping with gratitude.
“Yes. I leave the rest to you then.”
With those final words, the hentai slipped out of Milly’s body. Elizaveta caught the girl as she stumbled.
The moment he was back in his spirit form, the hentai’s first words were:
“Ah—I’m beat-o. My shoulders are stiff as rocks-o.”
I... really have nothing more to say.