Chapter 56

Chapter 56

It worked.

It was clear that Nairim couldn’t wait for more. By the early evening, Iztal Nairim came to my room right after his work shift ended. He told me what he found out.

“Oh, you’re still here. I guess you don’t have to report to the warrior yet? Good.”

I was given a new order from the Goddess’ warrior, so I didn’t have to worry about reporting to him on time. Nairim continued, “I asked around, and as I suspected, Manar knew the most about anything that happens in the harem. So when I asked, he told me that the drug you are referring to should be included in the special fragrance we have in our own washroom… So he told me to just use that.”

He didn’t bring me the real stuff, but Nairim was still a handy guy. He was also a horny bastard. He brought the jar from our washroom and tried to push me down on my bed.

I said to him, “Really? But the one from the washroom stings too much on my skin, so I don’t like it.”

“What? Well, then maybe you should go ask Manar yourself. I mean, I am not certain, but some of the brothers think Manar has a certain power over the harem.”

“… hmm…”

“Or maybe… Hahaha… Didn’t you tell everyone that you were able to get into the harem too? You were exaggerating, weren’t you? If you weren’t, then maybe you can go back into the harem yourself and steal it. What do you think?”

“Shut up.”

I needed to go see Manar myself and ask. Not to ask him to get the drug, but to find out what he knew.

When I was about to leave, Nairim groped my butt and said to me, “Hey… Gosh, you are dying to do it, aren’t you? You are such a sl*t… Hahaha… Don’t overdo it, or you’re going to hurt yourself.”

Nairim was such a jerk.

I paused, not because I liked his touch. Nairim seemed turned on as he rubbed my thighs. He tried to kiss him, but before he reached me, I pushed him away.

My body felt cold. I wasn’t aroused at all. I said to him quietly, “Iztal Nairim, my brother. I will tell you one thing.”

“W-what? You are scaring me, Juya.”

He seemed scared that I might get angry at him, but what I wanted to tell him was something much more severe.

“Iztal Nairim, you better think very carefully whose side you are going to be on. You should also be ready to report to the Goddess’ warrior about everything you just told me now.”

“…?”

I knew I sounded crazy. Nairim became speechless. He just stood still and blinked. I didn’t look back.

So Manar… Iztal Manar who claimed that he could enter the harem whenever he wanted. I always had my suspicions about him, but what I didn’t know was why.

Why would he do something like this? What was it that he wanted? What was I supposed to do to carry out the warrior’s order? How was I supposed to approach Manar?

***

Iztal Manar was in the middle of his room. He was sitting down on the floor, and when he spotted me, this strange, mysterious man asked, “Juya? Nairim came to me a moment ago to ask something. Was that you who made him do it?”

The way Manar stared at me was unnerving. It felt like he could see right through me. I stepped back a little, but after gathering my courage, I walked towards him.

He wasn’t wearing his usual hoodie, but his face was still partly covered.

This man who kept himself as hidden as possible… I was genuinely curious about him. What was he thinking?

At one point in my life, Manar used to be my idol. I used to work so I could become like him. However, at some point, things changed drastically. He was no longer the Manar I used to look up to.

I said to him, “The Goddess’ warrior told me that one of us the Innocent Ones is planning something. He said that the ultimate goal of this person would be chaos among us in Minurd.”

“…”

“Manar, I know that your family lives in the capital. Is that why? Are you doing this so you could escape this place and return to your family? Were you trying to make the brothers go crazy with lust by using the drug… And hope that they rape the odalisques or abuse each other? Was that what you were trying to do?”

“Shut up, you sl*t!”

“Manar!”

How could he call me that name? If it was him who tainted the fragrance with the drug, then I was the biggest victim of his scheme. I couldn’t even go back to how I used to be. I was ruined for life. My body no longer belonged to me. I was beyond salvation.

I didn’t dare to grab him or attack him. My fists trembled as I waited. I wanted to resolve this with words. I wanted to win this battle without a physical fight. The warrior’s order was to find the culprit and stop him. If I could accomplish this without hurting him, then that would be the best. I didn’t want to harm him.

The man in a mask in front of him stared at me. I could tell that he was frowning. His voice sounded strange as he asked me, “So what? Are you telling me to stop?”

“If possible…”

“No. At this point, the person who is causing the chaos now is you, not me. You are the center of it all, Juya. It’s too late. For you or Hakim Karid to find me now… It’s too late. This is meant to be.”

What was he trying to say? However, before I could ask, he grabbed his neck and made strange noises. I couldn’t tell if he was coughing or laughing.

“Kkk… khh… Cough, cough… 7 years… Gosh… I thought I could return quickly, but it has been 7 years. 7 years and no goddess… I have been stuck in this awful place for 7 years… Hahaha… And I heard that the Virtuous Priestess is not in the selamlique again, right? She is under Prince Camille’s protection… Cough.”

I now had no doubt that Manar was the culprit. His words said it all. I stared in shock, unsure what exactly he was going to do next. However, I knew what I had to do next to stop him. I just knew.

I also knew who I had to call to accomplish this.

“Eriez!”

I turned around and called out his name.

“Eriez! Are you here?”

I desperately yelled for my friend’s name. My friend who wasn’t here… To other brothers, it probably sounded like I was screaming and moaning Eriez’s name in lust. They most likely thought I was giving away my body again to him.