I Became a Burden to the Conscienceless Party

Right after the hero Esmeralda declared she would come looking for me.

Crack-crack-crack!
I could see the hero approaching, breaking and slashing all the trees in sight with her sword.
It’s enough to make my knees weak, seeing her commit such a tyrannical act with a bright face.

“I-I’m fine.”
“Huh… Is that so?”

The hero, Esmeralda, who had suddenly approached right in front of me, stares up at me with those green eyes.
I flinch for a moment at her gaze that seems to pierce through to the essence.

“Then shall we go eat?”
“Ah, yes…”

Is food all this stupid hero thinks about?
It’s bitter to think that someone like this is considered strong.

“…So we decided to eat luxuriously today. It’s not the soup you like, Mr. Jim, but it’s Irina’s special stew cooked with lots of spices!”
“Oh, that sounds delicious.”
“Right? I secretly tasted a bite first and it’s…”

Basically, the foods of the human realm taste a bit bland to me.
That’s why I like the soup that’s close to purgatory soup.
Of course, it’s not just about being spicy. How rich the taste is and how abundant the aroma is are also factors that determine the taste.
Moreover, I’m moved to tears knowing that Irina, who is good at cooking, has made an effort for me again today.
If only she weren’t a saint, I might have proposed even if she were human.

“Come on! Let’s go, Mr. Jim.”
“Yes.”

When I respond, Esmeralda smiles broadly and pulls my arm.
Her reckless behavior with her usual bright smile.
…But is it because I’m not innocent that it feels like I’m being taken into custody? Maybe, that’s it?

The hero, Esmeralda, stared at Jim, who had been communicating with demons until just a moment ago, while eating her stew.

‘Even after doing this, they haven’t given up on rescuing Jim? That’s surprising. Did the Demon King’s army have such camaraderie?’

She had long since eavesdropped on Jim’s conversation. Although she couldn’t hear the voice on the other end, she could infer the flow from Jim’s words alone.
That’s why she was surprised.
To think that the Demon King’s army, notorious for its cruelty, would continue operations to rescue a mere lieutenant-level soldier.
Moreover, a platoon including a lieutenant colonel was annihilated in the process.
It’s natural to feel something strange about this unusual situation.

“Oh! This is really delicious!”

It’s funny, if anything, that the person in question hasn’t noticed it.
The demon named Jim that Esmeralda saw was quite sloppy.
He often acted according to his own feelings, unable to act well.

“Wow, how can it taste like this? Can I have another bowl?”
“Y-you don’t have to praise it that much, I’ll give you more.”

The saint, Irina, blushes and adds more stew to the bowl at Jim’s high praise. Esmeralda stares at this scene and then puts the stew in her mouth.
It was delicious. It was natural for a stew that creates a deep flavor with plenty of spices to be tasty.
But if asked whether it’s worth making such a fuss over, the answer is no.
Esmeralda looked at the stew again.
She stared at it, checking why Jim was praising it so excessively.

[Stew cooked by Irina]
[A delicious stew with plenty of spices made by Irina. Made with holy power for everyone’s health.]
[Effect: Purifies demonic energy.]

“Wow, I’m telling you, it’s a stew with a taste that feels like my tongue is melting!”
“…”

Esmeralda clicked her tongue at the sight of Jim, who didn’t realize that his tongue was actually melting.
If Jim has a secret, it seems she’ll have to hear it from someone other than the person himself.

‘I don’t want to cut Jim out.’

A demon who infiltrated the hero’s party.
The reason Esmeralda is keeping such a Jim alive is none other than this.

‘It has to be you.’

Esmeralda alternated her gaze between the stew and Jim, then turned her eyes towards Irina. Her green eyes began to emit a sparkling light.
One of the hero Esmeralda’s abilities, the power to see through others.

[Emerald Tablet]

The reason she wants to keep Jim in the party even while bearing the risk.
The first of those reasons.

[Name: Irina Saintis]
[Race: Human] [Title: Saint]
[List of Characteristics]
Holy Magic Lv. 71
Healing Arts Lv. 57
Barrier Arts Lv. 49
Blunt Weapon Skills Lv. 30

Characteristics specialized in protection and purification.
That alone speaks volumes about how helpful Irina is to this party.
However…

Brainwashing Lv. 32
Incitement Lv. 31
Torture Lv. 40
Intimidation Lv. 47

[Comprehensive Estimate Lv. 364]

“…”

Esmeralda couldn’t overlook what she had hidden behind her pure and kind mask.
That’s why Jim is needed.

[Note: She is interested in Jim. Her gaze towards you decreases.]

Only he could bear the risk factors of this party.

Irina Saintis followed Jim excessively.
To anyone else, it might look like she’s in love, but to the person in question and one observer, it felt completely different.

‘The grim reaper is behind me. Is this how I’m dragged to hell?’

As a demon, Jim felt chills every time Irina appeared behind his back wherever he went.
Irina’s bright smile whenever their eyes met might be quite beautiful, but to Jim, it felt like he had received a death threat.

[Note: She is worried about the weak Jim. She fears an accident might happen where her eyes can’t reach.]

“…”

And to Esmeralda, Irina’s behavior felt more like an owner looking at a puppy than a girl in love. From the way she subtly belittles the other party for being weak.
It might not have been malicious behavior on her part, but Esmeralda often felt chills.
After all, the characteristics that Irina is hiding are inherently sinister.

‘Still, it’s fortunate that she acts as a kind of restraint in some sense.’

Considering how Jim was babbling in front of Irina trying to blend into the party when he first joined the hero’s party, this is a huge improvement.
At that time, Irina didn’t even want to talk to Jim, but somehow she’s now the one to approach Jim first.
However, it’s gone too far, causing Jim to suffer.

‘I guess it’s better not to ask what happened…?’

Irina originally came to monitor Esmeralda.
Esmeralda’s circumstances were that she couldn’t refuse when Irina, with the title of the order’s saint, said she would join her journey.
Esmeralda was impressed by Irina’s acting skills, never revealing her true nature even once, despite what she saw being enough to make her dizzy. But now, hasn’t her interest shifted away from herself?
She didn’t want to ask first about what happened and try to form a bond.

[Note: She is checking Jim’s every move, heart, thoughts, habits, and where the line is for what she can do.]

Esmeralda closed her eyes tightly and prayed for Jim’s soul.
This is preliminary work.
She didn’t know exactly what kind of work was being planned, but she thought it certainly wouldn’t be good for Jim.

‘Well, let’s just leave it be.’

As she thought about Jim suffering, Esmeralda’s mood improved.

It was when the hero, the saint, and the baggage carrier Jim were advancing through the forest.
Already in the conflict zone between demons and humans. Therefore, encounters with demons were frequent. And unfortunately, because it was a space half-straddling between the human realm and the demon realm, there were many demons who couldn’t recognize Jim.

“Kukukuk.”
“Humans… It’s humans!”
“Hand over everything you have and we’ll spare your lives!”

In fact, it would have been more surprising if such guys had approached knowing Jim.
The remnants of the Demon King’s army, spouting typical third-rate villain lines but still promising to spare lives.
Or should we say they’ve deserted and become bandits now?

‘Even those low-ranking soldier bastards can desert their posts, what am I?’

Jim felt self-loathing.
He’s suffering for nothing by enlisting as an officer. Why does he, an officer, have to feel the threat to his life more often than regular soldiers?
Jim sighed deeply while waiting for Esmeralda’s choice.
Will she kill them because they’re demons? Or unexpectedly, she might just scold them.
The hero wasn’t a murderer who indiscriminately slaughtered demons.
Of course, if it was revealed that Jim was a spy, there was a high probability he would be slaughtered.

“Hmm…”

Esmeralda pondered.
The reason for her contemplation was nothing special.

[Note: They made their final choice due to extreme hunger.]

[Note: They deserted, tired of killing people, but lost all their supplies while fleeing and became destitute.]

[Note: They desperately hope you’ll leave anything edible and quietly go away. They don’t want to fight.]

The desperate reality of demon life.
Because Esmeralda could see through the true intentions of others, she often showed mercy and tried to persuade.
Maybe this time would be similar? Esmeralda was thinking of soothing the demons and continuing the conversation.
However, there was someone who didn’t think that way.

“Oh my, there are bugs.”

Stab!
It was Irina, the order’s saint who couldn’t tolerate the very existence of demons.

[Blunt Weapon Skills Lv. 30]

Irina, with a gentle smile on her face, immediately swung her morning star and blew off the head of one of the three demons.

“Huh…?”

Confused by the action that didn’t match her smile, the demons were bewildered, unable to understand what had just happened.
Irina Saintis frowned as she watched the blood dripping from the tip of her blood-stained morning star, wetting her hand.

“…How messy.”

At this sight, Jim trembled and hid behind Esmeralda’s back.
Esmeralda knew about Jim’s attitude but ignored it.
Esmeralda glanced at Jim and then looked back at Irina.
It’s excessive no matter how you look at it.
She knew Irina disliked demons, but not to this extent.

[Note: She is enjoying the sight of Jim trembling in fear.]

“Ah…”

Esmeralda nodded.
It’s common for teenage girls to bully the boys they like.
Yes, if that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done.

‘I don’t know anything~’

Esmeralda chose to ignore it.