Please Do Not Abandon the Adopted Heroine

Chapter 26 – The Law of the Freyja Adoration Battalion

Firstly, through this preceding clarification, I sincerely hope there are no misunderstandings or distortions.

My name is Eugene Seo Nepherna.

The son of the hero Nepherna, who commanded the Eastern Tundra as the Second Sword, and currently a proud mage holding the position of Time Instructor at the Magic Academy.

Freyja is not only a close colleague at work but also an irreplaceable peer and practically an unmatched friend, so we often accompany each other.

However, that was merely a relationship as friends, and it can be confidently stated that there were never any other sentiments involved.

As one of the robust men with a highly common and ordinary s*xual orientation, if you were to ask whether he ever harbored impure thoughts upon seeing Freya’s appearance even once, unfortunately, that would be a question not easily answered. Her looks, frankly speaking, far surpassed the boundaries of gender distinction.

Yet, there is one thing that can be said without falsehood. As long as she holds the consciousness of ‘I am a man’ from her past life, I will respect her will, and there will never be any involvement in a relationship beyond that of rationality.

“Let the meeting commence.”

…So, from now on, the reason I am here,

Not as ‘Professor Eugene Ser Neperna,’ but as the ‘Head of the Freya Adoration Society,’

I hope you calmly and rationally accept the reason I am seated at this round table.

“According to the words of the Head, as of this moment, we will commence the emergency convening of the Freya Adoration Society’s 165th assembly. All meeting records will be documented with code names and may be used as evidence in case of disputes for the judgment of the heretics.”

A young woman with a silver mask covering her eyes spoke plainly with a neat voice.

Code name, ‘Dispenser.’

The Deputy Head of the Freya Adoration Society and the only person well-acquainted with the identities and names of the members.

Behind the masked face, who is hidden is the greatest mystery of the Adoration Society… that’s what’s known, but…

Mystery? Seriously?

…No one recognizes that overwhelming presence?

Look over there! Can’t you see that? Can’t you hear the clear sound?

Bbaaah! Bbaaa! Bbaaah!

That’s a kind of identification. A more definite proof of identity than the identification issued by the empire.

Goo goo, I’m baby Eugene’s mealtime!

“The incident occurred yesterday at the right entrance of the central garden on campus. It involved a duel request exchanged between Professor Fernandez and Professor Neperna, with our goddess Freya caught in between.”

Aegis Church… No, codename Dispenser spoke in a calm voice.

“For a detailed explanation, when the incident occurred, I kindly request the testimony of codename ‘Pedonandes’, who was walking around the area.”

“…Please correct it. It’s not Pedonandes. Please be careful with the pronunciation. Pedoナンデス. It’s a compound word mixing ‘pedo’, which means a child lover, and the language of this world. Hm~ It seems like a code name with a feeling.”

First of all, that crazy guy wearing a strange mask is none other than the unmatched Professor Fernandes.

I have never personally revealed his identity, but I think anyone with normal eyes and ears would recognize him. It’s not an identity that can be concealed by a mask with white background and golden patterns.

However, unfortunately, the people in this room either have no interest in each other’s identities, or they pretend not to know, or they really, really don’t know, but no one has ever expressed doubt about Fernandes.

Instead, on the opposite side, a muscular bald man brighter than the shining sun took a step forward.

“Sapai. Are you really following the path of Sapa! How can you have such a distorted thought while carrying the name of Lady Freya in your heart! Heretic Judge! I request punishment♡ in the name of Lady Freya, the enchanting queen of beauty!”

“Calm down. Codename ‘Mr. Protein’. My love is strictly platonic. I swear on my love for Lady Freya that I have never harbored any impure thoughts.”

“It’s sophistry! How can you not know that your love is not for Lady Freya! You, who still have a long way to go, dare to defile the sacred meaning of platonic with disgusting and vulgar emotions! A brute like you will be purified with this fist…”

“…Oh dear. There seems to be a misunderstanding. What I love is purity and nobility untainted by time. There is such potential in young boys and girls.”

“Potential?! Don’t wrap your disgusting desires in noble words.”

“Protein. ‘Desire’ is not the right expression for it.”

Fernandes spoke seriously.

“People commonly mistake love as a byproduct of s*xual desire. It is an emotion born from genes imprinted for reproduction, a mere illusion that is switched on and off by a single electrical signal. I agree to some extent with that opinion. However, I will clearly state this. My love! It is definitely not a one-dimensional emotion born from such primitive desires!”

“………”

“……… Because of my exceptional abilities, I am still pursued by numerous women, even among the ladies who are highly regarded in the empire.”

“So what does that have to do with anything?”

“However… All the women who have approached me so far have been worldly and despicable. They were only interested in my family, the honor I achieved… and the wealth I possess. Disgustingly enough, they didn’t even spare a glance at my true self. Instead, they shamelessly demanded many things from me. …Daringly spewing ‘reality’ from their filthy mouths! I had no choice but to lower my gaze and search for the owners of pure souls.”

“Lowering the eyes is one thing, but why exactly do you arrive at the conclusion of ‘lowering the age,’ Fernandez?

Wasn’t it a common expression to slightly lower one’s standards for their ideal type?

“I harbored a strictly platonic sentiment toward children, yet growth is the process of an organism decaying. It was a trial bestowed upon me by the goddess. I could only watch over pitiful boys and girls who would be injured within a few years, enduring days steeped in lamentation, trapped in a hell. Finally, I encountered a glimmer of dawn.”

“Fernandes…!”

“I realized it. It was the day I first encountered Miss Freya. Oh, the moment I saw her sitting on the correction bench, engaging in chattering conversations with several students, everything changed. My values, which categorized individuals as mere poultry after the age of 15, became tarnished, and I was reborn from that day onwards. I, Fernandez, came to realize.”

Beneath the mask, Fernandez began shedding heavy tears.

“Miss Freya’s pure and immaculate benevolence. Even the unicorns of old would shed tears and give standing ovations to the purity of Jigo.”

As if tears had become contagious, weeping sounds began to spread throughout the conference room.

“Sniff…!”

“Oh, Miss Freya…”

“I always believe. Only you are our light. Please guide us…”

Protein, too, couldn’t stop the tears.

“Sob…! Fernandez. You must also know. Miss Freya’s suffering!”

“Yes. Miss Freya remembers her past life as a man. …But! What’s the problem with that!”

“Fer, Fernandez…!”

“Regardless of memories from a past life, they don’t blemish my love.”

“Right! Your affection is truly right!”

“Moreover, Miss Freya said herself. The time she was aware of her past life as a man was after she underwent the rite of passage as an adult. In other words, it was after Miss Freya’s womanhood was established. …hahahaha… Ah, this is already the finest spice! It’s like adding a spoonful of noble honey of Miss Freya!”

Fernandez’s impassioned speech ignited excitement among the officials.

From faculty members to unnamed students, everyone was caught up in the fervor.

Even when considering the gender ratio of the members, which was exactly 5:5, their voices transcended status and race, gender and age, piercing through the sky.

“…Even if that’s not the case, I will love Lady Freya.”

“That’s right! It’s a trivial matter. A very trivial matter!”

“It’s inevitable to have affection regardless of gender.”

Fernandes, as if deeply moved, trembled his fist, then suddenly couldn’t contain his anger and spoke.

“That’s why… those who disrespect Lady Freya’s sanctity cannot be forgiven.”

“…What are you suddenly talking about? Who dares to disrespect Lady Freya?”

“I believe that no commander who doesn’t know the rules of the Freya Devotion, which encompasses the mind, energy, and body, exists.”

“Of course.”

“Let’s try reciting it as a test. Mind.”

When Fernandes started reciting, as if they had rehearsed it in advance, they all stood up in unison.

““With the will of the mind, no beast has ever invaded Lady Freya’s heart. The Pure Maid is as sacred as the sky.””

In a more solemn tone than anyone else, they recited like singing a song.

““The damage to energy occurs from inside and outside. The Energy Maid who is damaged externally is as fragile as glass. Therefore, we solemnly declare that we will not look upon Devotee Lady Freya with any impure gaze or heart.””

Choir. It was a harmonious choir.

““The body, in other words, faith. It signifies that no impure body has touched Lady Freya’s sacred body, and therefore the Body Maid is observed without damaging the external energy and is confirmed by the will of the moonlit night.””

…I hope there is no misunderstanding. I am not the one who wrote this sentence.

As I met the eyes of the author of this sentence, codename Dispenser, Professor Aegis, I quickly averted my gaze. Perhaps it was just my imagination that she smiled slightly?

…Ha. If Freya saw this, she might be shocked and cry, vomit, faint, or maybe even do everything at once. Poor Freya.

“Very well done! As expected, the officials of the Adoration have very sound judgment! … However.”

Pedonandes slammed his staff on the ground with a thud.

“Here, the problem lies in the fact that someone has lost their soul.”

…Huh? Suddenly? What’s that supposed to mean?

“Lord Pedonandes! What do you mean by that!”

“Is there a heretic among us?”

“Heretic?! N-no way! That’s absurd!”

Murmurs and looks of suspicion spread among the officials. At the mention of heresy, they gradually began to lose composure. Protein addressed them with a serious expression.

“Though heresy… is unforgivable, for now, let’s focus on the urgent matter at hand. I am deeply curious about the culprit, but let’s handle the issue at hand first.”

But I hoped we wouldn’t deviate from the topic.

An issue regarding the duel between Neperna and Fernandes? It doesn’t seem like there’ll be a proper discussion.

As I snapped my fingers lightly, the officials’ gazes immediately turned towards me. I lowered my voice as much as possible and nodded with gravity.

“…Maintain calm. Yes, Pedonandes, proceed with capturing the heretic first. Permission granted. Continue.”

“Thank you, Commander.”

After bowing, he retrieved something from his pocket. It was a small booklet. While everyone looked at the book with curiosity, a faint sound of breath being taken could be heard from somewhere.

Fernandes frowned and held up the comic book high.

“This is a comic found accidentally on the floor of the meeting room during the last regular meeting day. It was confirmed to be on sale at a bookstore… This is the manuscript of that comic book. In other words, it means one of the officials at this roundtable is the author.”

“…A comic? Unless it surpasses a certain level regarding creative acts about Freya, it shouldn’t be an issue… Unle-ess… It depicted explicit scenes?”

“No, it’s not a concern of what Protein is worried about. Fortunately, this comic, if we really scrutinize, is classified by the Empire’s Artistic Creation Grading Committee as a book available for all ages to purchase, and there were no explicit s*xual depictions… At least, the author seemed to have maintained some level of decency.”

“Then what exactly is the problem?”

When Protein questioned, Perdónandes responded with a serious tone, “This manga is a ‘bullying story.'”