I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

"Yes..."

"I'm a noble's daughter," Natsuki replied hastily. "I was attacked by monsters while traveling between Kyoto and another city. The samurai protecting me were all killed."

"Oh, I see... Don't be afraid of me! I'm a shrine maiden, only responsible for slaying monsters. I won't harm you."

"Shrine maiden?" Natsuki looked at Yae Sakura before her. Setting aside the fox ears on top of Yae Sakura's head, even as a shrine maiden... surely there weren't any shrine maidens this revealing?

The skirt was shockingly short.

How shameless!

Even more exposed than those... prostitutes in the pleasure district.

"..."

Seeing Natuski Hime's gaze, Yae Sakura immediately guessed what she was thinking. This outfit might not seem inappropriate by modern standards, but it was definitely too revealing for ancient times.

But... that's just how the game designers made it! And then... I don't have any other clothes to change into. Can't exactly walk around naked, can I?

After chatting with Yae for a bit, Natsuki realized... The half-demon before her didn't seem so bad after all. They could actually talk things out peacefully.

Though she couldn't figure out why Yae kept insisting she was a shrine maiden, as long as she wasn't eating people, Natsuki felt safe.

With that thought, Natsuki relaxed her guard considerably.

"Miss Monster, I..."

"Don't call me 'Miss Monster'! I'm not some monster—I have a name! It's Yae Sakura, the Gyakushin Miko Yae!" Yae interrupted her sharply.

"Gyakushin Miko... Yae?"

"Yeah!"

"Hold on..." Natsuki paused, feeling uneasy at the mention of "Gyakushin." Sounds scary just hearing it.

"What is it?" Yae asked calmly, looking at her.

"It's nothing..." The girl in traditional Japanese attire shivered, remembering the bloodthirsty expression on Yae's face when they'd fought earlier. She quickly shook her head.

"Oh right! I wanted to ask you something..."

"What is it? Go ahead, Lady Yae," Natsuki said hastily, lowering her head respectfully.

"Have you heard of a shrine maiden named Kikyō?" Kikyō must be pretty famous, isn't she?

"Kikyō? No..." Natsuki shook her head.

"I see..."

"Yae-sama..."

"Hm?" Yae looked at her with confusion.

"Can I ask you for something?" Natsuki pleaded, looking pitifully at Yae.

"What is it?"

"Could you please escort me home? Of course, my father will reward you."

Now that all the warriors and guards are dead, there's no way I can get back on my own...

Monsters could jump out at any moment. To them, I'm far more valuable than a hundred ordinary girls.

In Tōei, noble daughters seem especially tempting to monsters. But because these young ladies have powerful samurai, mages, and onmyouji protecting them, it's hard for the creatures to make a move.

A lone noble girl like me is incredibly attractive to nearby monsters, almost like a drug.

"I..."

Just as Yae was about to speak, suddenly...

New Quest Received: Escort Natsuki Home

Reward: 5 Crystals

(Accept?)

"Uh... Sure! I accept."

Yae had been ready to take on the quest anyway, so getting an extra five crystals was a nice surprise.

Right now, Yae needed more crystals. Apart from quests... her only other option seemed to be hunting monsters one by one, which would be too much work.

With Natsuki as bait, she could simply wait for the monsters to come to her, like catching fish in a barrel.

"Thank you so much!" Natsuki said gratefully, looking at Yae Sakura.

Even though she's half-monster, Yae thought, she seems pretty decent!

Moreover... she was a very pretty half-demon. Seeing Yae Sakura's long ears twitch now and then on her head, Natsuki had to resist the urge to grab them.

Furry little things... so cute!

Her fear of Yae Sakura vanished in an instant.

"Let's go!"

"Okay... Ow! ...Hiss!"

Natsuki nodded, looking at Yae Sakura ahead of her, ready to follow. But after just one step, she winced in pain and collapsed onto the ground.

"What's wrong?"

Yae Sakura stopped walking and turned around, confused by what happened.

"My foot... it hurts," Natsuki said with a frown.

"..."

Yae Sakura frowned too, thinking this was such a bother!

"Let me take a look..."

Still, she went back to Natsuki, picked up her leg, and took off her shoe...

Looking at her foot, now bruised and swollen, it was clear this had happened when she'd been chased by that monster and forced to run for her life. She'd always been a pampered noble before; she'd never had to flee like that.

It made sense that her foot would be in such bad shape.

But... Yae Sakura didn't know how to treat injuries.

"Does it hurt?" Yae asked, looking up at Natsuki.

"Yeah..." Natsuki nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. There was also some... fear that Yae might just leave her behind... all alone.

If she were stranded here without anyone, even if no monsters appeared, wild animals would still eat her.

"This is so troublesome..."

Yae felt a little helpless! Even though it wasn't her fault.

"I'm sorry!" Hearing this, Natsuki looked pitifully apologetic.

"Forget it! I'll carry you on my back!" As she said this, Yae crouched down in front of Natsuki.

"B-but is that okay?"

"Hurry up!"

"Oh..." Natsuki quickly climbed onto Yae's back.

She feels surprisingly light, Yae thought to herself.

"Yae-sama, are those rabbit ears on your head?" Natsuki asked, lying on Yae Sakura's back. She was looking at a pair of long pink ears that swayed as they walked.

She couldn't help but ask.

"These are fox ears!"

"Fox ears? Do fox ears really get this long?"

"...I don't know. You'd have to ask Mihoyo."

"Can I touch them?"

"No way!"