My purpose in coming to Doishunomuharuto was to escort Marquis Melissa Mallory safely to Klinshberbach.
“The carriage is shaking so much… it’s echoing!”
Perhaps it was a Marquis’s privilege, but the wagon we were riding in had two seats in the front and two in the back. It was the same size as the large carriages I usually rode in, but a Marquis’s carriage was something else entirely. Plus, because it was enclosed, no one could see in, and the cushioning was exceptionally good.
Still, a carriage was a carriage. It didn’t have air suspension, so the vibrations travelled from the wheels to the seats, from the seats to the cushions, from the cushions to me, and from me to a certain part of Melissa-sama, who was on top of me. I was just sitting there, which was comfortable enough.
“Melissa-sama. There’s a river ahead. It might be best if you were to wash yourself there…”
“Mikael-sama too… Ah… Haaan…”
She had taken off her clothes when we got into the carriage. Even though they were off, the cushions were soaked in an unknown liquid, and we were both sticky. The humidity inside the carriage kept rising.
I sent some of the escorting knights ahead to secure the spot. As we got closer, I had Miss Melissa place her hands on the seat, and I delivered my finishing blow from behind, right inside. I was in top form again today!
When the carriage stopped, Miss Melissa started walking, completely naked. I rushed to put Melissa’s dress on her, but she only covered herself and didn’t try to put it on.
That’s good! That’s perfect! I’ll consider this part of the “erotic costume” trope. While the dress concealed her chest and private parts, her back and behind were still visible.
Her walking figure could be described as “lewd” without exaggeration. I thought she was just a child, but the aura she exuded was that of a siren.
Lia, the succubus, sometimes gives off a similar vibe, but hers is likely due to her magic. Miss Melissa is natural. Natural is always better than cultivated.
Or perhaps, if I were to raise her, she would be considered cultivated. Growing so much in just one day would surprise any university. Maybe I should start teaching. Only for girls, and I’d be very hands-on.
While we were bathing, the inside of the carriage had been thoroughly cleaned. Seeing the seat covers, I wondered if stubborn stains had appeared.
“Please get in, Melissa-sama. We’re a little behind schedule.”
By the way, it usually takes a full day to travel from Doishunomuharuto to Klinshberbach at a gallop. We were scheduled to arrive on the evening of the second day. It’s taking so long… What were we even doing?
For the two hours until Klinshberbach, Miss Melissa sat obediently in front of me and quietly serviced my partner. I gazed at the passing scenery and Melissa, and began to think, “Maybe going to Ashtal in the future wouldn’t be so bad.”
* * *
As we crossed the castle gate of Klinshberbach, I felt a sense of unease. It wasn’t that Melissa had bitten me, nor was it suspicion that there was another man involved due to her rapid improvement.
“There are fewer knights…”
The townspeople had increased, and the repairs to the damaged town seemed to be progressing, but I saw no knights. There were a few mercenaries and some Keibeck knights, but no Harmonian knights.
“That’s not true. I let out a lot.”
It was true that I had let out a lot, but this was not the time to discuss it. If she kept licking me like she was cleaning me, I’d get aroused again… This is not the time to talk about that.
“Melissa-sama, please put on your clothes.”
“I’m wearing them!”
I fixed the “erotic costume” I had created, arranged it into the proper attire of a Duke’s daughter, had her rinse her mouth, and applied a generous amount of perfume.
Despite my suspicion, we reached the drawbridge of Klinshberbach. Yet, I couldn’t hear any loud noises from the castle or sense any presence. And then I realized. This could be called my intuition as a Newtype sharpening.
It’s a surprise. No doubt, the Knight Order is waiting inside the castle to surprise me. They intend to celebrate me and Melissa-sama with a surprise.
I’ve never told them my birthday. I can’t think of any other occasion for a celebration. If that’s the case, they must be preparing a surprise party for our impending marriage after this war is over!
…What should I do? Should I pretend to be overjoyed? Or should I just coolly say “Thank you” and be done with it?
It feels bad to surprise a magician after knowing the trick, but it also feels bad not to be surprised by a surprise that has been prepared for me.
Reactions are important. Even if I know, they’ll want to see my surprised and happy face. As an entertainer, I can’t ruin the mood.
“Coachman, stop the carriage before we cross the drawbridge. If anything happens, run with all your might!”
Just in case. I don’t think they’d attack Melissa, but something this unnatural makes me think something is up. If the fifty-strong Knight Order were to protect us, we could escape beyond the walls.
As I walked across the drawbridge, Fleet Helm greeted me. I maintained basic manners by saying, “Good work,” but Fleet Helm met me with silence.
The silence continued even as we walked to the castle courtyard, and I didn’t see a single knight. Are they waiting for us in the castle? I hope they keep the crackers to a minimum; they’re startling.
When the castle doors opened, Queen Anneliese herself rushed out. This confirmed that it wasn’t the “bad” kind of surprise. They wouldn’t put someone important at the forefront if they were a hostage.
I opened my arms to welcome the approaching Queen, but she stopped just before me, out of breath, and declared, “Yuma Bashar has set out!” My outstretched arms met empty air.
“Surpriiiise…”
This was the best reaction I could manage…
* * *
“What in the world is going on?!”
“It means Lord Yuma Bashar has gone to conquer Anaheim Offen.”
Finally, he speaks, and that’s all he has to say? Instead of talking, you should be preparing tea and a bath for me. I’m a little sticky after this long journey.
“Her Majesty the Queen didn’t give permission, did she? You said you were waiting for reinforcements from Ashtal!”
“Of course, I didn’t give permission. When did he move the Knight Order?”
I’ve decided to trust everything a beautiful woman says. So, Anne-chan isn’t lying. I’m sorry for being a little harsh. I love you.
“Fleet Helm, how many did he take?”
“Approximately eight hundred. There are also some from the Royal Guard.”
Where are you going without protecting the Queen?! But eight hundred, huh? Was it about five hundred, mostly goblins? That’s not an insufficient number to take Anaheim Offen.
It wouldn’t bother me if they took it, but I’m concerned if it’s a trap. I don’t mind if Yuma-kun dies, but losing eight hundred men would be a problem. Confusion in the chain of command is the most troublesome.
…Alright! I won’t help him! He went off by himself. Shin-chan hates troublesome things, and until Ashtal’s reinforcements arrive, it’s summer vacation. During this time, I could get a perm, dye my hair, get a little tanned and dark, and make a debut at school after the break. And also… and also, I might give my virginity to a boyfriend… Oops, I said it.
“Please bring Yuma Bashar back. I believe he had his reasons for this, so please help him…”
I refuse. I once let him go and helped him. I haven’t received any repayment, and I have no reason to help a man who is trying to abandon his Hero title.
“Queen Anneliese…”
Anne-chan hangs her head. Somehow, I feel like I’ve done something wrong. …Fine, I guess I have no choice. I don’t want to see a woman crying. Oh, and let me tell you, if you retort even once, I’ll break your arms and legs and take you back.
“Queen Anneliese, I accept. This Hero Mikael Sin will do anything for Your Majesty the Queen.”
But this is backwards, isn’t it?
“I’ll do anything, so please don’t tell my parents about the shoplifting.”
“You’ll do *anything*?”
“Please. Don’t tell my parents.”
“…In that case, take off your clothes!”
“Eh?! No…”
“Are you sure? You don’t want your parents and school to find out. You’re a student at Harmonia Academy, aren’t you? What will happen if everyone at school finds out a student from a ladies’ academy shoplifted…”
“O-Okay…”
Anneliese took off her school blazer…
“(Took you long enough!)”
Too late, too late, Narrator Snake! You have a nice voice, but you’re too slow with your quips. I’ve already done quite a bit of fantasizing. But, maybe it would have been fine if she had taken it off first.
“Let’s discuss future matters with the Hero. Your Majesty the Queen, please return to your study.”
This one’s voice is nice too. It’s enough to pull me back from my fantasy world. However, there’s something I need to ask him.
When Queen Anneliese returned to the castle, two men were left behind. Finally, we’re alone. There’s one thing I want to ask you.
“I was aware of it.”
Is he a psychic too? He’s telling me what I wanted to ask. It means he has no ill intentions.
“It’s impossible for you not to know when an army of eight hundred moved. I’d call it passive complicity.”
“I am honored.”
“Why did you let him go? It could be a trap!”
“Because Lord Yuma Bashar forgot his loyalty to Anneliese-sama.”
“What are you talking about?! Yuma Bashar’s loyalty is unparalleled in Harmonia!”
“It was in the past… After Anaheim Offen fell, his loyalty to Anneliese-sama has been gradually waning.”
Anaheim Offen and Yuma Bashar. The connection must be with Knight Commander Selina Hasse. Yuma Bashar’s sister, perhaps. She fought to the very end in Anaheim. She’s probably dead…
“Lord Yuma Bashar seems to have turned his heart towards Anaheim Offen rather than his loyalty to Anneliese-sama. Even if he goes now, his sister won’t be alive.”
How much time has passed since then? If he hasn’t returned to the Harmonia main camp, he’s probably dead. I understand Yuma Bashar’s desire to reclaim the city his sister defended until the end.
“Yuma doesn’t think he’s alive either. He just wants to retake the city his sister wanted to protect.”
“And for that, he abandoned his military duties and the role of protecting Anneliese-sama? Those who have forgotten their loyalty to Anneliese-sama deserve to die.”
“He hasn’t forgotten. It was necessary for him to move forward.”
“Hahaha, for something like that, he’d abandon Anneliese-sama and take the city? How laughable.”
“Don’t laugh. It’s something a man would risk his life for.”
“…Humans are indeed interesting.”
Someday, you’ll understand too.
