The day after my fierce battle with Dorothea, I was in the Third Squad’s office.
Claire and the others were all present.
And… Dita was there too.
A tense atmosphere hung in the room.
“I’ve heard the report from Abel.”
Ashe’s expression was grim.
Veronica next to her, and the other members, were the same.
It was understandable.
Dita, whom they thought was their comrade, was a pawn of the Empire.
“…Dita was created in the Magatsu research facility. One of the test subjects.”
Dita calmly recounted her origins.
“Homunculi… I’ve heard of them, but the Empire was creating beings like that, too?”
Ashe murmured.
“…There are several others in the same Homunculi series as Dita. They’re infiltrating the Six Great Nations for sabotage.”
So, in Dita’s case, she was sent to destroy Aisha’s protective barrier.
– To artificially create life, manipulate it like a pawn, or discard it.
That’s the Empire’s way of doing things, isn’t it?
“Was Dita forced to be a pawn?”
“It must have been hard for you…”
Claire and Racine said.
“…Dita dislikes pity.”
But Dita frowned, as if she was offended.
“…Dita is Dita. There’s no reason to be pitied or shown mercy.”
So, cheap sympathy would be disrespectful to her.
I realized this only now.
Created life is life, too.
Dita lives her own life with her own will—
“That’s why Dita chose to be on Abel’s side of her own volition.”
“If you were a pawn of the Empire, then as the captain of the Slayer, I cannot overlook this.”
Ashe stood up and walked towards Dita.
“Please wait, Dita was being used—”
“…………”
Ashe merely glanced at me as I hastily protested.
The pressure from her cold, stern gaze made me shut my mouth.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself? Miss Dita?”
“…………No.”
Dita shook her head.
“Please wait, Dita has been our comrade fighting alongside us!”
Claire protested.
“Captain, your attitude is cold.”
“I don’t think Dita is an enemy either!”
Racine added.
“I’ve gotten along with Dita-chan too. I consider her a friend.”
“Well, I… don’t really think of her as an enemy either.”
Lil and Veronica chimed in.
But Ashe’s expression remained cold.
Her stern gaze still fixed on me,
“Abel, you were the only one at the scene. Give your report.”
“Eh?”
“Did Dita Berg, as a pawn of the Empire, cooperate with destructive acts against the Royal Capital of her own free will? Or was she merely controlled by the enemy?”
“That—”
“Did she do anything, even one thing, that benefited the Empire of her own volition?”
Ashe’s eyes pierced straight through me.
I couldn’t answer immediately.
In fact, Dita had interfered with my fight against Dorothea, and it seemed she was involved in the barrier destruction plot before as well.
If I had to say if she was black or white, she was probably black.
But—on the other hand, if Dita hadn’t helped me, I might have been killed by Dorothea.
The Royal Capital would have likely been far more devastated.
“If it weren’t for Dita, we couldn’t have protected the Royal Capital. That’s all I can say.”
I let out a breath and raised my voice, not wanting to be intimidated by Ashe’s gaze.
“Dita is our comrade, and will continue to be, and she devoted her strength to the Kingdom.”
Our gazes met mid-air.
Her sharp eyes, which would normally intimidate me,
But for now, I couldn’t be overwhelmed.
I continued to look straight at Ashe.
“…Understood. As captain, I will believe the report of my subordinate.”
After a long silence, Ashe let out a sigh.
“Miss Dita was coerced into serving the Empire, but due to her loyalty to the Kingdom, she rejected it and made significant contributions to the defense of the Royal Capital. While there are matters that could be grounds for punishment, I will negotiate with my superiors to offset them by considering her achievements.”
“Huh? Then—”
“Well, given that she greatly contributed to defeating Dorothea, one of the Elysion Octa, I don’t think she’ll be imprisoned as a criminal. I will also defend her to the best of my ability.”
Ashe smiled.
…Perhaps she had intended to reach this conclusion from the start.
Her cold attitude earlier was probably just a formality for her as the captain of the Slayer.
That’s just how Ashe is.
“So, it looks like there won’t be any punishment. That’s good, Dita.”
“I was so worried you might be captured, Dita-sama~”
Claire and Racine exclaimed happily.
“Wait, it’s not that simple—”
“That’s wonderful. We’ll continue to be comrades, won’t we? Thank you, Captain Ashe.”
Lil smiled brightly at Ashe, who was about to say something else.
Surrounded by the smiling Claire and the others, Dita looked bewildered but also wore a relieved smile.
“…Honestly.”
Ashe gave a wry smile instead.
…Ah, it felt nice.
I thought so simply.
I know it’s not a story that can be neatly resolved with a happy ending.
Dita was involved in the Empire’s plan.
A crime is a crime, I suppose.
But—she was artificially created, and likely subjugated to the Empire from birth—it’s easy to imagine she wasn’t in a position to refuse.
Condemning her unilaterally feels wrong.
And above all—
I’m happy that everyone is smiling.
My own feelings, which had felt stagnant through the endless battles, were clearing up again, as if being healed, a refreshing sensation.
“–For now, that’s all the questions.”
Ashe announced, as if concluding.
“I expect your continued dedication as a member of the Third Squad. I will handle the remaining reports. Everyone, take today off to rest and recuperate.”
Ashe turned her back.
“Oh, and Captain Beatrice of the Seventh Squad was looking for you. Go to the northern spire of the Royal Palace now.”
“Huh? Beatrice-san?”
“She wants your cooperation in interrogating the captured Dorothea.”
Cooperating with an interrogation, what could that entail?
And then—
“By the way… Homunculi require life support, such as nutrient intake and drug administration, don’t they?”
Veronica looked at Dita, her brow furrowed in thought.
“Before, Dorothea was doing that at the research facility, but since she can’t anymore—we’ll need someone else to handle the adjustments.”
Right, come to think of it—
I realized this only now.
A sudden sense of anxiety welled up.
“…If Dorothea doesn’t adjust me, Dita will die within a few months.”
Dita said, fueling my unease.
Besides, don’t just say you’re going to die so nonchalantly.
Ah, what should I do?
“Don’t worry. I’ll take over the adjustments.”
“Can you, Veronica-san?”
I asked, surprised. Veronica snorted.
“I’m a technician too. Adjusting homunculi is no big deal.”
Right, then Dita’s body will be fine.
I let out a sigh of relief.
“Therefore, I’m going to examine your body, Dita. I’m not very familiar with homunculus-related matters. There’s probably some Imperial magic technology I don’t know about, right? Now, in my lab, I’m going to-”
Veronica leaned forward.
Her eyes behind her glasses sparkled.
“Gufufufu, I’m looking forward to it.”
No, “gufufu”!?
You’re looking a bit perverted, Veronica-san!
“Veronica, Dita-san is not an experimental subject. Please restrain yourself.”
Ashe frowned slightly.
“However, if it is for the purpose of saving her, I will permit the investigation.”
“How rude. I’m merely driven by a researcher’s interest and intellectual curiosity—no, it’s out of concern for our precious comrade…”
As Veronica spoke, drool dripped from the corner of her mouth for some reason.
Her demeanor was becoming that of a mad scientist…
“You… you won’t do anything scary like dissection, right, Veronica-san?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Veronica-san might actually do it.”
Claire, Racine, and Lil stood protectively in front of Dita.
“H-hey, that’s rude! I have my limits! Would I do something like that to a comrade?”
Well, I suppose Veronica’s feelings for her comrades are the same as everyone else’s.
“I just need you to help me with some experiments… You know, to satisfy my intellectual curiosity, uh, I won’t do anything painful. Right? Right?”
Are they… the same?
“Honestly, honestly.”
Ashe sighed with exasperation.
Well, it seems like the usual atmosphere of the Third Squad has returned… I guess.
I arrived at the prison where Dorothea was confined.
It was a cell built on the 25th subterranean level of the Royal Palace.
It was a special prison for inmates of the highest class of criminals.
Naturally, the security was extremely strict.
“Abel, I’m coming in.”
After announcing my entry, I stepped into the solitary confinement cell. Apart from the musty smell, a strange, sweet scent mixed with sweat and bodily fluids wafted through the air.
It was a surprisingly sensual smell for a prison cell.
“—Wha—Whoa!?”
Before my eyes stood two beautiful women, shamelessly baring their fair skin.
For some reason, Beatrice and Dorothea were completely naked.
“B-Beatrice-san, w-w-what are you—!?”
I stammered in surprise at the sudden turn of events.
While flustered, my gaze was fixed on their bodies.
“You’ve come, Abel. I need your help.”
Far from being embarrassed, Beatrice contorted her body, as if showcasing her perfect, nude form to me.
“—!”
I inadvertently leaned forward and swallowed.
Her ample breasts were bell-shaped and sagged slightly due to gravity, but still maintained a firm fullness, swaying dynamically.
Her waist was also mature.
While not exactly a “momo-dani” (peach valley), a slight accumulation of fat formed a plump lower abdomen.
Honestly, I had often looked at her with such eyes before, and imagined what was under her clothes.
But Beatrice’s mature, naked form, seen for the first time, far surpassed those imaginations.
A potent allure and pheromone exuded from her, enough to make one dizzy just looking at her.
“…Abel.”
Dorothea, on the other hand, glared at me with eyes that seemed capable of spewing fire.
The fact that she didn’t try to hide her naked body, unlike Beatrice, might not be an intentional display, but rather a pride born from not wanting to show a look of humiliation before an enemy.
While my face stiffened at her intense gaze, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her body.
Her captivating nude form was no less alluring than Beatrice’s.
Her ample chest and hips, unimaginable from her innocent appearance.
The rising mounds were so seductive, I couldn’t help but swallow.
Through the thin pubic hair, a salmon-pink garden could be seen.
“Oh my, being looked at by a young boy, shouldn’t you be a little more shy? Dorothea.”
Beatrice chuckled mischievously.
Her full breasts jiggled playfully again.
“I’ll say the same to you.”
Dorothea retorted, shaking her ample chest and turning away.
“I’m not being looked at; I’m showing off.”
Beatrice turned a bewitching smile towards me.
“Well, what do you think of my body? Isn’t it tempting? I don’t think I’ve lost to young women yet.”
“Y-yes…!”
I swallowed repeatedly and managed to reply in a strained voice.
Far from not having lost, she wouldn’t even be compared to most young women.
It was the allure unique to mature women.
“More importantly, why are you naked…?”
“I told you, it’s for the interrogation. You’ll be helping too, Abel.”
Beatrice smirked.
“Now, kneel before Abel, Dorothea.”
She turned to Dorothea and commanded arrogantly.
“Serve the man in a posture of submission.”
“It’s Abel’s fault I’m in this situation. Who would kneel before such a man?”
“Stubborn. But I don’t dislike that about you.”
Beatrice snapped her fingers.
Instantly, Dorothea’s whole body trembled.
As if suddenly losing all strength, her knees gave out.
“Kneel. Show your submission to Abel.”
Beatrice commanded again.
“…Hngh.”
Her lower body felt limp, and Dorothea fell to her knees on the spot.
It was likely a magic manipulation technique, similar to my Invisible Tentacles.
“Forcing me to do this…”
“The former Court Magician is now my puppet, now that she’s exhausted.”
Dorothea glared at Beatrice, her face contorted with anger. Beatrice smiled.
It seemed she was indeed controlling her movements with magic.
“Abel, receive ample fellatio service from Dorothea. Here, take off your pants.”
“Huh? Eh?”
Spoken so naturally, I was confused.
“You get to have the great Court Magician give head to your penis. Be honored. Fufufu.”
Beatrice seemed amused.
Did she have a rather sadistic streak?
“Don’t worry, I’m restraining her with magic. I’ve also taken away the magic orb that amplifies magic power, and applied multiple sealing spells that suppress magic itself. She’s currently just a woman who can’t use a single attack spell.”
Saying this, Beatrice smiled mischievously.
“At least she won’t bite you, fufu.”
“…Resistance is futile, then.”
Dorothea sighed in resignation and turned to me.
“Come here. I’ll make you ejaculate effortlessly.”
She glared at me with a defiant look.
“W-well then, I’ll accept your offer…”
Hesitantly, I took off my pants and underwear, exposing my lower body.
Even in this situation, with the naked bodies of two beautiful women before me, my member was already throbbing.
I walked towards Dorothea, my erect penis swaying.
Is the phrase “accept your offer” appropriate in this situation?
As I was thinking such out-of-place thoughts, Dorothea suddenly brought her face towards my crotch.
A sticky sigh blew onto my lower abdomen, rustling my pubic hair.
“Ngh, ugh…!?”
Without a word, she took my penis into her mouth—
