Flee. Evade. Dodge. A single action is worth more than a thousand words.
Holding Lady Annelyse, I grabbed Sophia by her collar and pulled her close, kissing her forcefully. At first, she resisted, but Sophia melted into me, yielding sweetly.
This is scary. I can see needle-like lasers shooting from some of the orbs. It’s impossible to dodge tens of thousands of needles when you’re surrounded.
The orbs themselves emit heat, so I’m sweating profusely, unsure if it’s from tension or the heat. I’ll need a bath afterwards. Sophia will give me one, of course, a double wash.
After kissing for ten seconds, or maybe ten minutes, until Sophia’s strength faded, the Eight Lightning Balls vanished, and the room returned to its original state.
Although there were some scorch marks, it’s better than being shot by lasers. Besides, it’s not my house. I wish Yuma Bashar had just been eaten by the spheres.
“Lady Annelyse, I have something to discuss.”
I placed my hand around Sophia’s waist as she leaned tiredly against me, and my other hand around Lady Annelyse’s. For those who are envious, step aside from the laser path and raise your hands.
Carrying Sophia is quite heavy… It’s not light, but I embraced Lady Annelyse and followed her up the stairs.
I didn’t like how Orietta seemed to be watching with amusement, but I’m the one who sowed these seeds. Still, I was annoyed, so I used Godspeed Mode Three to grab Orietta’s chest too.
If the gods knew I used the cheat they gave me, a cheat I worked hard to upgrade to Mode Three, would I face divine punishment someday?
We were led to the room Lady Annelyse used as her office, and I recounted what Orietta had told me and what I planned to do.
Lady Annelyse didn’t readily agree. It must be because the Harmonia army had forcefully taken control of this city.
I strongly advocated for our future relationship with the Dwarves and promised to protect Lady Annelyse, eventually convincing her to come with us. I persuaded her solely with words. With Sophia and Orietta present, using anything other than words as persuasion would be my downfall.
We are in a hurry. If the Dwarves complete their tunnel, they will take all the Dwarves in the city and head north. Lady Annelyse quickly changed, and under Orietta’s guidance, we headed towards the tunnel. I wish I could have stayed a little longer, just the two of us…
By the time we reached the tunnel, the sun was setting. I didn’t think it took that long, but noblewomen and their grooming rituals always take time. My offer to help was accepted but rejected by Sophia, which likely added to the delay.
The tunnel was barely wide enough for one person to pass, and we had to move on our knees, but seeing Orietta’s behind up close made the journey bearable.
In fact, I wished it could have continued. The occasional stops and rushes, bumping into each other, were unavoidable accidents.
Inside the cave, Dwarven guards stood watch, but the King of Shidenzach’s granddaughter was incredibly popular, almost like royalty. Feeling pleased, I approached to shake hands, but a spear point was directed at me. However, they shook hands with Sophia and Lady Annelyse. Tch!
I expected to find more Dwarves mining, but there were only guards around. Trapped in this cave, digging a tunnel that would decide their fate, it made more sense to work even while resting.
“Orietta, do you know where King Shidenzach is?”
How is it that I, who was detained, was released by a single word from Lady Annelyse? This blatant gender discrimination… I want to protest with all my might.
However, as we progressed deeper into the cave, that strong will weakened, and the man’s sweaty odor intensified. There’s no way there’s a bathing facility in this cave. The thought of Dwarves bathing in hot springs is unimaginable. They’d probably clog the drains with shed hair.
Moss emitting a faint light illuminated the path as the cave widened. Even though the path widened, the odor grew stronger, suggesting we were nearing their gathering place.
Honestly, I want to go back. The heavy air clinging to me is eroding my motivation and my steps. I suspect this might be one of the Dwarves’ tactics.
“It’s straight ahead, Pshoo. I’ve been here to play in the past, Pshoo.”
Pshoo? Have they changed their usual drawn-out speech ending to “Pshoo”? They should refrain from changing their character, as it causes trouble for those around them. Or is it a Dwarven dialect?
I turned back to scold them about changing their character without the author’s permission, only to see three individuals wearing what looked unmistakably like gas masks…
“Scary!”
While not something you say to women, seeing gas masks making a “pshoo” sound in the dim light would startle any man.
“What’s so scary, Pshoo? The one to be scared of is the Captain, Pshoo.”
Pshoo, pshoo, they are undeniably scary. They’re so scary you can hear them rustling in the darkness. What if it’s a cockroach?! I’ll have to use Mode Ten!
“Around here, Pshoo. Sometimes, Pshoo. Pshoo. Pshoo.”
Pshoo, pshoo, this is getting nowhere. Do they really need gas masks for the Dwarves’ body odor? Exaggerated reactions are never good. Soon, you might be forced onto a carriage that explodes, and you’ll be expected to react.
“Poison is released, Pshoo.”
A spare, please! I thought this heavy feeling was due to the Dwarves’ body odor attack. A spare, please! Before I die!
“Would you like to use it, Pshoo?”
Of course! Hurry and give it to me. Give it to me from the start. You’re probably thinking it’s fine even if I’m about to die because Sophia is here. Yes, it’s fine. Come at me with swords or poison. Just lend it to me quickly! So I can hide my tears…
I roughly snatched the gas mask and brought it to my face… How do I put it on? With Lady Annelyse’s gentle guidance, I successfully put on the mask and could breathe easily. I apologize for suspecting the Dwarves’ body odor attack. Oh, why is Sophia deploying Eight Lightning Balls? The cave is getting brighter, which is nice.
After that, we proceeded to a large cavernous area. The path widened, but it was a blissful time with Sophia linking my arm, her chest pressing against me, as I hit my head on the tunnel protrusions.
In the large cavern, Dwarves that looked like stone blocks were lined up, and further ahead, loud voices of the stone blocks in discussion echoed through the cave.
We removed our gas masks, with Orietta leading, and Sophia on my left arm, ready to draw Magic Sword Zebra at any moment. This is enemy territory; Harmonia attacked the Dwarf territory.
The four of us weaved through the Dwarves towards those in discussion. Some stood up, raising their pickaxes.
In the center was King Gilbert Shidenzach, surrounded by stone… important-looking Dwarves, arguing with such intensity they seemed ready to fight.
“Grandpa~”
A good voice to ease the tension. Though, you could also say she’s not reading the room. This tense, musty atmosphere transformed into the clear air of a plateau, even without gas masks.
“Welcome, Orietta.”
His stern face instantly changed to that of a kind old man. The discussion stopped, giving us an opening to speak! Honestly, why do you think I came here in a belly-baring loincloth? Don’t underestimate me, who charged through poison gas.
“King Shidenzach of Shidenzach. Mikael Sin, Captain of the White Lily Corps, Baron of the Ashtal Empire.”
I’m glad I managed to say it all. I didn’t bite my tongue, but I was worried if my pronunciation was clear. I lost consciousness towards the end.
My head was spinning, and my legs were wobbly from inhaling poison gas longer than the other three. Did Lady Annelyse teach me how to put it on properly before she…
I’m glad I spoke to Lady Annelyse beforehand. I’ll leave the subsequent negotiations to her. I’m going to die for a bit. Ah, it’s fine. Sophia is here. I’m the world’s greatest con artist, after all.
Choosing Sophia for the cave expedition was a testament to my good judgment of people. When I woke up, I thought I was sleeping with my head on Sophia’s lap, and I reached from her knees towards her groin…
A mercenary-issue safety boot dug into my solar plexus. Sophia was wearing them too. She should have told me before I touched her.
“Guh, hah, G-good morning, Sophia. About the discussion… Guh,”
I gratefully received the second kick, cutting off my words and breath. My nose is running. I shouldn’t have worn these belly-baring clothes that make it easy for kicks. Am I not compatible with Dwarves? Yet, Orietta and I have good bed compatibility.
“It’s finished. King Shidenzach accepted our proposal. It’s about dealing with the Ice Monsters from now on.”
Is this how you talk while holding my hair and making me suffer? I think having a more enjoyable conversation would be possible if you just sat on my lap normally and we acted lovey-dovey.
“W-well done. What about after…?”
“That depends on the King of Harmonia~”
Orietta, stop watching and help me! You don’t want a bald me, do you? Especially not one with the top of my head repeatedly plucked. I don’t know if they have them in this world, but if you put a plate on my head, I’ll look like a Kappa.
“S-Sophia, it’s almost time…”
Sophia is still holding my hair with that gentle smile. Your smile soothes my soul, but my hair is becoming scarce. I’ll grab your chest!
“Oh my, apologies. King Shidenzach wants the Ice Monsters dealt with immediately. Shall we call the White Lily Corps?”
“Yeah, gather them immediately. We’ll brutally kill those Ice Monsters.”
Let’s take it out on them! It’s partly your fault, Ice Monsters! Go back to the North Pole and make ice or something.
The plan to eliminate the monsters and have the Dwarves remain in Shidenzach as blacksmiths was only half-successful due to Lady Annelyse’s persuasion. Now, the White Lily Corps will complete the mission by defeating the monsters.
