1. Departure and Designated Request
Hal Raymond, myself, and Alicia were able to find and revive Elizabeth outside the Imperial Capital Granza. She was safely returned to the Espana Imperial Family as the Crown Prince, bringing the matter to a close. As a reward, I was granted the title of ‘First-Class Quasi-Noble,’ and Alicia received the title of ‘Viscountess.’
As for the culprits, we have no leads whatsoever. Perhaps they were apprehended and disposed of in utmost secrecy. The world of those in high positions is beyond our understanding as commoners. The only thing we know for sure is that the checkpoint at the castle gate returned to its normal operational status the day after we escorted Elizabeth back to the White Castle.
Our next objective is to retrieve a magic staff, supposedly located beneath Portland Castle Ruins, as proposed during our ‘Bath Meeting’ by Elise. Other pending matters include freeing the ‘Killing Doll’ from the clutches of the ‘Assassin’s Guild,’ as proposed by Mai. If possible, we also aim to uncover the secrets of Mai’s birth and enhance her sealed abilities. Furthermore, I have directly instructed Ly to proceed with the travel plan to the Old Kingdom of Waiyar, and we have various other plans, such as protecting a demonkin girl as personally proposed by Swan Hilda.
First, I decided to review the plan submitted by Elise. Regarding the schedule, I had made my own requests, so it was necessary to confirm whether they had been taken into consideration.
The travel plan estimates three days to reach the former adventurer town of Dorsen, followed by four days to Kamiyan, the capital of the Old Kamiyar Holy Nation. After a two-day stay there, seven days to traverse the Old Kingdom of Sazania, and another five days to reach Portland Castle Ruins in the Old Kingdom of Portland. This brings the total travel time to twenty-one days, with an additional seven days allocated for magic staff retrieval. The return journey will take approximately seven more days as we will be passing through the Old Kingdom of Vandis, Freya’s homeland. Thus, the entire journey is estimated to be around two months, a considerable adventure indeed.
Currently, the planned adventurers are myself, Elise, Mai, Kirika, Swan Hilda, and Freya, totaling six people. This is due to only being able to procure one carriage from the Raymond Trading Company. Well, considering we’re renting it for two months, I can’t complain too much. As for management, since this will be a long journey, Freya and I planned to take turns driving. Freya has experience driving carriages from her previous business, albeit on a smaller scale.
Elise, Kirika, and Freya are involved because they will be setting foot on their respective homelands during this adventure. Mai is acting as a scout for exploring the underground dungeon beneath Portland Castle Ruins, and Swan Hilda is the strongest member of ‘Princess Harem.’ The carriage is our usual two-horse carriage, capable of seating eight people if packed tightly. However, I plan to sleep inside the carriage at night, and we also need to carry provisions and other supplies, so this number is the maximum we can accommodate.
Regarding luggage, while we actually had much more, any items not immediately needed were stored in Elise’s ‘Space Magic’ Item Box, reinforcing my appreciation for her abilities.
The remaining members are Alicia, Ly, Edele, Tirna, and Dietlinde, totaling five people. Alicia is needed to focus on her duties at the Raymond Trading Company. Although Alicia strongly advocated for accompanying us, and her status as a ‘Viscountess’ among the legal nobles could have been a sort of ‘trump card’ in certain situations, I managed to persuade her to be patient this time.
Honestly, I wanted to use the ‘Mithril Card’ given to me by my father without any reservations. This is also the reason we are staying for two days in Kamiyan.
As for the remaining members of ‘Princess Harem,’ Ly is skilled with the rapier, Edele wields dual swords and can attack with chakrams from a distance, and Dietlinde also uses a rapier and fire spirit magic. They form a party of considerable skill. With Tirna also present as a support member, I don’t think there’s much to worry about.
And, while busy with departure preparations, I was intensely loved by Alicia, Ly, Edele, and Dietlinde at night. It was inevitable, as they would be without a man for two months, but it was the first time I experienced seeing the sunrise appear yellow.
We purchased preserved food and other consumables in preparation for our journey. Ten days had passed since Elizabeth’s return to the Espana Imperial Family when all preparations for departure were complete. Today, with our departure scheduled for tomorrow, I, accompanied by Elise, the vice-leader of ‘Princess Harem,’ stopped by the ‘Adventurer Guild’ to pay our respects.
“It’s been a while since we’ve stopped by the Adventurer Guild.”
“It might have been a while for you, Hal, but I’ve been here almost every day.”
Elise and I exchanged trivial conversation as we entered the Adventurer Guild building. Elise, being accustomed to the place, headed directly for the counter where a familiar receptionist was stationed. She was a different receptionist from the one who had assisted us on our first visit to the Adventurer Guild, but she appeared to be a simple and earnest girl. Her red hair was tied in a braid down her back, and freckles were scattered across her cheeks. Upon recognizing Elise, she gave a slight nod.
“Good morning, Elise.”
“Good morning, Ly. We’ve come today to inform you of our departure for an extended trip of about two months, starting tomorrow.”
“Oh, her name is Ly, is it?”
“Yes… Her name was chosen to honor that Princess Ly, who is sung of as the tragic princess of the Waiyar Imperial Kingdom.”
Elise wore a wry smile, like a child caught in mischief.
In the Western Nations where we live, it’s quite common for parents to name their children after royalty or imperial family members, hoping they will be blessed with similar fortunes. Therefore, there are many girls named Ly who are around the same age as the famous Ly. After the greetings were successfully concluded and we were about to leave, Miss Ly produced an envelope from a drawer.
“Ah… right. Elise, actually, there’s a designated request for ‘Princess Harem.’ What do you think?”
I took the envelope and examined its contents. It was a request to escort a noblewoman to the Old Kamiyar Holy Nation. The reward was an advance payment of two gold coins and a success fee of three gold coins, for a total of five gold coins (equivalent to 500,000 yen), which was exceptionally generous for a guard duty of only a few days. When I inquired with Ly about the reason, she explained that lately, lower-ranking demonkin have been appearing in the Great Forest Zone, increasing the danger.
Currently, a fierce battle is underway on two fronts between the demonkin and the allied human forces: along the border with the Northern Nations, where the demonkin’s base is located, and against a detachment of demonkin that has invaded some of the Southern Nations. The Espana Imperial Army and the allied human forces, which include demi-humans, are confronting the demonkin. These forces control some territories in the Western Nations and Southern Nations. By the way, the Hero Party was likely wandering around the borders of the Western Nations and Northern Nations, looking for an opportunity to infiltrate the Northern Nations.
The demonkin appearing in the Great Forest Zone are classified as lower-ranking, meaning they have low intelligence and are likely stray demons.
The reason ‘Princess Harem’ received this designated request is that we are an all-female adventurer party currently enjoying great popularity. Since I hadn’t been active with ‘Princess Harem’ recently, it seems they interpreted my absence. Coincidentally, the request aligned with our travel itinerary, so I immediately decided to accept it.
The next morning, I arrived at the entrance of ‘Princess Harem’s’ base mansion in the two-horse carriage rented from the Raymond Trading Company. Elise, Mai, Swan Hilda, Kirika, and Freya, who were departing for the adventure, were already aboard the carriage. Alicia, Ly, Tirna, Edele, and Dietlinde, the remaining members, saw us off.
“Hal, don’t do anything reckless! And please come back safely.”
Alicia saw us off with tears welling up in her eyes.
“Hal, I will quickly finalize the travel plans for Waiyar.”
Ly also expressed her desire to join the adventure next time, actively promoting the plan for the expedition to the Old Waiyar Kingdom.
“To the remaining members, please be careful and don’t take unnecessary risks. Well then, let’s depart.”
And so, with me at the reins, the two-horse carriage departed from the ‘Princess Harem’s’ base mansion and headed towards the plaza in front of the Adventurer Guild. Upon arriving at the plaza and waiting for a short while, the appointed time came, and a single-horse carriage arrived. The carriage gleamed black, and the door was adorned with what appeared to be a family crest, with luxurious decorations befitting a noble’s possession.
We disembarked from our carriage and greeted them. The specified noble carriage pulled up beside us, and the man serving as its coachman alighted. The coachman was a well-built man with handsome features.
“My name is Hans Revatta. Are you ‘Princess Harem’? I heard there were no men in your party.”
“I am Hal Raymond. I’m the leader of ‘Princess Harem.’ This is our vice-leader, Elise, and Mai, Swan Hilda, Kirika, and Freya.”
“However, not removing your hooded robes and Valkyrie masks even during introductions is quite rude.”
“It’s better for us to have an air of mystery to the boys!”
I engaged in a verbal sparring match with Hans Revatta, the coachman of the noble carriage, under the guise of introductions.
“Hans, what are you doing? Stop chattering and let’s depart already!”
A young woman’s voice was heard from inside the carriage. She seemed to be the client, but she maintained an air of superiority and did not show her face from the carriage.
“Mr. Hans, could you please introduce everyone else?”
“There are two women in the carriage. The younger one is our master, Baroness Clarina Misha von Hartia, and the elder one is Margaret, her foster sibling and attendant.”
“…Understood. Let’s depart immediately.”
We boarded our two-horse carriage and set off from the plaza in front of the Adventurer Guild, leading the single-horse carriage carrying Baroness Clarina, our escort target. As expected, traveling with nobles allowed us to pass through the castle checkpoint with almost no inspection.
Once the two carriages reached the main road, we left the Imperial Capital Granza and ventured into the outskirts. Thus, our grand adventure began.
2. Etiquette Again
About two hours after leaving the Imperial Capital Granza, the surrounding scenery had transformed into a tranquil and pastoral countryside. Fields along the main road were planted with vegetables and fruit trees, and farmers were diligently pulling weeds and tilling the soil, sweat beading on their brows. A little further on, we passed through a coniferous forest, and beyond that, livestock were grazing.
We should soon be approaching the planned rest stop with the noble carriage’s coachman, Hans. The rest stop was a small hill along the main road, and it appeared there were already other travelers. The hill, which had appeared small in the distance ahead of us on the main road, gradually grew larger as we approached. So far, the start of our journey had been smooth, with no issues.
The hill, serving as a rest stop, was a well-known spot among travelers. Besides us, there were three other carriages that appeared to be from travelling merchants and five pedestrians. It was a clear day, and though slightly warm, the humidity was low, and the wind blowing across the hill was pleasant.
Our group from ‘Princess Harem’ had Freya and Mai spread out a straw mat from the cargo area. Tirna had packed us cookies and herbal tea in a pot, which we transferred to teacups, and our preparations for rest were complete.
Meanwhile, looking at the noble carriage, our escort target, Hans, opened the carriage door with a respectful gesture, and the first woman disembarked. She was a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a serious expression, wearing what looked like a standard maid’s uniform, suggesting she was Margaret, the Baroness’s foster sibling and attendant.
Then, as Hans and Margaret stood erect on either side of the door and bowed their heads, Baroness Clarina von Hartia alighted from the carriage. Her blonde hair, reaching halfway down her back, was styled in neat vertical rolls and shone brilliantly. Her delicate features exuded the dignity expected of a Baron’s daughter, giving her the appearance of a typical noble lady.
Hans and Margaret immediately retrieved a folding parasol, chairs, and a table from the carriage and efficiently prepared tea. We, on the other hand, enjoyed our tea while observing their actions.
“About a 60?”
Elise suddenly gave a rating, and I thought it was a bit too harsh.
“Isn’t your rating a bit too strict?”
“Individually, she looks like a respectable lady, but her manners are somewhat awkward, and she’s merely a subpar version of Ly.”
“Well, considering she’s a Baron’s daughter, she’s done quite well.”
Elise explained her rating criteria, and indeed, it was hard for Baroness Clarina to compare favorably to Ly. Kirika then joined the conversation. We were enthusiastically discussing Baroness Clarina von Hartia as a topic of conversation. Just then, Baroness Clarina von Hartia’s face turned bright red, and she approached our straw mat for tea.
“To listen in silence… and to insult me, a noble, is unforgivable, even by boorish adventurers like yourselves!!”
With her eyes narrowed and an appearance of furious anger, Baroness Clarina von Hartia advanced.
“Now, now… that behavior itself is rather vulgar…”
Swan Hilda cautioned with a sigh.
“Hey, Clarina. Would you like to join us for tea?”
Perhaps due to her thick skin or the residual confidence of one who was formerly of royal blood, even if from a small country, Elise judged Baroness Clarina’s approach as an opportunity and invited her for tea.
“As a noble, I cannot possibly sit on a cheap straw mat!”
The verbal sparring between the Princess Harem members and Baron Hartia’s daughter, Clarina, began, while I, the only male sitting on the tatami mat, was completely ignored. Hans and Margaret looked dejected, and the other travelers kept their distance, watching the scene unfold.
“You lack confidence in your etiquette, don’t you?” Kirika taunted, pressing her attack.
“I… As a noble of the glorious Espana Imperial Kingdom, I will not flee or hide, even from adventurers of unknown origin. I accept this challenge!”
Poor girl… she was completely trapped by the Princess Harem members’ strategy. Fortunately, there was no third party present who was as well-versed in etiquette as Viscountess Salibana, whom Munam had brought along last time.
As Baron’s daughter Clarina was about to step onto the tatami mat with her shiny leather shoes still on, Freya sternly admonished her.
“Clarina, shoes are strictly forbidden on these tatami mats! You have absolutely no common sense…”
It seemed that as the capable accountant of the Princess Harem, she couldn’t stand seeing their shared property, the tatami mats, being dirtied by shoe soles. Beside her, Elise, her opponent in the argument, seemed to agree with Freya’s words, a smirk playing on her lips.
The match was reset, and Baron’s daughter Clarina, after taking off her black leather shoes, stepped onto the tatami mat. Freya then offered her a cup of herbal tea and cookies served on a plate.
Hesitantly, Baron’s daughter Clarina picked up a cookie with her fingertips and brought it to her mouth.
“N-No way… these are delicious?!”
Around Baron’s daughter Clarina, who was astonishingly surprised, the Princess Harem members began to enjoy their tea with elegance. With former royals among them, the Princess Harem could practice etiquette at a level comparable to the formal tea parties hosted by the Espana Royal Family. In other words, a daughter of a mere Barony could never hope to reach their level, even if she stood on her head.
Baron’s daughter Clarina then picked up the tea cup, attempting to gracefully bring it to her lips, but her arm trembled, perhaps from nervousness. As she tried to drink the herbal tea, the rim of the cup hit her front teeth — *clack, clack* — making an unsightly sound. It seemed the match was already lost.
“Clarina, how do you like the taste? We just want to be friends with you. Let’s start over from the beginning!”
In a complete turn from before, Elise began to try and appease Baron’s daughter Clarina.
“…F-From the beginning…?”
“As in, let’s start over with the introductions,” Swan Hilda offered a helping hand at the perfect timing. Watching from the side, it was strange how Baron’s daughter Clarina seemed like a pitiable prey being deceived by a cunning swindler.
“I am Elise.”
“I’m Swan Hilda.”
“Mai… nice to… meet you.”
“I am Kirika.”
“I am Freya.”
“I-I am Clarina Misha von Hartia.”
Thus, after reconciling? with the protected Baron’s daughter Clarina, our carriage resumed its journey along the Main Road.
Three days after departing from the Imperial Capital Grasanza, we arrived as planned at Dorsen, a post town built at the gateway to the Great Forest Zone, which separated the Espana Imperial Kingdom from the former Kamiyar Holy Nation. At first glance, Dorsen seemed no different from my previous visit. However, the Espana Imperial Army, which was marching towards the front lines against a detached unit of Demonkin that had invaded the Southern Nations through the Main Road that ran through the Great Forest Zone, had set up camp there.
We decided to stay at the same inn we had used before, “The Shore of This World and The Other Shore.”
Meanwhile, the protected Baron’s daughter Clarina had been completely won over by Elise and the other Princess Harem members and was still clinging to Elise. Baron’s daughter Clarina was currently 17 years old, the same age as Elise. However, in the hierarchy of this journey, Elise seemed to be of higher rank, as Clarina called her “Sister Elise.”
“Sister Elise, let’s take a bath together.”
“Clarina, what a cute child. Alright, let’s bathe together.”
It seemed that pure royalty were also natural charmers. I had them bound by the side effects of Resurrection Magic and Slave Contract Magic, but if we had met them in their natural state, I would have likely suffered the same fate as Baron’s daughter Clarina.
3. Demonkin Attack
The morning after spending a night at “The Shore of This World and The Other Shore,” an inn in the post town of Dorsen, built at the gateway to the Great Forest Zone, we proceeded along the Main Road leading to the former Kamiyar Holy Nation.
“…It was so noisy, I could barely sleep,” Baron’s daughter Clarina complained to Elise and the others. Originally, most of the travelers using the post town of Dorsen were merchants and adventurers, and “The Shore of This World and The Other Shore” had a dining hall and bar on the first floor and accommodations on the second, so it couldn’t be helped.
Leading the way was our two-horse carriage, and for some reason, the person we were escorting, Baron’s daughter Clarina, was also riding in it, while Kirika rode in a one-horse carriage instead. Following us were three merchant carriages, taking advantage of our presence. Recently, with reports of low-ranking Demonkin appearing in the Great Forest Zone, they likely wanted to use our Adventurer Party, the Princess Harem, as a shield.
The convoy of five carriages advanced along the Main Road that traversed the Great Forest Zone. We were currently on the outskirts of the Great Forest Zone, with a river flowing alongside the Main Road, and slimes occasionally wandered by the roadside. As I felt a sense of nostalgia seeing the prey from our last visit, Mai, who was sitting next to me on the driver’s seat controlling the carriage, nodded as if she agreed.
Mai was sensitive to presences and had excellent tracking abilities, so I had entrusted her with monitoring our surroundings.
The convoy of carriages then entered the Great Forest Zone. The trees along the Main Road grew densely, and occasionally, the calls of unknown wild animals could be heard. During our last adventure, I got so carried away with slime hunting that I got lost and stumbled upon Kirika being offered as a sacrifice at an altar. However, this time, we were simply traveling by carriage on the Main Road, so there should be no fear of getting lost.
As we proceeded cautiously, keeping a lookout around us, a small window connecting the driver’s seat to the passenger compartment opened, and Elise poked her head out.
“Hal-sama… I have a bad feeling about this… Why don’t we speed up and push through?”
“I have a bad feeling too, but if we go at full speed, the horses won’t be able to keep up. Please prepare for combat just in case.”
“Understood.”
Then, Swan Hilda poked her head out.
“If it’s low-ranking Demonkin, I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you, but don’t let your guard down, okay?”
“Yes, I understand.”
We continued through the Great Forest Zone in a tense atmosphere, without taking any breaks. Suddenly, Mai issued a warning.
“Hal-sama, over there!”
I looked in the direction Mai was pointing and saw a large wolf-like shadow disappear into the forest. The apex predator of the Great Forest Zone was the spotted bear that Elise had defeated during our last adventure. Spotted bears do not travel in packs, but wolves are pack hunters. It was possible that a pack of wolves was already surrounding our convoy. I wanted to increase our speed and shake them off, but the horses would surely collapse during the escape. In that case, would it be better to form a circle and fight them in an open area?
After advancing for a while, the forest along the Main Road had been cleared to create a plaza. In the center of the plaza was a hearth, suggesting it had been used as a resting place for travelers. I reined in the carriage and entered the plaza. The horses were also quite fatigued, and they needed to rest. The following carriages followed, and the five carriages formed a circle.
Then, Elise, Mai, Swan Hilda, and Kirika of the Princess Harem took up combat positions and watched the surroundings, while Freya, the rear guard, tended to the horses, providing them with feed and water. Before long, Baron’s daughter Clarina, accompanied by Hans and Margaret, arrived.
“Hal-dono, you’re on high alert for a normal break. Is something wrong?” Hans asked.
“Mai spotted a wolf earlier. There’s a possibility we’re surrounded.”
“My goodness! How terrifying…” Baron’s daughter Clarina covered her mouth, feigning delicate surprise.
“Don’t worry, Clarina-ojousama, that’s why we’ve hired adventurers at a high price…” Margaret added with a pale face.
“So, please don’t go outside the circle! Also, can you warn the merchants?”
“U-Understood. I’ll continue to rely on you for vigilance.” Hans bowed, and Baron’s daughter Clarina’s group returned inside the circle. Instead, three men who appeared to be merchants approached.
“Adventurers, you say there are wolves? Are you alright?” asked a short, plump man who seemed to be a merchant.
“We understand that the horses are tired and need to rest, but we’re counting on you!”
“If you can safely get us to the former Kamiyar Holy Nation side, we’ll offer some reward.”
After saying what they wanted to say, the merchants returned to inside the circle. It seemed the merchants had not hired any adventurers or mercenaries for their protection.
Freya, having finished caring for the horses, brought a mug of meat broth soup, heated over the hearth in the center of the circle.
“Hal-sama, please have some.”
“Thank you, Freya.”
As I took the steaming mug and was about to bring it to my lips, wolves that had been lurking around suddenly leaped out. There were five wolves, and astonishingly, they had horns growing on their foreheads, unlike normal wolves.
“Those are… One-Horned Wolves! They are low-ranking Demonkin!” Swan Hilda immediately issued a warning. It turned out that our opponents were not ordinary wild animals, but low-ranking Demonkin. Looking closely, their eyes were the characteristic purple eyes of Demonkin, and their fangs were abnormally long, with saliva dripping.
“““Wind Cutter!”””
“Gyaaaan!!”
Elise unleashed three Wind Cutters, a spell she had prepared beforehand. The first one severed the head of the leading One-Horned Wolf, but the second and third were dodged. Elise’s Wind Cutter had enough power to sever the head of a spotted bear, but it was difficult to hit the agile One-Horned Wolves.
The remaining four One-Horned Wolves charged towards the circle at high speed. Then, something leaped out from a short distance away from me. It appeared to be a normal grey wolf, and it targeted one of the One-Horned Wolves, latching onto its throat. The grey wolf and the One-Horned Wolf became entangled, disappearing into the shadows of the trees, their growls echoing through the woods.
It seemed that the grey wolf from earlier was a Summoned Beast summoned by Kirika.
““Rock Lance!””
With Elise’s keyword, a part of the ground rose up and attacked the One-Horned Wolves like lances. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a direct hit, but it seemed to have grazed the flanks of two of them. The One-Horned Wolves were now right in front of us. Elise and Kirika, who were rear-guard classes, retreated behind the carriage, while Mai, holding a short sword, and Swan Hilda, holding a long sword, took defensive stances.
After all, Swan Hilda hesitated to reveal her true form as a Valkyrie in front of commoners.
Then, in the next instant, the two clashed. The One-Horned Wolf that attacked Mai had its carotid artery severed by her short sword and died. Meanwhile, Swan Hilda had her long sword in her mouth and was immobilized.
I thought there should be one more… and looked around. The remaining One-Horned Wolf was caught by a Mimic Slime that had camouflaged itself on the ground, and part of its body was already being digested. That must be Mimi No. 1, Kirika’s Summoned Beast. I had thought I had no direct means of attack, but I was shocked to realize that if I had skillfully controlled Mimi No. 2, which Kirika had given me, I could have defeated at least one.
Seeing the unfavorable turn of events, the One-Horned Wolf holding Swan Hilda’s long sword turned and disappeared into the forest. Then, from the shade of the trees, Kirika’s Summoned Beast, the grey wolf with its mouth stained red, appeared, and we succeeded in repelling the attack of the low-ranking Demonkin.
Then, I secretly cast Healing Magic on Mai, who had sustained a minor injury from her contact with the One-Horned Wolf.
“That was a close call… Ah, thank you.” Elise approached, panting from exhaustion. I took a Heal Potion from my pocket and handed it to her. It would have been easier to use Healing Magic, but I couldn’t help it as I was concerned about other people’s eyes.
As I was doing this, Swan Hilda whispered in my ear.
“I think that was a scout of the One-Horned Wolves. The main force should be lurking nearby.”
Upon confirmation with Swan Hilda, the five One-Horned Wolves that had attacked did not have a leader. Their pack was supposed to have a leader, so it was judged to be a reconnaissance mission by the vanguard. Swan Hilda then made a proposal: she would go into the forest alone, revert to her true form, and annihilate the remaining pack of One-Horned Wolves.
I looked around and judged that although Elise and the others were not seriously injured, enduring the wave-like attack of the One-Horned Wolves would be difficult. Therefore, I accepted Swan Hilda’s proposal.
That day, we camped in the plaza and waited for Swan Hilda’s return. The next morning, a visibly exhausted Swan Hilda returned, and I was relieved.
“I’m glad you returned safely, Swan Hilda.”
“I’m truly exhausted. In the end, there were 34 one-horned wolves. Also, there’s something I want to show Hal-sama…”
After reporting that the immediate danger had passed to Baroness Clarina’s group and the traveling merchants, we left the circle of carriages and entered the sea of trees. Following Swan Hilda’s lead, we came upon a massive man collapsed at the base of a giant tree. He had a broken horn growing from his head, and he appeared to be a high-ranking demon. According to Swan Hilda’s report, this high-ranking demon had been on a secret mission to cause a disturbance in the rear.
Swan Hilda’s request was to confirm if the magic-infused horn of this high-ranking demon could be dissolved. My and Mai stood in front of the collapsed demon and, using the same method as with Edele and Swan Hilda, we invoked “Holy Magic,” pouring holy power into it. The demon’s entire body became hazy and eventually dissipated into nothingness, leaving no trace.
“As I thought, it didn’t work…”
Looking at Swan Hilda, she seemed dejected. When I asked why, she explained that with Edele too, her body had begun to fade unless Swan Hilda supported her.
We returned to the carriages, had breakfast, and departed. The high-ranking demons and their one-horned wolf subordinates dispatched to the Great Forest Zone for rear disruption had already been wiped out, and the remainder of our journey was uneventful. We passed through the Great Forest Zone and arrived at Karasa, an inn town on the border of the old Kamiyar Holy Nation.
After leaving the Great Forest Zone, the merchants’ carriages scattered to their respective destinations, leaving us with our “Princess Harem” in a two-horse carriage and Hans in a one-horse carriage. Two days later, as we approached the castle gate of Kamiyan, the former capital of the old Kamiyar Holy Nation, we received three gold coins as success reward and parted ways with Baroness Clarina’s group.
“It pains my heart to part with you, Elder Sister Elise, but when you come to Hykalia, please do visit the lord’s mansion.”
Baroness Clarina departed with a greeting befitting a noble daughter. It seemed that Baroness Clarina had also grown mentally through this journey. For your information, Hykalia is the name of a city in the old Kingdom of Sazania, and it was the territory granted to Baron Hartia, who was a ceremonial baron. With this, Baron Hartia has now joined the ranks of territorial nobles.
4. A Drop of Rose
After safely delivering Baroness Clarina’s group to Kamiyan, the capital of the old Kamiyar Holy Nation, on a requested job for “Princess Harem,” we joined the back of the carriage queue waiting to enter Kamiyan. Looking up at the city walls, I saw that parts of them had collapsed, a vivid reminder of the battles with the Espana Imperial Army. When it was our turn, we paid the required entrance tax and were allowed through without even the passenger compartment of our carriage being inspected. It seemed to be a perfunctory inspection due to a shortage of personnel.
However, upon entering the city, it appeared there had been no burning or looting, as the buildings were mostly intact, and it seemed there was no looting of the general populace either. When I thought about it, the Espana Imperial Kingdom’s banner proclaimed victory in the all-out war with the Demonkin through the establishment of a unified Human Race nation, so they likely refrained from actions that would weaken their national strength.
As befitting a religious nation, temples with a long history stood at various key points. Although they were unique religious facilities of the Kamiyar Holy Nation, differing in sect from the Asgard Holy Church that former priest Lester belonged to, the steady stream of devout followers entering and exiting was a magnificent sight. The time taken to reach this point was ahead of the original schedule. We were planned to stay for two days. I explored the city of Kamiyan, feigning a sightseeing tour, to confirm the location of the pleasure district. The sun was high in the sky, and the pleasure district, which would bloom at night, was quiet, but finding the location was easy. I also confirmed the building of “A Drop of Rose,” a high-class brothel where the “Mithril Card” from my father could be used.
For now, I’ll look for a place to stay tonight.
Moving forward a bit, I saw a crowd of people, and the carriages proceeded cautiously. In the center of the crowd, a young man stood on a sturdy wooden crate, giving a speech.
“I am Albus Gassara, of the blood of the Holy Royal Family of Kamiyar. We will annihilate the Espana Imperial Army, who basely launched a surprise attack, and then, by the revelation of God, we shall rise again to show Kamiyar’s glory to this land…”
He appears to be an agitator inciting anti-government activities against the occupying forces of the Espana Imperial Kingdom.
“Hey, Kirika. Do you know Albus Gassara?”
“Nay, I know him not… He’s likely just some nobody they’ve propped up…”
Kirika dismissed Albus as “some nobody,” but it was perhaps a reasonable reaction, considering that those with strong ties to the Holy Royal Family, except for Kirika, had all been executed. As our carriage passed, the Espana Imperial Kingdom’s security forces arrived, and the anti-government activists, along with the gathered crowd, scattered like so many spiders.
Most lodging facilities in Kamiyan are temple-run inns, and the inn we stayed at was named “Virgin Mary’s Prayer.” Once settled in, I informed the members of “Princess Harem” that they were free to do as they pleased until tomorrow morning, and then dismissed them.
I left the inn “Virgin Mary’s Prayer” alone and confirmed with my eyes that Elise and the others were not following me. First, I decided to grab a light bite. I bought some skewered wild boar meat glazed with a sweet and savory sauce from a stall near the temple and a bamboo flask of mead diluted with water.
Then, I proceeded to the pleasure district, eating and drinking less than gracefully. The sun was beginning to set, and it was time for grown-ups.
At the entrance to the pleasure district, there was a vermillion gate adorned with extravagant decorations, hung with lanterns painted in gaudy colors. This was the so-called brothel district from here on. On either side of the path were two- or three-story establishments, with vermillion lattice doors on the first floor. The gaps in the lattice were just wide enough for an arm to pass through, and maiden’s delicate hands reached out as if to ensnare dream-seekers searching for tonight’s delights.
Under the lampposts, mature women with garish makeup, presumably streetwalkers, stood waiting for prey.
The second and third floors of these establishments were the chambers for customers and prostitutes whose negotiations had been successful, and some rooms were already occupied by eager customers. The establishment in the foreground appeared to be run by Elves, and a cute Elven prostitute cast a sidelong glance at me. In the next establishment, a prostitute, appearing to be a Beastkin with fox ears, sent a hot gaze and a flying kiss to welcome me. Across from it, a prostitute with a distinctly short, child-like build beckoned to me. A burly man with a beard entered that establishment. For a moment, I thought of a “child and the beast” combination, but it seemed the prostitutes in this establishment were Dwarves.
And then, at the end of the pleasure district, I could see my destination, the high-class brothel “A Drop of Rose.” The building was a stylish brick structure with bay windows on the second and third floors. I pushed aside the surrounding temptations and reached the building, but I didn’t know how to enter. The entrance was blocked by a door painted black, reminiscent of a fortress, with a painting of a rose petal dripping nectar.
As I stood there in a daze, the door suddenly opened with a heavy creak. A beautiful woman in black emerged, flanked by two burly, intimidating men. The woman in black appeared to be in her late twenties to early thirties, with long silver hair obscuring the left half of her face. She held a long, slender pipe, from which purple smoke curled, and approached me, blowing the smoke towards me with a “Fuuuh.” The smoke hit my face directly, and I coughed, choking.
“W-what are you doing!!”
I protested to the woman in black.
“My dear boy, this is no place for children like you to come… It’s hindering our business, so please be on your way.”
The woman in black pointed towards the entrance of the pleasure district.
“I-I’m a customer!!”
“Can you afford the flower charges here, my dear boy?”
Speechless, I took out the “Mithril Card” from my pocket and handed it to the woman in black.
“Th-this… Who exactly are you!?”
Upon receiving the “Mithril Card,” the woman in black asked me with astonishment.
“My name is Hal Raymond. I received this Mithril Card from my father.”
“Your father’s name?”
“…It’s Dalos Raymond…”
“I see… So you are the Young Master Raymond… You do indeed have the right to enter here. I am Delfina, the person in charge here. Please come this way.”
Thus, I followed Madam Delfina and passed through the entrance of “A Drop of Rose.” Inside the building, scarlet carpets were laid on the floor, landscape and portrait paintings, which appeared to be masterpieces, adorned the walls, and rare tropical plants, seemingly from the Southern Nations, were planted in pots. At first glance, it looked like a noble’s mansion.
Led by Madam Delfina, we proceeded down the corridor to a viewing room with expensive glass windows embedded in the walls. Inside, several beautiful girls were relaxing in their own ways. It seemed we were to be allowed to select a young prostitute. Unlike the prostitutes in the establishments we had passed, they were wearing expensive and elegant clothing. At first glance, they looked like young ladies from good families.
“Young Master Raymond, the four ‘Roses’ currently on standby are here.”
“…They are indeed a collection of beautiful girls…”
I peered into the room and felt my face flush with heat.
“From the right, Cassandra is reading a newspaper, and the two drinking tea are Celestina and Yvette, and Sophia is doing embroidery. Did you find any ‘Roses’ you liked…?”
Each of the “Roses” appeared to be around my age, very young. Moreover, rather than young prostitutes, anyone would readily believe they were young ladies relaxing in a salon. Cassandra was a silver-haired girl in a bright blue dress with an intelligent face. Celestina and Yvette, who were drinking tea, wore matching bright red dresses, and their somewhat strong-willed expressions, not outdone by the flamboyant colors, made them seem similar, perhaps even twins. And Sophia, wearing a pale yellow dress and diligently doing embroidery, had an aura that could be described as that of a maiden from a secluded mansion.
Incidentally, their young age was due to one of the conditions for becoming a “Rose,” a young prostitute, which was to be a girl who had not yet reached menarche. This was synonymous with being limited to maidens in their “Fairy Time,” and consequently, they were limited to daughters of royalty and nobles. This was because, while their secondary sexual characteristics developed early, their menarche was late, which was their trait.
Furthermore, “Roses” who had reached menarche were transferred to affiliated general high-class brothels, but most were usually bought out before then. Even if transferred to a general high-class brothel, those with experience as “Roses” carried prestige and were treated favorably.
Their attire seemed to mimic roses, but they all appeared to be without makeup. This was in stark contrast to the prostitutes in the establishments we had seen earlier and the streetwalkers by the roadside, who wore white powder and cheap perfume. When the material is this good, makeup is probably unnecessary… While I was staring at the cute “Roses,” I felt a sense of unease. Looking around the room again, I noticed a fifth girl by the wall, dressed in a deep green dress, who appeared to be a “Rose,” sitting on a chair.
“…Um… Is the girl by the wall not a ‘Rose’?”
“Eh…!? G-gomen nasai… That ‘Rose’ is Lilia. How could I forget to introduce her…!”
Madam Delfina tilted her head repeatedly. Seeing Lilia, sitting calmly on the chair by the wall, with a slightly ethereal and melancholic air, I was instantly smitten.
“Then I’ll choose Lilia.”
“Understood, Young Master Raymond. Lilia is making her ‘debut’ today… Please be gentle with her.”
According to Madam Delfina, I was Lilia’s first customer, and she was still a virgin. Madam Delfina also seemed puzzled that Lilia, despite being at “A Drop of Rose” for some time, had not taken any clients and yet had not caused any problems.
Then, I was led by a cute young girl, who seemed to be a prostitute in training, to a private room for VIP clients on the third floor of the establishment.
5. The Rose Blooms
The interior of the room was clean, with elegant furnishings. A faint wisp of smoke rose from a celadon incense burner placed on a rosewood incense stand in a bay window hidden by lace curtains. Smelling it, it seemed to be a light aphrodisiac incense. The adjoining room, conversely, was dimly lit, with a luxurious four-poster bed.
“Master, thank you for choosing me.”
As I was inspecting the room, Lilia, whom I had chosen, entered the room and gracefully lifted the hem of her deep green dress, offering a perfect curtsey. It seemed this young prostitute was also of noble or royal birth.
The effects of the incense, which had been lit, made Lilia’s voice as light as celestial bells, a pleasant sound to my ears. I stared closely at Lilia, who had approached me. Her hair was a straight, slightly bluish silver, reaching down to her waist. Her eyes were the deep blue of a clear lake, her eyelashes long and almond-shaped, giving them a smoky appearance. Her cheeks were smooth like white porcelain without a single freckle, and her small lips were rouged to a rosy red. Her face was like that of a bisque doll, meticulously crafted by a master artisan.
Moreover, her eyes held a languid, heated gaze, and her eyelids were shaded as if with eyeshadow. Her beauty was of a different kind than that of the beautiful girls in “Princess Harem” that I had captivated.
I wondered why no one had ever chosen Lilia until now.
Her attire was a deep green dress with a high neckline, concealing her cleavage and the fullness of her breasts. The sleeves were short, and she wore long, pure white gloves that extended past her elbows, minimizing skin exposure. The hem of the dress reached the carpet, the kind of attire worn by a young lady from a good family.
Further, the deep green dress was adorned with numerous frills and corsages of embedded blue and purple roses, skillfully concealing the lines of her body.
“Master, shall we have a drink? Or would you prefer I escort you to your bed?”
Lilia tilted her head slightly and asked if I wanted to drink or go straight to the bed.
“For now, I’ll have a drink. However, I’m weak to alcohol, so please bring me something with a low alcohol content.”
“Understood…”
Lilia led me to a leather sofa in the seating area by the wall. She then went to the built-in mini-bar, retrieved a liquor bottle, glasses, and a plate of nuts for snacking, and returned.
“This is a peach and lemon fruit wine. It’s popular with women, has a pleasant taste, and is low in alcohol. The snacks are an assortment of nuts gathered from the mountain villages near the Great Forest Zone.”
Lilia opened the fruit wine bottle and poured it into my glass. As she did so, she leaned over from behind me, her breasts accidentally brushing against my shoulder.
It seemed her skills in seduction had already begun, but I also realized she was the type of person who looked thinner than she was. The fruit wine was easy to drink, as expected of a drink favored by women, and it paired well with the nuts.
“Would you like a glass too, Lilia?”
I shifted my position on the sofa to the end and gestured with my eyes for her to sit next to me.
“…Yes, I’ll have one.”
This time, Lilia held out her glass, and I poured her some of the fruit wine. Lilia then opened her cute mouth slightly, brought the glass to her lips, and took small sips. Her slender neck, which looked easily breakable, moved sensually as she swallowed the fruit wine.
Due to the aphrodisiac effect of the incense, my mind was filled with thoughts of Lilia before me, but at the same time, my suspicion grew about the abnormal situation of such a beautiful girl having no customers until now. In the reception room, even Madam Delfina, who managed this mansion, hadn’t initially recognized her.
Perhaps Lilia was under some kind of “invisibility magic”? The reason might be to reserve her for a specific customer… My intuition told me Madam Delfina was likely not involved. Then, was Lilia sent here for some purpose? It’s possible she might be hiding hidden weapons. However, Lilia’s demeanor suggested fear and nervousness towards me, and she seemed so innocent…
First, I decided to conduct a body check under the guise of foreplay.
I stroked Lilia’s head, which was nestled close to me on the sofa, and checked her hair, but found no abnormalities. Next, I stroked her face, which reminded me of an exquisite doll, and her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue. Then came her body. I swallowed audibly and decided to grope her through her deep green dress.
“I’d like to touch Lilia’s body a little.”
I brought my face close to Lilia’s ear and whispered in a low voice.
“…Yes, please do… Tonight, Lilia belongs to you…”
Lilia’s cheeks flushed deep red and trembled slightly.
I avoided the rose corsages adorning the deep green dress and covered Lilia’s breasts with my palm. They had a greater presence than I expected. As a precaution, I gently squeezed them, and Lilia flinched.
“M-Master… Ah… Ahh!?”
Ultimately, there was nothing abnormal about Lilia’s breasts; I only discovered that she was very sensitive. I then groped her entire body, but found no abnormalities. Had my suspicions been unfounded?
“Hey, Lilia. Your outfit looks very expensive… Will I have to pay for it if it’s damaged? I don’t know how to take it off.”
Lilia smiled slightly and pointed to a blue rose corsage near the hem of her deep green dress.
“There’s a string hidden here, so please pull it.”
As she said that, Lilia stood up and stood straight with her legs slightly apart. I didn’t understand what was happening, but as Lilia instructed, I found the end of a cleverly hidden green string beneath the blue rose corsage and hesitantly pulled it.
And then, lo and behold… The green string seemed to represent rose vines, and the deep green frills attached to it became rose leaves, detaching along with the blue and purple rose corsages. When the string completed its loop around her waist, the skirt portion of the deep green dress fluttered down onto the carpet. What remained was a new hem that only reached midway down her thighs, exposing pale pink panties. And on her slender legs, she wore pure white knee-high socks that reached above her knees.
Upon closer inspection, the pale pink panties were also adorned with frills, and the area covering Lilia’s genitals was only covered by a thin cloth. In other words, through the pale pink thin cloth peeking from the gap in the hem of the dress, Lilia’s virginity was visible, a virginity that had not yet known a man. Looking up at her face, I saw Lilia standing shyly, averting her gaze. It was then that I realized.
The pale pink panties Lilia was wearing were modeled after rose petals, and her genitals were likely the pistil. Then, the hem of the deep green dress seemed to represent the calyx on the outside of the rose.
This seemed to be the reason they were called “Roses.”
However, the string had not yet ended. As I continued to pull the string, detaching the deep green frills and rose corsages that resembled rose leaves, the fabric of the dress from the waist up became a pale green silk that was almost transparent against her skin, revealing the curves of Lilia’s navel and ribs.
Finally, I reached the end of the string, and all the “mechanisms” of the dress were detached, revealing its true form.
The dress was held up by thin straps on both shoulders, and the semi-sheer silk exquisitely showcased the curves of Lilia’s well-shaped breasts in detail. At the tips of her breasts, the shadows of her areolas and the protrusions of her nipples, which likely were not yet erect, could be seen.
Thus, Lilia, the young prostitute, had transformed into a single, lovely “Rose.” Lilia’s alluring figure caused my penis to become erect and eager to be inserted.
However, my doubts about Lilia were not completely dispelled. So, I recalled my encounter with Mai and thought of a confirmation method.
“Hey, Lilia. Can you feed me some nuts?”
“Yes, Master. …Please ‘aah’ for me.”
I opened my mouth wide and let her feed me nuts from her hand. Now it was my turn to feed Lilia.
“Then, it’s your turn now, Lilia. Open your mouth wide and ‘aah’!”
Lilia obediently opened her mouth wide. As I dropped the nuts into her mouth, I checked her molars on the upper jaw. As expected, one of her molars was a denture, the same kind as the one Mai had implanted.
In other words, Lilia was a “Killing Doll” sent by the “Assassin’s Guild” to this brothel. In Mai’s case, she was accustomed to handling short swords to assassinate Elise, but in Lilia’s case, she likely wasn’t even aware that she herself was a disposable assassin called a “Killing Doll.” Normally, the target would have visited this brothel much earlier, and after carrying out the assassination, she would have committed suicide through post-hypnotic suggestion. However, perhaps due to the sudden invasion of the Kamiyar Holy Nation by the Espana Imperial Kingdom, the internal confusion prevented the target from visiting the brothel.
I had been searching for “Killing Dolls” to uncover the secret of Mai’s origins, but unexpectedly, I had encountered an active “Killing Doll.”
6. Vagina Dentata ○
At the high-class brothel “Drop of Rose,” I had chosen Lilia, one of the “Roses,” but her true identity was a “Killing Doll,” a disposable assassin sent by the “Assassin’s Guild.” Lilia had probably survived until today because her target had not appeared.
As far as I could tell from groping her through her deep green dress under the guise of foreplay, she wasn’t armed with any hidden weapons. This limited her assassination methods. I decided to enjoy Lilia’s exquisite body while ultimately neutralizing her.
Currently, Lilia’s attire, with its rose corsages and frills detached from the deep green dress, was, in a way, more alluring than being naked.
“That was delicious, Lilia. Now, come here.”
I embraced Lilia, who had approached me, and gave her what would be her first kiss, a clumsy peck. First, just a light touch of my lips to hers as a test. The moment my lips touched Lilia’s, she flinched, displaying an innocent reaction unbefitting of a young prostitute. After repeatedly pecking Lilia’s cheeks and lips, I transitioned into a deep kiss the moment she gasped and opened her mouth. One of her molars was a denture containing poison for suicide, but for now, I ignored it.
As our bodies pressed together, I could feel Lilia’s breasts being pressed through the thin silk, and with every movement, her breasts rubbed against me, feeling pleasant.
“Master, please feel Lilia.”
As we continued kissing for a while, the perceptive Lilia began to entwine her tongue with mine. I lifted her up in a princess carry and led her to the bedroom.
As the pinnacle of the young prostitutes known as “Roses,” I had expected her to have been taught various courtesan techniques by the brothel. However, seeing Lilia’s innocent reactions, I realized that the service here also included molding virgin girls to their customers’ desires. It seemed my father had misjudged the operating policy here. No, it was unlikely my father would be careless, so perhaps if he had chosen a different “Rose,” the outcome might have been different.
Then, I sat her on the edge of the canopy bed and slowly lowered the dress’s shoulder straps to the sides. Her breasts gradually became fully revealed, and as her cute nipples were finally exposed, her entire breasts tumbled out. Lilia’s breasts were not exactly large, but they had a beautiful conical shape and appeared to be still developing.
“Lilia, you’re beautiful.”
“M-Master, I’m happy… I’m glad my first time is with you…”
Lilia, making a cute sound and expressing her joy, was incredibly endearing. Lilia, who rejoiced innocently, seemed unaware that hidden weapons for assassinating important figures were embedded in her body.
I pushed Lilia down onto the bed and latched onto her left breast. I lightly bit her nipple and sucked it with my lips. Instantly, the area around her nipple turned bright red, and her nipple itself became erect.
“…Ah… M-Master~… Lilia… I’m acting strangely… Ah…”
“Mmm. The balance is off. Now for the right side.”
I savored Lilia’s breasts and then licked her armpit.
“Master~… Th-there, no~…”
Lilia seemed to be weak in the armpits. Then I licked her sides. I actually wanted to take off my clothes and feel Lilia with my bare skin, but if I got carried away here, I might dig my own grave.
I completely removed the dress that was caught around her stomach, leaving Lilia wearing only the pure white gloves on both hands, the pale pink panties covering her crotch, and the pure white knee-high socks that reached above her knees.
Furthermore, although I had noticed that the pale pink panties Lilia was wearing were shaped like rose petals, I also realized that the thin cloth covering her vagina had been cut, with a mechanism designed to allow direct insertion of the penis.
First, to perform a “man-in-the-box,” I held Lilia’s legs, pulled them towards me, and bent them towards her head.
“M-Master!? Lilia… Lilia is embarrassed!!”
As expected, Liliana also hid her face with both hands, embarrassed. When I gently touched Liliana’s slit through the sheer cloth, it was warm and soft. However, since there was a high possibility of hidden weapons, I decided to proceed cautiously, pretending to caress her.
First, I stroked the clitoral hood above the slit with my fingertips through the sheer cloth. As I gently moved in circles, sometimes pushing and sometimes poking, her clitoris became erect, revealing a pink bean. Furthermore, the slit of her vagina was overflowing with transparent love juice, indicating she was aroused.
Looking up at Liliana’s head, she was still covering her face with her palms. When I stimulated her clitoris strongly, her shoulders twitched, and she began to let out moans mixed with her ragged breaths.
“……N-no?! ……M-Master! ……Ah~…n! ……Ahhhhaaa…”
Normally, the next step would be to spread her legs, open her labia majora, and relax her vagina. But what should I do… While preparing “Detoxification Magic,” I hooked my fingernail into the slit of the sheer cloth on her panties and tore it open. Now Liliana’s private parts were directly visible.
I ran my right thumb and index finger along her labia majora, pushing them apart with a “kunuri” sound, revealing her urethra opening and vagina. Spreading her vagina wider with my left thumb and index finger, I saw a whitish hymen peeking out, confirming that Liliana was indeed a virgin.
However, in our world, magic exists, and for a “Healing Mage” like me, it’s possible to restore a torn hymen. I suspected that hidden weapons were likely concealed beyond the hymen…
I inserted my longest finger, my middle finger, into Liliana’s vagina. First, I inserted it up to the first knuckle and kneaded as usual. As my caresses progressed, Liliana’s legs naturally opened, and her vagina loosened up. Her moans became more intense, and she seemed ready to receive my penis. My own penis was painfully erect and urging me on, but I had no choice but to ignore it.
“Ahh… Ahh… n… Hya?! ……Ah! …Ahhh…”
Then, steeling myself, I inserted my middle finger all the way to the base. It seemed I had broken her hymen, as “blood marks of proof” flowed from her vagina, and I felt a sharp pain at the tip of my finger. I quickly withdrew my finger, and the tip of my middle finger began to swell and turn purplish. I hurriedly cast “Detoxification Magic” to prevent the poison from spreading throughout my body, but I allowed some of the abnormality to remain on my fingertip.
“……Ahhh…… Ahh……, Hgi?!”
It turned out that Liliana was a classic living weapon known as a “Vagina Dentata.”
Then, the next moment, I spread Liliana’s legs and pressed down on her, striking her solar plexus with my right elbow and knocking her unconscious. If I didn’t do this, Liliana might have judged the mission complete and ingested the poison hidden in her dentures.
After laying the unconscious Liliana in the center of the bed, I removed her dentures and restored them with “Healing Magic.” I then checked her entire body but found no abnormalities except for the hidden weapon in her vagina. It seemed that unlike Mai, who was also tasked with assassination, Liliana, who was only meant to wait for her target, had been fitted with a simplified version of a “Killing Doll.” In Mai’s case, some memories were lost due to repeated trial and error, but this second time, it should be fine.
I cast “Regression Hypnosis” on the incapacitated Liliana and delved into her memories.
Liliana’s real name was Liliana Emilia Yangas, and she was 14 years old. She was the first princess of the Yangas Kingdom, located near the homeland of Ly, the Wahl Imperial Kingdom. Although her position in the line of succession to the throne was not very high, it had been annexed by the Espana Imperial Kingdom, so her claim to the throne was likely first now.
I had thought she was a beautiful girl, but she was apparently known as the “Blue Moon Princess of Sorrow,” a peer to Ly’s “Beautiful Princess of Ice and Flame.” However, unlike Ly, she had no aptitude for martial arts, including self-defense.
When the Yangas Kingdom collapsed, she escaped with her maids and royal guards, but they were pursued, and one by one, they were eliminated. At a certain road, she was captured by a wicked slave trader and then bought by members of the “Assassin’s Guild” to be made into a “Killing Doll.” Her unit number was 49, which, compared to Mai’s 46, suggested that two more “Killing Dolls” had been created in between, likely already eliminated.
And the most important information I wanted, the location of the secret base where “Killing Dolls” were modified, was right under my nose, so to speak: it was in Ashurai, the former capital of the Wahl Imperial Kingdom. Thinking about it, it was natural for Western countries, where the Wahl Imperial Kingdom had been the largest power for many years, to have such a location. By the way, the first king of the Yangas Kingdom was one of the margraves of the Wahl Imperial Kingdom, so the Yangas Kingdom could be considered a satellite state of the Wahl Imperial Kingdom.
Thus, I was able to obtain the necessary information from Liliana, or rather, Liliana.
7. After the Beating
Currently, I was in the private room for distinguished guests on the third floor of the high-class brothel “Drop of Rose” in the red-light district of Kamiyan, the former capital of the Kamiyar Holy Nation. And on the canopy bed lay Liliana, also known as Liliana Emilia Yangas, the “Rose” I had requested, sleeping soundly.
Liliana was a disposable assassin, a “Killing Doll,” sent by the “Assassin’s Guild.” And within her vagina was a hidden weapon designed to assassinate her target.
I had taken a liking to her and wanted to take her away, but the ransom would likely be astronomical. If I removed the hidden weapon from her vagina and left her, she could live out her life as a young prostitute, but she wouldn’t want to be touched by a stranger.
Therefore, the only way was to temporarily plummet her value before taking her. I gazed at my middle finger, which had been bitten by the hidden weapon in Liliana’s vagina. The tip of my finger had turned purplish and swollen to about twice its size, appearing to be in a terrible state. In truth, the poison in the hidden weapon was a lethal neurotoxin, potent enough to kill by spreading throughout the body, but my “Detoxification Magic” prevented it from doing so. The ravaged state of my fingertip was meant to be shown to Madame Delfina, the madam of the brothel. I could only let things unfold from here, but believing I could manage, I proceeded to my next action.
“Gwaaaah…!! It hurts! What the hell is this girl?!”
I gripped my left middle finger with my right hand, let out a loud cry, and rolled on the floor. Before long, a guard entered the room, and the situation was reported to Madame Delfina. I was then taken to another room to rest, where a bald man, who appeared to be a priest, cast “Healing Magic” on me, and my finger was completely healed.
“That was a close call. This is likely a potent poison used for assassination. If I had arrived even an hour later, this young man would have been on his way to the underworld.”
“Thank you very much for this time. Please keep this matter confidential.”
The man who appeared to be a priest, after explaining his successful treatment, was given money by Madame Delfina as hush money. Meanwhile, Liliana had also been taken to another room, and her current situation was unknown.
“Young Master Raymond, I am truly sorry for this incident.”
Madame Delfina bowed deeply beside the bed where I was lying.
“I… inserted my finger into Liliana’s vagina, and suddenly my fingertip was bitten, or rather, stabbed… What kind of setup is this?”
“I apologize. We will dispose of her. If you wish, you may witness her punishment. And as a token of our apology, please accept this.”
Once again, Madame Delfina bowed her head and handed me a metal plate made of Hi-iro gold.
“This Hi-iro card is a free coupon for this brothel with no expiration date. Therefore, please keep this incident confidential.”
“Understood. By the way, I liked Liliana. If you’re going to dispose of her, won’t you give her to me?”
“She has brought shame upon this establishment, so we must make an example of her. Would you like to witness her punishment?”
“…You really won’t give her to me… F-fine. Then at least let me see Liliana’s final moments.”
I got up from the bed and followed Madame Delfina. Madame Delfina led me out of the brothel building and into a dilapidated shack built in a back alley. Liliana was bound to a dirty wooden platform, her four limbs restrained. Liliana was still unconscious, and the dirt on the platform looked like dried blood.
Beside her was a half-naked man with a lecherous expression. He was probably an executioner. Perhaps he was hired after the collapse of the Kamiyar Holy Nation.
“First, examine her vagina.”
“Understood, Madame.”
The man took out an instrument hanging on the wall. Was that a “Pear of Anguish”? In front of me and Madame Delfina, he spread Liliana’s legs and inserted it into her vagina, which had not yet known a man, and thrust it in with all his might. Liliana, in pain from her crotch, let out an unearthly scream, and blood gushed violently from her groin.
“……!? Gwaaaaah—!!”
The man did not flinch at Liliana’s scream. He manipulated the “Pear of Anguish,” widened its tip, and pulled it out. The surface of the “Pear of Anguish” was stained red with Liliana’s fresh blood, and the ring-shaped hidden weapon was pulled out along with it.
“Indeed… this is an assassination weapon… Then, as planned, proceed with the beating.”
Madame Delfina, her face somewhat pale, ordered him to carry out a lynching and prepared to leave after offering incense at an altar near the entrance.
“Madame… Liliana and I had a fateful encounter, so may I bury her?”
“For the Young Master Raymond, to be so compassionate. There is a mass grave behind this hut. Please transport her on that cart.”
“Understood…”
I told Madame Delfina that I understood with a mournful expression, and she left the hut. While I was talking to Madame Delfina, Liliana’s hands were tied and hung up. Furthermore, she was fitted with vaginal and anal plugs to prevent any leakage. It seemed this man was indeed a torture expert. Liliana’s groin was already in a terrible state, but as Cardinal Lester in my past life, I had witnessed the torture of heretics as head of the Inquisition Department, so I managed to endure it.
The man picked up a club leaning against the wall and unceremoniously struck Liliana’s right thigh. The unconscious Liliana screamed again, and the dull sound of her femur breaking was heard. He then broke her left femur as well, rendering her unable to walk for the rest of her life.
The man continued to swing the club without rest, and with each blow, Liliana’s body was surely being destroyed. Perhaps as a final mercy, he did not strike her head, but her eyes rolled back, and bloody foam dripped from her mouth. Death was imminent, and only a faint “huff, huff” sound could be heard from her throat. The beating was finally completed, and the man also left the hut.
I, remaining in the hut, had become a bag of flesh filled with blood and organs. I tried to cast high-level “Healing Magic” on the dying Liliana, but she passed away just short of it. For me, switching from “Healing Magic” to “Resurrection Magic” would have been the solution, but there was a major problem. That is, the resurrected Liliana would be in a coma for about a day, making it difficult to move her without drawing attention. Unlike Ly, she had not fully died, and in a way, she was lucky, but with such extensive injuries, such luck could not be expected. Moreover, this was a red-light district, which, though at the back, was never deserted even late at night. It would be difficult to bring Liliana back to my lodging, the inn “Virgin Mary’s Prayer,” without anyone noticing. What should I do…
As I was pondering, a voice suddenly called out from behind me.
“Lord Hal, you seem to be in trouble.”
Turning around, I saw the members of the “Princess Harem,” led by Elise, fully assembled. The deceased Liliana was stored in Elise’s “Space Magic” Item Box, transported to our lodging inn “Virgin Mary’s Prayer,” and successfully revived with “Resurrection Magic.” She was now sleeping peacefully in bed.
Then, as a cover-up, I loaded a log left in the hut onto a cart, covered it with a mat, and threw it into the grave. The grave was filled with the bodies of unidentified individuals, making it difficult to confirm their identities once dumped.
Thus, I acquired Liliana.
Thank you for reading.
With this, episode 15, “Liliana,” The Forgotten “Vagina Dentata Maiden,” Summoning New Developments, is concluded.
Episode 16, “Kirika II,” is scheduled for release at 00:00 on May 21st.
