Chapter 154 - The End of the Run and a New Troublesome Affair
My escape with Fam only lasted the short time it took to reach the other side of the river. We were immediately caught by Mizuki and the others, who had been waiting for us.
"I've never seen anyone swim across the river so nonchalantly!"
Mizuki said. But did she even know anyone who had swum across a river trying to escape? It seemed she had watched us walk into the river with a splash from the sandy beach under the moonlight. And they had taken the ferry to head us off. Now, we were back at the inn, made to sit upright on the floor, Fam and I.
"What kind of nonsense was that? Why did you run?"
Mizuki asked. The open-deck meeting had been called off due to our escape. It seemed the discussion with Vasily and the others would have to wait. Fang and Biars had vanished into Longhorn Street at night, and now, in addition to the Levante members, Shizuka and Lini were in the room. Claire had been taken to the trading company by Avia.
"No reason. That was just the impulsiveness of youth."
"How old are you?"
"S-seventeen…"
"Seventeen years and how many months?"
"……"
While I was struggling to answer, Maira, next to Mizuki, was counting on her fingers how many months past seventeen she was. There was no way she had enough fingers to reach triple digits, and I wanted to point it out, but it would only fuel the fire. I decided to stay quiet.
"I-I wanted freedom!"
"I've seen so many people since coming to this world, but I've never seen anyone freer than Mash."
Mizuki sighed.
"It's not complete freedom. I want to create a world where I can gather all the beautiful women and do all sorts of perverted things with them!"
"Ooh, Lord, that's not right! I followed because I heard you were doing charity work!"
I had been trying to gloss over the Fam situation with a vague excuse, but she had stopped me.
"long enough! What else were you planning to do with all those beauties?"
Cecily asked. She was clearly counting herself among the beauties.
"It's not enough. Besides, you're planning to break up with me, right?"
It was true, but I still wanted to hold onto the possibility.
"How many girlfriends does Mash even have right now?"
Shizuka asked. I stubbornly kept silent.
"Try listing them out."
Mizuki said in a low voice.
"…Fam, Mizuki, Cecily, Aira, Liley, Racshell, Hyakka, Maira, Claire."
I wonder if Mash-kun shouldn’t be counted since she’s Mizuki.
"That’s way too many for just two months! What's really going on?"
"Then there's Karpana, Moo. Oh, and Avia too. It’s just a mess,"
Maira added.
"It's not the same with Moo!"
Fam replied.
"You were getting angry along with us, but don't forget that Fam is also getting scolded."
"Ah… you're right,"
Fam lowered her head as Mizuki told her. She seemed penitent, but she also looked happy when she swung her tail a few times.
"You know, Shizuka-chan is also one of your girls!"
"You have Koukun!"
"You secretly want me!"
Shizuka puffed out her cheeks.
"Lini wasn't in that list… 'drop-outsaren' don't get dropped. Don't worry."
Lini nodded and lightly patted Lini on the head. Lini took her hand and stood up.
"If there’s no org— Saint, it is not worthy— I might just go back to my room."
Shizuka yawned and stretched. Then, she gently stroked Lini’s head. Lini took her hand and stood up.
"Tonight, I’ll tell you the story of the first time you were raped."
"I've already heard that. It's a little too sad, so I don't like it."
"Is that so? Then I'll tell you about the 48 ways to make someone cum, and the 52 positions. If you only learn how to make people cum, sex will feel like work, so it's important to know some comfy positions, okay?"
"Yeah."
Lini nodded to Shizuka's indecent words. I should probably separate Lini from Shizuka as soon as possible. But since I was being scolded, I couldn't say anything.
"Call me when you want to have sex. I can come running anytime."
Shizuka left the room with Lini. I didn't know if she was being a good mother figure or just a pervert. I was still thinking as I looked at the door that the two of them had just left. Mizuki brought her face close to my ear.
"If you get any more, I'm going to be really overwhelmed. ... Did you really not have enough with just me and Fam?"
When asked so seriously, I was at a loss for words.
"What are you even trying to take in?"
"I'm not! I'm not!"
Mizuki said in a panic, shaking her head after Cecily spoke up.
"So, what do you plan to do?"
Cecily asked us.
"I'll go talk to Chichi tomorrow alone."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm calm now. Lord taught me something important. In the end, everyone has to be happy together. And that includes me."
Fam nodded.
"What about our date?"
She turned her gaze toward me.
"I actually made arrangements to borrow two horses from the Mateo Trading Company."
I had asked Mercedes for that after morning practice.
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"That's perfect. It just so happens, Vasily gave me this."
I was handed a sealed letter.
"It's an invitation to a luncheon. Apparently, the King of Heilong wants to meet you unofficially at a castle south of the city."
I opened the seal and checked the letter. I was surprised at the date written on the invitation.
"Why Vasily…? And tomorrow?"
"The guild apparently received the invitation for Mash, but he disappeared after the C-rank exam, so they were apparently asked to find him."
Fam leaned in to look at the invitation.
"It says that if you don't plan to participate, you need to reply to the castle in Heilong by today."
"If I went to decline now, I'd probably be arrested as a suspicious person…"
I should have gone together when Mar-mie invited us.
"Vasily said it's further than the Chairman's farm, so we won't make it without horses."
The map included with the invitation didn't mention the farm. However, the highway only led south, so it didn't seem like we'd get lost. But it would be impossible to bring everyone along since we're not ready. Fam still needs to go to Chichi's. Even if I talk to him alone, it would be better to have someone near her. I should leave Maira and Mizuki in the city. I could ignore the invitation, but it's well-known that Mar-mie and I are connected. If a feud breaks out between her and the King of Heilong because of this, I'd feel bad. At least, she intends to get along with him. It was also a problem that Vasily was the one holding the invitation. I don't know much about him, but I want to avoid damaging the reputation of people from Fam's hometown.
"…Is that kind of date okay with you?"
"You can choose anywhere else. Let Mash decide. Anyway, I forgive you both. I'm tired, so I'm going to sleep."
Cecily plopped onto the bed.
"…Me too. It looks like tomorrow will be busy,"
Aira said and started heading towards the bed, following Cecily.
"Hey, does Aira have plans tomorrow?"
"Hey? Aira?"
Aira turned around.
"I apologize. Lady Aira. Please tell me your plans for tomorrow."
"Nothing in particular..."
Even though she was only answering with two words, she made her correct herself. Aira hid a yawn with her hands and collapsed onto the bed. Mizuki and Maira exchanged glances.
"Did anything get resolved?"
"Not really. Right?"
The two sighed.
"Fam, we consider you a friend. Please don’t forget we also want to help you. You’ll tell us about what happened to you, not just Mash, right?"
"I will tell you. But please wait until I finish talking to Chichi."
Fam nodded at Mizuki.
"Then, it’s fine for me too. Mash, please seriously consider what I said earlier,"
Maira watched Mizuki head for the bed.
"…If anything, it was Cecily who said to make us sit upright. Aira and Mizuki nodded, but I was against it. But now it seems like I'm the one who made her sit that way."
Olive trees, planted at equal intervals, basked in the sunlight. The highway continued like a seam beyond them. Two horses were walking south. Apparently, it was called a walk. Aira was riding one horse alone, and Cecily and I were on the other. Cecily was controlling the horse, and I was holding on behind her.
"Why is Aira here? We agreed it would just be the two of us, didn't we?"
Cecily looked at Aira.
"Since you lost, you're my servants until today."
Aira replied with a smug face.
"But that doesn't mean you have to tag along on our date!"
"Cecily, watch your language."
Aira replied.
"Ugh…"
She was trying to Sekoilate the anger in Cecily.
"Don't get distracted!"
"Cecily was the one who said mishaps were common when riding horses!"
"Ugh, forget both of you!"
She was easily irritated today. I stirred her breasts to try and appease her. I searched for the position of her nipples and used my fingers to stimulate them to stand tall.
"Mmm... what are you doing rubbing against me? Mmm..."
She made a troubled sound.
"Cecily is too uptight. Be more flexible. Only the nipples and clit need to be hard."
"You dumbass! Aren't you ever tired of this?"
"Nope, I'm never tired of it."
She brushed my hand away with one hand. I put my arm around her stomach and leaned against her back. She smelled good.
"Stuffy."
"All you ever do is complain!"
"I have reason to complain! This isn't a date. You deceived me."
"When we get to Migul, let's go somewhere else together."
"Got it. I'll get my hopes up though."
"Are you sure?"
"What's sure?"
"You're planning to break up with me, right?"
"……"
I stopped the horses to rest them. I took out some horse feed from storage and gave it to the horses. Cecily created water for us and the horses with water magic, but there was no water for Aira. So I created some instead. We must be about halfway there. The intended castle was still not visible. Beyond the olive grove, a forest was spreading out, and a lookout tower was visible.
"Could that be the Chairman's farm?"
"Hmm. I can't tell... There are other towers as well."
Following her words, I carefully looked at the forest and indeed saw several other towers. It seemed like farms were scattered in this area.
"Aira-chan, aren't you tired?"
"Hey, language."
"Lady Aira, are you not tired?"
"No, I'm fine."
It was just me and Cecily, or me and Aira talking from earlier. Cecily was ignoring Aira. She was very angry. After the break, I was now sitting in front on the horse, and Cecily was behind me.
"You can touch me."
"No, I won't! Focus!"
The journey continued. I wanted to get the two to make up, but I haven't come up with a good way yet.
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