Chapter 167 - The End of the Caravan's Journey, and the City of Migul
Inside the carriage, I was single-mindedly kneading my own chest. They weren't voluminous, but they had a firm, undeniable softness. The more I kneaded them, the more an indescribable pleasure welled up inside me. Was it my hands feeling it, or my chest?
"What in the world are you doing, you idiot?"
The man glaring at me was Mash-kun. His way of speaking was just creepy.
"I'm nurturing them. If I knead them thoroughly like this, they should grow up big and strong, and one day bring great joy."
Hearing my words, Fam placed her hands on her own chest.
"Cecily-chan, your way of talking is creepy, and your mannerisms are like some old man's!"
"Well, you're acting like a total drama queen, Mash-kun! It's gross!"
"Hmph..."
We glared at each other.
"Besides, what's the point of making them bigger?! There are plenty of others with large chests, aren't there?"
"Aren't you frustrated? It's because of a chest like this that Aira steals your man. I'm different from you. I'm going to become a woman who's irresistibly popular!"
I declared to Mash-kun.
"Are you really that obsessed with boobs? What're you going to do with a whole collection of girls like that?"
"Mmph... You have a point... I do think these are wonderful just as they are, so I should be fine, but I just couldn't help myself..."
I just couldn't help but knead them. I wonder why. What is it about these small mounds that captivates me so?
"But are you sure about this? At this rate, it's only a matter of time before you lose to Fam."
"Sh-shut up! I'm fine just the way I am! They'd only get in the way if they were bigger. And Fam, you stop kneading your chest, too. It's not going to make them grow!"
"...Is that from personal experience, Cecily?"
Fam asked Mash-kun.
"Gnuuuh..."
Mash-kun ground his teeth. It seemed that deep down, she also longed for a larger bust.
"You didn't grope Mizuki-chan that much back then. Why is that?"
As I continued to knead my chest, Mash-kun directed the conversation toward me.
"...Well, back then you were chewing out Mizuki-chan like a madman, Mash-kun. That was... satisfying enough for me."
"Honestly..."
Mash-kun let out a sigh.
We were guarding a caravan, traveling from the city of Heilong to Migul. I had thought this stretch, being so close to the Demon Kingdom's border, would be the most dangerous part of the journey, but contrary to my expectations, it had been smooth and peaceful. We were scheduled to arrive in Migul by the end of the day. Cecily and I had our bodies swapped thanks to Shizuka's special skill, Lover's Scales. There were three cardinal rules we had to follow while swapped: 1. Address each other with suffixes like -kun and -chan. 2. Act in a way that respects each other's original personality. 3. If anything bad happens, it's Shizuka's fault. The second rule, especially the manner of speaking, was proving difficult to follow. We were guarding the rear of the caravan. Right now, Mizuki and Maira were outside, keeping watch behind us. Inside the carriage were Mash-kun, Fam, Aira, and Cecily-chan. Aira was fast asleep, her face peaceful. Come to think of it, she was the one who'd put in the most effort last night, repeatedly seeking out Mash-kun. I felt a little hurt, wishing she'd be that forward with me. Perhaps because of that, I was left feeling quite frustrated. Still, I was amazed she could sleep so soundly with this awful rattling. I never did get used to the rocking of this carriage. I stopped kneading my chest and tried to clear my mind, but a wave of nausea washed over me. I'd always thought motion sickness was a mental thing, but it seemed to be physical after all. My own body could handle it just fine, but this jarring was tough on Cecily's.
"I need some fresh air."
I said, poking my head out toward the driver's seat. My vision filled with the long line of carriages, the endless plains beyond, and in the distance, a city skyline of stone buildings. The city's center was a small hill, and at its highest point, I could see a massive dome-shaped building supported by countless columns. A stone corridor surrounded the dome. It appeared to be made of white marble, giving it less the feel of a castle wall and more of a religious solemnity.
"We're finally here. The city of Migul..."
Mash-kun murmured, having poked his head out just like me.
"There are no city walls."
It lacked the kind of fortress walls I'd seen in other cities. There were some, but they were just low fences, enough to keep out monsters and beasts.
"Apparently there used to be, but so many people gathered here that the city kept expanding, and they eventually got rid of them."
Mash-kun explained. Ever since they'd removed the walls, they had defended the city by strengthening their diplomacy and military might—something only possible for a city whose scale was second only to the Imperial Capital of Krum and the former capital of the Old Empire. But now, a new threat had appeared: the Demon Kingdom. Their military forces were no match for the sheer numbers of the Demon Kingdom's army in a pitched battle. The city spread out radially from the central hill, and its administrative districts were divided in the same way, into four quadrants.
To the south was the dog-kin's House Wanland. To the east, the elves' House Starunion. To the north, the humans' House Airally. And to the west, the dwarves' House Skynorth.
From these four ruling houses, two Governors were elected each year, and the city was governed by a senate composed of the highest taxpayers. There was once a king, but that bloodline had long since died out. In the time of the king, the order of power among the four houses was, as their districts indicated, Wanland, Starunion, Skynorth, and then Airally. Now, however, the city was under the Empire's control, and the human House Airally, having earned the deep trust of the emperor, had surpassed the power of the other three houses.
"Is that the Crystal Palace?"
Beyond the dome-shaped building on the hill, I saw a massive pyramid floating in the air like a mirage. Its surface was covered in highly transparent crystal, making it look as though you could see right through it. It was the largest dungeon in the city. Just like Longhorn Trail in Heilong, the dungeon didn't physically exist in that location. It would vanish if you changed your viewing angle. The dungeon's entrance was in a district directly below the Crystal Palace called Crystal Square.
"Cecily-chan..."
Perhaps overwhelmed with emotion at the end of our journey, Mash-kun wrapped an arm around my shoulder and leaned in to kiss me. I thought it was creepy, but I also felt like he'd get really mad if I refused, so I squeezed my eyes shut and braced myself. Mash-kun's lips touched mine. The sensation was soft, a comfort so pleasant it felt like my brain was melting. And then, in the middle of the kiss, the time for the swap ended, and we returned to our own bodies.
"Thank you for everything. This is your pay."
In front of the Mateo Trading Company building, Claire handed each of us our wages. The company was located in the district governed by House Wanland. Fam received her pay from Claire as well, but she immediately handed it all to me, so I put it in my storage along with my own share.
"Alright then."
Until now, the Mateo Trading Company had arranged everything for us, including our lodging, but from here on out, we had to think and act for ourselves. Our party, Levante, was here, as well as Shizuka, Lini, Takemura and Komachi, Fang and Doris, and Beers. Fang and Beers planned to work as adventurers exploring the dungeon while continuing their bodyguard work for the Mateo Trading Company. Doris seemed undecided, but for the time being, she would team up with them and stay in the city. And to that group, Takemura and Komachi decided to join. They, however, wouldn't work for the trading company, focusing solely on dungeon diving. They were otherworldly transfers, too. They had to break the ten-year yoke that bound their lives in this world. Until then, they had agreed to cooperate with us. The five of them would form the party Takemura's group had been using, Neko no Ko Koneko. They immediately set off for the guild. The problem was Shizuka and Lini. For now, they would both work at the Mateo Trading Company. For Lini, her education would be the main focus. Avea had also recognized her high physical abilities and offered to teach her swordsmanship in her spare time. I want her to think about what she wants to become, but I'll let her be for now. Then there was Shizuka. She'd mentioned wanting to work in the brothel district in the Crystal Garden, but I wondered if she would behave herself and work at the trading company until her boyfriend, Ko-kun, was found. Lini is attached to her, so I'd like her to continue acting as a mother figure. We have to protect those who can't fight. It would probably be best to find an inn near the Mateo Trading Company and live together with them.
"Shall I arrange for lodging for the time being at the company?"
Claire's offer was a welcome one, so I gratefully accepted. Her wings fluttered. Previously, Mercedes would have been the one to say such things to me, but recently, Claire has been the one to approach me. She's become brighter and more energetic than before. Then there was the matter of Hyakka and Karpana's groups, but they hadn't arrived yet. I was worried they might have gotten caught up in the power struggle between the Empire and the Demon Kingdom, but so far, the cities within the Empire hadn't gone to war. The Earth Dragon Tribe hadn't come either. Thinking about Yanan made me a little melancholic, but I was also looking forward to it. I wonder if they're still taking time to pacify the great plains they took back from the Earth Dragon King.
"I'm going to the church. I expect I'll be staying the night. I'll ask them to remove Fam's curse tomorrow."
Maira said as she started to leave.
"Maira."
I called out to her without thinking.
"Yes? What is it?"
She stopped and turned around. At the same time, her large breasts swayed.
"Uh, it's nothing. I'm counting on you for Fam's sake."
"Don't worry. I have a letter from the bishop in Richelle. You can leave it to me."
She smiled and waved.
"Ah, yeah..."
I waved back instinctively, watching until she disappeared from the street.
"What should we do now?"
After seeing Maira off, Fam asked. I wanted to call it a day, get some food, and rest from the journey, but her tail was wagging. For a change, it seemed there was a place she really wanted to go.
"Where do you want to go?"
I asked Fam.
"Nowhere in particular... I'll just follow you, Master."
Was she playing dumb? What a pain.
"In that case, we'll just stand here like idiots until Claire arranges our lodging."
"Eh..."
Her face fell with obvious disappointment.
"Where do you want to go? I'll take you."
When I asked again, she smiled shyly and scratched her head.
"I want to go see Mam. I promised I'd go see her when we arrived in the city."
Cecily and Aira were set to enroll in the magic academy. I had asked Marmie to make the arrangements. Going to her place meant saying goodbye to them. Of course, Fam probably hadn't thought that far ahead. We followed the directions the Mateo Trading Company gave us and headed for Marmie's house. She, of course, lived in the eastern district controlled by House Starunion.
"Hey, is this really okay?"
Mizuki asked anxiously, watching Fam walk ahead of us. She was usually by my side, but today she was leading the way. Did she want to see Marmie that badly? The rest of Levante, minus Maira, followed behind her.
"What is?"
"I mean, she's the daughter of one of the four ruling houses, right? Can we really just show up and expect to see her? What if we get arrested as suspicious characters?"
"True... I'd rather avoid any trouble."
Mizuki had a point. It would be fine if we knew someone, but it wasn't like Patricia or Wake would be in a place where we could meet them easily.
"If only Mizuki could act as a decoy and cause a ruckus, we might be able to sneak in..."
"Why me?! No way, I'm absolutely not playing that role!"
While we were talking, we arrived in front of a mansion surrounded by an iron-barred fence. The grounds were so vast they made the Chairman's mansion on Longhorn Street look tiny. The tips of the iron bars were sharpened like chevaux-de-frise, and to be extra thorough, they even had barbs to prevent anyone from pulling themselves free if they got impaled. A stone gate with pillars twice the height of a person stood before us. The gate was open, but of course, there were guards standing watch. The sheer intimidation factor made even approaching it a daunting task.
"I'll go ask them to call for Mam."
Fam said.
"Huh? Hey, wait! If you're going to call for someone, make it Patricia or Wake, not Mam!"
It seemed my voice didn't reach her. She walked nonchalantly towards the guards without a hint of caution. Mizuki and I could only stare at her retreating back, praying for her safety.
Thank you for reading. To those who have liked, bookmarked, and rated this work, your support is a great encouragement.
I have posted a story that shares the same world view on Shosetsuka ni Naro. https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5618jd/ It will conclude in about 20 chapters. Please give it a read. Until it is finished, "Ossan wa~" will have an irregular update schedule. I apologize.