Chapter 170 - Marmie's Request, Continued, and a New Resolve
The next morning, I woke to a breast in front of my face.
I took it in my hand and latched onto the budding tip with my mouth.
"Ngh, nn…"
Samueim let out a sultry moan. I moved my hand down her stomach, tracing a path toward her nether regions, where I found a thicket of hair.
She was definitely much more developed than Fam.
I realized she had woken up and was staring at me.
"Is this your first time doing something like this, Samueim?"
"Who knows? I can't say for sure."
Was she still half-asleep?
I leaned in to kiss her, and she closed her eyes.
Just then, I felt a slap on my back.
"Wait a second, I'm with Samueim right now…"
I tried to press closer to her, but someone grabbed me under the arms and pulled me up.
"…"
I turned around to see Maira.
"Morning, Maira. You're back from the church."
"Good morning. What, exactly, have you been doing while I was working hard at the church? And where is everyone else?"
I looked around. Shizuka, Lini, and Samueim were all lying naked on the bed. I, of course, was naked too.
"It's a misunderstanding. Nothing happened. I think it was Shizuka's idea. Something about testing how long I could hold back…"
My memory was starting to clear up. I had refused Shizuka's proposal, but we decided to deepen our bonds together since we were all here. Then I took out some sparkling wine from my storage. Lini went down to the tavern and bought some goat's milk. After that, things got hazy. I couldn't remember why we all ended up naked.
But this disaster scene told the whole story. I took out my phone from storage to take a picture and preserve the evidence. I made sure to get especially good shots of Lini's and Samueim's naked bodies. Lini might go through a rebellious phase when she gets older and say she doesn't want to be with me. When that happens, I can use these photos to blackmail her. Still, that pure white, fluffy pom-pom tail on her butt was adorable.
As I was searching for the right camera angle, Maira snatched the phone from my hand.
"Considering your actions just now and what you're doing at this moment, who do you think would believe those words?"
Maira retorted. Samueim stirred and sat up.
"I have no experience. Wouldn't you know if you checked?"
She said. So she's a virgin. A smile naturally escaped my lips.
"Th-That's right! And I didn't touch Lini either!"
"Why are you grinning while you say that? And how would one even check?"
"Couldn't you just tell if I put it in?"
"That makes absolutely no sense! And what do you plan to do after that?!"
Maira exclaimed. What a noisy woman. I was getting tired of this, so I pulled her into an embrace and kissed her.
"Hyah— mmph!"
At first, she resisted and tried to push me away, but as I held her tight and continued the kiss, she wrapped her arms around my waist.
Just then, the door to the room opened and Marmie walked in.
She looked shocked to see me kissing Maira, and her eyes widened even further when she saw Samueim sitting on the bed.
"…W-What in the world are you—!"
Marmie cried out, a rare sound of surprise from her. It was more than surprise; she seemed utterly flustered.
Patricia entered from behind her as she stood frozen in the open doorway.
First, Maira and I received a fist to the head. Then, she gave Shizuka and Lini one as well. Samueim, however, was spared.
For now, we all got dressed. Lini went on an errand to fetch breakfast and milk for everyone. Marmie created boiling water with a composite fire and water spell, which she used for tea.
Everyone sat down wherever they pleased. I sat on the edge of the bed, and Maira came over, pressing herself right up against me. It felt cramped, so I tried to shift away, but she just scooted closer.
As this was happening, Patricia asked what was going on.
"Surprised? I found Samueim."
I said, looking at the girl sitting bolt upright in a chair with perfect posture.
""What? Samueim?!""
Marmie and Maira cried out in unison. Patricia was also gaping.
"Th-This is Samueim…? But her age is completely different from Fam's, isn't it? Could it be a case of mistaken identity… someone with the same name?"
Maira said. Marmie and Patricia's gazes remained fixed on Samueim.
"Isn't it possible for the dog-eared race to mature rapidly?"
"Mash… the dog-eared race may possess the characteristics and abilities of dogs, but they are not dogs."
Maira replied, sounding a little exasperated.
"Is that so? Anyway, I want her to meet Fam…"
I glanced at Marmie, but she was still staring intently at Samueim, a sandwich held, untouched, in her hand.
"Marmie…?"
She hastily turned back to me.
"…Nn, what?"
"I want to see Fam."
"…You can't. We had a huge fight last night."
I tilted my head in confusion. I was sure I'd sent Fam back yesterday to make up with her.
"…Fam suspects that I went to see you, Mash. So I don't think she'll come here until I return to the mansion."
I wanted to clutch my head. I had planned on taking her to the church today. I wanted to free her from her curse as soon as possible.
"Are you two always fighting?"
"…Mash, say you'll marry me. Say you'll take me on your adventure. Convince Fam. Convince my mother and father!"
Marmie was dumping everything on me. She was technically an adult by elven standards, but she still seemed like a child. She didn't have the power to change her circumstances on her own, especially being trapped within the system of nobility. I understood it was unavoidable, but it was a serious problem. I glanced at Patricia, who also wore a troubled expression. But I couldn't tell if she was troubled by Marmie herself, or the environment surrounding her.
I felt that understanding what Patricia thought of this situation might provide a clue to solving this problem. After all, she had been Marmie's attendant for so long.
I shifted my gaze to Samueim, who for some reason was smirking. However, when she noticed me looking, she quickly composed her face. I realized I hadn't introduced everyone to her yet.
"Samueim, I forgot. This is Maira, dressed in her priestess robes. This elf is Marmie, and this is Patricia, her attendant from the Flower-Kin. You don't need an introduction for Shizuka and Lini, right?"
She gave a small bow to Maira and a vague nod to Marmie and Patricia. They responded in kind.
Something was still off, but I was left with the frustration of not being able to put my finger on it.
"Patricia, what do you think about Marmie's current situation?"
"There is nothing I can say. However, it all depends on you, Mash-sama."
"Mash-sama?"
Had she ever called me that before?
"But there's nothing I can do."
She shook her head, as if to dismiss my words.
"That is not true. Marmie-sama has stated that she wishes to marry you and go on a journey. Fam-san opposed this. Marmie-sama's father and mother also opposed it. It is likely that everyone involved with House Starunion, as well as Marmie-sama's fiancé, will oppose it as well."
I nodded at her words.
"The only one who has not stated their opinion is you, Mash-sama. What is it that you wish to do? Is it not cowardly to remain silent, simply waiting for the situation to change without doing anything? I feel sorry for Marmie-sama."
"Patricia…"
"Mash-sama, what do you wish to do?"
She pressed again.
I closed my eyes and imagined it. My party has Fam. Mizuki and Maira. Cecily and Aira are there too, but they can't join us while they're at the magic academy. A small elven mage. A little reserved, with a frail body, overconfident, but with the skill and magical power to back it up.
"Marmie, are you really sure you want me?"
I opened my eyes and looked at her.
"…Honestly, I can't say I love you like Fam does, Mash. I'm interested in romance, but I don't really know what it means to me. But… the only ones who see me for me and talk to me without changing are Fam and you. I want to be with you two. Even if that means…"
She trailed off. She was bound by the duty of House Starunion to support Migul, bound by her status as one of the last children of the elven race, and she had the trait of living ten times longer than we do. Her world would continue long after I and Fam were gone. I couldn't speak of her life from my perspective.
"Marmie, Racshell told me to defeat the Demon Lord. I want you to come with me. Will you help me?"
Marmie gave a small nod.
"Also, Mizuki and I can only live for ten years in this world. I'm looking for a way to escape that. I want you to help me think of a way."
She gave another small nod.
"…Mash. From now on, together…"
She stood up and approached me, then threw her arms around me. I wrapped my arms around her back, embracing her slender frame.
As I held her, for some reason, Maira, who was next to me, hugged me too. Seeing this, Lini toddled over and joined the hug.
"Me too, me too!"
Shizuka piled on.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
Samueim joined in as well.
As I held them all, my eyes met Patricia's.
"What's wrong? You too, Patricia, come on!"
"N-No, I…"
As she waved her hands in refusal, several tulips bloomed on her head.
Thank you for reading. To everyone who has liked, bookmarked, and rated this story, your support is a great encouragement. Thank you so much for pointing out typos. It helps a great deal.
Please also check out "And so, the Dog-Eared Man Became Emperor," which I'm writing on Shōsetsuka ni Narō. I'm updating it daily at 7 PM until July 14th. It's 31 chapters in total. It's a story set more than a thousand years before Mash's time, in a world far to the east.