Chapter 171 - A Discussion Before the Raid, and Those Who Look Down Upon Them
We were on our way to Marmie’s estate.
"So, how do you plan to convince Fam and her parents?"
"They aren't willing to listen. So we just have to act."
When I answered Maira, she stopped in her tracks for a moment. Our group consisted of myself, Maira, Marmie, Patricia, Shizuka, and Lini. Samueim had tagged along as well. I wondered if she was truly intent on sticking with me.
"Samueim, you can forget about the outcome of last night's duel. I have no intention of holding it over your head. I just want you to meet Fam, so you could wait at the inn if you'd like. But if you're coming with us, I'm sure you understand that we'll be continuing where we left off this morning."
A faint smile touched her lips at my words.
"I am prepared for that. Besides, I can't very well stay behind when Marmie is going."
I stopped and looked at her. I hadn't told her that Marmie was the daughter of one of the four ruling houses, so maybe it was normal for her to be so casual with her name.
"Um, is something wrong?"
"No… Here, take your sword back. And take this short sword, too. It was made by someone I respect, so take good care of it."
She held out both hands and accepted them. I equipped the one-handed sword and shield I’d received from the king of Heilong.
"Yes. Does that mean the person who made your sword is a woman, then?"
"N-No, that's not it! He's my master, Fam's, and Maira's. Oh, and probably my companion Aira's master as well."
I glanced at Maira, who thought for a moment before giving a vague nod. I see, so maybe not Aira's. And then there was Yanan, the girl from the Earth Dragon Race, who had joined us.
"Yanan, my apologies. I said I would introduce you to the important people of Migul, but things have gotten complicated. I need you to wait just a little longer."
"It's no problem at all. I came here to see you more than anything, Mash."
Yanan replied with a gentle smile. Come to think of it, this was the first time I was seeing her under the sun. Her skin, which had appeared reddish-brown in the torchlight, was actually fair and clear. She was a little on the stout side, but I found that rather cute.
"Um, if I may ask, you're of the Earth Dragon Race, correct? What business brings you to Migul?" Samueim asked.
"She's from the Earth Dragon Race that lives underground in the great plains south of this city. Her full name is Yanan Mogunato, daughter of the king of the Earth Dragon Kingdom. She's here to negotiate opening diplomatic relations with this city."
"No way… They're Migul's closest yet most distant neighbors. They're seeking negotiations?"
"Hm? You seem to know a lot about them."
"Oh, n-no. I've only heard things through the grapevine."
"What kind of grapevine is that?!"
I went to give her a light tap with one hand, but I accidentally hit her chest, which bounced back with a soft springiness. She blushed and covered her chest. She had been so composed back at the inn, but it seemed she was much more self-conscious outdoors. She's definitely a good one. I renewed my resolve to make Fam accept her in the chaos of dealing with Marmie.
"So, what did you mean by 'we just have to act'? What are you planning to do at Marmie's home?" Maira asked.
"Honestly, you understand how difficult it will be to persuade her parents, let alone Fam, right?"
"Yes. I think so too."
Maira nodded. I had been unceremoniously thrown out of her estate, after all. I glanced at Patricia, one of the people who had done the throwing.
"Will Wake be on our side in this matter?"
"He is Lady Marmie's knight. That does not mean he will follow all of her commands, however."
"I see. So he chooses his actions based on what he believes is best for Marmie."
"Yes. I myself do not know what is right. I have decided to follow Lady Marmie's current feelings, but he has his own thoughts."
"If you were going to follow Marmie's feelings, I wish you wouldn't have punched me and thrown me out… Still, the fact that Wake isn't here means…"
It meant he had a different opinion than Patricia.
"Why are you so concerned about Wake?"
"Well, I'm thinking that if they won't listen to reason, we'll just have to make them understand through force."
"D-Don't tell me you're planning to raid Marmie's mansion!"
Maira asked in shock, and I nodded.
"I'm planning to beat them to a pulp."
The corners of my mouth curled into a smile.
Everyone stopped walking.
"…Are you serious?"
Marmie peered into my eyes.
"And I'm thinking of having Samueim take on Wake."
"Whaaaat? Me, against Wake the Unsinkable?"
Samueim staggered backward with enough force to nearly fall on her rear.
"What? You know him?"
"Know him is an understatement…"
She said, trembling. Her reaction was strange, no matter how you looked at it. She couldn't have been in this city for even a year yet. She seemed bright, so it was possible she had thoroughly learned the city's general knowledge. Even so, she was fitting in too well. I wondered if the adventurer who bought and freed her had been involved in political activities.
"He just predicts his opponent's moves and acts accordingly. If your sword speed can surpass his processing speed, you should be able to win."
"…I've heard he's strong enough to overwhelm ten skilled combatants. I don't believe I can attack faster than ten people combined."
She muttered as if she'd already given up.
"Don't worry. In the world I came from, there was a man who could understand what ten people were saying at once."
"That's just absurd…"
I reached out to grope her chest for encouragement, but Maira grabbed my arm.
"…It's not just Wake. There are always twenty soldiers stationed at my mansion."
"Is that so?"
That was fewer than I expected.
"And won't Fam, Mizuki, Cecily, and Aira also be our enemies?" Maira added after Marmie spoke.
"Hold on, I get Fam. But why would the others be our enemies?"
Maira looked away, finding it hard to say.
"Actually… myself, Fam, Mizuki, Cecily, Aira, Lady Racshell, Claire, Hyakka, Riley, and Lini formed the Ten-Person Committee, or CDX. We haven't told Lady Racshell, Hyakka, or Riley yet, but they're honorary members."
"What kind of imposing name is that for a group?"
"We pass judgment on whether any new girl Mash brings along can be added to your list of lovers. If even one person says 'Veto,' she's rejected."
"What happens when you approve?"
"Huh? Approve?"
She tilted her head. Apparently, the concept of approval didn't exist in the CDX; it was a group dedicated solely to slapping a Veto on my potential new girlfriends. I didn't know why Lini was part of it, but it was clear that when they deliberated on Marmie and Samueim, the verdict was a resounding Veto.
"So, what does that committee have to do with Mizuki and the others turning against us…?"
"Fam is vetoing them, isn't she? We have an ironclad rule that if one person objects, we all unite to oppose them. In other words, we're all on Fam's side."
"…Maira, you too?"
"I haven't been informed that anyone has vetoed Marmie. Besides, I believe in my hero. I believe that a fairy tale must have a happy ending."
"Maira…"
"But I'm against it too!"
Maira puffed out her cheeks and turned away.
We arrived at Marmie's estate. The guards saw her and saluted, letting us pass through with ease. We stood in the garden. Water channels neatly divided the grounds, and flowerbeds filled with geraniums and various other flowers soaked up the sunlight. Either because we had traveled north or because summer was ending, the sun's glare had weakened, and a dry westerly wind felt pleasant. From here, the mansion's façade was designed with large windows to let in as much light as possible.
"I'm going to capture Fam and Marmie's parents. Then, in front of them, I'll declare that Marmie is mine and that I'm taking her with me."
"In that case, couldn't we do this without fighting?" Maira asked.
"We're in this situation because they wouldn't even have a discussion. They're the ones who threw me out without a word. That's right, I'll throw Samueim at Fam and make her spit out some words of gratitude. And for Marmie's parents, I'll hit them with Shizuka's special skill, Scales of Love. They'll be embarrassed when they don't switch places. It's tough on Marmie, but I'll make them see just how empty a political marriage is."
"Wouldn't it be more effective to use it on Mash and Marmie, then? Besides, I've never seen Shizuka's Scales of Love fail. I don't even understand the definition of 'in love.' What's the criteria? What if it's simply a matter of 'having slept together'…"
Maira frowned.
"…I don't know the laws of this city, but we're trying to twist the situation through intimidation and violence. So don't argue with logic!"
"Right. Of course."
Maira nodded, looking a bit taken aback.
"…Mash, about Samueim… N-never mind."
Marmie started to say something, then trailed off as she looked behind me. I turned to see Samueim standing there. She gave me a bright smile. I'd been curious about her for a while now, but Marmie was the priority.
"Like I said before, if Wake shows up, I'm leaving him to Samueim. The real problem is Mizuki."
"Hold on. Wake is a problem, but there are other knights. More than that, House Starunion has an elven magic corps. Furthermore, her parents, especially her mother's firepower, will be a greater obstacle to our suppression," Samueim said.
"…It's fine. Neither the knights nor the magic corps are permanently stationed here. Like I said, there are only about twenty people right now. Besides, they're training at this time of day."
"Really? Then what was with all the guards yesterday?" I asked Marmie as she replied.
"…I gathered a lot of them because Fam was coming."
They were supposed to be in a tense standoff with the Demon Kingdom, but what were these people doing? Were they bored?
"If we're up against mages, we have a brilliant mage on our side too."
I patted Marmie's head and discreetly passed her a mana seed.
"I'll take Fam. You take your parents."
Marmie nodded.
"In that case, Mizuki is still the biggest problem. I can't beat her."
"More than Wake?"
Samueim's eyes went wide.
"To put it simply, she's the kind of person who can solo a fortieth-floor Area Guardian."
"…"
Samueim fell silent. Just then, Lini grabbed the hem of my clothes and tugged.
"Mash, please leave Mizuki to Lini. I want to redeem myself for losing at the river the other day."
I didn't think for a second that she could hold Mizuki back. But her gaze was incredibly serious. I nodded, and Lini nodded back. At that moment, I thought I saw a curtain sway in one of the windows. Looking up, I saw Fam. She was looking down on us from there. The reflection of the light made it impossible to see her expression clearly. But I swore that I would reach her. Her figure vanished from the window.
"Alright, let's begin. Marmie, can you make a giant stone sphere?"
"…If I can use the mana seed and borrow your mana, Mash."
Marmie answered. Yanan, who had been listening to our conversation, came over.
"You're using earth magic, I see. In that case, I shall grant you the Earth Dragon Race's skill, Blessing of Earth."
She placed a hand on Marmie's chest and closed her eyes. A soft light flowed into Marmie's body. Marmie raised her hands to the heavens, and a stone sphere materialized above her head. At first, it was the size of a fist, but it quickly grew to exceed a person's height. The sphere's growth didn't stop, casting a massive shadow over the garden.
"Alright, drop it."
Upon hearing my words, our allies scattered in a panic. Marmie dropped the stone sphere into the newly opened space. With a heavy, thunderous roar, the sphere hit the ground, and the earth beneath our feet buckled and shook violently, like an earthquake. The vibrations reached the mansion, and the glass panes adorning the façade shattered all at once. A shower of broken fragments rained down onto the ground.
"Listen up, people of House Starunion! We're taking over your house! And we're taking Marmie Mume Mo Starunion! You gave her a ridiculously long name, and your daughter is pissed about it!"
I shouted as I pulled Marmie's shoulder close. Hearing this, Samueim couldn't hold back her laughter and burst out.
"And you, Fam! I told you to make up with Marmie, didn't I?! Why are you fighting?"
As I yelled, she reappeared at the same window where she'd shown her face before.
"Shut up! It's all your fault, Master! Didn't you say you'd stand by my feelings?! Didn't you say you'd take my hand and run away with me?! So why are you with Marmie?! And why is that dog-eared woman holding your short sword?! Are you trying to spite me?!"
She leaned out and screamed.
"W-Wait, Fam! Don't lean out so far! You'll get hurt on the broken glass!"
She had been about to place her hands on the windowsill and hastily pulled them back.
"You said it yourself! That it's not just one emotion that decides things! That there are many different feelings involved! I'm thinking about a lot of things too! That's why I'm taking Marmie! And I'm taking you too!"
"That's not fair! You know exactly how I feel, Master! You know everything! You're just pretending not to, pushing through because you think I'll eventually give in!"
"You're not being fair either! You see right through me!… But anyway, never mind that. More importantly, can't you tell? Look closely at her face!"
I pointed at Samueim. Just then, I saw guards, alerted by the commotion, running toward us.
"Should we make our stand here?"
Maira asked.
"No, if we get into a melee here, we'll be overwhelmed by their numbers. We're charging into the mansion!"
I picked a random window and dove inside. My companions followed.
"What do you mean, 'charging in'?! We're no better than burglars!"
Shizuka complained. It looked like it would be tough for her and Patricia to keep up with us. Lini, on the other hand, was nimble and leaped lightly into the mansion. Yanan also followed, despite surely having no idea what was going on with this sudden lovers' quarrel.
"Mash, so Marmie was a daughter of House Starunion. Won't this make it impossible for you to negotiate with us…?"
"It's fine. Once I've tied up Marmie's parents, I'll make them agree to establish diplomatic relations with the Earth Dragon Kingdom too."
"…"
Yanan's face went blank for a moment as she fell silent. She shook her head as if to dismiss her own dark imagination. She was probably questioning my sanity.
"I—no, the Earth Dragon Kingdom owes Mash a great debt…"
She muttered as if trying to convince herself. Watching her, I glanced over at Patricia.
"Patricia, you should surrender. Just make the excuse that I threatened you. They won't treat you badly."
"I know I will be a burden. But I am here to serve Lady Marmie. Please, I beg you, take me with you."
"…Always together. My Patricia."
Marmie answered before I could, taking her arm.
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