Chapter 174 - 174. Incursion into the Elf Palace, and Bonds of Master and Servant (Part 1)
"So... that's the Mecoral One-WDOWNLOAD STYLE, right?"
I glanced at Marianne.
"That's not such a vulgar name! I am Marianne Wanland!"
So the Starunions have the Wanlands.
"What are the names of the other four houses?"
"...the Airally House of the human race, the Wanland House of the dog-eared race, the Skynorth House of the dwarves, and the Starunion House of the elves."
Marmie answered.
"Did an isekai'd person come up with those?"
"...Yes. Starunion was named by someone else, but I suspect the other names were done by the same isekai person."
"I see. Maybe that person was always on overseas business trips?"
"...Overseas business trips?"
She tilted her head, and I considered explaining, but this was Marianne. She was listening to our exchange with a faint smile.
"Marianne, what reason did you have to appear before me? And why are you acting with me now?"
She glanced at Fam beside me. Fam met her gaze steadily, perhaps sensing hostility.
"As you may know, about a year ago, something happened to her. I'm searching for and gathering the people from her village. As for your group, I already received information about you from the members of the Starunion House, but I needed to confirm how this girl was doing."
I recalled the dog-eared Chichi I met in Heilong. He, too, had tried to see if his kin were suffering.
"Fam's village isn’t part of any country or city. Why is it your business?"
"The Wanland House is one of the four houses that protect the city of Migul. I also have pride as the leader of the dog-eared race. I cannot overlook this incident. I have the responsibility to rebuild the village and punish those who did this."
Was this what ethnic bonds were about? Or was it unique to the dog-eared race?
"Rebuilding the village won't bring back those who died. No matter how many you gather, they'll just live with sorrow. That's not really 'back to normal' or even 'happy,' wouldn't you say?"
"That is true. It is just a milestone. I am trying to ensure their safety and secure their status. After that, they have to decide for themselves."
Fam's eyes darted at those words and she lowered her head. Just like Chichi. She felt ashamed of her current situation. I placed my arm around her. A small, delicate shoulder.
"Mash, is that how you feel too?"
Marianne asked.
"I'm not thinking that far ahead. It's simpler. If Fam's happy, that's enough."
"But you understand, right? If you truly want to make her happy, you have to change the circumstances that hold her back."
"..."
I looked at my hand gripping Fam's shoulder. It was small, but my hand was small too. The number of people I could carry in these hands was limited.
Marianne's hand overlapped mine.
"Mash, I became head of the Wanland House when I was three years old. You might think it's strange for a regency of a regency, but since then, my uncle has held the real power, and I'm still just a figurehead. The reason I haven't gained political power until this age is due to my lack of ability. But in this matter, I want to fulfill my duty as the clan leader. Many dog-eared people are suffering. Isn’t your desire aligned with what I want to do? Please lend me your strength."
"Did you send the Crimson Brigade after them?"
"Yes."
The Wanland House, after learning of the state of Fam’s village, sent troops to punish the Crimson Brigade. It must have been her decision. The Crimson Brigade is currently hiding in the same mountains where Fam’s village was located.
"Do you know where they are, and where Samum is?"
"I know."
"Alright. But as you can see, things are complicated right now. We can talk about the Crimson Brigade and Samum later. For now, could you go home? Things will get even more complicated if you're here."
I brought her this far because I thought she was Samum. I didn't want her involvement complicating things between us and the Starunion House.
"Wh-what?! Just because I'm from the Wanland House? Too late for that. Many people have seen me as part of your raiding party. And if I leave now and Mash loses, it would be a disaster. Besides, Mash said he’d make me his, remember?!"
"You ambushed me with a duel and set the terms yourself!"
"A-After you stripped me naked and sucked on my boobs, you did!"
Before I knew it, I was surrounded by barbarians clutching clubs. Fam had also moved away from me and was gripping a club.
"It hasn't even been a day since we arrived in Migul. And already you’ve made some random promise with Moo, and brought new people with you..."
Fam muttered.
"Wait, Shizuku and Lini, you guys understand the situation, right? Why are you holding clubs too?"
"I wasn’t sucked on..."
"Neither was Lini..."
"But when I woke up, there was a refined pair of boobs right in front of me. There’s no way you wouldn’t suck on them, right?"
My protests fell on deaf ears. My comrades wouldn’t back down, and I got a beating with clubs.
"Is Mash weak?"
Lini asked Shizuku.
"Dunno? Seems average? In my world, people didn’t walk around with weapons, so I don’t really know."
Her words made Lini knit her brow in concern.
"He lost to Mizuki in swimming. Today he lost to Mizuki, Fam, and even us... Maybe Mash will die if I don’t protect him..."
She lost in swimming because of Lini, but I respected her decision to abstain. I held back and said nothing.
"Mash is weak because he doesn’t have sex with me."
"Really?"
"Yeah. He’s been saving up. Unmet demands make him unable to think with his head and instead thinks with hislower body."
I’m the one thinking with my lower body. I kept my mouth shut again. But if I thought about it, Fam, Marmie, Marianne—my brain’s only thinking about women since I got here. Did my brain move south when I came to this world?
"Then Lini will use her head instead."
They were having their own conversation. We peeked into the courtyard but didn’t see Marmie’s mother and Cecily. We were currently walking towards the library in the north, guided by Patricia. I thought we’d be pursued, but after escaping into the mansion, we hadn’t seen any guards.
Just as I was thinking that, about ten guards rushed towards us from the front. When I turned around, more guards were rushing from behind. Then, Wake appeared from among them. Marianne gasped.
"I was surprised earlier too."
"Several years ago, I witnessed him engaging in a serious sparring match with my master. All of my master’s attacks were seen through. Even now, I can’t stop trembling when I remember it."
"Was your master a dog-eared warrior?"
"Yes. He inherited the swordsmanship of Okita Soji. He was the Captain of the Royal Guard when my father was alive, but he retired due to old age and leads a secluded life."
There’s an old man who can spar seriously with Wake, someone without special skills? That’s even more shocking.
"Earlier, I said he's just cheating. If Marianne's technique exceeds his foresight, you can win."
"Is Marianne strong?"
Fam asked.
"She is. You lost to her, didn’t you?"
"That’s because my sword broke! Also, she said she had a duel with Master. Since she’s following Master, that means Master won, right?"
"Right."
"Then she’s weak..."
"Tch... don't forget you weren't counted as part of the fighting force either, Fam. And she broke Aidan’s sword with her swordsmanship."
"I see. So, 'an attack you can't stop' means that?"
Fam nodded. As we were talking, Marianne was closing the distance.
"Marianne, you don’t have to close the distance yourself. Just cut her down when she comes in."
At my words, she stopped abruptly.
"Don’t you have no time to waste? We cleared the area for you, but the knights are on their way."
Wake answered my shout.
"Did you hear that? She said you can't win if they arrive."
"What a pain to listen to."
Wake smiled wryly at that moment. As she rapidly closed the distance, she swung her sword in a diagonal cut. The sound of fierce swordplay echoed around them. Wake parried her sword with his sword by a hair's breadth.
"Looks like that was a feint." Marianne gripped her sword with both hands and brandished it. "This is the real attack!"
With a cloth-tearing flourish, she swung her sword down with incredible speed. Again, the sound of swordplay resonated.
"Looks like you intended to break my sword, but too bad."
Marianne’s second attack was also blocked by Wake’s sword.
"Tch."
She leapt back and readjusted her stance. Sweat beaded on her forehead.
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