Chapter 176 - The Raid on the Elven Palace and a Squabble Amongst Allies
Leaving Wake behind, we headed towards Marmie's parents.
"No bananas, there are no bananas anywhere!"
Shizuka and Lini were singing a weird song, walking hand-in-hand. I wished they'd remember we were in the middle of a raid.
"This is it, the final stage," Maira said.
"Yeah, all Marmie has to do is challenge her mother to a magic duel and win."
But honestly, I thought it would be difficult for Marmie to defeat her mother, Marina. According to Marmie, her mother was the greatest mage in the world. The real question was how much resolve Marmie could show when facing her.
"It seems I won't be of much use this time," Maira said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. I would've been happy to stay out of the action, but she seemed to have higher standards.
"No, just having you here is reassuring. If you'd been with us yesterday, I doubt we would have been kicked out of this mansion and ended up in this situation. Besides…"
"Besides?"
"Cecily and Aira are still around. We can't be sure they're on our side."
I didn't have a good read on their situation. We were making enough of a commotion that it would have been no surprise if they had joined up with us by now, yet they were nowhere to be seen.
"You're thinking we might have to fight them?"
"If it comes to that, I'd like to handle it with you, Maira. Cecily is especially troublesome. If her full power is directed the wrong way, this mansion could burn to the ground. That would make it difficult to repair our relationship with House Starunion."
"That is certainly true," Maira said, nodding deeply.
"And then there's Claire. We ruined her chance for a business negotiation. She probably won't complain about it, but if her position worsens, it will affect how comfortably we can live in this city."
"Plus, we've asked her to help search for and contact Ko-kun and the other heroes from another world, haven't we?"
"Well, what's started can't be stopped. I'll see it through to the end."
Hearing my words, Maira tightened her grip on her mace.
"…Mash, Cecily has a strong desire to improve. That's an essential quality for a mage," Marmie said.
"True. She's also cheeky and hates to lose."
"…Do you like girls like that, Mash?"
"Yeah, I do. Back in my world, I used to wish I could date a girl like that."
"…And that's changed now?"
"It hasn't. Besides, you secretly like Cecily too, don't you?"
Marmie nodded. Just then, Mizuki wedged herself between us.
"What's that supposed to mean? You're saying you wanted to come to this world with a girl like Cecily?"
"No, that's not it! When we first met, you were always looking down on me and acting all standoffish, weren't you? That's the kind of girl I liked!"
For the record, whenever I got close to that type of girl, they would mock me with all their might, as if trying to erase my very existence. In fact, Mizuki almost had me erased from society. And even after coming here, Cecily and Aira nearly did me in.
"So you're saying any girl of that type would have been fine?"
"Urk… Just take a selfie with your phone and look at the picture. That's the face I like. There isn't a girl more beautiful than you anywhere, Mizuki. At least, that's what I think."
Mizuki's cheeks turned red.
"W-Well, if that's the case, then it's fine."
As Mizuki was replying, she was shoved aside by Fam and Maira.
"Hmph!"
"Hmph!"
I was being glared at by the two of them, their cheeks puffed out.
"…Fam, you and I are going to be together forever. No matter what happens, we'll be together…"
"That's not what I asked!"
"Fam… ever since we met, I've only had eyes for you. I've been in love with you this whole time."
"Master… I love y—"
She couldn't finish her sentence. Just as she tried to lean against me, she was pushed away by Maira.
"Maira, you're… well…"
I wracked my brain, trying to come up with the right words. But nothing came to me on the spot.
"Well?"
"N-No, that's not it. You're always helping me. I'm truly glad to have you with me."
"…Mash, Fam told you, didn't she? That's not what I want to hear right now."
"Urk…"
"Urk?" Maira repeated my word like an echo.
"No, that's not it. Maira, listen closely. Your boobs are magnificent. I'm always looking at them. In daily life, and in battle. I want to be kneading them always. I want to fall asleep buried in your bosom and wake up savoring their texture. Allow me to swear upon your twin peaches: I may not have been born between your breasts, but I pray I will die between them!"
"Whaaaaaaaaaat?! That's not right! That's absolutely not right! You said such sweet things to Cecily and the other two, so why do I get such embarrassing words?!"
She lunged at me in protest, but Marmie and Lini grabbed her from behind in a full nelson and pulled her back.
"…There's a line."
"You're making Lini's turn take longer."
Where Fam and Maira had been standing, Marmie and Lini now stood.
"Hey, don't we need to get to your parents' place…"
"Hmph!"
"Hmphh!"
"…"
Standing coolly beside the two of them were Marianne and Yanan. And even Shizuka had joined the line.
"Wait, Shizuka, you don't belong here! I'll find Ko-kun for you, so go get him to say it!"
"Don't say that. You've fallen for the beautiful and innocent Shizuka-chan, haven't you? I'll be a good girl and listen, you know."
I had a feeling that anything I said to her would be pointless. I shifted my gaze to Yanan.
"Yanan, are you serious? You want to hear it too?"
"Yes. I've actually never had a man say something like this to me before. So my heart is pounding."
"…Are you sure about this? It won't feel good hearing it when I'm being forced into it like this."
"It's fine if it's from you, Mash. It didn't seem like you were just saying whatever; it looked like you were properly thinking about your words."
Hearing her, Maira wore an expression of utter despair. This was getting complicated, so I decided to leave her be for now.
"A-Anyway, you and I will go on a date first. Think carefully about whether I'm really the right person for you. This is about your life. No matter what you decide, I intend to cooperate with you regarding the matter of the Earth Dragon Kingdom."
Yanan nodded at my words.
"Why only Yanan…" muttered Marianne.
"…I haven't had one either," said Marmie.
"Lini too," said Lini.
"Well, I'm fine skipping all that and getting straight to the sex," said Shizuka.
"Alright, fine. I'll go on a date with everyone except Shizuka. But Lini, you're still a child. You should decide who you want to be with when you're older."
"Why are you singling out Shizuka-chan like that!"
As I listened to Shizuka's protest, Lini squeezed my hand.
"Mash doesn't like Lini very much. All adults say that to trick children…"
She pouted, her lips pursed as she averted her gaze.
"Lini. You're cute. I love your pure white rabbit ears. I love your fluffy white tail, too. When you grow up, you'll come to understand the depth of these feelings. You'd better be prepared. But before that, let's the two of us go play somewhere."
"An outing for two…"
Lini nodded. As I was talking with her, my eyes met Patricia's.
"You can get in line, too."
"You are Marmie-sama's partner! I will not. But…"
She hesitated.
"You truly hold no prejudice against other races, do you? I am a little surprised."
"Mizuki's no different. And it's the same for you and Wake, isn't it?"
They were, after all, devoting their loyalty to Marmie, an elf.
"Wake is human, but he's a little strange. I am of the Flower-Kin, so…"
Is the discrimination directed from humans toward other races? As I mulled over Patricia's words, Marmie took my arm.
"…It's my turn. Hurry up."
She urged me on.
"…I taught Cecily a few spells, so I'll teach you one too."
The confession time was over, and Marmie was now going to bestow a new spell upon me. She raised her wand and touched it to my forehead, then began to mutter an incantation.
"You gave me that laundry spell the other day, too. Is this something any mage can do?"
"…Copying a completed spell to another person requires a special formula. And since everyone's body composition is slightly different, it needs to be tailored to the individual. This copying formula should only be known to members of House Starunion and a select few others."
"So if you grant it, can anyone use magic?"
She shook her head.
"…Copied magic is often rejected by the body, or it might not work due to incompatibility or insufficient mana. Your total mana pool is on a completely different level, Mash, so I think the spell I'm about to give you will be fine. If we were to become intimate, our affinity would increase even more, and I could give you more advanced spells. A normal person has to either gain the mage job and learn spells or formulate them within their own body."
"People keep telling me my mana pool is huge, but I don't really feel it… Still, the thought of needing to do lewd things with you to get better is a heart-pounding development!"
"…Mash. You're being a little loud. I can't concentrate, so please be quiet."
I shut up as she told me to.
A few minutes must have passed. Marmie's wand left my forehead.
"…I gave you Intermediate Water Magic and the ability to control its temperature."
"Why water magic? And why not advanced?"
"…You seem to like coffee and tea, Mash. It's useful to know. Also, difficult spells take time, and our affinity isn't that high yet. It's better to get used to it in stages."
Marmie explained.
"Thanks, Marmie."
"…Mm."
Marmie smiled. For a moment, she looked so mature it took me by surprise. I touched her cheek. It felt slightly cool, like porcelain. Marianne, who had been watching us, approached.
"Earlier, you said you weren't aware of your own mana, Mash, but during the duel, it looked like you were controlling it."
"No, I've never consciously done it," I said.
"Is that so? In that case, could you please sit seiza-style and meditate for a moment?"
"Here?"
Marianne nodded. This was a marble-paved hallway. I really didn't want to, but I had no choice.
"Fam, you too."
I tried to drag her into it, but Fam just stared intently at Marianne without a nod. Marianne gave a wry smile.
"Fam, I apologize for using Sam-eim's name to get close to Mash. But I was worried about you. Depending on your situation, I was prepared to cut down even a hero from another world."
"You're the head of House Wanland, aren't you? Is there a need for you to do it yourself?"
At Fam's words, she gave another wry smile.
"Right now, I have no one I can rely on like Marmie has Patricia and Wake. My house would be more united without me. But even so, as the head of House Wanland, I must live in a way that would not bring shame to my father and mother. Therefore, what I decide, I must carry out myself."
She spoke of her resolve, but her voice lacked conviction and sounded terribly unreliable.
"Fam, I was told by the villagers that you, despite your youth, should be the central figure in rebuilding Okita Village."
At her words, a shadow fell over Fam's expression this time.
"Have… have other people from the village been found, besides Sam…?"
Marianne nodded.
"Yes. They want to see you, Fam. They want to hear your voice."
"My voice… you say?"
Seeing Marianne nod, Fam cast her gaze downward. I wanted to change the subject. She still felt guilty about her current situation and didn't have the words for people in the same predicament. Solving that would require a little more time.
"Fam, the fact that Marianne tried to deceive me is a serious crime. Let's sentence her to the punishment of spanking later."
"No! If you do that, she'll just enjoy it like Mizuki does!"
"I-I don't enjoy it!"
Mizuki, hit by a sudden stray bullet, hastily retorted. Watching Fam and Mizuki, I had a thought. I wanted Fam to stay innocent forever. As for Mizuki, I wanted her to become even more corrupted.
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