kscans

Chapter 148 - 148. Claire's Present and Future (Claire☆)

Morning practice wrapped up, and I decided to stick around the trading company. The company was on the north side of town, occupying a spacious plot of land. The spot where we'd just been training was a work area for sorting cargo, and besides that, there was a stable that doubled as a warehouse and the main trading hall.

"Finally, we've finished sorting the shipment from Fullft. Now we'll load it onto the wagons heading to Miglutt,"

Claire said with a touch of nostalgia. I wondered how much of the cargo from Richel was still mixed in there. The goods transported from Richel had been sorted in Fullft, redistributed to their destinations, blended with other shipments, and brought here by ship. Then they'd be sorted again in this city before heading off to Miglutt. We made our way to the trading hall together.

Mercedes had already returned to her duties, and the rest of the group had headed to the beach just before Longhorn Street so Mizuki could teach them swimming. Like the trading hall back in Fullft, the first floor here was a tavern combined with a negotiation space. The second floor served as offices and meeting rooms, with the upper floors reserved for living quarters. Claire was staying in one of the guest rooms on the residential level. The ground floor was built of stone, but everything above that was wood.

Down on the first floor, lively voices bounced around amid upbeat deal-making. Nearby, others huddled close, whispering in low tones. Everyone was drinking, but it was probably low-alcohol ale. Even though it doubled as a tavern, the main focus was business, and unlike an inn's bar, it shut down at sunset. We cut through the tavern and headed up to her room.

"According to the schedule, we'll be leaving this city in three days. Should we look after Reeni during that time too?"

"Yeah..."

If she stayed with us, she'd probably end up spending it with Shizuka, the one she was closest to. I had a nagging worry that those days might turn into something irreversible for her. But she needed a mother figure, and switching that around constantly didn't sit right with me. In Levante, the ones who seemed suited for a mother role were Myra and Aira, but I figured Aira would be the best for Reeni. Myra was popular with the kids, but she had a childish side herself and might just spoil them rotten. My biggest concern was that she'd end up raising the boys too much in her own image. Aira, on the other hand, knew where to draw the line, had a nurturing side, and a maturity that ran deeper than you'd expect. But she had a thing for women too. I didn't know how this world viewed that, but I wanted Reeni to grow up as her true self. Come to think of it, they were a pretty unusual pair of sisters.

"I'd rather you educated Shizuka more than Reeni..."

Claire gave a wry smile at my mutter.

"I envy how freely she acts."

"You think so...? I wouldn't want that."

Was she really that free? Or was it just my imagination that she seemed constrained?

"Speaking of which, about Ko-kun..."

"Did you find him?!"

"No... I'm sorry."

Claire apologized with a guilty look. Yeah, that figured. If they'd found him, Mercedes would've reported it immediately. Ko-kun had probably slipped off to somewhere Shizuka wouldn't look.

"Well, as long as he's in Miglutt, it'll be fine."

She ushered me into the guest room. Soon after, I heard footsteps of a server hurrying up the stairs behind us. They set down drinks on the small table in the room—two cups, with bottles of sugar and milk. Steam rose from them, carrying the distinctive aroma of coffee.

"You know what it is?"

Claire asked, noticing my reaction.

"I've been craving this for ages."

I took a sip, and the unique bitterness spread across my tongue. It was filtered, no grounds left in it.

"It seems a lot of people in the Demon Kingdom drink it. There are even specialty shops. Here in this city or Miglutt, it's relatively easy to get, but still pricey for common folk."

She took a sip from her cup too.

"It's bitter... You tricked me, Mash. You talked about coffee like an expert, but this is my first time trying it."

Claire grimaced. I hadn't meant to trick her, but since I'd mentioned it so casually, she'd assumed it'd be palatable straight up.

"Adding sugar or milk makes it easier to drink."

"I see. I'd heard people in the Demon Kingdom drink it black. Well, then—in the style of the Empire's nobles."

She added some sugar and milk, tasted it, then walked over to the window with her cup. She took another sip while gazing out at the view. From here, you could see the mountain range beyond the walls, tinged bluish-black. They weren't especially high.

"You know, we've come a long way. I never imagined the world was this vast."

"We're only halfway through the journey."

"True. And it's all thanks to you, Mash."

"No, you've been the one bringing me this far."

She smiled at my words. Depending on where she was married off to, she might've spent her whole life in Riglutt. But from my perspective, having her around made it possible for me to travel as a caravan guard like this.

"I wonder if Fam lives somewhere in that mountain range?"

I couldn't answer her question. But directionally, it seemed plausible.

"Who knows. Do the little winged folk have hometowns like that too?"

"There's a kingdom of winged people far to the northeast, in the forests. Part of those woods has a town where lots of little winged folk live. But my mother was sold to Riglutt, though she originally lived in a nearby city."

She sipped her coffee while staring out the window with a distant gaze, as if picturing those forests. Her small wings evoked an angel. It was like a beautiful painting.

"Wait, is it Nekoganeconda or something?"

She spat out her coffee and coughed violently at my words.

"N-No! Who'd name their country something that weird?! It's Nest Grat! Mash, that's not a good name at all!"

She reacted so fiercely. I'd always seen Claire as the calm, rational type. I'd figured something like that for the country name, but it wasn't even close to Nekoganeconda. When I said I wanted to go there, Marmi had said she wanted to too. So no malice intended. She must just remember things she's not interested in half-heartedly. And while she complained about the weird name, I thought the One-Land dog-eared folk or the Earth Dragon Mogunart could use a bit more creativity too. She was still coughing, so I took her cup and rubbed her back, wiping her mouth.

"Mo told me. I didn't know the exact name."

"Hmm... So an elf was feeding you lines like that... It makes sense, since you don't have any prejudices against other races."

Her voice was low and suppressed. Her eyes had a distant look. Races really do have their own sacred things. After all, they call it a comfortable nest—Nest Grat. It must be a holy site for the little and greater winged folk. Even a cat would doze off there from how cozy it is.

"Wait, Mo didn't mean any harm. She just didn't remember it right. She knew about the 333-meter giant tree, though."

"The sacred tree's current height is 334 meters... But if you say so, Mash, I'll forget it."

It felt like I'd poured oil on the fire. I didn't have any more details, but continuing this topic seemed risky. Glancing down, I saw coffee stains on her clothes too. I started helping her undress.

"Wh-What are you doing?!"

Claire pressed down on her hem, resisting to keep her clothes on.

"...You don't like it?"

"You're trying to distract me after bringing up something that upset me, right?"

"No, but deep down, wasn't this what you wanted too?"

"Ha, now that you mention it!"

My words seemed to remind her of her mission.

"Alright, then. I'll undress you."

"B-But I was just out in the morning sun!"

"I'm just removing the stains from your clothes. Morning or noon, doesn't matter."

"That's a total lie! You have that cleaning magic, Mash!"

"Good catch. But even if it's just like you imagined, what's the problem?"

"The room feels a bit too bright, but... no issue there."

"You weren't being careful. This is what happens when you invite a man to your room."

"I invited you because it's you."

She stepped away from the window and sat on the bed, then started undressing herself.

"My father, Mateo, was never one to dote on me. The one he assigned to me was Mercedes."

Claire was already down to her undergarments. Her skin was smooth and lustrous. I began undressing too.

"Why are you undressing too, Mash? The coffee stains are only on my clothes."

"It's gonna be hot again today."

I placed my hand on her smiling cheek. It was soft and warm. Her hand overlaid mine.

"I heard all sorts of business talk from him—Father's work, Mercedes's real job. Before long, I started wanting to do it myself. But Father never let me go outside."

To Mateo, she was just another commodity. A tool to expand his business. Her future was decided by whichever marriage he arranged, and as she grew up, those days turned into ones filled with anxiety.

"Now it's managing the branch in Miglutt. I know it's mostly ornamental. But I want to try. Will you cheer me on, Mash?"

Instead of answering, I kissed her. Just a light brush of lips. Claire wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me close. I hugged her back, seeking her lips more deeply. My hand brushed her wings. I hesitated—should I touch them like this?

"Gently... stroke them softly,"

Claire whispered in my ear after breaking the kiss, repeating it. I did as she asked, stroking her wings while kissing her. They felt harder than expected, but the feathers were smooth and pleasant to the touch.

"Mmm..."

She let out a breath that sounded like a moan. When I slipped my tongue in, she pulled back a little. Undeterred, I explored her mouth, and soon she responded with her own tongue. Our tongues entwined as I pushed her down onto the bed.

"Sorry. I was startled. I'm still really embarrassed."

Her cheeks flushed, her voice high and breathless. I reached for her undergarments. Her hand gripped mine.

"You don't like it?"

"I don't want to be compared to others."

"It's just us today, but eventually, we'll all be together."

"Y-You're serious? I heard men can't keep going that many times... Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"L-Leave it to me."

If it was everyone, even medicine might not help. Back when I swapped with Mizuki, as Mash-kun, she'd gone at Reeni-chan almost all night. Same body, so it must be mental stamina. Someday, I'll surpass her. I removed Claire's undergarments. Her breasts were larger than Cecily's but smaller than Mizuki's—the standard size in my mind. A small bud topped each tip. I pinched and rolled it between my fingers.

"Mmm, nnn... ahh..."

Claire moaned. Ashamed of the sound, she bit her index finger to muffle it. Watching her reactions, I trailed my tongue from her neck to her chest, sucking on her nipple.

"Nn... nn..."

After savoring it—sucking, rolling—I released her nipple. Propping myself up, I let my gaze drift to her lower body. A faint bush was visible. I placed my hands on her knees to spread her legs. She resisted, tensing up.

"Um... is mine weird?"

"Can't tell without looking, right?"

"Ugh..."

Pressed by my words, she relaxed. A neat vertical line came into view. I parted it with my fingertips. She twisted, trying to close it, but I held her thigh with my free hand to keep her open. Inside the moist slit was a pink swell, and below it, a small entrance. For now, I snapped a photo.

"What are you doing?"

"You asked if it was weird, so I'm checking. The clit's a bit crooked. Too much masturbation?"

"I-It's not that much! Back in Richel, I was stressed and... couldn't help it. And I was told not to put anything in the hole below, so..."

She'd focused on the top, huh? But who told her not to insert anything? I wanted to know straight up. Her face burned red as she turned away, avoiding my eyes.

"Claire..."

"Yes? What is it?"

"The thing about your clit being crooked? That was a lie. It's beautiful."

I showed her the photo on my phone. Like with Fam, she didn't seem to grasp what was in it. I switched to a full-body shot.

"Eh...? Is that... me?"

Claire stared at the photo in shock.

"Ah... um?"

"What?"

"Forget everything I said earlier! And delete that too!"

"That depends on how you are from now on."

With that, I touched the tip at her entrance with my finger.

"Ahh!"

She cried out. I moved my finger, confirming her reactions. She tried to squirm away, but I held her firm.

"M-Mash, it feels... too good, ahn!"

"You always made yourself feel good like this, right?"

"Ahn, I never... went this far, ahh..."

She clung to me desperately, seeking a kiss. I obliged, pressing our lips together. This time, she actively tangled her tongue with mine. Her hand reached for me, stroking the head before wrapping her palm around the shaft and moving up and down. Clumsy motions, but that awkwardness only excited me more. Matching her rhythm, I quickened my fingers and tongue. Claire arched her back. Our lips parted, and I sucked on her neck.

"Mash, ahh, it feels too good... something's happening..."

Hearing her, I intensified on her bud. Claire shuddered violently.

"Aaahhh—...!"

After climaxing, she sank into the bed, breathing heavily. I hadn't come from her hand, but seeing her disheveled was satisfying enough. As I thought that, she sat up suddenly and leaned toward my crotch.

"This is... Mash's..."

She stared wide-eyed, then licked the droplet on the tip.

"Easier to drink than coffee..."

With that, she took me into her mouth. She moved her mouth and hand up and down. The slick tongue and tight grip felt incredible.

"Hey, don't push yourself."

When I said that, she looked up at me with me still in her mouth. Our eyes locked. Occasionally her teeth grazed or her grip was rough, but she read my expressions and adjusted to what I wanted. Pleasure built up. I stroked her head to distract myself. Soon I couldn't hold back, and before I knew it, I was holding her head and thrusting my hips. I buried myself deep in her mouth and came. My shaft pulsed repeatedly, filling her mouth with semen. Pinned, Claire could only accept it.

For a while, she knelt there, breathing through her shoulders, still holding me in her mouth, dazed. Finally, she lifted her head, lips clamped tight.

"You can swallow or spit. Whatever."

She swallowed it down.

"No place to spit... It clings a bit to the throat. Kinda hard to drink."

She said after catching her breath.

"Did someone teach you?"

"Um, when you and Reeni were at morning practice, Shizuka..."

Figures. Rotten or good? Hard to say. I pushed her down again. She lay back obediently, spreading her legs. She was thoroughly wet—ready. I covered her. My penis had softened after coming, but seeing her naked reignited it. I positioned at her entrance.

"Mash, I was bluffing. When Father suddenly introduced you, I was really anxious. But you gave me time to get to know you on this journey to this city. I'm truly grateful. And now I can head to Miglutt with a fresh start."

I hadn't been committed myself, but looking back, this journey was necessary for both of us.

"But I do have one big worry."

"What?"

"You just love girls. There are already so many around you. Father got a report from Mercedes, and he'll send more daughters besides me."

"Yeah. I figure it'll keep growing. After all, I'm handsome and popular."

She chuckled at my joking tone.

"But I promise. I won't accept any more gifts from Mateo. I'll tell him Claire's all I need."

"If you're promising, say it'll just be me, or you'll break up with the others."

"...I could say that, but then you wouldn't believe anything I say later."

She burst out laughing, and it felt so charming and quintessentially Claire. We shared a light kiss.

"Ready? I'm going in."

"...Yes."

She closed her eyes, tensing slightly. I eased my penis into her depths. The head slipped in easily, but as I pushed further, she winced.

"Mash, please... all the way..."

Hearing her, I thrust deeper with force.

"Ah..."

Claire's eyes widened, staring at the ceiling. There was a tearing sensation, and I reached her depths. Warm, slick softness enveloped me. I savored it, waiting for her response.

"Mash, I'm okay."

She sought a kiss. I obliged and began thrusting.

"Ah, ahn, aah, Mash, aaah..."

Her moans and the sound of my hips meeting hers filled the room. With each deep thrust, her body softened, tension melting away.

We switched positions. On all fours, I entered her from behind. Small wings sprouted from her back. Touching the base made her jolt. Each thrust sent her feathers fluttering. I stroked them while pistoning repeatedly.

"Ahn, ahn, ahn, aaah..."

She'd hesitated to make noise at first, but now she moaned freely, writhing her hips. With each movement, her rear entrance winked. I touched it with a finger, and it clenched tight—her vagina too.

"Mash, at the end... while kissing..."

Did she sense I was close, or was she aroused herself? I hugged her from behind, turning her for a kiss. Tongues clashed fiercely as we devoured each other. I pounded hard, then released my desire inside her.

"Mash, me too, aaaahhh...!"

I held her tight, emptying everything into her. Only our ragged breaths echoed in the room. Claire collapsed limply onto the bed. As she did, my softening penis slipped out. I draped over her.

"Mash, from now on... please."

Exhausted, she closed her eyes. Her breathing evened out to soft rhythms. Holding her, I drifted off without realizing.