kscans

Chapter 176 - The Raid on the Elven Palace and the Companions' Internal Strife

Leaving Wake behind, we headed for Marmi's parents.

"No bananas, there’s no bananas anywhere!"

Shizuka and Reeni sang a strange song as they walked hand-in-hand. I wished they would remember we were in the middle of a raid.

"This is the final step, isn't it?"

Myra said.

"Yeah, all Mo has to do is challenge her mother to a magical duel and win."

Honestly, though, I thought it would be difficult for Marmi to beat her mother, Marina. According to Marmi, her mother was the world's greatest mage. The real question was how much resolve Marmi could show when facing her.

"It doesn't seem like I'll be of much use this time,"

Myra said, a hint of sadness in her voice. I would have been happy to stay out of the action, but she seemed to have higher standards.

"No, just having you here is a relief. If you’d been here 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 here. And there’s no guarantee they’re on our side."

I didn’t know what was going on with those two. With all the commotion we were making, it wouldn't have been strange for us to have run into them by now, yet they were nowhere to be seen.

"You're thinking we might have to fight them, aren't you?"

"If it comes to that, I want you and me to handle it. Cecily is especially dangerous. If she directs her full power the wrong way, this mansion could burn to the ground. That would make it difficult to repair our relationship with the Star Union family."

"That is certainly true,"

Myra said with a deep nod.

"And then there’s Claire. We’ve ruined her chance for a business negotiation. She probably won’t complain about it, but if her position worsens, it will affect how comfortable we can be in this city."

"And we have asked her to help search for and contact Kou-kun and the other Otherworlders, after all."

"Well, what’s started can’t be stopped. We have to see this through to the end."

Hearing my words, Myra gripped her mace tightly.

"…Mash, Cecily has a strong desire to improve herself. That is an essential quality for a mage,"

Marmi said.

"True. She’s also cheeky and hates to lose."

"…Do you like girls like that, Mash?"

"Yeah. Back in my world, I always wanted to date a girl like that."

"…Is it different now?"

"It hasn’t changed. Besides, you secretly like Cecily too, don’t you?"

Marmi nodded. Just then, Mizuki pushed her way between us.

"What’s that supposed to mean? You wanted to come to this world with a girl like Cecily?"

"No, you were the same at first! You looked down on me and were all standoffish! I liked that about you."

For the record, whenever I approached girls like that, they would genuinely try to crush my existence to make me disappear. In fact, Mizuki almost had me erased from society. Then again, Cecily and Aira tried to erase me after I came to this world, too.

"So you’re saying you would have been fine with anyone, as long as they were that type?"

"Ngh… You, go take a selfie with your phone and look at the picture. That’s my type of face. There isn’t a girl more beautiful than Mizuki anywhere. 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 answered, she was shoved aside by Famu and Myra.

"Hmph!"

"Hmph!"

The two of them glared at me, their cheeks puffed out.

"…Famu, you and I will always be together. No matter what happens, we’ll be together…"

"That’s not what I’m asking!"

"Famu… ever since we met, I’ve only had eyes for you. I’ve been in love with you this whole time."

"Master… I also lo—"

She couldn’t finish her sentence. As she tried to lean against me, she was pushed away by Myra.

"Myra, you’re… well…"

I racked 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, Famu told you, didn’t she? That’s not what I want to hear right now."

"Ngh…"

"Ngh?"

Myra repeated my grunt, questioning me.

"No, that's not it. Myra, listen closely. Your breasts are the best. I’m always looking at them. In daily life, in battle. I want to be kneading them always. I want to fall asleep buried in your breasts and wake up to their touch. Let me swear an oath upon your peach orchard: though I was not born from your breasts, I pray I will die within them!"

"Whaaaaaaaaaat! That’s not it! That’s definitely not it! You said such sweet things to Cecily and the other two, so why am I getting the embarrassing ones?!"

She lunged at me to protest, but Marmi and Reeni grabbed her from behind in a full nelson and pulled her back.

"…There’s a line."

"It’s taking too long for Reeni’s turn."

Where Famu and Myra had stood, Marmi and Reeni now stood.

"Hey, don’t we need to get to your parents’ place…?"

"Mmmph!"

"Mmmmmmph!"

"…"

Next to the two of them, Maryanne and Yanan had casually lined up. And even Shizuka had joined them.

"Wait, Shizuka, you don’t belong here! I’ll find Kou-kun for you, so go get him to say it!"

"You say that, but you’ve fallen for the beautiful and innocent Shizuka-chan, haven’t you? I’ll hear you out, so go on."

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 have never had a man say such things to me before. So, my heart is pounding."

"…Are you sure? Even if it feels like I’m being forced to say it?"

"If it’s from you, Mash, it’s alright. It seemed like you were saying them after careful thought, not just randomly."

Hearing her words, Myra wore a look 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 one for you. This is about you. No matter what conclusion you come to, I intend to cooperate with you regarding the Earth Dragon Kingdom."

Yanan nodded at my words.

"Why only Yanan…"

said Maryanne.

"…I haven’t either,"

said Marmi.

"Reeni too,"

said Reeni.

"Well, I’m fine without that stuff. I’d rather just have sex first,"

said Shizuka.

"Alright. I’ll go on a date with everyone except Shizuka. But Reeni, you’re still a child. You can decide who you want to be with when you’re older."

"So why are you singling out just Shizuka-chan?!"

As I listened to Shizuka’s protest, Reeni squeezed my hand.

"Mash doesn’t like Reeni very much. All adults say that to trick children…"

She pouted, her lips jutting out as she averted her gaze.

"Reeni. You’re adorable. I love your pure white rabbit ears. I love your fluffy white tail, too. You’ll come to know the depth of these feelings when you’re older. Be prepared. But before that, let’s the two of us go play somewhere."

"The two of us… on an outing…"

Reeni nodded.

As I was talking with her, my eyes met Patricia’s.

"You can line up too, you know."

"You are Lady Mo’s partner! I will not. But…"

She hesitated.

"You truly don’t discriminate 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, completely loyal to Marmi, an elf.

"Wake is human, but he’s a bit strange. I am of the Flower Folk, so…"

Was discrimination something directed from humans to other races? As I pondered Patricia’s words, Marmi took my arm.

"…My turn. Hurry."

She urged me on.

"…I taught Cecily a few spells, so I’ll teach you too."

Confession time was over, and now Marmi was going to grant me new magic.

She raised her wand and touched it to my forehead, then began to mutter an incantation.

"You gave me washing magic the other day. Can any mage do this kind of thing?"

"…Copying a completed spell to another person requires a specific formula. And since everyone’s body composition is slightly different, it needs to be tailored to them. This copying formula should only be known to members of the Star Union family and a select few others."

"So if you grant magic like this, can anyone use it?"

She shook her head.

"…Copied magic is often rejected, or can’t be used due to incompatibility or lack of mana. You have an unusually large amount of mana, 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 and I could give you more advanced magic. Normal people have to take on the mage profession and learn it, or create the formula within their own bodies."

"People say I have a lot of mana, but I don’t really feel it… Still, the thought that I just have to do lewd things with you to get stronger is a heart-pounding development!"

"…Mash. You’re being a little loud. I can’t concentrate, so please be quiet."

At her request, I shut up.

A few minutes must have passed. Marmi’s wand lifted from 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 convenient to know. Besides, difficult spells take time, and our affinity isn’t very high yet. It’s better to get used to it in stages,"

Marmi said.

"Thanks, Mo."

"…Mm."

Marmi smiled. For a moment, she looked so mature it took me by surprise. I reached out and touched her cheek. It felt cool, like porcelain.

Maryanne, who had been watching us, approached.

"A moment ago, Mash, you said you didn’t know your own mana, but during the duel, it looked as if you were controlling it."

"No, I’ve never consciously done it."

"Is that so? Then, could you please sit seiza and meditate for a moment?"

"Here?"

Maryanne nodded. It was a marble-paved hallway. I really didn’t want to, but I had no choice.

"Famu, you too."

I tried to drag her into it, but Famu just stared at Maryanne without a word. Maryanne gave a wry smile.

"Famu, I apologize for approaching Mash using Sameim’s name. But I was worried about you. Depending on your situation, I was prepared to cut him down, even if he is a hero from another world."

"You are the head of the One-Land family, are you not? Was there any need for you to do it yourself?"

At Famu’s words, she gave another wry smile.

"As I am now, I have no one I can rely on like Mo has Patricia and Wake. The family would be more united without me. But even so, as the head of the One-Land family, I must live in a way that would not shame my father or mother. That is why I must carry out what I have decided myself."

She spoke of her resolve, but her voice lacked any strength and sounded utterly unreliable.

"Famu, you are still young, but I was told by the villagers that you are the one who should be at the center of rebuilding the Okita village."

At her words, a shadow fell over Famu’s expression.

"B-Besides Sam… have other villagers been found?"

Maryanne nodded.

"Yes. They want to see you, Famu. They want to hear your voice."

"My voice…?"

Seeing Maryanne nod, Famu cast her eyes down. I wanted to change the subject. She still felt guilty about her current situation. And she didn’t have the words for people in the same predicament. It would take a little more time to solve that.

"Famu, Maryanne’s attempt to deceive me is a serious crime. We’ll sentence her to a spanking later."

"No, you can’t! If you do that, she’ll just enjoy it like Mizuki does!"

"I-I do not enjoy it!"

Mizuki, hit by a sudden stray bullet, protested in a fluster.

Watching Famu and Mizuki, I had a thought. I wanted Famu to stay innocent forever. I wanted Mizuki to become even more corrupted.