kscans

Chapter 209 - Another Four Regent Families Meeting, and the Meeting Dances with Elisha

Our ragged breaths eventually calmed. I wanted to stay like this, buried in Elisha's chest, and fall asleep. I pulled her closer.

"Lord Mash…"

Elisha stirred, as if trying to crawl away.

"You don't need to call me 'Lord.' Mash is fine. And you can speak more naturally."

"I cannot do that. I must show proper respect to you, the envoy of Lady Laciel."

"Elisha, the only things that need to be hard are your clit and your nipples."

"…Lord Mash?"

She tilted her head. I'd meant it as a joke, but it had fallen completely flat. I regretted saying something so stupid, something I'd usually say to Famu and the others. To hide my embarrassment, I buried my face between her breasts.

"Lord Mash, are you planning on going back to sleep?"

she asked, and I felt like I was forgetting something.

"By the way, what time is it?"

"I believe the sun has risen."

"Why were Elisha and I having sex again?"

I lifted my head from her chest. Not wanting to let go just yet, I casually caressed her large areola and toyed with her nipple. She sat up halfway, as if to escape my touch.

"Last night, you were injured in a battle in the Crystal Garden. You and Famu-san were brought to the church."

I remembered it now. While tracking Sameim, Famu and I were shot by the elf, Clovis Leafkraut. Laciel had counterattacked, but her attack was blocked by the special skill of another person who was with him. That person's skill had even nullified Laciel's charm effect. If I could get them on my side, I might be able to ask Laciel the tough questions. I might be able to find out why we were transported here. Laciel was forbidden from speaking the truth, but removing even one of her shackles would be a huge step forward. I brought my thoughts back to last night.

"So, Famu is okay?"

"Yes, I healed both you and Famu-san. However, your mana was completely depleted, and you would not wake up."

"And that's why you used the Art of the Bedchamber?"

She nodded.

"They may already be here, but the heads of the Four Regent Families wish to question you about last night's events. It was necessary to restore your mana quickly."

"Couldn't you have just used a mana potion?"

She blushed and looked away.

"I was envious of Myra. The feelings I spoke of when we were embracing were not just empty words spoken in the heat of passion."

"Elisha…"

I said, reaching for her cheek. She looked at me with languid eyes.

"Lord Mash, the heads of the Four Regent Families are here."

Her words brought me back to reality. I sat up to get dressed, but our bodies were sticky with our combined fluids. I used cleansing magic to wash myself. While I was at it, I washed Elisha's body too. She touched her skin, looking impressed.

"So this magic is why that dog-eared girl has such beautiful fur…"

After we finished dressing and were about to leave the room, she hugged me from behind.

"Lord Mash. Will you hold me again?"

"Elisha. You're mine now."

I said, giving her a light kiss on the lips.

As she had said, the heads of the Four Regent Families were waiting in a side room of the church. Maryanne One-Land of the dog-eared race. Istvan Air-Ally of the human race. Katarzyna Sky-Lot of the dwarf race. And Augustus Star Union of the elven race. They were seated at a square table. As Elisha and I entered, Maryanne stood up. She started to approach me, but Augustus raised a hand to stop her. Then, he cast a quiet gaze at Elisha.

"This is a church. I will behave as I see fit. If you do not like it, then you may leave. However, Lord Mash will remain under the church's protection."

"…Very well. But you will not be permitted to speak."

Elisha nodded at Augustus's words. Then, she sat in a lone chair that had been placed to the side. I was left standing. At least it was better than last time, when I had been handcuffed. Augustus glanced at Istvan and Katarzyna, and they gave small, expressionless nods. Seeing this, he lowered the hand that had been restraining Maryanne.

"Mash! I heard what happened from Famu. You told me you would leave Sameim's matter to me. Why couldn't you wait?!"

"It was an accident. Famu found Sameim. You might not understand, but her intuition is not to be underestimated. We needed to secure Sameim no matter what."

"It is true that she seems to have an intuitive grasp of the truth. But… you…"

she trailed off, biting her lip.

"So you summoned Lady Laciel in the middle of the city and engaged in a private battle with another adventurer?"

Augustus picked up where she left off.

"It wasn't a private battle. They shot at us first."

"Was it not you, my son-in-law-to-be, who intimidated the citizens and shot at someone who tried to flee? He claims it was in self-defense."

"I think Petra said his name was Clovis Leafkraut. Where did they go?"

"I do not know. Most likely to the Leafkraut estate."

"Wait, you said you heard his testimony that it was 'in self-defense,' right? So you know where he is, don't you?"

"I merely heard it from a family member. It matches the testimony of those who were present."

"Damn it. I don't want to be enemies anymore. I want to apologize. Let me talk to Clovis."

"That is unnecessary, and frankly, impossible. A goddess tried to shoot him in front of many witnesses. After you went to the church, Lord Istvan sent in the knights to calm the situation and enforce silence, but it is impossible to seal the lips of everyone who saw. They have suffered more damage than you did when you nearly died."

Augustus said bluntly. They had become enemies of a god. And from his perspective, he was already dealing with the trouble of Marmi's broken engagement. He likely didn't want any more complications.

"…"

"The Leafkraut family has offered to consider this matter closed. My son-in-law-to-be may have his own feelings on the matter, but I would like you to accept. In any case, we cannot have disturbances in the city. If you disrupt the peace of the city again, you will not be welcome in Miglutt. Even if you are the envoy of Lady Laciel."

Augustus directed his words not at me, but at Elisha.

"Wait. Are you planning to end the matter there?"

The one who spoke was Istvan, who had been silent since the last meeting of the Four Regent Families. He was an elderly man. His hair was thin, and his face was deeply wrinkled. But his cheeks were not sagging, and his back was straight.

"And what do you mean by that?"

"Do you think I am unaware of the situation? The Star Union family has offered their daughter to this man, the One-Land family has offered their own head, and the Sky-Lot family has offered their granddaughter."

My eyebrows twitched at his words. Just as Petra had said, Katarzyna had intended to offer Petra to me. Her age of over fifty aside, I couldn't imagine how she planned to attract my attention with her current appearance. And she didn't seem to have any intention of doing so herself. They must have thought of pairing me with her simply because she seemed like a nice, unpretentious person, unlike a typical noble, but that was a stretch.

"And so, while he was under the surveillance, or rather, the 'protection' of three families, he caused an incident in the area I control. What exactly were you thinking? And what gives you the right to declare this matter closed without my consent?"

Istvan's words were not directed at me, but at the other Regent heads.

"…"

No one could answer. Silence fell.

"Lord Istvan, if I may?"

Elisha raised her hand.

"You do not have the right to speak. You agreed to that when you sat there,"

Augustus rebuked her.

"Then I shall speak to myself until someone else does."

She brought a lightly clenched fist to her mouth and cleared her throat.

"The church judges that whatever Lord Mash does is the will of Lady Laciel. We are prepared to cooperate to allow Lord Mash to act as he pleases. Cities and national borders are irrelevant."

"What do you intend to do about the imperial capital's wishes? What about the Demon Kingdom's invasion?"

Istvan frowned.

"The Demon Kingdom? The imperial capital? God knows no borders. It does not matter which of the Four Regent Families controls which area. But this city is different, isn't it? You cannot survive without accepting the rule of the Empire. And there was a family that used that authority as a shield to continue holding the position of consul for many terms, wasn't there? Such titles mean nothing before a god."

Elisha stared down Istvan as she spoke. This woman is dangerous, I thought. Compared to her faith, Myra's ideology was still childish and cute. And I had no idea where she was trying to take this meeting.

"We are not living in a dream. This is not a single community. We live in a complex balance of power. We must guarantee the prosperity of the city and the safety of its residents."

Istvan shot her a look of clear contempt. Elisha met his gaze and smiled serenely.

"The very existence of a border called 'the city' creates conflict."

"Foolish. Even if you erase that border, another concept will inevitably arise. That is how people are made."

Their argument seemed destined to go on forever.

"Wait!"

I shouted. "I admit I was shortsighted in this matter. I will not cause any more trouble in the city. Please forgive me."

I bowed my head. Silence fell again. I raised my head slightly to gauge the situation. Elisha and Maryanne had uncomfortable expressions. I could guess what Elisha was thinking. A representative of a god shouldn't bow his head so easily. I couldn't figure out Maryanne's expression. I heard Augustus sigh, and I raised my head fully.

"Lord Mash, please tell us your thoughts."

Elisha did not seem ready to back down yet.

"There is no right answer. We shouldn't be dogmatic or intimidating. But the people who live in a region should be the ones to decide the rules for their lives. Governance by a god is too heavy a burden, and there is no one who can hear that voice directly."

"Mash, you must not say any more."

Just as I was getting into the swing of it, Maryanne cut me off. Elisha's shoulders slumped, and Istvan looked momentarily stunned, his mouth agape.

"First of all, what mission were you given to come to this world? What is a god's mission? What do you intend to bring to this city?"

Istvan had asked the most difficult question.

"Laciel told me to defeat the Demon Lord. There should be others in this world summoned by the five goddesses with the same mission. I am looking for them."

"The same as the other Otherworld Heroes. But the previous hero already defeated the Demon Lord."

"I need to confirm what this 'Demon Lord' actually is."

"Confirm? You are different from the previous heroes. You can manifest a goddess in this world and hear her words directly."

"Unfortunately, she won't answer those kinds of questions. I have to find out for myself."

"Hmph. In the end, it's just the gods' entertainment."

He didn't seem to like my answer.

"And in this city?"

"Ah, I'm looking for something that can break my companion's curse, but neither the church nor the elves could help."

I looked at Katarzyna. Myra had said that dwarves excelled in magic-based technology.

"Unfortunately, we cannot help. The field of inscribing magic onto people is something that the one who fought you last night, Lord Mash…"

So the Leafkraut family came up again. I couldn't help but think that last night's fight was a rash decision. Was it even possible to repair our relationship?

"If possible, I would like to live in this city. And I want to make peace with them."

"This isn't a temporary stay? Are you serious about that?"

Istvan murmured, and I nodded in response.