kscans

Chapter 266 - Rinko and Airi's Grand Strategy (Part 1)

A viscous, translucent red liquid sat atop a slice of bread.

"Have strawberries always existed in this world?"

"Who knows? Maybe a transmigrator brought them over?" If Famu were here, she'd probably start boasting about how a certain Okita Soji introduced them. As I was thinking that, I noticed Rinko and Airi staring intently at me, and I cleared my throat. I took the bread from Rinko's hand and brought it to my mouth. The crust was hard and a bit of a struggle to bite through, but the bread itself was moist and chewy. The jam melted into it, and a wave of sweetness spread through my mouth, punctuated by the texture of crushed fruit pulp. The tartness left a clean, refreshing aftertaste that cleansed my palate. Rinko watched my face, a smug grin spreading across hers.

"It's delicious, right? But it's often sold out when you go to buy it. So keep it a secret, okay?" With that, she spooned some jam onto her own and Airi's bread and took a bite. She used her tongue to scoop up a bit of jam that was about to drip. The contrast of the two reds was strangely alluring.

"Rinko..."

"What?"

"You're kinda hot right now."

"Pervert!" she shouted, then grabbed a pot and began pouring a white liquid into our cups.

"This is Ayran. The same bakery makes it. I'm not a huge fan, though..."

"You don't like yogurt?"

"It's the salty taste I don't really like... I wish they had milk!" Rinko lamented, but Airi just shook her head.

"The milk was sold out." Milk wasn't a common sight like it was in my original world. Milk that had been pasteurized and bottled to preserve its freshness just wasn't sold on the market. I'd think that, like with water, a mage could make a business out of it, but mages like Cecily or Marmi are rare, and apparently, none of them were doing that sort of thing for profit.

"If you like it that much, you should have had some back with the nomads, right?"

"That was goat milk! It's got this... wild taste. It's different from cow's milk. I just can't get into it."

"Such a gourmet..."

"Aah, I want to eat a crepe piled high with big strawberries and lots of cream!" We drank the Ayran, making idle conversation.

After wiping the white foam from my lips, I let out a big yawn. Maybe it was because I'd pulled an all-nighter for yesterday's battle, but even after getting a full night's sleep, I still felt a little groggy, like I hadn't slept enough. I could hear the faint chirping of a bird, just as I had while walking through the fortress, but I no longer had the energy to look for it. The tranquil air of this tree-enclosed park seemed to be accelerating my drowsiness. Just then, Airi patted her lap.

"Mash, I'll give you a lap pillow." Thinking I must have misheard, I blinked at Airi. She slowly blinked back.

"We told you we were going to thank you today, remember?" Rinko said.

"R-Really..." My shoulders began to tremble uncontrollably.

"You don't want it?"

"I do. I've dreamed of this day for so long."

"Don't lie!" Rinko's voice felt distant. My consciousness was already focused entirely on Airi's thighs. They were covered by her jumper skirt, but I could easily imagine their warmth and softness. I drew my face closer, as if pulled by a magnetic force, and buried it in her lap. It was just as soft as I'd imagined. I pressed my face even deeper, as if to be cradled between her thighs, and nuzzled them.

"Hey! Wrong way! Wrong way! Face up!" Airi frantically tried to pull me off, but I clung to her tightly and took a deep breath through my nose.

"It smells like Airi... I could smell this for the rest of my life."

"Are you an idiot?!" Rinko grabbed me as well, and together they peeled me away from Airi. Reluctantly, I lay on my back and rested my head on her thighs.

"Am I heavy?" I asked. Airi shook her head. Her hand came to rest on my head and began to gently stroke my hair. It was a warm, pleasant sensation. And the softness of her thighs, transferred through my head... Looking up, beyond the gentle slope of her twin hills, she was looking down at me. Her cheeks were flushed, perhaps from embarrassment, but her moist eyes never left mine.

"So, Mash, what are you going to do now?" Rinko asked. She was sitting by my feet, hugging her knees in a gym-class style. The hem of her skirt had ridden up, revealing a pair of pink panties. I avoided staring directly so she wouldn't notice, but I made sure to capture the image in the corner of my eye and commit it to memory.

"I'm planning to go to Famu's village."

"Famu again!"

"N-No, that's not it. The whole reason I came to this city in the first place was to break the curse that was placed on her. But the church couldn't do it. I have to visit the village where she lived and find the cause."

"And then?"

"Once her curse is broken, I'm heading to the capital of the Demon Kingdom."

"Why?"

"A prophecy from the nomads. The last transmigrator summoned by a goddess is there. Besides, the original order Laciel gave me was to 'defeat the Demon Lord.' I need to confirm if the Demon King was really defeated a hundred years ago by the hero, Akitsuki Uta. Then there's the staff that was said to be in the Ark... Clovis called it the Staff of Dominion. I need to find that. Also..." The five goddesses opposing the Fifty Gods are Laciel, Rishal, Lushe, Renren, and Ronron. The transmigrator summoned by Rishal is in the capital of the Demon Kingdom. According to legend, Rishal was the god who destroyed the 'Jar of Holy Oil.' You could say she's the one who created the current state of this world. However, it's possible the transmigrator summoned by Rishal was, like us, thrown into this world without any decent information. The chances of getting any real information are extremely high.

"Is there more?" Rinko sighed, but I was the one who wanted to sigh. I was pretty sure I'd explained all this the first night we met. Still, now that the whole mess in Miglutt had settled down, it was a good opportunity to organize my thoughts.

"A transmigrator named Izaak took the stone tablet that Uta had. His whereabouts are unknown, but I heard he was pirating with another transmigrator named Barbaros. It's the Demon Kingdom that's sanctioning piracy near the city of Heilon. I think I can get some information on them if I go there." Coming to this city, I met Clovis, who claimed to have a prophecy from the gods, found out about the world of the 'Jar of Holy Oil' and Laciel's whereabouts, and managed to get one of the stone tablets. But the mysteries still remain.

"What are you trying to do by collecting the contents of the Ark?"

"'I don't know' is the honest answer. But the Fifty Gods claim the Ark has the power to grant wishes, even if it sounds far-fetched. I believe it holds clues to the reason we came to this world, a way back, and a way to remove this ten-year lifespan we're shackled with."

After hearing my words, Rinko uncurled her knees and looked up at the sky. As she did, her underwear disappeared from view.

"Ah!" I let out an involuntary sound, and she looked at me in surprise.

"Eh? What's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Anyway, we're going to the Demon Kingdom. But before that, there's Shirasu, Irisarie, and Sameim."

As I muttered this, she got on all fours and crawled over to me. She brought her face level with Airi's.

"So, Mash, have you decided which one?"

"Which one of what?"

"Me or Airi. Which of us are you going to choose for Levante's party?"

Her words made my thoughts grind to a halt for a moment.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean'? It means either I or Airi will go with you, Mash. Among all the transmigrators summoned by the five goddesses, you're the closest to the truth. Tora-kun and the others are... well, they're how they are, and so are Hyakka and her group. Besides, there are only two of us left to cooperate..." Rinko bit her lip.

"It's not like I made a deal with Hyakka, you know."

"I know, I know. But even if we asked you to let us both in, you wouldn't kick someone out of Levante just to make room for us, would you? That's why you have to choose one of us, Mash."

"You can't just spring that on me. All I know is that your class is 'Ninja.' I have no idea what your abilities are."

"Huh, so you were choosing based on abilities? I thought you were just picking people you liked..." Rinko didn't seem to be joking; she looked genuinely surprised.

"Is that how you see me...?"

"Well, it's not that different, is it? Just pick the one you like, Mash." That wasn't how I'd intended to build my party. It just ended up that way. But Rinko pressed on, not listening to my explanation.

"Can I take that in that sense? Are you prepared for what that means?"

"I don't know what you mean, but I can't be the only one left out while you're doing that with the other girls on our journey..."

Even on this lap pillow that was inducing a powerful drowsiness, Rinko's words completely sharpened my mind.

"You're saying I can... do as I please? Are you okay with me?"

"It's just one of us! So treat her well! And make sure you actually fall in love!"

I reached out and placed my hand on Rinko's chest. I pressed it with my fingertips.

"Nnh!" Rinko closed her eyes and let out a high-pitched sound.

"Choosing just one is impossible. Leaving someone out isn't right."

"We can't fall for the same guy! It's impossible for us!"

"That's not true. Famu and Mo like me, and they get along. Mizuki and Hyakka like me, and they're good friends, too."

"That's before you started dating them, right? Mizuki and Hyakka can't be friends anymore, can they?"

"...What do you mean?" I squeezed Rinko's breast. She really was secretly stacked. I savored the soft feeling in my palm. I thought she would slap my hand away, but Rinko just blushed and stared at her chest as my fingers sank into it.

"They're fighting over Yuki, aren't they? You're trying to leave Yuki's fate to the city of Miglutt. But deep down, you don't want to kill him. That's what Mizuki wants, not what Hyakka wants."

"It's true that's what I'm thinking. But it's not just because I listened to what Mizuki said..."

"And what do you think Hyakka thinks about that?"

"She'll understand, too."

"On the surface, maybe. But when romantic feelings are involved, she'll feel like only Mizuki's wishes were prioritized. Once that happens, they can't be friends anymore." Hyakka used to call Mizuki 'Yamase-san.' That was what she called her when they were friends back in our original world. But now, she's trying to call her 'Mizuki.' At first, I thought it was just because that's what we all called her. But the truth was probably that by starting a relationship with me, Hyakka felt she had to be on equal footing with Mizuki. Similarly, Mizuki is trying to call Hyakka 'Hyakka' instead of 'Hii-chan.'

"I see..." I wonder if that's the same reason Famu has been acting colder toward Marmi lately. I continued to grope Rinko's chest.

"You two were fighting Yuki to avenge your comrades, too. Do you think the same way as Hyakka?" At my words, Rinko and Airi exchanged glances.

"At first, I wanted to kill him. But now that he's been captured..."

"He even made slaves out of you, didn't he?"

"Mmm, but it's not like he actually did anything to us. You're the one trying to do things, Mash."

"Did your other party members feel differently?"

"On this matter, Airi and I feel the same." Rinko glanced at Airi, who gave a small nod.

"First, make up with them. Start from there."

"We're not fighting."

"No, I mean with your party."

"..."

"Unlike you two, they want Yuki executed, don't they?"

"That's true, but at this point..." Rinko's brow furrowed. They must have discussed this many times within their party.

"You've been together for a year since coming to this world, right? I know there's the matter of your dead members, but you're part of that party now, aren't you? Just make up some excuse, like it was a condition for removing the Slave Marks."

"Mash..." Rinko said, her voice slightly strained.

"What?"

"When you say something cool, stop touching my chest. It makes it hard to know how I'm supposed to feel."

"You seem surprisingly okay with it. You must be used to being groped."

"Of course not! This is the first time!" Rinko poked me in the head.

"Now, about this choosing one of you business..." I sat up and faced them, our knees almost touching. Under the large tree, there was no one else in the field of short grass that spread out before us. The air was dry, and the wind rustled our hair.

"Huh? That topic is off the table. The deal about joining Levante is canceled." Airi said, her voice laced with exasperation.

"I think it's a good idea for us, who were summoned by the goddesses, to get along."

"That... that was foolish of us. We'll get along with Mizuki, so let's just drop this."

"Why?! A woman's friendship is a fragile thing! You said so yourself just a minute ago!" I protested loudly.

"It's better than being at your mercy, Mash." Rinko said coldly. Her words left me speechless.

"What? That was your intention, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, but I'd just have to put up with it until we get back to our own world," Rinko muttered, averting her gaze.

"'Put up with it'...?" At those words, both of their faces instantly tensed. Rinko and Airi both flinched back slightly.

"Besides, I figured it wouldn't be me. You and Airi have kissed, after all!"

"It won't be me, right? Rinko's the better deal since you haven't done anything with her yet, right? You were enjoying having your chest groped, weren't you?" Airi was being surprisingly assertive. It was as if she couldn't even see me.

"Airi, you only offered the lap pillow so you'd be the one chosen."

"That was because I lost at rock-paper-scissors and had no choice..." The two of them glared at each other, the air crackling with tension. I reached out my arms as if to mediate, and groped both of their breasts.

"Kuhn!" Airi let out a small sound, her face turning bright red.

"I understand your feelings perfectly well. Fine, I'll choose one of you!"

"Hey, even if you choose, we're not joining Levante anymore. You're going to help us get back with our original party, right?" Rinko shot back immediately.

"Of course. But it'd be convenient for you to be in that kind of relationship with me, right? And I want to be in that kind of relationship with an idol!"

"What do you mean, 'convenient'?! Are you going to do that with us even if you don't like us?" Rinko's brow furrowed as she shot me a sharp glare.

"Of course I've liked you since the moment I first saw you! You're the ones who came on to me with impure intentions!"

"Well, even if I hated it, it's only until we get back to our world," Rinko sighed.

"Huh? It's for life, obviously." Just as Rinko was about to retort, Airi held up a hand to stop her.

"...Are you serious?"

"I'm serious." I stared into Airi's eyes and nodded.

"Okay. To be honest, we don't really want to be your girlfriend, Mash. But we don't dislike you. We would've preferred someone younger and better-looking. But Levante seemed so united. So we decided to bet on your good personality, and agreed that one of us would be okay with it."

"Is that so? Well, those words have wounded me deeply. I'll never forgive you..." Airi's lips curved into a slight smile. I remembered touching those lips just last night and swallowed hard.

"Mash, pick the one you like." Rinko turned toward Airi to protest, but Airi stopped her with a gesture. Rinko, too, sighed as if in resignation and looked at me. I took another moment to observe them both. As you'd expect from former idols, both had well-proportioned faces. Rinko had sharp lines, Airi had softer ones. Rinko was the perfect straight-man character Levante had been waiting for, but she probably wouldn't end up in that role. Airi was the quiet type, but in her exchange with Rinko just now, she showed a strong will that I found appealing. Rinko was the type to take the lead and pull others along, while Airi was the supportive type who would take charge when necessary. They were a good pair. Being childhood friends, they knew each other's strengths and weaknesses inside and out and complemented each other perfectly.

"If only I had a childhood friend like you two..."

"Huh?"

"Oh, it's nothing." I held a fist to my mouth, coughed to cover it up, and returned to my thoughts. In the end, physical compatibility was crucial. Honestly, I was confident I could love either of them for a lifetime. Rinko had the bigger chest. The attribute of a slender body with hidden large breasts was hard to pass up. However, I couldn't forget the feeling of Airi's lap pillow from earlier. The balance of fleshiness and softness was exquisite. From now on, I wanted to fall asleep on her lap. As I continued to stare, both of them started to blush and fidget.

"J-Just hurry up and decide!" Rinko shouted, unable to take it anymore.

"I've decided!" I declared, my eyes wide. They both gasped and drew back.

"Rinko..."

"Hic!" Rinko's eyes widened and she let out a small squeak. She clearly looked unhappy about it.

"...I thought, but Airi..."

"Ugh..." Airi clenched her fists, her eyes welling with tears as she looked down. I had to wonder if they really came here prepared to become my girlfriend. Or maybe they just hadn't taken it seriously, thinking it was someone else's problem. Either way, I was hurt, but I had no intention of letting this golden opportunity slip away.

"I'm sorry, but I can't decide on just one of you. Therefore, I request a trial period."

"W-What is that?!" Rinko asked, her face pale.

"I'm going to have sex with both of you. I want to date the one who feels better."

"That's the end of the line! What happens to the one who gets rejected?!" Rinko shouted.

"I'll provide a Step-Up Chance. Even if you don't get the opportunity this time, you can still become my girlfriend if you work hard."

"Are you an idiot?! You just want to date both of us! We said just one!"

"You say that, but it's impossible. I can't choose... Even if we don't go all the way, could you at least let me try just the tip? I'll choose one after that." This time, Rinko's face turned beet red. She was an emotional one.

"What are you talking about, 'just the tip'?! We... well, maybe Airi does it in secret, but can't you be a little more romantic?! That's the end, doing something like that!"

"It's not the end." I planned on putting it all the way in, so it wouldn't be the end.

"I haven't done it either," Airi muttered. Then she looked up.

"Fine. Do what you want, Mash. But make sure it ends in a way we'll be glad it happened."