Chapter 326
Chapter 326
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 326
Chapter Title: Side Story 10. In the New Continent (4)
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"Ahh. That hit the spot."
Marya stretched languidly as she woke from sleep. The dawn light, now breaking through, softly enveloped her bare skin. Asel, who had fallen asleep in her arms, opened his eyes as well.
"Marya... y-you're awake?"
"Yeah. Good morning."
Marya smiled. The orb imprisoning that old Brothel Palace Four Heavenly Kings guy or whatever was still bobbing on the lake's surface.
The area around them was pockmarked with countless massive craters. Traces of Asel ripping up the earth and trees to form the orb. Nice spot to do it in, huh, Marya giggled to herself as she turned to Asel.
"See, people really need a good workout before bed. Don't you think?"
"Ughhh..."
Asel hung his head, unable to respond. Unlike Marya, whose skin glistened with a healthy glow, he looked utterly drained. His pale body was covered in red marks like mosquito bites.
"Heh. Still, you didn't leave too many this time."
Marya winked playfully. The sight never failed to stir her sense of conquest. Frowning slightly at his hesitant demeanor, she narrowed her eyes.
"But your answers are kinda lackluster. Was it not good?"
"N-no! It was great. But next time, maybe a little... um..."
Asel bit his lower lip. He just couldn't bring himself to say "go easy on me." Even after being on the receiving end since their first time, a man's pride still lingered. Glancing up at her, he finally spoke.
"F-first, let's get dressed. You'll catch a cold."
"Oh, right."
Marya nodded. Humming a tune, she began slipping into her scattered undergarments. Asel blushed, suddenly recalling last night. The grass where they'd lain was a total mess.
I-is this really okay...?
It was bliss beyond words, but the frequency was insane. And it was getting worse—shorter intervals each time. Not to mention, she picked any spot with a semblance of privacy, timing be damned.
When I asked what if someone hears us... she just said, "So what if they do?"
This was no different from animals. For their happy future, a serious talk was overdue. Mustering his courage, Asel opened his mouth to speak.
Splash! The lake suddenly split open, revealing the head of a massive salamander.
"Wh-what?!"
"Danger!"
It was the same salamander controlled by the Brothel Palace executive. Marya flinched in surprise. Asel leaped in front of her on instinct, deploying a barrier. Whoosh! A translucent shield enveloped them both.
"Asel."
Marya gasped. Perhaps fueled by last night, Asel's expression was fiercely serious. Sharp ice spikes—five or six of them—formed around him, ready to launch at any moment. The salamander tilted its head.
"Grooo?"
"...It's not attacking?"
Asel narrowed his eyes. Contrary to expectations, the salamander did nothing but stare at them. Its ridiculously small eyes relative to its face blinked slowly.
"K-kinda cute, huh."
"Shh. It could attack anytime."
Asel stayed vigilant. The tense standoff dragged on. Then—
Ptooey! The salamander retched, spitting something out.
"That’s...!"
Asel's eyes widened. A gleaming orb arced toward them. He thrust out his hand desperately. An invisible hand snatched the orb from the salamander's mouth.
The orb was larger than a person's torso, opaque like a pearl. Examining it, Asel flinched. Immense mana pulsed within.
"Th-this is!"
Marya, beside him, clapped a hand over her mouth in shock. If her memory served, this was an inner core—a treasure.
A lump of qi from a spirit beast aged hundreds or thousands of years. One of the exact items Marya had sought in the New Continent.
"Definitely an inner core. What luck..."
"Why give it to us...?"
Apparently repaying them for freeing it from the Brothel Palace. Asel dismissed the ice spikes. Marya waved her arms enthusiastically in thanks.
"Thank you! Stay healthy!"
The salamander grinned, then dove back underwater. As its massive tail vanished, a spray shot skyward. Whoosh... The falling water caught the sunlight, forming a rainbow.
"Wow."
A breathtaking sight. With the Brothel Palace's taint gone, birds now frolicked over the lake. The crisp morning breeze tousled their hair pleasantly.
They gazed at the lake long after the water settled. As the rainbow faded, Marya glanced at Asel.
"Hey, Asel."
"Yeah."
"Wanna just get married?"
"Sure... Wait, what?"
Asel's eyes bulged. He must have misheard. Stunned, he stammered.
"Wh-what'd you say?"
"Let's get married. I'll make you happy."
"M-m-marriage? Just like that?"
"Yep."
Marya nodded. Asel gaped speechlessly. She tilted her head, eyes narrowing.
"What? Don't wanna?"
"N-no! Absolutely not! It's just so sudden..."
"We've been rolling around together for over a year. What's sudden about it? Don't tell me you were just gonna have your fun and bail. Or do you have your eye on someone else...?"
Marya's voice dropped ominously. Sensing the chill killing intent, Asel gasped. The rock under her hand cracked deeply.
"Huh? Got feelings for another girl?"
"N-no! How could I? You're the only one for me, Marya!"
"For real."
"I swear on the heavens! On a mage's honor too!"
Asel pleaded desperately. The intent faded. Marya smiled sweetly, releasing the rock.
"I'll believe you. So marry me."
"It always comes back to that...! Wh-why so sudden?"
"Seeing that rainbow just... gave me certainty. We can make each other happy. And my instincts are never wrong."
Marya swept back her hair. Her wet golden locks shimmered brilliantly. Fondling her chest, she continued.
"And, not to brag, but I'm pretty cute with a killer body, right? Especially these—not something you see every day."
Asel's face burned. As she said, those monstrous assets might be rarer than the spirit core. Avoiding her gaze, he nodded slowly.
"Y-yeah, that's true..."
"Exactly. Perfect match. So what's holding you back?"
"I-I'm not holding back! Honestly..."
Asel trailed off miserably. It was too embarrassing to say. Stealing glances at her, he mumbled ant-sized.
"I-I wanted to be the one to propose..."
Covering his face with both hands, his protruding ears glowed red-hot. He'd planned a grand proposal, now all for naught.
"...Ha."
Marya let out a dry laugh. Blushing herself, she rubbed her face.
His cuteness was criminal at this point. What do I even do with this guy? Looking around, she spoke.
"Strip."
"...Huh?"
"Strip. Or should I do it for you again?"
Asel uncovered his face. Marya was already shedding her clothes. Pale as a ghost, he yelped.
"Wh-why all of a sudden?!"
"This is your fault. Saying stuff like that and expecting nothing? Greedy. Gotta stamp my claim—can't deal with the anxiety."
"S-stamp?"
Marya nodded. Her eyes raked him hungrily, stickier than usual. Realizing her meaning, Asel's brows shot up.
"Y-you wanna have a kid?!"
"Yeah. That big a shock? My mom had me around this age."
"Th-that's not the point! W-we're not even married... and you're nobility now...!"
Asel stammered. As he said, Marya was no commoner anymore—a countess ruling Armallen, one of the Empire's richest lands.
In a few years, she'd be among the continent's elite. Plus, royal/noble marriages carried weight. This was absurd. Marya, of course, didn't care.
"Nobility schmobility. You become one too. Besides, Ronan and Adeshan sis went full throttle."
"Th-they're special cases...!"
"Sigh... Future Archmage like you, I'd say you're the catch. No need to worry about me. Give up already, Asel."
Unclasping her necklace, Marya advanced. Asel backed away, but the lake blocked him. Already planning their future, she hummed.
"Half you, half me—perfect kids. One'd be lonely, so let's start with three or four. Big house, lively and fun."
"N-no, Marya! Not really, no...!"
This was beyond marriage. He sensed mortal peril. But Marya just shook her head at his tearful pleas.
"Don't worry. You just lie back and watch clouds. Like always, right?"
"Th-that's inhuman! Can't even walk after...!"
Imagining the horror ahead, Asel whimpered. It went beyond "wringing dry." Bam! Marya kicked aside a blocking rock, beaming.
"I'll carry you. Problem solved."
"N-nooo!"
Asel's scream echoed. He fell on his butt; Marya mounted him. As she peeled away his "packaging," she snapped her fingers.
"Oh, forgot—after Brothel Palace, we should swing by the capital, just us."
"Wh-what're you talking about?"
"Schlieffen's challenging Master Zaifa in a few days. Instructor Naviroje's already out in prelims. Might birth a new Sword Saint."
Marya said casually. Astonishing news, but Asel had no bandwidth to marvel. As he scrambled for delay tactics—
Marya's lips sealed his.