Training Again on the Road -1
That wrapped up the wedding.
Aside from wiping down most things soaked in my master's love juices, the cleanup afterward wasn't much hassle.
"Now this place is the last stop too."
I hadn't been explicitly barred from visiting, but with Master now my wife, I couldn't afford to bow and scrape too much to her Valteron family.
This whole male-dominant culture had arisen for that very reason, after all.
To keep the maternal side from meddling and stabilize politics.
Of course, I had no idea how a woman had ended up in that role by chance.
Whatever. It doesn't put me in a tough spot anyway.
My reason for being here originally was Carna.
So my training was done once I had my master.
Marrying her secured that essential instructor, so practice and drills wouldn't suffer.
"Hold up. Let's stop here."
Even with the empire's excellent roads, reaching the provincial outpost in a single day was impossible.
Especially hauling the massive gifts from Master's Valteron family.
...And they gave this much?
Even adding in the other guests' gifts, it was overkill.
Anyway, as commander, I had to take charge now.
"We'll rent lodgings around here for tonight."
We'd left the imperial heartland; undeveloped thick forests dotted the landscape here and there.
"Is it really okay heading from the capital to the boonies?"
A tall white-haired, red-eyed woman in bikini armor gazed out at the scenery and asked.
"Huh? I actually prefer it."
"Really?"
"Of course. Even as an instructor, I rarely got out much."
Sure, it was a military academy, but the empire's elite houses didn't train every single grunt.
It was more like an officer's school for this era's nobility—which meant we rarely strayed far from campus.
"How about a practice round, then?"
"Sure."
With that, we drew our weapons.
***
Married or not, my real goal had always been to monopolize Carna in her role as instructor.
No teacher like her exists.
Especially against foes physically bigger and stronger than me—few could match her.
"Handling the empress, who wields both strength and skill, is the ultimate goal, right?"
"Then I should give you a taste of that—though not quite on Her Majesty's level."
Of course, with swords instead of chains, it wouldn't be identical to the empress.
But that overflowing power exploding from the ground? Spot on.
Whoosh!
Already at my face?
The speed of her powered sprint was no joke.
"How is she this fast with that build—"
Boom!
"Right—if your opponent's attack packs speed and power, you dodge."
Still, all that practice paid off.
"You taught me that firsthand—bones snap if you don't."
"Hahaha! Lessons sink in better when your body learns them."
Though snapping bones every failure felt a bit much.
"At least this time, I convinced the family to send along a healer who trails us."
"She mends bones in seconds, but the stamina drain is insane."
"Nothing's free."
Thud.
Master struck first again.
At least her powered kick isn't landing this time.
I could probably block it.
Thung!
I angled my blade just enough to deflect as our swords clashed.
Swish.
Eh? Follow-up already?
"Clashing real steel and hearing that give? Bad sign."
Thud!
Got it!
I parried just enough to handle her force...
"Huh?"
"Never assume you know your foe's full strength."
Crunch!
My sword buckled further in an instant.
Damn!
Couldn't block this.
Dodge!
It was the deflection drill we'd drilled endlessly.
My heavy blade hit the dirt.
Boom!
"Whew."
"Good work. Solid."
High praise from Master.
And yet...
"...Something's off."
"What?"
"You feel stronger than in our old spars."
Had she been holding back before?
"Bad condition means you don't output full power, right?"
Master clenched her fist again.
Crunch.
The stone in her grip pulverized—not scattered, but compressed into a smaller pebble.
"And that's still weaker than the empress?"
"Yep."
"That woman's a monster."
My goal suddenly felt even loftier.
"That's why you can't skip solo drills."
She stared.
"W-what? Why stare like that?"
"We booked rooms anyway..."
Carna's stoic mask cracked.
"You know what I mean, right?"
...♡
***
At the same time.
A guest arrived at the Valteron estate.
"See, as patriarch, I can't stand unanswered questions."
That guest was the empire's sole emperor.
Empress Valkyria Imperius.
"You know the tournament's fever is blazing."
"We assume the cradle of such training basks in that same heat."
"Naturally."
The patriarch bowed politely.
"Yet We grew curious Ourself."
She was a warrior.
The empire's only female warrior among the highest nobility.
"Were there many who could entertain Us?"
"......"
The patriarch pondered briefly.
Hard to gauge her intent.
The empress was belligerent, battle-hungry.
But also the singular absolute pillar of imperial politics.
Does she truly crave clashes with the strong?
Or preemptive checks and countermeasures?
Her sudden ballooning of the tournament's scale made her motives elusive.
"No talents seem fit to satisfy Your Majesty."
"Is that so?"
A faint smile.
Less a noble lady's coy grin, more a knight's confident smirk before battle.
"Still, We felt Our gifts to the empire's key military house lacking."
"We've already received ample from Your Majesty."
Never just simple gifts with her.
"Ah, not for thee."
"For thy daughter—and the gifts We sent her."
This woman.
She's cornering me after all.
"If the gifts burden, We can reframe them."
No escaping this.
"Think of it as advance commission fees."
Already entangled.
Unlike other medieval realms, this empire inherited bold conquests—yet its ruler wielded sly dominance.
Couldn't block further.
"What commission might Your Majesty request separately?"
"Naught grand."
"List every name that seems 'relatively' strong, without omission."
"...Understood."
He'd withheld the man who took his daughter.
But now, no choice.
Still, he had counters.
Mix in plenty of names.
Hide the tree in the forest—list all decent fighters, dilute it.
"We'll review the list and send within a month—"
"One week."
"Yes, one week."
No gaps.
"Ah, mention this not harshly beforehand."
"What might that be?"
"With central blood flowing to the provinces."
"Auditors will check for irregularities."
"Your Majesty, the Valteron house trains soldiers, but doesn't deploy them?"
"Ah, no need for worry."
The air tensed toward confrontation.
She raised a hand, quelling it instantly.
"All vital imperial decisions pass through Us."
Gifts and hostages.
"The emperor's word sets order over any writ."
"......"
"Haha, I figured thee reasonable."
She produced a gift.
Poisonously rare liquor.
With their side accepting gifts already, no reason to refuse.
"No need for excessive concern."
"Merely confirming focal points. Routine for proper officials, no?"
Proper officials...
Not a phrase fitting the current empire.
The Valteron patriarch clinked glasses with the empress, thoughts hidden.
***
"H-hek♡ Hek...♡"
The inn's large room?
Ours, naturally—me and Carna.
As newlyweds, wasn't feverish night work obligatory?
Creak♡ Creak♡
Hugh♡ Heek♡
"Master, you can't bury your face in the pillow like that."
Face-planted? Countermeasure ready.
Squelch...♡
I slowly withdrew my cock,
All at once!
Splaaash!
"Hweeeeeek♡♡♡"
I slammed so hard waves rippled across her muscular ass.
Her head auto-snapped up from the pillow.
"Hng♡ Haang♡"
"Why hide that cute voice?"
Her low moans bursting from heavy panting? Delicious.
"N-nooo...♡ E-everyone'll hear♡♡♡"
True, a roadside inn wouldn't prioritize soundproofing.
"So what."
"That's no reason to—"
Splat♡
Shudder♡♡♡
Her words said no, but her body never complained.
Remembering the cock that once wrecked her in orgasm, it quivered pleasurably.
"Hnggh♡♡♡"
Oh? Gritting to hold back?
Squelch♡ Splat♡
Squelch♡ Splat♡
"Ooooh♡ Hnggh♡♡♡"
"Just moan loud and clear."
"Everyone knows anyway."
Haaaaang♡♡♡
Hng♡ Hng♡
The cool instructor's voice would echo through the inn.
Her face burned redder knowing it, but...
Eh, everyone knew already. Fine by me.