93. This Place Is Hell
93. This Place Is Hell
'I've found a suitable training ground. Come to the north gate in a few days.'
'We're going outside the Empire to train?'
'No need to worry about immediate danger. It's near a massive Imperial excavation site, so we can call on the garrison if things go wrong.'
A week had passed since the Philoi rampage settled down.
I'd been looking at this proposal as a chance I absolutely had to seize.
More than the reason I'd fallen into this world, it was the reason I hadn't gotten my hands on power fit for a Hero...
Every time I faced a reality that refused to bend no matter how hard I fought, I felt the need to grow stronger pressing down on me.
"Wait, you two are planning to come along on my training trip?"
"Hehe, I've been a wanderer from the start, so I didn't have much else going on... That's why I thought it'd be nice to help with your training this time, Hyosung."
By the time the promised day arrived, the two of them—having belatedly explained their situations—had followed me all the way to the northern checkpoint.
Marilyn was even flashing her trademark bright smile, making it abundantly clear she intended to set out on this journey with me.
"I appreciate the thought, but please don't go to too much trouble. This is a personal mission, so Marilyn, you could just rest at home until I get back..."
"It's fine. Helping you is also for my own sake, after all."
Right. The very reason she'd returned to the Empire was because of me, wasn't it?
She'd even tossed aside the mission she'd stubbornly risked her life for all this time. Refusing that goodwill under the pretense of being considerate toward her—wouldn't that be the greater offense?
"No, but still..."
Even so, after meeting her, I'd been clear about where my heart stood.
There was someone else I obviously had to put first, which meant I couldn't help being cautious about my relationship with Marilyn.
"...Um, are you okay with this, Airi?"
"Yes. The Haven clan I belong to were a wandering people to begin with. I'm quite knowledgeable about traveling, so please don't worry about me holding you back."
"No, that's not what I meant..."
At the moment she was acting all calm and collected, but wasn't she the one who'd been butting heads with Marilyn so often not too long ago?
During our cohabitation, things had been relatively frictionless since everyone focused on their own business, but for me—remembering just how murderous the atmosphere had felt back then—anxiety had to come first.
Were the two of them going to start fighting again because of me, for no good reason? And would that fighting end up irritating the person meant to oversee my training?
"Heh heh heh, look at you, young man. Off to quite the rosy start this early in the morning, aren't you?"
Just as that worry was kicking in, a familiar voice approached, drawing nearer by the step.
I shifted my gaze, and into view came the familiar face of an old man tapping the ground with his cane as he walked up.
Jang. The man who acted as the Alley Chief on Workshop Street.
He was the one who'd agreed to guide me on this training trip.
"Well, I can understand personal circumstances, but even so—mixing with young ladies from the very first day of your training isn't something I can look upon too kindly, now is it?"
"That, the thing is..."
"Jang Cleo of Britannia, am I correct?"
Just as I was agonizing over how to explain, Airi slipped away from my side and approached Jang.
From her mouth came a full name I'd never even heard, despite having built a connection with him long before she had.
"...Can't say I had quite enough fame for that name to be known by anyone else."
"Rest easy. I merely possess a talent for discerning the pasts of people I meet as a prophet; I haven't conducted any special investigation into your identity."
"A prophet, eh? Quite the occupation for inviting suspicion, unlike how it seems on the outside."
Jang showed deep wariness in response to the explanation meant for his understanding.
No matter how close to absolute Airi's prophecies might be, the job of fortune-teller itself isn't one that easily earns trust, so his current suspicion could be called fair.
"...First, please read this note."
But Airi, as if she'd even predicted that reaction, casually dismissed it and handed over a note.
Jang eyed it suspiciously but ended up checking the note. Soon his breathing stilled, and he looked back at Airi.
"Is what's written on this note true?"
"I can't... say it's absolute, but if no variables arise, the likelihood of such a future unfolding is high."
"Writing something like this while leaving yourself an escape hatch feels rather untrustworthy, mind you."
"What should actually be untrustworthy is boasting that one can predict the future of someone of her caliber, wouldn't you say? That's something you'd know better than anyone, having watched over her for the better part of your life."
Airi didn't drop her serious attitude even against the suspicion aimed at her.
Jang, looking into the sharp eyes visible beneath her hood, soon relaxed his own expression and tucked the note she'd given him into his bosom.
"......I see. So she's steeled her resolve too, has she?"
As if accepting some circumstance I didn't know about—and even choosing to embrace it.
"Fair enough. I'll accept the help of these young ladies as well. I'll handle driving the wagon to the training grounds, so the two of you can get into the cargo hold."
Having thus decided to accept the two joining us, Jang soon pointed at a wagon leaned nearby and started making his way toward it.
A ready acceptance that erased his initial wariness entirely.
Since I couldn't exactly call myself an outsider here either, the sudden shift in his attitude naturally bothered me.
"Old man, are you sure about this?"
"Sure as anything. More than that—if that note is right, taking both young ladies along might actually speed up your growth."
Jang answered my worried question like it was nothing.
Afterward, on his face as he looked back at me, there was a hint of relief that made his earlier suspicion seem ridiculous.
"You're quite the blessed friend."
The words that followed were the same.
"Huh?"
"I said you're blessed. Aren't two beauties you'd be hard-pressed to find just anywhere going with you on your training trip for your sake?"
A hearty laugh, as Jang prepared to settle his old body onto the coachman's seat.
It felt like he was glossing over the reaction he'd had after seeing the note, but since he probably had his own circumstances, I decided not to press him.
If anything, as he'd said, the two coming along might actually be helpful for my training.
"...Uh, old man."
But even that was something to think about once the training had begun.
Before heading to the training grounds, I had to face a problem with the transport he'd arranged, and I couldn't help but look back at him with a deadpan expression.
"What is it now, young man?"
"Well, isn't the space in the wagon a wee bit too tight?"
"Ah, well, the thing is—I had to rush to find transport and took a request from a merchant caravan, so there's quite a bit of cargo on it. Even so, I managed to make enough space to carry just one person, but..."
Ah, yeah. If it's just me riding, there's plenty of space, sure.
But didn't two more people just join to help with my training?
****
In any case, the wagon departed under Jang's driving.
As it made its rattling way onto unpaved roads, my arms started getting yanked back and forth by the two people crammed into the cargo hold.
"Hyosung, come this way."
"No, come toward me~"
"Ugh, y-you two. Let's calm down for a moment..."
This kind of war of nerves was something I'd been through plenty of times during our cohabitation.
But was it because we were packed into an even tighter space than when we were at home?
In this moment where the two had me between them, sizing one another up, I could feel sparks and even heat clashing in their eyes.
"Marilyn, you really don't have to push yourself."
"Hehe, I appreciate the consideration, but please don't worry. At the very least, I have more leeway than Airi's spot over there."
"And what do you mean by 'leeway'? One glance shows your side has way more baggage..."
"Ahaha~ This much is roomy for me. Though of course, in Airi's case, your build is a bit broader than mine, so you might be a little cramped."
—Shrrrk.
The sound of flesh squishing echoed out.
From Airi's side, no less.
"...By 'build,' what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Ah, wait, I worded that wrong. So, uh... Not build, but, was it flesh? Or maybe fat?"
"Hahaha, fat, you say. I'd never have imagined you'd worry about that, Marilyn. To say that to someone who eats three times as much as me or Hyosung every single meal!"
"That's only because the food Hyosung makes is so delicious~ Do you eat so little because the food Hyosung prepares for you isn't good, Airi?"
"Eating a lot without thought doesn't make something good. Do you even realize how much of a burden you place on Hyosung by making him prepare your share of the meals too?"
"Ugh, you two, calm down first..."
"Enough. Just come this way, Hyosung!"
"No, come toward me!!"
Soon their voices were raised as well, the two of them repeatedly yanking on my body.
At heart, I wanted to take one side, but because I understood both their feelings, I couldn't just readily accept either.
Airi couldn't actively advance our relationship due to our respective circumstances; I could feel she already shared the same heart as me.
And as for Marilyn, since she'd thrown away everything for me to come here, I knew her feelings weren't shallow.
"Be clear about it, Hyosung."
"Is it me? Or is it Airi?"
And that dispute extended beyond the wagon, lasting all the way to the first bivouac we established before reaching our destination.
Since this was a training trip only planned for two people, there were only two prepared tents, and because of that, four people had to split the tents.
No, since there'd been trouble with the wagon that kept us from reaching a safe zone, someone had to stand night watch.
So I wanted to take the night watch myself, but even that option was completely blocked by Jang, the very man who had brought us out here.
"About the night watch, you needn't worry. At my age, my sleep is much shorter, so I won't be resting inside a tent for terribly long anyway."
"Huh? Wait, I can do the night watch..."
"Heh heh, you're going to be suffering terribly once the training begins, so why use up your strength now? And I can't very well make the young ladies go through hardship, so just rest easy tonight."
No, old man, that's not the kind of problem this is, I tell you!
But rendering my silent scream meaningless, he'd already left the bivouac to check the surroundings.
I wanted to go catch him, but my sleeves were already caught in the hands of Airi and Marilyn.
"Hyosung. You don't have to overthink it."
In that state, Airi closed the distance between us and spoke.
"We've already had experience sharing several nights together, haven't we? At this point, sleeping in the same tent isn't... well, it isn't anything strange!"
Even though we sometimes spent a day after being intimate, that itself was something we'd prepared ourselves for with serious resolve.
To that extent, sharing an unplanned bed like this required a lot of courage in many ways.
In fact, Airi herself, insisting we sleep in the same tent, had her face gone red as she realized what she was saying, hadn't she?
"Hyosung."
On the other hand, Marilyn was in a state where she was only wearing a crisp smile, the total opposite.
In the words that followed, there wasn't a hint of shame regarding the situation of sleeping with the opposite sex.
"We'll just hold hands while we sleep. Okay?"
"...No, I."
"Oh jeez~ What's there to overthink? If something happens, we can just go with whatever our hearts feel like at the time~"
...Right. Marilyn was that kind of person from the start.
She was so free-spirited in these matters that she might actually cross the line.
Like the things I'd done with Airi, or that stuff, or that other stuff.
"Hyosung. What are you thinking about right now?"
Airi snapped at me fiercely, as if she'd seen right through my mind.
As I froze, feeling like she'd hit the bullseye, Airi looked at me with dangerous eyes and parted her trembling lips.
"Don't tell me you're going to choose Marilyn here, are you?"
"No, look..."
"Were all the words you said while being with me... all lies?"
Her eyes glistened wetter by the moment, and her hands trembled softly.
While I was at a loss in the face of her expression that seemed ready to burst at the slightest provocation, I felt a soft sensation press against me from behind.
"Yes, that's right. You and Airi had that kind of relationship, after all."
Marilyn Sutherland.
A woman who, even after having her heart rejected once, couldn't shake her feelings for me.
"Even so, Hyosung. You know I gave up a lot and came to you too, right?"
"Ah, I know that, but..."
"Then just one night—just for tonight—we can lie down in the same spot together."
The more I heard that soft yet bitter voice, the more the moisture in my throat swiftly dried up.
Forcing myself to swallow as if to relieve that suffocating feeling, I barely managed to spit out the best option that came to mind in front of the two.
"Uh, th-then what if the two of you sleep together...?"
Obviously, this had to be the best option for the current situation, right?
They're the same gender, so there's no need to worry about modesty or anything. That'd be good, no? Or so I thought.
"...Hyosung. Do you mean that sincerely?"
"Even from you, Hyosung, that's not something I can just look kindly on."
Shit. The mood had gotten even more murderous than before.
Just how much did these two hate each other?
"Uh. Look..."
But with this option sealed, all I had left was to sleep with one of the two.
If it came to that, one person would be left out, and that risked leading to trouble for our future relationship.
I hate that. Both of them are people who mean a lot to me, and yet I'd have to betray one of their hearts.
"Hyosung. Tell us clearly."
"Is it me? Or is it Marilyn?"
The two kept pressing without regard for my plight.
Feeling so stifled my reason was starting to go numb, unable to handle my mind now gone completely blank, I ended up stretching out my hands toward both of them.
"Kyaah!?"
"Hy-Hyosung? What..."
Fine, screw it. Whatever happens, happens.
I shoved both of them into the tent and gave my answer.
"Let's just all three of us sleep together."
After all, if all we're doing is sleeping, what could be the problem?
We just sleep, wake up fresh tomorrow morning, and pretend nothing happened.
Isn't that a truly simple solution?
*****
Yeah, that's right.
There was indeed a time when I used to think that way.
"Mmnya... Hahm..."
"Haaah... Mm."
Late at night.
In a stillness where even the chirping of birds and the cries of insects had faded, I was wide awake as if I'd forgotten my fatigue, directing every nerve to my ears.
Because the soft breathing sounds coming from both sides of me felt particularly sensitive today.
"Hah... Hyosung..."
The moment I unconsciously turned my eyes toward that sound, Airi's precarious state began to reflect in my vision.
Her usual tightly-bound style was shed, leaving only a thin nightgown she'd prepared for comfortable sleep—an utterly defenseless appearance.
"Hyosung... That place, it's embarrassing...♡"
The impulse that surged the moment my name accompanied that unconscious eros.
I held my breath and endured, hurriedly turning my head to the opposite side—but there, another ordeal awaited me.
A defenseless little demon, her body concealed only by black cloth that heightened her allure in and of itself.
"Hah... Hyosung."
"There, you can't touch. Mm, mm...♥"
Were the whispers leaking from her lips an expression of the dream she was having?
Just what kind of dream was she having, for my name to come out, and to wear such a wicked smile while letting out those sensual breaths?
"...Just send me to hell."
Yeah, this place is hell.
To be forced into a situation where I have to choose just one of these two lovable people.
If this isn't hell, then what the hell is it?