Disgust Toward the Beast! (3)
“Kyaaah! Let me down! Put me down, I said!”
“No can do! Today we're going to pay a visit to the lord together and sort this out!”
“W-what nonsense is this? Put me down right now!”
I bolted out of the Lord's Castle, weaving roughly through the crowds toward the nearest gate. She seemed relieved that the lord was out, but it looked like they hadn't done their homework on me properly. With my Demon Eye and speed, tracking down one sluggish lord crawling around like a maggot was child's play! He wouldn't be hiding somewhere—he'd be out and about with his escorts in tow!
“I told you he's gone out to Radia! How the hell do you expect to find him, you monster?!”
“D-don't worry, Countess. Master can do it.”
“The villages around Radia aren't far. I'll point the way, so just head in that direction, Master.”
“Y-you guys are serious...!?”
I ignored Celestia's flustered voice and reached the gate in no time.
“D-Divine Beast?! Lady Celestia!?”
I told the stunned guards there was an emergency and we needed to see the lord, then shot off again without waiting for confirmation. My appearance didn't exactly scream “ID check required.” With Celestia along, there shouldn't be any issues.
...They wouldn't mistake this for a kidnapping, right? Level 52 wasn't the kind of level that got kidnapped easily, but still.
“This is insane...! Finding someone out in the city alone? No way that's possible...!”
“Countess, you still saying that after seeing Master's speed?”
“So what if he's a bit fast...! Uh...?”
Celestia, who had been excitedly bouncing her soft ass on my back, went quiet after Lizbet's words.
“...What the hell is this...”
I felt her glancing around in disbelief, her voice trembling with shock.
“N-no way... What kind of speed is this...? And we're racing like this, but there's zero shaking...!?”
“Hehe, surprised, Countess?”
“I told you Master could do it.”
“G-good lord... this is...”
Puhuhu. Surprised? This wasn't even my top speed. Speed alone wouldn't let you pinpoint someone in this vast land, but right now I had not just my Demon Eye, but the even sharper one from Clea. Unless they were deep in some forest or mountain, if they were traveling on an open road... finding them was a breeze.
“...H-ha, being a little fast doesn't mean you can find him... More importantly! I'm a busy woman! I don't have time for this nonsense...!”
“~We'll wrap it up today. Just bear with it, Countess. You said you couldn't wait around, right?”
“...Kuh...! You...! F-fine, do whatever you want! If you don't get back by tonight, you'll all be charged with kidnapping the lord's wife!”
Sheesh. What a joke. Bossy auntie acting all high and mighty. Still, half a day should be plenty to scout the area. Puhuhu. I could already picture Celestia on her knees, begging forgiveness. She thought there was no way we'd find him? That “no way” was about to become reality. Get ready, Celestia.
“...Haa. And what's with this beast stench...? It's disgusting... I can barely stand it, so finish this before sunset! It's a waste of time anyway!”
I bathe plenty, you know!? Disgusting? That's going too far! Fine, you can't stand it? Alright then. I'll find him quick and make you kneel! Don't regret it when the time comes, you hag!!
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“My goodness... To think such a thing happened...”
“I figured it was some misunderstanding, but we didn't have time to wait for the lord's return, so we rushed after you. Hope we didn't cause any trouble?”
“Nonsense! If anything, I'm sorry for making you waste your time, Sema.”
About two hours of roaming outside, and as expected, we found the lord easily. It wasn't my Demon Eye that caught him, but Clea spotting the lord's group from afar in his place. A short sprint in the direction she pointed revealed several wagons led by some fierce-looking monsters—nothing but everyday cargo haulers plodding along at bicycle speeds for civilians. Catching up to those slowpokes was no big deal.
Kukuku...
“...No way...”
Celestia, who had dismounted with Lizbet and Clea, stared at me talking to the lord in utter disbelief. Kekeke. Shocked, huh, lady? You underestimated this monster way too much.
“...Give us a moment, Sema. Celestia. Let's talk privately.”
“...O-okay...”
Her haughty confidence evaporated; she followed the lord into an empty wagon looking like a kid about to get scolded. Puhuhu. Get an earful from hubby's gonna give you, Celestia. Lord dude, school your wife properly.
“......Hmm...”
“Hm? Clea, what's up?”
“...Nothing. Something looked off... I'll tell you later.”
Clea, staring at the wagon where the lord and Celestia had gone, tilted her head with a puzzled expression. Something looked off...? Did her Demon Eye catch something?
...Nah, he wouldn't actually beat her, right? Not just scold, but smack her?
We waited under the watchful eyes of the lord's escort soldiers and adventurers. Soon, the lord emerged with a bitter look, and Celestia followed, her face all gloomy and crumpled. Good, no beating. Watching a woman get hit isn't fun, even if she deserves it. Still, that dejected expression was putting me in a great mood.
“...I'm truly sorry, Sema. My wife confused personal grudges with official business. I'll reprimand her sternly and punish her accordingly... please forgive us.”
“Forgive? It's all cleared up now, so no issue. Haha.”
“Mm, thank you... Looks like we can't dawdle on inspections anymore. Everyone, gather 'round!”
He called over the soldiers and adventurers, talked briefly, then approached me again with a genuinely apologetic face.
“One more apology, Sema. I have no face left...”
“It's fine. Ending as a little mishap is good enough.”
“No, we can't just let this slide. So... Saintess, are you still planning to delay the announcement of your appointment?”
“No, I was about to announce it soon... Why?”
“Well... If so, as atonement, how about we host a party at the Lord's Castle and invite you? You, Sema, and all your companions. What do you say?”
Ho, a party? Not bad. A party thrown by the lord himself? Peeking into noble soirées in Essentia sounds fun... Yeah, I'll take it.
I nodded, and Clea smiled at the lord, bowing her head.
“...Yes. Thank you, Lord. We look forward to it.”
“Haha, no need. With the Saintess residing in Radia, we can't just let it go. Sema, we'll make it lavish as apology—come enjoy it with us.”
“Haha, got it, Lord.”
A lavish noble party. Wonder what it'll be like...
“Then... sorry, but could you take Celestia back to Radia first? I've already ordered the seizure lifted the moment we return, so no worries. I'll head back soon too—go on ahead.”
“That's fine. And worry? We trust you, Lord. Take your time.”
“Thanks... Well then, Celestia.”
“...Understood, Lord...”
At his call, the utterly deflated Celestia shuffled over. Puhuhu. Look at this bitch, totally spaced out. Shouldn't have acted up. Know your betters next time, uppity noble hag.
“...Lord, one thing before we go.”
“Hm? What is it, Saintess?”
With everyone mounted up, Clea looked at the lord and asked. She'd been tilting her head oddly since we met him—what was it?
“...By any chance, that young man over there and you, Lord... are you a Hero?”
...What... the...?
“Ah, you knew.”
...For real? Honest? No joke?
“It's so long ago it's meaningless now, but... yes, I was active as a Hero up until about twenty years ago.”
...Whoa... Thought he was just some old dude...
“And as you said, young Leo there is the only Hero among Radia's soldiers. Choosing soldier over adventurer—I'm grateful for that.”
Looking where the lord pointed, I spotted a young soldier staring our way. ...Sucks I didn't activate my Demon Eye for the lord meet. Wanna check him out properly.
“He's my daughter's fiancé too... But why the sudden question...?”
“...Hehe. Just curious. Thank you for answering, Lord.”
So that's why Clea had been eyeing him strangely. The lord was a Hero... which means... the one riding my back right now is...
...Damn, my horse cock's twitching already. Hngggg...
After hearing those jaw-dropping facts, I carried my bitches and Celestia back to Radia.