No Forgiveness for the NTR Scum Interfering with Our Date!
“I was being too optimistic.”
Akion decided to admit it outright.
Lately, things had been going so well that he'd gotten carried away with overconfidence, thinking anything's possible!!
“We'll push back the bathhouse completion date. I sincerely apologize to everyone involved in the construction—.”
So, they decided to delay the completion until the steel supply stabilized.
“Hwaaaah!! Finally, a break!!”
“I can barely remember my daughter's face anymore, but finally!!”
“Huh?”
The workers, who'd been grinding away alongside the workshop artisans, erupted in cheers.
“Why... are you all so happy about it?”
“Young master. Even mild-mannered Goldie would get mad at a 24-hour, week-long double-shift schedule.”
The grueling work schedule Akion had set was harsher than even these medieval folk—who were used to 12-hour days—could handle.
Even with carriages, hauling heavy materials like gravel left everyone aching and groaning by the end of the day.
“Isn't it easier than farming...?”
“Goldie. Put five sacks of gravel on that guy's back—the one holed up in the office, oblivious to the site's hardships.”
“Yes, Tower Master!”
“Kkyaaak—!!!”
Of course, Akion knew the difficulties all too well. He'd paid them generously for it.
So what happened?
“No... work?”
“It's definitely our day off, but... no sweet daily wage?”
“My mind says I'm happy, but my body and heart want to go back to the site...!”
The pay was so good despite the brutality that they'd become workaholics (in training)—hating it in their heads while their bodies craved it.
To Akion, it seemed perfectly normal.
In his past life, he'd done the same without extra pay, every day.
That's why the completion date had been so ambitious.
- Clang!
“Gek.”
“Put that away. Otherwise, everyone else will collapse too, not just him.”
“Goldie was thinking the same. Come on~ Time for a nap, young master~”
Of course, the people here had at least a bit of mana in their bodies, making them tougher.
And Akion benefited from that too, which was how he'd endured.
Thanks to that, there hadn't been any overwork deaths yet.
“Sleep well, my disciple~ In the workshop inside the tower~”
“Hwaaak?! Not the lab again—!!!”
“Oh dear, brainwashing failed.”
They couldn't use magic, nor could Akion. Anyway.
Thus, the young man who'd been forcibly given a break—Akion.
“I need to check the site every day...”
“Your father is already directing things perfectly. Just follow along!”
“Young master needs some rest!”
Unable to withstand the Tower Master and Goldie's harsh harassment, he'd been dragged out to Ridaside's upscale streets.
“What's there even to see...”
“Young master. How many times have you broken your promise to play with me?”
“......”
“Akion, don't dodge the question. Answer me. Now.”
Of course, Akion had clearly broken promises to both of them, whether about work or research.
He'd let himself get dragged out partly out of guilt.
“I've messed up a lot. Today, my whole day is dedicated to Goldie and the Tower Master.”
“Ooh! A promise with Goldie?!”
“Heh heh... Breaking promises with a dragon multiple times, and you offer just one day? I'll forgive you this once.”
- Swish swish!
Thus, the two wagged their tails happily.
Goldie was one thing, but even the noble dragon got excited and wagged her tail wildly.
“Khup.”
“What's wrong, young master?”
“Are you hurt somewhere?”
“No, it's nothing.”
The tail owners themselves hadn't noticed, so Akion decided to keep it secret for their sake.
“By the way, Tower Master. Where are your horns? And why are your ears round?”
“Don't people notice this lady's true nature every time and greet me first? This is more comfortable.”
And so began the date with the two of them.
The Tower Master had disguised her horns and ears with magic, transforming into a stunningly beautiful human...
“Goldie. This lady is fine, so you go first—.”
“Paaaaang~!!!!”
Goldie suddenly yanked Akion and the Tower Master along at super speed,
- Crash!!
“Oh my! What is this outrage?!”
“All the cream puffs are Goldie's!!”
and charged into the Ridaside branch of Mont Blanc, scooping up every last cream puff.
Goldie did love these pastries, but such rudeness made everyone frown.
“Ah, that girl! She's Goldie Heritage, the servant from Energies Mansion!”
“And the man behind her... Huh?”
The noble ladies who'd come to visit were naturally furious.
Mont Blanc's cream puffs were limited stock, after all.
Just as everyone was about to voice their righteous complaints...
“Young master Akion?!”
“Ah, ah!! I remember! That loyal dog who serves young master Akion!!”
“Ahem. That's right! Goldie is that loyal dog, Goldie Heritage!”
Akion.
His name alone completely diffused the tension.
“Oh my! Who would've thought! Here, have some of these too?”
“Mmmphthnks~!!”
Every noble lady in Mont Blanc instantly turned into kindly aunties.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Why did everyone suddenly turn nice just because she was Akion's servant? Akion wanted to know.
“What else? They're the ones whose daily lives were revolutionized by your inventions.”
According to the Tower Master, they were aunties who'd greatly benefited from his magic tools.
Listening to the approaching noble ladies,
“Hee hee, thanks to that ceiling fan, I spent last summer so refreshingly cool!”
“What about the hot water mat? My child was frail, but thanks to the one Young Master sent, we got through winter healthy.”
“And using incandescent bulbs as ceiling lights? Visiting nobles were so jealous, saying it was like daylight at night! Hee hee hee!”
They'd all reaped benefits from Akion Workshop magic tools—just as he'd intended.
Suddenly surrounded by praise from the noble ladies,
- Shrink...
“Oh my, is he embarrassed?”
“How cute~!”
Akion, who'd spent over 20 years combined from both lives as a lonely shut-in in the mansion corner.
It was too embarrassing for him.
Beside such a him,
“Hee hee, please don't tease Akion too much.”
“Eh. Who is— mmph...!”
the Tower Master began playing the supportive wife.
Incidentally pinching Akion's side to make him play along.
“My goodness. Such a beautiful lady. May I ask which family's daughter you are?”
“Just the lowly daughter of a humble house, too ashamed to reveal her name.”
And here came the noble ladies' scheming thoughts.
Too ashamed to reveal her name?
A humble house? Descendant of some great criminal family?
“What do you mean 'humble'...!”
“Shh, shush!”
But looking at young master Akion's reaction, it didn't seem so...
And seeing the two bicker so cutely?
“That's it, right?”
“That's it, oh ho ho!”
“They're in the sweet honeymoon phase!”
Clearly, a noble lady from a fine family had fallen for young master Akion,
and run away from home in secret to live with him!
“Right, Miss Goldie?”
“Mmph, mmph?”
Just to be sure, the noble ladies asked Goldie again.
Goldie, her cheeks puffed like a hamster with cream puffs.
She hurriedly chewed and swallowed, then put the period on the ladies' story.
“Shh.”
“Oh my! Oh my!!”
“Right? Right?! My guess was spot on!”
Chaos activated.
Goldie, who'd learned only bad habits from being by Akion's side.
Of course, he'd never taught her. Anyway.
Thanks to Goldie, the noble ladies—now delightfully misunderstanding the Tower Master—laughed ho ho and showered her with gifts.
“Our family specializes in textiles. We have excellent tailors, so visit sometime~!”
“We have gold mines and fine jewelers. You know what I mean? Oh ho ho!”
“Mm. Thank you.”
To get a piece of the pie if Akion and she got together, and to build connections.
The Tower Master accepted it all and watched the ladies flee with smiles...
“......Hup?!”
Only then did she realize how she and Akion must have looked.
“What? Why? Your face is super red.”
“N-nothing! Ahem, Goldie. We're done here, right? Let's go.”
“Goldie wants more using young master as an excuse— hyueeng! Sorry, sorryyy! I won't do it again—!!!”
She hurriedly retrieved everything using the storage spell engraved in her cleavage,
and dragged the two out.
'Do I look that young? No no, that's not it!'
In truth, the Tower Master had lately been questioning her relationship with Akion.
The goal of her seduction was to enchant him and take him as her disciple.
Then he'd pour out all his knowledge for magic's advancement, blah blah—.
- Clap clap!
“Uwak?! Why slap my cheek suddenly?”
“A-are you okay? Does your cheek hurt? Want Goldie to kiss it better?”
In truth, that goal still lingered, somewhat diluted now.
The Tower Master recalled herself when she'd first seduced Akion.
“I-I'm fine. Just... stray thoughts overwhelming me...”
“I don't know what's bothering you... but you're not hurt, right?”
She'd thought a young, handsome man being swayed by her voluptuous figure and submitting would bring her ecstasy...
- Poke.
“No fever?”
“Young master. Would a dragon ever get sick?”
“That's true, but you acting like this suddenly makes me worry.”
Even now, and usually too.
These occasional delicate considerations—what were they?
- Thump! Thump!
Something hidden in the Tower Master's heart began pounding wildly.
“Phew. Don't worry. It's nothing.”
“What... If it's me or Goldie, we'll listen, so tell us anytime.”
She didn't know what it was yet... but it didn't feel bad.
If she had to put a name to it,
“Pft, a mere human who won't live a century dares counsel a dragon's worries?”
“Is a dragon's mind invincible or something?”
“Ahaha...! Not entirely wrong, so I'll forgive you this time.”
The Tower Master was happy in this moment.
Because Akion was by her side.
That much was certain... so today, she was especially joyful.
And so, as the sun began to set.
“Why'd you buy so much...”
“Young master's clothes and young master's clothes and young master's clothes and my clothes and Tower Master's clothes!”
“It's your day with the Tower Master—why so many of mine? Am I your doll?”
“Watching from the side, it does seem that way. Tee hee.”
Having enjoyed shopping happily, the Akion crew was slowly heading back to the mansion.
- Clank, clank.
“Hm?”
Fully armed soldiers marched toward the mansion ahead of them.
“Those are...”
Akion frantically searched his memories.
The crest on their armor was the Energies crest.
Such a large force wouldn't just vanish from Energies...
“Oh, Akion!”
Exactly two years ago.
By imperial decree, the crown prince-led northeastern beast subjugation army.
Energies had to send people too, and the only one who could back then was...
“You magic-ignorant bastard. What blessing did you get to walk around with two women?”
“Brother Huan?”
Huan Energies.
First son born to Count Delpord Energies and Countess Lucrecia.
Two years ago, he'd been groomed as Delpord's promising heir.
Active externally, acting as proxy in various places...
- Pat pat.
“So you've become a man, huh?”
Of course, he'd hit on any woman—a golden sun.
Silver-haired Energies made him a silver sun. Anyway.
“Just back from the capital?”
He looked fresh from the battlefield, clad in light armor and cloak.
Bloodstained here and there, quite intimidating,
“Hey.”
- Thud.
but the hand that had patted Akion's chest grew rougher.
“Answer me. Vermin.”
“......”
If Hermione Energies had bullied Akion directly in the past,
“Rumors have spread a bit. Strutting around with useless alchemy... That's more your level, isn't it?”
then Huan Energies bullied him with authority and words.
Ordering servants to harass or discriminate against Akion.
He was the one behind those commands.
“So, who's the lady beside you?”
To him, Akion was still the incompetent little brother from two years ago.
“Ah, no need to say. I'll ask her myself. Beautiful lady, if it's alright, your name—.”
- Pat.
And a little brother rebelling was utterly inconceivable to him.
“......”
But the hand that crossed between him and the Tower Master, lightly shoving Huan aside...
“What're you doing?”
“Don't touch her.”
Belonged to Akion?
Huan's smile twisted.
“Akion.”
“Yes.”
“Acting cocky in front of a lady?”
“What does it matter? I said don't touch her. Brother.”
“Haa... Akion. My once-proud little brother.”
Huan didn't know the details of the past two years.
The beast hordes were too numerous; he hadn't kept proper contact with the family.
The one letter before returning.
He'd gotten Hermione's letter about the science uproar,
and knew Akion had stirred up Energies... but
“You. If I become family head, can you handle the fallout for this?”
“If you become head... Haa, Huan. Back off while I'm asking nicely.”
“Haha... Dropping the honorifics too.”
Akion had dumped the fame on Delpord, so details were unknown.
In other words, he had no idea how amazing Akion had become.
- Smack!
“I don't know her family, but she seems head over heels for you—.”
In that situation... Huan abused his backing as usual.
Relying on Energies prestige to act shamelessly.
“Bet she hasn't even been kissed.”
“You bastard, don't tell me—!”
Even a noble lady clinging to Akion was at best a viscount's daughter.
No way a grand ducal princess.
That was common sense to Huan, so he acted on it.
“I'd be way better than a punk like him.”
“Get your hands off, you psycho!!”
Delpord might scold him again, but Huan was an excellent earth mage.
And after this beast subjugation, no one would cast him out lightly.
Fist or no, Huan went to steal a kiss from this beauty.
As retribution,
- Boom boom!!
Huan crumpled from the Tower Master's punch, his face and lower body partially caved in.
- Thud... Cough!
- Tremble tremble...!
“Haa. Not my fault. He brought the disaster on himself.”
His eyes, nose, mouth—and not-so-great parts—all sank inward.
Fortunately, his trembling body showed he was still alive.
Alive, at least.
- Zhiiing!
“Akion.”
“Y-yes?”
The Tower Master dropped her disguise.
She looked at Akion with deep emotion.
“I never knew... you thought of me that way...”
Her cheeks and ears slightly flushed.
Her gaze sparkling like one in love...
“W-well, you're my Tower Master, aren't you? The one I trust most.”
“Haa, haaa...!”
Akion unwittingly gave the perfect response.
Those words set the Tower Master ablaze.
“Is that so... your Tower Master... The one you trust and rely on most, hee hee hee...!”
Her cheeks flushed youthfully despite her age.
She kneaded them, at a loss.
“T-the Ridaside Tower Master who vanished twenty years ago?!”
“W-what do we do? We need to rush young master Huan to the clinic...”
“Shut it if you don't wanna die...!!”
The troops who'd fought alongside Huan for two years panicked too.
They'd come to mock the youngest young master as usual,
who knew a dragon would stand guard over Akion!!
But they knew one thing.
“Um, we should take brother to the clinic, right?”
“Hee hee. Considerate Akion. Looking after that scoundrel because he's blood... Fine, for your sake, I permit it.”
“That's right. Everyone? You must be tired from the expedition... but could you help a bit?”
“Of course, young master Akion!!!”
To survive, follow young master Akion now!!
Some rushed the knocked-out Huan to Ridaside's clinic,
while the rest carefully transported the baggage Akion's group carried to the mansion.