Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Terror Ringleader(?)
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We dressed Lenis and left the hot spring, heading back to the campsite.
Carrying the unconscious Lenis down the mountain path was a bit tougher than expected, but not impossible.
"See, I told you I'd carry her."
Ravi noticed my struggle and offered, but I shook my head.
"No, you've used up a lot of energy. I'll do it. This is manageable."
"You look tired, though?"
"N-No way."
Bunny tribe women were much stronger than human men, so rationally, Ravi carrying her made more sense. But after our first time outdoors culminating in her passing out from orgasm, handing her off to someone else felt too embarrassing. So I stubbornly insisted.
"Ugh... Mm..."
Halfway down, Lenis stirred and let out a groan.
"Ow, my stomach hurts... Huh?! W-What am I... Alvis?!"
"Oh, you're awake? You were out cold. Must've felt that good, huh?"
Lenis jolted on my back at my words.
"No way?! I was just... a little tired and dozed off. Don't call it passing out... Put me down! I can walk!"
"You seem worn out. They say your stomach hurts a lot after your first time. Ravi did too. I've never seen others, but honestly, mine's pretty big, right? You climaxed hard earlier and must be drained, so let me carry you."
"I said no! And who said I climaxed?! Yours didn't feel g~~~ood at all!"
"Sure, let's go with that. We'll see if you liked it next time."
"N...ext...?"
"What, calling it quits after one go? You're mine now. Once we find a nice inn, I'll give it to you way better than before. Look forward to it."
Lenis fell silent, then buried her face against my back and muttered.
"......You beast."
"Neither of us can judge the other now, right?"
"I-I was just indulging your bad hobby for a bit! You think the elegant lady of the Valentin Count family would sincerely do something so vulgar like you?!"
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say."
"Grr..."
Annoyed, Lenis gripped my shoulders tighter.
"It was amazing for me, though."
"...Huh?"
Her grip loosened.
"It felt great. Being with you. Thanks for accepting me all the way without refusing. I love you, Lenis."
"Gasp...!"
Startled, Lenis hugged me tighter and whispered.
"...You're just saying that without meaning it."
"That hurts. I mean it. Don't believe me? I can say it more. I love you, Lenis. Or should I prove it with actions?"
"F-Fine, no need! And you said that to Ravi too. Shamelessly telling others you love them, then the same to me... Liar."
Ravi chuckled and leaned toward Lenis.
"Lenis, are you jealous? Because Alvis doesn't love only you."
"N-No! And Ravi, how'd you end up like this?! Alvis is one thing, but you too... looking like th-that..."
"This is the real me. And I'm so grateful to Alvis for that. He still loves me even after seeing all of who I am."
Ravi set down the wild boar briefly and gently massaged Lenis's shoulders.
"And I'm okay with you, Lenis. It was kinda like this at the academy too, right? The difference is, except for Celine, we three were all dumped, but Alvis won't do that♡"
"Well... yeah, but..."
Lenis trailed off, recalling academy days.
Strictly speaking, the relationships around Brayden back then and now only differed by whether there was physical intimacy. Though that was a huge difference.
I picked up Ravi's thread.
"I still remember all three of your faces from that graduation breakfast table. I don't want you feeling that way again."
"...So you did it with Ravi and me too?"
"Yeah."
"You really are a beast!"
"It's different. It's not just lust. I want to see you happy, and I chose to make that happen."
It sounded like a massive rationalization, but it was sincere.
Seeing them so downcast at breakfast the day after rejection by Brayden—I didn't want that repeated.
From the start, I'd decided to treat them seriously and make them mine because they were fan-favorite characters in the original web novel, heartbroken and crying after rejection.
My sincerity got through somewhat; Lenis went quiet on my back, then leaned her head against me.
"...Liar."
Not full acceptance, but her embrace softened, so her heart had eased.
To seal it, I turned my head, meeting her eyes.
I set her down briefly, faced her, and gently cupped her chin.
"W-What are you doing?"
"Showing affection."
Holding her chin, I pulled her in for a deep kiss. Her eyes widened.
She stomped a bit, then settled, accepting my tongue and wrapping her arms around my waist.
After the sweet kiss, Lenis stared at me dazedly.
"Still think it's a lie?"
After seconds of silence, she looked away.
"H-How does anyone prove sincerity with something anyone can do?"
"Tricky. Guess I'll have to show it with actions more often."
"...Do what you want."
"Good. Look forward to it then."
I walked ahead with Ravi.
Sensing something off, I glanced back—Lenis stood frozen.
"What're you doing? Coming?"
She extended her arms.
"Aren't you gonna carry me?"
"Didn't you say you could walk?"
"......Changed my mind. Carry me."
So tsundere.
Ravi smirked knowingly and nodded for me to go. I crouched, offering my back.
"Hop on."
"......"
Lenis climbed on quietly, wrapping her arms around my neck.
Her embrace was gentler now, and unlike before—when she'd consciously avoided pressing against me—her ample chest now rested softly against my back.
Ravi just smiled at her. The three of us returned to camp where Elfin waited.
Elfin had stopped her self-harming training; after dinner, she'd sat alone brooding until spotting us and jumping up.
"Where were you three? I was so bored alone."
Ravi set down the boar, winked, and clasped her hands apologetically.
"Ahaha, sorry, Elfin. We ran into Lenis and found something..."
"Found what? And Lenis, why's Alvis carrying you?"
I answered for her.
"There was an abandoned hot spring in the mountains, run by civilians who went bankrupt. Most facilities are gone or ruined, but the spring's still good. Lenis... uh... had a stomachache."
"Really? You okay, Lenis?"
"Y-Yes?! Oh... I'm fine now!"
"Hot spring!? Why didn't you tell me! I wanted to bathe so bad...! Wait, no—Ravi, Lenis! Wanna go together? Where is it?! Let's all go!"
"I can guide you. I know the spot."
Elfin beamed, then eyed me suspiciously.
"You... trying to peep on us bathing? Don't even think about it. I won't let you."
Naive Elfin... You have no idea what Ravi, Lenis, and I were just doing. Though after kissing you too, you'd probably believe it anyway.
In the barracks of the Goddess's Sword unit—home to the Holy Warrior's stationed forces within the Empire—Brayden and Celine gravely compiled reports from the Empire.
Copies of reports from the unit dispatched to the Carrot Duchy border upon their return.
The skirmish nearly escalated to war between the two nations, but on-site changes averted it. Still, the contents weren't reassuring.
The reports detailed the Ebony Shadow Mercenaries member who incited the clash, complete with a sketch.
Described as tall, strikingly handsome with a sharp nose. The sketch by a soldier who remembered him depicted a somewhat roguish brown-haired young man.
In the meeting room, red-haired Celine stared piercingly at the sketch before calling Brayden.
"Brayden, no matter how I look..."
"Yeah, definitely. It's Alvis. This detailed, it can't be anyone else."
"That bastard's post-academy move is joining a psycho murder-terror group?! Killed Vector Baron in the kingdom, torched Arborness, and now sparked conflict between Empire and Carrot Duchy? I didn't think even that scum would go that far...!"
"More concerning are the other members mentioned. No sketches since faces were covered, just vague descriptions..."
Member 1: Pink short-haired bunny tribe woman. Tallest of the trio; martial artist suspected from movements.
Member 2: Blonde drill-haired human woman. Witnessed using magic.
Member 3: Blonde ponytail elf woman. Unseen during fight; appeared briefly at escape, carried by bunny woman, seemingly exhausted.
Brayden, checking the report, stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"These identified mercenaries... their traits feel weirdly familiar, don't they?"
Celine thought the same but dismissed it.
"But it doesn't make sense, right? Alvis that prick's been rampaging across the continent—why would they travel with trash like him? Especially after he ravaged their homeland."
Unit commander Robert, attending the meeting oblivious to his true identity, perked up.
"From your words, Holy Warrior and Lady Celine seem to know these people."
"Well... the other three are ridiculous guesses, but this ringleader Alvis? Yeah, we know him."
"Could you share about Alvis? And those implausible others too. With incidents this big, we can't ignore even slim chances."
Unaware of Robert's gleaming eyes' implications, Brayden and Celine reluctantly shared Alvis's info while eyeing the sketch.