Chapter 26
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Bare-Handed Assassin
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As soon as Ekyon parried the attack, I deployed a white light barrier.
I slowly caught my breath and scanned the surroundings.
Even though someone had clearly attacked on purpose, my mind remained calm.
"We need to search right—!"
Ekyon, who had been riding me cowgirl-style, jolted in surprise and tried to leap up.
Well, she tried to, anyway. She ended up collapsing back down with a thud.
"Ohooooh...!"
Her legs gave out, and as she fell, my cock pierced her womb, sending her straight into orgasm?
What kind of comedy routine was this...?
"I'm fine, so don't rush. It's not breaking."
I pulled Ekyon into my arms first, shifting to a face-to-face sitting position before toppling forward.
Missionary would make it easier to pull out.
"Hnnngh...!"
As I withdrew my cock, Ekyon shuddered all over.
She must have hit another weak climax.
She'd lost control of her lust while on night watch duty and ended up riding me.
It would've been fine if nothing had happened, but since trouble struck, yeah, she was at fault.
Just like how slacking off is okay as long as you don't get caught during inspections—the reverse holds true too.
Ridiculous, but that's just how the world works.
'Just bad luck.'
Still, I had no intention of punishing her harshly.
It was just a minor slip from one of my women, and she'd handled it well on her own.
That was enough.
"Antiope."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Antiope sprang to her feet and asked.
She seemed fully awake now—her eyes and voice were sharp as knives.
"Feels like an assassin, but I can't sense any presence. They either fled or are hiding. Can you track them?"
"I'll do my best."
"Good."
I nodded and dispelled the light barrier.
Earlier, I'd glimpsed what looked like a person swinging a fist...
But now, not even a shadow remained.
The sound had been so loud and deliberate—it was unmistakably targeted. No accident here.
A planned ambush.
"S-sorry...!"
Ekyon, now free, hurriedly snatched up her scattered pants and pulled them on while mumbling.
Tears welled in her eyes, making her look utterly pitiful.
"It's fine. But let's have you take a few swats on the ass as payback."
"Y-yes...!"
At my words of forgiveness, Ekyon's eyes flashed sharply.
Her legs were still trembling, but she looked plenty reliable.
"Found you."
After sniffing around like a dog for a while, Antiope kicked off the luggage compartment and launched herself.
She soared straight to the back of the wagon in one bound.
Boom! The carriage creaked from the force, followed by a deafening crash.
It was like a hand grenade going off, if a bit exaggerated.
"Urgh...!"
As the explosion faded, faint dust rose along with someone's groan.
Antiope was already planted firmly on the ground, fist extended.
A woman was visible, blocking the punch with both hands and grimacing.
Short green hair, breasts so massive they bordered on excessive, and a plump, juicy ass.
The kind of stacked tomboy style that polarized opinions hard.
Of course, I was all in.
'Why her?'
For a moment, my eyes went wide.
She matched the third boss from the game perfectly in appearance.
'Gotta catch her.'
While Antiope pinned her legs, I quickly manipulated the light.
I formed a massive needle the length of a mop handle and hurled it straight at the woman.
"You mad—!"
The woman yelled and urgently arched her back.
As she bent backward while braced, her huge tits jiggled mouthwateringly.
Shwooo! The glowing needle grazed just above her chest.
I hadn't aimed to hit anyway, so no big loss.
The real goal was to throw off her stance.
To help Antiope subdue her easily.
"Hup!"
As expected, Antiope's eyes gleamed as she threw her weight in.
The ground cratered under her feet, and the green-haired woman's body sank lower and lower.
At this rate, her back would snap.
No escape, no kicking or countering possible—she was done for.
"Grrgh!"
In the end, the green-haired woman crashed to the ground.
With Antiope pouncing on top, it made for a strangely arousing sight.
'Tempted to tell her to grind on her a bit.'
I pondered seriously for a second before heading over.
Antiope had her pinned belly-down perfectly—no issues there.
"How the hell did you know?"
As I approached, the woman asked Antiope.
Her strength seemed to be fading; her arms trembled and went limp.
"A secret."
Antiope smiled softly in reply as I squatted beside the woman.
Sharp eyes, a body honed with solid muscle.
Her oversized tits' heft and volume stood out even more clearly now.
"From the looks of it, you came to kill me, right?"
I asked while meeting her eyes. The green-haired woman glared back in silence.
Her fierce gaze only amplified the intimidation.
"How dare you give His Highness such impure looks..."
A chilling voice slipped from Antiope's lips.
Cold, sharp light flickered even over her darkened pupils.
She looked ready to gouge out the woman's eyeball right then.
"It's fine. An assassin's caught, so getting venomous is natural."
I patted Antiope's shoulder lightly, then locked eyes with the woman.
She writhed, trying to escape, but lacked the strength.
'What to do with her?'
Ekyon had arrived too, and she was fully subdued—no rush.
But first, confirm her identity?
"You scream assassin at first glance. Who's an assassin that looks like this?"
I tossed out a probing line, and her shoulders twitched.
Getting her identity exposed meant her weaknesses were too—plenty of reason to tense up.
If she was who I thought, there was no way I'd order her death.
She wasn't the begging type, but she had reasons to live.
"Oh yeah, I heard about a sister who assassinates because her brother's sick..."
"Eek!"
Her face twisted beautifully in that instant.
The look of someone hit right in the core.
'Bingo.'
I met her eyes and smirked.
The third boss with those eerie bullet hell patterns and teleport-like vanishes.
The assassin who tried to kill the protagonist only to fall into depraved bitchdom.
"Yep. You're Aktaion, right? Famous for bare-handed kills, and here you are without even a weapon."
"Your Highness knows this woman?"
Ekyon blinked in astonishment.
Reciting a random assassin's profile like that would surprise anyone.
"I'm the Crown Prince. I hear all sorts of things when you two aren't around."
I paused, then blinked at Aktaion.
Time to ask why she ambushed me, then turn her into my exclusive bitch.
"Who's the client?"
"Planning to threaten my family if I don't talk?"
Aktaion asked with venomous eyes.
She'd brought up family, so giving up made sense—but she had some circumstances.
"Nah. Hard to believe, but no plans for that. I'd just fuck you senseless and slowly make you mine. You've got the worth for it."
"Freak. Just kill me."
"Kill you? With a family to support? Something's off."
Aktaion loved her family too much for suicide.
Even when the protagonist jumped her, she'd resisted to escape.
Until days of 24 loads broke her into bitchdom...
But surrendering her life so cleanly felt wrong.
Like only her death would save her family.
"Someone holding your family hostage and blackmailing you?"
"Eek...! You knew even that?"
Aktaion's eyes went wide.
Just a shot in the dark, and it hit?
"Didn't know. Just guessed it'd be something like that."
"Ridiculous. Guessing that and nailing it? Or is it that vaunted imperial bloodline power?"
"Could be."
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
No blackmail plot in the game, but likely some Ion power player.
Aktaion hailed from Ion, after all.
And targeting the Crown Prince? Nobility odds high.
"Who's blackmailing you?"
"What for? Just kill me already."
"Gotta know to help."
"Help? An assassin? You sane?"
Aktaion scowled.
Most would pry the backer then kill—fair reaction.
"Your Highness. You're saying you'll spare and use this sinner who dared assassinate you?"
"Anyone threatening the Crown Prince deserves execution."
Ekyon and Antiope chimed in, incredulous.
"Seems like blackmail, so I'm factoring that in. Purely for-hire killers? I'd dig up the client and discard them."
"Can't argue with that..."
Antiope grumbled, rolling her eyes before falling silent.
"Sorry. Questioning Your Highness's decision was wrong from the start."
"Not wrong, so no need to apologize. You have every right. Same for Ekyon."
Escorts are confidants; confidants get to voice opinions.
Whether I take them is my call.
"His Highness must fancy this woman. Guess we follow."
Ekyon sighed softly.
Probably anxious about a backstab anytime.
"You hang with types like these and claim I'm your type? Unique taste."
Aktaion's lips twisted.
Short hair, muscled, tall.
By this world's standards, far from a beauty.
But to me? Plenty beautiful.
That sufficed.
"No joke—totally my type. And you delivered yourself, so I'm taking you."
"For real? Grateful vibe since you're sparing me, but really?"
Aktaion blinked wide-eyed.
Thought I was teasing, now realizing sincerity.
"Obviously. Become my woman. I'll handle your family issue too."
"...Not joking?"
"Don't joke about this. Take it or leave it—reject and die clean."
With the choice given, Aktaion groaned and went silent.
Could force her, but better if she chose willingly.
Guiding her to decide felt superior.
If she weren't the game's heroine, I'd handle differently.
Kill males, sell females to brothels.
"Fine. But if my family's endangered, I don't know what I'll do. Bear that in mind."
Five minutes of silence later, she nodded meekly.
Aktaion didn't deceive or lie; she honored her word.
Said she'd join? No backstabs expected.
"Good. One of us will watch you constantly for now. So, who sent you? Need that to plan."
"Count Kruger. Know him?"
Aktaion sighed and answered promptly.
No hesitation now that she was on board.
'Count, huh...'
Vague memories from etiquette lessons long ago.
Lessons were ancient history, not crystal clear, but I'd heard the name.
And on my coming-of-age ceremony.
Among nobles clamoring for handshakes, a portly, affable-looking man.
"Know of him vaguely. Met him too. But really him?"
"Yeah. Swear on my dead mom's grave. Dad's too if needed."
Aktaion wet her right index finger with her tongue and muttered.
Never imagined "mom's a whore" fantasy slang in this world.
'This real?'
Caught off guard briefly, but I snapped back.
Calm down.
"No need. I believe you."
"Good."
"But I don't know details? Never cared."
Which nobles where, factions—knew basics, nothing deep.
Etiquette-level stuff.
I knew high nobles well, but...
Counts weren't that tier.
Empire had plenty.
"Short version: shady bastard. And a royal courtier, so extra cocky."
Unbelievable.
My eyes widened involuntarily at the explanation.