Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Departure (1)
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“...”
“...”
Daven territory's dining hall.
With every member of the hero party gathered, a strange tension hung in the air amid the silence of the meeting room.
“Mm...”
“...”
Before long, Laura and Rainy—who had become the closest of friends—were directing sharp glares nonstop at Vina.
Even under their pressure, Vina wore a relaxed smile, as if it were all utterly ridiculous.
“Hee hee...”
Nania just giggled foolishly while observing the two.
I felt my mind growing hazy from the three women's battle of wills, but I clung desperately to my sanity.
If I had to compare our hero party right now, it was like an extreme women-dominated workplace.
Any lone man who entered such a place had to adapt to this level of hardship.
While I gripped my sanity tightly, Laura—who had been shooting Vina dirty looks—finally opened her small mouth.
“Hey.”
“Are you addressing me, my lady?”
“Who else would I be talking to if not you?”
“Hmm...”
“Did you apologize to the slave?”
“Of course. I conveyed my sincerest apologies to the hero.”
“...”
Vina placed a finger to her lips and tilted her head.
“But why do you call the hero a slave, my lady?”
Vina cocked her head, genuinely curious.
Laura faltered slightly at that, but she glared back and answered.
“Because he's a slave, so I call him a slave.”
“Where does it say that's a thing? As far as I know, imperial law outright rejects slavery.”
“...Whatever! He's my slave!”
“That's regrettable. The baron already belongs to me.”
“Why would the slave belong to you?”
“I'm sorry to disappoint you, my lady, but that's reality.”
Laura's face sharpened.
“Did you slip him some drug or something?”
“Hee hee, I didn't need to. The baron confessed honestly that he wants to make a baby with me.”
No sooner had Vina finished speaking than Rainy and Laura's shocked gazes poured onto me.
“Haa...”
I let out a sigh and glared at Vina.
She smiled innocently, as if she knew nothing, but even I—supposedly oblivious—could tell she was picking an unnecessary fight right now.
I lightly smacked the top of her head to shut her up and got to the point.
“Um, everyone, stop with the weird stuff and listen to me for a sec.”
“...”
Thankfully, the women fell quiet and listened as soon as I spoke.
“The hero party's first objective has been decided.”
“Where?”
“Our first destination is the Elf Empire.”
“...”
No one seemed to have any complaints about making the Elf Empire our first stop.
I'd been inwardly worried that Rainy and Laura might object since it was Vina's homeland, but fortunately, they didn't.
I felt grateful toward them.
Rainy tapped at the grape juice in front of her and spoke up.
“What about the territory, then?”
“I'll take care of that.”
Before I could open my mouth, the strategist succubus stepped forward.
The moment she did, Laura's face twisted.
“Eek, slave... no, baron. You're really leaving it to these girls?”
She seemed bothered by Vina's earlier point, hesitating to use the word 'slave.'
Deep down, I thought of 'slave' as an endearment and didn't mind it, but I still felt a twinge of disappointment.
I nodded without showing it and defended the succubus.
“Anyway, their queen is our slave now, so there's no worry about betrayal.”
Rainy immediately grabbed Nania's tail—sitting beside her—and tugged it, making Nania wince.
“Besides, the succubi already handle most of the territory's administration, so it'll actually be more efficient for her to take over.”
No sooner had I finished than the strategist succubus snapped a salute.
“I'll devote my body and soul to managing the territory, laying the foundation for the hero's harem kingdom!”
“...”
I knew all the succubi, Nania included, were a bit unhinged, but the 'harem kingdom' remark was a real shock.
“As expected of my strategist.”
Nania clapped enthusiastically, while Rainy shot her a cold look and smacked her on the head.
“Who decided it's a harem kingdom? Keep your subordinates' mouths in check.”
“Hiiik... But the saintess as the legal wife...”
The violent saintess Rainy started beating her before she could finish.
“Who decided you're the legal wife? Huh?”
“Th-then the hero as the saintess's legal...”
“Shut up, shut up.”
“...”
I couldn't bear to watch any longer and stood up.
“Anyway, we're departing tomorrow. The princess said the Elf Empire's situation is pretty urgent.”
Everyone's eyes turned serious at the realization that the hero party's departure was finally happening.
They'd all had the past few days to prepare mentally, so there was no major agitation.
“Make sure you're all fully ready, and we'll meet tomorrow.”
Everyone at the table nodded.
***
D-1 until the hero party's departure.
Daven territory's family head office.
“Mm...”
I was now handling paperwork with the familiar Purifying Flame floating at my side.
I'd given Deia a proper handover, but there were still matters she couldn't handle easily on her own, so I had to sort them out in advance.
As someone aiming for a 52-hour workweek, this overtime pissed me off to no end.
But knowing I'd be free from work once we set off gave me some motivation.
Even if it was a perilous journey that could cost lives.
Rustle.
Rustle.
I was sorting through the rough-textured papers when...
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
'Who could it be?'
Not Rainy, that's for sure.
She'd just barge in without permission.
I cautiously opened the door to find an unexpected face.
“My lady?”
“Uh... yeah.”
Surprisingly, it was Laura, dressed in cute pajamas.
She clutched a large bear plush to her chest, her expression sour—like she'd had a nightmare.
“What brings you here so late at night?”
“...”
Laura averted her eyes and fidgeted with her legs, as if embarrassed to say.
Wondering what was up with our lady, it suddenly hit me that she was still a young noble miss.
Yumi had lived in darkness, so the hero party's journey probably didn't scare her.
Rainy was a tough woman who'd survived a corrupt church you could call demonic and the back alleys.
A hero party trip wouldn't faze her.
Vina was heading to save her homeland, so she'd feel more drive than fear.
But Laura had walked only safe paths until now.
Sure, there'd been some shady stuff with that pink-haired girl at the academy, but she'd never faced life-threatening danger.
Plus, she was the youngest in the hero party.
For such a Laura, feeling afraid about heading into battle with dangerous demons was only natural.
She had some real combat experience in the dungeon, but honestly, that dungeon was kid stuff—easy mode.
I reflected on not looking after her properly and grabbed her collar to pull her inside.
“Come in for now.”
“Mm...”
I sat Laura on one side of the bed and fetched some simple snacks from the room.
Butter cookies wafting a sharp cinnamon scent.
Laura obediently nibbled on one she took from me.
The sight felt like watching a niece, filling me with warmth.
With the Purifying Flame softly floating in the air, illuminating the room, I recalled the counselor from my past life and spoke gently in a caring tone.
“Stay as long as you want, my lady. It's normal to be scared of the hero party's adventure.”
Laura looked up at me in surprise, like I'd read her mind.
I hadn't noticed during her usual sharp demeanor, but in this vulnerable state, her youth stood out anew.
She mumbled for a bit before speaking cautiously.
“Sorry... I said I wanted to join the hero party for my sister... But when it's really time to leave, I got scared... Sorry for being a bother...”
“Nah, I'm happy you're relying on me like this. Besides, you're still young. At your age, it's supposed to be all mood swings and tears—age is the boss.”
Laura punched my shoulder in annoyance.
“The age gap's barely anything, so why do you always treat me like a kid?”
“Because to me, you're a cute little sister.”
Suddenly, a wish I'd harbored since my past life came to mind.
Maybe now I could make it happen...!
“Um, my lady?”
“Yeah?”
“Could you grant me one wish?”
Laura's face flushed bright red the moment she heard me.
“Hey... No naughty stuff!”
“...”
Why did the women in our territory always jump to that conclusion?
I was starting to suspect Nania had cast some kind of area-wide spell.
“It's not that. It's a pure, innocent wish.”
“...What is it?”
“Call me 'big bro' just once.”
“Shut up.”
“...Okay.”
The mood was all soft and fluffy, so I thought she'd go for it if I asked now.
Unfortunately, I got a body slam from the bear plush instead.
Wait, was it okay to chuck around a plush she treasured like that?
Since I was showing my disappointment openly, Laura glanced at me and patted my shoulder.
“...That important to you?”
“Yes!”
“...”
Laura pondered for a moment.
Then, with flushed cheeks and her head bowed, she mumbled shyly.
“La... Lain oppa?”
No way—in all my life, I'd hear 'oppa' from Laura.
Women really are creatures of the moment.
The Laura who'd normally scowl and call me slave.
Late at night, under the soft glow of the Purifying Flame, swept up in the tender atmosphere, she let 'oppa' slip out.
I was thrilled, but also worried.
How naive could she be, granting a request just because I set a little mood?
I'd have to seriously warn the duke when we met.
Make sure to educate his daughter thoroughly so she doesn't fall for some weirdo.