Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Grand Procession Departs
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To put it simply, my conviction was wrong.
In front of Milf Village's gate, two flags fluttered side by side.
One was the Graize family's crest, shaped like a burst of white light.
And right beside it stood a golden flag bearing the Hart clan's heart-shaped emblem.
Flanking the troops were dozens of horses and over a dozen carriages.
It looked just like a king's entourage straight out of some movie.
El had put up a huge fuss.
She'd even threatened that if they went home like this, she'd run away again.
Not only Fred and the other background knights, but even the ever-composed Marien had paled.
I vaguely remembered that El had spent half a year living as an adventurer.
According to Apiz, the Graize family head was a total daughter-con, and his daughter had run off with some guy for over half a year.
Now she was threatening to do it again, and the reason was one of their subordinate knights?
Even I'd get chills thinking about it.
Gold's taunting probably played a part too.
He'd smiled at the Graize folks and said it was fine if he came along.
That scene flashed back in my mind.
"Gold, sir. Does that mean the Hart clan is the first to request joining up?"
Marien spoke, but Gold breezily ignored her.
"For my brother-in-law, I can easily yield this much. But El, it looks like you can't."
"......Marien."
"Yes, miss."
"If anyone opposes what I say from now on, they'll never see me again."
"......! Understood."
El falls for provocations way too easily.
Anyway, with the forces of both families lined up side by side, it was quite the spectacle.
You wouldn't see troops like this just anywhere.
One of the masterminds behind it, El, was chatting with Flat.
"El, sleep well?"
"Yeah, slept great, Flat."
Flat was responding to El's smiling reply with a hint of caution.
What's up? They look kinda awkward...
"Waaah... What is all this?"
Asita, waiting at the gate entrance, gasped in admiration.
Clarit, standing beside her, was pressing her temple with her hand.
"Seriously.... What in the world."
"Clarit, want me to massage your head?"
"...Later, please."
They're close, huh.
Those two are definitely friends.
Feeling my gaze, Clarit looked up and shot me a glare.
What? What did I do?
I didn't do anything wrong.
Even as I thought that, I averted my eyes.
"...Impressive, teacher."
"Huh?"
Lena, standing primly, muttered out of the blue.
Her face, watching the two armies, was full of shock.
Noticing me staring, she wiped away the astonishment and feigned a blank expression.
She's quick on the uptake, like a proper adult.
"Lena...!"
"......!"
But a reunion with her long-separated father melted even that adult facade.
As the stable owner spread his arms, Lena toddled over and hugged him tight.
I had people seeing me off too.
First, the guild folks.
Including the middle-aged staff who'd treated me well, and Bentley, they were waving.
As I approached, Bentley, who'd been bawling his eyes out, said,
"Hey! Dre! You better come back, got it?!"
"Uh... yeah."
Why are you crying?
Were we that close? I was stunned.
"Damn it... the drinks with you were good."
"The free food was good, you mean."
"Yeah, you bastard!"
Bentley cried harder at my joke, then grabbed my outstretched hand and shook it wildly.
His fellow female wrestler patted him down, and the guild adventurers I'd gotten familiar with greeted me one by one.
Aside from Bentley, they weren't exactly great connections, but it didn't feel bad.
The merchants had come out too—probably to see off the Ten Great Houses, I thought—but they were chanting my name.
"......?"
"Why so surprised, idiot? You wrecked that corrupt Kiss Merchant Group and Sor, and nearly wiped out that sleazy Serton count's family. You're super popular in the village now."
"Is that so."
How did I not know?
Oh, right. I was holed up in my room.
Anyway, as I exchanged goodbyes one by one... I finally spotted her.
The tiny, handsome boy-like uncle. Nila, standing next to the shota elf.
I couldn't ignore her after coming this far.
As I approached, Nila teared up and greeted me first.
"Truly... thank you so much, Dre."
"Thank you! Thank you, Dre!!"
The shota elf was way more polite than before.
He owed me big for crushing the Kiss Merchant Group and Lamrat, plus getting the Hart clan to clear his debt.
......Though I owed her emotionally too.
"Nila."
"Outsider, care to talk over there for a bit?"
"Huh? What?"
"Honey, I'll be right back."
The shota elf looked puzzled but nodded, and Nila and I stepped away from the crowd for a chat.
A big tree provided perfect cover.
Just the two of us felt awkward.
What to say... Take care?
"I thought you'd forgotten me..."
But that affectionate voice chased away stray thoughts.
"As if! I just thought if I stayed longer, I wouldn't be able to hold back."
"Hold back? So you're still interested in my body?"
"Of course. But you can't anymore, Nila."
It pained me to end things, but it was for the best.
Then Nila hugged me.
Dodge? Why would I?
The soft press of her breasts and her scent stiffened my groin; my dick poked her belly.
"Ahh, it's real. I'm glad you haven't tired of me."
"N-Nila."
"Adventurer, please, please come back. If you want, I'll embrace you anytime."
"......"
"I want to bear your child. So when you return, impregnate me♡"
She bit my neck and sucked long and hard.
It'd been ages since Lepelt, so just that made my crotch tremble.
Rubbing my dick with her palm, Nila pulled away, her face utterly seductive.
She headed back to the shota elf first.
Would I ever return to Milf Village?
I stared blankly at her retreating figure.
It took minutes to calm my erection before heading out, when a massive presence hit me.
Apiz.
"Farewell."
"Yes. Hope we meet again."
"We will. You'll soon reach the peak as a knight."
His tone was purely objective, no flattery, which made me chuckle.
"Next time, expect better skills, Apiz."
"Sure. Just keep the bad bugs off my daughter."
"......"
This gruff guy saying that...
"Doesn't Asita already have a boyfriend to protect her?"
"Who knows. I'll respect her choice, but I don't like the guy."
"Uh..."
"He's from a great house, sure, but that's it. He's calculating, attaching conditions to protecting her."
Why?
I felt great.
Asita's kinda like a friend, right?
My sorta-friend's boyfriend getting trashed felt good.
Even I thought it was petty.
But damn, it felt good.
I replied cheerfully.
"I see."
"You're better, honestly. See you. Take care of Blan too. Gotta head back to work."
"Yes."
He turned and walked off coolly, no looking back or waving.
What a guy.
Like he said, we'd meet again soon.
He's already top-tier; it's weird he hasn't climbed higher.
I watched his back a bit, then returned to the Ten Great Houses' procession.
"Bro."
"Blan."
Blan's family was set to head to the capital with us.
I didn't know how Gold worked the deal, but Blan seemed thrilled, thanking me nonstop.
"Th-that favor, I'll repay it."
"I already received the favor; now I'm just paying back a little. Thank Gold more than me."
"Gold said the exact same about you."
I laughed along with his hearty guffaw.
My laugh was a bit forced.
Because in the corner of my vision, I saw her.
I'd known she was near Kaiseer or Lepelt's carriage and deliberately ignored her, but no need...
"Dre."
"......!"
A normal voice, but seductive to my ears.
Claire smiled at me with her usual half-lidded eyes.
"Haven't been to the capital in ages. I'll heal Eedo, take care of daily life, and repay the favor?"
"No, it's fine."
"Don't say that~ I'll repay you somehow~"
"......"
She emphasized "somehow," or was it my imagination...?
Then her tongue flicked out, licking her lips as she stared, one eye narrowed.
It was so hot, I blanked out for a sec.
...Shit.
Gonna get hard again.
"Oppa!"
"Whoa."
Thankfully, Elter clung to me and nuzzled, averting disaster.
"Oppa oppa oppa!"
I stroked Elter's head as she rubbed her face on my belly and asked,
"You okay, Elter? Leaving your friends."
"Yeah! Fine! I'll make new ones there!"
Hmm. In-crowd mindset.
"Ufufu. Visit our house lots, Dre."
"Y-Yeah."
Claire's voice was too sultry.
Bail.
If I boner while holding Elter and she notices, massive misunderstanding.
I bowed out after a greeting and headed to the largest, flashiest carriage.
The centerpiece for the Ten Great Houses' heirs.
El insisted on riding with me.
Gold taunted her again, and fed up, I suggested we all ride together.
Thought Flat would join, but he said he'd take a horse.
Said it suited him better.
Makes sense—he'd traveled a year with the Graize lady, so the knights probably hated him.
Still getting dirty looks.
I get why he's cautious.
Clarit, looking like she hated headaches, split off to ride with Asita.
Departure time.
I turned to gaze at Milf Village's gate, walls, and the town beyond.
My starting point.
It sucked, but it was my first village here—kinda bittersweet.
Goodbye, Milf Village.
Dunno if I'll see you again... but it was fun in its way...
......
Can't say it was fun, but it meant something.
This world is real.
I don't wanna die, and I'm on death's doorstep again.
I'll survive somehow, return home, and finish my business.
With that resolve, I bid the stable owner farewell, held Lena's hand, and boarded.
Didn't stick my head out the window.
Come to think of it, where are the Graize captains?
Probably trash-talking me somewhere.
They'll join on their own.
But why's El glaring at me?
Feels like she's staring at my hand...
Did she misunderstand my tastes...?
I released Lena's hand—still gripped tight after boarding—and El's glare finally shifted.
Alright, to the capital.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Bam!
"Damn... damn it!"
Inside Milf Village, near the gate.
Fred punched a stone wall to rubble in the shadows.
"Feeling better?"
"Like hell! Damn that arrogant outsider...!"
"......You know this, but don't mess with him anymore."
"What?! What nonsense is that? Just swallow this humiliation?!"
"What else? What're you gonna do?"
It scraped his pride raw.
His beaten spots already ached...
Fred yelled, full of grievance.
"Hey, Marien!"
"Sigh... Fred. Think you'll survive in Graize after so thoroughly pissing off the miss?"
"......"
Fred was speechless.
"Even without that, if you cause more trouble, she'll kill you. With her artifact, the Graize ancestral power, and Prynar training, if she really tries, can you survive?"
"Don't say that, it's rude!"
That El was stronger than captains if unsealed was their pride—and humiliation.
A knight weaker than his charge.
Marien shrugged.
"Not me. So not you either."
"Tch."
Fred didn't deny it.
And though unspoken, Marien lacked confidence against Dre too, not just El.
"Outsider Dre is strong. I doubted the dragon story, but maybe it's true."
Marien figured with Ten Great Houses' might, even a dragon was possible.
Dre rumors were shaky.
Herbivore dragon, or actually a Brachio dino-monster, etc.
Confirmed: beat Yulis, crushed Serton count, Prynar instructor creds.
Outsider or not, not someone to mess with lightly.
Fred knew.
Yet his rage at Dre stemmed from El mobilizing Graize forces for an outsider.
Humiliating to have Graize power called for one nobody.
But Marien thought Fred's recklessness was mostly because Dre snagged instructor quals.
Fred had failed the same test.
Heir mobilizing Graize's two dragons for him? Fred's Ten Great pride stung.
Marien was half-right. Fred hated an outsider getting instructor status.
But biggest: El fawning over a shady nobody after years apart—he picked a fight on purpose.
Marien needn't know.
'Makes sense Fred got one-sidedly crushed. Thought 4th-rank adventurer was BS... but with eyes on us, couldn't punish properly.'
Dre wasn't just hype.
Seemed backed by Gold/El at first, but he fought with real skill.
Yeah.
They didn't know the dragon was Proastia.
Knowing would've skyrocketed Marien's view, but that secret was for heads/heirs and witnesses only.
Even mistaken, Marien overrated Dre and warned again.
"You're already marked by the miss. Don't be reckless."
Fred felt the wall too, pride aside.
1v1, no win.
"How do I vent? That guy treats Graize like a joke! Just watch?!"
"Treats us like a joke?"
"Look! Hart and Graize side by side... How'll capital nobles, royals, other Tens see it...!"
"Agreed, but endure. He won't need our help to suffer."
"Suffer? Why?"
Marien kept stone-faced.
"Yedre's Prynar-approved, but dragon slaying's unverified."
"So?"
"Plenty'll poke without us. Like assistant profs."
"...Those guys."
Fred got it.
"Or wait for that woman to act."
"Her...? Oh."
Fred grinned knowingly. Right, her.
"Yeah, she'll charge first."
"Yep. She'll target that pretty-boy Flat knight. Whatever she did to win miss over, she's capable there."
House head spared her 'cause childhood friend miss treasures.
But hurt miss again? No mercy.
Marien smirked, thinking of miss/her drama and dad's doting.
"Yeah, you're right. Marien."
Hated duo might vanish without his hands dirty. Fred finally grinned.
"All for Graize."
"For Graize."
Echoing her perfunctory line, they joined the procession.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Bored.
Brought the magic board game.
For killing time with Gold or Lena.
But with El and Gold sniping in the carriage, too tense.
Their convo stressed me out too.
"Brother-in-law's future is limitless, so I decked the carriage in gems befitting him."
"Oh? Thought it was one from our yard."
"Didn't know Graize had more cash than Hart? Thought we topped Tens in wealth, El. So even a yard carriage is too much for him?"
"Ahaha, no worries. Got the absolute best ready. In capital, no riding this tacky gem-studded junk."
"Can't have that. Lots to introduce him to. Prep better than Graize's finest."
"Oh? Hitting Graize with connections, Gold? Start with folks dismissing Dre baselessly? I'd have handled by now."
"Says the house that did the dismissing. Quite persuasive. Accepted."
They bicker like this.
Stomach churning; Lena sits primly, unfazed.
She's got big things ahead.
Way bigger than me.
Then, the carriage—whole procession—slowed.
"What's up?"
Gold asked; the driving knight replied.
"Gold, sir. Group of people ahead."
"People?"
"We've arrived."
El said, smug.
......She wouldn't kill us all, right?
No way El would, and Gold wouldn't go quietly, but bad thoughts bubbled.
"Earlier you said couldn't even do this for Dre? Returning the words, Gold."
"What?"
Procession halted.
Gold hopped out first; I followed.
And was stunned.
A line of maids bowed in unison.
Movements synced, like a painting.
Pure fantasy vibe.
Behind: something car-like? Wait, a car?
Gold strode ahead; I followed. El trotted after.
We reached the maids' front.
Leading: maid in modified uniform.
Shoulders/collarbone bare, short skirt, frilly—strict play outfit.
The woman was stunning.
Light purple hair in twin braids, cute frill headpiece, big doe eyes.
......?
Familiar face?
"Long time no see, El."
"!"
I know that voice.
Brain pulled her name.
Priestess robes hid it before.
Remi.
El's childhood friend, probably in a triangle with Flat.
"No fuss, Remi. Just two weeks."
"Eternity for me.Ufufu."
Remi smiled bewitchingly.
Why maid?
Wasn't she noble?
She bowed politely to Gold.
"Greetings, Gold."
"Yeah."
"El, as ordered: finest chefs and mounts ready."
"Good."
Remi tilted head at proud El.
"But... Flat?"
"Huh? Oh... around there?"
El pointed: Flat dismounting, rushing over, still glancing nervously.
"Huh?"
But Remi stared at El, ignoring Flat.
El was looking at me.
Remi's gaze followed naturally.
For seconds.
Eyes met; she smiled sweetly.
That smile felt ominous.
"Nice to meet you. Heard so much, Dre."
And so the maids joined.