The Date
The request I had made to Arpe was fulfilled with astonishing speed.
"How does your body feel?"
"Incredible, actually. It feels as if nothing has changed at all."
Answering Nemes's question, I rolled my shoulders and moved my limbs this way and that. There had been surprisingly numerous categories to choose from, allowing me to indulge my personal tastes to my heart's content. Naturally, it must have required major surgery to match, yet I could detect no outward signs of trouble whatsoever.
"Hmm..."
Still, an unmistakable sensation of foreign matter lingered here and there throughout my body. A lethal poison pellet lodged behind a molar, an explosive magic circle etched into my spine, a self-destruct circle carved over my heart, a parasite clinging to my brainstem, and on and on... At this very moment, well over ten different methods of suicide had taken deep root inside me.
"Heheh..."
At the thought that I could now obliterate and end this detestable body of 'Stanashila Aljen' at any moment, a twisted, masochistic grin tugged at the corners of my lips unbidden.
"...Did you truly require such things?"
Perhaps unable to fathom my satisfied demeanor, Nemes, who had accompanied me all the way to the outskirts of Terabaon, finally spoke up. That aside, why on earth had the Green Jack operatives set up a temporary safe house in a place like this? It was practically a slum, and the public order was terrible.
"Yeah, I need them. As you know, I happen to know an awful lot. Yet on top of that, I'm disgustingly weak... You get what I'm driving at, don't you?"
"...I see. You are preparing against the possibility of torture."
"Exactly. Enduring pain pointlessly is just a waste of time and mental fortitude, isn't it?"
"You would rather die than suffer... Are you not afraid of death?"
"Of course I'm afraid. But not so much that I'd rather endure agonizing pain."
"......"
Nemes continued to look at me with eyes that clearly couldn't understand, but she offered no further comment and merely gave a slow nod.
"Ugh, maybe because I just got off the operating table, but I've got no stamina. Muriel, lend me a shoulder."
"Understood."
"Than—whoa!?"
I had intended to drape my arm over Muriel's shoulder and lean some of my weight against her, but she suddenly slid beneath me and hoisted me up in a single-person carry. Startled half to death, I instinctively threw my arms around her neck. For the record, a 'single-person carry' was just a fancy term for a bridal carry.
"H-Hey, hold on... You really didn't need to do this."
"This is far faster and simpler. Supporting someone requires keeping track of far too many variables."
"...Well, if you say so."
The posture was more than a little embarrassing, but it was certainly comfortable for me, so I decided not to argue any further.
"...Hangil-nim. May I say one thing?"
"Hm? What is it?"
Hearing Muriel's faint whisper, I leaned in and whispered back against her ear. At that, her eyes flicked toward me, glaring with sharp reproach.
"I hate you, Hangil-nim."
"......"
Leaving it at that, Muriel pressed her lips tightly together. It seemed she genuinely resented the fact that I had subjected myself to such a procedure. Since her words stemmed entirely from worry and concern for my well-being, I couldn't bring myself to scold her, so I kept my mouth shut as well.
Though the expedition to the Great Forest had been finalized, my daily routine remained completely unchanged. I spent all day indulging in liquor and cigarettes, entertaining visitors... Well, thanks to the sheer magnitude of the incidents I had caused lately, troublesome matters were crashing down like tidal waves from outside the ducal castle, but I ignored every last one of them.
Arpe, Vivian, and Cecilia, however, were enduring rather hectic days. They were scrambling to secure formal permission for the journey to the Great Forest. Arpe and Cecilia seemed to engage in fierce daily debates over communication artifacts with people back home, while Vivian darted endlessly between the offices of Pitora and Urtega.
"Hangil-nim. Is there nothing we ought to prepare on our end?"
"Hm? Uh-huh..."
Pleasantly tipsy, I reacted a beat late, turning my head to glance at Wendy, who had posed the question.
"Preparations, you say... Hmm, well..."
"Hah... Hangil-nim, please take this seriously. My duty is to protect both Lady Cecilia and yourself."
Casually slipping down beside me, Wendy gently pulled my head down. Naturally settling my head across her thighs to use them as a pillow, I stroked the hair of Cacciola, who was snuggled into my chest as usual today, and took another sip of wine.
"Nothing special to prepare, really... Hmm, well, wouldn't it be best to pack a lot of money...? Ah, and maybe take some magical reagents, too. Oh, and some alchemy tools, and magical ink..."
"Magical reagents, alchemy tools, and magical ink...? What on earth would those be used for?"
"Who knows if we'll need them or not... but hey, can't hurt to bring them along..."
"Hangil-nim..."
Listening with obvious difficulty to my slurred, hazy speech, Wendy let out a soft sigh and stroked my hair.
"Pardon me, but may I interrupt for a moment?"
Just as I was leisurely enjoying Wendy's touch, Muriel stepped over and looked down at her coldly.
"What is it?"
"Why is it that you, Lady Wendy, claim to protect Hangil-nim? I beg your pardon, but Hangil-nim's personal escort and attendant is me."
"I-I am here as well. Yes."
Seated on the sofa across from us, Rebecca, who had been watching Wendy's forwardness with undisguised discomfort, timidly chimed in after reading the room. But not a single soul paid her the slightest attention, leaving her to smack her lips in awkward embarrassment. It seemed she had no talent for catfights.
"I am well aware. However, he is simultaneously my charge. Hangil-nim was chosen by the Goddess... Yes, should we call him a Champion, or perhaps an Apostle? He is a figure of utmost importance to the Holy Order."
"Yet nothing of the sort has been officially decreed. And in the first place, you are far too weak to protect Hangil-nim."
"...That is the first time I have ever heard such words."
Wendy glared with a rigid expression, but Muriel received the glare with unflinching composure, sweeping her gaze over Wendy with an appraising, clinical detachment. As if that detached, businesslike demeanor was far more infuriating than open mockery or sarcasm, Wendy's aura momentarily turned sharp and jagged.
"Sigh... Knock it off, both of you. If you two start fighting, what does that make me, stuck right in the middle?"
Waving my hand dismissively, I nuzzled my cheek against Wendy's thigh.
"And Wendy has every right to say that. While you guys were absent, the one who kept me safe was Wendy."
"......"
At my words, Muriel raised an eyebrow slightly and glared down in my direction.
"What? Did you really think I'd just take your side?"
When I snickered and took another sip of wine, Muriel gave me a look that practically screamed how obnoxious she found me, before taking a seat near my legs.
"Hangil-nim. Allow me to massage your legs."
"What? Out of nowhere? No, that's not neces—Aaargh!?"
A piercing agony sharp enough to instantly sober me up shot through my limb, making me thrash like a freshly landed fish and scream bloody murder.
"H-Hey! That hurts!"
"Cease this at once. You appear exceedingly petty."
"M-Muriel, that's really crossing the line."
"Hmph..."
Only after Wendy and Rebecca spoke up in unison did Muriel finally release her grip. Then, digging her fingertips into the soles of my feet, she began to deliberately tickle them.
"...Muriel. I've been thinking about this for a while, but ever since you became a Master, haven't your emotions become a lot more expressive?"
"Is that so? I had not noticed."
"No, you've definitely changed. Isn't that right, Rebecca?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes! That's true. Compared to before, her expressions are clearer, and far richer."
"...Is that true?"
As if genuinely unsure, Muriel touched her own cheeks lightly with both hands.
"I think it's great. You look much better that way."
"...That is a relief, then."
The corners of her mouth curved upward into a subtle smile as her hands softened, gently stroking my legs. To have her mood completely restored by such a trivial, offhand compliment—she was unexpectedly easy to handle.
"Ahem... But, Hangil-nim."
"Hm?"
Right then, Rebecca gave a deliberate cough to draw my attention, her face flushed red as she spoke up tentatively.
"You seem to have quite a bit of free time right now... Might I ask you out on a date?"
"...Are you serious?"
"Pardon? Yes. I am entirely serious."
"Wow... Rebecca, you're something else."
To casually drop a sudden invitation for a date right in the middle of this atmosphere? Just how thick were the nerves in her head? Or had she done it on purpose?
"......"
Glancing aside, I saw both Muriel and Wendy staring back with completely dumbfounded expressions.
"...Now this is amusing."
Grinning, I pushed myself up. I had assumed she had zero aptitude for catfights, but being so utterly faithful to her own desires and charging straight ahead might make her the strongest contender of all.
"Fine. Let's head out. It might not be the kind of date you're expecting, though..."
"R-Really? Th-That is perfectly fine! As long as I can be with you, Hangil-nim!"
"Well, you heard her... I'm going to step out for a date with Rebecca. Cacciola, let go of me for a bit."
"...Do you really have to go?"
"I'm in the mood for it right now. Besides, we need to practice spending some time apart anyway. We can't stay glued together for the rest of our lives, can we?"
"......"
Cacciola seemed to ponder my words for a moment before reluctantly unwrapping her arms from around me.
"All right, let's go, Rebecca."
"Y-Yes!"
I left the room alongside her as she sprang to her feet. Until the door clicked shut behind us, Muriel and Wendy simply stared blankly at our retreating backs.
Though we had embarked on this date entirely on an impulse, the truth was that the activities available to us were painfully predictable. Grabbing street snacks, doing some light shopping, taking a stroll, chatting... That was all there was to it. As expected of a medieval fantasy realm, the variety of entertainment paled drastically when compared to the modern world.
"...Are you having fun?"
"Yes! I am so happy!"
Even so, the smile never once vanished from Rebecca's face as she clutched my arm tightly. Seeing that beaming countenance made a smile naturally tug at my own lips as well.
"Wait, isn't that Lord Stanashila Aljen...?"
"Ah, it really is...!"
"Didn't they say he's completely turned over a new leaf?"
"Is that rumor actually true? That delinquent Stanashila Aljen reformed...?"
"I don't buy it. A man doesn't change that easily."
"...True, considering the things he used to do..."
Naturally, quite apart from our stroll, the incessant muttering of Terabaon's citizens grated on my nerves, but I made an effort to tune it out.
"...Hangil-nim. Shall I go give them a piece of my mind?"
"Leave them be. It's all my own karma anyway."
"Still... those aren't things that Hangil-nim did. They are entirely the sins of Stanashila Aljen..."
"What can you do? That's how things turned out, so I just have to accept it."
Chucking lightly, I casually reached down and stroked Rebecca's behind.
"Ah, hngh...!?"
Her hips gave an involuntary twitch as a sweet, breathless whimper escaped her throat, and she wrapped herself around me as clinging and slick as a serpent.
"...See? A man doesn't change that easily after all."
"Carrying on with a woman in broad daylight... tsk tsk."
Naturally, witnessing my behavior only caused the whispers of the surrounding townsfolk to sour even further.
"...I suppose I ought to ask while we're out here. Rebecca."
"Haaah... Y-Yes...?"
Looking down into her moist, upturned eyes, I met her gaze with absolute seriousness.
"Are you really certain you want our relationship to progress any further than this?"
It was a question laden with countless unspoken meanings.
"...Mmm."
She seemed to give it genuine thought for a brief moment, but then her lips parted into a radiant, beaming smile. It was a grin brimming with an unvarnished primal nature and insatiable desire, so strikingly reminiscent of a predatory beast that it momentarily caught me completely off guard.