Knock Knock Knock
The rhythmic, courteous knock knock knock—polite from the very first beat—pulled me up from the bed.
—Mr. Smith. Preparations are complete.
"Yep. Coming right out."
I opened Amelia's door and stepped into the hallway. There stood Giena, holding a lunch basket.
"Then, if you please."
"Please take care of me today as well."
Giena gave a slight nod, then led the way as always. I followed her leisurely out of the guild. The weather was perfect again today. Adventurers brimmed with energy, and the townsfolk buzzed with life. The whole city felt invigorated.
Watching Giena, a step ahead of me, I reflected. It had been exactly ten days since her arrow incident. Around lunchtime the day after Amelia summoned me, she'd shown up in Amelia's room where I was resting and informed me I'd have her as my escort from then on. I'm not clueless—I could tell right away that Amelia had put some unknown pressure on her. Naturally, I didn't mention it to either of them and quietly accepted Giena as my guard. With Amelia getting busier by the day thanks to the Demon Realm issues, I needed someone to fill in anyway. Perfect timing.
Oh, and per Amelia's decision, we're holding off on rumors about selling just the manual dildo part of the Comforting Bow until we confirm exactly how things are playing out in the Demon Realm. She made the call; my input wasn't needed. Why would it be? I don't know the situation at all. Truth is, there's no big reason—right now, floating rumors about a manual dildo would scare off adventurers wanting to learn archery from Giena. As you might've guessed from what I just said, the bow Giena and I made is at peak popularity—not just in the guild, but among regular soldiers and city folk too.
That day, after leaving Amelia's room with my bow, Giena apparently got some very intense "comfort" from it right up until she had to visit Amelia the next day. I hadn't gone down to the fourth floor, so I didn't know, but Kali in the kitchen told me adventurers on the third floor and folks in the restaurant below pounded on her door multiple times with complaints about her moans. Even without hearing it, her face was glowing so much it reflected light—you could guess.
"The street repairs are nearing completion."
"Yeah, looks like it."
As Giena said, the north street reconstruction was almost done. The foreman said the workers' skills had stabilized, so it'd wrap up in no more than a fortnight at latest.
"Once it's done, you can head back to your rented place, Giena."
"No. I plan to stay at the guild."
"...Why?"
Why stay cramped in the guild when you've got a perfectly good rental?
"More precisely, I'll move my residence based on yours, Mr. Smith. From what I see, you'll stay at the guild, so I'm thinking of relocating there too."
"Because of me? Wait, is this because of Amelia? You don't need to go that far."
Giena shook her head at my words.
"No. I want to. For the safety of the craftsman who makes great bows, I'd gladly give my life."
"..."
Right. I'd forgotten amid her acting normal after Amelia chewed her out—she's a severe bow-obsessed elf, a true archery otaku.
"W-Well, Giena, luckily once the north street's done, I'm moving there too."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. You know Kernax... uh, the guard captain?"
"It'd be weirder if I didn't by now."
"Ahem."
Fair. I'd spent ten days watching her flirt with Siron and Kernax from afar; not knowing would be odd.
"I'm moving into the guard captain's house."
"Then I'll move there too."
"...You're joking, right?"
"Dead serious."
Giena paused, her orange eyes blinking as she looked back at me. Seemed 100% sincere.
"I-I'm fine with it, but... they'll probably refuse 'cause it'll make them uncomfortable."
"Hm. So if homeowner Kernax approves, you're okay with it, Mr. Smith?"
"Uh, yeah. If the owner says yes, what can I say?"
"Understood. That shouldn't be a problem. Shall we continue?"
I had no idea where her confidence came from, but I nodded and followed.
"Break time!!"
"Phew~ Lunch already."
"Time flew today."
No sooner had I arrived than the foreman called break. Craftsmen and laborers set down tools, unpacked bentos, or wandered off to the east street in groups. We, with our lunches, didn't go far—just to a spot out of sight—and spread out to sit.
"Nom nom, this crap's almost done, fuck. What a pain in the ass."
"Siron. How many times have I told you not to talk with your mouth full."
"Huh? Why you always bitching at me, you cunt? That bitch over there talks with food sometimes—why don't you say shit to her?"
"Ahem. Smith did that? Never saw it."
"What a fucking joke this bitch is."
"Haha."
Healthy and close as ever—good to see. They scarfed the sandwiches I made, bickering away.
"Hey, Kernax."
"What?"
"Noticed a few days ago... your skin looks a bit dry? Super busy?"
Bit of a weird way to put it, but Kernax's skin did look rougher. Compared to Siron next to her, anyway. Dark circles under her eyes too.
"Ah... Lately, paperwork from above and stuff to check just piled up."
"Gotcha."
"Would've been easier with help."
"Hah? Why you glaring? Makes me wanna stab ya."
Siron and Kernax started squabbling again, me in the middle. Same old lunch. I finished cleanup, and as habit now, they split my thighs for pillows the second I was done. I stroked their soft hair to help them nap comfy.
That's when Giena, sitting a bit away, approached. Siron and Kernax both cracked eyes open from my thighs.
"Kernax. I have something to discuss."
"...Important?"
"Very. But no need to move—we can all hear it together; better that way."
"Then speak."
The old Kernax would've jumped up, but more time with Siron had softened her—she just looked up from my thigh and nodded.
I knew Giena's age and identity, so it made my heart skip a bit, but she didn't care about that stuff. Only bows got her riled. Guessing what she'd say, I kept stroking their hair while listening intently.
"I heard once the street's fixed, Mr. Smith moves to your house."
"Mm. We'll live together, me and Smith."
"Fuck. Why leave me out?"
Kernax ignored Siron.
"If there's room, I'd like to join. If not, I'll expand with my own money."
"...This is unexpected."
"What's to think? Just say yes."
Unlike Kernax, who frowned slightly, Siron shrugged like it was nothing and shut her eyes fully. Guess she didn't mind Giena moving in.
"Hey, why overthink? You stuck her on him anyway, sis."
"Even so, living together needs thought."
I didn't speak up—thanks to words before coming—but agreed with Kernax. Giena was an eccentric elf, but cohabiting would be awkward all around.
"Anyone else, maybe not—but she's fine. Hey, you wanna fuck Smith?"
"...? Hard to say before, but with the bow, no real urge."
"See."
But Kernax still frowned, pondering. Giena, looking down at her, spoke again.
"Among my things, there are some unique daggers."
"Approved."
Kernax greenlit it instantly—like her prior hesitation vanished.
"Hah... Sword nut, as expected."
"Wh-What? I thought it through. Plus, Siron, didn't you say Amelia assigned her?"
"Yeah, whatever."
Siron waved dismissively at the air, then fully turned into my stomach.
"Giena, was it? Move in approved. You'll get the remaining first-floor space. Daytime's fine, but stay off the second floor at night."
"Unless an emergency, I swear never to go up."
"Good."
Giena and Kernax nodded, satisfied. Giena returned to her spot; Kernax napped like Siron. Peace returning—
Clop clop clop—!!
Horse hooves echoed loudly on the quiet street. Siron and Kernax sat up. Distant Giena hurried back to me. Hooves neared; soon, a knight in familiar armor rode up.
"Whoa, whoa."
The knight reined in near us, lifting her visor from horseback. Clear blue eyes, striking features.
Seeing her face, one person flashed in my mind.
"Door destroyer?"
"Hm?"
"Ah, no—Lady Bellanis?"
"Ho. You remember my name? Grateful."
How could I forget the woman who "knocked" by splitting my door in half? But why here? If memory served, she was vice-captain of Ardella's knights.
"Why is Lady Bellanis here...?"
"To sub for our captain, held by the family head. Anyway, fortuitous. Kernax."
"Yes."
Kernax stepped forward from beside me. Bellanis drew a red-ribbon-tied parchment from her breastplate and unfurled it boldly.
Guard Captain Kernax. For diligently performing your duties without fail even under sentence of hard labor, I deem all penalties served as of this moment, in the name of Ardella Filoria.
"...Yes!!"
Kernax knelt on one knee right there.
Hearken, Kernax. As of this moment, raise the city's alert to maximum. Strictly control all outsiders passing through. If any resist, dispose of them summarily. This is not a command as border margrave, but as lord of the seven cities.
Bellanis folded the parchment crisply and extended it to kneeling Kernax, who took it with both hands, head bowed.
"Guard Captain of Molingta, Kernax. As of this moment, I shall execute the lord's command."
Kernax carefully tucked the parchment away. Bellanis nodded slightly, lowering her visor.
"Then, busy as I am, I'll take my leave."
"Safe travels, Lady Bellanis."
Bellanis waved lightly, turning her horse. That's when Siron shouted and stepped forward.
"Wait?!"
Bellanis, reins already turned, glanced back.
"Right. Sudden curiosity makes sense."
"No, that's not—"
"No secret, so I'll tell. At dawn today, truce between Demon Realm and Empire. So watch that man beside you doesn't get stolen. Farewell."
Bellanis said her piece and spurred away in a flash.
"What the fuck..."
Siron scowled at Bellanis's receding back. Kernax smirked, patting her shoulder.
"Repairs. Let's work hard."
"...Fuck."