329. Cage (2)
329. Cage (2)
- 1 -
'Us'. Or 'fence'.
The meaning of that word was truly curious.
Its breadth varied from person to person, and for the same person, it changed depending on the situation.
As for me...
That scope was terribly narrow.
For a long time, it had been terribly narrow.
[You think you'll get away with this... after throwing your own father in jail?!]
[Must donate... donations...]
[Hey. Lend me some money.]
It was only natural.
Because the family who should have been 'us' first had long since become 'them'.
That instinct to keep the fence narrow—perhaps it had been my very survival instinct.
Later, I gained subordinates, but I didn't think my relationship with them back then had been as good as it was now.
I did pay their full salaries and covered all four major insurances, but for one thing it was an illegal enterprise, and depending on my circumstances, I'd pushed them unreasonably plenty of times.
I maintained the organization's discipline through endless inspections and trust verifications, but...
I'd never once thought of myself as an ideal leader either, and it was simply a group I'd created out of self-interest, and...
No, I was getting off track.
"..."
'Anyway, the point is that my current self is strange.'
Sonia, who was accepting my touch with half-closed eyes.
Somehow the texture of her hair felt good to me too, and I had been stroking it for a long while.
As I did, before I knew it she was looking up at me with narrow eyes...
"Sonia."
"Master..."
A relationship bound by fate.
I didn't particularly like that expression, but if I had to define her relationship with me, that was the most fitting.
In the more miserable first round—a time I now had no memory of—it seemed we had been this intimate even then.
Now, it went without saying.
In her sparkling eyes, not a single trace of doubt could be seen.
In those eyes tinged with a blue light like sapphire crystals, only worship and longing for me were contained.
"It seems you've missed me."
"Every night, Master. Every night..."
Sonia's eyes sparkled.
Her hand grasped my wrist, and she carefully brought her lips to it.
She kissed my wrist and the back of my hand in turn.
I looked down at her hands.
Calluses from battle, faint burn marks from handling magic.
All of them were traces of sacrifices made for me.
And the meaning of that kiss was...
Courtship and desire.
"Do you dare desire your master?"
Her pale face flushed crimson.
"Yes, Master... I dare to do so..."
"I permit it."
I placed my hand on her waist and gradually drew my face closer.
The waist caught in my hand trembled slightly, and both her eyes and lips quivered.
Her lips, slightly parted as if thirsty.
"Hah..."
At a distance where our breaths touched, our eyes met and we conversed in silence.
I gently swept her lower lip with my thumb, while the hand resting on her waist slipped through the hem of her clothes.
A thin sound escaped her throat.
"If the people see their disheveled hero, they'll be disappointed."
"... It's unfortunate, but it can't be helped. All that I am belongs to you, Master. Because I am your possession."
Such admirable words.
"So... please give me a reward for victory, Master."
"It is not a reward for victory."
I held back no longer.
"... It is a reward for return. My precious disciple."
Nor did I allow her to hold back.
- 2 -
"Now that I think of it, I have a gift, Master."
A little while later, as Sonia was straightening her clothes, she took a box from within the shadows.
"A gift?"
"Yes."
Inside the box was a tiara made of pure silver. A tiara decorated with deep blue sapphires.
I could guess its origin.
And sure enough.
"It's a tiara the people of Ulland pooled their money together to make. Though they don't know it, the one who actually sent me to save them was you, Master, so..."
"... Come here."
I accepted it, ran my fingers lightly over it, then gestured toward Sonia's head.
My disciple brought her head close with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah. It's pretty."
"... Master?"
I placed the tiara atop her head and fixed it in place with a 'click'.
"It represents the respect and love the people have offered you. How could you give such a thing to this master of yours?"
"... I thought it was right for you to receive it, Master."
"I think it's right for you to receive it."
I caressed her cheek, left a lingering kiss on her lips that had parted slightly in surprise, and continued.
"You accomplished something tremendous. You didn't just protect Queen Rizelotte or Ulland. You protected the futures of children who nearly couldn't bloom, and gave them room to receive their parents' love. You protected countless families. That is why the people respect you."
Sonia, who had been fidgeting with her hands gathered between her thighs, soon nodded with a completely red face.
Even though we'd done far 'deeper' things just moments ago, she seemed more embarrassed by these words and the light kiss now.
That unchanging demeanor made me laugh.
- 3 -
After some time had passed, I opened the door.
"Please tidy things up."
"Yes, Your Highness."
I could feel the maids who had gathered to clean the room sending peculiar glances toward Sonia and me.
It wasn't so much a negative feeling as it was gazes that even conveyed a certain envy.
Perhaps it was natural.
They were not the royal family's people, but my subordinates.
"Ah..."
Sonia hid beside me, her face clearly flustered, trying to conceal herself.
Even though there was no way she could be completely hidden, she seemed reassured nonetheless.
Tok-tok. Tok-tok.
We headed toward the small banquet hall on the third floor of Narcissus Palace.
To the place where the royal family ordinarily held small banquets among themselves.
" "Master." "
The main characters had already arrived.
"Maria, Artemis. And Jarax. You've all worked hard in the hot regions."
A human, an undead, and a lizardman.
The three who had formed the core of this northern support force.
"So that person is the great Master..."
"It's your first time seeing her, I take it. Isn't she beautiful?"
"Yes. She is beautiful. ... Though also cute."
"Hmm?"
In addition, some of the officers from the mercenary corps who had gone on this expedition were also here.
This was because Astaroth's attacks had become infrequent recently, and the intelligence network I had planted within them had relayed that there would be no attacks for a while.
[As a result of this war, and having been impressed by your appearance at the recent investiture ceremony... rumors are even circulating that they are reconsidering their alliance with Dantalion.]
The sole survivor among the three dungeon lord barons who had attacked my dungeon long ago.
It was intelligence from Kyricia, the sea dragon beastman who was now a count.
That was why my subordinates could afford to briefly leave their posts, even if only in part.
'I should send a gift.'
Not by my own hand, of course, but by another method.
This intelligence could be true or false, but either way, it was necessary to prepare for what lay beyond it.
"Before we enjoy ourselves in earnest, let's finish all the business talk."
At those words, the mercenaries all focused their gazes at once.
Whether human or monster, what filled their eyes was only admiration for beauty, respect, and loyalty.
I smiled with satisfaction and continued.
"Jarax, focus more on coastal defense for the time being. If you suddenly leave, Astaroth might change his mind again."
"I shall follow your command."
"How is the work environment?"
"It's excellent. Lately, watching humans follow my orders has been... rather entertaining in its own way."
The lizardman chieftain answered with a faint smile.
The satisfaction lingering on his face seemed quite deep.
"Artemis and Maria, keep up the good work in the north for now as well. The mercenary corps still needs a face to communicate with the humans."
"We shall do as ordered."
"Yes, understood."
I turned my gaze to the mercenary corps under my command.
For them, it was time to give something more fundamental than detailed instructions.
"You've all done well. You've worked hard in foreign lands. If anyone has felt lonely in life and wishes for their family to come live with them in Ulland, speak up. I'll provide generous travel expenses."
" "We have none!!" "
Their families were all residing in Orbis or Hysen.
In other words, they believed it was better for their families to stay by my side.
Whether because they considered where I was to be safe, or simply because they judged it a good place to live.
A satisfied smile rose to my lips once more.
"Good. Until today's banquet is over, compile the rewards each of you desires. Money if it's money. Position if it's position. I'll grant what you wish as far as possible. And of course, don't forget your subordinates' wishes either."
" "Thank you!!" "
"I love youuu!!! Great Master!!"
Among them, one particularly loud voice burst out.
"..."
In an instant, the air around them froze.
Everyone present was glaring at that mercenary.
It seemed they all considered those words to be disrespectful.
But the senior officers who knew my policy didn't mind, and...
I smiled lightly.
"Thank you. What's your name?"
"Fe-Feyra! It's Feyra!"
The mercenary who had spoken was a woman of small build but sturdy muscle.
For someone with such a muscular physique to say such a cute thing—it was quite an interesting combination.
She seemed to be the vice-captain of the mercenary corps led by Jarax, wearing a command insignia on her shoulder.
"I see. I'll specially prepare an extra gift for you, so stop by and see Sonia."
"Uh..."
Feyra's eyes widened, dumbfounded.
"Your answer?"
"Yes, yes!! Thank you!!"
Only then did the atmosphere in the banquet hall gently ease.
After watching Feyra chatter noisily with the other mercenaries nearby, I turned my gaze back to Seth.
"You two as well, think about your rewards."
In that instant, a subtle change flickered across Artemis and Maria's expressions.
There was no way I would miss that.
I gestured for the two of them to follow, and moved to the terrace in the corner.
Jarax and the other mercenaries were waiting for the banquet to begin, after all.
"It seems you have something you want to say."
When I asked that, Artemis exchanged glances with Maria before opening her mouth.
"Master. There is only one wish we desire. Artemis's..."
"Could I... change my body a little more?"
At first I didn't know what she meant, but I soon understood.
At least, I understood that this was a request driven by both practical and emotional reasons.
It seemed that one more lily had bloomed in this battle.
I smiled quietly and answered.
"It's possible. But this is something that should naturally be done, so think of something else for the reward you two will receive."
The two women's faces brightened radiantly.
"Thank you, Master."
I stroked the shoulders of the women who bowed their heads deeply.
"You are my precious family. So..."
To the women who looked at me with eyes mixed with puzzlement and gratitude, I whispered.
"Love each other well."
That their faces turned red was only natural.