Singing Princess (2)
Singing Princess (2)
While Princess Ganada began preparations for the concert scheduled in one week, Dojin recruited people to head to the Kingdom with him.
No matter how much of a superhuman he was, even he couldn't fend off ten hands with one using just Ga-hee as a woman all by himself.
Fortunately, the other kids were curious about foreign lands too, so everyone except Deokgu said they'd go along.
"You okay staying behind alone?"
"Yeah, yeah! Someone's gotta stay at the mansion. ...By the way, you're really not coming back for two weeks, right?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah, that's right, huh?"
With the group gone, you could guess what Deokgu was planning from the way his eyes sparkled and he let out that sleazy chuckle.
Just looking at his face made it obvious what dirty thoughts were running through his head. He was definitely planning something perverted.
"Don't make a total mess of the place, and Noah said she's not going anyway."
"Aw, what do you think I'm gonna do? Besides, Noah doesn't even come out of her room."
It made him a little uneasy, but since he was an adult, Dojin figured he'd handle himself and let it slide quietly.
Truth be told, whatever Deokgu got up to alone in the mansion had nothing to do with them, right?
If anything, he'd wandered the mansion himself doing all sorts of naughty stuff....
The cleanup would've been handled by the Maid, and it'd no doubt reached the ears of Deokgu, who had his own Maid harem going. Since Deokgu never brought it up, there was no need for Dojin to poke the bear.
'...Will Raize come too?'
Dojin suddenly thought of her. He couldn't bring non-humans like elves, vampires, or dwarves, but he planned to drag along every helpful human he could.
Better to have an extra good card up his sleeve for safety.
'Guess I'll ask her.'
With that thought, he headed toward the Magic Tower.
In the middle of the snow-covered city, only the Magic Tower kept its pristine form amid the blizzard.
The reason was obvious. The moment he approached, a wave of hot air hit him—huaak.
Past a certain boundary, inside and outside felt like different seasons. Looking around, he spotted homeless folks and merchants huddled near the Magic Tower to avoid freezing in the harsh winter.
Parasites living off the Magic Tower. The Tower surely knew they were there, so why let them be?
"...W-Welcome!"
The receptionist, dozing off in the cozy indoor warmth, jolted awake at the sight of Dojin and bowed her head.
Dojin gave her a casual wave and headed straight for the Spatial Magic Circle. Recognizing his face, the receptionist didn't stop him and instead contacted Raize separately.
Dojin tweaked the Magic Circle simply and teleported to Raize's workshop, then knocked lightly on the door.
"—Come in."
Raize, prepped from the receptionist's heads-up, unlocked the door with those words. Stepping inside, Dojin tilted his head at the sight of Raize doing some kind of yoga.
"...What're you doing?"
"Meditating."
"In that pose?"
"Huuuk—this pose, lets mana, flow the best—kku-eung!"
Dojin scratched his cheek as Raize huffed out breaths, torturing her body with effort.
Was it like Chinese zazen or Indian tantra? Dojin slowly approached her from behind and said,
"I'll help."
"Eut, th-thanks—."
He pushed down hard on Raize's back, her legs splayed wide and body flat against the floor.
With the weight of an adult man added, her body couldn't withstand the strain and tore even more fiercely.
"Hueu-eut—!"
Feeling her muscles rip, Raize let out a light moan. But each tear opened blocked mana channels, letting it circulate.
Once the stretching session wrapped up, Raize stared intently at Dojin and grabbed his shoulders.
"...Help me."
"How?"
"Come here."
Dojin tilted his head but let her drag him down to the floor by the hand.
Raize climbed onto his lap as he sat. As the saying goes, man is yang, woman is yin.
Man and woman together harmonized yin and yang, greatly aiding mana circulation.
For Raize, whose meridians were blocked from excessive mana, circulation was more crucial than anything.
"Huuu...."
Straddling his lap, they embraced with heads over each other's shoulders, crotches pressed together, and took deep breaths.
That lewd pose naturally facilitated mana flow. Feeling her mana spread through her body and into nature, Raize whispered in his ear.
"So, what's up?"
"I'm heading to the Kingdom next week—wanna come—."
"—What?"
Zzirit—a faint current sparked from Raize's body, tik-tik. Her orange eyes flashed as she glared at Dojin.
"Heading out? Why?"
"Ah—it's not forever. For the concert."
"Ah... um, yeah?"
Hearing Dojin out, Raize sighed in relief and rested her chin on his shoulder again. Seeing that, Dojin wondered if she'd misunderstood.
"Thought I was leaving for good?"
"...Shut up."
"Like I'd ever leave you behind."
"Shut up, I said."
Zzirit—Raize zapped him with more current instead of replying. Realizing she was embarrassed, Dojin hugged her tightly without a word.
"So, wanna come?"
"...Next week, right? How long we staying?"
"Dunno? Not too long, but... it's a long way."
"True."
With a small group, they could've flown with magic, teleported, or even used Seoyun's ability.... But this time, dozens of people plus stage gear had to move at once.
No magic or Seoyun's power could handle that many people and that much luggage.
So, carriages it was. Even on well-paved roads, traveling by horse took forever.
"...I'll go, so don't make that face."
"Huh?"
"That disappointed face—knock it off. It's annoying."
She buried her face in his chest, telling him to always smile around her. Dojin scooped her up and headed to the bed.
Cradled in his arms, she drifted off into a deep sleep—maybe from the long-lost comfort, or exhaustion from research and study.
One week later.
Carriages prepped for the Kingdom lined up thick at the city gates.
Winter travel between cities was rare, so tons of merchants joined the caravan chasing winter profits.
Dojin waited atop his carriage for the others.
Soon, a girl lugging a massive greatsword trudged over.
"Master."
"You're here?"
Emilia, approaching, gawked wide-eyed at the huge gathering of carriages—she'd never seen so many.
Dozens of carriages filled the place.
Ones hauling stage gear for the concert, the Saintess and Holy Knights' rides, mages from the Magic Tower, merchants, and adventurers escorting them.
To Emilia, who'd never witnessed such a massive caravan, it was a spectacle.
"What's all this?"
"Get on first."
"...Get on?"
Emilia tilted her head but took Dojin's hand and climbed aboard.
Inside waited Dojin's group, who widened their eyes at the boarding Emilia.
"Why're you getting on here?"
Seoyun spat coldly at the sight of her. Hearing that icy voice, Emilia's animal instincts screamed a warning.
"Uh, u-uh— M-Master. I think I should get off...."
"...Dojin called you?"
"Y-Yeah. No, yeees...."
"—Oh?"
Emilia, who bantered casually with her "Master" Dojin, cowered at Seoyun's tone and switched to polite speech.
Seoyun scanned the now-polite Emilia, lost interest quick, and looked away.
Just as Emilia caught her breath, three women who'd been sitting quietly lunged at her.
"Disciple? What disciple? What're you learning from Dojin?"
"Swordsmanship? Gotta be swords, right? She's got that greatsword."
"So you're good with swords? Adventurer? What's your level?"
"How far've you gone with Dojin?"
"Uh, uhhh?"
Amid Nahee-Dahee's tidal wave of questions, the carriage jolted into motion—dulkkerdeong.
Dragged aboard without warning and now suddenly departing, the panicked Emilia looked to Dojin.
"M-Master. What's going... on?"
"Oh, didn't I mention?"
Dojin looked at her like he'd forgotten, flashing a light smile.
"We're going to the capital."