Chapter 123: You're Pent Up, Aren't You? (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 123: You're Pent Up, Aren't You? (3)
The sky over the Imperial Capital was the color of a television tuned to a dead channel… no, it was actually shining in a heart-fluttering shade of blue.
In the garden outside the window, Helena and Andrasta were sweating and laughing as brightly as the clear sky.
Since Natalia was away serving as the swordsmanship instructor for the Knight Order, the only people in the consultation room with me this morning were, naturally, Valeria and Sitri.
“Ah, Lady Sitri… you are beautiful again today…”
“I… is that so…? Th-thank you…”
Well… Valeria was currently in the middle of her "worship hour," practically deifying Sitri.
Sitri looked quite burdened by Valeria, who was kneeling before her and even offering up prayers.
“The eternal light of the almighty Sitri has set me free…! Haah, haah…!”
Uh… hmm… this seems a bit much…
Sure enough, Sitri’s desperate eyes shot toward me like arrows, pleading for rescue.
Since I had a favor to ask anyway, I lightly clapped my hands to draw the two women's attention.
—Clap, clap.
“Mmm~? Darling~? What is it~?”
“Haah, finally…”
The two women slowly approached me and naturally knelt at my feet.
I had noticed them exchanging suggestive glances earlier.
As expected, Sitri and Valeria began unzipping my trousers using only their lips and tongues, burying their heads between my legs.
‘Still, it’s quite a sight to behold…’
The sight of these breathtaking beauties licking and sucking on me with such sultry gazes.
And it wasn't because I ordered them to; they simply wanted to please me of their own accord.
It wasn't a sight I hadn't seen before, nor a sensation I hadn't felt, but in moments like this, my heart always felt full.
It was a surge of instinctive confidence and certainty as a man.
Before I knew it, I was naturally twirling Sitri’s nipple between my fingers while gripping Valeria’s hair.
“Ha-ah…!”
“Ahhh, darling… let me suck more…”
“Before that, there’s something I want to ask of you.”
“Mmm… a favor…?”
I had only realized it recently, but Valeria was quite resourceful.
You could tell by how she used her background as the daughter of the Chancellor and her all-purpose butler, Matthias, to organize such a grand welcoming ceremony for me.
I kissed Valeria’s smooth forehead and whispered huskily into her ear.
“I want you to find someone for me.”
“Mmm…! Wh-who…?”
“Merlin, the daughter of the Chief Court Mage. I’d like you to find out her description, her whereabouts… information like that. Will you do it for me?”
In my past life, Merlin was one of the heroines the protagonist could pursue in Milfgard.
She was the granddaughter of the Archmage—that terrifying tactical-nuke of an old woman—and she had been on the verge of a political marriage with another magic family.
However, everything was different now. For the sake of the future, I needed to grasp what kind of person the current Merlin was.
The moment they heard my request, Valeria and Sitri’s eyes flashed.
It was a look that seemed to ask, Are you… seriously… planning to go that far…?
Of course, I simply gave a light smile and nodded.
“Haah… good heavens… no matter how much you’re my darling, you really are greedy…”
“Shouldn't the contractor of the Great Demon of Lust be at least this much? Hahaha.”
“Fufu, I suppose that’s true. Committing taboos is the ultimate pleasure, after all… Haah… to hold both mother and daughter in your arms…”
Whether then or now, I haven't changed.
Forming consensual, forbidden relationships with chaste and beautiful wives.
That was the ultimate mission of my life, my way of living, and my way of loving.
Therefore, Valeria, who was technically in an adulterous relationship with me, naturally sprawled herself across my desk.
“Fine, I can do that much. In exchange…”
“In exchange?”
“Fuck me right now. Make me come so much, so, so much that my brain melts.”
“Hahaha, alright. I’ll gladly pay that price. Though I feel like I fucked you all night yesterday too…”
“Ahhh~ yesterday was yesterday~ I feel like I’m going crazy just looking at you~ Hurry~”
I had Sitri, who looked a bit disappointed, kneel beside us as I pounced on Valeria on the desk.
‘I was planning to go see Irene anyway, so it’ll be good to clear my head first…’
*
By the time lunch had passed.
I stood before the Imperial Palace for the third time.
Ah, this time I wasn't summoned; I came of my own volition.
The reason was, obviously, to meet the voluptuous widow Elf Maman waiting for me inside.
As I slowly approached the massive gates of the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Guards standing like statues turned their eyes toward me, their gazes sparkling.
“Are you… perhaps, Lord Leon von Konstanz, the Black Lion…?”
“I’d prefer it if you dropped that epithet, 'Black Lion'.”
“O-ohhh…! Unbelievable. To personally meet the hero of the age, whom all the bards sing of in one voice…!”
Lately, it was like this everywhere I went.
The life of a celebrity… (shakes head).
I calmed down the dark-armored guards who were squealing like schoolgirls and asked.
“Now, now, you’re on duty, so let’s keep it professional. I’m here to see Her Excellency the Archmage Marshal. I sent word ahead; is the appointment scheduled?”
“Aha! So it was you! Let’s see, Her Excellency the Archmage Marshal… Oh, here it is!”
The guard beamed as he showed me the ledger with my name and Irene’s name written on it.
“The Chief should be at the Research Institute. That tall tower you see over there is the Imperial Magic Research Institute.”
Not too far away, a Magic Tower—the kind you’d commonly see in web novels—stood tall.
Since it was close enough that I didn't need a guide, I headed straight for the Research Institute.
*
“Ah, Lord Leon! I’ve been waiting for you!”
As soon as I arrived in front of the Imperial Magic Research Institute… or the Magic Tower for short… Irene came running out to meet me.
—Boing, boing.
Her "magic pouches," which boasted an overwhelming presence even through her robes, swayed violently.
‘Haha, she really doesn't know how erotic her own body is.’
As I involuntarily licked my lips at the sight, Irene was already standing before me.
“Haah, haah… Ah, I’m sorry… I was just so happy to see you after so long…”
“I am also truly happy and grateful to see Your Excellency again.”
“Fufu, I’m glad to hear that… but didn't I ask you to drop that title, 'Your Excellency'?”
“Hahaha, I completely forgot. My apologies, Lady Irene.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Since we’ve exchanged greetings, please, allow me to show you inside!”
As soon as we entered the Magic Tower, I felt sharp gazes coming from all directions.
It was as if the mages watching me from every corner were saying: No matter how famous you are these days, how dare a mere ignorant knight set foot in the sacred hall of knowledge!
But I ignored them all, coolly and sexily.
In fact, I quite liked it.
“Hmm~ It seems what happened in the Great Forest hasn't been made public.”
“Ah, yes… that… are you really okay with that…? The one who shot down the dragon with magic was you, Lord Leon…”
“Hahaha, I’m perfectly fine. In fact, I’m very happy. Because you didn't forget my earnest request, Lady Irene.”
For the record, it was known that Irene was the one who shot down the dragon.
Why? Because I was the one who begged her to report it to the Emperor that way.
If it became known that my magic surpassed even that of an Archmage, there was no telling how the Emperor or the Chancellor would view me.
In the worst-case scenario, I could be framed and purged one day.
Humans, especially those in power, are all cowardly chickens.
In response, Sitri’s mocking voice echoed in my head.
‘Hmph, it’s like watching myself from 500 years ago.’
‘I’m struggling precisely so I don't end up like that.’
‘Fufufu, if it does come to that… will history repeat itself?’
‘No way.’
I really didn't want that, but if such a situation ever arose… I’d have no choice but to protect myself.
I’d have to shout, "The unbearable vacancy of the Heavenly Throne ends here; I shall stand in the heavens!" or something like that.
While I was having those silly thoughts…
“Well, we’ve arrived. This is my private laboratory and study that I used to share with my husband.”
We arrived at Irene’s lab and the Archmage Marshal’s office, which took up an entire top floor of the Magic Tower.
*
The laboratory, once shared with her husband and now used alone, was a typical sight.
Mysterious and bizarre creatures and organs were preserved in transparent jars filled with suspicious liquids.
Beyond that, thick books emitting a musty smell were piled up like mountains.
On one wall, a literal witch’s cauldron was bubbling away.
“Hahaha, quite a sight… Hmm?”
Suddenly, some black powder sitting on the desk caught my eye.
What is this… it doesn't look like much, but why does it keep drawing my attention…?
Just as I reached out toward the black powder with that doubt in mind.
“Y-you mustn't touch that!”
“Ah, yes.”
“Phew… I took it out to pass the time while waiting for you, but that could have been a disaster…”
“It just looks like ordinary black powder, but it seems to be quite dangerous.”
“Yes. Actually, it’s a powder my husband created while researching alchemy. It’s a dangerous substance that explodes when it touches fire. Even a tiny amount can blow up, so you must never touch it.”
What.
Then this black powder is black gunpowder.
In an era where soldiers are still swinging swords and spears and notching arrows on bows.
An exclamation escaped my lips involuntarily.
“Mmm… your late husband was far too ahead of his time.”
“Pardon? What… do you mean…?”
“This black powder your husband created will one day change the entire world.”
“I-is that so? Actually, my husband only made it; he had no idea where or how to use it…”
Since the topic had come up, I briefly explained how gunpowder could be used.
I started with peaceful and constructive ideas, like pouring the powder into cracks in hard rock or ore veins and detonating it.
Then I moved on to more terrifying concepts, like filling a small metal cylinder with the powder and blocking the front with a bullet.
“My goodness… such a method…”
“If the recipe for that gunpowder remains, and if the empire secures mass-production methods and facilities, it could conquer the entire world within ten years. Of course, there are plenty of ways to use gunpowder other than as a weapon… but using it as a weapon would certainly have the highest utility.”
Because, unlike swords, spears, bows, or magic, anyone can hold a gun.
In a romantic fantasy world represented by knights and mages, an era where "everyone gets one shot" would arrive.
Soon, the day would come when everyone would practice the "Gun-style" instead of the "Sword-style."
However… Irene’s expression was darker than ever.
“…”
“Does it bother you to use your husband’s legacy as a weapon?”
“…Yes. As you know, my husband was not in good health and lived with chronic illnesses… but he was someone who researched more passionately than anyone. He used to say that mages exist for the happiness and peace of all people.”
“I see. Your husband was a man who held a noble ideal higher than anyone else’s.”
Since she said that, I took a handkerchief from my pocket and covered the black gunpowder.
“Oops, why is my handkerchief in a place like this…”
“Lord Leon…?”
“Hmm? There’s some strange black powder here. Could you tell me what this is?”
“…Fufu, it’s a very boring object. Why don't you take a look at the dragon’s head over there on the lab bench instead?”
“Oh! A dragon’s head! I’d love to!”
Finally, the fun and exciting magic research session with the Archmage Marshal began.
By naturally closing the distance like this, Irene would eventually find herself lying in my esthetic room.
And… I had even prepared a fun toy to add some flavor to that time…
—Whirrrrrrrrr~
“Mmm…? What is that strange sound…?”
“Hahaha, it’s the sound coming from an object in my pocket. I experimented with some basic enchantment I learned haphazardly, and I was hoping you could take a look at it, Lady Irene… What do you think?”
“You made it yourself, Lord Leon?! Please, show me quickly!”
Mmm~ this might be much easier than I expected…?