Chapter 82: World's Best Husband Contest—Preliminaries (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 82: World's Best Husband Contest—Preliminaries (5)
‘Come to think of it… this is my first time fighting another person.’
The thought occurred to me as soon as dawn broke.
From childhood until now, I had never truly tested my skills against anyone other than Helena and Natalia.
Of course, after meeting Sitri, I had fought monsters in the Black Forest for various reasons…
But that was a process of adapting to my transformed body, a struggle where we staked our lives against each other, and at the same time, a one-sided slaughter.
From the weakest goblins to Ogres that could literally tear a man apart.
‘So, I’m not particularly scared… but the regulations are the problem.’
The rule stating that killing an opponent for any reason would lead to disqualification weighed heavily on my mind.
Naturally, I had no intention of drawing the Demon Sword Sitri during the preliminaries, but the sword my brother gave me was still a lethal weapon.
Swordsmanship is the art of killing. A sword is a deadly tool.
No matter what flowery language you wrap it in, that fundamental essence does not change.
“Hmm…”
If I decided to kill, I could kill anyone.
If I set my mind to staining the world with chaos and destruction, I could easily do so.
I had thought about it once before… but now that I was in a situation where I actually might kill someone, my feelings were a bit complicated.
Killing is never something to be enjoyed, nor should it be.
‘In short, I’m worried that I might kill my opponent because I can’t control my strength. Good grief, even I think I’m being pathetic.’
What was the point of having an immortal body and inexhaustible magic power?
If I was this soft-hearted, I wondered if I could even defeat other opponents, let alone Andrasta.
Perhaps because I reached that conclusion… a weak sigh escaped my lips.
“Whew…”
But then, I felt someone’s gaze.
Right now, I was lying on the large bed I shared with all my women.
So, I shouldn't have felt anyone's gaze, nor should I have…
I instinctively turned my head, and the owner of that gaze was, as expected, right beside me.
“You seem a bit nervous, Young Master.”
“Haha.”
Whether it was because of my sigh, because she felt my emotions and thoughts, or for some other reason.
Helena, lying next to me, was gazing at me intently with a faint smile.
Was it because of that look full of affection, or because of the hesitation still lingering in my heart?
Even as I watched Helena slowly approach, I couldn't bring myself to reach out first… but.
“Young Master…”
Helena pulled me into a deep embrace against her chest.
She didn't say things like "don't worry," "it'll be fine," or "you can do it."
However, that actually made me feel more at ease.
Because I felt certain that even if I completely blew the contest, Helena would always be by my side.
But then.
This time, someone covered my back with something very soft and plush.
“…Natalia?”
“Fufu, I found myself hugging you before I knew it. You look even more lovely than usual today.”
“Hahaha.”
Before I knew it, I was buried deep between the two busty sisters.
Just as I was enjoying the soft skin of the two sisters washing over me like waves from both sides.
Someone squeezed through them and popped her face up in front of me.
“What, are you actually nervous? Is that why you’re being comforted like this?”
With a mischievous smile, Valeria also layered her body on top of mine.
Since my arms were already claimed by Helena and Natalia, all I could do was smile.
“Yeah. Valeria, do you want to comfort me too?”
“Ahaha, sure. Mwah♥”
Valeria’s soft lips lightly touched my cheek.
Then, suddenly, hot breath tickled both of my ears.
“Haa… Young Master…”
“Mngh… Master…”
At the same time, I felt the touch of three pairs of hands on my giant root.
Thanks to that, my member soon stood tall between the three women.
Helena, Natalia, and Valeria all pressed their lips against my rock-hard confidence.
“Chu…”
“Hahp…”
“Heup… Slurp…”
The three women I had conquered so far were gathered beneath me.
Before I could even feel a sense of pride or accomplishment at the sight, Sitri was now floating in front of me.
“Fufu, have you gained some confidence now?”
“Hup… I don't know…! It’s a bit… disappointing that one person is missing…! Kh…”
“Ahaha, for someone saying that, your face doesn't look relaxed at all. Of course, I have no intention of being left out either.”
Finally, even Sitri prostrated herself beneath me.
Watching this made my heart race even more, and I grew even hungrier.
The only thought in my head was that I would make Andrasta mine, just like these women.
Toward my women, who were already spreading their legs, I asked as usual.
“Alright, who should I fuck first?”
“Young Master…!”
“Master…”
“Ahn, darling…”
“Fufu, do me last. The most delicious things are best saved for the end.”
After making everyone faint with their eyes rolling back from the early morning hours.
I left the mansion alone.
*
Today, too, Andrasta sat alone.
From the highest seat in the Grand Arena, with a faint smile on her face, she looked down at those challenging her.
As I licked my lips again at the sight.
I heard a rather irritating sound from behind.
Ptooey.
The irritation didn't just come from behind.
From both sides and even the front, all the participants were glancing at me with glinting eyes.
‘Well… I suppose it’s the destiny of nobility.’
As long as a class system exists, dissatisfaction is bound to build up even in times of great peace.
Simply because I was a bit lucky, I was positioned above those people I was meeting for the first time today.
…I thought that way and tried to understand.
But eventually, my reason snapped at the words spat out by a thug-like brute approaching from the left.
“Oh~ what a pretty-looking young master we have here~ Huh? You’re even carrying two swords~?”
“…”
“This black sword would suit me much better than a brat like you—Gwaaaaakh!!”
I could tolerate other things, but I absolutely could not stand someone reaching for Sitri.
So, I reflexively grabbed his wrist and twisted it a bit hard…
—Crackle, snap, crunch…
Along with a desperate scream, the sound of wrist bones shattering rang out.
Moreover, thanks to his wrist being turned completely the other way, the glares of the bastards looking at me with spite turned very docile… but.
Perhaps he had some grit, as the nameless brute swung a mace that looked as crude as he did.
“Gwaaaaakh!! You son of a bitch, I’ll kill you! I’ll crush your head!”
—Thud.
Of course, the mace swung in a fit of rage was easily caught in my hand.
I crushed that mace with my bare hands as well and approached the thug who had picked the wrong opponent.
“U-Uuuh…!”
The thug who had aimed for Sitri was now completely terrified.
Literally to the point of soaking his pants.
‘This should be enough.’
I tossed the fragments of the crushed mace into his face without lingering and returned to my spot.
Naturally, my gaze turned back to Andrasta.
Even though it was something I did out of sudden anger, I figured this would have caught Andrasta’s eye.
Sure enough, Andrasta was looking only at me.
With the exact same gaze she had used when looking at Natalia and Helena.
‘She’s terrifyingly beautiful today, too.’
Since our eyes met, I gave Andrasta a wink.
Flirting with a King was something unthinkable regardless of time or place, but Andrasta simply let out a big laugh.
Whether that laugh was a signal or not.
Sreng’s roar, announcing the start of the match, finally erupted.
“There is only one winner! Fight!”
*
Roughly… three minutes.
That was the time it took to knock out almost every challenger, not just those around me.
I didn't even need to draw my sword.
It was enough to throw a light jab where I figured their liver would be.
However, unfortunately, a beastkin warrior who resembled a rhinoceros remained in front of me.
The warrior slammed a shield like a fortress wall and a giant hammer onto the ground and shouted at me.
“My name is Ongus! A proud member of the Fiona Warrior Band! O honorable and strong warrior standing before me at the very end! State your name!”
“Leon. Second son of Margrave Konstanz.”
Unlike Ongus, who was overflowing with pride and self-esteem, my self-introduction was dry even to my own ears.
Because for me, struggle was not the goal, but merely a means.
However, Ongus raised his shield and hammer with a face that looked almost joyful.
“Good! Leon, honorable and strong warrior! I am glad to share names and have an honorable duel with you! Under the name of our great Military God, the first Ardri Iskandar, now a true battle, honorable, fair, and just…”
Perhaps he was much more talkative than he looked, as Ongus began to ramble on.
How great an Ardri and Military God Iskandar was, how Andrasta watching from above was the Ardri who most strongly inherited his blood… he kept droning on about such trivial things.
When I caught a glimpse of the atmosphere among the beastkin like Andrasta, Sreng, and Irusan, they were letting out shallow sighs.
Anyone could see their expressions said, ‘Here he goes again…’
“In other words, the fact that you and I are having an honorable duel before the Ardri is the guidance and grace of the Military God Iskandar and…”
“Sorry, but I’m not really interested in honorable duels.”
“What!”
—Crrrack…
Ongus’s shield, which was as thick and high as a fortress wall, split in half.
“T-This can’t be. My Aias, made of seven layers of thick Ogre hide over a steel ingot, my Aias, which never suffered a single scratch from any attack, has beeeeeen—!!! Waaaaah!!!”
It seemed the shield splitting in half was more shocking to him than me suddenly appearing before his eyes.
Ongus literally shed torrents of tears, mourning the death of his beloved shield.
“Aias!! Aias!!! Waaaaah!!!”
Even as he was being dragged away by warriors, Ongus wailed loudly, clutching the split shield to his chest.
His sorrowful mourning and pouring tears almost made me feel sorry… but.
—Tap…
The moment Andrasta landed gracefully in front of me, I completely forgot about the nameless rhino beastkin.
Andrasta wore a slightly awkward smile as she looked me straight in the eye.
“Impressive, warrior. Did you say you were Leon, the second son of Margrave Konstanz?”
“Yeah.”
“…?”
Andrasta looked surprised, and Sreng and Irusan standing beside her instantly looked like they wanted to devour me.
“This brat dares! Irusan!”
“Yes! Your Highness, I will pierce this insolent man’s throat immediately!”
Letting out a roar truly like a leopard, Irusan tried to pierce my throat with her signature long spear… but.
Because Andrasta immediately grabbed the spear shaft, Irusan failed to pierce my neck.
Dismissing Sreng and Irusan, who were asking why, Andrasta looked at me with eyes that had sunk deep.
“You are surely a noble. So why do you not observe etiquette?”
“Because right now, I’m not standing here as a noble, nor am I looking at you as a King.”
At my unhesitating answer, Andrasta’s face turned into one of disbelief.
“…Ha!”
I simply gave a faint smile and looked at Andrasta.
Whether she liked that look or truly hated it.
Andrasta was soon laughing loudly.
“Hahaha, hahahaha! Sreng, quite a man has appeared!”
“Y-Your Highness.”
“I have never seen such a person until now. A man who looks at me not as a King, not even as a warrior, but as a woman! Can you do that? Would you dare to flirt with me?”
“How could I do something so impious…! You bastard, you shall pay for this insult to the Ardri with your life…!”
“Hahaha… enough, Sreng. Step back.”
Once again dismissing all the warriors and vassals, Andrasta took another step toward me.
It was a look that was hard to describe.
I could feel curiosity and a competitive spirit, but also a glimpse of intense anger… she was a much more complex woman than she appeared.
Perhaps because of the impression that suddenly occurred to me, I spoke before Andrasta.
“If you want the noble etiquette of prostrating before a King, I can do that for you?”
“Ha, forget it. Fine… I like you. However, I cannot let disrespect toward the King slide.”
Andrasta used no weapons.
The only thing she swung at her enemies was her own body, more powerful and dangerous than any weapon.
Thanks to that, I saw it clearly.
Andrasta’s fist, rapidly concentrating mana, flying straight toward my face.
In that case.
—Boom!
“…Oho.”
An exclamation filled with bloodlust finally escaped Andrasta’s lips.
I hadn't done anything particularly special.
Just like Andrasta, I had simply countered with a fist concentrated with mana.
As a result, a sound like a bomb exploding erupted, but neither Andrasta nor I were harmed in the slightest.
I gently wrapped my hand around Andrasta’s still-extended fist and spoke.
“Why wait? Shall we settle it right here and now?”
“The more I see you, the more ridiculous you are. You hold the King’s hand as if you were holding a lover’s.”
“Haha, you talk as if you’ve had a lover.”
“Fufufu, of course I haven't. A King is meant to be lonely.”
“To think such a lovely woman has never experienced love. It’s a relief, yet also a pity.”
At this point, I let go of Andrasta’s hand.
If I provoked her any further, Sreng or Irusan aside, Andrasta might completely lose her temper.
…Though it seemed she had already reached her limit.
However, Andrasta fortunately laughed once more.
“Seeing your strength and skill, I shall overlook today’s insolence.”
“Your grace is immeasurable, Your Highness.”
“Haha, it’s natural etiquette, but it feels truly awkward coming from you. I’m sorry, but I cannot settle things with you today. There are others I have promised to meet again.”
“If that’s the case, won't you make that promise with me as well?”
“Of course. I will surely hold you accountable for the crime of flirting with the Ardri of Erin.”
“Haha, thank you.”
Before I knew it, the gaze of the beastkin looking at me had changed.
If it had been clear anger and hatred until a moment ago, now it held a sparkling competitive spirit and admiration. Just a little bit.
They were truly a warrior race where strength came before anything else.
Looking proudly at her people, the King of Erin left me with a promise of farewell and reunion.
“You may withdraw. Leon, you must make it to the finals. I will not tolerate defeat.”
“I’ll return those words to you, Your Highness. My women won't be easy opponents.”
“Hahaha, yes! The more I know you, the more surprising you are!”
“Your Highness is also more lovely the more I get to know you.”
I thought she might respond, but Andrasta left before me without a word.
By the way… I just blurted out whatever I felt like…
‘Did I push her too far…?’
With that thought occurring to me, I also turned to leave.