Chapter 94: World's Greatest Husband Contest - Finals (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: World's Greatest Husband Contest - Finals (1)
The sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains snapped my eyes open.
Though there was no real need to... I checked my physical condition with half-lidded eyes.
Of course, there were no problems.
In fact, 'no problems' was an understatement; I was in perfect shape.
In my past life, I had the typical physique of a modern man—thin limbs and a protruding belly—but my body now was literally like a sculpture of a military god.
"Ngh...!"
I stretched lightly to shake off the lingering drowsiness.
My joints popped back into place with satisfying cracks, fully waking me up.
As always, a body that never knows fatigue is incredibly addictive.
So much so that I never want to go back to the days when I wasn't like this.
As I was lost in that thought for a moment, a familiar voice reached my ears from beside me.
"Young Master, you're already awake."
I instinctively turned my head to the right to find Helena looking at me, wearing nothing but her underwear.
She looks great naked, but this style is also incredibly hot...
"Are you that excited? Hehe."
This time, Natalia’s soft laughter came from my left.
Unlike Helena, Natalia wasn't wearing a single stitch of clothing.
"To think you'd be planning to bring in another woman even after having four in one bed. Is there anyone else in this world as greedy as my darling?"
Valeria snapped at me in her typical fashion, yet she prostrated herself before me as if to show off.
Of course, her face bore a faint smile that mirrored the sunlight filtering through the window.
And finally, Sitri’s voice came from above.
"Hehe, only then can you truly be called my contractor."
Unfortunately, Sitri wasn't in her most beautiful form, but the face looking down at me was more beautiful than any angel's.
"You don't call yourself 'We' much these days, do you?"
"Hm? Is that so? I hadn't noticed. Well... perhaps it is because I am no longer a Great Demon ruling over Hell, but simply a woman who loves you."
Oh... my heart fluttered for the first time in a while.
Just as it had when Sitri and I shared our bodies and souls upon the star-lit plains.
"Oh my, Young Master. The little master downstairs seems very angry."
"Master, at this rate, you won't be able to stand on the stage for the finals..."
"We did it so much yesterday... This darling of mine really doesn't know the meaning of satisfaction."
Sometimes I wonder.
Why does Helena look at my giant root and call it the "little master"?
Sometimes even Natalia looks between my legs and calls it "Master."
And even Valeria... why?
'Are they actually in love with this guy and not me?'
Are you guys only seeing me for this?!
The moment those words reached the back of my throat...
Sitri, who had also begun stroking my large and precious giant root, whispered into my ear.
"It is such a magnificent thing, is it not? I believe you should be proud of it instead."
"Hmm... well... I suppose."
"Besides, you are not some commoner who simply thrusts blindly, relying only on size."
That's right.
I am a real man who possesses both size and technique—a master of both the literary and martial arts, so to speak.
As soon as I regained my self-awareness, Natalia licked one of my ears with a sticky wetness.
"What will you do? There's still time left... mwah..."
"Mmm..."
"Before you go teach love to the lonely queen, why don't you bestow some love upon us first...? Hehe."
They say you don't need to feed a caught fish, but I don't think that way.
Because it's a caught fish, you have to take even better care of it.
If you make even a small mistake or neglect its care, it'll die.
Besides, I had promised that while I couldn't love only them, the day would never come when I didn't love them.
I was more than willing to take all these women into my arms... however.
Valeria, who was in the perfect position to be taken, suddenly stopped me.
"Kya! Darling, wait!"
"Huh? Why?"
"You can't pound me until I faint! I really want to go watch the finals!"
"Hahaha, right. I got it."
"Now then, start with me. Come here, darling♥"
Immediately, complaints of "Why you first?!" erupted from all sides, but I took Valeria into my arms first.
I was going to hold every single one of them in the end anyway.
"Haa, haa... Darling..."
"Haa, haa... Young Master..."
"Ngh... Mas...ter..."
"Leon... I'm sorry... but... I can't... move... ngh..."
"Haha, take your time. I'll head out first."
Leaving behind the women who were trembling even today, I finally made my way toward the Grand Arena.
*
"Waaaaaaah!!"
"Leon! Leon!"
"Pride of the Empire! Lion of the Empire! Waaaaaaah!"
Under a dazzlingly clear sky, the spectators filling the stands were chanting my name.
I'm not sure when exactly I became the Pride and Lion of the Empire.
'Is it because of my name...?'
I'd never given it much thought, but in the Imperial tongue, Leon means lion.
For the record, my older brother's name, Luan, means light.
"Anyway... it feels good."
Looking at the countless people expecting great things from me, sending me cheers and applause, the thought naturally occurred to me.
This provides a considerable thrill in its own right...
This must be why singers who have already made a fortune keep returning to the stage, and why those in power can't let go of their authority even with a blade at their throats.
Just as I was thinking that...
—Boom! Boom! Boom!
To the beat of the drums of conquest, the Overlord of the plains entered the stadium.
"Citizens of the Empire, show your respect! From the distant plains, having come to the Empire in search of love, the Ardri of Erin, the Overlord of the plains! Her Majesty Andrasta is entering!"
"Waaaaaaah!!"
Even the Emperor probably wouldn't receive such cheers and applause.
Andrasta, entering alongside a black lion, received a welcome so fervent that such a thought instinctively crossed my mind.
After circling the stadium once and waving to the crowd, Andrasta finally stood before me.
Accompanied by the black lion Panthera, who could be called her alter ego.
"Grrr..."
"Hmm, it seems Panthera doesn't particularly like me."
Panthera was growling lowly at me.
He was even baring fangs so large they looked like daggers.
Did he realize that I wanted to f—no, no, that I wanted to teach Andrasta about love?
"Panthera."
Andrasta gently stroked Panthera’s head.
No matter how much she considered the pet her own shadow, she couldn't let him bare his teeth at others recklessly.
"Grrr."
—Thud, thud, thud...
Reading his master's intent, Panthera turned around and walked down from the arena.
He continued to glare at me fiercely, his paws stomping heavily as he left.
As I gave an awkward smile, Andrasta offered a light greeting.
"Forgive him. Panthera likes no one but me."
"How could I blame a vassal for trying to protect his lord, Your Highness?"
"Haha, thank you. But... have you decided to mind your manners now?"
There was a strange sense of disappointment in Andrasta’s tone, expression, and gaze.
Well... it might just be my imagination...
But I was planning to stop acting polite soon anyway.
"I wanted to at least start with a polite greeting. But I didn't know you preferred this kind of speech. You must be quite lonely deep down."
"...Haha."
Oh, it seems she's getting a bit heated.
The atmosphere in the stands, which had been boiling over, suddenly turned icy cold.
Is this what they call the Overlord's Haki?
Andrasta, however, did not lose her composure and spoke in a low, grounded voice.
"It is a bit late to say this... but although I said I would give myself to whoever defeats me, the truth is, I have no intention of taking a consort."
"...Pardon? I'm not sure I heard you correctly."
Anyone who has served in the military knows that the phrase "I'm not sure I heard you correctly" has two main meanings.
One is that you literally didn't hear them.
The other is: Are you really spouting that bullshit right now?
Naturally, my response was the latter.
Furthermore, that doubt wasn't mine alone; it was shared by every spectator watching Andrasta... but.
Fortunately, Andrasta spoke again.
"Ah, to be precise, I mean that I have no expectations. Watching your match with Irusan, I had to admit that you are a rare powerhouse, but..."
In the end, you too will kneel before me.
Just as every challenger who has stood before me has done.
Her eyes, which looked somewhat bitter, seemed to say as much.
"Hmm... then the fact that you'll become the woman of the man who defeats you remains unchanged, right?"
"If you can manage it. I repeat, I hold no expectations for you."
"Ha... what a tragic thing..."
I let out a deep sigh and shook my head.
Because it truly was heartbreaking.
Perhaps that display piqued her interest again, as Andrasta spoke to me once more.
"What is so tragic? Is it because you cannot have me?"
"No, that's not tragic at all. Because you will definitely end up in my arms."
"...Ha! Then answer me. What is so tragic?"
Oh~ she's even more heated than before.
Shall I give her one more poke?
"It's tragic that the strongest warrior, the Overlord of the plains, the Ardri of Erin, is merely a woman starved for love."
"...What did you say?"
"Not having expectations is a defense mechanism to avoid disappointment. Haa... the more I think about it, the more tragic it is... that no one has ever held such a lovely woman... that no one could quench that thirst..."
In that instant, the surrounding air turned frigid.
As if space itself had frozen over.
In the silence, where even the spring sunlight seemed to have vanished, Andrasta ripped off her cloak.
"It is unbecoming of a king to be swayed by the empty words of a silver-tongued man, but I find I can no longer endure this."
Thanks to that, Andrasta’s beautiful physique was revealed without any obstruction.
Truly overlord-sized tits, hips as wide as the vast plains, and beautifully developed muscles befitting a goddess of war...
I almost revealed my heaven-sent sword to the entire world right then and there.
"You are beautiful, Your Highness. I will surely fulfill your wish. And as a bonus, I'll provide a successor for the Ardri as well."
"...Ha! I wonder how long you will be able to wag that tongue."
Andrasta finally took her stance.
A stance that seemed to say she would charge in and crush my skull this very instant.
I, too, moved my hand to the two swords at my waist.
'Let's start with my brother's sword.'
It would be no fun to pull out Sitri from the start.
Besides, my brother did ask me to show it off.
Well... thanks to Irusan, it's in a state where it might shatter with one swing... but that'll make for a good story in its own right.
—Shring...
As soon as I drew my brother's sword, Andrasta’s frost-like voice rang out.
"Do you dare draw a chipped and bent blade against me?"
"Haha, well. I think this will be more than enough."
"..."
The air around Andrasta grew even heavier.
Hmm... I didn't expect much, but she seems surprisingly weak to provocations.
Finally, Irusan’s long-delayed declaration to start the match echoed through the arena.
"Under no circumstances is killing your opponent permitted! Let the curtain rise on the finals!"
—Boom!
The moment those words ended, Andrasta kicked off the ground and charged at me.
She moved so violently and savagely that the stone floor of the arena she stepped on exploded.
As Andrasta flew toward me in the blink of an eye, I met her with my secret quick-draw technique.
"It's a gift. Or should I call it a wedding present?"
"What...!"
In that instant, a silver flash passed over Andrasta’s waist.