Chapter 111: The Growing Guard (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111: The Growing Guard (1)
"Haa..."
A small, distinctly feminine hand stroked the back of my hand. It was calloused from sword training and scarred in places, yet it possessed a beautiful shape.
If there were a beauty pageant for hands, these slender, jade-like fingers would easily take the crown. One might argue the scars disqualified them from being truly "jade-like," but who cared? The sentiment was what mattered.
"Incredible."
The fingers tracing the back of my hand moved up along the veins to my wrist. She gripped the protruding bone as if it were precious, then poked and prodded the muscles of my forearm, inspecting every inch.
"Amazing."
After checking my biceps and triceps, her hands moved to massage my shoulders. Her grip was so strong that my face involuntarily contorted.
Seeing my expression, Rena snapped.
"Master! You're holding him too tight!"
"Ah. My apologies. I got a bit too carried away because it was so interesting."
Rainie apologized, though she didn't sound particularly repentant.
"Sma. May I continue?"
"Yes. Just... gently, please."
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you. Well, I can't make any absolute promises, though."
"Master!"
"I'm really okay, Rena. Your master is just checking my body for my own sake."
"Senior, you're really... too kind. A person needs to know how to get angry sometimes."
If I didn't know how to get angry, then most of the world would be diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder. It felt like the rose-tinted glasses Rena wore were getting thicker by the day.
She wasn't this bad at first. I wondered if my cock had some kind of hypnotic effect. Her infatuation seemed to grow in direct proportion to the days she spent moaning while being impaled by my dick, so it was a suspicion worth entertaining.
I watched Rainie, who was staring at my shoulder muscles as if she were about to perform an autopsy, and thought back. How did it come to this?
Yesterday, after I finished off the mother and daughter and returned to my room, my women were busy enjoying some sticky scissoring. Mehya was rubbing pussies with Serika, while Iruna had Rena sitting on her lap, nursing her at her breast.
It was only after I poured my cum into everyone, starting with Rena and ending with Serika’s womb, that I felt the effects of the Salamander Tail finally wear off. I fell into a sleep so deep it was like passing out, only to be kidnapped by Rena and Rainie while I was eating breakfast this morning.
"Didn't I say you would learn the sword from me starting today? There's no time; the Freezing Week will be over soon. Let's head to my mansion immediately and begin your training."
"Your way of speaking is really similar to Lady Serika's."
"Have a safe trip."
With that brief exchange, we arrived at the mansion. Rainie’s residence was grand, befitting the Vice Commander of the Kingdom's 2nd Knight Order. It was three stories tall, staffed by about ten servants, and even had its own training ground.
Beyond that, however, there wasn't much to see. The interior design was simple, with few luxuries. The only thing worth looking at was perhaps the decorative armor. Aside from the servants, the only residents were Rainie and Rena.
I was assigned a room on the third floor next to Rena's. After a quick change of clothes, I was dragged out to the training ground. Once we arrived, Rainie spoke.
"Strip."
I almost took it as an invitation for sex. Rena hurriedly explained that the intent was to check my muscle density and Aura compatibility.
So, I took off my shirt, which led to the current situation. Having finished inspecting my shoulders, Rainie was now stroking my collarbone.
"Like your arms, your collarbones are excellent. Your chest is also remarkably firm. How many years did you say you've been training with the sword?"
"One year."
That was information I’d gathered thanks to Bruce, my fellow guard. I’d run into him a few times on the street after the prison incident. Apparently, before I possessed this body, the original owner was antisocial, but he’d at least talked to Bruce, who was his only real friend.
"One year? Is that true? Truly unbelievable. To think you built a body that usually requires a lifetime of service as a squire in just one year. Who did you study under?"
"I only received the vocational training provided by the orphanage."
"I already knew that. I did some investigating since you're my disciple's senior."
"Master!"
"Oops. That was supposed to be a secret. Are you angry?"
"Not at all. If a man is hanging around her beloved disciple, it's only natural to want to investigate. I understand. I would be on guard too if there were a man around Rena."
"Senior..."
The temperature difference in her voice when she addressed Rainie versus me was staggering. It was more extreme than jumping from a cold bath to a hot one. Rainie seemed to notice too, as she pouted.
"They say there's no point in raising a daughter, and I see why. Even though you aren't my biological daughter, I've thought of you as one. Is your boyfriend really that great?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I mean, it's not that, it's not that I don't like him, I actually like him a lot, but..."
"Fine, fine. I was just teasing because it's the first time you've shown such great affection for something other than swordsmanship. As your master, I should be happy for my disciple's growth. It's just... a little lonely."
"Master..."
Rena hugged Rainie from behind. Seeing the two of them, who looked strangely alike despite not being blood-related, reminded me of the mother and daughter I’d fucked at dawn.
If I had sex with both of them together, what would I call it? A master-disciple sandwich? A knight double-header? Whatever it was, I was sure it would be magnificent.
Despite the lewd thoughts, my dick remained quiet. I was truly glad the medicine had worn off. Otherwise, I might have introduced Rainie to my Virgin Destroyer right then and there.
Since she was said to be a pure knight with no experience with men, I’d have to take my time and put in the effort. Speaking of pure knights, that reminded me of Erwi. I wondered if she was keeping her hymen safe.
I hoped she was pregnant. That way, I could tease her the next time we met.
While I was lost in thought, the hand stroking my body moved down to my stomach.
"Your abs are also excellent. They aren't bulky like some gorilla's, but the density is high. You'll be able to produce a lot of power relative to your muscle mass. Did you really achieve this through basic training alone?"
"Yes."
"It is truly a blessed physique. I'm starting to covet it."
Rainie licked her lips. At that, Rena panicked and pulled Rainie away from me.
"Master! You can't do that yet!"
"Yet?"
Rainie tilted her head in confusion. Cute. Do the women in this world get cuter as they get older?
The moment I thought of Izumi, that hypothesis was shattered. Let's just say Rainie specifically was cute.
"A-ah, it's nothing."
Rena gripped my hand tightly. I could feel her heart rate through our joined palms. I see. She got turned on seeing her master touch her man.
Since she said "not yet," I could look forward to the future. I leaned in and whispered into Rena's ear.
"So you're saying you need time to prepare your heart?"
"Ugh!"
"Could you two not flirt where I can see you? It makes me feel lonely. To think the disciple found a lover before the master... I suppose the student truly has surpassed the teacher."
Rainie muttered bitterly. Rena gave her a strange look, then grabbed Rainie with her other hand.
"Someone good will come along for you too, Master."
"It's fine. I am married to the sword."
"Still. Please, keep looking over my senior."
"That's enough of that. I've seen everything already."
Rainie cleared her throat before explaining.
"Sma. Your body is truly magnificent. Based on your build alone, I expected average abilities, but I was completely wrong. Your arm bones are thick and your muscles are compact, allowing for explosive power. You're perfectly suited for swordsmanship that utilizes great strength as an advantage."
"Then will I be learning a power-based style?"
"No. If that were all, I wouldn't have called you blessed. Usually, to produce that much power, muscles become bulky and slow, and endurance drops. But you possess compressed muscles. You don't have to rely solely on strength; you can use speed as your primary weapon as well."
Rainie’s speech grew faster as she got excited.
"Your ribcage is sturdy and your core is strong, so you can use techniques that explode with full power in a single strike as much as you want. This is just a guess, but you probably won't be limited to single strikes; you'll be capable of consecutive attacks too. That's a feat usually only possible for knights who can manipulate Aura. To think you can draw that out with pure physical strength... it's exciting."
Rainie licked her lips again. Was that a habit? It was a very suggestive one. I wanted to put my dick in those cherry-colored lips.
"I'd like to check your lower body as well, but even for me, touching a stranger's legs is a bit much. However, I assume they're similar to your arms. Whatever footwork you learn, it will suit you well."
"So, what kind of swordsmanship will I be learning?"
Just tell me already. You kidnapped me during breakfast saying there was no time, so why is the intro so damn long?
"I'm curious too! Please tell us quickly before I get dizzy!"
"I'm not finished with the explanation. Usually, an Aura Heart is formed in the heart. Channeling transcendental power puts a lot of strain on the body, so Aura is used to reinforce the human body's core organs to reduce that burden. Sma, your heart is powerful, but it beats slower than an average person's. Usually, a knight who hasn't awakened Aura has a very fast heart rate. This means your heart's function is superior."
"So, what I'm saying is..."
"Don't be so impatient, disciple. I've told you many times, you need to develop patience."
Rena puffed out her cheeks. Rainie poked them to let the air out, then turned a greedy gaze toward me.
"On the other hand, a knight who has awakened Aura becomes similar to Sma. Therefore, I shall teach you Advanced Swordsmanship, which only knights are permitted to learn."
"Advanced Swordsmanship, you say?"
Even though this was an eroge world, it had skills that categorized the levels of swordsmanship and magic. Advanced Swordsmanship was something you could usually only learn after passing level 50.
Though, the protagonist of Adventures of the Female Hero, Isekai Studio's flagship title, could learn it around level 30. It was a crazy game where you couldn't even see the True Ending if you didn't learn Advanced Swordsmanship.
Anyway, I was going to learn that? Was that even possible when I didn't have a level?
"Really? Is that possible?"
"There's no harm in trying, is there? And it's fine even if you can't master it."
Rainie pulled out two wooden swords from a rack. She handed one to me and gripped the other herself, a sinister smile spreading across her face.
"Do you know how one realizes Aura?"
"I understand it's realized by gaining experience through combat."
To put it in game terms: level up to unlock it. You automatically acquire it when you reach level 50, the level requirement for Advanced Swordsmanship.
"Yes. It means you realize it while getting beaten. So, let's spar to gauge your level, and then we'll plan your curriculum."
Motherfucker. She called it a "spar," but she just meant she was going to beat the shit out of me.
I looked at Rena, hoping she'd stop her, but she just shrugged. This girl... her husband is about to get thrashed, and she's just going to ignore it?
You're dead tonight. I won't stop even if you faint and beg me several times. I sent a warning glare toward Rena, but then I felt a sudden chill.
Rainie was still smiling, but she was emitting an aura like a vengeful deity. I realized it then. Ah, I thought she was being broad-minded, but she wasn't. She was furious at the man who had snatched away her precious disciple.
"It might hurt, so grit your teeth."
I thought to myself as I blocked the incoming wooden sword. You're just like Rena. When we get to the bedroom, I'm going to pay you back for today's humiliation several times over.