Chapter 176: The Kingdom's Guard (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 176: The Kingdom's Guard (1)
In the heart of the Hugo Kingdom’s capital stood the royal palace. Beyond the inner wall that separated the palace from the city lay essential facilities: the residential area where Sma lived, the Guard headquarters, and the temple of Dite, the Goddess of Beauty. The closer one moved toward the outer wall, the more the living conditions deteriorated.
The back alleys, the primary patrol route for the guards, were located near the outer wall. No matter how many poor souls were aided or how many criminals were beaten down, the public order in the back alleys never seemed to improve significantly.
However, over the past few days, the Guard—having minimized the personnel stationed at dungeons and prisons—had been scouring every alleyway, rounding up the destitute and the criminal alike.
"You bastards! They say you'll get paid and fed if you enlist, yet you won't volunteer? Then it's forced conscription for you! Try living on ten copper coins a month!"
"H-heeeek!!"
"Save me!!"
"Who said anything about killing you? Just enlist!"
Sma was having the time of his life rounding up the poor. It would have been a miserable experience if he were the one being forced into service, but being the recruitment officer was fantastic.
Once he handed the gathered men over to the army, they were broken in and trained automatically. He spent his mornings on forced conscription and his evenings enjoying sex, all while the clouds of war grew darker.
By now, even the residents of the capital could sense the impending conflict. It would be stranger if they didn't notice, given the ruthless conscription of the poor and the conversion of criminals into prisoner soldiers.
One day, while the entire kingdom was busy preparing for war, several heads were hung in a row at the main square in front of the royal palace.
They had Oriental features, rarely seen in the Hugo Kingdom, where Caucasians and mixed-race people were the majority. They were ninjas from the Stejaishi Empire.
The captured ninjas had been executed only after spilling every bit of information they possessed—and even some they didn't. This was partly due to the efforts of a determined Robanovsky, but the help of the sisters Akiko and Akisa had been significant as well.
Having been through ninja training themselves, they knew exactly how to torture a ninja. Robanovsky had practically become a devotee of the two sisters.
“Master. Today, please fuck me along with my clone♥”
If he had seen Akiko using her Clone Technique to shake two sets of buttocks at once, his opinion might have changed entirely, but since he didn't know the reality of it, his devotion remained unshaken.
On the day the ninjas' heads were put on display, Prince Rominas took the lead at the square and read a proclamation.
"Listen! By interrogating spies from the Stejaishi Empire, we have uncovered their plan to invade our kingdom! We will never permit such an invasion! We shall show the Stejaishi Empire, which sought to weaken our kingdom through such treacherous schemes, exactly what we are made of!"
"I shall now award medals to those who contributed to rooting out these ninjas! Serika, our third-place contributor, step forward!"
Serika and Ohwan were awarded their medals.
"Thank you. I dedicate this honor to my subordinate guard, Sma."
"Ahem. Same here."
Serika praised Sma with immense pride, while Ohwan did so rather reluctantly. Serika gave Ohwan a sharp poke from an angle the cheering crowd couldn't see.
It was because he hadn't properly delivered the lines he’d been given to hype Sma up. Ohwan had no choice but to continue the praise.
"Finally, Guard Sma! He emerged victorious after fighting eight Low-Rank ninjas and two Mid-Rank ninjas who ambushed him in the back alleys! Furthermore, he captured a High-Rank ninja and a Mid-Rank ninja who had infiltrated a mansion and successfully turned them to our kingdom's side!"
"Ooh."
"Is that the Sma everyone's been talking about lately? I heard that guard is a real gentleman."
"They say he doesn't hit on female hunters. He just gets the inspections done quickly."
"Which dungeon is he in charge of? I need to go there."
"Lord Sma! You're amazing!"
The crowd cheered. Sma listened intently to the cheers of the women while completely ignoring the comments from men like Geum Taeyang.
His eardrums were far too busy detecting only the voices of women.
"Furthermore, he rooted out the ninjas who had infiltrated the capital. For this, he is awarded a first-class medal and the title of Baron! From this moment forth, Guard Sma shall be known as Baron Sma de Ster!"
Sma had chosen the surname 'Ster' himself. Since his name was taken from 'Sex Master,' he had originally wanted to use the surname 'Sexster,' but it was rejected because of the word 'Sex.'
In the end, he compromised with 'Ster.' It was still a surname he quite liked.
Sma spoke to Prince Rominas as the prince pinned the medal to his chest.
"Thank you."
"Continue to give your all for the kingdom."
"Yes, sir!"
The ceremony ended there, but there was a private conversation that wasn't shared with the crowd.
"Congratulations, Baron Sma de Ster. When do you plan to hold the wedding?"
"I intend to proceed once the war is over. I don't know who else might get pregnant in the meantime."
"Do you plan to distinguish between wives and concubines?"
"Originally, I intended to treat them all equally, but since some of the women feel that would be too much for them, I plan to divide the ranks."
"As you should. If you take more than ten women as primary wives, you'll face public outcry. Report to me when you're planning the ceremony. I'll send a royal judge."
"Thank you."
"I have decided to lead the troops in this war. Once I return victorious..."
"Wait a moment."
Sma hurriedly cut the prince off.
Why is this guy setting up a death flag?
Since the prince was the benefactor who had sent Elizabeth to him, Sma didn't want to see him die.
"Let's talk about that after you return safely."
"Haha! Right! I'll bring news of victory, so look forward to it."
"Yes."
The Hugo Kingdom moved swiftly. They appointed the commander who had won the war against the Dark Elf nation over a decade ago as the Supreme Commander and sent all members of the royal family to the front lines, except for the Crown Prince.
The Stejaishi Empire didn't stay idle either. Like a nation that had been preparing for war for a long time, they mobilized their army with clockwork precision.
War had broken out, but Sma's daily routine remained unchanged.
"Hey, Geum Taeyang, aren't you going to the battlefield?"
"The Hunter Guild has agreed to cooperate with the defense. If a city in the Hugo Kingdom is invaded, the hunters of that city will be mobilized."
"Ah, is that so?"
"Yes."
"Then go have some fun sex with monsters."
"Yes, sir!"
He continued to manage the dungeons and conduct inspections as usual.
"I heard the priests are being sent to the battlefield too. I'm glad Elizabeth wasn't drafted."
"I do have a hunter registration, after all. And... I'm not alone anymore."
"Shouldn't Mehya take a leave of absence?"
"I'm still in the early stages of pregnancy, so it's fine. We haven't even been able to recruit more people because of the war; I can't rest during such a busy time."
"What about Rena?"
"I'm fine for now too. My senior is working so hard, I can't be the only one to bow out!"
Following Iruna, he also took tender care of the other women who had become pregnant. A few more members were added to the household as well.
"Is Tanya not yet?"
Tanya, who lived in a barony in a nearby city, had decided to stay in the relatively safe capital. This was decided when her father, Baron Deherman, departed for the front.
"Mhm. My period is due soon, so we'll have to see then."
"It's a shame Erwi had to go back to her main job."
"She's the Princess's escort knight, so she has to be prepared for assassins. Even if all the High-Rank ninjas in the capital were killed, they might send new ones."
"That's true."
"More importantly, I wrote a letter to my father telling him about our relationship. Will it be okay?"
Sma reassured the anxious Tanya.
"He'll survive, if only to see my face. So don't worry."
"Thank you."
As he stroked her hair, a spark ignited, and they ended up having sex again. Because the other women were also looking for an opening to join in, there wasn't a day when his testicles had any sperm left in them.
Since the household had grown so large, they even hired a chef for the mansion. Iruna, who had originally been in charge of the cooking, either prepared meals for her future family members or rested entirely at the urging of those around her.
Occasionally, they all went out to eat at the Lily of the Valley Inn.
"Mmm. My dear Sma. Is my breast really that delicious?"
"Don't just suck on Mom's breast, suck on mine too."
"H-huuu! Hngh! Sma's cock... it feels so goood..."
He enjoyed every outing, as he could eat delicious food and indulge in a mother-daughter sandwich with Greystar on the side.
"Lord Sma! Please, take this!"
"Oh my. Isn't this a watermelon? Is it really okay for me to take this?"
"You're working day and night for our kingdom, this is the least we can do!"
"Then I'll accept it gratefully."
"Lord Sma! A new type of seed has come in!"
"The Captain will love that. How much is it?"
"It's on the house!"
"Thank you."
When he went on patrol, the residents who recognized him showered him with gifts. For several days after the ceremony, he received so many gifts that his subspace pocket was bursting.
"Do you happen to know how the war is progressing?"
"Of course, we're winning. We were very well-prepared."
"I see!"
"The Hugo Kingdom's army is the strongest!"
"The strongest!!"
He also worked hard on propaganda. Only news of the Hugo Kingdom's victories reached the public—how the army led by the Supreme Commander had crushed the enemy's main force in a pitched battle, or how a detached force had cut off supply lines.
However, it wasn't all good news. One day, Erwi visited the mansion, bringing the Princess with her.
"I am Jasmine, the First Princess of this kingdom."
"Princess. You're being awkward."
"Oh, seriously! I was trying to look cool since it's my first time meeting him, why do you have to ruin the mood!"
"It would have been obvious anyway."
"Sigh."
The Princess didn't care if her dress got wrinkled as she sprawled out on the sofa in the drawing room. Sma marveled at her desirable attire.
Wow. It's not a qipao, but the sides of the thighs are completely slit open. Does this princess have no shame? I can almost see her panties. And her cleavage is plunging.
It was truly an outfit befitting a princess in an eroge world. Thanks to being pampered and cared for since childhood, her breasts were as pale and soft as mochi, making his mouth water just looking at them.
I want to eat her up.
Sma signaled Erwi with his eyes. Erwi, understanding his meaning, sent a message via Sound Transmission.
Having made a secret pact with Erwi, Sma asked Jasmine.
"So, what brings you here?"
"I've already told the Guard Captains, but since you're someone my brother is keeping an eye on, I thought I should tell you personally. The Empire sent a detached force that managed to evade our eyes, and we only realized it once they were near the capital."
This was more serious news than he had expected. He knew the Hugo Kingdom was winning, but there was no telling what kind of damage a detached force could do while directly striking the capital.
"For now, the 2nd Knight Order, which was guarding the capital, will be the main force for defense. The people will be anxious, so pay extra attention to public order. Understood?"
"I will keep that in mind."
"Then, I'll be going now."
Iruna, who had personally prepared food upon hearing that the Princess had arrived, asked cautiously.
"Are you leaving already?"
"I am a bit hungry, so shall I have a bite before I go? Sometimes commoner food is nice too."
The Princess, who had been acting haughty, completely cleared the plates Iruna had prepared. She liked it so much that she even suggested Iruna become her exclusive chef.
"I'm sorry, but I'll have to decline. I'm my husband's wife, so I have to take care of his meals."
"Then I'll just have to come by often!"
"It would be an honor to have you visit often, Princess."
Once the Princess left, Iruna wore a mysterious smile.
"You're aiming for the Princess too, aren't you? I'll try to tame her with food."
Sma was so moved that he kissed Iruna. Choosing Iruna as his first woman had truly been an excellent decision.