Chapter 113. Formed! The Baby-Making Alliance! (2)
Chapter 113. Formed! The Baby-Making Alliance! (2)
Once the explanation had concluded.
Katarina, having heard the general outline of their relationship, quietly nodded with her chin resting on her hand.
"......I see."
A reaction notably free of surprise or anger.
I found that unexpected.
Human though they were, her allegiance lay with the Anti-Human Coalition, while the hero party was an organization that served mankind.
"You don't consider it a problem?"
"You may not have said it directly, my lord, but I became fully aware of your special feelings for them during the incident that day."
In other words, it wouldn't have surprised her to hear this at any time.
Still, the fact that her loyalty held firm meant she had her own considerations.
Even if she had resolved to acknowledge and follow me, that resolve was built on the foundation of succeeding her father and leading the organization.
"If those feelings were one-sided, it might breed resentment among the members. But if the party members, on the contrary, show concern for you, I believe the members would actively support deepening that bond."
"The members, you say?"
"Our affiliation lies with the Demon King's Army, but the organization's structure was heavily compromised by the demon race in this incident. Moreover, since Garbonia's death, even within the demon race, the organization is not viewed favorably. The demons who were aligned with her have either become our enemies, or there are officers vying to take over our organization in her stead."
As she continued her explanation, Katarina's eyes sharpened.
It was the look of someone whose words were not mere lip service, but the product of a cold, clear-headed analysis.
"In such a crisis, even though it is only two people, you have infiltrated the core of humanity and forged a friendly relationship. That alone effectively proves your capability, my lord, which will naturally strengthen our members' trust and unity."
"By touting the fact that you have the hero party, the nemesis of the Demon King's Army, in your back pocket—rather than clinging to the fractious and unstable Demon King's Army itself."
Yes, from that perspective, the situation could indeed be seen as an opportunity.
Of course, revealing their existence to the members was somewhat dubious. But when it came to covert operations and concealment, our organization could rival even the Demon King's Army, so it wouldn't pose an immediate problem.
As long as Heira and Ymir, the parties involved, could accept this situation without making a fuss.
"......The issue is how those two will take this."
I turned my gaze from Katarina for a moment and looked back at Ymir.
As expected, she didn't seem to take the conversation between Katarina and me very seriously.
Rather, as if finding the unfolding drama amusing, she was staring straight at me with the corners of her lips curled up.
"The head of the Anti-Human Coalition, huh. Heh-heh, our Dave is a much bigger shot than I thought?"
"...It's not a position I wanted."
In the first place, since that day, I'd left everything to Katarina and didn't even know how the organization was operating.
Effectively, I just lent my name and gave orders; the actual running of the organization was always meant to be left to Katarina.
After all, she, who inherited the blood of the previous leader, was far more suited to be the head of the organization than I, who had merely been a secretary.
"Is Dave... a big deal?"
On the other hand, Heira, who seemed unable to grasp the situation, voiced her confusion.
Ymir lowered her voice slightly and answered in her stead.
"Well, I guess he is a big deal. He's essentially become the leader of a terrorist group targeting the entirety of humanity."
It wasn't an exaggeration.
The Anti-Human Coalition was effectively the last bastion for those unwelcome among mankind.
Heira still seemed unable to connect with that description, but if she understood its meaning, she surely wouldn't be able to view me as kindly as she had until now.
"Still, you don't have to worry. I have a public position too, so I can't openly defend you. But I'm at least aware that the human faction isn't spotlessly clean."
Of course, Ymir had been paying closer attention to the negative aspects of humanity from the start.
Considering her disposition, she might actually find the Anti-Human Coalition more comfortable than the royal family's people who valued nobility and morality above all.
"More than anything, it's for Dave's sake. As long as there's no conflict, I can lend him the value of my name anytime. From now on, don't worry and just treat me casually~"
Ymir waved her hand with an airy attitude.
Seeing Heira next to her staring blankly, it seemed they were both at least supporting Katarina's judgment for the moment.
"......Can I trust those words?"
But one must always test a stone bridge before crossing it.
I understood her suspicion toward such a flippant attitude, but in a setting meant to establish mutual trust, it wasn't the best approach to take.
"Katarina."
"My lord, I apologize for my impertinence, but this isn't a matter that only concerns you two. As their feelings are directed solely at you, I must also consider the safety of the organization's members."
"Heh-heh, our dear Action Leader seems to be quite the skeptic~"
The solemn Katarina. And the infinitely flippant Ymir, in contrast.
Did that composure simply stem from her personality? Or was it a confidence derived from not being outmatched in force?
"If you want, shall I show you a nice, clean romp with this guy right in front of those members? I'd bet that trust and everything else would take care of itself, and they'd all be bowing down to kiss the ground."
...Ah. So she was just angling for a reason to screw me.
Showing that to other people is a bit much, though.
"...Ymir. Show a little tact and consider where we are when you say stuff like that."
"Aww, are you shy~? We've already done everything there is to do together, you know?"
Ymir stared at me with a sly grin.
She'd always been playful, but ever since her memories returned, her gaze toward me had taken on a distinctly wanton quality.
So much so that I'd started to wonder if I'd opened a box I shouldn't have... No, it was that whore who opened it.
That damn whore is useless even dead.
"You had... relations with my lord?"
Just as I was gnashing my teeth over it, Katarina's eyes widened as she looked at Ymir.
Ymir, at that display of surprise, put her hand on her voluptuous chest and lifted her chin proudly.
"That's right~ At first, I was deceived by this bastard's meddling tongue and got pounded like a dog. But it felt so good I couldn't forget what I did with him, and before I knew it, I kept thinking about him. See?"
Her chest jiggled with the movement.
As she started boasting about her body and taunting, Katarina slowly turned to look at me.
To confirm whether those words were a lie or not.
"...I initially approached her with an objective, but I've since dissolved that kind of relationship. Knowing she's connected to me, the organization won't treat her carelessly. So, would you please drop your suspicion of her?"
"Yes, if you put it that way."
Fortunately, Katarina trusted my words.
When she withdrew her hostility and spoke in a softer voice, Ymir began to stare at Katarina with surprise.
"To trust us just because I said we screwed, isn't your acceptance awfully quick for someone who was so suspicious?"
"That is because I understand that feeling myself. To give your body to another person is impossible without a great deal of trust. If what Lady Ymir said is true, I see no further need to prove your trustworthiness."
"Agreeing that easily just from one thing.... Heh-heh, I see. So that means you've also had relations with Dave? You felt a strong sense of empathy because you've had the same experience?"
"...Yes, it was only once, but it was more than sufficient to confirm our mutual trust."
A blush slowly crept up above her mask.
Then, Katarina glanced down at her own body and placed her hand on her lower abdomen.
As if reminiscing about the sensation of what had entered her.
"I haven't forgotten what I felt back then, even now. The initial pain was soon overtaken by pleasure, and before I knew it, only the face of the one I was with was burned into my vision...."
"Uh-huh, that's right~ When you do that, eventually, only your partner fills your head. With an experience like that deeply seared into your brain, how could you ever easily forget it?"
Ymir nodded as if expressing agreement with Katarina's words.
Somehow, a sense of solidarity seemed to be forming around me, but I didn't bother to interfere.
It was a bit strange that the proof of trust stemmed from a relationship with me, but well, just the fact that a fight hadn't broken out like it did with Serika was something to be thankful for.
In fact, looking at it this way, they seemed just like ordinary women building a friendship. Wasn't it something to look forward to, a friendly relationship developing between them afterward?
"More than anything, as proof of that trust, I even took my lord's seed into my body. You too, Lady Ymir, must have exchanged hearts with our lord in such a way, yes?"
"Ah, right. Dave's seed.... Huh?"
Just as the bonding conversation was in full swing, Ymir's eyes, having heard Katarina's words, began to widen.
As if she absolutely could not overlook what Katarina had just said.
"Hey wait, what did you just say?"
"Katarina. Wait just a... Urk!"
My attempt to grasp the situation and stop Katarina came too late. A vibration pulsed from the tip of Ymir's finger stretched toward me, and the force generated from it began to constrict around my throat.
That bastard Ymir had seized my neck with telekinesis. So she could hear the rest of what Katarina had to say.
"Yes? At the time, I said he could release his desires inside me to gain my trust, and His Lordship, trusting those words...."
"Okay, that's enough."
"Puah!"
The moment my throat, held shut by telekinesis, was released, air burst back into my lungs.
My breath had been cut off and I was hit with severe dizziness, but Ymir gave me no reprieve. She walked right up to me and grabbed me by the collar.
Though she could have used telekinesis, she used her own hands directly.
"You."
"Calm down, Ymir."
"You bent over backwards telling me you absolutely wouldn't do it with me, and now I find out you not only sweet-talked a woman you barely knew and screwed her, but you came inside her too?"
"I'll explain everything, so just calm... Kehak!"
Ymir yanked me by the collar and pulled me right up to her face.
In her eyes, blazing with blue fury, I could feel an extreme rage I'd never seen before—not even when she first learned she'd been deceived.
"I don't care if you screw other women. I don't have to be the first, and I don't care if you screw someone else here. But why was she allowed and I wasn't? Was your apology to me a complete lie? When you came inside me saying it felt good, was that just you shooting off with a clear conscience because I wasn't the first one?"
I didn't 'shoot off,' you bitch, you raped me after I said no.
However, seeing her blazing face and eyes even brimming with tears, I couldn't just dismiss this as mere emotional excess.
To free my constricted airway from her grip, I seized her hand and urgently shouted toward Katarina.
"First, calm down, Ymir. I admit I did that with Katarina, but that was because Katarina said it was a safe day, and... w-well, right, Katarina? That was nothing more than proof of trust at the time...."
"Yes, that is the truth."
Katarina nodded the moment our eyes met.
Her resolute attitude, just like usual, indicated she wasn't lying. But after a moment passed, her clear, wide eyes slowly began to shift to the side.
And then she added a single word.
"......Probably."
"Katarina!!"
"N-No! That's not what I meant!"
Uncharacteristically flustered by my shout, Katarina quivered.
For a moment I wished I had misheard her, but her subsequent attitude showed none of her usual confidence.
"I-I certainly thought so at the time, but, well, being questioned like this made me lose a bit of confidence, I suppose. And lately I've been too busy to pay attention to such things...."
Dammit, Katarina.
Even you, whom I trusted, stab me in the back like this!
"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry, my lord! If, by my misunderstanding, my lord's child were to actually be conceived...."
Just as I felt a boundless sense of despair washing over me.
Sensing my gaze on her, Katarina hesitated, then drew a dagger and aimed it at her own stomach.
"U-uh, i-it can't be helped. The only way is to slit open my belly right here and now to show my remorse...!"
"Katarina, get hold of yourself. No one told you to go that far!"
"But didn't you do it because you trusted me!? If it were to really come to pass, I-I wouldn't have the face to meet my father!"
"You say you can't face him, so why are you trying to go meet him right this instant! Dammit, Ymir, let go of my neck first! If I don't hurry and stop her...!"
"Heh-heh, do you really have to stop her? If she stabs her belly, I'll be the only woman who received your seed, right?"
"Ymir, you...!!"
"Sure, there were plenty of bastards like that back when I was at the Magic Tower. People who thought they'd be number one if only I wasn't there, so they harassed me relentlessly, tried to kill me... and meanwhile, the old fossil bastards kept picking fights with me openly to keep me from climbing up... Hee-hee, I think I understand that mindset a little now."
God-fucking-dammit, seeing her with her eyes wide open like this, she had completely lost it.
Whatever the case, both of them were in danger if this kept up.
What should I do? Should I use hypnosis right now to stop them both?
"Um...."
Amid that chaotic situation, a voice suddenly spoke up.
When I turned my gaze toward the source of the sound, I caught sight of someone approaching Katarina, who was preparing to thrust the dagger into her own belly.
Right. It was Heira, who had been silent all this time.
"Is Dave's baby... in here?"
When she stared at the belly the dagger was aimed at and carefully asked, Katarina, wearing a troubled expression, answered with difficulty.
"I-I don't know. But the possibility isn't zero."
"......Then, Ymir too?"
The moment her blinking gaze shifted toward Ymir.
"Will Dave's baby be born from Ymir too?"
"...Ah, well, it's not certain, but the possibility isn't entirely absent."
Had she come to her senses from the question?
Though her face had gone pale, once Ymir answered, Heira blinked again and tilted her head.
"How?"
"......What?"
"How did you two... come to have Dave's baby?"
The moment a question no one had seen coming landed.
As everyone, myself included, wore expressions of utter incomprehension, Heira looked back at me and carefully asked.
"Dave."
A question I never could have imagined coming from an elf who had lived over a hundred years.
"How are... babies made?"
"......."