44. Bikini Tops and Bikini Bottoms
It was the morning of our departure.
Last night, I'd spent time with Fam and Mizuki, and the night before that, alternating with Cecily and Ira.
I'd considered using Cecily's stamina potion to handle all four at once, but something told me mixing Ira in would be dangerous.
When I woke up, sure enough, Fam was praying as usual.
As I sat up, Mizuki was clutching her stomach, laughing her ass off.
"What?"
Mizuki handed me my smartphone. It was a photo of me sleeping—with "nose" scrawled across my forehead.
"Damn, that's some fine calligraphy."
I ended up admiring it in the weirdest way.
"Yeah, I went to calligraphy class back in elementary school."
"Alright, my turn. Gimme that oil-based marker."
"Eh? For real?"
Saying that, Mizuki handed over the marker anyway.
I wrote "nose" right on her forehead in one bold stroke.
"...Y'know, even with that on your face, you're kinda cute. That's cheating."
"Huh? Kinda?" Mizuki pouted.
"Shu-sama, draw one on me too, please."
Fam jumped in.
"...Yeah, alright. Mizuki, write this character for her."
I secretly showed Mizuki on my phone.
"Leave it to me."
Mizuki wrote "sincerity" on Fam's forehead, and I snapped a photo to show her.
"Fwoooooh! So... so cool...!"
Fam let out this weird excited yelp.
"Nah, it's not that big a deal."
Her innocent joy was adorable, but I had to nip it in the bud before she started demanding daily sessions.
That's when Myra came in.
"Good morning... Oh, you're leaving me out again? Draw one on me too!"
"You sure? Won't it embarrass you?"
I checked, just in case.
"Make it match Mash's!"
"...Mizuki, your turn."
"Ugh... fine."
Mizuki wrote "nose" on Myra's forehead with a slightly disgusted look.
"Hehe, what do you think?"
Myra beamed proudly.
"Dunno if 'suits you' is the right way to put it, but... yeah, it's fine?"
I could only give a vague reply. The expert brushwork kinda undercut the comedy.
"Ira and the others were still in the dining hall. Could I borrow that marker and the magic key?"
Myra apparently planned to go write on Cecily and Ira's foreheads.
Those two had gotten pretty wasted last night, so they were probably still out cold.
But would barging in be okay? What if they were naked and cuddling or something?
"They were hammered yesterday. Might be a mess in there. Whatever the situation, just quietly write one character on their foreheads and come straight back."
"You got it."
Myra nodded firmly.
"No matter what, blame it on the booze. Don't wake them up to check or anything."
Myra headed out. I hoped she'd return without incident.
Then I noticed Fam and Mizuki staring at me.
"...What the hell's going on in there?"
"N-Nah... just worried 'cause they drank so much yesterday."
My vague excuse didn't clear the suspicion—it just piled on more. But please, no prying.
"Anyway, Mizuki. We've had our fun. Time to wipe 'em off."
I changed the subject.
"Huh?" Mizuki replied.
"Huh?" I echoed.
"...Sorry, I dunno how to get it off."
Ten two-horse carriages lined up in a row.
After breakfast, we'd gathered at the city's south gate.
Each had two drivers aboard.
The lead and tail carriages carried adventurer guards. Carriages two through six hauled cargo. Next came the Mateo Merchant Company folks, including Mateo's daughter Claire. Then wagons loaded with camping gear, tools, food, fodder, and other essentials.
It was quite the sight, but apparently this was a small-scale operation.
Hence, the cargo focused on high-value, low-volume metal goods produced in the imperial capital.
Besides us, another party handled security. If bandits hit, everyone—including drivers—would fight.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly: Claire, daughter of Mateo."
Claire bowed politely.
Then she stared intently at the "nose" on my forehead.
"Is that some kind of good-luck charm?"
"Nah, if you do a handstand, it looks like a bearded guy."
"..."
Claire looked troubled. So was I.
"Ahem!"
The man beside her cleared his throat.
This was Mercedes, Claire's support but really the one running the caravan. A capable guy in his twenties, entrusted with the whole operation.
"Mash, leader of Altail. Nice to work with you."
"Yes. Mateo briefed me on everything. We'll be counting on you for rear guard this time."
"Mateo not here today?"
"He's in the capital on business. My apologies."
I'd wanted to thank him personally, even briefly, but oh well.
That's when a six-person party approached the caravan.
Leading them was a bikini-armored female warrior. Beers from Wind's Blade walked beside her. Wait, Beers was the name Lead gave him. Come to think of it, I didn't know his real name.
"Aver, leader of Altail. We usually guard Mateo caravans while dungeon diving."
"Mash, leader of Levanté. Adventurer. Pleased to meet ya."
I shook her offered hand and repeated the intros.
Wavy red hair cascaded down. Bigger build than me, body rippling with steel-hard muscle barely covered by that flimsy bikini armor.
"...What's with the writing on your forehead?"
"It's 'nose'." No point denying it anymore.
"..."
"More importantly, that's some wild gear."
I forcibly shifted topics.
"Heh, you think? Attacks are pointless against these beautiful muscles."
Aver flexed her bicep proudly, flashing brilliant white teeth in a grin.
"But seriously, does it actually defend anything?"
My eyes drifted to the scant red fabric over her chest and crotch.
"Wanna touch and find out?"
"Huh? You cool with that?"
"Go ahead."
Aver struck a front lat spread pose, facing me squarely to show off her lats and muscle definition.
I reached for her crotch.
Feeling around over the fabric, I slid my finger along her slit until her clit stood out clearly. It didn't feel like armor—just a bikini. But damn, it was swelling nicely. Kinda wanted to tease it more.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing?"
Aver's tone carried real anger.
"Huh? You said I could check the armor..."
"I said touch the muscles!"
Aver unleashed a vicious Brazilian hook. I leaned back to dodge, but tumbled ass-first to the ground. Fam and Mizuki jumped between us protectively.
"Sorry about that! He's been off since morning—wrote 'nose' on his own face and everything."
Mizuki said.
"...You got one too." Aver pointed out.
"Uh, guess I'm off too. Mash! Apologize!"
"Y-Yeah. My bad."
She was scary as hell, so I apologized quick.
"...Whatever. I did say you could touch. And... it was kinda... y'know. Anyway, you."
Aver's gaze shifted to Fam.
"You a swordswoman?"
"Werewolf of Mibu."
"That your master?" She jerked her chin at me.
"...Yes." Fam nodded.
"How 'bout it? One-on-one with me. Win, and I forget this ever happened."
"Hold up, Fam had nothing to do with it."
I stood and cut in.
"Hilarious. A dog-ear girl who needs protecting by her master?"
"M-Master, I won't lose."
What made her so confident?
"Fam, no. She's a teammate."
"Then it's fine. I ain't turning against the gods or anything—just some fun sparring. No killing. Wooden sticks."
Aver grabbed two wooden staves from a wagon, tossing one to Fam. Even wood from those muscles could kill.
"Master, may I fight?"
I wanted to stop her, but she'd do it anyway.
"Yeah... Mizuki, go get Myra."
"Got it." Mizuki nodded and ran off.
Aver gripped her wooden staff loosely in one hand.
Fam held hers two-handed in perfect chudan no kamae stance.
Tip aimed at the solar plexus, feet positioned naturally, weight centered flawlessly.
When did she learn that stance?
"C'mon."
Aver beckoned palm-up.
Fam lunged in sync, aiming for the forehead. Aver parried with her staff. Fam slipped past to the side, reset to chudan, and struck again at the forehead.
Faster, sharper this time.
Aver caught it two-handed, blades locked in a bind.
"Not bad."
Aver grinned, then shoved Fam back with raw power.
She followed with a strike to the staggering Fam's back.
No further pursuit. Aver waited for Fam to recover.
Fam reset to chudan. Now Aver took a proper stance too—one-handed, tip way above Fam's head.
Fam circled counterclockwise around Aver, baiting with subtle tip wobbles while maintaining distance.
"Not coming? Fine, I'm going in."
Aver exploded forward. High-speed overheads rained down. Fam blocked the first, but the second, third hammered through, defense crumbling.
Then Aver's front kick exploded into Fam's guard. Fam couldn't hold, crashing to her butt.
"That's enough!"
Mercedes called it. Probably figured it'd spiral out of control otherwise.
Myra rushed to Fam.
"Once you're done there, you're next."
Aver told Myra, showing her swollen right arm.
Fam had tagged her during the backward stumble from the kick.
"You've got potential. Let's spar again sometime. I'll be your training partner anytime."
Aver grinned at Fam.
"Really? Please include Shu-sama too!"
Fam stood, bowing deeply.
"...Me too, huh."
Pure despair.
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