Chapter 75

Thank you for always accessing.

Let's go back a bit. It was when Ain left the castle. I will explain how Ain arrived at the duel site.

— It had been a day since Ain returned to the castle. He was about to leave the capital again for a while. It was for a duel with Viscount Sage, a noble who had committed wrongdoings. However, the duel was not a direct fight between the two but a battle between the monsters they possessed.

Ain thought, if it wasn't a sea dragon or something, he could probably handle it. He even considered whether he, who held the title of Named, should participate. Of course, this idea was immediately quashed by Chris, as expected.

Finally, the time came for Ain to leave the castle.

"Um, Crown... Is this the carriage you arranged?"

"Yes, it is. Isn't it impressive? It's the latest model from the August Trading Company, and it hasn't even been unveiled yet."

Crown puffed out her chest with a "hmm." Ain couldn't help but be captivated by her increasingly mature figure, but did she realize this?

"No, that's not a good one to arrange."

Crown, his capable aide, had arranged the carriage, which had arrived at the castle. Ain, Crown, and Chris were supposed to ride in it.

Ain had been waiting inside the castle, and when he was told the carriage had arrived, he left the castle. Between the castle gate and the castle door, where the royal family's carriages usually stopped, Crown's arranged carriage was parked.

At first glance, he thought, "Is this even a carriage?"

"Five horses? I don't understand the meaning of that."

"It seems they wanted to have it pulled by monsters, but raising them takes time and a lot of money. So, they settled for horses."

"Oh, I see... Settled? It's just a normal result, isn't it?"

With five horses pulling it, the carriage was quite large. It seemed to be more than three times the size of the carriage Ain usually used.

"Hey, how do we handle narrow roads with this?"

"It's equipped with a furnace like a water train. I heard it can move on its own..."

Though he thought, "If that's the case, we don't need the horses, right?" he hesitated to say it out loud. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but be intrigued by this carriage, so he decided to enjoy this unpublicized vehicle.

Today, Crown was dressed in a black suit-like uniform, with a skirt underneath. Her beautiful legs were wrapped in black tights, a sight that was quite tempting. He couldn't help but glance at her, though of course, he made sure Crown didn't notice.

On her wrist, the star crystal bracelet she always wore was shining, and at her neckline, her favorite necklace with a large black pearl was adorning her.

"I kept you waiting, Ain-sama."

"Good evening, Chris. ...Well, now that everyone is here, shall we get in?"

He also called out to the twins, "It's okay, I'll be nearby, so let's go on a little trip together." The twins, being smart, understood Ain's words and nodded. After patting their heads, he gave them a few fish each.

"Understood."

"Then... please, Your Highness."

Crown walked ahead and opened the carriage door. She let Ain in first, followed by Chris, and then she entered the carriage herself, starting the tour inside.

"How is it, Your Highness? This carriage is designed to compete with rooms in noble lodgings and such."

"...It's an incredible build, considering it's a carriage."

Crown, deliberately calling him "Your Highness," the two of them exchanged a small smile.

The inside of the carriage was comparable to the room at the inn in Isto where they had stayed until recently. This carriage was so meticulously designed that it felt like a place one could live in, a relaxing space.

"Such a carriage... As expected of the August Trading Company. By the way, Crown-sama, should we put the luggage at the back?"

"Yes, there's a designated luggage area, so please put it there."

Chris carried everyone's luggage to the back. He had prepared enough for a few days, just in case they needed to stay overnight. Though not as large as usual, there were several bed spaces set up, allowing everyone to have their own private room.

"Well, then... Hey, Ain."

Crown turned around, and her silky hair fluttered with the movement.

"Such a carriage... Hm? What is it, Crown?"

After confirming that Chris had gone to the back, Crown approached Ain with quick steps. Her makeup looked the same as usual, but her lips were glossier and more alluring. He almost reached out to touch them but stopped himself with reason.

"Want to tell you something good?"

"...Something good?"

Crown whispered to Ain in a small voice, bending her body into a C-shape and leaning closer to him. Then, she gently lowered her hands and pinched the hem of her skirt.

"Yes, something good... You see?"

She lifted her skirt a few centimeters, revealing her attractive legs inch by inch, capturing Ain's gaze.

"Hey, Crown!"

Seeing Ain flustered, Crown winked at him, then quickly put her skirt back down and leaned close to his ear...

"You know, if you're just going to peek... you can look as much as you want, like this."

Actually, she had noticed from the beginning.

The fact that Ain was looking at her legs was obvious to Crown. She didn't mind being looked at by Ain, so she had just let it be.

Her breath tickled his ear as she spoke, and then she smiled gently and took a step back from Ain.

"Back... What's the matter?"

"Nothing, I just saw some dirt on Ain's shoulder and was removing it."

Chris, who had returned after putting away the luggage, asked if something had happened when she saw Crown near Ain.

"That's right. Ain-sama, you should be careful about your appearance..."

"...Yeah, I will be careful."

Crown, who remained calm, lied to Chris and then glanced at Ain, sticking out her tongue and winking.

"...I don't think I can win."

Even as he said this, Ain's gaze was drawn to Crown's legs as she walked away.

Since he had been given permission, he decided to look boldly, thinking it would be a waste not to.

But as he gazed at her legs, he thought, "Yeah, I'm definitely losing this."

Because he was looking at her legs so openly, it was a clear defeat for Ain. No matter how he looked at it, it was a loss.

— If he thought about it calmly, he had been on Crown's palm all along. But even so, Ain didn't feel any regret.

*

The carriage set off, heading for the duel site with Viscount Sage. Since it would take some time, they would have to take a few breaks along the way. It was still early to rest, so Ain started writing the report as planned, but he hadn't anticipated this situation.

"Then, Ain-sama, I will assist you as planned."

The trigger was a minor thing. When returning from Isto to the capital, Ain had made a small promise with Chris to work on the report together. It was a simple promise, and it shouldn't have been a big deal.

But, a problem arose.

"Hmm... That part should be revised."

On his right was Crown.

"You're getting used to it, Ain-sama. Yes, that level of brevity is fine."

On his left was Chris, and he was in a position where he had both hands full.

Initially, it seemed to start as a competition between Crown and Chris, but both were serious by nature. The atmosphere quickly turned serious, far from the romantic comedy-like air of a battle between women.

But there was one thing he wondered about...

"Hey, I'm happy you're helping, but aren't you a bit too close?"

Both were too close to him. His concentration was reaching its limit, and he focused on the documents in front of him. But even a slight change in posture or switching pens could result in his elbow touching their chests, which was dangerous.

"It's fine. This way, I can point out things immediately. Isn't that true?"

"Yes, but once you get used to writing reports, it's not that difficult, and you'll be able to do it quickly."

So, he was the only one blushing. Thinking about it, he even felt a bit guilty. But he couldn't deny the pleasant scents coming from both sides.

Crown was enveloped in a fragrant scent of roses and fruits. Her scent was slightly sweet but not cloying, making him want to get even closer. It was like Crown herself.

Chris wore the same perfume she had used on the way back from Isto.

Actually, yesterday, Ain had smelled the bottle of perfume. He understood the scent of the perfume, but it was different from the one Chris wore.

In other words, the sweet, pheromone-like scent he occasionally felt was "Chris" herself.

— Calmly analyzing the two in his head, Ain's hands were only mechanically writing.

"(Is this what they call 'selflessness'...)"

The fact that he could be aware of this meant he hadn't reached the state of selflessness yet. But he couldn't deny that he was experiencing a similar sensation.

"By the way, Ain, what's next?"

"Hmm? Next?"

"About the next investigation site. At least two places, right? ...Balt and Magna. Are you going to investigate both places again?"

"Oh, you mean that?"

A simplified report had already been given, and the next destination had been communicated to Crown and Olivia. That's why Crown asked what Ain was thinking.

"Which one... Well, I'm thinking of getting permission for the restricted area and investigating Balt."

The region with the most clues. When he thought about it, the former Demon King's territory came to mind.

"Ain-sama, the former Demon King's territory is dangerous!"

Chris immediately objected. It made sense, as the former Demon King's territory was an unexplored area with unknown dangers. It was considered highly dangerous, even if only as a possibility.

"...Ain? I also agree with Chris-sama. The former Demon King's territory is dangerous. ...Shouldn't we proceed gradually?"

"My mental state is also in a dangerous area, you know."

"...Eh, Ain? What do you mean..."

Being caught between the two was stressful, and those words slipped out.

"Well, I think it's dangerous, but we can't not do it, right?"

For a moment, the two didn't understand what Ain was saying. But they quickly grasped the meaning: "It's dangerous, but we have to do it." They deeply accepted this.

*

After a few days, the three of them finished the report and went to bed. They finally arrived at the riverbank where the duel would take place. Upstream, as planned, two krakens from Viscount Sage's party were already in position.

Ain's side also had the ship leading the sea dragons docked, and he had instructed the twins to stay put.

"Then, Crown, can you wait here?"

"I'm your aide, Ain. How can I just wait here?"

"Crown-sama, the thing that speaks human language from a pig's mouth is Viscount Sage. Can I leave the command of the carriage and the ship to you here?"

Chris described Sage in a rather colorful way. Crown, taken aback by Chris's unusual tone, complied.

"...I think it's better to wait here. Understood... Be careful, both of you."

Ain looked at Chris in shock. Her words were among the dirtiest he had ever heard. Not only did it reflect on her character, but it also indicated that she considered Sage a criminal and had insulted Ain. Chris no longer considered Sage a human.

"Ain-sama?"

"What?"

"After the duel, the knights on the ship will restrain Sage. Depending on the situation, there's a possibility of executing him here."

If he resisted or posed a danger, they would execute him on the spot.

"Um, are you worried about me? That something like that might happen in front of me?"

"...Y-Yes."

For a royal, witnessing death was a common occurrence. It was difficult to live without it. But Chris still cared about Ain.

"I don't like saying it this way..."

He took a deep breath, exhaled, and then took a small breath again.

"...When the sea dragons were crushed to death, I saw them floating dead in the sea. ...I saw many important people die. So, for me, if a citizen who doesn't need to be loved is punished, it's not a big shock. As a royal, I want to protect the important people of Ishtrika... So, I understand that he should be punished."

So, it's fine. Ain told Chris this. This was the conclusion Ain had reached, considering his position as a royal.

Ain's expression was not pessimistic but rather dignified.

"...Understood. Then, I will wield this sword for the people of Ishtrika."

"Okay. I trust you, Chris-sama."

The two, quietly resolved, walked to where Sage was waiting. Sage, approaching Chris, greeted them with a lecherous smile.

...Yeah, he's in a good mood today.

"Finally, you've arrived. I was getting tired of waiting... But I'll praise you for bringing that woman as agreed."

"There's no agreement. She's my important knight. Let's get started."

"Hmph... Fine. Now, let's reconfirm the rules of this duel. Is that okay?"

"There aren't many special rules.

- No third parties can intervene. If anyone other than the monsters intervenes, the intervening side loses.

- The life or death of the monsters is not a factor in the outcome. There is no compensation for killing the opponent's monster.

- The winner can demand compensation from the loser (Ain's side demands just compensation, Sage's side demands Chris).

"...Understood. Can I ask one question?"

"Go ahead."

Ain, looking at the rules, had a question and asked Sage.

"What if one side forfeits in the middle and their monster can't stop? If it kills the opponent's monster, is there no compensation?"

"What are you talking about... In that case, there is no compensation. It's not necessary."

"It's like a duty to try, right?"

"Yes, that's right. You use good words."

Sage had no intention of stopping. He came to devour Ain's monsters. So, he was glad Ain mentioned this first.

"Then I'm relieved. By the way, one more thing... There are two krakens."

Just to confirm. He already knew, but he wanted to hear his answer.

"No one said the duel had to be one-on-one! If you only brought one, then..."

Chris smiled slightly, unnoticed. As they had discussed, the bet was not valid.

"Then, since we also brought two, it's fine, right?"

Sage, taken aback, started spouting some strange theory.

"Wh-What! That's not fair!"

"Unfair... The conditions are the same. There's no problem, right?"

He almost laughed at the absurdity but managed to hold back, thinking it would make a good story to tell later.

"Hmph! The duel starts in ten minutes. I don't want to hear complaints later. Get ready quickly!"

"Then, without further ado, let's go."

Ain and Chris walked back to their original position, away from Sage.

"Should we come up with a strategy?"

"Should I tell the twins not to overeat?"

"...Overeat?"

"Yes, that's right."

*

The scene finally returns to when Ain discovered the twins' gluttonous side. Ain and Chris returned to their camp, joining Crown, and spent some time together.

Watching the twins, the air was so relaxed that even Ain felt at ease.

"But, I'm not that much of a glutton, am I?"

The twins, drooling, were said to resemble their father, Ain, which he found annoying.

"By the way, is it okay not to stop them... Al is being bitten, you know?"

"It's fine. He's not in pain, I think."

Crown watched the older twin, El, who was nibbling on the younger twin, Al's tail, seemingly at the limit of her self-control.

"Crown-sama, since Al isn't in pain, it's fine... But, Ain-sama? The first time we went to the Majolica Magic Stone Shop, the twins were not much different, I think."

"...You're kidding."

"It's true... Didn't you realize..."

He had no awareness of it. But thinking about how he had tasted the sea dragon's magic stone after the battle last year, it didn't seem so different.

"I was worried until just now. But watching the twins, I started to think, as Chris-sama said, it's probably fine."

"What a coincidence, Crown. I feel the same way."

This place was probably like a dining room for the twins.

"But, won't Viscount Sage and the others notice the sea dragons?"

"There's some distance, and the twins are only showing their faces briefly, so they probably won't notice. They would probably realize if they got closer, though..."

"I see. But there's no way he'll come over here, right?"

Even if they did notice, he would probably just be surprised and then smirk. Even Ain had been worried, but the twins, who were still close to infants, would not be a match for him.

— As they slowly chatted, the time for the duel finally arrived. Ain stood up and started walking to the prepared seats with Chris.

To avoid hearing Sage's annoying words, Ain arrived just before the duel started. Sage, looking irritated, urged him to hurry, but Ain ignored it. He was relieved there was no tedious pre-duel speech.

When Sage's servant saw Ain and Chris seated, he signaled the start of the duel. The large bell signaled the beginning of the duel.

At the