A horrible thing has just happened! I took so long to reply compared to usual because I've been struck by high fever and aching joints over my whole body! Oh, noes! But honestly, it's quite a bit more painful than I expected, and so I apologize to all of you who've been dismissed as excuse-makers (by yours truly) when you're really struck by it.

I'm also going to do something rare and give a shout-out to neverplayedmgs for what's easily the longest review this story has ever received. I write these things and improve myself for people like you! Yes, you! So join up in arms and bombard me with reviews from now on! Thank you very much - here's the promised M-rated chapter.

neverplayedmgs: Thank you very much for your kind words. Yes, I mostly agree with your opinions... which is why I've been planning to rewrite HV-S01: RKR if I have the time.
Dasgun: Oh, your proper review is finally here!
Kuluman: I've never thought of him like that because I deliberately don't want to bother with power rankings etc. From my perspective, SHIROU is designed to kill most, if not all of the strongest threats the world faces. Whether he's actually stronger or not is irrelevant to me, and I'll leave it to you readers to decide!

Warning: Read at your own risk, since this has smut. Your choice.

She is beautiful. I've said that many times over, yet not just her, but a good portion of my female lovers seemingly listened to those words in disbelief instead of happiness. At times, I truly wonder what I should say to make them constantly happy instead of confused at my honesty, producing adorable delayed events instead of instant impacts.

Jūbei, bereft of her usual overflowing confidence, shyly squirms about and uselessly used her limbs to cover up her naked form, prioritizing her modest breasts and the small bush growing between her legs. Despite having been seen in more embarrassing positions before, it's clear what we're going to do today somehow overloaded her sensibilities and brought some sort of normalcy in her usually extravagant way of thinking.

"U-Umm… S-Senpai, wait! E-Ehhh… I-I need more time…"

- Chu.

"Hyah! N-No… K-Kissing is unfair…" she whines right in front of my face, though the only expression I see, in contrast to her words, is a young woman full of sexual desire and arousal. "U-Uuu… S-Senpai…"

She tries to push my sculpted chest away, though it feels rather ticklish and more akin to fondling me. Playing along, I lift my body slightly away from her, though deliberately exaggerating my eye movements to savour her naked beauty, causing her to squirm and get redder even more. Not hearing any more protest, I use both of my hands to begin tracing her outline.

She shakes her head slightly when I caress her forehead and cheek with the back of my palm, as my other hand feel along her collarbone and down her own arm, since the path to her nipples are blocked by it. I'm careful not to perform this movement too lightly since it'll just be a tickle instead of a proper sensuous micro-massage, which from my experience does increase arousal the best. Too hard, and it'll simply be painful, even against a trained soldier and martial artist like Jūbei.

To start with, much like most of my lovers bar Danzō, she's petite compared to me. To my estimation, lately, my adult bodies are outgrowing EMIYA's own template slightly – clearly beyond Nihon men's average height and bordering on yōkai territory. Kippōshi is growing nicely day-by-day, though it seems she's more of an aberration since Nobukatsu, Oichi, and the rest of her family are of average-to-below-average in height.

However, trying to think of everything as logically as possible has become a rather useless thing to do lately, owing to the numerous changes to history to the point I can't predict what's going to happen any longer.

Back in my previous missions, civilizations were so undeveloped and unconnected to each other most major changes I make are localized – and thus, safer to make. This Sengoku Period isn't only an incredibly chaotic battle royale, but also have great international impact since it's arguably the beginning of Nihon's globalization. Previous meetings with 'outsiders' were mostly limited to conquer-or-be-conquered kind of relationship, and ended as soon as the war and fighting did. This time, there's politics, commerce, prestige – all sorts of intangible things I smartly leave to my cute little sister, Himiko, to manage.

I can already imagine her fuming face and booming tone as she angrily curses me in my sleep. Honestly, where does she learn all those crude languages? Don't tell me Tatsumi is… Or is it her retainers unable to keep their casual tones to their private quarters? I don't think I raise her to become such a stern individual…

…well, technically, I didn't, since we come from different branches of the family. Most of my childhood was spent taking care of the twins, especially after our parents' passing, though technically since I did that around or in the Imperial Castle, Himiko and us three did grow up together. As such, I can claim the previous idea as true, despite the copious amount of tutors and servants around her partially due to her Guardian Spirit, and partially due to her eventual role.

Meanwhile, as a 'clan warrior' – so to speak – I was left relatively free, though not without heavy expectations. A child my age back then would've been overwhelmed… quite literally, since one of my clan's proving grounds is purposed for throwing children in and pitting them against criminals of every background and motivation.

After killing the 100th poor soul, the clan elders have seen enough and took pity on the remaining trembling 'victims', stopping the 'trial' prematurely despite only 15 minutes or so have passed. I'm still unsure whether the criminals or the elders who sported the most terrified faces to this day.

Now, it certainly wasn't indiscriminate killing, okay?! By the time it's stopped, whoever was still breathing were just beaten to various inches of their lives, depending on the severity of their crimes. Yes, I read their records before doing the trial secretly, along with analysing their weapons and bodies with my Pure Eyes to gain insight into their life experiences – especially if they're wrongfully accused or portrayed by the records.

Well, it turned out they're really just bad guys, but not all of them deserved execution. For instance, there was a stunning Chinese mystic called 'Lian' whose crime was only being the wife of an invading Xu Fu back in the Qin Dynasty, trapped in an island of monsters during the Yayoi Period. The very first Himiko subdued the island and Lian along with it, who reigned shortly as its ruler after her husband's death.

Still alive until now, she was actually the person who took this body's virginity in an experiment of Od manipulation when the elders subjected me to various… evaluations on what made me so monstrously strong.

Ah, maybe I went overboard? I've never been the most subtle of people when it comes to these things. A bit hot-headed, perhaps?

Well, at least the sex was enjoyable. If this body is too young, as with most kids, the inability of ejaculation owing to lack of primary sexual development will hurt. Like, a lot. In fact, I had to Alter my young self in order for the experiment to go well, because the elders were curious whether I could break this woman's defences, having honed herself from Xu Fu's notes and the island's mysterious spiritual power.

Oops, can't think of another woman when I'm with one. Bad manners, Shirō.

I nestle my chin right on top of the arm covering her breasts, playfully kissng and nibbling on the taut flesh there. Enjoying some light jolts from her body, my other hand is firmly palming her toned stomach, pressing lightly around the area where her womb and ovaries should be with my fingers and carpals. While ineffective right now, constant stimulation around these portio parts will bring benefits later on when we do actual sex. I rarely do this lately with Chiyome, Danzō, or Kippōshi because their insides have trained themselves to spike with arousal with minimal contact.

Because Jūbei's other arm is still firmly refusing to budge from giving me view of her pussy – at least playfully, because we both know she can't resist my greater strength – I choose to continue down the sides and onto her thighs instead, enjoying the supple sensation of the modest meat here.

"Aha… Ahahaha! S-Senpai! T-That tickles!" Jūbei can't hold back her giggles any longer, though I have a decent suspicion she's playing her ticklishness up deliberately to cover her increasingly loud gasps and moans. "U-Uwaaaaaaahhhhhh…!"

After softening her up for the next few minutes, going from her toes back up to her adorable forehead, I finally ask, "Seriously, though, why the sudden hesitation? Didn't we promise on this, Jūbei?"

She blushes at both the question and the gesture I pointedly make, which is to slip my hardened cock underneath her stubborn palm near her crotch, so as to let her feel the intense heat radiating from both of our genitals. "Can't you take pity on me, suffering like this? Please, love?"

She squeaks out a few gibberish, increasing in frequency and pitch once I land a few pecks up along her collarbone and to her chin. "S-Senpai…! U-Um… I…"

"Yes?"

- …

A few seconds of enjoyable silence for me, but surely unbearably long for her who's clearly still debating internally on what excuse she's going to use next. Watching a red, troubled face on a beauty, especially when they're all hot and bothered. The analogy earlier isn't complete hyperbole – I can literally feel the humid heat wafting from the soft bush closely guarded by her palm, though that can also be my overly-sensitive senses going at work around girls I like.

"…please help me shave."

I'm assured my face must be comically shocked right now. "That's… T-That's it? You could've said that in the first place! Not even Kippōshi minded the last time she did you back in the carriage; what makes you think I will? Silly Jūbei!" I cap things off with a hearty chuckle and a firm ruffling of her pristine, thick black hair – to which she objects by more squirming around, though this time she reverts back to her 'small animal with large forehead' look of her youth, rather than the seductive young maiden just entering her ripe age of marriage.

It seems she doesn't appreciate the good-natured laughter, though, because she begins sulking with tears forming at her eyes' corners. "Y-You don't know how i-important this day is to m-me! S-Stupid Senpai! This is precious, s-so of course I want everything to be p-perfect! Uuuuuuuuuuuugggggggghhhhhhhhh…!"

"Alright, alright… I'm sorry; come on, don't cry…" I cajoled her, not caring if she's fake crying or not. I heard she often uses this trick against most of her clan's clients during the lobbying process, but of course in this case I couldn't care less. "Okay… Spread 'em. I'll make it quick so you don't get embarrassed again, is that good?"

At last, she lets go of her hands and places them under her thighs, spreading her most precious, dripping wet place to my gaze. I pause for several seconds to let my eyes lick her body all over, this time eliciting a shy smile and a whimper – but no audible rejection.

"Honestly, it's already very pretty, Jūbei. You've taken care of this place well." I circle both of my arms around her thighs and lock her hips in, placing trailing kisses on their inner sides. "I was confused about your sudden showcase of inferiority complex, even though you're clearly far above average – and to me, right there at the top."

She wiggles her butt to give me better access, lightly lifting it up so I can reach to one side for a moment and slide a pillow underneath as a rudimentary platform. "J-Just… Um, I was jealous of Chiyome-san and how pretty she is… I know that's an unfair comparison, alright?!"

The movement causes a large trickle to flow out from her slightly open vaginal hole. "Well, don't. I can assure you she's just as beautiful as you, and vice versa." Extending my fingers to the triangular area, my Od flows out and forms four sharp scalpels, controlled by all three basic Magecraft I've mastered since the beginning: Reinforcement, Alteration, and Projection – though this faux-Spiritual Healing technique emphasizes more on the latter two and simply uses the first to maintain a steady shape. "I'll start, Jūbei."

"P-Please take care of me…!"

- Snip. Snip. Snip.

It'll be cruel to me to compare which girl looks the best from this position, because I honestly love them all. Chiyome has the combination of immature exterior – a near-closed slit most of the time, unchanged from our first sex – and a mature flexibility to which she bases most of her hip movements from. Danzō is created to be as perfect a kunoichi as she can be, and her soft, voluptuous body showcases that, belying how much strength she can generate from a relatively untoned body when viewed at a glance. Kippōshi is perhaps the closest to Jūbei, being a relatively normal girl, though her pussy lips and clitoris have a different shape along with a thicker bush. Jūbei, meanwhile, looks her age – just out of her prepubescent years and right at the time when girls like her are shipped off to marry into various families to secure a better livelihood – with a well-defined, plump labia and a teardrop-like hole, the latter completely and adorably pink.

I can glimpse her hymen from here, though to get a better look, I have to spread the lips wider – a dangerous thing to attempt when my fingers are like this.

Like I said before, it's honestly unnecessary for her to want to groom it further into a child's complete baldness – or, in accordance to her comparison, Chiyome-smooth – because there's barely thick spots garishly going around both of her holes like she feared. It's just a small tuft near her clitoris, not even descending down her lips yet. But if it's what'll give her confidence back to her, then I'll gladly oblige this little thing.

After all, my cock's quite hurting now.

- Snip. Snip. Snip.

I'm done in no time, and when I look up, Jūbei is looking to one side, eyes closed, silently waiting for the next scene. While I'm sure she won't mind me plunging in right now, I can't bear to see her cry out in pain because she's not wet enough yet. Fluids are leaking out quite healthily from her hole since earlier, but it's just a normal amount after a fulfilling masturbation session. Comparing our body sizes – as well as my cock head against either one of her opening – it's my personal necessity to get her more prepared.

Even with the advent of Princess Generals, girls are often expected to just… 'suck it up', for a lack of a better word, if their first sex hurts and is done by an apathetic partner at best – or worse, a sadistic one. Then, their married sex lives are commonly absent of pleasure, their bodies and effort existing solely to pleasure the men who naturally assume a 'higher position' in the bedchambers. It's apparent from the lack of research regarding how to make women feel more pleasure – instead, ancient texts always speak of how women should and must act to draw the greatest amount of pleasure from their men.

It's been a slow change, and it's not happening quite fast enough for me. Obviously, I have to start from my own self.

The trailing kisses from earlier now finally descends closer to her core, a cute whimper coming out of Jūbei's pursed lips in expectation.

- Chu.

"Hyauh!"

My upward gaze meets a shameful one, before Jūbei stammers out, "I-It feels… b-better than usual, Senpai…"

"I'm glad," I say through small sucking of her outer pussy lips. "I'll be worried if you don't feel good, Jūbei."

"S-Senpai… More, please…"

"You greedy girl."

She looks aside in embarrassment, but instantly shot up when my tongue sharply entered her vagina, not particularly targeting any weak spots yet. Hearing that sharp exhale, I grow encouraged and bent my tongue upwards, tasting the lightly-acidic rougher parts where her G-spot is, holding her hips in place with both arms so I can tease this point continuously without interruption. Plunging in deeper to the point my nose pokes her clitoris and urethra from underneath, I tighten my neck muscle so I have more leverage in high-speed licking.

To my sensitive nose, even before she starts squirting like usual, the stench of her arousal is incredibly apparent. True enough, as expected, her hips buckle against my arms, but I hold firm even when a stream of clear, whitish liquid suddenly sprays into my nostrils. Dragging out her upper inner walls when I pull out with the strengthened tip of my tongue, I pull up to suck hard on the squirt along with her clitoris altogether, reaching over with one arm to peel apart the latter's cute short hood simultaneously. Her sweet moans accompanied her hip movements, and both her hands are already scrunching up her prided thick luscious black hair into a dishevelled, yet curiously sensually attractive mess when splayed moistly along with her sweat across her pretty face.

Reducing beautiful girls into helplessness always arouses men greatly, and I'm no exception.

However, sensing the pleasure's now rather painful for her, I pause and crawl back up her lithe frame. No sense in introducing unnecessary elements to such an inexperienced girl, unlike the other girls who're used to mind-breaking consecutive orgasms. It can possibly turn into a traumatic yet hauntingly sweet memory of her, blemishing my image in her mind.

I can't have that.

"Jūbei, may I?"

"…ah… U-Ugh…" She covers her upper face with one of her forearms, seemingly not realizing I've just asked her a question. "Mghhh… Auhhh…"

Smiling evilly, I remark, "Okay, then. Here I go."

- Zuru!

"A-A-A-AAAAAAAaaaaaa- Mmphhh…!"

Before she can complete her scream, I quickly shut her mouth with a forceful kiss, only working so well because… well, my lips are bigger than hers. Her unfocused eyes from earlier now bulge out in surprise and pain and pleasure all at the same time. Noticing the tears welling up around those orbs usually gazing up to me in admiration and lust, I tone down my rough kiss, but press even harder all the way up to her womb to burn into her mind who her first man is.

"Mmmnnn! Habuh…! Mrgh!" She burbles a few quick words against our kiss, though one look at her wanting stare tells me everything without listening. "Mmmmmmmmmmrrrrrrrrrrrrrrpppppppp…"

By trying to talk, her mouth is left wide open for my tongue to ravage to it, leading to her latest ecstatic moan despite the undoubted pain of her hymen tearing, which sound was covered by her near-shout from earlier. She blows hot, ragged breath into my open mouth, her tongue stiff and trembling owing to the myriad of new sensations overloading her intellectual mind. My rather uncouth kiss is also partially serving as oxygen blockers to naturally increase the dopamine amount in her brain, best done when a virgin has just been deflowered and is confused of her body's rapid changes – hormones, tissue deformation, etc. – to mimic the more extreme plays Chiyome and Danzō at times like when they ask me to choke them within inches of unconsciousness.

With my whole body pinning her down, I interlace my fingers with hers to make sure she won't instinctively push and grapple me away due to the discomfort. Fucking Princess Generals for this long makes me realize their pain tolerance is ridiculously high… but not in the way that sentence portrays it. It's not as if they don't feel pain – it just won't incapacitate them from doing what must be done and what their reflexes think is best for their safety.

- Zuru… Zuru…

I don't start pumping my hips up and down like a maniac – merely squirming lightly to dig deeper and deeper into her folds, despite my first thrust technically already making its way to her womb. Jūbei's flesh pot needs time to adjust to my girth, so before it can shut close and narrow naturally the instant I pull out, I maintain a consistent pressure so even her innermost depths know there's a cock there. Usually, I take the time to enjoy the cute squelch of a cervix's donut-shaped mouth meeting my rather large tip, leaking out secretions happily, but Jūbei's still-muffled chokes take priority.

- Zuru… Zuru… Zuru… Zuru…

After a few minutes of silent and still procreation, I finally loosen my kiss, muttering a quick apology, "Sorry, Jūbei… It must've hurt a lot, no? I'm sorry…"

"Puha…! N-No, Senpai! I'm sorry for being such a fuss…!" She squeaks out weakly, clearly worried her apparent discomfort is a turn off. "P-Please, j-just continue using me however you want! I can t-take it!"

- Chu.

As always, kissing her forehead is the best method of calming her down.

"Showing weakness isn't a turn-off to me. Can you feel it?" Along with my words, I give a playful upwards nudge to the upper walls just in front of her womb's entrance, eliciting a banal groan from her. "There's no way I can still be hard if I don't find you incredibly attractive still, Jūbei."

"B-But… I heard from the girls in the red-light district men usually throw away the ones kicking and screaming all the time…" She bashfully explains, realizing she just reveals something she's been keeping a secret from me all this time. "They like quiet, obedient, and slightly lewd ones… they say."

I shake my head, exaggerating my movement to emphasize exactly what I think of those opinion. "Do you seriously think I am one of those men?"

At long last, her famed genius finally catches up with her lust-filled mind. "…no."

- Chu.

"I'll move. Tell me if it's too much, okay?"

She shyly nods.

- Srrt… Srrt… Srrt…

Keeping a nice, slow rhythm, I maintain a close distance to her face, enjoying the suddenly meek Jūbei – in contrast to her usual boisterous and confident persona – using both my hands to gently nudge her face back to face mine whenever she tries to partially hide to the side. Both the foreplay and her virgin blood make for decent lubricant, so I don't need to worry too much about what's going on down there, and I can focus on using my Pure Eyes intermittently to gauge new and existing pleasure spots I haven't touched yet. Besides, I don't think Jūbei's mind can take seeing what a mess her crotch has become – a mix of uterine fluids, vaginal squirts, and blood is always a gruesome sight, even for her.

A side effect of her continuous rise in both political and military rank is her declining field time. Much like Kippōshi, these two girls frequently complain about how rusty they've gotten – fattened up with gold, cuisine, luxury, and my dick – that they worry if one day they'll get caught off-guard and unable to properly react. However, this doesn't really have anything to do with how squeamish Jūbei should feel regarding the earlier point, because this isn't her specialty a few years ago anyway.

Investigating countless female victims, whose crotches all bear much worse wear and tear, is always Chiyome's and Danzō's field of work. Both of them have ranks upon ranks of talented kunoichis under them – girls who're likely to end up just like those corpses if my two wives haven't scouted them. Unfortunately, despite me having much more resources, backing, and power compared to my constituent selves – EMIYA and Emiya Shirō – I still never manage to save everyone and everything.

For instance, our plan to build a war orphanage for those displaced by the continuous infighting faces setback after setback, mostly also due to a lack of opportunity. Resources poured into this project means precious materials and manpower lost from the frontlines, precisely at a time we need them the most. I don't blame Himiko or the previous Clan Head for their inability to quell and prevent the Sengoku Period from happening in the first place… because, after all, they're relatively normal when compared with a Heroic Vessel like me or the first Minamoto shogun, Yoritomo. Their great strength as a monarch is also what chains their hands down against 'minor things' such as daimyōs vying for power and wealth.

Perhaps this is the reason why our two deployments are so close together. Normally, we Heroic Vessels don't share the same branch of reality because Alaya designs us to be strong enough we can nurture it to the point pruning is unnecessary by ourselves. Of course, that doesn't account for more troubles and enemies laying eyes on this sudden, new fertile land – flames attracting moths and whatnot.

If it's a threat requiring two Heroic Vessels at once, though… I shudder to think of the consequences of that battle.

It's unlikely, yes, because from what I gauge through the records and my own experience with him, Otakemaru isn't so strong as to force me to call reinforcement or boost from Alaya. Now that I'm able to manage my strength better, the sealing mechanisms I used in Britain is no longer necessary, enabling me to smoothly go up and down the power scale as needed instead of requiring a 'transformation sequence' to release each blockade.

Anyway, I'm now getting distracted, though it doesn't seem to inconvenience Jūbei that much.

She doesn't quite realize my observant gaze has flown someplace else momentarily earlier, since her own eyes are typically watery and glazed over for a first-timer. She still fidgets every now and then, uncomfortable at holding eye contact as her pussy is slowly pounded and stretched out to my size and shape, her mind still vigorously trying to make sense of every sensation going through her body – whether it's pain, pleasure, shame, or others – before they all mix together and drive her into a crazy, wailing wreck.

Obviously, she still wants to maintain appearance in front of her beloved, no matter how much I assure her it's okay to cut loose – she's even seen some truly crazy faces made by Chiyome and Danzō. But she's crumbling with every slow stroke I make, gradually growing longer and longer as I utilize the full length of my cock once she's somewhat used to it, whimpering whenever said clearly-oversized object plunges and spread her clearly-undersized hole beyond what she's comfortable with.

To be fair, she's the youngest girl I've ever… erm, 'done' lately. While Chiyome wasn't far from Jūbei's current age during our first sex, her body was uniquely constructed so her family could sell her off to the first good candidate and secure the continuation of Yamata-no-Orochi's bearer. Taking full advantage of the low age of consent, they've conditioned her so she could produce a child as soon as possible, greatly reducing the pain and risk to her health during sex. Both Danzō and Kippōshi are naturally larger-framed than Jūbei, and can accommodate my girth better.

As her lips occasionally part to let out several moist sighs, working desperately not to let out more embarrassing sounds like earlier, she finds herself unable to convey what her eyes are telling me – different messages each time, of course – but I play coy and ignore some of the more blatant ones.

Such as her pleas for me to slow down, or to indulge in small kisses unlike the all-consuming one from before, or to pat and play with her now-sweaty hair like I used to in our youth.

That said, she grossly overestimates my ability to fulfil all of her wishes, regardless how much I want to. It already takes a significant amount of concentration to accurately stroke her weak points just tender enough it won't cause more pain than what she's already experiencing, as well as keeping myself hard among these slow, methodical motions because her pussy walls aren't trained enough to automatically pleasure me with every stroke I make. Not a knock on Jūbei at all – in fact, I'll be surprised if she actually manages to do so – but it's still a problem. Her self-esteem will take yet another blow if I go limp in the middle of this exchange, blaming herself for not being attractive enough to keep me erect and proving the wrong gossip from before true.

She is tight.

Unfortunately, that's… almost everything there is too it. I was far too spoiled with the girls I've been with not just in this era, but throughout my various deployments, they have special constitutions which amplified the pleasure for both parties during deflowering. In essence, my first sex with them was simply not normal – setting a biased standard I'm now used to.

Regular people, meanwhile, rarely have that fairy tale-like first romantic night. In reality, it's commonly awkward and tentative as the parties involved learn each other's preferences, involving both pain and shame to varying degrees.

And, despite her skills and fame, Jūbei is a regular girl by all accounts. Due to her young age, her body still haven't fully developed her figurative sexual characteristics yet – how strong her pussy and asshole will suck when used, how gentle they'll squeeze, how hot and wet both holes should get, how the two will automatically react when she's unconscious, and so on – which differentiates each girl to an extent I can tell them apart blindfolded.

Because of my… occupation, she's actually one of the rarer types of girls, so I find it rather refreshing but awkward to fully please both of us.

Still, after a dozen minutes of soft fucking, she still manages to pull a brave face and repeated her words from earlier, "Senpai… I'm fine now… I'm used to it, and it's starting to feel goo- OUGH!"

- Puchi!

"Don't lie to me, Jūbei. Please," I warn gently, harshly poking her womb's mouth with a sharp stab. "Isn't it better this way? Hm? Hm?"

- Chupo. Chupo. Chupo.

The difference between a half-serious thrust and the careful prodding is obvious. "A-Aha… K-Kha… But Senpai… Y-You're not really f-feeling good, right?" She weakly protested, even having the gall to clench her abdominal muscles and trying to rock her hips faster against mine.

"Silly Jūbei."

Flicking her forehead, I calm her down with what must be the umpteenth smile. I wonder how many of them are real or tired fakes.

"Just leave your body to me, okay?"

"Here you are, my fated one!"

It's quite rare I hear a voice loud enough to silence a market's entire cacophony, but I guess that's what to be expected from Kagetora.

"Let us resume our duel! Don't think you'll win as easily as before!" Standing there without care in the midst of enemy territory, hands proud at either side of her hips, the white-haired Princess General haughtily presents herself, much to the consternation of the panting retainers behind her, clearly having to chase her around all the way from Echizen to Harima. "As you can see, I've recovered. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Ah, congratulations."

"You're welco- Eh! Get yourself ready! 'Tis not the time for exchanging pleasantries!" Having caught herself comically at the last second, she remarks as if that's the most obvious thing in the world. "Men, ready my weapon!"

Harima, being a small international hubbub, is no stranger to midday scuffles. However, having an esteemed Princess General starting one herself is quite rare – not to mention I'm currently playing the dumbfounded innocent man she simply stops from doing his task. I'm sure my face isn't very well known to the public yet, improving the optics around me.

That said, I'm honestly on a business trip here. Aside from accompanying Kippōshi for political and economic negotiations, I'm to assist Jūbei in popularizing the various food products her clan's new company has established in Sakai several months ago. At the time, history noted the birth and subsequent explosion of the 'B-class' gourmet – though personally, as an avid cook, I loathe to rank and classify food so easily like that – so as to increase the Owari Clan's influence on new scenes.

The most efficient way to do that is to set up a street stall to attract new customers from all classes. Predictably, it's grandiosely built according to Jūbei's tastes – perhaps excessively so – but something eye-catching can only be a positive for a fledgling business. In effect, it's more like a pop-up restaurant than a humble cart – another thing Nihon hasn't seen before – and, to be fair to Jūbei, they seem to appreciate the garish taste better than me.

Which, in turn, means Kagetora is busy arguing with her retainers about her glaive while I face her with nothing but a metal spatula and chopstick in my hands.

Soon, Harima's local security forces gather and begin to control the crowd, with one or two of their representatives engaging with Kagetora and her party. They're nowhere near powerful enough to stop her if she were to properly rampage, of course, but the political ramifications of haring another fiefdom's subjects without reason is dire, especially since Echizen's stature is weakening after her defeat at my hands. In fact, I'm also quite she's here without the knowledge or permission of her elders, trailed only by subordinates she trusts enough they can anticipate her escape beforehand and intercept her. Naturally, they failed, and are dragged here as a result.

Jūbei peeks her head from behind my much-taller back, whispering, "She's not going to get us kicked out, right? I've barely begun cooking!"

Other than the décor, what attracts customers for a food place legally… well, other than scantily-clad girls calling them in like a brothel? Surely, it's the magical display of outlandish cooking techniques! Of course they're not the most efficient way to cook, but if there's no one coming in to eat them, then won't these delicious portions be left to waste? A compromise must be reached; additionally, since what both Jūbei and I are doing goes beyond what street stalls usually do, prospective clients are lining down and around the block to try at least one portion.

These people watch Kagetora's stunt with scathing eyes, thinking this white-haired weirdo is using her money and influence to cut the line and have a go first.

Kippōshi's splashed to bear some of the required funds to make this stunt possible, up to and including greasing some officials regarding the rule of obstructing business and 'public peace' – after all, we did set up this pop-up in the middle of the road, practically blocking it due to our lot's size. Most of the ingredients and logistics are handled by the Akechi Clan, and since Himiko sulked about not having the chance to go there personally to eat, she didn't give me any pocket money to spend. Therefore, I'm paying my share in sweat and skill.

Doubly so, since Jūbei isn't 100%, either. Even when fully healthy, she struggles to cope with a professional kitchen's pace owing to her lack of experience, much less in her current condition when just closing her legs feel sore and her belly sloshing with copious amount of cum from last night. We're well-staffed, yes, but it doesn't mean it's going smoothly.

Dealing with Kagetora… I have an idea…

- Plop.

"Now, now, dear customer, why not wait in line? We're forming a new queue just for you, a VIP!" I cajole with a clearly fake high-pitched happy tone, pushing the confused Kagetora to form a new parallel column beside the already-existing waiting customers, signalling to her retainers to play along and stand with their Princess General. "I'll be here to assist you shortly! Hey, give Nagao-sama something to drink as she waits!"

As always, Ryōmen isn't happy being under my command, but a quick glare from his Princess General drowns out any potential protest, and he duly follows my request. He may be a surly character – and uselessly over-devoted, too – but he's at least intelligent enough to realize distracting Kagetora right now is the best thing for everyone, especially his lady's public standing.

Part of the reason why her clan is willing to partially foot the bill for this project in the first place is the potential fortune and clout the smaller-scale prototype has indicated. It's at times strange what can become a future backbone for anyone, but a trend is to… well, take hold of a trend and milk it for what's it worth. Great merchants nowadays are the people who spotted the small potential business openings when they're still unpopular or unknown, then used their guiles and skills to bring them to prominence, dominating the newly-opened market their competitors didn't even know existed in the first place.

Doing this 'B-class' gourmet is considered prospective enough her clan jumped in without a second thought, which brought pressure to Jūbei to succeed in the first try. Those people have also been figuratively stepping over her mother's authority and begun to pressure her to form a more concrete relationship with me after knowing my connection with the Minamoto Clan, regardless of her true feelings or even knowing we're already close to an item behind the scenes. Rather typical, really, considering her mother's illness hasn't really gotten better over the past few years despite the best efforts easily available to me.

It won't do to 'repurpose' Minamoto Clan resources just to heal a relatively-unrelated daimyō's sickness. That will be corruption. That's a viable tactic when Nihon was still fractured and Yoritomo had to play some tricks to entice some families to his side, but not nowadays when healthcare and welfare have improved to a point they're no longer a leverage. Jūbei's mother is well-cared for and will live for many more years to come, just much weaker than a normal middle-aged woman and unable to exert herself in the same exuberant manner as her daughter. While not a small matter if occurring to an impoverished family, it's not a big deal for a matriarch of a high-ranked clan. Jūbei herself never requests for either me or Kippōshi to meddle, so we respect her privacy unless things turn dire.

"Eh… This tea's quite good! Must be from that lover of yours, am I right?" Kagetora cheerfully praises, her white cat-like floating bangs twitching in delight. "I myself don't understand why us people research and put stock in this stuff so much; I prefer studying how to design better weapons instead!"

"How about using tea as a weapon? Have you ever thought of that?"

Stumped, she holds her chin in her hands, mulling, "Hmmmm… I've never thought of it that way! Hmmmm…"

I signal Jūbei with a quick smile, to which she exhales in relief and wryly returning my own with a chuckle. "Quick, now… She won't last long."

"I'm so glad she's so dumb! Ushishishi…" Jūbei chuckles in her whisper, hurriedly finishing up several orders so we can get to placating whatever troubles Kagetora is bringing here. "She's just happy to meet her idol as a fan, Senpai…"

"Please don't. my head's already hurting without thinking of her like that," I sigh exasperatedly, grateful Kagetora's various retainers are already busy entertaining her after they've dealt with the local militia safely. "If I recall, you yourself have plenty of admirers and suitors, no?"

"And I can't wait to tell them I'm taken," she resolutely replies, calling Ryōmen to take up the latest round of orders. "Should I publish poems of how you so devilishly devoured and ravished me?"

"Oh, so teasing becomes your latest hobby after becoming a woman, Jūbei," I try to counterattack, though the duress of cooking and the constant need to keep an eye on Kagetora have been quite taxing on my mental faculty. "Have you gotten some tips from Chiyome? Her personality change is quite distinct, if I recall."

"Talking about another woman in front of me… How banal." She fake-clicks her tongue sadly. "Besides, you can ask her yourself."

- Clang!

An unnecessary movement has just entered my routine, inadvertently raising a loud bash. "Chiyome's coming here?"

"…is there a problem with that?" A devious smirk makes its way to Jūbei's face. "What? Scared?"

"I'm worried about her body, that's all," I try to be effusive, though I'm not sure it can fool the clever Jūbei. "Wasn't I the one who told you how accepting and wide-hearted she is? Why should I worry needlessly? I'll just cut you off."

"Iyaaannn… How cruel! Throwing me away after having your way with my body…!" Jūbei goes back to her youthful squirming, though fortunately not enough to disturb the kitchen in her exaggerated movements. "You beast! Kagetora-sama, take me into your arms!"

She barrels straight towards Kagetora's table while expertly carrying the unordered food – the typical handling of rich patrons – then playfully sits down upon the shocked white-haired Princess General's lap. After a small moment of fanservice regarding grinding butts and crotches together, and Kagetora's face is suitably flushed, Jūbei departs again as carefree as a butterfly, just like usual.

Well, it works, and it buys us a few more moments before this troublemaker lays waste to everything around here. Now, if only there's a way to keep her occupied until closing time…

"You seem to be having fun, dear husband."

Just like when we're young, Chiyome pokes her short head over the kitchen wall, eyes sparkling with expectations.

"Did you hear what we're talking about earlier? Eavesdropper," I mock, still concentrating on cooking. "Is your body alright?"

"It's excellent. Besides, even if it isn't, you'll make it right."

Gazing upon the new, faint markings tunnelling through her skin, I easily declare, "Of course. In fact, have a seat – I've prepared a feast for you today."

"Just like always?"

"Just like always."

- BOOM!

However, things always don't go the way I plan.

[My apologies, milord, Chiyome-sama.]

Danzō's telepathic transmission suddenly makes its way towards both our minds – surprising, since neither of us know her mission is supposed to be near here.

[My prey seems to have escaped and run wild.]

Before I can use my Pure Eyes to scan my surrounding, the explosion from earlier is forcibly parted under a single swing of Kagetora's arm. "Where's my damn glaive?! I've asked for it for so long! Scram!"

Jūbei, still in her apron, is scrambling to find the katana she has stashed somewhere nearby. I don't pay attention to the screaming and running guests when there's nothing out of the ordinary… and I'm now not fighting alone.

I've never been, really – just a bad force of habit.

"Chiyome, I'll leave public safety to you." Quickly Reinforcing my body – needless, really, since the people in dire need of that are likely already dead – I ask, [Where are you, Danzō? Are you directly engaging the problem?]

[Negative. I am still hidden… as I was since the beginning.] She hurriedly adds, [The first provocation and contact have nothing to do with our group. It's simply… my observation targets have engaged each other. My apologies for interrupting your private leisure time.]

Chuckling inwardly and making sure she can hear it through the communication, I reply, [It's not 'leisure' if you're not here by my side, enjoying it along with everyone. Pay it no mind. I'm looking forward to sitting down to a meal with you and Chiyome after this, however.]

[It'll be my honour.]

[…then, if not you, then who's causing this ruckus?]

As is often the case lately, my conversations keep getting interrupted by the very answers they demand. A redheaded shinobi is launched straight through the cleared path Kagetora has created the other way around – i.e. thrown towards us – while someone who looks like this young man's older version walks firmly, rubble shifting off his upper body all the while.

Fūma Kōtarō bounces once, twice, then slides to a stop near my feet.

[It's my son, milord.]

"Oh, it's you."