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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation and other products set in the same universe are all owned by Rifujin na Magonote, Shirotaka, Shosetsuka ni Naro, Media Factory, and Studio Bind.

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Chapter 19: Never Too Long of a Peace

Our return home was a bit... complicated.

It wasn't the journey that really created issues. After all, Ghislaine had gotten back to her family and could now proudly say that she could visit without being pressured to permanently stay there. She was legitimately free to be who she wanted to be, with the rest of the group happy at the news and ready to get back to our lives without having to worry about this kind of stuff in the near or even far future. No, the journey was not the issue even when it came to the means we used to get back home. Same ship, same trip, no complications, only good business.

Yet, we returned a day earlier than expected and nothing happened to the house while we were out. It was good news, and at this point there was nothing that could have warned us of the heinous danger soon lurking over our heads. In the form of a cat-boy behaving as a cat would if given the chance to be 'domesticated'. It's been four days since we were here and-

"Don't you dare push that vase off!"

"Oh Nyoh, I did it again~!"

Murasaki was what I would call a 'little shit'. Not necessarily a bad 'little shit', but a frustrating one at it. A bad 'little shit' would be the kind of gremlin-esque individual that favored chaos without paying for his mistakes. Murasaki had the decency to pay this out of his money and accept cuts to his monthly pay if he didn't have any available at the moment.

He was a cat, something that Ghislaine only seemed able to control with moderation. I tried to employ Elinalise but she may have gone quite far with him, to the point where Murasaki would just sit on the couch, lie his head on my lap and thoughtlessly and aimlessly staring forward. It was like he suffered a reboot, and it didn't help that the elf woman was all smiling and giggling when I asked what she exactly did.

"It's a secret~."

For the sake of my sanity, I didn't ask for clarification. However, what I did ask for was something quite else of importance. In this case, how she was faring with her current conditions. Stable and improving, yet I advised her to get herself checked by Zenith and I. I knew it may sound a bit paranoid, but a quick look wouldn't hurt. And Elinalise was fine with this option.

Now, Murasaki was but just the 'beginning' of issues as he would also get some attention from people. Men in particular... with a couple of women that could perceive the feminine boyishness his smug aura emitted. It was quite amusing to see many try to get close to the cat-boy, only to make a hasty retreat when they realized that the 'cute girl' was actually someone that didn't fit in that category. Differently so, the women found it a 'funny surprise' and the amusement went from the victim of his deceiving looks to Murasaki himself as he was sweating a bit by the time it became clear a fan club of women had formed to try and stalk him.

Not to the point of being obsessive about if- but if he was there, they would stare. A lot.

It was creepy, there was no denying it- but since Murasaki was a gremlin, some of that creepiness was warranted by karma alone. Now, I am not one that would wish ill of my own party members, but I wouldn't really pardon them for willingly being pricks to others without a proper reason. Murasaki may have already curbed some of the worst that I had seen in the Dedoldia Village, but prickery was a terrible habit to eliminate, and it would take a lot of time for that habit of his to stop being as intensely irritating.

For the others, things were going relatively well. Elinalise was indeed improving in her present mood and attitude towards sexual interactions, now more in control when it came to stop from going too far with it with her partners. It was a lengthy journey, but it was clear she was actually close to crossing the midpoint of it.

Ghislaine was smiling more than before due to the fact she no longer had to deal with the thought of being 'brought back and never leave her village' as that worry was forever banished at this point. And this was further shown in her fighting style. There was always a 'block' in her own steps when it came to attacking, a mental restraint which made her somewhat less faster and stronger than she should be- this was now gone as the last two spars we had proved to the two of us. And to say that the beast-woman was happy would be an understatement.

The ones that really showed some odd behaviors for no apparent reasons were Geese and Roxy. The former was quite baffling as I could tell that something was really messing up with Geese's usually laid back nature seemed to have been subdued by a sense of paranoia. He was nervous, upset and quite shaky at times. It was an odd sight for sure, but I said nothing as it could have been just him reacting to a lack of letters from Therese. Too early, that's how I excused myself from digging into it just yet.

Roxy was different in that regard as it was clear it was something tied to me. I tried to reach out, but she would just rebuke it with either another task she was busy with or going for trips to the grocery shop. Zenith was as perplexed as I was, but there was that 'knowing and amused' smile on Eli's face which told me that it wasn't necessarily anything bad but... it was enough to deeply embarrass the blue-haired girl. Once again, I didn't press on it, understanding that it was something that Roxy wasn't ready to talk with me about.

Beyond these changes and the ensuing training which felt somewhat more streamlined and 'lighter', I could say that things were expected to return to normality. Or, at least, we were mostly going to get back to normal as I was finally ruling on two potential tutors to check out. After the next mission, we would be able to genuinely take a break and work on training and expanding the whole place into something bigger and more comfortable for the growing party.

Still, it was during one of those days where Zenith and I were outdoors and making our way back home with bags filled with food and other resources that we ended up finding a most unusual sight in these quiet days.

"Is that... Paul?"

"Hmm?" I inquired with a hum, my gaze soon moving before locking on the scene Zenith found.

And it was indeed Paul, except he didn't look that happy. It wasn't us, that much I could pick up- but something or someone had gotten to his nerves. I wasn't sure what happened for anything like that to get under Paul's skin, but it sure was a surprise to see him this pissed off.

"Seems like that."

"What do you think happened to him?" Zen asked with a perplexed frown. "He doesn't look that... calm."

"I really don't know," I admitted, before giving her a quiet look. "But I can go and ask at the guild. Maybe we can get some answers there."

It was the best we could do without approaching the guy- and no, I wasn't planning to approach Paul and ask. Nothing had changed to make me willing to reach out to him, and yet I was curious to see what could have happened to get this sort of guy this furious. And the answer I got was a mission paper that I was bringing back home, a thinly restrained smile now resting on my face as I knew this was going to get a few frowns once I had it shown to the rest.

Ah yes, there's nothing wrong in getting screwed by curiosity alone. And the chance to take a lengthy break from work with the money this one was going to give us.

"The Royal Family is seeking a group of S-Rank adventurers to aid their current defenses for Princess Ariel Anemoi Asura's birthday," I presented the new mission, placing the proper paperwork on the table for everyone to see. "We will be enlisted with the role of guarding the rooms the princess is within for the duration of the day."

Everyone was, as expected, frowning a lot. Especially Zenith as she was a bit more aware of what this implied in the long run and how this wasn't any of the expected outcome for a visit at the guild. And her discomfort at the news was quickly made public through a very simple response.

"We will be stationed at the Concubine Palace."

Now, that seemed to get even more frowning going as the term Concubine was something everyone here could easily as prostitute. Yet, in this particular scenario, the term was a bit more complicated. The Royal Concubines were pretty much a reference to what a 'Royal Harem' should be. Except the king is an utter jerk and the women were all meant to have two roles in that relationship, pleasure and helping create heirs.

"So, it's like a royal brothel?" Murasaki guessed, with Roxy promptly pulling at his cheeks. "Waaa- Whai are ya hurting me~?!"

"Th-That's because you made a wrong comparison. The Concubine Palace is a place where the royal concubines, women married into the royal family as mistresses to the king, have the duty of creating new branches of the royal family."

"...In a sense, it's like a brothel, except only the king can access it in its full function and he doesn't have to pay for it," Geese sassily remarked, causing the Migurdian to tense up and huff at the blunt but correct rebuttal.

"I-I suppose that's one way to put it."

"And it's a terrible practice-" Zenith pointed out angrily.

"Which we are not supporting," I interrupted calmly, giving a serious look to the blonde. "The one we are protecting is a daughter to the King and she is not going to visit any of the rooms where unpleasant businesses will unfold."

"It doesn't stop the fact it's horrendous! And immoral!"

I nodded, the girl giving me a harsh look but could understand that we were not going to genuinely 'aid the King to hurt the women inside the place'. Plus, with the birthday happening, it would be a bit unbelievable for the monarch to genuinely use this chance to do anything when there were many guests and many potential assassins.

"Still, how did you connect this to Paul?" Ghislaine inquired. "Zenith told me that you went to check what could have caused him to be quite irate, but I don't see how this ties up with it."

"Oh, Paul wanted to take this job despite the fact he doesn't have the numbers. He has a new companion in his small party, but it's not... enough."

"Any particular reason why beyond him being a creep?" Zenith asked, ruling it as Paul wanting to be in the Concubine Palace to see some action.

"Actually, he is trying to find someone there. Old friend of his works there, one of the maids-"

"Wait, for real?" Geese asked, finally sounding like his 'old self'. "Never thought Paul would have found another reason beyond staring at some nude girls."

"What else do you know about it? Sounds a bit odd he would do this just for a 'friend'," Ghislaine pressed on and I couldn't really provide much since the receptionist didn't have the full story for me to know about.

"I only know he was quite furious when he was told no. And he also looked quite... upset with himself about it."

"That doesn't help much," Zen concluded, closing his eyes thoughtfully. "So, are we doing it?"

"Last mission before a two-months break. We train, we get some businesses finished when it comes to the house and other private matters, and we may as well visit some places without having to work there."

That last bit seemed to intrigue most of the group. It would be like a holiday with family. Maybe we could hit some beaches while we were at it. That was going to be a nice way to endure the summer... and also a tedious affair for when it comes to particular individuals in the group. Yep, there wasn't much hope in that regard.

Still, it shouldn't be difficult to protect a four years-old little girl for her birthday.

AN

Another change in the 'age matter' as I aged-up Ariel by two years. The reasoning comes from the fact that Lilia left the palace to then work for the Greyrat Family around the time Rudy was born... which would imply that the picture of the manga where she is protecting little Ariel has the child at two... and already that tall. Yeah no, this is a bit of a mess now that I look into the details...

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

REVIEW Q&A!

ALTER-BOT: Murasaki is an OC from Lightsource, I would be careful into looking this up since it's a lot of not so safe for work stuff.

Zoom99: Same answer as above.