After getting healed once again by Aqua, who punched me right in the face for hardly any reason at all, I was given the entire summary of the situation that happened when I was unconscious.
Apparently, after bravely protecting my girlfriend like a main protagonist sacrificing himself for the one he cherishes the most, I was cursed into becoming a mere infant and had to be taken care of by the girls.
That sounds like a plot never officially used in any Isekai genres, so I won't call it cliché yet...
What I'm mostly surprised about is that I managed to not die a single time when I was an infant with these dangerous girls.
I thought Aqua would've given me some weird food that was poisonous to babies, and I would die a slow and painful death.
Meanwhile, Megumin would've either used Explosion within the vicinity and killed me in the process or taken me on some dangerous quest to try to force me to become an arch wizard in the future, getting me killed in the process.
As for Darkness... normally, I would've guessed that her past self would've also taken me on a dangerous quest, with her acting as the meat shield and potentially getting us kidnapped by monsters who eat human babies.
But I had forgotten about how she watched over Iris as a little kid and her younger cousin, Dustiness Ford Slyphina, whom I haven't actually met yet. From what I know, she told me that Dustiness Ford Slyphina is the spitting image of Darkness when she was younger.
So I had no assumptions for Darkness as of right now.
Though it still doesn't answer one thing...
"Why the hell am I naked?"
I demanded of all three of them, my tone a mix of bewilderment and irritation.
Two of them hastily averted their gazes, and the other one who had delivered a devastating knock out punch to me had simply left for the bathroom.
Not that I cared anyway about that certain blue-haired goddess; I know she doesn't harbor any secret feelings for me anymore.
"And why have you all decided to sleep next to me? Give me details..."
I was still naked, but I used the massive blanket to cover myself.
Also, I sounded like Darkness a bit there.
"Y-Your baby clothes must've torn open when you gradually grew larger during the night. The same goes for your diaper... Unfortunately, we didn't buy those retractable diapers that either grow larger or smaller depending on whether you're a baby or an adult."
Darkness said, showing me pieces of ripped fabric that were baby clothing with the color of green.
There are products like that?! Why do they exist, especially in this world?
"Yeah, but Aqua told me not to go near Wiz's shop for some reason when we went shopping, so I couldn't get it... Besides, we were slightly distracted by something that caught our eyes, so we didn't have enough time anyway..."
Figures...
I feel like we were the only regulars of that woman's shop, besides Yunyun.
"Your clothes are still on your bed, folded neatly by Aqua. One thing that concerns me, is why she always folds your clothes whenever she sees them laid anywhere else in the mansion?"
That was one thing that concerned me as well. Surely, she isn't trying to put anything sharp in my clothing to annoy me because she would have done so already.
Perhaps it's just a nice gesture.
I ignored Darkness's question, trying to gather more information from the two of them.
"How long have I been out? Well, actually, how long was I an infant?"
"Almost a week."
Megumin murmured.
"A week?! What the hell happened?! Did Aqua not purify it, or did it show up during a special occasion like a full moon cliché event?"
Unbelievable, my infant self survived almost a whole week with these troublesome girls.
That's officially a new record.
Where do I claim my record? I'll have to ask Luna about it whenever I get the chance. She's usually extremely knowledgeable when it comes to weird things about Axel.
"W-Well, everyone else got carried away by just how peaceful the mansion was with you being so helpless and adorable. And as we got a bit carried away, we eventually had bills and property taxes to pay, so we rushed to get you back to normal."
So they rushed to get me back to normal the moment money was involved... that sounds about right coming from all three of them, considering I've spent countless millions on each of them individually... I don't even want to know how much I've spent on these three girls combined.
"Ugh... okay, anything else I should know before we head to the guild to reap our rewards and for me to pay the upcoming bills?"
As I said that, the two girls were fidgeting even more than earlier.
"Okay, clearly, you guys have more to say! Spill it and be done with it! You first, Darkness! Knowing you, you most likely done it worse!"
I crossed my arms, like a strict father disciplining his two young and beautiful daughters.
"I-I-I may have had to wash your little Kazuma... a couple of times... when we took a bath together."
Darkness, blushing furiously and squirming, finally summoned the courage to speak.
I lost a bit of composure for a second there.
"O-Okay then... That seems understandable, considering I knew nothing about how to clean myself. You probably had to change my diaper and clean me up anyway, so that's nothing out of the ordinary. Anything else? What about you, Megumin?"
I turned my gaze toward her.
"I-I decided that it was a good idea to feed you the soft parts of a bread..."
"Well, that doesn't seem too bad at all. Why are you so worried about it?"
What was she embarrassed about? Maybe she hasn't done it in a while with Komekko, so she's a bit nervous when it comes to feeding a baby boy, especially a handsome one.
"I fed you with my mouth... kissing you a bunch of time in the process. N-Not that I was trying to sexually harass you or anything! It's just something I picked up from my mother when she used to do it with me and Komekko during our infantile ages!"
My face stiffened with shock, my hands touching my lips.
How did this little girl turn even more perverted than the perverted crusader next to her, for some reason?
It can't possibly get any worse!
"Besides that! Darkness, tell him what you've done to him! He should know the truth! Remember what you tried to defend yourself with that day? You and he will eventually cross that path in the future?! Spill it!"
Megumin switched the topic to Darkness.
And rightfully so, because Darkness was showing signs of hiding even more secret stuff, possibly even more perverted than what Megumin had just revealed.
"N-No! I can't say it! It's rather too embarrassing! It is a threat that will bring shame down to my entire family name! Kazuma, please don't try to force it out of me!"
Now I really want to know!
Did Lalatina and I take a bath together, naked?! Was that it? She did say she had to clean my Kazuma thingy...
Man I wish I could be in a cliché plot where I turned into a baby, but kept my adult consciousness so I could see all the naked ladies as I cluelessly crawled around on!
"Oh, I know what Megumin is talking about!"
Aqua interrupted our conversation, already dressed in her adventure attire to enter the guild.
"A-Aqua, please no! Anyone but Kazuma! I won't threaten you with banning you from wine or alcohol anymore! Anything but that!"
Now I'm really curious!
C'mon, Aqua, this is where your moments finally shine because you're too oblivious to the mood and say things without caring about how others feel!
"While Megumin and I were shopping for baby supplies, she asked me about what food could potentially help her chest grow. So we tried a few things here and there, and even tried a magic potion that was supposed to double its size! Though it was just a total scam the entire time, because we found out later it was just grape juice in a potion bottle... I'm still trying to find that scam artist to this day... I spent the remaining of my money on that!"
"That's the wrong one, idiot!"
Megumin threw a pillow at Aqua's face.
"Hey, don't throw things at a goddess! That's bad luck! You'll receive a bad omen for doing that!"
You're a bad omen enough; you've caused more brain aneurysms for me than anyone in the world combined.
"It's the one where we came back home with the baby supplies!"
Aqua finally realized, slamming the bottom of her fist on the palm of her hand.
"Ohhh, that one! Darkness was just feeding you her breast milk... What's wrong with that?"
Aqua said it like it was the one thing that didn't seem to bother her at all.
Oh. That seems normal-
"Huh?!"
I let out an embarrassing sound, my face turning towards Darkness instantly, and stiffening more than before.
Darkness looked down at her knees, covering her face with her hands, seemingly shaking with embarrassment.
"Hey, why did you say it like it was a regular occurrence? Actually, I may be right, it was a regular occurrence. Considering Darkness kept feeding you breast milk on a daily occasion secretly!"
S-Secretly as well?!
I covered my own mouth to prevent another embarrassing sound from escaping.
Is it just me, or was my face getting hot?
I-I mean... I just used my mouth to suck... N-No! That was the baby version of Kazuma!
Way to go, baby Kazuma!
"Hehe... I've long awaited to see you reduced to such a pathetic state! I've seen enough. I'm satisfied."
Megumin planted her hands on her hips like an evil villain, ready to end the main protagonist once and for all with a final move.
"H-Hold on! You also tried to feed Kazuma with your own breast milk! But I apprehended you before you could do that! Not that it would've worked on your small chest since it hadn't matured yet like mine!"
Megumin's final attack was abruptly cut off by the main protagonist's secret move that he had been holding for the right moment.
"Ah!"
Megumin gave me a side eye, checking if I had any reaction.
And so did Darkness.
"Kazuma... say something... You're being creepy now..."
Darkness uttered.
With a deep exhale, I calmed my emotions, flowing like the wind...
"Let's find another undead witch quest..."
"Absolutely not!"
"Absolutely not!"
...
After finishing cleaning up the living room, I dressed appropriately in my adventure gear and headed into the guild.
We were then greeted by the familiar faces of daily adventurers who always hang around here once more.
"Welcome back! Did you guys go somewhere important? Maybe the kingdom again... or possibly a powerful demon dungeon..."
"You guys most certainly killed another Demon King general and came to reap the rewards, right? I'd like to pay my respects! Free cheers for Kazuma and his party!"
"My daughter and son look up to you four strong adventurers... Please... go to great lengths to maintain your image for their sake..."
All four of us had bubbles forming inside our mouths, refraining from saying a single word.
There was no way I was going to tell them that I had been turned into a baby for a whole week by an undead witch and was breastfed by one of the girls and kissed by one of them during the time they coddled me.
That would cause far more issues than necessary.
We shamelessly walked past everyone who offered their compliments, letting them assume we had returned from a dangerous and virtuous quest.
Someone even offered their most esteemed sword, passed down by their ancestors from generations to generations.
Finally, we reached the reception area and greeted Luna.
"Hey there! Been a while since the lottery-"
"Keh!"
Luna stiffened her posture, stopping what she was about to say next due to Aqua crossing her arms and glaring at her with tremendous anger.
"We've come to get our rewards for completing the quest."
I handed her the paper.
"Ahh... The unknown curse of an undead witch in the haunted forest. There were rumors about her in that forest, but we never received any official details about her."
"Why's that?"
"Everyone who entered the forest reported seeing the shape of their own mother and hearing the voice of their mother. Normally, anyone else would've realized that it wasn't their mother. And it was creepy enough that a normal person would've run away too, right? I mean, come on! A haunted forest, seeing your own mother? That's an obvious trap!"
We all stood silently absorbing her words.
"Here's your reward. We don't know the exact difficulty of the quest, so we'll give the standard freelance fee! Here you go, a hundred thousand Eris!"
I took the bag from her hands with a blank expression.
"Umm... you guys don't seem particularly satisfied. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Luna scratched her chin nervously, especially looking towards Aqua.
"No, it's fine..."
A hundred thousand Eris just to turn into a baby for an entire week...
I think I've had enough of this world...
"Here's the bag back... And also an additional five hundred thousand Eris for the bills and property tax."
"Thank you! Enjoy your stay!"
I lost money either way.
"Now I don't want to do a single quest anymore! I'm losing profit!"
Spending money isn't an issue, but losing it was.
Unfortunately, the two girls had different plans as they dragged me to the quest board once more.
"Hmm... the sword in the demon dungeon quest is still there..."
"Nope."
"A new one has appeared. Apprehend the deadliest assassin in the kingdom!"
"Are you trying to get me killed, Darkness?"
More importantly, we know nothing of the assassin. We might just walk into it's trap and be dealt with swiftly, I fear even Aqua might not be able to resurrect us.
Feeling tired of their horrible picking, I had decided to just pick one myself.
And as I looked through all the endless sheets of paper, my eyes caught on specific one that I was familiar with.
Before I even got a chance to take it with me-
"We are not finding another undead witch!"
"We are not finding another undead witch!"
Aw man...
...
I laid my face on the empty plate that I had just finished breakfast on, in a sour and depressed state.
What should I do?
I just wanted to go on a normal quest. I had just been turned into a baby, regrown back into an adult, and now I'm tasked with going to the demon dungeon... one of the hardest dungeons to complete.
All of this because of...
"He looks more pitiful than usual."
I heard the voice of an annoying woman in front of me say, knowing full well that I could hear her.
It was her fault to begin with. The two girls dragged Aqua in, making the vote three to one.
I hate democracy.
And also the fact that she couldn't handle one devil in a foolish pink apron. What makes her think she can handle a demon dungeon in the slightest?
"It can't be helped. A week of being taken care of by three beautiful women will obviously make you lazy and fat. Now, Kazuma, let's venture to the demon dungeon this instant! I'll blow it up in one go, and we can claim the rewards! My confidence in tackling dungeons has skyrocketed after our recent battle at the Crimson Village!"
And then there's this lady who believes her explosions can solve all problems...
"Are you stupid? We don't even know how deep the dungeon is. If you blow it up, a dragon inside the dungeon might awaken and destroy the whole town!"
I say to her, my face still planted on the plate.
"Then I'll blow it up as well!"
What happened to these girls?
They were all normal this morning? Do they have an off-switch at least?
"Well, considering Kazuma is the weakest of the party, I'd say we should go down a few levels and take what we can get."
If you think I'm so easy to persuade just because Darkness is my girlfriend, then you don't know me in the slightest.
"Darkness, pick a side. You can't choose both. Either you're on my side or you're on theirs."
"Eh?! U-Um... I'm on everyone's side. Whether male or female... noble or commoner... ummm..."
What was this girl saying at this point?
"Noble or commoner, huh? That reminds me-"
The front door of the guild swung open dramatically, a scene that would usually indicate to us that an important character was about to be introduced, whether a villain or a side character.
The demon king's army? Or perhaps one of the generals?
Suddenly, a group of butlers began playing trumpet sounds, suggesting that a wealthy noble might be arriving.
Man or woman.
Now... who could this newly introduced character possibly be?
Adding to the intrigue, a flock of white doves, typically associated with weddings, flew into the guild instead of outside.
A love rival for me? Perhaps someone has come to challenge me to win Lalatina's affections.
Or maybe...
"It's the homeless guy again..."
"Should we offer him a bar of soap this time to encourage him to leave?"
Never mind, it's just the same homeless guy.
Back to being depressed about my life.
"Servants, remove this homeless person from my dramatic introduction sequence!"
An unfamiliar female voice came from behind the homeless man.
"H-Hey, w-what did I do?! Let go! This is discrimination!"
The butlers had to physically remove the homeless man from the doorway, one of them holding a bar of soap that had been given by the adventurers.
"Hey, the doves just crapped on my plate! That was my food for the entire day!"
And the doves were already causing trouble...
But even more intriguing was the voice from the doorway.
A rather good-looking noblewoman with the usual features of blonde hair and blue eyes stood in the doorway.
She wore an elegant white dress, something nobody in this town usually wore unless they were incredibly wealthy, like Darkness.
Her chest was of average size, maybe a bit bigger than Aqua's but not on par with Darkness.
She certainly had the attention of all the men in the guild, possibly because many of them were regulars at a certain café...
Nevertheless, she ignored all of them as she walked past.
Perhaps she was looking for someone important or something.
"Darkness, you might have some competition."
Aqua whispered to her, as if trying not to get caught gossiping.
Either way, you're covering both your mouth and her ear while saying it to her, so there's no point in trying to whisper.
"Unlikely. Perhaps she's just exploring the town of Axel in general and wants to see what the guild has to offer. Some nobles are usually given permission from their parents to explore once they've reached a certain age. It's nothing to worry about. Her attention won't be drawn to the certain person next to me who is crying over a simple quest."
Hey, that was rude. And when did you start acting all lady-like? And where did you get that cup of tea?
"Darkness, you might have said that out loud because it looks like she's heading for us."
Megumin commented.
I kept my head down on my plate still.
"Satou Kazuma..."
What should I do to distract my party members from going to that demon dungeon? It's an obvious death trap.
As much as I want to see Eris-sama again, I don't want to bother her if she has bigger responsibilities to deal with.
"Satou Kazuma!"
"Kazuma, she's calling for you! Wake up!"
Darkness grabbed the collar of my shirt, choking me in the process.
"H-Hey, don't surprise me like that! I still had a bit of food in my mouth. I could've choked!"
"Enough of your whining. The lady here is asking for your presence. The least you can do is acknowledge her."
Darkness turned my head for me to see the noblewoman who had entered the guild, looking down upon me.
"Oh. Nice to meet you. What do you need?"
I scratched my head while greeting her.
She looked a bit ticked off, biting her lip, but quickly covered back her smile.
A snake...
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Satou Kazuma. I've heard many great stories about you and about your wealth—I mean, your incredible strength and talent."
"Ohoho! No need, young lady. I appreciate the compliments. The least I can do is demonstrate it right here, right now."
I stood up, looking her in the eye, ready to pull out my sword.
"Hey, who is this man? Just a second ago he was in a more pitiful state than a zoo animal."
"He's just trying to act cool, it'll wear off soon."
The audience sure was discouraging me when I'm at my peak. And where did those two get their cups of tea from?
Does Darkness carry a tea set with her every day?
"No, you deserve the compliments. After what you've accomplished and achieved that many others couldn't, the least I can do is offer my compliments in person."
She said it without sounding genuine.
"That being said, the most I can do is... propose a date with you... and ask for your hand in marriage."
All of a sudden, she covered her cheeks with her hands.
The three girls spit out their tea simultaneously, well deserved in my opinion.
"Of course."
I rested my hands on her shoulders as she freaked out a bit from the sudden touch.
...
I found a good way to burn some time and avoid doing the dangerous quest that I was sure I was going to die in.
Currently, I was taking a stroll through the town with this young lady who had proposed that we marry each other and bear my children.
Although I wouldn't call it a date because...
There were currently three stalkers following us from behind right now.
One of them was enjoying the walk and seemed clueless to the situation, another appeared to be a bit angry but followed nonetheless, and the third one seemed extremely pissed—her eyes were glowing red, which was strange because her eyes were normally blue.
"Um... your companions are... following us, Kazuma-san."
The young lady said to me.
"Companions? Oh please, these ladies are my stunningly beautiful esteemed loyal bodyguards. I paid good money for a high-level archwizard, archpriest, and crusader. They are with me 24/7, whether I like it or not. Do not let it bother you, especially the blonde one."
"Umm... the blonde one looks extremely familiar to someone I have seen before at many parties, but I can't seem to recall."
"No worries. No worries. Let's not focus on that, young lady. Let's focus on our first date, and we'll see if I'll accept your marriage proposal. Please do tell me why you wish to marry a commoner like me?"
I had to try my hardest to hide a devilish grin.
"A-Ah, well you see... After hearing rumors about you at many noble parties, in newspapers, and even from the royal capital itself, I couldn't help but admire you for your strength and wealth, and your courageous efforts to achieve your accomplishments. At that moment, I knew I had found my true love..."
The young lady held her hands together, looking up at the sky as she delivered her lengthy monologue about me.
"Hey, this guy is smirking right now! I can feel it! Let me at him, Darkness!"
"N-Not yet, Aqua. We'll put him in his place once this is over."
"K-Kazuma-san, those ladies sure are fond of you..."
"Oh please, they are just extremely protective. I pay them well, so they have to act as if anyone who gets close to me would threaten to harm me—physically, magically, or even verbally. Don't worry, you're under my protection. They won't lay a single finger on you, young lady. I won't let it happen..."
"That sounds great, but I think they're talking about beating you up, not me."
"Not in front of you, young lady. Come, we shall dine in this fine establishment. I heard it's the most expensive and highly rated by the wealthiest nobles."
I turned her head to force her to look at the restaurant we were currently in front of.
"A-Amazing! As expected of the billionaire Kazuma-san!"
She rushed inside the restaurant ahead of me, not even bothering to hold the door.
She isn't even trying to be ladylike at this point.
The two of us sat down together at a two-seated table, with the three stooges standing right behind the young lady.
They all had deadly glares aimed at me, especially the one I had decided not to buy wine for in this expensive restaurant.
H-Hey, you're supposed to be standing behind me! Not the other way around!
"May I take your order, young beautiful couple?"
A waiter appeared just in the nick of time.
"I would like your-"
"Yes, I'd like your most expensive wine, steak, drink, appetizer, and dessert."
The young lady cut me off to place her order.
"Very well, and for you, sir?"
"Your finest bottle of wine, that's all."
I had already eaten, so there was no need to order food again. Besides, I was spending a significant amount of money on this young lady for some reason.
"Hey, he never took me to this fancy restaurant to taste their wine! Why is he letting this nobody drink the wine before me! Im'ma kill him!"
Tch, this girl was getting annoying. Fine, I'd let her drink, but she had to complete one task first.
"Fine, you want a drink?"
The waiter arrived just in time to hand me my glass bottle of wine.
"Open this without any assistance! And you can drink the rest of it. Just shut up and let me have my date in private!"
This was the one and only chance I had at a noble harem! I couldn't let this opportunity go to waste. There was the option of Iris, but the chance of that seemed much lower compared to the developing situation between me and this young lady.
Aqua happily took the bottle of wine and began attempting to remove the cap.
It had a wooden cork as the cap, so it would be impossible to open, even with her strength. The best she could do was try to squeeze it out, but it was a glass bottle, so I wished her the best of luck.
"Back to where we were..."
A while later, her orders finally arrived, and she began eating with the best of manners.
"So... what do you think about our first date, young lady?"
I asked her, as she poured wine into both of our glasses.
"I think it's going rather well. I didn't expect you to take me to such an expensive and exquisite restaurant. I am indebted to you, Satou Kazuma-san..."
The young lady finally showed genuine appreciation for my efforts, bowing her head to me.
"If you feel indebted... the least you can do is repay me with your... beautiful lips..."
The two girls who were trying to help Aqua remove the wooden cork from the wine bottle eavesdropped on our conversation, staring at us intently, checking to see if I was serious about my words.
"Umm... maybe later, Kazuma-san. I am currently in the middle of eating as of right now. I don't know if you would prefer food in your mouth if you take my first kiss..."
Her first kiss?!
"The better..."
I leaned in closer to her hesitant face, puffing out my lips obviously, teasingly reaching for her slowly.
I wasn't really going to—
"Got it!"
Somehow, Aqua managed to get the wooden cork off the bottle, and it bounced around everywhere in the restaurant.
From tables to walls, from the ceiling to the floor.
And its final destination?
My throat?
I fell back into my chair, gagging on the wooden cork lodged in my throat, my hands desperately trying to push it out.
"Kazuma!"
"Kazuma!"
"Yipee, it opened! Thanks, Kazuma!"
While the oblivious girl continued to drink heartily, the other two rushed to my aid while I was on the floor.
Not good, it wasn't coming out no matter how hard I tried.
Was this divine retribution from Eris-sama? Dammit, I forgot that she was watching over me at all times!
I suppose I deserved it.
But I wasn't going to let a wooden cork be the cause of my death!
That would be even worse than dying to a REAL truck!
"Kazuma... I don't know if this will work, but you deserve this for what you're currently doing in front of my own eyes..."
Darkness clenched her hand into a fist and raised it above my chest.
Then she punched me in the chest with all her might, and the wooden cork went flying out.
I lay on the floor, trying to catch my breath.
"It worked! Nice one, Darkness!"
Megumin complimented her, not giving a single glance to my weakened state.
"Kazuma-san, are you okay?"
The young lady asked, still seated in her chair, eating to her heart's content.
"I'm doing fine. This was just a trial given to me by Eris-sama..."
I looked at Darkness, who was hiding a satisfied smirk.
She must've enjoyed watching me choke on that cork, and then punching me with all her strength after what I had tried to do in front of her.
I don't blame her, I deserved it.
I had gotten carried away in the heat of the moment. Eris-sama was probably there to save our relationship, albeit through the most ruthless means she could think of, rather than gracing us with her presence to prevent me from betraying Darkness.
"Shall we continue to our next location?"
I said to the young lady.
...
"Kazuma-san... is there any reason why we are... fishing at this lake?"
Looking for a temporary solution to prevent Eris-sama from interfering, I had settled on the idea of the lake and fishing.
There was no one else around except for us, aside from the three stooges who were trailing behind.
And this lake had no monsters that could disrupt our date, which seemed to be going well.
"Fishing is a beautiful experience in itself, young lady. Of course, not as beautiful as you. You see, while we wait for the fish to bite our hooks, we can sit and enjoy the sunny weather we're having. We can talk about anything romantic while we wait, and when the fish bite, we can catch and eat them together."
"E-Eat the fish raw?"
She nervously inquired.
"If you like it that way."
The young lady covered her mouth, trying her best to suppress her disgust.
"We can also cook them over a traditional fire. Bodyguards, set up a campfire for us right now!"
I clapped my hands to get them to work.
"Do it yourself."
A rather brusque blonde bodyguard retorted with a hint of hostility in her voice.
"F-Fine, I will!"
I hastily started a campfire right next to us as we waited for the fish to bite.
"Young lady, I forgot to ask. How has this date been going? Has it been enjoyable?"
Attempting to break the silence, I inquired about her genuine thoughts on the situation.
"I-It's going great, don't worry! All of this is new for me, so I am a bit nervous. Especially the fishing. I am more accustomed to having fish prepared professionally, not in this sort of... unqiue manner."
"So you've never had a traditionally cooked fish before?"
I noticed the line on my fishing pole pulling taut.
"You're in luck, young lady!"
I swiftly reeled in the fish and impaled it on a stick, suspending its lifeless form over the fire.
The young lady appeared rather repulsed but managed to compose herself in a split second.
"I-I think I'm fine! I already had a meal at the restaurant earlier, so there's no need to feed me more!"
The fire cooked the fish relatively quickly, and it seemed ready to be consumed.
"It's my treat. The least you can do is try this if you won't reward me with a kiss today..."
I carefully held the cooked fish out towards the young lady, who looked extremely nervous and queasy from observing the cooked fish.
"L-Like I mentioned, Kazuma-san, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm really not hungry. I'm not implying that your cooking is bad, it's just that I've already had my share!"
Seated as she was, she attempted to lean back slightly, though it didn't help much as I extended my arm even further.
"Then we can eat it together..."
The fish was just about to touch her lips when suddenly—
"Enough of this! I can't handle it anymore!"
The four of us were taken aback by this sudden outburst from the young lady, who had finally broken character.
"Young lady? Are you suggesting that my cooking is... terrible?"
I wanted to continue to toy with her a little longer.
But she abruptly stood up, gazing down at me with a mixture of repulsion and animosity.
"Terrible...? 'Terrible' doesn't even begin to describe you! You're the most repugnant, obnoxious, and insufferable man I've ever encountered!"
Oh dear... that was quite hurtful.
Even the three girls trailing behind me were left speechless, witnessing her direct her pent-up frustration at me.
"Young lady, are you alright? Could it be that you're going through that time of the month once again?"
I decided to add a bit more fuel to the fire, curious to see how far she would take it.
"Ugh! How dare you ask me such an impudent question! You shouldn't be uttering such things in my presence! Why did my parents even send me here to consider marrying you? Money means nothing to me now. It's not about the money! There's no conceivable scenario in which I'd spend my life with an unappealing individual like you!"
"Young lady, why label me as 'unappealing'? Do I not meet your standards?"
"Standards?! You're so far below anyone's standards. Even the least desirable woman on this planet would refuse to reproduce with you! Your best option is to mate with a female orc and pass on your pitiful genes to something other than your vile hands!"
Okay, that one actually hurt a bit.
"You're a slothful, feeble, diminutive, unsightly, pitiable man who doesn't merit anything he has! Not even these attractive bodyguards, whom you've bought off with your worthless wealth, deserve your cruel treatment! It wouldn't astonish me if you habitually sexually harassed them, given that you're an inexperienced virgin who's too timid to approach a genuine woman!"
I gasped with shock, my heartbeat stopping for a second there.
"What I genuinely desire is a robust, capable, handsome, tall man. One with blonde hair and blue eyes. Certainly not a commoner lacking even the most basic manners. And you absolutely do not fit that description. If you took the effort to develop some muscles, adopt a more appealing hairstyle, enhance your manners, and demonstrate some diligence, you might actually entice a succubus into your bed for a night of pity-fueled satisfaction in order to relieve your woeful virginity. Ugh! I'm leaving!"
With that, the young lady left us all stunned.
Of all the girls I'd expected to inflict the most damage, I hadn't anticipated her...
I might even shed a tear...
She's right about so many things, about my indolence and feeble...
"Where do you think you're going?"
Darkness suddenly interrupted.
I looked towards the source of her voice and saw her without her usual ponytail. She had removed her hair tie, allowing her long blonde hair to flow in the wind.
"Hey, just leave her. I'm fine-"
The young lady turned around in shock.
"Y-You're! It can't be! There's no doubt about it! L-Lady Lalatina! What are you doing here? More importantly, why have you taken up a job as a bodyguard? Especially for that pathetic object..?"
Guh! The young lady knows no bounds with her insults! She's even worse than the tranquility girl I vanquished before!
"First, I'd like you to apologize to my lover this instant..."
Darkness pointed at clueless me.
"Y-You're joking, right, Lady Lalatina? There's no way you would allow a dirty virgin like him to touch you, let alone come near you..."
Somehow, I could feel the aura of fury emanating from Darkness.
But as I expected, she maintained her cool.
"Everything you said about my boyfriend was rather rude and undeserved. He may not be handsome, tall, or strong, but... I-I love him very dearly. So, for you to say all of that in front of me, don't think you can get away with it!"
Choose a side: Are you dissing me or complimenting me?
H-Hey, am I blushing?! Quit that!
I slapped my cheeks to make it look like they were reddening from the slaps themselves.
"Y-You're being for real? I thought you were joking, Lady Lalatina... But... But there's no way I'm going to apologize to that weak and unattractive loser! Did you not see the way he glanced at you from time to time to see if you had any reactions or jealousy?! He's a man that seeks attention no matter the girl! Maybe if he had some balls and refused my marriage proposal from the start, it wouldn't have turned out like this! Could it be that you two are hiding this relationship from the public? Keeping it a secret?"
"Eek!"
Darkness twitched for a split second, and I looked away, whistling as if I didn't hear a thing.
"My relationship with a commoner doesn't concern you one bit. So what if he is a pervert that would fall into another woman's hands in an instant! So what if he's unattractive, weak, lazy, and not tall?! Apologize this instant, or else you'll taste the full power of my rage and fury..."
Darkness slowly approached the young lady, cracking her knuckles one by one, ensuring that she heard each ominous crack.
"Eek! Okay! Okay! I'm sorry! Please don't beat me up! I want to have a beautiful face with no scars!"
The young lady ran away crying after experiencing the first time she had ever been in trouble.
"Dammit! She ran away before I could tell her to keep it a secret!"
Darkness stomped on the ground in a fit of rage and regret.
Meanwhile...
"Hey, is this guy dead? Should I try to use resurrection on him?"
"Don't tell me those insults were actually hurting you?"
I lay emotionless on the grass, defeated into a state worse than I've ever been by both of these ruthless noblewomen.
...
The entire afternoon and evening were spent on the fake date with the young lady.
Eventually, we all decided to cancel the quest.
Aqua wasn't really bothered by it since I had given her a free bottle of wine to keep her quiet about the situation.
Megumin was a bit disappointed but wasn't overly bothered since I was the one covering the cancellation fee.
However... one specific crusader had stopped speaking to me entirely as night began to fall... but still kept glancing at me from time to time when we met each other in the mansion from time to time.
Without a word, she entered my room right after me and lay down beside me.
Normally, when one of the couples were upset with each other, they would sleep separately...
And even if circumstances forced us to sleep together, one would usually turn away to face the opposite direction on the bed...
But Darkness was different; she was looking directly at me. And I met her gaze.
Clearly, both of us had a lot on our minds... questions to ask, things to discuss.
After the events of today, who wouldn't?
But we both hesitated, waiting for the other to initiate the conversation.
"Hey,"
"I..."
Of course, we both started speaking at the same time and then abruptly stopped.
"Go first... You deserve it."
After what she had done to protect my image from the young lady's harsh comments towards me, she deserved to speak her mind first.
"I... I really hoped that you weren't trying to actually kiss that noble lady just to get a reaction out of me... because if you did, it worked. Kazuma... I know that you're a trashy man... but I didn't think you would take it that far... I thought you loved me?"
Her expression turned into a frown as she spoke, her hand clutching her chest, and tears welling up in her eyes.
Man, I've really messed up this time.
It's possible she might start crying, just like what happened back in the village.
"Of course not. I love you, Lalatina. I wouldn't betray you over some random woman who is less beautiful and less wealthy than you. I was just messing around, trying to make the day go by faster. I really didn't want to do that dungeon quest, so I thought I could just wander around town all day. I genuinely apologize for my actions, Lalatina. Please know that I won't do something like that ever again, even just for fun. If another woman were to ask me to marry her, I'd reject her instantly and explain why I'd rather be with you than anyone else, even if we're in public!"
Thinking back about it now, there was a whole lot of scummy things I've done in front of her that I shouldn't have done.
Unfortunately, I got carried away and paid the price, with the young lady causing surprisingly the most significant damage today.
"I see then. I would like that... the thought of you proclaiming your love to me... I wouldn't mind that at all. That aside, it seems I have nothing to worry about in the end. I know you're a loyal man at your core anyway... that's all I wanted to clear up first..."
She smiled, her lips curling into satisfaction, and then scooted herself closer to me.
Our chests were practically touching, not that I had any bigger ones in the first place.
"You know that she was trying to marry you so your immense wealth can be shared together? She probably intended on stealing a massive portion of it and transferring it to your family before running off."
"Oh yeah, I noticed the moment she talked to me. I am aware that most noble ladies aren't fond of who I really am so they tend to avoid me during parties, especially at the Royal Castle, unless if it were for their own gains."
"Are you saying I am the only noblewoman to stay by your side even knowing your true personality, knowing you're a pervert and too lazy to even get off the couch?"
That's how you want to play?
"Yup. And I am the only man to stay by your side even knowing your true personality, involving weird kinks and masochist fetishes."
"H-Hey, I thought I told you that I've been trying to suppress my urges..."
"And it won't go acknowledged. I am grateful indeed."
"Oh.. okay if that's all you're gonna say, then..."
Then, she placed my hands in hers, holding them together.
"Kazuma... I would like to say that I am sincerely sorry about what happened... If I hadn't been overwhelmed by my emotions... We wouldn't have ended up in that situation at all... It's just that I haven't heard my mother's voice in so long... that I lost control. I genuinely apologize for being a clumsy crusader."
Why was she suddenly apologizing? Did she want to get her apology out of the way too?
"It's fine. Everyone seems to be safe now. You don't need to shoulder all the blame. It's not just your fault, it's everyone's."
We could have simply asked a certain goddess to purify her while the undead witch had her back turned, now that I think about it...
"Kazuma... I would really appreciate if you looked cooler and accept my apology sincerely. That way, I might fall in love with you even more."
"H-Hey, don't say it as if you never loved me from the start! Maybe I should have made a move on that young lady to test if you truly loved me and would intervene to stop me from kissing her!"
"How could you say that? Ugh, I want our sweet moment back now.. Fine, have it your way then. I won't talk to you for the rest of the night!"
Darkness turned her back to me, clearly upset.
"Okay, okay! I'd like to apologize! I'm sorry for what I said, Lalatina! Please forgive me! I love you so much, Lalatina! It's tearing me apart!"
"Hmph, using my real name as if that's going to persuade me!"
"Mkay."
I immediately turned my back to hers in response, after realizing she wasn't going to back down.
"Y-You're giving up just like that? I expected you to plead a bit more and scream to me with my back still turned that I'm the only woman you could truly rely on, and that you find me the most beautiful of all noblewomen."
"You're putting too much faith in me. You should know me by now."
"That's something I can't argue with."
Simultaneously, both of us turned to face each other.
An unusually awkward silence hung in the air.
"Since we're alone... Is there anything else you want to tell me about the time I was reduced to a mere infant? There must have been more. I promise I won't get angry."
I asked curiously.
"Hmm... There is one thing I'd like to say."
"What is it?"
Darkness planted a kiss on my lips and then pulled back, locking her gaze with mine.
"You were the most adorable and sweetest little boy I've ever taken care of... Everything you did, I would cherish and remember every single one of those moments for the rest of my life..."
Oh dear... my heartstrings were tugging way too strongly!
She looks incredibly stunning in moments like this!
"I've learned a lot of things from taking care of you... I've watched you crawl. I've watched you eat. I've watched you laugh. I've watched you cry. I've watched you sleep. And... when I slept with you just the night before we cured you... you even called me 'Mama'!"
Her voice was filled with immense happiness as she said that last sentence.
"I... I did?"
Well, that's a surprise. But I suppose she did have the experience of being a mother considering she raised both Iris and Sylphina.
"Yes! It almost felt like... almost like I was raising our child...!"
She brought her face closer to mine, our noses brushing against each other.
I instinctively pulled back slightly, my mouth agape from the unexpected revelation.
"Woah! Woah! Woah! We haven't reached that step yet. Don't get too ahead of yourself!"
"Then when will we reach that step?"
She pushed her face and body closer, anticipation radiating from her.
Being as inexperienced and nervous as she likely was, I hesitated despite her eagerness.
"I-I mean, I guess we could consider it... But you know how this scenario plays out... Aqua or Megumin would probably burst in to check on us. Then I'd have to deal with Aqua's God Blow or Megumin's dropkick for making a move on you-"
Before I could continue, Darkness abruptly pressed her lips against mine, her arms encircling my neck, pulling me closer with a tight embrace.
In that moment, I felt her tongue press against my lips, seeking entrance into my mouth.
And I allowed it...
Our tongues mingled for a few seconds before she eventually pulled away.
My mind was a whirlwind, trying to comprehend what had just transpired.
We were both slightly breathless, our faces flushed with intense heat from our passionate embrace.
"Then why not just get a lock on your door? That way no one can interfere with our love..?"
That comment was like the cherry on top of this romantic moment between us.
My thoughts were a chaotic jumble, and my inexperienced body was yearning for more.
Yet, I remained hesitant, like a timid coward...
Darkness's expression shifted to a frown as I hesitated and reluctantly pulled myself back a bit.
"Kazuma... It's been an entire week since I last felt your touch... The least you could do is show some assertiveness for once..."
Even she seemed weary of my timidity, my hesitancy when it came to romantic situations like this...
Alright, Kazuma, it's time to reveal the cool, manly side she's always secretly desired from me but never brought it up.
After all, a short session of french kissing wasn't nearly enough to satisfy my desires, nor hers.
My body craved more contact, aching to explore her further.
So, without further ado, I pressed my lips firmly against hers once again, wrapping my arms around her neck and pulling her closer, seizing the initiative for the first time.
My tongue sought entry, pushing against her defenses with determination.
And she surrendered without putting up any resistance.
As our tongues intertwined, I hungered for more than just the taste— I longed to feel her.
While her taste was undoubtedly delightful, the tactile sensation was what I truly craved.
My impulses took over, and I found myself positioned above Darkness, our tongues still entwined.
Our mingled saliva created a wet, messy connection around our lips.
She then proceeded to moan such erotic noises, one's that I've either heard before or never heard.
Either way, it turned me on even more.
With me on top, one of my hands traveled down to one of her breasts. The breasts that baby version of me were nursed off of.
With my other free hand gripping her hips to pull her closer to my little Kazuma that was turning into bigger Kazuma.
It was practically touching her stomach, with my underwear and her pajamas in the way.
"Aah! Kazuma..."
My hands instinctively squeezed one of her breasts.
Holy shit, she sounded extremely hot and sexy when she called out my name.
And even more satisfying... I was the only man she would moan out my name to.
Darkness has her hands on my back, and her legs trapping mines, I was practically grinding myself on her.
I begun to groan from such pleasure that I've never felt ever before.
Was it this amazing to make out with a beautiful noblewoman like her?
We lasted about a minute of french kissing one another before we had to finally pulled away, breathless, our breaths flowing into each other's lungs due to how close we were even when we pulled away.
A bridge of saliva still connected our lips, a tangible evidence of our intimate exchange.
"Kazuma... I didn't know you had it in you... You beast..."
Darkness purred, her hands resting on my shoulders.
"I hope you enjoyed it. Consider it a reward for how you defended my honor against that noblewoman... With a bit more practice, I could improve further."
"It was the best I've ever experienced... And thank you for the reward... We can practice more in the future, if you'd like."
She lifted herself slightly to press another kiss on my lips.
"Or we could practice right now."
A seductive lick of her lips followed her words.
I was about to initiate another make-out session but then I felt extreme pleasure coming from the front side of my underwear
I looked underneath to see Darkness gently rubbing my bigger Kazuma from the outside with her delicate fingers.
It felt extremely amazing to the point where I couldn't help but groan from the immense pleasure her soft hands felt.
"It's extremely...hard.."
She spoke with extreme innocence in her voice.
It must've been her first time touching it, even though she wasn't actually touching it. She was just touching my underwear mostly, but she's got the feeling of it.
"Darkness, if you do anymore. I'm gonna lose control over myself."
I was committing to summon my most extreme self control as hard as I've ever been, resisting the urge to just take off my pants and lose our first time together.
This was going way too fast!
I should've known that if we have done this, we would've gone even further due to our own hormones and inexperience.
"S-Sorry... I was just curious on how it felt... I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind at all. I find it rather sexy. But still, no more or else we will do something that Aqua and Megumin will remember for their entire life..."
Darkness pulled her hand away from my pants and I tiredly lifted myself off of her.
Even my body was disappointed that the pleasure had finally ended, thankfully, I regained control over myself before things would've gone worse and we would've done things that we would regret tomorrow.
However, Darkness embraced me, her arms wrapping around me as she rested her head on my arm.
"Love you, Kazuma."
"Me too, Lalatina."
In a hundred different scenarios, I could never have imagined myself in this situation. Sharing these kinds of moments with her, or with any woman for that matter.
I'm not entirely sure what's running through her mind, but she might be feeling something similar to what I am. Experiencing intimacy with the person you love deeply about the most.
And to think, I once tried to get rid of her by making her marry off a guy that was stronger, likeable, and hardworking, and now she's sleeping peacefully in my arms...
That reminds me.
"Hey..."
I called out to her.
"Yes?"
"Did you truly mean what you said to that young lady? When you called me unattractive, weak, and lazy?"
Those comments had actually stung a bit, even though they were the truth.
"What I said was honest. But don't let it affect you. I would still love you just the same. No matter what you turn into, I will always be swept by your arms. So don't ever think I'd betray you for another man..."
"Would you be okay if I were completely different then?"
I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
"Like the total opposite? Tall? Strong? Hardworking? Handsome? You already encompass all those qualities in my eyes... As I said, don't let it get to you. I'll always be here even when you're at your lowest..."
Her response brought a sense of contentment, and I placed one final kiss on her forehead.
As time slipped away, we eventually drifted into a deep sleep, satisfied with the profound connection we had just shared.
...
The night passed quickly, and as morning dawned, things resumed back to their usual routine.
However, after the night's intimate encounter with Darkness, our interactions were awkward and tinged with a newfound awareness.
Everything seemed normal for a while, until...
A knock echoed through the door, and a messenger greeted us when I answered it.
"My lady, it's an honor to be in your presence. I bring an urgent message for you. It's of such importance that your family's name is at stake!"
The messenger didn't seem to be a part of the Dustiness clan.
"What could be so crucial that it puts my family's name on the line?"
She inquired.
"W-Well, you see, there was an attempted kidnapping within the royal capital itself! Even within the castle walls! Her Highness Princess Iris was nearly abducted by an unidentified assailant. It was only thanks to Claire and Rain's quick thinking that the culprit was killed, but they couldn't extract any information."
What?!
All four of us stood in shock at the startling news.
Iris was a formidable and powerful princess, having earned the title of Dragon Slayer. For her to be overpowered and almost kidnapped, this enemy had to possess considerable power, perhaps akin to a demon king's general.
Perhaps the culprit had been weakened during the confrontation with Iris, allowing Claire and Rain to finish it off.
"I understand now. So, they are summoning me to protect Princess Iris for an unknown period of time, and that's why the Dustiness family's honor is at stake, correct?"
"That's essentially what they're requesting. Given the uncertainty about further kidnapping attempts in the royal capital, they're urging you and your companions to head there immediately. I'll teleport all of us once you're prepared."
The messenger bowed deeply.
"We won't waste a moment. Let's go, everyone. Princess Iris is in danger!"
Darkness turned, only to find us already equipped and ready for the upcoming mission.
"You don't have to tell me twice! If my subordinate is at the risk of danger, I, the greatest arch wizard to ever live, Megumin, must rise to the occasion and support her!"
"They'll provide me with the finest wines and foods if I exert myself in her protection. It's inevitable! The goddess, Aqua-sama, is ready to put her life on the line for this young girl!"
"As Iris's elder brother, and with her being my dear little sister, I cannot abandon her after all she's done for me... She's reached out for help, and as her older sibling, it's my responsibility to act without delay. I'm prepared to risk my life for her..."
Even I couldn't resist delivering a dramatic line. It was practically unavoidable with these two hyping me up.
"Lady Dustiness... Your companions seem rather quite enthusiastic but calm about protecting Her Highness..."
An embarrassed Darkness hid her face.
"I'm truly sorry you had to witness that! Also, you're all still in your pajamas! Get dressed properly!"
You too, Lalatina...
I retreated to my room, changing into suitable attire and packing necessary items in case we encounter another formidable opponent.
With everything in order, I was about to step out of my room when...
Darkness opened her door ahead of me, and our eyes met.
"Do you need something from my room?"
I inquired.
She was already dressed in her crusader armor, her hair pulled back into a ponytail.
"Y-Yes. There's something I'd like to ask before we depart... Could you please sit next to me on your bed?"
"O-Of course."
I complied with her request, seating myself beside her on the bed.
"So... what's on your mind?"
I gazed at her.
She appeared troubled and uncertain about how to proceed.
"Kazuma... This town might already be aware of our relationship by now... But... the royal capital isn't. This is where we need to actually put the effort to keep our relationship a secret. No one else besides the four of us can know about the relationship we share..."
Ugh.. this again. I forgot about it entirely.
I found this whole idea of hiding it extremely ridiculous.
"Lalatina, are you serious about this?"
"Yes, Kazuma, I am. Listen, if anyone were to discover that I'm romantically involved with a commoner like you, there would be chaos. If any other nobles, especially at social events, were to find out, there'd be endless challenges and duels. I don't want you to suffer or get harmed because of me..."
I understand now...
She's doing this to protect me.
This reminds me back when Megumin told me that I would have to sweat blood and tears to prove that Lalatina belonged to me.
But... as cool as she sounded, I'm the type to avoid a fight rather than pick one, let alone, accept one.
"Alright, I'll heed your advice, I suppose. I'll do my best to keep it a secret. But what about Aqua and Megumin? How can you be so certain they won't reveal it to anyone?"
As soon as I asked that question, she averted her gaze.
"You threatens to use to use your powers again... didn't you?"
"Besides that... there's also something I'd like to ask..."
Darkness stood up, then proceeds to sit on my lap like a little kid with Santa Claus, facing me directly and cupping my cheeks.
"Since we're going to be separated without each other's touch for a while... Let's make up for it right now..."
Wait, she's proposing to do that right now?!
Before I could even utter a word, she pressed her lips against mine, initiating a kiss.
In the blink of an eye, my tongue was entwined with hers, slipping into her mouth.
My hands instinctively went to her waist as she grasped my shoulders.
It seemed she desired for more, for she gently pushed me onto the bed, straddling me as she took charge.
She went for another tongue kiss, laying her whole weight on me with her chest as a cushion.
We had engaged in this very act just last night, how was she so comfortable with it already?
"H-Heavy!"
I murmured in between small quick breaths.
"H-Hey, don't call me heavy!"
She quickly said in between our kiss.
Once again, our passionate exchange lasted for about a minute before we had to part, both of us breathless.
She leaned her forehead against mine, her breath coming in ragged gasps, and her eyes staring at my own affectionately.
"Are you satisfied?"
I questioned, given that she had initiated our intimate moment.
"Regrettably not... But time is short..."
How intense was her desire to pin me down.
What should I do? Kissing was a temporary sensation; I needed a way to create a permanent impression on her...
An idea suddenly struck me.
"Darkness, can you get up for a moment? I have a notion."
"Sure..."
We sat cross cross, facing each other on the bed again.
"Are you asking me to remove my armor? Please don't suggest that we engage in such activities when Princess Iris could still be in danger..."
"It's not that! It'll be quick! And remember, you initiated the french kiss!"
I hope this works...
I swiftly removed my shirt, revealing my bare chest as I faced her.
"F-Fine, make it snappy! You won't last long anyway, so do whatever you need to do!"
Tch! This girl!
"It's not that... oh... it seems you'll need to take off your shirt too..."
I assumed her armor would expose her skin, but her shirt... it was hard to describe. It covered her neck entirely, along with her shoulders, chest, back, and arms.
"A-Are you serious? I think I can guess where this is headed!"
"Just get on with it, or I'm leaving right now!"
"Fine!"
Darkness removed the upper garment that had concealed her upper body, revealing only her black bra.
I was taken aback, never having seen her in a bra during the time we'd been together.
"So... what's the plan? Also... don't stare at me like that... I feel like I'm being ogled..."
Right now, you are quite a sight!
Pull yourself together, Kazuma!
"I'm not sure if this is a custom in your world, but in my homeland... couples often leave a mark on each other as a sign that they belong to each other."
"R-Really? Tell me more..."
"We'll need to suck on each other's neck..."
Darkness gave me a concerned look of suspicion for some reason.
"I'm not secretly a vampire trying to turn you into one, I promise!"
She chuckled at my quick-witted response.
"I understand. Very well, Kazuma. If it signifies that I belong solely to you, then I'm willing to do it..."
Once again, that seductive smile graced her lips as she kissed me and then exposed her bare neck to me.
"Alright... I'm going to do it. You can do the same if you'd like."
We both approached each other's necks cautiously, placing gentle kisses on the skin.
Then we began to suck lightly on the surface of the skin, leaving a mark.
I could sense the vibrations of her soft moans against my neck as I continued the pleasurable action on her.
About thirty seconds later, we both stopped simultaneously and examined the marks we had left.
A dark purple area adorned her pale skin, evidence of my mark on her.
I checked my own neck and saw a similar mark.
"Is that all? I've got to say I did quite enjoy doing it. And seeing the mark I laid on you to show that you belong to me... I think I am rather quite satisfied..."
"Yes, that's all I've wanted to do to make you feel better. Thank you for understanding."
Our foreheads touched, noses brushing against each other.
"No problem, Kazuma."
She embraced me tightly, holding me close and allowing me to feel her curves against me.
After that intense and intimate moment, we hurriedly dressed and left my room in a rush.
"What took you two so long? I was about to say farewell to Emperor Zel for the fifth time if you hadn't shown up just now."
Aqua impatiently tapped her foot, clearly eager to head to the royal capital.
"A goodbye kiss doesn't usually take that long. What were you guys up to?"
Megumin chimed in, her curiosity piqued.
"It's none of your business. And it wasn't a goodbye kiss. We're all going to the royal capital together, so get your facts straight."
I responded curtly.
"Huh?! So you guys were up to more than just a kiss while we were waiting?!"
"Enough from both of you. Princess Iris could be in danger any moment now. The least you can do is keep quiet."
Darkness's tone was surprisingly mature, considering the activities we had just been engaged in moments ago.
"Very well. Let us embark this new journey that the country has tasked us with! No doubt, my name will be on the history books as the infamous archwizard who protected the princess of the kingdom with her best abilities!"
"And they will put my name on the history books as well. Aqua-sama, the infamous water goddess, will most definitely be worshipped by the future generations of the royal capital!"
Both Aqua and Megumin appeared unusually amped up for their new job.
Although I can't imagine Iris's future grandchildren worshipping a woman who would cry over a lost coin.
"They're pretty excited, aren't they? Shall we get going, Kazuma?"
Darkness stood by my side, holding my hand.
"Why are you talking as if we have two troublesome daughters?"
"Well... we are the oldest ones among them..."
I sighed at her response.
If only she knew how old Aqua really was, although even I'm not quite sure. Maybe I'll find a way to ask her when I have some free time, assuming she won't punch me unconscious me for it...
"Let's go and protect Iris."
"That's the spirit!"
We released each other's hands as we stepped outside, avoiding any suspicions from the messenger.
He promptly teleported us to the royal capital, right in front of the castle.
...
In the blink of an eye, we found ourselves in front of the grand Royal Castle that stood proudly within the heart of the Royal Capital.
"Maybe I should build myself a castle with all the money I've collected... It wouldn't be a bad way to start the day, waking up to this sight."
"I won't judge."
Aqua's voice carried a tinge of amusement.
"You're definitely not going to be anywhere near it..."
"Look, there they are!"
Our attention shifted downward as an excited voice called out to us.
Iris, Claire, and Rain were waiting for our arrival it seems.
And the only one excited to see my face was Iris only.
"Onii-sama! Welcome back!"
Iris went straight for me, embracing me with her wonderful and warming hug.
"Are you okay, Iris? Anything important that you solely wish for me to know?"
"Everything is fine! I was healed by the best archpriests this capital could offer in just a single night. All is well!"
"A whole night for healing? That's too long for my little lady here. Next time, come to me for an instant fix without any hassle. I'll stay by your side, Iris-chan!"
Aqua intervened in our sweet tender moment.
"Thank you, Aqua-san. I promise to treat you to the most lavish feasts and drinks!"
Aqua pumped her fist victoriously, wearing a mischievous grin.
"Leave it to your superior, Iris. If anyone makes any suspicious moves toward you, even Kazuma, I'll unleash the most powerful explosion I can muster!"
Hey, don't drag me into this like I had something to do with the kidnapping. I was inside the mansion with you the whole time.
"Just as I expected from my superior! In return, I'll provide you with the finest lobsters money can buy, and I won't let you down in helping capture the kidnapper!"
It was nice to see these two bonding again, much like during our trip to Elroad.
Afterward, the two most distinguished noblewomen locked eyes.
"Princess Iris, it is an honor to be in your presence and to be entrusted with your protection..."
Darkness gracefully knelt on one knee, her head bowed in respect.
"Lalatina, there's no need for you to bow to me. You've taken care of me for so long, and you've saved me countless times. It's difficult to see you in such a posture when you've done so much for me. Plus, you're here for your family's honor. Please stand."
Iris' words were gentle and understanding, and Darkness obeyed, embracing Iris in a heartfelt hug.
"Hello, Claire, Rain. How have you both been?"
I raised my hand in a friendly greeting, trying to ease the tension.
They both looked at me with mixed emotions, and I couldn't blame them given the situation.
The last time I encountered them, they had drugged me with the Memory-Wipe potion, erasing my memories of the time I spent with Iris in this castle. Thankfully, Aqua managed to undo the effects, and I remember everything clearly now.
Claire and Rain seemed nervous as I approached them, and I could understand their apprehension.
"Greetings to you, Kazuma-dono... Will you let bygones be bygones and move forward?"
Claire extended her hand for a handshake.
"Iris is in danger, so we'll put aside past conflicts for now..."
I shook her hand with a certain edge to it, causing Rain to nearly faint from anxiety.
They both knew the extent of my abilities now, and I had caused significant trouble for them—both physically and in other ways.
It's rather satisfying to see them in this state, especially Claire, the woman who had constantly mocked me for being the weakest class. After the events in Elroad, I could tell there was a new kind of respect from her, considering I had prevented Iris' forced marriage.
"Temporary, you say? Very well. Lead the way, and we can discuss matters in the meeting room. There's a lot to go over."
Following Claire and Rain, we walked through the castle corridors, our footsteps echoing in the air.
"Onii-sama, have you become stronger since our last encounter?"
Iris playfully inserted herself in front of me as we walked together.
"Hmmm... most certainly. There have been notable improvements in my abilities and relationships."
Darkness averted her gaze, seemingly embarrassed.
"Really? Did you manage to harness your incredible luck and create a unique skill that only you can wield?"
"Pfft, Iris-chan, you have quite the high expectations for this guy. Let it be known that he came close to death while facing a formidable opponent with time-manipulating powers!"
Hey, let me talk-
Wait a second... did you just say that the opponent we fought in that village could manipulate time?
Maybe I should really ask her what happened during her final battle against it...
"Remarkable... you nearly held your own against a time-manipulating foe? With your low stats and subpar equipment?"
Iris, you're somehow managing to praise and criticize me at the same time...
"Don't be too impressed, underling. Truth be told, he's quite the despicable man, easily swayed by any woman's charms. In fact, by any man's charms too, as we three lovely ladies once witnessed him receiving a premium lap dance from another man. And oh yes, he was turned into a baby for a week as well."
Megumin spilled more information than I had expected her to.
I really wish she hadn't reminded me of that male stripper incident that I had managed to mentally repress.
"A baby?! Onii-sama was turned into a baby?! Please share the full story with me later!"
"Of course. I'll also share the tale of the baby incident and the involvement of Darkness over there, who is currently—Ow! Ow! Ow! Stop crushing my skull!"
Well deserved.
Thanks, Lalatina.
...
We entered the meeting room, finding a long, elegant wooden table placed vertically in the center, flanked by about a dozen wooden chairs on each side. The room was supported by four pillars, positioned in pairs across from each other, each guarded by a knight.
"It seems rather empty in here considering the importance of discussing Iris's protection. Where are the generals and knights?"
I asked Claire.
"That is indeed strange. Perhaps the generals are running late, and the knights may also be delayed due to their duty of escorting the generals. Nevertheless, we will proceed with the discussion and update them when they arrive. Please, take a seat,"
As she dismissed us all, everyone was deciding on which seat was cooler to take to look as if they were a serious character.
For some reason, my attention was drawn to a particular chair placed next to a larger one at the head of the table on the shorter side.
"Kazuma-dono, you should not sit in that chair! Despite your contributions to the Royal Capital, your commoner status disqualifies you from sitting there. It is Princess Iris's designated seat, positioned next to the King's chair and facing the Prince's chair. The knights are also concerned that a commoner like you is occupying that seat without reservation."
Great, now Claire is already on me for doing something so normal and mundane. She's even bringing up the commoner status like how Darkness always does.
"I don't see the problem. I like this chair. Do you perhaps have a problem with it?" I suddenly ask her. Of course, she was a bit taken back at my sudden resolve. Perhaps I show some resentment towards her and no mutual respect for her after all.
"Indeed, Kazuma. That chair holds a specific significance, and it is inappropriate for you to take it so lightly."
Speaking of my goddess, Darkness seemingly took Claire's side rather than mine.
After all we've done last night and this morning...
Guess I have no choice-
"It's alright, Onii-sama can sit there! I'll take the seat next to him, and Lalatina can sit behind us. Everything will work out perfectly!"
"Thank you, Iris. It's heartwarming to see that you recognize and appreciate my efforts and contributions to the kingdom. I am truly honored to accept your kindness and be allowed to occupy such a humble seat…"
I decided to play along, bowing slightly on my knees and offering a mock gesture of submission to the two women.
The glares from both Darkness and Claire intensified, and I could hear whispers among the knights.
"Is that really the troublemaker we had difficulty apprehending?"
"I'm not sure if this is the same guy. Stay alert in case we receive orders to detain him."
Noted, it seems I've made an impression.
No one can catch me off guard, and I won't let anyone easily catch up to me.
After a moment, Claire seemed to sigh in exasperation.
"As much as I'd like to argue further, your safety takes precedence over dealing with this... audacious individual."
Claire rubbed her forehead, appearing slightly exasperated.
"Alright, let's move on to the main matters at hand."
Megumin took her place beside Iris, while Aqua occupied the seat next to her.
Meanwhile, Darkness stood behind me and Iris, completing our arrangement in the chairs.
"Last night, Princess Iris was drugged with a sleeping pill by one of our most trusted servants. It's unclear whether that servant was a spy from another kingdom or was disguised by a demon king's spy. We have yet to identify them, so no servants are to be allowed to give anyone, especially the princess, any food or beverages. If they encourage you, arrest them immediately or find the nearest knight in the vicinity. Furthermore, we are aware that there was a second spy involved. This second spy had surreptitiously infiltrated Iris's room with the assistance of the first spy and then abducted her. Fortunately, Rain and I were enroute to check on Iris. However, we arrived a bit earlier than usual, as we both had a gut-feeling premonition that something was amiss."
Fortunetelling? Or just a feeling in your stomach?
"Upon opening the door, we discovered Princess Iris being carried out of the window. We swiftly managed to apprehend the culprit, but in the process, Rain had to kill them to thwart the attempted kidnapping. Regrettably, we were unable to extract any information from the second spy, and the first spy remains at large. Now, let me outline my plan..."
As Claire began to outline the events of the previous night and her plan moving forward, I found myself unable to hold my tongue any longer.
"Wait a second, let me clarify this. You both killed the kidnapper? Did you even identify whether they were from another kingdom or the Demon King's army? And did you even gather any information before taking such drastic measures?"
"M-My apologies, I am rather tired from the sleepless night of working. The body was indeed from the Demon King's army, ruling out the possibility of involvement from another kingdom. As for the kidnapper, they posed an immediate threat to Princess Iris, and we had to act swiftly to neutralize the situation."
"But what kind of threat were they?"
"Hostage situation."
"If they were holding Iris as a hostage, it means they might not have intended to kill her right away."
"I don't see what you're trying to lead up to."
"I'm just saying that by killing them, you lost the opportunity to gather valuable information. It seems like the second culprit, who you mentioned couldn't be interrogated, might have had more to offer. In my opinion, a more thorough analysis of the situation could have yielded better results."
I casually placed my foot on the table.
"Ow! Ow!"
I immediately felt Darkness's hand exerting pressure on my shoulder. I winced and quickly removed my foot from the table.
"Get serious here. And I mean it."
Who was this lady? Give me back my Lalatina, I don't want Dustiness Ford Darkness.
"Are you questioning the capabilities that Rain and I have dedicated our entire lives to achieving? When you've never once protected Princess Iris from any dangerous beings in your lifetime?"
Claire seemed visibly irritated, a sentiment I could empathize with. I likely said something I shouldn't have.
"I'm just trying to say..."
A knock resounded from the front door.
"I apologize for knocking on your door while you're in a crucial meeting. However, a special guest has arrived and wishes to get ahold of the situation, Claire-sama.."
A masculine voice, that of a butler, emanated from outside the door.
"Who could be so important as to disrupt our meeting concerning Princess Iris's safety? Very well! Open the door! Who do you think you are, assuming you're important enough to interrupt us!"
Claire wore a disdainful expression when it came to individuals of lower status interfering with her duties, not that I could blame her for it.
The massive doors opened slowly, revealing the person who sought entry into the meeting.
The figure loomed with an impressive stature, radiating an aura of undeniable importance, even to me.
The knights quickly regained their composure, having nearly dozed off against the pillars during our mundane argument. They stood up straight, their postures becoming notably rigid.
Aqua, Megumin, and I exchanged clueless expressions, wondering what title this man held that could stir such a reaction in everyone present.
Claire and Rain were shocked by the man's presence, promptly standing up straight just like the knights.
Darkness and Iris appeared genuinely surprised to see this man in person.
The man stood several inches taller than Darkness and me, who we stood the same height together.
His short, straight blonde hair was fashioned into an undercut curtain, framing piercing blue eyes that examined every person within the meeting room.
An unmistakable aura of intimidation emanated from him, marking his importance clearly.
He was undoubtedly a high-ranking nobleman.
"Who is that?" I asked Darkness.
"You idiot! Every soul in the capital recognizes him for his unwavering valor and relentless resolve to obliterate the Demon King and his army!"
Strangely, the man's attention immediately fixed on me, his intense blue gaze locking onto mine.
I could feel my nerves getting the better of me.
Darkness leaned in to whisper to my ear, her voice hushed yet charged with reverence.
"He holds the title of one of the most powerful swordsmen in history, not only within our own history books but also in those of other kingdoms..."
Her voice almost caught in her throat as she whispered his name into my ear.
"The prince of The Kingdom of Belzerg, Belzerg Stylish-Sword Jatice..."
Prince Jatice slowly took a step into the meeting room, immediately shifting the room's atmosphere.
"Can I come in?"