After everything that happened, we had enjoyed our stay in Roukaku to the fullest, and since it was about time to head back, we informed Koren-sama and Kuduro-san of our departure. They decided to see us off in the audience hall.
「So, you’re really leaving…」
「We’ve resolved the Earth Dragon issue, and there are people waiting for us, you know.」
There were so many places to see in Roukaku that we ended up staying longer than expected, but lately I’d started to miss… or rather, worry about Mizera.
「We’ll drop by again whenever, so cheer up.」
「It happened to be a good time for us too, since we had some important guests arriving… But promise me, alright?」
「Yeah. We’ll definitely come again.」
…Besides, Kuduro-san even made me a special membership card for the belly dance club.
If I ever have a free day, sneaking back to Roukaku for a little relaxation might not be such a bad idea.
「Muu… In the end, you never laid a hand on me… I wanted onee-sama’s child…」
「Hold up, it’s not even about you, alright? Give it up and find yourself a good guy somewhere else. Though, honestly, I doubt you’ll find one better than masterssu.」
「That may… be true, but still…」
「Huh? Wait, what’s with that reaction!? Did something happen!?」
「Hm? …Ah, it’s the lord’s fault.」
「Shiro? Do you know something? Ah! Was it the groomingssu!? Did you lower your guard after that!? I mean, I get it, but that’s way too easyssu!」
Well, if I think about it, that’s probably what she’s referring to… but not exactly.
Still, it’d just be a hassle to explain, so I’ll let it slide.
「I-It’s nothing, onee-sama! My… my butt just…」
Koren-sama glanced at me for a moment, her cheeks turning red as she said something that could only be taken the wrong way.
…She really knows how to make things troublesome.
I should punish her later, wait, no, she’d probably enjoy that.
Punishing a masochist really is a pain.
「Your butt!? Did you just say buttssu!? Master, what did you do to Koren’s butt!? And you said you didn’t lay a hand on her… D-Don’t tell me you did something weird to my sister’s buttssu!!」
「I don’t know what you’re imagining, but no, nothing weird happened.」
「So, what you did doesn’t count as weird!? After what you did to my poor butt… you… you completely wrecked it…!」
Koren-sama quickly pressed her hands against her rear, rubbing it gently as her face turned even redder.
Hey now, phrasing and gestures like that are just begging for the wrong idea.
Oi, you’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?
No, really, there’s no way that isn’t intentional.
Or wait… could this actually be some kind of plan? A scheme to sic Renge on me?
「M-M-M-Master, seriously, what did you ‘do’ to her!? I mean, yeah, Koren’s got plenty of faults, and I know she’s caused you trouble, but this is a whole different storyssu! Punishment’s one thing, but if you went full-on ‘training’, that’s a problemssu!? Come on, confess already!」
So, what, am I supposed to say something like, “I gently guided her while touching, rubbing, patting, and soothing her with firm words”?
There are some things in life that just can’t be explained with words, you know…
「Ho ho ho. Lord master, I believe we must have a long, thorough talk about this matter, hm?」
「…Hold on, old man. What’s with that paw? Alright, alright, I’ll explain! Just, please put away that intimidating paw first, yeah!?」
He’s smiling, but that ‘pressure’ coming off his paw pads is terrifying.
Soft and squishy they may look, yet they radiate a dreadful, crushing aura.
「Shiro! Master won’t tell me anything, so you’re gonna spill ‘everything’, got it!?」
「Mmm… Shiro didn’t see, but I heard a steady ‘pan-pan’ sound.」
Ah, right, when I spanked her it was over her clothes, so it probably did sound like that.
I’d describe it as more of a ‘peshin’, but fine, I’ll leave it to Shiro from here.
No matter how this goes, I can already smell trouble.
「Hey, Wendy, what are we doing about ‘that’?」
「That, huh… are we really going through with it?」
「Of course. That’s why we bought it. But let’s wait until we’re home. We have to save Mizera’s share too…」
「So that means… we’re all doing it together, right?」
「Yes, of course. It’s part of our ceasefire agreement, our joint operation. I’m certain Master will use the Ultimate Knight as well, so we’ll need everyone’s cooperation.」
「Yeah… otherwise, it’ll be tough for both sides.」
「Right… What about Shiro?」
「We made a deal. In exchange for everyone’s individual priority rights, Shiro gets hers. It hurts, but given how she feels, it can’t be helped…」
They were talking about something intriguing, “that” and the “Ultimate Knight”, but their voices were too low, and Renge was making such a fuss that I couldn’t catch everything.
「Hey, what are you three whispering about?」
「N-Nothing at all!」
「Eh? Why’re you suddenly angry…?」
Scary… wait, could Sorte have figured it out from what I talked about with Koren-sama?
Ah… I see now. That day, huh…
「You’re thinking something awful again, aren’t you?」
「Nope, not at all?」
Still as sharp as ever, this dog…
「Well, it’s something good for our liege. Though… it’s rather embarrassing.」
「Aina-san, shh! It’s supposed to be a surprise!」
「R-right, my apologies, my liege. Please forget I said anything.」
「O-oh, sure. I’ll try.」
Come on, now. You’re making me ‘really’ curious!
If Aina’s embarrassed about this “surprise”, then what could it be!?
No, wait, I think I know. It’s probably something erotic. I can already feel the anticipation rising!
「By the way, Shiro-dono. Thank you for the help with the training.」
「Hmm. It’s fine.」
「It seems there was little challenge for you, but it gave the soldiers quite a lesson.」
Oh, right. Shiro fought against the army earlier.
Those who underestimated her because of her size were beaten down in no time. Even the squad leaders went down before it turned into an all-out many-on-one.
All I can do now is hope their spirits haven’t been broken.
「Anyway, it’s about time we head back.」
「Master! You’re telling me everything on the way home, got itssu!?」
「Lord master, when next you visit, we’ll have ourselves a proper talk.」
「Yeah, yeah, I got it. Alright then, 」
Before I could finish, the doors burst open.
「P-pardon the intrusion!!! Your Majesty! We have an emergency!!!」
Despite it being the audience chamber, a soldier stormed in, opening the doors with alarming force.
I recognized him as someone of relatively high rank, but he still wore full armor and his sword at his side, clearly too pressed for time to care about formalities.
「What is it? We are in the middle of seeing off an important guest right now.」
Koren-sama instantly switched into her regal mode.
In the blink of an eye, she was the same dignified queen we had first met, and I couldn’t help but be impressed.
「M-my apologies, Your Majesty, but the matter is urgent!」
「Then, what has happened?」
「E-earth dragon…」
「Earth Dragon? Have they appeared again in large numbers?」
Koren-sama pressed a hand to her temple, clearly bracing herself for bad news, but the soldier shook his head violently.
「No, not ‘those’ earth dragons! The ‘Earth Dragon’, the Earth Dragon ‘Reagaia’ has awakened!!」
「「What!?」」
「Whatssu!?」
Koren-sama, Renge, and Kuduro-san all widened their eyes in shock, rushing toward the soldier.
Aina, Sorte, Shiro, and Wendy all frowned deeply, their faces turning grave.
‘Earth… Reagaia?’
Wait, an Earth Dragon!? A different one from Cassandra?
「That’s impossible! It hasn’t even been a hundred years since the last time!」
「I thought the same and had it confirmed several times! But the reports are clear, there’s no mistake! It was sighted near the Northern Region and is now heading south toward us!」
「The Northern Region… that’s where all those earth dragons were missing, wasn’t it?」
That place… I thought Cassandra had gone there to eat, but could it be that another Earth Dragon was the one behind it?
「…I see. Understood. Grandpa, gather the elders at once. And you, onee-sama, things have changed. The Earth Dragon is coming from the north, so please return home immediately, taking the eastern route and circling south.」
Since we came through an official checkpoint, we’d have to go through one again on our way back, or else we’d be treated as fugitives sneaking across the border.
Still, if things got truly bad, we could always use teleportation to safely return to Einzheil.
「Wh-what are you saying!? You expect us to leave in a situation like this!? I’m the Shrine Ma…」
「Please return. I’m sorry, but by the covenant with ‘that person’, you are no longer a resident of this country. Matters of Roukaku must be handled by the people of Roukaku.」
Koren-sama’s tone wasn’t the usual gentle one she used when speaking to Renge.
There was no trace of respect or affection for her beloved sister, it was more like she was treating her as a hindrance, telling her to leave at once.
Even Kuduro-san nodded, as if to affirm her words.
「You helped us greatly with the Earth Dragons, but you and your companions are guests. Further involvement is unnecessary.」
「Onee-sama, you already have happiness to protect now. So please, don’t worry about us. Now then, everyone, we have urgent matters to discuss. Farewell…」
Koren-sama lifted the hem of her dress and gave a formal bow, politely but firmly dismissing us.
Her message was clear, leave, and don’t look back.
Kuduro-san then stepped forward, gently but insistently pushing us toward the exit.
「Come now, it’ll soon be dangerous here. I’ve arranged a Desert Parasaur to take you back, so please, quickly….」
「Koren! You can’t! Stop thisssu!」
An Earth Dragon approaching was no small matter.
Even without knowing much, I’d seen Cassandra before, so I understood how disastrous that could be.
This country had already been struggling to manage the lesser Earth Dragons. How could they possibly handle something like ‘that’?
No… judging by Renge’s panicked expression, they had no way to.
And yet, both Koren-sama and Kuduro-san faced us with calm, steady eyes, determined to see us safely out.
「Onee-sama. Stay well… The rest… I leave to you, brother-in-law-san.」
Her soft voice trailed behind us as we left the castle.
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