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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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The temperature seemed to plummet suddenly. Goosebumps erupted on my skin. The surrounding noises faded one by one, leaving only Jin’s gaze fixed intently on me.
The rhythmic tapping of her fingers, from ring finger to index, against the counter sounded like thunder.
The seemingly eternal silence was finally broken a moment later. Jin stopped tapping and spoke.
“How do you intend to help me? Projecting power across the sea is impossible even for a Grand Lord.”
Simultaneously, the ambient noises I hadn’t noticed before rushed back in. The sounds hadn’t disappeared; I had simply been too focused on Jin to perceive them.
Feeling my heart race as if I had just run a marathon, I replied calmly,
“You’re choosing your words poorly. It’s not impossible, but rather unnecessary. The losses would outweigh the gains. However, if a legendary city of gold truly existed in the East, even kings would be scrambling to assemble an expedition.”
“It was merely a figure of speech.”
“I know. And I also know you’re not in a position to be picky.”
Jin pouted.
“Even so, acting as a nanny doesn’t seem like a worthwhile trade. Your help is currently inconsequential. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Currently, yes.”
“Are you implying that the future will be different?”
Jin stroked her chin, her gaze sweeping over me from head to toe as if assessing my worth.
“When you’ve finished preparing to return, I, too, will be by your side, transformed.”
“Hmm, so it’s just empty promises?”
“How about I offer a down payment?”
“I doubt that.”
Jin, having already secured the position of brothel manager, wasn’t short of money. Or rather, she wasn’t someone who could be swayed by money in the first place.
“The down payment is information. Information you desperately need right now.”
“You claim to know what I desire most…?”
Jin seemed intrigued, but her calm gaze suggested she didn’t have high expectations. She probably assumed the information a knight’s son could offer would be limited.
However, her indifferent expression didn’t last long.
“The lower one’s status, the more sensitive they are to the coughs of those above. That applies to you as well, now that you’ve decided to settle in Quaran.”
“Surely not.”
Jin’s eyes widened as she realized what information I possessed. I lowered my voice so only she could hear.
“The Lord of Quaran is not a man.”
“…!”
In the East, a “Lord” held the same meaning as a “witch” in the West. I addressed Jin, who was staring at me in disbelief,
“This should suffice as a down payment, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I’ve heard she’s a princess. If that’s true, what is her ability? Is this information reliable?”
Jin bombarded me with questions, demonstrating the importance of information regarding the Lord to her. She had essentially revealed her hand.
It was time to play the cards I had been dealt. I rose from my seat and continued,
“You’re asking too much for a mere down payment. I’ll reveal the rest after I’ve seen how well you fulfill your end of the bargain.”
“But this, too, is just empty words, is it not?”
“Then, I’ll give you a hint. Never approach the Lord directly.”
Jin, who had been tilting her head in confusion, suddenly clapped her hands together.
“Ah, so that’s why…!”
It seemed she knew that the Lord kept her distance even from her vassals. A mere brothel manager possessed information I had only learned through Andrei. She was clearly not someone to be underestimated.
“I trust you’ll fulfill your end of the bargain.”
“Master Allen! Allen—!”
Ignoring Jin’s frantic calls, I left the brothel. Lingering any longer would only lead to questions about the source of my information, and I couldn’t exactly tell her I knew it from my past life, could I?
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A chill ran down my spine. Even with the bed raised and positioned near the fireplace, the winter cold was relentless.
Perhaps it was because I was alone. Just a few days ago, there had been two soft, warm bodies readily available at arm’s reach, but now, the bed was empty save for myself.
‘Perhaps I shouldn’t have sent Anya away.’
I missed Anya, whom I had sent away three days ago. Even though we had spent far fewer nights together than apart, waking up alone felt strangely unfamiliar.
However, it couldn’t be helped. Anya had a role to play. I couldn’t jeopardize the future for a moment’s indulgence.
Hadn’t Anya bid me farewell with such resolve? She had promised to fulfill her mission perfectly. I had to cast aside my weakness for the sake of our future together.
Besides, there was another woman.
“Wake up, you lazy bum!”
Before I could fully gather my thoughts, the door burst open, and Fiore stormed in. She was fully armored, despite the early hour.
“It’s not even time for breakfast yet.”
“Don’t you know training before meals is more effective? It even improves your appetite!”
“Fair enough, but act like a guest, Fiore.”
“What’s the big deal? We’re the only ones home.”
Knowing there was no one in the mansion to judge her, Fiore acted as if she owned the place.
“There are servants. I’d hate for unnecessary rumors to spread.”
“Rumors?”
“Isn’t barging into the master bedroom without knocking something only family or a wife would do? Oh, are you perhaps trying to honor our bet about changing your last name to Tolbatz? Well, I wouldn’t mind.”
I grinned mischievously and patted the empty space beside me on the bed. Fiore’s face flushed crimson as she pointed at me.
“H-How long are you going to keep bringing that up, you idiot!”
“Forever?”
Why would I stop when she reacted so amusingly every time I teased her? I finally got out of bed after thoroughly enjoying myself at Fiore’s expense.
In truth, I had stalled because of my morning wood, which demanded attention.
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I dutifully followed Fiore. It had been a week since Janbolt’s departure. It was about time for the Baron’s envoy to arrive. This was my only chance to focus on training.
“Don’t expect luck to be on your side again!”
Fiore glared at me, her sword held in a half-sword grip. She clearly hadn’t forgotten being tackled the last time.
Swordsmanship could be broadly categorized into three types: unarmored combat, armored combat, and mounted combat.
I was focusing on armored combat and its inseparable companion, wrestling.
“That was a legitimate technique.”
“Technique, my foot! It was a lucky fluke!”
Fiore, still smarting from being teased earlier, was fired up. I decided to play along. Without warning, I launched myself forward, attempting another tackle. However, Fiore wasn’t foolish enough to fall for the same trick twice.
Lowering her stance, she extended one leg for support. Upon impact, she used her weight, amplified by her armor, to pin me down and slid to the side. Her sword, now behind my knee, hooked my leg and pulled.
“…!”
Losing my balance in an instant, I found myself staring up at the clear sky. A sharp pain shot through my back.
Fiore, having successfully taken me down, quickly straddled me, the sharp edge of her sword hovering just above my throat. She grinned, tapping my cheek with her blade.
“Hehehe. Trying to beat me? You’re ten years too early!”
However, Fiore’s smugness was short-lived. I subtly bucked my hips.
Despite the layers of padded and chainmail armor, the bulge beneath my clothes pressed against her ample buttocks.
Because Fiore was straddling me, her chainmail, which usually reached her thighs, had ridden up to her waist. This meant, unlike me, her buttocks were only covered by a thin layer of cloth.
“Oh my!”
Fiore let out an uncharacteristic shriek and scrambled away, retreating to the far wall of the training grounds. Her face was beet red. She pointed at my groin.
“D-Do something about that! I can’t focus on training!”
“I was born this way.”
“L-Liar! You’re, you’re just e-excited! I know it!”
Fiore looked at me as if I were some kind of pervert. I casually got up, brushing the dust off my clothes.
“It does get bigger when I’m excited, but it’s not quite there yet.”
“L-Liar! You’re just trying to tease me again, aren’t you?”
“Shall we test which one of us is right?”
I grinned mischievously and approached Fiore. She fidgeted nervously, seemingly forgetting she was holding a sword.
I had noticed it before, but Fiore seemed to have no resistance to this kind of situation. She was too susceptible to this kind of aggressive approach.
In a single stride, we were close enough to feel each other’s breath. I gently guided her fidgeting hand downwards, placing it on the bulge beneath my clothes and over my chainmail.
Squish.
Fiore instinctively tightened her grip.
Gulp.
Fiore’s eyes trembled as she looked down at her hand. Meanwhile, I deftly lifted her chainmail and slipped my hand inside her tunic.
The sensation I had felt before wasn’t a mistake. Hidden beneath the layers of armor, Fiore’s breasts were too large to cup with one hand.
Perhaps it was because she was a knight’s daughter and well-nourished? They seemed to be the largest I had ever touched. Of course, I would have to see them to be sure.
“Haa… Y-You…!”
Finally snapping out of it, Fiore jumped back, dropping her sword and covering her chest with both hands.
I put on an innocent expression and spoke,
“So, you see I was right?”
Fiore’s response was unexpected.
“I-It’s not fair!”
“What isn’t?”
Fiore averted her gaze and mumbled, her voice barely audible, but the content was shocking enough to reach my ears.
“I-I only touched you over your clothes…!”
I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips. She kept her head down, seemingly realizing the implications of her words.
I didn’t give her time to recover. I stepped closer, and Fiore’s throat bobbed nervously. She quickly lowered her head, as if too embarrassed to meet my gaze.
I pulled her closer by the waist, closing the distance between us to less than a finger’s width. Fiore trembled, sensing what was to come.
“Then let’s touch each other again. Fairly.”
Gulp.
Just as Fiore’s throat bobbed again,
“Master Allen!”
A servant rounded the corner of the mansion and ran towards the training grounds. Startled, Fiore pushed against my chest and stumbled back. She picked up her sword and started swinging it wildly in the air.
She was trying to pretend we had been training, but the flush on her face was far too radiant to be attributed to mere exertion.
“Hmm, let’s continue this later.”
Fiore flinched at the word “continue,” even though she had turned her back to me. The amusing thing was that she didn’t refuse.
Smirk.
Was this boldness a result of us being alone? They say people become more uninhibited when they’re abroad, away from judging eyes.
“What is it?”
The servant, still catching her breath, presented me with a letter. Inside the sealed letter was a single sentence.
‘Jude Horn is coming.’
It was a name I recognized from the list of the Baron’s vassals Janbolt had given me before leaving. Judging by the single sentence, it seemed to have been written in haste.
This meant that Jude Horn was about to arrive.
Janbolt, who had flatly refused to help me, was diligently providing information.
‘I’m not a fan of the tsundere male type.’
I thought about Jude Horn. According to Janbolt, he was the Baron’s left-hand man, a knight who handled all the dirty work. He was said to be as skilled as my father, but far more ruthless.
Sending him as a mere messenger seemed excessive. He was undoubtedly sent to seize the manor by force if I didn’t comply.
He was the perfect opponent to make my opening move against.
“I should prepare to welcome him. A grand feast is in order.”
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Ugh… just a bit more before fiore time’s
Thanks teot!