Chapter 11 - 11 The First Imperial Capital
I had been shut away in my laboratory, researching the [Collar of Subjugation] and the [Collar of Taming].
I could understand the escape prevention, but it also had [Suicide Prevention] and [Command Obedience] attached to it. The Collar of Taming had [Obedience] attached.
If I had this, maybe I wouldn't have needed Taming...
In the end, I hadn't been able to tame anything until now.
However... it seems I have obtained the [Slave Mark Crafter] and [Tamer] skills.
I wondered how this was happening, but there was no use thinking about it. Thinking I needed a change of pace, I tried to go outside, only to find that Marc had arrived.
"It has been a long time, Young master! I heard the news. Your exploits in the dungeon!"
"That sounds like a compliment with an ulterior motive. What is your purpose?"
Gale, who was watching the exchange, burst into loud laughter.
"He's asking to be allowed to sell soap and stones, boy!"
"I see. Depending on the circumstances, that would be fine. Surely you didn't come empty-handed?"
Then, he brought out intel regarding the Imperial Capital.
"It seems that Hermann, having touched the wrath of Excellency Klaus, will not be satisfied with just a demotion. There are rumors that, if things go poorly, his territory might be confiscated. Also, there is information that Silver Wolves have appeared in the mountains to the west..."
"Is that true?"
"Yes. The western mountains are Hermann's territory, but more accurately, they belong to his younger brother, Baron Darda's territory. Since the lord is absent and things are in disarray, the monsters are likely running wild."
This was interesting information.
"Very well. However, you have been leaking our information to other territories as well, haven't you? Don't expect to make much profit from it."
"Eeeh? That's not fair...!"
"That's how it is. Marc! That was a good lesson!"
Gale patted Marc on the shoulder while laughing.
I had set many traps, centered around the western mountains.
While waiting for them to fall into the traps, I went on several dungeon raids with Emilia. We had already defeated the Dinosaur Scorpion many times. Therefore, I had one specimen taxidermied to be displayed at the Adventurer Guild.
Thinking it would be a pity to die from the tail's venom, I had prepared an anti-venom serum. Additionally, for the monsters that would jump out if a treasure chest turned out to be a trap, I had powder bombs filled with plenty of capsaicin. I had these sold at the Adventurer Guild.
"We recommend parties of B-Rank or higher. Just because we defeated the Dinosaur Scorpion doesn't mean you should easily head to the boss, or you'll have a painful time."
"But you know. There are many fools. Especially the foolish sons of nobles coming from the Imperial Capital. I don't particularly care if they die, though?"
Reimi said something incredible with a smile on her face.
And finally, victims appeared.
They were the sons of some noble calling themselves 'Red Crow' who had come from the Imperial Capital.
Since they seemed to be around C-Rank, Reimi smilingly told them, "I cannot recommend it," but they weren't listening.
"Hey, lady! We'll take down that monster! Show us the map!"
"That will be 100G."
Grinning, they said, "We don't have money, you know? But you've got great breasts, don't you?" and quickly grabbed her chest.
"Hyah-hyah! If you're starving for men, come to my room tonight! Got it? There's no way we can't beat a brat like you, but we can beat you! Hyah-hyah!"
They grabbed Reimi's breasts and laughed vulgarly.
However, this would be the last sight of these men.
Next Day
Hearing that 'Red Crow' had entered but not returned, Emilia and I headed there. And there were five corpses that had dried up like mummies.
I stored them in my Inventory, and when I brought them back, Reimi stripped the corpses naked.
"I have to sell whatever looks sellable! This guy rubbed my breasts. I'm definitely charging a fee! Tsk... for a noble, they're poor. They only have silver coins!"
Complaining, she kicked the corpses. When I thought about performing [Purification], Reimi threw them into the fertilizer along with the monster corpses.
"That made me feel a bit better!"
It was a moment where I thought women were scary.
When I returned home, a letter had arrived.
Wondering who it was, I saw it was Aristo.
[I was waiting for a letter, but since it wasn't coming, I decided to write to you myself.]
I could read from the text that he was angry. It wasn't that I had forgotten, but I didn't have the habit of writing letters. If only there were emails at the very least...
The contents described how he was working hard now. After that, it mentioned my mother Aqua's pregnancy, and most surprisingly, that his grandmother Marino had also become pregnant.
Is it because I made them younger with magic? I'm happy about that, though.
The people of this world are incredibly responsive to medicine.
I don't know if it's related, but it was still a shock. And he wrote about how he was scared when they were attacked by Hermann. He wrote that he felt proud that his Father and Grandfather stood on the battlefield, and that he was frustrated that he couldn't fight at all.
If it weren't for this body, and I were caught in a war... if the real me had come from Japan, I'm confident I'd wet my pants.
Setting that aside for now, I wrote about how I had teamed up with Emilia to conquer the dungeon and that the dungeon had been named 'Shivan-Emilia'. After that, I wrote that my mother had also become pregnant and sent it off.
When summer arrived and it became hot.
A Silver Wolf came down from the mountain along with an explosion.
"A Silver Wolf! A Silver Wolf has appeared!"
It was covered in wounds... I wondered if I could tame it, but it seemed impossible. It was letting out growls but was weakened. Then it collapsed and died.
"Young master! This one is a female! Her belly is large!"
In a hurry, I took the children out, and when I applied [Heal], two were born. Since they looked like they were going to die, I applied [High Heal] repeatedly... and it seemed they were breathing. Wondering if they would grow with cow's milk, I decided to take them in and raise them. I made something like a dropper and gave them a little bit every day, and they gradually grew.
After that, everything went without incident, the threat of wolves disappeared, and just as we were about to welcome the harvest season in peace, an incident occurred.
Count Hermann was being treated as a criminal. When he was expelled from the Imperial Capital, he was sent to Margrave Kruger's territory. Then, an official from the Imperial Capital entered Hermann's territory, and management began as direct territory.
It was while they were conducting an inspection of the autumn harvest.
"It's terrible! The official... has been attacked and killed!"
Hermann's territory fell into an uproar. It was thought the culprit was a bandit, but it was the eldest son of Baron Darda, who had conspired with bandits and served as the Knight Commander of Darda's territory.
"My uncle's resentment and my Father's revenge! I'll take it! Next, I will ravage the territory of that insolent Butler and aim to reclaim my uncle! Everyone! Follow me! We'll make a mess of the harvest!"
It would have been better if they had attacked all at once, but having killed the official and made a bloodbath of the Imperial Capital's officials, they had become complacent. It seemed they had occupied the former Hermann castle and were holding a banquet. This one-day delay reached us and gave us time to prepare.
"Boy! It's a good thing the enemy is stupid!"
"Gale. We must not be careless. As they say, a cornered rat will bite the cat, right?"
In the end, they appeared three days later.
"Advance, advance! In Butler's territory, we can take whatever we—"
As he started to speak, he was gone before I knew it. He had fallen from his horse.
"Commander? What are you doing?"
One after another, they got tangled in something and fell from their horses.
"This is quite easy. Gale! Capture them and tie them up!"
"Don't even tell me! I'm already doing it, boy!"
I had strung Wild Spider Thread at a position slightly higher than the horses' necks. Since they came charging down the slope without noticing, they couldn't stop and ended up taking a lariat-like hit.
And then, they fell from their horses in a funny way. In this manner, the men who were riding fell one after another, and they were easily captured.
"Is it really okay to have such an easy bandit hunt?"
"Are you dissatisfied, Ben? Winning easily. That is the best strategy for me!"
The 53 bandits were all taken alive. They were to be handed over to the capture unit from the Imperial Capital that arrived.
From autumn to winter, I was trying to make armor out of the Dinosaur Scorpion's exoskeleton. It was harder, more durable, and lighter than metal.
I'll make something cool!
First, I tried making it using Emilia as a mannequin. At first, it turned out looking overly ornate and rugged, but I made the waist slim to emphasize the chest. Making it look like it was showing off the 'Absolute Territory' with long boots, it turned out quite well.
Then Emilia came by to complain, saying, "What have you been doing cooped up in there this whole time!" It was like jumping into the fire!
"Wait! No... not in a place like this, there's no mood at all!"
"That's not it! I stripped you so you could wear this!"
It looks cool, like the Black Knight from Granol!
"Th-this, my panties will be completely visible..."
"True. It would be perfect for an eroge, though..."
I was punched after she told me not to say such nonsensical things.
"But, overall, it's cool and I like it! Just do something about the area near the crotch!"
So, I changed it to high-leg style armor and deliberately added a miniskirt, and it became cute, strong-looking, and cool! I increased the range of motion and aimed for further lightweighting.
"It's completely different! It's sexy, and it's easier to move in, too. With this, I won't mind being looked at anywhere! Thank you!"
Since I added gold accents in places, it wasn't rugged but had a certain elegance. It was designed so that the breasts would look pushed up and have a cleavage. I'll make one for myself too, and it should look very strong.
Since both of them are in their growth period, I thought I'd remake them when they get bigger, so I went on several Dinosaur Scorpion subjugations.
I made various sizes for both men and women, around 3L, 2L, L, M, and S.
"Your outfits are quite cool, aren't they?"
"Reimi-san, isn't it great! Shivan made it for me!"
It became famous in town, to the point where the armor shop wanted to become my apprentice.
I also made a bicycle.
"What is this? Did you make something strange again?"
"The balance is difficult. Being symmetrical on both sides."
Through trial and error, I somehow completed it. As I was riding it nimbly, Emilia looked at me enviously.
"Even I can ride that!"
However... she couldn't ride it at all. After that, she came every day to practice, and by the fourth day, she was able to ride with both hands off.
"How is it? As expected of me, right?"
"Splendid."
When she makes such a smug face, I have no choice but to praise her, right?
And then the Imperial New Year arrived.
Imperial Year 251.
Finally, my younger brother was born, and by April, I will be 13. Emilia will be 14.
"Oh? Are the doggies also awake-desu?"
"Emi-nee. They aren't doggies, they're wolves."
Even when I corrected her, she ignored me.
She was smiling while holding the two of them on top of her swollen breasts. The two, who were about the size of hamsters when they were born, had grown a little and had started walking wobbly.
When spring comes, the fields will become busy all at once again.
"Thanks to you, boy, the fields have expanded again this year! The land improvement zones grew during the winter!"
"That said, the desert will still take more time. I hope to do something about it while I'm still alive..."
What is he saying? As Gale laughed, saying, "Even though you're just a 13-year-old brat," a messenger arrived from the Imperial Capital.
"Excellency Butler. It is a notice of Promotion in Rank from His Majesty!"
"I humbly accept!"
Because of this, Father had to head to the Imperial Capital.
A discussion arose regarding how to handle the escort, and it was decided to limit the number of people to what could fit in the carriage I had improved.
"That's it! Shivan and Emilia, come too. I'll let you take the C-Rank exam!"
Emilia was laughed at when she worried about taking care of the doggies.
"It's fine! I can do at least that much for now!"
"Then, Madam. I leave them in your care!"
I decided to entrust them to my mother, Leen.
Since going to the Imperial Capital meant attending ceremonies and parties, I made outfits so they could handle various situations. I stored Father's, my, and Emilia's luggage in my Inventory.
Branch Chief Luigi sent a letter to the Adventurer Guild in the Imperial Capital. When I sent a letter to Aristo, a reply came saying, 'Stay at our house. Grandfather says so too.'
"With this, the lodging and food costs will be free!"
Whether he was serious or joking, Father said so and laughed.
He's joking, right? For now, I'll prepare some souvenirs that the Klaus family would likely want!
"Captain! Leave the house to me! Boy, stay well-behaved in the Imperial Capital!"
"I'm always well-behaved, Gale. Who are you mistaking me for?"
"You're as talkative as ever, you little brat..."
In the end, four people acting as escorts and drivers, along with the three of us, departed from the house.
We were seen off early in the morning by many people shouting, "Come back soon!" as we set out.
Upon entering the Count's territory, there was no vitality despite it being spring.
"Father. The scenery is completely different from ours."
"To me, it is a scenery of nostalgic and bittersweet memories. It feels just like when I first came to our current territory..."
Was it like this 14 years ago... As I thought and gazed, Emilia muttered.
"The lives of the people change greatly depending on whether the Lord is good or bad. Become a good Lord, Shivan!"
"It's difficult to say for all the people, but I will make an effort."
We applied [Body Enhancement] to the horses and moved forward, occasionally healing them with [Heal]. We stopped at several villages and towns along the way, but no one seemed to hold hope for the future.
"Seeing this makes me feel sick! It's not the fault of these people! Don't you think so, Shivan!"
I could well understand Father's indignation at seeing the unhappy residents.
"The road we just passed through was originally Baron Darda's territory. The son is the type of person who would shift responsibility onto us and attack. I can only think they are a father and son alike."
Contrary to Father's frustration, the carriage proceeded smoothly. By the evening of the third day, we arrived at the Imperial Capital.
When entering the Imperial Capital, we were questioned by the guards.
"My name is Butler. I am a Knight Title. I have come by the invitation of His Majesty!"
"Ha! Please, come in!"
Since all of us appeared clad in jet-black armor, the guards were tense.
"That is Butler-sama, who was feared as the Crimson Death..."
"I can feel the mindset of one always on the battlefield! As expected!"
The guards, as expected, felt awe, saying we were different from other nobles.
When we visited the Klaus house, they were surprised that those stepping out of the carriage were wearing black armor.
"What... it's Butler... don't startle me!"
"Excellency Klaus. This is so my son wouldn't be looked down upon by country folk..."
When I said that, he said happily, "The guards must have been quite flustered, weren't they?" In reality, the people who encountered us were indeed astonished.
"Fine! Send someone to the Palace! Tell them Butler has arrived!"
Klaus welcomed us with a smile, but only Emilia was restless, looking around everywhere.
"What's wrong, Emi-nee?"
"But... I've never known a building more magnificent than the Lord's Manor! This place... it's too amazing... I thought Kings lived in places like this."
Our Lord's Manor is certainly magnificent for that countryside. Since the previous Lord's Manor was practically a shack...
Aristo appeared, laughing "Ahahaha!"
"What is it, Shivan! You've gotten even bigger! Emilia-san, you haven't changed! How many centimeters are you now?"
"Me? I think I'm probably 168cm. Shivan is the same."
"Dammit! There's still a 10cm difference..."
He looked frustrated, but it seemed Aristo had grown quite a bit too.
Then Windam appeared.
"Mother and Aqua are not in good condition. Could you examine them?"
Before that, he said, and brought out the souvenirs one after another. When I brought out the aforementioned bicycle, Emilia invited Aristo, saying, "I'll teach you how to ride it!"
The adults were looking forward to my souvenirs. When I announced that I had improved the 'Health Drink' to make it easier to drink, Klaus and Windam had a struggle over it.
"Windam, you are still young!"
"You are the one, Father! Are you not still quite young yourself!"
Father stepped in to mediate, but they were a father and son who wouldn't listen.
First, I checked on Marino's condition.
Using [Appraisal], I applied [High Heal] to the bad areas, and her expression became a little gentler.
"Shivan-kun... you came. Everyone, step back! It's hard for Shivan-kun to perform the examination! What is that? Those accusing eyes! Have some shame!"
I could tell she thought I was a child. The Lady had noticed that the doctors and maids were looking at me with suspicious eyes.
"Useless doctors and maids who just stand there were in the way. And to look at me with such an arrogant gaze!"
"They must surely be worried about you, Madam. Please do not scold them."
However, she strictly ordered that from now on, no one was to enter during my or Aqua's treatment. Thanks to that, Aqua's treatment was easier to perform.
It seems there are no people in the ceiling space or behind the doors either.
I confirmed with [Clairvoyance] and spoke with peace of mind.
I undressed Aqua, who was sleeping in bed, applied [Clean], and wiped her body clean with cotton. She looked happy, saying, "You're as kind as ever."
"Aqua, you're as beautiful as ever. I love you."
When I said that, she said, "I'm so happy!" and shed tears. As I reached out to embrace her, we shared a deep kiss. After applying [High Heal] to Aqua to restore her strength, she took out my cock and sucked it.
"Hey? Shall we do it once?"
She whispered as she looked around. I immediately embraced her in the missionary position, caressing her slowly, and she muttered, "Shivan... I love you."
"You've grown so much in a year. This too! Even though I've given birth, my lewd pussy is throbbing with joy! I'm... I'm going to cum... Can I cum?"
When I said yes, she lifted her hips and convulsed, saying, "Sex with love really feels good!"
"Do you want to come inside me?"
"Is it okay if we make another one?"
"Ufufu. You won't know if that child is Shivan's, will you?"
When I made a slightly dark face, she said, "It's a secret. I believe it's your child! Next time, I'll be certain! If it happens, I'll know it's yours!" She tightly entwined her limbs with mine and said, "If you tell me you love me, I'll let you come inside! Otherwise, my womb won't be happy!" so...
"Aqua... I love you!"
"Aahn! I'm going! I'm being impregnated again!"
As we tried to separate after a deep kiss, she said, "Let me get clean!" and performed Cleaning Fellatio.
"Ufu! That was delicious! Your cock milk!"
"From now on, I'll come here every day when I'm staying!"
When I said that and changed clothes, she said, "I've become energetic too, so I'll change," so I helped her.
And for dinner, I made egg porridge for the Lady and Aqua.
"This way, you can get vegetables and it's gentle on the stomach. It's hot, so please eat slowly."
Both of them were happy, saying things like "It's a kind taste" and "I feel it soaking into my body."