Chapter 207 - 205 The Western Margrave
Summer training camp.
Unlike any other year, everyone was serious and passionate.
To be honest, the men of the 'Shinobi' and the women of the 'Kunoichi' were professionals.
Their opponents were amateur students and adventurers. Somewhere in their minds, they had arrogantly assumed there was no way they, themselves, would lose to mere boys and girls.
But then...
"No matter who the opponent is, I can't afford to lose! So what if he's royalty? That doesn't matter at all! I'm Jefferson! To make Lea happy, there's no way I can lose!"
Lea, who had come to cheer for Jeff, couldn't stop crying from emotion.
Without wiping away the overflowing tears, she shouted in support, "Jeff... I love you too!"
Then, looking at Jeff, Chris shouted.
"Me too! I have something I can't give up on! My life is mine! Screw the rules my parents decided! I'll win it with my own power! There's no way I'm ever going to some back-alley Wizard!"
Aristo joined the fray as well.
"Last year, my report was first place, but I lost in swimming. To avenge that defeat, I can't lose either! I'll definitely, no, absolutely get first place here!"
The Seven Idols also joined in.
Muller was there too, quietly burning with fighting spirit.
I can't afford to lose either! I'll make four girls happy and become a knight!
Seeing this, the two first-years were fired up.
"Senpai are really amazing after all, Oscar!"
"I looked down on them a bit, but at this rate, the biggest fools will be us! I don't want Lord Shivans to think that of us! We'll show him with our strength, Wolf!"
It was a level of excitement unseen in previous years.
The adventurers who couldn't pay for the summer training camp.
"I understand why they say the academy students are elites..."
"I want to join too! I want money!"
The news that the Marine Corps would start offering free lessons to the adventurers who were just watching spread quickly.
"Lord Shivans paid for it. He said to train the promising adventurers too!"
"For real?! We can get trained too? I'll go tell the others! Hey! A chance has come our way!"
The adventurers also ended up participating, making the competition for the top 10 even tougher.
The men of the 'Shinobi' and the women of the 'Kunoichi' had worked at the Wizard Hotel for a month to scrape together the funds for this.
And, unusually, they were having dinner together.
Alpha spoke up.
"I underestimated the students, but it's pretty tough. Are you guys okay, Anne?"
"To be honest, we're struggling more than I thought... Did your... thing stop getting hard?"
Asked by Anne, Beta answered.
"Mornings are the same as always, but it's nothing compared to before. If we lose like this, we won't have any excuses. Aren't you guys getting less horny too?"
"Yeah, I guess. Maybe Cinq's hypothesis was right?"
Gamma reacted to Due's words.
"What hypothesis? If you don't mind, tell me!"
"Lord Shivans's pheromones. The reason we get wet is because of that..."
Delta was surprised by Trois's words.
"So our erections were... because of Lord Shivans's pheromones? As if I'm Beta or Sigma! I don't want to react to a guy!"
"Your voice is too loud. We'll get weird looks from people around us, you idiot! Well, I thought I wouldn't mind being bedded by him though!"
Sigma nodded at Quatre's words.
"Even from my perspective, Lord Shivans is sexy ♡ If he asked, I'd give in ♡"
Cinq laughed at Alpha, who looked like he was about to throw up.
"Putting aside our sex drives, the Iga Tribe is in a serious situation. It's that 'Blood Defect' that's become a topic in this country too. Lord Shivans seems like he could help the Iga Tribe's descendants flourish!"
Cinq was looking dreamy.
But the men of the 'Shinobi' pointed out that the next generation's descendants would end up in incestuous marriages again.
"The next generation's Obaaba-sama can think about that then! Our immediate goal is to get Lord Shivans to do something... It's a crisis for our clan!"
When Anne said that, Alpha made a triumphant face and said, "Sorry, but we, the Koka Tribe, will win for our pride too. We sympathize, but we won't go easy on you!"
"We don't need your sympathy either! We'll beat you to a pulp!"
When Due said that, Beta said, "But, if that theory from earlier is correct... when Lord Shivans comes back, neither we nor you will have any strength..." and for some reason, it was convincing.
"Damn, that's bad! If we get all wet and sloppy every day..."
When Trois said that, Gamma panicked, "And if we're all rock hard..."
"We've got to rack up points while we can!"
"R-Right, Quatre's right! We have to do our best now too!"
Delta agreed with Quatre's words.
"Specifically, we should score points on the reports! Lord Shivans praised us for our sharp insight and intuition!"
The other four women agreed with Cinq's words.
"For us, it's the swimming event, a test of physical strength! We have more stamina than the women, and it's the Koka Tribe's biggest selling point!"
All ten of them decided to aim for the top 10 and do their best.
As for me, I got my rank changed from H-Rank to A-Rank at the adventurer guild in the port town.
"Is this really alright?"
"Of course! There's no one left to complain anymore. Besides, you're strong, right?"
The Guild Master grinned and gave me a gold plate.
"What will you do now?"
"North. I'm thinking of heading for the Ducal Capital."
Then, after looking around furtively, he told me in a low voice.
"Be careful of the Inquisitors. They're devils in human skin. Some things can be forgiven if you pay. Anyway, don't get on their radar, alright?"
I don't know what they're like, but they can't be any different from bandits or thieves.
"I gratefully accept your advice!"
I bowed politely and left the town.
I decided to sleep during the day and be active at night.
I'd be happy if a red dot appeared!
But they didn't appear for a while, and I came close to the Ducal Capital.
Then, finally, prey appeared.
A carriage was being attacked.
"Ahahaha! Did you really think you could cross this mountain with only eight guards?"
"What country noble is this? Perfect timing! The young lady is quite a beauty!"
"This maid here is nice too! Let's strip her bare!"
Counting them, there were 22 bandits.
I abducted them one by one. The four ringleaders were too preoccupied with raping the women to notice their comrades falling asleep one after another.
"Come on, come on! Scream!"
"No... Someone help..."
"Milady! Let go, you brutes!"
The clothes of the two women were torn, and the girl called 'young lady' was crying and screaming.
"What's this? Bloomers?"
"The young lady looks like a virgin! Ghehehe. This maid here has a much sexier, naughtier pair of panties! You're a total nympho, aren't you?"
She was arbitrarily labeled a nympho, but it didn't seem like a situation to argue.
Just as hands were laid on her underwear and they were about to be ripped off, four bandits collapsed.
"I'm late to help, but are you alright? My name is Shivans, I'm an adventurer. You're a little injured. I'll treat you."
The two women, though bewildered, welcomed me and accepted my help.
"We are grateful for your assistance."
The young lady seemed still too terrified to speak. The maid, being considerate, thanked me, so I built an open-air bath and said, "Please, go ahead and get in. I'll repair the carriage. If you like, please use these too," and handed them shampoo, conditioner, and body soap. They were delighted, saying, "My! These are precious items that are hard to come by!"
I repaired the carriage with 'Revive'.
Then, I moved the 22 bandits to the Prime Minister's office food storage.
Right away, I went to the military and exchanged the cannonballs for stones I made with earth magic. After taking all their swords and spears too, I stole their food and alcohol. I also stole all the alcohol and food from the Prime Minister's office, then returned to the two women from earlier, purified the bodies of the eight guards, and handed their belongings to the two women.
"It's not far to the Ducal Capital! I'll drive the carriage!"
I let them ride in the carriage, put them to sleep, and teleported to the Ducal Capital.
"Please wake up! We've arrived!"
"Um... for your reward..."
The maid said it apologetically, so I declined, saying, "It's fine!"
My goal was to harass the Prime Minister. Thanks to that, I've achieved a bit of it.
The bandits were drunk from being force-fed cheap alcohol.
I broke the alcohol barrels and scattered them, so they would be caught as the perpetrators.
Tomorrow morning, after being shaken awake, they'll surely be tortured and executed.
The next morning
A huge commotion broke out at the Prime Minister's office.
"You bastards! Do you know where this is to pull such a stunt?"
The drunkards retorted in high spirits, "As if we'd know, you idiot!"
"I've got a hangover... my head hurts..."
"This cheap booze here doesn't agree with me!"
The guards were furious, splashed water on the 22 to sober them up.
Then, learning this was the Prime Minister's office, they were stunned.
"Why are we in a place like this?"
"You damn fool! What are you playing dumb for! Where are your accomplices who stole the food and alcohol! Where's your hideout! You probably have other crimes too, don't you? We'll torture you until you talk!"
The 22 told them everything they knew, but they weren't believed at all.
"We killed eight guards and attacked a carriage!"
"When was that? We're not asking about the past! We're talking about last night!"
"Yes! We are talking about last night!"
The conversation didn't match up, and the guards were confused.
"These guys are definitely bad news. They must be on some drug or something, Captain! At this rate, we'll get nowhere. What should we do?"
They whispered among themselves and went to seek instructions from the Prime Minister.
When they returned, they immediately ordered their subordinates.
"His Excellency the Prime Minister says 'Eliminate them'!"
"As you command!"
The lives of the 22 bandits met their end there.
I went to the adventurer guild in the Ducal Capital to gather information. But it wasn't easy, so I wandered around town and headed towards the slum district. Right away, some thugs started bothering me, even though it was morning.
"There's a kid who looks like he has money! Ghehehe"
"Welcome to the slums! Pay the toll!"
I cast 'Sleep' on them and read their thoughts and memories, but there was no significant information.
I'll ask One and Two to gather information!
I went to One and Two's location.
"I have a request. Even if the Prime Minister falls, if the Church remains, evil will spread. So, find the Inquisitors for me!"
Then One asked, "Should we dispose of them?"
"If you can, that's fine. But don't push yourselves."
"We value our lives too, you know. Even just gathering information is pretty damn dangerous!"
Two said it with a smile, so I left it to them and headed to the adventurer guild.
Then, a receptionist came to inform me that someone was looking for me.
"I am Shivans. And you are?"
"Pardon my rudeness. I am the butler of Viscount Rektor's household. My master wished to thank Lord Shivans for saving our young lady, so he has been searching for you."
I thought refusing here would be rude in itself, so I accepted.
Upon arriving at the mansion, I was immediately shown to the drawing-room.
"I thank you for safely rescuing my granddaughter."
"I'm sorry I couldn't save the guards in time."
"It is not your fault. I intend to do what I can for their families."
I thought that would be the end of it, but it wasn't.
"You are from another country, aren't you? An adventurer from our country would never have helped."
I thought it was a terrible prejudice, but he smiled wryly and said, "It's not prejudice. It's because I've never actually heard of anyone taking on a large group like that."
"This country fought a war twenty years ago, and it seems we were on the verge of victory when we were ambushed and defeated. And now, once again, they're trying to start a war without learning their lesson. Quite foolish, isn't it?"
According to Rektor, civil wars continued even after the war. He told me that some noble was always fighting.
"This country thrives on trade! This agriculture-based country went to war twenty years ago and lost. The nation's recovery was hindered by noble conflicts, and many young people despaired and clung to the gods. Without the country's recovery progressing, they're about to plunge into war again. The people involved in politics and running this country are all idiots! Why can't they see they're trying to destroy the country for their own selfish desires!"
He let out a sigh.
"I can understand what you're saying, Lord Rektor. Wars are always waged under the pretext of 'justice'. But those who become victims are the people in weak positions."
"Yes... I can't stop the war again. What was I born into this house for, and what have I achieved? At my age, I find myself thinking about such things all the time. I'm sorry. I called you here to thank you, yet I've made you listen to my pointless complaints."
It seemed no one would listen to Rektor's sound arguments.
They can't go against the power the Prime Minister holds. That's probably it...
The frustration of being unable to do anything even when waving around powerless justice.
I never thought I'd end up talking with this old man all night, but...
The next morning
"What will you do after this, Shivans?"
"I still have many things I must do. I will keep your words, Lord Rektor, firmly engraved in my heart!"
"I see. Come visit anytime. I'll be waiting."
I had cast 'Revive' and 'High Heal' on the sleeping Rektor, so I thought I'd see him again, and took my leave.
This country isn't so bad after all!
I headed for the territory capital of the Western Margrave.
Before that, I looked around the area near the border, which would likely become a battlefield.
Let's prepare some tricks.
I thought so and made preparations. The reason I went to the territory capital was that it was the hometown of Valentina, one of the Seven Idols.
When I went, I was given a great welcome.
"My, Lord Shivans! Welcome to this countryside! The local specialty here is white grapes. So the feature is white wine!"
Valentina's mother appeared and told me about the local specialty. I could imagine and understood that her father, Punto, was putting effort into white wine through the Punto Trading Company.
"But we're barely scraping by. In the Imperial Capital, red wine is the mainstream. Moreover, this land lost its people due to the misrule of the previous lord, Margrave Shinbu, and the current lord is... and with a war on top of that, it's a huge blow..."
Punto said with a pained expression.
Was the third son not as hardworking as Prince Richard?
When I visited, surprisingly, I was welcomed with open arms.
It seemed he usually disliked people and was a shut-in.
"I-I'm a huge fan of yours! Shake my hand! And also, I have your book as my favorite read! I wanted to live a life like yours!"
To think there were such hardcore, niche fans even in a place like this...
"P-Please stay the night today! A-And! I'll introduce you to my wife!"
I thought dinner would be a pleasant affair, but his wife was chugging alcohol and seemed rowdy, and His Highness kept talking about things like, "L-Look! I love this story on page 31! And the scene where he uses magic! That's the best! I-I want to be a mage too!" to the point where everyone around was put off.
"Dear. Shouldn't you stop there? Shivans-kun hasn't touched his food or drink, you know? Why don't you have some yourself?"
Without replying, he tried to go back to his room immediately.
"Do you dislike me that much? Since we married, we haven't even had a conversation... you don't even properly look at my face..."
She pleaded with tears in her eyes, but His Highness didn't answer and left the dining room.
"Ahh! Running away again! Wait for me! Honestly!"
When His Highness quickly left, his wife turned to me and poured me a drink.
"Let's drink, Shivans-kun! Come on, a toast! It's the first time a guest from the Imperial Capital has come here! Because he's like that, my husband doesn't talk to anyone. You seem special!"
She kept saying 'cheers' and started drinking in high spirits, and gradually people around us disappeared. It seemed she was a mean drunk. No doubt about it.
"Hey! I'm already 29! What should I do? Am I really that unattractive? He won't even look at my face, let alone kiss me! No conversations, no greetings! There's no way I can have a child! A 29-year-old married woman being a virgin is weird, right!"
As she started yelling, there was already no one around us.
"We finally got a territory, a chance, but being a shut-in like that is no good! What should I do? Help me..."
I didn't think there was no way.
"I visited the Punto Trading Company at noon today and heard their story. They were worried about the future of this territory, but I think there's still a chance!"
"R-Really? You're not lying, are you?"
When I nodded, she hugged me.
"Hey? I'm just a 29-year-old old lady, but are you interested in being entertained?"
Drunk, she said something outrageous.
So I took a bath with her, cast 'Revive' and 'High Heal' to clean her up, and went to bed.
I took her virginity before she sobered up. It seemed there was no pain; rather, it felt good. I kept holding her until nearly dawn, and we slept together.
The next morning
"I was the one who seduced you, right? And we did it without protection..."
"But it was good, wasn't it? You were really wild, you know? You even used your mouth at the end and swallowed it. I'm your wife, and it felt great!"
She squirmed shyly in my arms, so when I groped her breasts and kissed her, she resisted a little but then accepted it.
"It's Majeria!"
"Huh?"
She laughed at my stupid reply.
"My name. From now on, I won't forgive you if you call me 'wife' or 'old lady'. No one calls my name, so everyone forgets it... I'll call you Shivans too! From now on, when you hold me, you can just call me Maje! You'll be staying here for a while, right?"
So, it seemed that when others were around, we'd call each other 'Shivans-kun' and 'Majeria-sama', and in bed, we'd use first names without honorifics.
"So, Maje. Will you do it?"
"Sure, Shivans!"
She gave a clumsy, newly-learned fellatio.
When I groped her breasts, she writhed but made me bigger.
"Getting hard for an old lady like me, you perverted boy!"
Was it okay for her to call herself an 'old lady'?
"I called you my wife, but I didn't call you an old lady, you know?"
"Don't nitpick! More importantly, don't you want to hold me?"
She said it in a sulky tone, so when I held her, she looked happy. When I pointed that out, she said, "I'm a woman! I'm happy to be desired!" and accepted me.
We had breakfast together, and I dragged the reluctant His Highness outside.
While helping the busy farmers with the harvest, I said, "Please take care of His Highness!" and tilled the soil with earth magic, then used spirit magic to make it possible to harvest again.
"You'll be able to harvest again in one week! You don't have to pay taxes on it anymore, you can sell it!"
The farmers were dumbfounded.
"What do you mean, 'again'?"
"Who knows. He's an ignorant noble, right?"
Next, I gathered the people from the winery that was about to go under and made His Highness put up the money. I used earth magic to build a huge winery and suggested, "Would you like to work here?"
"I've prepared houses too! Anyone with debts, hand over your IOUs. His Highness will pay them all off!"
With their debts cleared and a good house to live in, everyone wanted to participate.
"M-Mr. Shivans... what are you doing here? The wine is..."
"What I'm making is brandy! Let me show you a trial run!"
I explained that the process was a little different from winemaking.
I used my signature alchemy to create it.
"This isn't white wine! What is this? Delicious... it's delicious!"
His Highness was delighted, so I immediately sent a messenger to the Punto Trading Company. Valentina's parents came by carriage, and when I introduced His Highness and had them taste the brandy, they were overjoyed.
"It'll sell... this will definitely sell!"
"Yes! It'll definitely sell, dear! We have to sell it! We have to advertise it!"
Vitality returned to the Punto Trading Company.
His Highness was overjoyed, saying it was all thanks to me, and started being able to ask everyone, "Please read the 'Tale of Shivans'."
After a week, changes also came to Maje, who I held every night.
"Is it okay if I get pregnant?"
"After all that cum I put inside you, isn't it a bit late to ask?"
"Well, I guess it is a bit late, huh?"
"Exactly! Come on! Give me more!"
She laughed and accepted it.
"It's an old lady's body, but it feels good when you cum inside, right?"
"Maje's pussy feels amazing!"
She spread her legs with both hands herself, inviting me.
"Come on, Shivans ♡ You want to hold me more, don't you? I'll give you lots of blowjobs too!"
There were changes in His Highness too.
"I-I always wanted to talk with Majeria..."
He came out to me a week later, so I said, "It would be better to tell her yourself, wouldn't it?" but he was scared, asking, "W-Won't she say it's too late?"
"Well then, first, let's talk to the people of the territory."
When I went around the farms with His Highness, people called out to him, "Your Highness!"
"As expected of Your Highness! So it was true that we could harvest again!"
"Is this really tax-free? You're a great lord! You're the best!"
His Highness began to look forward to going out with me.
Two weeks passed.
Majeria started wearing lewd underwear and became a woman who would do anything I asked.
"Hey, did you know?"
"That you've started to love me, Maje?"
"Idiot ♡ I'm famous for getting younger since I started drinking your sperm, Shivans!"
"That's just a coincidence, right?"
"Nuh-uh ♡ Your magical power is amazing ♡"
"You think so?"
"If I told people, everyone would want it, so I won't let anyone else drink it ♡"
"I love you, Maje, because you drink it so deliciously!"
"You don't say that to every woman, do you?"
"Of course not? I'll get mad."
"Sorry ♡ I'm jealous. So hold me more ♡ Make me, Maje, pregnant ♡"
That day, for the first time, she said, "I love you, Shivans ♡" and kissed me. It seemed her period was late.
The next morning, as usual, she woke up using my arm as a pillow and asked with a funny laugh, "This isn't just 'entertainment' anymore, is it?"
"Hey ♡ Is this what being lovers feels like?"
"Who cares about other people's standards? If you're happy, Maje, that's fine."
"As expected of you, Shivans ♡ When you're gone..."
"You've probably already got my child in that belly, right?"
"I hope so ♡ I wish His Highness would take a little more interest in me, you know?"
"If you get even sexier, I'm sure it'll be fine!"
"Well then ♡ I'll suck it ♡ Grope my boobs too ♡"
From that day on, Maje started wearing provocative underwear and very see-through, daring outfits. Then, His Highness began to sneak peeks at her, and Maje seemed happy about it.
Over the next week, the people of the territory and Punto started talking to him with smiles, and His Highness seemed to gain confidence, beginning to express his own opinions and intentions.
And finally, though through me as an intermediary, he started talking to Maje and the servants. Everyone was surprised, but I had told them beforehand to 'be gentle with him', and they were amazed that he actually spoke.
So, I invited His Highness too, and we had a threesome.
"This is amazing... ♡ I... ♡ I'm so incredibly excited!"
"M-Me too! Thanks to you, Mr. Shivans!"
Majeria convulsed and trembled as I came inside her.
His Highness fell asleep right after coming from Maje's handjob.
"My pussy has been shaped into the form of your cock ♡ Hey... you love this pussy, don't you ♡ I love this cock that reaches deep inside me too ♡"
Another week passed.
I taught His Highness cunnilingus, and during that time, Maje would suck my cock.
"Good, dear ♡ Lick more ♡ My legs that have become beautiful ♡ My pussy that's become a slut ♡ Seeing me sucking Shivans's cock ♡ It turns you on, doesn't it ♡"
Making a squelching sound, when I ejaculated, she deliciously gulped it all down, then, keeping her legs spread, guided my cock to her pussy and gave His Highness a blowjob.
"This time, I'll suck your cock ♡"
"U-Uwah, I'm happy! I love you, Majeria!"
Pleasure was engraved into her by two men, and she had a happy face. Even when I was leaving, she stripped naked, made me grope her breasts, gave me a blowjob, and swallowed it all because it was the last time.
"This is the slutty pussy you made ♡ Next year, I'll give birth to your baby, Shivans ♡ Hey ♡ Hold me tight because it's the last time ♡ Fill me up inside ♡ Love me, Shivans ♡"
As I came inside her, she said, "I love you too ♡" and gave me a deep kiss.
"In this belly, the fruit of our love is already growing ♡"
"I'm looking forward to next year."
"I'll be 30 next year, you know? Come make me young again ♡"
She seemed serious, so it was a little scary, but she waved goodbye with a smile.