Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: David of Darkness
That Night
I held Aqua fiercely, and Aqua responded in kind. Rather, she was the one inciting it. She probably wanted to make me jealous.
"Men surrounded me. They peered down at my chest from above, and tried to look up my skirt from below. The men said I was 'incredibly seductive' and invited me, saying 'Tonight, I'll be with you.' I wonder if the scent of a woman was coming from my slutty pussy?"
Saying that, she smiled bewitchingly and lured me to the bed. Then, when I thrust up into Aqua violently, she clung to me, convulsing, and said, "Are you burning with jealousy? I'm so happy!"
"The only thing that makes my super-slutty pussy wet is your cock! My super-slutty pussy has already been reshaped to the form of your cock!"
She climaxed many times, and squirting had become a matter of course.
"If I'm held like this, the fourth one will probably be made right away! Speaking of which, Mother-in-law was also very popular, so right about now, she might be being held by Father-in-law, burning with jealousy!"
Imagining that sent a chill down my spine.
"The mouth of your lewdly corrupted wife? Her pussy? Her ass? These are holes that only you can use! Where do you want to put it in?"
With a bewitchingly beautiful face, she moved her tongue with a licking motion, then spread her crotch wide open with a squelch. She made the two holes twitch and showed them off.
"All of them!"
Forcefully, I shoved my cock into her mouth, made her deep-throat it, and held her head down. Even so, Aqua complied happily. I conquered every hole.
"The dress I'm wearing. It's annoying that men flock to me, but it's super popular! I'm also advertising that it was made in Water City Aqua. I'm a good wife, right?"
The face she made, wanting to be praised, was so cute that I held her again, but it's about time to have Windam become a sacrifice to fake Aqua's pregnancy.
"You don't have to go today. Just get your story straight!"
I decided to attribute it to my magic.
"If that's the case, fine!"
I slipped out midway and slept with Aqua until morning.
The next morning, in order to finish up the Lady and Aqua beautifully, I put them in the bath and then applied the 'Premium' lotion, and indeed, traces of Klaus remained on the Lady.
(The Lady looks to be around 30. Aqua now looks to be around 20. Well, no wonder they're popular.)
Of course, I pretended not to see anything and headed to breakfast myself.
Father Butler was talking to Windam, who had appeared looking completely exhausted.
"What's wrong, Windam? You look unwell! Eat properly! You're the one making kids like you're competing with me! Let's get along!"
Butler called him Windam without an honorific, being overly familiar, but neither the man himself nor those around him reprimanded him. Is that really okay? He's the heir to the Grand Duke family, you know?
Then, Mother Leen was also talking to Aqua.
"Speaking of which, that's right! Aristo-chan and Shivans-chan! Last year it was a younger sister, and this year it's a younger brother—they're the same! I wonder which it will be next year? It would be nice if they match again!"
As she was saying such carefree things, Klaus said he had something to discuss with Father. Apparently, it was about whether they could show everyone an Imperial Exhibition Match before noon.
"Will it be Father and Gale?"
I had a bad feeling and asked.
"What are you talking about, Shivans? The only one who'll do it with me is you!"
"I re-fuse! Why do I have to be put through a match—which is really just hellish training?"
As I was making a fuss about not wanting to, everyone burst into laughter.
The intention this time wasn't just a spectacle. They probably wanted to show the Emperor that such an incredible swordsman exists, and to demonstrate both internally and externally that the Klaus faction is a military faction.
(It can't be helped... I'll do my best... They won't use wooden swords anyway, right? Even though they call it a wedding ceremony, they've prepared armor...)
For some reason, it came out of the Magic Box bag I made.
When we headed to the venue, a large crowd had gathered in the palace square. I was surprised that this many people were just the nobles and related parties. Of course, there were quite a few guards too...
"Butler-dono! Shivans-dono!"
The ones who called out to us were the Quasi-Knights from the east, the 'Traffic Light Trio.' Along with them, Indigo, Limone, and Frank had also come. When Frank said to Aristo, "Sorry I couldn't make it in time for my best friend's wedding," Aristo was surprised.
"You, who exactly are you? Even if you say best friend, I don't know you? I'm Aristo, but aren't you mistaken? My only best friend is Shivans over there?"
He was told coldly, but Frank still persisted.
"I told you guys I wanted to be friends, right?"
"Was that so? Even assuming that's the case, I have no memory of saying let's be friends."
Frank made a shocked face, but when asked, "What about Shivans? Did he say he'd be friends?" I shook my head, and Aristo nodded deeply.
"You barely even had a conversation, and you're not even in my memory, let alone being friends! You're an idiot as always! I'm Limone. Do you remember me, perhaps?"
"Vaguely... maybe?"
At that point, Aristo explained to the three that he meets hundreds of people, so unless someone leaves a very good impression, they don't even reach the level of acquaintance. They finally seemed to understand.
"If you want to be friends with Aristo-sama and say so on your own, that one-sidedness makes you a stalker. You have to reach a level where Aristo-sama wants to be friends with you. You said your name was Frank, right? Right now, I can only see you as nothing but a stalker."
Frank was so shocked that you could almost hear the sound of him being devastated again.
"When I went to the village, everyone wanted to be friends with me..."
Limone said, "Well, of course. You're the son of the feudal lord. How did you manage to live this long without understanding something like that? Why don't you just die?" Then Indigo added, "It was definitely like this for me too. We're country bumpkins so it's fine, but he's the grandson of the Grand Duke. If you think about it a little, you'd understand, though," dealing a follow-up blow.
"Y-yeah, you're right. I was an idiot..."
When I gently said to the deeply depressed Frank, "You've become a little wiser, haven't you?" he asked, "Is it okay if I call you a friend too, Shivans-sama?" So I politely declined, saying, "I still don't know anything about you, Frank, so that's impossible."
He was led away by Limone and Indigo, who looked utterly exasperated.
The Traffic Light Trio calls my father, Butler, 'Leader.' The reason, it seems, is that they receive support through the traveling merchant Marc.
Also, it seemed that thanks to my father in the great war 16 years ago, they were able to become Quasi-Knights for the achievement of slaying fleeing non-commissioned officers of the defeated army.
And then, the time finally came, and the Imperial Exhibition Match began.
"You did well not to run away and to come out before me, Shivans!"
"What are you talking about, Father? If it were a duel or training, I would have run away long ago?"
Shouting "No need for questions!", he pressed in with swift movements and tremendous sword pressure. Butler stepped in and swung his sword down. When I blocked it, the force was enough to make the ground seem like it would split.
""OOOOH!!""
The audience was captivated by the swift movements and tremendous swordsmanship. However, as the fight turned into a one-sided defensive battle for me, cheers of "Do your best! Shivans!" began to be sent my way.
A momentary opening was exploited, and a kick sent me flying, breaking several of my ribs. He gave me no time to cast Heal, so I had no choice but to buy time with self-regeneration and healing abilities, but this became a fatal wound, and I was forced to say, "I submit..."
"Hmm. That was a splendid fight from both of you!"
At His Majesty's words, a great applause was sent our way.
Certainly, I think we managed a fight that could inspire awe. The Butler, feared by enemies as the 'Crimson Death,' is here. Though I feel like I was used as a good prop.
When the audience was over, various people came up.
I was seeing him for the first time, but Margrave Kruger had also come.
"I'm also part of the Klaus faction. I have high expectations for you all! This is my daughter, Kate, 15 years old. She'll be taking the Imperial Academy exam this winter. And this is David, 20 years old."
I gave a slight bow, and the conversation continued.
"He's the son of a baron, one of our vassal nobles. He's also Kate's fiancé. I brought them along thinking they could see the imperial capital. David probably has confidence in his sword, but he's no match for you two."
That kind of introduction is hurtful, you know, Kruger. In the end, David didn't exchange a single word with us and had a dark expression.
When Kruger left, the Traffic Light Trio came over and praised him, saying, "That was truly a fight worthy of the Lightning-fast Butler!"
The three kids dashed over to me.
"You were amazing too, Shivans-kun! It shows you've been trained by Butler-sama! Even Frank, who prides himself on his sword, was scared stiff! Ahahaha!"
As Limone was laughing mockingly, saying, "In the end, you're just a big fish in a small pond," Aristo, Aria, and Sera came over.
"Shivans! You were injured, weren't you? After taking that kick from Butler-san, your movements lacked brilliance!"
"As expected of Aristo-sama. But I healed it with Heal, so I'm fine now. Father was also holding back while fighting me, so it ended with just that much."
Everyone was surprised, thinking, That was holding back? Then Indigo asked me a question.
Indigo has magical power and can use magic, but not as much as Limone. He can also use a sword, but he's no match for Frank. He said that no matter which direction he aims for in the future, it doesn't seem like he can achieve great success.
"In the end, I'm half-baked. I wonder if I could change if I entered the Imperial Academy?"
When he muttered with a face of resignation, Aristo gave him advice.
"I've also had times when I felt the same way as you. At such a time, I met Shivans, and he asked me, 'What do you aim for, and what do you want to become?' I couldn't answer. When Shivans presented the options, 'Sword Saint or Great Sage?' I laughed, though."
When Aristo laughed, everyone else laughed too.
"I respect Shivans. He's desperately working hard to protect his family and his people. Do you think that strength is talent? From childhood, he was trained by that family, going through hellish experiences, and that's what made the Shivans of today! I also have someone to protect now, Aria. At the very least, I want to become a man who can protect her!"
So cool, Aristo! I shouted in my heart. Aria was moved to tears, and Sera also cried in sympathy, and they hugged each other.
"'What do you aim for, and what do you want to become?' is it? I see. I was living vaguely, thinking I had absolutely nothing. I thought Shivans-kun's strength was an innate talent and was envious, but he had been making tremendous effort. I'm so selfish, aren't I? Even though I didn't make any effort, I made excuses saying our abilities were different and gave up. I'm really so uncool..."
The atmosphere had become one where I couldn't say, "Well, my initial settings are fairly cheated." Even if I said it, they probably wouldn't understand...
The after-party began, and there were many nobles starved for women, desperately trying to seduce someone as a last resort. Both the Lady and Aqua were handling them with smiles, but I could tell they found it annoying. A large crowd also flocked to Jennifer, Michelle, and Cheryl, so they quickly withdrew with me to a room.
When Cheryl angrily said, "They should just buy a prostitute!", Jennifer also exuded sex appeal while taking off her clothes and said with a knowing look, "They want a woman they can have for free!"
"They want to seduce a woman and make her theirs. That's probably it, right? What about Shivans, who was seduced by us?"
At Michelle's words, I remembered that was the setup.
As they wished, I said, "Of course, I'm happy!" and they squealed with delight. I held the three of them, who had become completely lewd, as long as time permitted.
When Cheryl asked worriedly, "Were you not injured?" I answered, "I can use healing magic, so I'm fine." Then Michelle said excitedly, "That's amazing! Then, if I have a child, maybe it'll be a child who can use healing magic!"
"Sword and magic ♡ The dreams are endless ♡ Definitely get me pregnant!"
Jennifer came on with incredible intensity. Wondering what was up, it seemed Jennifer's family line were knights. But apparently, there was no outstanding talent among her parents or siblings. It seemed she became a concubine because Baron Garna was a relatively excellent swordsman.
"I was moved watching that Imperial Exhibition Match! Garna is, in the end, just a country swordsman! And what's more, he's a homo! I'm sure he's got shit stuck to the tip of his dick! It's dirty, so I absolutely don't want him near me!"
The other two agreed, saying it was the same for them.
"In my case, neither I nor my husband have any interest in each other."
"In my case too, we've completely grown cold towards each other!"
Michelle and Cheryl laughed, saying they hated even riding in the same carriage home with their dirty-dicked husbands.
"Let's the three of us ride in the carriage, and let the husbands go be homos with each other!"
Michelle and Cheryl agreed to Jennifer's proposal.
When the conversation settled down, I thought, it's not that I don't understand the desire to bear an excellent child, but there's no way the child born would be cheated. However, when three beautiful women ask me with desperate faces, I feel like "Gladly."
The fact that the three of them were here meant Ivan hadn't gone home. The man who tried to assassinate His Majesty. That idiot must be being used by someone. It shouldn't be a solo crime.
(I'll leave that to the Emperor and Klaus. I can't handle that much...)
For now, let's frolic with the three beauties!
Finally, when time was up, they waved, saying, "Three days went by so fast when it's fun! Let's meet again!"
When I left the room, it seemed many others besides us had also used it. Among them, I saw David's figure, so I decided to secretly follow him using 'Presence Concealment' and 'Concealment.' With his arms around two women, he gave a completely different impression from the David I saw at noon.
He went to another room, put his arms around the two women, and drank.
"That damn old man! He always boasted that I was the strongest swordsman until now! Well, whatever. I'll get together with that little girl and steal the Margrave's position!"
When he told the two women he'd take care of them forever, one of the women said jealously, "Is that true? Even though you have tons of other women!" and asked, "You say you're getting married, but is that little girl still a virgin?"
"Of course! Once I become Margrave, I can do whatever I want! Since she's a virgin, I'll put her up for sale right away! Virgins sell for a high price! Gyahaha!"
Drinking, the three of them were making a racket. Apparently, they would be staying tonight not at the Margrave's mansion, but in the palace guest rooms. David... he's someone to watch out for.
When I returned to the Klaus family and hurriedly reported what I had just seen, Gale already knew.
"I heard it from Marc. He's an ambitious one, it seems. Even though he doesn't have much ability. He's the guy who was trembling after watching today's Imperial Exhibition Match, right?"
When I conveyed that there were strong signs of betrayal, Klaus murmured, "He might already be in the pocket of the Kingdom of Rhodesia."
However, without evidence, there's nothing we can do. The topic turned to whether we should tell Kruger, as Kate seems to be head over heels for him. It's possible that Ivan might also be in Rhodesia's pocket.
"If the Kingdom of Rhodesia invades, Kruger likely won't hold out."
Father Butler also seemed to be thinking about something. We decided that everyone would do what they could, disbanded, and returned to our respective rooms. I slept in Aqua's room and greeted the morning.
The Next Morning
After sending my parents and Gale off to the territory and returning to the Klaus family home, Aristo, Aria, and Sera came back from the palace.
"From today, I will also become a member of the Bismarck family! I look forward to being with you."
When Aria gave her greeting, she received applause. When I said I had business at the Cielo Trading Company, Sera said, "I'll be here," apparently staying by Aria's side.
"It's an errand I can handle alone."
When I went to the Cielo Trading Company, the momma's boy and the siscon were there too. Both Abalon and Abensis had been made to dream of embracing only mature women in their dreams, and I had made them into mature woman lovers. In particular, I had made it their life's purpose to help women in trouble, so they probably wouldn't do anything strange to Sera anymore.
"The Namibia faction is finished now, isn't it."
"Were you aware?"
Cielo seemed to have already grasped the information. As expected, a merchant's information network is not to be underestimated.
"Why, of course! And what's more, they spouted some nonsense about it being a crime of lèse-majesté for posting the newspaper, so I sent them packing!"
He laughed happily and wanted to know the reason I came today.
"Do you know of a merchant named Tarsel?"
"No. I don't know them...?"
So, I told him that I had become acquainted with Cheryl at this wedding, and that her family home was a trading company called Tarsel, and they had approached me wanting to do business with us. However, I requested that he look into something before we do business.
1. Is the Tarsel Trading Company trustworthy?
2. Are there any local specialties or attractive products in the surrounding area?
"I see. Those two points are important. We shall investigate them. How much time may we take?"
I said that while I didn't mind if they took about a year to investigate thoroughly, a conclusion of sorts could probably be reached in about half a year. Cielo said, "Please give us three months for now."
"With that, a general direction should be possible."
"Indeed. Then, please do."
I returned to the Klaus family home and picked up Sera. Sera and Aria seemed to have promised to correspond by pigeon.
When I returned to the Lord's Manor, an incident had occurred.
"Dona's head has been put on public display."
Regias reported. Apparently, because of the attack on us and their crushing defeat, Joker had killed her, saying it was "the end of a traitor."
"It's internal conflict, I'd say! A fitting end for a villain."
Vel said that and laughed. The Joker group apparently stole everything of value and then disappeared somewhere. Yaris said that an investigator would be coming from the imperial capital soon.
"This makes the second one, doesn't it? What about the Internal Affairs Officer killed by bandits?"
"Everyone will probably get cold feet. I wonder what they'll do?"
Yaris asked happily, but I wasn't very interested. Passo had already turned it into a newspaper article and was selling it.
When I said that I had been thoroughly beaten by my father in the imperial capital, the three members of Shivans' Guard gave wry smiles, saying, "Well, it couldn't be helped."
"So, young master, will you be an adventurer for a while?"
"Well, yes. I also need materials for business."
Regias saw me off with a cheerful smile.
"You... making me naked as soon as you get back... Ah... you beast!"
"Here we go again! Emi-nee likes beasts, right?"
"I-I don't dislike it, but I want some mood too, you know!"
Reimi was called immediately and agreed to be my partner. It seemed she had also been working as an adventurer while I was away, dismantling meat and such.
"As expected of Reimi!"
"Don't turn into a beast right away! No!"
"Look, you're already this wet!"
"That's right! You like that kind of woman, don't you?"
And so, for a while, I returned to being an adventurer, and also to the laboratory and adventuring.