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Chapter 106 - One Reunited, One To Go
🕑 Added 2018-07-13 20:33:55 +0000 UTC With Senka guiding my flight back, I go even faster than I was on my way to Erbilan. Within just a few minutes, I arrive above the floating castle, my figurative heart beating faster at the thought that Hestia is here, and that I'll finally be reunited with her.The citizens of Arkaim call out to me and cheer at my return. While slowly floating down towards the castle, I wave at them with a benevolent smile. Even though I can't wait to see the angel girl again, I can't just ignore my people when they call out to me.
"You've become a proper queen already." Senka comments when I come down in the courtyard of the castle and the crocodilian guards stand at attention.
"Becoming the leader of a people requires more than birthright. I'm just practicing what I learned." I reply to her in my mind while walking through the open front gate of the castle at a brisk pace, gesturing for the soldiers to be at ease. They're Ophalen's personal troops, who are only stationed in the castle because he is here; otherwise, there would be nobody other than the maids.
"You have returned, Your Highness!" One of said maids welcomes me back with a bow when I walk through the corridor towards the throne room, where Senka told me Hestia is waiting. I recognize her as the maid with the ash-colored hair that nearly covers her eyes, and a lizard tail; she was the first non-human encounter I had in this world - other than myself in the mirror.
"I remember you..." Stopping for a second, I take a closer look at the maid. "What's your name?"
"It is Keiza, Your Highness." Lowering her head, she looks uncomfortable under my gaze. In fact, she's trembling, and her scaly tail is pushed up against her skirt. Is she afraid of me?
"At ease, Keiza." I pet her hair and speak in a gracious tone, to calm her down. "I just remembered you from the morning when I first woke up."
"Ah, yes." Looking up at me with large gray eyes featuring vertical slit pupils, she shows me a reserved and slightly uneasy expression with pursed lips. Compared to the other maids I've seen, she looks the most down to earth. If it wasn't for those pupils and the tail, she could pass for a normal human.
"You should look up more. It's a waste to hide that cute face of yours." Lifting her chin, I look deeply into her eyes. She reluctantly returns my gaze, her cheeks flushing red from embarrassment; clearly, she isn't used to such attention. But she isn't the odd one out among all the maids because she was most definitely chosen for her appearance as well.
Senka clears her throat in my mind, and I'm pulled back to reality. I let my flirty nature take over for a second there. After everything is over, I'll have enough time to have fun with the maids that aren't in Asoko's camp. And Hestia is waiting; before adding more girls to my harem, I should first reunite with all those I already have.
"Keep up the good work, Keiza." Petting her hair one more time, I excuse myself and continue on the way to the throne room.
"You sure you weren't some kind of playboy in your previous life?" The doll girl's disapproving voice rings in my head.
"Believe it or not, I was a virgin who hadn't even kissed a girl before coming here." I reply silently. It's really hard to believe, considering I've had so many experiences since I was reincarnated; one would think I must have been a pro at it before.
I throw open the wings of the gate to the throne room, and my eyes immediately fall on black wings and silver hair. At the sound of my entry, the girl these features belong to spins around, and her crimson eyes widen when she sees me. Dropping her golden spear, she covers her mouth with both hands, and tears appear in the corners of her eyes as the emotions overwhelm her.
"Hestia!" I run toward her, but she can't even move as she sobs at my sight. Taking her into my embrace and lifting her from the ground, I squeeze her tight.
"I missed you so much Onee-sama..." She finally puts her arms around me and mutters, before letting her tears run freely.
At the term she uses to address me with I'm reminded of my shameful past when I was basically acting like a cougar with Kamii. Hestia wanted to get as close to me as the little dark elf was, so she started calling me Onee-sama, too. It's quite embarrassing, but considering her current state of mind, I won't tell her to stop doing that for the time being.
"I'm back now, and I'll never leave your side again." I whisper into her ear and kiss her neck. Then I finally notice the person who picked up Hestia's carelessly discarded spear and is now standing a short distance away, watching us with a frown.
Flaming red hair, piercing golden eyes, and lips unfamiliar to smiles. The last time I saw that face was shortly after the angel girl had been completely corrupted and the person confronted me with a hateful glare. But I remember meeting them again afterward, in a different form - when I attacked the academy after learning that Kamii had been teleported away to a random place.
"Dregana..." I speak in a low tone and let go of Hestia. "You dare show yourself here?"
"Ah, she is with me, Onee-sama." The angel girl steps between the red-headed woman and me. "She is not an enemy anymore."
"... as long as you think of the happiness of Miss Hestia, I am not your enemy." Dregana presses out these words quite forcefully. But I can tell from her piercing gaze that she cares about the angel girl and that keeping her safe is her main concern - if not her only one.
But the fact that she is in part the reason for me ending up on the moon - and in extension, my absence during my mother's time in need - remains, and it's something I can't forgive so easily.
"No, that is not right, Dregana." Despite being at least two inches shorter than the dragon woman, Hestia speaks down on her like she's in charge. Judging by the dragonkin's reaction, that seems to be the case though. "You will serve Onee-sama as you serve me."
"But-" She's just about to protest when the angel girl's deathly glare shuts her up. It seems that something happened between these two during my absence.
I shoot Senka, who's leaning against a pillar and watching everything silently, a questioning glance, but she doesn't say a word, not even telepathically. It seems she doesn't want to influence this one with her sometimes very convenient knowledge too much and let it play out naturally.
"You promised to follow my every decision." Stepping forward and cupping Dregana's cheeks with her hands, Hestia employs an empathic tone while her features soften. It's incredible to see the dragon woman mellow out under her touch. "And we have traveled down this road together this far already. Go all the way with me."
I've heard about Hestia the Black Valkyrie, and Dregana the Kinslayer. They appeared on various battlefields, helping the demons defend their cities against the overwhelming forces of the humans. In those battles, the latter earned her title because she killed several transformed dragonkin. The humans will certainly not take her back, so her future is with Hestia - and in extension, with me.
I don't expect an apology from Dregana for fighting me in the academy and holding me back from killing the principal. If I were a begrudging person like that, Aurelia wouldn't be sitting on the throne-
"Um, wait a second." I walk past Hestia and Dregana and climb the few steps leading up to the demon throne, on which the golden girl has placed herself as if it's the most natural thing for her to do. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Sitting in my rightful place." Replying with a deadpan expression, Aurelia returns my gaze with an unwavering one of her own. I'm sure that she's cracking a joke - despite the lack of a smile on her lips - but at the same time, I know that she believes her rightful place in the world is on an elevated throne, no matter which one that may be.
"Onee-sama... why is she here?" The black angel approaches me from behind and asks while pointing at the queen of gold. Last time they met, the former got impaled by a spear controlled by the latter.
Hestia was already in the throne room before I returned, but most likely ignored the golden girl thus far to avoid a confrontation. Now that I'm here, she musters her courage to speak out about it. Aurelia knows about my relationship with her, so she has remained nonchalant about the Fata.
"Aurelia has joined us and become my girl." I bend down and bring my face close to the golden girl's. "Isn't that right?"
"That goes both ways." Her lips curl up into a smile as she stands up and caresses my cheek demonstratively in front of Hestia. "Do you understand, corrupted Fata?"
"Fortunately for me, this Fata has more to offer than the speaking gold bar." A smile appears on Hestia's lips as well, but her eyes remain cold, as she crosses her arms and accentuates her large breasts. It's one thing she has over Aurelia without a doubt.
"Two lumps of needless fat has you so proud?" Putting a hand on her hip and placing a leg forward, so that it peeks out of the high cut skirt she's wearing, Aurelia shows off her thigh. It's her greatest visual feature - aside from the fact that she's made of gold. "As expected of birds, their brains remain small even when they gain bodies like humans."
Wait, is that what Fatas are? I thought they were created by the Old Humans from scratch, just like dragons, elves, dwarves, and giants. With the Imagination Engine, they wouldn't even need to splice genes to do that, and could just conjure things out of thin air. Or am I giving that machine too much credit?
Most likely, it's just Aurelia's sharp tongue at work.
"You seem to believe that your words are worth gold, but under all the shining exterior there is only disappointing lead." Hestia's voice is enough to freeze over the atmosphere in the whole room, as her smile grows more and more deadly. Her wings are quivering a little from suppressing the anger welling up inside her. Most of the maids look at her uneasily, and some even show fear, thinking she could explode at any moment.
"Break it up, you two." I step between the quarreling girls and speak in a decisive tone. "You're both important to me, and I don't want to see you quarreling."
"Oh, we were only exchanging a greeting." Aurelia leans on me while smirking at Hestia.
"Do not worry, Onee-sama. We are getting along just fine." With an eyebrow twitching, the angel girl tries to keep up a strong facade, even while any semblance of it has already crumbled in my eyes.
"I mean it. If I catch you two fighting again, I'll leave you both for Korenga." I take a step away from the golden girl, who almost falls over upon losing her support and walk over to the Black God. She has been watching the exchange without much interest since she doesn't understand the language we've been speaking in. But at the mention of her name, her eyes light up.
"[Is this about me?]" She wonders when I approach her.
"[Don't ask any questions and just carry me like a princess.]" I wink and whisper to her while spreading my arms as if asking for an embrace.
"[Alright, if you say so.]" Raising an eyebrow, Korenga does as she's told, and lifts me up into her strong arms easily. I'm surprised by the motion and can't help but feel my heart skip a beat, even though I was prepared for what would happen. So this is how it feels?
Actually, the Black God looks quite handsome from up close, especially with her nonchalant expression - mostly because she doesn't understand the situation, but also doesn't care enough to ask. When I think about it, isn't the difference between us about the same as that of the cute girls with me? Is that why they considered me handsome and confessed to me in school?
"Oh no, Onee-sama! I am so sorry!" Hestia is staring at me with almost tearful eyes and apologizes in a heartfelt manner. "I promised never to argue with those you have chosen to be by your side, but I broke it here because I was too weak to contain my feelings!"
"... are you serious?" Aurelia's reaction to my actions is less emotional, as she mutters with an appalled expression. "Alright, I understand. I was just teasing the little Fata..."
It seems my threat was quite impactful, though with varying degrees. I'm sure it didn't hit Aurelia as hard as it did Hestia, who is very close to breaking down in tears at the thought that I might really leave her to become the sub in another relationship, only because she was arguing with someone else among my harem.
"[You can let me down now, Korenga.]" In a better mood, I tell the Black God, and she places me on my feet.
"[What was that about?]" She crosses her arms and looks down at me with a questioning gaze.
"[I was just making a point with those two. Thanks for helping out.]" I raise a fist.
"[Always happy to help.]" Bumping it, she grins. She seems like a very reliable older sister type with that expression, and I somehow feel at ease. I hope I can be like that for the girls under my wing, too.
"I have something to do so go get some rest, Hestia." I walk over to the angel girl and caress her cheek. She's still sniffling from the shock of my threat, but her eyes show defiance when she thinks that I'm going to separate from her right after reuniting again - even if I'm not going somewhere far.
"No, I shall accompany you, Onee-sama." Speaking in an assertive tone, she makes her intention to stay with me for the time being clear.
"Aren't you tired from flying over here?" I glance at Senka, who must know how far the angel girl traveled earlier. Though judging by the latter's appearance, she doesn't seem exhausted at all.
"I am completely fine." She gives me a radiant smile and takes my arm, pressing her breasts against it. "Where are we going?"
When I think about it, it's been a long time since I've been able to touch ones like hers. Tokomaha's chest is quite small, and Aurelia's is only one order above the little goddess', albeit nowhere near my own. Hestia's bountiful mountains remind me of my previous times with her, and I can feel lust well up inside me.
But I need to check myself right now; there are some matters to be settled, and then we'll have the whole night to get familiar with each other's bodies again.
"As you may have heard already, yesterday a secret human army attacked this city. We beat them back, and I captured one of their Chosen Knights." I begin to explain as we walk out of the throne room. Dregana is following us silently, never leaving Hestia out of her sight. She's like an overprotective mother watching over a child she believes isn't ready to see the wide world alone.
Aurelia, Korenga, Senka and the maids stay behind. Tokomaha and Tahiri went out into the city below to do some sightseeing, and I'm grateful for that. The little goddess would have complicated matters even more just now.
"Are you going to interrogate that knight?" Hestia asks while looking up at me, though it's clear that she isn't that interested in the topic; her focus lies on being by my side and enjoying my presence to the fullest. While I did say I wouldn't leave her side, it's quite likely to happen again - considering each previous time has been almost completely out of my control. She must be thinking that now is the time to charge up on Chaosium.
"Yeah, this is a Chosen Knight, so I'd rather not risk anybody else getting hurt. I'm going to do it myself." I answer her half-hearted question earnestly since it's something quite important. While we make our way down the stairs into the entrance hall, I begin to think of questions to ask and methods to employ that will make sure I receive answers. It's quite helpful that she's a pretty cute female.
"So that knight is a female." Grinning mischievously, Hestia states in a tone that suggests she knows exactly what I'm thinking. Is my expression that transparent?
"But she's a human. I'm not very interested in those." That's not entirely true, considering now I know that even beings as powerful and colorful as the gods of Adanak are all humans who have some degree of access to the Imagination Engine's powers. Tokomaha, Tahiri, and Korenga should be genetically human, even if their appearances and inherent abilities suggest otherwise. Technically, Aurelia also used to be human, though her body is now made of solid gold - while retaining the properties of a flesh and blood human somehow. If I make exceptions for those, I could do the same for any other human.
"That is quite reassuring to know, Onee-sama." Even though she makes it sound like a joke, there is a hint of relief in her voice. She obviously doesn't want me to add more members to my harem since it would mean less time I can spend with her. I can't fault her for that, although we'll have a lot of time together after this is all over.
We walk across the courtyard, eyed by the Petsobek guards who wonder about Hestia and Dregana's presence in the castle and make our way to the barracks, underneath which the dungeon is located. The interior is quite crude and undecorated compared to the main building where the king or queen lives, and it's clear that this place isn't meant to be seen by guests. Nilotec's, Markor's and Athilacia's personal guards are stationed in here, and those with time off greet me by standing at attention. Some hastily put away their food or hide playing cards, thinking that it's an impromptu inspection.
"Your Highness! What brings you here?" The quartermaster, a crocodilian with a heavy scar running across his right eye, quickly comes forward and greets me with a salute. His good eye goes over the girl hanging onto my arm and the red-headed woman following closely behind us, but he doesn't say a word about them.
"I want to interrogate the Chosen Knight." I state my intention.
"Yes, I shall lead you there right away." Nodding, he jogs back into his room and emerges with a ring of keys in his hand.
With the Petsobek quartermaster as our guide, we go down a flight of stairs and enter a corridor with branching paths on either side. Judging by the temperature and dampness, this place is underground - or rather inside the bedrock part of the small floating island the castle is built on. I'm reminded of when I met Asoko for the first time, in that deep underground prison in the Khurut Sultanate.
We walk all the way to the back of the corridor, then take a right and continue into the depths. This place is much smaller than the one under the holy building of the sultanate, but it seems that the prisoner was put into the cell the furthest away from the entrance. There are crude lamp crystals let into the walls, providing just barely enough light for one to see the path.
Finally, after passing through several locked heavy wooden doors, we're led to a cell next to which two Petsobek are standing guard. While I think that this security measure might be a little too lax for a Chosen Knight, I won't point it out. They weren't killed, and she didn't escape, so everything is alright. Depending on how the interrogations go, I might even take her out of this cell and send her off with a message to the humans.
"Hey, how are you doing Svanhild?" I activate my night vision to see into the completely dark cell, where she's sitting on the ground and leaning against the wall in the back. Her armor has been taken from her, and she's dressed only in undergarments. With disheveled hair and her head lowered, she makes for a quite miserable appearance, even though only one day has passed since her capture.
"Svanhild?" Hestia's voice sounds alarmed as she tries to peer into the darkness of the cell, and I hear Dregana stepping forward from behind me, too.
"You know her?" I look at the angel girl, and she returns my gaze with an eyebrow raised.
"You do not remember her?" She sounds somewhat unbelieving, but doesn't blame me and explains instead. "We were in the same wind magic class at the academy. She was one of those who bullied me before you came."
"Oh." Finally, I remember who she's talking about, and I blink at the girl behind the bars, who stirs at our voices and looks up with hate-filled blue eyes.
She's Drills!
