Volume 1 Chapter 9 Sneaking In
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Listen, Klock. I will let you come on my ship. Because of you, I tricked the country many times. We are friends, right? But we have trouble here too. The people we face act like fools. We must leave the kingdom fast. So please help me tomorrow, okay? After that, we will sail together. Our goal is the Beast Land, Nushutei.”
That evening, the talk with Boit went well.
Maybe because Boit is cheap and wants all the goods, I helped pack the hard things as payment for the ride.
It is hard work, but if it keeps us safe, it is good. The bad memories of the hero will fade away like a small hurt.
But Boit said something that caught my mind.
”—I say this quick, but some people took the saintess of the Theocracy. She is our client. I was to sneak her to the Magic Land, but they tried to get her back. I think some of them got caught. If so, we cannot stay here. If they make a mistake, it is the end.”
I thought Boit did bad things, but this was worse than I thought. After we cross the sea, I want to cut ties with him. I don’t want to be with him anymore.
* * *
”Hmm…”
A quiet soft rhythm filled the room. It pulled me back to now.
I forgot Adelina was helping me like that while I was lost in thought. If she was a lover, she might be upset I ignored her while she helped.
”Hmm…”
She kept going gently and steady.
Today, her quiet help felt a little strange.
She held the thing carefully, her head down the whole time.
She did not move much. She just stayed still, like a tool warming something.
The tip went deeper than I thought. She could not help with her tongue, so she just stayed quiet, moving softly in a strange but gentle way — something I did not feel before.
Ah, this feels good.
Holding it gently without moving felt very nice. I might fall asleep like this.
A man I met once said he could not sleep without his wife helping him in a certain way.
It was probably a joke, but I think he really made her do it. Now I know for sure.
My lower body felt quiet beats. But I liked keeping this feeling.
The futon was nice, and though I wanted to feel more comfort, it was hard now.
She could not talk, but she made soft sounds trying.
If her sisters heard, it would be a problem.
In our land, family like this is bad luck. Some places call it witchcraft.
A princess once loved her brother, but when people found out, they both died. They were burned.
It is a strong taboo. Why did I make such a hard family story?
Thinking these strange things, I enjoyed Adelina’s soft help as she moved gently, when I heard a creak from the door.
I froze and listened hard. But no more sound came. Maybe it was my mind.
No, I heard something for sure.
I took the thing from Adelina’s mouth and helped her lie down, pretending to sleep.
Is someone here? Did they come to check us?
No, maybe it is a thief.
A thief suspecting another thief is funny.
Today, I, Klock, was closer to a poor man than a thief, but I wanted to check just in case.
If a thief comes, even if we don’t do it, my friend and I will be blamed. At least until we leave, I want to avoid police trouble.
I quietly got up.
I covered Adelina with the futon and told her to stay. She closed her eyes like she understood.
I walked to the door on my toes.
I opened the door a little and looked out.
…No one was there.
Nothing moved.
It was very dark, but my eyes were used to it, so I saw fine. I did not see anything strange.
I moved slowly and quietly.
When I turned the hall corner, I saw a shadow facing the window.
”Who is that?”
”Huh?!”
The shadow turned quickly and spoke.
A soft, high voice.
The bathrobe I saw before.
It was her.
”Ms. Elide. Why are you here so late?”
”Mr. John…”
The noise came from the sister, Elide.
I guessed it was one of the sisters.
The house was locked well, so I thought a thief could not get in.
So maybe it was one of the sisters. I did not take any weapons when I left the room. I did not want to scare anyone.
But why was Elide in the hall at this late time?
”I’m sorry. I was thinking about you… I could not sleep.”
”You thought of me when you saw me?”
”Yes…”
She remembered her fiancé because a man came to the house. That made sense.
Elide said her fiancé was on a long fishing trip for a year. Waiting must be hard.
”It must be tough. I don’t know how a man can leave such a pretty woman.”
”You are good at words… thank you. Waiting like this, not even married yet… feels like waiting in place.”
It really was waiting. He probably wanted money before marrying.
I guessed the fiancé’s mind. A man with no confidence uses money to keep a pretty woman. It is a common story.
But I did not say this.
Instead, I chose to make Elide, who stopped my plan, my target for frustration.
It was a little annoying.
”He is a bad man. I feel bad you are with him.”
”Hehe, but it is okay. If I think of this as training to be with him forever later, I… huh? Mr. John?!”
I listened to Elide’s small story, put my hand on her shoulder, and pulled her close.
I touched her in a way to surprise her.
I did not want to hurt Elide, but now, alone together, things were different.
A woman in front of a man with strong desire would change the story.
It was natural for things to move forward.
”Your fiancé wastes a year of your life for himself. Is that okay?”
”…What? That is…”
She knew a little about this.
She tried to take my hand off her, but stopped fast.
”I will not let you feel lonely. At least, try to take back the last 3 months.”
”…Mr. John… but, you want me to betray him?”
”Betray? What are you saying? You are engaged, but not married. You are still free.”
”…Ah…”
She froze, like hit by lightning.
She understood this idea.
Whether it was right to say engaged means free was different, but her wall fell.
Though I touched her, she did not push me away.
She seemed slow to think. Or maybe she felt right because she was unhappy for a long time.
That meant…
If I go now, it was the only time her mind was soft.
So I pulled Elide close and kissed her.
”Huh?!”
Elide jumped a little.
But she did not fight.
She grabbed my arm, but stayed quiet, not upset.
If she did not fight, I would go on.
I slid my hand under her robe and touched her thigh.
Her skin felt different from Adelina’s. I moved my hand and rubbed her bare skin.
”…Mr. John…”
When I left her lips, Elide said words telling me to stop.
Say what you want. Keep your voice low.
Thinking selfish things like that, I saw her feelings as I tried to go further.
Elide held me lightly, like she wanted me.
Huh? Did she already fall? No, too soon.
I felt strange.
I thought she would fight more, but she accepted me too easy.
I pressed her against the wall, kissed her, and started to untie her.
Under the white cloth, her large form showed.
Character Notes:
• Boit – A merchant involved in human trafficking, with a villainous face and a loud, obnoxious voice. He is pragmatic and willing to help Klock escape the country in exchange for something. His relationship with Klock is business-like, though both are aware of each other’s illicit activities.
• Adelina – The slave girl.
• Elide – A 19-year-old woman, Deena’s younger sister. Her appearance is described as cute with a youthful, innocent face. She is engaged to a man who is currently away on a long-term fishing expedition and is expected to return in three months.
• John – A pseudonym used by Klock.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply