Volume 5 Chapter 1 Interlude ① – Karin’s Dream
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
[Now then, Karin. Remove your clothes and lie on your back upon those stone steps.]
”Um, Chieftain… does it really have to be completely naked? Even if our races are different, it’s still embarrassing. Could I at least keep my underwear…?”
[It matters not to me. But if I cannot see the tone and feel the warmth of your skin, the fine adjustments will be difficult.]
”…Fine, fine, I get it! I’ll give in already. You won’t get away unscathed either, right? If I think about that, then I guess I can put up with being a little embarrassed.”
[Who told you that? …No matter. My skills have improved much since five hundred years ago. I won’t be bedridden for long. Now then, let us begin. Close your eyes, calm your heart, and breathe deeply with your stomach.]
That was what the spirit clan’s Chieftain Fedelate said to me, as I began to steady my breathing.
* * *
Half a year had passed since we blew away the Gate along with the ambitions of the spirit clan and Demon Clan generals. Father, Ms. Claudel, Big Sister Puruun, and Big Sister Melon all returned safely. With the war avoided, things had started in a festive mood. But in truth, problems piled high, and the political situation was still far from settled. Even so, attempts at dialogue among the continent’s three great races—Elf, Demon Clan, and spirit clan—were moving forward, and little by little, both at home and abroad, things were moving toward normalcy.
In the middle of all this, I was helping Mother at the Zerlant Royal Palace, taking care of the Queen and her newborn baby, when I received a message from Chieftain Fedelate. He said he was ready to fulfill our promise. Of course, the promise was to heal my right arm. I’d been told the method wasn’t “lewd” but rather something like merging… but how exactly did that work?
It just so happened that Ms. Claudel was heading to the spirit clan for diplomatic business, so I got to come along. My little sister, the Queen’s baby, still didn’t have a name. Apparently, it would be chosen next month on an auspicious day with divine guidance. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t be able to come back for a while, so it stung that I’d leave without knowing her name. Still, since she had Elf blood, she wouldn’t grow that fast in a year.
’So, you’re really going? Well, I’ve got nothing more to say. Just take care.’
”I’ll be fine. Master Sharlin is coming as my bodyguard. Father, you’ll be apart from Mother for a while, but don’t you dare flirt with other women, okay? I mean it.”
’…I’d never do something like that… absolutely not…’
Since it was better for Father to stay away from the Queen and Mother for a while, Sir Aaron took him to Kashiwagi Manor. But with magic communication, we could still talk often. Then, after being seen off by Mother, Big Sister Puruun, and Ms. Ellulu, our carriage left the Royal Capital Baiden and headed to Sir Yōmo’s territory.
”Karin, you made it. Doing well? Ms. Claudel, Ms. Sharlin—thank you again for everything back then.”
At Sir Yōmo’s territory, Big Sister Melon was waiting for me at the research institute named after me. Ms. Claudel went to meet Sir Yōmo, while I stayed with Big Sister Melon to tell her about our baby sister in the Royal Capital.
”She looks exactly like the Queen. Thank goodness she doesn’t take after Father. And when she sees me, she goes ‘ahh’ and ‘uuuh.’ I think she already knows I’m her big sister.”
”I see, I see. I hope she grows up healthy. After all, she’s a future Queen candidate. And you, Karin, as her big sister… it’s moving, really.”
Big Sister Melon said that, but she looked a little lonely. If only I hadn’t shoved her that time… No, no. I can’t think that way!
”Big Sister Melon, you and Big Sister Puruun and Ms. Ellulu are all Father’s wives, right? Do you… want to see him?”
”Well, it’d be a lie to say I don’t. But not right now. Mama Akari and the Queen are holding back too. If I got pregnant again here, it’d just make things complicated. Probably Big Sister Puruun and Ellulu feel the same.”
Hmm. Big Sister Melon really seemed like an adult woman.
The next morning, after being seen off by Sir Yōmo and Big Sister Melon, we took a Flying Dragon straight to the neighboring Imperial Capital Desmostown. Emperor Balmstra and Big Sister Puruun had arranged an irregular flight route. Since the Imperial Capital was now connected by magic communication, all you had to do was reserve a few days in advance, and the dragon would be waiting.
Strapped into the seat on the Flying Dragon’s back, I looked down and spoke to Master Sharlin beside me.
”Master, this Flying Dragon isn’t as big as the one we rode before.”
”Well, it’s an irregular route, so it doesn’t carry many people. Still, compared to the time we trudged through those mountains, eating snakes and rats, this is a huge improvement, don’t you think?”
”Haha… true enough…”
Back then, it had taken so much time and effort, but now we could reach the Imperial Capital in half a day. Ms. Claudel led me to the Imperial Palace, where we met His Majesty the Emperor, and later that evening, we were invited to dinner. Big Sister Puruun had warned me not to let my guard down when meeting him, but why? He didn’t seem like a Demon King at all—His Majesty was so friendly and kind.
”So, Karin-san. Half a year ago, we didn’t get to speak much, but I heard you were the one who convinced Chieftain Fedelate in front of the Gate. And this time, you were invited directly to have your arm healed. The Chieftain must really like you.”
”Ah, well… I think it’s just that he remembers a human woman he met five hundred years ago and sees me in her.”
”Still, being invited like this shows his favor. How about it—would you like to serve as a diplomat between our country and the spirit clan? Of course, I’d guarantee you excellent treatment. And I’ll speak with Queen Asuka as well.”
”W-wait…! You can’t just spring that on me out of nowhere…”
Flustered, I was saved by Ms. Claudel stepping in, and the conversation ended there. But even so, I couldn’t help but think—if I could really connect with the spirit clan, it might be rewarding work.
The next day, we headed straight from the Imperial Capital to the old Gate base in the west of Moniera. The Gate itself had been destroyed, but Duke Suicelma had rebuilt the facility as a center for Demon Clan–spirit clan exchange. Of course, thousands of years of grudges wouldn’t disappear so easily. Still, at least for now, both His Majesty and the Chieftain had agreed to prioritize dialogue over conflict.
”Welcome, Zerlant Kingdom party.”
Greeting us at the Flying Dragon platform in the Imperial Capital was Ms. Reina. She had retired from the military and now worked as a dragon handler here.
”Well, you know. After betraying my country once and working as an Elf spy, I couldn’t stay in the military. But my sister Sheena returned to the army’s research division. Who knows what will happen with Gate studies now… probably the three nations will discuss it together.”
I see. But it can’t be helped, right? The Gate isn’t something you can just use to pop over to the human world and say hello. It’ll probably be a long time before I can see Big Sister Tomori again.
Still, Father had brought back so many photos—Grandpa and Grandma, Big Sister Tomori with her husband Mr. George, and their son Halt. That made me really happy. Mother cried as she looked at them over and over.
When we left the Imperial Capital in the morning, it was already night by the time we reached the exchange center. The building was under Duke Suicelma’s management, guarded by Demon Clan soldiers, but several spirit clan members, including elders, also resided there for regular exchanges. This time, Ms. Claudel had been dispatched to prepare for adding the Elves into that dialogue.
[Hey, Karin. Long time no see!]
I suddenly heard a telepathic voice and turned around. It was Utari of the spirit clan.
”Oh, Utari. Long time… wait, you can talk without holding hands now?”
[Yes. I was appointed the resident officer here by the Chieftain. Since I can’t be grabbing hands every time I speak with the Demon Clan, I trained in telepathy.]
”Wow. Your training paid off.”
[Thanks. So, Karin—I heard. The Chieftain is going to heal your right arm, right?]
”Yeah. That’s what I was told. But is it really okay? Isn’t it forbidden?”
[Yes. It consumes an enormous amount of stored ki. Even a spirit clan body that’s lived for thousands of years can be drained to the point of being unable to move for a long while.]
”What? Then if he heals my arm, the Chieftain will…?”
[It depends on the wound, but yes, he might not be able to move for some time.]
”That’s awful…”
[Still, it’s what the Chieftain decided. We just respect that. Tomorrow I’ll take you to him, so for now, rest here.]
The next morning, I parted ways with Ms. Claudel and Master Sharlin at the exchange center and followed Utari into the spirit clan’s lands.
* * *
The Chieftain placed his palm on my stomach as I lay naked on the stone steps. Ugh. Cold, and hard like stone. But… oh, it was warming up.
[Indeed, human bodies are soft and warm. Now, Karin. I will send my consciousness into your body. It may tickle, but if you resist, it will hurt more. Relax.]
”Okaaay.”
It really was ticklish, and then I felt heat spreading through my whole body.
[Now, I’m confirming the structure of your body. Try not to move.]
Geez. Having my insides probed like this… honestly, this feels way more dangerous than doing something dirty.
[Hmm…]
”Chieftain, is something wrong?”
[Yes. Since the wound is old, I must send in a lot more ki.]
”Oh no… then you’ll be unable to move?”
[That I expected. But sending it in from your stomach isn’t efficient.]
”Then what should we do?”
[I need to touch thinner skin, close to the tanden [T/N: energy center below the navel]. Karin, forgive me, but open your legs.]
”Whaaat!? That’s shameless! Wait—don’t tell me you’ll put your finger in there!?”
[Is it not allowed? The skin is thin, and it’s right by the tanden.]
”Not allowed… ugh, fine! Just do it already!! But—don’t hurt me, okay?”
[Don’t worry. Only one finger is enough.]
Ah… ah… w-waaahhhhh!? I-I’m still a virgin, you know!?
* * *
[Well, Karin. Can you move your right hand?]
The Chieftain had burned through much of his ki. Though his body still held its form, he couldn’t stand, and leaned against the stone steps beside me. The moment he entered me, an immense heat poured through, leaving me on the verge of fainting from pain and strange pleasure all mixed together. Slowly, I tried moving my right hand.
”Ah! Chieftain! I just moved my finger a little!”
[Good. That means it’s fine. The nerves are reconnected. With training, you’ll regain movement. …Ah, my consciousness is fading. Karin, call someone.]
”O-okay, right away.”
Soon, elders and other spirit clan members arrived and carried the Chieftain to his bed.
”…”
A month later, I was still in the spirit clan settlement, doing rehab for my right arm and helping care for the Chieftain. I heard Ms. Sofia also once had her life saved by him, and after that, she too cared for him while he recovered. And between them… love had grown. No, no, I won’t let that happen to me. Probably…
I’d already sent a letter to Ms. Claudel, so staying here a few more months wouldn’t worry anyone. Until the Chieftain could walk on his own, I’d stay by his side to repay him.
Still, I remembered what Emperor Balmstra had told me. Maybe it really would be good for me to work as a diplomat, building ties with the spirit clan. But in any case, that’s a decision I’ll make only after I go home once.
Notes:
• Fedelate – The clan leader of the Spirit Clan. He is kind, gentle, and shows a unique interest in Sofia. Fedelate is powerful, capable of using telekinesis and healing magic. He is intrigued by human emotions and experiences, especially love.
• Claudel – The elf captain of the royal guard assigned to Princess Asuka. At first, she had a strong dislike for Yuuta, who is human. Now, Yuuta’s saffle.
• Melon – Puruun’s younger sister who is close with Ms. Akari and wants Yuuta and Ms. Akari to be together and have children.
• Duke Suicelma – Important noble and military leader who was recently captured by the spirit clan during their attack on his capital. He first appeared in Volume 3, Chapter 18. The protagonists aim to rescue him, believing his capture is connected to the spirit clan’s plans involving the gate.
• Reina – Lizardman lieutenant from the Apocalypse Empire who was part of the gate research team. She is trying to find her missing sister Sheena. She infiltrated Zerlant to gather intelligence but ended up helping Melon and the others escape, making her a traitor to the Apocalypse Empire.
• Sheena – A Lizardman from the Apocalypse Empire, specifically a junior researcher in the teleportation research team of the empire’s army. She is the 47th resident (hence ‘No. 47’) of the secret underground facility in Nevada, where she has been living for several years after accidentally being transported to this world through a failed gate experiment. Yuuta’s saffle too.
• George – An U.S. military officer and the son of Michael Anderson, a high-ranking official. He is also the brother of Gregory. Tomori’s husband.
• Utari – A member of the Spirit Clan that being captured by Sharlin and Karin. His appearance varies depending on the observer; Karin sees him as a human boy of similar age, while Master Sharlin perceives him as a bug-like monster. He communicates through physical touch, directly affecting the minds of others.
• Sofia – A human slave in the Spirit Clan. She is diligent, humble, and has a soft-spoken manner. Sofia has a background in farming and develops feelings for Fedelate, expressing her affection openly. She is resilient and survives a severe injury thanks to Fedelate’s sacrifice.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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