Chapter 165 Anger
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I wonder if the letters have reached Tania and the others by now?”
”Hmm, I wonder. I think they might have arrived just a little while ago,” Lily replied.
The season has plunged into summer. The war between the Canaria Kingdom¹ and the Coalmine Kingdom², which was thought to have concluded during the spring, has taken on the aspect of a quagmire and shows no sign of ending even now. Furthermore, there is no sign of our shop’s employees returning.
”The ‘Pikeaxe Fort’³ where the three of them are located is right about the midpoint of the route from here in Canarias⁴ to the Coalmine Kingdom’s royal capital, Mynar. Since the scheduled start date for sales in Mynar is coming up soon…”
Lily, our shop’s test-subject slave, explained the route she once traveled herself. Her belly has become clearly recognizable as that of a pregnant woman, and happily, I have occasionally started to feel fetal movements.
And so, I was talking while rubbing my cheek against Lily’s belly as she sat on the bed. Since it’s gotten hot, I thought it might be better not to be so clingy, but she was stroking my head along with her belly, being quite enthusiastic about it.
Out of concern for her lack of exercise, we took walks together; because the burden on her legs and lower back increased, I gave her even more careful massages; and on hot days, I fanned her with a hand fan—the time we spent together might have increased even more.
No, it definitely increased. After all, with everything that happened, I feel anxious if I’m not by her side. As I kissed Lily’s belly, I recalled that day—the day we were attacked by mysterious enemies.
* * *
”Kento-san, please calm down and listen. Actually, Lily-san…!”
”Did something happen to Lily!?”
”Lily-san… beat a suspicious person to a pulp…!” Amelia said.
Sister Amelia, who had repelled the attackers, said that in a hushed voice. Combined with the fact that I had been imagining the worst, I unintentionally let out a pathetic yelp.
”Hah? What… eh…? Is, is Lily safe…?”
”Yes, she is perfectly fine. I am sorry, even though we were with her, we ended up troubling Lily-san to step in…”
”No, that’s… Anyway, for now, let’s head home.”
”Yes…”
I couldn’t tell the apologetic Amelia whether it was good or bad. I didn’t quite understand the meaning, but at any rate, let’s hurry home.
Even though her belly isn’t that swollen yet, Lily is a pregnant woman. Even hearing that she’s ‘perfectly fine’, anxiety remains. That’s why I wanted to see her face as soon as possible, but…
”Oh, welcome back, Master.”
”Ah, yeah, I’m back…?”
To jump to the conclusion, the Lily who greeted me was safe. Rather than just being safe, she was right in the middle of tying up suspicious men dressed all in black and treading on their backs.
”Lily-san, that’s enough! You mustn’t be so violent with a pregnant body!!!”
”It’s fine, just this much. In my hometown, I used to wrestle blizzard bears even in my last month of pregnancy, you know?”
”Even so!!! Do you understand how many people would be saddened if anything happened to you!?”
Scolding Lily while similarly tying up the suspicious individuals was Aerith of the Garou Merchant Guild⁵. This might have been the first time I’d ever seen her angry.
”Ah—Lily, I’ll take over. Give me that rope.”
”No. These people are from my foster family; they can break out of this level of restraint with pure strength, so if I give them to Master, they’ll escape in an instant. Honestly, it would have been better if I had iron handcuffs and leg irons…”
I felt a bit dejected after being so easily declared useless. I’m aware that I’m weaker than anyone here, but as a man, how should I put it… it’s pathetic. I thought I’d come to terms with this kind of thing when I gave up the path of an adventurer, but man…
”Oh, geez, don’t make that face! I’m a special case, and Aerith-sama is a beastman. It’s a mistake to compare us, and that isn’t where Master’s good points lie, you know.”
Apparently, it had shown on my face. While feeling apologetic and wondering what to do, Lily turned her gaze behind me. Amelia was next to me, and there shouldn’t have been anyone there, but…
”Muse-sama, I have to go comfort Master, so please take over for me.”
”Eh…?”
”I suppose it can’t be helped…”
Just as I thought I heard a voice from behind, a black shadow slithered forward, startling me. I don’t know by what method, but that shadow had at some point become Muse-san, the maid of Her Majesty, and she took the rope from Lily.
”W-What’s the meaning of this…?”
”Things have been smelling fishy lately, after all. They were probably stationing someone for surveillance and protection. Since an incident occurred, I assume she rushed here as the person in charge.”
”Please do not think ill of us. Had we told you, there might have been suspicious parts in your daily behavior, and there was a possibility of being noticed by the enemy.”
While catching Lily, who reached out to pat my head, I felt dizzy without understanding the situation. Come to think of it, did Lily say something about a ‘foster family’ earlier? What did she mean by ‘smelling fishy’ lately? It seems we were being watched, and what is this ‘enemy’…?
Becoming the ‘Kento-san who knows nothing’ once again, I looked at Muse-san, looked at Aerith, looked at Amelia, and finally looked at Lily in my arms. Someone, anyone, please explain.
As I was thinking that, Muse-san ripped the mask off one of the men in black. What appeared was hair of a slightly dull ‘pink’…
”As I thought, the ‘Pink Clan’⁶… Lily-san, do you recognize him?”
”I feel like I might have seen him before… I don’t know his name, so he’s likely someone from a ‘branch family’. His hair color is light, too, so I doubt he possesses ‘the power’.”
”Why is the young lady of the main house…!”
”Who said you could speak?”
”Gugh…!”
Muse-san tightened the restraint, silencing the man from the ‘branch family’. Muse-san’s eyes, with their deep dark circles, were so incredibly cold that I felt a shiver run down my spine.
Because I was raised in a peaceful former world, I was aware that I wasn’t used to rough business. However, I couldn’t stop my sense of patheticness from growing even larger.
Lily, sensing my trembling, pushed her chest against me saying, “There, there, have some bosoms,” but that only made me feel more pathetic, and I bluffed as I asked about the circumstances.
”So, these guys came here targeting Lily…?”
”Well, there’s a possibility they simply came to steal information about our country, and it’s also conceivable they were planning to cause an incident in the royal capital. We won’t know that much until we interrogate them. But it’s certain they had been lying low for a while, sniffing around Lily-san and this shop.”
Being told so bluntly, I ruminated on the meaning of the words, and finally, the situation began to sink in. Apparently, we had either been caught up in a family feud of the ‘Pink Clan’, or we were about to be ensnared by the evil hand of the ‘war’ that had been slowly creeping closer.
It seems their schemes failed, but what if this had been a little while ago, when Lily was suffering from morning sickness? Or even though she said she was fine, what if it was during her last month of pregnancy?
No, there’s no need to even think about such a situation. There was a great possibility that the people precious to me could have been hurt. Without even noticing that, until a few days ago, I was just idly thinking, ‘I wonder if the war will end soon’…
”Master…?”
Lily, apparently misunderstanding that my trembling from anger at myself was trembling from fear, hugged me tightly.
There was a possibility of losing this warmth. Not just her. Aerith and Amelia too. And in this very moment, the lives of Tania and the others who have gone to the battlefield are being exposed to danger.
My gut burned with a sudden heat. I have the materials on hand. I don’t know if it will work. But, I have to do it.
”Muse-san, may I leave this place to you?”
”Eh? Yes, of course, we will take custody of these people here, but…”
”No, I mean, could you make it so a situation where Lily and the others have to fight never happens again?”
”What are you… No, yes, I swear it upon Cecile-sama.”
Perhaps reading from my expression that I was serious, Muse-san agreed, swearing upon her lord, the Queen. Seeing that, I turned back to Lily.
”Lily, I’m going to head out for a bit again. No matter what happens, don’t do anything reckless. Rely on someone, and please, stay safe…”
”…I understand. Master, you mustn’t do anything reckless either, okay?”
I nodded and kissed her forehead. Now then, if that’s how you want to play it, I have ideas of my own. I’ll show you that the weak have their own way of fighting.
Thus, the plan to end the war began.
—
Summary:
Summer has arrived, but the war persists, keeping the shop’s employees away while Lily’s pregnancy progresses. A flashback reveals an attempted abduction of Lily by the Pink Clan, which she and the other women easily thwarted. Realizing the danger his loved ones face, Kento’s frustration at his own helplessness transforms into a cold resolve. He decides to use his unique ‘weak’ methods to interfere and bring the war to an end.”
—
Character Insight:
This chapter marks a pivotal shift in Kento’s internal monologue from passive observer to active participant. His ‘patheticness’ serves as the catalyst for his ‘anger,’ shifting his motivation from simple survival to the proactive protection of his domestic peace. Lily’s casual strength and Muse’s professional coldness highlight the power gap Kento feels, yet his final decision suggests he is embracing his role as a strategist rather than a frontline fighter.”
—
Behind the Scene:
The author notes that the series has reached the annual ranking cover and accumulated 40,000 points, expressing deep gratitude to the readers.”
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• Aerith – A wolf beast-person and Ouka’s daughter. She is intensely attracted to Kento’s creative genius and is not shy about showing her interest. Have gray fur hair and tail, wearing elegant dress.
• Muse – Cecile’s trusted attendant and chief maid, Muse handles sensitive, discreet tasks like espionage and product acquisition. Have sharp, black eyes, wearing maid uniform, and have expressionless face.
• Cecile – A high-ranking, powerful woman in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply