Chapter 182 The Return
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ceasefire negotiations were a success. We erupted in cheers the moment we heard the news directly from Lady Tina Duke Badcage.
According to the details shared alongside the announcement, the discussions had expanded beyond the Coalmine Kingdom¹ to encompass sales through the maritime nation of Silbaor² as well.
There were countless matters I needed to discuss with Her Majesty—rewards, the bestowal of peerage, the ultra-compact magic weapon known as the PHZ³, and even the topic of having a child with Tina.
But for now, all that took a backseat to the return of my staff and Lily’s upcoming delivery. After being forced into a grueling wartime footing, our shop was finally reverting to normal operations.
That day, while looking after Lily as she neared her due month, I spent the morning paced with restless energy. Today, of all days, I had taken a leave of absence from both my duties at the Canarias Convent⁴ and the shop’s daily business.
”Master, honestly, you’re being quite a nuisance. Didn’t you hear that Tania-sama and the others wouldn’t be back until evening?” Lily asked with a look of exasperation.
I had been peeking out the back door every ten minutes, only to return and habitually rub Lily’s belly. She eventually rebuked me with a tired sigh.
”Yeah… but maybe the carriage horses are in a great mood and they’ll make it back early…” I said.
”Even if that were true, your fidgeting isn’t going to change reality. Look, I’ll give you some ‘there, there’ pats, so please just behave yourself,” Lily replied.
”Yes…” I muttered.
She was like a mother lecturing a stubborn child. Lately, it felt like Lily had fully come into her own as a parent. Meanwhile, I still struggled with flashes of anxiety over whether I could truly handle being a father…
I spent the following hours showering Lily’s belly with kisses—only to be kicked in the face by the little one inside—and burying my face in her now-bountiful chest while she stroked my hair. I practically slipped into a “Mamma…” trance as the time ticked by. Eventually, the sound of boisterous voices drifted in from outside.
”Come on, Big Sis, hurry, hurry!”
”Don’t pull so hard, Laika. If you rush like that, you’re going to trip and fall…” Tania said.
”How can you be so calm!? Look, I can see the back door! I can smell that nostalgic scent!” Laika shouted.
It had been six months since I’d heard those two voices. Feeling a sudden, sharp urge to cry, I sat up quickly from Lily’s lap. When our eyes met, I saw that Lily’s expression was just as restless and excited as my own.
”I’m baaaaack!” Laika yelled.
”I’m home,” Tania said.
Finally, the sound of the back door swinging open rang out, and along with those spirited voices, our employees—the adventurer dog-beastman Laika and the adventurer elf Tania—had returned.
”Welcome back, you two…!” I said.
”Welcome home, Tania-sama, Laika-sama,” Lily added.
It appeared they had come straight here from the carriage, still clad in their travel gear and hauling heavy packs. They weren’t… injured. They looked a bit worn from the road, but they had returned exactly as they were when they first left. Nothing could have made me happier.
”Whoa! It’s Kento! Kento, Kento! Whoa! Lily-sama, your belly’s huge! Whoa, whoaaa!” Laika barked.
”Indeed. Have you both been in good health?” Tania asked.
Laika was like a pet dog seeing her owner for the first time in years; her ears were pinned back against her head, and she was wagging her tail so violently it created a blur of afterimages. On the other hand, Tania appeared perfectly composed, but her pointed ears were twitching and flicking, betraying her hidden joy.
”Alright! Laika, get over here!” I said.
”Is it okay!? Is it really okay!?” Laika asked.
”Of course! Come at me with everything you’ve got!”
”Woof woof!” Laika cried.
My darling Laika looked like she couldn’t hold back a second longer. I stood up, braced myself in a slight crouch, and spread my arms wide. She slammed into my stomach with the force of a guided missile.
I managed to hold my ground and catch her. While her tail whipped back and forth, thumping against me, she spun around in my arms, sniffing me frantically and licking my hands, neck, ears, and all around my mouth.
”Sigh, hum! Gasp, breath!” Laika whimpered with pure joy.
”There, there, good girl, good girl! You did so well to come home…!” I said.
I stroked her head, her back, and her hips. She thrust her face toward my hands, so I rubbed her cheeks and playfully pinched her nose. Neither of us could find the words for our joy; her head bumped my chin, and in her sheer excitement, we both ended up tumbling to the floor.
”Belly! Rub my belly!” Laika begged.
”Alright, alright! Scrub, scrub, scrub! There we go!”
”Smack, smack! Whimper, whimper! Sigh, hum!” Laika yipped.
Sprawled on the floor, she bared her belly and squirmed, so I massaged her stomach with everything I had. When I moved to rub her sides, chest, and thighs, Laika’s joy seemed to break its limit. She lunged up and pinned me down instead.
”Grasp!” Laika growled playfully.
”Oof! Okay, okay, easy now, there, there,” I said.
With her hunting instincts seemingly triggered, Laika nipped at my ears, my nose, and my chin. She straddled me, pinned my hands, and delivered a barrage of feverish kisses. Afterward, she burrowed her head into my clothes, bit at my neck, rubbed her forehead against my chest, and a whole lot more.
I had no way to resist (not that I intended to), and as I was being ‘predated’ upon, I heard the voices of Tania and Lily conversing.
”It seems things are progressing smoothly. Now we simply await the birth…” Tania noted.
”Yes. The baby should be here this month or next. After that, it’s your turn, isn’t it, Tania-sama?” Lily asked.
”N-ngh… Hearing it put that way makes me feel quite anxious… I don’t even know if I can conceive successfully, and if I do, will a belly that large interfere with my daily life…?” Tania replied.
”In that regard, wouldn’t Master do whatever it takes to manage somehow? I heard there are even magic medicines that promote pregnancy… Daily life is difficult, certainly, but Master takes care of me so diligently that it’s fine,” Lily said.
Their level of trust was staggering. I was happy, and I certainly intended to do everything in my power for them, but I wondered what a child between an elf and a human would be like. I only had a vague idea, so I’d have to research it properly later…
”By the way, how many women have been added to the household?” Tania asked.
”Ah… come to think of it, the number hasn’t increased… There are a few people he could probably win over if he really set his mind to it, though,” Lily replied.
”What? That Kento? How did this happen? Did he perhaps fall ill? Could there be a problem with his lower body functions…” Tania asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
”No, that part is perfectly fine. I’m sorry, it’s just that I was unable to move much due to morning sickness, and various other things happened… Now that you and Laika are back and the anxiety has lifted, I’m sure he’ll bring two or three more home soon,” Lily said.
”I see. Well, yes. It is Kento, after all,” Tania agreed.
”Exactly, because he’s Master,” Lily added.
Their trust was really something else. Just what do these two think I am…? I never once said, ‘Alright, time to build a harem!’ It just happened naturally with the women in my life!
”By the way, is Satsuki-sama not returning?” Lily asked.
”Ah, Satsuki is in government service, so reporting to the Royal Palace comes first. There’s also the report regarding the ultra-compact magic weapons. She said she might not be able to show her face for two or three days,” Tania explained.
”I see… but as long as she’s safe, that’s what matters. She’ll be able to work with us just like before, right?” Lily asked.
”Most likely. The Queen won’t leave Kento alone,” Tania replied.
I felt relieved that Lily asked the things I was worried about. Now things really are back to the way they were. If Satsuki is here, we can resume development of the ‘Piston Machine’⁵ that had been put on hold…
”Oh, would you like to try touching my belly? It seems like it can hear your voices; it’s been full of energy for a bit now,” Lily offered.
”Oh, is that so? Then, if you’ll excuse me… Haha! Well now, what a cute little one. There, there. If it’s the child of Lily-sama and Kento, then it’s as good as my own child. I shall cherish you forever, so you can be at ease when you are born…” Tania said softly.
”Ah, that’s not fair, Big Sis! Let me touch too!” Laika cried.
”No, you were busy licking Kento all over… Are you finished already?” Tania asked.
”I’ll lick him again later, and I’ll lick him plenty tonight, so it’s fine! Come on, trade places!” Laika insisted.
”Good grief…” Tania sighed.
Laika, who had covered my face in drool, said those things as she went over to Lily and began sniffing her belly with her nose pressed right against it. I didn’t quite understand, but I suppose that’s a dog-beastman greeting… Tania came over in her place.
”Dear me. Are you alright, Kento?” Tania asked.
”Yeah, though I’m covered in spit… Grab that towel for me,” I said.
”Very well. Honestly, she could have left a little bit for me…” Tania muttered.
”My mouth is relatively unscathed,” I teased.
”Hm? I-I see. Then, I won’t hold back…” Tania replied.
Regardless of whether Laika had intended that or not, Tania looked happy as she pressed her lips against mine. While stroking her elven ears—which I hadn’t felt in six months—we shared a passionate kiss. Eventually, she pulled away, looking a bit reluctant.
”Once again, welcome home, Tania,” I said.
”Yes. I’m home, Kento. May I assume… the rest will happen tonight?” Tania asked.
”Yeah, of course,” I replied.
And so, the employees of our shop had successfully made their return home.
—
Summary:
Following the establishment of a ceasefire, Kento’s life begins to stabilize after a period of intense wartime pressure. He anxiously awaits the return of his shop employees while caring for Lily, who is nearly due to give birth. Tania and Laika finally arrive home, resulting in a chaotic and heartwarming reunion filled with affection and trust. The chapter concludes with the household fully reunited and preparing for a new, peaceful chapter of their lives.
—
Character Insight:
This chapter underscores the deep-seated bond within Kento’s unconventional family. Lily has fully embraced her role as a maternal figure, providing emotional stability for both Kento and the returning employees. Laika’s unrestrained affection and Tania’s quiet, ear-flicking joy contrast their different ways of expressing loyalty, while Kento’s internal monologue reveals a humble man who still finds the immense trust placed in him by these powerful women both surprising and motivating.
—
Behind the Scene:
This chapter serves as a pivotal transition point, shifting the narrative tone from high-stakes military tension back to the series’ roots in domestic comedy and erotic fantasy.
—
T/L:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• 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.
• Satsuki – A talented Court Mage who was forced to analyze the shop’s adult magic tools. Miranda’s granddaughter. Now she’s the new worker at Harvest, a development she finds both humiliating and surprisingly fulfilling due to the rapid progress in her research under Kento’s guidance. Has long black hair, palace mage robe, and staff.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply