Chapter 212 The Girl and Her Dreams
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Listarte departed shortly after, soaring away atop her magical steed, the Skygoon ¹.
Once she was gone, I gathered everyone to debrief. The consensus was unanimous: for now, we had no choice but to sit tight and observe. After all, as long as they aren’t showing their teeth, we can’t exactly go picking a fight. Still, for those of us born in the Kingdom or the Republic, the mere mention of the Empire triggers an instinctive, visceral rejection.
”Make no mistake, the Empire has an agenda,” Liliarette remarked. “They didn’t just send anyone; they sent a member of the Imperial bloodline as their primary envoy to the King of the Magic Labyrinth.”
She looked genuinely troubled as she continued. “The fact that a Princess-one who bears the name Roa and possesses the rare skill to tame a Skygoon-is the one moving suggests orders from the very top.”
”The top?” I asked.
”Indeed. The Imperial high command,” Liliarette replied. “And that, of course, includes the Emperor himself.”
I see. In corporate terms, it’s like the CEO sending his own daughter to handle a merger. Not that I’ve ever actually worked in an office, but the analogy felt right.
Looking at it through that lens, things started to click. From the Princess’s perspective, she wouldn’t be contacting the “King” unless there was a massive profit in it for her father and their “company.” In this case, the profit was obviously the Demon Forest’s crops and our flight magic. Today wasn’t a formal negotiation; it was a scouting mission. A way to feel out the terrain before making a move.
Cleonora and the others were on the same page.
”If they conclude that Shoichi will never hand over the crops or the secrets of flight through diplomacy…” I mused.
”It’s the Empire,” Liliarette cut in. “They won’t hesitate to use force.”
”Exactly,” Cleonora added. “The fact that we’re even on their radar means they likely intend to annex this land eventually, one way or another. They’re just deciding whether to do it the easy way or the hard way desuwa.”
My blood ran cold for a second before a hot spark of rage ignited in my chest. It was that same flash of fury I felt when I realized Aris and Iris were trying to jump my claim on the farm.
Do they have any idea? Do they have any damn clue how much blood, sweat, and literal life-force I’ve poured into this place? I built this from a single, rotting shack! And now that I’ve turned it into a paradise, they think they can just stroll in and seize it? Over my dead body.
”If that’s really what they’re planning…!” I growled.
”Now, now… it hasn’t come to that just yet. But the probability is high desuwa,” Cleonora said, trying to soothe me.
”We need to be ready,” Liliarette added. “Listarte-hime’s base is the Kaibel provincial capital. We need eyes and ears there.”
They were right. As it stood, the information flow was one-way. They came here, looked around, and took our secrets back with them. We were blind to what Listarte was doing behind closed doors. And we were talking about a global superpower-a military juggernaut that was currently swallowing the continent whole.
The last thing I wanted was to wake up one morning to find a full-scale invasion force knocking on the Demon Forest’s door.
”If that’s the play, then I’ve got just the thing!” Ami-chan chirped, finally breaking her silence.
We ended up taking her suggestion to heart. For the foreseeable future, we would be running our own little intelligence operation in the Kaibel provincial capital.
* * *
”And so, that’s the situation,” I said.
”Wow… Baruka-san, you really have your hands full!” Kanade exclaimed.
”Tell me about it,” I sighed.
The meeting was over, dinner was finished, and I had dropped by Kanade’s room. Thanks to these daily check-ins, her Affection Level ² had finally hit 10. She was officially in the clear.
Her wounds were healing up nicely, too. From tomorrow, she’d be joining the rest of us for meals. Expanding her social circle was part of the plan-it would give her more chances to hear the curated version of my reputation from the other girls. A little positive reinforcement from third parties goes a long way.
Though, I had to admit, “Baruka-san” was a bit of a weird way for her to address me. She had a very unique rhythm to her speech.
”I heard this world was a bit of a war zone,” Kanade said, leaning back. “But I didn’t think a literal military empire would be breathing down your neck.”
”All I want is a quiet life with everyone,” I said, putting on my best weary leader face.
A quiet life where I get exactly what I want, that is.
To turn Kanade into a Slave of Love ³, I first had to make her a Magical Girl ⁴. And since Magical Girls were the backbone of my Dominion’s ⁵ military, she needed to be invested in our survival. That’s why I’d started letting her in on the inner circle talk.
”But… are you sure about this? Sending Ghibli-san in alone?” Kanade asked.
”She’s tougher than she looks. I’m not worried,” I reassured her.
Ami’s plan was simple: slip Ghibli into Kaibel as a spy. As a beastman, she could blend into certain crowds, she was a survival expert, and her combat stats were high enough that she could fight her way back home if things went south.
Starting tomorrow, my routine would involve teleporting her to the capital every morning and picking her up at night. Of course, I’d have to make sure I got my morning release before she left. Efficiency is key, after all.
”Oh! That reminds me! There was something I’ve been meaning to ask you, Baruka-san…!” Kanade suddenly blurted out.
”Yeah? What’s up?”
She leaned in, her eyes searching mine with an intensity that caught me off guard.
”Baruka-san… is it true? Can you really… give people the power to become Magical Girls!?”
I blinked. “Eh?”
She was practically vibrating with excitement. I’d planned on bringing it up eventually, but I hadn’t said a word about it yet.
”Where did you hear that?” I asked.
”Aris-chan told me! She came by to check my wounds today and she transformed right in front of me!”
Ah. Right. Usually, Aris stayed in her Lace Agate form when she visited, but it seems she’d decided to show off a bit today.
”I heard Cleonora-san can turn into a little Magical Girl, too…! Is it for real!?” Kanade pressed.
”I mean… yeah. That’s how it works,” I replied.
Kanade’s eyes went wide-like, unnervingly wide. Pop! She looked like she was staring into the sun.
”Does everyone become a tiny, cute girl when they transform!?” Kanade asked breathlessly.
”I… I guess so?” I muttered. So far, the height limit for the transformation seemed to be around 150cm. Petite, modest chests-the whole nine yards.
Wait. Looking at her reaction… was she actually into this?
”Don’t tell me… Kanade, do you want to be a Magical Girl?”
”What!? I-no! I mean-well… you know…!” She started stammering, her face turning a bright, frantic red. Oh, she was serious. Dead serious.
She bit her lip, looking down at her lap before stealing a shy glance at me.
”It’s… it’s stupid, right? A girl as big as me… wanting to be a ‘little girl.’ I just… I’ve always loved that aesthetic,” she whispered.
Bingo. This was the gap I’d been looking for. The tall, elegant beauty who secretly hated her height and just wanted to be a frilly, petite mahou shoujo.
”I don’t think it’s stupid at all,” I said, my voice dropping an octave, becoming softer.
”Really!?” Her head snapped up.
”Yeah. Really,” I said.
She spilled the rest after that. She’d always felt like her height was a curse. She didn’t want to be a model; she wanted to wear the kind of hyper-feminine, lacy clothes that only look right on someone half her size.
”When Ducky told me he’d grant any wish,” she whispered, “I was actually going to ask him to make me small and cute, like Aris-chan or Iris-chan.”
”Ducky?” Right, the god-entity. She’d been too embarrassed to admit it before, but now the cat was out of the bag.
This changed everything. I could feel a smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. To think I’d stumbled onto this leverage just by being a good listener.
”Well,” I said, leaning closer. “If that’s what you really want, I can make it happen.”
”You… you’d really make me a Magical Girl!?” Kanade gasped.
”I’ll consider it. But,” I added, holding up a finger, “it’s not a gift. It’s a commitment.”
I let the silence hang for a moment before continuing.
”Magical Girl powers are a massive responsibility. They’re the shield of this territory. I can’t just hand out that kind of power for free, even to a fellow Japanese person.”
”I… I get that,” she said, her voice steadying. \”You mean you want me to work for you?”
”Exactly. And that means you’d be standing on the front lines against the Empire, or whoever else tries to take what’s ours,” I said.
I was subtly reminding her that she might have to face that cat eventually. Not that it mattered-I was going to turn her anyway, but it was better if she begged for it.
”And we’d have to wait until you’re fully healed, of course. But if you’re willing to put in the work, you’re more than welcome here,” I told her.
”I… okay. I understand,” Kanade replied.
I wanted to start the initiation right then and there. Every instinct I had was screaming at me to push the issue, to take advantage of her vulnerability. But I held back. I could wait. If I let her stew in this desire, if I let her want it until it was all she could think about, the path to making her my Slave of Love would be ten times smoother.
I stood up, giving her a reassuring smile.
”Get some rest, Kanade. We’ll talk more about your dream soon.”
With one more secret weapon in my arsenal, I headed back to my room, a very satisfied man.
—
Summary:
Shoichi debriefs his team on the potential threat of the Great Empire’s scouting mission. They decide to send Ghibli as a spy to the Kaibel provincial capital. Later, Shoichi visits Kanade and discovers her secret desire to become a petite Magical Girl, providing him with psychological leverage.
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Character Insight:
Kanade reveals a deep-seated complex regarding her height, showing a vulnerable side that Shoichi immediately identifies as a tool for manipulation. Shoichi displays cold calculation, choosing to wait for her to ‘beg’ rather than forcing his agenda immediately.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Ducky’ reference hints at the previous encounter with the god-entity that brought Kanade to this world, highlighting the gap between her expectations and reality.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Listarte – Judiette’s younger half-sister. A fox beastman sorceress and the only Imperial citizen capable of riding the Skygoon. Have long dark hair. Wearing ornate Imperial princess robes with gold trim.
• Liliarette – The other Princess, who sacrificed her ability to walk and her sorcery talent to save her sister, Cleonora. She is imprisoned in the East Tower and is being used as a political and monetary pawn by Viorga. C-cup, true golden hair, waist-length hair, the fringe was a slightly blunt, hair on her left side was braided to the chest.
• Cleonora – The second princess. Have a yellow blonde hair. Usually styled as hairbun. D-cup.
• Ami – A palm-sized fairy-like being from a world separate from both Earth and the isekai realm. She has light blue hair tied in a ponytail, mischievous blue eyes, and tiny wings that flutter behind her. Her outfit consists of a provocative high-cut leotard and a short jacket that looks like a miniskirt from the back, leaving her legs bare. Despite her playful appearance, she is actively searching for a contractor who can protect her from dangerous pursuers in exchange for the powers she offers.
• Kanade – A tall, model-figured C-cup girl with short hair and a bright, outgoing personality. She enjoys teasing her friends, especially Kiraurumi, about their love lives and body insecurities. She also secretly desires to be a shorter, cute girl. She also thinks she’s the most normal.
• Ghibli – The 4th Unique Individual. A cat-like beast-eared maid with short yellowish-blonde hair. Height: 159cm. Bust: B-cup. Fighter class.
• Lace Agate – Magical girl Aris with elf-like long ears, 144 cm tall, A-cup, and a white-and-blue theme. She wears a leotard-style outfit with an open-front skirt cloth. Her pale blue hair has long bangs covering her left eye, shoulder-length back, blue highlights, and a ribboned braid on the right side.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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