Volume 6 Chapter 30 Aria Becomes A Combat Escort Maid
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I had intended to stop by Seron to meet Ranka and Rusty, but I changed my plans and returned to McGaref instead. The Sheryl subjugation plan had gone even better than expected, so it was necessary to regroup with Councilor Gandolf and Councilor Mafat for future strategy.
First, we had to dispatch people to the Former Northern Kingdom, but that would be decided with Dalcur and Neige of the Ironclad Order of Knights. It might be a roundabout way, but thanks to the tunnel opened up with Gonan Kingdom, we could also move our military forces. There would likely be some grievances, but I intended for Sheryl’s capture to serve as an incentive for them to come to an agreement. Returning to our homeland… it would be a deeply moving experience.
Meanwhile, in Seron and Lesta, Shiori and Haruka were hard at work in what they referred to as civil engineering, which was effectively sabotage. I’d received a message that “Dora even managed to transform into Aqua Regia,” the terrifying substance that can dissolve any metal. That was… concerning.
Since leaving those 2 unchecked would be frightening, I had Ms. Marina accompany them as a supervisor. According to Ms. Marina’s report, they had destroyed Bakdu Fortress. …Destroyed? Let’s just pretend I didn’t hear that.
They were carving into that narrow mountain path and filling it in… Sounds like they were working with the image of a highway construction site. I wondered if they had everything under control. They had used the super-precious Agilaus Staff too much and broke it, so apparently, they were getting “Scaya’s” for replacement.
* * *
…And I, honestly, was utterly fed up.
”I’m sorry, Chinatsu,” I said.
”It’s okay! Chisame seems to be enjoying devouring a lot of lives,” she replied cheerfully.
As expected of a cursed sword. Terrifying creatures indeed, both she and her wielder. I sighed and looked around. This raid had the largest number of attackers yet. With a force of about 200, I estimated there were roughly 50 bodies lying around.
”This is the third time now,” I said.
”Yeah, they’ve been relentless. But McGaref is just ahead. They won’t be able to intrude any further,” Gandolf said.
”I hope you’re right…”
”But, the combination of Chinatsu’s little lady and the Witch of Plenty is fearsome. A normal escort would have been wiped out by now.”
”Indeed. They’re a remarkably dependable pair,” I agreed.
Councilor Gandolf and I exchanged wry smiles. Unlike me, Gandolf had considerable combat skills, yet he hadn’t had a chance to contribute at all.
The Quvarian Empire’s assassins had struck three times, each attempt orchestrated by a different faction. Each group seemed to have its own military capacity. The finance department wielding troops…? It was like the old Showa-era army building submarines—completely absurd.
Yet all three attacks proved meaningless before Clarice’s ironclad defense and Chinatsu-chan’s swift sword strikes. On the return, we had a modest escort, but honestly, the two of us were more than enough.
Moreover, thanks to my ‘Enemy Detection’ Skill, I had foreseen the assaults and turned the tables, ambushing and taking out the squad leaders. I could only express condolences to those unfortunate souls. The survivors were disarmed, stripped naked, bound hand-to-back in a chain, and treated as criminal slaves—not as soldiers, but as thieves.
”Look at that one. Quite the body. Shall we take her along if we’re going to—” said
”Yeah, but like I said yesterday, it could be a trap for me. Not here,” I interrupted.
”I thought Takumi-sama would violate any woman, but apparently, that’s not the case.”
Yes, Clarice-chan. That’s partly just rumor damage against me. We interrogated them, of course, but as expected, they had little valuable information.
Some hadn’t even been told of their mission and were sobbing uncontrollably. It was like a shadowy gig… yet they should at least be glad they weren’t killed.
During the long break, I permitted rotational abuse. Pouring into the three despairing women raised morale among my troops. Unlike the Lesta Kingdom campaign, which ended in total annihilation, our war was only beginning.
Thus, weary of the Quvarian Empire’s cruelty—and, admittedly, aware I was the cruellest of all—I returned to McGaref. There, Aria and Shion-chan made an unexpected proposition.
First to greet me were Aria, Rira-chan, and Shion-chan. Aria wore a slightly smug expression; Rira-chan offered a wry smile. Shion-chan simply stared silently.
”Takumi-kun, Aria… well, she really went and did it,” said
”Did what?” I asked
”The other day… you remember that Skill enhancer we found in the Depths of the Labyrinth?”
Ah, that rare treasure that could evolve a ‘Medium’ Skill into a ‘Strong’ Skill. ‘Strong’ to ‘Master’ would have been even more valuable, but this was still impressive. Normally, it would be most efficient to use on someone with magic Skills… Wait, could it be?
”Forcibly… she used it. Upgraded a Martial Arts Skill to ‘Strong’.”
”I’m your maid and bodyguard, Takumi. I’ve recently acquired the ‘Enhanced Physical Abilities’ Skill from the addition of new abilities to our former slaves, so I believe I can be of great service as your bodyguard.”
”Alright, Aria. Should we go with calling you ‘Takku’?”
”I’m sorry, Takku. I knew you were a valuable treasure. But I just had to be your bodyguard!”
With glistening eyes, Aria gazed at me. Oh, she was adorable. The beauty of Northern European descent, platinum blonde hair, M-cup breasts──she looked like an absolute goddess. And with that sweet, dependent expression, it was impossible to resist. Not only was she my childhood friend and first crush, but this version of Aria felt indomitable.
”Chinatsu and Haruka are fighting by your side, Shiori is taking care of potions, Hikari has her ‘Lucky Charm’ Skill, and Rira is helpful with her ‘Divine Oracle’ Skill, right? I’m just a maid… and it made me feel miserable.”
Out of the 8 classmates who declared their love for me, aside from Kurumi and Kahoru, who claimed the title of ‘friends with benefits’ and stood back, my contribution certainly felt lackluster.
”No, you really don’t have to worry about that.”
”It’s what I dislike. Please, make me your bodyguard, Takku. That way, Chinatsu can shine in a role more deserving of her abilities, right? I’m prepared to stand as your shield and die if necessary. So, please.”
”Come on, do it for me, Tak-kun?”
Chinatsu teased me lightly. Oh, but the tension in the air felt like it might cut me.
”But, Aria. You need skills. Right now, being my bodyguard is impossible for you.”
”Actually, I’m training against Mikoshiba, who has the ‘Assassin’ Skill, and Rinko is helping me. I can probably hold my own against you.”
”Let’s see you try, Aria. I can heal you with my magic for minor injuries, and if you take a severe hit, just let me finish you off, and you can revive at the church.”
It was then that Shion finally spoke up. Wait──no matter how many lives you might have, I really don’t want to see Chinatsu take Aria’s head! But both Chinatsu and Aria looked eager for a fight.
”Go all out. I don’t expect to win, but I’ll prove I can shield you and buy us all some time.”
”Good resolve, but don’t forget the painkillers, okay? Tak-kun isn’t the type to enjoy seeing Aria writhing in pain with her guts spilling out; he isn’t that sadistic.”
”I’ve already taken them.”
Chinatsu-chan is really pushing the envelope… In a way, my intentions were left behind while Chinatsu-chan and the others started their serious fight.
Aria had really upped her Martial Arts game. She expertly deflected Chinatsu-chan’s initial strike with her arm guards, and though she took a hit from the second blow, she somehow managed to survive.
During the gap between the first and second strikes, she even managed to close the distance and kick! Considering that Weed-san lost his head in the first round, her performance was impressive.
…However, watching her battle in a maid outfit while those oversized rockets bounced around was, in a way, the ultimate weapon…
”Hey, not bad at all,” Chinatsu-chan said with a smirk, sheathing her sword with an air of menace.
”You pass, Aria. Sorry for hurting you, but you can rely on Shion-chan to heal you. I wouldn’t want to see you decapitated; that would really mess with Takumi’s head,” she added jokingly.
”Yeah, thanks. While I can come back from this, I definitely don’t want to see Aria die. By the way, you’re trying to change my nickname to ‘Tak-kun’ without my permission, aren’t you? That’s reserved for Aria!”
”Tak-kun, with Aria at her current level, I think she could protect you just fine. I mean, how lucky must you feel, having a maid who can handle things intimately at a moment’s notice? I have a secretary who’s a mirror image of me, and your… uh, your needs seem never-ending!”
”Well, I haven’t touched Merina yet…”
Actually, Merina is still a virgin. Ms. Marina already purchased the rights to her first night and handed them to me. So, I could take her virginity whenever I want, but for some reason, I just don’t feel inclined to do it.
”Takumi-kun, that’s just cruel. In this world, weak women are seen as prey for shielding. If you don’t take action soon, she’ll have no position to stand on,” Shion-chan interjected. There was an unusual sharpness to her words today. I knew why… so I allowed her words to pierce through me intentionally.
”That girl isn’t even a princess. She has no place here, does she? She may work as my secretary, but I bet she wonders how long until she stops being your property… which means she’s always anxious about when she might be discarded.”
”…Is that so?”
”It is. I feel somewhat similar to her right now,” Shion-chan said.
I caught Shion-chan’s violet eyes with my own. Unlike Aria, she’s always been the truly cool one since elementary school.
In fact, it seemed that for Shion-chan, anyone besides Ginga-kun barely mattered. Ginga-kun valued her, so she valued him in return. Meanwhile, I, Aria, and Suenaga-kun, who have been together since elementary school, barely managed to be recognized as human in her eyes.
”See, I know. The relationship between Shion and Ginga has always been a bit one-sided. Shion’s selfish love has been tenderly enveloped by Ginga’s gentle affection. Their love is real.
But right now, Ginga is suffering. He has embraced this world too much… trying to save everyone. And, against his will, he has had to cut some out. Unlike me, who calmly chose a harsh path, that’s where we differ.
”Well then,” I said, “now that Aria’s performance test is over, shall we head out, Takumi?”
”Yeah, exactly,” he agreed. “So, Chinatsu, we need to have a little chat.”
”Okay!” she exclaimed. “Then I guess I’ll ask Yawashi to whip something up for us. Hehe, maybe a mock udon and a mock onigiri set…”
I had an idea of what was coming. The 3 of us walked in silence toward Aria’s room. Once inside and the door locked, just as I expected, the two of them began shedding their clothes.
Sometimes, it’s nice to share a little about other ongoing stories as well.
’The neighbor in the apartment next door, Nakanishi, is an incredibly cute half-elf who’s also curious about naughty things.’
It’s a spicy romantic comedy about a university couple that’s currently running!
You can catch it from the link below, so please take a look!”
Notes:
• McGaref – Fortress city, adventurer hub.
• Rusty – She is an enigmatic elf and the oldest sister at ‘Night Butterfly,’ a high-class brothel. Her charming, forward approach surprises the narrator, offering him a unique connection.
• Ranka – She’s a guild shop assistant with a friendly demeanor and a practical mindset. Ranka’s recommendations are based on logical, merchant-minded suggestions, catering to the buyer’s needs.
• Dalcur – Mercenary leader; defects to the protagonist’s clan; physically imposing, known as ‘The Strong’.
• Haruka – 3rd Division leader. Aspires to be Takumi’s GF.
• Bakdu Fortress – A key fortress of the Seron Dukedom; its unexpected fall prompts concern in McGaref.
• Marina – Ranka’s older sister. The formal owner of Merchant Guild Katarina.
• Scaya – The ‘Flame Witch,’ employed by the Dark Elves; captured after the battle where the Celon Dukedom army was defeated.
• Chinatsu – Hikari’s party. Frustrated, jokes about prostitution.
• Quvarian Empire – Ruling kingdom. Harsh world, restricted freedom.
• Chinatsu-chan – Hikari’s party. Frustrated, jokes about prostitution.
• Clarice – The ‘Witch of Abundance’ from Lesta Kingdom.
• Lesta Kingdom – A kingdom neighboring the Quvarian Empire; currently at war with the Seron Dukedom and potentially the Empire.
• Shion-chan – Ginga’s GF. Archery, healing.
• Shion – Ginga’s GF. Archery, healing.
• Hikari – 4th Division leader. Stressed, relies on Takumi.
• Kaho – 3rd Army leader. Worried, ceremonial magic.
• Rinko – She’s mentioned as the one who attempted to rescue Shion, but Ginga-kun protected her instead, leaving a scar on Shion’s abdomen.
• Weed – He is a retired knight and martial arts master, appeared as a sword seller, known for his bloodthirsty grin and elite ‘Sword Master’ skill.
• Suenaga-kun – Classmate, Kahoru’s customer.
• Suenaga – Classmate, Kahoru’s customer.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply