Chapter 256 To the West ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
While Kento, the owner of the magic tool shop “Harvest¹,” was finding a renewed sense of purpose amidst the budding of new life, the subjugation force for the wicked dragon-queen Zil Meina was pressing further and further west, hauling the “Ddo-Buddy Cannon²” with them.
”Man, who would’ve thought we’d end up fighting for the Canaria Kingdom? Martin-kun, don’t you have any feelings about that?” Kushe asked.
”It’s Lord Popol,” Popol Martin snapped. “Of course I do. If General Van heard of this, who knows what he’d say… However, I have encountered someone far more precious than politics.”
The two from the Coalmine Group, Chief Court Mage Kushe and Count Popol Martin, continued their back-and-forth as the carriage swayed.
”Yeah, yeah, I get it. Are we back to talking about Momo-chan again? She’s certainly cute, and even I have a soft spot for babies, but—”
”It is not a matter of mere cuteness!” Martin shouted, his voice rising with fervor. “Momo-sama is the beacon of hope and salvation for every living thing throughout the entire world and—”
”Yeah, yeah, I hear you,” Kushe interrupted.
Martin had come to dote on the daughter of his beloved sister-in-law to an extraordinary degree. Nowadays, he couldn’t open his mouth without singing her praises. He had never been the easiest person to get along with, but this evolution from a sister-complex to a niece-complex had made him twice as tiresome. Kushe let out an exasperated sigh.
Striking up a conversation with him had been a mistake. On this journey, Kushe and her team were essentially honored guests. Because the “Ddo-Buddy Cannon” required such a massive security detail, a huge portion of the army was dedicated just to its transport. Unlike their previous trek to Sylvaol guarding the Crown Princess, the Canaria Kingdom military was handling all the scouting, guarding, and navigation. To put it bluntly, she was bored out of her mind.
The others felt the same way. Kushe had tried to be social by poking Martin, but that had clearly backfired. Giving up on the man, she turned to the other passengers.
”So, Mar-mar and Satsuki, how are you two feeling about all this?” Kushe asked.
”Huh? Oh, well… it’s definitely a strange sensation,” Satsuki admitted. “To be sharing a carriage with the same terrifying mages who were trying to blast us into oblivion with those magic weapons not long ago.”
”I’m not even thinking about that yet,” Marsetta added with a frown. “With Zil Meina liable to go on a rampage at any second, I’m just glad to have your help, Kushe.”
They were the court mages of the Canaria Group: the senior Marsetta and the junior Satsuki. For Kushe, talking with them was much more natural, having bonded through the development of the “Ddo-Buddy Cannon.”
Kushe gave up on Martin – who had once again shut his mouth sullenly, eyes closed and arms crossed – and slid closer to Satsuki.
”Ehh, what is it, Satsuki? Don’t tell me you’ve finally fallen for me? You could’ve just said so!” Kushe teased.
”Yeah, yeah. I love you, I’m crazy about you,” Satsuki deadpanned. “Now stop rubbing up against me.”
”Hmph! How cold!” Kushe cried.
Despite the rejection, Kushe looked delighted and leaned her shoulder into Satsuki. Satsuki didn’t bother pushing her away. Kushe was a master at finding that exact “sweet spot” of personal space where she could be annoying without being truly intrusive.
Having had her talent for magic discovered at a young age, Kushe had spent her entire life in a cutthroat, male-dominated meritocracy. Finding female friends who could actually talk shop at a high level was a rare treasure. Satsuki and Marsetta were likely the first true friends she had ever had.
If she had to answer her own initial question, she wasn’t fighting for the Canaria Kingdom; she was simply finding joy in the chance to fight alongside her friends.
”Speaking of which, shouldn’t we be reaching that ‘Nixfen Territory’ Kento mentioned soon?” Kushe asked.
”Oh, the place that makes those ‘Help Sticks³‘?” Marsetta asked.
”Exactly! Since we’re passing through, we should buy one if they’re for sale. I heard that wrapping a ‘Help Cord⁴‘ around the Ddo-Buddy actually improves its output,” Kushe said.
”Listen, Kushe, we aren’t on a sightseeing trip,” Satsuki warned.
”I know that! But look, enriching one’s nightly sexual life is important too, right? If you’re all pent up and horny, you might lose focus when it actually counts!” Kushe argued.
”Hey! That’s vulgar!” Satsuki hissed.
Satsuki glanced nervously at Martin and reached out to pinch Kushe’s cheek. Kushe didn’t seem to care about being shameless; she just grinned through the pinch. Martin remained motionless with his eyes shut, though the awkward tension radiating off him was palpable.
”Id hurrds, Satsuki!” Kushe whined.
”…You know, your cheeks are actually really soft,” Satsuki mused, her irritation fading into curiosity. “What on earth do you eat to get skin this nice?”
”I eat whatever I want! But really, it’s probably thanks to the ‘Slime-kun⁵‘ that lives in my—”
”Nope!” Satsuki cut her off, pulling harder.
”Ow! Ow, ow, Satsuki! I get it! I get it, so stop!” Kushe squealed.
As expected of crossing the line, Satsuki strengthened the force on her cheek. Even so, Kushe looked like she was having the time of her life. She was utterly shameless.
”Mar-mar! Satsuki is bullying me!” Kushe cried out.
”Well… you kind of brought that one on yourself, Ku-chan,” Marsetta laughed.
”What?! Not you too! Ow! My cheeks!”
Kushe managed to squirm out of Satsuki’s grip only to be caught by Marsetta. Soon, both Canaria mages were taking turns poking and pinching Kushe’s face, having become addicted to the soft texture of her skin.
”Sigh…”
Left out of the boisterous trio, Martin exhaled slowly. In his eyes, Kushe was the ultimate problem child. He had come along to keep an eye on her, but thanks to Satsuki and Marsetta, he didn’t even have to bother. It made his life easier, but he couldn’t wrap his head around these women. They were a far cry from the refined etiquette of his sister-in-law or the other ladies of the House of Popol.
He felt a sudden surge of respect for his brother-in-law, Kento, who had to manage a whole household of women just as chaotic as these three.
Suddenly, Martin’s posture sharpened.
”They’ve appeared again,” he said, his voice dropping. “Watch out. The carriage is stopping.”
”””Eh?”””
The women stopped their playing and immediately sat back properly. They had seen this enough times on the journey so far to know he wasn’t joking.
”Again? Man, they’re persistent,” Kushe muttered.
”Lord Popol, do you think we need to go out too?” Marsetta asked.
”I don’t sense anything too strong yet… but I’ll go check the perimeter just in case,” Martin replied.
As if on cue, the carriage ground to a halt. From the treeline came the low, guttural snarls of beasts. A monster ambush. Judging by the chorus of growls, it was likely a pack of Shadow Wolves. Or worse – a small-scale “Stampede⁶.”
Hoping for the former, Martin stepped out of the carriage. Around them, the rest of the convoy had halted in a defensive formation around the Ddo-Buddy Cannon. Soldiers and several court mages stood ready, weapons drawn. Their mission was to get the cannon to the west at all costs.
”Grrrrr…”
”Shadow Wolves! They’re using the shadows of the trees to attack! Stay sharp!” a soldier shouted.
This wasn’t even a dense forest – just a few stands of trees along the main road. Shadow Wolves were usually too cautious to hunt in such open terrain; they preferred the lightless depths of the woods. The fact that they were out here, half-exposed, confirmed the worst.
”GROOOOAAARRR!!!”
A massive roar shattered the air, followed by the heavy thud of paws. Giant Bears. Another species that shouldn’t be here. And there were several of them.
”It’s a Stampede!” someone screamed.
Martin’s instincts had been right. He hadn’t let his guard down for a second. With a cold, metallic shring, he drew the sword worn at his hip.
—
Summary:
The expedition force carrying the Ddo-Buddy Cannon travels west to subjugate Zil Meina. Amidst playful banter among the mages in the carriage, the convoy is suddenly ambushed. The monsters’ unusual behavior confirms a Stampede is occurring.
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Character Insight:
Kushe shows her vulnerable side, revealing that her mischief is a way to bond with her first true female friends. Martin demonstrates sharp battle instincts despite his growing obsession with his niece.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Help Stick’ is a recurring adult item in this series, used here both for comedic relief and as a pseudo-scientific magic catalyst.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• Martin – Lily’s non-blood-related younger brother. Considered the strongest candidate to succeed the Popol family due to his lineage and manifested ‘power. He has pink hair.
• Kushe – The Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom. She has dark green hair grown out haphazardly and wears a mage robe loosely over her shoulders. She has a blunt, informal, and somewhat insensitive personality, focused on her ‘thinking experiments.’
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• 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.
• Marsetta – A senior court mage and specialist in magical weaponry. She has disheveled hair tied back, wears glasses, and has deep dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. She hasn’t eaten in two days and is under heavy pressure to find a countermeasure for the enemy’s weapons.
• Nixfen – A viscount aristocrat who has started manufacturing and selling adult goods similar to Kento’s products in the Royal Capital’s pleasure district. He is described as a ‘pretty boy’ or ‘gentle-looking man’ (yasao) but is a territory-holding noble likely trained in combat.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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