Volume 6 Chapter 32 Parting Comes Suddenly
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”If you’re going to see the lord, you should at least inform us first,” Suzette said, her tone sharp. “Why do you think we came along with you?”
”Sir Klock, were you alright?” Mina asked, worry in her voice. “The lord of Boorinel is a bird-beastkin, right? People say they’re scary, so you shouldn’t get too close.”
”Welcome back, Klock,” Cianie said coolly. “We were just about to talk about what to do next. Is there anything you want to do in this town before we move on?”
Klock returned to the inn and was finally shown to his room. It was ordinary, with nothing worth noting, and as he stepped inside, the stone floor firm beneath his boots, three women closed in around him.
Their demeanor was different from what he had expected. He had feared Suzette and Mina might still be tense with each other, but instead, there was a strange sense of unity between them.
”…Alright,” Klock began, clearing his throat. “First, a report. The summons was just to confirm I wasn’t a male beastkin—like we thought. That was quickly settled, no problem there. And about the scene earlier in town, I explained the situation, they accepted it, and there’s no punishment. Oh, and they said there’s a bazaar next week—we should check it out before we leave.”
He ignored the women’s murmurs for the moment, wanting to finish his update first. It was a small way of saying, I did my job.
The room fell briefly silent. A breeze drifted in through the window, rustling the leaves of a potted plant. Cianie brushed a stray lock of hair back.
”I see,” she said without changing expression. “I’m not acquainted with local dignitaries, but if they’re making no move against us, we can relax for now.”
She had expected the lord to act, it seemed. For someone who often looked detached, Cianie clearly thought things through.
”Are you sure there was really nothing else?” Suzette asked, suspicion in her gaze. “You weren’t tricked in any way?”
”No,” Klock said firmly. “Trust me.”
”And where exactly should I place that trust?” Suzette pressed. “Not even a hint of seduction or anything like that?”
There had been. In fact, quite a lot of it. But Klock kept that to himself, merely raising his hands in a weary what are you talking about gesture to deflect the accusation.
Suzette’s sharp eyes stayed on him. Even without being beastkin, she had a frightening instinct for a man’s lies. Best not to meet her gaze too long.
”So, Mina,” Klock said, changing the subject. “What did you mean about bird-beastkin being dangerous?”
”Eh? Oh, well,” Mina fidgeted. “It’s just… ever since long ago, people say bird-beastkin are really cunning. It’s so well-known that even cats know it!”
Klock thought about it. They had seemed cunning enough, but hadn’t done anything. As local lords, their claws might have been dulled, especially if they were under feline authority.
”Right. Probably just an old story,” he said. “As long as we don’t deal with them again, it won’t matter.”
Even if Cattleya had been plotting something, if they never met again, it wouldn’t be a problem. If necessary, Cianie could simply use teleportation and end it there.
More than that, Klock wanted to know the conclusion of the women’s earlier discussion. Cianie had wanted to speak with Suzette about his future—whether one of them would part ways while the other stayed. But with the three of them standing here together, it was impossible to guess the outcome.
Suzette’s behavior was especially strange, as though she had found her true master. She even ignored his attempts to catch her eye.
”…Hey,” Klock muttered, trying to start.
But before he could ask, the door creaked open.
”Big Sis!”
The tension in the room spiked instantly. Flowing, fine-textured hair the color of lemon caught the light—distinct enough to identify Gildegant at a glance. Her expression was cool, and though she had clearly taken a beating from Cianie earlier, she seemed unharmed.
”You’re awfully generous not killing me,” Gildegant said with a smirk. “Guess the great hero has a soft spot even for the Demon Lord’s Army?”
”Not really,” Cianie replied evenly. “You’re an enemy, but you didn’t feel like one.”
Gildegant let her arm swing loosely. That’s when Klock noticed—she was walking normally. Her limbs, which should have been lost, were back.
The healing should have taken much longer. The most logical explanation was that Cianie had restored them.
”I know someone in your group,” Gildegant said. “A girl named Lyla.”
Sensing the shift in mood, Mina quietly shuffled over to stand beside Klock.
Lyla? Klock had never heard the name before. Suzette frowned, and Gildegant’s eyes widened slightly before she fell silent.
”She’s not really on the Demon Lord’s side, is she?” Cianie asked.
”…I see,” Gildegant said after a pause, then flopped into a chair.
Cianie, Klock, and Gildegant sat, with Mina at Klock’s side and Suzette standing near Cianie.
”Gasthira isn’t a single faction,” Gildegant explained. “Lyla and I are in a different camp from the Demon Lord. Could even end up clashing. But if you know about Lyla… that means you’ve met the saint, haven’t you?”
Her grin was sharp with amusement.
The terms flying around—holy maiden, Demon Lord—made Klock uneasy. This didn’t sound like a conversation for an ordinary person.
”She’s dangerous, right?” Gildegant went on. “The fact that she’s allowed to exist says a lot about the messed-up world we live in. She’s my boss’s right hand, and I’m just the errand-running left. Don’t care about the Demon Lord myself, but you’d better think about your position while you still can.”
Klock thought it strange that she’d say that to a hero. Surely it was the Demon Lord’s Army who should be worried.
”Using that child to get into a sealed world was a clever move,” Cianie said. “She’s a contact point. What do you intend to do, getting close to the holy maiden?”
”What do you think?” Gildegant shrugged. “You can’t ignore someone who can see the future. Not that I know all the details. Lyla’s probably just following orders without understanding either—she’s only eight. Still, my boss likes her well enough. Said she might even make her a subordinate if they got along.”
Gildegant’s grin contrasted with Cianie’s calm face. The air between them was taut as wire.
An eight-year-old as a “right hand”? What kind of person did Gildegant serve?
The talk was completely between them. Klock, Mina, and Suzette had no idea what was really going on.
Maybe they should step out. But if this turned into a fight again, leaving might be dangerous.
”…Calling her a subordinate is too much,” Cianie said at last. “Who exactly is your master?”
”What, is that disrespect now?” Gildegant replied. “You’ll see when the day comes—you might change your mind.”
The conversation ended there. With no more to say, Gildegant stood.
Cianie cast a single glance over her shoulder and waved at Suzette. For the briefest moment, she fixed Klock with a fearless smirk before striding out of the room.
A few seconds later, Cianie informed them that Gildegant had vanished via teleportation. Apparently, he had gone home without saying a word.
She had been like a storm—upending everything in her path. Whether she won or lost, she always left her mark.
”…Uh, so what do we do now?” Klock asked, scratching the back of his head.
Suzette replied calmly, “If I recall, we were invited to the bazaar. There’s no need to hurry. Let’s rest for today.”
Still bewildered by the strange turn of events, they set the conversation aside. Cianie excused herself, while Mina headed toward the room she had just rented at the inn. Klock felt a wave of relief, though something unsettled lingered in his chest.
”Anyway, forget about the big sis for now,” Klock said, glancing at Suzette. “What happened with your talk with Cianie?”
Suzette, who had decided to browse the marketplace, allowed him to follow. His aim was, of course, to talk. He had assumed Cianie would relay the results of their discussion, but with her sudden departure, he now found himself relying on Suzette for answers.
”For the time being, it’s a wait-and-see,” Suzette said, shooting him a sidelong glare as they walked along the main boulevard. “Because you can’t keep your hands off women, everyone’s at a loss about what to do.”
Klock gave a strained laugh, pretending to scan the stalls. He had expected the conversation to go in that direction. Gathering all the women he had pursued was bound to be troublesome.
The meeting, after all, had been triggered by his own actions. Had he been present, they would likely have torn into him without mercy. In his absence, the topic had probably shifted to deciding the women’s fates—and stalled there.
”I’ve been told they’ll take my circumstances into consideration,” Suzette continued. “Lady Cianie will decide on the future course. I believe she’ll find a fair compromise. Even that Beastkin girl is unlikely to defy her.”
That surprised Klock. He had half expected Cianie to kick Suzette out on the spot. In his mind, he would have had to choose between the two right then and there. Yet Suzette’s choice of words—’future course’—nagged at him.
”What’s with this ‘Lady Cianie’ thing?” he asked. “Don’t tell me you’ve bowed down to her.”
”Don’t be rude,” Suzette said curtly. “I simply think she’s a woman worthy of respect.”
Respect. From a Demonkin toward a Human. Klock blinked, incredulous.
”I’ve never met a woman so noble,” Suzette said firmly. “Even among Demonkin, it’s rare to find someone so devoted. Any woman of my kind would honor her. I… want her to be rewarded. I don’t want her story to end in sorrow. Frankly, I can’t imagine why someone like you—a two-timing, faithless man—would be the one she’s with.”
Suzette’s voice was low, her gaze icy. The meaning finally sank in: she had heard Cianie’s history and, as a woman, had taken her side. Pride as a Demonkin woman outweighed her personal feelings.
”You should devote yourself to her wholeheartedly,” Suzette added. “You shouldn’t be prioritizing me.”
She turned away abruptly, her posture tinged with melancholy.
So she was yielding to Cianie. Whether it was Demonkin values or simply awe toward Cianie’s presence, Klock couldn’t say. It wasn’t easy to praise such selflessness—but it did explain why Cianie hadn’t dismissed her outright. By Human standards too, Suzette was someone not easily cast aside.
”…Alright, I get it,” Klock said at last.
The gist of the situation was clear. Waiting for a decision was, in truth, Suzette’s way of bracing herself to step back. Without warning, Klock reached out and grabbed her from behind, seizing a firm hold of her backside.
”Wh—what do you think you’re doing?!” she yelped.
”Just making sure you don’t slip away,” Klock said with a smirk. “You’re my woman, after all, and I’m not letting you run off with excuses about other women.”
His hands kneaded with practiced familiarity. Suzette glared at him with the ferocity of a demon, clearly mortified to be groped in the middle of a bustling street. She tried to push him away, but he ignored her attempts.
”Excuses?!” she snapped. “This is happening because you can’t stop yourself from chasing women like a rutting monkey! I know about the Beastkin girl, too! Do you have any idea what happens when you flirt everywhere you go? Women fight, that’s what!”
”Yeah, yeah. Love you too, Suzette. By the way, have your breasts gotten bigger lately? Guess that rumor about—”
”Do you want me to kill you?”
Deciding against arguing in public, Klock slid a hand to her back and steered her into a narrower, quieter alleyway. Of course, his mind immediately wandered toward less innocent possibilities.
”Don’t be mad,” he said. “You all decided this among yourselves, right? So it’s got nothing to do with me. I’m not letting you go, no matter what Cianie says.”
”Really? Even if she gets angry?” Suzette asked sharply.
”I’d take you and run,” Klock said. Then he added, “No—what I mean is, I don’t care about your complicated relationships. I’m keeping you.”
They faced each other in the alley. It wasn’t as if the Beastkin lands lacked troublemakers, but the streets here were calm in the daylight.
”Complicated, hmm? So in your ideal ‘simple’ relationship,” Suzette asked, “how would things work?”
”Hm? Oh, well…”
”I suppose every woman would just follow you, right?” she said with a sigh. “You really are the worst.”
Klock knew she wasn’t wrong. He admitted to himself that he had no intention of forcing Mina to stay, and Cianie was a different matter entirely.
”Mina had it rough,” Klock explained. “I couldn’t stand to see it, so I took her away. As for Cianie… I thought she was long dead. I figured she was living peacefully, married in her hometown. Then she shows up saying she was my ex-fiancée—when I already had you.”
”So you think it can’t be helped? No. Even if another woman is suffering, most people would harden their hearts and want the man they love to choose them. And don’t forget—our relationship started under very unpleasant circumstances.”
Her sharp, precise rebuttal left Klock momentarily speechless. Still, he couldn’t let her have the last word.
”Maybe so. But in that case, you should ignore what the others say and make your own choice. You’re my woman. Decisions about us shouldn’t be made without me.”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand her reasoning—he simply couldn’t accept it. His relationship with Suzette was theirs alone, just as his with Cianie was separate. Having the women decide without him felt wrong.
”I’m not letting you go,” he said flatly. “You’re the best woman I’ve ever known, and you’re mine. Always.”
”If you mean that, then say you’ll break up with the others,” Suzette murmured, turning her face away.
Her cheeks flushed faintly, a refined hint of shyness betraying her irritation.
She was vulnerable to a straightforward approach. When capturing a female spy, a direct show of force was often more effective than trying to encircle and corner her.
Yet, unfortunately for Suzette, parting with Cianie was far from easy. Fifteen years had passed since tracking her across the continent, and she was tough enough not to accept a natural disappearance. Whether he wanted it or not, separating from her would require researching memory-erasure magic.
”…Well, very well. I understand your feelings. I have no intention of running or hiding. I am bound to you anyway, so if you wish, and you sincerely try, I won’t be unwilling to respond,” Suzette said calmly.
”…You mean?” Klock asked.
”I mean, as long as we all reach an understanding, no one will complain. Everyone knows that men have long desired women, and many women have accepted that. If you truly cannot abandon Lady Cianie or Ms. Mina, and even wish for me as well…then you need only convince us. Once we agree, no one will say a word,” Suzette explained.
Klock thought it through. So it wasn’t about evasion—it was about making it clear, formalized. Form mattered above all. When a woman was embraced, it should be by a man; if it seemed otherwise, it could appear improper. A man’s role was to make her, his wife, a lady who responded to his desires.
A good man had the capacity to keep women beautiful and dignified. Surrounding oneself with multiple women threatened their pride, as if smearing their faces with mud. But if the arrangement was conducted in a way everyone could accept, the situation changed entirely.
”I see… I’ll think about it,” Klock muttered.
”Oh? I thought I was teasing with an impossible request,” Suzette said with a faint smile.
It was an absurd proposition, no doubt. He could have handled Suzette and Mina for ten years with clever excuses, but Cianie was another story. Yet he wasn’t helpless—after all, they had been lovers for five years.
He realized he needed to prove himself. Suddenly, the task felt burdensome.
Money, perhaps, he considered, glancing at Suzette, who returned his gaze as if seeing something strange. The town street corner in the dim afternoon light felt heavy with anticipation. Noticing her long eyelashes, he realized he hadn’t even greeted her properly after such a long reunion. He drew her close, their lips meeting. Familiar. Comfortable. Her breath met his as it always did.
It was routine, their usual rendezvous. As always, she did not resist, letting her slender, supple form be pressed against the wall.
”…Shall we go back for now?” Suzette suggested.
”Weren’t we going to explore the market?” he asked.
”Yes, but we must report first,” she replied.
The embrace ended abruptly. Perhaps they could have lingered a bit longer. But report…to whom, about what? A vague sense of unease crawled up his spine.
”…Report?” he asked, tense.
”Of course, that you foolishly declare you have no intention of leaving any of us. We need to prepare ourselves, so it must be told immediately,” Suzette said, eyes glinting.
”…Huh?”
”If you are not merely indulging childish desires, you should stand confidently. Surely you do not wish to embrace women one after another with crude lust, but have some lofty plan. We await to see what you intend to do next,” Suzette said.
Humans were not so conveniently predictable.
Suzette smiled, mischievously, and Klock thought she had never looked more beautiful. Tonight, he resolved, he would take advantage of the moment. If she revealed her sadistic streak, he would answer with action. With each woman in her own room, the plan seemed feasible enough.
As they walked home, strolling leisurely as if on a date, Klock noticed the faces around them—various Beastkin, though cats seemed disproportionately represented. The nation was ruled by cat Beastkin. Perhaps in larger town streets, they held more influence.
They seemed to glance at him often, though whenever he looked, no eyes met his. Humans were always a curiosity. Likely, Suzette was also taken for Human, making them appear as a rare Human couple to the locals.
By the time they returned to the inn, Cianie had arrived and immediately insisted he try her latest sweets. She had been on a baking spree—castella, chocolate brownies, and other decadent treats rare even for the nobility. Klock mentally scolded her for being too girlish for a hero, while Suzette leaned forward with unusual curiosity.
Soon, Suzette and Cianie entered the inn’s kitchen under the pretense of helping, and surprisingly, they seemed to get along well.
Klock wondered where Mina was. She, too, was capable in daily life. Knocking at her door, he found her asleep in the sunlit bed, looking more like a cat than a Beastkin—peace itself embodied.
Thus, the day passed peacefully. Cianie made no mention of their relationships; Mina and Suzette remained their usual selves. The question of the future would remain postponed.
He resolved to steel himself. Money would come first. Elevating Klock’s status in Klock’s plans would follow. Tomorrow, he might search for work—or a faster way to earn. Being an adventurer might have its chances, though only a murky future seemed visible.
Evening came, and the four shared a meal. Initially silent, the three women soon chatted, leaving Klock feeling entirely out of place.
At night, he schemed to confront the brash former head maid. As he stealthily approached her room, a sense of foreboding struck him.
Such instincts rarely failed. Returning to his room, he narrowly avoided detection as the door opened. There stood Cianie in cute pajamas, the scent of the Empire princess’s favorite soap lingering around her. Even after a bath, her natural beauty became startlingly sensual.
She had no urgent matters—simply sat beside him, sliding into the same futon as if newlyweds. She just wanted to sleep together.
Suzette was safe—for now. But tomorrow, he would drag her into the alley.
Resigned, he allowed Cianie to drape over him. Her playful “Kyaa!” contrasted with her delicate frame, which belied her strength. Each unfastened pajama button brought a bashful charm. She was not a hero—just a woman.
He felt as if he had married the most beautiful girl in a small village. The desire to be closer to her grew uncontrollable, and only noticed she had fallen asleep when the first light seeped through the window.
Morning arrived. He awoke to Mina and Suzette glaring daggers at him. Not just Suzette—Mina, too. He might be in serious trouble.
It wasn’t bravery or cleverness at fault—simply human limitations could cause collapse.
He avoided Cianie, who cheerfully prepared breakfast, and fled the inn for a morning walk. When in doubt, escape first.
The wisdom he had learned from a life of thievery had kept him alive all these years.
”Ugh… Is it even possible to keep our distance without living together? Maybe I should just abandon everything and run away,” Klock muttered under his breath.
”…Meow. Long time no see, meow,” a familiar voice called from behind as he wandered aimlessly along the main street.
He turned to see a small figure with a hood pulled low over her face. The voice was somewhere he had heard before, though at first he dismissed it as one of those saleswomen who always repeated the same clichés.
After that… he moved somewhere. He couldn’t remember exactly how or why. Most likely, she had led him somewhere, but the memory was frustratingly hazy. The only fragment that lingered was a faint sense of apology in her words—though he had no idea what it had meant.
”…What the hell is going on here?” he whispered, panic rising.
The place around him was encased in darkness and sand. Klock wasn’t lying on a comfortable inn bed; the surface was far too hard to be offered to any guest, its gritty smell and coarse texture more akin to a child’s secret hideout than anything humanly hospitable.
”…Where the hell am I… why the hell am I here…? Damn, I can’t remember a thing,” he muttered.
Though it was dark, the shadows weren’t absolute. A stray sliver of light fell across the space, faintly revealing its details. Three sides were surrounded by walls, while the fourth was blocked by a series of iron bars.
When he reached out and touched them, the coldness confirmed his fear.
Iron bars.
This place was, unmistakably, a prison.
Notes:
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Boorinel – A town east of Ryzan, where Lord Cattleya’s manor is located; said to be a long journey from Ryzan.
• Mina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Cattleya – The lord; resides in the town of Boorinel, east of Ryzan, past the Mesa; wants to confirm Klock’s humanity.
• Gildegant – One of the Four Generals of the Demon Lord. Flame General.
• Lyla – Jester General of Demon King.
• Gasthira – United Kingdom of Gasthira. Demonkin-led absolute monarchy; has a parliamentary system this generation; treats humans as enemies; suffers from poor working conditions.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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