Chapter 49: A Date Promise

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Translator: Soafp

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I went ahead to Hange Fortress and welcomed Lidiel when she returned.

“Welcome back, Lidiel.”

“Yes, I'm back.”

“…You look a bit down.”

“There's something bothering me a little… no, it's nothing.”

“I see.”

If she says it's nothing, then it's nothing, right.

Just then, the commander of the Hero Division, Cannon Fodder Dog, approached Lidiel.

“…So you've returned.”

“C–Sedog, Division Commander!?”

“Good work. I've already heard the report. …I never imagined you'd manage to retake Kaime Fortress with just a thousand in the advance unit.”

“…Yes.”

Despite the praise, Lidiel's expression remained gloomy.

“What's wrong? Ah, don't worry about the rewards. I'll make sure your and the advance unit's heroic deeds are properly reported to those above.”

“No, that's not it. …It just feels strange.”

“Strange how?”

“It was too easy. A chimera is certainly a monster that normally requires several heroes working together to defeat, but I can't believe the veteran heroes stationed at Kaime Fortress would lose to it.”

“…Hmm.”

Cannon Fodder Dog placed a hand on his chin at Lidiel's strained words.

If I remember correctly, there were about a hundred heroes at Kaime Fortress.

If you simply imagine a hundred Lidiels, it really does seem unlikely that a monster like a chimera could wipe out Kaime Fortress.

“And also, I'm not completely certain, but I saw a strange figure at Kaime Fortress. It might have been a demon.”

“…Understood. Just in case, I'll triple the size of the rear-guard unit heading to Kaime Fortress. Don't worry—the one leading them will be the ‘Indomitable Hero' Heinbock. No matter what's waiting there, they won't lose.”

Leaving those words behind, Cannon Fodder Dog quickly walked away.

“Ask-kun.”

“Yes?”

“…Make sure you're always ready to run away if you have to.”

“Roger. Well, I'm sure it's just your imagination, Lidiel.”

“I hope so…”

Lidiel still looked uneasy.

I wondered if I should do some kind of gag to cheer her up.

“Found you.”

At that instant, a cold sweat ran down my spine.

My body froze, like a herbivore being stared down by a predator.

When I slowly turned around, there she was—

“…Why is Princess Victoria here?”

“I am a hunter of love. Once I set my sights on my prey, I never let it escape. Ask, marry me.”

I ran away on the spot.

---

“Got you.”

“Got caught…”

I fled on impulse, but Victoria learned from last time and froze the entire area, restraining me.

“Now you're finally mine♡ I won't let you go♡”

“Lidiel, please help. I've been captured by someone powerful.”

“Eh, w–what?”

Lidiel panicked at the sudden turn of events.

Then Victoria noticed her and silently closed in.

“…I won't lose to a homewrecker.”

“H–homewrecker!? No, I'm not—!”

“So, Princess Victoria, why are you here?”

“…I heard the Kingdom was sending reinforcements to help the Empire, so I came along.”

Reinforcements…

Now that I think about it, Cannon Fodder Dog might have mentioned something like that.

This was completely unexpected.

“By the way, Sister-in-law Fran, Christina Onee-sama, and that duke's spoiled son are here too.”

Wow, what a lineup.

More importantly, is it really okay for both twin princesses to come to the Empire?

“…It's fine. Father said ‘It's dangerous, so no,' but when I asked Maidol, she persuaded him.”

“I see. And please stop reading my mind so naturally.”

“…Heart-to-heart understanding is only natural for fiancés.”

“…Fiancés.”

“The documents are here. I already got Father-in-law's and Mother-in-law's seals. Ask and I are officially engaged.”

Are you serious?

“When did Victoria get that close to Ask-san…?”

“Well, that's… that, you know. That,” I said.

“That?” Fran asked.

Christina and my sister arrived a moment later.

Tilting her head, Christina listened as Victoria answered shamelessly.

“…While investigating No-Face-sama's true identity together, we grew close. Now we're deeply in love.”

That was an excuse I'd once used when Christina and I had a contract romance.

She just lied so smoothly.

And yet Christina didn't notice at all, smiling brightly.

“Ara, what luck! With Victoria, my greatest rival, out of the way, I'm the only one left aiming for Lord No-Face! Victory! This is total victory!”

“……”

Victoria, my sister, and I all quietly looked away from Christina.

Let's not mention that her little sister already beat her to it.

“Ask, why didn't you run away? I sent you a letter.”

“Luu burned it, so I don't know what it said.”

“…I suppose errands are still too much for her. By the way, where is Luu?”

“Eh? I asked her to pass a message to you, Nee-san.”

“She never came.”

“Eh.”

“…Eh.”

Oh no. First me, and now Luu too has gone missing. I'll have to look for her later.

Just then, a beastman wearing armor engraved with the crest of the Kishirika Kingdom approached me.

A huge Siberian husky.

For a moment I wondered if Gal was here too, but the fur pattern was a little different.

I thought maybe it was shedding season, but the voice was different, so I quickly realized it was someone else.

“Nice to meet you, Ask Medicus. I've heard about you from my younger brother.”

“Younger brother?”

“I'm Ur Galwolf. Gal's older brother. Thank you for always taking care of him.”

“No, not at all. …You really do look alike.”

Honestly, I can't really tell beastmen apart.

If I had to say, he's a bit bigger than Gal, fluffier, and has softer eyebrows—that's about all I can tell.

“May I pet you a bit?”

“Hahaha. I'm sorry, but I have to discuss future plans with the Hero Division's commander soon. Perhaps another time.”

“…I see.”

“Ask, don't be so obviously disappointed.”

I later learned that Ur was the commander of this reinforcement force.

The overall leader was son of duke a**hole, but Ur was the one actually directing the troops.

Gal's family really is impressive. I wanted to fluff him.

Oh, right.

“I'll go say hello to that duke's son for a bit.”

“…Is that your excuse to escape?”

“No.”

“Really? If you lie, I'll attack you right here.”

“…Okay, I was planning to escape.”

When I honestly confessed, Victoria pouted sadly.

“…If I'm a bother, I wish you'd just say so.”

“Huh?”

“I like No-Face—no, I like you, Ask, for saving my life. That's why I want you to be mine, and why I didn't want Christina to beat me to it.”

She whispered that into my ear so Christina wouldn't hear.

It tickled.

“So if I'm being a nuisance, if you'd hate me for it, I'll step back. But at least tell me why.”

“Why?”

“…If it's because you don't like my face, or hate big br**sts, or think dealing with someone powerful is too much trouble… if there's a reason like that, tell me.”

I thought about it calmly.

Victoria is a peerless beauty, slender and petite, yet well-endowed.

And she's powerful, too.

If I'm going to keep acting as No-Face or No-Name, having her as a partner might actually be convenient.

Since my identity is already exposed, having her as an ally seems more rational.

…Wait a second.

“Now that you mention it, I don't really have a reason to refuse. I look forward to working with you for a long time, Princess Victoria.”

“Eh, seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“So that means we should make a baby right here and now?”

“Are we even speaking the same language?”

That kind of thing should wait until after marriage.

For now, we're just engaged. A wholesome relationship is important.

“…So as long as we use protection, we can do anything?”

“No.”

“…Hmph. Then I'll do this.”

Suddenly, Victoria hugged me tightly, pressing her ample chest against me.

Squish♡ Squish♡ Squiiish♡

…It's a bit intense for skinship, but a hug isn't really lewd, so it's fine.

Still, it's soft.

“…When we return to the Kingdom, let's go on dates and be all lovey-dovey.”

“Well… sure.”

Lidiel watched our exchange with a puzzled expression.

“……”

“What's wrong, Lidiel?”

“Watching you and Princess Victoria makes my chest feel strangely tight… could it be an arrhythmia?”

“…You should have Fran check you out.”

Victoria stared intently at Lidiel, as if on guard.

…What's with that?

As I tilted my head at Victoria's behavior, a familiar soldier hurried over to Lidiel.

He was one of the advance unit members who fought alongside us during the recapture of Kaime Fortress.

“L–Lidiel!! This is bad!!”

“W–what happened? Why are you so panicked…?”

“The rear-guard unit sent to Kaime Fortress was attacked by demons!!”