Volume 9 - CH 7.6

Bonus Short Stories 

The “S”s Ride Together 

“She got me,” Excel groused. Well done outwitting me, Juna.” 

In the gondola on the way back to the Kingdom of Friedonia from the Kingdom of Lastania, Excel was muttering to herself. That was because Juna hadn’t gotten aboard the gondola that had come to fetch her. Instead, Juna had snuck back to Souma’s side. 

“Well, Big Sis Juna musta been upset about havin’ to hold down the fort the whole time, don’t ya think?” Roroa offered, trying to mollify her. She was aboard the same gondola. “I’m sure she was beside herself with worry, waitin’ alone for all of us to come back.” 

Excel turned her head to the side peevishly. If that were all, I could have gone, too. But that girl, she drives me off, and then stays herself! It’s not fair!” 

“Wait, what are you upset about, Duchess Walter? You’ve been makin’ passes at Darlin’ ’cause you enjoy seein’ our reactions, but you’re not plannin’ on actually makin’ him yours, right?” 

Silently, Roroa added, If you are actually plannin’ that, we’re gonna have to consider some measures on our side... 

But Excel let out a sigh of resignation. Well, you’re right about that. Your responses are just so delightfully innocent, I can’t help myself.” 

“Is it all right for me to get angry now?” Roroa shot back. 

Excel chuckled. Sorry. For us long-lived races, the thing we hate most is boredom. In order to avoid getting tired of our long lives, the key is to enjoy every day the best we can, but in spending every day feeling compelled to enjoy it, we can get tired of life, too.” 

“Is that how you ended up with such a hedonistic personality?” Roroa asked suspiciously. 

Excel gave her the most lovely smile. Yes. On that point, you reactions are always so innocent, and so much fun.” 

“We ain’t exactly doin’ it for your amusement...” 

“Hmm. I think I can understand that,” said a sudden voice from beside them. 

“Uwah?!” 

Roroa jumped in startlement. 

The one butting into the conversation was the castle’s super sadistic head maid, Serina. She was aboard this gondola to return to the kingdom, too, along with Poncho and Komain. 

“Making earnest girls like Liscia or Carla wear the most humiliating outfits, then watching them squirm, is so much fun,” Serina said pleasantly. 

“What’re you sayin’, out of nowhere like that?!” oroa exclaimed, but Serina was unabashed. 

“It’s the gap I like. The gap.” 

“Oh, my, you really seem to get it.” erina was saying outrageous things, but Excel seemed impressed. The more serious the girl, the better the response she’ll give you.” 

“Yes. The expression they make when caught between their ideal and their current situation is simply exquisite.” 

“When they want to act strong, but they can’t... is that it?” 

The two beauties shared a laugh. 

Roroa was completely put off by the two of them, and retreated closer to the other two passengers. 

“Hey, hey, your name’s Komain, right?” Roroa asked. 

At being addressed by the candidate to become the third primary queen, Komain replied in a tiny voice. Oh, yes. What is it, Lady Roroa?” 

“You’re with that head maid all the time, right? You’re not bein’ bullied, are you?” 

Komain looked at her blankly, cocking her head to the side. Bullied... is it? I’ve experienced no such thing.” 

Roroa’s eyes went wide. Huh? She’s not makin’ you wear frilly maid dresses or nothin’?” 

“Oh, the cute clothes, you mean? I didn’t think they suited me, but Sir Poncho said they were cute, so I do wear them from time to time.” 

“So you’re just honest with your feelings!” oroa retorted despite herself. 

That made sense. Going by what Serina said, seeing serious girls act embarrassed was what tickled her sadistic little heart. Komain was serious, but she wore the costume without resisting, which wouldn’t be satisfying to Serina. 

Komain clapped her hands. Oh, but when I do wear them, I ask Serina to wear them with me.” 

“Huh?! That head maid, wearin’ a frilly maid dress?!” 

Serina, who always wore long skirts that covered her up, in a frilly maid dress? Roroa’s jaw dropped as she was unable to imagine the scene. 

“When we do, Serina has her usual cool expression, but it’s cute the way her cheeks are just a little red,” Komain said gleefully. 

A sudden thought occurred to Roroa. Maybe this girl’s the strongest S of all? And she’s a natural who’s unaware of it, at that? 

The things she imagined made Roroa shudder. 

Incidentally, Poncho was unable to keep up with the conversation, and just spent the time wiping the sweat from his brow. 

I’m Coming to See You Now (Smiles) 

— At the end of the 12th month, 1,547th year, Continental Calendar — 

When Hakuya and I entered the audience hall, there was a woman bowing at the bottom of the steps. 

“Sorry for the wait,” I said from the throne. “Please, raise your head.” 

She raised her face and spoke. I will. It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.” 

When I saw her face like this, she certainly resembled Excel or Juna. Her glossy blue hair and glamorous figure spoke to her blood ties to Excel. If there was a difference, it was the single horn growing out of her forehead, and the blue dragon wings on her back. 

“Have you been well, Accela Walter?” I asked. 

“Yes. I’m living well with my son Carl in Red Dragon City.” he woman gave a soft smile. 

Her name was Accela Walter. She was Excel’s daughter with a dragonewt man, the former General of the Army Castor’s wife, and mother to Carla and Carl. Ever since Castor had broken ties with her before rebelling against me, she had been using Excel’s family name. Her son, Carl, had inherited the House of Vargas, but Accela was remaining divorced. 

“Don’t you resent me?” I began. “...Wait, no, what am I asking?” 

“Weren’t you supposed to see your sewing teacher for lessons around now?” he asked. 

“Well, that’s boring. I know it’s a skill any woman on the steppes should have, but that repetitive needlework is boring. I’d rather go hunting with my brother and his men.” 

“Lady Yuriga, you’re still only thirteen, right? It’s dangerous,” he soldier said with a worried look. 

But the overenergetic sister of his liege wasn’t hearing it. I can ride a temsbock, and my sword instructor says I have potential.” 

“I’m sure you do, but...” 

Even looking at her without any favoritism, Yuriga’s sense for the martial arts was quite high. It was often said that, if she had been born a man, she’d have been an excellent commander. That only inflated her ego, though. 

“If only I were a man, too,” Yuriga sighed. “Then I could follow my brother.” 

“You had the good fortune to be cute, so why not do more girly things?” 

“I hate them! Earnestly waiting for the men to come home doesn’t suit me.” umping down from the bale of hay, she spread her little wings. The steppes are so vast, and the sky is so high. I want to go wherever I want, freely. That’s what I have wings for.” 

With that said, Yuriga jumped. 

The soldier panicked. Ah! Lady Yuriga?! You can’t do that! You’ll anger Lord Fuuga, you know?!” 

Yuriga stuck her tongue out at him. I’m going to fly around a bit. I’ll be back by evening.” 

With that, Yuriga flew into the sky. Ignoring the soldier’s calls for her to stop, she zoomed away. Her people, the celestial race, had small wings that couldn’t fly far, but Yuriga’s light weight let her quickly fly out of sight of the gers. 

Once she landed on a hill with nothing but grass, Yuriga sat down. 

Well, running away was all well and good, but the scenery’s all the same here. 

The steppe had no large trees that might stand out, and it looked roughly the same wherever you went. Yuriga had never been outside the country before, so this scenery was all she knew. Yuriga lay back on the grass. 

Living a life where I only know this scenery... I’d hate it. I want to see other worlds, and lots of different people. 

It was a worry that would seem like a luxury for most people struggling to live day-to-day. But she was the princess of a country, so her life was peaceful, and boring. 

Yuriga closed her eyes, exhaling. There’s a wide world outside the steppe. It’s a big continent. I’m sure there are interesting countries out there, and interesting people, too. Ohh, I want out... I want to go outside the steppe... 

Embracing her anguish, Yuriga stayed there until the sun stared to go down. LS 

It happened some time later. 

“We’re going to the Duchy of Chima,” er brother Fuuga announced to his gathered followers. 

Had Yuriga’s wishes reached the heavens? 

“We’ve handled the demon wave here, but I hear the Duchy of Chima’s wave has a lot of types of monsters, and it’s dangerous. It’s a good chance to show the other countries in the Union of Eastern Nations what we’re capable of. We couldn’t ask for a better first step onto the world stage. Am I right, comrades?!” 

“““Yeahhhhh!””” 

Fuuga spoke with passion, and his fervor was infectious to those who followed him. His natural charisma led them to go to the Duchy of Chima’s aid without a single objection.