25. Escaflowne.

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

“For this reason, I’ll be going to the Mei Empire with His Highness.”

“….”

 

 

Mulla glared at Hancock with a displeased look.

 

 

“You’re not helpful at all, are you? How about being aware of your position?”

 

 

Hancock is the daughter of the Lord.

If nothing goes wrong, she’s the one who will take over as the next Lord and lead 100,000 dragons.

For such a dragon to interfere with the plan like this… It’s a situation that’s hard to accept.

 

 

“I’m aware. His Highness is fundamentally soft anyway, so if I approach him with my body, he won’t refuse. Don’t worry.”

“Even though I’m the only one here, you keep calling him ‘His Highness.’ You seem to like him quite a bit.”

“Well, yeah. We’ve become a community of fate, after all.”

“….”

 

 

Mulla had a considerably displeased look on her face.

Although she will become a human woman according to the plan, there is still a difference in species, no matter what.

 

From a dragon’s point of view, humans are far below.

No, even if it’s not humans, all beings except for those in the higher realms (Demon World, Divine World, etc.) or dragons are lower beings.

 

 

So, to see her using honorifics so diligently as if she’s really fallen for such a being, it’s bound to be incomprehensible.

 

 

“Alright. That’s your personal matter. I don’t need to worry about it. However, this is a matter of our dragon race’s fate. Please keep that in mind.”

“I know, I know. So, you should build up a distinguished service for future events. You’re working at the Algrey Magic Tower, right? That’s great. His Highness is from a commoner background, so he’ll be happy if that magic tower does well.”

“Iliana also said something like that… Are you sure about that?”

“I’m sure. You’ve already passed the test just by your face.”

 

If it’s Mulla’s level of beauty, she’ll eventually end up in Aran’s arms no matter what she does, as long as she’s by his side.

Keplah was also a case of entering in that way.

 

 

However, it would be too unnatural for not just one or two, but suddenly twenty or so moe-level beauties to appear, so they were taking a slow approach.

 

 

“Anyway, you can use the Algrey Magic Tower to establish a position, and later, you can bring in the rest of the dragons by introducing acquaintances or discovering disciples. That’s the most natural way.”

“…I understand. I’ll trust you for now.”

“Heh. Just trust me.”

“….”

 

 

The words “I can’t trust you” lingered in her mouth, but she didn’t bother to say them.

 

 

“Oh, right. Try making something that can fly without mana. Of course, something that can carry people. He’ll really like it. That’s Muning’s dream.”

“There’s no way that’s possible.”

“I said that too, but that kid said that even birds can fly without mana, so there must be a way.”

“….”

“Anyway, do your best. If you can make that, you’ll definitely catch the eye of Muning, as well as His Highness.”

“…I’ll try my best.”

 

 

That’s what she said, but she thought it would be impossible.

Something that can fly without mana, and even carry people. It was something she had never even thought of.

 

 

“Well, I should start preparing soon. I’ll be going now.”

 

Hancock hummed, singing a cheerful tune.

Mulla sighed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few days later.

Aran departed with his three wives.

Since it wasn’t an official visit, he pretended to be sick to the nobles, just like when he visited Persia.

 

 

“Do you understand? It’s not like I’m going with you because I like you. I’m just going to monitor whether you’re cheating or not.”

“I understand.”

 

Throughout the journey, Moe’s chatter continued.

She constantly talked about praising her own beauty and pointing out Aran’s womanizing tendencies, which made his ears hurt, but he was coping well, as he had expected this situation since he was preparing for the trip.

 

 

‘I’ll just think of it as music.’

 

 

Her voice was as beautiful as her face, so if you just listened without paying attention to the content, it was quite good music.

If she had the talent for singing, he would have made her do it at any cost, but unfortunately, she doesn’t seem to have any talent for singing.

 

 

Well, that’s Moe for you.

She has to be useless except for her face to be Moe-like.

 

 

“Should I sleep for a bit?”

 

 

Aran lay down completely.

They were traveling on a rather bumpy road, but the specially made carriage wasn’t shaking at all.

 

 

“Ugh…! You’re not listening to me, are you!”

“Of course not. There’s no voice as pleasant to listen to as Moe’s. Please continue.”

“Hmph. You know that well.”

 

She recovered her mood as if nothing had happened and started chattering again.

Lamias and Hancock, who were next to her, were tired of it, but Aran, who was skilled, skillfully brushed it off.

 

 

“You’ve become quite the sly fox in the time I haven’t seen you.”

“Really?”

“You’ve gotten rid of your physical awkwardness, but your mental awkwardness is still the same…”

 

Hancock’s assessment, uttered with regret, was indeed accurate.

 

In fact, no matter how good a voice is, you’re bound to get tired of listening to it constantly.

But the reason Aran can endure it is because he has confirmed Moe’s feelings.

 

 

It’s a political marriage, so it might not be love, but considering that she came all the way to greet him and that she’s always doing things for Aran while cutely playing hard to get, it’s clear that she has some affection for Aran.

After such situations were repeated several times, Aran couldn’t help but notice, and seeing Moe’s actions in such a situation, he felt an endless amount of cuteness.

 

 

This trip is the same.

She said that she’s not going with Aran because she wants to, but only to monitor his affairs.

But the place the group is going to now is the Mei Empire. In other words, it’s her hometown, so she can make a very clean excuse by saying, “I’m just going to my hometown.”

 

 

But she didn’t say that.

 

 

Aran thought of it as “a side effect of forcibly hiding her feelings.”

 

In fact, she wants to go with Aran, but her pride won’t allow her to say that directly, so she has to make a suitable excuse.

And then, she forgot that the Mei Empire is her hometown because she was so focused on that fact.

 

 

‘Cute.’

 

 

Thinking that way, she feels endlessly cute.

How else would her chattering sound like music?

 

 

 

“What’s that sound? Mental awkwardness?”

“You don’t need to know about princess disease.”

 

She’ll just deny it even if I tell her. It’s just a waste of breath.

 

 

“Eek! What is it! Tell me right now!”

“To put it simply, His Highness’s ability to seduce women has improved. If this continues, he’ll be recorded in human history forever. As the greatest lecher of all time.”

“That’s already happened. Since I, the world’s strongest beauty, am his wife, he can be called the lecher of all people or the thief of all people, and I’ll have nothing to say.”

“There are many.”

“Hmph. You be quiet. You have no right to say anything.”

“Yes. I will. I’ll be sleeping now.”

 

 

Aran quietly complied and closed his eyes.

 

 

“Ugh…!”

 

 

Moe was furious at that.

 

“Why are you doing that? Princess disease. His Highness is being quiet out of consideration for princess disease.”

“How annoying.”

 

 

Lamias laughed at Moe, who seemed to be sulking or was really sulking.

Her breasts, which were the largest among the wives, swayed and exuded a strange sexiness.

 

 

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just because. Instead, let’s have a girl’s talk when His Highness falls asleep. Wouldn’t that be fun too?”

“Girl’s talk is boring. Especially if the other person is a cow like you.”

“Don’t be like that. Empty milk.”

“Y-! That’s why I hate it! I’m on the voluptuous side!”

“Ah… I’m sorry. I really… I definitely had breasts about the size of an egg omelet. It’s definitely not empty. I’m sorry.”

“Oh yeah. A big-breasted cow is provoking me.”

“Don’t fight in front of me. Everyone is equal in front of my beauty.”

“Hey, if I’m empty, then this person is empty too! Right?!”

 

Hancock pointed to Moe’s chest.

Lamias gave her a pitiful look.

 

 

“Now you’re even having perceptual impairment. It’s okay. I understand. People can be like that when they’re under too much pressure. Calm down a bit and calm your mind.”

“You squishy cow!”

 

 

Hancock rushed at her.

And then she squashed her big breasts haphazardly.

 

 

“Kyaheung!”

“You bitch! You bitch!”

“I told you not to fight. Can you fight even in front of God?”

 

Moe intervened, but she was naturally ignored.