Ch.93Chapter 93. This is Hell.

“I’ve found a suitable training location, so come to the north gate in a few days.”

“Are we going outside the empire for training?”

“You don’t need to worry about danger right away. Since we’ll be close to where the empire is conducting major excavations, we can get help from the garrison if needed.”

One week after Pailoi’s rampage had quieted down.

I believed I needed to seize the opportunity that had been aimed at me immediately afterward.

Rather than wondering why I had fallen into this world, I wondered why I hadn’t obtained power befitting a hero…

Whenever I faced the reality that things wouldn’t go my way no matter how much I struggled, I felt that thought growing stronger.

“So, are you two planning to join me on my training journey?”

“Hehe, since I was originally a wanderer, I don’t really have anything to do… So I thought it might be nice to help Hyoseong with his training.”

However, when the appointed day came, the two people who had explained their circumstances came to the northern checkpoint to follow me.

Among them, Merilyn was actively expressing her desire to join my journey with her characteristically bright smile.

“I appreciate your concern, but you don’t need to worry so much. This is my personal matter, so Merilyn, you could just rest at home until I return…”

“It’s fine. Helping you is also for my own sake.”

Right, she returned to the empire because of me.

She had abandoned the mission she had been dedicated to at the risk of her life. Refusing her kindness out of consideration for her would actually be disrespectful.

“No, still…”

But I had already made my feelings clear after meeting her.

Naturally, since there was someone else I needed to prioritize, I had to be careful about my relationship with Merilyn.

“Um, is Irie okay with this?”

“Yes, the Haven clan I belong to was originally a nomadic people. I have some expertise in travel, so you don’t need to worry about me holding you back.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

Wasn’t she the one who had frequent friction with Merilyn until just recently?

While living together, there had been less friction as they focused on their personal matters, but remembering their previous hostility, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

I worried whether they might fight again because of me, and whether such fighting might disturb the person overseeing my training.

“Tsk, tsk, young man. You’ve got flowers on both arms so early in the morning.”

As I was worrying, a familiar voice gradually approached.

Looking in that direction, I saw a familiar face of an old man approaching, tapping the ground with his cane.

Jean, who acted as the boss of the workshop district.

He was the one who had agreed to guide me on this training journey.

“Well, I can understand personal circumstances, but I can’t say I approve of you hanging around with young ladies on the first day of training.”

“Well, what happened was…”

“Jean Cleo from Britannia, is that right?”

As I was wondering how to explain, Irie stepped away from me and approached Jean.

What came out of her mouth was his full name, which even I, who had formed a connection with Jean before her, didn’t know.

“…I haven’t made enough of a name for myself to be known like that.”

“Rest assured. As a prophet, I simply have the talent to discern the past of people I meet. I haven’t investigated your identity or anything.”

“A prophet, eh? That’s quite a suspicious occupation despite appearances.”

Jean showed deep suspicion at her explanation.

Even though Irie’s prophecies were nearly absolute, the profession of fortune-teller itself wasn’t easily trusted, so his wariness was understandable.

“…Just read this note.”

But Irie, as if she had anticipated such a reaction, casually handed him a note.

After examining the note with suspicion, Jean stiffened and began to look at Irie again.

“Is what’s written on this note true?”

“I can’t say absolutely… but if no variables occur, there’s a high possibility things will proceed as that future indicates.”

“Writing something like this and then leaving yourself an escape route doesn’t seem very credible.”

“Rather, claiming to be able to prophesy the future of someone of her caliber would be untrustworthy. You would know that better than anyone, having watched over her for more than half your life.”

Irie maintained her serious attitude despite his suspicion.

After meeting her sharp gaze visible beneath her hood, Jean eventually relaxed his expression and hid the note she had given him.

“…I see, so she has made up her mind too.”

As if he had understood and accepted some circumstance I was unaware of.

“Very well. I’ll accept help from the ladies too. I’ll drive the carriage to the training site, so you two can ride in the cargo area.”

With that, Jean decided to accept the two joining us and began moving forward, pointing to a carriage leaning nearby.

His acceptance was surprisingly willing, in contrast to his initial wariness.

Since I couldn’t consider myself an outsider either, I couldn’t help but be concerned about his sudden change in attitude.

“Old man, are you sure about this?”

“Of course. In fact, according to what’s written on the note, bringing these two ladies along might accelerate your growth.”

Jean answered my worried question casually.

When he turned to look at me, his face showed relief that contrasted with his previous wariness.

“You’re quite a blessed fellow.”

His following words as well.

“Pardon?”

“I said you’re blessed. It’s not often you see two beautiful young ladies willing to follow you even on a training journey for your sake.”

Jean laughed heartily as he prepared to sit on the driver’s seat.

I sensed he was glossing over his reaction to the note, but since he had his reasons, I decided not to pry.

Rather, as he said, having the two of them along might help my training.

“Um, old man.”

But that was something to think about after starting the training.

Before heading to the training site, I had to face the problem with the transportation he had prepared, looking at him with a disgruntled expression.

“What is it now, young man?”

“Isn’t the carriage a bit too cramped?”

“Ah, well, I had to quickly find transportation and took a commission from a merchant group, so there’s quite a lot of cargo. Still, I did prepare enough space for you alone…”

Ah, yes. If it were just me, there would be plenty of space.

But didn’t two people just join to help with my training?

****

In any case, we departed in the carriage driven by Jean.

As we entered an unpaved road with the carriage rattling, my arms in the cramped cargo area began to be repeatedly pulled by the two women.

“Hyoseong, come closer to this side.”

“No, come to my side~”

“Um, you two. Please calm down…”

I had experienced their rivalry several times during our cohabitation.

But perhaps because it was happening in a more cramped space than at home?

In this moment, as they competed over me, I could feel heat emanating from their eyes as if sparks were colliding.

“Merilyn. You don’t need to push yourself too hard.”

“Hehe, I appreciate your consideration, but you don’t need to worry too much. At least there’s more room here than where Irie is.”

“What do you mean by ‘more room’? Just looking at it, you have more luggage…”

“Ahaha~ This is plenty spacious for me. Of course, in Irie’s case, since she’s broader than me, it might be a bit difficult for her.”

-Crack.

The sound of flesh being crushed echoed.

From Irie’s side.

“…What do you mean by ‘broader’?”

“No, wait, I misspoke. I mean, not broader but, um… fat? Or maybe adipose?”

“Haha, fat? I never thought Merilyn would worry about such things. Especially when you eat three times as much as Hyoseong or me at mealtimes!”

“That’s because the food Hyoseong makes is so delicious~ Is it that Irie eats so little because you find Hyoseong’s cooking unappetizing?”

“It’s not always good to eat a lot. Do you even realize how much burden you’re putting on Hyoseong by making him prepare your portion too?”

“Um, you two, please calm down…”

“Enough! Hyoseong, come to this side!”

“No, come to my side!!”

The two continued to raise their voices and pull at my body.

I wanted to take one side, but understanding both their feelings, I couldn’t easily accept either.

Irie, despite not being able to actively progress our relationship due to our positions, already felt that our hearts were aligned.

And Merilyn had abandoned everything for me, so I knew her feelings weren’t light either.

“Please tell us clearly, Hyoseong.”

“Is it me, or is it Irie?”

This conflict continued beyond the carriage, extending to our first campsite before reaching our destination.

As fate would have it, since the journey was planned for two people, there were only two tents prepared, meaning the four of us had to share them.

No, since we had trouble with the carriage and couldn’t reach the safe zone as planned, one person had to stand watch.

I wanted to volunteer for the watch, but Jean completely blocked that option.

“Don’t worry too much about the watch. At my age, I need less sleep, so I won’t be resting in the tent for long anyway.”

“What? No, if it’s about standing watch, I should…”

“Hehe, you’re going to work extremely hard once your training starts, so there’s no need to exert yourself now. And I can’t make young ladies suffer either, so just rest comfortably tonight.”

No, sir. This isn’t about that!

But despite my silent protest, he had already left the campsite to look around.

I wanted to go after him, but my clothes were already caught by Irie and Merilyn’s hands.

“Hyoseong. You don’t need to overthink this.”

In this situation, Irie narrowed the distance between us and said:

“We’ve already spent several nights together, haven’t we? By now, sleeping in the same tent shouldn’t be s-strange!”

Even though we occasionally had relations and spent days together, those were times when we were both seriously prepared for various things.

As such, sharing an unplanned bed like this required a lot of courage in many ways.

In fact, even Irie, who was insisting on sharing a tent, had realized what she was saying and her face had turned red.

“Hyoseong.”

In contrast, Merilyn was just smiling brightly.

Her subsequent words showed no shame about the situation of sleeping with someone of the opposite sex.

“I’ll just hold your hand while we sleep, okay?”

“…Well, that…”

“Oh come on~ Why complicate things? If something happens, we can just do whatever feels right~”

…Right, Merilyn was always like this.

Given how free-spirited she was in these matters, something might really cross the line.

Like what I did with Irie, or other such things.

“Hyoseong. What were you just thinking?”

Irie sharply questioned, as if she had read my thoughts.

Feeling caught, I stiffened, and Irie looked at me with dangerous eyes and trembling lips.

“Don’t tell me you’re choosing Merilyn here?”

“No, um…”

“Were all the words you said while with me lies?”

Her eyes gradually moistened and her hands trembled.

As I was at a loss facing her expression that seemed ready to burst at the slightest provocation, I felt a soft touch enveloping me from behind.

“Yes, that’s right, Hyoseong and Irie had that kind of relationship.”

Merilyn Sutherland.

A woman who couldn’t shake off her feelings for me even after I had rejected her once.

“But Hyoseong. You know I gave up a lot for you too, right?”

“Yes, I know, but…”

“Then for just one night, just tonight, can’t we lie in the same place?”

The more I heard her soft yet bitter voice, the more rapidly the moisture in my throat dried up.

Forcing myself to swallow to relieve that tightness, I finally uttered the best solution I could think of in front of the two.

“Then, how about you two sleep together…?”

Surely, in the current situation, this would be the best option.

Since they’re the same gender, there’s no need to consider chastity, right? That’s what I thought, but…

“…Hyoseong. Are you serious about that?”

“Even for you, that’s something I can’t take kindly.”

Damn, the atmosphere has become even more hostile.

How much do these two dislike each other?

“Um, well…”

But with this option sealed, my only remaining choice was to sleep with one of them.

If that happened, one person would be left out, which could lead to trouble in our future relationship.

I don’t want that. They’re both people who care for me, yet I have to betray one of their feelings?

“Hyoseong. Please tell us clearly.”

“Is it me? Or is it Merilyn?”

The two kept pushing me without considering my situation.

Feeling increasingly frustrated to the point where my reason was becoming numb, I eventually reached out to both of them with my whitened head unable to handle it anymore.

“Eek!?”

“H-Hyoseong? What are you…”

Damn it, let whatever happens happen.

I pushed both of them into the tent and answered:

“Let’s just all sleep together.”

After all, we’re just sleeping, so what could be the problem?

Just sleeping, waking up refreshed in the morning, and pretending nothing happened.

Isn’t that a truly simple solution?

*****

Yes, that’s right.

There was a time when I thought that way too.

“Mmm… yawn…”

“Haaah… mm.”

Late at night.

In the stillness where even the chirping of birds and the sounds of insects had subsided, I was wide awake despite my fatigue, focusing all my senses on my ears.

The soft breathing sounds from both sides felt particularly sensitive today.

“Haah… Hyoseong… sir…”

When I instinctively looked toward the sound, I began to see Irie in a precarious state.

She had shed her usual tightly wrapped attire and wore only a thin nightgown for comfortable sleep, appearing completely defenseless.

“Hyoseong… sir… that’s… embarrassing…♡”

A surge of impulse rose at the unconscious eroticism accompanied by my name.

I held my breath to endure it and quickly turned my head to the opposite side, but another trial awaited me there.

A defenseless little devil covering her body with just black fabric that heightened her sensuality.

“Haah… Hyoseong.”

“You can’t touch there. Mm, ah…♥”

Was the whisper from her lips expressing the dream she was having?

What kind of dream was she having that involved my name, making her breathe so seductively and smile?

“…Just send me to hell already.”

Yes, this is hell.

Having to choose between these two lovely people.

If this isn’t hell, then what is?