episode_0328

The Carmore Marcher Baronetcy. A knightly family that has long protected the eastern border of Nifrantz.

Unlike the west and south, which are adjacent to the sea, the east is characterized by vast plains and forests. Including the north, which borders the Tarun Mountains, a large number of threats to the kingdom’s security are concentrated here.

The north, at least, is straightforward. The threats descending from the mountain range are only magical beasts.

Even though they are numerous and each one powerful, magical beasts are simply hunted. If necessary, it’s also possible to hire adventurers as mercenaries.

Meanwhile, the main threat in the east is merchants and bandits. Unlike magical beasts, when the target is a person, there are laws.

Carmore’s laws are based on Nifrantz’s constitution. Murder or rape, resulting in personal harm, are subject to summary execution, but robbery or arson, resulting in material damage only, result in imprisonment.

That’s not all. The north is sparsely populated, while the east is itself a thoroughfare for countless manpower and capital. Across the plains lies the Ubiet Empire, and at the southernmost point is the free trade city of Liberty Port.

There is a definite entity to protect from threats, and that entity can also turn into a new threat in an instant. Bandits disguised as merchants are a prime example, and political issues with other countries cannot be overlooked.

The Carmore Marcher Baronetcy is not merely a physical shield. There are always enemies in front and allies behind, and in the event of war, they are the first to charge to the front lines.

Eve knew this well. Knowing this is why her heart was stirred even more. Her accompanying the merchants was due to internal issues, but also external ones.

Clunk-clunk-

She slightly turned her head to look inside the carriage. Various foodstuffs were piled up like mountains. Beyond the curtain, the face of the merchant sitting on the driver’s seat was visible.

He looked quite anxious. She had heard earlier that he was on his way to deliver food to orphans who were currently starving.

Could someone become this anxious for others? Eve felt a strange feeling. And it wasn’t just strange.

A warm, touching feeling. This emotion was also difficult to name, but she had felt something similar before—the moment she saw Nari fighting on the battlefield.

‘Could I… become like that?’

Longing. It was the first time she had looked at another person with such feelings, excluding Nari, Yuri, Nix, and the other Harem Family members. It was the moment she truly accepted this world with a proper mindset after opening her eyes.

They say a chick recognizes the first being it sees after hatching from its egg as its mother. Of course, it doesn’t mean she considered this one merchant as her mother.

The ‘first impression’ of this world she encountered was that warmth.

Eve raised her hand and drew up mana. Wind mana enveloped the entire carriage, creating a protective barrier.

“Speed… I’ll increase it slightly.”

“Yes, yes…?!”

“At this rate, we’ll never arrive before sunset.”

Lime-green mana shone on her palm. Eve packed wind tightly into a small sphere, then shot it strongly toward the back of the carriage.

Whoosh—!!

A powerful wind pushed the carriage. The horses, initially startled, quickly adapted to the increased speed and ran even harder.

“W-whoa—”

“Don’t panic. I’ll manage it.”

While the wind propelled the carriage, Eve used mana waves to scan the path. She pulled out protruding stones, filled in potholes, and spread a thin layer of mana over the smoothed path, creating an effect similar to a paved road.

The carriage, exceeding its usual speed, dashed across the plain and reached near the Marcher Baronetcy before sunset.

The carriage stopped. The stone bridge crossing the large river was completely collapsed.

“…This is the place.”

“Damn it, that damn Empire…”

Eve swallowed a sigh and drew up mana again. She felt exactly the same as the merchant. This fueled her motivation even more.

She didn’t know how to rebuild the broken bridge. But making a path was easy. Just pile, compact, and flatten.

Eve waved her hands. The remains of the bridge and the river rocks nearby floated up and began to gather in one place.

“Be careful over there.”

“Yes? Oh, I understand… w-whoa—”

As soon as the merchant stepped back slightly, the ground he was standing on shot up into the air. Eve arranged the rocks and debris in a long line and carefully covered them with soil.

“Aren’t you tired?”

Nari’s voice came from inside the carriage, where she was sitting. Eve wiped the sweat from her brow and smiled confidently.

“This is perfect for rehabilitation exercises.”

“Good, then that’s fine.”

Nari also watched with a smile, her chin resting on her hand.

In an instant, a new bridge was created. It was temporary, but it was sturdy enough to withstand the strong river current.

“T-the bridge really…!!”

“Let’s go quickly.”

“Yes, yes…!! Thank you so much!!”

The merchant, eyes glistening with tears, repeatedly bowed his head before quickly climbing onto the driver’s seat. Seeing this, Eve felt a surge in her chest.

A sense of moral satisfaction from doing a good deed? It was a little different from that. A bridge had been built, not just over the river. An invisible bridge was also built between Eve’s heart and this world.

It may have been her first time ever exchanging with someone of her own accord, aside from helping others. Eve’s heart was filled with a happiness close to accomplishment.

However, there were those who disturbed that afterglow. Looking around, she noticed a swarm of swarthy vagrants.

“We figured a goods wagon would surely pass by if we waited here…”

“Kukuk, we’re lucky today. There’s even a woman.”

“Hey! Put your hands up and stay still. If you don’t want to die.”

The outskirts of the Carmore Marcher Baronetcy. Naturally, bandits also ran rampant here without cease. The fact that they hadn’t attacked until now was all a setup for this moment.

Thump-

Eve’s heart pounded. A little faster than usual. Clearly, some emotion was at work.

Was she angry at these guys who were stealing and doing this sort of thing, even during these times when everyone was suffering after the war? No. Perhaps they were also victims of the war.

Or was she feeling fear because of some physical condition? That’s not it either. She felt quite refreshed after using magic so unrestrainedly.

The forest, magic, travel, cargo, and the bandits surrounding her. A certain scene flashed across her mind.

The memory of her first adventure with Adam.

She finally understood the source of the unease that had been building up. This is what Eve wanted. A thrilling adventure filled with threats everywhere. A life-or-death gamble that plunged into the unknown and beyond fear.

The emotion she felt was excitement. She’s been adventuring for eons. A adventurer’s fate never leaves them, even in death and rebirth.

“Don’t play around. Miss, you’re a magician, right? We saw you fix the bridge with magic just now.”

“After using such powerful magic, you must be tired, right? Let’s not take the hard way.”

“Magicians are the… easiest to deal with—!!”

Men wielding swords rushed towards Eve. As she transformed her overwhelming emotions into magic, her entire body began to heat up.

She planted her feet firmly and stepped forward powerfully. A faint sky-blue wave spread around her.

Bang—!

Eve looked at Nari. She was still leaning against the carriage, watching this situation.

Sending her an earnest look, Nari smiled knowingly.

“You’re messing with royalty; you can’t get away unscathed. Yeah, let’s do it that way. Do whatever you want.”

“Yes.”

“No… I’ve also been feeling restless, so shall we do it together?”

“Yes…!!”

Nari jumped out of the carriage drawing a red magic sword. She remembered this situation as well. Eve immediately knew.

As their backs touched, she could hear their pounding hearts. The fact that Nari felt the same emotion was a great source of strength for her.

Her chest swelled. An adventurer must have adventures.

Eve drew her sky-blue magic sword and pointed it at the bandits.

“You’re 100,000 years too early to take me on.”

Fire and ice danced. As with Adam and Eve together, back then, the combination of red and blue filled the battlefield.

The bandit group didn’t last even 10 minutes; they all became corpses. It was a natural outcome.

Thanks to Eve and Nari’s protection, the carriage packed with supplies safely reached the Carmore Marcher Baronetcy.

. . .

After causing quite a commotion, the two returned to the capital.

They walked side-by-side down the moonlit night road. Eve discreetly looked at her feet, trying to match Nari’s pace. Nari would playfully slow down or increase her pace.

“Walk straight.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Tch…”

“Try and make me walk straight.”

As soon as Nari made her defiant declaration, Eve immediately wrapped her legs with mana, attempting to move Nari’s body with mana manipulation.

But Nari wasn’t easily intimidated. Mana was on Nari’s side, after all. Once she bound her legs, she could simply absorb that mana. To properly control her, she had to continuously infuse mana.

“Woah… strong.”

“Nari… let’s… ugh…!”

“You want to try it? Bring it on.”

What started as a playful attempt to match strides had quickly turned into a contest of magic against magic. It would be fair to call it a perversion. It was quite different from the way ordinary lovers bickered.

Whoosh- Whoosh—

Fizz- Fizz- Fizz-

A fierce battle of magic ensued. The hands they held now were engaged in a wrestling match of grip strength, both using all their might to push against each other.

If Yuri or the others had seen this, they would have reprimanded them for their midnight shenanigans.

Fit-

The balance of power was broken in an instant. The moment Nari tried to push Eve away, she actually fell easily. It was a force she was supposed to easily handle.

“Oop—”

It was similar to a hand-slapping match. In reality, Eve hadn’t been pushed; she had pulled Nari. She had pretended to push while holding back her own strength and hugged her tightly.

Nari lost her balance and fell towards Eve. One leg that had been trying to stand straight was pushed away and they fell to the ground. The two embraced and rolled onto the dark grassy field.

Rustle- Russh—

The strong smell of grass in the forest. The chirping of insects. None of the sensations reached each other.

The only thing Eve and Nari could see, hear, and feel was the person in front of them. The fragrant smell of their skin, the rapid beating of their hearts, the hot and sweet breath.

Their lips were drawn to each other like magnets. They pushed their tongues in between, exchanging sticky saliva.

The sweet taste and rich aroma completely overwhelmed their brains.

“Nari… you know.”

“Yes.”

Eve and Nari were skilled magicians, so they could see mana even in the dark forest. They could feel the surging emotions, the fluctuating mana beyond each other’s eyes.

“I… want your child.”