Chapter 829: Harvest Festival Day 11
I’ve been dancing since the festival started, but the sun is already setting. Polka is sandwiched between high mountain ranges to the east and west, so the days are especially short here compared to other lands. Once night falls, it gets too dangerous to dance, so everyone has to get their turn in before sunset.
“The ones left to dance are……hmm”
Soon it’ll be the old guard, the ones who were here before the Neia-related incidents started. Now that we’ve grown to nearly 40 people, the first ten or so are treated with particular respect, mainly because they witnessed my actions before I started being seen as a hero. Selenium, Apple, Dianne-san, Anzeros, Aurora, Laila, Jeanne, Hilda-san, Maia. Whether Luna or Irina belongs among the 「First ten」 is a bit debatable. Well, it’s a minor point since we don’t need to be so strict about the exact ten. Among them, Selenium and Apple are absent. Hilda just danced. Luna also finished early. That leaves seven……no, eight since Christie is still here. Well, it’s not an impossible number. But the number of partners I’ve danced with in a single Harvest Festival might be a record in Polka history. So, with time running short, I shifted tactics: forget the order and just ask whoever catches my eye.
“Dianne-san, shall we dance soon?”
“Hmm? Wasn’t the plan to dance with the new female slaves first?”
“We’re already pretty late in the festival. Insisting on strict order just means I won’t finish dancing, which defeats the whole purpose”
“Master must have his hands full. Besides, I’m not a female slave, so there’s no need for equality”
“Compensating for the shortcomings later might actually cost more”
“Huhuu, that’s a good idea♪”
Even as she said that, Dianne-san took my hand. Not just the female slaves or former crossbow squad members (like Keiron and Lantz), but even ordinary Polka residents were captivated by Dianne-san’s light, feminine steps, murmuring, hou……. It was a soft, refined movement, devoid of any trace of her usual hardness. Even I, who knew she became cute during intimate moments, found this unexpectedly different atmosphere in her movements.
“Did you perhaps get advice from Nord?”
“Huhu, you noticed? ……More like Lukino-nee than Nord-nee. I’ve improved a bit, haven’t I?”
“It’s been quite a while since I last danced, so it’s hard to judge relative improvement”
Dianne’s steps were more masculine and elegant, which had its own stability and charm, but…….
“Being satisfied with just looking presentable among such skilled dancers……that’s hardly something to be praised”
“Only those two can laugh and say that about Dianne……”
I think just dancing beautifully is impressive enough. Yeah. Besides, those two, Nord and the others, are just muddling through with their lewd dances.
“Seeing Fiona train has been inspiring. I’m still a greenhorn myself. I shouldn’t just lecture others arrogantly; I need to set goals and work hard. ……To have you call me your proud dance partner……is that too presumptuous a goal?”
“Well, you already boast about it”
“That’s not because of your dancing skill, is it?”
She truly is admirable in every way. Sure, 200 years or so is practically young for a dark elf, so it’s never too late to aim higher in new fields.
“I’m glad I’m not in a position to compete with Dianne”
“?”
If I had to compete with such a hardworking genius, I’d be hopeless. No wonder the other female slaves treat her as something special.
Next is Laila, who’s been guzzling drinks at a table in the square the whole time. She certainly stands out. Position-wise, she’s on par with Dianne-san, like a big boss figure. I actually thought maybe she should be the grand finale.
“Laila, you’re next”
“Ho. Fine, but isn’t it unfair to go before Maia and Jeanne, who came before you?”
“That order is null and void now. Besides, neither of them are here”
“Maia will come immediately if called. Jeanne is just fussing over Peter and nursing him. That Peter will calm down with any woman’s breast, so if you want to dance, I could take her place”
“If we keep bickering over who goes first, we’ll be dancing until nightfall. I’ll decide on my own”
“Ho. What an overbearing master”
Truthfully, both Maia and Jeanne could probably make themselves available immediately, just as she said. But those two would likely fret over the situation—that Laila was being considerate and letting them go first. Trying to reason with them would drag on forever. It’s definitely quicker to just say it’s a matter of my mood.
“Frankly, the veterans put off enjoying themselves too much. I want them to look forward to dancing with me more”
“Ho. I’m afraid I can’t be expected to react the same as a young girl like Emma”
“Well, Laila, as a dragon, you’re quite the young girl yourself, aren’t you? Acting too old will just make people resent you”
“It’s not exactly something to brag about, but seeing my little girl act coy after tasting other men’s flavors would be rather disgusting”
“True, most girls start as virgins……but are you holding back because of that?”
Laila subtly averted her gaze. Well, many girls are quite dependent……and plenty (especially dragons) are utterly devoted to me, pouring their entire being into me. Compared to that, Laila, who doesn’t hide her past loves, might feel a bit awkward stepping forward. ……But then again, I probably overthink things.
“You put on the collar because I’m better than your past guys, right? The number of exes doesn’t matter. Don’t put on airs and make yourself suffer. It’s awkward, isn’t it?”
“……Well, you say that”
The greatest, strongest dragon who accepts everything—the other girls, my own sloppiness—with complete affirmation. But this particular aspect is just a little troublesome. ……But.
“I know, you know”
Whispering sadistically, lowering my voice just a little while dancing with Laila in my arms. Laila flinches at the sound.
“You’re lonely, you care too much about appearances, you’re loving, and you’re scared. Deep down, you want to be forced into it, but you’re just putting on a grown-up front because you can’t stand seeing the other girls sad”
“……”
“You really are an idiot, you know. Seriously loving a man’s selfishness, protecting him even when it hurts you. ……You should be allowed to be more of a little girl”
“……Honestly, you haven’t even lived thirty years”
Laila sighed, exasperated by my whisper.
“……Save that for the bed. Now I don’t know what face to make”
But she did smile back as she embraced me.
And, as if having overheard my conversation with Laila through her super hearing, Maia was waiting with Jeanne.
“Dance”
“Yeah”
Peter……I scanned the area with my eyes……ah, there he was. He was being held by Airi. Airi was at least wearing proper elf-like clothes, but she was boldly exposing one breast in public and letting Peter suckle. ……Wait, is that okay?
“The midwife granny said breastfeeding is safe”
Maia, noticing my gaze, added. ……Yeah. Well, it’s an emergency measure for the child, and it’s the countryside. Maybe that’s just how it is.
“Plus, Airi’s practically naked all the time anyway, so she doesn’t care if people see her chest”
“I always tell her to wear something proper when she walks around, right?”
“……She says she’s trying”
Airi, responding to the conversation from a bit of a distance with her super hearing, and Maia relaying it. ……Well, anyway, let’s just dance for now. I’ll pursue that issue later.