Chapter 944: How to Spend the Year-End and New Year Holidays 13
The courtyard of the Onyx family estate is bustling with festival-goers. I’d thought perhaps part of the house might be open to the public, but that’s not the case, apparently, the rule is strictly that 「The courtyard is the venue」.
“There are some unscrupulous people who figure, if it’s an Onyx item, even a piece of furniture lying in the hallway must be valuable……and try to steal it. No matter how closely the family keeps an eye on things, they still get taken. It seems they gave up on using the interior of the house decades ago”
Dianne explains this to me.
“So they were still doing it until fairly recently……though I suppose it’s strange to call tens of years ago recently”
“It’s rare for this region at this time of year, but there are cases where the garden can’t be used due to bad weather. They tried various approaches, working hard to make it work indoors as well……but apparently, it just wasn’t worth the cost. It’s also something to think about, putting so much effort into rearranging the mansion for the twice-yearly festivals when it affects day-to-day life too much”
“Well……it was originally a living space for hundreds of people, after all……”
Not all of Minister Ashton’s nearly one hundred children are based here, but when you consider the remaining siblings and their families……it still adds up to a pretty huge number. If you include the staff, starting with the maids who support them, that’s the total number of people living in this mansion. Since they aren’t exactly going to vacate the premises for the festival, it seems they can’t really afford to make the interior available solely for that event.
“If we make the entire interior off-limits, anyone unfamiliar with the place is a bandit. We can deal with them immediately and without hesitation. In the end, it’s cut down on the hassle and made the festivities more enjoyable. My older brother grumbled for a while, wondering why we hadn’t done this for hundreds of years”
“……Deal with them, you say?”
“Well, unlike orcs, many of us dark elves aren’t very good with violence, so we end up using magic and such. ……As for military magic theory, my father’s position as head of military affairs means he always has access to the nation’s most cutting-edge knowledge. Half-baked bandits can’t break through security based on that, and it goes without saying what happens if my older brother identifies them as 『Enemies』 threatening our family”
“…………”
I thought this was going to be a super laid-back, high-energy festival, but maybe that’s because I was part of the Onyx inner circle from the start. After all, I’m practically a clan-sanctioned 「Son-in-law」 at the best merchant guild in town.
“It really hits home that my position is a front-row seat, doesn’t it……”
“Ho. What else would a dragon rider be but in the front row?”
“Well, yeah, I guess so”
It’s true that with Laila around, I can usually force my way into the front row, yeah. But I shouldn’t take it for granted that I’ll gain my standing that way. ……And, sensing the slight complexity on my face, Cosmos-san speaks up for me.
“Actually, even without Laila-san, Dianne-chan and Hilda were already smitten with you……so there’s no doubt you’re in an amazing position, right♪ Maybe it was inevitable that Cosmos Main Store would eventually fall to you?”
“I’m not so sure about that……”
“There’s no doubt that after being trained by that Hilda, you’d have the stamina to take on even a modest brothel all by yourself♪”
“It’s a bit late to ask now, but Cosmos-san, what exactly made you decide to become a female slave in the first place?”
“Well, I won’t deny there were various calculations involved, but the number one reason was definitely the penis♪”
When you put it that way, I can’t help but agree. Whether it’s being a Dragon Rider or an outsider who suddenly infiltrated the Onyx headquarters, even if it was just a result, I certainly have no shortage of reasons for her to curry favor with me. But I do wonder if Cosmos would immediately take the bait with a guy like me. I mean, there must be plenty of other lecherous guys besides me who hold decisive political power in Talc. Besides, if she were to curry favor with all of them, there’d be no end to it, and if she were to maintain regular connections with them all, she wouldn’t be able to just dash off to a remote place like Polka on a whim. But if she says she likes my dick, I guess I just have to accept it. She’s the kind of person who can act based on that single point alone, she even accepted becoming a female slave, and then simply added the role she needed to fulfill on top of that. ……That said.
“No Laila, huh……in that case, it means a mysterious legend of valor would have emerged, one where I conquered about half of Talc using nothing but my lower half……”
“I think that would make you a charismatic great hero in its own right, though~♪”
“Hoho. In a way, that’s ideal for a dragon rider, isn’t it♪”
Neither Cosmos nor Laila herself denied it. If I’d spent my days in Talc relying solely on my dick to survive, without getting involved with dragons, and inevitably leaving Trot and Renfangas, who were out of my reach, alone, what would have become of me? Dianne and Hilda would probably still be on my side even then. As for Anzeros and Aurora…… that’s a bit iffy? Setting Selenium aside, I might not have been able to successfully turn Apple into a female slave. Sure, I probably wouldn’t have had some of those big showdowns I’ve experienced, but since I’d be facing more terrifying ogres even if I’d stayed in Talc, I might have ended up getting better at bluffing. I’d probably have more encounters with experienced women than I do now, so I’d be handling them more smoothly……maybe? As I indulged in these daydreams while sipping wine, Emma and Maia came over to join me.
“The way I see it, I think you’d have ended up riding a dragon after all”
“I think so too. ……Somehow, I feel like Andy-sama has that kind of luck”
“When you bring up luck……”
There are times even I find myself thinking, what is with all these coincidences……?
“Besides, dragons are looking for people like that. Who’s first might change, but I still think he’ll end up becoming a dragon rider”
“I don’t know about that”
I think a big part of it is Laila’s own high standing or rather, the fact that the others followed suit because Laila approved.
“……Huhu. It’s true that there aren’t many men who aren’t afraid of dragons, don’t get carried away by opportunity, and can say, your strength is fine, but become my female slave……”
Dianne looks a little nostalgic as she drinks the same wine as me. Laila clears her throat. ……Come to think of it, wasn’t this also where Laila made her power contract with me?
“I suppose that’s how it goes”
“Ah. ……And even the fact that I, even the fact that I took a liking to you, he uses as fuel. A man with the capacity to handle a woman like me, both as a combat asset and as a woman, without being overwhelmed, and who sincerely wants to make me happy……there aren’t many men like that”
“Ho. Dealing with a monster like Dianne would certainly be a challenge for an ordinary man”
“I don’t deserve to be called a monster by Laila, though”
Despite the content of her rebuttal, Dianne seemed in high spirits. ……I wondered for a moment if that was really a testament to my character, or if it was just a coincidence that I happened to need even Dianne’s power at that moment, but I decided against saying anything since it seemed like it would turn into a complicated discussion. It wouldn’t be smart to get into a messy argument in the middle of a crowd. Besides, the show on the special stage was about to begin.
“Besides, earning that person’s approval is far harder than it is for me or Sister Hilda”
Saying that, Dianne pointed with her ceramic cup at the embodiment of beauty who had literally leaped onto the stage. ……The venue buzzed, then erupted. Whistles rang out, and thunderous applause erupted.
“Look! It’s the Jewel Butterfly!”
“Is she dancing this early this time?”
The orchestra strummed their instruments, weaving a cheerful and passionate melody. Once you set your eyes on her, she would captivate you and never let go. She wouldn’t let you look away until the dance was over. That priceless dance brought a pulse and fervor to the festival, which had been nothing but a chaotic buzz.
“……Even if we’re wrong, Nord-neesan is different. She’s the kind of person who can see right through a boring guy. ……And yet, even she was captivated. There’s no room for doubt, is there?”
In Dianne’s mind, that’s apparently the category Nord falls into. When Nord spotted me, she tossed me a kiss, stylishly and nonchalantly and sent the men around me……into a frenzy.