Chapter 838: Love’s Paradise 6
I called Dianne and Laila over and explained Cosmos’s proposal.
“……So, Emma and Leda’s training……or something like that? Apparently she wants to go to Talc”
“……She mentioned bringing a prostitute from her shop in Talc soon. This is probably related to that too”
Dianne sighed.
“Honestly, I can’t wholeheartedly endorse it, but the lack of compelling reasons to oppose it is what troubles me”
“Ah, no, is it really that complicated?”
“It’s not complicated, but the thought of her influence growing stronger in Polka is a bit frightening”
“Should she just not go then?”
“……No, it’s not without its merits”
Dianne closed her eyes, took a breath, then opened just one eye.
“It’s not that the Cosmos Main Store prostitutes shouldn’t operate in Polka. I don’t think the men of Polka necessarily need sex services, but merchants traveling long distances and the sick and wounded are different. No matter how tolerant Polka is about voyeurism, men aren’t always satisfied with just that. If they have an outlet for their sexual desires, it might actually lead to fewer troubles in the end”
“……Well, I suppose……that’s true?”
Suddenly, I remembered that night when I was ten, the night it all began. In the dark hot springs, the sight of that girl who worked as a maid at the inn providing sexual services to travelers.
“If there’s nowhere for frustration to go, some will resort to violent means to satisfy it. Even with Maia and the blue dragons keeping watch in this Polka, it’s hardly far-fetched to say that inviting women of that profession and entrusting them with the task is better than letting something bad happen because it was bound to happen”
“Well, that’s……”
“Ho. ……Besides, trying to travel with that group isn’t entirely without meaning”
Laila crossed her arms and spoke up with a complex expression.
“Emma and Leda, like myself and Maia, are dragons meant to be your free-moving limbs. Yet, if we keep them permanently in third or fourth position behind us, they’re far too unreliable as the extra pieces we’ve gained. Especially Leda, who’s nearly a full-fledged dragon. Should the need arise, I want her to be able to step in and take my place. If we can’t even entrust her with one or two journeys, then Airi or Asti would be better options”
“……So this is a good opportunity, then. Indeed”
A 「Good opportunity」 from both Dianne’s perspective and Laila’s. How much she meant it consciously is impossible to know without asking her directly, but if she meant it all, it truly is unfathomable.
Still, sending only two new dragon recruits and two new slave dark elves was far too risky. The destination was Cosmos Main Store. While not inherently dangerous, leaving them unchecked meant they’d regret it if something went wrong. Thus, Dianne and Laila agreed someone experienced should accompany them. Taking a dragon along wouldn’t fit the 「Leave it to us」 spirit, so Laila and Maia are out. Dianne-san has work advancing the new town plans, so she passes. Jeanne and Selenium, who have children to care for, are also out. That leaves the veteran members……if we define that as members from before Lord Bonaparte’s rebellion, then the remaining candidates are Apple, Anzeros, Aurora, and Hilda-san.
“Who should we take, I wonder……”
“Well, Apple to be blunt, I’m not sure she’d be much help in an unexpected emergency……”
“Taking Hilda seems like it might actually invite trouble. Maybe somewhere else, but here”
“So that leaves Anzeros and Aurora……”
The three exchanged glances.
In the end.
“It’s a bit unexpected, but since I’ve been entrusted with this, I shall fulfill my duty”
Aurora joins the fight. We considered bringing both Anzeros and Aurora, but felt being that cautious might be overkill. Plus, since we’ll likely need to retrieve the ladies of the night, increasing our numbers wasn’t advisable. So it came down to choosing one. Given that Anzeros was serving as Fiona’s coach (albeit not daily) and the shared understanding that he’d likely be easily swayed and fail to act as a watchful eye if surrounded by the ladies of the night, the three decided to assign the role to Aurora, who seemed relatively sharp. ……Well, she herself didn’t seem to expect the responsibility to land on her shoulders in this situation.
“Is that okay, Cosmos?”
“No way……but if I say that, the expedition just gets canceled, right? I’m only making a suggestion, after all♪”
Should we admire her for knowing her place, or call it a sly dodge of responsibility?
“Are we really just going to fly with just me and Leda……taking Master with us?”
And surprisingly, Emma was the one looking uneasy. I’d thought she’d be the one eager to prove their competence now.
“Of course, I intend to become my Lord’s scales, fangs, and wings. But—”
“I see. You’ll work as a tool, and when you’re spent, that’s fine too……content to rest in the ease of being peripheral”
Aurora crossed her arms and murmured provocatively. Emma scowled, clenched her fists tightly, and leaned forward.
“I didn’t say anything like that!”
“Then that’s fine, isn’t it?”
“……!”
“A weak woman who hides in others’ shadows is unworthy of standing beside Andy-san, who always walks his own path. Be proud”
Aurora’s noble bearing overwhelmed Emma’s timidity in mere moments. Impressive.
“Y, Yes……I suppose so”
Emma was completely subdued. The other companions shared wry smiles. ……Aurora, who shone with exceptional brilliance among dragons and dark elves, was actually still a minor despite being dozens, even hundreds of years old.