Save 49 - Rookie Hunt

Early morning in the Altfode Kingdom.

Bell was floating happily as she entered a room.

She was happy as she spent the whole night catching bad kids.

No telling what was going on with them. But for some reason they were never heard from again.

She opened the curtains to let the sunlight into the room.

"Good morning you two."

With a cheerful tone she spoke to two people.

Alisa and Airi were sleeping together peacefully in the same bed.

They were in their underwear.

Alisa was sleeping like a baby, saliva dripping from one corner of her mouth.

While Airi was using her breasts as a pillow.

Airi seemed to be in pain as two huge fleshy masses covered her nose, but despite them, she didn't seem to struggle much.

"You two, it's time to wake up. There's mail from the master."

Alisa opened her eyes at Bell's voice.

She moved her right hand clutching a pillow.

"... Shut up."

Still drowsy, Alisa threw her pillow at Bell.

She laid her head back down on the other available pillow.

As if she had a teddy bear in her bed. She hugged Airi's head with all her might.

Airi seemed to be suffocating now and lifted her face to breathe and go back to sleep in tranquility on the soft fleshy mass she used as a pillow.

After getting up, Bell yelled out to them.

"Hah? What was that!Despite working hard every night to guard Airi-chan's chastity and getting rid of guys who want to murder you, you pay me like that? Unforgivable! Unheard of! You' re going to pay me baaaack!"

Bell moved in different directions taking pictures of how helpless they both were.

"All right, like this! Oh, this angle is good! In this position Airi-chan's butt is just as big as Alisa-chan's!"

Bell's green eye blinked ominously.

"Fufufu, Master will feast on how vulnerable you two are. Master, will you remember Bell-chan? She's working hard for you even though I wanted to go for a walk too."

Bell debated around the room in a cheerful manner as she continued to take pictures of two helpless girls.

◇

"Is something wrong, Lucy-chan?"

I got up early to train my body before going to class.

It was almost the end of the semester. We had one more month of classes to go.

Since I went down for breakfast, I went to give her food to the bunny I found.

But there's trouble.

"This is terrible."

I looked at Ixion who spoke in a cold tone.

"Despite the food you give her and the operation I did on her. It looks like she won't hold out for long."

"Huh, but we give him healthy food in mush?"

I had a bottle in my hand while nursing the bunny. But she didn't want to eat anything.

"Animals, unlike humans. They know when it's their time to leave this world. She probably doesn't have more than a week or two left."

That's discouraging. It was a good morning and now I've just had my day soured.

Life is a precious thing, I who lost it once, didn't realize how beautiful it was to breathe and feel the sun on your face. But months ago I took lives during the war to save many more. I have no regrets, but I am not proud to be called a hero for that.

◇◇◇

Alisa and Airi, who slept together in the morning, were changing clothes.

Alisa has only a hair clip in her mouth and a shirt over her underwear.

The front is open because she hasn't buttoned the buttons.

Bell handed them the letter Rudel sent yesterday.

However, Airi suddenly became a little sad after reading the letter with joy.

"Rudel-san certainly is sensitive when it comes to animals or death."

When the war ended. The girls accompanied Rudel to the cemetery who went to deliver flowers to all those who died from the kingdom. He also wanted to go to the former commonwealth to pay condolences to the families of those he killed.

Alisa told him that would be a humiliation for them, so they just went to the area where the fighting was and threw bouquets into the ocean and then prayed for them. Including Klein and his father, for modesty's sake they did, though Alisa didn't really care about that.

"Certainly, a bunny with severe organ injuries and a broken leg. As a living thing, she's prey for any predator."

"Don't call Lucy-chan prey."

Airi became annoyed showing a pout.

"Sorry. I didn't mean it in offense, I was just mentioning that her health is in danger any way you look at it, I said it because it annoyed me to read this."

Airi read the part where Alisa was rolling her sharp eyes.

"I heard that the kingdom has lost twice in the past, but isn't your confidence too optimistic?"

"The embassy is also quite weak. Said the queen was also interested in the possibility that enemies can be made."

For that reason, Queen Lecia is also taking a cautious approach.

However, it was also a problem that the local embassy was too weak.

Airi thinks with her hand on her chin.

"Hey, Alisa, what is this sacred tree that Rudel-san is talking about?"

"According to the information I got from the kingdom and the one he has sent us. It seems to be some kind of gigantic mass of infinite energy. It would be something like an inexhaustible reservoir of electricity."

Airi was surprised to hear that, but a new doubt asked.

"I understand that, but why sacred is it called? It's just a big tree, but sacred is left over, isn't it?"

Alisa had no choice but to nod at Airi's impressions.

"Maybe it's something similar to our belief in the saint. But it's still strange."

Alisa put a finger to her chin.

(I want to know more about them. Not because of the possibility of looking for an invasion but a way to avoid a possible tragedy. Also, I don't want to ask him to go to work for the good of the kingdom. I don't want him to feel obligated to do something he doesn't want to do despite being a minister.)

Alisa continued reading the letter and then an uneasiness came to her.

"What's wrong?" Airi said curiously.

"It says here that he's having fun, in classes. The problem is whether or not he's getting too close to another woman."

The biggest problem for the two would be if Rudel was cheating on them overseas.

Alisa herself was also unhappy that they parted ways immediately after their engagement.

Airi uneasily denied Alisa's concern.

"He will be fine! Rudel-san wrote here that he wants to meet with us. Besides, he's not the kind of person who would cheat on us!

Alisa smiled slightly seeing Airi's reaction and teased her.

"Who knows. After all, that guy is a man too. Besides, he is a hero who rose to the rank of a count in one generation. Any woman would surely feel her heart beating against such a man. If it were me, then I absolutely wouldn't let it slip through my fingers."

"C-Certainly Rudel-san is a wonderful man, but I don't want him to deceive us."

Airi was on the verge of tears. Alisa hurriedly apologized upon seeing that.

"It's my fault! Forgive me! I don't want him to cheat on us either! Actually, I'm afraid it'll really happen!"

Alisa trembled as she grabbed Airi's shoulders. Fear showed in her eyes. It was the panic known as "knowing your partner was unfaithful".

The fear of knowing that her first fiancé, Klein, was unfaithful to her very face was something she never wanted to experience again.

Ellen, who had just graduated, was a danger.

There was a possibility that Rudel would be taken from them if they let their guard down.

"I want to give him a warning just to be safe, but he'll hate us too if we question him too much. It's a difficult matter."

"Can't I write to Rudel-san that cheating is 'bad!' as our answer?"

Alisa shook her head at Airi's suggestion.

"Even he wouldn't be amused if we suspect that he cheated even though he's not doing something like that."

"Alisa, I'm scared of losing him!"

"So am I!"

They both hugged each other at the terrifying thought of losing the one they love.

◇

Another school day was passing quietly.

I was leaving the academy to go catch the streetcar and go straight home to continue taking care of Lucy-chan.

When suddenly a limousine cut me off.

I panicked thinking this was going to be a movie-style kidnapping. I prepared to run away, but a well-dressed chauffeur got out of the vehicle and turned around to open the back door.

A girl got out of the back seat. The students around us became noisy.

That girl was the villainess, Sara who introduced herself by lifting the tip of her skirt as a greeting.

"I'm sorry to introduce myself this way, I beg your pardon. I am the Acting Chairman's daughter, Sara Ciel Rosenberg, of the six great nobles."

"You are the foreign student from the Altfode Kingdom aren't you, Rudel von Bradford-kun?"

I replied a bit stunned by such a turn of events.

"... Yes, that's me."

She gave me a warm smile.

"I'd like to take a little of your time if it's no trouble at all. I want to chat with you."

Why was she interested in me?

I was also curious why she was making that surprised face when we met earlier.

"Chat with me?"

"Yes, that's right. I'd be delighted if you could join me."

I shrugged and got into the car just as she asked.

The interior of the car was very plushly decorated.

The seat was also soft. This was truly a car that the rich would have.

Sara also took a seat next to me. Then, the driver closed the door before getting in and driving the car.

Sara spoke to me with a nervous look as I felt like I was in an unreal situation.

"Have you gotten used to Aster?"

She broke the ice with an innocuous and harmless question, but the real issue must be something else.

"Yes, thanks to all the people here."

"I'm glad to hear that. You can talk to me if you have any problems, you can count on me as a big sister. I wouldn't mind if you even use my name."

I had a feeling that I would be capable of a lot of trouble if I used the name of the princess of Rosenberg Household. I wouldn't use it though because it was scary.

"Th-That's very kind of you."

"Oh, you thought I'd be someone meaner? Lucy must have said something to you."

"Well, sort of."

However, you were the picture of a mean woman at our first meeting.

She looked at me with an embarrassed face, even her tone was.

"I-I'm not like that all the time."

"It's not persuasive to hear that from the person herself."

"It's just the way you say it."

Sara looked like she was having fun with me. It wasn't like when she was interacting with Lucy.

The driver looked at me in the rearview mirror when I casually spoke with the princess to the house she serves. Hey, look straight ahead when you drive.

"... And, what might your business be with me?"

Just as I was trying to move on to the main topic, Sara moved her face closer towards me.

"Huh?"

She touched my cheek with her left hand and looked into my face with her wet eyes.

"W-what's wrong?"

This situation is something that doesn't make sense to me anymore. What was really going on?

"I'm engaged!" I was about to tell her that as she gently touched my cheek. It's almost like she was about to say something along the lines of. "I love you." Or, "It was love at first sight."

".. Hey."

Her voice was gentle.

More and more her face was getting closer to mine.

"Can you call me... Sara-chan?"

(We've known each other since yesterday and you already want to take this acquaintance relationship to the next level!)

(I must get out of here as soon as possible! My virginmeter alerts me that something that shouldn't be happening is going on!)

"Hey..."

She was calling me in an even gentler manner while I was upset by this unexpected event.

"Can you? Just once is enough."

(Even just once is something that indicates that it's very rare!)

"Don't you want to?"

Sara was showing a spoiled childish face that reminded me of the two of them when we were walking together. Her eyes look at me sadly thinking I won't tell.

"Y-Y-Yeah this is some kind of joke, I fell for it, hahaha!"

"I'm not kidding."

That just made me freak out more.

"I'm only asking you once. Say, 'Sara-chan' in any tone. I'll even make sure to reward you in any way you want."

This was no longer a laughing matter.

Sara was clinging to my body, she even crossed her legs and her knee was touching me. Her big chest pressed against me.

"Come on. don't you want to say it? I'll get sad, do you like to make girls feel sad?"

"... Sara-chan."

I said it. I said something I shouldn't have. I hope this will calm her down.

I looked at her face. She was looking at me with astonishment and then...

"Rudel-kun!"

She jumped on me. She placed her large breasts on my body and pressed them while looking like a happy child for being congratulated by her father.

"Hey. Now you can say. 'Sara-chan's a good girl. I promise I'll take you anywhere you want or do anything. Come on, come on, or. Do you want to make me sad?"

This girl was using me. Her beautiful eyes and sweet spoiled girl voice were making me her plaything. At this rate, I'll be at her total mercy.

Wait, she said whatever?

At that moment, I inadvertently looked down at her pressed breasts. She noticed my eyes and smiled in a mischievous way.

"Geez, Rudel-kun you're a bad boy. But, think of me as a generous big sister. If you want 'it', I could spoil my cute little brother."

We're not siblings and I think this doesn't enter the normal anymore.

(Ixion, this is bad! I think I'm going to lose my virginity in a car with a girl who isn't my girlfriend!)

(Help!)

Just when I thought Sara was going to abuse my weak person. Ixion appeared.

"Master."

He spoke softly so that only I could hear.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your flirting with an unknown woman, but this happened..."

Sara was still pressing her breasts against me playfully, but I immediately pushed her off me.

"Wait, Rudel-kun, it's not to my taste that you want to play rough!"

"Give me the address!"

I opened the car door and ran out. Since the car just circled around the academy, it was easier to get to the place where Ixion told me.

◇◇◇

A few minutes ago. Warren and Clovis were leaving their classes to go home.

Because Clovis forgot some notebooks by going to play, he told Warren to wait for him.

He waited patiently in the garden inside the school.

Suddenly, a group of young men surrounded him.

Warren didn't catch their presence as he was reading a book.

"Can I get you guys anything?"

Warren was speaking in a formal tone to a group of young men.

Among them, Derrick stepped out.

"Finally the wait is over."

"Excuse me?" Said Warren who didn't understand what was going on.

Derrick smiled sinisterly.

"Hey, do you want to make a bet? If you win you can have great prizes. It's very easy, we do it this way because we want to show newcomers Aster's hospitality."

"Is that so? Sorry, but this looks like something else."

"Gyahaha, I understand. But it's just that we are very excited. Don't you see how eager we are to show foreign students the wonders of Aster?"

"I understand. So, what's the bet?"

Derrick wiped away his smile for a straight face.

"You just have to 'swear'. Under this emblem and then compete against me. It's simple."

"I hope it's quick. My friend will soon come."

"Yes. Yes. It will be quick only if you hurry. We also want to meet the other teammates of yours."

Warren looked suspiciously at Derrick, but none of the boys had anything suspicious hidden, not even Derrick.

Warren walked up to Derrick, mumbled a few words, and then...

◇

I was inside the school grounds.

"Rudel-kun, what's wrong!"

Sara was behind me chasing after me.

"Tell me it's a joke, Ixion!"

"You should thank me that you were monitoring the perimeter and happened to have found him."

As I got to where Ixion was showing me through a holographic map.

"Uwaa, Warren, hang on!"

I encountered a creepy scene.

"I'll get you out of there, just hang on buddy!"

I found Clovis trying to lower Warren who was hanging upside down from under a large tree that came out of nowhere.

He was totally beat up. His mouth and face were swollen from several blows.

"Clovis, what happened!"

I ran over to Clovis to also help him get Warren down.

The branches were strong.

We had to use muscle strengthening magic to pull the roots out of his body.

Sara finally arrived and her exhaustion showed in the way she was breathing.

"Why did you come out...?"

When she opened her eyes. She watched us.

"What happened here?"

Clovis cried as he answered her.

"I don't know! I was delayed because I couldn't find my books and then I noticed a green glow and when I went out to check, I found Warren like this!"

"A green glow?"

Sara looked annoyed.

"This must be Derrick's handiwork without a doubt."

"Rudel-kun, I'm really sorry about this, I promise I'll take care of this problem today!"

"Wait, why are you sorry, this isn't your fault and what are you talking about?"

Sara lowered her head as she answered me

"... The rookie hunt."

"Hunt?"

"Of rookies? You say."

Both Clovis and I were flabbergasted by something as wild as that.

"It's a dreadful tradition that some Aster nobles do. This is forbidden, but only a few families do it. It's a cruel celebration where they persecute foreigners and humiliate them to the point of breaking them and making them leave Aster."

"Is it an act of racism or xenophobia?"

"No. It's more of a mockery of those who don't support Aster financially. I'm sorry, during my first and second year studying with Derrick, I told him to stop. I heard rumors that his flunkies were the ones causing it, but not him. I didn't inquire further thinking it was true, so sorry."

Sara looked like she wanted to cry.

I walked over to her and grabbed her shoulders.

"You didn't do anything wrong."

"But me, I knew it was going to happen again and I didn't do anything!"

She lifted her face with tears. She looked truly sorry.

"Even if that's so, you had nothing to do with it. Just like knowing that a war will break out, you are not your responsible for what others do."

"Rudel-kun... thank you, you're very kind."

Wait, when did I become so philosophical?

"At least... let me take your friend to the hospital."

"Thank you."

I turned to Clovis and told him we were taking Warren to the hospital.

◇◇◇

Sara watched Rudel with moist eyes.

As he and Clovis lifted Warren, she murmured.

"... You really are very kind."

◇

After admitting Warren to the hospital, Clovis decided to stay with him.

I told him to come to my house or Erselica's if anything happened.

I headed to Erselica's mansion to tell her what happened.

Frey opened the door and was disgusted to see me, but It paid me no mind and I pushed my way past him.

I called out Erselica's name and she came running from the kitchen. She was shocked to see me, she appeared to be washing dishes as she had gloves on.

I made my way over to her and took her to a nearby room to tell what happened first to her and then to the others.

Of course, these guys were ecstatic.

"S-Something like that..."

She couldn't believe her ears either.

"Wasn't Derrick not supposed to show himself to us if Liam didn't do improper things? Haven't you been keeping an eye on him lately by any chance!"

"Don't yell at me!"

My tone was loud and strong because of what happened.

Erselica was freaked out by what happened, but more so by seeing me upset.

Warren was an acquaintance only, we spoke few times, but he is still a compatriot of my country.

Clovis was a scumbag, but it was the same thing. Besides, he really seemed to suffer a lot from Warren's situation to the point that he wouldn't stop crying.

"I don't think we should do anything."

"What are you talking about?" I asked him.

"You said that a professor who belongs to Lunor Household said he would talk to Derrick, right? In that case we should leave it to the school to deal with this problem."

I lied to Erselica. I told her that a teacher who belongs to Lugh's house helped us, if I told her that the villainess and I were walking around affectionately in a very weird way, she would get upset.

"Is it all right to leave things like this?"

"It's best not to meddle with events involving Liam. We don't want to again end up in a situation like Klein's or with Balzac. We are in a country that is supposed to be a powerhouse. I don't like to say it, but brother, we should turn a blind eye this time and concentrate on the heroine finding her destined person."

"You're asking me not to do when a comrade of ours ended up beaten up?"

I looked at her seriously as she looked at me.

"Yes. I'm asking you to be selfish. Meddling in the events of history can go wrong. Derrick will be defeated by either Liam or one of the capture targets by the end of the semester. We just have to hang on."

This is outrageous, like a dog I must run away with my tails between my legs.

Warren I'm sorry, but I... I'm cowardly scum.