2.9 Punishment or Reward?

All four girls gathered around to discuss the punishment. I didn't know what they were planning to do, but they were making it sound like something really horrible. I was bracing myself for the verdict, but before that, I had to say something in my defense.

"Guys, I just did that because I thought you will have difficulty accepting a demon as my familiar. I was going to tell you guys after we reached the labyrinth. I wanted you all to know that he's not a bad guy before revealing that he was a demon," I said coming clean.

They all smiled when they heard me say that. Even Marina who was confused by everything that had happened looked a bit relieved. Lucy who was sitting on her shoulder looked as cheerful as ever. She must be finding all this amusing.

We had finished our breakfast and were about to start our journey. Everything was already ready, and we just had to put the dishes and the magic stove in the carriage before continuing our journey.

"And how would that solve anything? You are already way ahead of all of us so if you start keeping secrets like that now, it will only make us more worried. Don't take too much burden on yourself. We all are in this together y'know," said Princess Anna with a warm smile.

"Yes. It's unusual for me to say this, but you worry too much," said Princess Eliane in agreement.

"No, it's just that... Thank you guys" I replied.

I was surprised that things turned out this way. Ever since Ronald got injured, I had this feeling that I needed to get stronger. He was right in front of me when that happened, but I couldn't do anything.

That was why I wanted to get stronger. I wanted to be able to protect everyone around me until they were strong enough to protect themselves. I couldn't tell this to them because I thought they would probably feel like they were being a burden.

"I-it's a bit h-hard accepting a demon as a familiar. B-but if you think it's okay, it must be fine," said Marina looking towards me. It looked like she had finally convinced herself.

"Guys, we are going off-topic. Let's get back to the punishment," said Arica with a teasing smile.

'We are still doing that?!' I thought but the smile on everyone's face told me that the answer was 'yes'.

"Eliane, you go first," said Princess Anna looking towards Princess Eliane.

"W-w-wait wasn't I getting a single punishment from all of you," I asked in confusion.

"That won't be much fun... tee hee," said Arica with a giggle.

"Okay then, I want you to dance with me in a ball after we return back to the city," said Princess Eliane.

'Wait what?! What kind of punishment is that?'

"But I have never danced before. And it won't be good for a princess like you to dance with me in a social gathering like a ball," I said trying to refuse.

"Then we will just have to do some practice. It's just that because I was a princess I could rarely dance and when I danced it was always with my brother," Princess Eliane said.

'I had no idea you were that much into dancing. Well, if you are okay with it, this doesn't sound too bad.'

"If you are okay with me then I will give it a try," I replied. She smiled after hearing my reply which probably meant that she was okay with me.

'Phew! one down'

"I-I want to go on a d-d-date with you like Arica," said Marina in a surprisingly bold voice. When I looked towards her, her eyes were closed and her fists were tight.

'Man, how can anyone refuse when you say it like that?'

"O-okay," I replied feeling a bit shy.

Marina looked relieved after hearing my reply. Arica had probably exaggerated and bragged about the whole thing. I had a feeling she would be a bit disappointed, but I had no choice but to do my best.

I had never truly gone on a date before. In my previous world, I was too serious about my studies, so I had no time for those things. I thought with better grades, I would be able to get a good job. And with a good job, I would be able to find a good woman. But after I graduated, I realized that it was all wrong, I should have had fun when I could.

'Well, for now. It's two down.'

"Now, it's my turn. You will need to let me sit on the driver's seat with you for the rest of the journey and teach me how to drive the carriage," said Princess Anna with a smile.

'What!'

It may sound like a simple request, but it was the most complicated one among all three until now. The driver's seat wasn't wide enough to fit two people.

"Wait, that's impossible, only one person can fit in the seat. If two of us sit there, you may fall while making turns," I replied honestly.

"Tehe hee... Then I will just have to sit between your legs. I want to know how to drive a carriage," said Princess Anna.

'Why is she acting like Arica all of the sudden?'

"But that's-" I was trying to say something, but Arica interrupted me by saying, "Ah Ahh, that's a punishment, honey."

'That's not punishment, that's torture.'

I wanted to say something, but before I could, Arica said, "Our tent is too small for four of us so let me move into yours."

'I knew it!'

"A-Arica but that's-," Marina was saying something, but I interrupted her saying, "Okay."

She opened her eyes wide and blinked several times in surprise when she heard that. Everyone had a shocked reaction in their face when they saw me agree to it so easily. But I didn't respond to those reactions. I just said, "Let's head out now, we are already late."

We then packed the rest of the things and resumed our journey. Princess Anna sat between my legs on the driver's seat for the rest of the day.

I was already uncomfortable with just having her there, the rough road was a bonus. But as a man, I had to hold myself together and focus on driving. My hands that were holding the reins sometimes felt the soft sensation when the carriage came over bumps in the road, but I controlled myself. The experience that I had with Arica in the market paid off.

She asked me various things about driving a carriage and I answered them, but I was too busy controlling myself that I had no idea what I was answering. I hadn't slept well last night, but I didn't feel sleepy at all for the whole day.

We stopped when it was evening and started preparing dinner after setting up the camps. Marina and I cooked the food as usual while everyone else sat around talking to Lucy and Flare. After dinner, everybody went towards their tents to sleep.

"Honey, where are you going? The tent is that way," said Arica when she saw me going towards the nearby tree instead of the tent.

"I will sleep in the open. You can sleep in the tent," I replied. I was planning to do this which was why I easily agreed when Arica said she wanted to sleep in my tent.

"But that's no fun," said Arica looking disappointed.

I ignored her and went to the nearby tree and slept there by leaning on it.

But when I woke up in the morning, I wasn't there. I was somehow inside the tent. I raised myself and it was then that I realized, I was somehow inside the girl's tent and everyone else including Arica was sleeping next to me.

'God! How did this happen?! How did I end up here?!'

Next Chapter: Hunters