Variable (3)

"Hoo... Fortunately, there's no one tailing us."

After arriving at the hideout, Charlotte threw the tightly bound baggage into a corner with a thud.

...The journey to the hideout was truly... long and tiring.

Thanks to Charlotte, who moved like a spy straight out of a movie... a 20-minute walk turned into a 40-minute detour.

At first, since she said her position made things tiring, I thought, 'Wow... I can see why,' and carefully followed her.

But that wasn't it.

On the way here.

She suddenly stopped, saying she needed to check if we were being followed. When I told her I could just sense it with my perception...

She said that was cheating, and that it only had romance if you checked for yourself—then she suddenly leapt onto a rooftop.

So, in a hurry, I expanded my perception.

And then... I saw the imperial princess laughing and smoking on the rooftop.

I realized the truth.

This wasn't about being cautious or anything—she just... did it because she was bored...

Give me back my childhood innocence...

"Haa... This is stressful."

Sighing beside me, Rubia carefully set down Hephaestus, whom she had been carrying on her back.

"G-Good work, Rubia..."

I patted Rubia's sweat-drenched back in encouragement.

"Yes... You worked hard too, Noah."

"Seriously, why insist on carrying her yourself when I said I'd do it?"

"Because I saw you groping Hephaestus's body with those damn hands."

Rubia, who had just been smiling at me so kindly, suddenly turned.

Grinding her teeth, she glared at Charlotte like a vengeful spirit.

"Say it properly. I wasn't groping her—my hand slipped. Who do you think I am, calling me a pervert..."

No matter how I looked at it, she was definitely a pervert, but... I kept quiet.

If I nodded recklessly, she might drag me away for some 'imperial contempt' nonsense...

She had more power and money than Rubia...

But.

Rubia, unlike me, didn't hold back.

"The whole world knows you're a pervert."

"Hey... Rubia, that's imperial contempt—"

"Yeah. Arrest me then."

Rubia stretched out her arms and clasped her wrists together.

As if she were ready to be cuffed.

"Haa... You weren't like this when you were little, but now you've grown up all weird. What should we do about you, our dear Rubia?"

Watching this, Charlotte placed a hand on her forehead and shook her head.

When she was little?

Did Rubia and Charlotte know each other from way back?

"We've only known each other for two years. What 'when she was little'..."

With an expression of genuine frustration, Rubia shuddered, then quickly pulled me into an embrace.

And in a sweet voice, she whispered into my ear.

"Noah. Punish her."

"Huh, wh-what...? Ah, no way..."

"It's fine. As long as there are no witnesses, you don't have to worry about it being an assassination."

"Wh-What are you saying...! Even if there are no witnesses... You can't just kill people...!"

I shook my head furiously and pushed Rubia away.

Her expression twisted ever so slightly.

Charlotte, who had sunk into the sofa, also scrunched up her face.

"Noah... You can't kill innocent people. But those who deserve to die—it's fine."

"H-Huh...?"

"They're not people, they're beasts. It's fine."

D-Did she just call the imperial princess a beast?

I mean... uh... just from listening, I can kinda see why...

But still, that's not okay!

"Hey, enough of that. Noah, go wash up. You stink, and I can't stand being around you."

Gasp... S-Stink?!

"What's with that face? Isn't it obvious? Just think about where you were earlier. No way you don't smell."

"Uh... N-No way... Rubia already took care of that..."

I had wiped off the bloodstains with drinking water, and Rubia had used her divine power to remove any odor...

I raised my arm and sniffed.

There was nothing... Just a faint peach scent.

"I... I don't smell... Ah..."

I wanted to shout, I don't smell!

But—

Charlotte's posture and expression were so imposing that, in the end, I could only hide behind Rubia and mutter quietly...

"Oh? Are you saying you won't obey the imperial princess?"

Charlotte shot up from her seat.

"Ugh..."

I clung even tighter to Rubia's back.

Then, this time, Rubia gently pushed me away.

"Noah smells nice, but I still think it'd be good for you to wash up."

"R-Really...?"

"Fufufu... Yes. After all... Mmm... You fought off so many beasts all by yourself. Washing up and relaxing would be good, don't you think?"

"She's right, she's right. Plus, there's plenty of warm water here, so it'll be comfortable."

With Charlotte and Rubia pressing me from both sides, I reluctantly nodded.

It wasn't that I hated washing up.

It's just... uh... my... u-underwear is...

It's only natural to want fresh, dry underwear after washing up, right...?

And, um...

The bandages wrapped around my chest were torn, and I was barely holding them together...

If I untie them, there's no going back!

Not that my body would make much of a difference, but still...

"F-Fine..."

I nodded obediently and stepped away from Rubia's back.

As long as I was careful, it should be fine...

I quietly stood in front of the bathroom.

Obediently.

Silently.

Rubia and Charlotte tilted their heads as they watched me.

Then.

A small chuckle escaped from Rubia's lips.

"Pff... Noah, sorry, but I think it's best if you bathe alone today. Charlotte might peek, so I'll stand guard."

"Ah..."

"Hah, this is ridiculous."

Charlotte ran a hand through her bangs roughly and pulled out a cigarette as she spoke.

"I don't peek. I just look openly."

Then, with a dramatic flair, she lit her cigarette and exhaled a puff of smoke with a satisfied expression.

"...See? So just bathe alone today."

"Uuuhm... Okay, I got it."

After standing still for a few seconds, fidgeting slightly, I eventually just went into the bathroom.

Hmm...

Today, for some reason...

I kind of wanted to bathe with Rubia.

Just a little.

It's a bit... disappointing...

* * * *

Shaaah—

As the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, Charlotte lit up another cigarette.

"Ssseup—Hoo..."

Beyond the swirling smoke, her golden hair swayed slightly.

"Magic herbs... Are you still dealing with the aftereffects of that incident?"

"That's part of it. But I think I might also be addicted. Heh..."

Charlotte let out a bitter smile and shook her head.

"If you need help, just let me know. I'll do my best to assist you."

"Then, let me grope your tits."

"Screw off."

"Hurtful..."

"What brings you to Ursphere?"

Since I gave no reaction, Charlotte scratched her head awkwardly and straightened her posture.

"Ahem... Some big-breasted, justice loving beauty was scared of scorpions and put in a request to get rid of them. That job ended up coming to me, so I had no choice but to come."

Charlotte exhaled smoke and smirked.

"...What do you mean by that?"

Back in Roholan, when I encountered Jur,

I had linked to Jur's unique ability.

Through that, I had requested support for this incident.

I was told they'd send a total of five reinforcements—

And Charlotte was one of them?

"I heard you two were acquainted... So, what I told Jur ended up reaching you?"

"Yep. I was going to Karahan for some business anyway, so the timing worked out. Got to see big tits, got to see small tits—too good. I'm so turned on. I might just cum right now."

Grinding my teeth, I forcibly ignored Charlotte's nonsense and continued my questioning.

"Jur said five people would be coming in total. What about the others?"

"I got swapped in for them."

Seeing that I was steadfastly ignoring her bullshit, Charlotte gave me a look that said 'Not bad,' then chuckled blandly and continued.

"Heh... No one could've predicted it would turn out like this. And those expecting reinforcements must've thought 300 Red Scorpions were coming. Imagine how dumbfounded they'll be."

Charlotte was right.

According to what Jur told me, Red Scorpion had slightly over 300 members in total.

Yet, the ones we encountered this time numbered only around 30.

"Then, the rest of them... Where—"

"They're all dead."

"...What?"

"They're all dead. The rest of them."

Charlotte, who had been sinking into the sofa, straightened her back.

"I just heard about it a little while ago, but apparently, Kalt was here."

"Kalt... You mean the Black Knight Kalt?"

"Yeah. The one who was reported missing last time."

The Black Knight Kalt.

Originally the captain of the Imperial Knights,

After reaching the level of a Master, he slaughtered his entire order and then vanished.

But... Why was Kalt involved with Red Scorpion?

"Pff—Ha! Right? When I heard that news, I made the same face as you. You don't get it, do you?"

"...Not at all."

"Same here... No clue why he suddenly disappeared one day and then decided to show up now. I mean... Sure, those bastards deserved to die, but did he really have to go that far...?"

Charlotte tossed her half-burnt magic herb into the ashtray and ran a hand through her hair.

"But... Do you know who they suspect his next target is?"

Charlotte's gaze shifted toward Hephaestus.

"No way..."

"Yuria."

As countless questions surged in my mind, the pieces of the puzzle started clicking together.

"So... That's why Red Scorpion knew about Eliximona..."

"Yeah. They were probably planning to kill that girl over there. You know, that stone Yuria has? That girl has one too."

"Ah... The artifact Lady Yuria made for her?"

"Yeah, that one. The one that lets you check if someone is alive or not. They were probably planning to use it to lure Yuria in."

"Which means..."

Charlotte pulled out another magic herb.

"That's right. That bastard Kalt. He's definitely in Ursphere."

Just as Charlotte finished speaking—

The bound bundle thrown into the corner twitched.

The last surviving member of Red Scorpion—Mariel—had awakened.

"Perfect timing."

"Yes. Once Hephaestus wakes up, let's send Noah out with her for a bit."

Suppressing the heat rising within, I quietly spoke.

"Let's do an simple interrogation."