Return of the Former Hero

Chapter 158. Former Hero – First Encounter

The horse-drawn carriage swayed around as it ran along the highway.

Since we were able to excavate the magic stone successfully, we departed from Klamath and are now heading back to my mansion at Aria.

We’re supposed to arrive there this afternoon.

What should I do once I get back?

First of all, let’s hug and kiss everyone.

I bet everyone was lonely without me around.

And I’m sure it won’t end with just a kiss. Isn’t it already obvious?

On our way home, since Leon was still with us, there’s no way that I could vent (my lust).

As I am right now, there’ll be no stopping me.

Fufufu. Everyone, I’m home!

Gosu

[Oo…oh?!]

While I was immersed in my happy delusions, the carriage lurched slightly to the side.

Turning my face to the source of the disturbance, I saw Tanya lying on the couch. She probably kicked the carriage wall up in her sleep.

And the sight of her bare legs only added to my hunger.

My eyes observed Tanya’s sleeping figure like a watchman.

A little bit more and I didn’t know whether I could keep myself calm. From my position, it’s almost too easy to see Tanya’s underwear.

Well, anyways, I grabbed at Tanya’s leg that happened to be still nearby.

But her leg slipped out of my reach, almost like she had eyes behind her head and not even sleeping.

Mumu.

Oh, it’s on.

After some struggling back and forth between my right hand and Tanya’s leg, I finally ended up sitting next to her while calmly stroking her thigh and hips. This is so very calming.

Tanya being Tanya, she didn’t mind that much having one of her limbs receiving such attention from me.

And I didn’t mind either.

And just like that, I managed to kill some time during our journey home.

By the way, Leon was responsible for driving the carriage all the way back.

I didn’t actually mind if we had to drive in shifts, but the man in question insisted.

Actually, it’s better this way, since with Leon around in the same room, I couldn’t flirt with the other female members as I like.

Elcure was sleeping soundly on the other side of the couch.

It gave me some sort of frustration that from my point of view, it’s really hard to tell whether she’s wearing any underpants or no.

I could use some thigh pillows myself, but I don’t know, she’ll probably refuse.

Elcure was, after all, a tsun as she usually is.

At night, during sex, she’s warmer and milder than cream soup. But during the day, she’s (not) surprisingly really cold.

For example, the day after we forged our contract, I tried to pat her head but was swatted away, She did the same even if I did a more questionable action like trying to sneak a peek at her panties. Was the contract just my delusions? Her normally abusive reactions and words kinda made me doubt my own memory. Scary.

Well, in any case, unlike Tanya, Elcure seemed to be the type of tsundere who regularly switches ‘sides’.

Personally I prefer her deredere side more, but it’s fine either way.

Even though she’s cold during daytime, at night she’s really warm. The gap actually made it all the better.

On the contrary, the fact that she’ll return to that abusive tsuntsun-side the next morning kinda reduces the tension I felt during the time Elcure was in deredere-side.

Meanwhile Celes was busy studying the magic stone.

And she did so despite the lack of equipment inside the wobbly carriage. I wish she could put that aside until we arrived back home, but that’s just me unable to hold my lecherous self back.

She was shaving off the magic stone carefully bit by bit, then taking notes enthusiastically.

Afraid that I would get in her way, I decided to stay away and say nothing.

Celes basically always come equipped with hotpants, but this time around there’s no way I could get even a glimpse of it.

If only I could take a glance at it, but unfortunately with the way she dressed and my positioning, it’s pretty much impossible.

If there’s such an opening, I think I could be careless about how long the journey back will take.

But what I had now is fine too.

[You guys, wait.]

Just like that, I was about to relax my eyes for a while, until suddenly, Leon who was driving the carriage called out.

[Oh, have we arrived already?]

It’s about time.

Tanya’s butt was good and all, but I prefer to stretch my legs and lay in the bed while surrounded by my wives.

[Ah, yes. In a bit. But wait.]

While saying so, Leon stopped the carriage.

Nn?

Are there monsters attacking us?

Thinking so, I moved to the front, not forgetting to take my sword along.

[Nn?]

[Whatisit, whatisit?]

Opening the door leading to the driver’s seat, I turned to the direction Leon was pointing at.

Before I could focus, Tanya barged in from behind, pushing me off.

Whaa… That was close.

Why did she push me anyway?

Never mind.

Taking the matter with Tanya aside, I could see Aria town in the direction where Leon was pointing at.

That’s good, but the problem was some distance before that.

Right outside Aria town were many tents with a lot of people hanging around nearby.

[What’s that? Some kind of festival I’m not aware of?]

In any case, those tents weren’t there when we set out several days ago.

So I just spoke out my mind.

[I don’t think so.]

[Eh, the crest on that flag…. doesn’t that belong to the Imperial army?]

But my guess was immediately corrected by Leon and Celes.

That’s a big name being mentioned there.

Looking closely, there wasn’t only one flag there. A lot of them were scattered around randomly, making for a huge mess.

So that’s how the empire’s crest looks like?

Hold your horses there, the Imperial Army?

[Ee….Imperial Army? But why did they camp outside our town?]

My imagination ran wild for a while there, imagining the worst case scenario. But then I noticed that they didn’t seem to be actively attacking for now.

But that didn’t change the fact that they’re camping just outside the town.

[I don’t know anymore. What should we do? Should we just go into the town as is?]

Leon consulted me for our next step.

But, I myself don’t know what to do even if you ask.

In any case, not returning to the town won’t cut it…

No, in case of emergency, maybe we should sneak in covertly?

[Uuーnn…]

[I don’t think we are in a hostile relationship with the Empire. The way I see it, wouldn’t it be just fine for us if we just pass through?]

While I was wracking my head for an idea, Celes suddenly came up with a recommendation.

Let’s just go with that.

[I see. If Celes say so, then it should be fine.]

[Th-thank you.]

Celes instantly blushed at my quick response.

Eh?

Was there something worth a blush on our exchanges just now?

I don’t get it, but, whatever.

[Understood. They don’t seem to pose any danger to us either.]

Following my words, Leon urged the horses to proceed onward.

[Eeー, are those really the Imperial army?]

Just when our next course of action had been decided, Tanya suddenly started asking in confusion as she probably didn’t bother to listen to our discussion.

[Is it Tanya’s first time seeing the imperial army?]

[It is!]

So that’s why.

But didn’t you come from the east too?

To see them for the first time, and even enough to make Leon wary of them, it must’ve been rare for this army to make any appearance in Milis.

Meanwhile our carriage slowly approached Aria town.

Inevitably, we came across the imperial army, as they’re stationed around Aria.

I kept my hand on my sword hilt, ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

However, it seemed that I was worrying for nothing. Not only did the imperial soldiers allow us through with no problems, they actually gave way for the carriage to pass through.

To be precise, the imperial soldiers didn’t seem to care about who we were.

I covertly looked around from inside the carriage.

The imperial soldiers wore mostly green uniforms, with their age range varying from as young as teenage to as old as forty.

There were also women among them.

Their average level was quite good.

What was it again?

Excuse me for taking a peek.

From what I saw, their numbers reached at least 3 digits.

It’s intimidating alright.

[Munyaa…fuaah~….whatisit?….are we there yet?]

Seemingly unaware of the tension within the carriage, Elcure woke up giddily.

That “my pace” Elcure finally woke up after sleeping for the entire journey.

[Nn? …the Empire…?]

When she looked outside, Elcure’s face was filled with question marks.

[No, we are already back in Aria. It’s just that we don’t know yet why those soldiers are outside.]

[Fuuhnn?]

Elcure’s expression told me that she couldn’t understand what’s going on.

Well, neither do I. I mean, none of us here understood what’s going on outside.

[How does Elcure immediately know that they came from the Empire?]

[Nn? Because…Demon King’s army’s current enemy is… the Empire?]

Elcure looked back at me, her face saying that little fact was supposedly common sense.

[Aaー….is that so?]

I glanced at Celes.

She gave me a silent nod as a reply.

Really?

I guess it really was common knowledge.

Well, I didn’t know that though.

[Hahaha. Haruto is an idiot!]

[Ahaha.]

Tanya hit me on the back in jest.

Elcure also laughed in playful mockery following Tanya’s example.

Kuu…how embarrassing.

Taking Elcure aside, Tanya knew that I came from a different world, but she still mocked me by calling me an idiot.

Unforgivable.

I’ll definitely punish her tonight.

Punishment aside, as we crossed over the Imperial army encampment, Celes gave me a brief explanation regarding the matter.

Apparently, there’s a sea separating the territories of the demon king’s army and the empire, and both had been fighting over a certain island in the middle of that sea for quite a while now.

Due to its location, if any of the two countries managed to conquer the island, they would gain a foothold to invade the other one. Therefore, a lot of skirmishes happened on that island.

For more details, I’d have to study it myself some other time. As of now, the carriage had finally stopped in front of the town lord mansion.

My very own house! I never thought I’d get to say that my entire life, and it gave me a sense of relief somewhat.

[Ah, Haruto! Welcome back!]

While I was unloading the baggage from the carriage, a lively voice called out to me.

[Sharon, I’m back.]

The voice belonged to Sharon, who promptly ran up to me.

Not seeing her for a few weeks, Sharon’s skin had become a little tanned, but thankfully it’s the healthy kind of tan.

No she’s too cute.

I wanted to hug and kiss her post-haste, but I had to hold myself back. Leon was still there.

So instead, I ended up stroking Sharon’s head.

[Eheheー]

Sharon looked so happy having her head being patted.

Ku…

What a good girl.

So much different than a certain horned demon.

A kiss should still be appropriate after all.

Right, it’ll be fine. Let’s go for it.

[Sharon-san, what’s with the imperial army outside the town?]

But just when I put my hands over Sharon’s shoulders, Celes butt in.

Tch.

No, that’s more important.

We really should ask about that matter first.

[Ah, welcome back, Celes-chan. Nn…about that, those people from the empire came over with their knights barging in, insisting that they’ll wait until the hero returned. They cause no little trouble for Rithina-sama!]

Waa, I didn’t know that.

But, really, making this much of a scene just to wait for Leon’s return, huh?

That said, since they’re waiting for the hero, that means it’s Leon, right?

I’m glad it wasn’t me.

No, there’s no way the imperial army is waiting for me.

[They’re waiting… for me?]

[Ah, hero-sama. Welcome back. Yes, that’s what I heard.]

Leon asked Sharon about the details.

No no, you Leon, are a hero meant to defeat the demon king. Of course you’ll become the prime ally for the empire who is in direct confrontation with the demon king’s army.

Then, why did Leon look confused about all this?

[I don’t really understand the details myself. Anyway let’s get inside first.]

[Ah, yes.]

Since I’m not involved here, I could only inwardly urge Leon to just go ahead.

The imperial army needs you, Leon.

As for me, my wives need me and they should be prioritized.

You shouldn’t waste time.

Since our interest lined up nicely this time.

No, I actually don’t care about your interest at all.