Chapter 207: Rango Land Island
TN: Changed Rango Rand to Rango Land.
Rango Land, an island northwest of the Afri continent.
To be precise, it consists of Rango Main Island and six smaller islands.
Although the area is effectively controlled by the Dragon Maids, it has been internationally recognized as an independent region by the Eura Continental Alliance, so it might be referred to as the Kingdom of Rango Land once diplomatic relations are established.
Rango Land Island is not too far from the Eura continent, and with the unexplored Afri continent spreading to the south, it serves as an excellent base for adventurous voyages. In the future, it is expected to become a trading hub connecting the central region of Afri and the yet-to-be-discovered new continent.
On Rango Main Island, there are port facilities seized from Castilia as reparations and a simple trading post. The ten ships of the Silesie Ocean Fleet are loaded with construction materials purchased at ports along the way, and plans are in place to build a large port city. Engineers have also been brought along for the project. It won’t be built overnight, so we’ll need to start by expanding the foundation.
Once a regular shipping route with the port of Nant in Silesie is established, work should proceed smoothly. Everything begins here.
As I set foot on the island, my spirits lifted at the sight of land after a long time.
Unlike me, the crew members, who couldn’t return home via a magic circle to unwind, erupted into cheers upon landing. Though the port is still undeveloped, we can at least find some booze and fresh food.
「This is one big island.」 Just as I heard in stories, Rango Main Island has a large bay that seems likely to become a good port in the future. Castilia would definitely have its eye on it.
Seeing the white sandy beaches lined with palm trees and cycads, it truly feels like a southern island.
Being an uncharted territory, the nature here is abundant. Inland, there are ponds and marshes, and the water quality is decent. It looks like securing drinking water won’t be a struggle. The conditions for a good port are all present.
「Reminds me of Okinawa.」
「Okinawa? What’s that?」
Of course, the Dragon Maid, Are, who is accompanying us this time, asked me about it.
As I pondered how to explain, Ria, who had come along as Asama’s representative, chimed in.
「It’s a southern island in Takeru’s homeland, right? Mensore*.」
TN: Okinawan greeting.
「Ria, you’re speaking with such half-baked knowledge again.」
I’ve only been to Okinawa once, so I’m not well-versed in it. However, considering the latitude, Rango Island might be somewhat close to Okinawa.
「Takeru, we should go greet Mother first.」
「Yeah, that would be proper etiquette.」
The Dragon Maid residing on the island seemed to be quite curious; they flew over with their dragon wings to see the newly arrived Silesie ship as it approached the island. They appeared to be mostly young women. Since they are a race descended from dragon gods, they might just look young.
Among those who came to check us out, there were children, so they could genuinely be quite young. In this cruel fantasy realism, it’s not uncommon to mistake a youthful-looking elder for a genuine child.
The first ones to approach us were children, after all. I noticed them catching fish and even cooking and eating what looked like fish. It seems the islanders primarily make their living through fishing.
「However, it’s surprising that there are only women here.」
「That’s just how we are.」
「So, that’s it? Just like that?」
Just like Are, most people in this world seem completely unconcerned about why things are the way they are, nor do they have any inclination to investigate the reasons behind it. I believe logical thinking is something that needs to be taught through education.
「Don’t you ever wonder why you don’t have wings, Takeru?」
「Well, when you put it that way, maybe that’s just how it is.」
Perhaps humans don’t question things that seem to be inherent from birth.
Conversely, it could be said that because an inventor once wondered why humans couldn’t fly with wings, we ended up inventing airplanes.
「More importantly, the problem is the lack of husbands.」
「Please make sure you don’t abduct any of our crew members. We’ll take care of that later.」
The Dragon Maids, who only give birth to females, likely have a strong influence from the dragon god’s DNA mixed in their blood. No matter what species of male they mate with, they will always bear Dragon Maid daughters. In this world, that would probably be seen as a curse.
In this isolated environment far from civilization, the absence of males means that the Dragon Maids are desperate to secure males from other species. Moreover, the dragonkin women, who are among the strongest races on the Afri continent, have a fierce way of loving.
An ordinary man would find it impossible to keep up with them. And since there are so few men, it often leads to a situation where one man has to handle multiple Dragon Maids. This would undoubtedly result in serious health issues, with a high chance of dying from sheer exhaustion.
That’s the reason why it’s said that marrying a Dragon Maid leads to an early death. Just the other day, I experienced just how true that saying is—feeling like I wanted to scream, ‘No more, please!’
The terrifying culture among the Dragon Maids begins when a man can no longer perform. Compared to the true succubus, Oracle, these Dragon Maids can be considered devils.
Naturally, the surroundings of Rango-Land Island have seen the disappearance of male figures. They’ve hunted down the males of other races along the western coast of Afri and now primarily target shipwrecked sailors.
The way the women of this island look at me and my crew are like predators eyeing their preys. To put it simply, it’s a legitimate threat.
It’s strange that Dragon Maids are counted as part of the human race and aren’t treated as monsters. But since that’s what Asama decreed, the inhabitants of this harsh fantasy world seem to accept it.
The Dragon Maids also have a belief in Asama, and there’s even an Asama church in the port village.
In a secluded area of the island stands a particularly large building.
The entrance bears the prominent inscription ‘Dragon Castle’ in sacred letters.
「Dragon Castle…」
「No, it’s not a castle. It’s the Dragon Palace, the residence of the queen mother of the island.」
So, a Dragon Palace, huh? It doesn’t seem to possess that indescribable beauty one might expect. While it’s certainly a proper wooden structure compared to the shanties hastily built from gathered wood and stone, it still has a rustic charm.
「I’ll be intruding, then.」
As I step through the gate and ascend to the entrance, I find myself on a raised wooden corridor that feels pleasantly cool. The architecture is reminiscent of southern-style wooden buildings, primarily constructed from palm trees.
The plank floor is probably considered luxurious on this island.
However, despite being smoothed out by a planer or something similar, the surface is still uneven, lacking the perfect flatness one would expect. Creating a perfectly smooth plank requires considerable skill, and the Dragon Maids’ large dragon hands might struggle with fine craftsmanship.
Maybe I should bring a carpenter next time.
Yet, even considering the limited resources and technology available on the island, it feels underwhelming for a palace. It’s probably a result of having seen too many magnificent temples and royal palaces.
Here, after all, is an undeveloped land. Given that context, it’s quite impressive.
Now, since it’s called a Dragon Palace, perhaps I’ll get to see some dancing fish like sea bream or flatfish? Regardless of the dancing, I might at least be able to look forward to fresh seafood.
「Mother, I’m back!」
With that, Are rushes into the depths of the palace, prompting me to hurriedly follow suit. It seems that formalities are out of the question here.
「Hammock?」
「What’s that, Are? You come back after a long time and cause such a ruckus!」
There, between massive tree trunks bound together, a large hammock sways gently, and out of it crawls a Dragon Maid, clearly disturbed from her nap.
「Mother, you were taking a nap again? I brought my husband here, and now I’m embarrassed!」
「Oh, you actually brought a husband! That’s quite an accomplishment for my daughter.」
I was surprised to see a hammock in the palace, but considering the limited materials available on this southern island, it must be one of the most comfortable sleeping arrangements they could make. It seems the queen isn’t one to show off just because of her status; I find myself appreciating their practicality.
「Yes, this man is my husband, Sawatari Takeru. He’s a certified hero of the Asama Church and the king of the Silesie Kingdom!」
Are boasts proudly, as if to say, ‘Isn’t that impressive?’. She puffs out her bandage-wrapped chest, which is quite sizable. While her mother has a similar chest, she’s wearing a nightgown made of thin white fabric and throws on a cape that was draped over one of the pillars.
「I apologize for my appearance. This child comes without any notice.」
「It’s a pleasure to meet you, Queen…」
I hesitate, unsure how to greet my future mother-in-law. Should I follow royal protocol for greetings, or should I explain how we got married?
「My name is Dareda.」
「Huh?」
It’s a bit confusing when she suddenly asks who she is.
「My name is Dareda. Welcome to my island.」
「Ah, so it’s Queen Dareda. I look forward to working with you.」
That’s quite an unusual name. However, it’s immediately clear that she’s Are’s mother, not just from the name but also from the resemblance.
As I’ve spent more time with Dragon Maids, I’ve started to notice the subtle differences. Dareda, being Are’s mother, shares a striking resemblance with her. However, compared to Are’s youthful vigor and the physique of a trained warrior, Dareda exudes a mature femininity with a sultry charm and an overall soft, relaxed demeanor.
In a word, her body could be described as ripe and supple. As expected of a queen, she carries herself with an air of elegance.
As someone who is fond of oneesan type women, I might find the mother more attractive, but I know better than to say that, or Are will get upset.
Even among the battle-oriented Dragon Maids, there seems to be a variety of types. Perhaps it’s this gentle warmth that gives the queen her regal presence.
「Mother, Takeru is that legendary hero! There really is a hero in the Eura continent, how amazing!」
Since Dareda’s reaction seems underwhelming, Are emphasizes my status as a hero multiple times. The Dragon Maids, who worship Asama and have the Asama Church, surely know that certified heroes exist.
However, since no heroes can emerge from the island of Rango-Land, they view it as a fairy tale. From the perspective of the Eura continent, the existence of Dragon Maids is almost legendary too.
「Hmm, I don’t really care about your background, son-in-law.」
「Well, that’s a bit dismissive…」
I need to deepen diplomatic relations with the Silesie Kingdom in place of the Castillia Kingdom. While I personally don’t care about being a hero, being disregarded as a royal representative of Silesie is a problem.
Wait, I also came here to marry Dareda’s daughter. I shouldn’t make a bad impression on my future mother-in-law. My first priority should be to leave a good impression and build rapport.
As Dareda looks at me over as if assessing my worth, she suddenly strokes my groin with her hard dragon-like hand.
The unexpected attack made my whole body tremble.
「Wha—!」
I was proud of myself for not jumping back. What in the world is she doing with such a sudden strike to my sensitive area?
「Fufu, passed.」
What?
「I was worried about you because of your white face, but you’re a fine man, even if you don’t look it …… with a big dick. I like him. You can f*ck as many of my girls as you like, not just Are.」
「No, I don’t think that’s something you should say …… 」
Another development of dropping seed in the village. I’m used to it.
It seems that there is a shortage of grooms in uncivilized areas, such as the Sheba people’s place and the Rango Land Island.
Inevitably, remote areas isolated from the rest of the world tend to be thick with blood.
It may be instinctive to take the opportunity to take traveler’s blood.
「What, if you can deal with Are, you should be fine with the others. Is there no other girl you like besides her? If you prefer an older woman like me, I’m fine with it. You should also try the comfort of this queen’s hammock. 」
「I’m not really a fan of oyakodon. I prefer not to complicate family relationship.」
「What are you two talking about, Oyakodon? 」
「Oyakodon is a dish made of rice topped with chicken and eggs. 」
Ria, don’t explain!
Or so I thought but it seems like Ria’s comment helped.
Fortunately, things didn’t develop where Are was NTR’d by her very own mother.
When Are finally realized that I was being seduced by her mother, she said, ‘What are you talking about, Mother!’ and the queen gave up as she attacked with her long claws, not fangs, and knocked over the pillars of the house.
Seeing that Are became so angry that she could have destroyed the Dragon Palace, it seems that even in the ethics of the dragon maids, where polygamy is allowed, oyakodon is an act that is out of the ordinary.
However, the temptation of the island queen is not a full joke either. The look she sends me is too stiff.
She said resentfully that she didn’t have that much opportunity to breed like this one.
If Are becomes really mad, I guess the roof of this palace will be blown off next and there’s nothing I can do about it.
It seems that the shortage of husbands on Rango-Land Island is more serious than I thought. This competition over the few available men is likely contributing to their early deaths.
It feels a bit like human trafficking, but selecting strong men who might be suitable husbands for the Dragon Maids and bringing them here seems to have the potential for trade resources. I’ve already requested that they refrain from abducting the crew members of Silesie ships at the port without reason.
I was sitting on several mats made from palm leaves, enjoying a feast of the island’s seafood while chatting with the queen.
Unfortunately, they don’t have a habit of eating raw fish, so no sashimi was served, but there were grilled fish and octopus dishes. While octopus is sometimes disliked in other regions, it seems to be a local delicacy on Rango-Land Island.
I munched happily on the grilled octopus, reminiscent of the ones from my hometown, and Are seemed quite pleased too. I found myself thinking about how I could make takoyaki with this. Was it in Osaka or Akashi that they were famous for it?
The only drink offered was a somewhat tangy, sweet-and-sour alcoholic beverage made from coconut sap. It had a bit of a kick, but as someone who prefers mead over wine, it suited my taste perfectly.
「So, I’d like to rent some land at the port to establish trade.」
「Sure, you can do as you please, dear son in law.」
「I think it would be essential to have at least an inn and a tavern when ships start coming and going.」
In truth, I should mention the need for a red-light district to cater to certain demands. However, this port is already over-saturated in that regard, so there’s no need for that.
「We have enough food and drink to host guests like this. By the way, is what you said true, son in law?」
「Uh, yeah. Most crew members are men, right? If trade increases, then naturally there will be more men wanting to live here, and they won’t have trouble finding partners.」
「Hmm, that sounds good.」
I told her that the most important thing was to not rush for men, urging her to take it easy.
The more they hunt for men, the more likely those men will flee. If they wait until the population of men increases, they wouldn’t have to worry about losing partners to early deaths from overexertion.
「I brought sugarcane from the Talia Peninsula, so if possible, I’d like to establish a sugarcane plantation here.」
「There’s plenty of land available, so feel free to use it as you wish.」
Rango-Land’s specialty is chili peppers, which are originally from South America. They likely flowed in from the New Continent.
When considering future trade, relying only on chili peppers and fish meat would be insufficient. I thought it would be great to grow sugarcane as well and make it a specialty product.
There seems to be plenty of water, and the warm climate would be suitable for cultivating sugarcane. I was pleasantly surprised to receive quick approval for test cultivation. I had prepared various arguments to persuade them about enriching the island, so the ease of the approval was unexpected.
However, she immediately added that in exchange, I would need to bring more men. It seems that all the laborers on the plantation would need to be men.
While it’s common for outsiders to be treated with disdain in island nations, on Rango-Land Island, the arrival of men is welcomed. The key will be whether the Dragon Maids will restrain themselves enough to keep the immigrant men from fleeing.
「Feel free to stay for a while. I’ll prepare a sleeping place in my palace, so you can stay as long as you like.」
「I’d love to head to the New Continent as soon as possible, but I need to prepare for that, so I’ll trouble you for a while longer.」
「Fufu, it’s nice to have a man around after so long.」
After the meal, Queen Dareda smiled seductively while sharpening her long fingernails with a file. I couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine. I sensed a crisis for my chastity, and I desperately wanted to leave this island as soon as possible.
I needed to ensure that all supplies were in order for our adventurous voyage.
At the same time, since we planned to investigate the western coast of the Afri continent near this island, the crew would need to become accustomed to their new surroundings.
As a result, I had no choice but to stay at the Dragon Palace for a while. There were no inns or taverns in this area, so the crew would have to share living quarters with the Dragon Maids. I couldn’t help but worry whether it would truly be okay for everyone to sleep under the same roof.
I just hoped that everyone would exercise some self-control… I was starting to worry about the crew being wiped out from overexertion before we even set sail.