Surviving a Harsh Fantasy with Cheat Items (WN)

After Kaara established footholds across the continent, she began using teleportation magic to travel between the Silesie Kingdom and Rango Land Island. Now, she had returned to the port of Avana. Emerging from the teleportation circle installed on the Black Cedar Warship was an entire battalion of dragon maidens.

Without even greeting us, the dragon maidens immediately flapped their wings and soared through the sky, scanning the port for men to prey upon. It looked like a scene straight out of a demonic summoning.

Ah… the men of this port will be devoured once again… in that way.

But this, too, is a necessary sacrifice for the war effort. Forgive me…

Suddenly, the scream of Admiral Drake rang out behind me.

「Uwaaah! You again, you blasted dragon girl!」

「Ojisamaaaa!」

It seemed Drake had been having a meeting with his young crew on the deck. But for some reason, the dragon maiden ignored the young sailors and went straight for old Drake instead.

Ah, right. I vaguely remember one of those dragon maidens having a particular fondness for older men… especially for Drake.

Of all people, Are had to bring that one along, huh? Drake, caught off guard and having no time to flee, tried desperately to escape to his quarters, his peg leg clacking against the deck in his haste.

「I’m all dried up! I don’t need women anymore!」

「Oh, ojisama, don’t say that… Your body knows the truth, doesn’t it?」

Failing to escape, Drake was firmly grabbed by the young dragon maiden and carried off into the sky. With her strength and the ability to fly, even a legendary pirate like him was helpless.

「I’m too old for this! Let me go, girl! Hey, King General, help me!」

As much as he called out for help, there was nothing I could do. This wasn’t malice—it was affection.

「Sorry, Drake. When it comes to matters of the heart, you’re on your own.」

「That’s not fair!」

I watched Drake, now being carried further away, and closed my eyes in prayer. Whether or not he survives the night is entirely up to him.

But if he’s drained dry by that young dragon maiden, we’ll be in real trouble with the fleet. I’ll have to ask her to go easy on him.

「Long time no see, right?」

I was startled by a soft voice. It was none other than Queen Dareda, gliding toward me in a flowing white robe.

「I didn’t expect Her Majesty herself to come…」

「Well, it’s for my daughter, after all. And you called for aid, my dear son-in-law. How could I not come?」

Queen Dareda was the strongest martial artist on Rango Land Island, even stronger than Are. As a bodyguard for Ria, there was no one better.

「I appreciate this, Queen Dareda. Please, allow me to repay you somehow.」

「Ara, fufufu, don’t be so formal. You don’t need to thank me. After all, we’re family, aren’t we?」

Whenever this queen says not to worry about repayment, it’s terrifying. I’ve already sent young men to the island to help, but I hope they’re not overdoing it over there…

「No, really, Your Majesty, I insist on repaying you properly.」

「Really, darling, no need to fuss. Ever since you came into the picture, we’ve had more seafaring men arriving at the island, our sugarcane fields are thriving, and the place is more lively than ever. If anything, we owe you thanks. If you’d like, perhaps tonight…」

She squeezed me tightly with her firm dragon arms, while simultaneously pressing her soft, bouncy chest against me.

This woman… She hasn’t changed at all. I guess I can’t really laugh at Drake’s predicament now.

The long-lived dragon maids, much like the faeries, seem to retain their youthful appearance even as they age. However, having a mother-in-law who constantly flirts with you is a bit overwhelming.

「Mother! What are you saying?! Hero belongs to me!」

「Fufufu, ara, mou, but if my dear son-in-law insists on repaying me, what choice do I have?」

Queen Dareda replied with a teasing smile.

It looked like another mother-daughter argument was about to start.

「Hey, hey, both of you, calm down. We need you to work together for a while. And besides, Are is pregnant. She should avoid combat at all costs.」

「Don’t worry. I know that my child is important.」

Are said, rubbing her hard, muscular abdomen.

Though her stomach showed no sign of a baby bump, I guess it would eventually grow in due time. When I asked her about it, she explained that dragon maid fetuses grow by pressing against their mothers’ tough abs from the inside. As expected of a warrior race—the battle between mother and daughter begins even before birth.

「I’m also expecting a child with my son-in-law, right?」

「No, you’re not!」

The queen mimicked Are by rubbing her own belly, chuckling softly. What a terrifying joke.

「That night was so passionate… We only needed one try.」

「No, seriously, there’s no way. Right?」

There was no way… or at least, I hoped so.

Queen Dareda had tried sneaking into my bed several times disguised as Are, but I was certain I hadn’t fallen for it. Even though the room was dark, I could tell their bodies felt completely different. I couldn’t possibly have mistaken them.

「Fufufu,who knows~?」

「Please, Queen Dareda, don’t joke about things like that. It’s really making me anxious.」

This queen… I could never quite get used to her.

Still, she was my mother-in-law, so I couldn’t treat her too coldly.

In all fairness, it was quite a relief that she personally came to lead the elite squad of dragon maids to escort Ria on her dangerous mission. I’m truly grateful for her assistance, even though I have to draw the line when it comes to flirting.

Looking away from the dragon maids, I noticed another group approaching—cavalry mounted on horses. At the head of the group were Suzanne and Claudia, my former slave girls, now riding in full Black Cedar gear. Both had been officially knighted and now held the rank of battalion commanders in the Silesien Volunteer Army.

The ten mounted knights accompanying them were among the best cavalry the volunteer army had to offer. Wearing blue military uniforms, they carried straight sabers and short rifles designed for mounted use. These men weren’t just cavalry; they had been trained as dragoons, soldiers skilled in using firearms while on horseback and in operating cannons when dismounted.

All of them were officers in the Silesien Volunteer Army, experienced leaders in their own right. Though they looked young, these soldiers were seasoned veterans.

It was quite the spectacle—teleporting an entire cavalry squad at once. I couldn’t believe they managed to avoid exceeding the weight limit.

「Master, we’ve arrived!」 「We’re here!」

「What are you two doing here?」

「Well, naturally, we’re here to marry you, Master—」 「That’s not it, Suzanne!」

「Wait, what?」

Suzanne dismounted, and Claudia whispered something hurriedly into her ear.

‘Oh, I see.’ Suzanne said, her face lighting up with understanding. What kind of play is this?

「Ahem, Louise-sama told us that our skills as the Royal Guard might be needed.」 「Yes, that’s right!」

Hmm, so that’s what this is about.

‘I called them.’ Louise said as she approached, patting their shoulders. ‘I needed trusted lieutenants for the upcoming operation.’

It seemed they even brought Louise’s favorite horse along.

Thoughtful, but was the weight limit really fine? I glanced at the magic circle, and there was Kaara, collapsed on the deck, panting heavily.

「Kaara, are you alright?」

「Ah, Nation’s Father… I barely managed to transport twelve dragon maids and twelve knights…」

Honestly, I’m amazed you had enough magic power.

「Takeru. We used magic stones.」

Ah, so Oracle was here too. With Oracle and Kaara, that made twenty-six in total. No wonder Kaara was exhausted.

Looking closer, I noticed shattered, faded magic stones scattered near Kaara.

「Oh, I see. So, you used magic stones in addition to your own power?」

「Indeed, I also lent Kaara my magic power, but it still wasn’t enough. We had to use some of our rarest stones. A bit wasteful, but we needed experienced officers urgently, so I spared no expense.」

It seemed this order came from Lyle-sensei. He’s been pushing everyone, preparing for the assault operation six months from now. According to him, ‘Time is now our greatest enemy.’

「But while I understand the dragon maids are here to protect Ria, what about the Royal Guard?」

「I can explain that.」

Barland said as he climbed onto the deck with Louise.

「Hero-sama, we of the Abysspania Army have decided to cross the Abyss and organize the former citizens of Abysspania to launch an armed resistance.」

「Wait, Barland, you’re going ahead of us to fight on the continent?」

「Yes. When we heard that the Holy Mother herself was crossing the Abyss to rally the people, we realized that asking you to reclaim our land was far too presumptuous. Abysspania’s liberation must be achieved through our own strength!」

Barland’s strong words were met with nods from the surrounding Abysspania officers.

「Hold on, Barland. You can’t win like that.」

Even if they gathered 2,000 soldiers, marching into the heart of enemy territory with just that would be sheer madness, no matter how much the people might support them.

「We’re not aiming to win. Our goal is not to take the capital but to engage in guerrilla warfare in the countryside. We may not be able to win, but we can avoid defeat for a long time.」

「So, you’re planning to act as a diversion to draw the enemy’s attention.」

Barland and his men were prepared to serve as decoys for our main assault.

Louise added,

「Takeru, as fellow knights, we can’t just ignore such determination, can we?」

「That’s why you called for the Royal Guard.」

「Takeru, we’re taking the cannons and muskets stored on the ship, along with the ammunition.」

「That’s fine. We’ll resupply once the ships from Silesie arrive… but Louise, are you sure that’s enough?」

Louise laughed at my words.

「What, Takeru? Are you the one saying that? Think about it. Isn’t this just like what we did in Silesie?」

「So, you’re going to organize a volunteer army on the Abyss Continent as well?」

The Royal Guard was full of veterans who had been fighting since the earliest days of the Silesie Volunteer Army. Even Louise had led the Silesie peasants in battle against Gale’s coup forces as the commander of the Volunteer Army.

「I thought I was going to retire, but it seems my fighting spirit is still strong. You may have created a world without war, Takeru, but deep down, we’re knights through and through.」

「Louise, don’t overdo it.」

She tends to push herself too hard, and I was a little worried. But with Suzanne and Claudia bustling around behind her, she should be alright.

「Don’t worry! I’ll prove I’m still a knight. I might only have six months, but I can at least serve as a diversion for Lyle-sensei’s operation.」

Louise and Barland, fired up by their shared chivalric spirit, were deep in conversation, getting carried away with their plans for the liberation war on the Abyss Continent. Barland, perhaps a little too excited, even suggested, ‘Why stop at being a diversion? Why not take back some land while we’re at it?’ I had to remind him not to get too ambitious.

With Ria and the Dragon Maids securing the heart of the old Abysspania territory and Barland and Louise inciting the people and waging guerrilla warfare along the great port of Sigus-Machinus, the diversionary plan seemed to be taking shape on a grand scale.

And so, to welcome the reinforcements arriving from the Silesie Kingdom on the Abyss Continent and from the distant Rango Land Island in the Afri Continent, we decided to throw a grand send-off celebration that night.

※※※

Though we called it a send-off party, it was really just a boisterous feast. The port town was still under construction, so we settled for a deck party aboard the Black Cedar warship.

This was a party to bid farewell to the brave souls departing for the Abyss Continent. At the very least, we decided to serve a more extravagant meal than usual.

Fortunately, Antil Island was abundant in wild boar and seafood. Colette worked her magic, preparing a lavish spread of meat and seafood dishes. The centerpiece of the meal was a beautifully steamed red crab.

「This crab is quite delicious!」

「Uh, that’s not how you’re supposed to eat it.」

Watching him crunch into the shell whole made me uneasy, so I glanced over at Louise.

「Do you want me to crack your crab for you, Takeru?」

「No need, Louise. I’m surprised you know the proper way to eat crab.」

Despite her usual rough manner, Louise wasn’t about to eat the crab shell and all. While the crab meat was smaller and saltier than the ones I was used to in Japan, it still tasted great.

The flavor was satisfying, and after a long time without crab, I found myself eating in silence. But after devouring so much, I was starting to feel worn out.

Finally, full and content, I stood up to check on everyone. Suzanne and Claudia approached, their faces flushed.

「Hey, you two aren’t drunk, are you?」

「We’re adults, you know!」 「We can handle our drinks!」

In the Silesie Kingdom, adulthood begins at fifteen. These two are already treated as full-fledged adults.

Though I respect the customs of this world, drinking too much while still growing isn’t a good idea.

「Take it easy.」

「Then you can finish mine!」

Suzanne hands me a cup filled with alcohol.

This must be the local potato-based aquavit, a distilled spirit.

The brownish liquid certainly looks like it’s made from potatoes. I’ve never tried it before, so why not?

「Ugh, that’s strong. If it were wine, maybe, but you two shouldn’t be drinking something like this.」

The high alcohol content burns my throat as it goes down. Unlike wine, it’s not exactly tasty. It’s drinkable, but it has that earthy, rustic taste similar to potato shochu.

Potato shochu tends to make me feel awful the next day, so this doesn’t seem like a great idea either.

Sure, some people might enjoy the strong, unique flavor, but as someone who prefers sweeter drinks, this is too much.

I’m not exactly a heavy drinker myself, so if I don’t pace myself, I’ll end up getting drunk.

「Yay! Master and I just shared a kiss!」 「Ooh, so naughty!」

「You two are acting like kids.」

They go back and forth between being adults and children. All I can do is laugh.

「I told you, I’m an adult now!」 「Wait a minute…」

They start fumbling with their armor, trying to take it off right there.

These two are so drunk, I have no idea what they’ll do next if I leave them alone.

「Hey, don’t strip here!」

「It’s fine!」 「I wouldn’t show anyone but you, Master!」

Well, that’s… reassuring? Not really!

Now, in just their shirts, they both cling to me from either side.

「What are you trying to do?」

「Master, we’re adults, you know?」 「Doesn’t this feel nice?」

「Even if you say that…」

They’re probably trying to point out that their chests are pressing against me, but I’m not so easily swayed. Still, seeing how they’ve grown taller and matured makes me realize how much they’ve changed.

Suzanne, with her short red hair, has developed quite well.

Claudia, with her hazel ponytail, still has some catching up to do, though.

「Let’s take off the shirts too!」 「Wait, I feel like you’re thinking something rude about me!」

「Hey, Suzanne! Don’t take it off! And Claudia, why are you suddenly sulking…?」

Yeah, they’re definitely drunk.

One’s cheerful and clingy, the other’s gloomy and distant. Each has their own unique way of being drunk, but they’re both a handful.

「Master!」 「Master-」

「Alright, alright. Louise! These two are already pretty drunk, so I’m taking them to bed.」

With them staggering around, I grab their hands and lead them away.

It’s hard to walk when they keep clinging to me like this.

「Master!」 「Master-」

「Yes, yes, your Master’s right here.」

At this point, who’s really in charge?

Even though they’re still young, they’ve been working hard every day, keeping up appearances and fulfilling their duties.

And soon, they’ll be heading into enemy territory alongside Louise to fight.

Letting them cut loose once in a while isn’t such a bad thing.

Now, where to take them to rest… After some thought, I decided to bring them to my own bedroom.

Since they’re young girls, I can’t just leave them lying around somewhere unsafe.

This is the safest place for them.

「Ugh… 」 「Master, does this feel good?」

「Yeah, yeah. Just rest here and relax.」

Claudia keeps clinging to me, asking if it feels good.

It seems like she’s being stubborn, so I just go along with it, but there’s nothing ‘good’ about dealing with drunks.

Honestly, I had thought about spending the night with Louise before we part ways.

But seeing these two sprawled out comfortably on the large bed, I guess it’s fine like this.

「Master, I want some water.」

「Alright, there’s some already set aside. Wait a moment.」

Of course, they’d be thirsty.

While I’m at it, I might as well brush my teeth too.

「Oh, I want to brush my teeth as well.」

「Alright, I’ll get your toothbrushes.」

Sawatari Company sells toothpaste made from a mixture of salt and crushed seashells, along with toothbrushes made from boar or horse hair.

They’re not particularly popular products, though.

The common folk, who rarely eat sweets and mostly consume hard grains and nuts, have incredibly strong teeth due to all the chewing.

They hardly ever get cavities.

As for the nobility and wealthy, if they get a cavity, they just drink a healing potion.

With that kind of solution, dental care hasn’t really advanced here.

Still, there’s one reason to brush your teeth…

「Suzanne, brush your teeth too.」

「I’m so sleepy…」

「Are you really going to kiss Master with that dirty mouth full of food?」

「Okay, I’ll brush!」

That’s how it is.

I brush my teeth out of habit, but for young people with partners, brushing is a necessity.

「Are you two still drunk?」

「We’re not drunnnk!」 「Mfffuushhfff」

Don’t talk with your mouth full of toothpaste.

It’s good that they’re brushing before bed, but why are they talking about kissing?

Come to think of it, they mentioned something about an indirect kiss earlier.

Maybe it’s a trend between the two of them.

The strong drink must be getting to me too because I’m starting to feel sleepy.

Perhaps it’s best if I just rest for now.

「Since we’re already in bed, it seems like a good idea. It’s a little early, but I’ll call it a night too.」

「Yay, let’s sleep together!」 「I don’t mind going after Suzanne.」

As I start changing into my nightwear, they suddenly strip down to just their underwear and latch onto me.

「What are you two planning?」

「Master, please marry me!」 「Whoa, Suzanne! You’re really going for it?」

「Are you still drunk? Just go to sleep already.」

「Please answer me!」 「Ah, Master! I want to marry you too!」

Before I know it, both Suzanne and Claudia team up to push me onto the bed.

「Hey, what are you two…! Mmff!」

「Ah, Suzanne, that’s so bold!」

Bold? That’s not the issue here!

Suddenly being kissed like that caught me completely off guard.

「What are you doing?!」

「A kiss, of course.」

「Hey, you… mmff!」

「Alright, Claudia, it’s your turn now. Sharing the first night together—well, that does seem like something we’d do.」

No, it’s definitely not okay!

And Claudia, who taught you how to kiss like that with your tongue?!

「…You two! Even if you’re drunk, there’s a line between what’s acceptable and what isn’t!」

「Why? I proposed, and kissing is part of that, right, Claudia?」

「Yeah, no problem. Marriage, kiss, first night… The order seems right, Suzanne.」

Suzanne tries to kiss me again while Claudia counts off the steps on her fingers.

What the hell is going on with these two today?

「No, you’re completely wrong from the start…」

「What? Why?!」 「Oh, I see… Suzanne, we’re totally off… We’ve made a mistake.」

At my scolding, Suzanne looks confused, while Claudia facepalms, realizing something.

「Finally, you get it.」

「Wait, we never got Master’s answer to the proposal, did we?」 「That’s it, Suzanne!」

No, that’s not it!

「Seriously, you two…」

「Please, Master, give us an answer.」 「Yes, we need to hear it!」

They were joking around just a moment ago, and now they’re suddenly serious?

Being asked to marry both of them at the same time is too absurd to even consider properly.

Their faces are as red as boiled lobsters.

This has got to be nothing more than drunken nonsense.

Their strange behavior is starting to worry me.

「Enough already. Both of you need to go to sleep.」

I don’t even know how to deal with this anymore.

So, I just decided to force them to sleep.

「But we want to get married, Master!」 「Yes, marry us!」

「Yeah, yeah.」

「Yay! You said yes just now!」 「Yeah, we’re married! That means we’re finally grown-ups today…」

Suzanne is just clinging to me, which I can handle.

But Claudia starts fumbling with my clothes, trying to undress me, and I hastily stop her.

They’re not just drunk; they’re getting more excited by the moment.

How do I get them to calm down and sleep?

After thinking for a bit, I say:

「…If you don’t go to sleep quietly, then I won’t marry either of you.」

「Wait, Claudia… Does that mean we shouldn’t?」「Ah, I get it. Master values the proper order. So tonight, let’s just settle on being engaged…」

They keep babbling nonsense for a while, but eventually, they seem satisfied and finally fall asleep.

「Phew…」

Once they were asleep, Louise came into the room and helped me into my nightwear.

If I stayed half-naked, I might have caught a cold.

Louise just chuckled at me.

「Haha, it seems you had quite the struggle with them.」

「Yeah, it’s not funny. I ended up promising to marry them.」

「Well, it seems those two aren’t to be underestimated.」

They were completely drunk, so they’ll probably forget all about it by tomorrow.

「But still, why were they so insistent on marriage? Is it some kind of trend?」

「Takeru, it’s just that they’re at that age.」

「Is that so? Though when I look at them, they still seem like kids to me.」

「Don’t say that. From my perspective, both Suzanne and Claudia are admirable adults. At the very least, they’re battalion commanders in the volunteer army, each capable of leading and fighting with the strength of ten knights as instructors.」

They’re still small in stature, but in their case, being small doesn’t put them at a disadvantage as riders. Their size is compensated by their agility and their mastery of firearms.

With over three years of combat experience, they’ve both honed their skills in mounted archery, making them exceptional dragon riders. Yet, looking at them now, sleeping side by side, they appear to be nothing more than adorable young girls.

「Is that how it is? By the way, Louise… Since the new barracks opened in town, there are more available rooms on the ship. I could always borrow another bedroom…」

I won’t be able to see Louise for the next six months. Of course, I’m going to miss her.

I have to thank Suzanne and Claudia for that. Because they went to bed early, the night is still young.

「Indeed. The other wives will have to forgive me, but tonight, I think I’ll keep you all to myself, Takeru.」

For the first time in what felt like ages, I spent the night alone with Louise.