Chapter 226: The Dragon Maids’ Departure
「Son-in-law, I caught more! Make it into tonkatsu for me, please!」
「Oh, uh… sure…」
The Dragon Maids had once again returned, this time dragging in a huge haul of black wild boars. It seems they’re determined to catch their own food, which is fine, but…
It’s been a week since Louise and Barland left for the mainland. The soldiers of the Abysspania army had set out in waves of small convoys, heading across to the province of Linmon on the continent. By now, the third wave was about to depart.
As planned, the recruitment of volunteers from nearby villages had begun to pull the enemy’s attention toward the capital, Presidio. The preparations for the Abysspania liberation war were well underway.
And all the while, the Dragon Maids had done nothing but lounge around in the harbor, eating and sleeping endlessly.
「I want more tonkatsu, okay?」
「Alright, alright, just please stop swinging the boar around!」
Although the sunflower oil brought by Damons had long run out, we’d discovered a dense patch of oil palms along the coastline. We could extract palm oil from their fruit, meaning we could still make tonkatsu.
「Everyone’s hungry, right?」 「Yes, yes, but there’s prep work involved. You can’t just eat the meat as it is.」
The wild boars had already been roughly butchered by the Dragon Maids’ sharp claws, their arteries slashed to ensure the blood was properly drained. The hides could be used for other purposes, so we’d process them as we cut up the meat. Someone would have to do the knife work.
「You don’t need to do all that. Watch, I’ll peel it easily, okay?」
With a single swift motion of her long claws, Queen Dareda skinned and dismembered the wild boar in seconds. Only a Dragon Maid could manage such a feat.
It’s great that they’re helping with the hunting and meat processing, but their enormous strength comes with an equally enormous appetite. At this rate, I was genuinely worried that they might wipe out the entire wild boar population on the island.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Ria kept complaining, ‘When can we leave for the mainland?’. Ria had already finished preparing for her mission—performing miracles and swaying the masses in favor of the Asama Church. It was high time to get the queen moving, but I wasn’t sure how to motivate her.
「Ano, Queen Dareda… I was wondering when you might head to the mainland…」
「Ufufu, I can’t wait for the tonkatsu!」
Apparently, she hadn’t heard me. Instead, she watched with great anticipation as I coated thick cuts of boar meat in flour and fried them to a crispy golden brown in palm oil.
「Your Majesty, about heading to the mainland…」
「Mmm, it smells so good. Both the tonkatsu… and you, son-in-law.」
Please, Your Majesty, don’t press your chest against me while I’m cooking!
It seems every time I try to bring up the matter of their departure, the conversation veers off course.
Like Asatte-san, who has become close with Drake, some of the Dragon Maids have also become romantically involved with men from the port city of Avana. I get that they might be reluctant to leave now, especially after traveling all the way from Rango Land Island. It’s hard to push them to leave, but they really need to go soon.
But if they don’t start moving soon, we won’t be ready for the operation six months from now.
「Your Majesty, the tonkatsu is ready.」
「Ah, I want my dear son in law to feed me, ‘aahh’.」
Sigh, it’s not just because I owe her, but for some reason, I just can’t seem to defy Queen Dareda. As she clings to me while I fry the tonkatsu, she’s gently pushed aside by someone else.
「Mother, you’re causing too much trouble for Hero. That tonkatsu is not for you, it’s for me! You should be feeding me, hero, ‘ahhh’!」
I thought she came to help, but in the end, she just wanted some for herself too.
「Fine, I’ll feed you. But it’s fresh out of the fryer, so you’ll have to wait a little bit.」
She’s been flying around so energetically that it’s hard to believe she’s bearing my child. Still, if she wants to eat that much, I don’t mind frying more tonkatsu. She needs the nutrition.
「That’s not fair! Why does Are get it all?」
「Mother, you can’t have it! The tonkatsu and the Hero, both are mine!」
Stop lumping me in with the food! And biting me won’t help. If you’re going to eat anything, let it be the tonkatsu!
「Both of you, I’ll fry more for everyone, so wait patiently until it’s ready.」
「Okay!」 「Fine…」
Honestly, it feels like I’m dealing with a pair of children.
The dragon maids are great at hunting, but when it comes to the more detailed work, they’re hopeless. They never help with cooking and just sit there waiting with their mouths open.
At least Collette, who’s been working alongside me in the kitchen, speaks up.
「Master, is the croquette mixture alright like this?」
「Hmm, make a bit more. The others will probably be back for lunch soon, and it wouldn’t hurt to have extra.」
With all these potatoes on hand, we’re not just making tonkatsu, but croquettes too. Collette is in charge of those. She mastered the recipe in no time, as expected of someone who served as head chef in the royal court.
Her hands move skillfully as she kneads the potato, onion, and minced meat mixture for the croquettes. Compared to the dragon maids who just sit there waiting to be fed, Collette and her team are much more mature.
Avana’s port has become quite lively. We’ve cleared nearby land for potato fields, and even spread some of the population to neighboring villages. Still, with nearly twenty thousand people living here now, it’s a massive military port.
By noon, the workers come back into town hungry, so even the girls in the kitchen are frantically cooking to keep up.
Looks like the tonkatsu is just about done. Nice and crispy.
「Hero, hurry and feed me some, please!」 「I’m so hungry!」
「Alright, alright, it’s ready. Be careful, it’s hot, so blow on it first.」
Both of them snuggle up to me, eager to be fed. They could eat on their own, but it seems they want me to feed them. I don’t mind indulging them a little, especially Are. With so little time together as a couple, I can let her be a bit spoiled.
「It’s like having two kids to take care of…」
I’m too busy feeding the dragon maiden mother and daughter, their mouths wide open, to eat my own meal.
「Master, please taste it and see if it turned out alright.」
Collette, ever thoughtful, slips a piece of croquette into my mouth with a fork. The potato is fluffy, the coating crispy—delicious.
「Mmm, it’s great. The crust is perfectly crispy.」
「Good to hear! Would you like more?」
The frying was done to perfection. It’s so good, I’ll definitely have more. Collette’s skills have surpassed mine at this point.
「Hero, I want an ‘aaah’ too!」 「Me too! Feed me!」
「Yes, yes.」
This is ridiculous—Collette feeds me, and I feed Are and Queen Dareda. What an odd scene.
But after all this fried food, I’m starting to crave some vegetables. Just as I’m thinking that, Viola returns from the fields with a basket of greens.
「Master, I’ve picked some wild greens.」
「This leafy vegetable looks like shungiku, doesn’t it?」
「It appears to be a local species, so I’m not certain of its name, but it should be edible.」
「Alright, let’s blanch it quickly and give it a try.」
Since Viola, our plant expert, says it’s safe, we boil the shungiku-like greens and try them. They’re delicious—just what I needed.
「These cleanse the palate and pair well with fried foods. They’ve got a nice texture too; they might even taste great as tempura.」
「I’m glad to hear that… If it suits your taste, Master, I’ll see if we can cultivate more of these wild greens.」
Thanks to Viola’s knack for finding edible fruits and vegetables, we’ve been able to maintain a balanced diet. Besides the shungiku-like greens, she’s also brought back what looks like a large cucumber.
It could be zucchini. I take a bite, expecting a cucumber-like crunch, but it’s slightly tough and bitter—unsuitable for eating raw.
It would probably be better sautéed or stewed until tender. Its mild flavor could benefit from some seasoning, and it would make a good side dish for meat. Vegetables are always in short supply.
Though we’ve planted cabbage, lettuce, and other seeds brought from the Yura continent, it will take time for them to grow.
In the Antil Island colony, the only vegetable we have in decent quantity is onions. The wild greens that Viola finds are our vital source of vitamins for now.
Leafy vegetables, in particular, are precious. While securing enough calories is our top priority, once that’s done, we must focus on getting enough vitamins.
In Abyss, where Holy Magic doesn’t work, if disease spreads, our stock of healing potions won’t be enough.
「Son in law, now that I’m full, I feel like taking a bath, okay?」
「Alright, I’ll prepare one for you soon.」
I can’t exactly tell her, ‘What a luxurious life you lead.’
After all, Queen Dareda is our guest, and despite appearances, she’s still the ruler of another kingdom. Her status is truly high, and we do owe her a debt for coming to our aid.
「I’d like son in law to scrub my back, okay?」
「Very well…」
Of course, this is how it ends up. As they say, nothing in life comes free.
I’ll just have to pamper Queen Dareda to the fullest and make sure she’s in good spirits when she sets out for the continent.
※※※
I prepare the bath and begin washing the queen’s back. Others are bathing as well, but today my focus is entirely on attending to Queen Dareda.
「Could you also wash my front too?」
「Uh, no, I really can’t do that.」
Washing her front is way too much for me! I’ll just stick to washing her back and the dragon’s arms and legs with care.
「Oh no, I slipped!」
「Ugh!」
While I’m washing her feet, the queen suddenly clings to me. Her large, soft chest smothers my face, and I can’t breathe!
「Sorry about that, son in law. Oneesan here might have had a bit too much to drink.」
She had been sipping some liquor earlier while snacking on the zucchini tempura, so this ‘drunkenness’ is likely just an excuse. It’s probably deliberate!
「Please be careful, mother-in-law…」
Somehow, the title has changed from ‘mother-in-law’ to ‘oneesan’. I make sure to correct that.
It seems like Queen Dareda is aware of my preference for older women, but still—she’s Are’s mother! No way she’s sliding into the ‘oneesan’ role so easily. And, of course, she isn’t drunk—she’s got an iron stomach for alcohol.
「Hmm, with you treating me so kindly, son in law, maybe it’s time to finally head to the continent.」
「Really!?」
If Queen Dareda decides to take action, the dragon maids will follow.
「Yes, but only if you accompany me for drinks tonight.」
「Deal!」
I’ve already bathed with her and scrubbed her back. At this point, what’s a night of drinking?
※※※
「Here, son in law, drink this, okay?」
「Is this… snake wine?」
Later that night, in my private quarters, I’m entertaining Queen Dareda again. Tonight, I’ve cleared my schedule to focus entirely on her.
The queen brings out a bottle of wine, inside of which is an actual venomous snake. This is beyond ‘just’ liquor—this is borderline poison!
At first, I’m nervous about drinking it, but Queen Dareda assures me that the venom has been neutralized through distillation, leaving behind a drink that’s supposedly both delicious and good for your health. It certainly doesn’t look like it.
「It’s a special occasion drink. And tonight, you promised to keep me company, didn’t you?」
「Well… alright then.」
Steeling myself, I gulp down the glass of snake wine. Might as well go all in.
「Impressive, son in law! Keep drinking.」
「Whew… this stuff is really strong.」
I’ve built up a decent resistance to poisons by now, and if anything happens, I have detox potions on hand. But it’s not the poison I’m worried about—I’m just terrible at handling alcohol. The burn of the liquor is overwhelming, scorching my throat. For some reason, despite my immunity to poison, I can never seem to improve my tolerance for alcohol.
「Fufu, is it tasty?」
「It’s so strong that I can’t even taste it. My head is spinning.」
Despite urging me to drink, Queen Dareda ends up drinking about 80% of the bottle herself. In the end, she even swallows the snake inside the bottle, without batting an eye.
She truly is incredible with alcohol. Dragons are supposed to be weak to alcohol, or so I’ve heard, but it seems that doesn’t apply to dragon maids like her.
Then again, with a body as robust as Queen Dareda’s, alcohol is probably no more dangerous than water.
「Son in law, even if it doesn’t taste good, isn’t it starting to feel good?」
「Well, I mean, with that… any man would feel something, sure.」
Queen Dareda wraps her arms around me from behind. Her usual attire is a sheer, translucent robe, and her freshly bathed skin feels smooth and alluring.
Her charm is quite different from Are’s liveliness. Queen Dareda’s body, both supple and soft, radiates a quiet, mature beauty in moments like this.
I’m not falling for it, though! It’s just natural to notice someone’s beauty. Maybe it’s the alcohol talking.
…Wait, something feels off. How did I end up shirtless? Did I take it off because I was hot earlier?
「Fufu, the alcohol is starting to take effect, isn’t it?」
「Hold on… was this wine some sort of aphrodisiac?」
Suddenly, I notice Queen Dareda, now half-naked, giving me a sultry smile.
「It might be something even better.」
「Oh, come on… spare me.」
「You promised to spend the night with oneesan, didn’t you?」
I have to remind myself: she’s not my ‘oneesan’, she’s my mother-in-law. This situation could get way too complicated if I let it go further. I can’t let myself be swept away.
「Ugh, I really can’t drink any more.」
「That’s a shame. How about some water then?」
Gratefully, I take the glass of water she hands me. I take a big gulp—only to realize it’s more liquor.
「Pffft—this isn’t water, it’s alcohol!」
「Haha, dragon humor!」
Trying to recover from the prank, I finally get some real water and feel a bit more grounded.
「Seriously, no more drinks. I’m at my limit.」
「I won’t force you to drink anymore.」
She says with a playful smile. Her lips are red and glossy, almost too inviting. I catch myself staring at them, realizing how dangerous they seem.
No, no, what am I thinking?
「Alright, if you’re feeling bad, why don’t you rest in bed for a bit?」
「Okay, but just a little… And no funny business!」
「Fufufu, that sounds like an invitation.」
「Seriously, no! I mean it!」
「Fufu, don’t worry, I won’t do anything.」
As she hugs me from behind while I lay down, I struggle to stay composed. Just hold out… I need to resist this…
※※※
「Then, wish us luck, okay?」
The next morning, Queen Dareda seems satisfied with all the teasing she put me through and finally seems motivated to get moving. Her complexion is radiant—perhaps glamorous.
With her call to action, the dragon maids swiftly fall into line. Despite all that happened, we’re finally preparing to depart.
Even though it’s tough for Asatte-san to say goodbye to Drake, they’ll have to endure a separation for half a year.
Ria and Are also arrive, fully prepared for the journey ahead.
「Well then, we shall press forward with no hesitation!」
「Let’s go!」
Yesterday, well, I’m pretty sure nothing happened, but somehow, I ended up sharing a bed with Queen Dareda.
Now, I feel a bit guilty talking to Ria and Are.
「…Make sure you both don’t push yourselves too hard. Especially you, Are, since you’re with child.」
「You’re worrying too much, Hero. With the other Dragon Maids with us, nothing’s going to happen.」
Well, I can’t imagine anything out there that could take on a whole group of Dragon Maids. But the Abyss Continent is still uncharted territory for us, so who knows what’s out there?
I asked them once more to be careful before sending them off.
With Ria seated in a palanquin, the group of Dragon Maids took off, flying toward the Baal region of the Abyss Continent — or what would be roughly Mexico in our world.
Surrounded by the powerful Dragon Maids, it hardly felt like a peaceful departure of a saintess.
We need to conserve the holy magic of the precious ‘Silver Feathers’, so Ria will just have to endure it for now.
At any rate, the diversionary plan is set in motion.
With that, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.