■ Cat Fight □
Ozma’s out-of-the-blue fiancé declaration.
Perhaps it was an impulsive act spurred by Gav’s proposal, but from my perspective as the party involved, it was nothing short of bewildering.
Camilla, standing beside me, asked with a skeptical look if it was true, leaving me feeling quite wronged.
No, the person who knows best that Ozma and I are not in such a relationship is…
Anyway, Ozma’s lie surprisingly worked on Gav.
“Ho? You’re telling me you’re engaged to Partarth?”
“Y-yes!”
“But I haven’t heard any news about your engagement ceremony being held.”
“That’s because it was decided just before coming here!”
While saying this, Ozma went on to explain all the recent accomplishments I had achieved.
“Partarth has recently been dispatched to the Eastern Front where he successfully conquered the impregnable Hamburg fortress. He even assassinated the Lord of Hamburg all by himself—what an outstanding talent!”
Upon hearing about my exploits, a wider smile spread across Gav’s face.
“If that’s the case, then it’s even better. If you’re chosen as the Demon King’s son-in-law, isn’t it the perfect condition for passing down excellent genes?”
“Eek!”
At that moment, Ozma seemed to realize she’d made a critical mistake and took a few steps back with a flustered expression.
“The engagement is just an engagement; there’s no marital relationship. Besides, I don’t mind being second place either. Dragons don’t care much about distinctions like primary or secondary wives.”
“Grgrgr!”
Ozma bit her lips anxiously, looking more and more frustrated.
No, we are not in such a relationship!
It felt like if I let things continue unchecked, the situation would spiral further into something undesirable. So, I decided to interject at this point.
“Uh, Gabriel-sama?”
Gav, who was in the middle of arguing with Ozma, turned toward me and smiled while saying,
“Call me Gavrill from now on. Gabriel sounds too formal between friends.”
“A-ah, yes, Gavrill-sama.”
Thankfully, we’re still friends for now.
“I find the current situation very perplexing. Could you possibly explain some things?”
“That shouldn’t be difficult.”
Upon hearing my request, Gav crossed his arms over his bulging pectoral muscles and began explaining.
“To start with, the Dragon Tribe values its seeds highly. Not only are our numbers scarce, but mating within the same tribe also carries a high risk of genetic abnormalities due to close kinship. Hence, we typically use polymorphs to mate with other races and produce offspring.”
“So, does that mean anyone could do it instead of me?”
Gav shook his finger and replied,
“Just because dragons can’t reproduce with each other doesn’t mean we mate indiscriminately. We strictly rely on the seeds or embryos of the strongest beings to bear children. Bloodlines are extremely important.”
I had never known dragons had such concerns.
“If I refuse, will you give up?”
“Hmm. That’s unexpected.”
As Gav said this, he scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“Is it because you don’t like my appearance? I can appear younger if you prefer.”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“…Anyone would react this way if they suddenly received a marriage proposal from someone they’ve known as a man for days.”
At this, Gav tilted his head in confusion.
“Do you really need to worry about such things? You’re unexpectedly conservative.”
Though I had much to say, I decided to keep quiet. After all, every race naturally has its own customs.
Anyway, it seemed like my heartfelt persuasion had worked as Gav nodded and said,
“In that case, there’s nothing I can do. Let’s start as friends. Is that alright?”
“Uh… That’s fine.”
When I finally agreed, Gav smiled contentedly and extended his right hand toward me.
“Let’s work together well, Partarth. If you ever feel inclined, let me know. I’m always open to it.”
“…You’re not giving up, are you?”
“Huh? There’s no reason to. You’re the one I like the most among the strong individuals I’ve met so far.”
Gav expressed their feelings without hesitation or embarrassment.
This type is truly unprecedented.
Even though Gav’s gender changed from male to female, their bold nature remains unchanged.
I felt somewhat deflated and turned my gaze to Ozma, who was listening nearby.
She avoided eye contact with me, seemingly embarrassed by something.
Phew, let’s stop talking.
After enjoying an incredibly luxurious multi-course dinner, we dispersed to our respective rooms to rest.
Although many things happened today, the experiences I had at Gav’s mansion within just a few hours will likely stay with me forever.
Is this what life as an emperor feels like?
After having a delicious dinner, soaking in the bathtub filled with warm water and enjoying a bubble bath, I couldn’t help but feel envious of emperors.
Sipping on the wine provided in the room while gazing at the ceiling, I noticed the elegantly decorated crystal chandelier reflecting light beautifully.
“Huff…”
Using both hands, I splashed hot water onto my face like a cat washing itself, then submerged myself fully into the gigantic bathtub, spacious enough to fit ten people comfortably.
This reminded me of the public baths from the past.
On weekday mornings, when no one else was around, it felt like I had rented the entire bathhouse for myself—just like now.
With a towel draped over my head, I soaked up the warm water until my chin, enjoying the sensation, when suddenly—
Creak—
“Partarth, how’s the bathwater?”
Before I could respond, Gav entered the bathroom stark naked.
“Phoooot!”
Caught off guard by the unexpected intrusion, I sprayed water everywhere.
“I-I’m sorry, but what is this…”
“I came to offer a back scrub as friends.”
Saying this, Gav approached confidently.
Their muscular white body resembled the Golden Rule incarnate, dazzling my eyes.
I hadn’t anticipated that rejecting her would lead to such an aggressive move.
An extraordinary strategy indeed.
Regardless of how disinterested I might be in her romantically, it’s inevitable to react when someone gets physically close like this.
As I tried to inch away from Gav entering the bathtub, she grinned and sat down at a distance.
“Why so defensive? I wouldn’t force anything on someone who says no.”
“Would someone who says no barge into the bathroom like this?”
“We’ve seen each other naked before, haven’t we?”
Gav was right.
A few days ago, we did encounter each other naked at the communal bath in the guest quarters.
Of course, both of us were male back then.
Thinking about this, I realized there was no need to make an effort to hide my nudity and decided to relax.
“So, why the sudden visit?”
“Well, I thought I’d come offer a back scrub. Isn’t it said that the best way for friends to bond is through naked conversations?”
“…Kids these days don’t do that anymore.”
“Ah, my bad. Guess I’m old-fashioned.”
Upon hearing my comment, Gav casually waved her hand and rested it on the edge of the bathtub.
“Anyway, how did a human end up joining the Demon King’s Army?”
Startled by Gav’s direct question, I looked at her with surprise.
“Did you know?”
“Of course, after exchanging blows, it was impossible not to notice. You were trying extremely hard to avoid my attacks, weren’t you?”
Having my efforts exposed left me speechless.
Since I had indeed tried hard to evade her attacks, I decided to confess honestly.
“Yeah… It’s true that I’m human, as Gavrill-sama said. However, I have full confidence that my loyalty to the Demon King matches or exceeds that of any other demon. I’ve even written a Gears Scroll.”
“Hooh? A Gears Scroll?”
“Yes.”
I didn’t lie—no lies.
Considering my ultimate betrayal, I figured it was better to solidify things thoroughly to avoid suspicion. Contracts also help build trust, after all.
Besides, since I can only receive rewards if world domination is achieved, writing the scroll also symbolized my willingness to be used like a dog.
Still, I feel incredibly fortunate to have joined the Demon King’s Army now.
“If the Demon King approves, it’s none of my business. But more importantly, it’s about making babies.”
“…Are you still not giving up?”
“Even lying still on the bed would suffice. I’ll handle collecting the seed. You can simply enjoy the pleasure without responsibility.”
This person is surprisingly persistent despite appearances.
Feeling that staying in the bathtub any longer might affect my mental state, I decided to leave.
“Are you leaving already?”
“It might seem early for you, Gavrill-sama, but I’ve already been in here for an hour.”
Putting on a bathrobe casually, I stepped out and noticed a bed set up for two.
…Just how far have you planned this?
Trying to remove the pillow out of sheer awkwardness, the door suddenly opened.
“Is Caldlasth already asleep? If you’re free, I wanted to talk about earlier.”
The one who entered while saying this was Ozma, whose hair was damp from a recent shower.
She carried a bottle of wine in her right hand, and her usually flattened chest stood prominently without the usual compression bandages.
Surprised, I stared at her.
“Huh? Ozma-sama? Could you wait a moment…”
Right at that moment,
Gav appeared from the bathroom.
“Partarth, do you have any extra towels… Oh?”
“Gav! What are you doing here!”
Why does this keep turning into a clichéd romantic comedy plotline?
