บท 49: Chapter 49. A Big Fish
"Mmmm, that was great. Do you think I could have another can?", Yara asked Lucy with a charming expression after finishing a can of cola, her eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly in flight.
Seeing the three empty cans beside Yara, Lucy didn't know how to respond. The first time Yara asked for another can, Lucy thought maybe one wasn't enough. When Yara asked again, she figured Yara must really like cola. But now, as Yara was asking for a fourth can, Lucy couldn't help but wonder if she was already developing an addiction.
But how could Lucy say no to her new girlfriend, especially when she looked at her with such hopeful eyes? Lucy was the kind of girlfriend who couldn't stand to see her partner look at her with disappointment, so she ended up giving Yara another can of cola, but not without warning her that this would be the last one since she was worried about her stomach.
"Don't worry, Lucy, dark elves have very strong stomachs... We can even consume poisonous mushrooms...", Yara reassured Lucy before quickly opening the can and taking two large gulps.
"...", Lucy was speechless, as the explanation she had prepared about the negative effects of excessive consumption of fizzy drinks seemed pointless.
Thinking about the fact that in that world, magical potions and skills could keep you perfectly healthy, Lucy thought that Yara probably wouldn't suffer any harm even if she replaced water with cola from now on.
But perhaps there was one issue if Yara truly became addicted to cola, and that was the fact that Yara's only source of cola was Lucy herself. Wouldn't that mean it would be her responsibility to make sure Yara never ran out of cola? Remembering Rina's appetite for sweets, Lucy already saw herself condemned to a life where she could never stop killing to earn enough points for the Ninja Shop to supply her girlfriends.
'But do I really have the right to complain? When I have not just one, but two gorgeous girlfriends, isn't it logical that I should give it my all?', Lucy thought, considering that some people would give half their lives to be in her place. So, what effort could be too great when her girlfriends' happiness was at stake?
Yara tried to learn from Lucy how cola was made and whether it could be bought somewhere, but Lucy was reluctant to give too many details, saying only that a skill unique to her class was required to create cola. That wasn't entirely a lie, since she doubted any other class could access a skill similar to the Ninja Shop. In any case, after the issue with the attempted kidnapping of the lionkins was resolved, she planned to share more information about her abilities with her girlfriends, not wanting to keep making up excuses and explanations about the origin of the items she obtained from the Ninja Shop.
"Don't worry, Yara. I can produce enough cola for you to even bathe in it. But putting that aside, what can you tell us about Marquis Olsen's plans? What did he intend to do with the kidnapped lionkin women and children?", Lucy thought it was time to steer the conversation toward serious matters, planning to head to where the marquis's men were located after Yara finished the can of cola she had just started.
"Honestly, I don't know. While I was in the marquis's service, I had to team up with Silas, the archer, to protect him from the shadows as he traveled through the human kingdom, visiting various nobles. Because he wanted to travel incognito, our mission was not only to eliminate potential threats to his life but also to deal with those who tried to spy on him..."
Hearing Yara's response, Lucy wasn't too disappointed, as she had expected that the marquis wouldn't trust temporary hires with confidential information. But where was this wisdom when she interrogated the mercenaries sent after the lionkins? Well, it wasn't as if she hadn't been aware of these things at the time; she was just looking for a reason to vent her anger on them.
"Then why did you accompany those who came to meet the mercenaries sent after the lionkins? Is it possible that Marquis Olsen plans to inspect the situation himself and he sent you ahead to ensure everything is in order?", Lucy was starting to get excited at the thought that she might have a chance to catch the big fish.
"Not exactly. It was his annoying youngest son… I don't think the marquis wanted to involve us in this matter, since Silas and I were far too qualified for such a task, and it would've been a waste of resources. No offense, Rina, but the members of an isolated village aren't considered much of a threat. Anyway, from what I gathered, the marquis's son developed an obsession with beastkins after seeing a foxgirl slave in one of his friend's houses, so he kept pestering his father to let him accompany those who were supposed to meet the mercenaries because he wanted to pick out two or three of the prettier lionkin girls for himself. Since I had signed a contract stating my job was only to act as a bodyguard, I initially didn't want to get involved in something like that. But the marquis said I wouldn't have to do anything except ensure his son's safety and promised he would hurry to obtain the antidote for my brother, so I eventually agreed..."
"Crack!", The sound of the empty cola can being crushed in Rina's hand echoed sharply, the fury she felt evident. She had known that if the mercenaries eliminated by Lucy had succeeded in their mission, the kidnapped lionkins wouldn't have faced a good life. But hearing how some scumbag had planned to turn a few of the girls she knew, maybe even herself, into his playthings made her feel like she was about to explode.
"Calm down, Rina. Didn't you hear? The Marquis's progeny has delivered himself right to our doorstep, so you'll soon have a chance to get your revenge. Honestly, I already have a great idea for punishing him. How about we strip him bare and sprinkle him from head to toe in bear aphrodisiac, then tie him to a tree with his bottom up?", Lucy tried to calm Rina down, thinking that imagining her revenge might make her feel better.
"…I don't think I'd want to see that...", Rina said after realizing what Lucy was suggesting, a sentiment shared by Yara.
They couldn't deny that it would be a fitting punishment for someone who intended to turn innocent girls into sex slaves, but just the thought of witnessing such a scene made them want to vomit.
Although Lucy's plan didn't have the desired effect, it did achieve something positive, as Rina no longer seemed as angry. Well, she was now mostly overwhelmed by disgust.
As all three of them had finished eating their bags of salty crackers, and Lucy suspected it wouldn't take Yara more than a few seconds to finish the can of cola she'd just started, Lucy suggested they head out as soon as possible to the location of the Marquis's son because she didn't want to let such a big fish slip through her fingers. While he might be a smaller catch than the Marquis himself, he would still be valuable to them, as he likely knew almost everything about his father's intentions.
But before they could get up from their stools, their attention was drawn by a rustling sound growing closer; given that all three had excellent hearing, it wasn't hard for them to figure out it was a person.
"It seems the Marquis's son has lost his patience again, seeing that neither I nor Silas have returned, and has sent someone else to check on the situation..." Yara said, not surprised by this development, as she was well aware that more than an hour had passed since she left the Marquis's son, who wasn't known for his patience.
"Well, it wouldn't be polite to set off just as our guest arrives, so let's wait another minute...", Lucy suggested, eager to see the expression on the Marquis's subordinate's face when he found them sitting at the table with Yara, whom he still believed was on their side.
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