CHAPTER 3
ANOTHER WORLD
The sun had set, and day made way for night.
Having finally emerged from the Spirit Forest, Leonis, Riselia, Regina, and Sakuya found themselves in a wasteland dotted with countless strange rock formations. The battle vehicle, its armor now severely dented, rolled along over the landscape, leaving a large trail of dust in its wake.
“It looks like the daylight hours are about the same as our world,” Riselia muttered from her seat in the back while she tapped on her terminal.
She was compiling combat data from the Voids the group had encountered earlier as well as map info. All of it would be submitted to the administration bureau later.
“Lady Selia, we should take a break over there. Continuing in the dark will be dangerous,” Regina advised.
“You’re right.” Riselia stowed her terminal and glanced out the window. “But there’s too much open space nearby. It’s not very safe for us to camp here.”
“Nowhere’s safe,” Regina replied. “We’re in an unknown world controlled by the Voids.”
Riselia nodded in agreement.
“There’s a large rock nearby.” Leonis pointed to a large stone with a coiling serpent shape.
“It’ll at least make for a good windbreak. Let’s check it out,” Regina said.
They stopped the combat vehicle behind the rock and started setting up camp. They planted a mana lamp into the ground, securing a light source. It would make them stand out, but there was no point in being stealthy with the Voids’ tendency to appear out of thin air.
I should set up some guards to patrol, just in case.
While Riselia and the others took care of the tents, Leonis hid behind the rock and summoned three skeleton hounds, which he promptly sent running into the dark. Should they be destroyed, Leonis would know immediately.
“What are you doing over there, boy?” someone asked from behind Leonis.
“…?!” He hurriedly turned around. “Oh, Miss Sakuya. I could ask you the same question.”
Sakuya had a small ceramic bottle in her hands.
“Heh-heh, you mean this? It’s a catalyst for a Sakura Orchid barrier technique.”
“What kind of barrier technique?”
“You use white sand to draw a barrier circle, which wards off evil. Though I don’t know if it works against the Voids.”
Hmm. That’s different from any barrier I know of, Leonis thought.
He didn’t sense any mana being transmitted from the sand. Still, Blackas did tell him that the Sakura Orchid people used mysterious powers that differed from traditional sorcery. Maybe they really did draw on some old power, like Regina and Chatres with their lineage as elementalists.
“Sakuyaaa! Quit playing around; come over and help us set up the camp!” Regina called out from the other side of the rick.
“I-I’m not playing around!” Sakuya replied, her voice betraying that she was offended.
“Let’s have dinner.”
When Leonis returned to the vehicle, he saw that Riselia was carrying a box and a jug of water. The group of four sat in a circle around the mana lamp.
“Rations aren’t the tastiest, but we don’t have much of a choice right now.” Regina shrugged as she worked open a tin can.
“I’ve got some spices and cooking ingredients we can use,” Leonis offered.
Regina perked up slightly. “Really, kid?”
“Yes. Give me a second.”
Leonis expanded his shadow slightly and retrieved a large rug from the Realm of Shadows. It was a treasure plundered from some kingdom, made of tanned hydra hide. After spreading it on the ground, he took out salt, pepper, vegetables, meat, pasta, flour, and cooking utensils like pots and pans. The flow of time differed in the Realm of Shadows, so the ingredients were still fresh.
“Your Holy Sword is so convenient, kid,” Regina commented in surprise as she picked up the frying pan.
Leonis shook his head. “It can’t hold that much,” he fibbed.
“Could I go in and look for a bit?” Regina inquired, dipping her leg into his shadow.
“What? N-no!” Leonis hurriedly closed the gate to the Realm of Shadows.
Regina used a portable stove to prepare a simple meal of onion soup, cheese galette, some soft-boiled eggs, and a heated vegetable salad. Each dish was simple, but Regina’s effort made it all taste excellent.
“A warm meal is always better than a cold one.”
“Very true,” Leonis agreed as he dipped some bread into his steaming onion soup.
“Having cookware is a huge help. It’s all thanks to you, kid,” Regina said.
“Maybe I should consider taking some special courses on cooking back at the academy,” Sakuya mused.
“Can you cook, Sakuya?” Leonis inquired. He had a hard time imagining her preparing food, given her personality.
Sakuya tapped her cheek. “Come to think of it, you’ve never tried one of my dishes, have you?”
“Sakuya’s cooking is, uh, unique…? Yeah, unique!” Riselia said.
“Y-yeah, it’s very…stoic.” Regina nodded, wearing something of a troubled expression.
“Uh…” Leonis wasn’t sure how to interpret what they meant.
The group mostly ate in silence. Once Leonis had finished, Regina came over, wiggling her fingers.
“Hey, kid, do you want a massage?”
“N-no, I’m good. My shoulders aren’t stiff…”
“Yeah, yeah. Listen, kids shouldn’t be shy. I understand.”
“What do you understand exac—? Whoa!”
Regina tugged on Leonis’s arm, forcing him to lie facedown on the rug. She then grabbed him by the back of his neck.
“Ah! Nnh!” He let out a squeak that was quite unbecoming of a Dark Lord.
“See? I knew it,” Regina whispered as she rubbed the back of his neck.
“What are you…on about…? Khhh… ”
“I noticed how run-down you are during the fight in the woods. I don’t know what you did to wear yourself out so much, but your muscles looked stiff.”
“…”
It seemed she’d noticed the strain Dáinsleif had put on Leonis. Whenever he drew the Demon Sword, it fully restored his sword abilities from his time as a hero. However, his current form couldn’t handle that much power, leaving him drained.
Regina moved her fingertips meticulously, running them across his neck, shoulders, and back. Tension melted from him. The sensations were irresistible.
“Heh-heh-heh, you’re not getting away from me. Uh-oh, your uniform’s in the way, so take it off, please. ”
“Ah, wait… Miss Regina?!”
Leonis thrashed like a fish on a chopping block. It was no use, though. In no time, Regina had removed his jacket and shirt.
“Don’t worry, Leo. Regina is a certified masseuse,” Riselia assured him.
“Sh-she is?”
“It’s part of my duties as a maid.”
Regina straddled Leonis’s waist. Her weight felt just right against his body.
“Okay, now breathe out and relax, kid. ”
Her smooth, slender fingers slid over his bare skin, pressing against the crevices in his shoulder blades.
“Mm… Haaah…”
Leonis found himself letting out odd sounds as his body unwound.
S-so…undignified…
Although frustrated, Leonis could only surrender himself to Regina’s touch.
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