Sitting side by side on the sofa, the expressions of the two women are hidden as they have their hoods covering their faces. However, judging from their mouths, both of them seem to be women.
In addition to me, Rico is also present in the room.
The two women in robes stand up and bow, placing their hands on their chests as soon as they see me. Are they some kind of nobility? They appear to be quite well-educated.
âI am Linos Daake Basam. Please have a seat.â
The two sit elegantly on the sofa.
âThank you for saving us yesterday.â
âIt was you who had collapsed yesterday, wasnât it?â
âYes. We traveled almost non-stop for a week from the Juka Kingdom to here, using the southern route. It was quite a forced march.â
It takes about two weeks to travel from the Juka Kingdom to the imperial capital by the southern route. They accomplished it in half the time. It can be said that it was quite a forced march.
âWe crossed over the forest to avoid being spotted by the Lamaron Empireâs army on the way. As a result, I became exhausted and lost consciousness. Iâm ashamed.â
âIf it werenât for your help, Soleil would have⊠Thank you so much.â
âHere, please take a look at thisâŠâ
Rico handed me a letter. It is properly sealed with wax and stamped with a seal. They probably brought it with them. At a glance, it is a document from a proper noble.
âLet me take a look at it.â
I opened the seal and read the letter.
â⊠Thereâs nothing written here. Is this some kind of code or something?â
â⊠Itâs just blank. Thereâs no ill intent. It looks like coming to the residence of Marquis Basam was not a mistake after all.â
The two women whisper with a smile on their lips.
âWhat exactly does this mean?â
âIâm sorry. We are Sylphs. My name is Soleil. The paper you are holding is something created by the Water Spirit, and it changes color when held by someone with ill intent. We do not make contact with those who have ill intent.â
With that, the woman who introduced herself as Soleil takes off her hood and robe.
⊠She was a terrifyingly beautiful young girl. She had small white horns on her head and white wings on her back. And her outfit under the robe was⊠erotic. She was small but had big breasts, and her clothes emphasized them. She even wore a mini skirt. This is a middle-aged manâs dream come true. If someone like her was in a hostess club, I would go every day.
âIâm Astes. Pleased to make your acquitance.â
The woman sitting next to Soleil also takes off her hood and robe. She appears to be older than Soleil. However, there is no doubt that she is a beautiful woman with well-defined features. She also has large breasts and is wearing an erotic outfit.
âOh, are youâŠâ
I involuntarily raised my voice. Oh no, I need to calm down. I need to calm down⊠Rico next to me is giving me a stern look. Even though her face isnât turned towards me, I can tell sheâs giving me a glare.
â⊠Are you perhaps a succubus?â
The features were very similar to the succubus I saw in Krumfar before. However, she was completely dressed in black at that time.
âI wonât deny it.â
âLinus-sama! We areâŠâ
âItâs okay, Soleil. Originally, Sylphs and Succubus were the same race. Our ancestors had weak life force, and they used every means possible to ensure the survival of their race. Therefore, two methods were developed to increase their life force: one was to absorb male vitality and the other was to use spirits to activate their bodies and increase their life force.â
âSo, Succubus used male vitality to prolong their lives, and Sylphs chose to use the method of summoning spirits to enhance their bodies and increase their life force?â
âThat is correct.â
âSo, what brings you here?â
âSimply put, we are hoping for your help to save us,â they replied.
âWell, thatâs quite a request,â Linos responded skeptically.
âWe understand itâs quite audacious of us to ask, and itâs entirely one-sided. But could you please hear us out first?â
They explained that they used to live in a small village within the Lamaron Empire. However, the empire had been experiencing crop failures for several years and had decided to clear forests to make way for farmland. They employed a method of burning the forests to create new farmland.
âItâs a shame,â I interjected. âIf they had followed the example of the Niza Principality and sold the wood they cut down, they could have used the money to buy food. Killing two birds with one stone.â
Indeed, the Niza Principality had made a tremendous profit by selling the wood they cut down. Expanding farmland while also selling wood was an advantageous strategy.
âUnfortunately, they burned vast forests, and the fire spread to our village,â Soleil continued. âAlthough we managed to escape the flames, we lost our homes. We had no choice but to flee with the spirits we control to the Juka Kingdom.â
The Juka Kingdom was in the midst of a civil war, which made it incredibly difficult to move while protecting themselves and the spirits they controlled.
âWe finally made it to the capital, but it wasnât a suitable environment for the spirits. However, the forest north of the capital was somewhat suitable for them, so we decided to move our village there.â
Moving to Juka, a place where it was rumored that the Demon Lord had appeared, must have required considerable courage. Creating a new village from scratch in an unfamiliar area must have been a considerable burden.
âHowever, crops donât grow well in Jukaâs forests, and weâre struggling. We heard that Lord Basam knows how to turn barren land into a fertile area with abundant crops. If possible, we would like to learn that method from you and have come to ask for your help,â she explained.
âWithout seeing the land, itâs hard to say anything about the method. My wife is an expert in this field, but unfortunately, sheâs currently in Niza and unavailable,â Linos replied.
The two lowered their shoulders in disappointment.
âIn addition, about a week ago, the Lamaron Empire suddenly invaded the Juka Kingdom. Thereâs a possibility it could turn into a war with the Empire. Itâs not the right time to do anything immediately.â
âHopefully, the Imperial Army will be decimated by the Juka Kingdomâs forces,â Astes murmured under his breath.
âAstes, please stop,â Soleil interjected.
âWell, considering you were forced out of your village, I can understand your feelings,â he replied.
âNot only that, but the Lamaron Empireâs troops are thoroughly slaughtering the lords, soldiers, and innocent civilians within the Juka Kingdom. If they were to attack our village, we could all be massacred,â they explained.
âWhy would they do something like that?â
âMost likely, theyâre being led by General Matokal, who commands the Empireâs elite troops. Their combat is ruthless, and they show no mercy to their enemies. As a result, the smell of blood drifts into the forest, causing the spirits to be afraid.â
âWell, I know that forest too, and it wasnât an environment where crops could grow. There were many poisonous mushrooms,â I interjected.
âI see you know it well.â
âYes, Iâve eaten a lot of things in that forest. I was the guardian of a glutton, you see,â he chuckled.
âYour Grace, I apologize for saying this, but I believe it would be unwise to underestimate the spirits. They control the elements of water, wind, fire, and earth, and if they were to become your allies, the kingdom would prosper even more. We Sylphs control these spirits and if you help us, it would be the same as helping the spirits. We ask for your assistance, even if itâs a difficult request. Please lend us your strength. If you can protect us, we promise to offer appropriate rewards.â
âRewardsâŠ?â
âYes⊠If you can protect us, then I will give you my body as payment,â Soleil said.
âEh?â
âHuh?â
Rico let out a loud grunt. Calm down, Rico. Soleilâs face turned bright red, and she looked down.
âWellâŠeven if you suddenly say thatâŠplease give me some time to think about it,â Linos replied, feeling unsettled by the sudden offer.
I decided to arrange for the two to stay at a hotel in the capital and wait there for now, as I was also feeling flustered by the unexpected proposal.
âFerris and Luala, please guide the guests to the hotel in the imperial capital. If the hotel is fully booked, it should be fine if you mention my name.â
âUnderstood.â
âIâll leave those two to you.â
âRico, please donât be so angry.â
âYou can do whatever you want. She looks young and has a big chest.â
âNo, thatâs notâŠâ
âI have work in Krumfar, so Iâll be off.â
âWait, Rico, wait. Please, I beg you!â
I grabbed Ricoâs arm as she hurried towards the teleportation barrier.
âSheâs a beautiful lady. She must be interested in Linos⊠Ah!â
I carried Rico in a princess hold and headed towards the bed.
âLet me go! Let me go!â
âI wonât let go! I wonât let go of Rico!!â
I threw Rico onto the bed roughly and embraced her passionately.
âRico is the best after all.â
ââŠLinos.â
âItâs not a lie. Ricoâs body is flawless with not a single blemish. With that cute face and this beautiful body⊠I love Rico the most.â
ââŠLinos.â
Until the evening meeting, I held Rico tightly in my arms.