CHAPTER 199: INTERLUDE–1 & 2

[Interlude-1: Blessings of the Goddess of Fertility]

Emiya had to admit, he had become a bit "decadent."

He was currently wearing swim trunks, lying leisurely in a warm bath, eyes half-closed, a faintly relaxed expression on his face.

Behind him, was Haruhime, also wearing a swimsuit, carefully kneading his back, her hands gently pressing on his shoulders and back, her movements gentle and skillful.

After some training, the fox girl had finally reached the point where she wouldn’t faint with a red face just from seeing Emiya’s collarbone.

In his previous life, Emiya couldn’t have imagined himself in such a situation no matter what, receiving such intimate and considerate "service" from someone, it was simply an unbelievable luxury.

And, what was even more surprising, was that all of this had actually started to feel natural.

From the initial discomfort, merely because Haruhime had forcibly requested that he relax and try this experience, to now, he had actually gradually started to feel that all this was natural, and even faintly begun to enjoy this rare gentleness.

All one could say was, the bottom line retreats step by step, from initially accepting Haruhime’s help with housework, to experiencing her massage, and now, soaking in the hot spring together in swimsuits was also something he could accept...

This bath had been specially renovated by the tavern.

Originally, only simple shower equipment had been installed here, but after Haruhime joined, to accommodate her habits, Emiya had simply paid out of pocket to renovate a separate building and build a huge hot spring bath in the basement.

And to be honest, the existence of this bath was also a great comfort to Emiya himself.

Soaking in the warm hot water, it felt as if all the fatigue in his body was gradually evaporating and dissipating, and his tense nerves were finally being released.

Haruhime’s technique was gentle and professional. As she kneaded Emiya’s shoulders, she said, "Master Emiya, thank you for your hard work during the last adventure."

Emiya nodded lightly, "Thank you, Haruhime. Thanks to you, it’s been much easier."

Haruhime’s cheeks flushed slightly, and the tips of her ears were also tinged with pink. She lowered her head and smiled a little shyly.

"Shirou, I’m coming in...", Ryuu’s voice came from outside the bath, and shortly after, she pushed the door open and walked in, wearing a swimsuit.

She immediately saw the busy Haruhime, and instantly showed a hint of awkwardness, "Ah, Haruhime, you’re here too."

After experiencing a hot spring at [Splinter], she had also gradually fallen in love with this relaxing activity, feeling that such warm moments not only eased physical fatigue but were also a good opportunity to get closer to Shirou.

However, the first time she tried to scrub Emiya’s back, she couldn’t control her strength well.

The final result was that Emiya’s Endurance stat increased significantly.

After that experience, Ryuu had decided to leave this task to the more suitable Haruhime.

"Lady Ryuu, please allow me to scrub your back afterward," Seeing Ryuu enter, Haruhime smiled and respectfully said.

Ryuu was briefly stunned, then shook her head, "Haruhime, you don’t need to go to such lengths. I can do it myself."

However, Haruhime didn’t back down. She gently leaned forward, "No, this is my job. I hope to provide the best service to every important companion. Please, you must accept it."

Ryuu hesitated, "Mm... alright..."

Haruhime’s golden tail wagged happily behind her. Her whole body looked full of energy and joy.

’As the lord’s concubine, not only must I serve the lord well, I also must properly serve the mistresses,’ Her eyes sparkled with light.

The girl who had immersed herself in the special role seemed especially motivated.

As a concubine caught between all the mistresses, this kind of situation, Haruhime thought, seemed not bad at all.

A scene surfaced in her mind: everyone competing for favor, each mistress contending against the others, fighting for Emiya’s attention.

And when the struggle ended, and the lord was exhausted and needed relaxation, he would come to her.

["Only with you can I truly relax,"] Emiya’s tired yet gentle voice echoed in Haruhime’s imagination.

"Heheheeh...", She couldn’t help but let out a few silly laughs, her entire expression filled with longing and happiness. Her golden tail lightly slapped the edge of the bath, making "splat-splat" sounds.

While Haruhime was indulging in dreams of a bright future, Ryuu clearly wasn’t on the same wavelength, her attention had already been drawn to something else.

"S-So big!", Ryuu stared in shock at Haruhime’s figure, which was vastly out of proportion to her delicate face. She was momentarily speechless.

She had never paid much attention before, since Haruhime usually wore traditional kimonos, the loose fabric concealed her curves so thoroughly that it was hard to tell.

But now Haruhime was wearing a swimsuit, and the previously hidden graceful lines were fully revealed, becoming extraordinarily eye-catching.

Ryuu’s gaze couldn’t help but wander all over Haruhime’s body, especially lingering on her chest. The exaggerated fullness was completely mismatched with her age and build.

Ryuu’s cheeks began to redden, and her heartbeat quickened. She subconsciously swallowed, feeling a wave of shock and slight unease inside.

’No... Compared to before, it seems to have grown a lot... Isn’t this too much... gulp...’, Ryuu silently sighed, her emotions becoming increasingly complicated, with a vague sense of unwillingness in her heart.

In this confused emotional state, Ryuu involuntarily leaned forward and then fell into the water with a splash. In the water, she weakly blew bubbles.

———

"Eh, want to become more full?", Goddess Demeter tilted her head, looking at Ryuu with a hint of curiosity and amusement in her eyes, "Ryuu already looks great. As an elf, your figure is already quite good, right?"

"Mm... but...", Ryuu slightly lowered her head. There was a trace of hesitation in her voice, and she instinctively stole a glance at the goddess’s chest.

Of course, Goddess Demeter noticed her gaze and couldn’t help but smile slightly. As the goddess of fertility, her chest was even more exaggerated than Haruhime’s or Alicia’s. That curve made Ryuu feel both envious and a little helpless.

"Sorry, but becoming fuller through food is very difficult, especially since you’ve already passed your growth period, Ryuu," Goddess Demeter let out a soft sigh.

Ryuu lowered her head, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, "I understand..."

Demeter looked at her expression and suddenly revealed a mischievous smile. Tilting her head, her tone carried a hint of mystery, "But, if you really want to become more full, I do know a method. Ryuu, do you still remember the ’Fertility’ blessing I gave Shirou before?"

"Eh?", Ryuu abruptly lifted her head, looking at the goddess with some confusion.

Goddess Demeter’s smile grew even more mysterious, as if intentionally keeping her in suspense. And after a brief moment of thought, Ryuu finally realized the goddess’s true meaning, her face instantly turned red, the blush reaching all the way to her ears.

Ryuu opened her mouth, unable to speak for a while. Eventually, she stammered with intense embarrassment, "Lady Goddess! T-That’s way too soon!"

Goddess Demeter, seeing her flustered expression, couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She gently patted her shoulder, "Ryuu, don’t feel ashamed. That kind of thing, many people envy you for it."

The goddess’s gaze drifted off into the distance, a faint smile on her face, "Gods can’t bear children. So whenever I see those women with little babies, I always feel envious and jealous."

"Lady Goddess..."

Yet Goddess Demeter continued without hesitation, her tone full of certainty and hope, "So, Ryuu, you should hurry up and have a baby! Better to have many, ten or eight of them, because I really love children!"

"Ten or eight?", Ryuu’s eyes widened in shock, her face flushing red again. She didn’t know how to respond, her voice filled with panic, "Lady Goddess, what kind of race do you think I am?"

"It’s fine, you can increase the blessings. See, Ishtar is in the city too, and you could even go outside the city to find Hera..."

The goddess paused, a cunning glint flashing in her eyes. Her slender fingers slowly traced circles on Ryuu’s lower abdomen, "Also, maybe someday, Tiamat will come down to the lower realm too..."

Ryuu finally couldn’t take the goddess’s words anymore and fled in panic.

’However, Goddess Ishtar, Goddess Hera, Goddess Tiamat...’, the elf girl quietly remembered the names of these goddesses.

———

[Interlude-2: Between the Nation of Amazons]

[Kali Familia] was the faction of the goddess Kali, who reigned supreme over the island nation "Telskyura."

Telskyura was located in the distant southeast of Orario, an isolated island surrounded by ocean and sheer cliffs.

This land was famous throughout the world for its unique inhabitants. All of its citizens were Amazons.

Much like the Kingdom of Rakia ruled by the war god Ares, Telskyura could also be described as a nation-type [Familia].

The entire country was built around a Familia system headed by the goddess Kali, and all of its residents were female warriors.

Telskyura’s national policy was highly unique. It strictly prohibited the entry of men. Should a man arrive on the island, he would either be forced into slavery or serve only as a tool for reproduction.

The residents of this nation had, since ancient times, upheld the principle of strength above all, relentlessly refining their combat techniques through continuous battles among themselves.

Whether day or night, the air was often filled with roars and cheers. Sounds brimming with bloodlust and strife.

Here, blood and battle were part of everyday life. Thus, Telskyura came to be known as the holy land of warrior women, the [Amazons].

And although Telskyura had long enforced an isolationist policy and had minimal contact with the outside world, resulting in very limited understanding of this island nation. One thing was certain: they were one of the few forces outside of Orario possessing outstanding combat power.

According to rumors, Telskyura possessed at least four powerful Lv.5 warriors.

They were two pairs of sister leaders of the battle nation: Argana and Bache, as well as Berylnice and Elna.

In fact, the strength of these warrior women had already reached the peak of Lv.5.

On this day, the goddess Kali approached one of her warrior Familia members.

"Berylnice, there’s a letter for you," The goddess said.

"A letter?", A hint of confusion flashed through Berylnice’s eyes.

She was an incredibly attractive Amazon warrior, her figure sexy and alluring, exuding a dangerous appeal.

Her long and well-proportioned legs moved gracefully, her muscles firm; her voluptuous chest complemented her healthy brown skin, emanating a seductive beauty. Her long black hair casually draped over her shoulders, revealing a hint of wild and captivating charm.

At this moment, Berylnice still bore the traces of just having finished a battle. Sweat slid along her skin, mixed with the killing intent that enveloped her, making her appear like a beast freshly returned from the battlefield.

"Mm, it was sent by the [Hermes Familia]," The goddess Kali’s voice carried a trace of nonchalance as she continued, "Seems it’s from the labyrinth city side."

"The labyrinth city, Orario?"

Goddess Kali folded her arms and leaned sideways nearby, looking at Berylnice with a hint of curiosity, "Do you know anyone from the labyrinth city?"

Berylnice thought for a moment, then shook her head, her tone cold, "No, I don’t. I’ve never left the battle nation, nor had any contact with the outside world."

Her voice suddenly paused, as if she thought of something, and a cold gleam flashed in her eyes, "Wait, could it be..."

Berylnice took the letter from goddess Kali’s hand, her brows furrowing slightly, "Could it be those cowardly nieces of mine?"

"Nieces—ah, now that you mention it, I remember," Goddess Kali looked thoughtfully into the distance, recalling the past, "Seven, eight years ago, wasn’t it? You sent them away."

"They were too weak, unworthy of remaining in Telskyura," Berylnice’s voice was cold, as if speaking of unrelated strangers.

"Hmm... so they’re in Orario now, huh. Hm," Kali shrugged, then smiled teasingly, "By the way, do you know how to read common script? Want me to read it for you?"

Berylnice shot her a glance, "I’m not an illiterate like Argana and Bache."

She replied casually, "Want to take a look, goddess?"

Goddess Kali gently shook her head, seemingly uninterested in the offer, "Though I’m a little curious, I’ll pass. I have no desire to get involved in your family matters."

Waving her hand, goddess Kali turned and left, not forgetting to close the door behind her for Berylnice.

Berylnice flopped onto the bed, casually tossing the letter onto the bedside table.

The warrior’s room was not luxurious but neatly organized. The furnishings were extremely simple. Aside from the bed, there was only a sturdy wooden desk and a few cabinets, with virtually no excess furniture or decorations.

The most eye-catching feature was the entire wall opposite the bed, on which a wide array of weapons was neatly displayed, longswords, battle axes, daggers, broadswords, and even several chilling throwing spears.

These weapons were meticulously maintained, their blades gleaming with a cold light under the dim glow.

Berylnice and Elna, Lv.5 warrior sisters of the battle nation Telskyura.

However, very few people knew that these sisters actually had an elder sister.

That elder sister was completely different from them, she had no talent for battle. She had left the ranks of warriors early on and become an ordinary citizen of the battle nation.

Later, her three daughters were sent into the Kali Familia, and Berylnice had even briefly served as their instructor.

However, those children did not inherit the family’s talent for combat. Like their mother, they lacked ability.

What disappointed Berylnice even more was that they never displayed a "warrior’s heart."

Cowardice, evasion, weakness, these were Berylnice’s assessments of them.

In the end, she mercilessly expelled the girls from the battle nation.

’By now, the oldest among them should be about seventeen or eighteen years old,’ Berylnice thought.

At this moment, Berylnice had no interest in paying attention to them. What concerned her now was the deadly battle that would soon take place between her and the sister duo, Argana and Bache.

All four of them had reached the peak of Lv.5 in terms of ability. Next, the winner would ascend, the loser would die, this was the rule of the battle nation and the fate they had long accepted.

Berylnice slowly closed her eyes. She was aware that the odds of victory for her and her sister Elna were less than thirty percent.

In terms of combat skill and talent, they were no match for the younger sisters, Argana and Bache.

But even so, they would never run. Either use the enemy’s death to achieve oneself, or use their own life as a stepping stone for the opponent’s ascension.

This was the Amazon warrior’s creed in Telskyura.

After a while, Berylnice opened her eyes, raised her hand, and picked up the letter from Orario.

She tore open the envelope, unfolded the letter, and began to read with difficulty. While not illiterate, Berylnice wasn’t exactly good at reading either.

However, as her eyes scanned line by line across the paper, Berylnice’s expression quickly darkened.

BOOM!

Suddenly, she slammed her fist down hard on the bedside table. The wooden cabinet shattered instantly, fragments scattering. Berylnice clenched her teeth tightly, emitting a bone-chilling sound.

"’Found a man worth serving for a lifetime’?"

She crushed the letter into a ball, veins bulging on her forehead, growling in a low voice, "Those cowardly pieces of trash actually sank to this level."

As for her nieces working in the brothel of the Ishtar Familia, she actually didn’t care.

In Amazonian culture, being a courtesan wasn’t a shameful occupation.

However, what she couldn’t accept was that those girls had submitted to a man from the bottom of their hearts.

Those girls carried blood similar to hers. That they would so easily kneel and worship a man made the proud warrior feel a deep sense of humiliation.

[King of Amazons (Amazon’s Owner)]

Upon seeing this title, Berylnice’s expression completely twisted.

"[King of Amazons (Amazon’s Owner)]? A man actually dared to use such a title!"

"The people of Orario would actually allow such a thing to happen!"

"It only proves that the title was bestowed upon him by them."

"This is a stain upon our race."

Though the battle nation Telskyura was closed off, it wasn’t completely isolated from the outside world.

Though news from Orario reached here with some delay, it still eventually arrived through various means. Such as merchant ships selling products made from magic stones.

And when the Amazon warrior women learned of this matter, their reaction was unanimous, they felt a deep sense of shame.

"A man dares to call himself a ’conqueror’?"

A silver-haired, brown-skinned female warrior roared, "Defeat him, conquer him, trample him, only then can we wash away the shame of our race!"

Seeing the children so fired up, goddess Kali suddenly got inspired, "In that case, why don’t we all just go to Orario together~"

[T/N: Interlude-3 will be released alongwith Chapter 217. Also, Vol. 2 starts from there.]

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