Chapter 70: I’m Sorry, Quinlan Junior
Ayame certainly doesn't.
Ian lies on the ground dead, and headless. I look at Ayame, feeling a strong mixture of admiration, horror and attraction. She was a force of vengeance, utterly brutal and terrifyingly efficient, yet she was so incredibly gorgeous at the same time.
There really is something wrong with my head.
"Let's get out of here," I say, my voice a little shaky due to my confused emotions. I wanted Ian to suffer and I don't care one bit about the fact that he went through castration torture, but it's not easy for a man to see another man's genitals being severed, even if he despises him.
"Wait. We should put the bodies inside the house we were hiding in previously. It could earn us a few days before the corpses are discovered if we are lucky." Ayame declares and we do just that.
By now Blossom should've become an ownerless slave, which means her class and stats have been sealed. She is probably already on her way back to Aldoria to meet up with us so that we can begin the last phase of Operation Fluffy Liberation.
We waltz out onto the main street and are happy to see that no one seems to have discovered us. We were rather quiet considering the situation, but Grunt's intervention certainly threw a wrench into our rather easy to execute plan.
"I didn't know you had it in you, Ayame." I congratulate her.
"You are not alone… What is wrong with me? Why did I even do that?" She questions, more to herself than me.
"To me, it seemed like you were venting the frustrations you've been accumulating ever since Kaede's betrayal." I inform her tactfully.
She glances at me for a moment then begins pondering my words. "... You might be right." She admits.
"Well, Ian was the perfect target to release your pent up steam on, no one will miss him. Though, did you really have to castrate a man right in front of me? My little brother feels absolutely terrible. Ian was not the only man tortured by you tonight, young miss." I whimper.
She giggles and glances at my pants, "I'm so sorry, Quinlan Junior. I hope you will manage to overcome the trauma this cruel lady inadvertently subjected you to."
"I think I know a way to heal-"
"No."
"..."
…
We spent the next few minutes walking back to the inn, then I had a thorough cleaning session with their bucket-and-rag service, after which I opened our window wide and went to sleep peacefully.
Sometime later I'm awoken by a strange sense of wetness on my cheeks. I open my eyes only to see two big blue eyes staring at me from an inch away. I can see realization shine in those beautiful eyes, recognizing my sleepless state, but the gentle licking of her tongue doesn't stop its onslaught for a few more seconds after which she freezes up completely.
"Ah! Blossom is sorry! She got caught up in the moment…" She whimpers, her tail hiding between her legs as she has a downcast look and jumps off of me.
I chuckle and reach my arm out to rub behind her ears to make her relax while asking, "no issues on the way back?"
"No. Blossom was recognized by the guards and let into the city easily."
Ayame stirs, or rather sits up. I imagine she was wide awake the moment Blossom stepped into the room.
She gets out of bed, and walks over to the dog-kin, enveloping the newcomer a welcoming hug. I'm slightly surprised by her actions, though I can understand where she is coming from. Blossom is so adorable that she must've flared Ayame's protective instincts, which was part of why Ian met such a gruesome end. I already see a beautiful sisterly bond form between the two girls in the near future.
I'm very happy to observe this sight, future sister-wives must stick together to create a harmonious harem environment, after all. I don't need drama in my house.
Ayame then speaks up, "come, Blossom. Let me give you a nice bath. The water is room temperature now but it's much better than nothing."
My vicious samurai drags the dog-kin over to where we left the bucket and begins undressing her, while glancing my way, "look away for a few minutes, please."
Stop cockblocking me, damn woman!
Before I can respond Blossom speaks up, "Blossom doesn't mind if Master wants to watch."
"You shouldn't say such things to Quinlan because he will shamelessly take a mile if you give him an inch."
She tilts her head cutely with complete confusion evident on her features before replying, "... but Master is Blossom's owner. My body is his to use."
"He is not technically your master yet, but that matters little… You should value yourself a bit more than this, Blossom."
She shakes her head while looking at Ayame, "Blossom doesn't understand."
Aww. What a good girl. I believe this disparity between their ideologies comes from the fact that Ayame was brought up as a noble human girl, while Blossom is a dog-kin. Perhaps giving oneself entirely to the person you are loyal to is natural to them.
Ayame looks puzzled, clearly not knowing how to explain things to blossom. I inform her, "stop being a hypocrite, Ayame. Don't force your values and views on others."
She gives me an accusatory glance. "Don't worry, I won't take her up on her offer tonight. She has just returned from a mission and has lived through cruel slavery for three years straight. We have plenty of time to let her mind settle and decide what she really wants."
Before, I wanted to enjoy seeing her bathe, among other things, but I'm no longer interested. Once we finish Operation Fluffy Liberation and she has had some time to herself we will see where things take us.
I wouldn't feel right relieving myself using the seriously mistreated Blossom tonight, even if she is a willing participant. I've only spent four days in this world, so I can easily wait a while longer before being pent up.
I lie back down on the bed and begin inspecting my status. After all, I had just gotten a shit-ton of XP and levels thanks to Grunt & Co. And Ayame as well, to be fair, whose kills I stole with absolute shamelessness.