Chapter 83: Convenient and Useful Linie: The Love Education of Aura
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Even though Linie still had the appearance of a loli, she hadn't changed much since her teenage years—she had looked this way for as long as he could remember. Aura, too, hadn't changed in ages, maintaining her youthful appearance.
Did this technically make her a "legal loli"? But with demons, the concept of "legal" didn't really apply. In fact, demons had no laws at all.
Ash found himself mulling this over, unsure how to feel about the loli he had raised. With a bit of resignation, he patted her head and shook his own.
"You really are... Haven't I told you not to just jump onto my lap like that? You're grown up now."
"Am I?" Linie, sitting sideways on his lap, tilted her head like a curious little bird. "But Master Ash actually seems pretty happy, doesn't he?"
"Well... it's not so bad." He didn't bother to hide it, sighing a little as he stroked her hair. "After all, Fern has grown up and hit that rebellious phase. She barely lets me hug her these days."
"Is that human being disobedient? Should I go kill her?" Linie's head lifted from her book, and a terrifying, murderous glint flashed in her eyes.
Dressed in a light dress and black leather shoes, she looked like a delicate, studious girl. Anyone who didn't know her would likely assume she was a gentle, shy loli. But right now, her murderous gaze revealed the fierce nature hiding beneath her sweet exterior.
This intensity was Aura's doing; her guidance had turned Linie into a ruthless protector. The only reason Linie read books now was because Ash hoped it would help her cultivate a gentler disposition.
Now, faced with this expressionless girl radiating deadly intent, he could only sigh as he pressed her head back down.
"Girls shouldn't always be looking for fights. I told you to read more so you could find a bit of peace and become a thoughtful politician. What's with you these days… Honestly, it's all Aura's fault!"
Halfway through, he shot a hard glare at Aura across from him. But, as if nothing had happened, she looked around casually, avoiding his gaze entirely.
It was rare for Aura to hold her tongue without provoking him, but Ash suspected it was because he had held her down and spanked her into submission last time. At least for now, that kept her from mouthing off.
Deciding to drop the subject, he simply glared one last time, then let it go as the carriage started to roll away from the city center.
Gradually, the lively scene of the royal capital came into view.
The capital of the Kingdom of Ester had flourished through years of growth, now almost ranking as the world's second most developed city.
Under the sun, the stone-paved streets had a soft, warm glow. Towering buildings lined both sides, with shops scattered all around. Children laughed and played as they chased each other down the roads, while couples strolled leisurely with their children in tow. It was a scene of peace and quiet. In the busier areas, carriages moved in a steady flow, mingling with residents and tourists alike.
The market was lively, filled with the bustling sounds of vendors shouting their wares and customers bargaining over prices. Fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, shrimp, meats, fragrant wines, and a variety of daily essentials were displayed across stalls, while performers from afar entertained the crowds with juggling, singing, and dancing.
It was a scene that radiated prosperity and progress, a stark contrast to the rough strength and wealth of the past. This flourishing atmosphere was precisely what inspired so many knights to voluntarily pledge their loyalty, recognizing the new order Ash had fostered.
Ash felt a deep sense of accomplishment as he took in the sights, though Aura seemed disinterested, and Linie simply sat on his lap, engrossed in her book. He was certain now that traveling with these two was, quite possibly, as dull as company could get.
In his own bout of boredom, he rested his chin on Linie's head and nonchalantly placed a document on top of her book.
"...Lord Ash, I can't read if you do that," Linie said, shaking her head in mild exasperation.
"Oh, like you were really reading," he teased. "You were just pretending, weren't you?"
"Oh… I'm sorry," Linie murmured, her shoulders drooping as her pretense was called out.
"I'm not mad. Just put your book on your lap; it'll make a nice cushion for my paperwork."
"Yes~!" Linie's face brightened as though she'd been pardoned, a faint smile forming as she set the book on her thighs. Even though she was now serving as his makeshift desk, she swung her legs happily.
Seeing her innocent joy, Ash felt his irritation fade. Linie's childlike demeanor was both endearing and exasperating, yet he couldn't bring himself to scold her for being so compliant. Instead, he simply sighed and returned his focus to the documents.
The carriage, buoyed by Ash's anti-gravity spell, glided through the streets under the protection of the knights. Before long, they reached the camp outside the city, where the knights swiftly unloaded the carriage, securing it in the outer camp. Controlled creatures then lifted it, carrying them swiftly toward the nearest battlefield, guided by knights mounted on flying beasts.
As they soared over the countryside, they passed the fortress city of Weise—the largest city on the eastern border of the neighboring empire. But today, the once-prosperous fortress city glowed with a shimmering golden hue, and even the vast forest surrounding Weise appeared gilded, a dazzling transformation that made Ash pause in recollection.
The sight brought him back to his last visit here, to memories of the days before the city had turned golden. And a bit before that… to the very moment when he'd disciplined Aura.
...
...
About forty years ago.
Ash had been distraught watching Linie's transformation over time. He had hoped to raise a sweet, obedient child, only to see her grow into a merciless fighter. Now, he was filled with regret, clutching his chest and lamenting his failure.
"What's with that look?" Aura's expression was completely unfazed by his darkening gaze. "You can't blame me for this! I trained her for you, remember? I even found her a teacher exactly as you wanted!"
"How was I supposed to know that the king's specially chosen tutor was also secretly grooming a lover for himself? And besides, didn't I work hard to mold Linie into someone who's worthy?"
"...Is that all you have to say?" Ash's frustration twisted into a bitter laugh.
Aura, completely oblivious to the simmering tension, crossed her arms confidently and lifted her head, saying, "Of course there's more to it, but you should still thank me. After all, I focused on making sure that child would listen to you above all else. Now, she's more obedient to you than to me."
"...Thank you, but Aura, what exactly do I need an executioner for?"
"Who knows? But having more can't hurt, right?"
"Really?" Ash took a step closer, resting his hand on her horn. "Hey, Aura, did you know?"
Annoyed, Aura swatted his hand away, rolling her eyes. "Don't touch me. I'm not your pet. Now, what do you want to say?"
"Nothing, really… It's just that I realize now it's my fault for not guiding my little sister better. I have a lot to answer for when it comes to how you turned out."
Although Aura looked puzzled, a faintly expectant smile appeared on her face. "So…you finally understand how much you owe Aura-sama?"
The naive way she misinterpreted his words made him chuckle. "Yes, that's right. I owe you a lot… of education."
"Education?"
"Or in other words, a little…discipline of love."
"D-Discipline? Wait! You're not thinking of—W-Whoa?!"
The realization dawned on Aura just a moment too late. Alarm bells blared in her mind, and she instinctively tried to step back. But as a mage, at such close quarters with a warrior, she barely had time to react. In an instant, she found herself dizzy, with Ash holding her down by the thighs.
"Ash, you're not really going to do anything rash, are you? This is—ow!" Still clinging to her usual defiant tone, Aura barely finished her sentence before she felt the sting of his hand on her rear. A jolt, almost electric, shot from her backside up her spine, and her body instinctively tensed.
Her face flushed with embarrassment as she gritted her teeth, staring at him in astonishment. "—You…actually hit me?!"
"Of course. Why should I be polite to you?"
"Ow!—Y-You! This really hurts!"
"Consider it your punishment for deceiving me. Today, I'm correcting your bad habits and setting you on the right path!"
"Ouch, ouch—! I'll… I'll never forgive you for this…!"
"Forgive me or not, I'm not letting you go today!"
...
The sharp sounds of Ash's hand meeting Aura's protests filled the room, punctuated by her cries and threats as the session dragged on.
Finally, long after the sun had set, Ash released her, leaving her to clutch a pillow, venting her fury with clenched teeth into its softness.
After that day, Aura held a grudge, refusing to speak to him for a solid year. It was only after Ash, weary of the silent treatment, offered sincere apologies that she reluctantly forgave him.
One year and one month after that infamous spanking, Ash found himself traveling with Aura and Linie, planning to scout the nearby battlefield for useful remains. Along the way, they passed through the fortress city of Weise.