Drifted Into a Reversed World ~ The One Method for Me, a Japanese Guy, to Survive in a World Where Men and Fertility Are Scarce ~ - 19

Chapter 19: To the Royal Capital

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The party from the Vedna Kingdom, accompanied by Sota, set their sights on the Royal Capital.

They traveled along the highway for three days, stopping at several villages along the way to rest the horses. While the road from the Great Forest of the West to the Royal Capital was a continuous stretch of countryside that offered nothing but boredom to the locals, it was quite the opposite for Sota. From massive beasts he had never seen before pulling wagons to flying dragons soaring through the skies, and farming villages cultivating unknown crops, simply feeling the breath of people and animals in an otherworldly fantasy setting provided a constant series of surprises and encounters with the unknown.

“Elraine-san, what is that over there?”

“That is—”

Sota asked with eyes shining brilliantly, and Elraine answered him.

This exchange had occurred many times during the journey. This wasn’t because Sota felt a particular affection for Elraine, but rather because they were sharing a single horse. Elraine sat in front, pulling the reins, while Sota sat behind with his arms wrapped around her waist. Since it was Sota’s first time even mounting a horse, he had been strictly warned by Elraine not to fall off and was instructed to hold on to her in that manner.

Incidentally, when she gave the instructions for the shared ride and for him to cling to her waist, Elraine felt the gazes of her subordinates boring into the back of her head as if to say, “That’s an abuse of authority.” However, in reality, she was in the most natural position to guard Sota, and since she was the woman with the most self-control, it was unavoidable. (Though if asked whether she harbored even a slight ulterior motive, she could not strongly deny it.)

With the unmistakable warmth of a “man” against her back and the occasional breath brushing against her hair, Elraine devoted most of her consciousness to maintaining her composure. She had not been this close to a man in all her twenty-two years, and to engage in small talk while touching was a scenario found only in the delusions of a pure maiden. To be frank, she deserved a standing ovation for completely sealing away her simmering lust and interacting with Sota with the poise of a brilliant lady. Had she left the shared ride to another soldier, they might have succumbed to temptation, casually touching his thighs and incurring Sota’s displeasure.

If Firis had regained consciousness, she likely would have been the one riding with him, but Elraine thought that this might be a reward from God for having lived her life with such foolish earnestness.

As Sota held her waist and asked various questions like a child, Elraine could not help but feel internally flustered by his sheer lack of malice. Having no experience conversing with men, she was almost misled into thinking that men were inherently kind creatures toward women. Additionally, while on horseback, Elraine heard the summary of what had transpired in the Great Forest from Sota. 

…Of course, the fact that they had engaged in sexual intercourse was kept hidden.

“…The sun is starting to set.”

Sota murmured softly, narrowing his eyes at the setting sun that dyed the endless green grasslands in shades of orange. The sight of the sun sinking into a vast, fresh sea of greenery was a scene more magnificent than anything imaginable in Japan, and a ripple of emotion filled his heart.

“Yes. We should be arriving at the next village soon, so we plan to stay the night. Is that alright with you?”

“Yes. Thank you for everything, Elraine-san.”

“Not at all. In a manner of speaking, Sota-sama, you are Firis-sama’s savior. Furthermore, you are a man, an apostle of God. It is only natural for us, the Kingdom’s knights, to protect you.”

(Though I was pinned down by a general of those Imperial knights)

Sota thought jokingly to himself, but he certainly didn’t say it aloud.

“Look, it’s coming into view. That village over there.”

Elraine’s slender finger pointed toward a small, distant village.

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“It is only for one night, but we appreciate your hospitality.”

“Please, Knight-sama. We have nothing much here, but make yourselves at home…”

It seemed she had finished speaking with an old woman who appeared to be the village chief. Elraine barked orders to the group, beginning the preparations for the camp around the village.

“We came to a village, yet we’re camping?”

Sota voiced a perfectly natural question.

“There are only a few vacant houses, you see. Of course, we have prepared a vacant house for you, Sota-sama, so please rest there.”

“Eh? No, that’s not right… I’d be fine with camping too…”

“…Sota-sama. With all due respect, you seem a bit… no, quite defenseless. You should fully understand the danger of being a man in a place surrounded only by women.”

“…Right.”

By the standards of his original world, what Elraine was saying was laughable. However, Sota took Elraine’s words to heart and braced himself. The women of this world were “the real deal.” While Sota didn’t particularly mind being violated by a beautiful woman with a high libido, he truthfully wanted no part in being forcibly taken by an ugly woman. Furthermore, the women of Yggdrasil possessed strength that was incomparable to Sota’s. If something were to happen because he was careless, it would be his own fault for exposing a weakness.

Seeing Sota nod firmly, Elraine let out a sigh of relief. She had evaluated Sota as an “unworldly prince” and truly worried that he didn’t understand the danger women posed. Sleeping in the same tent as women who were like beasts… There was no telling what would happen even if they were knights of the Kingdom. His lack of a sense of chastity in that regard was likely related to his amnesia—or so the setting went.

“Of course, we have placed a two-person guard detail in front of the house’s gate, so please rest easy.”

“…Thank you very much.”

(This makes me feel like a princess…)

He thought with a self-deprecating smirk, but Sota nodded reluctantly.

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