Chapter 38: The Old Man Seals It with a Kiss

Listening to their conversation, I finally began to realize that things were heading in a completely different direction than I had anticipated.

Prepare a room and live with Fel, she said…

I see… so that’s what this is about…

I finally began to realize that Emma-san and Mira-san’s conversation was heading in a completely different direction than my own foolish expectations.

In other words… Emma-san is thinking of taking Fel in herself.

And, of course, I am no longer needed.

I’m getting the boot.

Just as I thought, things are never that easy.

Well… I was planning on talking to either Emma-san or Alicia-san about Fel anyway, so if Emma-san is going to take responsibility for her, I suppose I should be glad.

It would be far better for the child to be with a woman like Emma-san, who has a stable foundation in life.

Just then, Emma-san suddenly straightened her posture.

The atmosphere of a pleasant chat from moments before vanished, replaced by a gaze that was somehow both serious and feverish, directed right at me.

Her beautiful cheeks looked faintly flushed.

“And so… Shuzou-san… we seem to have strayed a bit from the topic… but the reason I invited you here today… is that…”

Emma-san, as if she had made up her mind, yet with a hint of bashfulness, posed a question to me.

“…Will you accept my feelings…? Shuzou-san… could you please let me hear your answer?”

So… the time has finally come.

That’s right… the notice of termination.

Her question made me completely certain.

This is, without a doubt, the final confirmation of whether or not I’m prepared to quit the guild…

Knowing the kind and merciful Emma-san, she must find it difficult to fire me, even though I’ve been a pain in the neck for years.

That’s why she’s phrasing it in such a roundabout way.

I can’t cause any more trouble for Emma-san or Mira-san.

I’ll step aside gracefully.

Well… my resolve has been wavering all this time… but now I’ve finally steeled myself.

“…Yes.”

I looked straight back into Emma-san’s eyes and answered in a clear voice.

“Emma-san, and Mira-san too, I understand your feelings well. My mind… is already made up.”

The moment I said that, Emma-san’s expression lit up.

“Oh, my…!”

She gasped as if overcome with emotion, her beautiful eyes filled with the light of joy as she shot up from her seat.

She looked as if a long-held wish had finally come true.

Next to her, Mira-san’s eyes also sparkled with delight. “Mikami-san…!”

At the same time, Mira-san was muttering something under her breath, a strangely unsettling aura surrounding her.

“Hee hee… I did it… Now I can be with Mikami-san forever… All that’s left is to wait until Mother is away, and then, nice and slow… yes…”

I couldn’t make out her words, but Mira-san’s beautiful eyes seemed to have a bewitching glint to them.

Even so…

Seeing their reactions, and though I know it’s incredibly selfish of me, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of loneliness.

Are they really that happy… that I’ll be gone…?

I guess I really was a huge burden to them both…

Witnessing Emma-san and Mira-san’s blatant joy, my spirits sank.

I knew it was coming, but having it thrown in my face so clearly still stung.

Emma-san, as if trying to suppress her overflowing joy, cleared her throat once and sat back down.

Then, with an expression that was both probing and seeking confirmation, she asked me.

“By the way… Shuzou-san. I know this is incredibly rude to ask, but… are you sure about that vixen… I mean, Alicia-san?”

So, Emma-san is still wary that I might go crying to Alicia-san and beg her to take back my termination.

No… Emma-san, I’m not that shameless of a man.

You can rest easy.

I said so in my mind.

Well… I can’t deny I considered it a few times…

“Yes, I doubt I will be seeing Alicia-san again.”

I shook my head firmly.

If I’m being fired, I’ll accept it with dignity.

I won’t resort to begging anyone for help.

I had intended for my words to carry that resolve.

But the moment she heard my answer, the air around Emma-san changed once again.

“Hee hee… hee hee hee… I see… is that right…? Not that vixen… but me…! Finally… oh… finally, Shuzou-sama is…”

Emma-san murmured this with a look of ecstasy on her face and a vacant look in her eyes.

She was smiling, but it was a smile tinged with an irrepressible joy and a hint of something bewitching.

To think she’d be this happy…

I guess they really didn’t trust me at all, right to the very end…

Just then, Emma-san quietly rose from her seat.

Then, with dreamlike steps, she slowly walked over to my chair.

Before I could react, she sank to her knees in front of me, looking up into my face.

“Shuzou-sama…”

Her feverish, moist eyes captured mine and wouldn’t let go.

Emma-san took my hands in hers once more, urging me to my feet, and pulled me forcefully into her embrace.

“Wh-whoa!?”

Caught off guard, I lost my balance and ended up falling into her.

Her soft, yet firm and full bosom pressed hard against my chest.

The sensation, even through her dress, and the sweet, elegant fragrance that wafted from her sent my heart pounding violently.

“Now, Shuzou-sama…”

Emma-san whispered, her hot breath so close it caressed my face.

“Come… hee hee… let us make our vow… let us bind our eternal pledge…”

As she said this, Emma-san slowly brought her beautiful face closer to mine, her glistening lips poised to meet mine.

Why… am I being hugged and about to be kissed by Emma-san?

A vow… Is this some kind of ritual for when you quit the guild?

Or maybe it’s a ceremonial act of farewell… a custom among the nobility?

Like the ceremonial clap at the end of a drinking party…

No… for that, this is far too… this is…

Whoa… Emma-san’s body is so soft and smells so good… and… this position…

Do they really go this far just for a farewell greeting?

Do they really go this far just for a farewell greeting? The nobility of this world… are so generous… no… isn’t this a bit too intense!?

My mind was on the verge of short-circuiting from a mixture of excitement and confusion.

Before my eyes, Emma-san’s divinely beautiful face was drawing closer, her lips about to touch mine.

My thoughts completely shut down, and all I could do was surrender my body to this sweet, paradise-like situation.

Just as Emma-san’s moist eyes captured mine and her glossy lips were about to touch mine, at that very moment.

“Master.”

I heard Fel’s calm, yet somewhat amused voice murmur from right beside me.

“It is all well and good that you are frolicking with that female, but it appears we have a number of bothersome intruders. It seems you have many enemies, Master. Hmm… I do hope this next batch will be entertaining…”