I Own A Brothel In Another World (Ch. 1-196)

Chapter 96 - Like a Mother

After the short but eventful talk, we all agree to pay the King a visit together and ask about Shino's idea. She and the others go outside to wait for me while I grab a few more bites of the breakfast that's been interrupted by their visit and then change into my adventurer getup with the help of my lovely girls.

Without further ado, we leave the premises of the mansion and head to the castle as a group. I walk on the front with Shino and Marcia on my sides, both actively chatting with me about random things. Natalie joins us too and hangs out by Shino's side, as expected. She doesn't really join the conversation but you can tell that she's listening.

I was a little anxious about this weird development of all the girls in the party walking around me, but glancing back at Kamil and Paul doesn't really confirm any of my fears. The former doesn't look annoyed or anything while the latter isn't paying that much attention to anyone in particular, lost in his thoughts about who knows what.

Shino feels a little guilty for disrupting my meal and we stop to grab some snacks in a small bakery. The scent of various freshly baked goods is just incredible and each of us gets something to slowly consume for the rest of the trip.

No surprise I get seduced by a very enticing garlic baguette and share half with Shino. I swear these things make nothing of my godly Charm Resistance. I don't think anything exists that could potentially fight against their unimaginable power.

For the rest of our trip to the castle, the four of us—three if we don't count the silent Natalie—chats about the stuff that happened to me after we had split initially since Marcia is extremely curious about the details of how things came to their current state. We did talk some about it during our past meetings, but she drills me for much more details this time.

I manage to cover pretty much all the important parts before we reach our destination. Of course, simplifying some bits or skipping the more sensitive information that should stay only in my close circles. I do consider them quite close, but they don't really reach the level of my very close girls or a few friends.

Additionally, as we walk through the city, some people naturally recognize the Heroes they must have heard about a few times or seen here and there. The more surprising thing, mostly for the others, of course, is that more passersby seem to know me. For an obvious reason.

While it's possible to spot when someone figures out their identities, with mine there's no need to assume it. Some customers, both male and female, throw verbal greetings at me as we pass them, often nodding their heads in a polite way. I'm getting recognized even in my adventurer gear now. It's quite a step forward. Marcia looks very intrigued by these quite common happenings.

We are let through the gates without any issues and one of the guards runs off to inform the servants about our visit and request for an audience if the King is available. In the meanwhile, we wait in the practice area. Shino wanted to spar with me and I don't have a reason to refuse.

I'm obviously nowhere near her level, but we spend around twenty minutes clashing against each other—me with my mesmerizing blade, shaped into a nodachi, and Shino with her signature katana. Knowing a few of her abilities, I'm able to react in time after noticing the cues of their activation thanks to my heightened senses. This allows me to put up at least some resistance.

Fortunately, Shino isn't aiming for a complete beatdown or testing her limits on me but openly shares pointers and tips as we spar, stopping from time to time to speak uninterrupted. During these brief pauses, I catch the others staring at us slightly in disbelief. Especially Kamil.

I think we might be moving a little bit fast and it's the first time he can properly observe those moves. During our duel, he might have perceived it a little differently. All that adrenaline and battle rush.