However, his fighting years were clearly behind him. He did not wear a warrior's getup but luxurious garbs, something I would expect from human nobles. I assumed that 'might makes right' would be prevalent in this society as well as it was in the lionkin lands, but it seemed they had respect for authority, and the wisdom this elder attained over his many years.
In a deep voice, he spoke:
"I am Vargis, chieftain of the dogkin people and High Leader of Canisgard. I welcome you with open arms." His gaze swept over us, taking a moment to observe each newcomer. "For your service to the Beastman Confederation, you are not mere travelers. You are honored guests."
Then, his golden eyes shifted. Not to me, but to Blossom.
However, it wasn't the same leering gaze of a man appraising a woman his soldiers had. There was no lust present in those aged irises of his. It was curiosity.
But Blossom didn't even seem to notice, and even if she did, she did not care one bit. She wasn't looking at him at all.
Instead, she was staring at me with that same affectionate expression she always did. Her tail wagged slowly, rhythmically, as if nothing else in the world mattered in her head. If I wasn't holding Raika in my arms, she surely would've been cutely holding onto one of my hands as she liked to walk hand-in-hand with me.
Vargis must've noticed this because, in the next moment, his gaze left her and settled on me. He studied me intently with his eyes narrowing. There was no hostility, but rather a great deal of interest.
After a pause, he nodded, electing to move on. "Your rooms have been prepared in advance. Rest well while the other beastkin leaders make their way here. The summit will take place in a few hours."
<That soon?> Ayame asked, knowing full well just how large this country was. Crossing it from the further parts should be a journey that takes weeks if not months.
Each three nations on the Iskaris continent, those being the Vraven Kingdom, the Alliance of Elvardia, and the Beastman Confederation, were giant countries that came to be after numerous assimilations of lesser nations, such as the five duchies of the human nation were large-sized independent kingdoms before the royal Valorian family forced them to bend the knee one after the other. Naturally, it was not the current king, Alexios Valorian, who achieved this major feat, but one of his ancestors called Aurelius Valorian, often referred to as The Great King.
<They're likely all high levels or have good mounts…> Aurora reasoned.
Lucille agreed. <The Greenvale duke reached the city where his precious princesses mysteriously turned up within a few minutes despite the large distance separating the two locations. We should accept that the top-tier combatants work on a separate logic than what we're accustomed to.>
We were escorted deeper into the city, where spacious quarters of the palace awaited us. Once inside, I gently placed Raika down on one of the couches in her and Vex's given rooms. The Brutalizer's body was already healing rapidly—the worst of her wounds had already closed at an unnatural rate. She would be fine very soon. As for how she was healing this rapidly, I couldn't tell for certain. Whether it was just her high Vitality stat putting in the work or she had an unnatural body even among the high leveled people, I didn't know.
With that settled, I moved toward my own quarters, where only my girls awaited. Iris was given a separate room as she was my equal in rank and also, in her words, refused to stay with us perverted people unless absolutely necessary.
However, before I could even sit down, there was a knock on the door. Expecting a maid or another servant, I didn't think much of it. "Come in," I called.
The door creaked open, but instead of a maid, a stunning beauty stepped in. She was the embodiment of seduction—graceful, confident, and utterly mesmerizing. She had white hair and her delicate face not only exuded not only confidence but also mischief. As our eyes met, I found a crimson-red gaze playfully observing me. There was an unmistakable allure visible in them.
Her outfit left little to the imagination—a silky, sky-blue top clung to her ample chest. It was barely big enough to hide her breasts, the rest of her upper body was entirely bare. Her lower half was equally tantalizing—a high-slit sarong hugged her curvaceous hips. As the fabric was borderline translucent, it revealed glimpses of her toned thighs. As if that wasn't enough to make her a hot piece of ass, her skin was glistening with sweat. It seemed she'd just finished a straining workout.
Everything about her, from the sway of her feminine hips to the lazy flick of her fluffy white ears, oozed confidence and seduction.
(Picture)
<What the hell? Did they seriously send a whore to our room?> Ayame asked with disbelief.
<They are so rude!> Seraphiel decreed. < There are six women and a single man here, yet they only send a single woman to pleasure us. Where's the hot boy squad?>
<You're gonna get spanked at this rate, young lady,> Lucille giggled, knowing my possessive nature.
<She's sweating like a pig too. Maybe she'd just concluded servicing her previous client.> Aurora added wryly.
<I think not…> Lyra spoke up suddenly. <Dogkin has the greatest sense of smell out of all races. Maybe a sweaty woman with her beauty would be much appreciated by dogkin men. I think working up a sweat is part of her seduction efforts.> ℞𝔞ΝȮВЕṧ
<That makes sense… But Master doesn't get excited from sniffing Blossom after he tires her out in bed, Blossom thinks this woman is misguided.>
Whatever her plan may be, one thing was for certain. I didn't like this situation. <Sounds like a reasonable theory, but I don't appreciate the fact Vargis sent me a slut despite knowing I had companions already. Does he think me a man who lusts after every single hot woman he sees? Just because I have a harem doesn't mean I sleep around.>
Not being privy to our inner conversation, the prostitute walked towards me before she stopped with only a few inches separating the two of us. Then, her lips curved into a sly, seductive smile.
"I am Kitsara, daughter of Vargis. If I'm not wrong, according to human terms, I should introduce myself as the first princess of the dogkin people. I would like to invite you, Devil, for a sightseeing trip of Canisgard where the two of us could get to know each other better. I'm truly eager to learn more about you," she purred with a honeyed voice while puffing her sweaty chest out in my direction.
… What?
First princess?
Oh dear.