Hentai Conquest: Starting From Kuroinu

"So, the current situation is that we need to send someone to deal with those black orcs, right?"

"That's for sure. Otherwise, if we allow those black orcs to act recklessly, the damage they cause will be immense and may even give the dark elves an opportunity. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that this action is a trap to lure us. If we dispatch troops, we might just fall into their plans."

Garf explained the situation and then looked at Asahi, asking,"What are your thoughts?"

"Me?"

Facing the sudden question, Asahi was caught off guard. After all, he wasn't good at matters of war. If he said something wrong, it would spell trouble. Apologies wouldn't fix it, and it might even cost the lives of those following his advice.

"Exactly. I've told you before, right? With your talent, becoming a general in the future is inevitable. Therefore, I need to train your leadership and command skills. This is a small test for you."

Garf had a "go ahead and say it" expression, making Asahi swallow nervously. Beside him, Claudia looked at him with encouraging eyes.

But in such a situation, Asahi's mind was completely blank. Even if it was meant for training, he didn't have the basics to rely on.

"Um... I..."

It felt like being called on by a teacher in class when zoning out. The student, standing under the gaze of the teacher and classmates, stared blankly at the blackboard, not knowing what to do. That perfectly described Asahi's current state.

"Sorry, I can't answer."

Before Garf could respond, Claudia comforted him first.

"Asahi, your response is already very good. After all, you don't understand these matters yet. Not giving a random answer is commendable. Acting without knowledge often leads to disastrous consequences. I've seen many people pretend to understand when they don't. Your honesty is much better. In the future, if similar situations arise, just consult and seek advice from more experienced seniors. That will help reduce mistakes."

Claudia's words made Garf rub his temples. He felt this wasn't the right way to put it. While he didn't mind Claudia comforting Asahi, she should've let him finish speaking first.

"...Anyway, in a sense, Claudia is right. If you're unsure of what to do, consulting experienced people is better than making reckless decisions."

Despite his inner conflict, Garf quickly continued, "In this case, the dark elves aim to provoke an early war, forcing us into a reactive position. If we engage now, it will lead to battles we aren't prepared for. Therefore, we must neither panic nor act recklessly."

"So, General Garf, are you suggesting we completely ignore the black orcs' actions?"

Asahi furrowed his brow. Based on Celestine's previous explanations, he knew what black orcs left behind in towns they passed through—countless corpses and inhumane treatment for women. Just imagining it made him uncomfortable.

"Sometimes sacrifices are necessary. You need to understand that kind-hearted people can't manage armies."

This was something Garf wanted Asahi to grasp.

"However, this doesn't mean we'll completely ignore it. Such neglect would deal a heavy blow to morale. In such situations, we need others to act as cannon fodder."

"Cannon fodder?"

"Exactly. We issue a commission, or directly order under the name of the Seven Shields Alliance, for certain groups to handle this. And the best candidates are mercenary groups that operate in the gray areas. These dirty scoundrels will do anything for money. For situations like this, they're perfect. This way, we foil the dark elves' plans and buy time to prepare for an eventual battle in our best state."

"As for those mercenaries… heh, if they die, so be it. If they can provide some value, they'll have made their contribution to the world."

Hearing Garf's explanation, Asahi nodded in understanding. It indeed seemed like a viable solution.

"And as for the selection, we already have a suitable candidate."

At this moment, Klaus presented the prepared dossier and began reading it out loud.

"Walter, leader of the mercenary group 'Black Beast Knights.' In his 30s, possesses excellent leadership skills and strong personal combat abilities. However, his personality is questionable. Investigations reveal he enjoys war and plunder. Among mercenaries, he's also known as the 'King of Mercenaries.'"

"King of Mercenaries? Hah, such a man is indeed perfect as cannon fodder."

After hearing Klaus's description, Garf felt this choice was fitting. If Walter survived, he could continue being used as cannon fodder in the future.

"I see. We'll send someone to contact him and convince him to undertake this mission."

Klaus had handled many similar cases, so he didn't find this challenging. Garf silently nodded without saying more.

"That's the situation. Asahi, do you understand?"

"I understand a little, I think."

Asahi nodded, and Garf wasn't surprised by this response. He intended to let Asahi gradually familiarize himself with such matters.

"Good. I'll continue to discuss these things with you in the future. Try not to disappoint me."

"I understand."

Klaus, observing the interaction between his father and Asahi, felt a pang of envy. However, he quickly brushed it aside. Since choosing the path of a civil official, he had sealed off any possibility of a similar relationship with his father. Even if he now returned to the path of a warrior, it wouldn't change anything, especially with someone as talented as Asahi around.

As this thought crossed his mind, Klaus glanced at Asahi, who was leaning against Chloe. When Garf stood to leave, Klaus also stood and followed.

Soon after, as arrangements were made, a Seven Shields envoy found Walter in a mercenary tavern.

Walter, a man in his 30s with a rugged and masculine appearance, exuded strength. His ambition and desire were evident in his gaze.

In the noisy tavern filled with a peculiar stench, the envoy's expression betrayed clear disgust as he faced the various mercenaries. Upon reaching Walter, he placed a commission document on the table.

"Walter, here's a commission for you. Issued jointly by the Seven Shields Alliance. Our conflict with the dark elves is escalating. They're using black orcs in their plans, and we hope you'll handle these black orcs. If you succeed, the rewards will be substantial."

"A commission from the Seven Shields Alliance, huh?"

Walter's interest was piqued, especially as he read the reward details. However, the generous reward for a simple mission involving black orcs raised his suspicions. His years as a mercenary had honed his instincts. He sensed something was off.

But Walter wasn't one to back down due to danger. Having survived countless perilous situations, he believed this mission would be no different. Thus, he accepted it, seeing an opportunity to gain even more.

The envoy, after explaining some precautions, quickly left the repulsive tavern.

———

"This is how it is."

In the temple of the Goddess Lerentia, as Asahi returned to see Celestine, he explained some of his current situation to her. Upon hearing about the impending war with the Dark Elves and Asahi's assignment to the battlefield, Celestine's face turned pale.

Neither the prospect of war nor Asahi going to the battlefield was something she wanted to see or accept—especially the latter.

"This… This situation has completely exceeded what was originally discussed, hasn't it? While it was mentioned before that military achievements could serve as an excuse to delay the engagement, I thought that was something that wouldn't actually happen. But now... now you're saying you really have to go to the battlefield? I absolutely can't accept this! Asahi, you mustn't go!"

Celestine's hands, trembling, gripped Asahi's tightly, clearly showing how flustered she was over this matter.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have done those things in the first place. If it weren't for me, things might not have turned out this way. You wouldn't have gotten a second engagement, and you wouldn't have to go to the battlefield. Clearly, the Goddess brought you to this world to live a happy life, but I…"

"Alright, Celestine. Calm down! This isn't your fault."

Seeing the increasingly guilty and sorrowful look on Celestine's face, with tears welling up in her eyes as if everything was her fault, Asahi couldn't help but try to comfort her. After all, this matter couldn't possibly be blamed on her.

"This has nothing to do with you. If you blame yourself, it will only make me feel worse. Besides, my current life is already a happy one."

At least compared to before, he never thought he would have a life like this. Although training his body was exhausting, the subsequent satisfaction was worth it. Not to mention, without a strong body, living with someone like Celestine would be unsustainable. In this sense, his life already aligned with what the Goddess Lerentia had promised, excluding the war aspect.

"Really?"

"Of course, it's true. Doesn't Celestine feel that the time we spend together is full of happiness?"

"Of course, it's happy!"

Celestine answered without hesitation. She was certain that being with Asahi brought her a happiness so overwhelming that it felt as though it might overflow.

"And it's the same for me—because I'm with you, Celestine."

These words replaced the sadness in Celestine's eyes with joy, and her face lit up with a radiant, happy smile. This brought Asahi some relief.

"Moreover, the talent I possess is a power bestowed by the Goddess Lerentia. So, if you don't trust my abilities, surely you trust the Goddess' power, don't you?"

Although his abilities weren't overwhelmingly powerful, Asahi believed that saying this would reassure Celestine and prevent her from feeling upset or guilty about his deployment. It would also deter her from saying anything rash to Garf, which could complicate their relationship.

"The Goddess' power… Does that mean you're actually a Hero, Asahi?"

Celestine's expression turned to one of astonishment. After all, those who gained the power of the Goddess were undeniably heroes or champions destined to save the world—especially in the current climate of looming war. This possibility seemed even more plausible.

The thought of this possibility made Celestine's gaze at Asahi one of pride, as if she were a mother watching her child grow into a capable adult.

"I don't think so. I explicitly told the Goddess Lerentia at the start that being a hero or champion would be too tiring and wasn't suitable for me. That's why I said I wanted a happy and fulfilling life. Besides, this current situation isn't some kind of world-ending disaster, is it? So, being a hero or champion is unlikely."

Asahi waved his hand dismissively, expressing that these roles had nothing to do with him. However, Celestine thought otherwise; she believed Asahi was indeed one.

Yet, more than the title of Hero, Celestine felt Asahi was more likely to become someone who would quell the war and lead the world to peace. The mere thought of them working together to eliminate wars and maintain peace brought her a silly, happy smile. That kind of life was her dream.

"Celestine?"

Asahi noticed Celestine suddenly spacing out and giggling, something he had never seen from her before. She had always been gentle and mature, but this youthful display of daydreaming was new to him—not that it was unwelcome.

"Ah? Sorry, I got lost in thought for a moment."

Snapped out of her thoughts by Asahi's voice, Celestine blushed at her behavior, clearly finding it embarrassing.

"It's fine. Plus, you were thinking so happily just now. It must have been something good, right? Does it have to do with me?"

"Yes! I was imagining you becoming a Hero, then ending the war, and the two of us working together to rid the world of wars before living happily together. Just thinking about it makes me feel so happy."

"I see. A Hero, huh? Well, I might need to work harder for that. I'll make sure to give you the life you're dreaming of, Celestine."

"But even if it doesn't happen, that's fine. After all, you said you didn't want to be a Hero, right? I don't want you doing something you don't wish to do."

Celestine recalled Asahi's earlier words, not wanting her vision to push him into something he didn't want.

"It's alright. Sometimes, life just works out that way. You can't always avoid doing things you don't want to do. Given the current circumstances, going to the battlefield is inevitable. Since this is the outcome, I can only do my best. General Garf has high expectations for me, so I can't slack off. Now that it's come to this, I can only aim for the best."

"Is that so? Then I will always pray for you, hoping the goddess can bless you. If you need anything, I will also try my best to help you."

"That's really great. With you saying that, Celestine, I feel much more confident now."

Seeing that Celestine was no longer worrying or blaming herself for this matter, Asahi let out a sigh of relief. Although the situation turned out this way somewhat unexpectedly, in the end, under Garf's expectations, it was clear he wouldn't just muddle through easily. So, saying it like this now wasn't really a problem.

"Then Asahi, you should quickly go back now and undergo more training with General Garf instead of wasting time here with me. Only by becoming stronger will you be safer in the wars to come."

Although she really wanted to spend more time with Asahi, thinking about the future situations, Celestine could only suppress this emotion in her heart, urging Asahi to focus all his energy on training. Even with the power of Lady Lerentia's blessing, if he didn't train properly, it would still be easy to encounter dangers on the battlefield. This was the last thing she wanted to happen.

"Huh? So urgent? I still wanted to spend more time with you. During the time I was training with General Garf, I missed you a lot, especially when it came to magical healing."

Although Claudia's massage skills were very effective and enjoyable, Asahi still preferred the quick recovery brought about by magic. Otherwise, the lingering stiffness in his body would make him feel rather uncomfortable.

"Is that the only reason you missed me?"

Even Celestine couldn't help but reveal a resentful look upon hearing Asahi say that he missed her because of magical healing. Did this mean that if not for this, he wouldn't have missed her?

"Of course not! The most important thing is that, after everything, I can rest while holding you, Celestine."

Although he also held Chloe or Claudia during that time, he couldn't help but mentally compare them to Celestine, always feeling that the latter was better. Thinking like this was a bit scummy, wasn't it? Enjoying someone else's body while thinking another woman was better.

Even Asahi himself felt there was something wrong with his behavior. But perhaps it was because he didn't sense any issues from Celestine. After all, Claudia's suspected darkening and Chloe's habit of spanking him whenever he made a mistake weren't things he'd encounter with Celestine.

Thinking of this, Asahi hugged Celestine's body, feeling the softness and a refreshing floral fragrance, his expression full of satisfaction.

Faced with such a situation, Celestine could only look at him helplessly. At the same time, seeing Asahi's slightly restless hands, her face turned a bit red, but she didn't say much.

After spending some time together, Celestine came out, her face completely flushed, following behind Asahi. Seeing this, Chloe, who was waiting outside, became a bit curious, wondering if something had happened inside. After all, her current identity wasn't suitable for entering the church, so she could only wait outside.

"A dark elf?"

When Celestine saw the dark elf upon stepping outside, she was momentarily stunned. Then, upon noticing the collar on her neck, she instantly understood her identity.

"She was given to me by General Garf."

"Given to you?"

Hearing this, Celestine immediately felt something was off. When her gaze shifted to Chloe, the latter was also looking at her.

"So, this is Celestine?"

Chloe looked at the woman whom Asahi always talked about. After observing her from head to toe, she let out a cold snort, displaying a completely dismissive attitude.

However, she couldn't help but admit that this woman surpassed her in terms of looks, figure, and aura. Yet, even so, Chloe wasn't willing to concede. When it came to matters involving Asahi, she wouldn't give in easily.

Celestine also noticed that Chloe seemed to have some issue with her, but she couldn't quite figure out why. At the same time, she suspected that Garf sending a dark elf to Asahi might have something to do with her. Otherwise, how could it be that as soon as Asahi arrived, a dark elf was immediately sent to him?

"Keeping a dark elf by your side—wouldn't that be dangerous?"

"What do you mean by that? Are you implying I would harm him?"

Chloe's eyes turned hostile upon hearing Celestine's words. To her, such a statement was entirely provocative.

"Considering the current situation, I think it's a valid concern."

At present, dark elves were in conflict with the Seven Shield Alliance. Even though Celestine didn't harbor any prejudice against dark elves, Asahi would inevitably clash with them in the future. Having a dark elf slave by his side would naturally raise suspicions.

"It's fine. Chloe would never do anything to harm me."

Seeing the tension between the two, Asahi quickly stepped in to vouch for Chloe. "Just like you, Celestine, she's also here to help and protect me."

'That only makes things worse. Or rather, it creates a conflict of interest. So, this is Garf's intention.'

Celestine suddenly realized what was going on. Garf must have noticed Asahi's fondness for her, which would hinder Asahi and Claudia's relationship. So, he tried to influence the situation by introducing someone else. Since he couldn't use an elf as a slave, he opted for a dark elf instead. After all, aside from skin color, dark elves weren't inferior to regular elves in any way.