Hentai Conquest: Starting From Kuroinu

Celestine could already imagine Garf's various plans and arrangements. After thinking it through, she couldn't treat Chloe as an insignificant person anymore.

"Asahi, it's really not a good thing for you to keep a dark elf slave by your side. It would be better to replace her or simply not have her at all. After all, you have a connection with Lady Lerentia. Such a matter could affect the goddess's image to some extent."

The logical reasoning almost made Asahi agree, causing Celestine's lips to curl slightly upward. At the same time, she glanced at Chloe with a "you think you can compete with me?" expression.

"This damn elf!"

Chloe didn't expect that this Celestine, whom she had just met, would create trouble for her by trying to get Asahi to get rid of her, under the pretense of preserving the goddess's image. Clearly, she just found Chloe's presence by Asahi's side an eyesore.

Chloe clenched her fists in frustration but couldn't act rashly. Doing so would likely lead to her dismissal.

"You have a point," Asahi admitted, which made Celestine's smile even brighter while Chloe's expression grew darker.

"But if that's the case, Chloe's situation might become much worse. She really dislikes humans and only manages to stay calm around me. If she were with someone else, she'd likely cause endless trouble due to her hostility. Coupled with her identity as a dark elf, she might face abuse or even worse situations. Given the current circumstances, I don't want Chloe to go through something like that."

Asahi explained the situation, thinking that Celestine, who was kind-hearted and loved peace, would soften her stance and drop the issue.

While Celestine did feel compassion imagining what Chloe might face away from Asahi, she hesitated. She couldn't shake off the suspicion that Chloe's presence was part of Garf's plan to divert Asahi's attention away from her.

"In that case, why not let her stay in the church? That way, there wouldn't be the issues we discussed, and she wouldn't need to remain a slave," Celestine suggested.

Before Asahi could respond, Chloe immediately objected.

"I don't agree! Even if I remain a slave, I want to stay by his side. Nothing and no one can change my mind."

If she agreed to this, Chloe believed she might never see Asahi again. Celestine, this annoying elf, would certainly make sure she disappeared from Asahi's life, possibly even using underhanded means.

Chloe viewed Celestine in the worst possible light, despite her status as the goddess's representative. Anyone trying to separate her from Asahi was her enemy.

This attitude convinced Celestine that Chloe had ulterior motives regarding Asahi. After all, what kind of slave wouldn't want to escape their status? This made Celestine even more determined to address the issue.

"You're completely disregarding Asahi's situation. Is that really okay?"

"And have you considered my feelings? Or even Asahi's thoughts? Using the excuse of doing what's best for him to impose your decisions—do you think that's right?"

Chloe sneered. "In the end, aren't you just doing this for yourself? Don't act like it's really for Asahi; it's hypocritical and disgusting."

"I..."

Being called out on her motives left Celestine speechless, especially with Asahi present. The mocking smile on Chloe's face showed she had no intention of stopping, ready to deal a final psychological blow when Asahi intervened.

"Let's drop this topic. There's no good solution I can offer right now, so let's leave it for now. Besides, Chloe might even be able to help me in the future. If she doesn't want to leave, then so be it. As for her slave status, I'll find a way to resolve that later. And regarding the impact of her identity, I'll ensure she stays out of sight."

Asahi's decision made Celestine nod silently, somewhat relieved that he didn't seem to mind her earlier remarks. However, she couldn't be sure if their relationship had been affected.

"That's fine. I don't have much to say about your decision," Celestine replied.

Seeing this, Chloe also refrained from pushing further and accepted Asahi's attempt to mediate.

"By the way, Celestine, don't take Chloe's earlier words too seriously," Asahi said, noticing her unease.

"No matter what, my feelings for you won't change. No one can be completely selfless; even I have some selfish thoughts."

"Like what?" Celestine asked curiously.

"Uh, do you really want to know? I'm afraid you might get upset."

"I won't. Besides, it's unfair for you to know my thoughts while I don't know yours."

"Well, if you insist... Ahem! I've always dreamed of living with lots of cute girls," Asahi admitted awkwardly.

Celestine's reaction was surprisingly calm. "I figured as much. Men tend to fantasize about that sort of thing."

"You're not mad?" Asahi asked cautiously.

"Of course, I feel a bit jealous because I'd prefer if you lived only with me. But it's just a thought, not something you've actually done, so there's no reason to get mad."

Her understanding response relieved Asahi, though he didn't think she'd truly agree to such an arrangement.

"As long as it's just living together normally, I can accept that," Celestine added, leaving Chloe scoffing at such a half-hearted statement.

After saying his goodbyes, Asahi and Chloe left the church, with Chloe visibly unhappy about the exchange.

———

Back in the carriage, Chloe broke the silence. "That elf's lips must be very soft, huh?"

Her tone was calm, but Asahi could sense the tension underneath.

"I guess most people's lips are soft?" he replied nervously.

"Are you angry?"

"Of course I'm angry! How could you let her kiss you? Kissing isn't something you can just casually do with someone."

Recognizing the hostility between Chloe and Celestine, Asahi tried to ease the situation. But Chloe's determination to prove her superiority made her even more assertive, leaving Asahi both flustered and helpless.

Listening to Chloe's words filled with dissatisfaction toward Celestine, Asahi knew that the situation had placed both sides in a state of intense hostility. It was almost impossible to reconcile their relationship. Although the key to resolving the issue lay with him, achieving the harmonious and affectionate scenario he envisioned was incredibly difficult.

"Have you even thought about what she said before? Swapping me out or even abandoning me? If that really happened, then I would basically be…"

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this."

Seeing Chloe's frustration, Asahi quickly interrupted her. The topic was far too unpleasant, and he didn't want to hear Chloe discussing her potential fate. It was something he didn't wish to imagine.

After embracing Chloe to comfort her, she suddenly turned and straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. As the carriage wheels bounced over the uneven ground, her hips moved up and down against Asahi's thighs.

"What are you…"

"This is to ensure you don't get seduced by that woman. You need to get used to this. Otherwise, what will you do if this happens again in the future and you're completely defenseless? One kiss from her already bewitched you. If she offers you something more, will you just listen to everything she says?"

"It's not that exaggerated."

Asahi immediately shook his head in denial, trying to convince Chloe of his innocence. However, it was clear that she wasn't easily persuaded or reassured.

Celestine's actions had made Chloe feel that she held an incredibly significant position in Asahi's heart.

Initially, Chloe had assumed that Celestine was simply lucky to have met Asahi first, leading to their current situation. But even the efforts Celestine made to build connections for Asahi with Garf had caused Chloe to suspect ulterior motives.

Now that she had met Celestine in person, some of her initial suspicions were dismissed. However, Chloe realized that Celestine's mere presence was a substantial threat, capable of causing significant problems.

And considering Celestine's behavior, which repeatedly raised Chloe's blood pressure, she became even more resistant to the idea of Asahi interacting with her. There was no way she could let that woman continue to harm Asahi.

Therefore, Chloe decided she might as well take the initiative. Compared to Celestine, she was confident she could do a much better job of caring for, accompanying, and satisfying Asahi.

"If you like things like this, you can always come to me."

Without waiting for Asahi's reply, Chloe sealed his lips. Her approach, compared to Celestine's gentle gestures, was far more aggressive and proactive, as she passionately kissed him, even slipping her tongue into his mouth.

When the carriage finally stopped in front of the Levontine family residence, Asahi stepped out with Chloe, who wore a satisfied expression.

The journey had left Asahi deeply aware of the differences between Chloe and Celestine, to the point where he still hadn't fully recovered from the experience.

"Why are you standing there spacing out? Are you thinking about what just happened?"

Chloe observed Asahi, who stood absentmindedly after stepping out of the carriage. She wondered if her actions earlier had overwhelmed him, leaving him unable to adjust.

However, if that were the case, it would be a good thing—it meant she had left an unforgettable impression on him.

Thinking this, Chloe leaned closer to Asahi, exhaling softly near his ear.

This startled him, and he snapped back to reality, turning to see Chloe's mischievous smile. After clearing his throat awkwardly, he quickly walked into the residence.

Inside the hall, Garf was seated, reading a document with a frown. His serious expression made it seem as though there was trouble on the front lines.

"General Garf, has there been some new activity from the dark elves?"

"No, it's not the dark elves. The problem lies with our own side."

Garf shook his head and replied, "Some of our soldiers have suffered casualties."

"Casualties?"

Asahi was taken aback.

"Yes, but the officer in charge of that unit secretly made a reckless decision, resulting in hundreds of deaths without achieving anything. He's nothing but a fool."

Garf began cursing furiously. He couldn't understand why someone would disobey orders and act so foolishly. Any failure now could jeopardize the plans Garf had meticulously laid out for Asahi's future.

"What exactly happened? Logically, there shouldn't be any reason for such reckless actions."

Asahi sensed that something was amiss. However, without understanding the details, he refrained from making assumptions.

"It's unclear. That idiot and his men were all killed, so we have no survivors to explain what happened. But it's certain that they were ambushed by the dark elves' allies, the black orcs. What's even more ridiculous is that some mercenaries ended up reaping the benefits by eliminating those black orcs and dark elves. Such incompetence."

Garf continued ranting, while Asahi, after hearing the explanation, suspected that the mercenaries might have been involved.

After all, their current situation seemed highly convenient for them. However, without evidence, Asahi kept his thoughts to himself and mentally noted the incident.

"It's clear we can't rely on such idiots. If this continues, they'll hand over all our advantages to the enemy. Asahi, we need to accelerate our progress."

Garf was determined not to let this opportunity slip away because of incompetence. He believed it was time for Asahi to complete his training quickly and join the front lines.

"Ah, alright."

Asahi nodded but couldn't help sighing internally. He realized that the coming days would be tough. Fortunately, his body had adapted to the rigorous training, and with the presence of magic in this world, he was confident he wouldn't collapse from exhaustion.

———

Later that evening, after his training, Asahi sat on his bed to rest. Chloe lay on his back, her arms wrapped around him as her fingers traced across his chest. Her unusually proactive behavior made Asahi suspect that meeting Celestine earlier had triggered some new thoughts in her.

"We'll likely be heading to the battlefield soon. Are you sure about this?" Asahi asked suddenly.

Chloe froze momentarily before responding.

"I told you, I'll stay with you no matter what. My dark elf blood might be dominant, but I've never seen any of my kind. I don't feel any strong attachment to that race. If I hadn't met you, I might have considered seeking them out. But now that you're here, I've abandoned that idea. If conflict arises, I won't hesitate to help you kill them."

Hearing her response, Asahi felt a mix of emotions. Chloe's decision showed her unwavering commitment, as if she had placed all her faith in him. If she truly fought against her own kin, it would sever her last connection to them completely.

"…It's better not to go that far. We can't predict the future, so it's wise to leave yourself a path back. We're not at the point where retreat is impossible, right?"

"I don't mind. The only thing I care about is your safety. Everything else is up to you. Now that we've settled this matter, how about we focus on something else?"