Victory Celebration (3)

"Oh, right, Shaina. There's something I want to talk to you about."

Taking a little break from the party, I had a proper talk with Shaina.

"Mm, what is it?"

Shaina realized it was a serious conversation and settled in to listen.

… Though "settled in" meant we were holding each other naked, in a pillow-talk sort of posture during the afterglow.

"First, the fact that I made a promise to duel Melville-san. If you go on to the S-Class Tournament like this, Shaina, and you climb all the way to 18th, you'll be matched against Melville-san.

"If you can win there… I've made an arrangement to have Uriela Aisha handed over to me."

"Ooh! I see… So Melville-jiichan really is thinking about retiring this year, huh…

"Honestly, he's more decrepit than Leonhardt-san, you know. I'd been thinking he was about at his limit…

"I see… that Uriela Aisha, huh…

"That's amazing! She's the strongest Garumon in the lower S-Class!"

"Yeah. So, Shaina, I want you to do your best."

"Yeah! … I've gotta claim the title of strongest in the lower S-Class. I won't lose!

"I'll definitely get Uriela Aisha!"

Shaina got fired up.

"… One more thing. At 17th, you'll face off against Julian, but…

"I think there's a possibility that guy is the one attacking Sonya's parents.

"And I think it might be possible to drag that fact out into broad daylight by making use of Garumon Battle.

"… I'd like you to cooperate with me on that."

"Julian, huh… Well, all I can think is that guy's the type who'd do something like that…

"Mm, understood. I'll do my best on that too."

"Yeah. Thank you, Shaina."

Shaina readily agreed to both.

"And then one more thing.

"Shaina, you originally only had three members, and because of that you were treated as weak even within the S-Class.

"Even though your true ability is incredibly high.

"But this time, by renting Haru and the others, you were able to beat Fergus without any trouble.

"Fighting with the help of Haru and the others this time, how was it?"

"Yeah! It was the best! Knowing I had companions to take over after me even if we went down…

"I could put out more power than before. Having a full roster of six really is great.

"Of course it's not that just anyone would do… it's precisely because Haru and the others are wonderful."

"Yeah, I'm glad to hear that.

"I already think of you, Shaina, as officially… completely a comrade.

"So much so that I can't imagine a life without you anymore."

"I'm so happy… me too, Naoto…"

Chu, chu…

Shaina showered me with kiss after kiss.

"So… I think there's no problem at all with entrusting my comrades to you now.

"From here on, I'd like to officially rent my comrades to you with no limits, and have you fight alongside me. That's what I've been thinking."

Let me add a bit more about the rental system.

The Garumon rental system is a system for entrusting one's Garumon to another Master.

• A rented Garumon becomes the owned Garumon of the Master they're rented to.

  However, just as with a Sub-Master, they're in a state of being shared among multiple Masters, and there's no effect on their feelings toward their original Master.

• Command authority is granted only to the Master they're rented to.

• What kinds of commands can be given depends on the contract.

  Normally restrictions are placed, such as not being able to issue attack commands against the original Master, but in the case of an unlimited rental, they can fight the original Master in earnest as well.

• A rental transfer is dissolved immediately if the renting Master breaches the contract.

• Whether a rented Garumon can be made the stake of a wager depends on the conditions at the time of the rental.

As for being made a wager stake. It's possible to prohibit them from being made the object of a wager.

If you set them as wager-prohibited, then even in a case where a futanari Master loses and everyone is taken all at once, the rented Garumon simply returns to their original owner and isn't taken.

A common use of rentals is the money-purpose rental.

You lend out a strong Garumon and earn profit by having a high rental fee paid.

I've heard that there are even cases where someone deliberately rents under wager-permitted conditions, and when they lose and the Garumon is taken, extorts a hefty indemnity.

That's a self-dealing racket, isn't it, having one of your own subordinates whose connection you've hidden do the attacking? Is what I'd think, but…

Well, leaving such shady cases aside as exceptions, it seems there are ordinarily cases of lending out strong or erotic Garumon and doing business through rentals.

It's similar to mercenaries, I suppose.

Or there are also cases of renting in order to have a Garumon accumulate training. In this case, the lending side pays the money.

If your owned Garumon comes back having gained experience and grown stronger, that's a big benefit.

It seems there are also Masters called trainers who carry out that kind of Garumon training.

Rentals are apparently often done in a state where there's a degree of trust, and in the case of nobles, there are also cases where a parent Master, to give a child Master preferential treatment, lends them their own Garumon, I'm told.

… And that's the various ins and outs of rentals.

"Naoto… thank you! But are you really sure? I know how much you cherish your comrades, Naoto…

"An unlimited rental is a serious thing, you know? If I lose, there's no excuse. When they're taken, they're taken, and when they die, they die.

"… Of course I'll do everything in my power so it never comes to that.

"I'll stake my life on it.

"… But if I lose… I can't guarantee the lives of the comrades you entrusted to me either.

"Think it over carefully, and on top of that… are you telling me it's okay to entrust them to me?"

What I'd proposed to Shaina this time was an unlimited rental, with no conditions set whatsoever.

She'd be free to make them wager stakes too. Since there's no such thing as a contract breach, the rental would never be dissolved arbitrarily.

If she felt like it, she'd even be free to command Haru and the others to attack me.

An unlimited rental has no benefit at all for the lending side, and seems to carry nothing but large drawbacks. And in fact it does.

This is nothing other than proof of, "You are someone I can truly trust, a true comrade who, in the event of defeat, can accept that responsibility as well."

… In that case, there's nothing for it but to do an unlimited rental!

I think Farida's rental to Ruria should be switched to an unlimited rental now too.

Because if the two of them are defeated, I can accept that as my own responsibility.

Well, in Shaina's case, S-Class Masters normally have no occasion to make Garumon wager stakes.

It's possible if both sides agree, so in the case of facing a strange Master like Julian, it'll come to wagering, but as for that, I'm the one who asked Shaina to wager against Julian and win.

Well, since Shaina will surely win, I'm not worried about it in the slightest.

And then there's the monster subjugation that is the main duty of S-Class Masters.

As for that, the presence or absence of a wager prohibition and the rental conditions are entirely irrelevant.

If you lose, being a rental is no excuse; you simply get killed.

So really, the truth is I think there's no drawback at all to giving Shaina an unlimited rental.

"Yeah, of course I thought about it.

"… But in the end, that just means Shaina is the one being exposed to mortal danger.

"If I hadn't entrusted my comrades to you, then Shaina, Carla, and Shita would be the ones on the brink of death…

"And I'd be unable to rush to help right away, with not a single one of my comrades by your side.

"I can't bear a situation like that anymore.

"If Haru, Setsuna, and Patty were by your side, Shaina, I don't think it would come to anything that dangerous in the first place.

"And when it comes down to it, the options multiply, with countless ways to run for help.

"In the end, it's all the same now. A situation where my comrades are safe but Shaina is in danger is no different from a situation where Haru is in danger, where Ursula is in danger.

"My life can no longer hold together in a state where Shaina isn't part of it.

"So… please, just honestly accept my comrades."

"Naoto… ehehe… that's pretty much a complete proposal, isn't it…"

Shaina blushed. For my part, I'd only put my honest feelings into words… but now that she mentioned it, it pretty much was a proposal.

"Well, I suppose it is. I'm saying I'll entrust comrades more precious to me than my own life… so that's the same as saying you, Shaina, are more precious to me than my own life, that I love you.

"… Will you accept my love?"

"Ehehe… understood. I'll gladly… accept it."

Shaina answered me that way.

Waaah…

Clap clap clap… Applause broke out. It was just like a proposal being accepted.

"… Thank you, Naoto… To be honest, wanting to rent your Garumon, Naoto, was one of the reasons I approached you in the first place.

"… I came to love you yourself so quickly, Naoto, and being together with you made me so happy that the other calculations and goals stopped mattering. But it's a fact that at first I did have those calculations.

"For someone like me to be trusted that much… is it really all right…?"

"For me, trust means being able to think that it would be okay to be deceived by that person.

"… If it's for your sake, Shaina, I'll do anything.

"… Besides, there are benefits for me too, you know.

"You'll raise my comrades for me, Shaina. Even in this Eclair battle, I temporarily left their training to you, Shaina… and your skill was wonderful. The skill to make it all the way to S-Class with just three members is impressive, as expected.

"With that technique, please polish my comrades up by all means."

"Yeah, leave it to me! Any comrade who comes to me, I'll make them grow strong, way stronger, just you watch!

"… So then… Naoto. Everyone… From here on, more and more, together… I'm in your care."

Saying that, Shaina bowed her head.

Clap clap clap…

Everyone applauded, blessing Shaina, who would carry on as a comrade from here on.

And so, for the time being, Haru, Setsuna, and Patty would remain rented to Shaina.

Of course we'd swap members as needed.

"Thank you… Naoto.

"Is there anything I can do to repay you? If it's something you wish for, I'd want to do anything…

"Like me and all my owned Garumon becoming yours, Naoto? Offering myself, body and soul, to you… how would that be any different from now, I wonder."

"… That's a tempting offer, but… accepting something in return isn't quite…"

I held my head in my hands.

And besides, money is meaningless at a level like an S-Class Master's…

… But then, a thought suddenly struck me.

"… Oh, right. If there's one thing I'd absolutely want you to pay, there is one."

"What?"

"Pubic hair! I want you to pay in pubic hair. Come to my place every day, let me check how it's grown in, and let me shave it."

I leaned forward as I declared this.

Shaina's silky hair, Carla's curly hair. Shita is normally hairless, but when she descends a god and takes on an adult body, pubic hair grows in to match.

Every time I saw their crotches, I'd been wanting to shave them.

Haaa… A sigh came from somewhere or other.

"… Naoto, you really are… a lovely, very attractive person, I think. But… when it comes to your hobbies…"

Shaina was a little put off too.

"Ehh… no waaay…"

"Ahaha… i-it's fine. It's embarrassing, but… understood. I'll pay with our pubic hair."

"Yes!"

I struck a victory pose.

… Everyone sighed and gave wry smiles.

… Why are you all watching me with such lukewarm eyes…

Pulling myself together.

"All right, the main subject. For now, Haru, Setsuna, and Patty staying as they are is fine, right.

"You can pick two more people you'd like to rent. Eight is one unit, after all."

So, I'd make Shaina's party eight people. Who would she pick for the remaining two?

"Yeah… actually, there's been someone I've had my eye on for a while now, for a time like this."

Shaina said this honestly.

"First, Yuria."

"Oh my, me?"

"Yeah. Seeing you consult your clever comrades about various things, Naoto, made me envious.

"Carla and I are both meatheads, and Shita's spacey too… honestly, I found myself wondering how we'd managed okay until now."

… Now that she mentioned it.

"Yuria's smart, and… also, having a mage as a comrade is a huge benefit, isn't it.

"Teleportation is super convenient.

"And, to be blunt, I want to plunge in and out of your cock, Yuria!"

"… Honest, well done. So your first pick is Yuria."

"Yes, understood. Nice to work with you, Shaina."

And then, instantly, Yuria moved over to Shaina via the system.

"… As far as how I feel, there's not much change. I'm in a state of feeling ordinary affection and friendship toward Shaina.

"But I suppose if I'm commanded, I'll do as I'm told.

"Looking forward to it from here on, Shaina."

"Yeah!"

The fact that one of my comrades would no longer be by my side… I can't say I felt no twinge of sadness over it.

But this is a necessary thing. Both to make Shaina stronger, and for Yuria's new growth.

Well, in reality we'll be spending almost all our time together, so it's not as if we're parting.

… Besides, having sex with another Master's Garumon is actually pretty exciting.

Right now I'm strongly feeling like I want to have sex with Yuria… That ruins the whole mood, doesn't it.

"And the second?"

"Libera!"

It was an immediate answer.

"Oh my, me?"

"To be blunt, a secretary, I want one after all! I thought I was fine without one, but having one is more convenient…

"So I was thinking, Colette or Libera or Vyletta, if there are three of them, send one my way! And, well, Colette's a core member, of course, and Vyletta only just joined. So that leaves Libera as the only choice, I figured.

"Plus, the one with the highest secretary skill is Libera. With Colette and Vyletta as a pair of two, and Libera as one, I thought the balance would work out."

So she'd thought it through quite a bit.

"If you'd thought about it that much, you could have just told me."

"… I couldn't, you know. Not when I knew how much you cherish and love your comrades, Naoto.

"… But I was happy to hear you say you cherish and love me just as much.

"In that case, I'll take you up on it without reserve. I'll accept it as a present of your love, Naoto."

"As you wish."

Libera bowed.

"Mm. Libera. From now on, become a source of strength for Shaina."

Ursula may have felt lonely inside, but she saw Libera off graciously.

"Um, so then for the rest, Haru, Setsuna-chan, Patty. Once again, I'm counting on you all from here on."

"Yeah."

"Since we're at it, let me hear what you think of the three of them, Haru and the others."

"Yeah, Haru is… your best-friend comrade, Naoto. Haru's strong, but… from where I stand, I'd say he's still got plenty of room to grow.

"Giving instructions, defending… Haru's fighting style is close to mine, too.

"So I think if I teach him my experience, he'll grow.

"… And on top of that, he feels great whether he's doing the screwing or being screwed, which is the best!"

"… Y-yeah."

Haru gave a wry smile.

"… I'll get stronger over at Shaina's place, and come back to you, Naoto-kun."

It seemed Haru had his own thoughts on the matter. He said that to me.

"Setsuna-chan, of course, as fighting strength she's outstanding even now as support-type strength, but…

"Being entrusted with your precious little sister, Naoto, means you might come to think of me as something like a sister-in-law too, which would be nice.

"And one more thing, I had a feeling that if Setsuna-chan stays here at your place, Naoto, she might hit a bit of a growth plateau.

"Of course Setsuna-chan is plenty strong even now, so maybe that's not the case… but, just a hunch.

"You do have a tendency to be especially soft on Setsuna-chan, Naoto."

"…!"

That was a painful thing to hear. It's true… I do have a tendency to be a little soft on Setsuna.

To have that seen through, that's Shaina for you.

"… Thank you. If it's you, Shaina, I can entrust my precious little sister to you… I'm counting on you."

"Yeah!"

"… Onii-chan, thank you for taking care of me all this time. I'm going off to be married."

"… W-wait, Setsuna! It's a rental, just a rental!"

On her way out, Setsuna tossed off a slightly dark joke, sending me into a panic.

"Last is Patty. Just being the daughter of that Silvana-san and Pamela-san is amazing, but sure enough, her talent is outstanding.

"I wanted her purely for fighting strength. In battle she's already plain reliable, super dependable."

"Yeees, I'll do my beeest!"

Patty was being relied on as a matter of course. Well, that's how it is. She's really strong, after all.

And so, for now, Shaina's party came to be

Shaina, Carla, Shita, Yuria, Haru, Setsuna, Patty, and Libera.

With a mage and a secretary, the fighting-strength balance is pretty good, isn't it.

"So then… ooh, my comrades, all at once like this! And such lovely, cool, cute, wonderful comrades at that…!

"Aah, this is the best! Everyone, let's give it everything from here on! We'll get strong by leaps and bounds and aim for the top of the S-Class together with Naoto!"

"Yeaaah!"

The now eight-strong Shaina and company thrust their fists into the air, renewing their resolve.

"All right, today's party continues, now doubling as a celebration that my comrades have increased! Come on, Naoto, you want to have sex with my new comrades, don't you!"

"… Hahaha, I can't hide anything from you, Shaina.

"Yeah, I want to so badly."

"All riiight, today there's still plenty more, let's do it lots! And of course, party or no party, every day I can make it, I'll come over and spend lots of time together, and have lots and lots of sex… and get lots and lots stronger…!

"Let's keep doing our best from here on! Yay-yay-oh!"

"Yay-yay-oh!"

With renewed resolve, we pledged to keep fighting together from here on.