Victory Celebration with Ursula

We had gathered at Ursula's castle.

In the throne room, Ursula called down to me from atop her throne.

"Now then, Naoto… First we must take care of the necessary paperwork.

"A-Class rank 118, Naoto Akai.

"To begin with, I should explain the life and work of an A-Class Master."

Ursula went out of her way to readdress me by my new rank before running through the explanation.

"That said, in a sense it is simple. The job of an A-Class Master is, together with the S-Class Masters, to defend this world from the threat of monsters.

"In this world, monsters still run rampant, and humanity's habitable range is small.

"To expand it even a little, we S-Class and A-Class Masters do daily battle with the monsters.

"Even so, we Masters are protected by the System, so the rate of fallen Masters is not so high. An A-Class or S-Class Master dying is, at best, about one every five years. Unlike in the old days, more Masters are even dying of old age now.

"… The Sub-Masters and our subordinate C-Class Masters die at maybe ten to twenty times that rate, though."

… So in other words, mortal danger was a routine part of the job…

"… So basically, things stay the same as before?"

I had already been out on monster subjugations many times over.

"Mm, just so. Most B-Class Masters do not partake in monster subjugation. In other words, you were already doing A-Class work to begin with. Stein had been pushing his A-Class duties off onto you, and I too had already stopped distinguishing between you and an A-Class. Well, going forward S-Class duties will start coming your way too, so the difficulty will rise a little. Still, on average there is roughly one assignment per day.

"Handling all the assignments alone will become difficult. From here on, you should consider taking on knights of your own. As an A-Class, you may hold up to twelve knights.

"On a different note, Garumon Battles will become more distant for you.

"Freely picking Garumon Battles is, in principle, prohibited. A-Class Masters cannot face one another in such matches, and challenging an S-Class is unthinkable… Well, mock-battle requests are possible, so long as the opponent agrees.

"As for how you earn, that is plain salary. Pay is issued per monster subjugation… and if you handle all of them properly, your annual income should come out to about 500 million G."

"…500 million."

The unit was Gold, after all. Hmm, in Japanese yen that would be… 1 million G converted to about 100 million yen, so 50 billion… no, it was about three-quarters of that, so around 37.5 billion yen? Whatever, I'd ask Lyuka later. (It came out to the equivalent of 33.4 billion yen.)

Either way, it was a serious amount of money.

"E-Erm, is that for state operating expenses or something?"

"The fees for the System's operations have already been deducted.

"In other words, those 500 million are yours to spend as you please. Pocket change.

"Whether you blow it on hobbies or buy up expensive Garumon, that is your affair."

"Eeeeh… wait, having that much money is… kind of a problem. I'm a commoner, you know…"

"Hmph, money cannot do everything, but there is no end of things money can do.

"As one corner of the nobility yourself, you must learn how to spend money."

Ursula smiled mischievously.

"Now then, on to the main matter. I said that A-Class Masters cannot freely challenge each other to Garumon Battles.

"… Of course, when challenged by a B-Class or lower Master, that is another story. You must respond within one month.

"But beyond that, the only opportunity… is the A-Class Tournament, held at the end of March every year… Four months from now.

"The 128 A-Class Masters compete in a tournament bracket.

"Anyone who loses once gets a chance in the consolation bracket as well, so the rankings of 1 through 128 are reshuffled based on tournament and consolation-bracket placement.

"Whoever finishes in the A-Class top 8 may challenge an S-Class Master in the April promotion match."

"… So it begins."

"Mm. The time of our promised match.

"To challenge me, you absolutely must climb into the A-Class top 8 in the tournament four months from now.

"However, the system is that the A-Class number 1 picks his S-Class opponent first, then on down, and no two challengers may pick the same target.

"In other words, even if you reached A-Class rank 2, if A-Class rank 1 challenged me first, you could not challenge me.

"Therefore, you must absolutely win the A-Class Tournament outright and challenge the S-Class as the number 1."

"… I see."

Win the A-Class Tournament four months from now and place first. Then, in the S-Class ranking match, challenge Ursula and win, becoming an S-Class.

… Time had opened up a bit. But Ursula's three-piece Spirit Garb set wasn't yet complete, and I wanted Colette to reach LV50 by then too… I'd train them properly, surpass Ursula in real strength, and definitely take the win.

"Yeah, I'll definitely win… and come to claim you."

I smiled. I didn't know just how harsh that road would be, but…

Even rank 118 Stein had been quite strong. How strong were the other A-Class Masters?

If I couldn't challenge them in Garumon Battles, there was no way to know… But if I couldn't win the A-Class Tournament without breaking a sweat, that wouldn't do.

"Mm. I shall be waiting.

"Naoto. Hone your skills as if your life depends on it. I shall not lose either. I look forward to your challenge."

Chu, chu…

So saying, Ursula clung to me and pressed her lips against mine. I licked Ursula's tongue back, and we tangled tongues feverishly.

"… And that is the end of the stiff talk. From here… is the real reason I summoned you all today, the victory celebration."

So saying, Ursula pulled away from me for the moment.

… Was that really stiff talk? The end of it had gotten awfully sweet.

"Now then, Naoto. You have splendidly fulfilled your promise to me.

"Truly splendid. With no knights of your own, in a total-war ruleset that disadvantaged you.

"And yet you mowed down the assembled knights… it was a win to be admired. I am impressed."

"… Thank you very much."

"Your technique is truly superb. Evading techniques to that extent…

"Without total empathy and trust between you and your Garumon, the discernment of skill ranges and timing, none of it could be achieved.

"You should take pride in that."

Ursula's words of praise made me genuinely happy.

They sank into my chest and warmed me from within.

"Thank you very much."

I still didn't have a real sense of how different B-Class and A-Class were.

But I had climbed one more step on the staircase. I'd come closer to Ursula, to a station where Ursula had recognized me.

"Then let us hold the victory celebration here and now. I know you all are content with Leone's home cooking.

"The other day I joined you and partook in it myself, and it was truly delicious. But every now and then, lavish, luxurious cuisine is good too.

"Let us host you with a feast prepared by the castle's chefs."

Ursula was apparently going to throw a victory celebration for me on the spot.

We took her up on the offer.

A lavish meal was carried into the room, and we savored every bite.

The chef's cooking had the unmistakable taste of an ultra high-end restaurant, gorgeous and exquisite.

I preferred Leone's cooking, but this was nice in its own way, with the unmistakable feel of a proper party.

And once the standing party drew to a close…

I had a bit of alcohol in me, too.

"Now, Naoto. Up to now we have been B-Class Master and S-Class Master, with distance between our positions, so I had refrained from being especially close to you to keep us apart."

Refrained…? Where, exactly? I wondered, but, well, all right then.

"… However, once one becomes an A-Class Master, one is already as good as an S-Class Master's right hand.

"From here on we shall deepen our familiarity, and I shall not let anyone complain.

"Is that not so, Libera?"

"Yes, just so. I do apologize for my discourtesies up to now, Naoto-sama."

Libera saluted me reverently.

"Mm! With my secretary Libera's seal of approval…

"Naoto, tonight you should stay over at my castle. Tonight let us spend the night talking at length about your exploits."

"Sure, then I'll take you up on the offer."

At Ursula's invitation, I'd be staying the night.

And just like that… we flowed into the night party.

And then… we ended up in the castle's big bath.

"Fufufu… I hear that in your world, there is a custom called 'naked friendship.'

"… And in this world, there is a custom called the bare salute.

"The bodies of futanari Masters such as myself are revered in this world as akin to the gods, you see.

"Simply showing the nude form of a futanari Master is the highest possible honor.

"To satisfy both at once…

"… Tonight, between Naoto and his companions, and Ursula Belzebute and her companions… we shall hold a nude exchange!"

Just as she'd declared… we had all gathered in Ursula Castle's big bath, completely naked.

… First, my eyes were drawn to Ursula.

Ahh… what beauty!

Ursula's nakedness, with nothing on her save the thin steam from the bath, lay bare before my eyes.

Her large eyes carried a faintly childlike innocence, yet her face held a bewitching beauty. Then her slender neck and shoulders.

And below them… white, full, gloriously asserting their existence, breasts almost too large!

Their pink tips were perfectly balanced against the size of those breasts, beautiful as artwork, yet unbearably erotic, perfectly reconciling that contradiction.

Then her supple arms and pinched waist, and… her crotch.

At her crotch, a manly penis stood proudly erect.

It was an impressive size. Proportionally, about on par with Haru or Yuria.

Thick, sturdy, and shaped neatly as if to declare Ursula's pride.

Perhaps noticing my gaze, Ursula raised one knee for me. Below the penis were testicles, and beneath them…

A girl's slit was faintly visible, peeking through.

It was a beautiful pink line, like a red flower that had bloomed in the snow…

"Aah… Ursula… b-beautiful…"

It was no use; my vocabulary couldn't manage anything else. I'd meant to learn elaborate praise for when we met, yet I'd never imagined the chance would come this soon…

The bare salute… so there was such a custom. But this was without question the highest of honors…

"Fufufu, good, good. The state of your erection is the greatest praise to me imaginable.

"This is the first bare salute Ursula Belzebute has ever offered. I am glad it pleased you.

"You have a fine build yourself.

"Come to think of it, this is also the first time I have seen another Master naked… and it is not bad.

"Though I expect that is because it is you, Naoto…"

We gazed at each other for a while. The way cherished lovers did… or at least, that was how I was treating it.

I drew toward Ursula as if pulled in.

… How close could I get before she'd snap that any further was disrespect? If she got angry, I'd stop, that's what I was thinking, but…

She wouldn't scold me, no matter how close I got.

Libera and Colette both watched me carefully, but neither pointed anything out. At this rate…

Already, Ursula's astonishingly beautiful face was right before mine.

Just like that… I kissed her on the lips.

"Mn, hamu, nchu, Naoto, Nao… toh…"

"Ursula, Ursulaaa…"

Rero, chu, rero… juru, chu… kuchu…

I licked Ursula's tongue and sucked on it. I slurped her saliva. Aaah… so delicious! Why was a girl's saliva so delicious?

No, surely it was because I was drinking it from her lips. Even I, if told to drink saliva straight from a cup, would… no, if it was a girl I loved, I could drink it…

No, no. Mustn't go awakening any weird kinks. Best stop thinking about unnecessary things.

I savored the melting deliciousness of Ursula's lips for a while.

Aah… it was hundreds of times more delicious than the feast I'd just eaten…

Neto, toro～… When I drew my mouth away, a bridge of saliva stretched between us.

W-Well, up to here was fine… I'd already secured permission for kissing… but past this point…

"… Ursula. The beautiful and large and wonderful breasts of yours, Ursula… if I groped them, would that be disrespectful…?"

I'd really rather not get hit with a "death penalty" again. Best to ask permission properly.

"Mu… that is, of course, beyond the scope of the bare salute… what shall we do, Libera?"

Ursula checked with Libera.

"… Let me see. Going forward, why don't we have Naoto-san serve as a consultant to Ursula-sama and consult with him on various matters.

"As compensation for that, would there really be any problem at all?"

"I see. That is a fine suggestion… Naoto, will you become my consultant?"

"A consultant, you mean…?"

"Nothing more than that, just as it sounds. You only need to listen to my consultations and reply with your opinions. In substance, nothing changes from now.

"… If you accept, then from this very moment… you may do as you wish with my breasts."

"… Most gratefully accepted!"

I agreed instantly.

Munyun…

I groped Ursula's breasts.

S-so soft…! Fluffy and melting… and probably partly because we were in the bath, the texture was moist and clung to my fingers…! Th-this was incredible! Far too incredible… they were the finest of breasts!

Munyu, munyu, munyun…

"A, aaaah… such, suddenly… mmh…"

"Aah… soft, melting away… like a dream, it feels so good, Ursula… Ursula…"

Chu, chu, rero… munyu, munyu…

I kissed Ursula in a daze, kissed Ursula's breasts, kept groping them.

"Haa, aah, aaah… s-stop, I-I'm cumming, I'm going to cuuum… nhaaaah!"

Bikun bikun!

Ursula's whole body twitched and convulsed…

Pyu, doku, doku, dokun!

Her penis was ejaculating.

The penis that had been bent backward in arousal was simply spraying semen onto her own body.

"Mn, ha, a, aah… f-for me of all people… to ejaculate from breast stimulation alone…

"Even when I was a virgin, this never happened, but…"

Ursula was blushing in embarrassment. So cute.

"Oh my, for the world's S-Class Master to be made to ejaculate by a rookie Master groping her breasts… how shameful."

Mikoto teased her like that.

"Mu… b-but Naoto's fingerwork felt too good!

"… Oi, Naoto, I give you permission! Use your fingers to enthrall that Mikoto, too!"

"Ahaha… well, when Mikoto-san and I are getting along better and the moment feels right, I'll absolutely take you up on that…

"But for now, I want to grope Ursula's breasts more. Since I have free run of them…"

"N-No… s-stop, if I keep cumming from breast play, my dignity won't… nhaaaaa…! N-no, my breasts, my breasts… nhaaaa…"

After that, Ursula climaxed three more times and ejaculated three times.

"… Nuu… s-so embarrassing…"

Ursula slipped away from my hands and clung to my back instead.

"… If you fondle my breasts any more, I cannot bear it… like this, you cannot reach them, can you? Fufufu."

So Ursula said, riding her own momentum. But eventually we'd have to part, and when that time came…

For now, the sensation of her breasts pressing against my back felt good, so I'd leave well enough alone.

"… Ah, that is right. I have not yet given any reward for your A-Class promotion."

"Reward? No, what just happened was…"

"… My breasts are compensation for you becoming my consultant.

"As for the A-Class promotion reward… let me see…"

Ursula peeked her face out from over my shoulder, turning her gaze.

"… What do you think of my Garumon… Libera, Mikoto, Mira, Cellas, and Saria?"

Inside the bath, every one of Libera's group was present.

… Since this was a bath, naturally they were all completely nude.

They stood a bit far away, so the steam hid them, but their wonderful, beautiful nude bodies peeked through.

"Without a doubt, every single one of them is wonderfully beautiful and charming, I think."

"Hmm… well, you have already been deepening individual exchanges with them, so…"

True enough, I hadn't touched on it much up to here, but I had actually been deepening relationships with Ursula's companions individually too.

That was a story for another time.

"Whatever the outcome of the match between you and me, it is already settled that, to my companions, you will be a second Master.

"That being so, even if you grow close to my companions and bed them now, there is no problem.

"Therefore, from this moment, you may freely seduce my companions.

"… You who always insist your companions are not slaves. Libera and the others are not your slaves at this time.

"Do you not think you can build an equal relationship with them?"

"T-That is… certainly true. It is a tempting offer, but… is it really all right?"

"Fufufu… it is no issue. Imagining those girls being held by you, I am, if anything, getting excited."

"Ahaha…"

Just as I'd thought things through plenty before allowing Haru and Yuria sex, Ursula seemed to have done her own thinking on it.

"Well, I doubt I could really seduce companions of Ursula's, beautiful as they are…"

"What is this, in battle you are so bold, yet here you are timid.

"If you can splendidly seduce them and bed them…

"On that occasion, I shall offer another reward."

"Eh, ehh…?"

The kindly but properly serious and disciplined Libera.

The hedonistic-seeming but tightening-where-it-counts Mikoto.

The kindly but smart Mira, against whom no average Master would stand a chance.

The dignified, beautiful female knight Cellas.

The gentle and easygoing but mature-for-it Saria…

Each of them was wonderfully attractive in her own way, but for an ex-loser like me to seduce them, the bar was way too high…

… Plus, if by some miracle I seduced them and got to have sex, that itself would already be the greatest reward. Getting another reward on top of it from Ursula would be reward overdose, surely.

"Erm… I don't have any confidence whatsoever in seducing them, but hearing you say that already feels like a wonderful reward.

"… I humbly accept."

"Fufun, the deadline is until the S-Class swap match after the A-Class Tournament where we settle things.

"… Several months from now should be plenty of time for you… Especially if you can show me the sight of you fondling that cheeky Mikoto's breasts to climax, I shall add a special bonus.

"Truly, that one lacks proper respect for me, her Master…"

"Ahaha…"

Well, any way you looked at it, Mikoto's breezy attitude came precisely from how dearly she loved Ursula.

Of course, Ursula must have known that too. The play-fighting between those two was fun to watch.

"… Ursula has of course had sex with them, I assume."

"Naturally. I guarantee they are excellent. Apply yourself diligently."

"That's something to look forward to… but isn't Ursula opposed? To another man having sex with the women she loves…"

"Hm? Another man…? Of course it would be out of the question if I were letting some random Master take them, but you are a different matter.

"You are a man I have acknowledged.

"What problem could there possibly be in a man I have acknowledged bedding my Garumon?"

Ursula spoke as if she didn't understand the issue.

"They feel good, you feel good… for it to come out that way makes me happy too.

"The way you speak of 'companions' or 'loved ones' is truly comforting to me.

"… You are a very good Master.

"Be a good Master to them too."

So saying, Ursula pressed her forehead against my back with a gentle thump.

"As for handling pubic hair, negotiate with each of them individually, and if you get their consent, do as you like. The pubic hair you shave off is yours to use as you will."

"Oh!"

What I especially wanted was Saria's Dragon-element! And Mira's Metal-element! Those two had been missing, so this was a huge help!

After that… only Earth-element would be left. So I really did need to settle things with that guy quickly…

"… My imagination, perhaps, but you seem the most pleased of all over this? Well, no matter…"

After we got out of the bath, that night…

"Naoto, come to my chambers."

I had been invited into Ursula's bed.

"Normally I sleep with one of my companions in my arms. But tonight I leave the night-service to you. Pleasure me thoroughly and lull me to sleep. This too is part of a consultant's duties. Can you do it?"

"… Hehe. That much, I'd be glad to."

So, embracing Ursula, kissing her, fondling her breasts, sucking on them…

What I had wanted to do all this time was finally coming true. It felt like a dream.

But for now, sex still wasn't on the table. That was for… after I beat Ursula and she became mine.

I knew that full well.

"Aah, aaah… Naoto, Naoto… to think you would reach A-Class so soon… You truly clawed your way up here. I am happy, Naoto.

"It seems my eye for picking you was not mistaken."

… Ursula laughed like that.

"How? Have the workings of how to defeat me come together?"

"That… not quite yet."

I answered honestly.

"… Fufufu. But if it is you, you will surely accomplish it by then… How exciting. Apply yourself diligently."

I was getting cheered on.

"However, my own aim is… to strike you down on that day, and only that.

"And then, to take you in as my Sub-Master.

"Even in that case your carnal desires would be fulfilled, but only as my slave, an existence that serves me."

She glared at me with the cold eyes of a Demon Lord.

"… Ursula."

For an instant, a chill ran down my spine. Even as we held each other sweetly like this, she was, after all, a Demon Lord.

To serve her… that too would feel good and be enjoyable in its own way.

But that was not my true wish.

"I'll… win. I'll win, and obtain what I really want."

"… Mm. Do your best.

"If I lose to you, I shall throw away all desire to serve you as a Garumon, every last bit.

"Going forward I intend to live as your Master."

Ursula stated it matter-of-factly.

… Was that really true? She was a futanari… a being who was both Garumon and Master.

Was throwing away the joys of being a Garumon really a happy outcome for her?

I wanted to give her the happiness of being a Garumon too.

For our final battle, I felt I could not afford to lose, even if it killed me.

"This year-end's swap match… well, that hardly matters. Rank 23 and rank 24 are well within margin of error.

"Next year, the world's greatest festival… the S-Class Tournament will be held.

"It is a memorial event for the world's three-hundredth anniversary. It will surely be a grand affair.

"For this greatest of festivals, I want to face it with all preparations in place.

"… With you, that should be possible…"

Ursula smiled.

"Aah… Ursula, by then, I'll have made you mine…"

"No, I shall make you mine."

Even as we declared war on each other… we held each other tightly and kissed deeply.

"… Suu…"

After several climaxes from my fingers and lips, Ursula drifted off into peaceful sleep.

Even though she was a Demon Lord with absolute power, her sleeping face was that of an innocent young girl. Truly adorable…

Still, telling me I could seduce her own companions… Ursula sure made some outrageous demands.

I couldn't imagine that radiant beauties like them would give a guy like me the time of day, but…

No, this kind of self-pity wouldn't do. By now I was the world's 24+118th Master. I was kind of a big deal, so I had to have some confidence.

… Well, I had been talking with Ursula's companions naturally over these two months of repeated mock battles, and we'd grown reasonably close.

With Ursula's permission granted, if I happened to grow even closer with them, that would be nice… or so I thought.

The tale of my time with Ursula's companions, I'd like to save for a separate telling.