Prologue – 『Same Route』
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Imperial Calendar, Year 431, Middle of June
At noon, a song filled the area. A melancholic piece brimming with pathos. The lyrics weren’t quite understandable, but it sounded like a dirge or a lullaby.
Chrono tried to recall his former world, but failed. The townscape in his previous world, the faces of his friends, and even those of his family had become vague, as if shrouded in a haze.
I guess that’s only natural. More than four years have passed since I’ve come to this world. Recently I’ve even stopped seeing those nostalgic scenes and people in my dreams.
Of course, it was different before. He had dreaded the fading of his memories of his old world. He couldn’t help but feel scared, as it seemed he was losing his connection to the place he came from, along with his memories of it. He wanted to go back home. He wanted to meet his family again. And just thinking about how he wouldn’t be able to see them made him cry.
But nowadays, he doesn’t shed a single tear, even when he thinks back on his family. Probably that’s because he isn’t Kurono Hisamitsu, but Chrono Chroford.
The trigger was the death of his foster mother, Ella Frond. She had cried on her deathbed, apologizing to Chrono’s foster father for being unable to give birth to a child for him.
Chrono thought she was pitiful, and more than that, wrong. She had been a gentle woman. She always treated Kurono Hisamitsu, a complete stranger, like her own son. If not for her, Chrono would have long since killed himself due to homesickness and Mayla’s grueling training.
She was the person who saved his life. As such, Chrono believed it was wrong for her to have passed away while being tormented by regret. That’s why Kurono Hisamitsu lied to her. He pretended to be her son. And she believed that lie.
Kurono Hisamitsu became Chrono Chroford. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to go on. Thus, it was only logical that he couldn’t remember his family.
The song stopped, and Chrono opened his eyes slowly. He was immediately met by a pair of boobs. Boobs with considerable volume and heft.
He had no doubt that those were Shaela’s breasts. Unfortunately, they were hidden behind clothes, however.
He extended a hand to play with them to his heart’s desire, but reconsidered.
It’s a bad idea to get impatient. First, I have to grasp my current situation.
In front of his eyes, boobs. A soft sensation at the back of his head. Moreover, he could sense a vibration being passed on.
Once he looked to the opposite side, he saw a seat. Apparently, he was receiving a lap pillow on the seat in his carriage. And at that point he also recalled that he was heading to the southern borderlands to give his support in subjugating the barbaric tribes.
One month after leaving the Erakis March, they had already crossed the border with the Burgmayer Earldom. They’d likely reach the Chroford residence in the evening.
Tomorrow he’d be heading to one of the four garrisons in the southern borderlands. The one under Gaul’s command.
“With that out of the way, I’ll take the liberty to touch them.”
“Hey, give it a rest. What are you going to do if someone sees us?”
He extended a hand with a groping motion. Thereupon, Shaela raised her voice slightly while pointing to the ceiling.
Come to think of it, Snow is sitting on the roof of the carriage as a lookout.
“T-Then, once we arrive at Dad’s mansion――”
“I plan to show my face at home in the Ecron Barony,” Shaela interrupted Chrono, but――
“We will arrive at Dad’s place in the evening, so you’ll depart from there tomorrow.”
“Ugh, only at such times do you use your head. But, yeah, yeah, I got it. I just have to do it, right?”
“While we’re at it, I’d be happy if I could have you promise me that you’ll be on top.”
“Stop using the situation to add favorable terms for yourself.”
“I mean, you haven’t been visiting me much, Landlady. It’s almost as if you’re avoiding me…”
“It’s not like I’m avoiding you or anything. Just, it’s a bit…,” Shaela mumbled under her breath.
Alright, one more push.
“And yet I kept my promise to you…”
“You’re bringing this up again… Okay, okay, I only have to keep my promise, yes? I’ll do it.”
“Hehehe, I’m looking forward to it.”
“Sheesh, just when did I become like this…,” Shaela sighed, but it probably wasn’t Chrono’s imagination that she didn’t look all that unhappy either.
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