Hentai Conquest: Starting From Kuroinu

"I feel like my whole body is falling apart..."

After finishing his bath and being helped onto the bed, Asahi spoke weakly.

Beside him, Celestine, as usual, was using magic to heal his body, while also complaining a little about Garf.

"Really, why did things turn out so harsh this time? What was General Garf even thinking?"

"He was probably too excited. After all, what we mentioned earlier just happens to be the thing that excites him the most. So, he said the training would be tougher than before because it's to help me grow better."

"What exactly did you and Claudia talk about that got him so excited? Could it be that you agreed to his request?"

As Celestine thought about this, her expression turned somewhat sad. After all, the only outcome she could imagine that would make Garf so happy and excited was exactly this.

"Yes and no. We can't directly refuse him right now, so we had to take a roundabout approach. I told General Garf that Claudia and I would just get engaged for now, so he doesn't need to rush. Then I said I plan to establish some merits first, so that I can approach Claudia with a more suitable status later. Hearing this, he happily agreed."

"How could you use such a delaying tactic? What are you planning to do to resolve this later?"

Hearing this, Celestine couldn't help but let out a surprised sound. Even though Asahi said this was just a delaying tactic, Celestine still found it unacceptable.

"This was Claudia's idea. It's the best way to convince General Garf. As for how to undo it... there's no solution for now, but Claudia said there'll definitely be a way in the future."

"Claudia... so she really does have feelings for you, doesn't she?"

Hearing that it was Claudia's idea, Celestine suddenly realized—this was just an excuse. While the roundabout method was meant to deal with Garf, its main purpose was clearly to make Asahi accept her. After all, Asahi must have already explained everything to Claudia.

But now that things had reached this point, it was too late for Celestine to change anything. Looking back, she had considered many scenarios but completely overlooked Claudia's feelings for Asahi. At the time, she had noticed Claudia paying attention to Asahi but had thought it was just Garf's influence that made her act like that.

Now, however, it was clear she had made a huge mistake. From the beginning, Claudia had had feelings for Asahi, but Celestine was only realizing this now.

"Celestine... what should we do now?"

Seeing Celestine suddenly look sad, Asahi wanted to comfort her but didn't know what to say. After hearing her words, he also realized he might have trusted Claudia too much to truly help him.

"For now, let's leave it as it is. Later, we might need to come up with another plan."

At this point, Celestine couldn't handle the situation at all. Or rather, even though she held a noble status, she didn't have the authority to interfere in someone else's private matters. Moreover, if she disrupted this engagement by claiming to be the one Asahi truly loved, it would undoubtedly anger Garf, which would go against Asahi's original intention to maintain a good relationship with him.

Thinking of this, Celestine couldn't help but sigh. She really hadn't anticipated things turning out like this.

"I'm sorry, Celestine."

Seeing her current state, Asahi felt full of guilt.

"This isn't your fault. But next time, you need to be more careful and discuss with me first. Only after confirming the situation should you give them an answer. That way, we can avoid these kinds of problems as much as possible."

"I understand. I'll be more cautious in the future and won't give immediate answers."

Asahi nodded sincerely. He had already realized that the power bestowed on him by Lerentia, the goddess, had effects that were somewhat over-the-top. Based on the situations he had encountered so far; it was clear that such issues couldn't be ignored anymore.

"Alright~ I believe in you, Asahi!"

Celestine's smile returned. She stroked Asahi's cheek, full of trust in his promise.

However, Celestine never expected that Claudia would soon have new actions one after another.

———

The next day, when Asahi met with Garf and Claudia, the first thing they said left him stunned.

"Lord Asahi, if it's convenient, would you consider moving to our residence? This would save a lot of time, and the Levontine family has many training facilities and medicinal baths to enhance your physique, making your training much more efficient."

"Move into your house? That... that's a bit sudden, isn't it?"

Not only Asahi but also Celestine was caught off guard. Their reasoning was perfectly logical—helping Asahi with his training. But knowing Claudia's intentions, wasn't this just sending him into the lion's den?

Who could predict if Claudia might suddenly make a move on Asahi during this time? If that happened, there would be no escape.

Celestine wanted to flatly refuse, but the situation...

"This is a decision I've made after careful consideration, Lord Asahi. It's to help you grow better and learn the knowledge needed on the battlefield. After all, this is no trivial matter and requires time to accumulate."

Asahi's expression grew more conflicted as he thought about how to respond. Seeing this, Garf became even more certain of his previous suspicions—Asahi had feelings for Celestine, which was why he was reluctant to leave the church and unable to meet with others.

But precisely because of this, Garf needed to resolve this issue. Otherwise, Claudia would have no chance, and his wish would be left unfulfilled.

"But isn't General Garf here to assist me?"

"Me? Although I can help you, I can't do it for a lifetime, can I?"

"That's not wrong to say…"

Asahi nodded, unsure how to respond. He glanced briefly at Celestine beside him, noticing her expression was not particularly good either. Clearly, this matter was also troubling her greatly, and she didn't know what to do.

"Is there a problem?"

"No... it's not really a big problem. It's just that I'm used to the current situation here. Changing environments suddenly makes me a bit worried."

"If that's the case, then Claudia will help you quickly adapt to life there. When it comes to taking care of others, she's very reliable."

Doesn't this make her even more capable of doing whatever she wants?

Asahi opened his mouth, feeling like there was nothing more he could say that would help. He couldn't come up with a suitable reason to refuse. He certainly couldn't outright say he didn't want to leave Celestine, could he? Saying something like that might make the situation even worse.

"General Garf, could I have a private word with Asahi first?"

Celestine spoke up, and Garf had no objection. He nodded in agreement and watched as the two walked away.

"Father, do you think Lady Celestine will agree?"

"She will. After all, our reasoning is for Lord Asahi to have better opportunities for growth. If Lady Celestine truly cares about his future, then this will certainly succeed."

Garf was confident in this. From the beginning, when Celestine introduced Asahi to him, it was clear she wanted Asahi to have better prospects, which was why she arranged their meeting.

"Even if Lord Asahi doesn't fully agree, Lady Celestine will likely persuade him in the end. We know he admires Lady Celestine, but whether she feels the same is another question. Personally, I think Lady Celestine sees herself more as a mentor or guardian to Lord Asahi. As long as we follow through with the plan we discussed earlier, Lord Asahi's attention will shift away from Lady Celestine."

Hearing Garf's analysis, Claudia felt much more at ease. Moreover, the thought of living with Asahi in the future filled her heart with happiness.

———

"Celestine, what should we do about this situation?"

This sudden development caught Asahi completely off guard, leaving him no time to prepare. He looked at Celestine with a troubled expression, hoping she had some ideas.

"If Claudia weren't involved, this would indeed be a good thing to agree to. But I didn't expect this situation to arise."

Celestine admitted she had underestimated Claudia, nor did she expect her to act so quickly and with such a legitimate reason. It was difficult to refuse when, aside from this factor, the arrangement clearly brought Asahi many benefits. It was also the first step to building a connection with the Levontine family.

For Asahi's future, the choice seemed obvious, even if it was unpleasant. Celestine felt there was no way to avoid this matter now. She regretted ever introducing Asahi to Garf and Claudia. If not for that, this wouldn't be happening.

But now was not the time to complain. Things hadn't yet reached a dire point.

"Agree to it, Asahi."

"Agree? Should I really agree? What should I do then?"

"Your relationship with Claudia is one of collaboration, isn't it? She doesn't have much leverage to do anything against you. If she does, it would break your initial agreement. But honestly, such an agreement isn't very binding on her. If it comes down to it, you'll just have to deal with it."

Celestine's response surprised Asahi, 'Why is she suddenly giving in?'

"This situation is hard to accept, yes. But we can't avoid it anymore. And you don't need to be sad. After all, if you ever want to see me, you can come at any time, can't you?"

Ultimately, Asahi's feelings for her were what mattered most. That was Celestine's biggest advantage. No matter what Claudia did, Asahi still wanted to stay by her side. Even if Claudia gained some benefits temporarily, in the long term, Celestine was confident in her position. As long as she maintained their bond, these problems wouldn't be so troubling.

"Now that you put it that way, I suppose so."

Garf hadn't forbidden him from visiting Celestine. After finishing his training each day, Asahi could use his free time to see her and strengthen their relationship.

"I understand now. Let's go tell General Garf."

Having made his decision, Asahi stopped dwelling on the matter and returned to face Garf and Claudia.

———

"Lord Asahi, it seems you've made a decision?"

"Yes, regarding the matter of going to the Levontine family, I accept. I'll rely on you, General Garf."

"Hahaha! Not at all. I should be the one thanking you for being willing to join my family."

Garf laughed heartily, satisfied with the outcome. For him, this was the first step toward securing the family's future. Once Asahi was part of the Levontine family, becoming a true member was only a matter of time. Garf believed their relationship would eventually grow as close as father and son.

Claudia was equally delighted. She couldn't hide her smile as she thought about taking care of Asahi's daily life and needs from now on.

"Lord Asahi, if there's nothing you need to bring, shall we depart together?"

"Alright, just give me a moment."

Asahi nodded, then returned to Celestine's side. He opened his arms and embraced her, bidding her farewell. As he hugged her, he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the ear. Celestine's body trembled slightly—her ears were clearly sensitive. Her adorable reaction made Asahi chuckle.

Unable to resist, Asahi lowered his head and kissed her lips. Celestine's eyes widened in surprise, but after a moment, they softened into joy, and she reciprocated his affection.

After leaving the church with Garf and Claudia, Asahi sat in the carriage, looking curiously at the scenery and the bustling crowd on the streets.

However, when he saw a few beastfolk with animal heads, a hint of disappointment appeared on his face. The beast folk here were clearly not what he had imagined— humanoid in appearance with partial animal features.

"What's wrong? You look disappointed."

Garf noticed Asahi's expression and glanced at the beastfolk in Asahi's line of sight, puzzled by his reaction.

"It's nothing. I was just a little disappointed because the reality didn't match the fantasy I initially had."

Asahi shook his head as he explained. Although Garf didn't fully understand the issue, he chose not to pry further. After all, even if there was something to it, it wasn't his place to ask.

"What were you originally expecting, Lord Asahi?" Claudia asked curiously. Sitting close to him in the carriage, the occasional bumps in the road caused her body to lean against his arm, making Asahi acutely aware of the soft sensation pressing against him.

"Well, I thought beastfolk would look like humans with some animal features. Back where I'm from, that's the kind of beastfolk people like."

"Hmm? Even if that were the case, it doesn't seem all that special," Claudia replied, tilting her head.

"Hahaha, well... it's just a personal preference. Let's not talk about it anymore," Asahi said, feeling embarrassed. Claudia looked a bit regretful, as it seemed like she had lost an opportunity to understand him better.

After some time, the carriage stopped in front of a grand noble mansion. Once Asahi stepped out, he followed Garf and Claudia into the mansion's grand hall, where the walls were adorned with numerous weapons. The decorations perfectly matched Garf's image as a warrior.

"Interested in those weapons? They were used by exceptional members of the Levontine family in the past, and some are even trophies from their victories."

Seeing Asahi's curiosity, Garf enthusiastically began explaining, even delving into the history of the Levontine family.

As Garf spoke animatedly, the sudden appearance of a figure caused his expression to darken, as if he had swallowed a fly. Asahi noticed Garf's reaction and turned to look at the bespectacled man who had entered, puzzled.

"What are you doing here?"

Garf's tone turned harsh, almost as if he were a different person, making it clear that he did not want this man around.

"Just retrieving some documents I had organized earlier." The man, seemingly accustomed to such treatment, raised the stack of papers in his right hand as he spoke. His gaze shifted to Asahi. Although he had anticipated Asahi's presence, it still caused him to sigh internally. After all, Asahi's appearance here suggested that the matter with Claudia had likely progressed to the point of marriage.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Asahi tried to lighten the mood by asking, "General Garf, is this man a family member of yours?"

"Him? Hmph! I wouldn't consider an unworthy individual like him family."

Garf's outright dismissal of the man left Asahi intrigued. Based on their similar appearances, it was clear they shared a blood relation—perhaps Garf's son or a close relative. But what could have caused such animosity?

Maybe he could ask Claudia about it later to get some answers.

"If you have no other business, leave immediately. Stop getting in our way," Garf demanded. The man, seemingly accustomed to such treatment, simply shrugged and left.

After the man was gone, Garf's expression relaxed slightly.

"It seems like there's quite a complicated story behind this," Asahi said tentatively.

"Indeed. Although I don't want to admit it, that man is actually my son," Garf admitted begrudgingly.

Asahi wasn't particularly surprised by this revelation. Thinking back to their earlier conversation and the situation with the Levontine family, he could somewhat understand why Garf might despise his son.

"As my son, can you believe he abandoned the path of a warrior to become a civil servant? It's utterly absurd. All the effort I've put into preparing for his future has gone to waste. His actions have brought nothing but shame to the family." Garf's anger grew as he spoke, veins bulging on his forehead—a testament to his fury.

"So, he doesn't deserve to be my son, nor does he deserve the family name. His choices have jeopardized the future of the Levontine family. Someone like him would only lead the family to ruin."

"Is that why you're so eager for me to become your adopted son or to marry Claudia?" Asahi asked.

"Exactly! With your talents and your connection to Lady Lerentia's divine bloodline, you can elevate the Levontine family to greater heights. Your appearance is nothing short of salvation for us." Garf said firmly.

Hearing this, Asahi couldn't help but worry. If Garf ever found out that his so-called talents came from Lady Lerentia's divine blessing and had nothing to do with his own abilities—and that he was just an ordinary person—would Garf turn against him?

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