CH 31

Chapter 31: The Führer and the Bath

As it turns out, the king was not caught. 

According to an investigation by the Imperial Guard, it appears that Lycan II had fled ahead of his troops, leaving them behind. 

Furthermore, he apparently managed to escape the pursuit of the cavalry unit with incredible speed… As expected of a beast, they are quick on their feet. 

Well, apart from that, the war results were excellent. 

In the battle of Tigervania, we were able to achieve complete victory. 

A few of our casualties are due to accidents. 

Beastvania’s army on the other hand, lost most of its 100,000 troops and was defeated. 

When combined with the pursuit assault by armored units, I believe we succeeded in taking out more than 70,000 enemies. We haven’t finished tallying the bodies, though. 

……Well, we had overwhelming firepower to begin with, and we were also half-encircled them, so this result was understandable. 

With the outcome of this battle, it should be safe to conclude that Beastvania’s Army has lost most of its fighting ability. 

I believe the Beastkins understood very well how strong we are. It is safe to say that most of our objectives for the operation have been achieved. 

……Well, besides, letting the King to escape is not that big of a problem. 

From the beginning, the possibility of not being able to capture Lycan II was part of the plan. 

The probability of capturing the enemy’s leader on a battlefield is quite low. 

Therefore, in order to move the operation to the next phase, I am traveling to the next target on board Führer’s ship Fugaku… 

“Eryu-san, it easily to gets dirty here, so you have to be sure to clean it thoroughly, okay?” 

“Hyaah! Wait, Ayame-san! No, you can’t!” 

Things are a bit of a problem when I take baths in Fugaku. Well, this is what you get when you take a bath together with Ayame-san. 

Ah, did you imagine something weird?　　

Everything’s fine. I didn’t do anything like that, okay? She simply cleans the backs of my ears. 

Yes, that’s what happened. That’s all there is to it. Let’s leave it at that. 

“Nnghh, ugh… Sto-…” 

“It is all cleaned up now. There you go, Eryu-san, let’s get you into the bathtub!” 

……Phew, that was ticklish. 

But, you know, I was almost done there… 

In case you’re wondering, we’re simply washing ourselves… Well, you know, Ayame-san sometimes her hands reach for weird places. 

I would not dare to specify where they are reaching to. 

This is already hard work to stop her each time she does that. 

When I was tired and exhausted, Ayame-san took me in her arms and placed me in the bathtub. 

……I’m just a little tired, okay? I’m not particularly comfortable with it. 

I am held from behind by Ayame-san while bathing. 

This arrangement is at my own request. After all, this is the best way to relax. I’m always in this same position when I take a bath. 

You see, Ayame-san is a pervert, but she also is a beautiful girl, I mean, it’s embarrassing to face each other naked… 

With that said, I’ve gotten used to Ayame-san to a certain extent… 

So, when I got embarrassed and looked away, she said, “Oh, Eryu-san, does my body excite you?” As if I’m going into heat. 

Ayame-san, once you get into heat, you will do this and that until I pass out… That’s why I’m not going to say anything about it anymore. 

Anyway, the most rational thing to do is to wait for Ayame-san to be satisfied while being embraced like a doll from behind. 

“Ah… Hmm… So, the third phase of ‘Shock and Awe’, …Is everything ready? Ayame-san.” 

“We’re perfectly ready, Eryu-san. We have already tipped them off using the Half Beastkin Intelligence Division.” 

Mmm…Then that’s okay. 

At least stop what you are doing when you are talking. Sniffing my hair, and saying, “Ahh, you smell so good.” 

Like that right hand of yours. Where are you trying to touch… 

Besides, we are using the same shampoo, so our hair should smell the same 

……Now, it’s about time for Ayame-san to be satisfied. I’ll use my secret moves. After all, I don’t think the conversation is going to progress as it is. 

“…Ayame-san?” 

“Yes, what is it, Eryu-san?” 

“Please pat my head.” 

Then I turn around and demand so with an upward glance. 

Yes, this is my secret move. 

When I said this, Ayame-san said, “Oh, have you gotten infatuated! I have finally done it!” This means that I will no longer be touched in strange places, and she will be very happy to pat me on the head. 

By the way, there is another alternative which is ‘holding hands’. This one is equally effective. 

I have the option of saying “stop” as a last resort, but I feel some guilt because Ayame-san looks sad when I do this… 

Now back to the Beastvania strategy of ‘Shock and Awe’. 

The third phase of the plan is the navy’s invasion of the enemy Royal Capital, Lycanvania. Of course, this does not mean we are going to burn down the city. 

Or rather, it’s a bluff. 

We don’t actually have to bombard the enemy’s royal capital. 

“The main objective was to have a naval battle with the enemy fleet… That’s why I leaked the information.” 

“If they knew that their Royal Capital was going to be attacked with a naval fleet, they would send what little naval forces they have. Eryu-san has thought this thoroughly.” 

“I always think things through, you know?” 

Using the Intelligence Division, we leak information about our attack on the Royal Capital so that the enemy fleet will intercept us. 

So far, I am almost certain it will work. I mean, no matter how inferior they may be in terms of strength, they will desperately resist if the enemy reaches out to their capital. 

So, who will be the commander of the enemy fleet?　

I estimate that there is a high possibility that Lycan II himself will come. 

After all, if they lose this naval battle, Beastvania’s Royal Capital will be burnt to the ground. 

If it goes badly, it will turn out to be a desperate battle for the survival of the country. Moreover, their entire army has almost been annihilated, and their last remaining force is the Navy. 

The Navy is the sole military force that can defend the country, and if that Navy were to lose, the Royal Capital would fall. 

Is there a possibility that the king himself doesn’t appear at such an important battle? 

……Well, although it is not impossible that he might be too scared to appear since he lost the battle of Tigervania, he is unlikely to be that much of a loser. 

There is no need to worry about them escaping if the whole ship is captured in a naval battle. Then again, our Navy is not so dumb as to let a slow-moving galley ship to get away. 

Or rather, it has been planned from the beginning… 

So we are going to the Royal Capital, Lycanvania. 

We are on our way there in the Fugaku, escorted by the 1st Fleet led by the battleship Fuji. 

……Speaking of Fuji. 

I turn around again and look at Ayame-san. Ayame-san stopped patting my head and tilted her head cutely, asking me what was wrong. 

“Speaking of which, Ayame-san. Todo-san, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet was complaining. He said the Führer should be on board a battleship.” 

“Do you want to board the battleship?” 

“…I wanted to, actually.” 

Because it’s cool, isn’t it, the dreadnought battleship Fuji. The design of the ship somehow gives off the impression of a British dreadnought battleship from the early days of the war… Every boy would surely admire it. 

Well, I am not a boy now. 

“That’s a no, Eryu-san. You know, battleships are full of men.” 

……Certainly, women are forbidden in the Imperial Navy, and only muscular men are allowed on board warships. With the sole exception of Fugaku, which is under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Guard… 

“What’s wrong with that?” 

“What’s wrong you say, listen, Eryu-san, men are wolves, they are beasts. No way I would send my frail Eryu-san to a place like that…” 

……Mmm

You’re not a less of a beast yourself Ayame-san, but, I don’t think it is a good idea to say that, right? 

Well, I know that Ayame-san is thinking about me, so I can’t just disregard her… 

“Don’t be so sad… Speaking of which, Eryu-san, you love battleships, don’t you? Recently, you have been painting pictures of battleships, ‘Yamato’ was it? That battleship picture.” 

“Hm, that’s right. 46-cm main cannon, with a total of nine cannons in three batteries.” 

I’ve had a lot of free time these past few months, so I’ve been immersing myself in my hobby of painting. I was painting landscapes, battleships, fighter aircraft, and many other things. 

One of them is a picture of the Imperial Japanese Empire’s pride and joy, the super-dreadnought battleship Yamato… 

I also painted HMS Hood the pride of the British Empire. 

“humph… then, which do you like better, me or the battleships?” 

“Which one, that’s… to begin with it is a totally different kind of like?” 

Ayame-san hugged me tightly and gave me a Yandere vibe. Nmm… Please don’t rub me there. It won’t grow anyway, even if you massage it. 

In response to my answer, she said, “Well, you have a point.” You wouldn’t lock me up or anything, right? 

You know, something like, “I won’t let you out of here until you say you like me better,” or something of that sort. 

“…Eryu-san, can’t you bear with four 38-cm cannons?” 

“Eh, I don’t mind, but… what are you talking about?” 

“I’m talking about over here.” 

……？

Well, I suppose I shouldn’t worry about it, since Ayame-san always comes up with strange things. 

Now, we should get out of the bath, right? I’m starting to get boiled.