Son, Give Me a Good Massage

Imperial Railway, Royal Class.

A train car specially created for me when I was emperor.

My wives and children ended up using it as well.

“Whoa.”

“Look at that.”

“Check out the ceiling. That’s a chandelier. How much do you think it costs?”

“If it has a self-illuminating feature, the price shoots way up, doesn’t it?”

Everyone’s eyes went wide like country bumpkins.

The entire car had been converted into a lounge, bedrooms, and leisure spaces.

Walking apart from the group, I stopped before a painting on the wall.

Me, Sirik Karakas, sitting on the throne.

And surrounding me, seven women standing close.

Different races, each one a stunning beauty.

My wives.

“……”

Lost in reminiscence for a moment, Amelia approached.

“This must be the painting of His Imperial Majesty and his wives.”

“Ah, they must have made a lot of copies of this on purpose.”

“Even so, they only hang it in cities.”

“See that beastwoman sitting on the floor with her rear planted down over there? That’s the Tiger Immortal. You know her, right?”

White hair and golden eyes.

A beautiful face, but a sleepy, bored expression.

She complained the whole time about how boring it was to sit still while being painted.

“Yes, she’s a beautiful woman.”

But Amelia only focused on me.

When I turned around, she immediately followed.

“Lisera’s already unpacked in the bedroom, right? The handmaid is helping her, but just in case, go check on her.”

“Yes.”

Amelia looked at me with concern for a moment, but withdrew.

Did I show something in front of my wives’ painting?

I was straightening my expression when Orca approached.

“Were you waiting? Let’s start now.”

“Sure.”

“……Still rude as ever.”

“There’s a crime for insulting the emperor, but is there one for insulting royalty?”

The empire’s law states anyone who insults me, Sirik Karakas, can be punished immediately.

Does that apply to my wives and children?

No.

This is quite a political matter…… my wives and children are each from different races.

The races have complex grudges and alliances entangled between them.

My vassals wanted a crime for insulting the emperor, but opposed one for insulting royalty.

After all, the blade could turn against their own races.

“Imperial authority was really quite emperor-centric. For instance, would elves or celestials treat you respectfully as a prince…… it’s pretty iffy, right?”

“That doesn’t mean I’ll keep tolerating you climbing all over me.”

Humans determine etiquette by age and status.

But when dealing with long-lived other races, etiquette gets complicated.

If you only count age, humans can’t even sit cross-legged in front of elderly other-race folks.

Also, each race’s norms are completely different.

I chuckled.

“Do Heinkel and Gunter bow to me because I’m human and a noble? They use honorifics ready to cut my throat if needed. That’s part of agent training, isn’t it?”

Dark elves default to honorifics.

To make the listener feel good and let their guard down.

Also, for dark elves who might need to eliminate someone at any moment, it prevents forming unnecessary attachments.

“……”

When Orca frowned, I grinned.

Actually, this kid isn’t really being picky about etiquette.

He’s just feeling annoyed and increasingly wary because Lisera speaks well of me.

“Let’s not nitpick now. We already agreed to settle it with a match, didn’t we? If you beat me, I’ll gladly call you big brother and massage your shoulders.”

I sat at the table and rolled up my sleeves.

“You saw Lisera worrying, right? No magic, just brute strength — let’s settle it with arm wrestling. Your Highness.”

“Not Your Highness, division chief. I’ll break your arm clean off.”

Orca boasted and sat across from me.

I added,

“Ah, but it’s no fun without stakes. If you win, what will you put up? Giving up on Lisera is a given.”

“How rude! Using Sister’s whereabouts as a wager!”

“That’s your story. Put up your wallet.”

Orca looked puzzled but pulled out his wallet and set it on the table.

I casually opened it and said,

“Right, you’ve got some money. If I win, I order something from here?”

It’s called Royal Class, but it’s not free.

For instance, drinking the beverages or eating the food in that refrigerator requires separate payment.

I established that law when I was emperor, and I actually paid for what I ate and drank.

This railway was built with the people’s blood and sweat — how could I live lavishly off it?

Royal Class was created for security reasons, not to indulge in luxury.

Orca threatened me.

“Fine. If I win, you get off at the very next station and never approach Sister again.”

“You’re making strange assumptions, but I’ll just teach you with my body.”

Garul rushed over without being called and volunteered as referee.

“Your Highness, Young Master Rigen. When I count to three, both of you start.”

Orca glared at me with blazing eyes, tensing up with all his might.

And I…… yawned while activating my psychic ability.

Clairvoyance.

Orca’s arm muscles appeared vividly before my eyes.

Arm wrestling is a battle of grip strength and arm strength, but force distribution is also important.

Just watching when the opponent applies force……

The match started.

Twenty seconds later.

“Young Master Rigen wins!”

……Did I even need to use clairvoyance?

Orca applied full force from the start, and I just held out appropriately before counterattacking when his strength waned.

This body of Rigen’s is simply stronger than Orca.

“Hgk, haaaack. Hgk……”

Orca collapsed on the table, his body trembling.

I scratched my head and said,

“Hey, we’re done, right?”

“O, one more round!”

“No, brute strength contests will always end the same way. You’re smaller than me and have less muscle mass.”

I’ve been training consistently since reincarnation.

I examined Orca’s body and said,

“You don’t really exercise, do you? Even with magic enhancement, it comes down to hand-to-hand combat in the end — don’t you train?”

“I am training. But muscle doesn’t build easily.”

“……”

Mm, well dark elves are physically weak, aren’t they?

I tossed Orca’s wallet to Garul.

“Hey, use this to buy something you want from the fridge.”

“What? Just me?”

“Don’t worry. Everyone takes turns eating and drinking.”

Orca’s face flushed with indignation at my provocation.

I stood up and said,

“Brute strength won’t work, right? Then let’s play a game of pool.”

Orca can’t beat me with brute strength.

So I kept changing the competition…….

“Four of a kind. I win.”

“……I, impossible.”

Orca sat there looking dazed.

The wallet on the table was completely empty.

And behind me — Garul sucking on a drink, Heinkel eating a slice of cake.

Amelia was examining a palm-sized doll with curiosity.

The backpack held emergency supplies, a first aid kit, and souvenirs.

All bought with Orca’s money from my winnings.

“Shall we stop soon?”

“……”

When I shuffled the cards again, Orca looked at me with distrust.

Suspicious eyes. I chuckled.

“Think I’m cheating?”

Arm wrestling, pool, Old Maid, darts, poker…….

I was undefeated in these contests when using psychic abilities.

If needed, I could manipulate with telekinesis and see through with clairvoyance.

But I didn’t need to.

Orca’s personality was too honest and straightforward.

And I had far more experience with these contests.

“Orca. Son of Librata didn’t say anything suspicious while shuffling either.”

Lisera’s advice.

When Orca kept losing, she had at some point started standing behind him, guarding his back.

I shrugged.

“You’ve already switched sides?”

“I’m sorry. ……I felt bad for him.”

“Mmm.”

Orca’s face flushed with shame.

He came forward to reclaim his sister, but instead he’s earning her concern.

I set down the cards and spoke calmly.

“Well then, shall I claim my prize now?”

“Wait. I’ll bring more money……”

“No, forget it — give me a massage instead.”

“What?”

“My shoulders hurt from constantly dealing with you. Come massage them good.”

Garul looked horrified.

“Y, Young Master. Even so, he’s a prince……”

“What? Where’s the prince here? Until just now I was playing pool, going to the sauna with Dark Elf Division Chief, wasn’t I?”

“……”

Orca’s face contorted.

This kid keeps emphasizing he’s the dark elf division chief, which I figured out while competing.

I played innocent.

“Oh, does our division chief transform — division chief when he wins, prince when he loses? My goodness, I failed to recognize you. I failed to recognize Your Highness! I’m so scared I should use honorifics from now on.”

“Grrrrr……”

Tremble tremble.

When Orca’s body shook, Lisera intervened.

“Shall I give you a massage?”

“……What are you saying! I’ll do it!”

A resounding voice.

Orca stood abruptly and approached my back.

Hating it to death but driven by the single-minded determination to protect his sister.

Lisera herself was trying hard to hold back laughter.

“Brace yourself, you bastard.”

“Don’t use magic. You know that, right?”

Squeeeze.

Squeeeze.

Orca kneaded my shoulders with all his might.

But since he’s weak, it doesn’t even hurt much.

I drank my coffee and closed my eyes.

Playing with my son and getting a massage like this is quite pleasant.

“Keep massaging and listen. Why did you come personally, Orca?”

A flinch.

When Orca’s hands stopped, I tapped the table lightly.

Understanding, Orca resumed kneading my shoulders.

I looked at Lisera and said,

“I’m not doubting you came to fetch Lisera. A younger brother worrying about his sister and coming to greet her — if you were ordinary family, sure. But you two are a prince and princess. I have to view this politically.”

Lisera is essentially the elves’ weakness, their disgrace.

“Lisera receiving dark elf protection? The elves are mafia bastards, so they’d choose all-out war with the dark elves if needed. Of course, even so, the dark elves would want to secure Lisera under the name of protection. But you coming to the forefront like this is too dangerous.”

“……”

“For instance, to deceive the elves’ eyes, the standard move would be using me or another human as a front. But you made direct contact like this, and you could become the spark for an elf-dark elf war. The Queen of Assassins wouldn’t allow that.”

I continued speaking.

“Two possibilities. Either you’re a troublemaking dutiful son who only does what Mom tells you not to. Or……”

“Or what?”

“The Queen of Assassins is permitting you to bring Lisera back because the situation has gone crazy enough.”

Clatter clatter!

A moment of silence, only the sound of the rattling train car.

“……Fuuuu.”

Orca sighed and returned to sit across from me.

Lisera placed her hand on his shoulder.

Orca placed his hand over Lisera’s.

Orca looked at me and said,

“……I thought you were just a country bumpkin, but you’re absolutely no ordinary guy. Sister didn’t keep you close for nothing.”

“Everyone here is trustworthy, so don’t beat around the bush and just tell me.”

Orca hesitated, then spoke.

“I received Mother’s permission to bring Sister Lisera, with conditions.”

“What conditions?”

“You solved Marquis Crocell’s case, so you must know he had backers, right?”

This is the information I wanted.

When I nodded, Orca lowered his voice.

“We discovered what that organization’s next target is. We’re trying to stop it.”

“Hold on.”

“The organization’s name is the Empire Liberation Army.”

Orca said,

“They’re planning to blow up the imperial railway.”