The mules we acquire are healthy and sturdy, each with a glossy coat and strong limbs, exuding an air of resilience. Their eyes are bright and alert, a sign that they’re well cared for and capable of handling long journeys. I take a moment to approach each one and then I run my hand along their necks and stroke their soft manes. The animals snort contentedly, their warm, earthy scent filling the air.
“Good boys,” I murmur, appreciating their calm demeanor. There’s a quiet strength about them that reassures me they’ll handle the journey with ease.
The merchant carriage itself is quite spacious, built to carry numerous crates of wares. It’s crafted from reinforced wood, its exterior and wheels are further reinforced with enchanted iron bands that shimmer faintly in the light, providing extra durability against the wear and tear of the road. Supposedly the enchanted wheels offer enhanced stability on uneven terrain as well.
Although not luxurious, the carriage is practical and reliable, designed for functionality over comfort, with a modest yet effective charm woven into its frame.
There’s only a single padded bench facing forward, toward the mules. This merchant carriage is heavily focused on transporting goods rather than many passengers, but the three of us have more than enough space to fit comfortably.
I let my gentlemanly persona shine through as I assist the ladies in climbing onto the carriage. With a flourish and an exaggerated bow, I offer my hand to Ayame. She raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips as if she’s trying to decide whether to be amused or suspicious of my sudden and unexpected chivalrous act.
“Really?” she questions, glancing at the low step of the carriage.
“Indulge me,” I reply with a grin, maintaining my position. “My mother taught me to treat the ladies right, after all.”
She rolls her eyes but accepts my hand with a sigh of resignation. “Fine, fine. I’m not sure what Julia would think about your claim of treating women right, but who am I to argue?”
“She wasn’t a lady.” I scoff.
“Fair enough, I agree wholeheartedly.”
Next, I turn to Blossom, who watches the exchange with a wagging tail and a wide smile. She eagerly takes my hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Master is the handsome prince from the tale Natalie told Blossom when she couldn’t fall asleep as a child!” she giggles and then steps up with a graceful hop.
“Anything for you, my fair lady,” I respond with an exaggerated tone, giving a little bow as she settles onto the padded bench. Blossom giggles again, clearly enjoying the theatrics much more so than my beautiful warrior.
I then follow them up and get settled between the two girls. I lean back against the seat and let my legs fall naturally to the sides as I indulge in a little bit of manspreading. At my new height, it’s less about making a statement and more about finding a way to fit my long legs in the rather limited space.
I casually drape my arms over the shoulders of my two beloved women as I start leisurely enjoying the gentle massage provided by the warm rays of the morning sun.
I let out a satisfied sigh.
Life is good.
Blossom is quick to snuggle into my chest, her ears twitching contentedly as she makes herself at home. She seems to appreciate the cozy space I’ve created, which is evidenced by her tail wagging softly as she merrily settles in.
Ayame, on the other hand, gives me a sidelong glance, her expression somewhere between bemusement and mild annoyance. “Taking up a bit too much space, aren’t we?” She quips.
“Try being a two-meter-tall, muscular alpha male for a change, miss short and slender,” I reply with a smug grin and then I begin stroking her dark, shoulder-long hair with affectionate motions of my hand.
She huffs softly, but I catch a minute hint of a smile on her lips. “It’s important to have confidence as a combatant but aren’t you a bit too arrogant? Both of us ‘ladies’ could easily wrestle you into submission, mister super alpha.”
“Blossom would never do that!”
“I know… I was only making a statement, Blossom.”
“Oh. Still, don’t make a statement about Blossom hurting Master! After all, Master made Blossom submit to him not only in mind but also in body last night!”
Hehehe. That I most certainly did.
Ayame sighs at my adorable dog-kin girl’s attitude and shameless words. I feel absolutely obligated to give her head a few good pets as well.
I’m pretty sure that I could put up a very good fight against Blossom at the very least if we were to get serious, since in a wrestling match her overwhelming Agility is not as important as it would be in a normal fight and our Strength and Vitality are nearly identical after my second transformation’s added 5 extra attribute points in each physical category.
“Anyways, as long as you don’t get too carried away, I suppose I can tolerate it.” I’m happy to see that none of my girls are raging feminists who are opposed to a little bit of healthy manspreading. Well, I wouldn’t have fallen for them if they were.
It’s also very encouraging to see that Ayame is much less opposed to me touching her in a non-sexual manner than she was before. We are making much swifter progress in our relationship than I expected, to be honest.
Maybe hearing me plow Blossom’s fertile fields like there’s no tomorrow had some effects on her openness as well. I was worried that she might become more closed off after I embraced my precious Pupcake right in front of her eyes but it seems to have had the exact opposite effect in fact.
How? I don’t know.
Why? Don’t ask me.
Women are weird creatures.
Ayame then takes the reins that are attached to the mules. None of us have ever driven a carriage before, but at least she has ridden one. I, as a modern day city man, have not even seen a horse in my life before being transmigrated, and Blossom grew up in the wild according to her tale, so my petite samurai is our best bet at getting to our destination in one piece.