Chapter – 09
Kanato Loses to Elena for the First Time
Rina and I were pressed close together, staring at Lady Elena. Like my sister, she was also the owner of breasts as large as giant melons, wrapped only in a thin white towel.
Naturally, since she was soaking in the hot water, the towel was wet and see-through, but Lady Elena, her pure white skin flushed a deep crimson, used one hand to hide her enormous mounds as she glanced at us timidly.
“Lady Elena… you don’t have to push yourself.”
Rina said, looking away worriedly, but,
“…If it’s for the sake of becoming stronger, this much is nothing!”
No, you’re clearly flustered.
I am too, for that matter.
But, for the eldest daughter of a ducal house to bathe with a commoner like me is unthinkable by any standard.
In other words, this could be seen as a manifestation of her abnormally strong desire to become stronger.
As Rina, pressing her chest against me, stared intently at the flustered Lady Elena, I spoke up.
“Um… Lady Elena.”
“W-what!”
“I was just wondering… why are you so fixated on becoming stronger?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, normally, nobles wouldn’t expose their naked bodies to commoners, but I’m curious as to why you’d go this far… Ah! Of course, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to! I apologize for being so forward!”
As I frantically waved my hands, Lady Elena replied, keeping her head down.
“Because I have to protect this kingdom. No matter what.”
“…”
I couldn’t see her expression, but her voice, filled with a sense of pathos, somehow clung to my ears and refused to fade away.
Protect this country, huh.
She had formed an international alliance from a young age and served as the top commander of the international forces for several years in the fight against the Demon Lord’s army.
But she was strongly suspected by the kingdom and driven out to Central Magic Academy.
A reason to protect the kingdom even when hated by the royal family.
There are several possible reasons, but it’s not something a mere commoner should voice.
So, as I looked at Lady Elena with a serious expression, Rina suddenly pulled away from me and went to sit next to her.
Noticing Rina, Lady Elena’s eyes widened in slight surprise. Seeing that, Rina spoke.
“Um… Lady Elena, you’ve always protected me at the academy, and you’re incredibly strong, admirable, and perfect. That’s why I’ve always worked hard to become a person like you.”
“Rina… I’m not such a perfect person. I lost to your brother, and I don’t have any friends either…”
“Lady Elena…”
The usually fierce Lady Elena now appeared demure, without a trace of her training ferocity, blushing like a young girl.
“I saw a different side of you today, and I’ve come to like you even more!”
“Rina… likes me!?”
“Yes! I love you!”
With that, Rina suddenly hugged Lady Elena.
“Ah!”
The bodies of the black-haired beauty Rina and the blonde beauty Lady Elena pressed together. The four marshmallows, with their generous elasticity, changed shape, sometimes being squashed, sometimes pushed inâit was truly a magnificent sight.
Wait, this isn’t the time for that.
“Rina! Let go of her right now! A commoner must never touch the skin of a noble!”
“Huh?”
“I taught you this! The position of commoners in noble society!”
“Oh, right… Lady Elena, I’m truly sorry. P-please forgive me…”
Rina lowered her head with a remorseful expression and distanced herself from her.
As I broke out in a cold sweat,
Lady Elena grasped Rina’s wrist.
Rina, confused, trembled and looked at me for help with her eyes.
But,
“Indeed, as Rina’s brother said, a commoner touching a noble is something that should never happen. That’s because most nobles and royals in this world look down on and mock commoners.”
Lady Elena’s words made perfect sense.
Even if a commoner becomes a hero who saves the nation, they cannot become a noble.
In other words, they are like oil and water.
As I let out a small sigh,
“However, people who look down on others because of their titles are cowards.”
“Huh?”
“Nobles who look down on commoners or those beneath them just to confirm their own superiority are small-minded people… I don’t want to become such a person. And without exception, such scum die the most despicable deaths.”
Lady Elena’s clear blue eyes locked onto me.
She had gone to the battlefield, killed many enemies, and led many people to fight against monsters.
That’s why her words carried weight.
So I nodded silently.
“U-um, Lady Elena?”
Rina, whose wrist had been held by Lady Elena all this time, called her name,
“Hehe, Rina. It’s okay to touch me. Think of me as your friend. I don’t really know what a ‘friend’ is, but…”
“Lady Elena… Lady Elena… LADY ELENAAAAA!!!!”
“Ah!”
Moved, Rina’s eyes welled up with tears as she lunged at Lady Elena, causing them both to topple over.
“Nn… Rina, what is this all of a sudden…”
“I’m so sorry, Lady Elena. I got a bit carried away.”
“It’s fine. But please refrain from hugging me with enough force to knock me over.”
The two lay face down with their eyes closed.
The towels that had been clinging to their bodies had come loose and were floating on the surface of the hot water.
Naturally, my eyes took in the sight of their completely naked, pure white buttocks.
And, of course,
The middle of those buttocks was also…
“Ahhhhhh…”
This is bad…
Not good.
Thinking this but frozen, unsure of what to do,
Lady Elena opened her eyes.
“What!! What are you looking at!!!!!”
I ended up taking Lady Elena’s kick head-on.
For the first time today, I had lost to her.
—
Elena’s Side..
After sending Kanato and Rina home, Elena, now in her nightclothes, headed to her father’s office.
“Rina.”
“Father…”
“Did those two go home?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. By the way, what’s with that face?”
“Face?”
“Yes. It seems redder than usual.”
“!! It’s nothing!!!”
“…I see. Well, more importantly, did you get along with them?”
“…I think I became something like friends with Rina.”
“That’s truly wonderful.”
“Y-yes.”
Elena relaxed her cheeks and slightly curled the corners of her mouth. Seeing his daughter look so endearing, Kelts wore a gentle smile, but soon his lips tightened into a serious expression.
“Meeting Kanato-kun was divine guidance. Build a good bond with him as well.”
“Yes. However, there’s one thing I’d like to say.”
“What is it?”
“Rina’s brother’s strength is unparalleled in this kingdom… no, I believe there is no one who can rival him even if we include neighboring countries. We should immediately bestow upon him a fitting title and make this kingdom stronger.”
“Yes. In other countries, anyone who can use magic can become a noble without exception.”
“But… here…”
“They cannot. We haven’t even granted a single low-ranking knight titleâa title that is only for one generation given to commonersâin the past hundred years.”
“In other words…”
“This kingdom is in an extremely dangerous situation. A person’s resentment is powerful enough to destroy an entire nation.”
“…”
Kelts looked at Elena with a serious expression.
As if prophesying what would happen in the future, his voice carried an urgent, desperate sincerity.
