Chapter – 03
The Terror of Gyudon and the Battle-Hungry Female Knight
“A match?”
“Yes. Rina’s brother has the intelligence to get Rina into Central Magic Academy and the strength to take down a King Octopus and a Great King Buffalo.”
“…I never mentioned the King Octopus, though.”
After entering the house, I expressed my gratitude for how Rina had always driven away the nuisances gathering around her, saying, “I have to do something to thank you…” But suddenly Lady Elena’s eyes lit up and she challenged me to a match.
It was none other than the request of the strongest duchess’s eldest daughter in the kingdom.
If I tried to brush it off with something like “Well, that’s a bit…” it would be the end of me.
Alright, I’ll go with a stance that looks down on myself.
“I-I’ve never fought anyone other than my sister. I’m basically a complete amateurâbut if that’s still alright with you, I’ll accept…”
“Good. Come to my estate tomorrow. No, I’ll send someone to fetch you instead.”
“T-that soon!”
As I was startled, my sister Rina took Lady Elena’s side.
“Yes! Tomorrow’s a day off so I have no plans either!”
Rina shot me a glance.
Dear sister, why are you so excited? Your big brother is currently in despair, you know?
“N-no… I have to go out to earn money tomorrow…”
“Oh, if that’s all, don’t worry! Brother!”
“Huh?”
As I questioned her with my eyes, my sister suddenly reached into her bag and lifted something out.
An ivory-colored sculpture made to resemble me.
“I made this in art class today. A young lord from a baronial house said he’d buy it for ten gold coins.”
“Ten gold coins!?”
“Yes!”
“O-oh… That’s certainly a lot of money. But this is me, right? Does it have any commercial value? Why would that baron’s son want to pay such a fortune for it?”
“Well, the moment he saw it, he started breathing heavily and got really excited.”
“…”
Oi, you baron’s sonâwhat are you planning to do with this?
As I looked at the two of them, feeling drained, Lady Elena stared at me with expectant eyes.
In the end, I decided to have a match with Lady Elena tomorrow.
Seeing my sister’s talent for selling something she made in class for ten gold coins, I momentarily had a bad thoughtâbut no, supporting everything from Rina’s tuition to our daily living is my role.
As I was thinking thatâ
*(Grrrrr)*
The stomachs of the three people other than me growled.
“ă……ă”
“Would you like to try some gyudon made from Great King Buffalo?”
X X X
Elena and Maid’s Side
Leaving the terribly rundown house, the two rode their well-groomed horses at a leisurely pace.
These two had eaten gyudon for the first time in their lives.
Of course, they initially refused, but thanks to Rina explaining the excellence of Kanato’s cooking with animated gestures, they decided to give it a try. When it was served, they were skeptical and on guardâbut the moment they caught the rich aroma of the highest-quality ingredient, Great King Buffalo meat, combined with soy sauce wafting from the bowl, their saliva flooded like a torrent.
They still needed to check for poison, but Kanato said with a straight face, “You needn’t worry about that.” Overwhelmed by his eyes, which betrayed not a trace of deception, the maid took a bite first and confirmed it was safe, followed by Elena.
As if struck by divine revelationâ
they devoured their bowls at tremendous speed.
Before they knew it, they had gone for seconds and thirds, and all the Great King Buffalo meat Kanato had brought was completely gone.
“Unbelievable… that something so delicious could exist in this world.”
“Exactly as you say, my lady…”
“Tomorrow, Rina and Rina’s brother are coming. I’ll have to pay them well over the price of the gyudon.”
“I’m sure even your lord father, a considerable gourmand, would find that gyudon to his liking.”
“No doubt. Papa will love it too!”
As the two spoke of the terror of gyudon and basked in its afterglow, the maid suddenly asked with a serious expression.
“By the way, Lady Elena. What do you make of that man?”
“Rina’s brother…”
Elena, gripping the reins, frowned in frustration as she spoke.
“To be honest, he’s no ordinary man.”
“I thought so…”
“An ordinary commoner would cower just from looking at me. But that man didn’tâin fact, he looked at me as if I were just a girl. If any of those wretched nobles took that attitude, they’d lose their heads immediately. Yet strangely, I never felt the slightest unpleasantness from him.”
“He also didn’t try to ingratiate himself like a cunning aristocrat.”
“Indeed. Despite being a commoner, what a splendid person he is.”
As the two admired Kanato in their minds, the maid narrowed her eyes and asked,
“But if all of that was calculated, what would you do, Lady Elena?”
“Hmph. It’s certainly possible he’s that cunning. After all, he’s the man who raised Rina. In his mind, he’s probably reading between the lines of our words and actions, choosing words and attitudes that make us feel at ease without arousing suspicion. All to gain something.”
“Hehe, that man is certainly the most outstanding commoner I’ve ever seenâbut he cannot deceive my eyes.”
“Yes, exactly. That’s why I want to test him. The strength of Rina’s brother.”
“He’s a commoner. I believe you should hold back.”
“He has abilities on par with Level 5âsame as me. This is Rina’s brother, the one who surprised me in mock battles. I will not hold back. And I will definitely win.”
“…Please do not destroy the estate’s arena.”
The maid said with a sigh.
Before being enrolled in Central Academy, Elena had been subjugating the Demon Lord’s army.
Combat was her very being.
But now she lived the complete opposite life.
Her body ached.
Elena stroked her sword at her waist and curled the corners of her mouth.
Because she was riding a horse, her enormous breasts swayed along with her.
X X X
Kanato’s Side
“The day when Brother’s strength is recognized is almost here! Ahh… I’m so glad I invited Lady Elena to our home…”
“…”
“Originally, Brother should be the one basking in the spotlight more than me. But now, finally… ugh… I’m so moved I could cry…”
“Rina…”
“Yes!”
“For a while, no more bathing together.”
“EEEEHHHHHH!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!”
Rina… I get how you feel.
But I want to live a slow life, and now I have to have a match with the strongest person in the kingdom…
*(In the end, Rina was so downcast that we ended up bathing together)*
