Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Rolling the Snowball (3)
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Truth be told, Hilde wasn't the sharpest when it came to reading the room.
She had a my-pace personality and a bold mindset that bulldozed through issues with sheer force.
Because of that, she'd never really needed to develop any social savvy in life.
But even Hilde, for all her obliviousness...
Blanc's recent behavior felt off to her.
'Captain's been acting weird lately.'
Heading to Zaksen just the two of them? That was suspicious enough on its own.
No matter how much she wanted to travel light for speed, Blanc was the Knight Order Captain.
Captains usually traveled with a whole entourage of squires and attendants trailing behind.
And yet, she insisted on going alone?
'No way they had sex, right?'
Blanc was the type to reek of arousal just from a handshake.
She'd even chewed Yi Hyun out hard when he'd brought up sex before.
So it wasn't a stretch to suspect she'd finally gone and devoured him.
'And look at that face... It's obvious he's been with a woman!!'
His refined features only made it more glaring.
That was why Hilde decided to approach with caution.
"I won't get mad, so be honest with just me. You dating the Captain?"
"Eek!? W-why do you ask?"
"You said you need skinship with the strong. And usually, that means women, right? The gender ratio in the Imperial Knight Orders has been trashed for ages."
"Then it's working out... "
"Working out? If the Captain's dating you, and she sees you hugging some woman? What do you think happens?"
"Ah."
Yi Hyun's expression finally turned serious.
'If I spill, it'll get back to the Knight Order folks? Better dodge for now.'
"Nah, dating? How could I even dream of that."
He threw out a deflection first.
If it came out later, he could claim he'd been considerate of the noble Blanc.
That was his plan.
"Hmmm, really?"
"Yes! How could Blanc, who's only known me a short while—and a commoner like me at that—go for someone like me? Not that I don't adore her, of course."
And right in front of Yi Hyun's blatant lie...
Vice Knight Order Captain Hilde...
'Yeah, no way the Captain would sleep with a guy she's known less than two months. Especially one who was just killing off eastern folks.'
...made the most reasonable judgment.
Our Captain would never stoop that low.
"Got it. Then, until the Captain gets back, let's 'train' your way."
"Yes!"
Perfect for Yi Hyun.
This actually worked.
He'd muttered it absentmindedly after fooling Hilde.
'Intelligence 1.5—turns out it's pretty impressive.'
Am I seriously on track to be history's greatest genius?
This overwhelming brainpower is scary, for real.
"Ahem! Anyway, Hilde? What do you think?"
"Hm? About what?"
"About me needing skinship with women to get stronger."
Having finished patting himself on the back, he shifted topics.
He planned to ride this momentum into building up to sex with Hilde.
And Hilde...
went dead serious in an instant.
"First off, one thing. Whether it's true or not, that stays a lifelong secret from now on."
"...Yes, ma'am."
'Guess that's how it'll be.'
Leveling up through sex? Even I think it sounds incubus-y.
Better keep it secret, like she said.
"So? Exactly how does it make you stronger?"
"We shook hands with Blanc a lot, right? It started building up from then, and hugging during travel made it burst."
"Tricky. Could be other factors?"
"No idea!"
"You're ridiculously sunny about it."
Swoosh— Hilde ruffled his hair.
A fond smile, like she couldn't help it.
The sense of relief in it...
was probably not just his imagination.
"Hilde, so what should I do?"
"Hold on. Need to think it over."
"Got it. I'll brainstorm too."
From there, they both put their heads together.
Hilde pondered her original mission: his training.
Yi Hyun focused on deciphering the status window before his eyes.
'Observation.'
(Once she accepts a 'bet', she'll do anything to win)
None
Masturbation Count: 15 times
Sex Count: Pathetically, number virgin
One-liner: Surprisingly, this type is hard to conquer
'How the hell do you bang this?'
Time limit: one week.
Blanc said she'd be back from her family home in about a week, so he had to seal the deal before then.
Once she returned, the whole Knight Order would be watching him closely.
'To avoid backlash, better use that Common Sense Alteration.'
If he did, even if they got caught, it'd be fine.
He could brush it off as just a 'bet', and Blanc wouldn't make a fuss.
Just like how he'd groped her breasts in front of Hilde without issue.
One thing was certain: he had to propose a 'bet' to Hilde somehow.
'Just bet on sex outright?'
"Ahem, Hilde? Wanna make a bet with me?"
Short deliberation over.
He sidled up to her slyly.
Whispering if she was game was just icing.
Hilde perked up her ears in response.
"...A bet? Out of nowhere?"
"Yeah! Blanc said it's okay to bet with you now."
"Oh yeah, I overheard that too."
"How about it? Light bet between us?"
"Hmmm~ I like the guts of challenging this Hilde."
Her tail started wagging too.
Fur flew everywhere.
Maybe she'd even accept a sex bet like this.
But,
"So, Hilde, bet on whether I get stronger? Sex..."
"Nope. Captain said no naughty stuff."
"......"
Damn that ironclad bitch Blanc.
She'd added that condition already.
"If we keep it from Blanc..."
"No dice. I'm Vice Captain because I lost a 'do anything I say' bet to her. Captain's orders are absolute."
"Tch."
Free easy-mode sex, gone again.
He sighed in lament.
'No naughty bets, but need a bet for sex? What the...'
"Anyway, Yi Hyun."
"Yes?"
But that lasted only a moment.
Hilde's eyes turned back to him.
Her expression somehow resolute.
"You need to get stronger first. Not just sparring—for the Empire too."
"Eh, Empire's whatever."
"Then for the world. You don't want tragedies like Zaksen repeating, right?"
"True."
"With your potential, it's possible. You'll be the strong one succeeding the 'Hero'."
And then, step—
Hilde slowly approached him.
"So, I don't know if your strengthening method really works, but... I'll cooperate for now."
"You mean?"
"This!!"
She scooped him up effortlessly.
His feet dangled in the air.
He blinked in confusion.
"What the—suddenly?"
"You said skinship with the strong makes you stronger. Think I'm strong enough?"
"Sure."
"And if we're doing it, might as well max efficiency. Holding hands like with the Captain? When would you level up?"
"No way, you mean...?"
"Women's bath should be empty now. I'll wash you, and we roll around naked."
"...Whaaat!!!?"
Proposing mixed bathing without any Common Sense Alteration.
All for the sole purpose of making him stronger.
"Wait, but Blanc said no naughty stuff..."
"Not a bet, and I won't do anything actually naughty. You can just look like last time."
"Thank you!!"
"When you're a hero later, don't forget this Hilde's hard work."
"Yes!!!"
And so, Yi Hyun entered the women's bath for the first time in his life.
-Hesitantly.
"Really okay for me to go in? Won't the knights complain?"
"It's fine. Anyone whines, I'll crack their skull."
"If you say so."
Gold-male forbidden zone: the women's bath.
He strode right in.
A sweet fragrance welcomed him.
"Smells nice~."
"We sweat a ton, so we swap scents daily. Stings my nose a bit."
"Beastkin have it rough."
"Thanks for getting it, kid."
Beside him, Hilde stripped without a care.
No hesitation to go full nude.
True to form.
"Newbie, clothes in this basket."
"Yes! Heave."
Yi Hyun stripped swiftly too.
Active-duty honed speed to bare skin.
His raging erection throbbed.
"Hmmm... Bit late, but you okay showing me your naked self?"
"I've seen yours too, Hilde. You okay? This thing got hard just looking at you."
"It's perky—looks good."
Thankfully, Hilde didn't mind.
She even snuck peeks, clearly intrigued by her first real dick.
'This setup's prime for action, right?'
His 1.5 intelligence—the one that toppled even impregnable Blanc—screamed it.
Man and woman alone in the bath. Both naked.
Even handstands would lead to sex.
'If Blanc hadn't banned naughty stuff!!'
Easiest path: bet something on sex.
But that counted as 'naughty', so blocked.
"Hey, Hilde. About sex with me..."
"Told you. Beat me in friendly spar, and I'll teach you."
"Can't you just do it? Might make me stronger faster?"
Straight appeal, skipping bets...
"No. You might just want sex with me."
"Tch."
Not even a nibble.
As the status proclaimed: 'hard to conquer' type.
Should he give up?
Then, splash—
"No funny thoughts. Come here. I'll wash you."
"...Oh?"
'This might work?'
A idea flashed.
A way to advance toward sex in these harsh conditions.
He grinned involuntarily.
Intelligence 1.5 really was top-tier.
'I see it—the opening!!'
"Hilde, wanna bet?"
"Bet? Trying naughty again... "
"Not naughty. We're washing each other anyway—bet on that."
"Hmmm?"
Her wolf ears, drooping wet, perked one up.
Like she was listening.
"Who washes cleaner? Whaddya say?"
"Oho, stakes?"
"Loser does aegyo for winner?"
"Sounds fun. How judge?"
"Ask others after. Who seems cleaner."
"I clean better, you win. Vice versa, I win... Fair. Deal."
[Overhaul Mod - '???'] Applied
"Bring it, Yi Hyun. I'll scrub you to a shine."
"Please go easy!"
To Hilde, a trivial bet.
But it was on.