Journey's End
As expected. As I thought! My prediction was right. These damned elves! It wasn't for nothing that they were called Gganf! Uwaaaaaang!
I wanted to open the door and slip right inside. But this place is men-only, and the one inside is none other than Karl himself, so I couldn't do that.
“Karl! Can I, can I come in?!”
Wait, hold on. Saying it like that sounds weird. Idiot!
“So! What I mean is! There's nothing weird going on inside, right?! I thought I heard Eloise's voice from inside earlier!”
Whatever answer Karl gives, I'll accept it. If he lies, he must have been flustered, I can understand that.
On the other hand, if he answers honestly, he probably doesn't want to hide anything from me, so that's not bad either. So, Karl, answer me anything, okay?
“Um, Eloise came by earlier. Selena.”
“...I see.”
My voice unconsciously dropped. Idiot! This won't do. If I do this, Karl who answered honestly might start suspecting something.
“Then... is Eloise still inside?”
The thing I was most curious about was this. Whether Eloise is still inside or ran away.
If the latter, it's fortunate, but if the former, it's quite troublesome. Even though she's still inside, Karl is embracing her elf. If that's really the case, it might be... a little sad.
“No. She ran away.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Fortunately, Karl's answer that she's no longer there came back. Haa, a sigh of relief flows out.
But then, a somewhat foolish question 'Did she really go?' pops up subtly.
I have to believe Karl. I have to trust him! I whisper to myself, but the face of Eloise who was laughing 'Ufufufu!' while looking at me suspiciously since we started sharing the room comes to mind, and I can't help it.
“Hey, Karl. So... I'm not doubting you, but that girl Eloise is suspicious! Really, really, Eloise really left, right?”
“She really left. As soon as Selena came, she acted like a kid caught doing something bad. I don't know how fast she was. Who wouldn't think she's an elf.”
Without any hesitation, the immediate answer came back. Yeah, this is enough. With this, I can believe it.
Actually, this is also wrong. If Karl says he's not Karl, then he's not. It's not about believing or not, it's about having believed!
“Then I'll go back to the room. When I get back to the room, I'll properly scold Eloise about—
“Selena.”
“Huh, Karl. Do you have something to say?”
“Will you come in?”
For a moment, I blinked my eyes for about 3 seconds, thinking I heard wrong. And after another 3 seconds, I barely managed to open my lips.
“...Huh?”
“No, no. Cancel what I said just now. Because of Eloise, I must have been a bit crazy for a moment. Just think of it as nonsense. Anyway, since there's really nothing, relax, Selena.”
Cancel. Think of it as nonsense. Hmm. I see. If Karl says so, then I too...
“I'll go wash up right now.”
...Eh? What did I just say? Eh, eh?
“Will you come in?”
I said it but immediately regretted it. What kind of words are those? I even grabbed my lips.
'I made a mistake.'
Insane guy. This insane man. Why call a woman to a men's only hot spring and go crazy.
If someone sees this, they'll think 'This guy's eyes are spinning because of women.' It's a perfect picture.
Even to Selena? Then what would Selena think of me? Eh?!
Damn it. Damn it. This is all because of Eloise. That scheming elf ruined my reason too!
Damn it! The last sight I saw was too fatal! I thought covering would be safer than being naked, but covering made it feel even more lewd and scheming! Kuaaaaaak!!
“...Huh?”
“No, no. Cancel what I said just now. Because of Eloise, I must have been a bit crazy for a moment. Just think of it as nonsense. Anyway, since there's really nothing, relax, Selena.”
Oh my god. At first, she got tainted by the 4 girls, and now she's tainted by Eloise too....
“I'll go wash up right now.”
“...Selena? Selena??”
I thought I heard wrong. Or maybe Eloise was playing a prank.
But a while later.
“...”
“...”
Selena really opened the door and cautiously entered the hot spring with a 'thud'.
What was I doing? Well, nothing. To prepare for any contingency, I was just staring at the wall.
The world that recalls the ultra-strong u-kyung country isn't like that, but the framework is there.
Even a man and woman who haven't married being alone in a private space is a place where 'Kekem!' type people exist.
Moreover, being in the same bath naked (though wearing a robe) is something I can't even imagine.
'What is this. What is this. If I say I was just talking nonsense, but why Selena?!'
I'm going crazy. Really, this is crazy and I want to jump up and down. What would my mother or sister say if they saw this scene.
...Hmm. Imagining that, suddenly a chill runs down my spine.
Tap—
“Ah.”
The sensation touching my back, I unconsciously let out a moan through my lips.
Probably Selena leaned her back against mine and rested her body. The feeling of wet skin, the touch of the robe, and Selena's warmth that can't be hidden by anything are all transmitted together.
Both me and Selena. With our backs touching each other, no words were spoken.
No. Me. Maybe Selena too. We both wanted to say something, but it might not be easy. Honestly, opening my mouth in this situation is a bit awkward, isn't it.
“Karl.”
A while later, Selena spoke first in a cautious voice.
“You know. Actually, I'm worried, sometimes scared.”
“Scared? What?”
“Whether I can really become a woman worthy of Karl.”
I wanted to ask what that meant, but Selena's next words came faster.
“A Medal of Honor recipient. The Empire's war hero. A young noble who saved countless lives. An Empire person who is thanked even by the elves. And now, the saint of the church. My boyfriend is really an amazing person, and I'm proud, but suddenly such thoughts come and I'm scared.”
“...”
I wanted to answer 'That's nonsense', but I realized it was a thoughtless remark.
Selena's worry now is not in vain. Actually, anyone would think that.
Selena is the daughter of Marquis Naphlio. Clearly from a great background. Noble status is certain.
But that's the same for me. The eldest son of the Friedrich County, and now the successor.
Since becoming a titled noble from a regular noble, even if comparing status, Selena isn't lacking.
In such a situation, titles like 'Medal of Honor recipient' attached behind Karl's name.
Even one is enough to feel burdened, but there are two or three, not just one.
'It must have been difficult. As Selena said, it must have been scary too.'
Thinking from Selena's perspective, it's enough. So, I need to say something more sincere. Show a clear male appearance that there's nothing to worry about.
“So what I mean is...”
“It's already enough. Selena. I'm more than enough for you. I'm overflowing with people who are worthy of you.”
Startled, Selena's body trembled slightly through the back we were touching.
Really? Really? The question seems to be conveyed intact.
“Everyone around us would ask that. Others would ask that. And the world would ask that. But listen, Selena. Nothing else is needed. Just one thing. You and me. That's enough. And Selena is a person too unworthy for this guy. Never lacking.”
Hmm. Saying this, my face feels hot. Ah, I must have been too pompous.
So, I unconsciously burst into laughter, and Selena also let out a small 'fuh.' laugh.
With our backs touching like that, after laughing for a while, Selena speaks again.
“Ah. Really, you're too stupid. Why did you reject Karl's confession?”
“Well. Maybe it was a divine move for later. To make it more heartfelt. You know, if first love is too easily made, you don't know the preciousness of that first love.”
I was rambling, but it was just nonsense I blurted out randomly.
Of course, Selena accepted my words even that, 'Is that so?' sincerely.
*
I thought the hot spring trip would just be soaking in the hot spring and ending. But in the end, another incident happened.
Even thinking about it, achieving an incredible feat, the day to return home has come.
Well, it wasn't bad. Rather, it was very good.
At least, I got closer to Selena. And Eloise finally started wearing clothes properly.
And the 4 girls... um. You can see the shine on their faces. They're glowing.
“Strange. We all soaked in the hot spring, but why do only those ones look good?”
Well. Eloise. That's because you tormented me and Selena, and we didn't show it, right?
By the way, you kept trying to sneak into my room, so you spent more time rolling on the floor than the hot spring.
“Finally leaving. Brother Karl.”
While waiting for the train, Beolant Cardinal standing behind greeted with a laugh.
It was already burdensome because there were many officers and soldiers from the south, and families of warriors. Now, the Cardinal from the church side stuck to us.
It's suffocating. This feeling of being watched in every move is exactly this, right?
“Ah. Brother. This.”
Right. I almost left it behind. My precious friend. I was empty without you.
“In the name of the gift to the saint of the church, this old man has blessed it.”
What? A guy who only ate Gganf meat received the blessing of the church Cardinal?
This is like a sword hungry for blood suddenly being dipped in holy water.
“I wanted to personally visit Friedrich County to convey my gratitude. However, due to the issue of recovering spoils from the 4th parish...”
“It's okay. Your Highness. It's not something to keep in mind. Your Highness needs to be here to pacify the rough public sentiment that hasn't settled yet, right?”
“...That's right. The war is over, but post-war recovery is just starting. Indeed, Brother, you are a person worthy of receiving the hand of God.”
Worthy? Just go wild! Crazy guy.
Even the Goddess of Light publicly confessed and got rejected, and seeing me run to the army, she probably said 'Is this guy crazy?'