Chapter 368: Guwon's Counterattack
Chapter 368: Guwon's Counterattack
“Good morning… Silvia.”
After a blissful night with Leia, I went down to the dining hall feeling refreshed, only to be struck speechless by the sight of Silvia huddled in a corner.
It wasn't enough that she was crammed into the corner; now she'd dragged a chair over and was trying to hide her body behind its back.
Of course, she was still peeking her head out to spy on me, so I could tell it was her right away.
Then again, even if I couldn't see her, a chair just sitting there in the corner would have been a dead giveaway.
Anyway, I thought she'd get better with time, but her symptoms had only gotten worse since the “dream” incident.
“Ye-Yehh?!”
“Come here.”
“Ugh…!”
Despite my command, Silvia’s body went rigid, and she refused to budge.
“Ahem. Now!”
Feeling like I was scolding a disobedient puppy, I put on a deliberately stern expression.
“Uuuugh…”
But Silvia just whimpered, making no move to approach.
Seriously, if you’re going to whine like that, just come over.
She’s really got it bad. Was she that embarrassed?
All she did was call me “Guwon” and try to kiss me.
I already knew she was head over heels for me, so I didn't think something like that was anything to be ashamed of.
It’s only natural for a person.
Regardless of my thoughts, Silvia herself looked like she wanted to find a hole to crawl into and die.
And yet, she still diligently came to the dining hall to sneak glances at my face. She's really putting herself through a lot.
“If you’re not here by the count of three, I’m coming to you. One… two…”
“Guwon. Maybe you shouldn’t be so hard on Silvia…”
Unable to watch any longer, Leia tried to stop me, but my will was firm.
“No. I can’t let her get too spoiled. This is when you have to raise them tough.”
After having a conversation with Leia that sounded like a couple raising a wayward child, I looked back at Silvia.
“Silvia. I’m at two. You’d better be ready for what happens when I count to three and come get you.”
“Uuuugh!”
And though it wasn’t a particularly menacing threat, it worked on Silvia.
Silvia squeezed her eyes shut and, as if steeling her resolve, charged toward me.
She rushed forward with incredible momentum, only to slow down abruptly just before crashing into me. Then, as gently as a feather, she fell into my arms and began to tremble.
“Good girl.”
I patted her head as a reward, but that only made her trembling more intense.
With her arms wrapped around me, her legs seemed to give out as she started sliding down my body.
“Silvia’s reaction seems even more intense than usual. Guwon, did you do something to her again?”
“No! What do you take me for? Do I look like the kind of guy who would do something like that?!”
“Yes. You do. You idiot pervert.”
Hmph… that girl… Just you wait until tonight.
I’ll make you realize firsthand what happens when this idiot pervert gets serious about his perversions.
“S-Uuugh… Sir Guwon… d-didn’t… do… anythinggg…”
And the one who came to my defense against a suspicious Sara was none other than Silvia, right here in my arms.
Silvia defended me without even being able to look at Sara, practically melting into a puddle in my embrace.
Silvia. Thanks for sticking up for me. But what did I even do to make you start slurring your words?
“That’s right, that’s right. It’s all because Silvia likes me so much. Right?”
“Yeeesss…”
“Hmph! F-Fine! I like you just as much, you know!”
Sara. Isn’t the usual line supposed to be, ‘Hmph! I don’t like you or anything!’?
Not that I’m not grateful to hear you say you like me.
“So, Sara, want to try melting in my arms like this sometime?”
“N-Not here, you idiot!”
Not here, she says. I’ll be sure to remember that.
I’ll have to use that later when I feel like seeing Sara’s cute face.
“Anyway, Silvia. You’ve gotten too severe lately. The results of your previous special training aren’t showing at all. For your punishment today, you are sentenced to eating your meal on my lap.”
“Uuugh… Th-That’s…!”
Silvia’s face fell into despair, but I knew she wasn’t reacting this way because she actually hated it.
“Auuugh… Uwaaaaaa…”
“Silvia. Don’t spill.”
“I-I’ll tryyy…”
And throughout the entire meal, Silvia trembled on top of me.
Even after having so much fun with Leia, with Silvia quivering on my lap, my tireless ‘thing’ started to react again.
And when Silvia felt my hardened member press against her butt, she trembled even more, continuing the vicious cycle.
That alone would have been a problem, but lately, she wasn’t just trembling because it felt good.
She looked like she wanted to die of embarrassment over the things she’d said and done while thinking it was a dream, and she couldn’t even meet Sara’s or Leia’s eyes, as if she had nothing to say for herself.
Silvia probably couldn’t even tell if the food was going into her mouth or her nose.
This doesn’t seem like something that will heal on its own if I just leave it be.
For Silvia’s sake, I felt a consultation was in order.
“Silvia. Let’s talk after we eat.”
“Eek… Y-Yes…”
At my words, Silvia completely deflated and answered listlessly.
Is she misunderstanding something again?
After finishing the meal through all that chaos, I went to my room with Silvia.
Silvia hung her head limply, looking like a child about to be scolded.
But at the same time, she seemed happy to be alone with me, as I could see the corners of her mouth failing to stay firm and twitching into a soft smile.
“Silvia.”
“Y-Yes!”
“It seems you’re still bothered by what happened when you thought you were dreaming.”
“Eek!”
“You don’t need to worry about it at all. In fact, it’s a perfectly natural human reaction. Wanting to say the name of the person you like, wanting to kiss them… that’s all normal. It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“Uwaaaa…! Uwaaaa…!”
I definitely meant for that to be reassuring, but Silvia just covered her face with her hands and collapsed on the spot.
Wh-What is this reaction? It’s like I just pointed out her deepest shame… Ah, I see.
From Silvia’s perspective, the target of her fantasies found out about them, and then spelled them all out for her.
That… would be a little embarrassing, I guess.
“Sorry.”
“N-No, it’s fine… Thank youuu!”
She’s thanking me while looking like she’s about to die of shame.
Normally, I might have joked, ‘Is this your kink or something?’ but even I couldn’t go that far right now.
“Anyway, don’t worry about it. If you want, you can just call me ‘Guwon’ from now on. What’s the big deal?”
“…! I-I couldn’t possibly…!”
If you couldn’t, then what was all that freezing up about earlier?
“How long have you been here, and you’re still so formal with me? Let’s just be more comfortable with each other.”
“Uuugh… But…”
Given the complicated circumstances of her joining our party, it seemed it was hard for her to change her attitude so easily.
“Alright. If you really can’t do it, then I have an idea.”
“Y-Yes?!”
As I spoke with a wicked smile, Silvia’s body trembled in fear.
But was it just my imagination, or did I see a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes?
Maybe she secretly enjoys it when I mess with her?
But what to do? I’m about to betray her expectations. I’m not planning on teasing her today.
“Special training starts now. Follow me.”
With that, I led Silvia out of the mansion.
“S-Sir Guwon? Where are we…?”
Silvia asked, her captured arm trembling, in a voice mixed with equal parts anxiety and anticipation.
“What? Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“Y-Yes…”
“A man and a woman are out on the street together. What do you think is going to happen?”
“…D-Don’t tell me…”
“That’s right. It’s a date.”
“N-N-N-No, I can’t—ouch! Lady Sara and Lady Leia are back at the mansion! How could I possibly leave them behind to…!”
“You say that, but the corners of your mouth are smiling.”
“Hah…! Ugh, p-please kill me…”
“Just kidding. Anyway, follow me. Even if you don’t want to, we’re going on this date. No, be honest. Do you hate the idea? For the record, I’ll be hurt if you say yes. So answer carefully.”
“Ah, ugh… Th-That is… o-of course… I don’t… hate it…”
Silvia confessed, her face tinged with guilt.
Feeling guilty over something like this. She’s probably feeling it toward Sara, Diana, and Leia. She’s too earnest.
Well, I guess that’s why our girls cherish Silvia so much.
“Just ‘don’t hate it’?”
“Uuugh… I-I like it…!”
“Who?”
“I like Sir Guw—Hah! Auuugh…”
In the end, Silvia covered her face with her hands and squatted down.
Haha. Silvia. Aren't you a little too easy to bait?
“Why don’t you finish what you were saying? Or what? Is it not true?”
“Uuugh… I like you, Sir Guwon!”
Even though she fell for my wordplay, Silvia still gave a proper answer.
“Alright. Then pull yourself together and let’s start this da—”
“Found you! Guwooooon!”
Just then, a voice shouting my name echoed from the distance.
And it was some bastard’s voice.
Who the hell is it at a time like this?
No. I don’t care who it is. He’s a guy, anyway. Daring to interrupt my date. First, I’ll kill him.
I looked toward the source of the sound and saw some average-looking guy charging at me with terrifying speed.
That face… After what happened yesterday, that bastard came looking for me again? Does he really not have a brain in his head?
“Haha! It seems neither the supreme Archmage nor the cursed Cardinal is with you this time! You’ve let your guard down, Guwon!”
When did I ever exchange names with this guy for him to be calling me so casually? I don’t even know his name. Well, in my head, I’ve been calling him ‘Trash,’ but still.
“Where did you pick up another delicate woman like… S-Silvia Barbet?!”
Upon identifying the woman next to me, Trash’s face suddenly filled with fear, and he took a step back.
What’s with that reaction? He’s looking at my cute Silvia.
I reflexively turned my head to look at Silvia.
…Yeah. Okay. I get it.
So Silvia gets angry too. I mean, she’s human, so of course she does.
This is the first time I’ve seen it, but she’s surprisingly intimidating.
With her slender frame and innocent-looking face, I didn’t think she’d be very scary even when angry.
But the look in her eyes as she stared blankly at Trash was practically murderous.
“W-Weren’t you on a special mission for the princess…?”
“I am.”
“I-Is that so.”
At Silvia’s dry, emotionless voice, Trash immediately backed down.
It’s been a while since I’ve heard that voice.
She sounded just like that when she first came to drag me away on suspicion of treason.
“D-Dammit! Y-You bastard! Always hiding behind women! Have you no shame?!”
I’m not exactly hiding, though.
He’s the one who got scared and blew up all on his own.
“What’s there to be ashamed of? This is one of my abilities. You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
“Grk! Shut up! You despicable bastard!”
Still, Trash didn’t say he wasn’t jealous.
Maybe this piece of trash is an honest piece of trash.
“If you’re a man, face me man-to-man, fair and square!”
I mean, in this world, women are the ones in power to begin with.
It’s a world without gender discrimination, but because of the leveling system, most of the important positions are held by women.
And yet, the men here often say things just like the men from my world.
Come to think of it, telling Alicia to act more feminine worked on her, too.
I don’t get it.
Well, whatever. I guess this works out. I have business with this trash anyway.
“Alright. What exactly do you want me to do?”
“S-Sir Guwon!”
“It’s fine.”
I patted the head of a worried-looking Silvia.
I’ll make him pay dearly for ruining the start of our date.
“Huuyaaaa…”
At that, Silvia’s expression immediately softened, and she started to go limp again.
“Wh-What… Unbelievable… That Silvia Barbet… A-Ahem! Anyway, you bastard! So you’ll face me one-on-one! You must have lost your mind, but I’ll at least acknowledge your guts!”
What is this trash talking about? I don’t need guts to face you. You’re not scary in the first place.