Chapter 114
Chapter 114
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Preparations (2)
Chapter: 114
The day before the ball.
The girls, without exception, were in a frenzy of excitement.
“Wow! They're finally here!”
“I couldn't believe it, but they've exceeded my expectations.”
“The value of these dresses might be over ten... no, twenty platinum coins?”
“Huhu, now we can finally determine who is the best.”
“Well, it's not you. This time, I'm going to dress to impress, too.”
“—??”
The dresses for the ball had arrived.
They had been measured a while ago, and it seemed the dresses were just now complete.
They had prepared not one, but three or four dresses per person.
It seemed we were meant to choose the one we liked best, but wasn't this a bit of a waste?
Well, the imperial family's finances were none of my business.
All that mattered was the sight of everyone laughing and chatting happily together.
**Aruru** and **Ceria** simply seemed delighted.
**Esterize**, uncharacteristically for a princess, looked overwhelmed with gratitude.
If you thought about it, the **Princess's** attitude was understandable.
The life she had enjoyed as a princess was a full decade ago.
She was even smaller than our cutie back then, so that experience was meaningless.
*Can I really wear such a radiant dress?*
*What should I do? It's been so long, I don't have any confidence!*
For someone trembling like that, I wondered why she acted the way she did last night.
Of course, regardless of that, it would look good on her.
I wouldn't fail to recognize her, but in many ways, I couldn't help but look forward to it.
**Luciel** was also joining the fray for this event.
She had already declared war on the elf girl.
From what I could see, it was going to be a fierce showdown.
“**You will soon regret that remark.** If you retract it now, with the magnanimity of the proud elven race...”
“Have I ever once backed down?”
“...”
“...”
The two girls began a staring contest.
Hmm, when will these two ever get along?
I deliberately looked away from them.
No sense in getting caught in the crossfire.
If I got dragged into it, things would definitely get more complicated.
But it was already too late.
They snapped their heads around simultaneously, giving me meaningful looks.
*You be the judge.*
*Of course you'll take my side, right?*
It seemed they were each convinced of it.
“...”
No, wait a minute...
Isn't it a bit unfair to be checkmated just by standing still?
As if to say they were skipping the part where they asked for my consent.
They hurried towards the dress room across the hall.
The rest of the girls followed after them.
I was left all alone.
To be precise, the attendant who brought my formal wear was beside me.
“**It is an honor to serve you, Hero.** Now, this way...”
“...”
Well, I suppose I have to try it on.
I couldn't just wait around indefinitely.
Formal wear in the style of a suit.
A harmonious blend of white and blue coexisted, creating a classic elegance and a sophisticated flair.
**Ceria's** dress was of a similar color scheme.
An image of me standing next to her naturally formed in my mind.
This is more than just good, isn't it?
It would be so fantastic my heart would swell with pride.
If they held a couple's contest, we'd easily take first place and then some.
“All done. Indeed, your remarkable dignity stands out. Truly the pinnacle of a young nobleman...”
The attendant exclaimed, seemingly without realizing it.
He wasn't teasing and was probably sincere, but it still felt a little weird!
The process of changing into the formal wear took about 30 minutes.
It took quite some time, but it was nothing compared to the dresses.
In the girls' case, I wouldn't be surprised if they invested at least six hours.
What am I supposed to do until then?
I didn't much feel like moping around alone.
Can I go watch?
Maybe it'd be okay to check in for a moment, to show them my formal attire?
After a full hour had passed, I headed to the dress room.
I thought they would be about done changing, but they were still in the middle of it.
I was standing in the hallway, but I could grasp the general situation just from the voices coming from inside the room.
‘This is a disaster! What should I do?’
‘It's your own fault. You should accept it humbly.’
‘Ugh, I thought it would be fine for sure...’
The elf girl was groaning.
She was in a predicament because the dress didn't fit her.
She was supposed to have a so-called ant-waist, so why would that happen?
‘Asking them to reduce the measurements was being too greedy.’
‘...’
‘Did you want to stand out that much?’
‘N-never mind that, just hurry up and find a solution!’
She’d gone and done something foolish again.
Despite being the owner of a peerlessly perfect figure...
Even though her proportions were the best, as expected of an elf, she'd overplayed her hand.
It seemed the other girls were formidable rivals, causing her to make an unforced error.
What to do about this?
Getting a new dress in a single day was impossible.
There would be spare dresses, but she would most likely be dissatisfied with them.
‘Hmm, it's not like there's no way.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. We can just use that.’
Even **Ceria** and the **Princess** stepped up to help the elf girl.
A heartwarming development where they don't turn their backs on a comrade in crisis...
‘What is this?’
‘It's a corset.’
‘It'll be tight, but endure that much.’
‘—??’
Ah, this is what's known as a 'you-know-what.'
In that manner, they were spreading the superiority of civilization to the not-yet-fully-humanized elf girl.
The corset.
**Ilensia** finally put on the device, which was close to a torture instrument.
‘W-wait a minute... I-I can't breathe!’
‘Will it fit now?’
‘I think we need to tighten it a bit more.’
‘**Aruru**, it's your turn.’
‘Okay, leave it to me!’
‘—!!’
*Screech. Snap...*
I heard the sound of something breaking.
It seemed the fox beastkin's monstrous strength had torn the corset.
‘Kuaaack... M-my waist...’
A girl crying out in agony.
It looked like her waist had been wrecked along with the corset.
‘Ah, I'm sorry! I didn't do it on purpose.’
‘Hmm, what should we do? This will be hard to heal completely even with a recovery spell...’
‘**You guys... you did this on purpose, didn't you? Eliminating a rival like this is just too dirty!**’
Their good intentions were returned with malice.
No, perhaps there were no good intentions to begin with.
What's the use of being near-perfect all by myself?
Thus, the relationships within the group were the very definition of utter chaos.
Soon, the door burst open and **Aruru** ran out.
She seemed to be hastily fleeing from the elf girl's rage.
She was about to run right past me, but she managed to stop herself.
“Huh? How long have you been standing there?”
She tilted her head for a moment.
Then, her eyes widened as she took in my attire.
“—!!”
The girl stared in awe, as if she had seen something incredible.
As always, she clung to my body and rubbed her face against me.
Our cutie.
Am I that handsome?
“Uh-huh, I think I'm going to fall for you!”
Was it because I pulled off the stylish formal wear so perfectly?
**Aruru's** reaction broke all previous records.
It was as if she was insisting she couldn't contain her boiling excitement.
“How do I look right now?”
A dress in shades of blue.
It brought out the lively fox beastkin's fresh charm perfectly.
“I like it a lot.”
She must be the cutest young lady in the world.
My heart fluttered so much I desperately wanted to hug her tight.
After I offered a few words of praise, she looked up at me and giggled softly.
Yes, this is what healing feels like...
Our cutie's appearance was truly close to that of a fairy.
Just seeing her smile made all my worries disappear.
The discord among my companions would surely be eased by her mere existence.
Was it because she sensed our presence?
**Ceria** peeked her head out from the slightly opened doorway.
“—!!”
The moment she saw me, her pupils started trembling.
I gave her an awkward smile, but she couldn't seem to close her mouth.
“You've already finished changing...”
“How is it? This should be fine, right?”
“More than fine. **Everyone will definitely be stunned.**”
Her eyes sparkled, as if she wanted to be in my arms right this instant.
That adorable gaze made my heart pound.
I showed you mine, so you show me yours!
Unfortunately, my demand was not met.
“I'm sorry, but I'm not ready yet. I think it will take quite some time.”
Just as I thought.
It seems she plans to use the entire day.
I had fully expected this, so I'll have to save the pleasure for later.
I was excited, but it was bearable.
Just seeing **Aruru** all nicely dressed up gave me a sense of fulfillment.
Our cutie.
I'm bored, want to go for a walk?
It's okay if you want to play with the other girls.
“Mhm, I'm done getting ready. A walk sounds good.”
She grimaced, admitting she was inwardly tired.
Indeed, for an energetic beastkin, it must have been an ordeal.
I felt like I would get dizzy too if I were stuck in that dress room for long.
The fox beastkin hummed as she strolled through the garden, holding my hand.
From her perspective, she had somehow ended up having me all to herself.
As if to show she was in the highest of spirits, the wagging of her tail was incredibly cheerful.
“You know, being like this... it feels like we're on a date!”
Her cute and adorable voice was the same as ever.
But perhaps because she was wearing a dress, she seemed more feminine than usual.
It was a sudden realization, but by beastkin standards, she was truly a proper young lady.
If she were to bring home a lover from somewhere, I would have no choice but to tearfully approve.
Though it would be only right to punish the villain who stole our cutie.
But given the traits of beastkin, the male would likely have a cute appearance too, making it difficult to pass judgment.
Anyway.
I can't always treat her like a pet.
It would probably be fine to treat her like a lady for just one day.
I'll be busy on the day of the ball, so I won't have time to play with her.
If we spend time together now while I'm free, the girl will be satisfied too.
Our cutie.
This is your only chance.
If there's something you want to do, you can go all out!
“Really? Then hurry up and hug me.”
“—??”
Huh? Is that all you want?
You burrow into my arms whenever you get the chance, don't you?
**Aruru** shook her head slightly, as if that wasn't it.
“I'm always the one who hugs you first. This time, I want you to initiate it.”
“...”
Well, that's a bit... difficult, isn't it?
She's forcing her master to engage in some humiliation play.
Sharing an act of affection.
The result might be the same, but the feeling is completely different depending on who the initiator is.
There was nothing strange at all about **Aruru** clinging to me.
It's just an incredibly cute girl doing something cute.
However...
The reverse could be misunderstood by people, you know?
In the worst-case scenario, I could be branded with the disgraceful stigma of being a lolicon.
*'Please respect my preferences.'*
Saying that would be utterly futile.
No matter how much I insisted on my innocence, everyone around would ignore me.
No, wait a minute.
That's in a normal case; if she's as uniquely cute as **Aruru**, there's a slight possibility they might understand...
Hmm, why am I even thinking about this?
At some point, it felt like I'd been captivated by the fox beastkin's charm.
Our cutie.
First, let me ask, you're not expecting anything weird, are you?
“Hold me like a princess!”
Right. You've made a wise choice.
The princess carry was relatively less burdensome.
Compared to the acts of affection she commits, it was perfectly wholesome.
I immediately swept **Aruru** gently into my arms.
Just as she wished, I treated her like a princess, filling my touch with affection.
“Aah, this... is more embarrassing than I thought!”
Why is she acting shy?
Is her emotional response a bit different? Maybe it's because of the unfamiliar sensation of entrusting her body to another?
The girl quickly changed her tune.
She looked fascinated, seeing the world from a higher vantage point than usual.
“Do a full circle like this.”
“...”
A master following his pet's command...
Is this right? This is a picture of our roles being reversed, isn't it?
Well, it's no different from carrying around a pet dog.
It felt a bit strange, but since **Aruru** was happy, that was all that mattered.
We continued our conversation, eating snacks along the way.
She popped a chocolate she received from the **Imperial Princess** into her mouth, looking as happy as can be.
I tried one too, and it was so sweet I felt like my tongue would melt.
At this point, it had crossed a line.
The flavor was so intense it was practically poison.
Could it be... that the **Imperial Princess** was just getting rid of leftovers?
“Anyway, everyone's way too excited. I guess kids will be kids.”
A remark aimed at the girls lost in their fantasies about the ball.
She shrugged, as if she herself wasn't one of them.
“I understand wanting to look good for you, but I think it's much better to just have fun like we are now.”
Somehow, **Aruru** seems more grown-up.
No, well... if we're being technical, she was the older one.
Our cutie.
You'll have to be alone tomorrow, will you be okay?
Though you'll probably just be wandering around tasting the food.
Being short will probably present some difficulties.
You won't even dare to touch the tall, five-tiered cake, I bet.
“Mhm, I won't be alone. **Luciel** said she'd stay with me.”
So the **Saintess's** choice was **Aruru**, not me?
It was unexpected that she didn't step forward to be my partner.
Given the attitude she's shown, it would have been normal for her to be all over me.
“Ah, that's because **Luciel** is the **Saintess**.”
A certain fact belatedly came to mind.
**That for clergy, modesty is a virtue.**
**Attending the ball is fine, but dancing violates the church's rules.**
No wonder she's been so quiet.
I was anxious about when she might do something rash, but this time, it seemed I could rest easy.
“Even if that's the case for now, what about next time? She's probably preparing a massive counterattack.”
“...”
It was a truly sharp point.
When the time comes, she will surely show off her holy presence.
“How does it feel to get attention from so many members of the opposite sex? I'd like to experience it myself at least once.”
The fox beastkin giggled playfully.
She seemed to be enjoying her master's predicament, but even that was just adorable.
Well, for now...
I just need to get through the ball event without any trouble.