Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The Ball (9)
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An elven girl suddenly stood before me.
She looked as though she had steeled herself for something.
“Can you spare a moment?”
“---??”
She projected a firm attitude.
And as if that weren’t enough, she grabbed my wrist.
In the end, she began to forcibly pull me away before anyone could stop her.
I glanced back reflexively.
I tried to ask for help with my eyes, but most of them were too flustered to know what to do.
Amidst the chaos, Lady Martina gave a pleased eye-smile.
“Oh my, my son… who does he take after? To think even an elf would be so forward.”
“…”
It was as if she would welcome an elven daughter-in-law anytime.
She didn’t seem to care that a potential daughter-in-law candidate was right beside her.
My mother’s meddling made Ceria’s face turn pale.
Hey, this makes me feel bad for no reason!
My mother caused the trouble, but the son had to deal with the aftermath.
Anyway.
I had to deal with this elven girl’s sudden actions first.
“What is it?”
“Just follow me for now. I have something serious to say.”
“…”
The situation was rather strange.
She was completely different from her usual ditzy self.
Did something happen with the Second Prince?
I couldn’t think of anything else.
A moment later.
Ilensia’s steps came to a halt on a secluded terrace.
The dark night had already fallen.
A chilly wind brushed past us.
Instead of speaking right away, the elven girl stared at me intently.
A girl standing under the pouring starlight.
She seemed lost in melancholy, her mind a mess.
Hmm, it’s quite a picture.
At least, being an elf, she was pretty when she wasn’t acting like a ditz.
She was the type whose face alone could lift your spirits.
Well, fine.
I’ll let this sudden act slide.
I haven’t paid much attention to her, so I could afford to be a little generous.
“Alright, now tell me.”
“…”
Her lips parted several times.
It seemed she had something to say but hadn’t organized her thoughts yet.
“Things aren’t going well with the Second Prince, are they?”
“---??”
“You came to me for advice, right? I can’t intervene directly, but I can offer some advice…”
“…”
She glared at me fiercely, as if asking what nonsense I was spouting.
She looked ready to challenge me, as if asking why I couldn’t understand her feelings.
No, why?
I was just trying to be considerate…
“It’s because of you.”
“…What is?”
“Your presence is occupying my mind so much that I feel like I’m going crazy.”
“---??”
Going crazy?
Hearing that is making me go crazy, too.
There’s a limit to these things; this is just too random!
Well, despite the words, it didn’t feel like a confession.
That was a relief, but the way she glared at me with a look of love-hate bothered me.
“I tried spending time with the Second Prince, but it wasn’t very enjoyable.”
“Surely… you’re not saying that’s my fault?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“…”
I was being compared to the Second Prince.
And it seemed she was disappointed in him as a result.
“That’s not it.”
“---??”
“I did compare, but I wasn’t disappointed in the prince. It’s an undeniable fact that he’s a wonderful man.”
She thought the Second Prince was a decent man.
But despite that, she said there was nothing that truly captivated her.
My goodness.
She’s only spent half a day with him, and she’s already tired of him?
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Anyway, what are you going to do now?”
“I need to confirm it properly. How true my feelings are… and what you think of me.”
“…”
I didn’t know what she was talking about.
But there was a high probability that a difficult situation would arise.
I guess it was a good thing no one was watching.
“First, I’ll ask. Are you willing to take responsibility for me?”
“---??”
Hey, why should I take responsibility?
For what? What did I do wrong?
Anyone watching would think I’d done something terrible.
“Hmm, your reaction is lukewarm. Fine. I’ll be honest. The reason I became the prince’s partner was none other than to get your attention.”
“…”
I had a feeling, but was it really a jealousy ploy?
It wasn’t entirely ineffective. It did make me feel a bit uneasy.
“Well, I also calculated that if I got along well with the prince, I might consider that path, too.”
I groaned inwardly.
Honesty is good, but… isn’t this a bit much?
It felt like her ‘humanization’ was heading in a bad direction.
“But… I don’t think the prince is my destined partner.”
The Second Prince would be sad.
Of course, he also used the elven girl, so he couldn’t be seen as a simple victim.
It’s not like they started dating.
They were just partners at the ball for a single day.
“I think you’re the best man.”
“Why?”
“You can tell just by looking at how everyone reacts.”
“…”
“Everyone must think the same. And now that you’ve recently become the Hero, it’s pointless to say more.”
Before, there might have been some room for debate.
But now, it was a fact most people would acknowledge.
I tried my best to remain calm.
Although the elven girl was acting impulsively, this development wasn’t that strange.
It was bound to happen eventually.
If anything, it was a bit late.
Someone would have created a situation like this at some point.
There was one thing that defied my expectations.
That Ilensia, with the lowest affection level, would be the first one…
“…”
Ah, right.
I had forgotten about that.
Among my companions, Ilensia was the only one from whom I hadn’t received an affection reward.
Skadi at the academy was also a target, but true to her expressionless concept, she had an ironclad defense.
To melt that frozen heart…
It would take years at the very least.
Which meant she was practically impossible to win over.
I already had so much to do, so I had no choice but to exclude her.
On the other hand, Ilensia was on the easier side.
With just a little attention, I could probably get it easily.
Hmm, but… is her trait really necessary?
For some reason, I felt like this one would be a trap card.
But just letting it go felt like missing a daily quest.
The expression ‘a chicken rib’ was perfect.
Too good to throw away, but not quite good enough to take…
No, beyond that, I needed to think about this.
If I took the affection reward, I would have to take some responsibility.
Just taking the reward and ignoring her afterward would be too scummy, right?
First, I planned to take care of my little cutie for life.
Playing with her, feeding her, putting her to sleep… I was ready to give her the best treatment.
For the princess, I would pay the price by supporting her kingdom’s reconstruction.
As for Luciel… I wasn’t sure.
Unlike the other girls, the wish she held in her heart wasn’t clear.
Since following the Hero was the Saintess’s duty, I could probably just wipe my hands clean.
But considering the devotion she would show, it was only right that I did something for her.
Should I praise the goddess with her?
She seemed like the type to be satisfied with just that.
Anyway.
The elven girl’s desire was a rather tricky one.
Her disposition was to revel in a sense of superiority.
And that was being expressed as affection towards me.
I could see her will to possess the best man.
It wasn’t love, but how should I respond to this girl’s obsessive feelings?
In that moment, Ilensia pressed her body close.
The faint scent of a woman tickled my nose.
Normally, I would have reflexively taken a step back.
But now, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by her formidable charm.
“…”
An elf in a dress was a form of violence.
A merciless violence that struck the mind, not the body.
She had a human-like form, but I could feel she was on a different level.
Her mysterious elegance surpassed S-rank, reaching well into EX-rank.
“Can I hold you for a moment?”
“---??”
“I need to feel you with my body.”
It didn’t seem like she was trying to seduce me.
She seemed to be trying to confirm her own feelings, but from my perspective, it was no different from seduction.
Anyway, no!
A light hug wouldn’t have been impossible, but it felt like crossing a line.
“Why not?”
“It’s obvious. As you know…”
“Aruru hugs you all the time.”
Huh? Why bring up my little cutie?
It was unfair to put a small, cute beastkin and a slender, beautiful elf on the same level.
The image of me playing with Aruru was natural.
But if I did something with Ilensia, it would be seen as an adult’s game.
Some might think the former was more dangerous, but that was absolutely not the case.
Our bond was based on purity.
It was just the relationship between a master and a pet; we didn’t have strange feelings for each other…
“You were stroking her tail so much it looked like you were about to lift her skirt.”
“---!!”
Aah, this elf is making false accusations!
I never did that! You saw wrong!
I swear on my honor, I’m innocent.
I mean, well…
While rolling around and playing, things that shouldn’t have been seen might have been seen, but… anyway!
I had never intentionally done anything.
It didn’t bother me in the first place! It was just heartwarming!
Her gaze was suspicious, but she soon nodded as if she understood.
“Really, you won’t?”
“…”
“I’m not asking for anything grand.”
It wasn’t like she was asking for a kiss.
Nor was it a burdensome request to dance together.
My resolve was weakening.
Watching a peerless beauty fret like this was surprisingly torturous.
“Fine. Then stay still for just one minute.”
“…What are you going to do?”
“I’m not planning to do anything strange.”
She said she wouldn’t bother me after this.
Whatever it was, I could easily endure it for about a minute.
I reluctantly agreed, and the girl took another step closer. And then…
“---!!”
She suddenly stroked my cheek.
The soft yet cool sensation was enough to give me chills.
Still, this level of affection was laughable.
I had already reached a higher level.
A body tamed by Aruru’s special move, the face rub, and Ceria’s passionate caresses.
In other words, most acts wouldn’t even come close.
Of course, the elven girl had no resistance since this was her first time, but she was just a ditz who didn’t know the ways of the world…
“---!!”
The price of my carelessness was high.
Her slender fingers traced my lips.
A touch filled with yearning.
Then, she looked at me with eyes full of longing.
I wasn’t sure, but she looked ready to pounce at any moment.
I think I’m losing my mind.
It felt like I’d already reached my limit.
Am I… perhaps an easy man?
No, that wasn’t the problem.
If it were an ordinary girl, I would have just been flustered, but my opponent was too much.
The elven girl was superior in every way.
She wasn’t just pretty; as her slender waist proved…
she had a slim figure but also happened to possess the attribute of being glamorous.
Her elegant body was enough to pressure even the Hero.
Please, spare me…
I’ll never underestimate you again. Okay?
Ah! Why are you touching there?
This time, she fiddled with my ear.
It wasn’t a particularly sensitive area, but it felt hot for some reason.
“Hmm, what a fascinating shape.”
“…”
Just as humans find the long ears of elves fascinating.
It seemed that from an elf’s perspective, human ears were also somewhat intriguing.
Fifty seconds had passed.
If I could just endure the remaining ten seconds, I’d be free from this feeling of being between heaven and hell.
Until now, I had gritted my teeth and maintained my poker face.
I didn’t want to show any weakness to the likes of this elven girl.
If I reacted in the slightest, she would surely get cocky, as if to say, ‘I knew it.’
Come on, bring it.
I might have been caught off guard before, but now I was fully prepared.
Even if she tried a surprise kiss, I would handle it nonchalantly…
“…”
I was at a loss for words.
I couldn’t help but freeze.
The elven girl’s final act was far beyond my expectations.
It was an incredibly simple gesture, but in this situation, it was practically cheating.
The girl placed her palm on my chest.
Then, she gave a meaningful smile.