Episode 13
“Hero, Hero♥”
Right now, I was being held captive by the Saint.
Why, you ask?
“Hero, which dress do you like~?”
Because the Saint dragged me here to pick out a dress for her to wear to the banquet.
I asked her why she couldn’t just wear her usual nun outfit, since she’s a Saint, but all I got was a sharp scolding.
– “Hero, is it your hobby to ask stupid questions? I can’t just wear a nun outfit to a private banquet. You really are a thoughtless idiot~♡”
Haha, damn her.
“Why does my taste matter?”
“I wasn’t asking for your taste, though? I just wanted to know which of these two you think is better~. What are you even thinking? You’re so annoying♡”
“…I don’t know. How would a commoner like me have an eye for dresses?”
“You must have some sense of aesthetics~.”
“…Sigh.”
Let’s just pick one randomly and get this over with. I pointed to the dress on the right.
“That one.”
“Ahh♡ Hero, did you want to see my cleavage that badly~? You’re so perverted♡ I hate it♡”
“…What are you even talking about?”
“Look at this. The dress you picked…”
The Saint turned the hanger.
“Gah!”
I choked in surprise.
When she turned the hanger, the front of the dress had a deep V-cut.
If the Saint wore that…
“So you wanted me to wear this~? Hero, you’re the worst♡ Pervert♡ Horny bastard♡”
No, you should’ve shown me the front, damn it.
“…I only saw the back, so I didn’t know.”
“Well, since you picked it, maybe I should try it on~♡”
“Let’s just go with the left one.”
“Hmm~? Why?”
The left dress had an open back, but honestly, that seemed better.
…But why did she only bring these kinds of dresses? There must be plenty of dresses without such exposure.
“That dress seems better than the one I picked. You probably don’t like the one I chose anyway.”
“I don’t mind♡”
“Huh?”
“I’m confident in my figure~.”
“That’s not the point. Isn’t it a problem if your skin is exposed?”
“…Huh?”
I don’t know why she’s so flustered. I thought I was saying something obvious.
“You’re the Saint of the Solaria Church, right? Shouldn’t you avoid exposing your skin to others?”
“…Oh, is that what you meant?”
Huh? I think I heard a hint of disappointment in her voice. Am I imagining things?
“Don’t worry about that. The Solaria Church’s doctrine emphasizes purity, but it doesn’t say anything about not exposing skin.”
“Ah, really? I guess each Church has different doctrines.”
“Of course. Each Church worships a different god. I think the Lunaria Church has the doctrine you mentioned.”
“I see.”
I always thought Saints were supposed to be sacred, untouchable by men, and that exposing skin would be taboo.
“Since there’s no issue with the doctrine, let me ask again. Which one do you prefer, Hero?”
“…Let’s go with the left one.”
“So you want to see my smooth, white back♡ You’re so creepy~♡”
“…Sure, let’s go with that.”
I don’t know. I just gave a half-hearted answer, but the Saint seemed quite satisfied, smiling slyly.
“Then I’ll go try it on. Don’t go anywhere, wait here~♡”
“Okay.”
But I need to get dressed for the banquet too. Whatever. I’ll change after she comes out.
“Hero~♡”
The dressing room door opened, and the Saint stepped out.
“Uh… yeah…”
“How do I look?”
…Ah.
For a moment, I was at a loss for words. They say clothes make the person, and it’s true.
The Saint’s black hair and the red wine-colored dress matched perfectly. She already had a noble air about her, so even a flashy dress didn’t look out of place.
Plus, she tied part of her long hair with a pretty ribbon, giving off a different vibe than usual. I think they call that a one-side updo.
“Hero~♡ Why are you staring so hard~? You’re such a pervert♡”
“…You asked me how you looked.”
“You didn’t say anything, just breathed heavily and stared with those pervy eyes~♡”
“…I didn’t do that.”
I definitely didn’t breathe heavily.
“Pfft♡ Your reaction tells me it looks good~.”
“…Yeah, it suits you.”
“But, Hero.”
“Yes?”
The Saint’s eyes curved like crescent moons. With her signature sly smile, she whispered softly.
“I haven’t shown you the real deal yet~♥”
“…Huh?”
The Saint gathered her hair with both hands and pulled it forward. Then she turned around.
“…Gulp!”
“Kyahaha~♡ Hero, did you just gulp?”
The Saint giggled as if she found it amusing.
…Honestly, I was too shocked.
The dress had an open back, revealing her smooth, white skin and the clear lines of her shoulder blades.
I couldn’t help but think, can human skin really be that flawless?
“Shut up, I didn’t… gulp.”
“Hahaha, your reaction is so funny. You can’t even stop gulping, you loser♡”
She really was beautiful. The dress suited her perfectly. She had the kind of beauty that could enchant any man.
“Are you getting excited from seeing my back~? I trust you’re not that kind of pervert, Hero~♡”
…I really wish she’d just shut up.
“Saint, I need to get dressed for the banquet too.”
“Yes, of course.”
“What should I wear?”
The Count provided a ton of banquet outfits.
Honestly, I could pick one myself, but wouldn’t it be better if the Saint, who’s from this era, chose for me?
“Hmm~♡”
The Saint surprisingly took it seriously and looked through the men’s outfits. Among the many options, she quickly picked one.
“This one would be good.”
“Really?”
She chose a white tuxedo. Would that really suit me?
“Hero, your rare white hair will match this perfectly.”
“Hmm.”
So white hair is rare here. I thought it’d be common in a fantasy world.
“I’ll go try it on.”
“Okay~♡”
#
Abel went into the dressing room, and someone knocked on the door. Estelle didn’t open it right away but narrowed her eyes and watched for a moment. The person knocked again.
“Sigh.”
Estelle opened the door abruptly, not surprised at all when she saw who it was.
“Hero Elfride, what brings you here?”
“Ah, are you ready? The Count asked me to guide Abel, so I came.”
Elfride was wearing a stunning blue dress that accentuated her beauty. Her ample chest, usually hidden under armor, was now fully on display.
Seeing this, Estelle furrowed her brow.
“…Hero, I’ll take care of Abel’s guidance.”
“I’ll take care of it, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Ah, I see. But I have something entrusted by the Count, so it might be better to go together…”
“It’s fine. Hero Elfride, you go ahead.”
“…Has Abel not come out yet?”
Instead of answering, Estelle just smiled. Seeing her not respond, Elfride furrowed her brows.
“…Saint Estelle, I don’t understand why you seem to dislike me.”
“Oh my♡ What are you talking about? Why would I dislike you, Hero Elfride?”
Estelle played innocent, but Elfride, having grown up in a prestigious family, had a keen sense of observation. Estelle’s gaze whenever she talked to Abel was anything but ordinary.
“Whether it’s when I talk to Abel or now, it’s the same. It’s like you’re telling me not to get close to him…”
“Could you please stop calling the hero’s name so familiarly?”
“…Huh?”
Elfride was baffled, and Cynthia, who had been quietly standing behind her, also widened her eyes in surprise.
Well, it was understandable since Estelle had openly shown hostility. Elfride was dumbfounded by Estelle’s narrowed eyes staring at her.
“I’ll be the one to take the hero. Just so you know.”
After delivering her message, Estelle closed the door.
Left alone outside the door, Elfride turned to Cynthia with a surprised look.
“…Why is she acting like this?”
Cynthia shook her head. She didn’t know either.
“I’ve never heard that the saint of the Solaria Church could be so rude.”
Thinking she should say something, Elfride grabbed the doorknob, but someone stopped her.
“Cynthia?”
“Elfride, just let it go.”
“…Why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“Just listen to me this once.”
It was the first time Cynthia had made such a request. But for her to stop Elfride in a situation where the other party was clearly in the wrong…
“…Sigh, I can’t understand this.”
Elfride shook her head and headed towards the banquet hall. Watching her leave, Cynthia…
‘Elfride, I just saved you.’
…let out a sigh of relief.
#
“Who was here?”
It was a bit noisy outside while I was changing.
“Saint?”
The saint didn’t answer my question and just stared at me blankly.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Ah. Ahem!…Well, hero, you look quite dashing~♥”
“Oh, really? There’s no mirror inside, so I didn’t know. Glad to hear I look good.”
What kind of dressing room doesn’t have a mirror? The saint then said to me.
“Though it still feels like a goblin wearing a banquet suit~♡”
“…Really?”
I thought the suit itself was quite stylish. I guess it’s just me who doesn’t pull it off.
Feeling a bit disappointed, the saint suddenly started rambling.
“O-of course, it looks much better than other clothes, so just keep it on. Don’t even think about changing!”
“…I wasn’t planning to.”
Why is she like this?
“Ah, but who was here earlier?”
“No one came♡”
“I thought I heard you talking to someone…”
When I repeated the question she hadn’t answered earlier, the saint smiled with her eyes but not her mouth, making a strange expression.
“No. One. Came~♡”
“…Okay.”
Mom, I’m scared.
#
“The Count has worked hard too. Thanks to your knights and soldiers fighting bravely, we managed to fend off the threat without any casualties.”
“Hoho, it’s all thanks to Hero Elfride. I never dreamed it would be a Balvatos-class monster. To take down such a monster alone, truly befitting of Hero Elfride.”
Elfride, who had been turned away by Estelle, was chatting with Count Baterk while sipping wine. She occasionally glanced towards the door during their conversation.
“Are you waiting for someone?”
“Ah, I haven’t seen Hero Abel.”
“Ah, Hero Abel also performed remarkably. To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations for him. After all, he hasn’t been a hero for long, right?”
“…True.”
“But even so, a hero is a hero. He managed to take down a high-level monster, a troll. I was quite surprised when I heard the report.”
Elfride nodded at the Count’s words and took a sip of wine. Then she said to him.
“Regardless of skill, he has the heart of a hero. Even if his abilities are lacking, he still rushes in to save people.”
“Hmm, indeed. Wise words.”
Count Baterk was a bit puzzled by Elfride’s words because Abel had initially refused the summons.
He only agreed after Levius sent a second letter stating that Abel had to come due to the distance.
But seeing Elfride in good spirits, the Count decided not to press the matter and laughed it off.
During their conversation, Elfride glanced at the door again, and it opened to reveal a silver-haired handsome man.
“Oh…”
“Oh, it’s Hero Abel.”
“My, what a dashing figure.”
The attendees at the banquet couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. Count Baterk also expressed his honest thoughts.
“Looking at him, it’s hard to believe Hero Abel is of common birth.”
“…Indeed.”
Elfride simply agreed.
As the Count said, Abel exuded an air of nobility. When Elfride first heard he was of common birth, she was quite surprised.
Elfride couldn’t help but smile warmly at Abel. But soon after, her expression stiffened.
“Oh, it’s the saint of the Solaria Church.”
“…….”
Abel suddenly stopped, and the saint in a dress appeared behind him, saying something to him.
Then, she grabbed his tie and adjusted his attire.
Abel accepted her touch, scratching his head.
“Hoho, it seems Hero Abel is already quite close with the saint. Isn’t that right, Hero Elfride?”
“…Huh?…Ah, yes.”
Elfride nodded unconsciously, but as she watched the two standing close together, she felt a complex mix of emotions.
