Volume 8 Chapter 19 The Man Who Captures the Hearts of the Town’s Young Women
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Are you… with someone? An adventurer, perhaps?”
”Ah… yeah, something like that.”
Klock strolled along lazily, hands shoved into his pockets.
Beside him, a black-haired girl seemed to be enjoying herself in some quiet, mysterious way.
They were heading toward the Adventurers’ Guild in the central Sienna district.
It was the meeting point designated to link up with Suzette and the others, not far from where the battle with the magical boar had taken place.
And since it was a busy street, it was relatively safe.
Of course, if Klock wanted to meet Suzette and her party quickly, he shouldn’t have been moving at all.
But there was Kispe, the town girl they had met earlier.
He needed to get her to a safe area first, so they started walking.
When he glanced at her, she immediately noticed and returned his gaze.
She smiled as if determined never to show a shadow of worry and tilted her head in an exaggerated, “What is it?” gesture.
Cute… no, ridiculously cute.
Seriously, this girl was dangerously charming.
Watching Kispe stirred a strange unrest in him.
Beyond her appearance, every inch of her seemed adorned with cuteness.
Every gesture she made was endearing.
Her voice was gentle, clear, and beautiful.
Even the way she blinked felt lovable, and he found himself wanting to possess even her softest sigh.
She said she had no experience with men.
Was that even possible? A girl like this, walking openly through town, would surely be surrounded by men in an instant.
And no matter how much a frail little girl might resist, men rarely backed down.
The world was not full of decent people.
To be honest, with her looks and charm, it wouldn’t be surprising if she had been forced into sexual encounters multiple times.
She must have immense experience with men.
Otherwise, it didn’t add up.
Otherwise, it was impossible.
A girl like this, untouched by anyone…
”—Sir Klock?”
If that were true, he’d have to take her somewhere immediately.
Tear off those shabby clothes, defile her innocence, teach her the ways of men thoroughly,
and then lock her away where no one else could reach.
’From now on, we’ll be together through sickness and death.’
A sharp, bell-like chime echoed in his mind.
”Is something the matter?”
”Huh? —No, nothing.”
For a brief moment, his mind felt hazy.
He remembered being shaken awake mid-sleep.
Sleep deprivation dulled judgment; he had to be careful.
”Well… um, if it’s alright, could you tell me more about yourself, Sir Klock…?”
”Huh? What’s that about?”
”I want to know… about you. I’m not sure why… but I’m really curious.”
Her request was straightforward, yet her words faltered.
She looked embarrassed, trying to close the gap between them while giving off the air of a proper young lady unfamiliar with men.
He couldn’t believe she didn’t know.
She was practically waving a sign that said she had a crush on him.
This was going to be tricky.
Kispe was clearly the type to dominate men.
Though she looked like a dreamy, innocent girl, Klock’s experience told him she was cunningly manipulative.
She was the type best kept at a distance.
Still, it wasn’t easy to push her away now—circumstances were urgent.
Her slender body had probably already used men to her advantage countless times.
If he left her unattended, who knew what might happen?
Moments ago, she had collapsed in front of monsters.
It was unlikely she could handle danger on her own.
”Well, I’m nothing special. There’s nothing much to tell.”
”No, that’s not true. Your back… it feels vast, filled with untold stories…!”
He thought, What the hell?
He could sense she was flattering him, but it felt strange, almost ticklish.
Was this just how she spoke?
”I don’t want to hear heroic tales. I want to know your daily life, the small things. For example… your favorite food?”
”…I don’t really have one… maybe meat, I guess?”
”Hehe, that’s so masculine♡ I like meat too.”
A simple answer, yet somehow he felt she’d affirm anything he said.
”And… do you drink alcohol?”
”Ah… sometimes. Not much lately, though.”
He answered honestly.
Back in the Royal Capital, he had spent a lot of time in taverns, but now he rarely went.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to drink, or lacked opportunity; he just felt he shouldn’t show Suzette or Meina him drunk.
”So, do you have any hobbies?”
Kispe’s voice brightened with curiosity.
Perhaps she planned to keep asking questions all the way to the safe zone.
Watching her, a mischievous thought formed in him.
”Hobbies… huh? Ah, women and sex, I guess.”
A sudden, blunt response disrupted their polite exchange.
”…Eh. I-Is that… really…?”
The cheerful atmosphere instantly shattered.
Flustered, Kispe looked away, faltering in her words.
She fell silent and stepped half a pace behind him, though they had been walking side by side.
…Crap, did I go too far?
Something about her made him blurt out unnecessary things.
Ah well, it was probably just a one-time encounter.
Even if she hated him, he wouldn’t see her again.
”Is… it really that… good… that, um, sex…?”
”Yeah.”
”Oh… that’s it… I’ve never… had that experience…”
Kispe lowered her gaze, embarrassed but curious.
Could she really be a sheltered girl?
Klock couldn’t tell.
But if she were acting, he didn’t mind being deceived a little.
Being played by a woman could also be rewarding.
As long as he set limits, even a risky fling could be entertaining.
”Honestly… the most exciting is spanking an arrogant girl. Also, messing with women I don’t know much about.”
”Ah… eh… ah…”
”Oi, oi, you asked, so why act embarrassed? Aren’t you interested? Huh?”
”…!!”
Nasty words spilled from him uncontrollably.
He should stop, but Kispe’s reactions made him want to push further.
His usual women didn’t give such responses—they didn’t have that willingness.
There was something thrilling about a woman he barely knew.
”Um…”
”Yeah?”
”D-Do you… want to…? I…”
He felt her grab his sleeve.
Kispe stretched her arm as far as it would go, holding his clothes as if asking to be taken along.
”Um… I’ve really never experienced that… but I wanted to… thank you…”
”Thank me for what?”
Klock turned, puzzled.
Kispe leapt boldly, clinging to his arm once more, just as before.
A floral scent floated in the air.
Looking up, she met his gaze, tears in her eyes, shy but determined.
It was a familiar expression—when a woman decides, fully aware of what it means to surrender herself.
”Um, if this is how you want to repay me—”
”Oi, oi, saying that makes me want to be gentle—wait a second—”
A growl echoed in his ears.
A warning sign from his instincts.
A horrifying, predator-like voice, recalling a monstrous throat.
”Um…? Is something the matter?”
”Shh. Come here.”
Klock grabbed Kispe’s arm and led her toward the nearest shadowed corner.
Her arm felt delicate in his hand as he guided her behind the wall of a passing house.
”Hide here.”
He tucked her out of sight and drew his knife.
Kispe seemed to want to speak, but seeing him ready his weapon, she caught on. Her eyes widened, hand covering her mouth, and she fell silent.
Could he leave her here?
No—he needed to conceal her somewhere safer.
Suppressing an inexplicable urge to protect her, he moved toward the source of the noise, running while reviewing his weapon and attack plan in his mind.
”Damn it, go over there! Attack the humans, not me!!”
”――――!!”
The sudden words threw him for a moment.
Monsters were here, targeting a person on top of the wall.
But the human’s command left only one possible conclusion.
He just wished he had three seconds to think.
”――It’s coming this way.”
The monster noticed Klock, turning to charge him immediately.
As expected of monsters—they spared no human.
He readied his knife, preparing to counter.
This one walked on four legs but was unlike any monster Klock had encountered.
The size matched a demonic wolf, yet its legs moved differently.
Somewhere between a cat and a dog, but far too large for either.
It was fast—so fast.
Although it had been ten meters away at first, it was upon him in under five seconds.
Startled by the terrifying speed, Klock swung his knife roughly.
A normal knife would’ve meant certain death.
But the Cianie knife was extraordinary.
Even a simple swing cut through a separate layer of space, striking the monster that had clearly dodged. Blood sprayed.
Most creatures freeze when wounded, leaving an opening for a skilled fighter.
Though Klock lacked extensive experience against monsters, he knew enough to recognize a vulnerability.
”Take this!!”
He followed up with another swing.
The blade arced through the air, cutting the space the monster occupied.
The monster wobbled and collapsed to the ground.
Blood spread across the pavement.
The exact wound was hard to see in the dim light, but it was surely fatal.
”Better check, just in case—”
”Sir Klock!!!”
He froze—someone called from behind, a voice bordering on a scream.
He spun around, eyes widening.
A hooded figure had been shoved forward.
”Damn it, get out of the way!!”
”Kyaa?!!!”
It seemed the hooded figure was a man, brandishing a machete.
He had tried to strike Klock from behind.
And the one who pushed him back was—
”Kispe!?”
The girl stumbled, knocked back by her own counterattack.
Why was she here? There was no time to ask.
Instinct took over—arms moved before thoughts.
The man’s downward strike never reached Kispe.
Startled, he dropped his knife, fell to the ground, and reached into his pocket to pull something out—a scroll.
”You won’t get it!!!”
Killing someone was the last resort, but his body acted instinctively.
He had to protect Kispe.
The knife swung easily, missing the man, yet the Cianie blade leapt through space to defend its wielder.
The hooded man crumpled, motionless.
”Damn it, why did you even come out here!!”
”I-I… I’m sorry!!”
Kispe had nearly been struck.
Shoved and sitting on the ground, she scrambled up and leapt into Klock’s arms.
”I’m glad… you’re safe. Really, I’m so glad—”
She clung to him, tiny body pressed against his chest, burying her face in him in relief.
”When I peeked over the wall, that person had a knife and was aiming for you…”
”Ah… I see. Thanks, that helped a lot.”
She had mustered courage to protect him, confronting a knife-wielding stranger—and nearly got killed for it.
Few girls would do that for a complete stranger.
She lifted her head, and Klock realized he could no longer treat her lightly.
When he looked at her directly—
”…Ah.”
She shyly turned her face away again.
Oh, damn.
This girl was unbelievably cute.
His heart thumped.
He felt a sudden urge to claim her as his own.
”Um… that’s enough for now.”
”…Huh?”
”I can make my way from here on my own…”
Kispe suddenly stepped back, lowering her gaze, looking disappointed but resolute.
”What’s gotten into you? The guild office is just ahead—”
”No. If I stay with you any longer, I might lose control.”
She turned her back to him.
The night wind stirred her dress, revealing her slender frame, small enough to fit in his sight just a few steps away.
She had shaken off his hand, clearly asserting independence, leaving him blinking in surprise.
”…I’m sorry. It’s rude to say this out of the blue. But I can’t continue. I… I want too much from you, Sir Klock.”
Anyone could understand what she meant.
Kispe was pleading to be stopped, yet teasing him like a youthful strategist.
She stepped back suddenly, leaving an obvious opening, typical of a girl her age.
”I… someone like me… what do you want?”
”…I like dependable people. Men willing to risk their lives to protect a girl make my heart race. Right now… I want someone like you, showing me your bravery, to want me without reservation.”
Kispe looked back once more, standing before him, meeting his gaze with wide, determined eyes.
”I’m sorry again, but just one last thing. Will you take my hand? If not, please go on.”
She had essentially confessed.
Even in the dim light, he could see her small smile, body trembling slightly.
Her outstretched hand was a sign of courage—a plea to accompany him on life’s journey, to color her life with his.
Her purple eyes, gem-like, silently begged him.
”…Ah—”
Klock looked away, uncertain how to respond.
It had suddenly become far too serious.
If she had approached more casually, he might have taken her hand and led her into the shadows without hesitation.
Tiny as she was, she was irresistibly cute.
Now, facing this bold Kispe, he hesitated.
No, he had Cianie and the others…
Yet, adding one more to the group wouldn’t hurt…
No, he didn’t know when Suzette might fly into a rage…
In a split second, thoughts collided.
”—Sir Klock!!”
Before he could reach a conclusion, a voice called out.
A familiar, reassuring maid’s voice.
Two sets of footsteps followed.
Turning, he saw the golden cat-girl approaching—tail swaying—already catching up before they could reach the meeting point.
”Finally found you. Choosing a meeting point is fine, but if you’d stayed there, we would’ve joined much sooner.”
”Good! I was so worried you might get lost or attacked!!”
Seeing the girls arrive, a deep sigh escaped naturally.
Relief washed over him at finally reuniting with them.
Then, with a pause, he realized how close he had come to being seen in an utterly compromising situation.
Careless. He had to make it clear that he had no connection with this girl—no matter what.
His mind snapped fully back to its usual state.
”…Ah, just a little closer.”
”—Huh? You are—”
Suzette came running.
She was already right in front of him, yet why did she seem to be in such a rush?
He barely had time to wonder before she suddenly stopped.
”Sir Klock!! Step away from that girl!!”
”Huh?”
Suzette’s voice rose in anger, startling Meina beside her.
Of course, Klock had no idea what she meant and couldn’t react immediately.
”…You know me, don’t you? Who are you?”
A melodious voice spoke as someone stood beside Klock.
The atmosphere around Kispe shifted instantly.
Notes:
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Meina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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