Chapter 30 : Aftermath

“Ah… This feels so good…”

After the long and exhausting hunt, I sat down on a large rock nearby. My entire body was sore, probably because I hadn’t moved this much in a long time.

So, am I just sitting here and resting? No, not quite.

I am currently making an amazing discovery.

Do you remember how I cut my skirt, which was originally a single piece, into two parts for the fight earlier? Watch carefully—if I hold the edges of these cuts and gather them towards the center…

From the waist to the tips of my legs, the white skin that had been hidden beneath the fabric is now exposed.

And why is this so great?

It’s refreshing.

When the wind brushes over my sweat-soaked thighs as they emerge from beneath the nun’s habit, it brings an overwhelming feeling of coolness, as if a weight has been lifted from my body.

The sensation is so pleasant that I can’t help but let out exclamations whenever the wind blows.

You might not understand why I’m doing this.

There’s a sad story behind it.

The nun’s outfit of the Faith of Naias consists of a single-piece skirt that lacks ventilation, making it incredibly hot inside.

The downside? After moving around in this skirt for even a short while, the inside becomes a literal steam bath.

This is something you wouldn’t understand unless you’ve experienced it.

Just thinking about the misery this annoying flaw has caused me… it makes my hands shake with frustration.

“Aah, this feels so nice.”

Maybe it feels especially good because of all the suffering I’ve endured from this. The sensation is akin to the relief you feel when stepping out of a sauna. It’s that exact feeling.

Looking back, slicing open the side of this nun’s outfit with a sword was a stroke of genius.

It was an impulsive decision due to discomfort, but the effect is better than expected. Should I think about how to use this trick in the future?

There is the drawback of increased skin exposure, but if a little exposure can eliminate such discomfort, it’s worth it.

All of this could be solved by wearing pants instead of a skirt, but as a nun, that’s not an option, so this workaround feels highly valuable.

At the Faith of Naias, where I serve that damn god, all followers are instructed to minimize bodily exposure, and for nuns, wearing a skirt is mandatory.

I once asked what we’re supposed to do if it’s too hot. Do you know the answer?

Just endure it.

They say it’s a good opportunity to cultivate patience or something like that.

I was speechless.

“These legs would look amazing in hot pants.”

I lifted one of my legs.

My long, slender leg, with its fair skin and smooth, graceful curves from thigh to ankle, draws the eye.

It’s undoubtedly a beautiful leg. The proportions are good, the skin looks smooth and fair—it’s like seeing the photos I used to scroll through on social media back in the other world, but right here in real life.

Of course, since it’s my own leg, I don’t feel any thrill.

Damn.

Just as I was admiring my leg—

“Kyah! Lady Ruina, what on earth are you doing?!”

Bliss shrieked in shock as she looked at me.

“Huh? What’s the matter?”

“Your clothes! Your thighs are all exposed!”

“And? What about it?”

“Everyone’s looking! Cover yourself!”

What is she on about now? I replied with a blank face.

“Huh? Who’s even looking…?”

But as I looked around at Bliss’s words, I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Looking around, I realized that everyone’s eyes were on me.

They weren’t staring directly but sneaking glances, pretending not to look.

Sigh…

I sighed deeply to myself. And then I thought about how to react. After a brief moment of consideration, I decided to just let them be.

It was uncomfortable to feel all those eyes, but what can I do?

I understand. If I were in their shoes, I probably wouldn’t be able to resist either. How could a man hold back from looking at this?

Reflecting on it, I suppose I was a bit too careless. A side slit exposing my thigh… it’s like I lost my senses out of excitement.

I won’t make a fuss about what’s happened up to now. But starting from here, I won’t allow it. No matter how I empathize with them, it still feels unpleasant.

Just think about it: if the same gender was looking at my legs with such sticky eyes, who could tolerate that?

Though, this body is female. But my mind isn’t.

And these people looking probably just see this body. They would never imagine that there’s a man like them inside here.

Without a word, I stood up. I dusted off my bottom and covered the exposed parts with fabric again.

No…

Who just sighed?

While I silently tidied up my attire—

“Bliss! So here you were!”

A loud voice rang out from somewhere, and Artorius approached us with his usual smile.

“Why are you here?”

Unlike his beaming face, Bliss looked annoyed as she asked.

“I have something to ask!”

“Just say it briefly.”

“You’re going to write a report for the Holy See about today’s hunt, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Would you mind if I wrote that report?”

“Huh? Why?”

Bliss asked back, looking dumbfounded.

“If you write it, my righteous contributions from today’s hunt might go unnoticed.”

“Wha…? And did you even do anything helpful today?”

“Of course! Do you know how much I contributed today? Look! You’ve already forgotten about my righteous deeds! So today, I’ll write the report! I must record every last one of our noble achievements!”

Sigh… fine, go ahead.

Bliss looked at him with an exasperated expression and said.

“Thank you! Now that I have your permission, I’ll make sure to capture the glory of today’s righteousness for the Cardinal! Ah! I’ll be sure to include your contributions too, Bliss, so don’t worry!”

“Hah…”

Bliss seemed too tired to even respond.

“Well then, I’ll go write the report! Farewell!”

With a grin, Artorius bid her goodbye and turned to leave the way he came.

Just as it seemed he was finally gone—

“Oh, I almost forgot something!”

Artorius suddenly stopped in his tracks, as if he’d remembered something, and came back to me.

“Lady Ruina.”

“Yes?”

“I have something to say to you.”

“To me…? About what?”

I was puzzled as he claimed to have something to say to me.

Artorius smiled and gave me a thumbs-up, speaking loudly.

“Your thighs were absolutely beautiful! They were so stunning I couldn’t take my eyes off them. So I just admired them! That fair skin! Those graceful curves! Flawlessly beautiful. Truly righteous thighs!”

Silence.

Wow, damn.

I can say this with certainty right now. This guy is insane.

What should I say in response to him as he waits for a reply? I seriously started to think about it.

How should I even describe how I feel right now? Rather than feeling offended, I’m just at a loss for words. I can’t think of what to say.

As I stood there, stunned by his shocking words—

“Shut up, Artorius! I can’t stand you anymore!”

Bliss yelled, smacking his back with her palm.

A loud smack echoed from Artorius’s back.

After finishing up with the sandworm hunt, we returned to Billen for a brief rest.

I was so exhausted that I drifted off as soon as I laid down on the bed. When I awoke, the sky outside the window was painted with a beautiful sunset.

Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I got out of bed and sat in a chair. At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

When I opened it, the hero was there. He invited us to a small meal in town to celebrate the successful hunt and foster camaraderie.

So now, here we are.

“Everyone, cheers!”

We’re drinking.

In the lively, bustling atmosphere of the tavern, with chatter filling the air, we’re all gathered around a square table.

When the hero first proposed the idea, I was genuinely surprised. He seemed too refined to be the type to drink in a place like this.

But seeing him drink comfortably now, it seems I was mistaken.

As for his party members, they’re polar opposites.

Olivia took one sip, grimaced, and hasn’t touched her drink since, while Agnes is drinking so much that I dread the bill.

…

Seeing her drink straight from the barrel because glasses weren’t enough for her, she really is like a dragonkin.

And Bliss…

“This water that feels better the more I drink it… I’ve never tasted anything like this before… Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?!”

She seems to have low tolerance… or rather, no experience with alcohol. She did say she’d never had it before.

I told her to stop, but she insisted she was fine. Judging by her state, she’ll probably collapse soon.

I offer my condolences to her future self.

Lastly, Reina… being young, is seated beside me, sipping orange juice.

And me? I’ve had this before, so nothing’s out of the ordinary.

In fact, I’m excited, enjoying the drink I hadn’t had in a while.

Oh, by the way, the Faith of Naias does permit drinking. They say that human pleasures gifted by Naias should not be restrained or something. It’s amusing how strict they are with attire but lenient with alcohol…

Anyway, once the drinks started flowing, we talked about many things.

The hero began by saying

 everyone did well, then Agnes mentioned she never expected me to wield a sword, and Bliss proudly boasted about me as if it were her own achievement. At first, most of the conversation was about today’s events.

It would’ve been nice if we’d only talked about today’s events, but… how can anyone stick to one topic at a drinking party?

We started with today’s events, but as the conversation continued, the topics kept shifting, and soon, we were talking about each other’s curiosities.

And with the conversation flowing that way, Bliss eventually brought up that question.

“Question! Lady Ruina, I’ve been wanting to ask—what exactly is your relationship with Reina?”

Bliss raised her hand and questioned me.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering how to answer.

What explanation about my relationship with Reina would sound the least suspicious? Should I say we’re like a king and his vassal? Sisters? Or family?

After some careful thought, I finally gave a response.

“Um… well, you could say we’re extremely close.”

It was a vague answer.

Although vague, it was somewhat true. Out of everyone here, I do have the closest bond with her, both in terms of race and connection.

“Alright, second question! Are you taking care of Reina all by yourself?”

“Yes, given the circumstances.”

“Oh dear, what is her father doing, letting his daughter go to such dangerous places?”

Hmm… How should I answer this one?

Honestly, I’d like to say:

“He was killed by the hero.”

But if I said that, this gathering would likely turn chaotic, so I folded that thought away neatly in the corner of my mind.

Yet, if I made up a story about her father being alive, there wouldn’t be a reason to have brought Reina here with me.

How should I respond? It’s a dilemma.

Then, a brilliant idea flashed in my mind.

Since things are already like this, why not blend a bit of truth with lies to shape Reina’s image?

From the reactions so far, everyone seems uncomfortable with me bringing Reina on this dangerous journey. If I use this chance to emphasize that Reina has no one else to protect her, the journey ahead might become easier.

How will I say it? There’s that saying that 99% truth mixed with 1% lies can move people, right? I intend to follow that to the letter.

Having decided on my answer, I stayed silent for a moment and then spoke in a small, weak voice when everyone’s attention was on me.

“He… passed away.”

“…Huh?”

Bliss looked at me, eyes wide in shock, as if she thought she misheard.

I replied once more to clarify.

“Reina’s father is no longer in this world.”

“Oh…”

“May I ask how that happened?”

When Bliss fell silent, the hero quietly asked.

“It was because of the war with the demons. He died in battle.”

“I see…”

It wasn’t a lie.

The Demon King’s death is a truth, and he indeed died in the midst of the war.

I simply left out the fact that he was the Demon King.

With a sigh, I continued.

“It’s hard to believe he’s really gone. I didn’t witness his last moments myself, and he didn’t seem like someone who would die so easily… But, after months with no news, I’ve come to think he must have perished in battle.”

This is genuinely how I feel. Honestly, I still can’t believe the Demon King is dead.

“Would it be possible to know his name? If we search the records, we may be able to find some trace of his deeds. If he has indeed passed, we could hold a proper funeral.”

At the hero’s suggestion, I shook my head.

“I’ve chosen to forget his name. Living each day holding onto the hope that he’s still alive… it’s terrifying to face the truth. If he is truly dead… seeing his name would make it unbearable.”

This is also true. Not because of sorrow, but because of anger.

Just thinking about the Demon King these days makes my blood boil.

How dare he leave me with all this trouble, only to lose his head to the hero? And then he left his daughter in my care?

I’ll never forgive him.

If that bastard Demon King really is dead and buried somewhere, I’ll track down his grave someday and split his tombstone in two.

“I see… I apologize for bringing up something painful.”

The hero nodded solemnly at my refusal.

And with that, the conversation came to a halt.

Silence.

A sudden quiet descended upon the group.

The one to break it was Agnes.

“The… the ring! That ring is lovely! Where did you get it?”

As if trying to lift the heavy mood, she pointed at my ring and spoke.

“This ring? I’m not sure where it’s from myself. He gave it to me.”

“Oh…”

But my response made her freeze, her face stiffening, and silence returned.

This silence stretched on for quite a while.

As it lingered, I hoped someone would break it, but looking around, no one seemed ready to speak.

Well, I might as well start.

I took a sip to wet my throat and began speaking again.

“At first, I was shocked. I never thought he could actually die. Do you know what he said to me before leaving? He said he would win, no matter what.”

He said it to me so confidently that I believed it and spent each day in that belief. Yet, when the war ended, he didn’t return… At first, I was okay. Though I felt uneasy about his absence, I kept going day by day, thinking he’d return one day.

But after holding out for so long… a holy knight visited me one day and told me he might have died.”

From beside me, I heard Bliss gasp.

Agnes, sitting across from me, covered her mouth with her hand, muttering, “Oh no…” while Olivia lowered her gaze, remaining silent.

Pleased by their reactions, I continued.

“When I heard those words, it felt like the world went dark. I thought, ‘This is it,’ and my mind went blank, wondering what to do next… At one point, I even considered an extreme choice.”

Honestly, not long after hearing about the Demon King’s death, I had thought about barging into the Holy See and fighting the hero until death.

Fortunately, I came to my senses the next day, so that didn’t happen.

I patted Reina, who was sipping her orange juice beside me, and continued.

“But I had Reina. Though Reina’s father had died, his daughter Reina was still here, and I had to protect her.

It was tough. When I was told I had to embark on this journey, it truly felt like the sky was falling.”

This is also true.

Damn it, traveling with the hero? There was nothing scarier than when he came through the church doors, saying he was here to fetch me. It truly felt like the sky was collapsing.

“Oh, but I’m not blaming any of you. It would have all been resolved if he had come back alive.”

I sighed loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“What a terrible man, leaving us behind and dying.”

I finished speaking with a bitter smile and took another sip of beer.

Watching me, the hero spoke with a serious expression.

“I’m sorry… for bringing up painful memories.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ve gotten used to it.”

“You must have endured a lot.”

It’s rather ironic to hear those words from the very person responsible for this situation.

“But I’m okay now. I’ve adapted. However, I do worry about Reina. She appears cheerful on the outside, but she lost her father overnight. How heartbroken she must be.”

At my words, everyone looked at Reina with pity.

Now, it’s time to get to the main point.

Still stroking Reina’s head, I continued.

“That’s why I brought her along despite your objections. I know the journey is dangerous, but I felt it would be better to keep her with me and protect her myself than to leave her alone in an orphanage. Honestly, I have confidence in my ability to keep her safe.”

With this, the hero likely wouldn’t object any further.

“Reina is the child he entrusted to me. So I plan to give her as much as possible to make up for what she’s lost.”

To be honest, if the Demon King really is dead, I intend to make Reina the next Demon King.

And then, as her close aide, I’ll enjoy the privileges. That would be the only reward worthy of this hellish duty.

But to do that, I’ll need to contact the Demon King’s army… somehow. Sigh.

“Lady Ruina… stay strong. I’m sorry I can’t say more.”

“Thank you.”

I replied to Agnes’s encouragement, surveying the situation.

Good.

Bliss was teary-eyed beside me, and Olivia had her face hidden under her hat.

The hero was staring at his glass, seemingly deep in thought.

From the looks on their faces, it seemed my strategy had worked.

The only odd part was that Agnes looked at me with pity, as if she felt bad not only for Reina but also for me… but it doesn’t seem like a bad thing, so I’ll just ignore it.

Now, I’ll leave with Reina for a while to let this mood settle. I can also use this time to ask her about today’s events.

I stood up and spoke.

“I’m feeling a bit dizzy from the drink. I’ll take a short walk with Reina.”

“Then I’ll come too—”

Bliss tried to rise with us, but I held her back gently.

“No, today, I’d like to walk alone. There are things I want to talk about with Reina.”

“Understood…”

Bliss seemed like she wanted to say something, but she quietly sat back down.

“Reina.”

“Yes?”

“Shall we go get some fresh air?”

“Sure!”

With that, I helped Reina up.

And so, Reina and I quietly slipped out, leaving behind the somber atmosphere we’d created.