TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 164
Dawn in Hamel.
“Haaaam…”
Histania Hanna rubbed her eyes as she greeted the cold dawn of Hamel.
Her entire body was filled with muscle pain.
Even though she had moved less than usual during training, her body was stiff and screaming in agony.
“Ahh… I’m going to die.”
It must have been because she was overly tense. The Man she saw yesterday was The Monster Itself.
It was probably the first time she had met a monster that made her feel as though her head would be chopped off instantly if she made even the slightest mistake. Both in terms of skill and blatant killing intent.
Of course, all of those threats were resolved thanks to just one person.
-Leave when you’re told to.
Sitting on the bed, Hanna hugged her knees as she recalled the events of yesterday.
When Senior Mikhail was in danger, Butler appeared. At the same time, she let out a long sigh as she remembered her past self, tied down by the Cultists’ lackeys and unable to do anything.
“I couldn’t do anything…”
She had definitely intended to be of help, but she ended up doing nothing.
Even the first time they met.
Even when she clashed with Father.
Hanna had done nothing but receive help.
Hanna thought of herself as pathetic for being like this.
Because nothing had changed.
Every time, she only knew how to grab the hand of salvation extended by Butler, staying as a Disciple and being of no help at all.
The word “salvation” might have sounded grandiose, but to her, Butler was like The Cage Key to a prison she could never escape.
Hanna had always resolved herself.
She had thought she wanted to become someone who could help Butler. Not just someone who only received, but someone who could also give.
Even if she couldn’t be like her Older Brother, who possessed countless talents, she wanted to assist Butler in other ways, and she had worked hard to achieve that.
That was why Hanna had spent this Winter Vacation busily.
She continued working as an Adventurer.
To gain as much Practical Experience as possible, she had taken on various requests. Escort Missions, subjugations, gathering—there was almost no type of request she hadn’t tried.
Thanks to those efforts, she was able to overcome her Fear of Demonic Beasts, especially her Fear of Orcs.
Though she pretended it was fine, honestly, it wasn’t. Seeing Orcs reminded her of the past shown by the Blue Window, causing her body to freeze, which had been quite a challenge.
She would be scared of large-built people, or even frightened of weak Demonic Beasts—there had been many Restrictions in her Life as a Swordsman.
Hanna had faced countless challenges to overcome these and conquer her Deficiency.
Driven solely by one Stubbornness.
Hanna had been running to fulfill her Stubbornness of wanting to help Butler. And because she wanted to excel at at least one thing compared to others, she had clung to it even more.
Not her outstanding Appearance.
Not her Energetic Personality.
Not the Support of the Family.
Hanna had thought that all of these were inferior compared to others.
Hanna knew her own feelings.
Even though their meeting had been The Worst, she liked The Man who had given her The Greatest Gift.
Self-Willed.
Only cared about Young Lady.
Loved The Mundane World.
Hanna admitted that she was in love.
That’s why even more…
“Haa…”
She hated her unremarkable self.
She thought that she, who only knew how to receive, was no better than others. Whether compared to Young Lady or from an objective standpoint, Hanna believed she was inferior to others.
Her figure didn’t seem bad, though.
With a sullen expression, Hanna looked down at her chest and buried her face in her knees.
“Fool.”
She wanted to work harder.
She wanted to become prettier and hear Praise from Butler.
Although she knew it was a thought she shouldn’t have as someone who only received, she wanted to learn more about Butler.
She wanted to see more of Butler’s smile.
She wanted to make him smile.
She also wanted to hold his hand.
That was why Hanna was pushing herself even harder, and at the same time, she could no longer deny that Ricardo was the driving force behind her life.
If it weren’t for Butler, she wouldn’t have been able to live in this world, and perhaps she wouldn’t have had this freedom either.
It was absurd not to fall for Butler, who extended a hand of salvation like a Prince from a Fairy Tale… The exit had disappeared long ago.
“…Right.”
With a small ‘slap,’ Hanna lightly hit her own cheek to firm up her Determination. Thinking depressing thoughts wouldn’t change anything; it would only increase wrinkles.
“What’s the point of sitting here like this when nothing will change!”
Hanna steeled her heart as she greeted the dawn.
And then.
“..Tsk~”
From outside the window, The Man’s voice could be heard. Hanna rubbed her eyes and looked out the window. A familiar voice was coming from outside.
Although the Field Training had ended due to the Cultists’ Raid, Hanna adjusted her clothes and looked out the window at the familiar male voice calling her.
“Miss Hanna~ What are you doing today?”
She could see the face of The Man she liked.
Ricardo was smiling.
Even in the early dawn, Ricardo was smiling brightly, and Hanna’s lips began to curl upward slightly.
Clutching the windowsill tightly, Hanna thought.
‘I can’t give up.’
Hanna answered Ricardo’s question in a Small Voice. Considering the sleeping students, she spoke softly and quietly.
-Nod.
“Butler…! I’m alone in this room, so come in!”
“Huh?”
Butler looked at her with the most flustered expression she had seen so far.
*
“Ahem!”
Having entered the room through the window, I was scolding Hanna.
“What are you doing inviting The Man into a room where a woman lives alone? There’s a reason for the saying that men and women should not sit together after the age of seven!”
I had planned to eat with Hanna after a long time, but now I was lecturing her in a small voice for her audacious behavior.
Hanna’s audacious gesture of beckoning with her finger still lingered in my mind, and the Ember of Confucianism within me wouldn’t easily fade.
Thanks to Hanna, I had managed to get a short-term job, so I had thought of repaying her, but I never expected to be repaid in this way.
I looked at Hanna, who was wearing fluttery pajamas, and hid my burning earlobes.
The return date for the Academy students was three days away.
Since there was no carriage to take her back, and she was half-forced to stay in this countryside, I had decided to keep her company and was diligently sharing the Wisdom of Life.
“Save this kind of behavior for someone you like…”
Hanna interrupted me and replied firmly.
“Why would I call any other The Man besides Butler…?”
“Huh?”
I looked at Hanna with wide eyes, like an innocent deer. I stared at her as if asking what she meant, but Hanna said nothing and tied her Hair.
Previously, her Hair had been a bob that reached her shoulders, but in the time I hadn’t seen her, Hanna had grown it out quite a bit.
Hanna held a hair tie in her mouth and skillfully tied her Hair.
With her Hair tied, Hanna gave me a Small Smile and stared straight at me. Catching the faint Peach Fragrance emanating from Hanna, I sniffed and asked.
“Did you put on perfume?”
“No?”
“Really? I smell Peach Fragrance.”
“Ah…”
Hanna held out the back of her hand to me, her eyes sparkling as she spoke.
“It’s the Scent of My Flesh!”
At Hanna’s passionate gaze, asking me to smell it, I let out an Empty Laugh and firmly refused with, ‘No.’
No matter what, smelling someone’s flesh would look strange.
I gently sat on the Bed in the room and spoke to Hanna.
“That aside, do you have Time today?”
“Time?”
I took out a Small Booklet from my pocket and showed it to Hanna.
[The Empire’s Greatest Dancer Comes to Hamel!]
“I happened to get two Tickets. How about watching it together?”
Hanna looked at the two Tickets in her hand with a puzzled expression.
“What about the Young Lady?”
At Hanna’s kind-hearted thoughtfulness for the Young Lady, I gave a Small Smile and shook my head.
“The Young Lady said she doesn’t like watching women wriggling around. Unless they’re talking fish, she thinks it would be boring.”
“Th-Then! Just the two of us watching…!?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Hanna clenched her Fist and showed a Loud Reaction.
“Alright!”
“Huh? What do you mean ‘alright’…”
“I just feel good!”
I let out A Chuckle and spoke to Hanna.
“So, do you have Time today?”
“Yes…! But could you wait a moment? I need some time to get ready.”
At Hanna’s shy attempt to hide her unadorned self, I shook my head and replied.
“We’re not leaving right now. I still haven’t prepared the Young Lady’s breakfast.”
“That’s a relief.”
“What?”
“Nothing! Then how about meeting at noon? At the Park!”
“Understood.”
Before climbing out of the Window, Hanna spoke to me in a trembling Voice.
“Butler…!”
“Yes?”
“Th-What are you wearing today? I thought it’d be nice if we matched colors. Haha…”
I gave a Small Smile and replied to Hanna.
“I’ll wear Casual Clothes. I bought some new ones recently.”
And
“Oh, by the way, it’s not a Butler Suit.”
Hanna gave a bright Smile.
“Okay!”
*
And so, after noon arrived.
“Wow…”
I couldn’t lift my head.
For many reasons.
“Is it… very strange?”