You can’t just hit on someone and then try to run away…
“There’s no saving him.”
“Indeed.”
In short, he was a complete disaster.
Evia and I both let out sighs and held our heads.
“Ah, by any chance, when did you realize he was a man?”
“…About a month?”
“You’re an idiot.”
As Nord-kun said something even more hopeless while averting his gaze, my true feelings spilled out.
“Well, with *this* appearance, would anyone normally notice!?”
Pointing at Mura-kun in response to me, he brought up his appearance.
It was true, as he said, it would be difficult to immediately discern that he was a man.
He had lustrous hair, refined features, and while his chest wasn’t developed, there were women who fit that description.
He evoked cuteness rather than beauty, and his atmosphere stirred a desire to protect him, leading people to recognize him as a woman.
However, that was because we met him in a normal setting like this.
If he were mixed in a place with only men, it would be a different story.
Normally, one would be wary, and besides, there’s no way one would think such impure thoughts during training.
“It’s beyond noticing or not. Are you sane to be hitting on someone during training?”
If I were to do something like that, I couldn’t even bear to imagine it.
In that state, with no combat power as we have now, hitting on a woman in front of those two instructors.
What kind of suicidal option is that?
“If you have the leisure to be distracted by women, perhaps we should get a little serious, don’t you think?”
“Kukukuku, indeed, indeed. I suppose I shall also show a bit of my true strength.”
The fact that I can easily imagine what those two would say and what expressions they would make suggests that they have successfully instilled fear in me.
Perhaps it was a delusion born from the constant proximity of physical death, but there were also facts of iron fists and magic flying around that could turn those delusions into reality.
“Perhaps it would be better if you just went all the way with him.”
“What!?”
“I’m starting to think so too. Are you really okay with someone like this? No offense, but he’s neither useful nor harmful… to put it bluntly, he’s trash?”
Despite his beautiful appearance, he was actually a man. However, since this was a request from Mimamori-sama regarding the arranged marriage, it felt like it would be better to arrange someone else for Nord-kun and have him go through with it with Mura-kun.
“No gentleman has ever courted me so passionately.”
Evia, who seemed to have lost the will to do anything further due to Nord-kun’s actions, asked Mura-kun with a tired expression, but Mura-kun, as if he had found the answer he was looking for, blushed and smiled alluringly.
More feminine than an average woman.
He possessed an alluring charm.
And the unique magical power I had been sensing since earlier.
At first glance, he appeared to be a human woman, but…
“Are you perhaps a demon? No, in this case, wouldn’t ‘succubus’ be more fitting?”
Among demons, his species was the rare succubus. It would be easier to understand if I called them succubi or incubi.
Demons who blend into human society and collect human essence.
“You can tell?”
However, this species was rare even among the Demon Lord’s Army.
I had a few acquaintances within the company… and I only met them because they were gathered for reasons of necessity within the organization.
Mura-kun smiled, not denying it.
It seemed that succubi were often targeted due to their species.
Therefore, due to their history, they had undergone combat training.
They acquired combat power not through innate racial abilities, but through universal effort.
Thus, succubi who acted openly demonstrated high combat power.
He had enough composure to even praise the fact that I had noticed, without being shaken by his species being revealed.
“I have met several. The unique wavelength of their magic makes them memorable.”
And while he probably wouldn’t flaunt that combat power, his composure in dealing with it piqued my interest.
“I make an effort to hide my succubus magic, you know.”
Their characteristic ability was to charm others.
However, it only had a mild effect, making the other party feel favorably inclined. It wasn’t very effective against those with strong magical resistance.
Even against those with low magical resistance, it only had the ability to make them think well of the user. They didn’t have the power to make the target lustful like in some cheap manga.
Therefore, while succubi might be slightly inferior in terms of combat power in a direct fight, they were quite excellent as intelligence agents.
This was precisely what had captured my interest.
“I’ve trained to be able to sense the opponent’s magic. After all, I’m a general, even if I’m new to it. I wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly without this kind of skill.”
“That must be difficult.”
“Ah, but it’s rewarding.”
Our conversation wasn’t unpleasant.
It was possible that his succubus nature contributed to this impression, but I could still evaluate his abilities highly.
“Oh, apologies, the conversation has deviated. Am I correct in understanding that you came here to propose to Nord-kun?”
“That is incorrect. He and I made a promise to marry that day, so to be precise, we came to ask for permission to marry.”
“Nord-kun?”
While thinking that he would be a talent I’d want to recruit if he wasn’t tied to a particular faction, I set aside my thoughts as an organization leader and decided to correct the course of the conversation to confirm the situation…
The more the conversation progressed, the more I felt like Nord-kun was digging his own grave.
Ah, this pattern.
I’ve heard it somewhere before.
This is exactly like the response when you blame the other party and make excuses, only to realize that the cause was actually on your side.
That’s probably why.
“Hii!?”
I couldn’t help but look at Nord-kun as if he were an insect.
Can you understand? The pain of those who have to clean up a disaster caused by someone else without their knowledge. The pain of having someone else’s responsibilities arbitrarily placed on your own.
This anger is completely misdirected… but still, when I hear inconsistencies in what people say, I can’t help but get angry.
“Haa, I knew you were foolish, but I never imagined it would be to this extent.”
Nord-kun’s careless remarks kept coming.
Frankly, if I don’t confirm things more carefully, something even worse is likely to emerge.
“It seems I’ll have to leave the matter of the arranged marriage to someone else.”
“Yeah, honestly, at this point, I’m getting worried about entrusting it to him.”
“I was also too hasty to misjudge the situation this much.”
Originally, my plan was to send Nord-kun to the arranged marriage meeting with Mimamori-sama through some sort of disciplinary education. However, his actions were too reckless, and his careless remarks were too frequent.
At this point, even I can’t do anything to salvage the situation.
“Eh? Arranged marriage? For me!? To some beautiful lady!?”
When he heard about the marriage, Nord-kun’s fear was overcome by his desire, and his face lit up with a sprightly expression.
I think I’m starting to understand why Evia always punishes him.
Kaido might have a cheerful personality, but he’s not this reckless.
To be this oblivious to the atmosphere, or rather, to only hear what’s convenient for him, is a grave condition.
“What!? Even though I’m here, Lord Nord!?”
When Mura-kun heard about the arranged marriage for Nord-kun, he was shocked.
His eyes welled up with tears, and he displayed a sorrowful, shocked demeanor.
It seemed to be his true feelings.
And what an incredibly maiden-like gesture.
An average man would feel a sense of guilt at such a gesture.
“It seems that’s how it is! Ah! If it’s an engagement from the family, I can’t keep individual promises!!”
However, Nord-kun doesn’t possess that common masculine sensibility. He’s so overjoyed that we’ve brought him an engagement that he’s beaming and brushing Mura-kun aside.
Generally, romantic relationships and marriages between nobles are conducted between families.
This is to build cooperative relationships between families based on blood ties and prepare for the future.
That’s why Nord-kun is so elated, to the point where I could almost laugh maniacally.
Yes, marriages between families, so-called political marriages, fundamentally do not involve the will of the individuals getting married.
The higher the noble rank, the more prevalent this trend becomes.
And the Nordis family is a powerful noble family, capable of breaking into the highest ranks.
This can be inferred from their strong trust from the president and the current Demon Lord, as well as the vast territories they have been granted.
And precisely because he is the son of such a powerful noble family, political marriage is the norm.
However, due to his usual conduct, no young lady would want to marry their heir, even if they are a powerful noble family, as he is seen as a depleted son whose future downfall is foretold.
Even if there were, it would be a young lady full of ambition who intends to take over the Nordis family.
There’s no way they would bring such a woman into their family. Not to mention, with Evia keeping a close eye, such a young lady would never appear.
Evia, known as the Demon Lord’s right hand, is that capable and feared.
Therefore, if Evia is the one bringing the arranged marriage, it can be interpreted as an ideal woman who can tolerate the flawed Nord-kun and has no ambition.
Furthermore, a marriage decided by families has the power to break off any marriage promises made between the individuals themselves.
That is the nature of nobility.
This is why Nord-kun could evade Mura-kun’s proposal, which advocated for same-sex relationships, and rejoiced at the prospect of marrying a woman through a political marriage.
“Fool, you think I can arrange a meeting for you at the current moment?”
However, that’s for ordinary nobles.
No offense, but with a personality problem like this, even I can’t cover for him, and it would take too much time to educate him.
And Mimamori-sama’s request should be fulfilled as soon as possible.
Naturally, it would be a logical progression for Evia to suggest a change of plans.
“Haa!? Why!?”
And then, as Nord-kun expresses his disbelief with a cold gaze, I find myself wanting to sigh at his audacity.
Why can he question it with a “why” at a moment like this?
If he were to place a hand on his chest and think slowly, he should recall his daily actions and realize one, two, three, or even ten things he’s done wrong.
“Rather, from my perspective, it seems better for you to marry into the Mura family and have your personality corrected.”
“Indeed, it’s unlikely that someone will come along who cares for you this passionately again. Perhaps it would be easier to move forward with that assumption.”
And speaking of which, I truly believe Nord-kun, who is seeking a windfall now, needs to experience some hardship in life.
Up until a moment ago, I was considering how to make him a combatant through education, but after seeing his actions and attitude, I’ve changed my mind.
No, I haven’t completely given up on him.
“N-no! Big sis, don’t say such things! Tell me it’s a lie! Come on!? Say it was just a little prank!!”
He knows better than anyone that Evia would never say such a thing, but he tries to dispel his despair by holding onto even a one percent chance of it being true.
He tried to cling to Evia’s legs with all his might, but even as her adopted brother, Evia couldn’t tolerate being touched.
“Alright, stop.”
“Guh!?”
I caught Nord-kun by the collar of his clothes in mid-air as he leaped towards me.
He let out a strange noise from his choked throat, but let’s ignore that.
Now, this is where the real problem begins.
Mura-kun is pleading tearfully, and Nord-kun is looking up at me with a tearful expression.
The situation from here on is crucial.
Today’s word:
Losing trust when your words and actions differ.
Thank you for your usual feedback and error reports.
If you find this interesting, please leave comments, ratings, and bookmarks.
Currently, I am serializing another work:
“Pandora Pandemic Panic – Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened Again, But We’re Fighting Back With Secret Bases and Other Things!!”
Please check that one out as well!!
