Chapter 1: Ordered Around by a Younger Female Instructor
As dawn broke and the eastern sky began to lighten, I sprinted through the dense, gloomy forest. There were no signs of pursuers, but I was too terrified to stop.
Two hours earlier, I’d fled the organization I’d been part of since childhood. It was a rough group of men who didn’t care for reason, solving everything with brute strength and stubbornness.
I was grateful they’d raised an abandoned child like me for eighteen years, but I saw no future there. So, I took action.
If they caught me, who knows what they’d do. To avoid detection, I’d left everything behind—money, belongings, everything except the clothes on my back and my trusty sword.
But I had my skills as a monster hunter, honed over years. If I worked hard, I wouldn’t starve.
Penniless or not, it didn’t matter. From today, I’d live free, answering to no one, never again reading someone’s face to survive—
“GRAAAH!!”
Suddenly, a dragon’s roar thundered nearby, shaking the trees with its force. It sounded like a big one.
A dragon’s corpse could fetch a high price. If I hunted it well, I wouldn’t have to worry about food for a month.
I quickly climbed a nearby tree and scanned the direction of the roar.
Through the branches, I spotted reddish-brown scales. A fire dragon, about ten meters long. I could take it alone.
Steadying my breath, I drew my sword and waited for my chance.
I’d always hunted dragons with a group, but I felt no fear. I was always stuck with the most dangerous roles anyway, despite getting the smallest share—
As I grumbled internally, I noticed a silver-haired woman in a hat standing at the dragon’s feet.
The dragon loomed over her, ready to snap its jaws. Compared to its massive bulk, the lone woman wielding a sword looked impossibly small—
Before I could think, I kicked off the branch.
Gripping the steel hilt tightly, I spun vertically through the air.
The dragon sensed my killing intent and started to turn its sharp gaze toward me.
—Too slow. You’re mine.
With unwavering certainty, I swung my sword without slowing, cleaving through its unprotected neck in one stroke.
The dragon, perhaps trying to breathe fire, fell to the ground with its mouth agape, already lifeless.
I adjusted my posture midair and managed to land on both feet.
“Incredible...! One strike...!”
The silver-haired woman gasped, her heated gaze fixed on me.
Up close, the woman who’d been attacked by the dragon was breathtakingly beautiful.
I instinctively looked away, wiping the blood from my blade on my clothes.
I’d only caught a glimpse, but her large eyes, long lashes, high nose, and plump lips were perfection.
And this stunning girl was staring at me.
Could it be... she sees me as her savior and is falling for me...?
Living in an all-male environment my whole life, I’d had almost no interaction with young women. In short, I had zero immunity.
Of course, I was interested in the opposite sex. My comrades had invited me to adult entertainment districts, and I’d been tempted.
But fear of the unknown always won out, and I declined every time.
Still—repeating myself here—I was interested.
As I mulled this over, something black moved at the edge of my vision.
A figure in a hooded coat, face hidden above the nose, darted away.
“—I have a request, given your strength. Could you help me chase that person in the black coat? They’re a humanoid monster who controls dragons and attacked a village.” The beautiful girl stepped closer, pleading earnestly.
To think a day would come when a girl this gorgeous would ask me to team up...!!
I’d give anything to work together, get closer, and maybe even become lovers someday...!!
Oh, today is the best day of my life...!! Leaving the organization was the right call...!!
—But.
“...I’ll take care of it myself.”
Avoiding her gaze, I muttered my reply. From the corner of my eye, I saw her look confused.
“Huh? But—”
“You’d just get in the way, so stay somewhere safe.”
Spitting the words out, I sprinted off without waiting for a response.
I couldn’t believe I was throwing away such a golden opportunity.
But being near a girl that beautiful made my hands shake with nerves, and I couldn’t think straight. If we fought together, I’d probably only manage one percent of my usual strength.
As I chased the Dragon Tamer, I cringed at how harsh “You’d just get in the way” sounded, sinking into self-loathing.
But saying the truth would’ve been too embarrassing, and I couldn’t come up with a smooth excuse.
Falling in love with that girl was probably impossible now... Ugh, I hate this... I wanna die...
But maybe, if I took down the Dragon Tamer, there’d be a chance...?
No, no, that’s way too convenient...
Lost in these spiraling thoughts, I spotted the Dragon Tamer ahead.
If it weren’t for them, I might’ve been thanked for saving her life, and things could’ve gotten flirty—
Closing the distance in a flash, I swung my sword with a yell.
“This is all your fault!!”
But the Dragon Tamer dodged at the last second, their hood tearing.
I drew my sword back for a follow-up strike.
—Then, my body froze.
The Dragon Tamer’s face, revealed as the hood ripped, was stunningly beautiful.
I was captivated by her allure.
I’d assumed the humanoid monster was male, but to think it was a 【Monster Girl】—
As I stood dumbfounded, the Dragon Tamer shed her tattered coat.
In that instant, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning.
Underneath, she wore only a black bikini, her exposure level off the charts.
Aside from the two horns on her head, her body looked almost identical to a human woman’s.
Not that I’d ever seen a woman in a bikini in person, so my ability to judge was questionable...
I couldn’t stop staring at her mesmerizing figure. I could no longer see this beauty as a target to defeat.
“—My, my, what a cute little boy.”
The Dragon Tamer flashed a seductive smile. I sensed clear killing intent in her gaze and tried to brace myself—but my body wouldn’t move.
“It’s no use. Any man who falls for my charm becomes prey to my 【Hypnosis】.”
The moment she spoke, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness hit me. My eyelids grew heavy as lead, and my consciousness began to fade.
I tried to force my eyes open, but my vision narrowed.
The last thing I saw was the Dragon Tamer’s ample cleavage.
“Good night—forever.”
As my consciousness blacked out, I regretted never having touched a woman’s chest.
I should’ve gone to that adult entertainment district…
S S S
“—Wake up. ...Wake up. ...Get up!”
A high-pitched voice rang out, followed by a sharp blow to the right side of my head, snapping me back to consciousness.
Opening my eyes, I was still in the forest. The beautiful girl who’d faced the dragon was glaring down at me as I lay on my back.
I’d been prepared to die when I lost consciousness, but I was still alive. She must’ve saved me.
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“—You told me I’d “just get in the way,” then got yourself taken out immediately. Are you an idiot?”
The moment our eyes met, she snapped at me.
Shouldn’t the first thing you say in a situation like this be something like “Are you okay?” or “How are you feeling?”...?
“To begin with, getting knocked out by 【Hypnosis】 in one shot—how much of your head is filled with lewd thoughts? You were grinning like a creep the whole time you were unconscious.”
“I’m sorry...”
I averted my gaze as I apologized. The beautiful girl was closing the distance while chewing me out, and the sheer intensity of her gorgeous face was too much to handle.
“I prioritized saving you, and because of that, the 【Dragon Tamer】 got away. It took three days to track her down—how are you going to make up for this?”
The beautiful girl’s complaints didn’t let up. But I was so thrilled to have her talking to me at such close range that, despite the scolding, I couldn’t help but smirk.
“Why are you looking away and grinning like that? Do you think you don’t need to listen to a little girl like me?”
“N-No, it’s not like that—”
“Then look me in the eyes.”
“...”
Ordered to do so, I turned my gaze toward the beautiful girl.
But I couldn’t stand it for long and quickly looked away.
No good. She’s too cute to look at directly.
“...Could it be that you’re not avoiding my eyes out of defiance, but just because you’re shy...?”
Seeming to pick up on my odd behavior, she asked in a half-doubting tone.
“N-No, that’s not it...”
I tried to brush it off, too embarrassed to admit my weakness to women, but the beautiful girl seemed to catch on and flashed a sly grin.
“I thought your lack of resistance to charm was abnormal, but I get it now—you’re just bad with women, huh? Interesting.”
Her tone was definitive, and she wore a wicked smile.
I’d seen that look before. It was the same grin my cruel seniors back in the organization wore when they thought up some new torment and slowly approached.
“Th-That’s a misunderstanding. I just remembered some urgent business, so I’ll take my leave—”
I tried to escape with a strained voice, but she grabbed my right hand, stopping me.
In that instant, a jolt like electricity shot through my body.
...A girl’s hand... so soft...!!
To think the day would come when a cute girl like her would hold my hand...!!
“We’re not done talking. —And you’re grinning way too much just from me touching your hand. How little resistance do you even have?”
The beautiful girl quickly let go, speaking with exasperation.
“S-Sorry...”
“You’re an adventurer, right? Don’t you have any companions?”
“...Due to some circumstances, I’ve been on my own since a few hours ago.”
“I see. Any plans to join a party?”
“None... I thought I’d be fine solo...”
“Taking down a dragon was impressive, sure, but if you keep adventuring alone without building resistance to women, you’ll die. 【Monster Girls】 evolved to charm human men are everywhere.”
“...I’ll be careful.”
“Being careful won’t cut it at this level.”
She gave me a deadpan look as I continued avoiding her eyes.
Then, she pressed her index finger to her lips, her expression turning thoughtful. Even her thinking face is beautiful...
“I can’t let a talent capable of soloing a dragon die pointlessly. I’ll take care of you.”
“Huh...?”
“I’m an instructor at the 【Hero Training School】, so enroll there.”
“Training school...”
Reflexively, I recalled the hellish days at the organization.
Training that was just torture in disguise. Punishments enforced through collective responsibility, devoid of reason. Relentless violence until I passed out. Verbal abuse that pushed my psyche to the brink...
Training? No thanks. I never want to go through that again.
“Uh... sorry, but I’d rather avoid harsh training...”
“No need to worry. The curriculum is tailored to each student’s skill level, so you can grow at your own pace.”
“Even so, I’m more comfortable alone—”
“That’s why I’m saying it’s dangerous! Get charmed by another 【Monster Girl】, and you’re done for.”
“I get that, but I’m flat broke and can’t afford tuition—”
“The dragon corpse you hunted can be sold to cover tuition. Plus, enrolling means you get a uniform, meals, and a dorm room, so you won’t struggle to live.”
“...That’s an attractive offer, but communal living isn’t my thing—”
“Ugh, you’re such a pain!”
The beautiful girl let out an exasperated shout, drew her sword, and pointed it at my throat.
“If I hadn’t saved you, you’d be dead! That means your life belongs to me! I won’t forgive disobedience!”
“—Understood.”
I submitted before I could think.
It was blatant intimidation and absurd logic, but my instincts chose surrender.
Still, the beautiful girl kept her suspicious gaze on me, brushing the sharp tip of her sword against my throat.
“If you pretend to comply and then run, I’ll hunt you down to the ends of hell and kill you.”
“I swear to the gods I won’t run.”
“Good. From now on, don’t give me any answer but agreement.”
Satisfied, she slowly sheathed her sword.
“By the way, what’s your name and age?”
“Leon, eighteen.”
“I see. I’m Lilia, seventeen.”
“Wait, you’re seventeen and an instructor?”
“Yes. I’m a genius, after all.”
Lilia-san puffed out her chest proudly. Her confident expression was insanely cute.
S S S
Afterward, Lilia-san kept watch over me as we returned to the dragon’s corpse, only to realize it was too massive for one person to carry. Back in the organization, we always used a cart, so I hadn’t even considered the obvious.
“Let’s head to town and have a buyer arrange a cart.”
“Wait, won’t they charge a fee? If we dismantle it to a manageable weight, we could make a few trips to town ourselves.”
“You expect me to help with manual labor?”
“...I’ll handle the dismantling and transport alone. It’ll probably take half a day.”
“You’d make me wait half a day?”
“S—”
“Be quiet.”
I’d barely uttered a syllable before she cut me off with an unyielding tone.
“I’m quite skilled at sewing. Shall I stitch your lips together so you can never talk back again?”
“—I’m sorry.”
And so, I followed Lilia-san as we set off for the nearest town.
On the way, Lilia-san explained that the 【Hero Training School】 was, as the name suggested, a facility dedicated to training 【Heroes】—those meant to defeat the 【Demon Lord】. Beyond learning to fight powerful monsters, students studied 【Magic】, medicinal herbs, traps, and more.
The school accepted entrance exams from age sixteen, with graduation taking an average of seven years. Failure to clear challenges meant no advancement, but exceptional students could skip grades and graduate early. Lilia-san had graduated in just one year and passed the instructor exam, becoming the youngest in history.
“So, I’d need to take that entrance exam, right? I’m confident in combat, but my knowledge of herbs and stuff is nonexistent, so I doubt I’d pass—”
“No need for an exam. I’ll authorize your enrollment myself.”
“You have that kind of authority...?”
“There’s a provision for it. Your combat skills are at least on par with mine, so I won’t let academic tests waste that potential.”
“I see.”
“You were thinking of flunking on purpose, weren’t you? I’m not letting you off that easy.”
“N-No, I’d never try to escape...”
“Good. If you value your life, don’t try to outsmart me.”
Lilia-san shot me a glare.
Her piercing gaze sent a shiver through me, like electricity coursing through my body.
What is this feeling I’ve never experienced before today...?
After reaching town, we visited a monster buyer to retrieve the dragon’s corpse, earning enough money to cover an adult man’s wages for three months... or so I thought.
“To ensure you don’t run, I’ll manage this money.”
All the gold coins I received were confiscated by Lilia-san.
“That’s outright tyranny—”
“Want your lips sewn shut?”
“—!!”
Seeing me clam up in a panic, Lilia-san smirked triumphantly.
“I’ll cover a year’s tuition, so you won’t need to worry about food, clothing, or shelter. If you need anything else, tell me, and I’ll provide funds if I deem it reasonable.”
Lilia-san decided unilaterally and started walking off somewhere.
Oddly, I didn’t mind. In fact, seeing her smile made me feel like I’d come out ahead. Is this the power of a beautiful girl...?
S S S
After a six-hour carriage ride, we arrived at the 【Hero Training School】.
It was already night, so the school buildings were hard to make out.
“You’ll stay in the Men’s Dormitory, but preparing a room now is impossible, so tonight, sleep in my room. There’s an unused bed.”
“—Huh?!”
Did I just hear something unbelievable...? Is this too good to be true, or am I hallucinating...?
“I-Is that okay...? I’m fine sleeping outside...”
“There’s a ton of paperwork you need to fill out tonight, plus preparations for your uniform and such. It’s more efficient if we’re in the same room.”
“I see...!!”
If it’s for efficiency, I get to stay in Lilia-san’s room? Efficiency is the best!
Thus, I was led to the instructors’ dormitory and stepped into Lilia-san’s room.
The moment I entered, a sweet scent filled the air. This is what a woman’s room smells like...!! Every organ from my nose to my lungs is in bliss...!!
“I brought a uniform that should fit, so try it on. I’ll go grab the paperwork while you change.”
Lilia-san left the room, leaving me alone.
In front of me was her wardrobe.
Could it be... her underwear is in there...?
No, no, that’s wrong. I can’t do something like that.
...But maybe just a peek...
As I reached for the wardrobe, the door flew open with a bang.
“—Leon-san. Get out here right now.”
Apparently, my intentions were completely transparent.
I was dragged into the hallway and forced to kneel on the hard floor.
“Enemy of all women. Filthy trash. Worthless scum. Creepy pervert. Criminal who doesn’t consider others’ feelings. A pest worse than an insect that shouldn’t have been born. That’s who you are, Leon-san. Accept it.”
Lilia-san glared down at me with a terrifying expression, rapid-fire insults pouring out.
It was just a fleeting impulse, but I’d nearly committed a crime. I had no defense.
After enduring her verbal onslaught for a while, Lilia-san seemed satisfied, locked the room tightly, and went to fetch the paperwork.
I changed into the uniform in the hallway, then resumed kneeling to wait for her return.
When Lilia-san came back, she nodded approvingly at my uniform.
“The size looks good. Now read and fill out all this paperwork, then sleep in the hallway.”
“Wait, I can stay somewhere with a roof? I thought I’d be kicked out of the dorm.”
“Good to see you’re aware of the gravity of your sin. See you tomorrow.”
Lilia-san said sharply, slamming the door shut.
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