Chapter 8: Training and Cat Ears

"—And that's what happened."

"I see... That is certainly... a tragedy."

Mei expressed pity at the words of me, who was hunching forward.

Eh? Why am I hunching forward?

Don't make me say it, it's embarrassing.

I just haven't been able to release the sexual desire sucked out by Touch the Grip of Sex (Libido) yet. And present here are Saint-sama, Mei, and that weirdo Reese... in other words, a gathering of beauties.

Do you think I can suppress an erection in this situation? Noooope, impossible. I think the fact that it hasn't gone down yet is rude in itself. Either way, due to the effect of Touch the Grip of Sex (Libido), suppressing it physically is impossible.

However, if it's discovered that I'm hard in the middle of discussing such a serious story, the favorability rating—which I don't even know if I have—will undoubtedly plummet.

Hence, I'm taking the final measure of talking while hunched over.

"—Doing such a mockery... To think the Empire was such a rotten existence...!!"

"For once, I agree with you."

To Reese trembling with anger, I shrugged my shoulders and showed agreement. What a sickening story.

"I cannot tolerate this! I'll go to the Empire right now and beat that Emperor to death!!"

"Aalright, shall we have ourselves a war!"

I, whose desire is piled up thanks to a certain T.T. Touch the L. Libido, agreed with the raging Reese without thinking about anything in particular.

However, the one who called "wait" here was Mei, staring at us with straight eyes.

"...Being driven by righteous indignation isn't bad, but the fact remains that she also laid hands on innocent people."

—I cooled down as if cold water had been poured only on my head.

...Well, whatever the circumstances, her methods weren't praiseworthy. Perhaps the innocent people she killed included citizens of the Kingdom.

"...Sorry. I lost my composure."

"Right. Leaving aside the assassin's treatment, we gotta think about what comes next."

Phew, the place calmed down.

Then, Saint-sama, who had maintained silence until now, spoke words like a mutter while looking down.

Blocked by her smooth, long silver hair, I couldn't see her expression.

"My... fault..."

"No way!!! Saint-sama is not at fault at all!! The bad one is the inhumane! Heretic! Scum! Emperor! Yes, that is right!"

As expected, Reese was the first to react to those words.

Her figure defending Saint-sama while flustered was the definition of comical, but I could only agree with what she was saying.

"There is no need for Saint-sama to worry."

Mei smiled faintly to reassure Saint-sama. —Stop it! The smile shown suddenly by a person who is usually cool is a direct hit to my fetish!

"You know..."

"...?"

Well, putting aside the twenty percent joke, I poked Saint-sama's forehead (tsun) while exasperated.

To Saint-sama wearing a puzzled expression, I spoke as if to pile it on.

"You feel too much responsibility. Why does the one who got attacked have to be depressed? You, VICTIM. Him, PERPETRATOR. Okay?"

"Even so... there is no doubt my existence is the cause."

She doesn't get it, this beautiful girl.

"The Saint might be the cause, but you aren't particularly bad, right?"

"What, are you sayi—"

"A Class is a Class. You are you. In the first place, I think it's weird to treat a person and a Class as the same thing. I told you before, didn't I? —Even if they call us Holy Knight or Saint, we're just people."

"...!"

Perhaps remembering my words, Saint-sama stared at me with wide, round eyes.

Or rather, I seemed to have said something good, but these are also words affirming my own existence.

Treating the Class and the person as the same = I become a pervert suitable to be granted the Sexual Knight. ...But! I am not a pervert!!

Hence these words. I-I didn't say it to comfort Saint-sama or anything. ...Really?

"You... it's fine because it's here, but if you said that in public, it would be grounds for severe punishment..."

"However, I also think that is how it should be."

"Umu, if Saint-sama and Mei say so, there is no mistake!"

Have more of your own will, you pervert.

I retorted internally seeing Reese, who offered a bitter complaint, flip-flop immediately at Mei's words.

Well, I wouldn't say it if not for this group. But there's no doubt it's my true feeling.

"Well, so don't worry about it too much. Besides... at least if I view you as a Saint, I won't drop the polite speech. I'm scared of execution."

When I said that jokingly, Saint-sama smiled softly, and said,

"Thank you."

Looking straight into my eyes.

Her smile with swaying silver hair was so attractive that gathering all the praise of beauty in this world wouldn't be enough.

...What the hell, you can make a normal face like that.

"Why have you been hunching forward this whole time..."

"Don't worry about it."

◇◆◇

After that, we began to formulate countermeasures against the Empire.

But, ultimately, since troubles between nations are involved, it's difficult to move to action immediately.

"We are knights to the end. Since national administration and diplomacy are the role of royalty, it will be very difficult for us to take action."

"Right... Should we stick to a three-man guard system for a while? If we explain the situation, His Majesty will probably arrange it."

"There is no other choice. ...Fufu, in other words, I can be with Saint-sama and Mei all the time... though the nuisance is annoying."

"Talking about yourself?"

"Ah?"

Me and Reese glaring at each other. There is no longer anyone to stop us or retort.

I want you to stop looking at us with somewhat heartwarming gazes, though. We get along badly, as you can see.

"Um..."

Then, Saint-sama suddenly spoke up.

When the three of us looked at Saint-sama all at once, she timidly and reservedly made an outrageous proposal.

"I want... the power to protect myself. So, I want the three of you to train me."

"S-Saint-sama has no need to do such a thing!! Please leave it to us knights! A knight who lets their master fight is no knight!"

"Even so..."

Saint-sama and Reese arguing next to me. Me and Mei maintaining silence.

Listening to the conversation, I was in a crisis (pinch) in the present progressive tense.

—This is bad. My head is dominated by sexual desire and seventy percent of the conversation isn't coming in.

Overloaded sexual desire. Thanks to being a loser virgin, I still have self-control, but a state where pink delusions are constantly unfolding in my brain is tough.

...Ugugu, at this rate I won't be able to make calm judgments...

Except for being hunched over, I can smooth things over, but I'll definitely fall into regret later like Why did I say that....

Melting... my reason is melting...

"Oi! What about you!!"

"I think it's good!"

"Wha!? Allowing Saint-sama to fight is nothing but a shame for a knight!?"

"I think it's okay!"

I'm losing track of what I'm saying myself.

But, I understood that Mei said something to cover my words.

"No, there is a point to what Ars-sama says. Even with guards, it will be difficult to protect her constantly. I think it is necessary to possess the power to run away... in other words, self-defense, when push comes to shove."

"Mei..."

"Nuh... that is true but..."

"Therefore, how about Reese and I handle the guard duty for now, and Ars-sama, who has excellent insight, conducts Saint-sama's training? Because given our positions, we would likely be too soft on Saint-sama. Is that acceptable? Ars-sama."

"Okay!"

I don't really get it but I'm training a beautiful girl! Hyahhoi!

◇◆◇

I rubbed one out.

Even so, the swirling sexual desire is endless, but my thinking has become somewhat better.

The location changed to the royal castle's training grounds. Apparently, I was supposed to be training Saint-sama.

Strange... I was dominated by sexual desire and have no memory of accepting...

Well, if I can train a beautiful girl, it's fine.

"Alright, let's start training. The period is roughly one week."

"Why one week...?"

"According to Mei, if it becomes known that the assassin failed, there's a high possibility the next pursuer will come, also to silence her. And considering the distance between the Empire and Kingdom and the speed of information transmission, apparently we only have a grace period of about one week to train."

In other words, I have to get Saint-sama up to the minimum line of self-defense in one week...

Honestly, I think it's difficult. In the first place, if it's an opponent I struggle against, gaining half-baked power will just get the tables turned on her.

...Though she might be able to catch them off guard...

"Simply put, I'm going to be strict. Is that okay?"

"...Of course."

—Her words and volume were small, but there was heat in her eyes.

Well, out of respect for her enthusiasm, I'll teach her with all my might.

Thanks to having a little time to rub one out, the current me is calm. ...Heh, I'll logically construct an efficient training plan!! Hahahaha!

"So, first, to check how much Saint-sama can move, I'll have you run around the training ground until your limit. I just want to know your base stamina, so you don't have to go beyond your limit."

"Understood."

Saint-sama clenched her fists, showing her motivation.

By the way, since it's hard to move in her usual dress, the current Saint-sama is wearing the relatively rough knight uniform Reese was wearing, and her long hair is tied in a single knot.

It is very good. Reese, I'll praise you just for now.

Hah! Dangerous, dangerous. If I relax, the balance will immediately tilt towards sexual desire.

Now is the serious training part. Important for protecting the future—

Such thoughts—blew away seeing the sweating figure of Saint-sama.

"Haa... haa...!"

Saint-sama ran five laps around the training ground on spirit alone.

Without magic strengthening, and considering she hasn't done proper training until now, it's not bad stamina.

...That stuff doesn't matter, right now I want to talk about how the out-of-breath, sweating Saint-sama is extremely provocative and dangerous.

"—Tch."

—Bad...! Signs of an erection!

I hurriedly sit down. From the side, it's a posture that looks like I'm frustrated.

"...Haa, is it because... I am... pathetic?"

Saint-sama darkened her expression and said something, but I, who was diligent in controlling my desire, heard nothing.

"Gununu..."

My face becoming grim. For some reason, Saint-sama's face became grim in response. She seemed somewhat depressed (shobon), but when I was finally calmed down and stood up, she was already full of motivation.

"Five laps without magic strengthening. Yeah, not bad. By the way, what is Saint-sama's level?"

"Level... 36."

"You raised it that much with just good deeds... amazing."

Hunting monsters isn't the only condition for leveling up, but I feel like there was a restriction that the Saint has to accumulate good deeds to level up.

Role-wise, we can't take her outside to subjugate monsters either.

"Alright, then let's start training immediately—I'll have Saint-sama learn magic strengthening."

"Magic strengthening?"

Saint-sama tilted her head (koten). Cute.

...Hmm, I thought it was a relatively orthodox method, but maybe it hasn't spread much to the general public?

"Well, simply put, it's a technique to strengthen physical ability using magic power. Whether you can do this or not makes a world of difference in physical ability."

"How do I do it?"

Tremendous motivation. To an onlooker, she probably looks expressionless as always, but I can see the passion like a blazing fire behind her.

Her bite is different in the first place. Also, she's close. I'll have to hunch over again so please step back.

I voluntarily stepped a few paces away from Saint-sama and explained.

"Magic strengthening requires precise magic control. An image of spreading magic power throughout the whole body and rotating it, maybe. But succeeding in one go is impossible, so let's start by strengthening parts."

Even I took time to master magic strengthening.

...No, there's a theory that I just have no talent. I feel like that theory is more correct. It's sad so I don't want to think about it.

...Leaving me aside, first the hands... next the legs... stepping through it like that. The goal is to let her learn the knack of strengthening the body with magic power.

"Muu..."

"Haha! You look quite dissatisfied. Training is about accumulation. If there was a training method to become drastically strong like that, the world would be full of strong people."

When I said that laughing, Saint-sama had an expression like "How did you know what I wanted to say?".

She asked something similar a little while ago, but she probably wants to say that even if I say my observation eye is excellent, there's a limit.

However, Saint-sama is unexpectedly—

"Unexpectedly easy to understand, you know? Saint-sama's emotions."

"First time I've been told that."

"Well, staring at Saint-sama's noble face might be disrespectful, after all."

When I teased her laughing Haha, Saint-sama looked at me dissatisfied with staring eyes.

Good grief, I'm telling you it's not a lie.

"Now, there's no time so let's start training quickly."

Saying that, I presented a certain item from my pocket to Saint-sama.

"That is...?"

"Eh, cat ears."

"Why... cat ears... hobby?"

"N-No waaaay."

My ulterior motive was hit right on the mark; I denied it with full force while panicking. ...I feel like I was told "What fetish are you trying to fulfill under the pretext of training?" even though she didn't say it, and I feel very guilty.

But there is a reason, a reason!!

I desperately started explaining.

"No, see? When I was actually working hard on training, Master also gave me assignments. For example, cut all falling leaves into four equal parts. And if I couldn't clear it, a severe punishment was prepared. That was just... incredibly severe... But as a result, the desire to avoid punishment became motivation, and I obtained my current strength. So—like a simplified version of that? Cat ears are definitely not my hobby, nope."

I declared quickly while sweating buckets of cold sweat.

Saint-sama has an obviously disgusted expression, and someone said that in these cases, stoking shame is most effective.

By the way, the punishment doesn't have to be imitating a cat.

It's my fetish, so what?

" somehow... desperate?"

"Heh, no way."

I'm trembling. This girl is sharp.

　◇◆◇

Day One of Training.

First off, I diligently taught her the methods of magical reinforcement.

Since she uses healing magic on a daily basis, her control over magical power was actually quite impressive.

After the lecture came the practical application.

Today's assignment: reinforcing the right arm.

"Nya, nyaan."

"Too weak! Put more coquettishness into it!"

Day Two of Training.

She successfully completed yesterday's assignment of reinforcing her right arm.

However, the precision is still lacking. At the very least, if she wants to reach a combat-ready level, she has no choice but to shorten the time it takes to activate the reinforcement.

By the way, today's assignment is reinforcing the right leg.

"Nyaan, nyan."

"Wrong! That's just a human pretending to be a cat!"

Day Three of Training.

She's stumbling on the leg reinforcement.

Apparently, it's difficult for her to visualize her reinforced self. Magical manipulation is fundamentally about imagery.

She succeeded with arm reinforcement by imagining herself as strong, but it seems to be trickier with her legs.

So, I casually advised, "Why don't you try it while running?" and she succeeded. I'm envious of her talent.

Today's assignment is reinforcing all four limbs.

"Fshaaa~"

"Good, good! You're getting closer to being a cat!"

Day Four of Training.

Oh dear, talent is scary.

She's mastering magical reinforcement at breakneck speed. Since reinforcement of the limbs is complete, reinforcing the whole body is only a matter of time.

All that's left is the final hurdle: reinforcing the brain.

Since this has the effect of improving thought processing speed and reflex speed, mastering it is essential.

I've conveyed the general theory, so now it's just practice!

"Na~o."

"Actually, you don't need to be quite so cat-like anymore."

"...!?"

Day Five of Training.

She succeeded in reinforcing her brain.

Even I took a year to master that... Well, considering the situation, it's a good thing, but as her teacher, I have somewhat mixed feelings.

With the reinforcement of the whole body, including the brain, the magical reinforcement training is complete.

"Nyaa-o."

"Did you fail on purpose just now?"

"...I didn't."

Why are you getting addicted to imitating a cat?

◇◆◇

Day Six of Training.

"For the remaining two days, get used to your reinforced physical abilities."

"...What about combat training?"

"That really just comes down to accumulation of experience. Since we don't have time right now, raising your base physical abilities takes priority over fighting."

"Muu."

...I only trained Saint-sama for self-defense and escape, after all. Teaching her how to fight poorly and having her try to stand her ground would be troublesome from a bodyguard's perspective.

It's a good sign that she's proactively training and showing unprecedented motivation, but if she gets conceited and fails, it defeats the whole purpose.

"Pouting just makes you cute, so cut it out."

"...Cute."

Saint-sama tilted her head with a hand on her cheek. ...No, don't question that part. Are you not self-aware?

"Alright then, try doing laps around the training ground like we did on the first day, but with magical reinforcement this time. You should be able to see the results of your training."

"Understood."

Saint-sama, replying with few words, psyched herself up with a "Mun!" and activated her magical reinforcement, then dashed off with vigor—and immediately face-planted.

"Whoa!? You okay!?"

"...It was faster than I thought."

Saint-sama lifted only her face mukuri and muttered with an expression that seemed to say Huh?.

It's the classic case of stats going up but control failing.

Fortunately, thanks to the successful magical reinforcement, she didn't have a single scratch, but she fell with ridiculous momentum...

"Start by letting out a little magic at a time, and increase the output once you get used to it."

"You go first."

"My bad."

I thought she'd figure it out... but I didn't say it. By the way, Saint-sama's glaring face wasn't scary at all; it was very cute.

"...Magic... a little at a time..."

Standing up, Saint-sama began running around the training ground while muttering to herself. It seems she grasped the knack immediately.

Saint-sama gradually sped up. Seeing Saint-sama, who is technically a world treasure, sprinting around the training ground is kinda... funny.

And she's super fast.

One lap... two laps... three laps... huh? Can she stop?

"H-H-H-How do I... stop..."

Saint-sama called for help while sprinting explosively.

Ah... if she cuts the magical reinforcement, she'll stop but get seriously injured, and her inertia is leaning so far forward that crashing into the ground is only a matter of time.

—Isn't this bad? Whoooa! What do I do!

There's no time. Even if I reinforce myself and forcibly try to stop her, a collision between strong forces will result in serious injury.

But asking the current Saint-sama for delicate power control is impossible.

...Dammit, final resort it is.

I reinforced myself with full power, stood in front of Saint-sama, and shouted at a speed audible only to someone with a reinforced brain.

"Saint-sama! Trust me and suppress your magic by half!"

"——!"

Then, hearing my words, Saint-sama bit her lip tightly and—weakened her magical reinforcement by half.

In that instant, due to the sudden disappearance of kinetic energy, only the forward inertia remained, and she came barreling toward me with great force.

If I brace myself and catch her like this, worst case, Saint-sama's body might explode into pieces.

"Eeei! Roar, my reflexes!!"

That's why, while getting blown back in the same direction as Saint-sama, I gently caught her flying body—ah, she smells nice—and crashed straight into the training ground wall.

—BAGOON!!

"Ugh..."

The training ground wall crumbled from the sheer impact.

My back... my back hurts...

I crashed back-first to protect Saint-sama while hugging her, so of course it hurts.

If I hadn't reinforced my back with an idiotic amount of magic, my bones would have snapped normally. Actually, getting off with minor injuries after crashing with that momentum might make me pretty amazing.

While praising myself like that, feeling gradually returned to my body.

It hurts... it hurts, but something is soft...? Why is it soft?

"Um."

I slowly opened my eyes.

The sight that filled my vision was skin-colored. For some reason, there was a slightly soft sensation around my cheek.

I see... yeah.

—It seems I had buried my face in Saint-sama's holy tiny tits.

When I finally lifted my face, there was Saint-sama, her cheeks dyed bright red.

Hmm~, too cute. And a little bit... erotic...

"Hey, Saint-sama. Do you know what force majeure is?"

"I know. ...I-I'm not angry."

"Then one more time—"

"Don't get... carried away."

"Fugo...!!"

Since she wasn't angry, I leaned in thinking I'd go for round two, only for a magically reinforced fist to come flying.

Um, I'm an injured person here... or so I thought, but the wounds on my body were already healed.

Apparently, she cast healing magic at the same time she punched me. What a skillful trick...

"...Hmm?"

Glancing at Saint-sama, I suddenly felt something was off. ...Did her boobs get bigger than before...?

I rubbed my eyes vigorously. ...Just my imagination?

For now, let's ignore the strange feeling.

"Well, take this as a lesson and do everything in moderation. I've never heard of someone reinforcing themselves so much they couldn't stop."

"Ugh... running felt so good."

Saint-sama looked away, a little embarrassed.

I know the feeling of not being able to stop when it feels good. ...What? No deeper meaning intended!

When I realized I had become strong through training, I got incredibly carried away too. And every time, I challenged Master and got beaten to a pulp.

『It is important to realize you have become strong... but be careful not to be tripped up by conceit.』

Because of Master's words, I decided not to let my guard down even if I became strong.

No matter how much you corner your opponent, if you take just one hit... and that hit becomes a fatal wound, your defeat is decided in an instant.

It's just one hit. But still, one hit.

However, seeing Saint-sama looking dejected was unbearable, so I laughed and patted her shoulder gently pon.

"You did well. Even I took over a year to master magical reinforcement. Mastering it in six days is impressive."

"......Really......"

Saint-sama put her hands to her cheeks and turned away, giving a small pyon hop.

—She's blatantly happy. How cute can you get?

This Saint-sama is actually quite expressive emotionally, it just doesn't show on her face...

Thinking that, I quickly took out the usual cat ears from my pocket.

"Okay, penalty game for losing control."

"Eh..."

She had a stunned expression that seemed to say You're kidding, right...?, but perhaps having gotten used to it, Saint-sama put on the cat ears without a word. Yep, cute.

Now, what kind of acting guidance should I give today... Just as I was getting excited, my eyes met with Mei and Reese, who had rushed into the training ground looking flustered. Ah, crap.

"Oi...! Another attack... is it?"

"Are you both okay......?"

Overwhelming silence!! Frozen!!

The two of them, eyes wide, looked back and forth between me and Saint-sama.

From the outside, I feel like it only looks like I'm forcing Saint-sama to wear cat ears and threatening her. Sharp; you're half right.

If I seriously had no ulterior motives, I intend to defend myself with all my might, but since I have the guilt of at least having my fetish satisfied, it's hard to deny it completely.

Therefore, checkmate!

"You bastard...?"

Reese approached swaying like a vengeful ghost.

Bad. I'm going to be killed.

R-Right... the one who stops her at times like this is always Mei...!

"N-No, it's not like that. M-Mei-san? Stop this—Mei-san!?"

"Ars-sama. What exactly is the meaning of this?"

Mei is also snapping!? Why!?

She's smiling! She's smiling, but her eyes aren't!

"...I thought it was just me."

Mei muttered something softly, but no information entered my confused ears.

"Saint-sama! Did he do something to you!?"

—That's it! If I have Saint-sama explain...！ Looking at Saint-sama prayerfully, she perhaps remembered the tiny tits incident from earlier, blushing po as she said,

"Nothing... was done... to me."

"Yoooou baaaastaaaard!!!"

"I'm innocennnnnt!!"

I screamed my innocence to Reese, who grabbed me by the collar.

It's not that I did nothing, but that was force majeure. Therefore, innocent! I am not at fault!