A Story of a Male Knight (Not a Female Knight) in a Chastity-Reversed World ~The Girls Are So Afraid of Being Disliked That a “Kukkoro” Scene Never Happens~ - 31

Chapter 31: After the Commotion

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After I returned home and went back to my room, I felt a wave of relief and couldn’t help but sink into reflection. I had finished the audience with the Mikado, and now I was safe. I might meet the pink-haired girl again someday in my long life, but since I had no reason to leave the mansion for now, I wouldn’t see her anytime soon.

If I continued my training, I would surely be strong enough to fight her if we ever did meet again.

In short, the crisis had passed. I could say I had escaped the loop where I was always “captured and kukkoro-ed.”

“I did it!!”

I stood up in joy. This meant the path to becoming a male knight wasn’t closed off again! I could keep moving forward with my life! When I ran into the bandits, I thought maybe the future couldn’t be changed. But that wasn’t true.

Of course, it was obvious—but the future could change depending on what I did. That fight with the bandits proved it. Because I chose to accept training from Master, I had grown strong enough to defeat them. I could beat the same opponents I could only run from before.

Sure, it was thanks to Master being there, but the bandits had intended to kidnap me, and if I had lost, they might have captured me and subjected me to a “captured-and-kukkoro-ed” fate. But that future never came to pass because I had grown stronger through my unique magic and training.

Yeah. The future was mine to seize. That meant that even something as challenging as becoming a male knight could be possible, depending on my own efforts. I was so happy, I felt like I was on top of the world.

…However, come evening, my mood flipped completely. 

I sat beside Master, who was forced to kneel in seiza, and voluntarily did the same myself, utterly dejected.

“You really did something outrageous… I’m angry, but please don’t hate me for it.”

Mother said, arms crossed, her face like that of a demon. Just behind her, Elsa-san also stood with arms crossed, adding a sense of intimidation that almost made me cry.

“Kokoro, Ray. I clearly told you absolutely not to let your identity be discovered, didn’t I? I’m angry, but please don’t hate me.”

“Yes…”

“And yet, how did it end up getting exposed? I’m angry, but please don’t hate me.”

It seemed Mother already knew that I’d been found out as a boy, and that was why she was so angry now.

“I’m sorry.”

“I sincerely apologize…”

“I’d like to hear exactly what happened. I’m angry, but please don’t hate me.”

“Um, Mother. I won’t hate you even if you scold me, so you don’t need to keep repeating that…”

“Ahh, I love my son so much… You’re right. I’ll take you at your word,”

Mother coughed lightly, then asked again with a serious look.

“Can you explain how things ended up like this?”

“Yes. First, there were these bandits trying to dine and dash…”

I carefully explained everything from the very beginning. Mother listened to it all in silence, then finally started to speak.

“Ray, your decision to intervene in the trouble was a commendable act as the heir to the Kukkoro family. I’ll praise you for that.”

“Uh, okay…”

“But you could have asked Kokoro to handle it instead. There were other ways you could have approached it. I want you to reflect on your rashness and use it as a lesson for the future.”

“Yes…”

“Next, Kokoro. Are you prepared?”

“O-Of course.”

Mother took a deep breath and began.

“When you caused a scene with that fist-drop in the carriage, didn’t you understand that drawing attention was a bad idea!? I told you over and over that Ray’s identity absolutely must not be exposed to the public, but why did you let him go and pick a fight!? Even if you couldn’t stop him, you could have intervened once he got involved with the mess! With your skills, you could have ended the situation instantly—so why were you just standing there acting like some smug master watching her student!? This wasn’t about trusting your disciple—it’s obvious that in a fight, the hood could easily come off! Of course a boy fighting bandits would draw tons of attention! I don’t even know how to begin fixing this!”

“I-I have no excuse! I sincerely apologize!”

I bowed my head in apology right along with Master, who was bowing repeatedly.

“I’m sorry, Mother! It was due to my rashness…”

“You’re both at fault. But what’s done is done. I expect you both to improve, and now we’ll move on to the main issue.”

“The main issue?”

Mother looked like she was about to clutch her head as she spoke.

“Rau’s existence has been exposed and the situation has become troublesome.”

“A troublesome situation?”

“Yes. First, about the bandits you were attacked by today—once we investigated them, it turned out they were former knights who had fallen on hard times and turned to banditry.”

I remembered Mother saying something similar back before the loop reset.

“Lately, these types aren’t uncommon. Because the royal family has been dismantling noble houses left and right, these bandits have been flooding into the imperial capital, and public safety has been deteriorating day by day.”

How did that connect to me being exposed?

“Plus, the economy isn’t exactly good, and the people are growing increasingly dissatisfied with everything. In times like these, people inevitably start searching for some kind of light.”

“…Um, and you mean that’s me?”

I asked, and Mother nodded.

“Yes. The heir of the Kukkoro family, who instantly defeated a group of bandits. A breathtakingly handsome boy with remarkable skill. There’s no more dazzling light than that. Some might even see you as a divine messenger or a savior.”

“Is it really that big a deal…?”

“It absolutely is.”

Mother declared firmly. She didn’t look like she was lying, no matter how unbelievable it sounded.

“And if people who’ve glimpsed that light start to desire you, they might demand more from you. Even if they don’t, with public safety declining, people won’t look kindly on the Kukkoro family for keeping such a talent hidden. The citizens of the capital will surely want you to step up immediately as a knight to protect them.”

Becoming a knight and protecting the capital was my dearest wish. But right now, I didn’t think I had the strength to live up to expectations if people started seeing me as some sort of light.

“Uh… I’m happy if they expect something from me, but there’s no way I can meet expectations that big yet…”

“Of course. No one could shoulder something like that.”

“Y-yeah.”

“That’s why it’s a problem. I can’t let my precious son get crushed under unreasonable pressure, and more importantly, I can’t entrust the dangerous work of a knight to my still-young Rayi.”

Then Mother brightened slightly.

“But this is all just a worst-case scenario. The rumors haven’t spread through the capital yet, and even if they do, it doesn’t mean things will definitely turn out that way.”

“That’s a relief, then.”

“Indeed. But to make sure my beloved son never ends up in such a situation, I have to take measures in advance.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean preparing for every possible outcome. That’s also why I haven’t fired Kokoro yet—because she might still prove useful for your sake.”

“Eh, so… I’m not fired?”

Master had clearly expected to be dismissed, and lifted her head in surprise.

“Of course not. I wouldn’t go to the trouble of scolding someone I was going to fire.”

“Thank you! I’ll work my butt off from now on!”

“I could do without the ‘butt’ part, but I’m counting on you. Despite your two blunders, you’ve done a tremendous job helping Ray grow over the past week, and I value you for that.”

“Yes! Leave it to me!”

Master stood up straight and gave her chest a firm pat, but Mother shot her a suspicious look.

“I can’t believe this is happening… But if the people start clamoring for Ray, we can’t ignore it forever. Ray needs to get strong enough to work as a knight as soon as possible… Kokoro. I’m really counting on you.”

“Yes!”

“Will this really be okay, I wonder…”

Seeing Mother’s worried expression, I asked.

“So the measures you mentioned… Basically I just need to get strong quickly?”

“That’s not it. Making sure you get stronger is top priority anyway, but that doesn’t change regardless of what happened this time.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“It’s something else entirely. In the absolute worst case, Ray—you might have to leave this house.”

Mother said it with absolute conviction.

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