Chastity-Reversed Hard Mode: Surviving as a Steel-Minded Adventurer in Another World - Chapter 25: Talking It Out with the Count’s Son with a Steel Mentality

Chapter 25: Talking It Out with the Count’s Son with a Steel Mentality

“…………”

“…………”

Down the forest path leading to the riverbank, it was just me and Janis walking in silence.

He trailed behind me without a word—didn’t make a single peep.

The only sound was the occasional snap of a dry branch underfoot. Aside from that, total silence.

Ugh, this is awkward…

I’m an introvert at heart, so I’m terrible at starting conversations. Sure, from the outside it might look like I’m all chatty and upbeat, but honestly? That’s just me bulldozing ahead with whatever I feel like saying, totally ignoring the other person’s reaction. When it came to actual small talk? Yeah, not my strong suit.

Was Janis the same type?

Well, better that than him silently calculating the best moment to assassinate me.

Come on, think… a topic, anything…

“Oh?”

While scanning the forest for something—anything—to talk about, I spotted a splash of pink and white glowing beneath a dead tree.

A fly agaric mushroom. And a massive one at that. The kind you’d see in picture books overseas, where fairies perched on top of them.

Fly agaric mushrooms actually grew wild in Japan too.

They were infamous as hallucinogenic poison mushrooms—the culprit being ibotenic acid.

The funny part? That chemical was a type of amino acid, and apparently it tasted insanely good.

Back when I was in Japan, I always kind of wanted to try one just once… but yeah, knowingly putting poison in your mouth? Hard pass.

But now I had [Poison Resistance].

That meant the toxins shouldn’t affect me at all.

A once-in-a-lifetime chance like this? I kinda wanted to take one home and give it a try.

The only problem was… if Janis already knew this mushroom was poisonous, instead of getting closer, he’d probably just think I was a freak.

Maybe I should check what he knows first.

“You know, Janis, that mushroom over there…”

The moment I pointed, Janis’s eyes lit up with a sharp gleam.

“That’s a fly agaric! What a magnificent size! Saint, you’re aware of its toxicity, aren’t you? Yes, exactly! Cute as it looks, it’s a dangerous mushroom that causes hallucinations and stomach pain if eaten! Delicious as it may seem, it must never be consumed! However—its broth attracts flies, and any fly that touches it dies instantly, making it extremely useful as a natural fly-killer! Truly impressive, Saint, to be so knowledgeable about poisonous mushrooms! Tell me, which mushrooms do you like? Personally, I find the wood blewit that creates fairy rings to be the most mysterious of them all…”

…Wait, I didn’t even say anything yet.

As I stood there dumbfounded, Janis suddenly snapped back to himself, then quickly looked down, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“…I-I’m sorry… I got carried away…”

“Ah, uh… so, you like mushrooms?”

“Y-Yes… It’s embarrassing to admit in front of someone like you, who seems to know everything about the world, but…”

“Nah, I don’t know everything. And don’t call me Saint—call me Big Brother, remember?”

Man… feels like the rumors have snowballed to the point where everyone sees me as some kind of walking encyclopedia.

If they ever found out how ordinary I actually was, the disappointment would be brutal.

Still, at least I’d learned what Janis liked. That could be a good opening to keep the conversation going.

Mushrooms, huh.

Now how was I supposed to expand on that topic…?

While I was scratching my head, Janis picked up the thread himself and kept the conversation going.

“Um, Big Brother—you suggested to Father that we should start large-scale farming of cabbages and tomatoes from the garden, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Vegetables are good for your body—it’d be a waste not to eat them.”

As I said that, one stupid thought crossed my mind:

What if Janis turned out to be some hardcore meat extremist, ready to kill me for daring to promote vegetables?

…But thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

“Exactly! I’ve thought for a long time it’s such a waste not to cultivate them! But whenever I brought it up, people just brushed me off—saying vegetables are only for animals or monsters, or that it’d be disgraceful for a member of the Count’s family to eat such strange things. And tomatoes! Everyone insists they’re poisonous. Sure, they taste a little green, but they’re perfectly edible! I get the logic that farmland should go to wheat or grass for livestock, but still…”

“…So you’ve actually eaten them?”

“Yes. Pretty much everything in the garden, as long as it wasn’t obviously poisonous…”

Janis’s cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.

Maybe he thought I’d just label him a glutton?

“But why’d you even decide to put them in your mouth?”

It’s not like the son of a Count was starving or anything.

Janis fidgeted for a moment before answering.

“I thought… maybe there are plants with medicinal effects or toxins people haven’t discovered yet. Honestly, I don’t really trust the treatments doctors recommend. If anything, the remedies made by the so-called witches—those apothecaries people gossip about—feel more reliable. So I wondered if I could create effective medicine with my own hands…”

Medicine and doctors, huh.

I see… so basically—

“You wanted to make a cure for Count Rose and Midra’s syphilis.”

At that, Janis’s eyes widened, and a wry smile spread across his face.

That expression looked just like the awkward smile Midra often wore.

“As expected of you, Big Brother—you saw right through me. Yes, that was the reason I started. Though syphilis was cured by you first… I had no real knowledge of medicine, so of course I couldn’t create a drug myself.”

Well, hey—you never really know.

Back home, the cure for syphilis was antibiotics, but the very first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered completely by accident when some staphylococcus cultures got contaminated with mold. Even a total amateur could stumble onto something groundbreaking just by trying.

“So basically, Janis—you started researching plants, and that’s how you ended up loving mushrooms?”

“Ahaha… I do like mushrooms, but truthfully, I love plants in general. The more I observe them, the more I discover new charms and possibilities.”

Janis looked like he was hesitating, then finally spoke up.

“I… I want to become a botanist. …It’s silly, isn’t it? A man dreaming of becoming a scholar.”

“Why? There’s nothing silly about that at all.”

I tilted my head, and Janis’s eyes widened in surprise—like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“…Eh, but… men are supposed to stay home and raise children, not go outside… I’ve never even seen a book written by a male scholar…”

“If you wanna go out, then just go out. Sure, I’ve heard the same thing—that since men have less mana, war is women’s work. But research? That’s got nothing to do with gender. Your brain doesn’t change just because you’re a boy.”

“But what if I run into dangerous monsters while doing fieldwork…?”

“Then hire adventurers. Let the women handle the fighting, and you just focus on studying plants.”

Honestly, from what I’d seen earlier, Janis looked plenty strong enough to take care of himself anyway.

Running at car speed with wind magic? Not many adventurers I knew could even pull that off.

Maybe his mana was considered “low” for a Count’s family, but it still looked pretty impressive to me.

Janis just stood there, mouth slightly open, completely silent.

What’s this? Did I just shatter all the assumptions he’d been living with?

But then his face clouded over, sinking into gloom.

“…No, it’s no good. A man wanting to become a scholar… that would never be allowed.”

Hmmm.

Well, since we’re here, might as well go full-on counselor mode.

Alright kid, what’s eating you? Let’s hear it.

“Why do you think it wouldn’t be allowed?”

“Because… Mother has been sacrificing herself every day, trying to produce a proper heir. I know she really just wants to be closer to Father, but instead she had to accept new concubines—and then he even caught syphilis. With Mother suffering like that, how could I be selfish enough to say I want to become a botanist?”

“Selfish, huh. So that’s how you see it.”

“What else would you call it? A noble child doesn’t get to choose their own path in life. That kind of freedom doesn’t exist. Noble men are born to marry into other houses for political ties. That’s their only role. Just by being born male, I was already defective. The least I can do is fulfill my duty…”

“‘Defective’ sounds a little harsh, don’t you think?”

“No—it’s true, I am defective! If only I’d been born a girl, Mother wouldn’t have had to push herself to bear twenty children! Because I can’t inherit the house, because I’m useless, she’s the one who suffers…!”

Janis slumped against a tree, shoulders trembling as he pounded his fist into the trunk, choking back sobs.

Haah… I let out a long sigh.

Seriously, leave it to this family to twist themselves up like this.

“Look, Janis. I think the real problem with your family is—you guys don’t talk enough.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You all care about each other, but you don’t actually say it out loud. So of course it never gets through.”

Well, yeah—I’m probably not the best person to say this, considering my [Mental Resistance] basically killed off my empathy.

But sometimes that’s exactly why I can see things the people actually involved can’t.

I don’t get trapped in how others perceive me.

So… where should I start pointing things out?

Guess I’ll begin with the most basic premise.

“Janis, you’re misunderstanding something. Wanting to be a botanist and not wanting to cause Count Rose more pain—there’s a way you can do both, right?”

“There’s no way such a thing could…”

“You just need to become the heir of the Longfield family. Take over as the Count’s successor and become a botanist. Do both. That’s the one smart move here.”

Janis froze, eyes wide, then immediately shook his head furiously.

“That’s ridiculous…! A man can’t become the heir!”

“Why not? Who says you can’t?”

I don’t know much about Western history, but if a bloodline was about to die out, a daughter could sometimes inherit, couldn’t she?

Even in Sengoku-era Japan, you had cases like Ii Naotora, a woman who temporarily became head of her clan. So yeah—rules bend when needed.

“Well… true, our current king is a man, but…”

“Oh, huh. So the king of this country is male?”

“…Wait, you didn’t know that?”

“Nope.”

Not like I need to know to get by.

Besides, I get the feeling Deabolica’s been trying to keep me away from political knowledge anyway.

Like, “Just shut up and be the healing robot.”

Which, honestly? Suits me fine. Politics only sounds like a fast track to trouble.

“If the king himself is a man, then it’s even less of a problem. The guy at the very top sets the standard. Outsiders don’t get to whine about it.”

“Uh… I-I guess…”

“So yeah—just inherit the Count’s house and study plants on the side. That way Count Rose gets to relax, and you get to be a botanist. Problem solved, right?”

“…But even if that happened, I really don’t think I could handle being both the head of the Count’s family and a botanist…”

“Why not? Let me ask you this—hasn’t there ever been a noble who was also a scholar? If anything, nobles are perfect for that role. They’ve got money and resources.”

“…Well, yes. It’s more common for nobles to be patrons of scholars, but sometimes you do hear of nobles who managed both…”

Exactly.

Even Tokugawa Mitsukuni—yeah, the guy everyone knows as Mito Komon—was a vice-shogun and still found time to compile historical records and even put together plant catalogs. Sure, he didn’t exactly wander around righting wrongs like the TV shows, but still.

“Then you should do the same, Janis. It’ll be tough, sure—but if you really want it, then a little hardship is worth it, right?”

“Yes… but…”

Janis’s face lit up for a moment, but then he slumped again and shook his head.

“No… it’s still impossible. Mother would never accept me as an heir. She’s far too strict. For someone like me, a failure… there’s no way…”

“Whether the Count accepts you or not isn’t something you get to decide, is it?”

Tch.

I clicked my tongue on purpose, and Janis’s head snapped up like he’d been jolted.

“Eh…?”

“Don’t go deciding Count Rose’s answer before you’ve even asked. Don’t shrink back just because you’re scared of what she might say. First, tell her what you’re really thinking. Tell her you’re worried about her health and don’t want her to push herself any further—so you want to step up as heir and support her. Tell her you love plants and that you have to become a scholar. Lay it all out—your thoughts, your hopes, everything. If she rejects it, then fine—you can be depressed after that.”

Janis’s eyes widened as if something had just clicked, and he clenched both fists tight. Looked like he finally realized how much of it had only been his own assumptions.

Yeah, I know—I’m the last person who should be preaching this kind of thing. But if my words actually help someone, then screw it—I’ll say them. If it means making this family a little happier, I’ll grit my teeth and endure the embarrassment with steel mentality.

I patted Janis lightly on the shoulder and gave him a small smile.

“Relax. You don’t need to carry the world on your back. At the very least, if you tell Midra you want to be heir, he’ll definitely support you.”

“Father would…?”

Yesterday, Midra introduced Janis to me by saying, “I pray that after I’m gone, my son will continue to be of help to you.”

If he’d intended to marry Janis off in some political match, he never would’ve said that.

Once Janis left the Longfield house, he’d just be an outsider.

So really, what Midra meant was: “Please get along with my son, who will one day inherit this house.”

At the very least, Midra already saw Janis as perfectly capable of being the heir.

The only real question left was whether Janis himself wanted to take up that role.

I wasn’t sure if Midra expected me to talk him into it too, but… hey, may as well throw in the full service.

“And another thing—Janis, you think the Count is this super strict person, and that she doesn’t expect anything from you, right? But that’s totally wrong. If anything, she’s a deeply emotional person, and I’m sure she cares about you a lot.”

“Do you really think so? But Mother has never once told me to study to become her successor. That must mean she’s disappointed in me…”

“Nope. It’s the opposite. She never said that because she does care about you. Think about it—if she told you from childhood to train as her heir, and then later a girl was born, what would happen? She’d be forced to make that girl the heir instead. And who would that hurt the most? You, right?”

“No way… Mother would…”

“Like I said earlier—don’t go imagining the Count’s words for her and shrinking away. Has she ever once told you she’s disappointed in you? Has she ever said she hates you?”

“No… never. It was me. I was the one who feared her on my own…”

Knew it. That’s the Count for you.

Alright then… may as well go all the way. Guess I’ll bring this up too.

“Besides, the Count is kind, isn’t she? Kind enough to cover for a retainer who killed a doctor, claiming she was the one who ordered the execution.”

“…!? How do you… how do you know about that…?”

Janis whipped his head toward me, face drained of color.

Bingo. It had only been a hunch, but his reaction confirmed it.

For all her strict appearance, the Count was actually a deeply compassionate person.

That thought first struck me when I realized all her concubines had ended up with syphilis.

To me, that meant she had truly taken care of them—fed them well, loved them fully, and treated them like people, not disposable tools.

And from my talk with Midra, I learned something else: even though he was supposedly a “disappointing” husband, the Count never cast him aside. Instead, she stayed with him and even bore several of his children.

When I chatted with the other consorts, I heard plenty of people speak of her with awe, but not a single one badmouthed her. If she were really the kind of tyrant who killed subordinates on a whim, she would’ve thrown away any husband or concubine the moment they outlived their usefulness. But she didn’t. In fact, it was the opposite.

She was loved by those around her—deeply affectionate and genuinely kind.

Kind enough, even, to forgive Deabolica, who once tried to entrap her, simply because she felt indebted.

As a noble, you could even say she was too soft.

That sort of kindness wins the devotion of loyal followers, sure—but it also invites contempt from those with darker hearts.

That softness was probably what emboldened the physician.

“Go perform water ablutions, pour freezing water over your head, and beg the gods for forgiveness ”—there’s no way she would’ve dared say something like that if she truly feared her lord. She must have believed that no matter what she said, the Count would never punish her.

But on the other hand, how could the retainers not know?

They had seen with their own eyes how much the Count had suffered—bearing twenty children while destroying her own body, mourning each loss with genuine grief.

So when that physician spat on her pain, dismissing it as a “sin” and trying to whip her down even further, of course the retainers couldn’t just sit there and take it.

The Count forgave her.

But her followers didn’t.

That’s how I see it, anyway.

The real issue came afterward—how to handle it.

If a retainer killed a physician on their own, that was straight-up murder. The killer would have to face punishment. Maybe that retainer even confessed, ready to accept judgment.

But the Count… she couldn’t bring herself to punish someone who’d acted out of righteous anger on her behalf.

So instead, she claimed she had ordered the execution—that it was a formal “summary punishment.” By taking the blame, she shielded her follower from being condemned.

…Or maybe it hadn’t even been a retainer. Maybe it was one of her husbands or concubines.

Either way, the problem was that the Count ended up with the reputation of being “a tyrant who killed her physician in a fit of rage.” If the truth came out, she’d have no choice but to punish her own family. So she kept that mask of strictness firmly in place whenever she dealt with outside nobles.

That’s why she acted so high-and-mighty when I came to treat her yesterday.

Think about it: a third daughter of some minor noble shows up in a skimpy, ridiculous outfit, dragging along a so-called Saint. Of course she assumed it was a scam. And since she couldn’t let her guard down, she put on an even harsher front.

When she brought up the physician incident, it wasn’t just bluster—it was intimidation. Basically, she was saying, “If you confess right now that this is a scam, I’ll let you walk away.”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes the mystery theater of Yuji the Saint.

“So? Pretty convincing reasoning, right…?”

“…There really is no hiding anything from you, Saint. You’re exactly right.”

Janis let out a wry smile and admitted it.

…Wait. Do I maybe have a knack for being a great detective?

…Nah. This one was easy if you thought about it a little.

“Big Brother, please… don’t tell anyone about this…”

“Yeah, of course. I wouldn’t dream of it. I like the Count too, after all.”

“Eh…?”

A shadow suddenly crossed Janis’s face.

Wait, huh? What’s that look supposed to mean?

Even as I stood there confused, he just kept staring at me, eyes shimmering like he was about to cry any second.

Did I… say something weird?

…After about a full minute of panicked thinking, I cleared my throat.

“Not like that. I don’t mean I ‘like her’ as in romance. I mean I like all of you—Midra, you, the Count… your whole family.”

“A-Ah. I see. Good… that’s a relief…”

Yikes. That almost turned into a serious misunderstanding.

This [Mental Resistance] thing is terrifying—I can’t even realize I’ve said something misleading until I really stop to think about it.

“Well, anyway. Just talk to the Count. I don’t think she’s the type who’d dismiss her beloved son’s heartfelt words. And right now, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to argue your case for becoming a botanist, don’t you?”

“Um… wait. Please. I’d like to think it through myself.”

“Okay, deal.”

Nice. That was a good sign.

I could see the spark returning to Janis’s eyes. The timid look he’d always worn was fading away.

He wasn’t just someone who nodded along anymore.

Janis had made up his mind to chase his goal.

This was his very first step forward.

“…Vegetable cultivation. I’ll do trial farming myself until the methods are solid. If I can prove that botanical knowledge is useful for governance, maybe Mother will allow me to pursue both being lord and a scholar.”

“Yes! That’s it. You did it, Janis—you thought it through yourself. That’s what being the head is about. A real lord doesn’t just follow orders—they think for themselves. And I bet that’s exactly what Midra saw in you.”

“Father…”

Janis clenched his fists over his chest and shut his eyes, overwhelmed with emotion.

…Yeah. With this, I think the Longfield family will be just fine.

＝＝＝＝＝＝

＝＝＝＝

＝＝

Oh, by the way—we did get our bath.

Man, nothing beats a hot soak.

The soulmates used fire magic to heat the stones, but wow—they went full flamethrower, spewing fire like living weapons. Honestly, when the mansion took away our weapons at the entrance, it was kind of pointless. If they really wanted, these guys could roast us alive in seconds. Well, I guess it’s more about courtesy than actual security.

Anyway, once the stones went into the water, the bath got way too hot, so I kept asking them to add water and adjust. I basically ended up as the Bath Overseer instead of the Hotpot Overseer.

Also, I granted [Disease Resistance] to Janis and the rest of the Count’s sons. Even though the soulmates’ symptoms had cleared up, the syphilis bacteria could still be lingering in their bodies. The last thing we needed was it spreading through bathwater. Better safe than sorry.

“Haahhh… this feels amazing~”

“After working out, having all that sweat washed off is so refreshing.”

“Uh, hey—you’re scrubbing yourself pretty intensely there… is that safe?”

“Of course! Big Brother said having no grime means less chance of getting sick! Honestly, I always thought I was filthy anyway—this is the best!”

“Oh, same here…!”

“I’m moved—my body doesn’t smell sour anymore! I can finally breathe without choking on my own stench…!”

Wow… these comments are way too raw.

How long were they putting up with this?

The fact that they had to pile on grime just because of social pressure—yeah, groupthink really is terrifying.

But man… still.

“Hey, doesn’t your stomach look slimmer?”

“Look who’s talking—your shoulders got broader.”

“Then—touch check time!”

“Oh, come on, knock it off~”

Cue giggles and playful shoves.

Uh, excuse me?

What am I even witnessing here? A bunch of middle-aged dudes poking each other’s stomachs and shoulders like it’s the cutest thing ever.

This is painfully awkward to look at… yet nobody else seems to find it weird?

In modern Japan’s public baths, guys go out of their way to keep maximum social distance. “Men’s bodies are gross, I don’t wanna see yours, don’t come near mine”—that whole vibe.

But here? Everyone’s way too touchy-feely. What the heck is up with this world?

≪Explanation Time!

This is the male version of that classic “Hey, haven’t your boobs gotten bigger? Boop~♪” “Kyaa, stop it~” scene from the women’s bath!

In this world, male nudity is treated as something incredibly valuable, so the guys don’t shy away from each other!

To everyone back in our world—we sincerely apologize for subjecting you to this hellish sight!≫

“Big Brother… may I wash your back?♪”

While I was already reeling from the nightmare unfolding around me, Janis quietly slid up behind me, his hand brushing the back of my neck.

…He was way too close. I could actually feel his body heat against my back.

“Hold it, Janis. I may let you call me Big Brother, but I don’t swing that way.”

“Swing? If you mean hair, you’ve got plenty. Whoa… Big Brother’s is huge…♪ Both the rod and the stones—easily twice the size of mine… I can’t help but admire it…”

Stop that! Don’t gasp in awe while staring at my junk!

Back home, if a guy realized his equipment was smaller, he’d just cover himself with a towel and sulk off in shame. That’s the normal reaction!

Why are you all crowding around me like it’s show-and-tell!? Cut it out! Don’t blush! Don’t treat it like some holy relic! This is heresy! Idol worship is forbidden!!

『Ooooh… All hail the Great Big Brother…!』

“NOOOOOOOO!! That’s not what Big Brother is supposed to mean!!”

In the end, Janis scrubbed me down thoroughly—everywhere.

By the time I dragged myself back to the mansion, my eyes were as dead as a fish’s.

To think something could pierce through both [Mental Resistance] and [Pain Resistance]… terrifying.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

※Here’s a quick digest of how the adventurers reacted.

“Yuji… bathing together with the Count’s men!?”

A shockwave rippled through the adventurers—!

“Damn it, we can’t just sit here!”

“Hey, stop right there! Where do you think you’re going? Sit down in the guest room!”

“Let go! If we stay put, Eugene’s naked body will be ogled by the Count and her guards!”

“Yeah! Yuji’s naked body belongs to me!”

“Haah!? Eugene’s mine!”

“You wanna go, huh!? Fssshhh!”

“Enough! Sit down before you cause any more trouble with the Count’s family!”

(Says the same woman who once tried to honeytrap the Count’s family herself…!)

Everyone trembled at Deabolica’s shameless hypocrisy—!

“Pressure point strike.”

“Guhhh!”

“Nice one, Ursna! Just this once, I’ll praise you!”

“Alright, move! To the garden!”

And so the horny heroine squad sprinted off to peep—!

“Well, well. Where do you ladies think you’re going? Sorry, this path is closed. Back to your rooms.”

“You…! The guard captain!”

“Step aside! We can’t let anyone else see Yuji’s naked body! I won’t allow it!”

“No. I’m here to stop dangerous people like you from getting near the nobles. From here on, this is a sanctuary for virtuous, proper ladies only. …Which means we can’t go in.”

“Don’t drop your guard, Irene! This one’s the real deal!”

『UOOOOOOOOOOH!!』

Behind the bathhouse, fists began to fly between adventurers and the guard squad—!

“Hmph. Not bad for ones so young. A fine sparring match… let’s just say it ended in a draw. Better for the friendship between our houses that way.”

“Damn… she’s strong. The brawl dragged on so long, and in the end we never got to see anything…!”

“At least… at least let us have the leftover bathwater…!”

“Absolutely not. The Saint strictly warned us that the water could still contain traces of syphilis. It must be disposed of immediately. We’ll have slimes absorb it for purification, so don’t go near it.”

“Curses! Yuji’s too thorough with his precautions…!”

“Honestly, even my own family’s women were asking for it, but that bath was full of filth. The water was pitch black—it would’ve been suicide to touch it.”

“Wait—! Look over there!”

“!? Yuji’s holding hands with some boy!”

“That’s… Lord Janis of our house! M-My, look at them… interlocking fingers, walking side by side… his cheeks still flushed from the bath, all rosy and soft… slurp… guhehehe…”

“…This captain, I swear… Whatever. At least we saw something wholesome, right, Irene? …Irene?”

“Haa… haa… My Yuji… walking so close with another boy… That spot should be mine…! I haven’t even gotten to hold his hand like that, let alone interlock fingers…! And yet… and yet…! Sure, it’s just a boy, but still… but still…! I was supposed to be first…! Aaaah, my brain—my brain is breaking—!”

Irene’s eyes blazed red—!

“You… at your age, and already saddled with such a dangerous kink…!”

The truth was, Yuji’s naked body had already been ogled countless times through the peeping room—and even Yuji himself had secretly rubbed one out to it.

But for the sake of protecting Irene’s fragile brain, Ursna kept her mouth shut.

It was a small gesture of respect… for a comrade who had shared the battlefield of life and death with her—!