Vol 4 Chapter 50: A Moonlit Meeting

That night, after returning to Shirley’s house, the members of White Lightning finished their meal and gathered in Shin’s room, just like the previous evening, to share information.

“──So that’s what happened. Honestly, knowing Shin, I thought he’d get distracted by that elf lady’s big breasts and lose. I mean, that would’ve been hilarious too, though. Nihihi♪”

“Th-that’s ridiculous…! Even I wouldn’t entertain such improper thoughts during a fight──”

Nina recounted the day’s battle with Grace, teasing Shin as she spoke. Shin tried to deny her words immediately, but his voice trailed off, eventually silencing altogether.

Though their match had been a serious duel without underhanded tactics, Shin couldn’t help reflecting on his past. Whenever he fought women or female-shaped monsters, he often found himself tempted or flustered—if not outright distracted. If Grace had resorted to the same tactics she’d used during the interrogation… Just imagining it made it impossible for him to deny Nina’s claim further.

Lowering his head, Shin resolved to do better in the future.

“Oh, come on, Nina! You were so relieved after the match ended; you could at least acknowledge Shin’s growth. You’re so stubborn.”

“Wha─I-I wasn’t relieved or anything! Seriously! Fana, Kaguya, stop laughing!”

As Nina continued teasing Shin, Lena intervened, exasperated. Her words prompted laughter from the rest of the group, and Nina, her face now as red as her hair, turned away in embarrassment.

“Anyway, Nina’s embarrassment aside, Shin’s sparring session did help us connect with the elves a little.”

“…Well, unlike Shin, I wasn’t really training. I was just playing with the kids, but they seemed to warm up to me.”

“The adults were surprisingly friendly when I talked to them, too.”

Alice, the youngest member, brought the conversation back on track. Nina and Lena, both smiling, shared their impressions of the day.

“…That said, I couldn’t help but notice some elves were still wary or even hostile toward us. What about you, Kaguya, Fana?”

Adding to what the others had said, Shin shared his concerns about the elves’ mixed reception, then directed his question to Kaguya and Fana, who had acted separately.

“I mostly spent time learning recipes from the ladies, but I did get a similar impression. The women, however, seemed less cautious overall.”

“My experience was much the same. I did try probing Shirley a little during our conversation, though──”

Kaguya responded succinctly, and Fana followed, choosing her words carefully as she shared her thoughts on Shirley.

“──She struck me as unexpectedly shrewd and determined, a woman with a clear sense of purpose.”

Fana explained how Shirley had resolutely turned down her offer to help seduce a man, not taking the suggestion seriously. She also shared Shirley’s aspirations, leaving the group impressed by her strength of character.

“We’ll keep things subtle but continue interacting with the elves tomorrow to gather more information. Can I count on all of you?”

“Yes!”

“Got it!”

“Understood.”

“Of course!”

“Absolutely.”

Everyone responded firmly to Fana’s summary and nodded. Then, as if remembering something, she spoke again.

“Now, let’s take a bath. Is everyone okay with using the same order as yesterday?”

The leader’s suggestion was met with unanimous agreement. Just as the conversation seemed to conclude, Fana gave Shin a sly look and added in a coquettish tone, “Shin, would you like to join me?♡”

Her playful suggestion brought back memories of the previous night, causing Shin’s face to flush. Flustered, he quickly stood up.

“I-I’ll just do some practice swings and take a quick rinse afterward! No need to wait for me!”

Grabbing his beloved magical sword, he bolted from the room like prey fleeing a predator. Fana chuckled at his reaction, while the others exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what had gotten into him, before heading to the bath.

As for Shin, he had fled to a nearby clearing, a perfect open space where he could swing his sword without worrying about obstacles or being disturbed. Unlike the human cities or even the capital he had recently left, the forest was devoid of streetlights. Yet, thanks to the moonlight filtering through the trees, the area was well-lit.

He swung his sword repeatedly, channeling his thoughts from the day—Grace’s strength, Fana’s teasing—into each strike.

Sweat dripped from his brow, and his body warmed as the night breeze cooled his skin. He lifted his sword, slashed downward, swung sideways, and reversed his grip for a counterattack. His movements were sharper than usual, his mind replaying his duel with Grace as he visualized her in his mind, reliving the battle to embed its lessons into his body.

Lost in his focused training, he suddenly froze at the sound of footsteps crunching on the soil. Startled, he sheathed his sword and turned toward the source. Emerging from the darkness was Shirley.

She had bathed earlier, and like during the day, wore a flowing, elegant dress. Catching Shin’s gaze, she gave him a small nod.

“Good evening. I heard the sound of your sword from the house and wondered if it was you. Am I interrupting?”

“Oh… n-no, I’m sorry for being so noisy so late…”

Shin’s voice cracked slightly as he replied, his mind briefly blanking. It wasn’t fatigue or surprise at her sudden appearance. He was momentarily overwhelmed by her beauty under the moonlight.

Her golden hair glimmered like precious gems, each strand catching the pale light and swaying like a shooting star in the night breeze. The soft glow of the moonlight illuminated her face, making her look almost divine. Shin could only stare in awe.

“Would you mind if we talked for a bit?” she asked gently.

Caught off guard, Shin nodded hastily, his reddened cheeks faintly visible under the moonlight.

Shirley walked to a nearby tree root and sat gracefully, the image of poise. She patted the spot beside her, inviting Shin to sit.

Obediently, he sat down at a respectful distance, perching awkwardly on the hard root. The moonlight filtering through the leaves bathed them both in a soft glow. It was Shirley who broke the silence.

“…I heard about your sparring with Grace today. May I ask, what did you think of her strength?”

“Well… she was strong. Her unique fighting style was also educational. But… um…”

Searching for the right words, Shin hesitated. Shirley’s kind smile encouraged him to continue, but her gaze carried a silent intensity, as if probing him for his true thoughts.

Her expression seemed to say, Speak honestly. I want to hear what you truly think.

Shin gazed into her eyes, imbued with strong determination, and after a small breath to steady himself, he spoke softly, his voice slightly trembling.

“…I’m an S-rank adventurer and a magic swordsman. But when it comes to swordsmanship alone, I know I’ve yet to reach the level of an S-rank.”

Shirley gave a small nod, her “Yes” acknowledging his words, and waited for him to continue.

“…I don’t want you to think I held back, but this time, I refrained from using magic because I wanted to measure my own skill. And, of course, Grace didn’t use her archery either, so in that sense, neither of us fought at full strength. But… because of that…”

“──It means she didn’t match the full strength of a human S-rank adventurer, does it?”

Shirley’s expression, tinged with resignation, showed neither offense nor anger as she softly concluded his sentence. Shin stammered, “No, um…” but could do nothing more than fumble for words.

The silence between them stretched, filled only by the rustling of leaves and the chirping of insects.

“Please, don’t let it trouble you. I already had a sense of it. We elves have spent long years in seclusion. Though I can’t say I envy the constant conflicts, wars, and battles that humans and other races experience, it’s only natural that we fall behind them.”

Her words, depending on how they were taken, could have sounded like criticism of other races’ violent and selfish tendencies. But her tone and expression carried only sorrow and self-mockery, something Shin keenly felt.

“Believe it or not, for better or worse, we elves haven’t experienced war or attacks by anything other than monsters for hundreds of years. If another race genuinely wanted to crush us now, they probably could. That’s how few we are and how much we lack strength.”

Her monologue continued, less like a conversation and more like a confession before a chapel altar. Shin watched her silently, his thoughts unreadable.

“Grace is considered one of the strongest in the village. There are only a handful with greater skill than hers.”

Shirley spoke with a self-deprecating laugh, her inner feelings a mystery to Shin. The roles reversed; now, he could only wait for her words.

“Fana-sama told me you plan to continue interacting with the elves here in the village starting tomorrow, correct?”

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

Her casual question belied her conflicted expression, as though she was debating whether to say more.

“Some hot-blooded individuals or those who admire Grace will likely challenge you to spar. So──”

Cutting her words short, Shirley stepped closer, the space between them narrowing until their arms were almost touching. She gazed directly at him.

From this close, Shirley’s beauty overwhelmed him. Her sparkling eyes drew him in like a vortex, and reflexively, Shin let out a flustered, “Y-Yes?”

“──If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like you to show them your strength.”

Her imploring eyes accompanied her request, and she clasped Shin’s hands gently with both of hers.

The soft warmth of her touch and her refreshing scent, noticeable only this close, made Shin’s chest tighten. Even so, he straightened his thoughts, meeting her gaze with resolve.

“In order to protect the elves’ way of life, we need to understand our own power—and the world beyond. Earlier today, I turned down Fana-sama’s offer of assistance. It was because her proposal involved direct intervention by humans. But… I do want the elves to learn about you all, and I’d like for all of you to learn about us as well!”

She finished in one breath, then let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Fufu. I must sound like such a selfish woman.”

Shin, overwhelmed by the sadness and powerful determination in her eyes, struggled to find the right words. The silence stretched again, the rustling of leaves growing louder in the stillness.

Before either could speak again, a cheerful voice cut through the quiet.

“Ah, there you are, Shin!”

The voice broke the tension, and both of them instinctively stepped apart, releasing their hands as they turned toward the sound.

Emerging from the direction of the house was Lena, wearing a thin robe over her nightgown. Her cheeks, flushed pink from the bath, gave her a glow that heightened her usual charm. Her gaze shifted between Shin and Shirley’s meeting, her cheeks puffing slightly before she approached Shin—and snuggle♡

“H-Hey, Lena! I’m all sweaty from practice, so maybe you shouldn’t get too close… ahh…”

Ignoring his protest, Lena pressed her ample chest against Shin, as if to stake her claim before Shirley. The heat from her body, still warm from the bath, seeped into Shin, spreading through him and making his face turn bright red.

Even Shirley, simply watching, found herself flustered. “Ah, um…” she muttered awkwardly, embarrassment evident on her face.

“…W-Well, I’ll excuse myself now.”

“A-Ah, Shirley-san!”

As Shirley hastily tried to leave, Shin called out to stop her. Though his face was still loose from Lena’s closeness, his eyes held a clear sincerity.

“…I don’t know how much I can do, but being here must mean something. If there’s a way I can help, I’ll do it!”

“Yes… Thank you.”

Shirley’s expression brightened at his words. She gave a graceful bow, then walked away, glancing back briefly at the pair. Her arms crossed over her modest chest as if in reflex, the image etching itself into Shin’s mind.

“Somehow… Shirley-san feels like she’s hiding something…”

Still clinging to him, Lena didn’t say a word, leaving only Shin’s murmured thoughts to fill the air.