Vol 4 Chapter 52: Sweet Forest♡ Part 1

It’s been a few days since we arrived at the village. Though there were some minor misunderstandings and issues at the start, the investigation—under the guise of cultural exchange—has been going smoothly so far.

I’ve mainly been connecting with the elves through swordsmanship, while the others seem to be getting along through their own skills.

That day, with no sparring challenges to handle, I was teaching sword techniques to the boys. Watching them clumsily swing their wooden swords reminded me of my younger self.

“Try holding the grip a bit tighter. Oh, and you—relax your shoulders a bit more.”

“Yes, sir!”

“This is hard!”

Today, I wasn’t the only one teaching.

“Yes, like that. If you twist your body as you step in and bring the blade down, you’ll generate more speed and force than just relying on your arms.”

Kaguya, wearing a slightly revealing maid uniform and holding a wooden sword that seemed out of place in her hands, had also come to help with the children.

When I asked if it was okay for her to leave the mothers she had been teaching to cook, she smiled gracefully and said, “If I teach cooking every day, I’ll grow dull. This is just a little change of pace.”

It was a big relief to have someone else helping with the children, but…

“Kaguya-san, watch me next!”

“Maid lady, what about me? Me!”

“M-Me next!”

The boys swarmed Kaguya all at once, far more enthusiastically than I had anticipated.

Her unfamiliar attire as a maid, her flowing black hair like the night sky, her mysterious yet gentle demeanor, and her superior teaching skills made her an instant favorite. There was no way they wouldn’t be captivated.

…Honestly, I felt a little lonely and maybe a bit envious. But seeing their bright, happy smiles quickly washed away those petty feelings.

Deciding to focus on the kids around me, I had just resolved to give it my all when—

“Hey, you—uh, Shin-dono!”

Grace, the beautiful elf warrior I had sparred with on my first day, appeared in front of me.

Her determined yet slightly flustered expression seemed to stem from the lingering frustration of having lost to me during our match.

“I need a word with you—um, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Her tone was hesitant, as if she were gauging my reaction. The way she kept correcting her words after speaking with her usual prideful demeanor felt a little off.

What caught my attention even more than her tone, however, was—

“Uh, sure…?”

Her outfit. It was the same short green dress she had worn before, emphasizing her curves, but today, the buttons at her collar were undone, leaving her neckline exposed down to the center of her chest. Her fair skin and full, alluring bosom were impossible not to notice.

I had always thought of her as reserved, but was this how she usually dressed?

“I wanted to apologize for the other day. Would… would that be alright?”

As she spoke, her chest gave a soft bounce (tapun), the motion subtly emphasizing her figure. The sight was distracting, and my gaze was instinctively drawn there, making me swallow nervously.

“It’ll just take a moment, alright?”

“Uh, um, sure…”

Noticing my silence and uneasy expression, Grace’s tone softened, her eyes taking on a pleading look. The vulnerability in her gaze, so unlike her usual confidence, was enough to make my heartbeat quicken.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. No, she was making a genuine effort to apologize, and I needed to respond seriously.

“Alright, I understand. Lead the way.”

Grace’s expression softened into a small smile of relief. “Thank you. This way. I’d prefer a place where we won’t be overheard.”

She gently took my hand, pulling me along. Her touch was unfamiliar, and I couldn’t help but feel tense.

After quickly informing Kaguya and the boys that I’d be stepping away, I followed Grace as she led me to a secluded spot.

We arrived at a quiet, shaded area surrounded by trees. The thick foliage blocked out most of the sunlight, giving the place a tranquil, forest-like atmosphere despite being within the village.

The vibrant flowers scattered throughout added splashes of color, and the sweet, honey-like fragrance in the air was soothing.

Being alone in such an intimate setting with a beautiful elf woman I barely knew naturally made me nervous. My palms began to sweat, and my heart raced.

“Now then, Shin-dono. About my apology…”

“Uh, Grace-san, you don’t need to be so formal. Just speak normally—it’s easier for me that way.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Like Nina, Grace didn’t seem adept at adjusting her speech to match others. She likely used formal language effortlessly with her fellow elves, especially those of higher status. However, as a member of another race—one she didn’t yet trust—it seemed more effective to encourage her to speak candidly.

“So, about my apology. I regret what happened during the interrogation the other day. I let my dedication to protecting the village cloud my judgment, and I went too far. For that, I deeply apologize.”

Grace bowed deeply, her silver hair swaying softly in the air. Her figure, already striking, was even more emphasized in that posture, making it hard to know where to focus my gaze.

The sincerity in her apology was evident. Even if there was an internal struggle, she chose to confront her actions honestly. I couldn’t simply brush it off.

“Ah, I see… Well, I was surprised, but it’s all in the past now. Let’s leave it at that. Please, you don’t need to bow anymore.”

“Thank you for your understanding. Not only are you strong, but you are also kind.”

Her words of praise caught me off guard, making me feel a bit embarrassed. “Uh, t-thank you…?”

“Fufu, you’re so modest. For someone as strong as you to remain so humble… Tell me, is your strength considered average among humans?”

“Haha, there’s no need to overthink it. ‘You’ is fine.”

Her fumbling attempts to adjust her speech were endearing, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. She looked slightly flustered but soon nodded. “Forgive me. I’ll call you ‘you,’ then.”

“And, um, about my strength… Well…”

I trailed off, hesitating. Memories of our duel, past challenging quests, and Shari’s recent request crossed my mind. Downplaying my abilities felt dishonest—not just to Grace, but to my companions as well.

Though I wasn’t fully confident, I decided—

“I can’t say it with confidence, but… I think I’m strong. After all… I’m a magic swordsman from an S-rank party.”

“So, that’s how it is… I see. Fufu, so you’re not just a pervert after all.”

Grace lowered her gaze, as though she were carefully processing my words. However, the statement that followed from her now opened eyes and lips carried a teasing tone. “Pervert.” She was probably referring to our first meeting.

“T-That’s not what that was! It was, um… just a biological reaction! I didn’t mean… Ugh…”

“Haha, sorry, sorry. I teased you too much. Well, being strong doesn’t mean you don’t have weaknesses. It’s only natural, isn’t it? Though… perhaps the next time we spar, I should challenge you while completely nude. Hehe.”

“P-Please spare me!”

Her sudden suggestion made my voice crack, and my face flushed as the thought of her naked crossed my mind. If she were to propose such a sparring match, I honestly wouldn’t stand a chance.

Despite the embarrassment of being teased so openly, I felt a small sense of joy—like the distance between Grace and me had grown just a little closer.

We continued chatting for a while. About sword training, life in the human kingdom, the elves’ village, and Grace herself.

It turned out she was the captain of the village’s defense force. Shirley had mentioned this before, but Grace herself was candid about her abilities, stating that even among the elves, she was considered exceptionally skilled. Her confident demeanor was something I lacked, and I couldn’t help but find it impressive.

She also explained her stance on certain matters.

“…I align myself more with Lord Edgar’s ideals than Lady Shirley’s. While I don’t harbor overt hostility toward you or your party, trusting humans is still difficult. Especially with all the rumors about monsters.”

As I suspected, Grace’s ideology differed from Shirley’s. In that case—

“I see… It’s unfortunate, but given how little interaction we’ve had, it’s understandable. Still, even though you feel that way, I’m glad you were willing to apologize to me—a human.”

“Y-Yes, well… I did feel some guilt for interrogating you unnecessarily. Besides… Lord Edgar personally instructed me to apologize to you in private here.”

As her cheeks flushed slightly, her muttered words left me with a strange sense of unease.

Lord Edgar, who had glared at me with such disdain, told her to apologize? He didn’t seem like the type to give such orders…

While this thought lingered, I reminded myself that Edgar was still a potential leader of the village. Perhaps he was simply avoiding actions that might cause unnecessary friction with humans. Satisfied with this explanation, I pushed the thought aside.

“That’s how it is. In any case, I’m glad we could put this behind us—wait, what? Is that… fog?”

As I responded, I suddenly noticed something. Fine particles, like a mist, began drifting around us, obscuring my vision.

While such occurrences weren’t unusual in the forest, this mist felt different. At the same time, the sweet, floral scent I had noticed earlier grew stronger, almost overwhelming.

“…It’s strange, though. Why does it feel… so hot?”

Grace suddenly spoke, her voice breaking my train of thought.

Though the sun wasn’t reaching this spot, and the temperature wasn’t particularly high, I felt an inexplicable warmth spreading through my body.

My head felt faint, my thoughts sluggish. While I tried to make sense of the odd sensation, Grace did something entirely unexpected.

Her pale, cloud-like fingers floated toward her own body. With a small pop, a button came undone.

“W-Wait, Grace-san! What are you—”

Her already revealing neckline opened further, exposing not just the center of her chest but down past her navel. Her provocative figure was now on full display.

“Hmm…? What? It’s just that I’m hot, so I’m taking my clothes off… Why does it matter?”

Her words were disjointed, as though she wasn’t fully aware of what she was doing. Her glassy eyes, dazed and unfocused, reminded me of someone in a trance. She continued to undo her buttons and tug at her clothes, completely unbothered.

“See? It’s hot, isn’t it? No one’s watching… Why don’t you take yours off, too?”

Her normally sharp, commanding voice had softened, carrying a sweet, alluring tone that wrapped around me like a whisper.

The mist grew thicker, enveloping us completely. Indeed, no one could see us now. The part of me that longed to indulge in her suggestion warred with the part that knew it was wrong.

Unconcerned with my internal struggle, Grace had already discarded her clothing.

“G-Grace-san—”

“What is it…? Are you mesmerized? It’s alright. Go ahead… look as much as you want.”

Her chest, free of any undergarments, bounced softly (furuun, tapun), as though to provoke me.

Though her figure wasn’t as familiar to me as my companions’, her full, firm breasts and ethereal, translucent skin were stunningly beautiful—almost otherworldly. The pale pink of her nipples stood out vividly against her creamy complexion.

The sight of her bare form amidst the mist made her seem like a glowing, mystical being.

My mind refused to work. My body felt heavy. All I could manage was a faint, trembling whisper: “N-No… this isn’t… right…”

“It’s not wrong, is it? Come now… let yourself enjoy it…”

Her words, delivered with a dreamy cadence, sent shivers down my spine. Her dazed expression and unsteady movements made it clear she wasn’t in her right mind.

Just as I instinctively stepped back to create some distance, a rustling sound broke through the mist.

Rustle. Crackle.

The sounds of footsteps and leaves shifting reached my ears. Turning my head, I squinted into the fog.

Emerging from the mist were multiple figures—women. And the sight that greeted me was nothing short of shocking.

“T-This can’t be!”

Tapun♡ Purun♡ Mugyu♡ Funyun♡

Surrounding me were more than ten elf women, all completely nude.

Their voluptuous figures and flushed expressions made it impossible to look away. Their heavy breaths filled the air as their unfocused eyes locked onto me.

“Human…♡”

“Man…♡”

“Let’s do something fun…♡”

They resembled hunters circling their prey.

Grace and the other elves closed in, their soft, rounded bodies pressing against me from all directions.

Warm breaths, damp skin, and the seductive curves of their bodies overwhelmed me, stealing the strength from my limbs.

Funyun♡ Arms grabbed me.

Tapun♡ Legs wrapped around me.

Munyunyun♡ Hands encircled my waist.

Countless touches, soft breasts, and sensuous forms trapped me. The heat emanating from their bodies seeped into mine, amplifying the strange, dizzying warmth that already clouded my senses.

“N-No… please… stop…♡”

My faint protests went unanswered. Even as I tried to push them away, my arms were swallowed up—pafun♡—by the soft, overwhelming mass of their bodies.