In a World of Reversed Chastity, I Strive to Become an Honorable Male Knight, but Lustful Women Keep Targeting My Body - 270

Chapter 270: The Kukkoro Male Knight and Cross-Cultural Exchange 2

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The impromptu swordsmanship exchange gathering turned out to be far more popular than I had expected. Elves possessed a strong martial spirit, and they also had the drive to actively learn new methods. They were intensely curious about sword techniques from foreign lands.

At this rate, if they ever got their hands on cannons or rifles, they would probably master them with frightening enthusiasm. It seemed necessary to be extremely careful to prevent technology from leaking. They were already no laughing matter in terms of strength as things stood, and the idea of further enhancing them with long-range attack options was something I sincerely wanted them to spare me from.

“Ahh, it feels like I’ve come back to life. I can’t remember the last time I ate my fill and got so full I couldn’t move.”

“I can’t even sleep with my feet pointing toward Albert-don anymore.”

The elves spoke with satisfied voices, rubbing their bellies, utterly unconcerned with my inner worries. After the exchange gathering, the first soup kitchen had been held in the village square. What was served was nothing more than military stew made by throwing whatever ingredients were on hand into a large pot and boiling it along with brick-hard bread. It was a lonely spread that prioritized quantity over quality, but even so, the elves were overjoyed. Naturally, we couldn’t very well give the elves such meager meals while indulging in luxurious food ourselves. We received our portions from the distribution point and sat down in the shade of a tree to eat breakfast together with Sonia and the others.

“That sword technique of yours, your first strike is insanely powerful but if it’s dodged, it kinda looks like it leaves a huge opening. What do you do then?”

“Idiot. Even thinking about ‘what if it’s dodged’ already lacks manliness. Putting everything into the opening strike, that’s the kind of warrior’s style women would sneer at.”

A large number of elves had gathered densely around us as we talked. Everyone seemed deeply interested in my swordsmanship. Honestly, it made me pretty happy. In Galea, this style of swordplay was notoriously unpopular, dismissed as simian and barbaric. With a wry smile, I sank my hard bread into the military stew. True to its name, the bread was absurdly hard. There was no way to bite into it as-is. It was common practice to soak it in soup and eat it like bread porridge.

…Though some of the elves were apparently fine with crunching straight into it without hesitation.

“By the way… I heard this from our clan head, but after this, you’re going to the rebel folks’ village too, right?”

One elf said this while glancing toward a group standing in the corner of the square. It was the “Legitimate” delegation, centered around Lady Orphan. It was as if an invisible wall surrounded them. No one stood near them at all. The contrast with our situation was stark. Being hated more than outsiders by your former kin wasn’t a very good situation. Telling them now to just get along would be meaningless, so I kept my mouth shut. After a hundred years of killing each other, that rift wasn’t something that could be bridged so easily.

“Yeah. Not today or tomorrow, of course. Once these talks are over, I plan to go to their village as well.”

Of course, that was only according to the plan. After breaking with Vanka-shi, it was highly questionable whether we could leave this village peacefully. Up until now, the extremists had only launched half-hearted probing attacks, but from here on out, there was a strong possibility they would seriously commit to eliminating us.

That was precisely why I was doing this, interacting with the common elves. Elves should be countered with elves. The goal of this exchange was to bring as many elves as possible onto our side. I absolutely wanted to avoid fighting the elves with only the Liseben army.

…Even if these efforts bore no fruit, facing acquaintances might at least dull the hand that swung the sword.

“The rebels are a downright pack of scoundrels. You being a man and all, you shouldn’t go near them.”

“That’s right. Those rotten lot would think nothing of poisoning you and forcing themselves on you.”

The elves said this with knowing looks.

I don’t think you guys are exactly in a position to talk about scoundrels…

Of course, I didn’t say that out loud. I just shrugged with an ambiguous smile.

“Well, it’s my job.”

If anything, the ones who had tried to forcibly violate me in the Legitimate hidden village were New-faction elf soldiers. If we’re talking danger, the New faction was overwhelmingly worse. That said, it wasn’t like I could afford to let my guard down entirely around the Legitimate side either.

“Al-sama’s safety will be protected by me. There is no need for you to worry.”

Sonia said this while casting a brief glance at the elves. She had joined the swordsmanship exchange midway through, so the elves already knew she was no ordinary knight. Quite a few of them nodded, saying, “That’s true.”

“Even so, there’s a saying about being outnumbered. No doubt Sonia-don is an extraordinary warrior, but there’s no harm in staying cautious.”

“Yeah. Especially those rebel flamethrower troops. They’re seriously nasty. Even us battle-hardened folks struggle with them.”

“Not just our hands they burn—our fields too!”

“You got that right! Gwahahaha!”

The elves burst into loud laughter. Was that really something to joke about?

“When a man heads into danger, a woman who just watches him go ain’t worth much. You all understand that, right?”

“Yeah! Leave it to us! Albert-don, when you head to the rebels’ nest, take us along too. Dying for a man is the flower of elfhood. If it comes to it, we’ll bet our lives to protect you!”

“Good idea! Count me in too!”

The elves began making these claims, raising their spoons like swords.

Hey, don’t get all fired up on your own! If we’re talking about dangerous places, this village is way more dangerous right now!

Naturally, there was no way I could take these people along to the Legitimate settlement. If I did, it felt like they’d start a war over some flimsy excuse without hesitation.

“N-now, now, calm down. If you get too caught up talking, the food will get cold. Since it’s a meal prepared especially for you, please enjoy it while it’s hot.”

“That’s true. Let’s gratefully dig in.”

“Disrespecting a feast like this would get you chest-stabbed by the Waste-Not Mantis.”

What the hell is a Waste-Not Mantis? Some kind of offshoot of a waste-not ghost?

“……”

When I tilted my head in confusion, Sonia discreetly gave me a thumbs-up. Apparently, she wanted to say the appeasement strategy had been a great success.

Well… I don’t think they dislike me, at least… But does this really count as successful appeasement…?

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