My Childhood Friend Told Me to Go Marry the Most Beautiful Woman in the Kingdom, So I Seriously Started Improving Myself—and Somehow Ended Up Making Women Fall Hard - Chapter 30 & 31

Chapter 30: Nagi’s Battle

Before heading to the Adventurers’ Guild, I started by fixing Nagi’s clothes and equipment.

“I would’ve been fine wearing big brother’s clothes.”

Her body had grown, so she had nothing to wear, and just like the first day, I’d lent her one of my shirts.

“Just a shirt isn’t going to cut it.”

We went to a clothing shop and bought some fabric.

Nagi took the Eastern-style hakama she’d brought with her and altered it herself, then fixed her outerwear and wore it like a haori. Underneath, she wore my shirt, and she made underwear from the fabric we bought.

The morning passed in a rush like that, and in the afternoon, we headed for the Adventurers’ Guild.

The way she looked when we left the inn was something you’d never see in this kingdom.

It felt mysterious—beautiful in an otherworldly way.

Just like that, we made our way to the guild.

When we went to the clothing shop, I’d already told Uru and the others that we’d be late meeting up.

When we finally joined them, Uru froze first.

No—more accurately, she wasn’t the only one.

Ramune’s eyes went wide, and Zina’s eyebrow lifted just slightly.

And there, at the end of their gaze, stood Nagi—now grown into a slender beauty with long black hair.

“H-Hey… Hort.”

Uru whispered to me, her throat tightening.

“…What the hell did you do last night?”

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Then why?! Why did Nagi suddenly get so big?!”

Her choice of words was awful.

Nagi blushed bright red and hurriedly covered her chest with both hands.

“Nagi doesn’t really understand either… I fell asleep thinking about big brother, and when I woke up, I was like this.”

“Thinking about Hort… I see.”

“You’re satisfied with that explanation?!”

“…Fee is surprised too.”

Ramune looked to her fish spirit for agreement.

Fee splashed softly, scattering a few droplets.

Zina spoke in a calm voice.

“It might be a sign of an oni-folk coming of age. I’m not completely sure, though.”

“A sign?”

“I’ve heard their bodies can grow all at once.”

Elves were said to live long lives and carry vast knowledge.

Zina, with her composed demeanor, seemed to know quite a lot herself.

Nagi nodded slightly.

“Mom said this too… if certain conditions are met, you get an adult body.”

“Conditions, huh…”

Uru glared straight at me.

Stop it. Don’t look at me. I didn’t do anything.

I cleared my throat and changed the subject.

“…Today, we’re taking a request together. I told you yesterday. All five of us.”

“That’s right.”

Zina smiled softly.

Uru still looked unconvinced, but in the end, she spat out one last line.

“…Fine. Prove it on the job. If you’re just big and useless, we don’t need you.”

“Yes!”

Nagi answered instantly.

That reply was far stronger than yesterday.

It felt reassuring.

♢

The request was rated medium danger.

According to the report, a group of fallen bandit goblins had appeared past an animal trail, mixed in with an orc that had iron-like skin.

The scent of the forest was thick.

The branches were damp.

Footsteps were swallowed by the ground.

Zina moved ahead and raised two fingers.

“Front. Five. …One big one further back.”

“An orc?”

Uru drew her sword.

“I’ll charge in. Ramune, support. Zina, keep a clear firing line.”

“Understood.”

“Got it!”

I looked at Nagi.

“Nagi, breathe. And don’t push yourself.”

“Yes. But… today, I want to show you.”

Show me.

Those words pierced my chest.

Results. Becoming an adult. Her own worth.

I still didn’t know everything Nagi carried on her shoulders.

But I understood her eyes right now.

I nodded.

“…Don’t overdo it.”

The first to leap forward was Uru.

“I’m going!”

The beastkin’s muscles coiled, and her sword roared through the air.

At the same time, Ramune swung her staff.

“Mist!”

A thin fog rose.

It didn’t completely block vision, but it threw off distance and timing.

The goblins’ charge lagged by just a beat.

Two arrows flew from Zina.

One hit a leg. The other struck a hand, knocking a weapon away.

As the goblins hesitated under the pressure, Nagi stepped forward.

Her footwork was different.

Calm and steady, her center of gravity low.

Her breathing was quiet.

The sword style was something I’d never seen before.

Even the slightly curved blade was unfamiliar.

The motion of drawing her sword from the sheath was clean—no wasted movement.

The moment she drew it, the air itself seemed to change.

Small and slender, Nagi faced the goblin with her thin blade.

The goblin must have thought she was easy prey.

Nagi struck once.

Not straight—diagonal, cutting from the collarbone to the shoulder.

She didn’t drive the blade deep.

She cut only what was needed.

That alone stopped its movement.

“…Next.”

Her voice was calm.

The goblin was already down.

Inazuma guarded Nagi’s back and snapped a weak spark, setting the goblin ablaze.

A thin bolt of lightning struck, and the second goblin fell.

Uru let out a whistle.

“Heh… not bad at all.”

“Nagi, that was amazing…!”

Ramune’s eyes sparkled.

Zina nodded quietly.

“Your sword handling is clean. Eastern-style swordsmanship.”

Nagi wasn’t even out of breath.

She stood straight, eyes already on the next enemy.

Seeing her like this—healthy, properly fed, and full of energy—I felt something warm rise deep in my chest.

She was probably strong enough to travel on her own from the start.

It wasn’t her strength that was lacking.

It was her confidence.

The last enemy, the orc, raised its club.

Uru took the hit—blocked it—and redirected the force aside.

Zina’s arrow aimed for the eye. It missed. The bones were too hard.

Ramune shouted.

“Freeze!”

The ground iced over, and the orc’s feet slipped.

In that instant, Nagi moved in.

She didn’t clash head-on.

She placed her blade at an angle.

She severed the muscle in the orc’s arm, forcing it to drop the club.

Nagi stepped back, and Inazuma flicked its tail.

Crackle.

Nagi spoke.

“…Here I go.”

The lightning wasn’t large.

It was a single, decisive strike.

“Violet Flash.”

In a burst of speed, Nagi shot through the orc like a bolt of lightning.

The orc dropped to its knees and collapsed.

It was over. Silence returned to the forest.

Uru rested her sword on her shoulder and laughed.

I’d barely had anything to do at all.

“Big brother! How was it?”

“I saw everything, Nagi. You were really strong.”

“My body got bigger, so I can use moves I couldn’t before!”

Nagi’s face turned bright red.

Ramune let out a small laugh.

“It does matter. You’ve got more presence now.”

“Stop that!”

Ramune and Nagi were getting along well as friends.

Zina watched the two of them with a gentle smile.

The mood was good.

I took one slow breath, then spoke.

“…Uru.”

“Hm?”

“Zina. Ramune.”

“What is it?”

“Can I ask you to look after Nagi?”

The air around the three of them changed.

Nagi, who had been smiling, froze.

Uru frowned.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I—”

I had to say it.

If I stayed vague, Nagi would get hurt.

“I’m not an adventurer by trade. I’m actually a knight trainee.”

“…Huh?”

“I have another assignment coming. I can’t stay with her forever.”

Nagi’s eyes wavered.

She had asked me to stay by her side.

But these three were people I could trust with her.

The fear I’d always known became real in that moment.

Even so, I had to say it now.

“If Nagi is going to live as an adventurer, she needs companions. Not me—but people who can stand beside her properly.”

Uru looked away, snorting awkwardly.

“…Well, yeah. To be honest, I’d already thought that if Nagi was a good kid, I wouldn’t mind taking her in as a companion.”

“Uru.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m annoyed that you’re leaving, sure. But Nagi is Nagi. If it’s her own decision, then fine.”

Zina nodded quietly.

“You don’t have to travel alone. You can make companions.”

“Ramune also… wants to be with Nagi.”

“Nagi, I—”

“I understand.”

Nagi bit her lip.

Then she slowly nodded.

“…Nagi accepts. I won’t be selfish.”

My chest hurt, just a little.

“I see.”

Nagi looked straight at me.

“But just for the last day… I want to go on an adventure with just the two of us.”

“…Just the two of us?”

“Yes. Big brother and Nagi alone.”

My chest tightened.

I hesitated for just a beat—then nodded.

“…Alright. It’s a promise.”

Nagi’s face brightened, just a little.

Inazuma barked softly.

Fee splashed happily.

The time until I part with Nagi was getting close.

Chapter 31: A Confession and…

During the three days before I headed out for my mission, the first day completely caught me off guard by Nagi’s growth.

After that, we spent our time adventuring with Uru and the others, returning to the inn, eating together—and at night, Nagi stayed at the inn where Uru and the others were lodging.

There was no way I could sleep in the same bed with Nagi after she’d grown like that.

“Why not? Nagi doesn’t mind at all!”

“I mind!”

“Muu… okay then.”

The second day’s subjugation request involved a small group.

The escort job was short-range.

Material gathering was along the edge of the wetlands.

None of them were flashy, but taken together, they were perfect for steadily building up Nagi’s control.

Nagi stepped forward.

She drew her blade.

She steadied her breathing.

Inazuma crackled softly on her shoulder.

The lightning didn’t run wild or grow thick.

It stayed thin and straight, burning only what was needed—then stopping.

At the end of those two days, I left Nagi in Uru and the others’ care again for the second night.

Nagi looked uneasy, so I offered a few words of reassurance.

“It’ll be fine. Uru has a foul mouth, but when it matters, she protects people.”

“I admit my mouth’s foul, but you don’t get to say that!”

“Yeah, yeah—my bad.”

Uru laughed, raising her cup.

“Don’t go shooting lightning before bed, horned kid.”

“I’m not a horned kid!”

Ramune hugged Fee and spoke sleepily.

“Nagi, tomorrow you and big brother go adventuring alone. Do your best.”

“Yes…”

Zina nodded quietly.

“It’s alright. We’ll be waiting for you to come back.”

Nagi’s fingers almost grabbed my sleeve—then stopped.

She swallowed her words, her face tightening.

I made sure not to be too gentle and kept it short.

“Good night, Nagi.”

“…Good night.”

That voice lingered deep in my chest.

♢

On the final morning, we met up at the guild.

In the end, we really did spend the whole break at the same inn.

Nagi stood straight in front of the request board.

A Japanese-style haori. Hakama. Sword. Horns. Spirit.

She wasn’t a girl who needed protecting anymore.

But I was the only one who knew—

No matter how strong she became, inside she was still a girl.

She’d simply learned how to hide it and stand at the front.

“Pick one.”

When I said that, Nagi took a request without hesitation.

[Subjugation: Monster Pack (Medium Danger) / Forest Edge]

It wasn’t a flashy or overwhelming enemy.

She’d chosen something she could defeat cleanly, without losing control.

“…Let’s go.”

“Yeah. Good choice.”

“Big brother, Nagi will protect you.”

“That’s reassuring.”

The two of us entered the forest.

The scent of damp earth hung in the air.

The shadows of the trees were deep.

Sounds were swallowed.

We could only hear our own footsteps—

And yet, I felt more at ease than ever before.

Nagi moved ahead.

I stayed half a step behind.

I didn’t stand in front.

I let her carry the weight.

This was the two of us adventuring.

Not a fight to protect her—

But a fight to see if she could move forward with her companions from now on.

Zina wasn’t here. Uru wasn’t here. Ramune wasn’t here.

Even so, Nagi focused fully on protecting me.

Her breathing was deep.

Her hand settled naturally on the sword’s hilt.

Inazuma let out a small cry.

“Woof!”

“…They’re coming.”

A low growl. Leaves rustled.

Three monkey-type monsters appeared—and deeper in, one more, much larger than the rest.

“I’ll leave the front to you. I’ll move to the side.”

“Yes.”

Nagi stepped in.

Her blade flashed.

With the first strike, she cut down one of the monkeys.

With the next, she severed the second one’s throat.

Her swordplay was beautiful.

It almost looked like a dance.

If Commander Adelheid was a single, unbreakable sword, then Nagi was a refined blade—beautiful as it cut enemies down.

Her breathing and her blade moved as one.

Inazuma snapped softly.

Purple sparks ran out, scorching the leg of another monkey.

They were working together properly—true partners.

I knocked aside the monkey trying to flank us and led it toward a tree root, stealing its footing.

“Wind.”

A weak gust kicked up dust, shaking its vision.

The boss monkey had thick fangs.

Its charge was fast.

Nagi let out a breath.

“…Here I go.”

She stepped forward. I moved diagonally behind her.

The moment the boss leaped, Nagi didn’t dodge.

She didn’t block either. She placed the blade.

Drew it.

Then—lightning.

“Violet Flash.”

“Waooon!”

Inazuma cried out.

The boss monkey was pierced by lightning, its body freezing mid-motion.

That’s when Nagi’s final strike landed.

She was strong. Nagi had truly become strong.

The forest grew quiet.

Nagi’s shoulders rose and fell as she caught her breath.

“…It’s over.”

“Yeah. It’s over. You’re really strong. And it was beautiful.”

“Beautiful?”

“Yeah. It was like watching a dance.”

“I’m happy. The sword is a dance. Our clan’s sword dance can be used by Nagi now too.”

I sheathed my sword.

Warmth spread deep in my chest.

“You’ve really grown, Nagi.”

“I haven’t!”

The reply came instantly.

Her voice was shaking.

“Huh?”

“I haven’t grown… I couldn’t have made it this far on my own.”

Nagi slid her blade back into its sheath.

Her voice trembled as she spoke.

“It hurts when you’re not here! I like you, big brother!”

The air froze.

The sounds of the forest vanished.

The words Nagi spoke echoed in my ears again and again.

Her face was bright red—right up to her ears.

Even the tips of her horns faintly glowed.

Inazuma let out a small cry and placed a paw against Nagi, as if telling her to calm down.

I closed my eyes…

Somewhere deep down, I’d been pretending not to notice her feelings.

If she hadn’t said it out loud, I don’t think I ever would have spoken about it myself.

“…I’m sorry. I can’t answer Nagi’s feelings.”

“Why?! Is Nagi not good enough?”

A long black-haired oni-folk beauty.

Honestly, she had the looks to be called one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom.

But—

“That’s not it!”

My voice came out stronger than I meant it to.

Nagi’s eyes wavered.

I let out a breath and carefully chose my words.

“It’s not that Nagi isn’t good enough. …It’s that I don’t have an answer yet. I’m sorry.”

Nagi’s brows drew together.

“An answer…?”

“Yeah.”

I lowered my gaze.

The past weighed heavily in my chest.

Rina’s face surfaced in my mind.

No matter what, it had become a scar I couldn’t ignore.

“There was someone I loved.”

“Big brother’s… someone you liked?”

“Yeah. I was kind to her. I gave her everything. But she chose someone else, and I was rejected.”

Nagi sucked in a breath.

I was telling a pretty pathetic story.

No matter how I explained it, this was my own feeling—

She might not fully understand it.

Even so, I didn’t want to be dishonest with Nagi.

I didn’t want to become someone who dated just anyone because it was convenient.

I didn’t dislike the Nagi who had confessed to me.

“I stayed by her side. I trusted her. I gave her everything… and still, I wasn’t chosen. I think my own actions were part of the problem too. But I never want to make that mistake again.”

I was a weak man, dragging his past along.

I had no confidence in myself.

There was something I had to say to Nagi, who had been brave enough to share her feelings.

“That’s why, right now, I’m rethinking who I am. I want to train myself again and find my answer.”

Nagi’s lips trembled.

“…Rethinking?”

“Yeah. I’m searching for what ‘liking’ really means to me. I’ve set a goal—to marry the most beautiful woman in the kingdom—and I’m polishing myself toward that.”

Nagi’s eyes wavered.

“The most beautiful woman in the kingdom… who is that?”

“I don’t know yet. But I decided I’ll be the one to choose. Not being led by someone else, and not waiting for someone to choose me. I want to choose for myself. Nagi’s feelings make me happy. But right now, I don’t have an answer where I choose Nagi. So… I’m sorry.”

Silence fell between us.

Nagi’s fist clenched tight.

She looked straight at me—eyes that didn’t run away—and spoke.

“…Please tell me… big brother, Hort. How do you see Nagi?”

“I see you as a beautiful woman. When you were younger, I wanted to protect you. But the Nagi now… I think you’re unbelievably beautiful and strong.”

“Then I’ll wait.”

“…Huh?”

“Until big brother chooses, Nagi will polish herself so she can be chosen. I won’t lose to anyone! Not to Commander Adelheid, and not to the woman you loved in the past.”

My chest hurt.

It hurt—but somehow, Nagi’s straightforward words saved me.

“I’m sorry. And thank you.”

Inazuma snapped, scattering a small spark.

For a while, silence flowed between the two of us.

Being told “I like you” by a girl for the first time made me painfully aware of Nagi.

Nagi slowly stepped closer—and jumped into my chest.

I couldn’t push her away.

“Big brother, Nagi had her life saved—and her heart saved too. That’s why I came to like you. Please don’t ever forget that.”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

It was a happy moment.

Even though it was something truly precious, saying words of refusal made my chest feel like it was about to tear apart.

Still—

If Nagi would wait until the day I found my answer, then when that time came…