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 68, 69 & 70

Chapter 68: I Never Thought Making a Request Would Be This Embarrassing

I made them, sure… but then I had to face the real problem.

Who was I supposed to ask to try them on?

After agonizing over it for a while, I finally gathered my courage and stepped outside.

I checked the opening of my bag again. And again.

For some reason, it felt like the contents might burst out on their own and expose me to the world.

The improved athletic bra.

I was supposed to have a woman test it and give me feedback.

The objective was perfectly reasonable. Completely legitimate.

So why did the bag feel unbearably heavy?

Mentally, this was torture.

♢

The Adventurers’ Guild was loud the moment I pushed the door open.

Well-groomed beastfolk dashed across the floor.

Tails knocked into chairs, making them rattle. Someone almost tripped. Someone laughed. Someone barked.

Adventurers of every race moved through the hall.

And there—inside the tavern area—I spotted Nagi.

She wore her usual traditional outfit, her Oni-folk horns rising proudly from her head. Her long black hair was neatly tied behind her back, and she sat upright with her calm, dignified posture.

Suddenly, she looked up.

Our eyes met.

“Hort…!”

Just hearing her call my name made my chest feel strangely lighter.

I cleared my throat and forced myself to act normal.

“Sorry for dropping by so suddenly. Were you busy?”

“What are you saying? At this hour, we’re already done with work.”

“We were all eating together!”

Uru and Ramune chimed in, and Nagi turned back to me with a bright smile.

“I see. Actually… I have a favor to ask you, Nagi.”

“A favor…? Yes. If it’s something you’re asking, Hort, I’d be happy to.”

She answered instantly.

Without hesitation.

Her expression said she would see it through, no matter what it was. Straightforward. Honest. Almost dazzling.

And right there… I said what I needed to say.

“I want to talk with you. Just the two of us.”

“…Eh?”

Nagi’s face flushed red in an instant—right up to her ears.

“Wooo! Did Hort finally make up his mind?”

“Yayyy! I’m so happy for you!”

“Fufu, Hort. If you make Nagi cry, I won’t forgive you.”

With Zina joining in, the three of them began teasing us mercilessly.

“No, no, it’s not like that. It’s about work.”

“Work…?”

“What the heck, Hort? That’s boring!”

“That’s right!”

“Oh my.”

“It’s important! Let’s change locations.”

“O-Okay…!”

Nagi lowered her gaze to her feet for a moment… then straightened her back stiffly.

For some reason, Uru and Ramune were ruffling their own hair with both hands, as if they had just witnessed a tragic romance scene.

♢

When we stepped outside, the evening air felt slightly chilly.

And yet… Nagi’s cheeks were still red and almost seemed warm.

“It’s been a while since you helped at the orphanage, hasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve been doing well?”

“Of course. How about you, Hort?”

“I’ve had… a lot going on.”

Natasha came to mind without warning.

Her father. And the secret order to investigate the Third Knight Order.

I tried several times to say something.

Each time, I swallowed the words back down.

This wasn’t the place to talk about that.

“Anyway… tell me about you, Nagi.”

“Yes!”

I listened as Nagi spoke about her adventures.

Quest after quest, monster after monster—her eyes sparkled as she talked.

Before I realized it, we had arrived at the same inn where we once spent time together.

Apparently, Nagi was renting a room there now.

There was no strange meaning behind coming here.

None at all.

It simply had private rooms. And if I was going to ask for honest feedback, this was the best place.

That was all.

At least, that’s what I told myself as I walked there without hesitation.

Nagi followed half a step behind me.

After a while, her footsteps grew quieter.

Our strides stopped matching.

When I turned around, her face was bright red.

Inside the room, it was strangely quiet.

Nagi stopped near the entrance.

Her back was perfectly straight, but her breathing was slightly shallow.

I placed my bag on the table and finally got to the point.

“Nagi. I’m going to ask something strange. But it’s something I truly need.”

“Something… you need?”

Her voice was unusually small.

I opened the bag.

My hand trembled—just slightly—as I reached inside.

Honestly, I felt more nervous than when drawing my sword.

I swallowed and tried to speak as calmly as possible.

“Please… try this.”

What I placed on the table was a sports bra made of fabric.

No extra decorations. Simple in design. But I had chosen a color Nagi liked. The cloth was thin and soft, yet sewn to provide proper support through carefully placed stitching and bands.

In my mind, it was perfect.

At least in theory.

Since it was Nagi, I had a decent idea of her build, so the size should have been right.

The moment she saw it, she froze—as if she had stopped breathing.

Then, slowly, she looked up at me.

“…Hort. What… is this?”

“It’s an improved chest guard—well, no, it’s called a bra. Women’s underwear!”

The instant I said it out loud, embarrassment crashed over me.

I could feel my face burning.

I looked away and rushed through the explanation.

“Actually, the military is developing women’s undergarments, and I’m helping with it. But I don’t have many female acquaintances. And since this one is specifically for movement—it’s meant so it won’t hurt when running, won’t shift out of place, and won’t cause chafing from sweat. I thought carefully about all of that while making it. So I want you, as an adventurer, to wear it and tell me what you think!”

Somehow, I managed to get it all out in one breath.

“…Wear it.”

Nagi’s cheeks turned even redder.

Only then did I realize something was off.

“Ah, no! Don’t misunderstand! I don’t mean I want to see you wearing it or anything like that! I just want your opinion!”

“…Want to see…?”

Nagi’s face turned completely red—right up to her ears. She looked like she might start steaming.

I wanted to grab my head.

Every word coming out of my mouth felt like stepping on a landmine.

My sister’s voice echoed in my head.

—”Don’t give a direct answer. Don’t evaluate. Don’t say unnecessary things.”

And yet here I was, saying nothing but unnecessary things.

“Um… Nagi. Please. If you don’t like it, you can refuse. Really. Even if you say no, I won’t complain. So…”

“I don’t dislike it.”

She answered immediately.

Still bright red—but completely straightforward.

“You made this… thinking about me, right?”

“…Yeah. I made it with you in mind.”

“Then I’m happy. I’ll try it.”

The word happy hit me harder than anything else.

Relief washed over me, and I let out a long breath.

“Thank you. Then I’ll step outside. Try it on, and if it feels tight or shifts or anything like that—”

“Hort.”

Nagi stopped me.

I turned back.

She looked away for a moment, her fists clenched. Then she finally met my eyes.

“…You can stay in the room. If you want.”

The rest of her words didn’t come.

“Ah.”

A completely pathetic sound slipped out of my mouth.

“No, that’s definitely not a good idea!! Nagi, you’re beautiful and you’re a young woman! I only came here because the topic is strange and we needed a private place!”

“…Yes. Fufu, Hort is panicking.”

Nagi let out a soft laugh.

Was she teasing me?

“Actually… I usually wrap a sarashi.”

“Sarashi?”

As she spoke, Nagi loosened her outer robe slightly, revealing the cloth wrapped firmly around her chest.

“Nagi!”

“It’s fine. Only my shoulders are bare.”

“No, but still—”

“I’ll remove this and try on the bra.”

“Ah… okay.”

“Please wait a moment.”

With that, she slipped behind a fabric partition.

I had been standing there blankly, but then hurried out into the hallway.

My heart was pounding so loudly it felt absurd.

I leaned against the corridor wall and slowly slid down until I was sitting on the floor.

This might be harder than modifying a sword.

I looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath.

Then another.

I forced myself to calm down.

♢

After a while, Nagi called out to me.

“Hort, you can come in.”

“Alright.”

When I opened the door, Nagi was standing there in her usual robe.

But… her chest looked fuller than before.

The pressure of the sarashi was gone.

“How is it?”

“It doesn’t feel bad. The usual wrapping is a bit tight, but this isn’t uncomfortable. I haven’t tried moving in it yet, so I can’t say for sure.”

“I see.”

For some reason, being alone in the room with Nagi now felt unbearably embarrassing.

I had no idea what to say next.

“Um… is it okay if I wear this on adventures?”

“Yeah! Of course. I’ll come see you again, so… can I hear the rest of your thoughts then?”

“Yes!”

Nagi smiled brightly.

For some reason, I felt like I’d done something terribly wrong… but seeing her look that happy didn’t feel bad at all.

“Um… since Hort made this for me, it gives me a strong sense of comfort.”

“Comfort?”

“Yes! I can tell you made it carefully. And… it feels like I’m being wrapped in Hort’s hands.”

Wearing the bra, Nagi lightly hugged herself, looking genuinely happy.

That only made it worse for me.

My face burned even hotter.

“Ah—well. I’ll make more, so tell me every little problem you find.”

“Yes! I’ll give you proper feedback!”

“Thanks.”

I thanked Nagi and hurried out of the inn, practically fleeing from my own embarrassment.

Chapter 69: It Had Been a While Since I Saw the Commander… and She Was Strict

When I gave Nagi the bra, I made it in a standard size with adjustable straps so it could fit different body types.

Nagi herself was slim. With the sarashi on, her chest hadn’t looked that noticeable—but once she removed it, it was honestly quite impressive. Even so, the adjustments worked, and I was able to fit it properly.

The fabric and bands were all designed with movement in mind—light, thin, soft.

Even with minimal reinforcement, it functioned well enough.

The real problem… was next.

Commander Adelheid of the Second Knight Order.

Even in full armor, it couldn’t be hidden. Wouldn’t be hidden. Just being in your field of vision was overwhelming.

By rough estimate, each side looked like it could weigh over a kilogram. I had never measured them. Obviously. There was no way I could. But I had blocked her sword countless times. I had seen them move when she ran. When she swung her blade, they moved. When she rode a horse, they moved.

In other words, if we were talking about what Captain Brigitte had called a “daily life problem,” she was the one most affected.

And as the head of the Second Knight Order, Commander Adelheid was always in the spotlight.

Equipment that restricted movement was unacceptable.

Chafing from sweat? Unacceptable.

Trapped heat and humidity? Unacceptable.

Uneven bulk pressing against armor? Also unacceptable.

I shut myself in my room and spread out the fabric.

A soft inner lining was non-negotiable.

It had to absorb sweat, protect the skin, and prevent irritation.

The real issue was support.

After seeing Nagi wear it, I realized something. For slim or average-sized women, you could treat it as just another part of the body. My previous design had been more than enough.

But for someone like Commander Adelheid… that approach wouldn’t work.

At this rate, it would lose against Commander Adelheid’s weight.

Thin fabric was light. But its elasticity would be overwhelmed, warp the shape, even tear under pressure.

So should I just make the fabric thicker and stiffer?

No. That would ruin airflow. It would trap heat.

It would rub. It would hurt. It would feel bulky under armor.

Then there was only one option—change where the support came from.

Don’t harden the chest itself.

Lift it from underneath. Support it from below.

Heavy objects are most stable when supported from the bottom.

I took out the woven bands.

Strong. Hard to stretch. Still fabric—not cold like leather, not rigid like metal.

I doubled the bands.

With just one, it would dig into the skin and slip out of place.

It wouldn’t withstand Commander Adelheid’s weight.

So I crossed the bands at the back. Then crossed them again beneath the chest, creating a double support structure. Lift from the back and from underneath.

On top of that, I enlarged the fabric cups—enough to fully contain everything—and widened the shoulder straps.

If they were too thin, they would bite into the shoulders. So I gave them proper width.

Since the focus was on lifting and holding firmly, there wasn’t much room for size adjustments.

To preserve ventilation, I reinforced only the lower section of the fabric, giving it enough tension to handle the weight without suffocating the rest.

Whether under formal wear or armor, it would maintain clean lines.

And even if part of it showed, it would look like proper equipment—not just underwear.

I unpicked the seams again and again.

Changed the angle of the bands. Redid them.

Moved the clasps. Redid them.

Before I knew it, dawn had broken.

Surrounded by piles of fabric and a sea of loose threads, I finally arrived at one finished form.

♢

A bra designed to properly support even women with a large chest.

I sacrificed a bit of lightness. Instead, I prioritized breathability and stability.

It had to prevent pain—and hold everything firmly in place.

By evening, I headed to the Second Knight Order’s office. The knights greeted me with smiles. Unlike the Third Knight Order, this place actually felt welcoming. It was… comfortable.

Careful not to interrupt their work, I asked for permission to enter the commander’s office.

After knocking, I stepped inside. The room was neatly organized—different from when I used to be here.

The moment Commander Adelheid looked up, my back straightened automatically.

I adjusted the bag in my hands and spoke.

“H-Hort! Why are you here?!”

“It’s been a while, Commander Adelheid. May I have a moment of your time?”

“…State your business! You always appear without warning!”

She looked like she was fuming… but perhaps not entirely. She kept glancing at my face, as if checking my expression.

I placed the bag on the edge of her desk. Compared to when I asked Nagi, I felt much calmer taking out the contents.

Second time doing this. My embarrassment had dulled slightly.

More importantly, this was Captain Brigitte’s project—official Knight Order work.

“As a new type of protective gear for female knights… We’ve created undergarments. Would you be willing to try one and give me your thoughts?”

“…What?”

The air froze.

Commander Adelheid’s eyebrow twitched—just slightly.

“What are you trying to—?!”

“It won’t interfere under armor. Think of it as an inner layer. It’s less likely to trap heat. Less likely to chafe. The structure supports from beneath the chest. I doubled the woven bands to distribute the weight. I widened the shoulder straps as well, so the load doesn’t press into one point. I put a great deal of thought into it.”

“Wait!”

Commander Adelheid suddenly raised her voice.

“…What exactly are you talking about right now?!”

She stood up from her chair. She was tall.

“What are you trying to hand to me, you bastard?!”

She was clearly angry… and yet her face was bright red with embarrassment.

She really hadn’t changed. Honest. Stubborn. And strangely cute.

“It’s actually a prototype from Captain Brigitte Bram of the Third Knight Order’s Ninth Unit. I thought you, Commander Adelheid, could test it in real combat and training. I mean… it hurts, doesn’t it?”

The moment I pointed—

The world flashed white.

Smack!

The sound rang out. My vision shook.

The next thing I knew, I was on the floor. My cheek burned. It throbbed.

“Where exactly are you looking, you fool?!”

“…”

I had been slapped.

“Hmph! You have absolutely no delicacy! I am a woman, you know!”

Commander Adelheid glared down at me, her face as red as ever.

I’d taken her fists plenty of times during training.

But that just now?

That might have been the fastest strike yet.

I thought I’d grown stronger after training with Commander Snake.

Apparently… that was just my imagination.

“What do you think you know about me?!”

“Know…? I mean… it’s hard not to notice… I’ve been seeing it for three months.”

“Wha—?!”

A second slap felt dangerously close, so I immediately shut my mouth.

Commander Adelheid looked down at what I had placed on her desk.

For just a second—only a second—her gaze lingered.

It wasn’t just anger in her eyes.

There was confusion. Caution. And… something like hesitation.

“…Brigitte Bram. That dwarven master made this?”

“Master?”

“You don’t know? She holds the highest rank among the kingdom’s blacksmiths.”

At her question, I answered honestly.

“I didn’t know. I was simply asked to help.”

“Help? With this?”

“Yes. Captain Brigitte created the base design. But I judged that it wouldn’t work as it was, so I redesigned it and made this one from scratch. The structure is meant to support your chest, Commander Adelheid. Not squeeze it painfully. I made it with you in mind!”

I pushed myself up from the floor as I said it.

Just the necessary things. Nothing extra.

“So that when you fight, it won’t get in your way… that’s all. I’m sorry. If this offends you, I’ll take it back.”

Commander Adelheid remained silent for a while.

Then she lifted the bra lightly, as if testing it.

The double woven bands didn’t stretch easily. The stitching didn’t loosen.

It held its shape.

“…Whether I test it or not is for me to decide.”

“That’s fine?”

“I haven’t said I’ll wear it yet!”

She turned her face away, so I couldn’t see her expression—but she was clearly examining it properly.

“I’ll send my thoughts in a written report. And if you tell anyone about today… next time, I’ll cut you down.”

“Understood!!!”

I nodded with everything I had.

“Leave for today!”

“Yes ma’am!”

My cheek still hurt.

But she had accepted it.

That alone made me happy.

It hadn’t gone as smoothly as with Nagi… but I had managed to give it to the person who needed it most.

When Captain Brigitte first mentioned this project, the very first face that came to mind—

was Commander Adelheid’s.

Chapter 70: Women Who Fell into the Swamp (7)

Side: Nagi

Hort relied on me.

And he even made something while thinking about me.

Just that alone made my heart pound with happiness.

Even after locking the inn room door, I stood there for a while, unable to move.

My chest wouldn’t calm down.

Happiness came first.

Embarrassment followed close behind.

The two feelings tangled deep in my throat, and I couldn’t even make a sound.

I gently touched the fabric resting on the table with my fingertips.

The thing Hort made for me was very soft and thin.

But it didn’t feel fragile.

The stitching was neat, and the bands were placed with clear intention.

…Hort truly thought about Nagi while making this.

My cheeks warmed.

I removed my outer robe, unwrapped the cloth binding, and held the bra against myself.

It felt different from a sarashi.

For some reason, it made me feel shy.

The band beneath my chest supported me softly. It wasn’t tight or painful.

The sarashi I had worn until now was always tight. Being squeezed had been normal, so I never thought much about it.

And yet… this one was gentle.

Just like Hort.

Gentle—but still firm and reliable.

I looked into the mirror, then quickly took it off.

And then put it back on.

Took it off again. Put it on again.

Over and over.

There was no reason for it. But I couldn’t stop.

Every time I put it on, it felt like “Hort” was closer to Nagi.

Every time I took it off, it felt a little lonely.

At some point, I didn’t even understand what I was doing anymore. I hugged the fabric to my chest and slowly sank down to sit on the floor.

…It makes me happy.

For a moment, I almost leaned in to breathe in its scent—then quickly shook my head.

That would be strange.

But even if it’s strange… that’s fine.

Because I received it.

From Hort.

For Nagi alone.

♢

The next day.

While getting ready for my adventure, I hesitated.

My hand reached for the sarashi… then stopped.

My hand reached for the bra… then stopped.

If I was heading out with Uru and the others, wearing what I was used to would be safer.

The sarashi felt lighter on my body.

But I picked up the bra.

I had promised to test what Hort made.

That was the only reason.

And yet, my heart gave a small leap.

It felt like I was going on this adventure together with Hort.

Like he was protecting me.

I put it on, slipped into my robe, and rolled my shoulders in front of the mirror.

It wasn’t tight.

Even when I moved, the bands didn’t shift.

The support beneath my chest was steady.

But when I took a step, there was a slight bounce—

and I could feel it myself.

“…Ah.”

When I wore a sarashi, nothing moved.

Because it didn’t move, fighting felt easier.

But when it moves, I notice it.

And when I notice it, my focus slips.

“Oh? What’s this? You feel a bit different today.”

“Nagi’s boobs look bigger!”

“Oh my, you’re not wearing a sarashi today?”

Uru looked amused.

Ramune’s eyes drifted straight to my chest.

Zina simply smiled knowingly.

The three of them were always like this.

“I’m not wearing it today. I’m testing different equipment.”

“Whatever works. Let’s go.”

We headed into the forest for our adventure.

Jumping over ledges.

Swinging weapons.

It wasn’t tight. It didn’t hurt. It didn’t rub.

But my chest moved.

Every time it moved, my mind whispered, This is distracting.

And for some reason, I felt annoyed at myself for thinking that.

It didn’t actually affect my movements.

But the sarashi had been easier to ignore.

By evening, back at the inn, I retied the cord of my robe.

…Maybe I shouldn’t wear this for adventures.

The moment I thought that, I felt a little sad.

But I still wanted to wear it when I sleep.

Or when I meet Hort.

I want to wear the thing he made—especially in front of him.

Just thinking that made my chest feel warm.

Not for fighting.

But for comfort.

I gave a small nod to my reflection in the mirror.

“I’ll tell him properly!”

Until I see Hort again, I’ll wear this when I sleep.

Even while resting, it feels like I’m being gently held by him.

♢

Side: Adelheid von Graetz

The moment Hort was kicked out and the door shut, my eyes fell on the thing sitting on my desk.

Before I realized it, my fingers were already moving.

When I lifted it, it was lighter than I expected.

The bands were strong. The stitching was neat and firm.

…Hort made this for me.

He’s always been skilled with his hands. Back when he helped in this very room, he was good at organizing paperwork, good at brewing tea, and—annoyingly—good at guiding me when I lost my temper.

In that sense… this was very like him.

My cheeks felt warm. Not from anger.

He had been looking at my chest. That part was embarrassing. But he must have noticed how much it restricted my movement.

If he was thinking about me, then… what a troublesome man.

My chest felt strangely ticklish.

With this… could I fight more easily?

With this… could I move more freely?

He must have believed I needed it. That’s why he brought it.

I understood that.

But embarrassment overtook reason, and I slapped him.

How pathetic of me. I was happy—and flustered.

After making sure no one was nearby, I removed my jacket.

If I tried it on now, no one would see.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, I felt as if I had already lost.

“…Hmph. I can’t just waste something he made for me. This is only out of necessity, understand!”

Even when I said it aloud, the room remained silent. No one answered.

There was even a neatly written instruction sheet explaining how to wear it.

First, put it on. Cross the bands at the back. Let the lower bands catch and support from beneath the chest.

The straps around the shoulders were soft. They didn’t dig in.

Normally, I forced everything down with my armor. That made breathing tight and restricted my movement.

But this wasn’t tight.

Even after putting chainmail over it, nothing was painfully crushed.

It supported me without squeezing.

It lifted firmly, so I didn’t have to rely on my armor to press everything into place. Moving felt easier.

“This is… comfortable. …Hort really is impressive.”

My lips curved before I could stop them.

Standing in front of the mirror, wearing the bra Hort made, I examined myself.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

Even after leaving this Order, he was still thinking about me.

That made me happy.

(…I’ll write the report strictly. Absolutely.)

If he wants to look so badly, I could show him as much as he wants—when we’re alone.

There was a knock.

Then the door opened.

I quickly threw on my blouse.

“Commander, I’ve brought tomorrow’s documents.”

It was one of the female knights from the Second Knight Order.

By reflex, I straightened my back. My face went calm. My voice turned cold.

“What is it!”

Was that too loud?

“…Commander. Did something good happen?”

“Hah?”

“No, it’s just… you seem to be in a good mood.”

“You’re mistaken!”

Immediate answer.

Immediate decision.

Immediate rejection.

I grabbed the documents on my desk and lowered my gaze.

My heartbeat was far too loud.

“Commander. I heard someone from the Third Knight Order came to visit earlier?”

Her calm tone only made it worse.

“…I don’t know.”

“It was Hort, wasn’t it?”

The moment his name was spoken, my whole body heated up.

I could feel it myself. Even my ears were burning.

“N-No! That was official business!”

“Yes. I’m aware.”

My secretary was smiling.

“But, Commander.”

“What!”

“The atmosphere in this room feels a little… sweet.”

“You—!”

“I’m glad he came to see you. You often mutter about wondering what he’s doing.”

Her words left me speechless.

“I-I-I do not!”

“You do. Whenever you’re deep in thought, it’s usually about Hort.”

“Wha—?!”

“In any case, I’ll leave the documents here. Excuse me.”

She bowed politely, placed the papers down, and quietly left.

The door closed.

The room returned to silence.

I felt like I might die from embarrassment.

“This is all… Hort’s fault. It’s your fault for not standing beside me.”

It was all his fault.

Suddenly, I became aware again of the firm support beneath my chest—the band holding me up.

That sensation was annoyingly comforting.

“Hort, you idiot.”