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 77 & 78

Chapter 77: The Weight of What Was Lost (10)

Side: Rina Carhoi

Ever since the day Hort became a knight, my daily life changed in a strange way.

I started checking the newspaper more often.

It wasn’t because I suddenly cared about politics, the economy, or any of those grown-up reasons.

It was much simpler than that.

I kept wondering when and where his name might appear…

And if it did appear, I’d get irritated.

If it didn’t, I’d feel relieved.

I didn’t understand it. My mood wasn’t even under my own control anymore.

In the morning, I bit into a piece of bread and spread the newspaper open.

Front page—military movements. Royal capital ceremonies. Noble gossip.

…Nothing.

I hated how relieved I almost felt, so I flipped the page harder than necessary.

Next page.

And the moment that headline leapt into my view, the bread slipped from my hand.

[A New Chapter in Women’s Innerwear Innovation!]

A beautiful woman, practically naked, was printed boldly across the newspaper.

As a proper lady, this was absolutely unacceptable.

But it was a new type of underwear.

And the advertisement was displayed proudly, right there in the paper.

Honestly, that part didn’t matter.

“Huh?”

But when I read the details, my voice cracked. Beneath the headline was an overly passionate block of text.

A complete rethinking of the traditional corset’s tight restrictions—protecting a woman’s body while enhancing a more beautiful silhouette!

I was sure plenty of noble ladies would jump at a catchy line like that.

But I ignored the fluff and quickly scanned downward, searching only for what mattered.

Name: Brigitte Plum.

I’d heard that name somewhere before. She was supposed to be a master blacksmith in the kingdom.

And below that—

Concept / Designer: Hort Rubel.

My hand stopped.

“………”

I traced his name with my finger.

Traced it.

Looked once.

Looked twice.

Looked a third time.

And only then did it truly sink in.

“What is he doing!?”

I shouted without thinking and slammed the newspaper down on the table.

I thought he’d become a knight and make a name for himself.

And instead—he makes his debut to the world with underwear!?

“…Seriously… what is wrong with that idiot?”

My cheeks burned. I couldn’t even tell whether it was anger or embarrassment.

I rolled up the newspaper and hurled it at the wall.

But then a strange sound reached my ears.

The faint rustle of fabric.

A calm, steady breath.

(…Hmm.)

And then I heard a familiar voice—so relaxed it was irritating.

(Oh? How interesting… hmm, this is…)

“…?”

Standing there was Asmo—in the form of a woman.

The same suspicious, arrogant, absurdly knowledgeable, and unnecessarily cheerful demon who had taken over my room without permission.

And right now, for some reason, she was standing tall with her chest thrust forward. Her posture was strangely perfect.

She looked ridiculously pleased.

(Ohhh, this is excellent!)

Asmo—who was absolutely not modest in any sense—lifted her enormous chest up and down in admiration.

I froze on the spot.

Our eyes met. The demon smiled sweetly.

(What is it, my dear master?)

“…Hey.”

My voice trembled.

“What are you doing!?”

(Doing? I am merely testing it.)

“Testing? Testing what? And that— that thing—!”

I pointed at her chest.

There was a piece of fabric I didn’t recognize—

No. I did recognize it.

I had just seen it in the newspaper.

A bra.

And it was black. With lace. Why black lace? Who even makes black lace? Was it Hort? Was it really Hort!?

(This underwear is quite good. My chest is rather large, you see, so my shoulders often grow stiff. But this supports it wonderfully!)

“Don’t ‘quite good’ me! Where did you even get that!?”

(I read the newspaper. I wanted it, so I went and obtained it.)

“You wanted it because of the newspaper!? You went to buy it!? A demon!? Out in the open!?”

(I went quite openly. I am always dignified. Though, rather than buying it… stealing would be more accurate.)

“That’s not something to brag about!”

Asmo let out a smug little snort.

(The thing called a corset tightens too much. It makes breathing shallow. It’s even bad for the organs. But this bra is different. It supports. It shapes. It doesn’t hurt. It’s very well designed.)

She suddenly launched into a strangely serious explanation.

Of all things, don’t turn underwear into an academic lecture. I nearly held my head in despair.

“…Wait. Why do you even have breasts?”

(I have always had them.)

“You were a woman!?”

(You could say that. Or you could say I am not~)

“Don’t make that face like your logic makes sense!!”

Asmo stood up and deliberately walked around, making her chest sway.

(Look. They move. Yet the shape remains intact!)

“Stop showing off!!”

(And my shoulders feel light.)

“I don’t want to hear that!!”

I took a deep breath and shoved the newspaper at her.

“This… this has Hort’s name on it! It says he’s the one who came up with it!!”

(Hmm. Hort Rubel… what an interesting man. Now I’m curious about him.)

“Curious about what!? It’s Hort! That idiot! He finally becomes a knight, and now he’s making underwear!?”

Asmo narrowed her eyes and smiled.

(Isn’t that fine? A hero doesn’t save people with a sword alone. He seems to have a fondness for color. Possessing the qualities of a hero while doing this—that alone is amusing.)

“I don’t need your weird, wise sayings!!”

(Reducing a woman’s pain. Improving her movement. Useful in battle and in daily life. It’s a brilliant invention.)

“Don’t praise him! It just makes me more annoyed!!”

The demon stepped in front of the mirror and nodded to herself, completely satisfied.

(Hmm. With this, even I look like I have a beautiful figure.)

“Demons don’t need to worry about their figure!!”

I pressed both hands against my forehead.

What even is this.

Hort! What are you doing?

And what even is a bra!?

(My dear master.)

“What.”

(Shall I get one for you?)

“…What?”

I slowly lifted my head.

The demon grinned wickedly.

(Ah, my apologies. Perhaps you don’t need one.)

“Wha—!!”

Asmo shrugged.

So irritating.

The only thing that truly bothered me was the fact that Hort was actually helping someone. That was what made it worse.

“Anyway, take that off! Right now!”

(No. I like it.)

“This isn’t about liking it! Take it off!!”

(If that is your wish, you will have to pay a price.)

“Ghh!!”

The demon laughed and casually sat back down on the sofa.

(Then let us negotiate.)

“Negotiate!?”

(I want another one of these bras.)

“Why are you increasing the number!?”

(Whenever Hort releases a new design, I shall buy it.)

“Stop it! Don’t encourage him!!”

Asmo nodded happily.

(It is settled.)

“It is not settled!!”

I shouted while the demon laughed.

And in the middle of that laughter, I became certain of one thing.

I was going to see Hort’s name in the newspaper a lot more from now on.

And in very strange ways.

“…This is the worst!”

Chapter 78: The Flying Slash

Side: Hort Rubel

I felt the weight of the buster sword resting on my back.

With the sheath strapped in place, the shoulder belts creaked each time I walked.

And yet, strangely, I didn’t dislike the weight.

The faint presence of the pale blue blade stirred feelings of gratitude toward my sister and her husband.

From Captain Brigitte’s forge, I headed toward Captain Falcon.

The Sixth Unit oversaw the pleasure district.

After finishing my duties with the Fifth Unit, I arrived in the evening. The district was even more crowded than the last time I’d come.

I moved through the sea of people… but there was no way a massive greatsword on my back would go unnoticed.

Eyes pierced into me.

Some wary.

Some curious.

Even so, I found my destination.

Flashy lights.

Gaudy decorations.

And yet, the door handle alone looked strangely high-class.

That was Marletta’s shop.

When I pushed the door open, a sweet scent brushed against my nose.

Laughter. Music.

Women’s voices.

Men’s voices.

For a moment, I almost turned around.

But I couldn’t.

“…Excuse me.”

The woman at the entrance counter gave me a quick glance. Heavy makeup.

The women who worked here were sharper than anyone when it came to reading people.

Before I could introduce myself, she tilted her chin slightly.

“Fufu, you’re a handsome one, but that dangerous weapon isn’t allowed inside.”

“I’m Hort Rubel of the Fifth Unit.”

“Hort Rubel? Wait… the designer?”

“Huh? Designer?”

I had arranged this visit with Captain Falcon in advance.

I’d spent the past few days wrapping up Fifth Unit duties.

In that short time… had some strange rumor already spread?

“So it’s true! It really is him!”

“No way! Is that Lord Hort!?”

“Professor Hort came to our shop!?”

Being called “Professor” and “Lord” made me blink.

And when I looked around, the women—dressed in outfits that were barely there—were all wearing bras.

“Wait, I’m not—”

“Thanks to you, more customers tell me I look beautiful now.”

“Thank you for such a lovely design.”

Apparently, the bras had spread far and wide without me even realizing it.

“Hey, hey! What are you all doing crowding the customer? Oh my… Hort-boy?”

“Ms. Marletta!”

“I see how it is.”

Marletta clapped her hands sharply, calling out to the women.

“I know he’s VIP, but you’re overwhelming him. Step back!”

“That’s not fair, Owner!”

“Yeah! Let us take care of Lord Hort too!”

“Enough! Hort is here for my Falcon.”

The moment she mentioned Captain Falcon, the crowd instantly stepped back.

“Eh?”

“So Professor prefers that type?”

“Wow…”

“Come on! Don’t you all have customers to attend to?”

With one firm sentence from Marletta, the women finally dispersed, and I was freed.

“Sorry about that, Hort.”

“No, it’s fine. But… why is everyone acting like that?”

“This is why!”

She proudly showed me the purple bra she was wearing.

The design was the same lace style I had given Gina as a gift—just in a different color.

Then she held up a newspaper as well.

“What is this!?”

“Fufu, you really are talented, you know. Those girls make a living by showing their bodies. If they can make themselves look more beautiful, of course they’re grateful to you.”

“And… wait? But you said I was here for Captain Falcon—”

“Ahahaha. They probably thought you swing that way.”

My head started to ache. I decided not to think about it anymore.

The hallway Marletta led me through was unbelievably quiet compared to the noisy shop. The fabric on the walls absorbed the sound. Dim lights deepened the shadows.

Right in front of the last door, she turned back once.

“Don’t be surprised when you see inside.”

“…What?”

I had nothing but a bad feeling about this.

Without even knocking, she opened the door.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Hort-boy is here.”

I stepped inside—

—And froze.

At the back of the room…

My fellow trainee, Gemini, stood there. Naked except for a bra, wearing makeup.

Beside him, Captain Falcon Smash struck a pose—also wearing a bra.

My brain stopped working for a moment.

Falcon’s muscles made the fabric look painfully small.

Gemini was standing in the same pose.

My hand moved to the buster sword on my back.

“…………”

“…………”

Gemini spoke first.

“H-Hey, Hort.”

“…Gemini.”

“Just… hear me out.”

“If you’re telling me to calmly look at this, that’s impossible.”

I mentally prepared myself to draw my sword and collect my friend’s bones afterward.

But right then, Captain Falcon’s chest muscles flexed.

For a second, I could have sworn the bra was screaming.

“So you finally came, Hort Rubel! Ufufu, the bra you made—it’s amazing! It doesn’t just hide the embarrassing parts of a woman’s body, it even feels like it raises a woman’s value!”

With a proud “hmph!” she shifted into another pose.

“Why are you dressed like that?”

“N-No, it’s just—! The captain said it would be funny to greet you wearing the underwear you developed!”

“That’s not it! I told him to properly wear it and confirm just how wonderful this bra truly is!”

The conversation wasn’t lining up at all.

Meanwhile, I could hear Marletta laughing so hard somewhere behind me that she was probably clutching her stomach.

And somehow… I began to understand why the women here tended to avoid Captain Falcon.

Still, one thought quietly formed in my mind.

“So… men can wear bras too, huh?”

“Ufufu, of course. Though as a corrective brace for pectoral muscles, it’s a bit weak. Next time, make one strong enough to bind these muscles tightly just for me.”

I dodged the blown kiss and stepped out of the room for a moment, closing the door behind me.

“Ms. Marletta. Can I just go home?”

“Ahahaha! I’m sorry. Falcon just loved what you made. Gemini is only a victim here. Please forgive him.”

“Haah…”

When I opened the door again, the two of them were posing with their arms behind their heads, proudly displaying both their muscles and the bras.

For now, I decided to send a flying slash at them using the beginner wind spell Wind Cutter I’d been charging for three days.

“Gyaa! He’s going to kill us!?”

“Hmph!”

Gemini desperately tried to run, but Captain Falcon actually took the slash head-on.

Even so, both of their bras were sliced cleanly and fell to the floor.

“Please tell me about Vice-Commander Daitaros.”

My head still throbbed, but at least the bras were gone. I decided to state my purpose for coming.

“Hort, you’re more of a brute than I expected! To think you could even scratch my body. Not bad!”

My magic should have reached advanced level by now, yet all it managed to leave on Captain Falcon’s body were shallow surface scratches.

Her resistance to magic and sheer durability against slashing attacks were overwhelming.

Honestly, though, I didn’t care.

“Next time, I’ll actually cut you.”

“Ufufu, I like spirited boys.”

Once Captain Falcon finally put her jacket back on, we were at last in an environment where a proper conversation could begin.