Vol 3 Chapter 34 – The Spot Next to Me is Always Open, You Know?【Vol 3 – The First Knight Commander is a Dark Elf Half-Succubus Who Hates Men】

“It’s unfortunate, but unlike you, Yuna-san, I’m not popular.”

“Is that so? It is true that I am popular for some reason, but I have never once had a lover, you know?”

“You’re joking again.”

“It is true. I was bad with men until now, and before that, I had absolutely no intention of dating a man weaker than myself.”

“…Isn’t that a pretty tall order?”

“It cannot be helped. That is also the instinct of a Succubus blood.”

I’ve heard repeatedly that while Yuna-san is a half-Dark Elf, her Succubus blood has also manifested. And as a Succubus instinct, or perhaps a racial characteristic, they only take an interest in men worthy of bearing children with. For Yuna-san, it seems that condition was “a man stronger than herself.” Moreover, since Elves characteristically have low libidos, her interest in romance was apparently infinitely low.

“Well, I thought myself that the conditions were too strict, but since it is a racial instinct, it cannot be helped. That is why I had given up, thinking I would never marry or have children in my life.”

“I see.”

“…However, recently, I met a man stronger than myself for the first time in my life.”

“Hmm.”

“While being protected by that man’s back, I realized something. —That being protected by a man like this is surprisingly not bad.”

“Oh?”

“Thinking back on it, I was only fighting in the lead because I was the strongest one; it wasn’t that I wanted to stand in front and fight no matter what. I was able to realize that.”

“…”

“That is why I want to thank you again. —Thank you.”

It is obvious that the “man stronger than herself” Yuna-san is talking about is me. In other words, thanks to me, Yuna-san has been liberated from the “stronger than myself” constraint in romance. Judging by the way she’s leaning against me like this, the curse of hating men might have broken as well. So she wanted to thank me. The fact that Yuna-san’s face next to me is faintly red is probably due to drinking too much wine. …And, thinking that far, it hit me.

“In other words, you have someone you like now, Yuna-san.”

“!!”

Yuna-san is looking at me in shock, as if asking ‘How did you know?’, but I want to say that it’s obvious. And considering the flow of the conversation up to this point, there are two possibilities. Either she confesses to me right here, or she asks me to be the bridge between her and the man she likes—

No, well, I swear, I-I’m not particularly expecting anything, okay? Yuna-san is just my disciple whose face, style, personality, and combat power are all top-tier, that’s all. …By the way, this is just a bit of trivia, but the spot next to me is always open, you know?

“Just asking, is that man cool?”

“—Yes, insanely cool. He is the best I have ever seen, undoubtedly the coolest in the world.”

Yup, it’s gone. My chances, vanished in an instant. After all, my face is acknowledged by myself and others as strictly run-of-the-mill. Women go for looks after all. Hmph.

“…So, what parts of that person do you like?”

“U-Umu… He has a bit of a ditzy side daily which is also endearing, but when I saw him fighting, I fell in love at first sight all over again. Also, even seeing his normal appearance, he looks so cool I cannot help it.”

This… means it’s a skilled male member of the Knight Order, doesn’t it? Well, the First Knight Order is entirely men except for Yuna-san. I hope it rots off.

“Do you want to date him, or rather, get married?”

“I want to get married insanely badly and be with him for life, but there seem to be many rivals… Even a Princess is crazy about him…!”

A Princess crazy about romance… that must be a Princess other than Shion, who hasn’t shed her childishness yet. No, I don’t even know how many royals there are. Even so, to have Yuna-san and even a Princess crazy about him and wrapped around his finger… surely it is safe to declare this completely Guilty. Death to pretty boys.

That aside. While I stab the nameless pretty boy to death in my mind, what I should do is encourage Yuna-san. Besides, look, I am Yuna-san’s Master, after all. Even if a powerful rival called a Princess exists, I should be allowed to at least root for Yuna-san.

“—It’ll be okay. If it’s you, Yuna-san, I’m sure it will go well.”

“!! D-Do you really think so…?”

“You can do it if you try. After all, Yuna-san, you are incredibly attractive.”

“Th-Th-Th-That is—!?”

Well, it doesn’t mean much coming from me instead of the person Yuna-san likes. Then, wondering how my encouragement worked: Yuna-san gulped, and with an incredibly embarrassed, blushing face, she moved her face close to my front and—

“U-Um! The one I like is, Mas—”

“CHESTOOOOOO!!“

Yuna-san, who was about to say something to me, was knocked to the ground by a dropkick from Shion, who suddenly appeared.

“—Hmph. I cannot let my guard down for a moment.”

“Eh, Shion? I heard you were drunk and sleeping?”

“Yes, I was sleeping, you know? However, I felt a wicked wave, so I woke up.”

“What is that!?”

“It is a Succubus instinct. And when I rushed here, sure enough, Master’s chastity was a hair’s breadth away. Good grief, we just promised ‘no cutting in line’ in our Ladies’ Agreement—!”

I see, it seems Shion is also involved in Yuna-san’s love talk. That conversation ended there, and I didn’t hear anything further from Yuna-san after she got up. I didn’t have to see the face of the pretty boy who stole Yuna-san’s heart, so I felt somewhat sad, yet somewhat relieved.

And when we returned to the capital, what was waiting for us was… News of Shion’s engagement to the new Crown Prince of the Sebas Empire.