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“I want to make Kayle into my husband. Puppy-chan, lent me your wits.”

Barastos came out with an outrageous request after not showing up in a long while.

I acted as if I heard nothing and enjoyed the tea that Kutou served me and took a breath while looking at the blue sky that could be seen from the window.

“Listen.” (Barastos)

“I am trying not to. I have told you this before, but he wants to become a dependable knight, so sympathize with that.”

This all began because we were chasing after Ritial and Raheight, so we approached the Holstear Company that was in Torin.

We needed to check the worth and quality of the rare minerals and plants that could be obtained in the Nether in order to approach the merchants that can handle this.

And so, we asked Barastos, who lived near the borders between Kuama and Torin to appraise them, but Barastos took an awful liking to the rookie knight Kayle from the Leano Division that we brought together with us as a bodyguard.

From what I heard, Barastos had so much free time that when she learned that Kayle’s hobby was drawing, she had him draw a portrait of her, and ended up falling in love with him when he was drawing her.

After that, Barastos would go to Marito at every given moment to ask for Kayle.

Having the Great Sage Barastos owe them one is an alluring proposal for the country, but Kayle isn’t your regular knight, he is the little brother of Ruko, so he is also the brother-in-law of Marito.

That sounds like the development of a drama.

“Cause Girista who came to do some odd jobs the other day showed me a wedding ring, you know?!” (Barastos)

Girista was working as an underground adventurer, but all countries are reconstructing because of the great war of before.

It is a situation where it would be better to join hands rather than pull each other’s legs, so there’s no work coming her way.

And so, she began taking odd jobs. Apparently, she made a good amount of connections everywhere thanks to a certain someone making her do information gathering.

The person herself seems to have her gripes about the decrease in bloody requests, but it seems like she is spending days without much inconveniences since becoming the wife of Yasutet.

“Kayle also likes you anyways, so how about just enjoying the bitter-sweet days?”

“Don’t wanna. I want to be in a muddy relationship where we are both dependent on each other as soon as possible.” (Barastos)

“I wonder how you don’t end up getting hated.”

The moves Barastos makes are quite the thing. She is doing as she pleases to the point that she even had Kayle be assigned as the bodyguard of Nora through Taizu to get him by her side.

According to Nora, Kayle spends more time being kidnapped by Barastos than by her side as a bodyguard. Let’s not touch on what she is doing to him.

“That’s because… How indeed…” (Barastos)

“So you are so much of a pain you are even self-aware.”

“I am confident in my own appearance, but he doesn’t seem to be that swayed by my appearance. He doesn’t look at my body at all aside from the times when drawing me.” (Barastos)

Isn’t he just trying to not hold wicked feelings?

I heard about Kayle from Lord Leano and Marito before I met him.

I didn’t try to comprehend him much since those two believed in him. I would need a really good reason to do otherwise.

What I have grasped at most is that he knows the feelings of Barastos, and that he is attracted to her as well.

“As a Great Sage…? But Kayle is completely useless when it comes to magic, right?”

“Yeah. I tried teaching him magic before, but I didn’t feel any talent that surpasses that of a normal knight. But his sleeping face was cute.” (Barastos)

“Is that so.”

“I ended up assaulting him.” (Barastos)

“How are you not hated?”

“Really… How indeed…” (Barastos)

I don’t want to report to Marito: Your brother-in-law was assaulted in his sleep.

“It would be bad for the education of Nora, so please restrain yourself.”

“That’s fine. That girl is stronger than me when it comes to love. Even the other day, she said: ‘It is because you are like this that you can’t make someone as easy as Kayle yours’. And she snorted at me… Uh, uuh, sob…” (Barastos)

“Someone as easy…”

A Great Sage who is so weak in love she is brought to tears by a little girl. Well, Purple did mutter ‘I am glad that girl didn’t fall in love with you but Dyuvuleori…’.

“She also said: ‘Don’t begin doing your stuff in the neighboring room when someone is researching-na no da. If you are noisy again, I will steal Kayle from you-no da’ and threatened me with a smile…” (Barastos)

“Scary! …No, that’s your own fault though.”

“I feel like Kayle will really be stolen from me if I don’t bring Dyuvuleori back quickly…” (Barastos)

“Nora only has eyes for Dyuvuleori, so it should be okay.”

“It is not okay! The other day they were talking as if they got along extremely well after the two came back from shopping! Even I haven’t seen Kayle make such a refreshing smile! Moreover, when she noticed I was looking in the shadows, she hugged Kayle and looked at me as if triumphant…! Who does that girl think she is?!” (Barastos)

“Your adopted child and disciple.”

It is pretty much the retribution of Nora towards Barastos for letting her lust run rampant.

It was super effective. Well, it is Barastos after all.

“I told Kayle that girl is dangerous, so to not get close to her, but he gave me a blank stare…” (Barastos)

“You are far more dangerous as someone who assaults him on the regular.”

“Ah, but my heart skipped a beat when Kayle was giving me a blank stare while tied up on a chair…” (Barastos)

“How are you not hated?”

“Really… How indeed…” (Barastos)

I don’t wanna report to Ruko: ‘Your little brother was assaulted by the Great Sage while tied up on a chair’. I also don’t wanna bring this to my grave without reporting it to her.

“I have a rough understanding of your worries. Your relationship isn’t progressing no matter how many moves you make, and you are getting impatient because of the changes in your surroundings. You are also feeling unnecessarily restless because you don’t know why he likes you. That’s why you want me to analyze that.”

“That’s pretty much it. Also, I would like advice in bringing down that girl.” (Barastos)

“So shameless. Fine. I will be a bit cooperative for the sake of Kayle too.”

“Yay.” (Barastos)

And so, I called Kayle and began to sound him out a bit.

Barastos said she wanted to hear too, but there would be no point if she were present.

And so, I gagged her, tied her up, and left her below the bed. She looked slightly happy, but let’s not touch that.

“Excuse me. It has been a while, Sensei!” (Kayle)

“Yo, you doing well…right?”

It has been a while since I have seen Kayle, but he looks a bit thin. My chest hurts a bit, thinking that this is probably the fault of that Great Sage.

“Ahaha, I have been spending all nighters lately…” (Kayle)

“It is not because of Barastos, I hope. If that’s the case, I will seriously do something about it.”

“No, it is not because of her! Well…she has way too much energy right from the morning though…” (Kayle)

“It is okay to tell her she is a bother, you know?”

“I am happy to be desired. But…I feel like I haven’t been able to answer her feelings completely.” (Kayle)

He is feeling bad about not fully answering that perverted Great Sage that assaults him at any given moment? Is he a saint?

“That’s fine then. Speaking of which, I have heard a simple reason about why Barastos likes you, but I haven’t heard about why you like Barastos.”

“Uhm…this is an intimate topic, but…right. If I were to talk in detail about the time when I began drawing her…” (Kayle)

Kayle began to talk about that time while a bit embarrassed but in a nostalgic fashion.

◇◇

Protecting an important person was a job I admired as a rookie knight. I was a bit excited when heading to Torin.

But there was barely any work as a bodyguard in a situation where there were people like Ekdoik-san, Mix-san, and Haakudoku-san.

Even when I tried to do menial chores, Ekdoik-san, Haakudoku-san, and Melia-san were just too outstanding…

I was wondering if there was anything I could do despite that, and so, I began to draw the rare insects and plants around the residence of Barastos-san, thinking that maybe it would be of use for Sensei and Taizu.

“I see…”

Sensei said: That’s good. I think Marito will like that, so do that when there’s free time. But that’s not exactly knight work.

I began days of realizing how lacking I am not long after I was happy about becoming a knight.

I would think about how I am lacking in way too many things as a knight while remembering the figure of Lord Leano and the other knights that I saw in the war against the Scarlet Demon Lord…

I was getting a bit nervous while thinking about this and drawing, and Barastos spoke to me.

“Oh my, you are the bodyguard of Puppy-chan, right? What are you drawing in such a pla—no way! You are super good at drawing! Eh, an Illegitimate?!” (Barastos)

“T-That’s not it! I have liked drawing since young, so as a hobby—ah!” (Kayle)

Barastos-san snatched away my sketchbook and began looking at it with interest.

She was someone Sensei was negotiating with, so I couldn’t get it back by force, so the awkward time went on.

“You have properly drawn the moving birds and the details of even insects. Do you have good memory? Wouldn’t it be better to become a civil official rather than a knight?” (Barastos)

“No, haha… I can remember terms perfectly, but I don’t have the brain to make the best use of the knowledge…” (Kayle)

Memorization and intelligence are two different things. ‘Remembering’ and ‘Applying it’ are not the same.

Learning it immediately means the effort made is minimal.

People can make best use of their knowledge by memorizing it and applying it, but I precede the memorization and end up being bad at applying it.

“Then why did you aim to become a knight?” (Barastos)

“The trigger was the battle dance of knights that I saw in the harvest festival. I was spellbound, watching the wonderful technique of the knights. If I am going to burn something in my eyes, I would like it to be the wonderful appearance of them instead of letters. And then, I want to become someone who can carve my existence into the hearts of others too.” (Kayle)

I have never forgotten that objective.

But even after becoming a rookie knight, even after experiencing war, I don’t feel like I have grown closer to being like that.

On the contrary, I have been feeling like the people close to me are becoming that, and I even felt loneliness because of it.

“I see.” (Barastos)

I could tell she wasn’t moved at all judging from that light response.

Well, she is the Great Sage that had her name echo in the world, so you could say it can’t be helped that she wouldn’t have even one bit of interest in my small goal.

“Right, draw me if you are free.” (Barastos)

“Eh?” (Kayle)

“Come on. I am the woman called the Great Sage, right? It seems like the people of Taizu imagine me as an old woman!” (Barastos)

“That’s…true.” (Kayle)

I honestly imagined Barastos-san to look like the wives of the Ragudo Division until I heard the description from Nora-san.

Even if she had elf blood mixed in her, I doubt the people of Taizu would imagine her to be this young of a woman.

“That’s why, come on, spread drawings of me in Taizu!” (Barastos)

“G-Got it.” (Kayle)

This is how I moved to the room of Barastos-san and ended up drawing her.

I had her sit on a chair like the time when the nobles had portraits of them drawn, and began drawing a sketch, but…

“It is boring to just stay put. Bring up a topic.” (Barastos)

Barastos-san must not be good at staying put, she began to move soon after and spoke to me.

I could draw someone even if the subject isn’t present as long as I see them to a certain degree, so I thought of continuing the talk for now.

“Uhm…I am sorry. My only experience is with drawing and training, so… Right, can you tell me about yourself, Barastos-san? I am interested in the perspective of a Great Sage.” (Kayle)

“About me? Hmm, there’s nothing really interesting. I knew magic soon after being born, was drawn by it, and continued obtaining knowledge. I was called Great Sage by the time I noticed.” (Barastos)

“…That’s all?” (Kayle)

“That’s right. I certainly was more talented compared to others and had opportunities as well. I greedily sought for more and put in the effort. But that’s all. That was natural for me.” (Barastos)

Barastos-san seriously said there was nothing interesting in her perspective.

I am sure everyone would be surprised if she were to talk about the details of it and it would be shocking content though.

For her, the present is what to live for, and she is earnestly walking onwards.

I was made to notice. It is not that the knights I admired were outstanding. It is exactly because they walked earnestly as knights that they have a light that can draw in the heart of others.

I tightened the grip on my charcoal pen.

“…”

“Hey, it doesn’t have to be about you. Can you tell me an interesting sto—” (Barastos)

I was just thinking the whole time about becoming someone that pulls in the heart of others.

But it is comical after realizing it.

Just who would have their hearts moved by someone who is empty inside?

I was simply trying to become an attractive knight. If I wanted to become the knights I truly admired, I should have learned about what they were aiming further ahead of their own selves, and yet, I could only see their present figures.

The moment I understood this, her figure overlapped with the knights that I admired so much.

“I am sorry. I will concentrate on drawing you.” (Kayle)

“…A-Alright.” (Barastos)

What Barastos-san is aiming for is probably something that I wouldn’t be able to comprehend.

Even so, I felt the same light in her earnestness as that of the people I admired.

Drawing is just a specialty within the range of a hobby. I may be able to do precise copies, but I can’t do depictions that can shake the heart of people.

But I thought it would be rude to draw a person, who holds the light I admire, with half-baked feelings.

I may never be able to reach it, but let’s try and face that light of hers as earnestly as possible -That’s what I thought as I decided to draw more seriously than ever before.

◇◇

“Uhm, that’s pretty much what happened. Barastos-san saw the completed drawing and liked it an awful lot. It was originally planned for me to bring it back to Taizu, but ended up giving it to her instead…” (Kayle)

I see.

Kayle seriously tried to depict the light that he felt on Barastos, so he faced her earnestly.

There were apparently quite a lot of men who desired Barastos until now, but that was simply because they desired her appearance, body, and her knowledge and talent as a Great Sage.

There was most likely no one who would understand the thing that she earnestly chased after until now.

The heart of Barastos skipped a beat at this and fell completely after seeing the drawing, huh.

A gaze of respect and affection, and a drawing of herself that made this take shape. I am sure there would be people who would get swooned by this.

Speaking of which, I have heard that the quality of Kayle’s drawings have increased. So that day was the evolution of Kayle as an artist, huh.

However, there’s still a but…

“I now clearly understand the reason why Barastos likes you. But the reason why you like Barastos… It is at most that she is one of the people living earnestly, and that she was the one who made you realize this, right?”

“That’s part of it. But I don’t know how to explain… The figure of Barastos hasn’t left my mind since that day…” (Kayle)

“…I see.”

I understand now.

The reason why Kayle is conscious of Barastos and the danger of it.

That day was the first time Kayle faced an earnest person -the type that he admires. He has perfect memory and he was serious.

If he stored the memory like a photo, that event with Barastos was most likely saved in his memories not as a single drawing but as hundreds, no, thousands of overlapped videos. To the point of burning it in his memories.

He can memorize something by just giving it a glance, so if he were to burn her in his mind seriously, he would end up unconsciously seeing Barastos with the light he admires for the near future.

Of course you would mistakenly think that you feel some sort of romantic interest in a girl if she flickers in your mind every so often.

What should I do here? Kayle might end up losing interest in Barastos if I were to explain this to him in detail.

“Kayle, actually…”

(Don’t. If you say it, I will kill you.)

It seems like Barastos has also noticed this. She went out of her way to speak into my mind.

“What’s the matter, Sensei?” (Kayle)

“…Nothing. Draw Barastos again when you have the time. I think she will calm down a bit if you do that.”

(Good.) (Barastos)

That’s the fastest method to make it so Kayle’s heart doesn’t stray from Barastos.

As long as he continues drawing Barastos seriously, Kayle will continue to be conscious of her.

But is this okay? This is technically brainwashing…

“Aah, that’s okay. Actually, it is going to be the birthday of Barastos-san soon, and I was thinking about giving her a present secretly. But it will take time to paint, so…I am drawing it little by little every night.” (Kayle)

(——?!)

“?!”

Uwah, so noisy.

Don’t let out an unintelligible ecstatic scream in my mind. I was on the verge of losing consciousness there.

“Sensei, are you feeling unwell?” (Kayle)

“Better than you. But getting even more haggard because of it would worry Barastos pointlessly.”

“Ahaha… That’s…how to say it. My own lack of skill…” (Kayle)

“A knight on the day and an artist at night, huh. Wearing two pairs of shoes must be difficult.”

“Yes, but I am having her endure after all.” (Kayle)

“Eh, what?”

“I am having her endure after all…” (Kayle)

No, no, she is assaulting you because she can’t endure it though. What part of that is her enduring?

“Can you tell me in more detail about this assessment of yours?”

“Eh? Uhm…since that day, the light I have felt from Barastos-san has changed a bit. I think she truly liked my drawings, but…that light was the real deal too. I can tell she seriously likes me.” (Kayle)

“Well, she is even making direct appeals to Marito, so it should be the real deal.”

“Y-Yes… Actually…a part of me thought about giving up my path as a knight and answering her feelings. But if I were to do that, I would stay an unsuitable man for her. I want to become someone worthy of her before answering her feelings. Me not giving up on being a knight stems from this ego.” (Kayle)

For Kayle, Barastos is a target of admiration, a person who lives earnestly.

So he wants to answer her after becoming a knight on par to that, huh…

Kayle feels bad since he can’t allow himself to accept everything about Barastos despite knowing how strong her feelings are.

That’s why he is accepting the moves that you would be dumbstruck normally.

“…Does it have to be a knight? You could become an artist…”

“It is true that I do think I would be able to reach that point faster if I were to walk the path of an artist. My family has a high artistic sense one way or another.” (Kayle)

“Ruko does have a good sense of gardening after all.”

“But the knights of Taizu were my first target of admiration. I was drawn by that earnest feeling to protect people. I don’t want to substitute that feeling.” (Kayle)

“I see. You are stubborn like your sister.”

Ruko faced the strongest Demon Lord, Tedoral, and didn’t back down a single step.

Kayle is the little brother of that Ruko. They resemble each other.

He has already achieved earnestness on the level that it charmed the heart of Barastos as an artist. I could point that out, but…considering his resolve, this would be a boorish action.

“Ahaha… I am aware I am being selfish even though I am being loved by such a wonderful person like her. But I don’t want to be indulgent in that person’s kindness of not caring even if I am incompetent.” (Kayle)

No, I think she is the selfish one here though? She made a direct appeal to the king the other day to make you quit being a knight not that long ago, you know?

“…Well, consult with me if you want to make Barastos happy. I think I could give you some advice. Do your best in the drawing for now.”

“Yes, I will be counting on you!” (Kayle)

Kayle left the room with a gentle smile.

What I can do right now is stealthily ask Marito and Lord Leano to increase the free days of Kayle and tell them Barastos will owe them.

Anyways, I drag out Barastos who is under the bed and take off her bindings and the gag.

Barastos was curled up the entire time.

“…I am all ears if you’ve got any comments.”

“I feel like dying in a lot of meanings…” (Barastos)

Looks like she has shaken away the happiness and embarrassment because of the way too pure feelings of Kayle.

My advice settled with just providing him medicine to recover his fatigue.

The next day, Barastos showed quite a lot of self-control in her excessive advances and concentrated on taking care of Kayle’s condition.

Kayle managed to recover completely by her birthday thanks to that.

And then, Barastos received an oil painting of herself by Kayle.

A drawing where Kayle faced her with sincerity, moreover, with love in it. It goes without saying that Barastos was moved to tears.

But she later assaulted Kayle with her overflowing emotions, and Nora was pissed, telling them not to begin in front of her eyes.

Let’s talk some other time about how Barastos came crying to me soon after.

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