Kensei 77.1

Chapter 77: A Confession of Inner Turmoil

TL : Cnine

ED/PF :

R1[1-2], R2[3-4], R3[5-7]

Part 1

「... Huff.」

　Night had fallen. Sheena, having once again concluded her dealings with the day’s visit, was cleansing himself by the lake.

　A figure could be seen watching him secretly in the shadow.

（So he really is injured… And it seemed the injuries were rather severe.）

　A large scar marred the youth’s body.

　It appeared he had received a diagonal slash from shoulder to waist.

　There was also a cut wound on his shoulder, as though struck from an overhead stance.

　At a glance, the wounds had closed, yet from his demeanour during the day, it was clear he had not yet fully recovered.

「However... I have to admit that he have a really nice build.」

　Watching him from behind the cover of a tree was a woman with silvery hair.

　She, with ears perched atop her head like those of a wolf, was not a human born into this world.

（No, what I'm thinking about. Rather, what on earth am I doing? Such behaviour is unacceptable… I must depart at once!）

　She, who had been watching him secretly ever since he came to the lake, startled and only now came to her senses.

　She realised that she was no different from from a peeping tom.

（What’s done is done; there’s no helping having seen it. Well then… I shall take my leave.）

　She tried to convince herself, yet found she could not bring herself to leave.

　Sheena's white hair was wet.

　Though they seemed slightly clouded, his eyes were a striking shade of deep blue.

　In the darkness of night, she could not tear her eyes away from the boy’s naked figure, bathed in moonlight.

　Because he appeared more beautiful than any work of art or landscape she had ever seen… So breathtaking that all else seemed to fade in comparison.

「... Gulp」

（He, too, has seen Meltya-sama's change, has he not? Therefore, ’tis only fair. This makes it fair…）

　Shirayuki, having quickly steeled herself, flared her nostrils and breathed heavily.

　She was entirely unaware that her proud tail flitted to and fro, swaying rather indecently.

「Haah... Nice. It's so nicee...」

「…Oi. Who’s been standing there all this time?」

「！」

　Before she knew it, the white-haired youth was already glaring at her.

　Having glared by his sharp gaze, Shirayuki leapt back in surprise.

（Have I been noticed? Why, I wonder? But still...）

　The youth, soaked wet with the water of the lake was glaring at her.

　Seeing that figure, Shirayuki shivered all over, then became aware of her heart tightening and pounding with sudden excitement.

（That visage… I-It’s… quite something, isn’t it…?）

　Yet, that was something beyond her control.

　The White Wolf tribe could not resist those of the opposite sex who was strong.

　That was an instinct ingrained within them.

「Do you intend to remain hidden still? Let me make it clear, I will not let you escape. Even from here, I possess the means to harm you.」

　Shirayuki could only heaved a sigh upon hearing that warning.

　She knew that Sheena was telling the truth.

　For she knew he possessed strange abilities such as summoning blasts of flame from out of nowhere, or calling distant swords to his hand.

「Wait,’tis I, Shirayuki.」

「Shirayuki?」

　With no choice, she stepped out from behind the tree, revealing herself.

　Sheena look dumbfounded the moment he saw her.

「What are you doing? Rather, why are you hiding over there?」

「Ahem… i-it’s because you started undressing without checking thine surroundings. I was being considerate, you know?」

「Is that so?」

「Y-Yes. I mean, since we could not speak during the day. I'm merely seeking an opportunity to address you.」

「I see… So that was the case.」

　Impressed with herself for speaking so naturally, Shirayuki felt relieved that she might be able to get away with it after all.

「Uhm.」

（Meltya told me to stay away, but so far, this one's one of the few people who's been treating me in a friendly way.）

　Unaware for even a moment that he was being watched, Sheena was at lunch, worrying about the words Meltya had told her.

「Alright, shall we have a little chat? I’ll come up in a moment, so please a bit.」

「Y-Yeah...」

　Shirayuki felt relieved at Sheena’s casual response.

　True to those words, once Sheena climbed up from the lake, he began drying himselself off and putting on clothes and armour, all unified in a work-appropriate black.

　It seems he didn’t have any spare clothes except for his underwear.

（Y-you fool… Have a bit of shame… M-men are just like this! Honestly, it’s outrageous.）

　She briefly covered her face with her hands, but through the gaps between her fingers, Shirayuki etched the whole scene into her memory.

「So, what do you want to talk about?」

「…Before that, I want to ask something. How did you find me? I’d like you to tell me for future reference.」

「You mean how I found your presence?」

　When asked in return, Shirayuki nodded in an exaggerated manner.

「That’s right. I’m a soldier, after all. I was actually pretty confident in my stealth.」

「Huh? You seriously thought you were hiding with all those rustling noise?」

「E-Eh? What are yo---」

　Caught off guard by the accusation she didn’t recall, Shirayuki was flustered.

　Sheena continued on without even batting his eyes.

　His gaze was fixed above Shirayuki’s head, directed at her long ears.

「Are you really haven't noticed it? I mean, are those huge ears of your just a decoration?」

「! Y-you… How rude of you…!」

　Annoyed, Shirayuki followed with her eyes as Sheena’s finger, which had been pointing at her ears, moved down toward her waist.

「Well, that one doesn't seems like a decoration though.」

　What he pointed to was Shirayuki’s waist.

　Or rather, the tail that grew from her buttock.

「What are y--- AH!?」

　Realising his intention, Shirayuki grabbed her tail with both hands.

「C-Could it be... No way...」

「That’s what I'm trying to say. It was completely visible, you know? But it moves quite a bit, doesn’t it? I’ve seen wolves a few times myself, and if I my memories serve me right…」

「S-STOP! I don't want to hear it anymmore...」

　Shirayuki looked down to hide her flushed cheeks.

　It was a humiliation she had never experienced before.

　Looking away during a conversation went against her principles, but she was too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

　Her tightly gripped tail hurt.

「…Well, at least it was me you had to deal with. So? You’ve got something you want to say, right? Go ahead and say it.」

　Sitting down on the spot, Sheena looked up at Shirayuki’s downcast face and spoke.

「Well, standing and talking isn’t ideal. Why don’t you sit down too?」

「U... A, ha~h...」

　She could only obey him, unable to refuse.

　Shirayuki sat down next to her and hid her face in her arms.

「…Sorry if I offended you. As you can see, I don’t have ears or a tail like yours. That’s why I didn’t really know.」

　After a brief silence, Sheena spoke.

「…It’s fine. It’s all my fault. You don’t need to apologise.」

　Grumble~

「... eh!?」

　The sudden sound brought a hush over the place.