Episode 62 [Personal Grooming]

[Summary]

With the start of summer vacation, Arcs and Eleanore have arrived in Isan, a city where nature and urban areas blend together.

Although they are exempt from classes due to their special student status, they visit the training grounds just to show their faces. As they casually try to visit a teacher while watching everyone else struggle with their training, they encounter Emma Helena, the protagonist of this world.

Emma had also been visiting the teacher, and after exchanging words, she tries to leave, but is stopped by her.

She falls silent as if wanting to say something… but in the end, it is never spoken, and Emma runs off.

Arcs also pulls himself together and goes to visit Kiril-sensei.

***

Kiril-sensei was as bold and energetic as ever.

Apparently she had been directing the students this whole time, and was saying something about starting guerrilla-style practical combat training because she hadn’t moved around enough.

Judging from the state of my classmates, the journey to this city of Isan must have been quite grueling… but she’d probably complete a full marathon right now with a straight face.

…Well, her eccentricity isn’t something that started today.

On the other hand, she had properly handled the greeting and discussion about assignments.

She handled it with a voice volume that could normally be mistaken for shouting.

As long as she does what needs to be done properly, I have nothing to complain about.

I don’t know what fate awaits my classmates after this, but for now, amen.

And so, having finished my business safely, I had returned to the hotel.

The gorgeousness that makes your eyeballs pop out no matter how many times you see it.

Thinking about staying in a place like this for several days… I wouldn’t be surprised if I lost one eye during this training camp.

Well, jokes aside, when I returned to the room, I could see Eleanore rummaging around with something.

The fact that we were sharing a room came back to me and I nearly felt dizzy, but oh well, I wonder what she’s doing.

“I’m back. …What are you doing?”

“Ah, you’re finally back. I’ve been waiting, you know?”

Just as her words suggested, she looked tired of waiting, and stood up sluggishly to face me.

In her hands were two outfits.

One was a summery light blue one-piece dress, the other a white blouse that seemed to exude composure and purity.

Around her, clothes were neatly folded but scattered across the floor.

…I see, I understand.

“Which one do you think is better, Arcs?”

Here it is, the number one impossible question.

One that makes you wonder if there’s even a correct answer.

“…So that’s what you’ve been worrying about”

“Yes. We don’t get many opportunities to go sightseeing like this, do we? If we have this chance, I must dress fashionably”

Eleanore said this with an innocent smile.

As she says, after this we’re scheduled to look around the city of Isan for a while.

Technically we came here under the non-recreational pretext of a training camp, but we’ve been given special permission to do as we please as long as we complete our assignments, so there’s no problem.

If anything, what’s scary are the resentful complaints from classmates, but it’s not like we’re just going to play around from here on out either.

…Besides, Eleanore came all the way to Isan at my request.

I want to at least leave her with good memories.

Until now, we haven’t had many opportunities to go on such distant trips, and as someone who knows her, I naturally want her to enjoy this chance.

So that’s why we’re now preparing to go out, and Eleanore’s question is part of that process.

She’s at that age too, so it’s natural for her to want to dress up.

…But it’s difficult.

That question is difficult!

What makes it difficult is that the safe answer of “Both look good on you!” will probably be seen through now.

When there was a similar question before, that response made her emit flames from her face with a whoosh!! But now that our relationship has changed, I don’t know if that will work…

“I think both would suit you very well, Eleanore-sama…”

First I convey my honest opinion. But before I finish speaking, she stares intently at me.

“But that doesn’t help me decide, does it? What do you think about this one?”

However, as expected, the safe route wasn’t going to satisfy her.

Eleanore holds the white blouse against her chest and looks up at me, seeking my impression.

“Of course I think it’s wonderful? It has elegance while being modest, and I think it would be perfect for walking around town”

I propose while explaining politely, but Eleanore tilts her head slightly and smiles.

“I see… But don’t you think it would also be refreshing to try this kind of crisp light blue?”

She spreads out the light blue one-piece and does a little spin.

There’s something innocently playful yet provocative mixed into that movement, and I’m at a loss for words.

“As you say, that’s also a wonderful choice…”

When I respond vaguely, Eleanore stares intently at me.

“…Well, I suppose it’s fine since you thought about it in your own way, Arcs”

With a small shrug of her shoulders, she stopped pressing.

Phew… I’m forgiven.

No, she let me off the hook.

I can’t help but feel there’s a bit of exasperation mixed in, but I’d like to ask for her understanding here.

“By the way, Arcs, are you going to look around in that outfit?”

“Hm? Well, yes. I must dress in a way that isn’t shameful as a butler”

I mean, besides butler clothes and training clothes, I don’t have anything else.

I obviously can’t walk around in the latter, so inevitably it becomes a neat tuxedo style.

However, upon receiving my answer, Eleanore strikes a pose as if to say “good grief” and shakes her head.

“I do like that serious side of you, but… since we’re going sightseeing, please wear something more casual. Otherwise, I won’t be able to relax and enjoy myself either”

She puffed out her cheeks while openly expressing her anger.

Is that how it is?

I’ve been interacting with Eleanore like this the whole time outside the academy though…

No, but since entering the academy, the time I spend apart from her has increased, so it wouldn’t be strange for her perspective to change.

It probably feels like having a black-suited bodyguard constantly following you around, so I can understand wanting to avoid that.

“That’s… I apologize. I was inconsiderate”

“Good grief… As my butler, you need to pay a bit more attention to your personal grooming”

When I humbly offered my apology, Eleanore said this while suddenly closing in on me as if taking aim.

It was so sudden that I nearly recoiled in shock.

But before I could, she reached out her hand toward me.

What is this!? I thought for just a moment before the reason for her approach appeared right before my eyes.

What was pinched between her fingers was… a white thread?

No, a strand of hair?

Then I’m reminded of Emma, whom I encountered earlier.

I recall how her hair was disheveled after training.

Did it get stuck when we passed by each other?

“Huh… when did that…”

As I let out a confused voice, Eleanore stared intently at the hair before slowly dropping it from her fingertips to the ground.

And then—

—STOMP!!!!!

“!?!?”

A resounding loud noise rang out, and my body involuntarily jumped.

I looked to see Eleanore’s shoe powerfully stomping the floor.

She had mercilessly crushed the white strand of hair underfoot.

“…Um, Eleanore-sama?”

As if not wanting to give me, unable to hide my confusion, any time to process, she wrapped her hand around my neck and pulled my face close to hers with a tug…

“…Really, please be careful, okay?”

The voice whispered in my ear was low and sweet, yet somehow felt bottomlessly cold.

A sensation like something tracing down my spine made me involuntarily hold my breath.

“That’s right, let’s take this opportunity to get you some new clothes too, Arcs. I hear the clothing industry is thriving in Isan, and I’m sure they have clothes you won’t find in Egenhardt—”

Suddenly raising her voice brightly, she began speaking in a buoyant voice as if nothing had just happened.

But naturally there was no way I could keep up, and with that earlier whisper still echoing in my mind, all I could do was stand there dazed.

…Yeah, um.

I’ll be more careful from now on…

For now, I’ll just pray that I can get through today safely… as I watched Eleanore in her excited state.