The next day.
I rose early in the morning and stepped outside.
Beside me stood Lorein, still looking appealing in her sports bra and dolphin shorts.
"…So, what's up?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why have you suddenly decided to join me for a run?"
"I think I need to start rebuilding my basic stamina. If I rest for too long, my muscles and lungs begin to struggle, you know."
"Hmm…"
Lorein shot me a slightly suspicious glance.
Yet, my words were truthful, so it seemed she had nothing further to add.
"Do we really need to run together?"
"It's better to run with someone. Running alone is tedious."
"I actually prefer running by myself."
"… That's why people find you difficult."
"What, what?! What do you mean?"
Lorein turned toward me, her eyes wide with shock.
Her surprise seemed genuine.
…This was somewhat embarrassing for me.
"Don't tell me you were unaware? The locals are intimidated by you."
"I had no clue…"
"Just consider your demeanor and how seldom you speak to them."
"Aren't all nobles like that?"
She possessed such little interest in others.
Her concerns were focused solely on her family and her estate.
She evaluated people's happiness in numerical terms.
Not that such an approach was inherently negative; in fact, those of her ilk often administered their estates effectively.
Being a figure of admiration and aspiration was the archetypal role of nobility.
But Lorein took it to an extreme.
"I'm not criticizing, but you should get accustomed to interacting with others. You can't always be solitary."
"That's… true."
Lorein nodded, seemingly convinced.
Her ability to recognize her own faults was one of Lorein's strong points.
"So, is it okay if we run together?"
"…Did you honestly think I'd be opposed? I'm not that unfeeling."
"But you just stated your preference for solitude."
"I didn't say I disliked company."
"Wow, you truly struggle with communication. Even at the academy, you had admirers but no friends, right?"
"…Be quiet."
Her irritated expression suggested my observation had struck a nerve.
But at least we had grown close enough to engage in this kind of banter.
We did some light warm-ups and then started running.
"Just so you know, I won't adjust my pace for you."
"What if you fall behind? That'll hurt your pride, won't it?"
"…Just watch."
Despite her words, Lorein didn't overtly run faster.
It seemed like she was running at her usual pace.
Although we didn't talk much, watching Lorein's enticing figure was fun.
'Her chest is really big. With such an unbelievable figure, they must be pretty too.'
Her chest bounced vividly beside me.
I wondered if her shoulders hurt from carrying such a chest and running every day.
'Sigh, I wish I could touch and relieve that body here and there.'
And perhaps give some relief to my own stiffening self.
If her body was toned from exercise, her private parts were likely firm as well.
We continued running around the estate for quite some time.
Before I realized it, sweat had started beading on Lorein's stomach and thighs.
"Haah…! Haah…!"
Lorein, moist and flushed, looked very sexy.
If she exercised like this every day, her amazing figure was understandable.
"Ah, Lorein Unni!"
Then, a voice suddenly made us halt.
We had run to a forest a bit away from the village.
There, a young girl was energetically waving her arms.
She looked much younger than Amy.
Perhaps she was still in elementary school by modern standards.
"Peris? Why are you here at this time?"
"I got up early today to pick herbs! If I finish early, I can play more."
"Hmm… I see. But it's dangerous here, so don't come alone. Wait for me, and we'll go back together after you're done?"
"Okay!"
The girl nodded with a bright smile.
Then, as if she remembered something, she took something out of her basket.
It was a pretty yellow flower.
"I'll give this to Unni!"
"Huh? To me?"
"They say flowers suit beautiful people!"
"…Thank you."
Lorein smiled shyly with a radiant smile.
Seeing her goddess-like beauty, I couldn't help but be in awe, and she shot me a triumphant look.
"See. I do have locals who talk to me."
She then proudly displayed the flower.
Was she really bragging about a child talking to her?
She seemed to have a surprisingly cute side.
Then the girl offered me a flower too.
"For the handsome brother!"
"Oh, you're giving one to me as well?"
"Hehe… Because you're handsome, I'm giving it especially to you!"
"Thanks. It's even more delightful to receive it from a beautiful lady."
"Wow, a lady. I've never been called that before…"
Lorein's expression subtly changed as she accepted the flower.
It appeared something was bothering her.
"Why do you look like that?"
"…Lolicon."
"No, a noble lady shouldn't use such language."
A world in which a noble lady uses the word 'lolicon.'
That would be quite a scene.
"Hmm! Hmm! Anyway, let's finish the work quickly, shall we?"
"Okay! I'll go get another basket!"
The girl trotted off to where she had been working.
It seemed she had come out early in the morning with two baskets for work.
"She's young but diligent."
"It's unfortunate. This estate isn't very wealthy. We should do our part quickly."
"Eh, compared to other estates where people work themselves to the bone and barely make ends meet, this is heaven."
"Do you really think so?"
"At least in a place where a girl happily gives flowers to a lord's daughter, it's rare."
Lorein chuckled at my observation.
Her refreshingly beautiful smile captivated me.
Suddenly, startled, Lorein ran off.
"Peris! Duck down!"
Before the girl could react, Lorein rolled on the ground with her in her arms.
At the same time, a huge arm swiped at the space where the girl had just been.
'…Werewolf?'
There stood a monster on two feet with the shape of a wolf.
Growling, it bared its fangs and drooled.
A monster that was distinctly different from werewolf kin.
"Koooh!"
The monster roared in frustration at its missed opportunity.
It immediately charged at Lorein again.
"Ugh!"
Lorein instinctively reached for the sword at her waist, only to realize she didn't have it.
A common mistake among swordsmen with little real combat experience.
She might have dodged if Lorein had been alone, but she was holding the girl.
"Uh!"
Lorein hugged the girl tightly and closed her eyes, as if determined to protect her at all costs.
This wasn't a calculated move but an instinctual reaction.
'…Anyway.'
No matter how you looked at it, she was more fitting for a hero than that bastard Leon.
I leaped out and kicked the werewolf's body.
-Bang!
"Kyaang!"
The creature was thrown back with a loud noise.
It struggled to stand, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Lorein looked at me with wide eyes.
"Hyun-woo, you…"
"Could you cover her eyes for a moment?"
Understanding what I meant, Lorein reflexively covered the child's eyes.
I snapped my fingers.
Pop! The werewolf's head exploded.
The headless body, bleeding profusely, stumbled and fell.
'That bastard dared to lay a hand on my future sex partner.'
Thinking of Tina, my mood soured.
Though she was better than others, she was the kind who knew she shouldn't but did it anyway.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah."
"We should probably have soldiers check the area. It's unlikely this creature came alone."
I looked down at Lorein.
A long red wound was visible on her arm.
"You're hurt?"
"Ah, it's fine. It'll heal quickly."
"If you leave it, the wound might scar."
A faint white light flowed from my hand.
Warm energy touched her arm, and the wound healed instantly.
"Ah, you can use healing magic too?"
"Of course. Who do you think taught Ryuz?"
I answered and then turned to look at the werewolf.
Where did this thing come from?
As far as I knew, werewolves usually lived in packs.
If necessary, I might have to eradicate them early…
"There."
Just as I was about to move, Lorein called me in a low voice.
Her voice sounded strangely subdued.
"Did you… go easy on me during our swordplay training?"
"Go easy?"
"Putting aside the magic, that kick… It was definitely not ordinary strength. With my bare hands, I couldn't have done anything…"
"Ah…"
A fun idea suddenly crossed my mind.
A slight smile appeared on my face.
Considering the affection and trust I had built up until now, along with the effects of the Pen of Trust.
Seeing Lorein's expression, I was certain.
I could use this situation to my advantage.