Chapter 433: Kaisa Kureil (3) (Extra 5)
As an only child, she steadily received education revolving around throne succession since childhood.
Looking back now, it was really useless knowledge.
The political position of Kureil, the family of the most influential nobles and royals in the Northern Continent, basic manners and etiquettes in social gatherings, facial expression management…
Most of the lessons she received taught her how to deal with outsiders, not the territory itself.
It was no different here.
"Those people are suffering, but you want us to ignore them and just pass by? How can you still call yourself a Hero!"
"That's right! Righteous Heroes should help those in need!"
"Lanuvel thinks so too!"
"Don't you feel bad for the people of this city who suffer from their incompetent lord's harsh taxes?"
Han Soo, the Hero, quarreled with his comrades every single day.
He paused for a while from his morning exercise, which he also did daily, and answered calmly.
"Again, this is a political matter. It isn't something I, summoned to defeat the Demon Lord, can resolve through diplomacy. If the lord here is really wrong, the king of this country should be the one to administer a solution. Moreover, my duty is to return home as soon as possible and take care of my parents."
That was his perspective on the matter.
Whenever nobles made mistakes, the monarch had to be the one to punish them, and when the monarch made a mistake, the nobles had to unite and fight against them.
Kings and nobles.
By achieving the perfect balance between the two, the state could be managed and ruled efficiently.
But what if 'external forces' such as neighboring countries intervened?
Divisions would arise as they devoured the country's blood and flesh, demanding a price for their help.
The Hero's party was no different.
"I'm disappointed in you, Hero."
"I am as well."
"I can't believe you're supposed to be our Hero…"
"Lanuvel is also disappointed!"
Expressing their discontent, his companions rushed out of the inn, led by the cute archaeologist Lanuvel.
Unable to stop them, Kang Han Soo only frowned and sighed.
"I can't believe this is going to happen again…"
Staring blankly at his face, which made even the Dragon King he subjugated just a few days ago flinch, the Sword Princess was startled by his gaze.
"What's wrong?"
"Aren't you going with them?"
"I'm the supposed heir of Duke Kureil. I know that interfering in political problems will only make things worse."
"I see."
The Hero nodded as if he understood and began to wipe his sweaty upper body with a towel.
It had countless scars decorating it like trophies…
The sight was far too fiery for him!
"…"
His forearms and chests were exceedingly impressive, and she couldn't help but want to be hugged tight enough in them to be crushed.
After defeating her, he surpassed her after just a year and was already moving even further away from her.
Both in terms of body and mind.
He saw her only as one of his colleagues, not as a woman.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"… Why are you going out alone in the night?"
"I'm a slave to desire."
"Ah, I see."
She knew what he meant.
This Hero always secretly helped.
Although there were days when he truly satisfied his desires, he attached greater importance to 'convenience.'
While he ignored those who did nothing but complain, he also helped some.
However, good faith and consideration didn't always lead to good results.
That was why he was always on the lookout for this.
"I'm not a god, Kaisa Kureil."
"You're a human?"
"Yeah. That's why I can't help everyone. I'm just a human with a little more ability than others. Even I have a lot of much greater friends in my hometown."
"You're humble."
"I'm just being honest."
"Either way, it's not easy to humble oneself. Take me as an example. I believe my swordsmanship is the best in the world."
"It's true, though. You and Sage have the highest attack power in our party."
"…"
"Hmm? Did I say something wrong?"
"Not really, no."
She was worried he'd never see her as a woman.
***
Little by little, her worries piled up until they finally exploded.
If the Hero's adventures continued at this rate, she feared she'd never be able to get married and instead would only end up getting old.
Hence, today, she decided to try something a little bolder.
"I'm sure they'll be back soon…"
Kang Han Soo, whose handsomeness was no different than a cheat, trained at dawn without skipping a day.
And they were currently the only ones in this inn, equipped with an open-air bath that only he'd be using at such an ungodly hour.
In other words, before her was a rare opportunity that might never come again.
Slip.
She bravely took her clothes off in the men's locker room.
Although her body wasn't like Lanuvel's or Aqua's, whose physiques were naturally petite and required no maintenance, she maintained her form to this day through diet and training.
… Even more so in the recent days since she wanted to look good for the man right in front of her.
"What…?"
As expected, the powerful Hero came into the locker room on time and found her naked.
Thump thump!
Her heart was beating like crazy.
She felt like she was going to die of shame!
On the contrary, he remained unfazed.
Glancing at her, she spoke in a calm tone.
"This is the men's locker room…"
"Oh my god! Die!"
Kaisa swung Eyer at him, who treated her like an idiot that couldn't even tell the difference between male and female locker rooms.
There had to be a limit to his insensitivity!
She brought her weapon for self-defense just in case Kang Han Soo demanded too much of her body, but she used it in the exact opposite way.
Bang!
Wooosh!
Crack!
In an instant, she destroyed the entire room they were in out of sheer anger and shame.
That was a mistake she never would've made if only she kept true to herself.
"Ah…"
Was it because she was embarrassed for showing her defenseless, naked body to the man he had a crush on?