Chapter 28 – Agnes Wants to Win a Prize

“The leader hasn’t changed at all! He’s the leader we knew! So, it’s okay for you to continue to be in the Knights!”

“…”

Piene shouts brightly and her eyes shine.
However, superiors and seniors remained silent.

It is true that her life was saved thanks to Agnes, but it was a separate issue from preventing her from leaving the Order.

However, it was a situation where no one was willing to open their mouths because their conscience was pricked to say clearly that the leader should not be reinstated in front of Agnes.

Agnes, who could not have been unaware of this atmosphere, remained silent with a complicated expression, and in the end, the vice-captain put down his gun.

“…Pine. I understand your feeling of not wanting to send the leader away. I and the sisters here all feel the same way.”

“Then you don’t have to send it away! The leader from a moment ago was just like the usual leader! You saw it, vice-captain!”

“But the leader is lustful…”

Unlike the vice-captain, who spoke with Agnes in mind, Fine’s voice was full of hope.

“The reason lust is banned in the castle is because it makes the elves’ minds sick. But it’s okay because the leader is the same as the one we knew!”

As Fine said, the reason why sexual desire is taboo in elf society is because of the perception that if you indulge in sexual desire, you will only pursue sexual pleasure.
An elf who is blinded by pleasure will neglect her main job to obtain it, and in extreme cases, will even turn to crime.

However, Fine’s position was that although Agnes was aware of her lust, there was no problem because she also had the mindset of a knight leader.

“As soon as the leader heard that his seniors were in danger, he came forward without hesitation! That’s how he thinks about the knights!”

“Fine, that’s you…!”

The vice-captain’s mouth, which was about to refute, fell silent.
Because I couldn’t bear to say the words that were in my throat in front of Agnes.

That’s because you haven’t seen the leader’s real face.
The leader said that he swore that he would be held by that man for the rest of his life and that he would bear his child for the rest of his life.

“…Like I said, Fine, you’re not the only one who doesn’t want to send the leader. But in order to maintain the organization, you must follow the rules.”

The vice-captain spoke while trying to control his emotions as best as he could, and this time he looked at Agnes.

“Captain. Thank you so much. Thanks to you, we were able to save our lives and prevent that monster from going to the kingdom. But… You know.”

“…Yes, of course. I’m not shameless enough to expect a return or anything like that. As long as you guys are safe, that’s fine…Then that’s enough.”

When Agnes turned and tried to take her steps, Fine grabbed her arm.

“Captain, no!”

“It’s blood…!”

“Don’t you, Captain, want to remain in the Knights?”

“I don’t have the right to do that. So stop-.”

“To begin with, you’re not blinded by lust! So why are you leaving!”

“…What?”

At Fine’s shout, embarrassment spreads not only to Agnes but also to the vice-captain and other members.

Nevertheless, Fine’s eyes were filled with stronger confidence than ever.

“I realized something when I saw you today! You are not in lust!”

“Pine, what on earth does that mean?”

Fine’s answer to the vice-captain’s question once again threw the surroundings into confusion.

“What you’re into isn’t lust! It’s love!”

“What is love…”

“I read it in a human book! When you fall in love, you want to overlap your body with that person to confirm your affection! Not just for pleasure, but to feel love with that person!”

Fine’s answer was bold, but it was not enough to make his vice-captain understand.

“In the end, you get pleasure by having sexual intercourse with that person. Then you naturally become addicted to pleasure.”

“No! It was clearly written in the book! It said that love makes those who fall in love stronger. It makes them work hard to protect what is precious!”

“…”

“Captain listened to my request and came to my rescue without hesitation! If you were blinded by pleasure, you would have stayed in your room with Senior Dake!”

“Well, that’s…”

While the vice-captain was unable to find an appropriate rebuttal, Fine continued speaking.

“So, the leader fell in love, not lust, and still has the mindset of a knight! Moreover, Senior Dake also said that he doesn’t need any other elves, all he needs is the leader!”

“That human…?”

The words just said were enough to surprise not only the vice-captain but also the other elves.

A person blinded by the pleasure they know would try to rape anyone regardless.

They thought that Dayke would only touch the leader to avoid being discovered by the queen, and that if he had the chance, he would immediately spread his magic to other knights.

“Yes! So, there is no problem if the leader stays in the knights! The leader and Senior Deike are just in love! The mindset of a knight is the same!”

‘Really… ‘Is what Fine said true?’

Like other subordinates in this position, the vice-captain did not know much about the feelings of love between lovers.

But what if the leader really just fell in love with Dayke and was blinded by pleasure?
What if the leader he thought had fallen into a beast was the trustworthy leader he had always known?

The vice-captain couldn’t stop that hope from rising little by little.
She also decided to protect her knights from her queen, and she did not want to let Agnes, who had been with her for many years, leave like this.

“…Captain. Is what Fine said true? Are you really the captain we knew?”

The vice-captain’s voice exudes desperation.
Instead of answering hastily, Agnes quietly fell into thought.

Of course.
No matter how many times someone asked her, her thoughts about the knights did not change.
Because it is a place where she devoted her entire life and everything she gained with her blood and sweat since she was a child.

If possible, she wanted to maintain her relationship with the Dike while also being involved with the Knights.

However, it was difficult to freely agree with Fine’s statement that he was in love with her.
Not only does she not know exactly what her love feels like, but her feelings for Dake are closer to her sense of duty to pay for the sins she committed against him.

When she is held by him, she feels so happy that she doesn’t need anything else in the world at that moment, but could she possibly be feeling love?
Agnes was not yet convinced that this was the case.

“Captain.”

Agnes thought as the vice-captain’s voice urged her to answer.

If only she could remain in the Order, and with Dike at that.
If only I could pay for my sins while being with my precious sisters.

If I really could, I would even tell a selfish and shameless lie.

“…Yes. Dayk and I love each other.”

“Of course I’m right?!”

Unlike Fine, who seemed to be flying with joy, the vice-captain was still serious.
It was clearly the answer she had been waiting for, but she had to be cautious when faced with a matter that put the reputation of the Knights at stake.

“Well, then, what kind of behavior has Dake shown so far… Didn’t he go so far as to humiliate the leader in front of his sisters!”

All the elves except Fine, who was not present at the time, recalled the incident.
When he was trapped in the cave due to the wizard goblin’s isolation spell, Dake’s attitude and actions were extremely heinous.

That was never the way to treat a loved one, so Agnes needed to explain it somehow.

“That time back then…”

Her eyes darted back and forth as she tried to come up with an excuse, and soon a rather absurd excuse came out of her mouth.

“I asked Dake for it.”

“…Yes? What do you mean?”

“Well, when a situation like that happens, I get excited without knowing it… It’s complicated to explain in detail, but in any case, Dayk just listened to my request.”

The vice-captain’s brow furrows at the incomprehensible words.
Fortunately for Agnes, at that moment, Fine, who was only thinking of persuading her seniors, suddenly spoke up.

“True! It’s thanks to Senior Dike that we survived! If it weren’t for Senior Dike, you too would have had a hard time against the monster!”

“Is it true, Captain?”

The vice-captain, who heard Fine’s words, asked that question, and Agnes’ head moved up and down.

“…It’s just as Fine said. Dake gave me information about that monster and the tools to fight it. Without this, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat it.”

“That man…”

“Everything that Dake has shown up until now was something I asked for. He has always done his best as a member of our knights…Just like Alvin did five years ago.”

“Then really, Captain and Day…”

The vice-captain could no longer speak.

The leader talks like that, so I guess I can stop accepting it now.
Wouldn’t it be okay to stop the painful doubts that I inevitably have because of my position as vice-captain?

Her heart, which was torn between her reason and her emotions, tilted towards what she wanted, just like Agnes did.

“…All right.”

—

‘I wonder what happened? Nothing much will happen… ?’

Some time has passed since Agnes and Fine left the room.
According to the calculation, there is no need to worry, but if I see something that bothers me, I think I should have secretly followed and watched.

As I waited patiently, thinking it was too late to go now, I finally heard a knock on the door.

“Agnes is here…”

Agnes was not the only one who came to my room.
For some reason, the vice-captain, who had never visited me personally, was also standing there.

“Vice-captain?”

It was surprising that they came together, and the atmosphere they gave off was also something strange.
Agnes doesn’t have a big expression, but she looks like she’s secretly happy, and the vice-captain has something to say, but it feels like he’s hesitant because he can’t get it out easily.

And as if to let me know that I understood correctly, the vice-captain spoke hesitantly.

“…Dake. You know that I asked the leader to take you with me and leave the kingdom.”

The words that came to my silent, positive ears were very unexpected.

“I decided to make that request… Something that never happened.”

“Is that really true? Why suddenly…”

“I heard everything from the leader. You and the leader love each other.”

“What…”

I was about to ask again because of the sudden sound, but then I closed my mouth.
This is because Agnes’ eyes, standing next to the vice-captain, seemed to be pleading for us to follow the story.

“Everything you’ve done so far was at the leader’s request, and you even helped him defeat that monster. To be honest, it’s hard to believe, but I decided to trust the leader. Just as Fine said, the leader fights against monsters to save us. “Because he looked exactly like the leader we knew.”

What on earth happened that caused the story to go like that?
Even while I was wondering that, the vice-captain continued speaking.

“We will continue to follow the leader, and it is okay for you to remain in the knights. My members and I will keep our relationship a secret to protect the leader and the knights. So that it never reaches the royal castle or the queen’s ears.”

“Still, is it okay?”

“Yes. Since we know that the leader has not changed, I and the members will protect the leader at all costs.”

I don’t know how things went down, but I didn’t ask any more questions because it would be great for me if I could maintain the Order without having to threaten the members.

“…Okay. Thank you for understanding.”

“Dake, I don’t understand you. I just want to trust the leader. If you really love the leader, try to stay quiet so as not to cause trouble. And…”

“Huh?”

“I hope that their affectionate behavior is timely and inappropriate. This is also a request to the leader.”

“I understand, keep that in mind. Thank you again, vice-captain.”

“No, let’s go. The leader will have a lot to talk about with Deike, so let’s talk slowly. Then.”

The vice-captain bowed and disappeared across the hallway.
It was only after Agnes and I were left in her basement that I was able to hear from her in detail what had happened.

What Fine tried to persuade the members.
That’s where the word love comes up, and how Agnes lied to keep us both in the Order.
And finally, the vice-leader and members changed their minds to join us.

I just helped the knights because I didn’t want them to be wiped out, but to me, the best outcome was like a pumpkin rolling over on a vine.

“Good job, Agnes. Thanks to you, I can remain in the Order.”

“It’s not for me to be praised. Without your help, it would have been impossible to even save the sisters. It’s all thanks to you, Dake. Thank you.”

She bowed her head to me and spoke with a troubled expression on her face.

“But we are in love. To be honest, I don’t know much about those feelings yet. But if I want to continue to be in the Order…”

“Does this mean that we have to pretend that we are lovers from now on? You don’t have to worry about that.”

They act like lovers in front of the members, and when they are alone, they act like master and slave.
I think this will be fun as is.

“Well, then I’ll just trust you. Oh, I almost forgot.”

I received back the magic nullification necklace I gave to Agnes.

“The more I think about it, the more fascinating it is. How can you, a human, use magic and even have such tools? If you don’t mind, may I ask?”

“I don’t think I can tell you that.”

“I see… It doesn’t matter. Anyway, I will have to follow you forever to pay for the sins I committed against you. That’s why…”

Agnes suddenly trailed off, and before he knew it, his cheeks were turning red.
Then, after hesitating for a moment, he avoided my eyes and muttered in a low voice.

“I just said it’s not something to be praised for… But if you still think I did a good job, maybe you could give me a reward for that…”

“Award? Something like this?”

I walked closer and grabbed his buttocks with my hands.
As if I understood my intention correctly, Agnes’ cheeks became even redder.

“Well, now I have to report to the queen about the ogre, later at night…”

“Okay, okay. I’ll see you at night then.”

She nodded with anticipation in her eyes and left her room, saying she would go now.
It seemed like he was trying hard not to show off, but his excitement at the thought of receiving the award was evident in his light steps.

‘Anyway, luckily it worked out well.’

I also lightly threw myself on the bed, feeling like one homework was done.
Now it’s time to decide on the next revenge target.

But not right now.
For now, I just wanted to lounge around and think about the award I would give to Agnes.