The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 234: Interlude – The Spider’s Restraint

After the Audience with the Empress

Professor Elisha and I returned to our room.

"……."

From the moment we left the audience chamber—no, ever since we stepped out—Professor Elisha had been wearing a dazed expression as if her soul had left her body.

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

"…Why did you do it?"

"Excuse me?"

"The Empress Camellia’s proposal. Why did you refuse it?"

Elisha bit her lip firmly.

"Why did I refuse? There was no reason to accept it, so of course, I declined."

"No reason to accept? How could you say that?"

Elisha ground her teeth and exclaimed in an agitated voice.

"It was a chance to become the consort of the Empress! Even if not as powerful as the Empress herself, you would have gained authority close to it!"

And it wasn’t just power.

"The imperial treasury overflowing with treasures, the thousands of heroes under the Empire’s command—everything would have been at your disposal!"

"Hmm."

She’s saying some strange things all of a sudden.

"Do you really think I care about something like that?"

"That’s…"

"Well, to be honest, saying I have no interest at all would be a lie."

Who in their right mind would completely reject wealth, power, and military strength?

But…

"I wouldn’t want to gain all that at the cost of giving up someone dear to me."

That would be like cutting off a limb to treat a scratch.

"Ugh…."

Elisha’s face turned as red as a well-ripened apple.

She hesitated, lips trembling slightly, then lowered her head.

"If there had been no condition to sever your relationships… would you have accepted the proposal?"

"No. I would have thought about it a little more, but I still would have refused."

"…Why?"

"I have no desire to marry someone I have no feelings for."

"But she’s incredibly beautiful."

Elisha touched the scar near her left eye.

She didn’t want to admit it, but…

Even without this unsightly scar, Camellia was far more beautiful than she was.

'Honestly, even if I didn’t have this scar…'

Her platinum hair looked as if it had been melted from pure gold, and her beauty was so divine that it seemed inhuman.

Even as a fellow woman, Camellia’s beauty was mesmerizing.

"Do I look like the type of guy who runs after someone just because they’re beautiful?"

"…Weren’t you?"

"Hey, come on now."

If you ask me that with a completely straight face, what am I supposed to say?

"Well, fine. Let’s put looks aside… Empress Camellia is a hero blessed by the Seven Stars, isn’t she?"

A warrior who had transcended human limits and reached the realm of demi-gods.

Her rank as the number one hero was proof—no known hero was stronger than her.

"If you were to marry the Empress, she’d be a formidable asset in your mission to prevent the Demon God's resurrection."

Far more powerful than she could ever be.

"Well… she would be a great ally, that’s true."

However, still—

"I don’t want to marry someone just because they’d be useful."

"…I thought you were a rational person."

"Did you?"

I let out a chuckle and shrugged.

"Being efficient in everything? That’s fine. Calculating gains and losses? I think that’s important."

But—

"I don’t want to apply those calculations to human relationships."

"……."

Elisha fell silent and simply stared at me.

I reached out and gently traced the scar near her left eye.

"I didn’t fall in love with you because you were the ‘Spider of the Cursed Eye.’ I just happened to fall for you, and you happened to be the ‘Spider of the Cursed Eye.’ That’s all."

"Th-…"

Elisha opened her mouth to say something but quickly covered it with her hand.

Haa, haa—

Even though she covered her mouth, her heavy breathing echoed in my ears.

For some reason—

Even though she wasn’t using the Blessing of Insight, her eyes transformed into the ‘Cursed Eyes.’

Her violet irises were now crossed by a golden slit, gleaming fiercely.

"Haa… haa…"

Breathing heavily, Elisha stepped toward me.

"Professor? Your eyes look a little scary—ugh!"

Thud!

Elisha roughly pushed me onto the bed.

The bed was large enough to fit six people comfortably, but as I lay sprawled across it and looked up, a pair of fierce, glinting cursed eyes met mine.

"Fuu…"

Elisha aggressively loosened her tie and tossed aside her blazer.

Rip!

Buttons popped off her shirt, revealing glimpses of her pale skin.

"P-Professor?"

"…Too much."

"Huh? What is?"

"How can you say something so seductive… and expect me to hold back?"

"……."

Wait.

When did I say anything seductive?

"P-Professor. Let’s calm down first—"

"Hmph. After shaking up my heart like that, you tell me to calm down?"

Elisha scoffed before climbing onto my stomach.

A soft yet undeniable weight pressed down on me.

"Fufu."

Licking her lips as if eyeing a delicious meal, Elisha whispered—

"Hey… Call me Elisha."

"…What?"

"Just for tonight."

"……."

"It wouldn’t feel right to be called ‘Professor’ on the night we first come together, would it?"

Ah.

So tonight is already decided to be that kind of night, huh?

"…Elisha."

"……!"

Perhaps because I called her name without a title for the first time—

Elisha’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Fufu… Hahaha. So this is what it feels like. Not bad. No, it's really good."

Like a broken machine, Elisha chuckled with a wide grin.

"Since we’ve come this far, why not drop the formal speech too?"

"…Alright. I’ll talk casually."

"Ahhh!"

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

As if a weary miner had just gulped down an ice-cold beer, Elisha clenched her fists in exhilaration, tears of joy welling in her eyes.

"Heh. This almost feels like we're lovers or something."

"...We are actually lovers, though."

"It's just a figure of speech."

Elisha let out a small chuckle and slowly reached out, gently caressing my cheek.

"Dale."

“…Yeah?”

"I feel the same way."

Her touch was careful, as if she were stroking a precious treasure.

"Even if the 'fire' within you were to suddenly disappear overnight, even if you returned to being the lowly, fallen hero of your past life…"

I will still stay by your side.

"……."

Our eyes met.

Those deep violet eyes, her soft black hair brushing against my shoulder, her beautiful face.

As if drawn in by a spell, I instinctively sat up from the bed and stole her lips.

"Mm…"

The soft sensation of her lips, the sweet scent of her skin tickling my nose, and the pleasant weight pressing down on my stomach sent shivers through my body.

Puhah.

When the kiss finally broke after more than ten minutes, Elisha touched her lips with a dazed look, as if she were drunk.

"…Now that I think about it, this is the first time."

"What is?"

"The first time you kissed me first."

"Huh? This was the first?"

"Yeah. Haven't I always been the one to make the first move?"

As she said it, she pouted slightly, looking a little disgruntled.

She was so unbearably cute that I couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hmph. What's so funny?"

"Nothing at all."

Wrapping my arms around her waist, I kissed her again.

"I’ll do it more often from now on."

"…Ahem."

Elisha quickly averted her gaze.

Seeing her ears turn bright red, I barely managed to hold back another laugh.

"Ugh… Hmph! You're getting arrogant for a mere cadet!"

Realizing I was holding in my laughter, Elisha grabbed me by the collar, her flushed face almost bursting with heat.

Thud!

With a forceful push, she knocked me back onto the bed.

"Heh. Arrogant cadets deserve punishment."

A sly smirk curled her lips as she slowly began unbuttoning my shirt.

Still straddling me, she leaned down and licked my neck.

"Ugh…"

A shiver ran down my spine.

Elisha seemed quite pleased with my reaction, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she trailed her tongue lower and lower—

From my neck, to my collarbone, to my chest, to my stomach, and then…

"W-Wait!"

Stop!!!

We can't go any further!!!

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"N-No, it's just that…"

"Heh. What a cute expression."

With a teasing smile, Elisha lightly brushed her fingers along the inside of my thigh.

Given where she touched, my body immediately reacted.

And at that moment, Elisha, who had been sitting on top of me, suddenly lifted up.

"Huh?!"

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Th-This hard thing… Could it be… D-Dale's…?"

"……."

"I-I knew it was big, but this is…"

Her face turned as red as an apple, and she nervously fidgeted.

"Ssshhh… Haa… Ssshhh… Haa…"

The shock must have been considerable—she placed a hand over her chest, trying to steady her breathing.

"O-Okay. I’m fine now."

Swallowing hard, Elisha spoke again.

"…Dale. I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"Uh… Just wait a moment."

Shhh.

From Elisha's fingertips, thin spider silk spun out, weaving together into a long rope.

Holding the web-like rope in her hands, she flashed a sly smile.

"Tonight… can we use this?"

"……."

Use a rope?

For our first time?

"Uh… I mean, it’s not like I can't…"

I understood that people had different preferences when it came to these things, but—

‘Still, for our very first time…?’

I trembled slightly at the thought of venturing into uncharted territory—territory even Iris and Yulina hadn't explored yet.

"…If you’re uncomfortable, we don’t have to."

"N-No! I’m fine!"

Yeah.

Honestly, I didn’t really have to do anything, did I?

I just had to stay still, bound by the web, and wait like a prey caught in a spider’s trap.

In fact, since I wouldn't need to do anything, it might actually be easier than normal.

‘Alright. I’ve never done this before, but I can handle it!’

I nodded, steeling myself.

"Good, then."

Elisha gripped the rope and stepped closer—

"Please."

—And handed it to me.

"…Huh?"

"Remember that time in the hot spring? When I got embarrassed and ran away?"

So.

"-Tie me up so I can’t run away. As tight as possible. I… I want to be completely immobilized. And if you can… make it feel a little forceful."

"……."

Oh.

So that’s what you’re into?

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]