Chapter 67

I was strolling through the capital with Kuna.

Today, Anne is not here, so it’s just the two of us.

Anne is busy preparing for the sword-wearing ceremony and doesn’t have time to go out.

When Anne came back to fetch a change of clothes, I managed to talk to her a little. She looked tired but fulfilled and happy.

I asked Anne why she seemed so happy.

There are many people who speak ill of Anne, both openly and behind her back, and the burden of the sword-wearing ceremony itself is significant. I thought it would be strange if she didn’t dislike it.

However, Anne said she is happy to have the opportunity to openly and grandly announce that she, as an Oaklair, is the successor to Kval Besta. She said she could endure anything and would even make an effort for this.

If that’s the case, I want to support Anne with all my might.

"Souji-kun, this is really the capital. Munch, munch, there are delicious things everywhere, oh, there are frozen fruits on skewers! I’ve never seen that red fruit before! I have to buy it!"

Kuna, who had just bitten into a spicy lamb skewer from a street stall, ran to a new stall.

She is enjoying buying and eating from various street stalls.

Kuna returned with a contented look, licking the ice treat.

She was holding two ice treats. It seems she had finished the lamb skewer.

"Kuna, you don’t have to eat so quickly. The food at the inn is better than the street stalls."

"That inn is for important guests, so the service is good and the food is delicious, but it’s too refined for me. I prefer this kind of thing."

Kuna started eating the ice treat, looking really delicious.

Now, she is hiding her fox ears under a hat, but if they were visible, they would be twitching.

As I watched Kuna enjoy her ice treat, she offered me the skewer of the one she hadn’t eaten yet.

"Souji-kun, you’re hopeless."

"What’s this?"

"You were looking at it like you wanted it. Here, have it. It’s sweet, cold, and delicious. It’s special."

It seems she misunderstood the meaning of my gaze.

What I wanted wasn’t the ice treat, but Kuna.

But saying that would be a killjoy.

"Thank you. I’ll have it."

"It’s delicious, right?"

"Yeah, it’s good."

The ice treat Kuna gave me was indeed delicious.

I want to have it again if I get the chance.

We both savored the ice treat.

When we finished, I decided to ask Kuna something I had been wondering about.

"Hey, Kuna. I’ve been curious, I understand how you can hide your fox ears with a hat. But how do you hide your tail under your skirt? It seems impossible given its size."

Since we entered the capital, Kuna has been hiding the fact that she is a fire fox, trying not to show her ears and tail. However, I can’t imagine her fluffy, voluminous tail fitting under her skirt.

"Does that bother you?"

"Yeah, quite a bit."

"Well, it’s... hard to explain. It’s easier to show you. Come here a bit."

Kuna pulled my arm and led me into an alley.

After confirming that no one was around, Kuna stopped.

Then, her tail appeared from under her skirt.

It was her usual fluffy, voluminous tail with a beautiful contrast of gold and white at the tip.

"Our fox tails look very thick, but they are just full of air and fluffed up. Actually, they’re not that thick."

Kuna lifted her skirt to show me her tail, making her white, cute underwear visible. The tail’s appearance required her to wear low-rise panties.

I swallowed hard.

"So, if I tense up, the air is released, and the fur flattens, making the tail thinner."

As Kuna said, the fur flattened, and the tail became thinner.

I was more focused on Kuna’s panties. They seemed a bit small, sticking to her skin, and the outline of her well-shaped butt was clearly visible.

"Then, I wrap the thinner tail around my waist, and it fits neatly under the skirt! Isn’t that amazing?"

Kuna, as she said, wrapped the thinner tail around her waist, turned around with her skirt still lifted. The view from the front was also good, with the panties digging in nicely.

"Wow, amazing, really amazing, Kuna, you’re amazing."

I made sure to burn the sight into my memory, as Kuna was showing me so willingly.

I’ve seen her naked during acupuncture treatments, but seeing her lift her skirt in the middle of the street has a different charm.

"That’s the end of the demonstration. Souji-kun, you’re looking so intently. You really like tails, don’t you? Well, it’s understandable. After all, my tail is just like my mother’s, who is known as the best-tailed woman in Elsie. It’s no wonder you’re captivated."

Kuna puffed out her chest proudly, still with her skirt lifted, showing her panties.

"Yeah, it’s a good tail. And nice panties."

"What? My panties?"

Kuna looked surprised.

"I didn’t expect Kuna to be so bold about showing her panties."

"I would never show my panties! I’m wearing spats. Today, I’m wearing the spats provided with the knight school uniform for easy movement."

Kuna awkwardly peeked under her skirt, which she had lifted.

Instead of the usual spats worn under her knight school uniform, there were unmistakably panties.

"Kyaa!"

Kuna’s face turned bright red.

She sat down on the spot, holding the hem of her skirt.

With teary eyes, she glared at me.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh."

She groaned, clearly embarrassed.

Since she had inadvertently exposed herself, she couldn’t really be angry at me, so she just groaned.

"Well, don’t worry. Kuna, you’re a bit clumsy, so be more careful next time."

When I tried to comfort her, Kuna opened her teary eyes and spoke.

"Souji-kun... you’re such a jerk!"

Kuna, embarrassed, scolded me in a small voice, but her cuteness far outweighed any fear.

◇

After a while, we took a break, and Kuna calmed down, so we returned to the main street.

Kuna kept a half-step distance from me.

"Souji-kun, you pervert. If you noticed, why didn’t you say anything?"

"I thought you were aware and showing them on purpose."

"How perverted do you think I am!?"

"...Just kidding. Since it’s rare to see, I thought I’d enjoy it until you noticed."

"You said it so nonchalantly!? That’s why, Souji-kun, Souji-kun, Souji-kun, grrr."

Kuna is quite proper. She must have been shocked.

But the fact that she’s not really angry might mean she’s okay with showing me to some extent.

While thinking about how to cheer her up, I noticed something unusual.

"It’s getting a bit noisy over there."

The people on the main street were getting noisy. The closer we got to the gate leading out of the city, the more intense the noise became.

Then, the vigilantes appeared, pushing people to the side of the road and blocking the center with ropes.

"What’s going on?"

"I don’t know either. It’s my first time in the capital."

Kuna and I stood there, mouths agape, watching.

Then, a kind-looking auntie spoke to us.

"Oh, you haven’t heard? Today, the great mage Cyril-sama and his party are coming from Elsie! They’ll be passing through this main street in a carriage, so this is the preparation. It’s Cyril-sama! Everyone is gathering to catch a glimpse of him."

I see, if Cyril is coming, this commotion makes sense.

The savior of this world and the creator of the underground labyrinth.

A genius proficient in both magic and science, and the world’s strongest mage, whom even I, who reached Rank 6 in the game era, couldn’t defeat.

I glanced at Kuna, who was sweating and trembling.

Ah, Cyril might be coming with Kuna’s father and Yuki-neesan.

"Souji-kun, I just remembered something. I’ll head back to the inn first."

"Didn’t you say you would face your father and Yuki-neesan in Erin yesterday?"

"I’m prepared to fight my father and Yuki-neesan. But, if possible, I’d rather not meet them. See you later!"

With that, Kuna ran off at full speed. I’ve never seen her run so fast.

Then, cheers echoed around us.

It seems the carriage of the great mage Cyril-sama and his party had arrived in the capital.