CH 69

69 – Snow Games (Madge)

Sixth to go was Madge. It hasn’t been that long since we reunited, so I don’t have a clue about what she could have in store for me.

「I…do not have a plan.」

Well, that was unexpected. I simply said「I see.」in response to her words.

The kids were busy making their own fun where they could. Some dozed off around the white fox, while others put ears made of snow on the snow cave to make it look like the face of a Demi-human.

While that was happening, Madge stood directly in front of me and announced that she had not prepared any sort of plan.

「I am not what one would call a fun person. I have no idea what a person would normally enjoy, nor what they like.」

「I…feel like I understand how you feel a little. Coz I feel the same way about myself.」

「When it comes to thinking about you, Sir Rain, I will not lose to the others. I think of you relentlessly.」

「Relentlessly, huh…」

「However, I do not know if there is anything I can do that could bring you joy, Sir Rain. With that in mind, I did not have anything prepared…」

Madge has next to no expressions, and her voice lacks any sort of intonation. That’s why it’s difficult to guess what she’s feeling, but you could tell she was feeling down by the aura around her. Right now, she’s probably feeling pretty sorry for herself for not preparing any plan or activity, unlike the other six girls.

I thought about what I was gonna say, and then I opened my mouth. 「I think…that people don’t just enjoy things that are flashy or showy.」

「Sir Rain…?」

It…took some time for me to form the words. 「A while ago…yeah, a while ago, around when the snowball fight happened. You protected me, right?」

Madge just nodded her head. She sliced any and all snowballs that the kids threw at me with her knife, and not one of them hit me.

「Right up until that moment, no one has ever fought shoulder to shoulder with me, outside of the other Saviors. There are loads who stood on the same battlefield as us, but none of them ever tried to protect us, the Saviors. I mean, of course, it was because we were all stronger than everybody else, and I’ve never once wondered about that.」

「……」

「But… You protected me from all the snowballs, right, Madge? Even though you know that I’m the Hero. It might have all just been fun and games, but actually…I was really happy at that moment.」

「…!」

「I am glad that everyone is trying to entertain me, but don’t think that you’re no good just because you can’t do that.」

In the very next moment, my vision was enveloped by pitch darkness. No, to be more precise. Madge hugged me directly from the front.

Compared to the other girls among The Seven, she is of small stature, but even so, she is tall enough that when she hugs me, my head is pressed in between her chest. I can feel her breasts on my face even through her thick winter clothes.

「…Mm. From now on, no matter what may appear, I will protect you, Sir Rain. And if that is not possible, then I shall be by your side, fighting till the end. I will never become someone who can only be protected. I promise.」

「…Is that so? Thanks.」

「Yes.」

「Also…uh…It’s getting kinda…kinda hard to breathe.」

「For the time being, I shall protect Sir Rain from the wicked thoughts of Eleanor and the others.」

『…Although, I don’t think you’re that different from the others.』

「Wrong. If it were me, I would be able to hold onto my time with Sir Rain with no interruptions from anyone.」

『Whoa, her eyes say she’s serious. Her eyes are the kind of eyes that say that the number one way to guard against everybody interfering would be to lock every one of them up.』

「If Sir Rain is good with that idea, that could work too.」

「I wouldn’t want everyone to be locked up.」

「I shall put that idea on hold, then.」

『No, it was rejected! Rejected!』

Everyone else quickly came rushing in, possibly because she was hugging me longer than the pact allowed.