Chương 177: Chapter : 177

"I mean... he is surprisingly natural," Elma admitted softly, her face feeling slightly warm.

"He doesn't have any formal manners. He doesn't know how to bow or address a Royal properly. But despite all of that... he is incredibly respectful." Naomi looked at Elma, raising an eyebrow in genuine surprise.

"Respectful? Ken? He literally complains about everything we ask him to do."

"He complains about the work, yes," Elma explained, her gaze softening as she watched him.

"But look at how he treats us. Look at how he treats you, Naomi. The noblemen I usually interact with are completely insufferable. They stare inappropriately. They make uncomfortable, harassing comments under the guise of being polite. They look down on us because we are servants." Elma uncrossed her arms, her posture relaxing just a tiny bit.

"But Ken doesn't do any of that," Elma continued, her voice filled with a quiet, undeniable appreciation.

"He never stares. He never makes a single inappropriate comment. When he talks to us, he just looks us directly in the eye. He doesn't care that we are women, and he doesn't care that we are elite warriors. He just treats us like normal, everyday people. It is... surprisingly refreshing." Naomi stood quietly for a moment, listening to Elma's words. She looked over at the wooden bench. Ken was currently balancing a small pebble on his nose, trying to show Risa a new trick.

Naomi felt a warm, fond smile spread across her face. She realized that Elma was absolutely right. Beneath all the lazy complaints, the messy clothes, and the goofy jokes, Ken was a genuinely good person. He never tried to make them feel small. He just wanted everyone to relax and have a good time.

"You are right," Naomi agreed softly, her green eyes filled with a deep, protective friendship for the goofy slacker. She bumped her shoulder gently against Elma's arm, offering the rival servant a welcoming, knowing smile.

"He is a total idiot," Naomi said warmly, watching Ken drop the pebble and laugh out loud.

"But his respectful nature is exactly the reason we accepted him as our only male teammate. He makes this place feel like a real home." Elma didn't say anything else. She just stood next to Naomi, a small, genuine smile finally breaking through her strict, haughty exterior. She watched the lazy boy on the bench, realizing that spending time with the chaotic 13th Unit might not be such a terrible punishment after all.

The long, chaotic day of training and dodging magical attacks had finally come to an end. The sun dipped below the horizon, wrapping the 13th Unit's estate in a comfortable, quiet blanket of darkness. The echoing sounds of clashing swords and roaring fireballs were replaced by the gentle chirping of night bugs outside the windows. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Ken Eliot walked slowly down the dusty wooden hallway leading to his bedroom.

He had his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his incredibly wrinkled dark blue uniform pants. His shirt was completely untucked, and he was letting out a long, lazy yawn that stretched his jaw to the absolute limit.

"Hey. Wait a second, slacker." Ken stopped and lazily turned his head. Naomi was walking down the hall toward him. She wasn't wearing her combat gear anymore. She was dressed in a simple, comfortable sweater, and her bright red hair was tied back in a loose, messy ponytail. She didn't glare at him, and she didn't yell about his untucked shirt. Instead, she just walked up and tossed a cold bottle of water right at his chest. Ken caught the bottle clumsily, almost dropping it on his toes.

"Whoa. Thanks, Naomi. Is this a reward for my flawless dodging skills today?" Naomi let out a soft, amused chuckle. She crossed her arms, looking at him exactly like a person dealing with a ridiculous, constantly annoying friend.

"You ran away from every single target, Ken. I wouldn't exactly call that a flawless combat skill. But you did keep the team laughing, so I suppose you earned some hydration. Just make sure you get some actual sleep tonight. We have to go to the Upper Council building tomorrow to finalize the tournament paperwork, and I do not want to drag you out of bed."

"You are a true friend, Naomi," Ken smiled cheerfully, twisting the cap off the water bottle.

"I will be fast asleep in exactly five minutes. I promise." Before Naomi could reply, another door opened down the hall. Elma stepped out into the corridor. The blonde servant from the 16th Unit was wearing her pristine, spotless white uniform, but her usual arrogant, superior attitude was completely missing. When she saw Ken standing there, Elma froze. A bright, incredibly noticeable blush instantly flooded her cheeks, turning her face a vibrant shade of pink.

She looked down at her polished boots, shifting her weight nervously from one foot to the other. She kept her hands hidden behind her back.

"Oh, uh, hello," Elma mumbled, her voice surprisingly quiet.

"Hey, Elma," Ken greeted her casually, taking a sip of his water.

"Are you getting ready for bed too? This hallway is getting pretty crowded for a midnight stroll." Elma took a deep, shaky breath and marched forward. She stopped right in front of him, keeping her eyes firmly glued to the floral wallpaper next to his head. With a sudden, jerky movement, she pulled her hand out from behind her back and practically shoved a small, colorful plastic bag into his chest. Ken blinked, looking down at the bag. It was filled with fancy, expensive-looking strawberry candies.

"Take them," Elma said loudly, speaking way too fast.

"I went to the market earlier, and the merchant accidentally gave me too many. I absolutely hate strawberry flavor. It is far too sweet for my refined tastes. I was just going to throw them in the garbage can, but I figured a messy person like you would probably eat them. So, just take them." Ken's eyes lit up with pure, unfiltered joy. He grabbed the bag of candies, completely ignoring her terrible excuse.

"Are you kidding me? Strawberry is the absolute best flavor! You are amazing, Elma! Thank you!" Elma's face burned even hotter. She took a quick step backward, crossing her arms defensively.

"Do not get the wrong idea, you idiot! It means absolutely nothing! I just didn't want to waste good food! Just eat the candy and shut up!" Without waiting for him to say another word, Elma spun around on her heel and practically sprinted back down the hallway, slamming her bedroom door shut behind her. Naomi watched the blonde girl run away, shaking her head with a large, knowing smile. She lightly punched Ken on the shoulder.

"She totally bought those specifically for you, you know."

"Really?" Ken asked, popping a strawberry candy into his mouth. He chewed happily.

"Well, she is a fantastic shopper. These are delicious. Anyway, I am officially going to bed. Goodnight, Naomi."

"Goodnight, Ken," Naomi smiled gently, turning to head to her own room.