Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
It’s time for the middle school graduation ceremony.
Unlike the primary graduation, I’m feeling pretty moved this time.
After all, when I enter the high school section next month, the protagonist will be entering with me. I wonder what’s going to happen.
I’ve had some small troubles here and there, but my life at school so far has been pretty peaceful. But I can’t say if that will change. I’m starting to wish Kaburagi had just stuck to Yurie-sama.
Should I try and talk him up through Aira-sama? Nothing good about him comes to mind though…
Speaking of which, Aoi-chan and Sakura-chan said that they’d be graduating today too, didn’t they. Unlike Sakura-chan who’s in an escalator school system like me, Aoi-chan’s been studying so hard that even I was getting stressed.
When I saw her text me
“I passed without a problem,”
I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart.
“Reika-chan, it’s thanks to your pencil and headband,” she said. How nice.
I’ve been studying at home with my headband on too. Although, when I wandered about the house with it still on, I gave my family a shock.
“You don’t have to take it so seriously,” said Okaasama, but I was just wearing the headband to get in the mood. I wasn’t feeling pressured at all.
Actually, what was really pressuring me was how much hot chocolate I’d been drinking. It’s delicious and I love it, but my tummy got just a little bigger. Drinking it on the daily was a bit much, huh.
I brought back my hula hoop to stave off the fat though.
*妹*
*妹*
The graduation address was done by Kaburagi. He has the traits of a stalker, and he’s an athletics carnival-loving cavalry battle idiot, but he’s still the most outstanding in our grade.
I thought that these were normally given by the student council president, but hmm. Hang in there, Fellow Stalking Horse.
He certainly looked majestic reading out his address on stage. It wasn’t just the female students; even the male students were captivated by him. It seems that the Emperor’s display of indomitability had captured their male hearts.
Earlier, having already declared his retirement form cavalry battles, the Emperor was met with a flood of disciple applicants. That first year who got owned at the end was amongst them. Apparently he was a bundle of ambition who wanted to become the Emperor of the next generation. How nice~ that kind of determined stupidity. But geez, just how much do the boys at Zui’ran love cavalry battles.
The Emperor turned them all down. According to him,
“Techniques aren’t things you are taught; they are things you plunder.”
All of the boys seemed incredibly moved by his words. Idiots. The boys at Zui’ran are all idiots. We might be in trouble.
As for Enjou, even though he’s usually right next to him, during the fiasco he was standing a little further away. You could tell that he was trying to declare that he had nothing to do with these dumbasses.
Anyway, that’s how it is so I was sure he’d mention cavalry battles during his address too, but it never turned up once. And the cavalry battles were definitely the highlight of middle school for him too. You endured well, Kaburagi.
*妹*
Lollipop lilies are a breed of lilium maculatum, a lily flower native to Japan.
*妹*
When I headed outside after the ceremony, Oniisama was there!
I wasn’t sure whether or not to invite him since he was so busy this year, but Oniisama guessed my feelings and told me he would come.
Since he was spoiling me anyway, I asked him to bring Urara flowers with him.
And just as promised, Oniisama brought a bouquet of flowers with Urara mixed in.
Even though you’ve been so busy… Thank you, Oniisama!
Since Oniisama’s university graduation is coming up, I told him that I’d come running to his too, but he turned me down with a smile… Why.
Besides Oniisama, my senpai from the Pivoine came to congratulate me with flowers too, and shockingly, even Ririna’s underlings brought some for me! And of all things, Ririna brought flowers too …and then gave them to Oniisama instead of me. OI!
“Taka-niisama, please bring me lilies next year for my graduation! Lilies are Ririna’s flowers!”
Won’t the Emperor get angry if you claim lilies as yours?
See? Because you spoke so loudly, he turned around just now.
“Would red spider lilies not be more suitable to you, Ririna? They suit you very well.”
“What on earth are you saying! Those aren’t even real lilies! My flowers are the madonna lilies!”
Uwah, so shameless.
“Hmmm. I’ll be working next year, so I can’t really promise.”
“Ehhhhhh?”
Don’t worry, Ririna. I’ll come with flowers for you next year. Lollipop lilies just right for you.
“Ririna, should you not be going over to congratulate Kaburagi-sama?”
“Of course I’m going.”
Just like an idol, Kaburagi was holding a handshaking event in the middle of a horde of girls.
With a bouquet of blue preserved roses in hand, Ririna excitedly charged towards the circle with her gang.
Just before she was gone, she turned her head around and said,
“Oh, while I’m at it, congratulations Reika-san.”
before completely running off.
Goodness, what a little tsundere…
“It looks like you two really get along now.”
“Do you think? But I suppose they do say that stupider kids are cuter.”
While I was nodding in agreement with myself,
“…That’s true. Dumber kids really are cuter,”
he agreed.
This time, Otousama made sure to bring a bouquet to compete with Oniisama.
“The Queen of the Orchids, the Cattleya. Perfect for you, Reika,” he announced proudly.
I bet it was Okaasama who picked them anyway. I can’t imagine that this pot-bellied tanuki could come up with something like this.
Hm, am I looking down on my father too much?
Ah-, Miharu-chan rushed into Enjou’s crowd with a digital camera in hand. My my~
And following behind her was Class Rep with his own camera… Class Rep, shot down!? Aren’t you a little too trusting in your Middle Blessing slip?
Having taken enough photos of Kaburagi and Enjou for now, Serika-chan and the others came and invited us too. Wait, ‘together with your Oniisama’? Was that the aim from the start!?
Still, I ended up taking photos excitedly with the girls I was close to.
Unfortunately there were no guys who asked for a photo. Are there no boys out there who like me? You don’t have to be shy, okay? If you come out now, I’ll even throw in a handshake.
…Well whatever. My luck with boys is definitely going to blossom in high school. Today, I bid farewell to my Curse fortune!
*妹*
*妹*
But I really am a lucky girl. So many people came to congratulate me.
I hope that in high school, and even after high school, I’ll continue enjoying this happiness.
Translator’s Note: That concludes the middle school arc.
I hope you’ve been enjoying the series as much as I have, and if you haven’t already, that you’ll write a review here, mentioning both how you find the story, and how you’ve been finding my translation quality and style. If you have complaints, please include them as well!
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
Winter came, and I began seriously studying for my entrance exams. I know it doesn’t really matter in an elevator school, but well, may as well.
Once I enter the high school section, the newly arrived External Students will drop my rankings even lower, after all. I have to start studying now to prepare.
And so today, once again, I was studying with my home tutor.
Since Karin-sensei was looking for a job now and quit her role as tutor, the one teaching me was her younger sister, Marin-sensei. Just like Karin-sensei, she’s a student at a national university. These sisters sure are smart~
“At this rate, I think you’ll definitely pass your internal exams.”
“Really?”
“If you continue studying like this until the last day, that is.”
I see~ But if you tell me something like that I’ll get lazy in no time, so please don’t praise me so much.
Procrastination has been engraved in my karma since my previous life.
“Speaking of which, I rarely ever do see your Oniisama, Reika-sama.”
“Yes, now that you mention it.”
Ever since his coming-of-age ceremony, Oniisama has been busy with both school and our family business, so things have been hectic for him. Most of the time he isn’t even back in time for dinner so I can’t just casually ask him to play anymore.
But even though Oniisama is so busy that he can never get home in time for dinner, why is it that Otousama never comes home late? Otousama, aren’t you overworking Oniisama?
*gasp!* Could it be that he found some fraud and has been busy with the cover-up!? That has to be it. Try your best, Oniisama!
I’ll make him a bentou sometime. A hand-made bentou filled with his little sister’s love. I’ll bet he’ll be happy. I’ll use sakura denbu to draw a heart on the rice.
Sakura denbu, pink fish flakes often used as a topping for rice.
Get ready for a surprise, uu-pft-pft. Bentou drawings should be a good challenge for me.
“Your Oniisama is so dreamy. From all the rumours I hear, I can’t even imagine that he’s younger than my sister!”
“My.”
I had no idea. Marin-sensei was actually the type who loves celebrity gossip?
But Oniisama really is dreamy. When he studies or reads books he puts on his glasses, and always looks really intellectual. As a fan of pretty boys with glasses, it really sends my heart beating.
“Is Oniisama your type, Marin-sensei?”
“Well, it’s a bit hard to say this but Takateru-sama is for viewing and admiration. If I was looking for a boyfriend, I’d go for somebody more normal.”
“Is there somebody like that in mind!?”
“Well, no. But I guess there’s a guy in my grade who’s been going after me~? He’s the opposite of my type though. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I prefer guys more like the vocalists in visual kei bands.”
“Goodness~ So you prefer skinny and fair-skinned guys in leather?”
“Yeah. It’s embarrassing though.”
You say you prefer normal guys, and then go for visual kei singers?
What a surprising side to a studious girl like her.
“By the way, what’s your type, Reika-sama?”
“Eh… Just what, I wonder. Perhaps somebody earnest and kind.”
I’m not sure since I haven’t liked anybody since Tomoe-senpai.
Sometimes I hear Juliet-Kasumi-senpai brag about him though. How nice~ Everyone seems to be so happy.
“The guy who’s been coming after me is earnest too but, he’s kinda… overwhelming.”
“Is he troubling you? In that case, what if you got on a boat with him at Inokashira Park?”
“Hmm, but isn’t that only for couples?”
It is said that, if you ride the boats on Inokashira Park’s pond with a girlfriend, you will surely break up soon.
Really? Sakura-chan was completely enraged though. She was like a real-life Hannya.
The Hannya (般若) mask is a mask used in Noh theater, representing a jealous female demon. It possesses two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes, and a leering mouth.
Honestly terrifying.
Really, it was just a bit of a joke.
“JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE SAD AND ALONE, DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TEAR OTHERS APART!” she said. Her expression was incredible but, Sakura-chan, you two aren’t actually a couple yet, right? And if you’re really a fated couple, then small tribulations like this are essential. Confidence in your relationship is important, okay?
Forever Alone Village, currently accepting villagers.
*妹*
*妹*
It was still technically an entrance exam, so I decided for a change of pace to visit a shrine and pray to the God of Learning.
I knew that they sold ‘Praying for entrance’ pencils, but I had no idea they even had ‘Victory’ headbands too.
But then on the news you often see reports about kids skipping New Years celebrations and studying frantically with a headband on their foreheads, so maybe these Victory ones are actually pretty standard?
Once you consider Emperor’s abnormal obsession with headbands, maybe there’s just something about them that makes people try harder.
It seemed interesting, so I bought myself one along with the pencil. And then extras for Aoi-chan too. None for Scary Hannya Sakura. She’s a nagging youkai.
Aoi-chan’s been getting more and more ragged by the day. I’m really worried. I wrote “Please let Aoi-chan pass” on my wooden prayer plaque, and prayed hard for her.
But even though people call Tenjin-sama the God of Learning, in life he was actually demoted wasn’t he. Can he really bless us like that?
Or so went my blasphemous thoughts when a bird poop attack came. It came right down in front of me, but just as I thought I was safe I realised it hit my stockings in exchange!!
I’m sorry. I was wrong for doubting you. Please forgive me.
…Vengeful spirits are so scary. Just please don’t drop lightning on me.
*妹*
*妹*
I never told the Nagging Youkai, but the truth is that after the Athletics Carnival, Toriumi-san spoke to me.
Naturally, about Akizawa-kun.
Apparently, she occasionally saw me chatting to Akizawa-kun about Sakura-chan, and ended up with a strange misunderstanding.
“Could you be dating?” she asked.
Noooo wayyyyy~ This girl, Sakura-chan, why does everyone look at things through this weird romance filter?
And it’s weird to say this myself, but good job calling out to me, Toriumi-san. The power of love is amazing, huh.
In respect of her courage, I made sure to clear things up about Akizawa-kun and I, as well as mention,
“Apparently he is going out with his childhood friend.”
“So he is dating…” she said, depressed.
In response, I told her,
“I think there is somebody else even more suitable for you, Toriumi-san.”
I heard from one of Ririna’s underlings, Glasses-chan, that there’s actually a boy who likes her.
When I subtly suggested to Toriumi-san,
“What if you turned your eyes to the club members in your own grade?”
She was shocked.
Ummm~ Judging from the ways her eyes swam, perhaps spring is coming quite soon for a certain boy in the Track and Field Club.
Okay, this time, I think I did pretty good!
Nagging Youkai, I’ve been working pretty hard for you in the background, okay. I, the Village Chief, have a magnanimous heart.
But anyway, that Glasses-chan might look really docile but she actually has quite the gossip. Compared to a fake spy like me, she’s like the real thing.
From funny stories to useful intel, she tells me all sorts of things.
I don’t have many kouhai who look up to me, so Glasses-chan makes me really happy.
I asked her to call me “Reika-senpai” instead of “Reika-sama”.
She also told me that the 1st Year who got beaten up in the cavalry battle started having these weird feelings of rivalry with me. Why?
“People say that Katsuragi-kun is an idiot, so please be careful,” she warned.
I’m surrounded by idiots, aren’t I~ From Kaburagi to Katsuragi. Even their names are similar. Life is hard.
Later on when I walked past that idiot first year, he suddenly declared,
“The likes of you aren’t suitable for Enjou-san!”
The rantings of an idiot are too crazy for me to understand.
Anyway, that sad case first year might have been ambushed by my followers later…
It must be tough being singled out by a group of girls. Maybe it’ll even give him a trauma.
If your hair turns white, you can come talk to me.
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
During the summer break, I bought a stepper machine to vanquish my excess flab.
Although becoming a high schooler is pretty much guaranteed in an escalator school like Zui’ran, I’m still technically preparing to take an exam, so I thought it would be good if I studied and exercised.
With a reference book in hand, I’ve been stepping on the stepper. Step step step.
Recently I saw this supermodel in a magazine say,
“I don’t drink anything with calories in it,”
The scales really fell from my eyes. I decided to stop drinking my favourite sweet milk tea.
I gradually grew thinner as I continued this lifestyle. At summer cram school, even Aoi-chan told me,
“You look a bit smaller now.”
Yes!
Speaking of Aoi-chan, apparently she was aiming to get into a national high school so the exam is going to be pretty hard. Thanks to that, she has to start studying now. I hope she takes care of her health…
Thanks to using the stepper all summer, I ended up back at my original weight. After that I was so sick of the stepper that I chucked it into the same corner as my hula hoop.
*
*
When Term 2 started, I went to school for the first time in a while. Even though it had only been a month, I was a little shocked at how everyone seemed just a little more mature.
Especially the boys. They were just shooting up like bean sprouts. Some of them were completely different.
I’ve stopped growing ages ago, but I guess this is when boys really start to grow. During your growth spurts, sometimes your bone pains keep you awake, don’t they. Sounds rough.
While everyone was talking about their holiday, I overheard that no ghosts appeared at this year’s summer camp. Apparently the hotel performed an exorcism before the camp began… I’m so sorry.
*
*
After clearing the hurdle that was the mid-term exams, it was finally time for the Athletics Carnival.
It happens every year, but this year was special. I was in Emperor’s class this time.
As the class reps, Monk-kun and I had to find out who was participating in which events.
After everyone filled in the spots for the safer options, all that was left was the cavalry battle.
His Imperial Majesty was sitting in his chair with his arms crossed, gazing over the citizens.
One by one, boys who seemed confident in their arm or leg strength were nominated.
The nominees all had grim expressions on their faces. Yeah. Try your best.
There were other strong-looking boys but since they had grown taller during the break they weren’t used to their heights yet. Thanks to the trouble with their balance, it seems they were exempt this time. Isn’t that great? Be thankful to your growth spurts.
The chosen horse members were apparently going to undergo special training at the Kaburagi house. I’ve always wondered where he did that each year. After all, I never saw him doing it at school or anything.
Apparently what the training actually involves is top secret, as are the tactics. I wonder what on earth is driving him to take this cavalry battle so seriously…
*
*
Since I’m the class rep, I ended up going to the Student Council Room a lot to help prepare for the Athletics Carnival.
The President is Stalking Horse. I couldn’t help but observe him in curiosity. His hair really is black to the roots.
Stalking Horse noticed my gaze and looked at me suspiciously.
“What?”
“Eh, ahh~ I was just wondering if you were joining the cavalry battle as well.”
As I recall, last year he battled it out with Emperor until the end. Naturally he was no match though.
“…Are you scouting?”
“No, no, nothing of the sort.”
“I am, but that’s all I’m telling you.”
Goodness, he’s so guarded.
“Also,”
“Yes?”
“Don’t think that I’ll go easy on anybody because they’re a Pivoine.”
He looked at me with a strong gaze.
Aahh, this guy was anti-Pivoine wasn’t he.
“That sounds perfect. Please give your all.”
But the enemy is much more of a cavalry battle maniac than Stalking Horse suspects. I bet he’s at home practising right now.
Having finished what I needed to do, I exited the StuCo room. But before I left,
“President, have you ever wanted to dye your hair silver?”
“Silver? No way.”
Thought soo~
*
*
On the day of the Athletics Carnival, the sky was nice and clear. Perfect for the Emperor’s arrival at the battlefront.
Since Emperor was doing the baton relays as well, he practised for that too. Over and over, he drilled into the relay members how important a smooth transfer of the baton was, and made them practice countless times. So fired up. Just how is this guy supposed to be the cool-type.
Emperor’s Horse members got pretty ripped in the short time since they were chosen. Just what on earth did he do to you… And it’s scary how your eyes are all fiery.
But anyway, I’d better be careful as well. If I mess up, I might anger the Emperor.
After I participated in the spoon relay and tug of war, I went to do the ball-toss event.
Maybe thanks to my stepper machine, it felt like my legs had more strength now. Picking up and throwing the balls was easier than last year.
Around that time, a ball smacked me in the back of my head.
I yelled out,
“Ow!” in reflex, and when I turned around I found a male classmate frantically apologising,
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! I didn’t mean to!”
Yeah, I get that already. Could you not be so frightened of me?
For some reason it looked like everyone was throwing carefully away from me. Is this just persecution complex?
In the end, my class didn’t do well in the ball-toss. Thanks to that, the Emperor was in a bad mood when we returned. Geez~
Eventually, the fated time arrived. The cavalry battle.
The Emperor’s team arriving with the dignity of a ruler, and the one other team from our class that was being treated like a sacrificial pawn. Apparently they didn’t get any special training. Try your best on your own.
When they gave the start signal, the teams around Emperor were taken down one after another. Perhaps the other teams were trying to avoid him because they were all gathered far away.
Emperor moved to hunt them.
For the first time in a while, Night on Bald Mountain played in my head.
Thank goodness I was born a girl.
As the Emperor was taking down his enemies… suddenly, a 1st year team charged in at the Emperor! How reckless!
“UOOHHHHHH!”
The 1st year rider bravely attacked, but he was still no match for the Emperor. First his arm was grabbed, and then not only was his headband was ripped out along with his hair, he was tossed to the ground as well.
“DAMNNIITTTTTTTT!”
No, no, I really admire your spirit, First Year-kun. You look like a muddy mess though.
Emperor snorted at him atop his steed, before heading off to battle Stalking Horse. At some point, the two of them had become the last riders.
Stalking Horse was fired up too. The two riders measured the distance between each other before breaking into a gallop.
Stalking Horse was even stronger than he was last year. But the difference in the quality of their steeds was evident.
Even whilst the two riders battled up top, the horses were engaging in a kicking contest to destroy the others’ balance.
In the end, Emperor timed his attack with the kicks below, and splendidly protected his victory by defeating Stalking Horse, steed and all.
*
*
After the battle, Emperor announced that he would be retiring from his participation in cavalry battles. The Cavalry Battle Emperor became a legend.
*
*
What the heck is ‘retire from cavalry battles’ supposed to mean, anyway…
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
Note: Class Rep’s POV begins around Chapter 37. Monk Boy’s POV begins around Chapter 64.
Year 5 was my first time being in the same class as Kisshouin-san.
She was a particularly conspicuous girl, so I had known about her before that, though.
A member of the famous Pivoine, and the young lady of the Kisshouin family. A hairdo like a princess. Beautiful, but a little scary, and very difficult to approach.
That was my first impression of her. And once she was surrounded by her friends, her impact only increased.
I don’t know why, but somehow I ended up being class representative with her during Year 6.
Normally, nobody from the Pivoine would agree to such a role. And of all people, to think it was that Kisshouin-san who ended up as class rep.
But thinking about it now, in 5th Grade she was part of the executive committee for the athletics meet. Looking back, I was surprised back then too.
I was a little nervous about being class rep with her. Kisshouin-san’s group is quite harsh to boys that aren’t Kaburagi-kun or Enjou-kun.
But surprisingly, Kisshouin-san did all her jobs as vice rep properly. Particularly striking was that her grip on the girls made everything go more smoothly.
And once Kisshouin-san came around, even the boys who often forgot their hand-ins would hurriedly bring them the next day.
It’s amazing. It’s not like she threatened them either, but there was just this silent pressure around her.
It kind of made you want to shout “The Boss Lady is here!”
Anyway, about that Kisshouin-san. When I called her out to help with work, she would respond quite normally.
She looks like that, and even the way she speaks is your model Zui’ran ojousama, but she was surprisingly… amiable?
Even when I asked her to help with chores, she agreed without a problem. Could it be that she’s actually one of those people that can’t say no?
I actually wanted to be class rep with Honda-san just like last year, but I might be lucky to have gotten Kisshouin-san since we have our class trip this year.
Honda-san. I have a crush on Honda Miharu-san.
I started liking her last year while we were class reps together, but I couldn’t find the courage to really talk to her.
When I went to the matchmaker shrine, I got Great Blessing though.
I wonder if Kisshouin-san could give me some advice. I’m kind of hoping to get a message from Honda-san in my graduation yearbook.
When I told Kisshouin-san this, she happily agreed to help me.
Ever since that day, I’ve occasionally consulted Kisshouin-san for love advice.
*
When I became a middle schooler, I ended up in Kisshouin-san’s class again. And again, we ended up being class reps together.
I’m not timid around her any more, and the two of us talk without a problem. But her appearance is as hard to approach as ever.
If you look carefully though, sometimes there are moments when her image collapses.
One time, she was walking through the garden at lunch break. I was passing by coincidentally, but a bird pooped on her head in that very moment!
“Kyaa! Reika-sama!”
“A bird…! On Reika-sama…!”
The girls around her started shouting things like,
“Quickly! To the infirmary!” and “It’s all right! It will come off in a flash! Please keep a hold of yourself!”
and took the dumbfounded Kisshouin-san away as though to hide her.
And to think that it hit her out of all those girls…
I’ll never forget how her eyes almost rolled back.
Speaking of which, she was surrounded by deers during our primary school class trip too. Maybe she has some bad karma with animals.
That day, Kisshouin-san left school early.
*
Kisshouin-san fell in love.
The guy was a third year, the Student Council President. Kisshouin-san seems to be trying to hide it, but I immediately noticed.
After all, even when I was given things to take to the Student Council Room, she could snatch it away from the side.
And each time she came back from the StuCo Room, she would be muttering to herself with a smile.
You can’t, Kisshouin-san! If somebody sees you like that, they’ll think that you’re a weirdo!
I tried telling her in a round-about way.
“Kisshouin-san, did something good happen? You seem really happy.”
“Goodness…” she replied, with her face covered by her hands.
Thank goodness. She stopped after that.
But the Student Council President, huh. Is she into those charismatic types?
*
Kisshouin-san’s love didn’t seem to be working out. I haven’t made any progress with Honda-san, so I really know how you feel!
While we were talking, she told me about a matchmaking shrine here in Tokyo.
It’s embarrassing for a guy to go by himself, but since she went out of her way to tell me, I decided to go after all.
“Kisshouin-san, I checked out the shrine and got a fortune too.”
“My. Is that so. How was the fortune?”
“Mn, unfortunately I only got Middle Blessing.”
“I see…”
“You got one too, didn’t you. How was it?”
“…I got Blessing.”
“Ah, I see. That’s a shame.”
“…”
Is she making that weird expression because she got Blessing? Then again, you can’t really call it a good result, so.
Kisshouin-san quietly clucked her tongue. A girl shouldn’t do things like that, Kisshouin-san.
*
*
After a while, Kisshouin-san completely stopped making her visits to the Student Council. Oh? That’s weird, I thought, so I asked her,
“You haven’t been going to the Student Council recently, have you?”
but with a dreadful expression she said,
“Did you know, Class Rep? First loves never bear fruit, you know~ They never bear fruit~ Class Rep!”
and chased after me like she was cursing me. That’s scary, Kisshouin-san!
When we parted that day, just before she left, she turned around and grinned at me.
Demons, begone!
When I got home later, I wrote my first love poem. I’ll exorcise this taint through poetry!
*
*
Incidentally, for some reason Kisshouin-san will say pensively every autumn,
“It’s the season for moon viewing, isn’t it~”
I guess despite all her quirks, she’s still Kisshouin Reika. How refined.
She might be an oddball in a few places, and sometimes she looks at couples with resentful eyes, but the soft-hearted and occasionally silly Kisshouin-san is somebody I really like.
But I have to say, he observes her quite a bit too. During the bird poop incident, he was smiling away.
*
♦♢♦♢♦
*
Enjou-kun is my idol.
He does everything with a smile on his face, and even though he never looks like he studies very hard, his grades are always top class.
Rather than Kaburagi-kun who’s like an absolute and charismatic ruler, I prefer Enjou-kun’s gentle atmosphere more.
Even when Kaburagi-kun stays quiet, people get this urge to serve him. He’s good at sports and academics. His pedigree and wealth are beyond criticism too. He’s perfect. Sometimes when I see him gazing out the window, I can’t help but feel how much more mature he is than me. But all that makes him too scary to approach.
In that regard, Enjou-kun is the opposite because of how he always talks to people with a smile.
*
*
When I entered my first year of middle school, I ended up in the same class as Enjou-kun. I was class rep, but between the schism with the Internals and Externals, and all the girls gunning for Enjou-kun, everything was just insane.
Each time it was Enjou-kun who would ask me “Are you okay?” and help me out. Whenever the girls who liked him became too much, he would always warn them gently so that they wouldn’t be hurt. When it came to the Externals, he would direct them to the right people and committees to help them acclimate to the school.
That casual consideration for people…! My fellow rep Honda-san was entranced by him too.
*
*
In my third year of middle school, I was worried about how I was class rep for Kaburagi-kun’s class. Enjou-kun suggested Kisshouin-san for the vice rep.
Isn’t Kisshouin-san the female version of Kaburagi-kun!
She’s always smiling and surrounded by her friends, the number one girl that you don’t want to make an enemy of.
If Kaburagi-kun is the Emperor, then Kisshouin-san is the Empress. Scaryy!
But in the end, Kisshouin-san agreed. As expected of Enjou-kun. To think he could even persuade Kisshouin-san.
As for Kisshouin-san herself, she turned out to be easier to talk to than I’d expected.
But I’m still a little nervous. The pressure from the girls behind her is especially nerve-wracking…
*
Anyway, a certain group of girls waved the flag of revolt against her. It was Tsuruhana-san’s group.
Sparks flew between the two groups for a while, but Kisshouin-san herself simply wore a relaxed smile like they were no threat.
As vice rep she occasionally warned them for their conduct, but Tsuruhana-san’s group would shrug it off, and Kisshouin-san would leave right after.
Personally, I think it would be better if she told them off a little more harshly though. But it’s Kisshouin-san. She probably has some plan.
Because of the two groups, the atmosphere of the class grew strained. The only ones who didn’t seem to care were Kaburagi-kun and Kisshouin-san. As expected of them. They’re different to the rest of us.
But I have the feeling that something is going to happen soon. After all, Kisshouin-san’s smile never reaches her eyes.
*
It finally happened.
This morning Kisshouin-san came in with a fan. She had more impact than ever. It was like some strange aura was being emitted from her body.
After school, Kisshouin-san left the classroom smiling, flanked by her close friends.
The remaining classmates exclaimed things like, “So she’s finally making her move!?” and “Goddess Kali is here!” in their excitement.
But everyone was too afraid of going to watch.
The next day, Tsuruhana-san’s group didn’t come to our class. When I asked my friends in other classes, they told me that the group was acting abnormally quiet.
Apparently the fight ended in Kisshouin-san’s overwhelming victory.
A hero who secretly watched the fight told me in shivers,
“Her Majesty the Queen struck down her hammer of wrath. You definitely can’t oppose the Queen!”
After that, Kaburagi-kun, famous for being cold to girls, gave Kisshouin-san a friendly rap on the head, which caused the girls to go wild. Not only that, but she was getting along with Enjou-kun too!
She really is from a different world to us. Kisshouin Reika, the scariest person to make an enemy of.
Although, when I talked to the class rep from Class 5, he told me,
“She’s just a funny person.”
Even Enjou-kun said,
“Kisshouin-san is a fun person,”
so maybe I should start looking at her without preconceptions.
*
But there wasn’t anything particularly funny about her.
At most there were just a few instances. Like the time during the class trip when there was blue cake that everyone else gave up on, and she finished with a smile. Or how after eating that blue cake that nobody else did, she seemed to be sick for the rest of the trip. Or how at D*sneyland, for some reason she was the only one who ended up soaked, and her friends were cheering her up.
Oh, and that one time at the hotel when I caught her standing on one leg in the hallway. When I asked her what she was doing, she told me,
“This is the Tree Pose in Yoga.”
Is she doing Yoga because she’s the Goddess Kali?
She told me,
“I recommend the Firefly Pose and the Eagle Pose,”
but I politely declined.
Kisshouin-san was spotted by her roommate Kazami-san, who quickly dragged her into their room.
I guess ordinary people like me will never understand somebody amazing like Kisshouin-san.
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
Chapter 9 – “Awawawa, being a spy is impossible for me.”
I wiped down the maybell tea with a handkerchief.
Oh crap, the shock made me spurt stuff everywhere.
Because the maybell tea went spraying everywhere, everybody frowned at me. Worst was Raiden-san who was sitting opposite me. I got it all over him, and he’s still glaring now.
Hii, I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Actually, it’s a bishoujo’s spit, so please think of it as a reward.
“What happened, Tilea?” asked Remilia with worry.
“S-, Sorry. I was just so shocked when I heard about how they were taking over the country.”
“Honestly,” grumbled a man, “This is why commoners are…”
The people around me all looked at me with disappointment.
“A… haha… It accidentally went down my windpipe.”
“Well, Tilea’s shock was hardly unreasonable,” added Remilia.
“U-, Umm, could it be your imagination? I mean, people might just be tense because they were there during the raid.”
“No, if you can tell, you can tell. At a glance they seem like the same people, but they’re different people.”
Well, yeah. I mean, all these people that used to be “I LOVE ARCUDAS!” turned into “Hahh, hahh, Edim-tan, you’re the best♪”
Anyone who knew them would definitely think of them as different people. But I can’t give up now. It’s Edim’s, my, and Timu’s lifestyle at stake here.
“R-, Really? People turning into demons? N-, No way! I haven’t noticed at all.”
“That’s because you’re one of the townspeople. I do not suppose the demons have infiltrated the masses yet.”
“It is just as Remilia-sama says. The Captain was always so passionate about hunting down the remaining demons, but now he’s studdenly stopped it all? He even harshly punished the people that protested! It’s too strange!”
“Yeah. The Guild suddenly stopped handing out demon subjugation missions too. It’s supposed to be the most important thing right now. There’s definitely something fishy going on with the management!”
The people around me began strongly voicing their opinions. It’s probably true that the leaders have stopped the search for demons, but that’s all for Edim’s sake. They’re not trying to take over the country, or conquer the world or anything, okay? They just want to let Edim live life as a normal girl.
But it’s not like I can say that. If I did, these people would definitely try and kill her. In other words, I have to find a good explanation for what’s been happening.
“U-, Umm, this is just the humble opinion of a normal person but…”
“Mn? Tilea, if you have something to say, then do not hold back. Just say it.”
“Y-, Yes. Could it be that the leaders have all stopped the demon hunts because they don’t want any more losses? During the raid, everyone saw just how abnormally powerful the demons were.”
“Wha-, YOU! Are you looking down on the National Army! My regiment aren’t weaklings who would bow to the demons!”
“Yeah! The old Captain would never have done something so cowardly! He’s a completely different person.”
“H-, However, you guys can only say that because you weren’t there. It wouldn’t be strange for people to change their opinion if they had been there personally.”
“Y-, YOU! A mere informant dares to look down on us!”
Uwah, o-, oh no. Did I go a little too far?
All these soldiers were red in the face from their anger. It looks like they won’t listen. They weren’t there during the attack. Should I try turning to Remilia-san?
“U-, Umm, what do you think, Remilia-san?”
“Well, you may have a point, Tilea. It is true that the demons were vastly more powerful than we were. It is certainly possible that the Guildmaster and Royal Family would take a meeker attitude after that.”
“T-, That can’t be, Remilia-sama…”
Everyone was shocked.
“But it is the truth that vampires have infiltrated the Public Safety Force. And this is simply my instinct as a warrior, but I suspect that the top brass aren’t moving for the sake of the country. They are working for some other purpose.”
As expected of Remilia-san. That’s correct. They’re working for their master’s, Edim’s, sake.
“In that case, we must not tarry, Remilia-sama. We must immediately seek out the mastermind behind them and kill them!”
“Exactly! If we don’t fix things now, this country is doomed.”
“I understand your opinions,” said Remilia. “In that case, we will observe those who are suspicious, and wait for them to contact their puppetmaster. We then catch them all together.”
T-, This is so bad. I can’t turn back the flow of things. Everyone was vocally agreeing with her. At this rate the Vampire Destruction Plan is going to be a thing.
Think, Tilea! You have to convince them right now!
I took a deep breath.
And then…
“I-, I OBJECTTTT!”
My sudden scream drew their attention.
“What’s the matter, Tilea?”
“I-I! I don’t think you should be spending time on this!”
“What are you saying!” shouted a man, “An amateur should butt out!”
“Yeah!” added another, “You’re speaking out of place, you mere informant!”
I thought this would happen. It was a storm of booing. But Remilia stopped them with one hand, and looked right at me.
“Tilea. For what reason are you objecting?”
“I, I just can’t believe that the demons are taking over. You said it yourself that it was just intuition, and if you have time to be spending on dubious things like that, I think you should be focusing it on improving the public order and maintaining the infrastructure.”
“You! Are you still saying that you don’t believe us!”
“Yeah! If the damned demons take over our country, you think there’s going to be any infrastructure left to maintain!”
“B-, But, the public order has really gotten bad. There are burglars all over the place… Everyone is spending their days anxiously.”
“You should solve trifling things like that on your own. We’re busy with what really matters.”
“Exactly. If you’re worried about safety, why not just hire some guards from the guild?”
“H-, How can you say that… Do you know just how much money it would cost to do that! We’d all go bankrupt. And that’s even assuming we can trust the people we hire. If we hire somebody we can’t trust, we’d have to spend every night afraid of being attacked!”
“It’s a small sacrifice for a great cause. Our country is on the brink. If the country falls, then it’s putting the cart before the horse.”
“W-, What are you saying! What are you going to do if the people are doomed first!”
“Are you mocking the country!”
Oh no. All the ultranationalists are fired up now. They started advancing on me like they were going to attack.
Save me Remilia-sa――hang on, Remilia-san is advancing too?
“Remilia-sama, this girl is being much too arrogant towards the nation. What will we do?”
“Remilia-sama, it might be better to teach her a few manners.”
Oh my god, the ultranationalists are trying to stir her up.
Remilia-san, you wouldn’t use violence on a friend, right? I believe in you.
I gave a trusting, or rather, a begging look at Remilia-san. For some reason she clenched her fist.
H-, Huh? A-, Am I done for? Yeah, of course. Remilia-san has always been really loyal to the country.
Aah, oh no!? Remilia-san’s fist is…
“FOOLS! HAVE YOU NO SHAME!”
“GUHAH!”
But contrary to expectations, the punch wasn’t directed at me, but at one of the ultranationalists. Then, before my eyes, Remilia-san lowered her head.
“I’m sorry. As the Captain tasked with keeping the public order, I apologise from the bottom of my heart.”
“Remilia-sama, please stop that. To lower your head to a commoner is――”
“SILENCE! Have you lot no shame! We exist to protect the country. I believe this too. But if the citizens are crying for help, and as the leaders we trample over their earnest pleas, do you really believe we can fix this country!”
Remilia-san’s grave rebuke startled the ultranationalists into silence. The other members were shocked too. Perhaps it got through to them, because the ultranationalists began apologising to me.
What leadership and determination! What resplendent nobility!
I guess this is what you call real charisma. It makes you want to follow her. I’ve fallen for you all over again, Remilia-san. You’re just so cool.
With that, the discussion ended.
The result was that the participants seriously reflected on my opinion. They decided to improve the public order first.
I did it! Well, they’re still keeping an eye on suspicious people, but I guess we can call it compromise. They’re looking for a guy called Eddygar too, so I doubt it’ll lead them to Edim.
Huhu, this is all thanks to my fake info about Pistachio and Eddygar, two suspicious people that visited my shop.
Phew, I thought I was going to die from stomach pain during that meeting, but it looks like I made it.
While I was basking in the relief, Remilia-san came up to me.
“I knew it was a good idea to bring you, Tilea. It was good to find out how the common people were feeling.”
“No, I didn’t do anything at all.”
“No, Tilea. Because we are all warriors, our views are too monolithic. But thanks to you, we ended up having a good discussion. Did you not also provide us with a lead! Tilea, I am grateful to you.”
“I-, I’m honoured.”
I’m sorry. It was fake info so please don’t feel so grateful. Uu, I feel so bad. I’ve been doing nothing but lying to my future girlfriend.
“I will be expecting a lot out of you.”
“Y-, Yes. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know.”
“Umu. The next meeting is next month. I’ll be counting on you.”
“S-, Sorry? U-, Umm, isn’t the meeting over…?”
“What are you saying. In order to revive the Capital, there are countless things that we should discuss as trustworthy individuals. The Loyalist Committee for the Extermination of Demons. From today onwards, you’re an intelligence operative in our operation,” said Remilia with a bright smile.
W-, What’s with that CIA agent-sounding role?
And Remilia-san, how can you just let a mole into your group like this? I’m on the demon’s side to protect Edim, you know.
Aah, I think my stomach pains just came back. It looks like my worries won’t clear up so easily.
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
My friend and future lover Remilia-san called me out. Apparently she had something important to talk about.
Huhu, something important, huh~ I wonder what? A confession of her love, maybe~?
At least I was hoping it was something like that.
When I arrived at the meeting place, I was in for a real shock! It wasn’t just Remilia-san; a bunch of other people were there too, from adventurer-looking dudes to guard-looking dudes. Either way, a bunch of skilled fighters. This definitely wasn’t some love confession.
When I entered the room, all eyes glared at me. I felt completely out of place.
Remilia-san, why on earth did you call me into a place like this~
Aahh, I kinda wanna run away. Anyway, should I just sit in some empty seat first? After giving Remilia-san a short greeting, I did just that and made myself as small as possible.
Uuu, for some reason I’m feeling all nervous now. What the heck is going to happen.
I looked around. There were four tables that sat four people each, and at each table there were three people already sitting there. Altogether ten people, and all of them seemed to be really intense in one way or another. Well, except me of course.
Anyway, everyone was on edge and waiting for Remilia-san to begin talking.
Not long after I had sat down, Remilia-san cleared her throat. Ah, she’s about to start talking.
“Thank you for coming, everyone. The people gathered here this evening are limited to only those I can absolutely trust.”
Remilia-san’s voice was so dignified…
Aah, Remilia-san, I’m happy that you trust me like that. Well, let’s leave aside that there are all these other people you trust as well…
“Mind if I ask somethin’ first? If we’re all ‘people you can trust’, what the hell is this girl doing here?”
pointed a bearded meatball.
Damn it! What the hell is his problem! It’s true, but do you have to say it like that! You damned bearded――wait, hey… I think I’ve seen him somewhere before…
“Watch your tone! Tilea is my good friend.”
“Just because she’s your good friend, you think it makes it fine to bring a total amateur here?”
“Tilea might not be able to fight, but she has been helpful in gathering information. Compared to her, what have you done? I have seen the reports. Care to explain your disgrace during the magic dog incident!”
“Uu, t-that’s… It’s fine.”
“I see. Then stop complaining, and shut up!”
Kyaa! So dreamy! Take me!
Thanks to Remilia-san, Beard Meat didn’t say anything further and reluctantly withdrew.
“I suspect that many of you do not know each other. Before I move onto the main topic, please introduce yourselves.”
In response, a muscular man stood up energetically.
“I’m Raiden Jaft, the Vice Chief of the 2nd Regiment of the National Army. During the demon attack I was going around pacifying the neighbouring umbrella states.”
Ooh, some amazing veteran just appeared. I wonder if he’d be interested in trying our restaurant. Along with Myuu, they’d make great publicity. The frequent haunt of an expert adventurer and an expert soldier.
After Raiden-san finished his introduction, next to stand was a slender young man who seemed like a magician.
“I’m Mose Denper, a member of the Sorcerers Regiment of the National Army. I suppose you could say that I’m aiming for Court Wizard.”
Another amazing elite. The Sorcerers Regiment huh. After Timu graduates from the Magic Academy, he’ll be like her senpai. It’d be great if he could lecture Timu on the conduct of a proper magician.
After Mose-san finished his introduction, we went around clockwise. Everyone was a member of the Guards, or the Guild, or some other important institution.
What an amazing group. Even that petty-looking Beard Meat was an amazing B-ranked adventurer.
The more I hear, the more I wonder what the heck I’m doing here. Aren’t I completely out of place?
Why is there a chef amidst all these battle veterans…
Even while I was puzzled, the introductions continued.
Next was――oh! A girl.
Besides Remilia and I, the only girl in this group of men. She had blonde rolls like an ojousama. Great proportions too. What a cutie.
“My name is Rozetta Pratoline. I am an adventurer, and a gourmet hunter. I am presented D-ranked, but one day I shall be S-ranked.”
“Oi, don’t tell me you’re from that Rozetta, that major noble family?”
“Yes. Rozetta Stole is my father.”
“Oi, oi, you’re kidding! The hell is a rich girl like you doing adventuring?”
People began to kick up a fuss.
Wow, so she really is a rich ojousama~
She certainly does exude elegance. She kind of reminds me of this rival anime character that was a rich ojousama too.
“Huhu, because of my upbringing I have a greater love of gourmet food than the average person. I can’t be satisfied with the average food that other people make. Thus, I had no choice but to become an adventurer, a gourmet hunter to provide good food myself. It simply couldn’t be helped.”
What a daring attitude. But I’m envious. If only I was powerful too, I’d go on adventures and look for my own ingredients.
“Hmph, making a mountain out of something like cooking. People like me are risking our lives just to make a living. Must be nice being a rich girl.”
It was Beard Meat again. Honestly, what an irritating guy. It’s especially unforgivable that he made fun of cooking.
“Huu, I’m tired of listening to that kind of slander. Why do so-called real adventurers like you always make light of cooking. I’m speechless.”
“Why wouldn’t we. Just having food to eat is enough, who cares what it is! Only the rich can fuss about what tastes good and what tastes crap. Gourmet hunter? Hah! You think something like that is an adventurer? Don’t make me laugh!”
“Tell me. Have you ever adventured in the Cold Regions?”
“‘Course. Far from just the Cold Regions, I’ve been in wyvern nests right by rivers of boiling magma, all sorts of fucking dangerous places. That’s what a real adventurer does.”
“Of course. Then during your adventures, I suppose you prepared gachalé?”
“Yeah. If you don’t have that, the Cold Region will freeze your food into blocks of ice. It’s common sense for any adventurer.”
“Huhu, so you managed to adventure there. Good for you. Incidentally, the one who discovered and improved gachalé was me.”
“Wha-!?”
“If you look down on food, food will look down on you. Do you still want to say that you can adventure while looking down on food?”
“Kuh-!”
Beard Meat was silenced again. He just exposes more of his pettiness each time he opens his mouth. Honestly, it would be better if he just stopped…
But still, to think that that girl was the one who discovered gachalé. That’s seriously amazing. You can use it to keep your food cool, and you can use it as flavouring too. And the ways you can flavour things with it are countless. The discovery of gachalé was a revolution to chefs. I can’t even say just how much it’s helped to bring more tastes to the world of cooking.
As I admired Miss Pratoline’s words, it became my turn before I knew it.
I’m feeling kind of nervous~
They’re definitely giving me weird looks. But I guess the die is already cast. It’s too late to back out now.
“Umm~ I’m Tilea. I run a restaurant on West Road. If it pleases you, please give us a visit.”
Uh, for some reason it turned into an advertisement.
Their reactions…
Aah, I knew it. They’re looking confused like, ‘Why the heck is this girl here?’.
“My, was there a restaurant on West Road?”
Oh! Miss Pratoline reacted. As expected of the Gourmet Hunter.
“We just opened last month. I can guarantee the taste.”
“Hmm~ So what’s your restaurant recommended(signature) dish?”
“All of it. We handle everything from the Occident to the Orient.”
“…Well, perhaps I’ll go if I feel like it.”
What the! She isn’t expecting anything at all! What the heck! Just you wait! I’ll make you react like Ajioh.
Once everyone was done introducing themselves, Remilia-san began to explain why she gathered us here today.
“The reason I gathered you this time was none other than the search for the demon who attacked me and annihilated the Public Safety Force: Ortissio.”
GUHOH-! It’s here. It’s here, damnit. I knew it. I knew it would be this. I’ve been getting nothing but bad feelings about this the whole time. Well, considering all the stern people gathered here, I knew it had to be something scary…
Hahh~ To put it simply, the whole thing is just a massive misunderstanding. It would have been fine if she had just left him…
But it’s not like I can say that. If I did, Or would be jailed for interference with a public servant’s duties. And then I would be jailed too for sheltering him.
“Remilia-sama tasked me with the search for the demon Ortissio beforehand,” said Raiden as he stood.
“Then, Raiden, please report.”
“Understood. As of searching the Royal Capital as well as the surrounding states, we have found six individuals with the name Ortissio. Every one of them was human. Remilia-sama, the only one who knows the demon’s face, confirmed that they were simply people with the same name.”
“I see. It was different when I checked too. I suppose there hasn’t been any new information?”
“No, my apologies.”
“No, that’s fine. You did well.”
Yeah, well of course. After all, there’s no such demon as Ortissio. All you have is some wastrel rich boy.
Ah! That’s not right. He said there was someone named Ortissio in the Capital too, right? But anyways, I hope they just consider Or as somebody with the same name by coincidence. Still, apparently Remilia-san remembers his face.
“Tilea, do you know anything?”
“Eh-!? W-, Well…”
“Anything is fine. Even something you think is trivial is fine, so please tell us.”
What do I do? What should I say? …C-, Can’t be helped. It might be a little pushy, but I guess I’ll force her to believe some lies.
“A-A-Ah~ That’s right. Speaking of which~ I remember~ The demon that attacked you, Remilia-san, I don’t think his name is Ortissio.”
“No, I certainly heard his name.”
“But at the time you were heavily injured, weren’t you? I think you heard the name wrong.”
“T-, That shouldn’t be the case… probably…”
“See? You’re memories are in a jumble. T-, The truth is, there was this really obviously suspicious guy at my shop called Pistachio.”
“Pistachio, you say!”
Remilia-san was shocked. Will it work?
“Remilia-sama, the names certainly sound the same. Would it not be appropriate to search for a Pistachio as well while we conduct our searches?”
Some support fire from Raiden-san. That’s great. More please.
“Mumu… It is the truth that I was only semi-conscious at the time. Very well. Everybody, please cooperate with me to see if there isn’t anybody by the name of Pistachio.”
“”Understood.””
Phew, thank goodness. Looks like I made it work.
But still, to think Or shared his name with so many people. Ah, but he does come from a major noble’s family, so they have a lot of branch families that share the name.
Guess I can relax for now. Later on I have to tell Or to stay inside more until things calm down.
Anyway, is this the end of the meeting? No, looking at Remilia-san, it looks like there’s still something more. Fumu. This long meeting has made me kinda thirsty. It looks like they have a kitchen in the next room, so should I make some tea for everyone?
“Um, Remilia-san, since the first topic has finished, shall we have a short break? I can go make tea for everyone.”
“Good point. Thank you, Tilea.”
“Not at all.”
I headed into the kitchen to emphasize to her, “I can do housework. I’m considerate too.”
Now then, ummm, tea, tea… I looked through the cupboards.
And then…
Ohh~ Isn’t this a maybell fruit! And they’ve got laurel drops too.
Ku ku, I have a good idea. Let’s test out Miss Pratoline. I’ll add in just a little to enhance the taste. Let’s see if she realises~
I brought out enough tea for everyone.
Heh. I’ll show you the skill of a pro. There are knacks to brewing great tea. The temperature, as well as the timing in which you put in the tea leaves can make huge differences in the taste.
What you do is boil fresh water first. Once it’s bubbling, you enter the right amount of leaves before pouring in the boiling water. Immediately cap it with a lid, and then boil it with respect to the size of the tea leaves. Once the right time has passed, you gently stir it to bring up the tea leaves.
It’s at that point that the maybell fruit is the most effective, so the trick is to put in laurel drops at that moment too.
After that, you just pour out every last drop while making sure that the strength of the tea is uniform.
Yup~ I can really smell the sweet fragrance. The maybell fruit and laurel drops really form an exquisite harmony. Quite well done, if I do say so myself.
After finishing my preparations, I handed the steaming maybell tea out for everyone.
“Here, Remilia-san.”
“Umu, it smells great.”
No, no, you smell much nicer.
“Here you go.”
“Hmph. I would’ve preferred alcohol.”
I’ll kill you, you bearded meatball!
After handing it to everyone else, finally it was the most important one. Miss Pratoline.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
It’s on.
Miss Pratoline drank it. The way she would occasionally enjoy the fragrance was the very picture of an aristocrat.
“Hmm. Your taste isn’t bad.”
“Meaning?”
“Did you think I would not notice the laurel drops?”
Tsk, so she noticed. But it looks like she has what it takes to brag. I only added just a tiny drop…
“But if you were going to do this, then it would have tasted better to add barbar fruit to bring out the astringency.”
Mu! I certainly thought that at first too, but…
That kind of thing would make a chef cry. The balance needed to prepare that is just terrible.
“If you don’t use the barbar fruit properly, it’ll overpower everything, so…”
“That’s where the skill of the chef makes the difference. I can do it.”
“Y-, You’ve said it now. E-, Even I can do it if I try.”
“Then do so to begin with.”
“Damn it! J-, Just to let you know, if you think this is the limits of my ability, you’re sorely mistaken, okay.”
“Heh. Talking big takes no ability.”
“F-, Fine then. Fine. It’s on. I challenge you to a cooking duel.”
“My my. You think you can win against me? I have more skill than even the royal chefs, you know.”
“Even I――”
“You two, enough fighting!”
“B-, But Remilia-san, this curly blonde butterfly girl…”
“W-, Who did you call a curly blonde! My hair has a long pedigree of――”
“Enough! Break time is over. We will be discussing tonight’s real issue now.”
No good, no good. Remilia-san got angry. I’m reflecting.
Now then, what might the real issue be?
But whatever it is, at least I can relax now that the Or thing is over. I guess I’ll just have some tea while I wait.
“At present, the invasion of our nation by demons has been progressing in secret.”
Eh, really?
Remilia-san’s sudden jab caused everyone to tense up. And hey, another demon attack? I hope nothing bad happens.
“The royal family, the Guild, the Royal Guards… You can consider all organisations to have fallen under the control of the demons.”
“S-, So it’s true. This weird feeling I’ve been getting since coming back to the Capital really is…”
“Yes. Exactly as you suspect. The people gathered here were either absent from the Capital during the raid, or people who have only newly arrived. It is no longer possible to trust anybody else.”
Mn!? But I was smack bang in the middle during that attack…
“U-, Umm, Remilia-san, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I was in the Capital during the entirety of the demon raid…”
“You’re a commoner, so it’s fine. I was speaking of those related to organisations like the Guild or Public Safety Force. Combat personnel. And besides, most importantly, you’re my friend, and I trust you the most.”
“Remilia-san!”
――Hang on, this isn’t the time to be praising your lover. The people around us have started to get really noisy.
They’re all muttering stuff like,
“So the Captain really…” or “The Guildmaster truly was…”
I-, I’m getting a bad feeling about this.
“Silence, everyone! It is true. As you have suspected, the leaders of all public institutions have been turned by the demons. There are vampires lurking in my Public Safety Force as well. I also tried to discover the mastermind behind the vampires, but they chose suicide just before I could finish interrogating them.”
“Then we have no clues…?”
“We do! Before the vampire died, they screamed the name of their master.”
“Ohh! And what was that name?”
“I was caught off guard and could only hear part of it, but he screamed,
“Long live Edi-something!”
before dying.”
H-, Hang on, the most forbidden secret just got revealed. And the Guild? The military? Edim, just how damned cornered were you!
ABABABABABABA! This is a crime! A total crime! If this gets out, I’ll be hanged along with Edim.
*―*
*―*
*―*
*―*
*―*
*―*
“She kind of reminds me of this rival anime character that was a rich ojousama too.” “B-, But Remilia-san, this curly blonde butterfly girl…”
Both of the above lines are references to Ryuuzaki Reika, of Ace wo Nerae! who is a rival character that is nicknamed Madame Butterfly. She’s the one with the curls:
Thank you, zoom, for introducing the manga to me.
“What the! She isn’t expecting anything at all! What the heck! Just you wait! I’ll make you react like Ajioh.”
This line is a reference to Mister Ajikko. The Ajiou character in question reacts to good food like this:
The one at 12 seconds is him.
Ah, also, yes, Rozetta is the surname, and this is what she looks like in the web novel illustrations:
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
Sorry for inactivity. A bunch of light novels arrived.
It’s time for the class trip again, or the ‘learning excursion’ as it’s officially called.
The middle school trip goes to Los Angeles in America. I tried my very best to cut down on the luggage, but I ended up needing both a suitcase and a carry on bag.
But I had to pack enough blouses for a few days, as well as spare uniform jackets and skirts. I needed clothes other than my school uniform too, and I’m bringing a few shoes too, so in the end my suitcase was full in an instant.
Then again, vacations with your family would have even more luggage, so I think I did pretty well this time.
I sure am looking forward to it~
*妹*
The trip is technically for ‘learning’, but we’re just sightseeing and aren’t learning a thing.
For example we went to visit places like the Chinese Theatre and Beverly Hills, and then did some shopping at Rodeo Drive.
There, we went to that famous jeweller known for its blue box, and my close friends and I bought matching necklaces to commemorate the occasion.
We discussed the motifs like the heart, keys, leaves etc. and in the end we chose a cross.
Everyone put theirs on right after purchase. The blouse of my uniform covered it up, but it was new and matching, so just wearing it lifted my spirits. It’s so friend-like to have matching stuff! I kind of want to shop even more now.
Everything was listed in dollars, and since I’m paying for things by card, my money sense was a bit messed up. Before I knew it, my two hands were filled with spoils of war. It’s scary how I bought all this stuff I don’t even need. I’m not going to look at any windows anymore.
*妹*
The hotel we’re staying at is a first class hotel fit for Zui’ran. Dinner was mostly hearty meat dishes. As expected of America. There was a lot.
I felt bad leaving stuff on the plate, so I decided to clean up every meal. It was delicious, so it was no problem.
Or so I thought, but it didn’t take long for my stomach to feel weird. I guess eating so much meat every day might be a bit much for me. And it wasn’t just dinner, it was lunch too. Does this country have nothing but meat!
Anyway, there was just a lot of it, so I desperately needed bread to go with it. Actually, just the bread enough would have been fine. I love carbohydrates, so eating meat, meat, meat is really tough on me. I want to eat tofu. My stomach feels oddly heavy…
Serika-chan, who was staying in the same room as me, said,
“It’s a bit hard eating all this before bed, isn’t it.”
But Serika-chan, you left some meat on your plate, didn’t you?
I get the feeling that everyone’s faces have gotten rounder during this trip…
I brought some snacks as emergency rations in case I didn’t like the food here, but my stomach feels so bad I don’t even want to touch them.
At night I did some exercises with Serika-chan, said to help with digestion, but it didn’t feel like it worked at all.
*妹*
*妹*
After that we went on a field trip to a protestant school. It’s not even a sister school, so why are we here? I thought, but just going around eating, buying, and playing at amusement parks wouldn’t constitute much learning, so I guess they added this to the itinerary for show.
In front of real Christians, I suddenly felt guilty about the cross I was wearing under my uniform. I noticed the other girls were looking around at each other’s blouses too.
“Perhaps we really should have gone with flowers or a heart.”
“Yes…”
But it was a lovely school with a nice sense of freedom. When I saw all these American schoolgirls lying about on the wide garden, I was like It’s just like a foreign drama! and got all excited. It kind of made me want to study abroad.
We ended up having lunch at that school as well.
I’ve actually been secretly looking forward to it. The school is vegetarian so there won’t be meat! My stomach can finally have a break!
Now then, I wonder what we’ll have? Or so I wondered with sparkling eyes, but they carried out something completely brown.
I timidly had a taste…
…This is bad. What is this strange flavour.
I don’t know what this is, but it might be worse than hospital food. I don’t think even I can eat this. What’s ‘gluten’?
Thanks to the rapid meat attack I’ve been forced to endure, I’d be fine skipping a meal but…
Looking around, I found that nobody else was really eating either. I guess they’re the same as me. Why couldn’t they have just given us salad. Why did they give us this weird-tasting weird-textured stuff.
Incidentally, Kaburagi was eating indifferently.
It’s a little surprising.
I was sure that Kaburagi was the type to leave behind anything he didn’t like.
This food is definitely untasty, but Kaburagi hadn’t let out a peep about it.
…Yeah. This school prepared us with this food, so it would be rude to leave stuff behind. I’m reflecting.
I began learning from Kaburagi and forced myself to eat. But, uu… It tastes so bad. How on earth is he keeping his poker face, eating this stuff!?
In the end, we were offered a choice between carrot cake and mint cake, and when I chose the latter out of curiosity, this bright blue cake was brought out to me. This is impossible…
I met eyes with Kaburagi. He looked at me, and then at my cake, and then had this expression like I was some pitiful weirdo. What the heck!
*妹*
*妹*
After that, we just went to amusement parks every day.
Thinking about it, this is my first time going with my Zui’ran friends. That kind of makes me happy!
In my excitement, I rode one ride after another, and then ended up motion sick…
America’s D*sneyland is a lot more exciting, and also a lot scarier than Japan’s. And aren’t these rides a lot longer too?
Maybe it’s the curse of the meat dishes, but I’m feeling terrible.
I guess I’ll need to rest for a bit.
“Are you all right, Reika-sama?”
“Yes. I think I will be fine after a little rest. Please pay me no mind and continue enjoying the rides.”
Worried about me, Serika-chan and the girls suggested staying with me, but I had them enjoy themselves instead. They said they would come back to check on me after the first ride, but I told them not to worry and just have fun. Plus, some other girls seemed to want a rest too.
While I was sitting on a bench and spacing out, I saw Kaburagi and Enjou walk past. Kaburagi seemed to be enjoying himself, unlike his usual poker face. So he actually liked amusement parks?
Together with his guy friends, Kaburagi was briskly walking from ride to ride. And behind him followed Tsuruhana-san’s group. They’ve all got so much energy.
Everyone is in casual clothing today, so it was hard to tell Zui’ran students from the other tourists. Well, it’s a big place. I wonder if there’s anyone else I know~
Wha-, ah!
It’s Maiden Class Rep walking together with Miharu-chan!
There were other kids with them too, but Class Rep and Miharu-chan are going to the attractions together!
Damniittt! An amusement park date? I’m so jealouss!
A while later when my friends came back, a bunch of male students were with them. Apparently they met each other in the lines, so they rode the rides together. They’re kinda looking at each other and smiling.
Eh-, why did everyone go on pseudo-dates while I wasn’t around!?
And why did the boys leave once the girls reached my side? Aren’t we supposed to go on more rides together?
Could it be… No, it’s your imagination. It’s okay, Reika. Don’t think about it.
*妹*
At night we went to the haunted house. It was night, so somehow the atmosphere was just better.
“Speaking of which, apparently a ghost appeared at last year’s summer camp.”
“Right, right. A girl from Class 5 saw it. A dripping wet yuurei woman!”
“I heard that she was gnawing a corpse.”
Everyone started talking about how scary it was.
I’m the one who’s scared, okay. The rumours just keep spreading…
“Reika-sama, didn’t you participate in last year’s summer camp as well?”
“Yes. But I don’t know anything about it at all.”
I’m definitely not going again this year.
*妹*
*妹*
After coming back from my meat galore trip, I gained three kilos. What do I do!
And it feels like all the girls except me are closer to the boys now! Why!?
“There, we went to that famous jeweller known for its blue box” She refers to Tiffany’s.
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
Afterstory, Part 1 – A Certain Ambitious King
Mountains of sand, changing shape in the wind.
Karasu sighed as he leant against the boulder that shaded him.
The boulder’s shadow stretched far across the sand.
It would be evening soon.
Under the red glow of the evening sky, a number of dead men and the corpse of a ruba could be seen.
――If only the ruba were alive.
How many times had he wished this already.
But no matter how badly he wished for it, it was fruitless unless he could revert time.
“Create oases and trade routes.”
Karasu thought back to the woman who had casually suggested this.
――Damned goddess of misfortune.
Karasu cursed to himself.
The oasis creation program had been fraught with problems from the start.
The ones responsible for the all-important task of finding the water veins were the Ottko Yuu tribe, who all hated Karasu to the bone.
It took two months of arguing just to reach a semblance of cooperation.
Furthermore, the movement across the desert made the arrijighock difficult to handle, so just that alone required large amounts of hahanero. The amount grown by the Ottko Yu tribe was nowhere near enough.
Thus, negotiations began with Jebas, the home of hahanero. Unfortunately, standing between Yohk’Zai and Jebas were a steep mountain range, and the nation known as Triht. Worse, Triht’s leader, Setsugen, was a stubborn youngster who was difficult to negotiate with.
With Setsugen constantly pestering him for firestones, it took half a year just to secure a route to Jebas. And to trade with the isolationist Jebas took another three months of top of that to begin.
Even though Karasu had been so busy he couldn’t even sleep, that damned Goddess had said,
“You’re slow. Geez, we can’t wait any longer. Whatever. In that case, I’ll just bring the Tohjian workers to Insen myself.”
Never in his life had he wanted to strangle that woman more.
But despite that, Karasu couldn’t oppose her.
While the woman had been happily enjoying her baths, Karasu had been slowly but surely advancing the preparations.
As proof of that, he had already finished constructing one oasis last month. After sending in material and men, and getting things set up, Karasu had begun working on the second oasis.
That woman had complained to him, but he had still created an oasis in less than a year. How could that be slow.
Karasu was feeling a sense of accomplishment, different to the one when he took I’Jibro.
And the second and third oases didn’t seem too difficult either. Now that he had already worked out the specifics of creating one, the rest could be created by following the same lessons.
Back when the woman had first told him to create a trade route, he had thought of it as a ridiculous task. But although he certainly did meet many hardships, things were progressing smoothly.
The control of I’Jibro was going well.
Getting the tariffs in place was close at hand too.
Everything was starting to come together.
It was probably because of this that he had relaxed and gotten conceited.
He had thought that it would be just another trip in the desert. He had already done it once in the past.
It was just riding a ruba for a bit. Hardly dangerous at all. Thinking that, Karasu had headed into the desert by himself without informing any of his men.
Who could have imagined a bandit attack with such unfortunate timing.
Before he was old enough to have his voice break, Karasu had worked as a bodyguard. He had good sense and talent to go with it, and was regarded highly by trading caravans.
Karasu didn’t hate using the sword. Neither did he hate fighting. This had not changed since becoming King of Yohk’Zai, and he had always stood on the frontlines with his sword.
Thanks to that he managed to turn the tables on the five bandits. Unfortunately, in the process he had lost the ruba that was his lifeline.
What made things even worse was that his leg had been slashed. Thankfully it wasn’t serious enough for him to haemorrhage to death, but it still made it difficult to walk in the desert.
It would be reckless to attempt travelling a distance that would take half an hour on ruba.
Karasu decided to preserve his energy rather than struggle pointlessly.
So he leant against a boulder and gazed at the half-buried corpses. He spent an hour like that.
Sparkling grains of sand in the wind seemed to paint over the corpses.
Back when he killed the merchants in order to take Huuron’s place, had their remains also been buried beneath the sand like this…?
Quite unlike himself, Karasu began to grow sentimental.
“OOOOOOOI, WHERE ARE YOU HUUUUUUROOOOOOOOOOON!”
An angry woman’s cry. And at the same time, a rectangular hole was cut into the scenery.
As usual, the woman appeared in front of him wearing only a single cloth.
It was a bother to get up, so Karasu only moved his eyes.
“You’re slow. I’ve been waiting for you,” he said.
It was a mysterious feeling.
Until just now, he never had even the faintest expectations that she would save him, but the moment he saw her face, it felt like he had been waiting for her all along.
When the woman spotted him sitting on the sand, she glared at him indignantly.
“What the hell was that!”
“What the hell… was what?”
Of course, he had a rough idea of what she was angry about. Still, he decided to pick an annoying answer.
“That! That! That thing in the dead middle of the oasis spring, damnit!”
So it was that after all. Karasu’s lips curved into a smile.
“Oh, it seems you liked it. I commissioned some famous artist from Jebas.”
After looking lost for a moment, realisation flashed on her face.
“Famous artist… Don’t tell me it was the Old Maestro!?”
“Yeah, that’s the one. That Old Maestro was an acquaintance of yours, wasn’t he.”
The woman collapsed onto her rectangular frame as she groaned “Ugugu…”
Karasu decided to finish her off.
“It was well done. It had a bit more meat on it, so it was more to my taste.”
When he had visited Jebas, in that extraordinarily luxurious castle courtyard, he spotted a statue of a naked woman bestowing a sword upon a man in armour.
He had been dumbfounded by the sight, but he quickly began to chuckle as he thought up his revenge.
“An oasis that a goddess watches over. Doesn’t it sound great? I’ve no doubt you’ll be worshipped by future visitors.”
“…It’s true that I helped out with the oasis, but why did you have to make it naked!?” she screamed.
Seeing her red face had really satisfied him. Karasu laughed happily.
“Have a look at what you’re wearing, and ask yourself that.”
Looking down at her cloth-wrapped body, her expression turned bitter.
“Plus, that old man thought that it would be better naked too. Since I felt that it would be blasphemous to misrepresent you, I readily agreed.”
“Didn’t you completely misrepresent my body…” muttered the woman.
Karasu’s laughing only deepened.
“I was just being considerate. I thought it would be pitiful if people started pointing out that the Goddess of the Spring was so much scrawnier than all the other goddesses.”
Her silent and sour expression made him smack the ground with laughter.
It was actually starting to hurt now.
His leg wound had been bothering him the whole time as well.
“Anyhow, bring it out. You have something this time as well, don’t you.”
It was only now that the woman realised he was wounded.
“Oh my. Could it be that you’re injured?”
Karasu nodded.
“I am.”
“You should say these sorts of things earlier. Here. A flute made from the horn of a sekitoha. Apparently you can hear it from a thousand miles away.”
With that, the woman produced a large flute the size of one’s upper arm.
――Again with an incredibly suspicious item…
Whenever she appeared with an item, a lot of the time it was something peculiar.
But Karasu also noted that it was always something that helped.
When he took the flute in his hands, he noticed how light it was despite its bulky appearance.
Bringing it to his lips, he blew.
-BUOOOOOH-
A low sound seemed to spread through the land.
It felt like it went further than a person’s voice could. But he still couldn’t imagine that it would reach anywhere near a thousand miles.
“Oi, this isn’t a fake is it.”
The women tilted her head in puzzlement.
“…W-, Who knows?”
Karasu wanted to slap the flute onto the ground.
“Well, whatever. If worse comes to worse, you can just carry me the same way you do the Tohjians.”
The women complained, “But I have to get up early tomorrow…” with an unwilling expression, but Karasu naturally paid her no heed.
Half an hour later.
Around the time he replaced his makeshift bandage with a new cloth from the woman, he heard the sounds of people coming to find him.
For a while, Karasu had trouble deciding if it was the flute or not.
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
“DON’T MOVE! If you move a hair I’ll use my magical bullets.”
I looked at the maniac’s eyes. This is bad. He’ll seriously shoot.
“P-Please calm down. Let’s think things through calmly. Timu and I are just the daughters of a chef; we’re commoners. Why on earth would we need to get involved with demons?”
“That’s suspicious in and of itself! How on earth could the daughter of a mere cook outdo the sons and daughters of nobles. That Timu girl has probably been bewitched by a demon. After all, it’s impossible that a noble would lose to a commoner.”
Ah!
So the truth is finally revealed…! In other words, this aristocratic elitist looks down on commoners. That’s why he’s so suspicious of Timu’s talent. There’s no way a commoner could be the Dux Litterarum, huh!
God, what a stereotypical medieval noble. Thinking that their nobility makes them absolute, and anybody who threatens their position should be hanged as a witch.
“Just listening to you disgusts me. Is this how a teacher should be thinking? Who decided that a commoner can’t be as good as a noble? Timu’s ability is because of the demons? Stop talking rubbish! Timu’s ability is because of her own hard work!”
“Hmph! You don’t understand a thing. One’s ability in magic is almost always determined by their heritage. There are certainly commoners who have some skill with magic. But they never amount to much.”
“And I’m telling you that’s a bias! Don’t get Timu mixed up in your elitism. To begin with, aren’t you the one who praised Timu in the beginning!”
“Indeed. There may certainly be exceptions within the commoners. It is exactly that thought that led me, for the sake of this nation, for the sake of the royal family, to put aside my personal feelings and suggest that the likes of a peasant should become a court wizard. And far from feeling grateful, that girl… to a noble like me… looked at me like I was nothing more than a bug! Absolutely unforgivable!”
The ultranationalist elitist sprayed spittle everywhere.
So unsightly. Doesn’t he realise just how much harm that classist way of thinking is doing to the country? Timu understood just how foolish and disgusting this man was.
“It’s because you act like this that Timu looked down on you, you know.”
“Hmph. Thinking about it carefully, there was always something inhuman about that girl. I’ll bet she’s the underling of a demon or something.”
“Hahh~ Don’t you understand how absurd you’re being? You’re being looked down upon because of your own conduct. And of all things, you’d even slander us with a false charge because you couldn’t stand losing to a commoner…”
“Shut up! You damned traitor! You’ve sold us to the demons. You two sisters are going to the gallows. All enemies of the royal family shall die.”
“…Y-, You’re insane.”
The nails that stick out are hammered down. Timu is a commoner with more talent than the nobles. I’ll bet this elitist bigot didn’t look kindly on that. A man mad with jealousy.
But even if he’s a madman, he’s still a teacher at the Magic Academy. Just his word against ours is enough to doom us.
W-, What should I do.
Before I could think of a plan, reality struck hard when the doors suddenly opened. Guards came walking in. A pair of buff men.
Kuh-, is there nothing else I can do…?
“You’re here. This girl is a traitor who has connections to the demons. Capture her immediately! Her sister as well. I’ll leave it to you.”
“…”
“What’s the matter? Hurry up and restrain her. She’s a traitor to the nation, you know!”
I thought I would be arrested immediately, but for some reason the guards weren’t apprehending me. Far from it, they were just standing around.
Mn!? Somebody else is coming in. Some girl walked briskly and coolly into the room――wai-, Edim? What’s going on?
The guards parted to either side, and Edim strode gallantly down the middle.
“Mu!? Aren’t you Edim? Where have you been all this time? Casually playing truant? How shameless.”
“Eh!? Edim, you haven’t been to school?”
“My sincere apologies. I have been busy with more important places, so I haven’t been to the academy yet,” she explained apologetically.
“Huh? More important places, you say? Depending on your answer, I may need to suspend you, no, expel you.”
“Edim, what was more important than school? Skipping school isn’t good, okay? Please stay with Timu.”
“M-, My most sincere apologies. Because of the decisions we made at the war council, I simply could not find even a little time, and have shamefully not come here yet.”
Edim was even more apologetic now.
“War council? Edim, could it be that the royal family secretly called for you? In that case, there’s no helping it. The royal family comes before all. I understand the circumstances now, so return to class.”
“War council? That wasn’t just an E.G.A. meeting? If you had some job to do, then I guess it can’t be helped. Mn, mn. Once you’re done, go back to class with Timu, okay?”
“Understood. I will return with pleasure,” she replied with an ecstatic expression…
Wai-, who has she been answering all this time? This ultranationalist’s questions have been kind of aligning with mine.
Well whatever. Anyway, what to do about this situation? At this rate, I’ll be imprisoned under false charges. In this world without lawyers, it’s common for people to ignore anything the commoners say. If I just go along with it, I’m done for.
There’s no other choice. Should I make a run for it? But I can’t imagine being able to escape these macho men.
Mm~mm, should I ask Edim to help then? I don’t know why she came in with these guards, but I’m sure Edim can help.
But if she does, then there’s the chance of her real self being exposed. Still, Timu is in danger right now. I have to make a decision.
“Ah~ Edim, the truth is that at this very second, I’m in a rather tight spot.”
“A tight spot, you say?”
“This ultranationalist elitist has been going on about how Timu and I are the underlings of demons, and about he’s going to throw us in jail. Isn’t he a massive idiot?”
“Hmph! I’m a massive idiot? You two sisters are done for!”
“What an annoying guy! Edim, that’s how things are, so could you help?”
“Edim, pay no heed to the babblings of this traitor. Now then, return to class.”
After listening to the maniac and I, Edim gave a clean nod.
“What are you doing, Edim? Return to class at once! Mn!? Speaking of which, why are the guards with you…”
“Tilea-sama, I understand the situation now. I will grasp hold of the academy next. Get him, Dalf!”
“Understood.”
At Edim’s command, the young man named Dalf attacked the ultranationalist elitist. Because he was stunned, he showed no resistance as Dalf sank his fangs into him.
Dalf audibly gulped down blood.
And then…
Pitifully, Ultranationalist Elitist fell to the ground, drained of his blood. It had only been a few dozen seconds.
Then, a few minutes later, the ultranationalist elitist got up, and knelt before Dalf like a retainer.
He was like a totally different person.
The ultranationalist elitist was looking at Dalf like he was a god. The characteristic fangs of a vampire were sticking out of his mouth.
“E-, Edim-san, could I ask one question…?”
“What is it, Tilea-sama?”
“Could it be that the macho men standing over there are both vampires?”
“Yes. They are my kin, Dalf and Milio.”
“…I see.”
“Tilea-sama…?”
Edim tilted her head and looked at me a little confused.
The whole place was quiet, like the earlier chaos was a lie.
Edim and I looked at each other for a while, and then…”
……
…………
………………
“W-W-W-What a-are y-y-you doing! Sucking blood… D-, Doesn’t that make you no different to a monster!”
In my panic I criticised Edim.
Oi, oi, oi, what the hell is going on? Didn’t Edim get her human heart back? Why is she attacking people for their blood!
“INSOLENCE! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO EDIM-SAMA IN SUCH A MANNERR!”
Apparently one of Edim’s kin was enraged at me. In his anger, he raised his fist to hit me.
H-, HYOEH~!? SERIOUSLY!?
O-, Of course. I scolded the master, so of course her kin would be mad.
“U-, Umm, w-, wait a――”
“BASTARDD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO TILEA-SAMA!”
Edim began to violently beat her kin.
“GUHAH!”
“YOU USELESS SCUM! DO YOU INTEND TO SHAME ME IN FRONT OF TILEA-SAMAA!”
Still enraged, Edim continued to beat her kin relentlessly.
Uwahh, that looks painful…
As expected of a vampire. Her strength is really no joke. The buff men were spewing blood in no time.
“P-, Please stop. Please forgive Dalf-sama.”
Ah, the new vampire Jayjay started trying to cover for Dalf.
“Hahh, hahh, bastard. Don’t speak out of turn. You are in the presence of Edim-sama.”
“H-, However…”
W-, What the heck is with this drama.
The former monarch-supremacist Jayjay was now desperately covering for Dalf. Does that mean Jayjay worships Dalf, and in turn Dalf worships Edim?
“Oi! Stop Edim-sama as well, you idiot!”
Jayjay suddenly screamed at me. But, can I even stop Edim? It’s true that she’s Timu’s friend, and I think of Edim as my friend too, but…
At any rate, Edim attacks people. Even ignoring Jayjay, she attacked Dalf and Milio, so that’s already two victims.
Could it be that she’s actually still a vampire inside?
No, but she saved me just now. It was because Jayjay was going to imprison me that she turned him.
And when they tried to attack me, she got angry for my sake and was the Edim that I remember.
Mn, I’ll believe in her. There has to be some reason that she did this. How could I suspect Timu’s precious friend!
“Edim, please stop.”
“Understood.”
Edim obediently agreed. She really is the Edim I know.
“Edim, could I speak to you alone…?”
“Yes. Dalf, Milio, take the new guy and wait outside.”
“H-, However, defending you is――”
“I won’t say it again. Leave!”
“”As you wish.””
The two kin left as ordered. Their movements were those of veteran soldiers.
Is this because of vampiric bewitchment or something?
Anyway, I’ll ask why she attacked people. Maybe it has something to do with why she hasn’t been going to school.
“Edim, this is an important question. Could you answer it?”
“Yes, anything.”
“Um, Dalf and Milio, was it? Why did you turn them into kin?”
“Milady, Milio is a member of the Guards. He discovered that I was a vampire, so I had no choice but to turn him. As for Dalf, it was because he was a captain of the Guards.”
Aaah~ So that’s how it is.
S-She had no choice, she had no choice. There were extenuating circumstances, okay? I mean, she’d be executed if people found out that she was a vampire. There wasn’t any choice with Milio, right?
Then what about Dalf? Why did she go out of her way to change him if he hadn’t even found out?
“I understand Milio’s case, but why Dalf?”
“If I turn Dalf, then I can control the entire five hundred guards. Or would it have been better to turn all five hundred of them as well?”
“N-, No, definitely not, but…”
“I-, Is there something else you are dissatisfied with? What on earth should I…?”
Edim looked at me uneasily. It was the expression of a small child who didn’t know why she was scolded.
T-, This is…
I see! Oh my god! How could I have said something so cruel!
This is what actually happened!
Even though Edim is a vampire with the heart of a human, her body is a real vampire’s. It wouldn’t be strange at all if the Guards, Safety Force, and the other government agencies came after her.
One day, Edim was spotted by a guard…
『Oi, I’ve found you! A remnant of the vampires! PREPARE YOURSELF, YOU ENEMY OF THE KINGG!』
『Stop it! Please stop it! I’m a human!』
『SHUT UPP, MONSTERR! I’LL TAKE REVENGE FOR ALL OF YOUR VICTIMS!』
『Stop! Stop! I’m a victim too! Help!』
Guards tenaciously pursuing her… And naturally so, because of the vampire attack that just happened… Nobody would listen just because she claimed to be a former-human…
And then…
『KYAAAH!』
『Heh. You’ve nowhere left to run. Just see how I torture you to death!』
『No! No! Please stop it! GABUH-!』
They drove her into a corner, and she did it out of desperation and fear. That’s legitimate self-defence. To think that Edim has been fighting such a struggle all this time. No wonder she couldn’t come to school.
And then, a few days ago, Edim realised. That if she continued this way, one day she would be caught and tormented to death. In that case, it would be better to go for the Guard Captain to begin with. If she stopped the leader of the hunting force, then they wouldn’t be able to continue. In fact, doing so would reduce the number of victims. That’s why she had no choice but to attack him.
What a pitiful girl. Who on earth could blame her. Nobody could. She’s a victim. She did what she had to to live. True, what she did might have been a crime. But as her friend, I at least need to stand by her side.
“Edim… It must have been hard.”
I gently wrapped my arms around her.
“U-, Umm, Tilea-sama, what do you mean by that? D-Did I make some mistake?”
“No, you did the right thing. No matter what anyone says, I’ll support you.”
“Tilea-sama!”
For a while, Edim and I hugged each other.
Now then, what do I do?
Edim vampirised the Captain of the Guards, so there shouldn’t be any vampire hunts for now. In that case, Edim shouldn’t attack any more people. It saddens me too that people had to be attacked.
Ah!? Speaking of which, these new vampires aren’t going to run wild, are they? After all, during the attack on the capital it was like a zombie game…
“Hey, Edim, your kin aren’t going to run wild, right? It would be bad if they ran out randomly attacking people like the time with the vampires.”
“Please be at ease. The reason that happened during the invasion was because the parent vampires lacked both ability and character. I am a first-rate vampire, so there isn’t a problem.”
“I-, I see. I’ll believe in you. Also, what happens to the people who are turned? Like, their character, or rather their personalities and the like?”
Even if it was to save Edim, these people have families too. I wouldn’t be able to bear it if their lives were ruined because of this.
“Their character and personality will stay the same as before. If that weren’t the case, people would notice abnormalities, after all. The effect of turning them into kin are that the abilities of their body are boosted, and that they prioritise their parent vampire.”
I see. In other words, boneheads remain boneheads, and cowards remain cowards. But a person who values the country the most will instead value the person who turned them the most.
Mn!? Then won’t people notice a change?
But well, I guess people do change beliefs. And they’re not dying or anything, so I guess I don’t need to worry about it too much.
“I see. Also, does Timu know about the blood sucking?”
“Yes. The decision to turn the Captain of the Guards was decided during the Evil God Army’s war council.”
W-, WHAT DID YOU SAYYY!? Was I the only one who didn’t know!?
Haha, what is this feeling of alienation…
It’s true that it’s best to keep this stuff a secret. But I’m her friend too. If Edim is in trouble, then I want to her help too.
Hmmmm… I don’t really like it, but I bet Timu said something like “Please don’t get Oneesama involved.”
I’d say that too if I were in her position.
But wow, I’ve got a better opinion of those guys now. I thought the ‘leaders’ of the Evil God Army were just playing around, but they were actually brainstorming ideas to help their friend.
I see! I’ll bet it was Dryas’ idea to convert the Captain. Dryas would definitely have come up with the best solution to her crisis.
“Edim, was it Dryas that suggested vampirising the Captain?”
“Yes, exactly as you say. I did as Dryas-sama instructed.”
I knew it! As expected of my Zifang. He came up with the solution with the least sacrifices.
“Hey, is this what you guys have been discussing in your meetings lately?”
“Yes. Not only this, but…”
I see, I see. Everyone cooperated even though it was a crime because their friend needed help. They’re actually pretty good guys.
“Edim, it’s been rough for you as a vampire. But don’t worry. Everyone is on your side. Of course that includes me too.”
“Tilea-sama, it isn’t rough at all. The joy of being able to serve you and Camilla-sama is incomparable to anything I experienced as a human.”
She spoke in chuunibyou, but I understood. In other words, she’s glad that she became friends with Timu and I. She appreciates people who still accept her. Even if she used to be a human, she’s a vampire now. Normally people would be frightened or repulsed.
But Timu and the others all treat Edim like normal, without any fear or hatred.
I always thought of those guys as nothing but idiots, but I like this part of them. Well, I feel the same way though.
It’s okay. I won’t let the country have you. I’ll definitely protect you, Edim.
Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!
The Royal Capital’s Magic Academy reopened, and so young talents with bright futures resumed their academic endeavours. Of course, my prided little sister was trying just as hard.
At first I was worried that she wouldn’t be used to the lifestyle, but the girl herself has been completely nonchalant. I’m sure it’s because of the support her friends Edim and Jessica are giving her.
For some reason I was called to the Academy today. Something like a parent-teacher interview? The school asked for Timu’s parents or guardian, but Mum and Dad are still in Beruga and can’t come here so easily.
Because of that, it fell to me as her older sister.
Hmmm, a parent-teacher interview…
It’s probably some talk about her grades or her future huh. As her older sister, I’ll need to have a good discussion.
And so, I happily headed to the Academy. When I arrived, the students were studying in class, or doing things like sports.
Ahh, even though it’s in a different world, it’s really still a school, huhh~
I looked here and there curiously, as I took in my surroundings.
Mn. There’s so much youth. It reminds me of my old life. Although I was bullied, I still had a few friends. After school I would chat with friends with the same hobbies as me, and even though I didn’t have a girlfriend, we came up with “100 ways of getting an elf girlfriend in a fantasy world” together. It’s become a fond memory to me now. I hope Timu will have a nice youth like that too.
I know! When I meet the teacher, should I ask if there are any good clubs for her to join? School life would be even better if she had things to do with friends.
As I headed for the reception, I started simulating the interview in my mind.
When I arrived, a clerk came out and asked me to follow. So I did as I was told and followed behind them.
After walking for a while, I was eventually guided to a door with elegant decoration.
This room…?
It was a terribly important-looking door. I’ll bet it cost quite a bit. Even though it was just a door, it was like a small work of art. I-, Is it okay to leave my fingerprints on this? Am I overthinking things?
Well, here we go.
I knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
Since somebody answered, I headed inside with a greeting. What greeted me was a strict-looking man who seemed rather high-strung. Probably Timu’s homeroom teacher. I’d better greet him quickly.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Tilea, Timu’s older sister. I’ve come in place of our parents.”
“I’m Timu-kun’s homeroom teacher, Jayjay J. Amacheur. Well, please take a seat.”
Jayjay-sensei offered me a seat, so I sat down in the one opposite him.
“Now then, the reason I have asked you to come is in regard to Timu-kun’s future.”
“Ah, I thought so. Is Timu doing well?”
“Her grades at least, are completely without objection. She is one of the most talented students in the history of our school.”
“Ooh, is that so!”
“Her entrance exam was exceptional as well. Usually a mid-semester transfer would be out of the question unless the student was fairly gifted, but Timu-kun was extraordinary. Her answers often leave her teachers speechless, and it would even be possible for her to one day become the best wizard in the Capital.”
Ooh, that’s amazing! Since Timu learnt magic by herself, and even played magic with a bunch of adults, I knew that she was talented.
But I never could have dreamed that her teacher would praise her this much…
Huhu, I’m so proud of her.
“Sensei, please continue to guide her.”
“I intend to. However, as her older sister, please give a word of warning as well!”
“Eh!? What do you…”
“Timu-kun’s grades are certainly marvellous. How-e-ver, in contrast her attitude towards teachers is incredibly bad. She is rebellious, and doesn’t see her teachers as teachers! No matter how good her grades are, it is a huge problem for her to be this arrogant at her ageee!!”
Jayjay-sensei got too excited and his face turned bright red. I guess he’s really angry about her attitude.
Haha, I thought this might happen. I knew her chuunibyou would be a problem.
But to think she would suddenly pick a fight with her home room teacher…
Hahh, but I don’t think he would understand even if I explained her chuunibyou to him. This is bad. If I do nothing, this is going to go on her report one day. I’ve already sworn to clean up after her chuunibyou. I’ll have to do with this now.
“I’m terribly sorry, Sensei. I will scold her seriously when she comes home. So please, please calm your anger.”
“Huu~ Huu~ Huu~ That girl’s impertinence, her conceit is just… Argh! She’s so infuriating! No matter how bad I might be, I’m still a teacher at this prided school, you know! But that girl…! Hahh, hahh…”
Perhaps he was recalling Timu’s attitude or something because Jayjay-sensei showed no signs of calming down. Timu must have really done a number on him.
Can’t be helped. I’ll just wait quietly until he calms down. It’s impossible to talk to angry people.
And so, I decided to wait until Jayjay-sensei was done venting.
A few dozen minutes later…
“Hahh, hahh… I-, I have shown you something terribly unsightly.”
He began speaking politely again. I guess he’s calm now.
“I really am sorry. Sometimes my sister acts like a little child.”
“No, it is the responsibility of a teacher to guide children.”
“I will make sure to warn her about her attitude as well. So please keep taking care of my sister.”
It’s for Timu’s upbringing. I gave a 90 degree bow, and deeply lowered my head.
“I know. Timu-kun has incredible talent. To be honest, I even feel envious. But I am a teacher of this school, and have sworn allegiance to the Kingdom of Arcudas. I intend on giving my full support to talents who can one day become the treasures of our nation.”
“I see. I’m sure Timu will try her best too.”
“You think that?”
“Mn!? Am I wrong?”
“I also thought I could inspire her and told her ‘If you continue studying hard, you can become a brilliant court wizard’.”
“What did Timu say?”
“Even though she has so much talent, she showed no interest at all in becoming one!”
“Haha, that sounds like her.”
“Is that something to be laughing about! A court wizard! Even after all the studies upon studies that magicians do, only very few can ever become one. The proud magical elites of the Capital. And Timu-kun, Timu-kun… She treats them as though the position is rotten dog feed. You think that’s acceptable! How could that attitude be possible for somebody who has pledged allegiance to our nation!”
“W-, Well, I can certainly understand how you feel, but in the end it depends on what the person herself wants to do. And isn’t pledging allegiance or whatever a little heavy…?”
“What on earth are you saying! The moment she entered this academy, it became natural for her to offer her life to the country! Or rather, it should be how anybody living in the Capital feels!”
What an ultranationalist… No wonder Timu clashed with him.
“U-, Umm, did you tell Timu how you felt?”
“Of course. I told her how a loyal citizen should be. And in particular, I emphasised the model attitude for a court wizard.”
“And, could I ask what that involved exactly?”
After that, Jayjay-sensei went on and on about how great a court wizard was.
He went on about the history of the court wizards, about the way they served the nation, about the ultimate form of self-improvement etc. etc.
Ahh, I can kind of understand Timu’s feelings now. This is the kind of guy you’d want to rebel against. I’m starting to not give a crap about court wizards. And all this stuff about how they live is stuffy too.
My conclusion? It’s basically slave labour. Court wizards don’t even get a holiday! Each day from early in the morning until late at night, they work, work, work, and the free time they have is all devoted to research or special training.
And just the journey to becoming one is scary too. It’s nothing but studying, training, studying, training until you become a cadet.
It’s like they don’t even know what ‘taking a break’ means.
I see. No wonder Timu didn’t want to become one. No matter how respected a profession it is, Timu would break under that.
“I understand now. Of course something like that is impossible! I can totally understand why Timu doesn’t like it.”
“What a weak attitude! It becomes truly impossible when you think it impossible! Once you consider the country, even the impossible should become possible. As long as she stakes her life and endeavours, the door will open for her!”
W-, What an idealist…
It’s out of the question for Timu to walk the road of a corporate slave. I understand now. I can’t leave Timu to a guy like this.
You think I’ll give my sister to a black company like you!
“Sensei, don’t you think it would be pitiful for Timu to have no time for play or sleep!”
“You’ve babbled nothing but timidity… Listen up! There are mountains of people who can’t become court wizard even if they wanted to! Timu has the talent. Babbling about how it’s impossible, or how there’s no play time, is the same as blasphemy to them.”
He’s finally said it. That argument about how there are people in the world who want to work but can’t. It was this kind of reasoning that made me become a shut-in.
“Sensei, that’s a very old way of thinking. People will only collapse if they don’t enjoy their lives.”
I began explaining to this idealist about how ridiculous and unreasonable his argument was. But far from listening, he just grew more and more stubborn.
And then…
“Enough! I understand very well how you think now. I’m sure that’s also why Timu-kun has no motivation.”
“Yes. I think so too.”
“Very well. Timu-kun is expelled. No matter how good her grades are, that spoilt attitude will only be a bad influence on the others.”
“P-, Please wait a moment. Sensei, you don’t have to be so hasty about…”
“No, expulsion is still too lenient, isn’t it. You two have no loyalty to the nation at all. And there’s the issue of Timu-kun’s arrogance. You two are unfit to live in the Capital. I will immediately have you deported from our country.”
“Hah!? No matter what, that’s way too high-handed! Are you crazy?”
“Hmm. Disparaging a teacher of the Academy. Casually disparaging a teacher at the Academy that has the backing of the royal family… Let me ask you one thing; would you be prepared to give your life for the country?”
“O-, Out of the blue you…”
“Just answer the question! Can you? Can’t you?”
“H-, How on earth could I! If it isn’t for my family, if it isn’t for Timu, how on earth could I be prepared to die.”
“That settles it. Nobody living in our nation could possibly think that way. In that case, could you two be linked to the demons? You damned traitors! I’ll immediately imprison you!”
“A-, Are you serious? Y-, You’re being entirely ridiculous. Are you an idiot! Or is this revenge because Timu beat you in an argument.”
“EEI! Both you sisters repulse me. Somebody! Call the guards!”
Oi, what the fuck! Of all things, this maniac started accusing Timu and I of being spies for the demons. We’re not seriously going to be imprisoned, right?
お兄ちゃん、やめてぇ！ 