Chapter 151: The Dagger is Short, the Light Pierces, and the Flame Runs 2
*
“Be that as it may, I find myself quite intrigued by these ‘adventure tales’ with Jenniferlin-san.”
Hearing Erica say that with a strangely scary smile, I nearly shot out of my seat.
It wasn’t like I had anything shady to hide… well, maybe not nothing, but still, the shady one was Jen, not me.
The fact that her requests weren’t exactly things you could easily tell people about was Jen’s fault.
“You know, requests come with confidentiality obligations, right?”
I offered that—not an excuse, but the actual reason—yet Erica’s smile didn’t fade.
Something’s wrong here.
Didn’t she just say something about how friendship sometimes involves secrets between husband and wife?
Which stories involving Jen could I even tell? Should I tell?
Would the one about closing off one of the Royal Secret escape routes be okay?
Damn it, now that I think about it, pretty much everything involving her is just trouble.
As I grew flustered, unable to speak, and Erica deepened her smile, asking, “My, my, what has you so flustered?”, there was a knock at the door.
I inwardly sighed in relief at the familiar presence.
“Good morrrning! Bread, please, bread!”
Words that sounded like she’d tossed aside something important about being a Sister drifted in.
I never thought the day would come when I’d be grateful for a visit from Shara.
Seizing the opportunity, I stood up and opened the door.
I thought I heard a click of the tongue behind me, but it must have been my imagination.
“Morning, Shara.”
Perhaps due to my relief, my voice came out strangely cheerful.
“Eh? What’s with you? That’s kinda creepy.”
She’s another one who doesn’t mince words with people she knows well.
Exasperated, I invited her in.
“Want your bread burnt black?”
“You’re the one who dragged a reluctant me out here, Shin-san! This time, at least, I’m going to enjoy some delicious bread!”
When she put it like that, it was hard to argue.
It was me who had asked the unwilling Shara to accompany us again today.
If we were going to contend with that group, we needed an idiot who wouldn’t lose her fighting spirit even with her ribs sticking out.
Essentially, a target other than me.
“Alright, alright. I’ll throw in some bacon as a bonus.”
“Yes!” Shara approached the table with a bouncy step.
“Shara.”
It was Erica who stopped her.
Shara, who hadn’t yet learned how to read Erica, misinterpreted the smile on her face and greeted her cheerfully, “Good morning!”
“Could you please run about ten laps around the house?”
“Why?!”
To Erica’s suggestion that the bread would taste better that way, Shara shrieked, “Bread always tastes delicious!”
Erica ignored Shara’s shriek, the force in her eyes intensifying.
“See? You must already be imagining the taste of bread after a run and wanting to start, without Physical Enhancement.”
“Right?”
Defeated by the pressure, Shara nodded. So you’re the type who’s weak to Erica too, huh?
Tilting her head—or rather, bewildered by the incomprehensible iniquity—Shara headed for the door.
For a moment, I felt sorry for her, but then I heard her muttering, “Delicious bread, huh…” and reconsidered.
Well, whatever. The problem was me.
At this rate, I’d be stuck in a flustered state until Shara finished her ten laps.
“Ah, I suddenly feel like making my bread taste better too.”
And with that, I followed Shara out.
I thought I heard an incredibly cute “Mmph” from behind me, but I didn’t look back. It had to be my imagination.
“Why are we running first thing in the morning?”
“Why indeed?”
Shara and I ran ten laps under the watchful eyes of the neighbors.
For the record, the bread was delicious.
*
The Maiden of Light throwing a tantrum about staying at our house, Erica about to permit it, and that damn prince deciding he’d stay at our place too if that was the case.
The Guards getting angry that His Highness couldn’t possibly stay in such a humble home, while my master and Elza tried to pitch a tent in the garden without permission.
Hey, somebody help me.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a miracle or a feat that I didn’t scream that last night.
Ultimately, we managed to drive them away thanks to a request from the Knights of Hecate on patrol—likely prompted by Margrave Makikomarkrow, despite his claims of non-involvement—stating that having carriages parked in front of the house continuously was problematic.
I silently sent my gratitude to a familiar-looking Knight I felt I’d met somewhere recently.
It was quite genuine gratitude.
And so, after associating with the Maiden of Light’s party for just one day—no, half a day—I was utterly exhausted.
Honestly, I was filled with the desire for them to just go home already.
So today, my true wish was to drop everything and go back to sleep.
What’s this about wanting Erica to show them around town?
Go sightsee on your own, I thought.
Every time Erica gets that indescribable, complicated emotion in her eyes when looking at the Maiden of Light, my heart feels like it’s going to burst.
Whether it’s nostalgia, or anger at the iniquity that befell her, I don’t know, but I just can’t stand seeing that look on her face.
My anxiety races ahead, telling me I have to do something right now.
Yet, all the second son of an Impoverished Viscount Household can think of is giving her flowers.
I truly hate how powerless I am.
Walking a step behind Erica and Shara, I suppressed a sigh.
The sky was clear, and it looked like it would be a hot day.