Chapter 140: Jealousy is a Ladylike Virtue
“Mother…!”
Early morning. The time when the faint light filtering through the gap in the curtains slightly brightens the room. Hearing the girl’s voice coming from near my chest, my consciousness slowly awakens.
When I look down at my chest, I see smooth, golden hair like silk threads. Lucretia is tightly gripping my pajamas, sleeping with her face buried in my chest. But her body is trembling; it seems she’s having a nightmare.
Until now, she shouldn’t have had nightmares when sleeping with me… Maybe it’s because she’s mentally unstable.
The destination for the Off-Campus Training Exercise starting today is the Spen Region, where her mother’s hometown is. It’s probably unavoidable that Lucretia, who seems traumatized by her mother’s death, can’t remain calm inside.
…There’s nothing I can do about this.
“Tia…”
At least so she can sleep peacefully, I gently embrace her small body. After a while, Lucretia’s trembling subsides, and gradually, her calm breathing can be heard.
I want to let her sleep a little longer like this, but…
Unfortunately, the assembly time is approaching. We, Class 1-A, are departing early in the morning because our training exercise destination is farther away than the other classes’. We have to leave the academy by the time I usually train with Alissa-san and Idiot.
Considering the time needed to get ready, we’re about at the limit… After stalling until the last possible moment while glaring at the clock, I shake Lucretia’s shoulder to wake her up.
“Tia, wake up. It’s morning.”
“Ngh… Hugh, five more minutes.”
“That’s such a cliché. Sorry, I overslept a bit too. We’re really pushing it on time if we don’t get up now. Come on, wake up.”
“Uuugh…”
Lucretia groans reluctantly but wriggles her body upright. The off-the-shoulder negligee she’s wearing has its right strap slipped down, held precariously in place. This is too stimulating for the morning…!
“Mornin’, Hughhh. Yaaawn.”
While yawning like that, Lucretia raises her right arm to stretch, causing the left strap to nearly slip off too, ahhhhh!
I instinctively throw the blanket at Lucretia. Can’t let my guard down for a second!
“Kyaa!? W-What, why did you throw the blanket at me!?”
“Just hurry up and get changed! Being late today is no joke!”
“Okaay.”
Lucretia gets out of bed, pouting slightly. Then, she must have finally noticed her negligee was slipping off. Her cheeks flush red, and clutching the negligee at her chest, she grabs her clothes and quickly dashes into the changing area.
Geez, this doesn’t bode well for the future…
During the Off-Campus Training Exercise, there won’t be many opportunities to stay in private rooms like in the Dormitory. Sharing rooms with other guys or even sleeping crammed together in tents during camping is possible. I have to be careful so Rouge’s identity, and her real gender, aren’t exposed…
If it comes down to it, I’ll manage somehow with the Brainwashing Skill. While steeling myself for that, I also change into my uniform and do a final check of my luggage.
The marching rucksacks provided by the academy beforehand are packed with several days’ worth of clothes, portable rations, sleeping bags for camping, and other items. It seems the main purpose of this Off-Campus Training Exercise is actually marching with this luggage, with the Dungeon exploration being more of a bonus.
When I try shouldering the rucksack, it doesn’t feel that heavy. Rouge and Lecty should be fine with this.
I vaguely remember hearing that armies in my previous life fought carrying tens of kilograms of equipment, but compared to that, this is much easier. It’s probably because there are no weapons or ammunition inside.
After a while, Rouge, changed into her uniform, returns to the room. We check our luggage together again, and then leave our Dormitory room. We’ll be back here in about a month. Thinking about that makes me feel a pang of loneliness…
“We’re leaving.”
I find myself calling out to the empty room. Then Rouge smiles softly and says, “We’re leaving,” just like I did.
I lock the door and head outside the Dormitory. The scorching early summer sunlight and the clear morning air, still holding a slight chill, envelop my skin.
“Isn’t it heavy, Rouge?”
I ask Rouge beside me as we walk towards the assembly point. The weight itself isn’t much, but the rucksack is much bigger than Rouge’s back.
“Yeah, I’m managing somehow!”
“Let me know anytime if it gets tough. I can handle carrying two or three of these, no problem.”
“Okay! If I get tired, I’ll have Hugh carry me too.”
“That’s a bit different.”
Well, I mean, if I switch Skills, I could manage it easily with Physical Enhancement, but spoiling Rouge too much isn’t good either. I’d probably get scolded by Lily or Alissa-san.
“Just kidding~”
Rouge laughs cheerfully. It doesn’t seem like forced cheerfulness, but I wonder…
Since we’re heading to the Spen Region, Rouge inevitably has to confront her mother’s death and Drephon’s Curse. Her feelings surely can’t be calm.
But, me worrying too much about it isn’t good either… As long as Rouge acts normally, I should try to act normally too.
Most of our classmates had already gathered in the open area near the school gate designated as the assembly point. Alissa-san isn’t here yet, and everyone is gathered with their close classmates, chatting just like in the classroom.
Amidst all that,
“Hey! Get away from Lecty already!”
“No waaay!”
Lily was struggling desperately to pull Tina off Lecty, who was clinging to her from behind.
What are they doing…?
Lecty has a troubled expression but isn’t particularly resisting while being hugged by Tina. It’s Lily who’s overreacting, panting heavily as she keeps trying desperately to pull Tina off Lecty.
“Hey, Hugh. Who’s that girl who looks like Lecty?”
“That’s Tina, an Adventurer. Remember I told you I met some Adventurers when I went to the Adventurer’s Guild with Idiot before? She’s one of them.”
“Hmm. She’s cute, isn’t she?”
“Just so you know, nothing happened between us, okay?”
I deny it beforehand to prevent any weird suspicions. My immediate response seems to have worked, as Rouge accepted it straightforwardly, saying, “Oh, okay.”
“But why is an Adventurer hugging Lecty?”
“Ah… well, some stuff happened yesterday.”
Rouge also knows that I went with Lecty to see Malicious as Rosalie’s escorts. While omitting the part about looking for a present, I briefly explain to Rouge that we ran into Tina and the others on the way back.
“I see, about her mother… They certainly do look alike, those two. If that’s the case, I can kind of understand how she feels.”
Rouge, who also lost her mother, probably feels something for Tina, just like Lecty does…
After a while, Lily, having given up, walks towards us with zombie-like steps, panting heavily. She still has no stamina…
“W-What’s with that girl…!? Showing up out of nowhere and clinging to Lecty!”
“Now, now, calm down, Lily. She’s…”
I give Lily the same explanation I just gave Rouge. After listening, Lily crosses her arms over her chest and snorts displeasedly.
“Hmph! Whatever the circumstances, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s being impolite.”
“Well, that may be true, but…”
However, Lecty doesn’t seem to mind, and actually seems to be accepting Tina. Even now, while still being hugged from behind, the two of them are talking happily.
Lily was watching them, her cheeks puffed out slightly.
This, could it be…
“Lily, you’re just lonely because Lecty’s being taken away, aren’t you~?”
Rouge points out the same thing I was thinking, hiding a smirk with her left palm.
“Wha-!? I-It’s not like I’m lonely…! I-I’m merely pointing out common ladylike etiquette…?”
“Hmm. So, if that girl were a lady that even you acknowledge, Lily, would it be okay?”
“Th-That’s not what I… Mmph!”
At a loss for words, Lily turns away, her cheeks flushed red. These two are childhood friends, right? This is the first time I’ve seen Lily, who usually teases others, being teased herself. This kind of reaction from Lily is refreshing, and I honestly find it cute.
“…What is it?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
If it were just the two of us, I might have told her she was cute, but Rouge and other classmates are nearby, so I’ll refrain. Things could get complicated, and above all, I’d be embarrassed too.