Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Shall Mom Undress You?
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Deep in the back mountains, a circular clearing hidden away with no signs of life.
"…"
A strange silence enveloped me and the Flower Girl.
The Flower Girl occasionally flicked her gaze toward me. Each time her eyes landed, I clutched the robe she'd given me even tighter, hiding my body.
'If I go home like this, there'll definitely be hell to break loose….'
But at this hour, no clothing shops would still be open.
Honestly, I hadn't expected her to plant a landmine right there. It didn't feel cowardly. It was just wildly out of character for her.
I always carried a defense scroll taped inside my underwear to prepare for surprise attacks, so I wasn't hurt. But everything except my underwear had been blown clean off.
If anyone saw me like this from afar, I couldn't even argue if they mistook me for a streetwalker.
Maybe that's why my face burned and wouldn't cool down.
"…You win."
After a long silence, the Flower Girl admitted her defeat. Her expression still looked displeased, but the sharp edge from before was gone.
"Did you make that scroll yourself?"
The Flower Girl asked.
"Yeah."
"I've never heard of making scrolls that small and throwing them like cards."
A heavy sigh slipped from between her lips.
"In the end, scrolls are just like magic—everything depends on who's using them."
After a brief silence, the Flower Girl continued with an awkward expression.
"Sorry for underestimating your scrolls."
"No big deal."
Maybe this was her way of acknowledging me. And from one of this world's key figures, no less.
The thought warmed a corner of my heart. My lips curved up naturally.
"That doesn't mean I like you or anything!"
The Flower Girl dusted off her knees and stood. The sharp aura lingering on her face had softened considerably.
"You won. So, what's your wish?"
I got to my feet and retrieved my backpack from the corner of the clearing where I'd left it before the fight. From inside, I pulled out a bracelet I'd prepared for the protagonist and a plant with blue flowers growing from it.
"Give this to Alensia. She'd definitely accept it if it's from you."
I held out the bracelet I'd shown her before. The Flower Girl eyed it suspiciously.
"…Is there really a spirit sealed inside?"
"Yeah. I swear on my name."
"Even if there is, why give it to Alensia? Wouldn't it be better for you?"
"Because he's the Hero."
As someone who once played this world as a game—and now lived in it—cheering on the protagonist was only natural.
"…That's it?"
But the Flower Girl didn't seem to get it.
"Yeah."
I handed her the blue-flowered herb I'd brought.
"…Is this a Mana Herb?"
"Yeah."
The Flower Girl took the Mana Herb with a baffled look.
"Why give this to me…?"
"You're going to help Alensia, right?"
Infused with my Divine Power, it was a cut above your average Mana Herb. The reason was simple: the Flower Girl was one of the protagonist's core companions from start to finish.
"Take good care of the world."
And later, when I joined the Hero Party, maybe she'd look on me a little more favorably. The Flower Girl gaped at me.
"You… weren't looking down on us?"
…Huh?
What was that supposed to mean?
I tilted my head at the baffling words. If anything, I'd been the one ignored this whole time. A total loner with no friends.
"…Never mind. I'll deliver this, at least."
In the end, the Flower Girl accepted the bracelet. She seemed like she had more to say, scattering her gaze here and there before pressing her lips shut.
"…Sorry."
A short while later, the word slipped out with effort. I wasn't sure what it was for, but I decided to brush it off.
"If you're sorry, let me borrow this robe for the day."
With my underwear half-exposed, I had to wrap the hem tightly. It was a relief the Flower Girl's robe covered me fully.
She seemed to understand and nodded without protest.
The sky had already turned red. I needed to get back to the mansion before curfew.
"I'm off."
She nodded at my farewell. I turned and walked away slowly.
When I looked back one last time, she wore a complicated expression.
"Hoo…."
I leaned against the mansion wall and took a deep breath.
Even covered by the robe, Mom's sharp eyes would spot something off in a heartbeat.
If she caught me like this, a scolding or two wouldn't cut it. I had to sneak in no matter what.
True to its reputation, the Rahel Tani estate had tight security. But thanks to my meticulous nature, I had a plan.
I moved carefully, holding my breath.
Between the wall and the bushes, an inconspicuous spot. It felt somehow off there.
Unlike the dark gray wall, one section was painted light gray.
I gently pushed the light section with one hand. It slid inward without resistance, opening a hole big enough for a person.
I crawled through on all fours into the grounds, then plugged it back with a stone I'd brought, erasing any trace.
I closed my eyes and focused. Soon, a dark red flower bloomed quietly above my right ear.
I tiptoed toward my room. Reaching out to the third-floor window, stems began growing from my fingertips.
They climbed the wall cracks to the window and anchored firmly.
The stems pulled me up. With a brief float, I landed on the third-floor windowsill.
I opened the window soundlessly and slipped into my dark room. Only then could I finally exhale in relief.
"Safe."
But it wasn't over. I had to change clothes fast. I groped in the pitch-black room for the switch and flicked it on.
Flick. Light flooded in, revealing my familiar room.
A bed plenty big for one. Neatly arranged furniture.
And.
Roselia, sitting on the sofa, staring at me with cold eyes.
"Eek?!"
Meeting those chilling red eyes, a scream burst out instinctively.
The Flower Girl's eyes were red too, but not like Roselia's.
If the Flower Girl's were dark red, Roselia's were the fresh blood of a corpse just killed, slathered on thick.
"What could my daughter be hiding to sneak in through the window?"
Roselia rose slowly from the sofa with a grin. But the smile held no warmth—it was razor-sharp, laced with killing intent. My whole body froze.
"I-I made curfew, though…?"
"Yes. Good job on that."
Roselia slowly scanned me from head to toe.
"That's a robe I've never seen."
"Ah, this is…"
I couldn't panic.
This was the most meticulous, perfect person in the world. I had to stay calm. I took a deep breath inside, steadying my chest.
"I borrowed it from a new friend at the Academy. It was chilly."
"Chilly? It's still summer."
"I think I'm coming down with something."
A faint ripple of emotion stirred in Roselia's red eyes. The tension around us eased slightly.
"Feeling pretty bad?"
My heart stung for lying unnecessarily. But I told myself it was for survival.
"I think it'll be fine after a good sleep."
Roselia approached and placed a hand on my forehead. Her cold fingertips made me flinch.
"You do feel a little feverish."
Only then did Mom relax. Seeing her gentle eyes return, I sighed inwardly in relief.
"Take off the robe now. Let's bathe first."
But her next words made my heart drop again.
"…Pardon?"
"We'll wash up clean and get you to bed. Mom will take care of you."
Roselia's hand landed on the robe. Before my brain could process, my hand shot out reflexively.
Slap—
I jerked back, swatting her hand away. Her pale, slender hand hung dazed in the air.
"Bella?"
Roselia's eyes widened.
"Y-You know my constitution. Human touch…"
"You said light contact was fine now, didn't you?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Like she'd caught on.
"Then take it off yourself."
"…Pardon?"
"If my touching bothers you, just do it on your own."
She'd noticed something suspicious.
"Mom, go to the bathroom first. I-I have something urgent to handle, then I'll come."
"Fine. But you can at least take off the robe first, right?"
Her firm reply made me squeeze my eyes shut.
Roselia was convinced I was hiding something. But I couldn't just strip now—the whole mansion would erupt.
"…Mom, you're talking like I did something wrong."
I rarely pushed back. Roselia's eyebrow arched slowly.
"It hurts that you suspect me like this."
"Hah."
Roselia let out a disbelieving chuckle. Honestly, even I knew my words were stretching it.
But I had no choice. This was life or death. I was being brazen not out of arrogance, but sheer survival instinct.
"Can't you trust me just this once?"
"That makes it even more suspicious. If you won't, I'll do it."
Roselia closed in again. No mercy left in those red eyes.
"D-Do you really not trust me? What's with this robe that you're going this far…?"
I flinched back. But in this small room, there was no escaping Roselia.
Cornered against the wall, I was trapped between her arms.
"Shall Mom undress you?"
Her shadow pressed down like a weight. I swallowed dryly and made my last plea.
"Do you really… have to go this far?"
"……."
Irritation slowly crept into Roselia's chilling gaze. Push further, and she might rip the robe off for real.
"A-Alright. I'll show you."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
It's over.
In this situation, even Zhuge Liang would wave the white flag first.
Pop—
I undid the top button I'd fastened tight. As the fabric loosened, waves of deathly dread crashed over me.
What to do….
How to minimize the punishment?
How to soften this brutal atmosphere even a little?
Should I act cute?
Play a prank?
What kind? What prank could get me out of this?
My vision narrowed, reason fraying. It felt like standing at death's door.
I undid the last button. The robe slid off my shoulders and pooled on the floor.
Exposing my bare skin beneath.
Roselia froze, staring blankly.
Tension maxed out, my thoughts shortened. Judgment blurred, senses dulled.
"A-Actually…?"
My vision spun.
In the end, I blurted whatever came to mind, not even knowing what I said.
"Ta-da…! I-I prepared a gift for you, Mom!"
I couldn't even grasp my own words. If I had, I never would've said them.
"I… grew up well, right? It's the body you raised…."
With my prank as the finale.
Silence hung over the bedroom for a long while.