Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Things Worth Doing at Home
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"No... It'll only take a little while. I've taken a potion, and there are plenty of plants in my house."
"Yay!"
"Your reaction is kinda creepy though..."
That was Arwen's answer to my question about how long it would take to heal, followed by my reaction.
Modern science can buzz off. Potions are the best. Plants are the best.
Though it only applies to elves. Still, the good air quality is something even I can feel, so no issues there.
The morning after parting ways with Arwen, I headed straight back to her place.
It was about time for her to wake up. As promised, I intended to look after her while she recovered.
"You're coming too."
"Huh...?"
I grabbed Ranyori, who had conveniently dropped by my house, and took her along... er, dragged her with me.
At first, she bombarded me with questions about what was going on, but she shut up immediately when I said we were going to nurse Arwen.
And from the look in her eyes... she seemed fired up about something.
She probably figures since it was her fault, she should take responsibility.
Better than moping around dejectedly.
We arrived and knocked on the door. We waited for Arwen to open it—
"Wait, come to think of it, Arwen's foot is injured."
"Yeah."
"Can she even make it to the door?"
"Uh."
I tried the doorknob, wondering if she'd left it unlocked for us just in case.
Of course, it didn't budge.
"...Ranyori, want to try slipping in through the window?"
"You think I can?"
"Hmm... That window over there is open?"
"Isn't it a bit high?"
"I'm a Beastkin, Aren. I can jump that easy."
"Won't it be too narrow?"
"I'm a Cat Beastkin, Aren. I can squeeze through that no problem."
"...Wanna give it a shot?"
"I'll do it!"
Ranyori headed to the window, took off her shoes first.
I'll grab those later and leave them in the entryway once the door's open.
Then she hopped up and, as promised, squeezed her body through the window.
-Kyaaak!
-Calm down, calm down!
There was a bit of commotion inside... but it's probably fine.
And after a short wait...
"Ta-da!"
"You did it."
Ranyori opened the door.
I left her shoes in the entryway and stepped inside.
Arwen was sitting on the bed with a look of utter disbelief.
"...In all my life, you're the first guest I've seen climb in through a window I left open for ventilation."
"At least you're treating me like a guest."
"Honestly, I thought you were a burglar."
"No one got hurt, so it's all good, right?"
"My heart's pounding like crazy right now."
"Uh."
"...Ranyori, do a little trick or something."
"Nah. She'll calm down soon enough."
"Phew."
"Anyway, what brings you here?"
"As promised, I came to nurse you."
"Ah..."
"Did you sleep well?"
"Of course I'm tired."
"Yeah, that makes sense..."
In any case, I helped Arwen out as intended.
First up was breakfast.
All she had in the house was grass clippings, so I handed Ranyori some money and sent her out to buy salad stuff and food for us.
She came back with fruit salad and bread. Good job. Anything with meat would've been awkward.
"Here! Ahh~"
"...I injured my ankle, not my hands?"
"Oops."
Ranyori failed at personally feeding Arwen.
That was a bit much.
For most errands, like fetching things, Arwen just had Ranyori do them.
"Could you grab some water from the fridge?"
"Here!"
"Whoa, that's IV fluid."
"Here!"
"That's the saltwater I made for something before... Actually, there's some tea I brewed earlier—could you bring that?"
"Here...!"
"That's fruit concentrate. It needs to be diluted with water; can't drink it straight."
"H-Here...!"
"That's a potion a friend sent me before. It makes your voice weird for a bit. She sent it to mess with me. Haven't tossed it yet."
"Heeere..."
"? What's this? Was this in my fridge?"
"Hiiing..."
She was running into all sorts of issues, but she was trying her best anyway.
Whenever Arwen needed to move, I carried her. Honestly, it felt easier for me than for Ranyori.
Arwen was... really light. I noticed yesterday, but she's seriously skinny.
Elves already have weak constitutions, and they only eat veggies, so yeah.
Even in this state, she's not unpleasantly thin... Ugh, I'm getting tired of complimenting elf looks already.
Anyway, she was light enough to carry around easily. That's why it felt easier for me than Ranyori.
Just now, after lunch, I picked her up to take her outside for some photosynthesis(?) time.
"Somewhere with fewer people..."
"You don't like noisy places? Oh, right—elves have sensitive hearing?"
"Yeah..."
Those big elf ears aren't just for show. I hear they pick up sounds better than Beastkin.
Makes sense that a crowd's murmur would bug her.
"W-Well, it's not just the noise..."
"?"
"I told you, I have shame too..."
"Uh, yeah?"
"...How do you think it makes me feel to be carried around by a guy in broad daylight where people can see?"
"Fun?"
Arwen, with her arms around my neck, squeezed harder. Looked like full power pleading.
...No trouble breathing or anything. So this is an elf's full power.
I stopped teasing, set her down on a bench in a quiet park, and we hung out for a bit.
Then I carried her back home. We spent the time like that.
Naturally, spending more time with her led to chatting.
At first, it was kinda awkward to talk... but the silence felt even weirder, so I broke the ice.
And my opener was that question about how long her leg would take to heal.
Not long at all. Yay.
"Can I ask you something I'm curious about?"
"Sure."
"What novel are you writing? Should've asked this first, actually."
"I'm writing a book called Senyora of the Back Alleys."
"Pardon?"
"I'm writing a book called Senyora of the Back Alleys."
"No no! I heard you right...! For real...?"
"My name's Aren, and the author's name is Aren."
"Huh... Yeah, it is."
"You know my novels but not the author's name?"
"No no, I know that too! But who could take that all in at once!"
"Hmm."
"Who could've guessed the friend of the guy who crushed my ankle is the author of the hottest novel right now!"
"Yeah, that's a tough one."
Arwen seemed stunned for a moment, lost for words.
She kept glancing back and forth between my face and her bookshelf.
Oh...? My books are on there? Just noticed.
"What? Aren, you're that popular?"
"Didn't ask for it."
Ranyori, still not quite grasping the situation, chimed in from the sidelines where she'd been spectating.
She likes reading novels well enough, but she's not the type to seek them out.
Plus... she says she's not mentally ready for mine yet. Probably 'cause it's inspired by her.
Fine by me. Takes guts to have acquaintances read my stuff too.
"I'll have to read it later!"
"Please don't."
"Why! I'm the protagonist! So Ranyori can read it too!"
"Last time I told you it was published, you said it was too embarrassing."
"Ranyori's overcome her embarrassment now! Time to take one step forward!"
"Good for you, kiddo."
Please don't overcome it, seriously.
"Wait? She's the protagonist?"
Arwen, who'd been frozen from the shocking news, was shocked again.
"Ranyori? Senyora? Ra? Nyo? Ri?"
"J-Just took some inspiration. To learn more about Beastkin."
"Can I read it too?"
"Huh? Oh, sure, of course...!"
"Yay!"
"No, not okay."
"This is Arwen's house! You don't get a say, Aren!"
"I'm the author?"
"So?"
Yeah, guess I don't.
So today is the day Ranyori finally sees my novel.
Whatever. Better force some distraction. I can't handle this sober.
"You read a lot of novels, huh?"
"Yeah! I hate going out, so I love reading books!"
Arwen's energy suddenly skyrocketed.
Her eyes had always looked half-dead from exhaustion, but now they sparkled with life.
"That's why I like drawing too!"
"Don't you need to go outside to draw landscapes and stuff?"
"That's why I hate landscapes most. Even those are just scenery right outside the house."
"Ah."
"And that's why I draw so many female characters!"
"Hmm... What's that got to do with it?"
"The most interesting subject I can find at home."
"?"
"The female body!"
"Your own?"
"Yep!"
No wonder there were no male characters, and all the girls had similar builds and vibes.
"I can't draw stuff I'm not used to? Beyond guys, even women's figures."
"Got it. Want me to model for you sometime?"
"O... For real?"
"If you want."
We chatted a bit more.
When I asked about the next plot twist, she said it'd come naturally while drawing.
To my question about when she could draw again, she replied she could now but wanted to wait until her foot was better. Should be fine before the novel's done.
"Areeen!!"
Ranyori's shout cut our conversation short.
"What the heck did you write!"
"Why? Nothing weird."
"You described it way too in detail! You didn't just stare at every inch of Ranyori, did you?!"
"Yep. Would've been bad otherwise."
"You... ogled Ranyori like that...?"
"Yeah."
"Hey! How is that okay! Be embarrassed!"
"I'll keep researching material from now on, so get used to it."
"Aaaah...!"
Ranyori let out a scream.
Who told you to sulk in that husky voice?
...Hold on.
Sudden thought.
Arwen's drawings are modeled after herself, right?
Then those nude ones are all...
'Oh shit.'