Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: I Forced Lily to Do Something She Didn't Want
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Lily had come to the inn room uninvited.
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After washing up and stepping out of the bathroom, I saw Nameless just rising from the bed with a deep sigh.
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"Awake now?"
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"...Yes."
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Nameless replied in a deeply hoarse voice, as if he hadn't fully shaken off sleep.
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Hmm, even that husky voice sounds nice.
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As I roughly toweled my hair and looked at him, I noticed shadows under his eyes—he clearly hadn't slept well.
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I urged him with a worried expression to get more rest.
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"The sun hasn't risen yet. If you're tired, sleep more."
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"...I'm fine like this."
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Nameless shook his head firmly.
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Hmm, he didn't look fine at all...
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But if he insisted he was okay, it would be rude to keep pressing.
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Still worried, I nodded reluctantly with a slightly displeased look. Nameless gave a small smile and shook his head again.
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"Really, I'm fine."
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"...I haven't even said anything yet."
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"Yes, I know."
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Why was he grinning like that, answering himself and chuckling?
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Tsk, he definitely still looks half-asleep...
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I sighed and shook my head.
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He still looked tired, but since he claimed to be fully awake, it was time to head out.
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It was a bit early because I'd fallen asleep sooner than usual, but that wasn't an issue.
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I picked up my wooden sword.
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"Nameless, if you don't want to sleep more, let's go swing some swords."
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"Yes, I'll wash up quickly."
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"Good."
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Nameless gave a short bow and headed straight to the bathroom.
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While waiting, I figured I should do something, so I glanced around the room. My bed caught my eye, a total mess.
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Hmm, I don't have the best sleeping habits... I glanced toward the bathroom where Nameless was.
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If I left it, wouldn't he tidy it up eventually, unable to stand it?
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Hmm, sure, it'd make things easier for me...
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I shook my head.
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I'd had that thought before and gotten an earful.
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But if I did, I'd just get another lecture disguised as mutterings.
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Nameless's nagging stings both ears and heart.
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No helping it...
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With a deep sigh, I grabbed the blanket, lamenting my fate as his master, and started shaking it out—pang pang.
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Me, his master...
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As I beat the blanket for a while, Nameless emerged from the bathroom, already neatly cleaned up.
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"Master?"
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Having just been thinking about his nagging, I felt like I needed to explain. I hoisted the blanket high and showed it to him.
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"I'm tidying it myself!"
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Nameless looked a bit stunned but nodded.
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"...? Yes, good job."
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For some reason, this felt more painful than his nagging.
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Embarrassed to be seen like this, my face flushed red as I hurled the blanket into the corner of the bed.
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"...Let's go."
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"Yes, Master."
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...
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"Hah, huff, hah..."
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"Collapsing after that much?"
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Normally, we didn't go this hard, but the inn incident kept replaying in my mind, making me want to mess with Nameless. I cranked up the sparring intensity a few notches.
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And that was the result.
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Nameless lay sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily with an aggrieved expression.
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"Did I... make some mistake...?"
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Hmm, of course not—it was just me venting.
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But telling him that would invite a real lecture, so I said nothing.
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...
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After our usual training, we returned to the inn.
Nameless paused while opening the door, pushing me back and gripping his wooden sword, his brow furrowing.
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"Master, someone's inside."
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Unlike the tense Nameless, I waved it off with a bored expression.
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"Don't worry too much. It's just, uh, a guest or something."
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I didn't know why they were in our room, but...
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The presence felt familiar—it had to be the one who'd said they'd come.
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Nameless sheathed his sword and widened his eyes.
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"...Pardon? Someone here to see you, Master?"
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What?
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"What do you mean by that?"
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"...Nothing."
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I glared at Nameless, then sighed, wondering what I was doing, and opened the door.
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He probably didn't have friends either, but pushing the conversation felt like it'd only hurt me.
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...Not that I don't have friends.
I pursed my lips and greeted our visitor.
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A guest had come to the inn room where Nameless and I were staying.
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Hmm, an intruder?
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To be precise, since they'd told me they were coming first, not quite...
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I glanced at the guest who'd shown up at the inn on their own.
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Tsk, on second thought, maybe it was an intruder.
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It was Lily.
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Lily, who had been perched on the bed, stood up at the sight of us, flashing a bright smile and striking a pose.
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"Harang~! Your cute and lovable Lily is here!"
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Lily made a V-sign with her hand and winked mischievously.
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Nameless and I both pressed a hand to our foreheads and sighed deeply in unison.
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"Eek! ...You two are too much! I'm a super busy demon, you know! I came because you called me?!"
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I headed to the bathroom, and Nameless started sorting our luggage—we each began our usual routines.
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"Hey?!"
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...
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Lily puffed out her cheeks and grumbled.
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"Seriously~! That's too mean!"
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"Sorry."
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(Is she really complaining after barging into our room unannounced?) The doubt crossed my mind, but since we hadn't set a meeting spot, I nodded along.
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Thinking about it, as a succubus, Lily couldn't exactly meet in crowded places.
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Hmm, maybe I was being too harsh.
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I gave an awkward smile, and Lily let out a small sigh.
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It felt awkward to keep standing like this, so it was time to get to the point.
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Nameless also looked displeased with Lily here, lips pursed...
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I slowly explained the slum incident to her.
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...
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"Oh! You've already started~! I thought you'd wait a while longer!"
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Lily clapped excitedly, flitting around the room.
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I watched her with narrowed eyes.
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...Now?
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She seemed in a good mood—perfect timing to ask.
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"So, about that..."
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"Yes?"
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A twinge of guilt hit me as she beamed innocently, but what could I do?
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Nameless and I were busy, so I asked if she could handle the slum folks.
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Her reaction was dramatic.
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"Eek! Me? Why?!"
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Lily waved her hands frantically, clearly hating the idea.
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"I don't know what you think of me, Harang, but I'm busy too!"
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"You're the only one I can ask."
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"No! I just said I'm busy!"
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Lily turned her head away with a huff.
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I watched, then sighed and prepared my secret weapon.
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Tsk, I didn't want to stoop to this.
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I slowly approached Lily, pouting my lips, widening my eyes, and looking up at her.
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The key was to droop the corners of my mouth and tug her sleeve.
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"Can't you do it?"
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This expression usually worked on Nameless when I asked favors, so first-time for Lily—what choice did she have?
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She stared, squeezed her eyes shut, and nodded. I smirked on one side.
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Got her.
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"Ugh, fine! I get it!"
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"Master...?"
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Nameless's icy expression worried me for later, but I turned away and ignored it.
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We could hash out slum details later.
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With one matter settled, I moved to the next.
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"So, did you bring the sword?"
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"Oh! Right! That's why I came! Hold on~!"
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Lily clapped, muttered some incomprehensible words, and reached into space.
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Magic?
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Fascinated, I watched as she struggled to pull a sword from thin air.
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"Help me!"
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"Ha..."
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Nameless sighed, went over, grabbed the half-emerged sword, and yanked it out cleanly.
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Confirming it was fully out, Lily caught her breath, crossed her arms, and huffed triumphantly.
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"Hmph~ What do you think? It was super hard to get."
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Her attitude irked me a bit, but...
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One look at the sword, and I understood completely.
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Even to my untrained eye, the balance was perfect.
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And the proportions were so ideal, it seemed made for Nameless.
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"Looks good?"
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I admired it too, wondering how Nameless felt holding it, but...
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"..."
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He ignored me, turning the sword this way and that, inspecting it.
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His eyes sparkled—like a kid with a gift from an uncle.
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Smiling warmly at the sight, Lily scowled, stuck out her tongue, and went "bleh."
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Nameless examined the sword thoroughly, swinging it lightly, then tilted his head curiously.
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"Master."
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"Hm? What is it?"
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"Have you... ever shown me this sword before?"
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As if. I'd never seen it before in my life.
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I shook my head.
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"No way. First time for me too."
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"..."
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Nameless stared at the sword in his hand for a long while.