Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Wilderness Festival
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"Haaah... Finally over."
The damn first day of festival sightseeing had finally drawn to a close.
By the time we finally reached the dorm entrance, it was well past midnight.
We'd barely gotten to sightsee properly, swept along by the crowds in a grueling march all day, leaving my legs trembling.
My whole body felt utterly drained, like my very soul had been threshed out.
"Fellow student! Let's enjoy tomorrow together too! There are still so many places we haven't seen!"
"...I'll think about it."
I squeezed out a response to Vulcan's chipper voice.
That guy had endless stamina or something.
Everyone around us looked exhausted, faces heavy with fatigue, but he seemed perfectly fine.
Ah, but he wasn't the only one unscathed.
There was one other with boundless energy.
"Today was fun. Get some good rest and see you tomorrow."
Iris flashed a bright smile, gave a light wave to us wrecks, then...
"..."
Her gaze lingered on me for a moment before she turned and headed into the dorm.
Watching her light footsteps, I screamed internally.
Do this all over again tomorrow?
...Just kill me. Please.
Flutter. Flutter.
"I can't walk anymore..."
Elysia was whining, leaning on Celine like a completely dead battery.
Gone was her usual elegant poise; she looked so precarious, like she might collapse any second.
"..."
Well. She was already lugging around two heavy burdens at all times. No wonder it was even tougher for her.
I got it.
"Ely. Hang in there just a bit...! We're almost there."
I called out to Celine, who was struggling up the stairs while supporting Elysia.
"See? Wouldn't it be better if I helped?"
I repeated the offer I'd made on the way back to the dorm, but she turned her head slightly to look at me.
Then she shook her head firmly, as if no way in hell.
"...Thanks, Brother. But I'll handle it."
She wasn't on Iris's level, but she was still a full-fledged heroine from The Glory.
The possessor of talent so outstanding it felt unfair to compare—though that was limited strictly to magic.
Even she must have hit her physical limits.
So why refuse?
Maybe she just didn't want to see me carrying Elysia.
I pondered it briefly, then let it go.
"If you say so."
Forcing help on someone who said no would just be ridiculous.
Besides, I had my own deadweight slung over my shoulder.
Finally dragging ourselves to the third floor was a Herculean effort.
Before entering the room, I had to pause.
"Haa...! Ely, pull yourself together...!"
My not-quite-real little sister was panting raggedly beside me—but blood-related or not, family was family.
Passing off her struggle like that left a bad taste.
"Nngh... Kyaa, kyaaak!"
As she turned the doorknob and tried to move the fully collapsed Elysia,
she nearly tripped over the threshold and fell backward.
"That's why I said don't push yourself."
I shot out my hand, grabbing her arm firmly just in time, and clicked my tongue softly.
Lucky I was watching, or she'd have gotten hurt over nothing.
"...S-Sorry, Brother. And... thank you for helping."
She steadied her pounding heart, her face flushing as she bowed her head.
Sweat beaded on her forehead as she caught her breath.
"..."
Compared to her usual confident, bold demeanor.
Ever since coming to the academy—no, specifically whenever she was near me.
She hadn't shown the side of her I knew from The Glory at all.
'...She was like that even back at the estate.'
Still, I'd thought the academy would change things.
That she'd go back to her old self.
But was it just my imagination, or had it gotten worse?
"...It's fine. Good work, Lin."
It was nothing—just a simple "you did well."
But at those casual words, Celine's downcast eyes wavered.
Her lips trembled, and she replied in a slightly hoarse voice.
"Y-You too, Brother. Good... work."
"Yeah. Get some rest."
I couldn't see her face, hidden by her bowed head and hair.
But she greeted me back and hurried into the room.
She looked pitiful, drenched in sweat, but she'd manage from here.
"Hoo..."
The moment I dragged my weary body into the room, the tension I'd held snapped, and fatigue crashed over me like a tidal wave.
I dumped Kaien, hanging lifelessly off my shoulder, onto the bed like luggage. He didn't even twitch.
"...Hey. You wash first. I'll rest a bit and go after."
"..."
He was too wiped to even lift a finger.
I lay flat on my back, turning my head to speak to him lying there like the dead.
"Hellooo?"
Normally, his neat-freak tendencies would have him washing up without me saying a word.
But tonight, he didn't have the energy.
"...Hey, Kaien?"
No response.
Worried he'd actually died, I listened closely and heard steady, snoring breaths.
'He's out.'
Figures. He must've been beat.
Even in the game, his stamina wasn't great.
Being dragged around by Vulcan all day? No wonder.
He'd even collapsed from leg fatigue at the end, so I'd carried him the rest of the way.
'Good thing he was light.'
A chuckle escaped as I pictured his slender frame.
I fumbled with one barely moving hand to unbutton and shrug off my outer clothes.
Then I wrestled the creeping sleep.
I wanted to pass out as is, but the food smells and sticky grime clinging to my skin made it impossible.
Bang.
Then the firmly shut door flew open, and a familiar figure appeared.
"...Master. Why so late?"
It was Imir.
She looked displeased for some reason, leaning crookedly against the doorframe as she eyed me.
"You went off and had a blast without me, huh."
"...I explained plenty. Can't be helped during the Wilderness Festival."
"...Agh! While you're out eating delicious food and having fun, I'm stuck cooped up in this cramped room..."
She pouted, grumbling.
Fair enough. It'd been so noisy outside; she'd be curious.
"Last day, you'll come out anyway, so hang in there."
"For real? Lie to me, and I'll bite you."
"Yeah. Oh, perfect timing, actually."
"...?"
I jerked my chin toward Kaien sprawled on the bed amid her nonstop complaints.
"Imir. Help him out of his clothes and wash him up."
The air in the room grew heavy the instant the words left my mouth.
"...I didn't hear that right, did I?"
Imir scowled deeply, asking again.
Her glowing red eyes held a perfectly reasonable question: What the hell is this lunatic saying?
I knew what she meant.
Her so-called master comes home late at night and his first order is to bathe his roommate? Insane.
"You heard right. Wash him."
I replied calmly, sinking deeper into the bed.
Exhaustion pinned me down; I couldn't lift a finger.
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Disgust'.]
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Rage'.]
"Eat shit. Yeah, I'm playing maid because of that contract with you."
"But no way in hell am I touching some other guy's junk."
She barked a disbelieving laugh, grinding her teeth like she might bite me any second.
The killing intent wafting off her brought back memories of our mountain clash.
"...You haven't forgotten I'm your master, right?"
Crunch.
"...You think I'll obey every damn order? Fine, if it was you, maybe. But some other bastard? Never. No way."
"If you wanna force me, just kill me. Might work on a corpse."
I shook my head at her, smirking bitterly as she cracked her knuckles.
'Stubborn as ever.'
Living with her had driven it home: she never bluffed.
She'd die before bending.
"Haa..."
Sighing deeply at her refusal to budge without direct action,
I forced my exhausted body upright.
"Imir."
"..."
"Answer me."
"...What, you bastard master?!"
I rose, stepping toward her shrill shout and her slouched stance.
One step, two.
As the distance closed, her red eyes flickered uncertainly.
A few steps, and I was right in her face. She tensed, stepping back—but the wall was at her back. Nowhere to go.
"Back on the mountain, when we made the contract. I said become mine."
"...No clue."
I gripped her jaw, forcing her gaze to mine as she turned away.
She flinched at the rough, heated touch.
"L-Let go! Damn master!"
Thud! Thud!
Unlike her monstrous strength, her cute little fists pummeling my chest.
From afar, it might look romantic.
But for me? Bone-cracking pain.
'...Fucking hurts.'
I swallowed a scream, herding her back and locking eyes again, whispering.
"That's an order. Don't forget the contract."
"...Shit."
Her eyes trembled.
Then she glared, injustice and fury mixed.
"Eat shit, fucker!"
She spat curses, shoving my hand away roughly, scowling fiercely.
Poised to lunge—but instead, she clenched her jaw and turned.
Whoosh.
She hoisted the bed-sprawled Kaien like luggage, stomping toward the bathroom with thuds.
In that passing moment,
was that tears glistening in her eyes? Nah, illusion.
Impossible.
As she trudged off, exuding gloom,
I added quietly.
"Imir."
"...What, you dog of a master."
Mouth as foul as ever.
"You're the only one I can ask this of. I'm serious."
Her steps halted abruptly.
"..."
She stood silent a moment, then slowly turned to look at me.
Something unreadable flickered in her glowing red eyes.
"...Annoying."
She grumbled curtly, hugging Kaien tighter as she vanished into the bathroom.
The door shut, and faint water sounds began.
'She'll handle the washing.'
I sighed in relief, closing my eyes.
'Rest till he's out.'