Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: 28. Return to Everyday Life
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A peaceful weekday afternoon after classes had ended.
The warm sunlight pouring through the window, even the sound of the wind rustling between the leaves.
Some might think this serene blessing of nature was nothing special.
But at least for me, all these gentle things were crafting a perfect day.
"Come on!"
Thud thud!
Just one thing excepted—the heavy impacts pounding against my chest.
"Master. You went off to some dungeon without me, didn't you? Why'd you leave me out?!"
God knows where she heard it from.
She'd found out I'd gone to the dungeon alone over the weekend.
And ever since I got back to the dorm,
all day long.
Quite literally all day,
she'd been whining while pounding my chest.
She probably thought she wasn't putting much strength into it, just throwing a little tantrum.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
"...Kuh."
How the hell did those cute little hands pack such monstrous strength?
Each time her hand sliced through the air and slammed into my chest, my ribs screamed, sending vibrations rattling through my insides.
If I stayed quiet any longer, my ribcage might actually cave in.
In the end, for the sake of survival, I had to open my mouth.
"...I told you already. It was urgent."
"Then you should've taken me! Lying around all day bores me to death!"
Imir growled, thumping her chest like she was the aggrieved one.
Fair enough. Ever since coming here, the only time she'd properly stretched her legs was during the wilderness trials, so of course she'd be itching for action.
If someone saw her now, they'd just think she was a lazy exhibitionist maid who did nothing but lounge around.
But she was Frostfang Imir.
To a battle maniac like her, a dungeon must've been like a full-blown carnival.
And I'd gone to that fun place all by myself.
No wonder her stomach hurt.
...But still.
"I never told you to slack off."
Flinch.
At my point, her hand froze mid-air, no longer drumming my chest.
"...M-Master. I don't really get it?"
"..."
"..."
Haa.
It wasn't a long time, but still.
She'd learned maid training from the Dreadnote household.
Yet ever since arriving at the academy, she hadn't shown the slightest intent to actually work.
This was ridiculous.
'...Well, it's partly my fault too.'
Yeah, I couldn't pin it all on her.
I just couldn't entrust her with my clothes or gear.
Riiip!
"...Huh? Master, this got torn?"
Crash!
"Uh, huh? Isn't this breaking way too easily?"
Ah.
"Let's not go there."
"...Tch. You gotta give me something I'm good at!"
A valid counterargument.
She'd always made her living through murder, after all.
Of course she'd be better at smashing things than delicate housework.
I figured basic training would make her capable of the fundamentals, since she's human and all.
Who knew she'd be utterly useless since arriving at the academy?
'Especially when I found out she can't even fold towels properly... haa.'
As the pain in my chest gradually faded,
my head started throbbing from all the destruction she'd caused instead.
"Fine. I actually have a job for you anyway. Just hold on a bit."
"...Really? You promise, Master? I won't let you off if you don't."
"Yeah."
Only then did she finally peel her hands off my chest, her eyes locking onto mine persistently until she was satisfied.
She grinned ear to ear.
Simple girl.
Watching that innocent smile tugged the tension out of me, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
Like it or not, she kept things from ever getting boring.
Creeeak.
It was then.
The firmly shut door creaked open cautiously.
"...Huh?"
At the sudden sound of the door opening,
I instinctively turned toward it.
If it were Celine or Elicia,
they would've knocked before flinging it open, so it wasn't them.
'Iris? Nah, she's not the type either...'
No malice in the air, so
I just lifted my head blankly and watched as a figure timidly slipped inside.
"...You?"
"Bitch?"
Peeking through the door crack was none other than Kaien.
Or more precisely, Seren wearing Kaien's skin—a woman.
"...L-Long time no see."
Gone was her usual bold demeanor.
Shoulders hunched, creeping in carefully—what a sight.
Was it from lying in the hospital bed for days?
Or surviving that near-death ordeal?
Whatever it was, that sharp edge was missing from her face.
In Imir's terms...
Kind of a female face?
Instead, awkwardness and embarrassment mingled there.
Her face flushed ripe red was all I could see.
"Uh? Y-Yeah, right..."
I tried to play it cool as I replied.
Even if I fought not to show it, my gaze kept drifting to her lips.
That day in the hospital room a few days ago.
Even if it was just an unintended mistake,
the sensation of that kiss we'd shared
still lingered at the edge of my lips.
"..."
"..."
...Hah.
"A-Ahem."
Realizing I'd been staring at her lips, I hurriedly cleared my throat and forced my eyes away.
Even if I tried not to think about it consciously.
This girl wasn't just ordinarily attractive.
'...Driving me crazy.'
Smack smack smack!
I shut my eyes, trying not to think, and lightly slapped my cheeks.
But that only made the image burn brighter in my mind.
"...Evan?"
Maybe my actions looked weird.
At her call, I opened my eyes to find Kaien lifting her lowered head to look at me.
"Ahem... S-So, how's your body holding up now?"
I tossed out a question to break the awkward silence,
but was that tremor in my voice just my imagination?
"Good. They said I was fully recovered a few days ago. Discharge took a bit because of the paperwork."
"...Glad to hear it."
"..."
"..."
We'd never been the type to chat much even normally—just the essentials.
But today felt especially stifled.
For me, memories of that day were vivid, pricking at me from every angle.
'Why's she acting like that?'
"...!"
Whoosh!
Our eyes met, and Kaien whipped her head away,
desperately avoiding my gaze as she hurried to her bed.
Normally, she'd unpack right away and change in the bathroom.
Today, even setting down her bag felt awkwardly hesitant.
Like she was hyper-aware of me watching.
Once I noticed it once, everything she did seemed off.
Her ears flushed red, too.
Not just from heat.
...Maybe.
Just maybe.
'...She remembers?'
"Um... by any chance."
She paused unpacking and glanced my way as she asked.
Caught off guard like my secret was busted, I forced a calm facade with a fake cough.
"...Yeah?"
"Did you... come to the hospital room at night by any chance?"
Thump.
My heart dropped.
She remembers after all? Of course she does, right?
Squeeze.
Screaming internally,
I pinched my thigh hard and wrestled my facial muscles under control.
"No idea what you're talking about. Visiting hours were over. No way I could've."
I feigned total ignorance, playing it off casually.
"...R-Right? Yeah, must've been a dream."
At my firm denial, she nodded with a complicated expression.
"Makes sense. No way it'd be real..."
Kaien shook her head with a self-deprecating smile.
Something about that look felt inexplicably lonely, turning my mouth bitter.
As long as I hoped she'd stay a guy,
burying that day as a dream was best for both of us.
"..."
"..."
While we both stayed silent for our own reasons,
Kaien rummaged clothes from her bag and headed to the bathroom.
Click.
With the door shutting,
a heavy silence settled back over the room.
"..."
The moment she vanished into the bathroom, I exhaled the breath I'd held and grabbed a glass of water.
My throat felt parched.
"Hmmm."
Then, Imir—who'd been watching from beside me—let out a meaningful hum.
She shot a narrow-eyed glare toward the bathroom, then turned to me.
"Master."
"What."
"...By any chance."
As I gulped water to quench my burning thirst,
Imir sidled right up close.
Her red eyes bored into mine from inches away.
"Did you sleep with her?"
"...Pfft!"
The horrific sensation of water surging back up my throat hit,
and I clapped a hand over my mouth, coughing violently.
"Cough! Cough! W-What'd you say...?"
"Did you sleep with that bitch."
Imir asked as if it were no big deal.
Her tone so casual, like asking what I had for lunch,
I wondered if I'd misheard.
"...What the hell's in that head of yours?"
After coughing my lungs out, I finally glared at her.
Coughs stopped, but my throat stung and my vision spun from her.
"Why? Your reaction says yes."
"If not, tell me. What'd you do then?"
She met my eyes boldly, no dodging.
Even smirked like my fluster amused her.
Her eyes weren't smiling, though.
Drip drip.
From the bathroom, the shower started, irregular water pattering against the floor echoing in my ears.
"It's not what you think."
I stared her down firmly with heated eyes.
She gazed into mine for a long moment, then lost interest and snorted dismissively.
"...Whatever."
With that, she spun and vanished into her room.
I could only let out a dazed laugh at her retreating back.
She looked kinda pissed for some reason, but that must've been my imagination.
"Oh right."
Come to think of it, there was one thing
I needed to tell Kaien.
Midterms were coming up soon.