Chapter 322: The Festival is Grand! Fun! And Decadent! (End)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 322: The Festival is Grand! Fun! And Decadent! (End)
“…This is quite troublesome.”
Rose, the homunculus who dreamed of becoming the Academy’s perfect maid, was nursing a small concern.
“I am working so hard for Master’s happiness, but at this rate, I won’t even have the leisure to enjoy tea time.”
Today, as always, she was carrying out her very natural duties as a maid—secretly dealing with those who sought to interfere with Kang So-hyun’s happiness. However, because her master had become so famous, the number of pests trying to disrupt his small moments of peace had increased as well.
“If I miss my tea time with Master because of all of you, how exactly do you intend to take responsibility?”
There was no way the scouters, trembling in terror, would answer her, but she felt she couldn’t let her frustration go without saying it.
“It’s only because I rarely step out into the spotlight, but I’m always thinking of Master from the shadows, whether it’s during daily life or when incidents occur. And yet, Master sees me as nothing more than a honey-water vending machine that makes dirty jokes. Isn’t he too much?”
“Y-Yes! He really is too much!”
Choi Young-nam (39, belonging to a mid-sized Hunter guild), who had a history of being nagged by his wife, drew on his experience that the only correct answer to a woman’s venting was unconditional agreement. He chimed in, but the reaction he received was ice-cold.
“…And who are you to decide whether my Master is ‘too much’ or not?”
At the voice dripping with obvious rage, the scouters realized they were in deep trouble. However…
“Oh my, look at the time.”
The maid suddenly withdrew her killing intent and began tidying her clothes.
“My appointment with Master is almost here, so I shall let you off just this once. If you interfere again for such pathetic reasons as ‘scouting,’ know that there won’t be a next time.”
As a side note, the Hunters who watched her depart with a smiling face later testified that they could hardly believe she was the same person as the hunter who had ruthlessly preyed upon them in the media. However, due to a certain incident, that testimony reportedly never reached the broadcasting station.
* * *
“In that sense, I think I deserve a reward today.”
“I have no idea what you mean by ‘in that sense’ all of a sudden.”
“Hum, hum. There are just things like that. A maid isn’t supposed to be too aggressive about claiming her own merits, after all.”
Rose, humming as she began to brew black tea, skillfully started setting out refreshments.
“Even if I call it a reward, I’m satisfied with just having tea time with you, Master. We usually spend so little time together, after all.”
Well, thinking about it, although I saw her in the morning or ran into her often at the Academy, I really hadn’t spent much dedicated time with Rose.
How should I put it?
Out of everyone around me, Rose was the person I had looked after the least.
In a way, you could call it irresponsible. When I first pulled her out of the dungeon, I didn’t have my memories yet, so I didn’t see her as anything more than a character. After regaining my memories, I was too busy to pay attention to her, as she hadn’t appeared in the original work or the 1st Timeline.
Because of that, to be honest, there was a time when I thought Rose might leave my side.
I was her savior, and it was true I helped her with her life afterward, but her abilities were far greater than I had expected. If she wanted to, she could live a much better life than playing maid by my side.
Yet, she remained with me.
I didn’t know if it was an obsession with the first person she met or if she had found some value of her own in me. Regardless, I knew I couldn’t just keep taking it for granted.
So, I decided to ask her honestly about her intentions.
“Do you have any complaints or anything against me?”
“Complaints? Heavens, no. Thanks to Master’s brilliant idea—one that ordinary people wouldn’t even dream of—to use clones to date multiple women simultaneously, I was able to receive this dedicated time as well.”
Wait. She sounds like she has complaints. A lot of them, actually.
“I’m joking. I truly have no complaints. Ah, if I had to pick one thing, it’s a bit disappointing that you seem to have gotten used to my jokes lately.”
Pouring the tea into a cup, she smiled brightly and handed it to me.
“Would you like milk or lemon juice? Ah, though straight is fine as well.”
“No, I’m asking you very seriously right now.”
“I’m asking you seriously as well. Milk or lemon. It’s a grave matter when it comes to tea, you know?”
I still didn’t know what she was thinking, but it seemed she wouldn’t let the conversation proceed unless I made a choice.
“…Milk tea, then.”
“Yes. Filled with my precious, concentrated milk…”
“Did you make me choose just to make that joke?”
“Of course. Ah, for reference, the lemon juice was going to be ‘the maid’s secret liquid with a sour tang,’ and the straight was going to be ‘raw’ tea with nothing added.”
“I’m getting dizzy.”
“I prepared them hoping you would feel that way.”
Watching the milk swirl into the tea, Rose giggled and spoke.
“Ah, thick, concentrated milk inside the raw…”
“…Please. I’m trying to have a serious talk. Why are you doing this to me?”
“Fufu. Even the most obedient maid feels like playing a few mischievous pranks on a ‘too much’ Master who doesn’t understand a maid’s heart.”
What exactly is a maid’s heart…?
“Well, I think you’ll get sulky if I tease you any more, so to put it simply: my new life is far too satisfying for me to harbor any complaints.”
Satisfying.
The words coming from her mouth were still quite cryptic and hard to understand.
“Well, simply put, back when I was still in the incubation tank, I had absolutely nothing to do, so I used to imagine things. Like, what would be waiting for me if I ever got out of there? Things like that.”
After popping a chocolate chip cookie into her mouth and taking a sip of tea, she continued her story quite calmly.
“And according to my deductions, the most likely conclusion was that I would be treated as a monster upon discovery and executed, or dismantled as an experimental subject. Since I’m not human.”
Not human.
An artificial lifeform created from plant matter.
“I can do most things humans can, and there isn’t much difference in appearance, but it’s clear that I am a creature distinct from humans. I thought that even if I were extremely lucky, I’d be sold off as a rare commodity.”
Suddenly, I remembered her from back when she wasn’t a pervert… no, when I first met her.
Floating in the incubation tank, emotionlessly warning me that it might be dangerous to approach.
I remember her being completely different from how she was now.
“But, defying all the high probabilities I had imagined, the person who found me treated me as a person.”
Well, strictly speaking, it would be more accurate to say I didn’t see anyone, including you, as a ‘person’ back then.
Paradoxically, that’s why I treated everyone equally.
“You gave me the chance to learn, the chance to utilize my knowledge, and the chance to live like everyone else. You even helped me establish a modest identity and earn my own living. You helped me get my qualifications.”
She smiled radiantly.
“Isn’t that enough?”
“Enough?”
“Yes. Everything I wished for—no, more than I ever wished for—has been realized. What more could I possibly want?”
“With your abilities, you could obtain so much more.”
“Mmm, perhaps. But being able to blend into normalcy while occasionally throwing dirty jokes at my cute Master… this alone feels like too much of a dream to me. If I asked for more, I’d surely be punished by the heavens, wouldn’t I?”
Giggling, she refilled my empty cup.
“Actually, having tea time like this today might have been a bit greedy of me, but you’ll overlook this much, won’t you?”
Lately, I’ve been having this thought more and more.
Had I, so simply and carelessly, changed the values and lives of so many people?
No, I didn’t mean it in a bad way.
In the past, I would have wallowed in guilt, wondering, ‘Do I have the right to do this?’ But I’ve grown a bit, so I know that such thoughts don’t help anyone.
It’s just…
If I’ve placed myself at the center of their lives, whether by whim or by force…
Shouldn’t I take responsibility in some way?
At the very least, I should grant them the things they wish for.
That was all I was thinking.
“Oh, wait a moment? I just got a ‘feeling’ that I won’t end up as a losing heroine. Is this just my imagination?”
…What kind of feeling is that?
“Want to do something lewd?”
“I politely decline.”
“Oh my, what a shame.”
Saying that as if she wasn’t disappointed at all, Rose giggled and began brewing a fresh pot of tea.
* * *
“…Wow, are we really doing this? We’re going to get so many photos taken for being attention-seekers.”
Lilac’s grumbling voice.
“Stop. We already agreed to do it. We just have to do our best.”
Cheon Yu-hak’s voice sounded like he was trying to soothe Lilac, but in reality, he was just trembling and trying to brainwash himself.
Behind the stage set up in the middle of the Academy festival, we were putting on our costumes while waiting for our turn.
Lilac was in his all-black Dark Lilac fashion, but with the added touch of Lee Yu-na and Ju Ri-ra’s sense, the colors weren’t tacky but maintained a somewhat high-end feel. Cheon Yu-hak, on the other hand, was wearing something close to a pure white coat. Honestly, it was a fashion that mediocre guys wouldn’t even dream of attempting, but since both of them were incredibly handsome, they looked decent enough.
Me?
Lee Yu-na had braided my hair, and I was wearing an Alice-in-Wonderland-style outfit that Ju Ri-ra had borrowed from somewhere.
Oh, and I had a massive ribbon on my head too.
“It’s fine because the small bust can be covered with frills. In fact, having a chest that’s too big is inconvenient on stage, so don’t worry. Your waist is thin, so the lines of the clothes stand out well. You’ll look pretty.”
“Um, Lee Yu-na. Is that consolation meant for me? If I actually had a bust, that would be a major incident.”
“Ah, right. You’re a guy, aren’t you? I’ve been looking at you cross-dressed since we were in the classroom, so I forgot.”
Our Pink Chihuahua is making jokes now; we really have become close.
“…Don’t get too close to Lilac.”
…That was a joke, right?
“Answer me.”
“…I wouldn’t take him even if you gave him to me, woman.”
“Mmm, our turn is after the 3rd-year performance and the invited idol stage highlight.”
Ju Ri-ra’s words, confirming the schedule, were something I already knew, but it felt absurd every time I heard it.
“I feel some malice in this schedule. Isn’t this bullying? Singing right after professionals.”
“Who knows. I heard it was because of Ga-eul’s enthusiastic proposal and the Student Council President’s influence.”
Ju Ri-ra sighed, saying she didn’t know the order would get messed up like this either, but well, what could we do?
“Hey, you guys stop whining and get your heads in the game. You did fine during practice.”
“That’s because there was no audience and we didn’t know the order would be like this!”
“Yes, for once, I honestly agree with Lilac. I could do a sparring demonstration or give a speech, but I have no confidence in singing in front of this many people.”
“Actually, So-hyun, how can you be so calm?”
“If we’re going to be embarrassed anyway, isn’t it better to draw some attention rather than being too scared to do anything?”
And well, there are people who said they’re looking forward to it, and people I want to show a fun time to.
“Ah, whatever. If you guys aren’t going out, I’ll do it alone, so do whatever you want.”
[Now! The next stage is a bit unique! It’s not easy for 1st-years to apply for a spot like this! Are they perhaps a group of top-ranking 1st-years!? From the valedictorian down, the top three have formed a team to sing for us!]
“Ah, it’s our turn.”
“…Fine. Since we’re doing it, I’ll make it as flashy as possible.”
“Yeah, okay. Memories. This is about making memories. Right, how many chances will we have to enjoy a festival like this?”
As I cast Reinforcement on the trembling Lilac and Cheon Yu-hak, their complexions began to brighten.
“…It really is an all-purpose power.”
“Thanks, So-hyun. I feel a bit better.”
With their expressions set, the two of them stepped out onto the stage first and began to sing. Unfortunately, gaining confidence didn’t mean their skills improved, and both of them hit voice cracks simultaneously.
Though the two continued to sing in front of the cooling audience, the reaction grew chillier as time passed, and then it was my turn.
I thought we were doomed, but the moment I stepped onto the stage, intending to do my best…
“Oh! It’s Kang Na-hyun!”
Suddenly, a voice looking for my sister erupted from somewhere.
What? I wondered where she was, but then I realized, strangely, that everyone was looking at me.
Well, thinking about it, since I was cross-dressed, I probably did look like her.
Still, if you looked closely, there were plenty of differences. The MC explained that I wasn’t her, but the problem was that once people heard I was Kang Na-hyun’s younger brother, they started expecting a lot from me.
This is troublesome.
To make matters worse, a red spotlight—which wasn’t even in the original script—began to shine on me.
I’m only good at singing on a neighborhood level; I wasn’t confident I could do well in an atmosphere like this.
Still, I started singing with the intention of working hard enough not to bring shame to my sister.
The moment I put on a bright smile and began to sing, the hall fell silent.
But that silence didn’t last long.
“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The following roar felt like it shook the entire Academy.
Fortunately, the reaction seemed good. I hoped everyone watching right now was having at least a little more fun.