Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Club (2)
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"Hmm?"
Sarah poked her head right in front of Aren, chuckling softly.
Watching her do that...
'She's reacting.'
He gave it some serious thought.
First off, pretty face? Definitely a pass.
And a great figure.
'...I could field a whole soccer team with that.'
Those wide hips would make childbirth a breeze, and the ample breasts up top would ensure plenty of kids never went hungry.
...Wife candidate approved.
Aren smiled back at Sarah, who was looking up at him.
"So, you've never actually tried writing in this book before?"
"Hehe. Who knows? What do you think?"
"Hmm..."
Sarah let out an enigmatic laugh.
"Feels like you haven't."
"Oh...? Why's that?"
"Well..."
Obviously.
Grab—
"?!"
"...You can just tell you haven't."
Aren gently gripped Sarah's hand. Just like with Veronica, he slipped his fingers between hers.
Sarah, suddenly interlocking fingers with him, looked utterly flustered.
Aren ignored it and held their clasped hands right up to her face.
"See? Was I wrong?"
"...You're right, junior. But... is this okay to do to me?"
She pointed at their intertwined hands.
The sudden physical contact.
Especially since Sarah was a noble, it could easily spark trouble.
Of course.
"You won't mind, right?"
He was certain she wouldn't.
"...My, why's that?"
"I can sense the fondness from you toward me. So I thought I'd take advantage of it a bit... Did you hate it?"
Sarah's eyes curved into a gentle smile.
"Hehe. My junior's quite bold, isn't he? When I heard the rumor that you'd confessed to Veronica of all people, I thought it was nonsense, but seeing this... it must be true."
Sarah had already disentangled their fingers and stepped back.
As if she'd never come close in the first place.
She wore that enigmatic smile, one that inexplicably drew the eye.
"So, did you hate it?"
Sarah's cheeks flushed pink as she stared at Aren with a subtle smile.
"...I didn't hate it."
"Hic!"
At that moment, Lydia let out a hiccup.
"...Oh dear. I'd forgotten about this junior for a moment. It's all because Aren junior was so bold."
"My fault?"
"Of course."
Sarah playfully tapped Aren's arm before approaching Lydia.
Aren rubbed the spot she'd hit.
'...Feels kinda weird.'
She was a type he'd never encountered in this world before.
Seemed super carefree, but that vague demeanor made it hard to get closer—like some intangible barrier.
Of course, since they'd just met, maybe he had the wrong read on her.
'Either way, she's intriguing.'
That's why he felt drawn to her.
Humans are curious creatures about the unknown, after all.
And to Aren, Sarah was that unknown.
In the meantime, Sarah had returned the book titled 101 Positions to Satisfy a Man to its original spot in front of Lydia.
"Are you alright, Lydia junior?"
"Y-Yes... yes..."
"Hehe. Good to hear."
Lydia quietly tugged at Aren's sleeve.
He glanced at her curiously, and she pointed toward the door, her face bright red.
'...Ah.'
She wants to leave, huh?
Yeah, this might've been a bit much for her.
"Senior."
"What is it, Aren junior?"
"Can we head out now?"
"Oh? Not going to look around more?"
"Yeah. We've got a rough idea of what's here."
He stared steadily at Sarah as he said it.
Sarah smiled nonchalantly.
"Hehe, got it. Take care, then. And please consider our Book Club."
"Sure thing. See you next time, senior."
"S-See you... later...!"
After that, Aren dragged a blushing Lydia out of the Book Club room.
Sarah waved goodbye until the end.
"Haa... L-Let's check other clubs, Aren..."
"Sure."
The two walked the halls in silence. Aren was fine, but Lydia seemed lost in thought.
As they strolled, checking out various clubs, she gently tugged his sleeve again.
A quick glance showed she'd calmed down a bit.
"Um... Aren."
"Yeah."
She pointed to a club on the left.
"What about that one?"
...Flower Arranging Club?
Looks like it'd be full of noble young ladies.
"Curious about that one, Lydia?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"Let's check it out, then."
"Thank youuu..."
Aren and Lydia opened the door to the Flower Arranging Club room.
Honestly, he had high hopes as he stepped in.
Flower arranging sounded like it'd be packed with cute, pure noble girls like Lydia.
But...
"...Eh."
"??????"
What.
"...Lydia. Did we open the wrong door?"
"N-No...?"
"Then why..."
...are all these burly guys demurely sitting there arranging flowers.
.
.
.
.
.
They stepped out and back in to confirm—it was definitely the Flower Arranging Club.
And those burly guys were indeed club members.
Heard they joined today or something.
But the problem was...
"C-Crown Prince...?"
"Mm."
"Next to him, Sword Saint's disciple... and Next Northern Grand Duke..."
"......"
"And... ugh..."
Last but not least, Ferris, the guy Aren had beaten in that duel.
Ferris, catching his eye, scowled and turned away.
He looked thoroughly embarrassed.
'Can't blame him.'
Not only had he lost humiliatingly in front of everyone, now he was in the Flower Arranging Club, doing something so unmanly.
Staring doe-eyed at one girl in the center.
And it wasn't just Ferris. The Crown Prince, Sword Saint's disciple, and Next Northern Grand Duke were all gazing at that one central girl with puppy eyes.
Quickly averting their gazes if eyes met.
'...What is this.'
The vibe was off.
Like... all these powerhouse guys were surrounding one girl, smitten.
Sure, the girl in the center was pretty. Delicately beautiful, probably popular.
But not this popular.
...
'...No way.'
Aren's expression turned serious.
"A-Aren..."
"......"
Normally he'd respond to Lydia right away, but not now.
He'd spotted a major discrepancy.
'This can't be...'
Aren had assumed this world was dark fantasy.
Made sense—he'd seen plenty of creepy stuff, and there were Demon Cultists actively trying to destroy it all.
No doubt in his mind: dark fantasy.
But what if...
Really, what if...
...he'd gotten the genre wrong?
'...Nah, no way.'
What if this wasn't dark fantasy, but romance fantasy?
"......"
"Aren...?"
...Then this scene kinda made sense.
He hadn't read much romance fantasy, but yeah, that tracked.
Yeah.
Ronance fantasy would explain it.
The guys vying for that one girl, the Crown Prince eyeing him warily like new competition...
...It all fit.
"......"
Looked like Aren had been living in the wrong genre this whole time.
Just like Lydia had done earlier, Aren now dragged her out of the Flower Arranging Club.
No point sticking around.
'Even if I didn't misread the genre, those guys are trouble.'
Not dangerous, exactly. More like a hassle.
Join that club, and you'd instantly get the cold shoulder from the Crown Prince and the rest.
Even if he had zero interest in that girl, they'd still come at him.
'That's love and romantic rivalry for you.'
Universal truth, genre be damned.
'No need to walk into that battlefield.'
Plus, he wanted to be the sole guy among girls, not one of many suitors.
Building a harem vs. joining one? Big difference.
So Aren walked out without hesitation.
She had that delicate, romance-fantasy-heroine beauty, sure, but not enough merit to dive into that mess.
Aren and Lydia wandered various clubs for a while after that.
And then.
"Lydia. Got any clubs in mind? Time to decide soon."
"Hmm... Not really... If I had to pick, Flower Arranging Club, but—"
"No to Flower Arranging Club."
Not there.
"Y-Yeah, I think so too... The people inside were too intimidating..."
"Phew..."
Good.
He sighed in relief and patted her head.
"W-What about you, Aren? Any in mind?"
"Yeah."
"Which?"
"Book Club."
Book Club.
Best spot for easy points and meeting girls.
"Ah, aha...? Then I'll join Book Club too."
"You sure?"
"Yeah... Feels good to be with you..."
"Smart choice."
And so, Aren and Lydia headed to the Book Club. Might as well join right away.
But upon arriving, they faced an unexpected sight.
"Veronica?"
"Eek."