Chapter 34
Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Shopping District Date (Not Really) (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I looked at Ruena, a bit flustered.
Just a moment ago, she had been...
Her eyes had barely been half-visible, dominated by her eyelids.
But now...
"Wanna go?"
"...What?"
"I wanna come too. With you, Celen. To the shopping district."
Her eyes were sharp, her voice crystal clear.
It was hard to believe this was the same girl who looked like she'd collapse on the floor the instant I let go of her hand.
'If she's gonna wake up for something like this, she should do it every day...'
I sighed and shot Ruena a sidelong glance.
She grabbed the hem of my clothes and tugged repeatedly.
With the pitiful look of a rain-soaked puppy.
"Me too..."
"......Ugh."
There it was again. That look.
The one that made it impossible to say no once it appeared.
I subtly averted my gaze and fell into thought.
Roaming the shopping district alone with Ruena...
The heir to the Grand Duke wandering through a crowded market?
'...Is that even possible?'
A sudden doubt narrowed my eyes.
I'd gone out with Ruena plenty of times before.
The botanical gardens,
The lakeside,
Museums or libraries, and so on.
Those places were mostly frequented by nobles.
They were meticulously managed, reasonably quiet, far from any bustle.
'Of course... the lakeside was the most dangerous moment of my life...'
The lakeside had at least been fully scouted beforehand.
It was a residential and special management zone.
Dangerous creatures were captured in advance or entry was blocked entirely.
'...If a damn bear hadn't popped out of nowhere.'
After the lakeside bear incident,
I'd become even more cautious about outings with Ruena.
The weather that day,
Any potential risks,
Security forces ready to handle emergencies, and so on.
I only finalized the location after checking everything.
Ruena was the heir to House Eliad.
Even a minor mishap for her could lead to catastrophic consequences.
For me.
If something like that happened again,
it wouldn't be a bear next time—it'd be the Grand Duke devouring me.
I shuddered, recalling how I'd suffered in front of that bear to protect her.
Anyway, the shopping district in that situation?
Sorry, but absolutely not.
By my standards, the shopping district was far too dangerous for Ruena.
Of course, nobles occasionally went there without sending servants,
buying what they needed directly.
But—
From what I knew, they always brought a bunch of escorts,
or stuck to safe zones catering only to nobles.
They didn't mingle in the crowds of commoners.
It wouldn't suit their dignity.
Of course, that didn't apply to House Noir.
Escorts?
Just a hassle.
Safe zones?
Our family was born far from anything safe.
Naturally—
We didn't care much about commoner or noble status.
What mattered to House Noir was
how valuable the goods were there.
House Noir was especially sensitive to profit and value.
That's why my brothers, my sister, and even little Trisha
went wherever needed—commoner districts or not—to get what they wanted.
Same for me.
And this time, naturally, it was the commoners' shopping district.
Far more interesting stuff than the stiff, flashy noble shops.
'Plus... we're stopping by the slums too...'
So, sorry, but I couldn't grant Ruena's wish.
House Noir specialized in stealth and infiltration,
so slipping away alone if trouble arose was a breeze.
But escorting someone else out safely was a whole different story.
I turned my gaze from the ceiling back to Ruena.
She was still shaking me with that signature pitiful expression.
'Isn't that cheating...?'
It had been ages since I'd first faced that look—
yet far from getting used to it, I was still defenseless.
'The Grand Duke must've been convinced the same way...'
But—
Some things worked, some didn't.
She needed to learn that.
The world didn't always go your way.
I lowered my head slightly, feigning difficulty, and spoke.
"...Sorry. That'd be tricky."
"......Why?"
Her forlorn question hit me like she was about to burst into tears.
I steadied my wavering heart.
I couldn't give in to that face.
Any slip-up, and the Grand Duke would eat me alive.
Mind made up, I pretended to ponder as I looked at her.
Her big pink eyes,
Silky navy hair,
Flawless smooth skin,
The refined grace unique to noble ladies.
No matter how plainly she dressed, that appearance would stand out.
'...No way. Absolutely not.'
I hardened my resolve, avoiding her piercing gaze.
I looked at Ruena again, my tone firmer.
"No. It's dangerous."
"Why?"
"It's the commoners' shopping district. A noble wandering there could cause a scene. Dignity issues too."
"But... you're a noble too, Celen?"
Our family was just bandits in noble clothing.
...Couldn't say that, so I masked my shamelessness with a grin.
"I've been roaming since I was little. Blending with commoners isn't awkward. I know a bunch too."
"Then me too..."
"......Huh?"
Ruena looked up at me with sparkling eyes and hooked her arm through mine.
Still that pitiful gaze.
Yet deep in her eyes burned her signature stubbornness—she wouldn't back down.
Experience and instinct told me:
'...No refusing this.'
As if driving the nail in, Ruena said firmly.
"You said you blend well with commoners. So... I'll watch you and copy. I'll stick right by your side. Never stray."
"......Ah."
"No looking around, I'll listen well, do exactly what you say."
"Ugh..."
"...So, can you take me?"
That signature pitiful look again.
Hit point-blank, I bit my lip and looked down.
'......I lost.'
Against that look, my win rate was 0%.
When would I ever claim even one victory?
I let out a long sigh.
"Haa..."
"......Please, Celen..."
Her final plea crushed me completely.
"Fine. But conditions."
"Conditions?"
"One: Stay by my side no matter what. Two: Never stray. Three: No peeking into weird places or talking to strangers."
My surrender lit up her eyes.
"Yes. I promise all."
"Good. Keep them, or no next time."
If there even was a next time.
If anything happened to Ruena, my survival was at stake first.
'The Grand Duke wouldn't let me live.'
Luckily, it worked on her.
She hunched her shoulders and nodded seriously.
Thus, I tallied one loss and returned to the Noir estate.
I'd lost to her,
but I'd set minimum conditions, securing safety measures.
Still—
Too early to relax.
Who knew what could happen in a teeming shopping district.
People,
Unpredictable situations,
Even pebbles on the street.
Everything there needed caution.
Even a minor risk to Ruena would end my life that day...
I shuddered, recalling the Grand Duke's murderous glare.
'My home sweet home suddenly feels threatening...'
The shopping district, usually a light stroll,
turned perilous just because Ruena was coming.
I was exhausted before starting, but I'd already agreed.
Best I could do: prepare every safeguard for her safety.
The surest was sturdy escorts.
But—
No trailing servants like nobles.
That was just screaming 'look at me.'
'Guess... only that one.'
I sighed and headed upstairs.
To persuade the lazy, annoying, but sturdiest one.
"Kyahaha—! This is the best—?!"
Halfway up the stairs, her loud voice boomed.
Feeling my lifespan drain, I stood before her door.
"Hey, Trisha."
"Eh—? That voice?"
"Coming in."
Opening the door assaulted my eyes and ears.
Cards and dice strewn messily,
Mysterious junk I didn't want to identify,
A chaotic mix of cute and grotesque dolls.
The room's owner, my only little sister Trisha,
was bouncing on the bed hugging a weird gorilla doll.
"......What're you doing?"
"Hey—! Who said come in! You, Celen—!"
I easily dodged the grotesque doll flying at me.
'She calls the other brothers 'big bro' fine, why not me...'
Not new, but I felt my bottom rung in the family hierarchy again.
I picked up the doll she threw and sighed.
"Trisha."
"What, what."
"Got a favor."
"Huuuh? Favor—? What favor—?"
She'd been fuming, but her eyes lit up as she approached.
Mischievous smile,
Face full of curiosity.
Trisha ditched even the gorilla doll,
circling me like a predator eyeing prey.
'...Hate this, really.'
Still, she was the only one for escort duty.
Her unique ability, awakened at 10—
Absorbing and mimicking nearby foes' strength or mana.
So, Trisha was practically the family's surest weapon.
"Saturday, shopping district. Escort me."
"Escort? Me, your frail little sis who might collapse if touched?"
"...The opponent's not collapsing?"
"......What'd you say?"
Her eyes turned menacing; I shut up.
She flashed her playful smile and winked.
"For free?"
"What do you want."
"Huuuh? Obviously—"
Her feigned nonchalance cracked.
Cold sweat on her forehead,
Eyes darting,
Lips trembling downward.
Visibly fidgeting, Trisha teared up and yelled.
"The one asking thinks of that—!!"
"......"
Was asking this idiot even okay?
A long sigh escaped at my pathetic luck with people.