Chapter 35
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 35: Heart-Pounding Practice Preparation!
Please read this episode in Dark Mode for the intended effect!
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“Miss Lanne, please.”
“......Heh?”
A scouting offer made with all my heart and soul.
The blonde girl stood frozen for a long time, then only let out a small, dumbfounded sound.
A brief silence settled down.
“......”
Cheeks flushed as if coated with the scent of spring.
Purple eyes wavering with youthful innocence.
Unlike her usual confident self, Lanne's reaction was too girlish.
I tilted my head.
‘Why is her reaction like this?’
I just asked her to do this practice together, was she that opposed to it?
‘Well.’
Lanne herself is the Class A runner-up.
A top-tier student counted among the top three in the grade.
From that position, forming a team with a Class E student... it seemed hard to accept it positively.
‘Lanne has a strong desire to improve. She probably wants to get good grades too.’
But!
Even so, I couldn't afford to miss Lanne.
If you aren't there, my plan is ruined.
If you aren't there, the event won't trigger.
I had to tempt Lanne to my side using whatever means necessary.
“......”
The girl was still stiff.
I straightened my kneeling leg and took a deep step forward.
“Miss Lanne.”
Right in front of her nose.
The gap closed in an instant.
A distance where, if I leaned in just a little, she would be fully embraced.
I blocked the girl's vision.
So that she would only look at me.
Those purple eyes had even stopped breathing.
“I will take full responsibility.”
“......Hic.”
I whispered in her ear.
Was it because the mask was close enough to touch her earlobe?
Lanne's body scent wafted across the bridge of my nose.
Rather than sharp and alluring, it was a cool winter scent.
Perhaps because my breath touched the nape of her neck, the girl shrank her shoulders.
“I will take responsibility for you, Miss Lanne.”
I'll take responsibility for your score!
I'll carry you from beginning to end!
I'll get you the highest score generously and let you return satisfied!
So just bring your body!!
“I won't let a single drop of water touch your hands. I will handle everything.”
“A-ah, b-b-but, such a thing...”
Only then did the girl stammeringly part her lips.
Heat rose on her pale cheeks, resembling a freshly bloomed flower petal.
I whispered again.
“Miss Lanne.”
“S-Sir Viktor... This sort of thing, for us s-students... I think it's t-too early...”
“No way. Many students are already doing it right now, aren't they? It's the time when everyone is looking for a partner.”
“R-really? If so, is this a trend in the capital that I don't know about...?”
“You could see it that way.”
“Come to think of it... they say some people are tied early through political arrangements...”
*Squeeze—.*
Since I hadn't let go of the hand I grabbed earlier, we were in a posture as if our fingers were interlaced.
Lanne mumbled her lips with unclear pronunciation.
Did hanging out with Alice at my request rub off on her?
I lowered my head a little more to listen closely.
Following that, Lanne's pronunciation became a little more crushed.
“T-they say kids these days mature early, but to handle such an important matter already...”
“Is age important in a decision? As long as our hearts match, anything is possible.”
“B-but... I still don't k-know so many things about Sir Viktor...”
“We can get to know each other gradually. Isn't that what becoming each other's partner means?”
“L-l-like that, so forcefully...”
Lanne lowered her head deeply.
After always seeing her brave and energetic side, seeing her so shy like this was refreshing.
I couldn't even see this kind of thing in the original work; I'm glad I possessed this body.
While I unfolded these silly thoughts, Lanne let out a deep breath.
Then she mumbled her lips, and soon spoke as if her thoughts were organized.
“Sir Viktor...”
“I am listening.”
I was even wearing a mask on this side, what was she finding so difficult?
Lanne continued speaking, barely able to make eye contact.
Between the settled silence, a clear tone rang out.
“I also respect Sir Viktor's martial prowess. And I consider you my lifesaver, a rival, and the first close friend I made at the academy, but...”
“Then why won't you accept my feelings!”
“B-but still... for us, m-marriage is a bit...”
“......Pardon?”
Marriage?
I tackled the out-of-the-blue sound that followed.
I tilted my head as if asking what she meant.
Perhaps because of my reaction, Lanne was also flustered along with me.
“Y-yes...? Didn't you mean it like that? You clearly asked me to be your partner...”
“Ah, that. It wasn't anything strange, it was a talk about the upcoming practice.”
“If it's the next practice, team formation...?”
“Yes.”
“......”
“Was there something else?”
“......”
As expected, a complexion red enough to truly burst.
That expression with purple eyes spinning wildly was truly a delicacy.
While I was observing that sight for a moment, the bat poked its head out from my front pocket.
[ 🦇 Carmilla ]
[Viktor.]
Slightly cold eyes.
Even though she was clearly in bat form, it seemed like I could see her expression.
[ 🦇 Carmilla ]
[You look like you're having fun.]
‘Princess, this is an error that occurred during the communication process...’
[ 🦇 Carmilla ]
[Didn't you know from the middle and do it anyway. You were pushing her while being very excited.]
‘......’
No.
That's true but.
Honestly, I felt it was unfair too.
Her reaction was so fun, how could I hold back?
It's like leaving a tuna gift set with a cat.
‘Uhm... wa-wasn't it fun for you?’
[ 🦇 Carmilla ]
[This lady's confidant is a lecher.]
‘Eh...’
Carmilla sold me out shortly and went right back inside.
I played a prank and ended up getting scolded by the Princess for no reason.
This was all because of Lanne.
“What is it, what is it? Was Miss Lanne secretly liking me?”
“N-no way...! I just, m-misunderstood your words for a moment...!”
“That's troubling. Because I'm a celibate.”
“S-Sir Viktor...!”
So, as an outlet for my anger, I decided to tease her a little more.
***
After gleefully tossing Lanne around.
Only after the air calmed down a bit could I hear a proper answer.
—A practice with Sir Viktor... Mmm, I would love to.
—Because it's also an opportunity to see your martial prowess once again.
—I will do my best with the mindset of receiving teachings.
Scout successful.
Even though she flared up, her trying hard to act normally was cute.
It seemed I could tease her with this for a while.
“Um... Sir Viktor.”
“What is it? Grandia Academy's No. 1 bride candidate, Miss Lanne Kihano.”
“T-that! You clearly promised to forget about it...!”
A flustered reaction.
She lightly patted my shoulder as if I was being cheeky.
I couldn't help but groan at that heavy impact.
“Keuk, ugh...”
“Are you even exaggerating your pain now...”
No.
It really hurts.
I'm a glass cannon with an overall stat of E-rank, you know.
Treating such a weakling so mercilessly, my friends won't forgive you, you rascal.
My friends Garlic, Maneur, Absolute Balloon Sword, and Slayers won't forgive you.
I walk while having these silly thoughts.
‘Two team members to join in the practice.’
Because we had to form groups of three.
Even after filling me and Lanne, one seat remains vacant.
And the person who would enter that remaining seat was already decided.
I ask with a smile.
“Isn't that right, Miss Alice?”
“......”
Black hair that looked like the night sky melted and woven together.
Between it, blue eyes sparkling like a pair of shooting stars.
If it weren't for her unique gloomy atmosphere, she would have been a beauty that grabbed everyone's attention.
‘Right now she walks around with her bangs hanging down, so her face can't even be seen properly...’
Well, whatever about this issue.
Right now, scouting her came first.
Since we have to coordinate with each other, the individual's intention to participate is the most important.
“Miss Alice? Why is there no answer?”
I smile brightly.
Following that, the corners of the mask's mouth also wriggled.
Alice, unable to meet my gaze easily, rolled her eyes here and there.
However, that avoidance was quite different from Lanne's.
Rather than being shy or confused, it was a reaction that seemed purely fearful.
“Miss Alice.”
“......Y-yes, yes.”
Alice only answering upon the third call.
As if it was hard for her to even breathe, her lips were trembling violently.
She really couldn't hide her expressions.
How could it all show on her face like that?
‘Hmm...’
Honestly, I didn't know why Alice was acting like this.
At least until now, I had no memory of doing anything that would make her afraid.
‘Strange.’
I didn't know what it was, but first I had to do what needed to be done.
I pushed aside the stray thoughts and tilted my head.
The mask reflected over her blue pupils.
The corners of the mask's mouth smiling somewhat refreshingly.
“You'll do it, right? Practice team member.”
“Um... I, um...”
The girl opening her mouth hesitantly.
Since she seemed to find it difficult to answer, I decided to help her a little.
“You'll do it, right?”
“V-Viktor-nim... That is...”
“You'll do it, right?”
“Um...”
“You'll do it, right?”
“Ah...”
“You'll do it, right?”
“U-uhh...”
“You'll do it, right?”
“......”
Was she moved by my gentle questions?
The girl, who had been stiff the whole time, eventually nodded with tears in her eyes.
I didn't particularly beg or anything, so I was grateful that she joined willingly.
I lightly stroked her head.
“Hic, hiiic...!”
Alice, who seemed to be dying of joy.
Enjoying that reaction, I completed the practice team formation.
***
A few days later.
A certain building located within Grandia Academy.
All the lights were off, and a scene without even a window to let in a light source.
A man was sitting in the pitch-black darkness.
“Kik, kik kik... Is it flowing according to plan.”
A man wearing a robe as red as blood.
Was he about middle-aged? His wrinkled forehead furrowed.
In front of the man, pitch-black substances were sloshing around.
“This is the end. God will surely look upon me too.”
The man fiddled with the ominous liquid.
[2nd Year Professor in Charge]
On the briefly revealed top, a nametag indicating a faculty member was pinned.
“Ah... Oh God.”
On the forearm revealed at the same time, a tattoo of a bizarre shape was visible.
An eye.
A tattoo of a large eye wide open amidst swarming tentacles.
The man swept his hand over the tattoo and trembled his body as if in ecstasy.
“Oh God, my God.”
Dye this academy with blood, and make it your altar.
The blood of countless insects is offered under your existence.
Dye the entire continent with slaughter.
“Ah...”
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
***
And, when pitch-black shadows were casting over the academy.
A certain boy was also giggling and laughing.
The boy wearing a mask.
“You must be laughing happily right about now, right?”
Someone's trap.
However, all of that was already in the palm of his hand.
"Let's see... things that call themselves Evil God worshippers, let's see your level."
Viktor swept his mask with a subtle smile.
The corners of the mouth torn to beneath the ears.
The mask smiled bizarrely.
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