Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1.5
Chapter Title: Still a Kid
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People who have fantasies about marriage are guys like me with zero dating experience.
"Hey, this time—."
"Don't."
"Pardon?"
"I said don't."
I won't reveal the name of the benefactor who offered advice at the risk of their life.
Romantic relationships that drag on for over seven years end up tangled in something akin to friendship. Marriage? Even more so. There's a limit to all that lovey-dovey sweetness.
Spend enough time under one roof, and eventually, you see the ugly underside of your partner.
Layer those experiences, and love turns into battlefield camaraderie in an instant.
Take the Crimson Knights or the Great Saintess I stuck with throughout the Holy-Demon War. Same context—I can't see them as anything remotely womanly. They probably view me as a walking tree, too.
That's why my fiancée and I in this reincarnated world weren't all that affectionate. It'd be weirder if the passion from age five lasted all the way to the wedding.
"Oppa. Try some of this."
In that sense, Sylvia's behavior was more than enough to draw eyes. Stabbing a strawberry cake with a fork and holding it right up to my mouth.
Anyone could see it was a blatant threat: eat this.
"That couple reminds me of us in our younger days. You don't see affection that thick very often..."
"...Are you saying we're no good now, dear?"
"Honey, that's not what I—."
'Oh boy.'
No idea what backwater province that couple hailed from, but the husband was now in mortal peril from our little display. This is why men need to watch their words.
"You gonna eat it or not? You took the pretty lady's just fine—."
"Thanks, I'll have it."
Of course, I was a sinner who'd erred not just with words but my whole body. Not on the same level as that guy, though.
"Here, have this too. Ah~."
And so, I obediently opened wide and accepted everything Sylvia shoved my way.
Sweet. Salty. Heavy. Full.
"Ah~."
"Sylvia. I'm pretty stuffed right now—."
"You don't like what I'm giving you?"
...Damn it.
How the hell did it come to this?
Troublemaking black mages or demons don't give a damn about our schedules. Getting dragged out even on vacation is just business as usual at the Execution Bureau.
We're the department built to smash those bastards, but on bad days, it makes me want to dunk my face in a plate of water.
"...Come on, everyone, just a little more effort—. Hey!"
"The 1st District Chief's heading to the bishop's quarters with his secularization papers! Stop him!"
Of course, our harmonious Execution Bureau is bound by a mutual assured destruction pact, so we don't let anyone else bail without a fight.
There's a reason the 1st District Chief was cursing up a storm even during my official vacation. I blocked that secularization paper of his.
"So, what's this?"
"A hundred black mages have expressed their intent to surrender to the Holy Empire."
"Pardon?"
And this nightmare hit us right on the day we'd planned our after-work drinks.
Black mages always knew how to screw us over somehow.
"Contact came through a priest from the Intelligence Division under the Holy Records Office."
"Oh. But why bring it to us—."
"The evidence the dwarves brought is no joke, apparently."
"...Sigh."
If Sylvia weren't around, I'd have cursed up a storm.
We just demolished their fortress—what, another massive incident already?
"But why me specifically—."
"They specifically requested direct contact with the Execution Bureau."
"Pardon?"
On top of that, they had the gall to hand-pick us. Truly deplorable.
"No fighting involved. If it were dangerous, I'd have told you to take me along."
"Wh- Doesn't kindness exist in your emotional repertoire?"
"What's so great about you?"
Of course, deploring it didn't change a thing I could do. Everyone's equal before Mentor's fist.
Get hit by that, and I'd turn into a Daniel-flavored donut on the spot. So I just clamped my lips shut.
Thanks to those picky black mages, we all got hammered at the group dinner, and I ended up shipped off on yet another business trip to the boonies.
I desperately wanted to just grab some random District Chiefs and send them instead.
"Oppa. You know, right?"
One word from Sylvia, and her intimidating aura broke me.
And thus, I was off on my nth dispatch of the season.
"Mm. Like this, right?"
"...Yes."
"Interlocking fingers like this, and the occasional arm-link?"
"......Yes."
"Wow. You really soaked up all the fun."
Right now, I was half-willing, half-forced into playing the overflowing-with-affection newlywed couple.
Wow, so happ-
py!
"You're thrilled, right?"
"Yup."
"Hmm. Doesn't seem like it."
Thud. Sylvia's head bumps against my chest. Apricot scent wafts from her hair—nice soap.
"...Guess it's not quite there yet."
No clue what her intent was, but Sylvia lost interest right away. She just laced her fingers through my left hand and started walking.
The food torture from hell finally ended, and a winter garden in full bloom greeted us.
"♬__♬—♬"
Braving the chill wind, moonlight as our guide, we strolled. Sylvia hummed a tune, looking utterly delighted by it all.
The moment I saw her back, I shrugged off my overcoat.
"Sylvia."
"What?"
"Put this on. You'll catch a cold if you stay out in the cold like that."
It wasn't overly revealing, but a dress was still a dress. Weather was still biting—better safe.
"..."
Sylvia's pink eyes flicked to the coat in my hand. Then, with a sigh, she stepped closer.
"Did you do this for that young lady too?"
"? No."
Lady Lucia had bundled up head to toe, so there was nothing to fuss over.
Girls need to stay warm to be healthy. If you haven't raised one, don't argue.
"Then help me put it on."
Sylvia stepped right up to my nose. I calmly draped the coat over her.
'Brings back memories.'
Little Sylvia, first time seeing snow falling from the sky, bouncing around like mad. How hard it was just to get clothes on her.
Lost in nostalgia, I smiled warmly.
"..."
Sylvia let out a deep sigh.
"...Something wrong?"
"Nope."
"Doesn't look like nothing. Won't tell your oppa?"
"Can I?"
Er... Felt like something I shouldn't hear.
As I sealed my lips,
"One year."
The blunt declaration slipped from Sylvia's mouth. Pretty scary stuff.
Was my social lifespan down to one year? I still had plenty of life left!
"Graduation after that."
"..."
"Since someone still calls me a kid~."
Her tone dripped with grievance. Only an idiot wouldn't get her intent.
"Someone's always so se—."
So I lightly tapped her waist. Wrapped my arms around and pulled her close. Near enough to share breaths.
"...Eep?"
In an instant, Sylvia froze like winter wind.
Her face, lit by moonlight, flushed red. See? Still a kid.
What do you do at twenty? Freezing at this.
"Wh-what was that?"
"You looked sulky. Used to do it all the time when you were little?"
"Th-that was then, this is—!"
"Want me to do it again?"
Dong. A grand bell tolls.
Regrettably, the signal that our little rendezvous was over. Time was up—had to get moving.
"C'mon. Time to work."
"...I hate you."
I let her last words go in one ear and out the other. I knew damn well I was the bad guy.
Bastard.
The word I couldn't spit out.
I wanted to look like a pretty woman in front of Daniel oppa.
From words to actions, outfits, figure—nothing overlooked.
Yet his attitude never changed, so today I was determined to wring an answer out of him.
'Bastard.'
I hated him so much. Reached out in my darkest, hardest time, then yanked it away the moment I tried to grab hold. Infuriating.
And yet, even so.
"It's okay. You're not alone here."
He taught me human warmth. Showed me happiness. Couldn't hate him.
'You know everything.'
Too cruel.
Risk your life to save a total stranger kid, then just vanish. What am I supposed to do, left behind?
Live my whole life pining?
'I could never.'
Thou shalt not envy. Basic priestly precept.
Seeking to harm others for what you can't have is a sin.
Yet I couldn't accept it. Someone else giggling by oppa's side.
"I'm not a kid anymore! One hug and—."
"Sorry."
Oppa wouldn't know.
The gut-twisting jealousy just imagining it. How jealous the kid in front of him really was. Who she'd harbored in her heart for half a lifetime.
So I'd tried to give up. Not a small age gap, and I wasn't the only woman with eyes for oppa.
Tried to bury it deep, where no one would know.
Convinced my chance would never come.
But!
"...Alone again this year."
"Eh, got busy. You good?"
"Of course."
He kept giving me openings. Shattering my hopes.
Even knowing it was a rotten rope.
I'm not a kid anymore. Notice my feelings.
I ended up shouting it.
"Sorry."
"Anything besides—mmph. Nothing else?"
"...Sorry."
That night: shattered, sobbing, godparents rushing in—total chaos.
"Oppa isn't that strong."
First time hearing his story. Low, trembling voice. Weakest, most human side I'd seen.
"If you don't apologize properly, I'll marry you."
"...That'd be a problem."
There was one.
Or rather, there had been. Someone who'd ripped a chunk from Daniel oppa's heart.
Back then, no voice could reach him. Like pouring water into shattered pottery—futile.
That's why I had a shot. Countless rivals sank beyond his emotional walls. His victims weren't one or two.
Honestly, it was Daniel oppa's fault. Who wouldn't fall for that tail-wagging charm?
Rianna sis, that nameless lady—definitely tumbled the same way. Swallowed whole by his sugar-coated act.
"..."
And one irritating fact. I wasn't any different from them.
Face kept heating up. Kept sniffing the scent of the coat he'd put on me himself.
My left hand had been snared by his trap ages ago. Fingers kept twitching against the rough texture.
Driving me insane!
Step step. Following oppa up the stairs carpeted in red.
Mid-silent trail, caught my reflection in a mirror.
"..."
Any onlooker would see a woman deep in love. Ah.
'...Annoying.'
Pushed away all this time, then one pull and I'm like this.
What a cursed life. Soaked through in a guy like that.
"I'm giving it back."
"...? Suddenly—."
"Shh. We're working right now."
I'll return it all. Love, respect, jealousy, sadness. Everything bundled up.
So...
"You keep doing that?"
"Sorry. It was just too fun."
Until that day, stay just like now. The smiling oppa I love.