Chapter 35
Translator: True Detective
### Chapter 35: Seducing the Family
To be honest, I was incredibly glad to see Yveline's face.
Hadn't I just come back from seeing monsters with gouged-out eyes and jaws hanging down to their chests?
I felt as if my mind was being polluted.
Seeing her glossy pink hair and vibrant eyes made me feel like I could finally breathe.
As expected, a person needs to see other people to live.
Especially if that person is a beauty.
But the touching sentiment ended right there.
"Who did this? Which bastard was it?"
She looked ready to find the culprit and take off their head immediately. How was I supposed to explain this?
'Actually, I went to a world of school ghost stories and fought smelly ghosts by firing a railgun. Surprisingly, the laws of physics worked there too.'
I couldn't exactly say that.
I roughly inspected my own appearance.
The wound itself wasn't that deep.
Just a slight scratch from the fragments smashed by the monster's fist.
"I tripped on my way back."
"Liar."
Yveline stepped right up to me. Then, she carefully touched the wound with her slender finger.
"This is clearly a scratch from something."
She stared at me piercingly.
"Rihan. I told you clearly. Don't get hurt in places where my eyes can't reach. Do you think your body belongs only to you?"
……My body wasn't my own?
I slyly avoided Yveline's touch and replied playfully.
"Hey. I just got into a fight with a stray cat while doing some investigation. I won, so don't worry. That cat is probably crying its eyes out right now."
"……A cat?"
Yveline's eyes narrowed. She had that look of 'does this guy take me for a fool?' But she soon let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
"……Go wash up. I'll treat the wound myself."
Even though she knew it was a ridiculous excuse, she seemed to understand that I didn't want to talk about it. Not pressing further was her own form of consideration.
On my way to the bathroom, Eleanor whispered lowly from inside my sleeve.
[Rihan. You must treat that child well for the rest of your life. Where else would you find such devotion.]
****
I eventually finished washing up and sat on the edge of the bed. Yveline, with a solemn expression, applied medicine to my arm and wrapped it in bandages.
"……Hey, Yveline. The wound is only about the size of a finger joint, so why are you wrapping the bandage all the way up to my forearm?"
"Shut up. I'm going to hide every scar that catches my eye."
Normally, I would have commented on the lack of efficiency or called it excessive treatment.
But I didn't do that this time.
The way Yveline's hands trembled slightly as she wrapped the bandages—I wasn't so dense that I couldn't tell she was worried about me.
After finishing the treatment, Yveline wordlessly turned off the light.
As the light that filled my vision disappeared, the sound of insects from outside the window poured into the room to take its place.
The atmosphere felt strangely set, but the problem was my condition.
'……I'm so tired.'
Because I had just rolled through the hellish Otherworld, my body felt like lead. Regardless of romantic vibes or whatever, I just wanted to sleep.
I fell onto the bed as if collapsing.
"……."
Yveline's presence, which I expected to move away, remained nearby. Soon, the soft mattress dipped, and she very naturally took the spot next to me and lay down.
"……You're not going?"
"No."
A clear answer without a hint of hesitation. It wasn't even a request; it was a notification.
Normally, I would have told her to leave immediately, but…… fine, let's sleep together today.
To be honest, I was a bit scared that those monsters with gouged-out eyes would appear in my dreams. With Yveline next to me, I wouldn't have to worry about nightmares.
I could feel her body heat on the narrow bed. Come to think of it, I wondered if this atmosphere was strangely dangerous.
But for now, I closed my eyes. I didn't even have the energy to think about making a move on Yveline.
After a long silence, Yveline spoke quietly.
"……Don't do things that are too dangerous. You idiot. It makes me worry."
A damp sincerity was buried in her voice.
"……."
Yveline had really changed a lot compared to the past.
Could I consider the ending where the Estal family is exterminated to be officially avoided by this point?
But behind that relief, a strange sense of guilt surged.
The presence felt from her side was particularly cautious. It seemed I really had made her worry a great deal.
Feeling apologetic, I opened my mouth.
"Shall we go out together tomorrow? There's a place I need to go."
"……A date?"
Yveline turned her head to look at me. The moonlight reflected in her blue eyes wavered.
"Rihan, you're the one who asked first. No taking it back. If you wake up tomorrow morning and say something else…… I really won't hold back then."
Though her words were a threat, they carried an unhideable excitement.
Could it be called a date?
Hmm… well, since I'm going with Yveline, I suppose it doesn't matter if we call it that.
"Got it."
At my answer, Yveline turned her head back, looking satisfied.
***
The next morning.
When I stepped outside at the promised time, the light was blinding.
It wasn't because of the sunlight.
It was because of Yveline standing before me.
She had clearly dressed up with intention. Her outfit was more radiant than usual, and a subtle fragrance wafted whenever her glossy pink hair swayed.
I could feel the gazes of the men on the street heading toward Yveline as if by appointment.
It wasn't that I didn't understand them.
If I had encountered such a woman while walking, I would have stared blankly too.
'……She really is pretty. Quite a lot.'
Yveline herself didn't seem to care at all about the surrounding gazes. Rather, she was only cautiously observing my reaction.
We walked together for a while. When we arrived at the destination, Yveline's atmosphere changed subtly.
"So Rihan, the date location for today is…… here?"
Yveline's expression hardened stiffly.
[Rihan. I have lived for a thousand years, but I have never seen anyone choose a place like this for a date. You bastard, did you learn how to seduce women only through books?]
Eleanor clicked her tongue inside the sleeve.
It was understandable. What appeared before us wasn't a flashy city center.
It was an orphanage on the outskirts of Asterion, a collection of old, crude buildings. This is the place where Yuna grew up and still consistently visits.
The reason for coming here was simple.
Circumstantially, it's certain I've already been blacklisted by Yuna, right?
In such a situation, it would be insane to abruptly ask her, "Please come with me to the life-threatening Otherworld where ghosts appear."
There's a saying that if you want to ask for a favor, you should win over those around them first.
Since I've already left a bad first impression, I will build up an image as a 'good mister' by donating a large sum to Yuna's base in advance and handing out snacks to the children.
This is the most efficient method in the current situation.
[Rihan. For what reason are you performing a good deed for once?]
"Rihan, what are we doing here? An orphanage?"
Eleanor aside, even Yveline looks at me with suspicious eyes. No, do I really look that bloodless and heartless?
I was an awakened citizen in my past life who donated blood regularly and gave to charity occasionally.
I shrugged and replied as indifferently as possible.
"Just, it's the weekend and I wanted to do something good. I actually like kids in my own way."
That was a lie. I don't particularly like kids.
"……Unexpected."
Yveline burst out with a small chuckle. It wasn't a mock; it was a look that said I was cute, which felt strangely ticklish.
'……How embarrassing.'
I cleared my throat and organized the plan. First, I intend to keep the donation strictly anonymous.
The reason is clear. If I throw a large sum using my name now, it's bound to have the opposite effect.
Instead of being grateful, Yuna would certainly be wary, thinking, "What is this bastard's ulterior motive?"
My final plan is this: first, approach as a mysterious "Daddy-Long-Legs" to lower her guard.
Make the Director praise me to Yuna until her ears bleed, and secure a level of support where the children are happy just to see my face.
Once I've planted enough of my stake, I'll reveal my hand at the decisive moment: "Actually, that was me."
The buildup is a bit long, but what can you do. Who told her to hear those bad words? It's just karma.
As for the money, I can just use some of the laboratory's budget.
"Now, let's go."
I stepped into the orphanage holding a box of chicken-like dishes I had bought earlier in the city.
***
"From the donation to the snacks…… I don't know how to repay this grace. Thank you truly, Young Master."
The orphanage Director bowed repeatedly in gratitude. I roughly waved my hand and scratched the back of my head.
"It's nothing. This is the kind of thing I earned money for anyway."
Turning my gaze, I saw the dining hall where a savory smell of oil vibrated. The children were preoccupied with tearing into the chicken, sauce smeared on their faces.
It seems the power of fried chicken is great even in a fantasy worldview.
While inwardly admiring its destructive power, I shifted my eyes. In the middle of the noisy chaos sat Yveline, looking completely out of place.
"Unnie, Unnie! Can you make fire too? Real fire?"
"It's not particularly difficult. Look, see."
As Yveline lightly flicked her fingers, small clusters of flames flew through the air like butterflies. The children let out a "Wow!" and reached out their hands.
Yveline seems to secretly like children. Or rather, should I say she's weak to beings who purely admire and follow her.
Whatever the reason, it's a scene I quite like.
"I'll stay for a little while longer before leaving. The kids seem to like it too."
"Please, feel free to stay as long as you like. It's been a long time since the children laughed so brightly."
The Director smiled warmly and left us to it. I sat on an old bench and appreciated the peaceful scenery.
[It is quite a pleasant sight.]
'I think so too.'
It wouldn't be bad to donate periodically. Just as I was enjoying the leisure, thinking it was a rather fulfilling deed, I felt a small tug on my clothes.
"Oppa. Do you know how to use magic too?"
Looking down, a young girl who looked to be about five or six was staring up at me. Her large eyes sparkling with curiosity were quite cute.
"Me? I know how to use it too. What kind of magic should I show you?"
"Hmm…… Not the one that Unnie showed! Something even more amazing!"
Matching a child's eye level is harder than I thought. Since she's already seen Yveline's flashy fire magic, ordinary things won't satisfy her.
'……I can just do that.'
After pondering for a moment, I opened my empty palm before the child's eyes.
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