Chapter 60
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Commemorative Photo
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This situation was completely beyond my expectations.
What do you mean?
Well? Want to guess?
.....
.....
After throwing out that cryptic remark, Bella grinned mischievously.
Then she turned to Wendy, who was standing beside me, with obvious delight.
Right, congratulations on your university enrollment, Miss Wendy. Representative of the freshmen, right? Getting into this school is impressive enough, but becoming the top student? Thats amazing.
Ah, nooo! I-Its not like Im that great
Hehe I like how humble you are, Miss Wendy. But on a day like today, I think its fine to stand tall.
Bella stroked Wendys head.
With a smile as benevolent as a goddess.
I wanted to escape this awkward situation as quickly as possible, but Bella wouldnt let me.
Miss Wendy. How about we take a commemorative photo?
R-Really?
Its a rare chancelets make a memory of it. Have you ever had a photo taken before?
Ah, n-no
Wendy shook her head.
It didnt require any special skills, but the magic-infused photo paper was quite expensive.
And for good reason: from the moment the photo was taken on the magic paper, time flowed within the image itself.
A baby would grow into a boy, then an adult into a grandfather, and even capture the moment of deathall within a single photo.
It was truly a magical item.
That was the kind of photography this world offeredcapturing an entire human life in one shot.
Then its even better. Since itll be your first photo, we absolutely have to take one. Ill cover the cost.
B-But I
Wendy hesitated, glancing at me.
Her big eyes seemed to be pleading with me for something.
Did she think I wouldnt allow it?
Go ahead and take it.
Huh? Th-Thats not
Wendy started to say something, but Bella quickly cut in.
Hehe What are you talking about? Of course the Count has to join us.
Bella slyly hooked her arm through mine and urged me on.
Come on, dont just stand therelets take it together. Or do you hate the idea of a photo with me that much?
When she looked up at me with that stunningly beautiful pale face, the impact was no joke.
Thanks to Patience, though, I stayed calm and thought through the situation.
Somethings off
Bella wasnt the type of character to smile at Tristan like this.
In the original story, she was Tristans fiancée until the protagonist appearedtrapped like a bird in a cage.
Naturally, she harbored deep resentment toward Tristan deep in her heart.
Tristan was the villain who hindered Bellas growth.
Thats why breaking off the engagement should have freed her from Tristans shackles.
So why was she keeps approaching Tristan like this?
I couldnt yet tell if this was a good or bad sign.
For now, I decided the best move was to go with the flow.
No I dont mind.
Youre so lucky, Count. Getting to take a photo with a beautiful woman like me.
.
Better wrap this up quick before I get even more exhausted.
We approached a photographer who was enthusiastically hawking his services.
Come one, come all! 100,000 kael per shot! A memory for 100,000 kael! Dont leave without one!
Hello.
Y-Yes! W-Welcome?
The photographers eyes went wide when Bella greeted him.
Her striking beauty was impossible to ignore.
People had been staring at her ever since we met.
Id like to take a photo.
T-To photograph such a beautiful lady its an honor
The photographer spoke with genuine awe, not flattery.
Bella, accustomed to such reactions by now, brushed it off casually.
Hehe Thank you. But 100,000 kael per shot?
Y-Yes!
Oh my Thats pricier than I thought.
W-What!?
Well I really wanted one
Bellas expression darkened.
It was just a slight tilt of her head, but she looked like a tragic heroine from a movie.
Her acting was impressive enough to draw admiration.
Of course, to me it was an obvious ploy but it worked perfectly on the photographer.
Th-Then Ill knock it down for you! How about 90,000 kael?
80,000 kael That does sound reasonable.
Bella nodded as if conceding.
But that was my mistake.
Still its not really a special price.
A sp-special price?
Yes. On a special day like today, I was hoping for a special deal What a shame.
This girl She might as well be holding a knifeshe was a total robber.
What surprised me most was that her ploy actually worked.
Ill do 70,000 kael
Oh! Really? Im so happy.
Im glad youre pleased.
The photographer nodded with a face like hed swallowed mustard whole.
Hed resisted as best he could, but it was no use against the worlds most beautiful woman.
Blanche, want to join too?
No. Im fine.
Come on, dont be like that.
Bella even dragged in Blanche, whod been indifferent to the whole photo idea.
In the end, the four of us posed together.
The photographer sprawled on the ground, pulling out a pen and paper.
Please wait a moment while I prepare the photo spell. In the meantime, think about your pose.
Okay.
No sooner had he finished than Bella plastered herself to my arm.
Isnt this a bit too close?
No choice. Youre so bigif I dont stick this close, I wont even show up in the photo.
Fair enough Guess I cant argue with that.
As I stood still, Bella giggled.
See? Dont we look just like a married couple?
L-Lady?!
Eek?!
Blanche jumped in shock, and even Wendy stared at us in surprise.
But Bella laughed as if my face was the funniest thing.
teehee Just kidding. Relax, Count. That face makes me a little sad, you know.
Dont say useless things.
Yes, yes. Youre so cute. Hehe
Somehow I felt teased by Bella, and it was exhausting.
Hurry up and take the photo so I can go home.
As I thought that, someone grabbed my right hand.
?
It was Wendy holding it.
I couldnt see her face, but her hand was trembling.
Nervous, maybe.
I gripped her small hand firmly.
!
I felt Wendy flinch.
Didnt matter.
My grip tightened, as if refusing to tolerate even her unease.
At that moment, the photographer whod finished the spell shouted.
About ten seconds until activation! Dont move!
Only then did Blanche, beside me, subtly grab my sleeve.
What was with her?
Smile!
With the photographers call, our moment was captured forever in a single photo.
A few days later, I received word that the workshop being built on the Ruelverta estate grounds was complete.
It had been made purely for artisan Albert Grobles research.
An important place for me too, so Id invested generously and kept it secret.
But
Why are you following me?
Ho ho ho ho. You noticed?
The long-bearded cat that had been sneaking behind me stood up on two legs.
It was Myohail in the flesh.
Something about this place smells like magicI just cant resist. Ho ho ho.
You Are you not going back to the library anymore?
Myohails real job was director of the Meikahel University library, the Great Wall of Truth.
Under the alias Myoil, he commanded a horde of cat librarians.
Ho ho ho. Itll run fine without me. They have their hierarchywhatever happens, theyll handle it among themselves.
Myohail stroked his whiskers as he spoke.
Besides Lately, this old cats found something more fun than books.
Yeah
Whether Myohail followed or not, I walked on silently.
He didnt even bother hiding anymore and walked beside me openly.
To anyone watching, wed look like a suspicious guy strolling with a bipedal cat.
We walked in silence.
After walking and walking until we reached the lake on the grounds, Myohail quietly spoke.
It was enough to make me furrow my brow.
Does the Count happen to know anything about the Demon King?