Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Sophomore Jinx (2)
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“Hey.”
“What.”
This bastard?
Rias momentarily smacked down the inner demon rearing its head and tried her best to pick only the prettiest words possible for Karin.
Of course, someone who'd lived with a rag stuffed in their mouth couldn't suddenly spout sweet nothings overnight just by trying. The conversation didn't turn out as kind and loving as she'd hoped.
“Uh, our Karin junior? Could you maybe deliver just one item for me?”
“Did you get hurt somewhere?”
“You bitch. I'm trying to talk nice here, so help me out a little.”
“You look fine to me.”
After somehow dragging the blackout-drunk Rias and Yustina back to their dorms, Karin had started getting boldly cheeky with them.
Rias occasionally lost her temper, but considering the crap she'd pulled in the past, she felt a certain loyalty toward Karin, who still chatted with her without holding grudges.
Willfully tormenting her and then feeling loyal about it was a bit embarrassing, though.
Anyway, Rias pulled two boxes from her bag—one she'd prepared herself—and handed them to Karin.
One blue, one red.
“The red one's for you. The blue one, pass it to Julius next time you go over.”
“...It's not something weird, right? I won't get yelled at by the Cafe Manager for carrying this around?”
“That 'Cafe Manager' title never stops feeling off. Anyway, it's not that kind of thing, so just take it.”
“If it's just delivering stuff... Can I open mine?”
“Do whatever.”
It was annoying how she peeled off the wrapping while keeping her face at arm's length like it might explode, but due to past sins, Rias couldn't even curse—just watched with a sour expression.
What Karin cautiously opened inside the box was none other than a necklace adorned with a red gem.
“Looks super expensive.”
“Of course it does. It is expensive. Hang it around your neck and make a contract—it's a talisman that restores your blood once, just once.”
“Why give something like that to me...?”
“You. You seem to have surprisingly bad luck. Last time, you were this close to dying, right?”
True enough.
But half the disasters that had befallen her lately seemed tied to the woman in front of her, leaving a complicated feeling.
Still, it seemed well-intentioned, so she hung it around her neck without complaint.
The moment it touched her neck, a faint red glow enveloped Karin's body and vanished.
Figuring that was the contract, Karin accepted it matter-of-factly and asked,
“Is the blue box the same kind of thing?”
“...No.”
“Then, can I ask what it is?”
“Tch. Well, you're the one delivering it anyway. Back when... y'know, we were getting along great. It's something Julius used while staying at my place.”
Looks like the ex is still hung up, showering him with old mementos. If Rias heard that, she'd blow a fuse and her old personality might resurface full force—but Karin, seasoned by experience, clenched her twitching lips and held it in.
Whether Rias knew her thoughts or not, she handed over the box and swallowed a sniffle threatening to escape.
She had no intention of letting Karin see her bawling like a baby in her right mind, no matter how ugly she'd already been.
“Something packed with memories, huh?”
“Obviously! You think I'd give it otherwise? Jeez, even stuff from when we slept together at my place got mixed in.”
“Oh? You did that?”
“...No. We were too young to know what was what, just crashed out.”
“With the Cafe Manager's personality, if something like responsibility came up, I doubt he'd have left regardless.”
“What.”
But she was right. With Julius's character, if they'd shared a bed and gone all the way—kid or no kid—wouldn't he have stuck it out to the end?
And if that were the case, she wouldn't have needed to pressure him at all.
Julius himself didn't put much stock in that stuff, but over more than ten years, had there really never been a single chance?
Sudden regret pinched her brow.
“But with the Cafe Manager's personality, I doubt he ever would have, even if it killed him.”
“How would you know.”
“Well, even just in Astraea, there are plenty of women around him, so...”
“What did you say?!”
This damn... More women latched on while I wasn't looking?
“He doesn't even flaunt his noble status...”
“With looks, personality, talent, strength—hard to be unpopular.”
“Yeah, no weak spots there when it comes to the opposite sex. So, how many?”
“Two for sure, and some ambiguous ones, I think.”
“Two... Not many. Spill the details.”
“Not really my place to say.”
Still, her experiences had taught Karin not to blab recklessly, so she didn't spill on Reimi or Mina easily.
Rias looked displeased but didn't press further—Karin knew she'd chosen right.
“Good people.”
“Doesn't matter to me.”
“True enough.”
What did it matter if women sticking to Julius in a foreign land were devoted wives or utter bitches? The moment they latched on, they were enemies.
Of course, if they were bitches, Julius wouldn't keep them around... though Rias couldn't be sure, holding that position herself.
After some mental calculations, Rias realized Karin was her only remaining way to reach Julius. She flashed a grin and approached.
Of course, it was a smile by Rias's standards—a twisted smirk to Karin, who backed away accordingly.
“Hey. Where you running off to?”
“That face screams you're about to ask me for something shady.”
“C'mon. Where do you see that?”
“Everywhere I look.”
At Karin's unbelievable words, Rias pulled out a hand mirror, checked her mug—fit for scaring people off—and quietly pocketed it.
Right. Not asking for anything shady.
“Ahem, anyway.”
“I'm not doing spy stuff.”
“Hey, hear me out first?”
“I said no. I decided to be the Cafe Manager's loyal servant.”
“...That serious?”
Karin had decided to repay Julius's overwhelming strength—which could lop off her head before she cheeked him—and his divine loyalty in helping her to the end.
Not that a weakling like her could do much, but she'd avoid what he told her not to do and faithfully handle what he asked.
This was human-to-human, not man-woman stuff—no ulterior motives.
“Tch. So, any progress between Julius and the women around him?”
“The Cafe Manager's super dry about it. Says he's not thinking of dating right now.”
“Why?”
“...”
Karin stared at Rias, who got it in two seconds and squeezed her eyes shut.
Good thing he wasn't rushing into anything with other women, but knowing it stemmed from trauma she'd caused gave her a headache.
“Anyway, it's normal. The two women are interested, but he treats them like friends or big sis types.”
“Both older than him, huh.”
“Y-Yeah?”
Karin regretted slipping that detail unwittingly. Just 'women' would've sufficed—why 'big sis'?
At this rate, she'd leak info like a sieve everywhere. Time for some training, she thought.
Maybe ask Natalie or Sophia—they were nobles from knight families, probably drilled in avoiding such slips.
Throat suddenly parched, she took a sip from the canteen she always carried since the Academy attack—just in case.
“Hey. That won't happen overnight. A pro questioner could crack you in one go.”
“Still gotta try something...”
“Better bring a friend to block your slips. Faster that way.”
“...Thanks for the advice.”
“Haha. See? I can be helpful.”
“Why not start like this?”
“Th-There's history, y'know. Not that it's an excuse. But not baseless hysteria either.”
Rias's temple vein twitched at Karin's smirk. We'll see later.
As Karin grabbed the boxes, said goodbye, and turned to leave, Yustina appeared from the side.
“What were you two talking about?”
“None of your business.”
“Hah. Trash humans abandoned by Oppa, scheming sneakily again.”
“Why're you dumping on yourself again?”
“Isn't it obvious? With Oppa's personality, this means I'm trash not even worth recycling. No matter how I think about it, I was just a bug. Drunk reflection says it's the truth.”
The two watched Yustina's staggering, hollow-laughing retreat, met eyes again, shook their heads, and turned away.
Their footsteps drowned in the growing clamor of summer insects.