Chapter 139
Swish swish.
Luna's gaze, alternating between us, fixed on Lucia's torn clothes and her covering her chest with both arms.
"..."
"..."
Hmm, thinking about it, this could be misconstrued as a very compromising situation.
It was just a small(?) prank on my part, but why does it always end up like this? It's truly a mystery.
'Someone's playing a joke on me?'
Whether it's the game developers, a god, or a scenario writer.
I'm not sure who it is, but one thing is for certain.
'They're a huge pervert.'
Anyway, I want to clear up the misunderstanding, but the other party isn't very cooperative.
Given that Luna first rushes in, biting and tearing, before asking what happened.
It seemed best to give up on persuasion. Just let the biting happen and then clear up the misunderstanding afterwards.
That's when I thought.
"...I'm the one misunderstanding this, right?"
I was taken aback. She didn't rush in immediately but gave me time to clear up the misunderstanding!
Our Luna has grown! This dad is really happy!
"Keke, exactly. As expected of Miss Luna. You see right through to the essence."
"Heh, it's me, after all. It's obvious. I'll ask a few questions now, so answer them well. We need to clear up the misunderstanding."
That's perfectly doable.
Vigorously nodding my head, Luna opened her mouth.
"Who made Miss Lucia's clothes like that?"
"It was me."
"Who cornered her?"
"It was me."
"...And who scared her to the point of terror?"
Naturally.
"It was me, okay?"
"...Don't you think it's weird even though you're saying it?"
Where is it weird!? I'm just stating the facts!
It's situations like these—done but not done. Happens all the time, right?
Sniffle-.
The sound of Lucia sniffling came from behind me.
It was only natural for Luna's gaze to sharpen.
'No! Don't start sniffling at such a perfect timing! It really looks like I did something terrible!'
Maybe it was embarrassing for her to show tears in front of us. Lucia turned around abruptly.
Click-.
"To do that to my idol. You're prepared, right?"
"Keke, it's a misunderstanding. Anyone would see it was a moment of mutual understanding."
"Is that so? Rezé, what do you think?"
From behind Luna, an idiot hair sprouted up, and then Rezé showed herself.
"It's, it's a crime scene!"
"Is that so?"
No, she's supposed to be on my side! This is a kangaroo court! This is a kangaroo court, I tell you!
Click- click-click-.
Luna was on the verge of transforming into a killing machine. I might actually die at this rate.
'Lucia! Please, say something proper! We're allies, aren't we?'
With a desperate heart, I suddenly grabbed Lucia's arm. Then.
"Uwaaang! I'm defiled! It's all over now!"
...I'm done for.
It's a complete mess. A battlefield would be cleaner than this.
Click-!
"...Summary execution, execution."
The killing machine charged at me and then floated into the air.
"You pervert! Eat this!"
The last thing in my memory.
Was Luna's Hectopascal Kick.
* * *
I woke up with a throbbing pain.
To faint twice in one day. It's really not my lucky day.
"A duel?"
"Yeah. As you know, this guy needed to be taken down a peg. That's how we ended up in this situation."
Lucia and the kids were talking around me.
Is it because of my slit eyes? They don't even realize I've woken up.
Discovering the advantage of slit eyes at that moment. Pretending to be asleep is a huge advantage!
Of course, I'd rather have my normal eyes back, though.
I miss the big, innocent eyes of a shoujo manga protagonist.
"Zero was strong, I knew, but... strong enough to ruin Miss Lucia's clothes?"
"It wasn't like that. I went easy on him... but it was more because he used dirty tricks. I knew he was crafty from the moment I saw his face."
Luna nodded as if she understood.
Luna, why would you nod there? It's like you're agreeing I'm a crafty guy!
"Anyway, that's what happened. So don't worry. It was just a minor accident during the duel."
"Mmm, I believed in Zero from the start. Zero is my friend, after all?"
Would such a friend deliver a Hectopascal Kick?
Because of you, my handsome face is all smashed up!
Not only are my eyes slits, but now my face is all messed up, too.
I was determined to do the same to Luna's face when.
Rezé, who had been hanging his head, hesitantly spoke up.
"Then, why were you crying?"
"Huh?"
"You were, you were crying in the corner."
"That, that's... um..."
The excuse about the duel was good, but it seems she hadn't thought of an excuse for her tears.
No choice. I had to step in.
"Keke, it was a test."
"Eek!"
The three women jumped simultaneously.
What strange people. Is someone waking up from fainting really that surprising?
"What, what's this!"
"Zero, as you know."
"That I know! When did you wake up?"
"Keke, about when Miss Luna started insulting me."
"You've been awake since the beginning? And you pretended to be unconscious? That's really perverted, isn't it?"
So, you've been insulting me from the moment I fainted until now?
Truly a surprising revelation.
"But what did you mean earlier? A test?"
"It meant that Miss Lucia was testing all of you. She wasn't actually crying, but pretending to cry."
"Right! As if I would cry. It was all an act."
Had she caught on to my intent? Lucia quickly latched onto the excuse I had provided.
"An act? Why would you... act like that?"
Rezé's idiot hair pointed in my direction.
Rezé, you should look at people when you're talking to them.
Since when is it polite to talk while showing the top of your head?
"Uh... that was..."
"A test to see if you were worthy."
"A test?"
"Yes, to see if you were skilled enough to receive guidance from Miss Lucia. That was the test."
Luna and Rezé's heads tilted to the side. They seemed to not fully grasp the situation yet.
Turning towards them with a smile, I said.
"Keke, let me introduce you. From today, Miss Lucia will seriously start teaching us."
"Really!?"
"Eek!"
In the training ground, a mix of admiration and shock.
The two screams blended together and spread out.
* * *
"I'll be going then. Make sure you're out before me. If you're later than me, you'll miss out."
That was what Lucia said as she left.
'As if to prove she's not old-fashioned. Surely her training isn't old-fashioned, right?'
The same repetitive movements, waterfall training, mental cultivation—inefficient, old-fashioned training.
I couldn't say it wasn't.
Her sister, Rodelin, had also recommended similar training methods to me before.
Had I only just realized this now? Am I an idiot?
"Ahem, convincing Miss Lucia was according to my plan. Good job, Zero."
Luna, who had sneakily approached, spoke to me.
Running away with Rezé in tow was part of her plan? That's quite the strategy.
"Keke, was crashing my face also part of the plan?"
"No, well... that wasn't supposed to happen."
"Anyone could see I was the victim here. I was bleeding all over."
"Well... I thought you were up to your usual perverted antics and got beaten for it."
Luna, what are you talking about? My usual perverted antics?
So, people think that's what I always do?
'Well, it's fine.'
This is Luna, after all. In a way, her plan did succeed.
Thanks to the flying rabbit, I could use [Divine Imitation] without any reservations.
"Um... you know..."
Luna appeared hesitant.
This was a new side of her.
Had she caught the timid disease from Rezé?
Evolving from a flying rabbit to a germ rabbit. Just as I was quietly distancing myself from Luna and Rezé.
"Sorry!"
"Excuse me?"
Luna bent at the waist, bowing deeply.
Luna apologizing! She must be seriously afflicted with the timid disease.
I need to escape this place immediately! If I stay here, I'll become timid Zero!
"Keke, let's part ways here for today."
"I'm saying I'm sorry!"
"Um, Miss Luna. Maybe you should visit the infirmary first."
"I won't go until you accept my apology!"
"This is difficult for me."
Luna clung to the hem of my clothes.
After a long struggle, I realized Luna hadn't caught the timid disease.
"So... you're apologizing?"
"Yes, that's right."
She's quite bold for someone who's apologizing.
Well, it's Luna, so it doesn't really matter.
"From now on, I'll bite gently. So please forgive me."
Oh, I see. Not biting isn't an option for you?
Moreover.
'Why doesn't she realize that gently biting causes even more problems...'
From others' perspective, it might look like a couple being overly affectionate.
I can already see Yuridia spewing blood from her nose.
'Well, it'll work out somehow.'
And I also had something to apologize for.
"I'm sorry as well."
"Excuse me?"
"I've been on edge since the fight with the demon. I was too harsh on you and Rezé. I apologize."
Perhaps she hadn't expected me to apologize.
About 10 seconds later, Luna's lips curved up, and she rushed at me.
"Heheh! See, we really understand each other, right? Well, we're friends, so it's natural."
"It hurts, Miss Luna."
"Let's go! To celebrate our reconciliation, dinner's on me tonight!"
Had we even fought in the first place?
I couldn't help but smirk.
"Sob sob..."
A low sobbing sound came from somewhere. It wasn't hard to find the source.
An open box. The sound was coming from there.
As Luna and I approached, we found Rezé crouched inside.
The idiot hair on her head was spinning around.
"I, I'm... going to die. I'll die from making eye contact."
Ah, I had forgotten about that.
Rezé's chronic condition (?) of dying from making eye contact with strong individuals.
Whether it's true or not, it would be problematic if she died from a needless experiment.
'Well... it'll work out somehow.'
Leave tomorrow's problems to tomorrow's me.
What about Rezé? Naturally...
'Leave it to tomorrow's Rezé.'
A very clear solution.
* * *
A path filled with darkness, so dense that not even an inch ahead was visible.
But for Lucia, this was no issue at all.
'Zero...'
Even as she walked down the dark path, her mind was filled with thoughts of him.
'A suspicious character.'
Indeed, the most suspicious person she had met in nearly a decade.
Not even the homeless old man who slaughtered thugs in the streets with his sword energy was more suspicious than him.
Yet, the reason Lucia accepted Zero's deal, even though it was an unfair one.
'It's because he knows the family secret.'
If she refused? He might go around proclaiming that the Lucid family was cursed.
'It might be better to kill him...'
If he had bad intentions from the start, he would have sold the information to others.
The Lucid family, strong and praised by the empire's citizens, isn't without enemies, despite its status.
A pillar of the empire, a family that knows no defeat.
It was a secret that could obliterate the Lucid family in an instant. Its worth is astronomical.
And he approached her with such information, seeking a deal.
In other words, this kid named Zero.
'He's after the person who brought down the Lester family. He's not interested in anything else.'
That's how it seems.
It's not a bad thing. Hunting them down aligns somewhat with her own goals.
The problem is.
'He's too dangerous.'
He's definitely clever, possessing skills not fitting his age.
But his personality is the issue. It's like he's blatantly risking his life.
Even if he has information that the Lucid family is favorable towards the Lester family, to recklessly use One Flash in front of himself.
Anyone else would have slit his throat.
'His temper is a problem too. Especially if revenge is his motive...'
If it means getting his revenge, he wouldn't hesitate to do anything.
Including killing people.
And not shying away from making a deal with a demon. In fact, maybe.
'He might have already done so.'
An abnormal strength not fitting his age.
Lucia realized why there were no casualties in the fight against the demon Bineus.
'He might not be able to defeat a fourth-grade demon... but he's strong enough to withstand one.'
By simple calculation, he's as powerful as a six-star knight. And that, at just fifteen.
'What if he also receives my guidance?'
There's no telling how far he might grow.
'I need to be careful. It's hard to predict where he might go next.'
In a world where becoming stronger isn't always good.
Lucia felt the need to look after him a bit.
-'Being a player doesn't matter as long as I can win Lucia's heart.'
Lucia's cheeks turned slightly red. She remembered Zero's words, the distance, the warmth.
That unattractive face suddenly seemed handsome for a moment.
'Ahem, what am I thinking? Feeling attracted to a pervert? That's impossible. I should also warn Delin.'
Just as she was shaking off Zero's image.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
"You startled me. Nanny, I got scared."
It was the nanny. The person who had looked after her since birth and protected her.
According to Zero.
'A sacrificial lamb, a disposable piece.'
But that won't happen.
Rodelin, the nanny, other family members. She would protect them all.
"You didn't even notice my approach. You must be getting old."
"Is that so?"
"If you were married, aging would stop. It's such a pity."
"...Why does every conversation with you end with marriage!?"
Lucia talked about her encounter with the nanny on her way back to the dormitory.
Of course, she kept it a secret that Zero knew about the demon's curse and that he could use 'Sky Splitter.'
"I see. You decided to seriously teach the children... That's good. But, what happened to your clothes?"
The nanny's gaze turned towards her. Following that gaze, Lucia looked down.
Her chest partially exposed, along with Zero's coat.
"Uh? Ah... Zero did this."
"Oh? Have you progressed that far already?"
"Eh?"
"Could it be that he's a beastly man, contrary to his appearance? It seems I don't need to worry too much about kidnapping you anymore. There's no need to lock you both up until you get married."
"...?"
The nanny seemed satisfied.
Looking at her, Lucia thought.
There's a potential criminal here, comparable to Zero.
--TL Notes--
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