《Ring Ring》 CH 1 An employment ice age. The worlds recession was like a stormy sea. A 4th year university student named Umemoto Shiori sighed deeply. Zero job offers. These scary words were, to the present Shiori, an unmistakable reality. Because no employment could be found, Shiori cursed her useless university degree. When Shiori told the gist of this to her parents, Its fine, its fine. Youre a woman so you dont even need to enter a company. [1] Just keep looking for a job and a husband, she was casually told, before being hung up on. Shiori stared at the disconnected mobile phone with distant eyes. It was just like her parents to be like that. It didnt mean that she wasnt loved. Only, Shioris parents were such a lovey-dovey couple that just watching them would make you embarrassed, and the result was that they placed each other first. Because of that, Shiori ended up as second fiddle is all. Although as their child she did feel somewhat lonely, she also felt that it was a good thing for her parents to get along as they did. Shiori felt that if she ever married somebody in the future, she would want a relationship filled with love, just like her parents. (Well, right now I dont even have a lover though.) Tossing her phone onto her bed, Shiori groped for the bag she had left on the floor. Shiori was not told Return home by her parents, as it is she continued to live alone while job hunting. From Shioris bag she took out her wallet and room keys to go to the convenience store. Uuu, its cold Spring was close and the night was becoming chilly. Entering the empty apartment, Shiori thrust her hands into her pocket ducking her head. In that instantC ..What!? A strong light illuminated her feet, and just like that her body was sucked in. With closed eyes one couldnt tell how much time had passed. In what felt like only a second, about ten hours had lapsed. Shiori softly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She expected to see the familiar highway spread out in front of her apartment. Day falling into gloomy emptiness, the outdoor and house light illuminating the ground, that sort of expected scene. (I wonder why my head feels funny?) Shioris body was [2] sparkling and twinkling. However, before her eyes the scenery didnt change. She wondered if it was around noon. Looking up at the emptiness, bright sunlight shined upon the clouds. Shiori stood up in a narrow alley. There were no people present near the alley however, from her position she could hear sounds of life and people talking. (Where is this? What do i do now? PerhapsIm in another country?) Before her eyes she saw and touched a houses wall. The cream walls had a wooden window frame. On the houses other side there was lovely brickwork. On the ground one could see the stone paving lead the way to the concrete path of main street. The old street corners looked as if they came out of a historical European fantasy movie. It had that kind of atmosphere. Im alright. I just need to calm down a bit. muttered Shiori, encouraging herself. First she now looked at her appearance: a dark knit cardigan, sharp skinny jeans and light brown boots she bought from a winter sale. When she left the convenience store and apartment, her appearance had not changed. She looked the same as when she left the convenience store and apartment. In her pocket she grasped her wallet and keys. Yet her surrounding scene just changed. What the heck is this Feeling timid, Shiori started walking toward main street. An intense uneasiness squeezed her chest causing her to involuntarily tighten her grip on her wallet. From the alleys shadow she stealthily revealed her face wondering about the streets appearance. She felt a little hopeless. (The whole town isnt cosplaying or something right?) Shioris forehead started sweating. Each person passing by the street wore t-shirts and jeans. This streets atmosphere was a bit old-fashioned. Shiori closed her eyes tightly, trying to escape from reality. Perhaps, Shiori was in the midst of a fantasy film shooting. Then, for some reason, I got lost However, when she saw the letters on the sign of a shop on the street, Shiori was startled. (I can understand this.) Then, at last, Shiori understood her present predicament. This isnt Earth. In other words, similar to him, I landed in a world completely different from mine CH 2 From the alley Shiori stealthily peeked at the main street, straining her ears to eavesdrop on each persons conversation. As expected, she didnt have the ability to understand everything but she could more or less understand what they were talking about. For example, those aunties [1] conversation topic was something about how their bodies werent doing too well. Vocabulary such as Waist, Pain, shoulder, and Stiff were peppered into the conversation. Why did this happen Shiori headed back into the alley for the moment, and crouched down to hug her head. What the heck am I supposed to do now! (First of all, should I look for him?) This is the world he lives in after all, and hes the only one I can rely on. In Shioris mind surfaced his dearly missed figure. From his beautiful eyes and silver hair to his tall height and supple muscles. Despite his elegance, some part of him was wild and rough; and despite his gentleness, he was sometimes sharp and manly. Based on his white uniform covering his body and the sword worn on his waist, the man looked just like a knight. Well, he actually is a knight of this country though. Shiori sighed, remembering about the incident 3 years ago. By chance, he and she encountered on a cold midwinter day. During the winter break of her first year at university, alone in her apartment, she was preparing nabe[1] for dinner. Just when Shiori noticed the small room fill with light, in the next moment, there was a knight-like man standing, staring dumbfounded at Shiori who was still in the kitchen. But Shiori was the one who thought she should be surprised. Suddenly, in her room appeared a man cosplaying with a dangerous weaponC a western sword. At first living together was truly troubling. How they couldnt communicate in each others language was the biggest problem. Even so, while she was attempting to communicate, she began to think that perhaps he was from another world. It was an unrealistic hypothesis and normally Shiori would have laughed at it, but fact was the man had truly appeared out of thin air because Shioris very own eyes witnessed it happen. In the end, instead of reporting him to the police Shiori sheltered the silver haired man. It wasnt so much that she would feel sorry for him if he was arrested by the police. Instead, she was more worried that he would kill the police with his sword. He was a little on edge at first, perhaps because he arrived to an unknown world. They became less reserved with each other; eventually, he quickly mastered Japanese thanks to Shiori. He was a silver-haired man with good motor skills, and his appearance could easily be mistaken as a foreign model. However, that wasnt where his advantages ended. In other words, his head, learning ability, and memory were superb. By the end of the month he could converse with her in broken Japanese. By the end of three months his Japanese was so fluent and accentless you would believe him if he told you he was born in Tokyo. When he became able to speak Japanese, they were able to more deeply understand each other. He then recalled and explained to Shiori that he travelled to her different world. An acquaintance of mine is a sorcerer. Just before arriving, I was summoned here by that guy. The experiment tried to teleport someone above a magic circle. The only cause I could think of wasthat. If I meet that guy again He said, with a loathing expression. Shiori was surprised. In his world existed magic and whats more magicians were an actual occupation. Sounds just like a fantasy! she thought. However, it seemed that to the man, modern Japan was the real fantasy. Even now, she still found the scene of a grown man uneasily bringing himself to touch the vibrating mobile terribly amusing. Sheltering him cost two peoples portion, Shioris schoolwork had to take a backseat as she had to work a part time job. But the man himself was very bothered by this and asked Shiori if there was anything he could do. However, the man lacked the knowledge and common sense needed to work a job in Japan. From a Japanese persons perspective, with his gaudy flawless appearance and his colorful silver hair would only hinder his efforts in finding a job. Thus, Shiori intended to take care of the money by herself until he was familiar with Japan. In order for him to quickly get a job, he put great effort into learning Japanese customs and common sense, something Shiori looked fondly upon. In the confined apartment lived two people. Although they quarreled a bit, they spent everyday enjoyably. HoweverC Their farewell was sudden. It happened roughly 3 months after the man stumbled into her world. Shiori returned from work, and the moment he greeted Shiori inside the room, a light appeared from beneath his feet enveloping his slender and muscular body. Then What!? At the blinding light, Shiori reflexively squeezed her eyes shut, again she opened them, but the mans figure had already vanished. They neither had the time to hug goodbye, nor even say a word. In the blink of an eye, he left. Shiori stood frozen in the entryway, her dumbfounded eyes staring at the scene before her. Until some time ago she was expecting to be warmly welcomed home. For her sake she convinced herself that he would never again come back. He came here because of the magician, now he disappeared because of the magician. Shiori was certain that the man had been called back to his own world with the magicians magic. (In that case, wasnt that good?) Despite thinking that, her heart was wracked with an inescapable sense of loss which stayed with her for awhile afterwards. And so, three years passed. (This time Im the one being summoned?) In an unknown worlds inconspicuous alley, somehow Shiori accepted her reality. In the street people exchanged words, surely when he first visited he spoke the exact same language. She was certain, because in exchange for teaching him Japanese, in return he taught her his language. And now, she had no doubt that she was somewhere in his country. If this time its my return to rely on him, I dont think theres anything to feel guilty about. So thought Shiori. However, three years had already passed since Shiori and he lived together. He was an unforgettable existence to Shiori, but that didnt mean he would feel the same about her. Perhaps he already forgot all about Shiori. But besides him I have no one to rely on It wouldnt do to loiter in this alleyway. Very soon, night would fall. It seemed to be a peaceful enough town, but compared to Japan it was perhaps still much less safe. Perhaps he forgot me but even so, for now, Ill depend on himCdepend on Kraust. And just like that Shiori stood up, leaving the alley. [1] If youre not familiar in many asian cultures you call slightly older females Aunty even if they are not blood related to you. Instead of miss or maam in English you would hear older sister or aunty. The person could be a random stranger, family friend, or your blood related sister/aunt. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabemono CH 3 Shiori walked out from the shade of the alley into the main street where people rushed back and forth. Through the soles of her shoes she felt the solid cobblestone. Shioris appearance may have seemed a bit odd in this town, but it could have been worse. Shiori did not know the reason she was summoned, but she was lucky that it wasnt before bedtime or before job hunting. It would be obviously strange to walk around in this world dressed in a suit or a pijama. Shiori walked down the street while looking nervous. She could see various shops and stalls lined up on the right and left, and there was also a lot of pedestrians. The inhabitants were full of activity, with the city bright and crowded. (Why am I not gathering? as much attention as I thought I would?) Among the pedestrians there were some who took a glance at Shiori, but immediately looked away, going past without any further notes. It seems that they did not have enough interest to bother. Shiori straightened her back and looked up ahead. (Thats a beautiful castle) Just straight ahead of her, a beautiful white castle was visible. It wasnt at a distance that Shiori couldnt walk from the place she was at. A thought had appeared in Shoiris head while she advanced towards the castle. Three years ago, Krust who had been summoned to Japan said that he was a knight that served the king. (If that castle is the castle of the king, the knight who serves the king Krust should be there too?) Although she couldnt have any hopes, she thought that at least it is better than searching around the city for him, and with that decided, Shiori quickens her pace towards the castle. While Shiori was walking alone, she rehearsed the countrys language while muttering. Although she had many words and phrases taught to her by Krust, unfortunately Shioris learning ability was average, she didnt have the same memory capacity as Krust. However, she had written everything down in a notebook and reviewed it. Even after Crust returned to his world, that continued. (Perhaps I was expecting somewhere in my heart that Krust would come back again.) While feeling pain, as if a small knife was stabbed into her chest, Shiori thought that. She wanted to talk to Krust who had once again come to Japan in his native language. But Krust never came to Japan again. But that would be natural. (For the reason of meeting him again, I can not risk any dangers in this other world.) Depressed of her own thoughts, Shiori shruggs her shoulders. And she thinks: (I liked Krus.) Rather, they were living together as a man and a woman under one roof, it would be funny if one wasnt conscious. Besides, the other person was someone who was perfect, who was so beautiful that he seems to stink of the word ikemen, and had a manly and gentle personality. Unlike a shy Japanese guy who cant do ladies first, he could it without a hitch. There is no reason to not fall in love with such a man. Even Shiori, who wasnt clear on what love is, was taken by his charm. Even then, thinking that she might be able to meet Krust again, without permission, her heart beats had begun to rise. But for the moment, she would lock her emotions in the back of her mind. Shiori had an unrealistic experience of a different world trip. She did not have time to think about love. How could she live in this world, was there a way back to Japan? There are many other things she had to think about. There was no guarantee that she would be offered help even if she meet Krust. Things may get annoying and she had to make sure that she did not have any high expectations. Sealing her female emotions inside herself, Shiori steadily advanced towards the castle. Shiori did not know how much time has passed since she didnt have a clock, but she expected that she had walked for at least two hours. It was after her feat had gotten sore that she finally arrived at the destination. One could see the beautiful castle at the back of a large plaza. It was delicate but powerful and elegant. Shiori had the feeling of having entered a fairytale. (No, in fact it is a fairytale, I got lost in this fairy tale) If this was a dream Shiori wanted to wake up. After proceeding to the big gate which seemed to be the front entrance, there were two guards with weapons that looked like spears. One of them being in the small space next to the door. She wondered if they were knights. (The uniform that they wearing is similar to the one Krist was wearing but the design is slightly different. Yet the crest on their chests is the same.) After observing the gatekeepers, Shiori gathered her courage and approached them. While giving a light smile thinking about the spears in their hands, she spoke in a small voice to the one who was standing by the gate. Ano, excuse me. [TN: I wanted to put in some Japanese, oh to indicate that it is spoken in Japanese I will try to use cursive.] ? She instinctively spoke in Japanese, with a dubious face. She felt that the spear was moved a bit and cold sweat came out. She had to speak in the language of this country. Shiori had just reviewed it a while ago. Though she thought so, her mind had become pure white from the tension, and the words had flown away. Ah, that while being frustrated Shiori says that to the gatekeeper. A foreigner? In his voice had a little vigilance. Did you get lost? He seemed to have misunderstood Shiori as a 5 year old. The language is usually easy for adult ladies to master. She only had make-up on her eyebrows, so it may had looked like she was young. Lost, different Shiori shook her head in denial. Although she is a big lost child in a sense. Question, is ok? What is it? She breathed in and asked right away You, Krust, do you know? Krust Orfeld With the thought that he might not know by firstname alone, she gave him Krusts full name. However, even if they have the same emblem, the number that had could be at least around to 100 or 200 people. It is unlikely that this gatekeeper knows Krust. Although she asked while being prepared to be told I do not know, to her surprise the result was wonderful. Hearing Krusts name, the gatekeeper raised an one eyebrow. Krust Orfeld? Of course I know of him. Really!? Shiori of expression lit up. There is no way that one could meet someone who knew Krust that smoothly. I, Krust, want to see. Please But when Shiori asked so excitedly, the expression of the gatekeeper became steep. He sighs ha, treating it lightly. No can do. Krust-sama is busy. He doesnt have the time to even meet someone like you guys once. Shiori desperately tries to process whathe said in her brain. She was rejected to meet Krust because of him being busy and her being no good. But why was it the plural form of you guys? Is there someone else who came to see Krust other than her? I, Krust, am acquainted Do not lie about such a thing C if you say that you are truly acquainted, put up some proper evidence A lie, not, I- Well, now go away, Krust-sama will not meet you. Forced away, Shiori had to reluctantly give up. Even if she did hit the target, it was unlikely that Krust would meet her, besides the spears were scary. If she knew him well enough, he would know she was there after a while. She decided that she could wait. (Maybe Krust is someone with a high influence? So he cant easily call me, can he even meet me?) But he was still young. He should only been about two years older than Shiori. She could not imagine him being in such a powerful position among the knights. (But in Japan one can be a president at a young age is there any difference I dont know.) Shiori thinks while twisting her head away from the castle. She found it difficult to rely on Krust, so she decided to return to the city to find a place to stay tonight for the time being. If one waited a minute, the sun would have faded away in a blink of an eye. CH 4 Walking is inconvenient But she didnt take a bike with her to this other world, if she had then time and fatigue could be drastically reduced. So far it had taken Shiori two hours to get back to the city. She had never walked this much before. But there was no time to rest, she had arrived at the center of the city and she looked around for some kind of lodging. In the evening there were less people out than in daytime. (Would be best if I can find a lodging where I can also work.) While living in this town, she will go to the castle everyday and ask for Krust. That seemed to be best option at the moment. After she meets Krust she would ask him to introduce her to a magician he knew. It was after all a magician who transferred to her world him three years ago. (Perhaps a magician may be able to return me to Japan, but what is the reason why I came to this world in the first place?) Although Shiori scrambled through her head it was hard to find a possible reason as to why this phenomenon happened to her. Well, there was no use in thinking about what had already happened. She had to think about the future as the top priority. So she adjusted her mind and focused on searching for work and bedding. A shop selling fabric and clothing, hardware shops dealing with pots, fruits and vegetables, stalls for selling flowers, small dining halls, old houses For Shiori that suffered from employment difficulties in Japan, it could be said that it would be a pain in this country as well. Shiori walked around the city, looking a job that she thought she could manage somehow even by herself, she asked the store owners Can you please hire me?. She repeated it over and over again, but in the end no one wanted to hire her. The reasons for her being refused varied from that they already had enough people to that they couldnt afford to hire others. In addition, Shiori was unable to speak the language well. People who talked to her had the impression she that she was a foreigner that seemed to be not used to working. If one had to hire anyone, hiring people of the same country, who can speak the language, and knows common sense seemed like a better option. (It feels like my heart is breaking but) Shioris shoulders dropped. Although they had only refused to hire her, she felt like her value as a person had been denied. Even though she had experienced it many times in Japan it still hurt her. The sun was already about to hide behind the mountains, and the people walked home in the suns bright red light. She looked at the crowds as they were slowly decreasing, and the surrounding shops prepared to close up for the day. A child who was bought sweets happily grabbed his parents hand as they walked home. To a flower girl, a young naive man bought a flower from said I will come back tomorrow! and waved his hand. Shiori watched them silently. Everyone is acquainted with someone, and everyone is connected with someone. (What should I do, I feel somewhat lonely. Homesick?) Biting her lips to hold back her tears. She shook her head to switch off the dark thoughts she had. (Why are you crying like this? Did Krust cry when he went to Japan? Did he cry Im lonelyI want to return? Has he ever cried spontaneously?) Question, answer. No he didnt Well then I just have to work hard. Alright! Shiori got fired up and started to walk again. She couldnt find a job by crying. Do not underestimate a girl who had experienced Japans severe hiring conditions! Too bad, I am alright on my own. So Shiori called out to a Onee-san who was selling accessories made of stone on a blanket on the ground, she had gotten rejected too much to even care anymore. She had prepared herself to be rejected again, it was after all a small business. You are a foreigner? Black hair is not uncommon in this country but yours is clean and beautiful, and your skin is white and rough. Besides your clothes seems to be good. But even though it doesnt seem like you have a job or a house to live in is there a reason for that? The Onee-san looked at Shioris appearance and said that. I very much like to help you but, unfortunately I can only take care of myself. Shiori was only able to understand somewhat what the Onee-san had said, but she knew she cared for her, that made Shiori happy. Its fine, thank you. It broke the expression of her first world transfer. There had to be a lot of kind people here too. The Onee-san began cleaning up her accessories preparing to go home. Shiori thought of something. I have a question, do you know Krust Orfeld? It was a question she had to ask but didnt expect and answer to. Only for Shiori, the words the gatekeeper said concerned her. It was as if Krust was a celebrity, and Shiori one of his mischievous fans. Krust Orfeld? I certainly know of him. Shioris eyes widened when she heard the Onee-sans answer. Why do you know? Krust is just a knight, is he not? I understand that the gatekeeper knows him, but why does an ordinary person like Onee-san Her answer wasnt what Shiori had expected so she accidentally spoke in Japanese. I dont know what you are saying The Onee-san got confused, but she explained. There is no one in this country who doesnt know the name Krust Orfeld, he is a hero after all. Eh? Hero? Shiori knew that word, but to think that it was connected to Krust. I think it was about two years ago, shouldnt even foreigners know that this country was attacked by a lot of monsters? Without waiting for Shiori to respond, the Onee-san continues. If you good deep into the woods you can encounter monsters, but you will mostly not encounter them when you live normally. They are usually fewer that the humans and the animals. Still once a century or a thousand years, I dont know why, but monsters may be born in large quantities in one area. Two years ago it happened in this country, and a small village in the south was the first victim. While listening to the story Shiori felt breathless. When she heard about this world from Krust he also mentioned that there were monsters. At that time Shiori thought Eeeeh, thats scary but now she was in that world so it was horrible. She unexpectedly confirmed their surroundings. Monsters attacked humans and destroyed the buildings. Once a town was destroyed they would go to the next one. The southern people were in a state of grave danger, and when the monsters came I thought this country was one for. With closed eyes and arms folded, the Onee-san said that as if Shiori was a freshman. In the end the monsters was beaten by a group of elite people who were dispatched by his majesty the king. The knights, magicians and adventurers were not touched at all and the crowd praised them all and began to call Krust Orfeld, who had been particularly active among them, as Hero. I saw him at the time in the triumphal parade, he was a capable? good man with an overflowing feeling. In a loud voice the Onee-san finished her talk. Shori rotated her head at a high speed and chewed down the story on her own.(TLN: basically Shiori processed what she has heard in her head in a high speed.) A lot of unknown words were said but she thinks she could understand the important part. Krust who defeated the monsters and saved the country came to be called a hero. That happened two years ago, after he returned from Japan he became a hero. This makes it certain that the way to count time in this world and in earth is almost the same, Shiori thought. After Krust returned, while she was lonely living a mediocre college life, he fought against monsters here and became a hero. It really was a different world. And, she also liked this. (I didnt know that Krust is that strong. His forged body looked weak, but there was no opportunity to fight there.) Krust in Shioris narrow room might be similar to a strong big wolf trapped in a cramped cage. But his silver hair was consuspicious so Shiori had asked him to not go out too much so that he doesnt gather any extra attention. She was glad that he was able to return to his world. In Japan Krusts fighting ability would be a sceptical treasure. (I guess life in my narrow room might have been boring. I had a hat he had on when he went out, but that was only a walk in the neighborhood) The Onee-san said to Shiori, who was dazed our thinking about the past, that she was done packing up her things. I will go home now, Id like you to stay overnight but Im currently living in an inn. If you dont want to be homeless, and if you dont search for an inn soon the sun will set. When the Onee-san waved goodbye to Shori who still was thinking about Krust. (Wait a moment. If Krust is such a celebrity, isnt it nearly impossible to meet him? Then if it is nearly impossible to meet him I cant meet his magician acquaintance, and then isnt it likely that I cant return too?) Shioris expression clouds suddenly. (Krust why did you have to become a hero) CH 5 The time was probably 7 or 8 oclock in the evening. The sun had fallen and starry darkness had spread through the sky, but for Shiori the time wasnt that late. The supermarkets in Japan would still be open. However. There were few shops open in the city. The main Street that had been so busy at daytime had then turned really quiet. There didnt seem like there was as much outdoor lights as in Japan. Was the night always that dark? Shiori began to feel fear and speeded up her steps to escape it. She couldnt find a place to stay and work, though she thought she could endure being homeless tonight, that idea has been reconsidered as impossible. The night was more scary than she thought. The anxiousness of whenever there was something out there is the darkness crossed her chest. The shops that was open in the area was an inn, a dining hall and a tavern. But those were some of the shops that refused to hire her when she tried asking for a job at daytime. (What should I do? The stores that are still open, what remains there) Shiori looked at the big building in front of her. It had plenty of windows and was two stories tall, with beautiful engravings on its big doors and balcony railings. The town was wide and had some places with dim atmospheres and the security seemed bad in some parts, but this area was a quiet, sophisticated, luxurious residential area. From where Shiori stood one could see some pretty houses. However the building in front of her felt different from an ordinary mansion. (Is this a hotel?) That was Shioris guess. It wasnt an inn, it was a hotel. Of course to was different from the modern hotels in Japan, but the size and the atmosphere from the building was different from the other inns in the city. Somehow the threshold felt high, and when she found it here in daytime she passed straight by it. Perhaps it was impossible for her to be hired. But this time she couldnt afford avoiding it. She had to try even if she gets refused. While Shiori waited for a guest carriage to leave she softly aimed at the hotel entrance. There was a doorman like man and when Shiori gave him a silent smile he mistook her as a customer and opened the door normally. The Onee-san who sold accessories had told her that with her groomed skin and hair, Shiori might seem like a lady. However, it was strange for a woman to wear trousers, and the doorman also had a slightly strange face. When entering, Shiori was greeted by a marble entrance. It wasnt as wide as she thought and the lighting was dim. But because it used lamps and candles instead of florescent lights it had a good calming atmosphere. A young man at the reception desk looked into his books and didnt seem to take notice of Shiori. Although Shiori tried to talk to him she felt distracted by the tasty smell that tinkled her nose. (From over there, It looks like a restaurant was attached to the hotel.) It was next to the entrance. As it was around dinner time, the restaurant was really busy. As if she just remembered, her stomach started to grumble. Shiori was hungry since she had walked a long distance so she decided to head for it. Everyone who was eating was dressed up to a extent and there was an atmosphere like that of gentlemen and ladies of the upper class. The restaurant was wide and almost full, but it wasnt as noisy like the citys tavern. (Somehow everyone here seems to be rich, maybe some of them are of aristocracy. I wonder if they can invite me to stay tonight, even a mansions storage would be alright) Though she thought like that, she didnt have the actual courage to ask for it. She transferred her attention from the customers to the employees. Waitresses wearing uniform were wandering around the tables carrying dishes out to the customers. And when she turned around, she saw men in their 50s, with mustaches and hair stroked on tightly on their heads, and observed their work. As there are some people stretching their muscles, the work seemed hard. Perhaps, there in someone great who leads the personnel in this hotel. (If I want to ask if they can hire me it would be faster to ask that person directly, it seems hard, Im becoming nervous, but) She could not keep standing there forever, Shiori headed for one of the men in moustache. Lightly fixing up her hair and coughing lightly with a kohon, she speaks fearfully. She didnt know enough words to say phrases such as Um, excuse me and Excuse me for interrupting your work. I, want work The only choice she had was to get to the main point. It is really inconvenient that shes not good at the language. She might be seen as someone with no common sense. What? Work? While raising a single eyebrow, the mustache man responded. His voice, full with thorns, pierced Shioris heart. But she cannot lose here. She hated to be homeless. Please, cleaning, washing, Ill do anything Shiori begged, but the man only coldly returned to her. Its impossible. We cant give work to foreigners. Get that. Why did you even come in here? He pulled her her arm trying to drive her away, but Shiori resisted by stepping on his feat. She desperately appealed in Japanese. Please, I will do anything, even work that most people dislike. I will do whatever dirty work you have. I do not need a big salary either. Please, please hire me! I dont understand what you are saying, give it up, leave, this I, will, not Shiori stands firm with the man pulling her arm, it was like a tug-war with neither side being able to take even a step. Hey you, you there Suddenly a third party voice came in between them. It was said to the mustache man, but Shiori also turned to look. Immediately behind, there was a sofa group C unlike the ordinary tables and chairs C this was the VIP seat and the voice had come from there. That child is my acquaintance, please let go of her He was a senior middle-aged plump man, with a smile that could make others smile, and he said that while beckoning Shiori to come closer. There was another man next to him, seems like they were eating together. That was rude of me The mustache man, while wiping of the sweat he got from fighting with Shiori, bowed to the plump costumer. After taking a quick glance at Shiori, he quickly made his way back towards the kitchen. Shiori dives into thoughts while looking at the costumer. They are, of course, not acquainted. If so, why did he help her? Ey, Ojou-san. Why arent you coming over here? The plump man says without letting his smile disappear. He was dressed tidily and had a friendly aura, and she didnt have anything else to do, so Shiori silently headed to his seat. Even though he had a nouveau riche feel from the gold ring on his finger, perhaps he is not a bad person. In support of Shioris thinking, he said. I heard it a moment ago, you are looking for a job Ojou-san? I wonder, how about working at my place? ! Hearing his pleasant offer, Shioris eyes opened wide. To not miss this chance, Shiori nods her head in a un un and answer. Work! I want work After saying that she adds Ah, but I, no house. Live-in work, happy It is a bit brazen, but I would be very grateful to work as a live-in if it is possible. when telling him that quickly with a few words, the man acknowledged it quite well. Oh, thats ok, as most of us do work live-in, we will prepare a room for Ojou-san Really?! Thank you. I, words, badis fine? That isnt a problem. Being bad with words can be something good and cute. There are many customers who are attracted to that. (TLN: I think this man is really suspicious, it feels like he offers her a job in a brothel) Thank goodness! Apparently it seems to be some kind of guest service, seems like there is no problem even if her speech is broken. Shiori breathlessly inquired. Work, content, teach She said with a smile. There was an occasional male word since the one who taught her the language was Krust, unfortunately the man himself didnt seem to notice that. It had a certain command tone too but the man didnt get angry, he was blown away with the man who was sitting beside him. Wahaha, good. We may get some customers with a special taste. ? Well, maybe we should talk about work later. Arent you hungry? You should eat this. I dont have much work prepared for you yet. Saying so, the man presented his dessert to Shiori. It looked like an apple pie with cream on top. Although it came with the course, but Im not good with sweets Passing the fork over to Shiori, himself taking a sip on his sake. (TLN: Japanese rice wine) Ah, thanks! Just as she thought she would die hungry, Shiori received the dish with pleasure. This person, he is a really good person! While thinking like that. To Shiori, the people who unconditionally give people food are classed as good people. (TLN: This mc is naive, so very naive.) CH 6 Delicious~..! Shiori, with her cheeks filled with the apple pie the man gave her, let out a happy voice. It was sweet, plenty of sugar had been used, but it was the best food right now for Shiori. Feeling the energy spreading through her body which sugar level had decreased. Please take mine too, Ojou-san Seeing her enjoy the dessert so much, the other man who was sitting next to the plump man, also gave Shiori his dessert. (Was it supposed to be so sticky) Although Shiori started to blush she couldnt resist the temptation of the buffet. Shiori gives him a timid thanks and receives the dessert. If he gives it up so easily, she would not hesitate. She would not return it. Then while receiving the second apple pie, Shiori observed the other man. To be honest, she didnt like his glasses very much. He looked like he was about 30. Wavy brown hair made in a casual way, and a chin beard that would suit someone handsome. However, he had tattoos everywhere on his arms all the way up to his shirt, and he gave off a somewhat ruffian atmosphere. (But he gave me a pie so he might be a good person regardless of his appearance.) Shiori convinced herself. The brown haired man was probably the plump mans subordinate. Or escort. Because their ages were different, and they didnt seem like friends judging by their atmosphere. While the plump mas drank he stared at Shiori as if he would lick her from top till bottom. There are probably a lot of customers that would like you. If you were to put on makeup and a dress, you will probably more beautiful than you are now, but why are you wearing trousers? He gently stroked her thighs with his thick fingers, Shiori almost face planted her pie. Krust was also like that, people of this world seems to think little of skinship while asking questions. Well, he was saying something like why trousers wear. I have clothes, only this Is that so? But if you work, from now on, you will not need to worry about money. Even dresses and jewels can be bought immediately by asking the customers. Wahaha, with a laugh, the plump man put an arm over Shioris shoulder. The strong smell of alcohol entered her nose. By the way, have you had any night experience? Experiencenight? If you havent then I dont mind, there is always a guy who wants to teach such a child. Teach Swallowing the sweet apples, Shiori had a cloudy expression. Was a strange story told from this person a while ago? Could it be. no, perhaps, what he is speaking of is selling my body? If you are anxious, I can give you a practice partner. The plump man shows a vulgar smile while drinking a glass of sake. She bet he is the owner of the brothel. (TLN: See I was right!) It seems like the gentle mask he was showing at the start is slowly peeling of. While enduring the hands of the plump man that strokes her shoulder, Shiori thinks. Sweat beginning to run on her back. (I can not afford it now. I can only afford to choose this job. Perhaps the only way I can make money in this world is by selling my body.) But still, considering her personality, the image of night work, getting accustomed to sexual acts. Shiori released her fork and took the hand that was around her shoulder. I. Its impossible She would be better off sleeping outside that to follow this man. She didnt mind being homeless for a short while. If she still can not find any work after searching more desperately, she will think about prostitution at that time. But that would only be her last resort. Impossible? Its ok, its not something to be anxious about. You can get some money by just playing with a man for a while. Sorry, impossible, seriously With her face down Shiori shook her head. Then, the atmosphere of the plump man suddenly changed. She thought her eyes had gone bad when she lifted her head up, the man said to her in a threatening dose of voice. Ah, That is nice. It is good that you say no when you dont want to. But, if you dont accept then you will have to pay the exact price for this dessert. He pointed at the empty dishes. Both of the apple pies were already in Shioris stomach. Thats..! (I didnt ask him to give me the apple pie, and didnt he say Im not good at sweet things a while ago! Even if I didnt take it he wouldnt have eaten it, something else is wrong. Even though he is rich enough to wear a gold ring he is stingy about the price of a pie!) Even though she had a mountain of things she wanted to say, it was difficult to talk back with her limited knowledge of the language. In the end Shiori remained quiet, biting her own lips. Besides, that man, probably doesnt really care about the price about the apple pie. He is speaking knowing that Shiori cant afford its price. Now, pay for what you ate. If you cant pay for it, you have to work for me to earn that amount of money. The plump man smiled in a grudging way. Shouting in her mind this brute Shiori raised her eyes at her opponent. However, she was anxious and scared on the inside. She imagined a scene where she was a prostitute and gave her body to a partner she didnt know, and almost cried. She wasnt prepared to earn money in that way yet. But, as it is now, she couldnt pay for the pies Shioris body started to tremble. The plump man, collapsed suddenly in front of Shioris eyes. Huh? She thought that the plump man must have lost all energy in his body, he had fainted and laid against the backrest of the sofa. Wha, what? Are you ok? She asked in japanese, shaking the mans body but he doesnt move and keeps his eyes closed. His face slightly red due to liquor, with a face of pleasantness~. Sleeping? Shiori blinked. (TLN: Tough one google tl says: Poetry blinked with crackle. Poetry=Shiori) Yep, the plump man was only sleeping and snoring. She was worried and thought she lost it. Tilting her head she questioned, why did he fall asleep? Hey, hey A third man who hadnt said anything the whole time, a man with tattoos and brown hair, raised his hand and called a servant. Even though the plump man had suddenly lost consciousness, the man didnt seem to be particularly impatient. Whats the matter? When two waitresses arrived, the brown haired man took out a key from the inner pocket of the plump mans coat without permission. It seems like he got drunk and fell asleep, because we have booked room 16 in this hotel can you carry him there? There was a thin metal plate with the number 16 engraved with this worlds letters on it. When the waitresses took it up and began the trouble carrying the plump man there, Shiori turned to the brown haired man and asked. He OK? Drunk, sleeping, true? He certainly is drunk, but his consciousness was clear enough to put pressure on Shiori until just before, one wouldnt expect him to fall asleep suddenly like that. Was something else wrong? She was a little worried. To Shioris question the brown haired man raised his mouth in a grin. He showed Shiori a bottle that he had concealed and shook the transparent liquid inside. You are quite sharp, it is because of this drug that he suddenly fell asleep. It is a homemade sleeping drug. Sleep, drug? Well, this drug makes you sleepy, do you understand? Sleeping drug this person, did he just give sleeping drug to his boss? Shiori instinctively got defensive. She didnt know the purpose of this man. The drug was probably put into the glass of the unsuspecting plump man. Since the plump man had to face Shiori the whole time when he spoke to her, it was easy for the brown haired man to get a chance. Why, drug, give? He, your master My master? No, hes not. That man is a merchant of my shop. Thanks to you coming today I had the chance of drugging him during our meal. Seems like Shiori had misunderstood that the brown haired man was a subordinate of the plump man. This man had his own shop. When he wakes up tomorrow, he wont have any memory of what happened right before he fell asleep thanks to the sake. So you dont have to worry about him remembering much about you. Why Why did I do this? Thats easy. It was because I didnt want him to take you. Being told that, something a man usually says to the woman he loves, Shiori was taken aback for a moment. But of course there was no sweet emotions in that sentence. Recently, my store has been doing well, so well that it is hard to take care of on my own, so who is just who is not willing to hire a serious manageable person with a strong desire to work As the brown haired man said that, he looked at Shiori and gave her a nice smile. She certainly had the desire to work, although a japanese may be serious and easy to handle, but considering. I dont want to While releasing cold sweet, Shiori said that. Because that mans shop is probably also not a good store. Though it may be better than to work at a brothel. The man stood up and put on a coat that was on the sofa. No, I dont mind you refusing me, but you ought to pay for the dessert that you ate. He said that with smile. That man! While grinding her teeth, Shioris defeat had been decided. One can not get away with eating for free, and she really had a seriously easy-to-handle personality. Now, come on. I will give some work to you. Shiori followed the man quickly out of the restaurant with reluctant feelings. Including the desserts, it was actually the plump man who had prepaid for the course for two people. There was noticeably no reason for Shiori to pay back the money for the dessert to the brown haired man when he was the man who had been treated. CH 7 9 oclock in the evening. At the same time as a wolfs howl in a distant forest, Red Garrell, a magician who serves this countrys king, was lightly dressed. He felt some signs approach the room, a Hero dressed in anger. This was a room in the castle, a room which the King had given to Garrell. Darkness glowing crystal balls in jewels, snakes and frogs in bottles which have an unknown use, stuffed up small demons, and other potentially dubious tools. A large mirror hung on the wall and a bookshelf with magic book occupied the remaining space All the things in the room is often in a mess, but that was to Garrells specifications. He had many other places, but everywhere was as messy as here. Garrell kicked the cursed mask that had been lying around on the floor and sat down in his favorite chair with a sigh. It was a flashy chair, filled with detailed engravings and on the seat and backrest of the chair was cloth with plant engravings. I thought it would happen one day, but right now it is too early. Did I really make sure to check every day? Listening to the footsteps approaching to the room, he leisurely crossed his legs. Garrell is a magician of the kingdom, characterized by his long red stained hair. It may not be an exaggeration to say that it is the best in the world. He always wear fancy colored clothes, tailored to match his hair, and the robes he wears are red too. He has lots of jewelry on his arms Garrell! The door was forcefully opened, a man stepped in. It was Krust Orfeld, the hero of this country. With disordered silver hair he drew closer to Garrell. Return. He said that in a low voice. Garrel played a fool by playing with his earrings. Hey, Krust. How are you? You seem to be as busy as ever. By the way Im also busy as you can see. If there is something to do, this time Do you want to be cut down? Return my belongings. But that wouldnt work with Krust. He was serious. He had his hand on the sword and was about to pull it out. You are like that. You are normally silent and doesnt express your emotions, but as soon as it is related to person of another world your eyes changes. But to be clear, it is better over there. Is human smell not attractive? Do not make me say it again. My belongings You do not have to worry, they are right here. Then, when Garrell moved his finger, suddenly a cloth bag fell down in front of Krust. Demonstrating his good inborn reflexes, Krust grasped the bag well before it fell to the floor. He opened the bag to confirm the content, inside properly laid Krusts clothes. These were the clothes of person of another world he had three years ago when he returned to this world. Clothes that Shiori picked and given to Krust. Seeing that the contents were alright, Krust felt relieved. It was the only evidence he had of him having ever gone to Earth. The connection with Shiori, created memories, only these things. He suddenly returned to this world without any warning, so it was impossible to bring anything else. Krust glared at the red haired magician in front of him. In the first place, everything is bad about him. Three years ago Garrell made Krust an experimental subject of Transmission Magic which is still in development. Garrell said I just tried to send you to the castles backyard, I was also surprised, its true, he empathized that he meant no offence, but because Garrells magical power was too powerful, Krust was sent to another world thanks to the transmission magic. Far away from the castle backyard, he had been sent to an unknown world C the Earth. From then, for three months until Garrel found the trace of another world and developed transitory magic, Krust had to live in that world. (TLN: The transitory 2 word or letters was originally translated as demonic when put together with magic (demonic magic) and when I separated it from magic it became fugitive. I looked up the definition of fugitive on google and found that it was connected to transitory, so I used that because it sounded better than using fugitive magic and demonic magic. I noticed later on in this chapter that transitory should be the correct word.) Krust thought. Where he was transferred, it was good that it was Shioris place. It would have been difficult to live safely in a different world where no one speaks the language without her help. There was compassion, shyness, loveliness and a little blunder. Recalling such a Shiori, Krust loosened his mouth. Please dont worry. Feeling bad-kun. Garrell said, putting his chin on the armrest of the chair. Hearing the previous remarks, Krust good deep, deep wrinkles between his brows. What were you going to do by stealing my clothes? Depending on his answer, it would not be for free that Krust would be more terrible than the wind. These clothes were carefully kept inside the safe of the mansion where Krust lives. But as Krust had come home from finishing his work and went to check the safe as usual, all kinds of jewelry and entitlements were still there, placed neatly together C only the bag with the clothes was gone. The criminal was naturally broken because he was able to take stuff out without breaking the safe and he didnt put his hand on any of the gold. Thats why Krust came to Garrell without a moment of hesitation. Ever since Krust was small, Garrell had been like this. Neither his personality or appearance has changed. The rumor that you are able to live over a hundred years with magic is not a lie. However, because he had lived for a long time he had a lot of spare time. That is why he is always looking for fun things C things for killing time. That was what Krust thought. The trouble was that fun for Garrell was annoying for others. For some reason Krust had pleased Garrell, and has being troubled quite frequently for a good while. Like the case three years ago. I do not want you to have such a scary face. I acted that way thinking about you. Garrell said without being upset. That bossy attitude is usual for him. Yes, let me say something before we beat the bush, you better think of the treatment of those clothes. Putting the clothes you got from a person you hold dear into a bag and then putting them safely into a safe, to be honest I think it gives of a slightly perverted odor. Besides, those clothes, have you washed them even once? What? Did you think that the memories will also disappear if you wash them? Or is it the smell of her room that you dont want to disappear from the clothes? In that case, you would be truly a henta (TLN: Hentai=pervert) Krust pulled out his sword, Garrel finally closed his mouth. Looking at it like this their relationship shouldnt be bad. At least that is what Garrell believes. What were you trying to do by stealing my clothes? Krust asked again. Garrell breathed out as he thought. I was trying to bring her here. Krusts person of another world The answer that Garrell gave him was different from what he expected, Krust shook upsetly. He opened his eyes wide and managed to spill the words; Shiori. Here? Thats right. I needed her belongings to do it. But those clothes are not Shioris, it is only what she picked and bought, but I was wearing it. Yes, so after all I thought the clothes are useless, but I still carefully look into it Garrell leaked a smile there. On those clothes, there was one only one strand of her hair. Light appears in Krusts eyes. However, feelings such as expectation and hope that springs up from the bottom of his heart, were desperately held down. What would happen if the transitory magic succeeded with that hair. Even though he didnt want it, he forcefully pulled her to this world, so what will happen. Although Krust thought that, he couldnt stop listening to Garrell. So that hair? Did you use transitory magic on it? Oh, I did. In the daytime. At the same time he heard Garrells answer, he struck him and grabbed his shoulder tightly. Then, where is Shiori? Where is Shiori now? The resistance he felt in his hand disappeared. Garrell, who was in front of him, disappeared like smoke. Ouch are you trying to crush the bones in my shoulder? Calm down a little. But the next moment, Garrell was standing in a corner of the room, a bit away from Krust, and said that somewhat badly. I did try using transitory magic, but I did not say that I succeeded. Did you fail? Garrell noticed that Krust felt disappointed. Unfortunately, even if I activated the magic, no one appeared in the transition group. If so, Shori is? Not here, since the magic failed, she should still be living a normal life in that world. .I see. Krust seemed to get very discouraged. If he only think about it himself, it was really sad. His heart seemed to turn into threads. But thinking about Shiori, he thought it was good like this. He was glad that it failed. Dont ever try to call her again, she has her own life, doesnt she? If thats ok with you. Gardell shrugged his shoulders. It was the same with Garrell, he was also disappointed. He wanted to see what kind of girl he met in the other world, and he wanted to what kind of fun response Krust and she have when they meet. Silence flowed in the room for a while. When they had finished talking, Krust, who Garrell thought would quickly leave, still stood there. Garrell almost thought his hearing went numb. Whats up? Krust slowly lifted his face, his eyes turned and appealed to Garrell. Can you send me over there? Its useless. I should have said it before. Garrel answered immediately with a serious face. Certainly, for me it is easier to send you over that to summon your person of another world here. It is more easier to send someone who knows than to send over someone who dont know. However, there is of course no reliable way to succeed, in addition In addition? Garrell turned to Krust. I can not send a hero of this country to another world at the moment. For this country, you, as the hero, are as important as his majesty. We can not easy lose you now. Hero, they are just calling me that without my permission. He felt loneliness by not being able to meet Shiori, it irritated him to drag her into this forever, when he hit the demons he vented out his frustrations of not being able to go there, before he knew it all the opponents had been announced being cleaned up by him. (TLN: Somewhat correctly translated, wont bother doing exact as long as it keeps its meaning.) But as a preface, Krust changed the topic. Its surprising. That you are thinking about the country. For the moment Im working under his majesty. As I get a lot of salary and luxury from the country. I will try to do much more. Garrell said laughing with downcast eyes. I cant always live beyond. However, I want to thank her. I will return soon. Even Shiori would not want me to stay away. After all, I cant do anything over there. Krust laughs to self-dictate. If one go out with a sword, one will be caught by an organisation called police in that world. A knight cant be useful. Garrell still shook his head. Its useless. Going just to say thank you, indeed if you actually go over there and see your person of another world, you might decide that you dont want to return. Even if you return here by force, you will only dig deeper. Up to there, he kept raising his tone as if to tease. You better learn more of your precarious personality. A refreshed man who seems to have no interest in women, a man who keeps clothes with memories from a woman in a safe for three years. Besides you are checking everyday to see if they have been stolen by someone. Who the hell would even think about stealing such clothes? You would. Krust stiffly said. However, on the part of rethinkable, as Garrell said he was certainly such a man. He still cant stop thinking about her. Krust breathed out to erase that girlyness and turned his body around Leave Just before going out the door into the corridor, he turned to Garrell and left an advice. Do not pry on her or me anymore. When Krust had gone away, Garrell muttered stiffly. Ah well, it is easy to understand that expression. Did he not notice that his appearance was like that of a shy abandoned dog? Three years ago when he came back to this world he was in as similar state. Although it appeared that is has been put to the side for a while, it was obvious that Krust had been seeking Person of another world C Shiori all this time. Others would be unaware, but it was clear to at least the eyes of Garrell. Even though Garrell attempted transitory magic, 90% came from interest whilst the remaining 10% was for Krust. It is rare for Garrel to do something for others, even a lonely percentage. For Garrell, who has a rare magical talent and has led a different life from an ordinary person, Krust has a special meaning in a sense. Even though there is a difference between magic and swordplay, Krust is also a talented genius. The only person that stands on the same stage as him. To put it briefly, he has an attachment. When Krust is happy, he can be happy with himself somehow. That kind of feeling. So he called Shiori to this world, but Krust said to not do such things. In other words, now even if he tells me to try transitory magic to summon her again, it is impossible because I have lost her hair. Garrell looked around his messy and cluttered room. Thinking that it would probably not be possible to find the hair that dropped somewhere inside. CH 8 Garrell and Krust thought the transitory magic had failed. Little did they know that Shiori arrived in this world properly, only that the summoning position shifted. Where, we going? In the darkness, She asked the man in front of her. There was only anxiety in Shioris heart. To my shop It seemed like the mans name was Roche, but that was all she learned. Even if she asked what kind of shop it was, he just responded with Youll understand if you follow. (I dont think it is any honest business) As expected by the wary Shiori, Roche gradually went away from luxury residential area where security is more likely to be good. After entering an area were general houses and shops were lined up, they entered a labyrinth like alley. They turned around the corner of a faint home and past a stray cat that searched for food in the trash. Here A small, red brick, two story building. At first glance it looked like an ordinary house, but there was a sign on the front door indicating that this was a shop. However Shiori couldnt read what the sign said. Because she couldnt understand this worlds letters. Letters, what, is written? She asked pointing at the sign. Drug store (TLN: I want to use pharmacy but cant because of what Shiori says next I will use pharmacy later so be prepared) Roche answered unlocking the front door with a key. .Drug? Shiori mutters. Is this tattooed man keeping a pharmacy? Drug is not read as yaku by people is it? While she thought rude things and the like. When the small bell rings as the door opens, following Roche, Shiori, in fear, also enters the shop. There is an counter at the closest position near the entrance. On the right side wall there is a lot of drawers an on the left side wall is shelves with bottles that are supposed to contain medicine. (It really is a pharmacy) Shiori looked at the large amount of medicine lined up on the wall, feeling impressed. It seems like most of the medicine here were made out of plants. I, work, what kind? Roche told Shiori who listened Almost everything. From handling herbs to making medicine to taking care of customers. you have such an anxious face, lets get it done with. Its alright, there are many thing to remember but the works is simple. The work is simple, Shiori muttered inside of her mind. Is it really ok for an amature to suddenly start making medicine? Well, the work will begin tomorrow, its too late today. After saying that, Roche lit the furnace. The interior of the store brighter and the air started to warm up. When she looked at the swaying flames, she felt safe for some reason. The problem is that there is no ber prepared for you since you were in a hurry. Tomorrow we will look for a second hand one, as for today Roches words almost went through her head. Her head is drowsy and hear thoughts are dulled. If she thinks about it, there hasnt even been a day since she arrived to this world. It seems like all of todays tiredness and anxiety had hit her all at once. Her eyelids became heavy and her legs lost all power. Hey?! Finally after Roches voice died down Shiori lost her consciousness. Hmm In an attempt to turn over on something like a warm comfortable futon, Shioris body bumped into something. But if she avoided turning over to that side and turned over the other side, this time she would hit a thing that looked like a wall. (Why so narrow) She felt irritated thinking solemnly. It was almost impossible to move. Shiori opened her eyes to look at the obstacles that disturbed her movement. .. It had solidified. She spent a lot of time organising in her mind as to why she is in this situation. Although she is certainly on a bed, it isnt the bed that Shiori has in her appartment. In front of her eyes, sleeping with exposed shoulders, was a tattooed man with brown hair. Not wearing, any clothes? There was a smell like a mans body odor or perfume, a smell like musk, and a smell like cigarette smoke. It was not unpleasant, rather it was Shioris favorite smell. Well The mans name is Roche. Oh yeah, It is slowly coming back to her. But while thinking that there is no reason to sleep in the bed with him naked, Shiori sits up in the bed. Everything was alright, her poncho had been taken off but her other clothes were properly on. Poetry felt a little deja vu in this situation. When Krust was in her world they had slept together on a very narrow bed on the first night. In Shioris narrow abode there was no sofa to replace a bed, and there was no spare futon. Krust told her that it was enough that he could sleep on the floor, but she refused him, she couldnt let him fall asleep on the floor in midwinter. It was a time when she could not understand herself, she didnt completely trust Krust, so she had memories of not being able to sleep well due to the caution against stranger and sleeping with a wonderful opposite sex. Still if you wake up in the morning, somehow found sleeping and hugging someone else, she would unexpectedly end up screaming. Oh, so its morning already Roche also woke up while Shiori sorted her memories of the past. She spills a yawn, gets up sleepy while putting up her hair. She confirmed that her lower body was wrapped in trousers, and Shiori secretly stoked her chest. Hey, why are we ah, wrong. Why, together, in bed? I fixed my speech from sleepy japanese. Because there was only one bed, why did you suddenly fall asleep on the floor yesterday instead of going to a bed, I brought you here and put you on my bed thank you. Roche who descended from the bed, exercised his neck. He said he did it because he fell asleep on an already narrow bed. (TLN: I dont think It is so correct here, Original:٥åɤ齵ꤿåפQ餹٥åɤޤäԤФˡ) Oh, thank you. Im sorry Shiori also remembered last night. She got sleepy when she saw the flames in the furnace. Here, Roche, the room? Oh, it is on the second floor of the store. Your room will be in the attic. Its narrow but dont complain. Its fine, doesnt matter. After answering him, she looks around the room. It is a room with an overall calm color, neither beautiful or dirty. The surprising thing was that there was many books. It might be books about medicine I will go down. To wash my messy face Following the now dressed Roche, Shiori also got out of bed. Ouch Yesterday, the price of going around the city to the castle and then to find a job, was muscle pain that she now had to fight. When going out of the stores back door she saw a small field planted with herbs. Next to that was a well and a cabin bathroom with a toilet. It seems like one had to go out in order to get to the bathroom or the toilet, which may be a little troublesome. However the toilet was cleaner than she thought. A toilet similar to a japanese toilet was set up and it also had a sewage facility set up to a extent. But Shiori was more pleased that there was some toilet paper placed in the corner of the toilet. Unlike the toilet paper in japan, it was hard and square but there was no point in complaining. She could feel a little bit more confident that she would somehow manage to live in this world. Hey Roche made breakfast while Shiori brushed her teeth with a unfamiliar toothbrush. The stove and the workbench seemed to also be used as a kitchen and a dining table. They brought another chair there and began having their meal. The contend was an egg dish, with some type of beans added to scrambled eggs. There was also baskets filled with fruits and bread. The hungry Shiori threw them down her throat without hesitation. Roche is surprisingly friendly and unexpectedly a good cook. She wonders if he has high dexterity. That reminds me, you, where is your country? Where were you born? Roche, who finished his breakfast first, asked Shiori while smoking on a cigarette. Its shape, similar to paper tobacco often found in japan, but brown in color. Very far, far away. She stopped her hand picking up a bread, and respond to him after thinking for a moment. She hesitated whenever she should tell the truth, but even if she told the truth, Shiori thought it was best to leave it until later. Since Roche is surely someone she can trust. It is better to wait until she have learned enough of the language to be able to explain other world trips. Well, thats ok. Where you were born doesnt matter. Roche continued after exhaling some smoke. For now, lets go shopping in the morning, find you a bed and substitute clothes, etc. Eh.. but money. I will pay. It is an initial investment. Relax because I will subtract the cost from your salary that you worked for later. No she is not at total peace of mind, but while thinking that Shiori nodded. She was grateful that he could lend her some money. Although she has her wallet, the contents are only about 2 000, additionally it is in japanese yen. As Shiori put her fork down on her empty dish, Roche stood up. Well, lets go. Oh, that reminds me, I havent heard of your name. Shiori. Shiori huh, That is a strange name. Lets go, Shiori. Wai-, wait! After Shiori got up from the rattling chair, she followed after Roche. CH 9 Finished buying what she needed, Shiori got to start working? in the afternoon. Nonetheless, Shiori was an amateur. Roche first started by explaining all the medicines lined up in shelves of the store. With the language knowledge Shiori had it would be very hard to get Shiori to learn professional knowledge, he was long lasting surprising, his way of teaching was also good. Shiori thought. Regarding Roche, he could probably have more surprising things. (Although his looks tends to give a bad image, he is surprisingly smart and unexpectedly good at cooking, he had surprisingly books and he may be surprisingly gentle) She couldnt be completely sure about the last part yet. But he is certainly smart. Shiori put a stop to Roche who were explaining the characteristics of the medicine in order. Memo, please. Remembering, impossible. She appealed with a miserable voice. Well, indeed. It would be bad if you remembered it wrongly. Roche she me that and gave her a bundle of paper packed with strings. She liked taking notes in Japanese, using a feather pen dipped in ink on the notebook look alike. What medicine is effective? What herbs are used? How much will it work if used all at once? Are there any side effects? Medicines that are always on the store shelves seem to be well-selling ones. It seemed like it should be greatly stocked with cold medicine in the winter. When Roche finished explaining about the medicines, he taught her about this worlds currency. Because it was absolutely necessary knowledge when selling medicine. (TLN: When selling anything at all) Did you manage to understand somehow? Next, I will teach you how to take care of the medical herbs in the backyard. Uh Yes Roche meanly smiled, and watched Shiori which had smoke coming up from her head. For some reason he seemed to have fun. Like this, almost everything got finished on the first day, both the explanation about the medicines and the explanation of the work content. Anyway, it seems like everything was said. From the second day, it was finally decided to actually begin making medicine. However, it was not a very difficult task, as she only had to prepare it as Roche showed her on her side. The basics were to grind dried medical herbs into fine grains and pack them in bottles in combination with other medical herbs. How many types and what types of medical herbs C leaves, stems, roots etc C are mixed and in what amount? The most difficult part of the recipes had already been completed by Roche, so Shiori just had to follow those recipes. Some medical herbs lose their effect when dried, do in those cases, they were grinded as is, extracting the effect by extracting the juices after cooking. (TLN: I think the last part should be something like that here is the original aݤФˤǬ蘆Ȥ΄ʧƤޤΤ⤢ΤǡϤΤޤޤꝢꡢϤǤ֭Vꤷƥa롣) Basically, the ingredients are condensed if you dry the medical herbs in the sun, but it is also hard to save them from decaying. Shiori turns around the house fumbling while nodding. It was similar to cooking, making medicine was more fun than she thought. To make medicines like this, take care of the medical herbs, and when customers come to the store the customers should be served. That is your job. Do you understand? To Roches words, Shiori replied I understand. Even learning to remember is likely to do the job. She did not have much physical strength to do any heavy work. The only thing she was wondering about was that the number of customers were low. Yesterday at the hotel Roshe clearly said that I am getting short on hand myself etc. Although the price of each medicine was high, Shiori wondered whether he could keep doing what he do. Regarding this, Roche didnt seem to feel a sense of crisis at all and it was worrisome that he takes on such a good attitude. But he would not have such a sweet personality, so it seems like there always isnt much more costumers, Shiori worked out in the past two days of working. (TLN: Once again an uncertain last part of a paragrath ˤϤۤɅךݤԸǤʤ顢ޤԊPդϿͤ٤ʤäǡĤϤäȶतΤ⤷ʤ) Two weeks passed by quickly, and Shiori was getting a lot used to this world and work. Her language knowledge was still bad, but it should have become much better than i the beginning. She could not give up her notes in the notebook, but somehow she remembered the names of every type of medicinal herbs. Because she see the real thing everyday, it might be easier to memorize than just sitting in front of a desk and study. Hello The doorbell of the shop rang, a woman of age came in. She gave of an impression of a young wife. Welcome, what are you looking for? As she had said this phrase every day, the accent had begun to disappear and smooth speak was left. The customer lady smiled gently when she looked at Shiori and looked around once and said. Well, are you a new clerk? The usual man well, was his name Roche, where is he? Shopkeeper, he is out now, Im a beginner, but please let me listen, medicine needed. Well.. if it is like that in fact, Im heavy the thing of the month is heavy. I always use the medicine here to ease the pain, but since the thing I bought last time are about to disappear sooner or later, I thought, but I wonder if you understand. The woman looked an Shiori uneasily. For her, Shiori looked more unreliable than Roche. However, Shiori nodded with big all right. I understand I heard from the shopkeeper, are you a customer, name, Marie-san?(TLN: ޥ mari, Mary or Marie, choose Marie) Yes, thats right. If this is the case, this is the same as the previous medicine, it works for fever, headache, abdominal pain, once a package, up to three capsules per day Poetry took out a brown paper bag from the inside of the counter. There is a medicine for subdivided menstrual pain inside. Roche said that Marie would come soon so it should have be prepared. She seems to have gone here from a few years ago, so he knows when the medicine is gone. Well, thank you. Im grateful. Marie gave of a relieved smile, received the medicine and payed. I have a really bad pain, and I had to stay in bed all day if I could not get any medicine. The poetry nodded seriously. She was a lighter one, but some of her friends think that there were some children going to the hospital for injections. Marie said. But the medicine here really works well, there are almost no side effects and it is helping me monthly. The medicine were works well. It is a sentence often told to Shiori by the customers and it is also a sentence that reminds her of Roches greatness whenever she hears it. The medicines he makes were very good. Shiori translated and learned from that, but the recipes are supposed not to leave out of the doors and be told to anyone else of course. But, Im glad that there is a girl. (TLN: Not a direct translation but this sounds and match better and still retains the meaning, if you want to know the direct translation ask in the comments) Mary said all of a sudden. When Shiori tilted her neck, she continued by explaining. There are symptoms that one can hardly tell the opposite sex like in my case, and Roche is cool so its embarrassing to talk about the things of the month I understand Shioris reply wasnt to Roche is cool but the part There are symptoms that one can hardly tell the opposite sex If you do not mind, please come to us again. Yes, thanks. I will be saved. I hope you get well When Marie returned home, the poetry resumed the cleaning and decided to take a break when that was over. It was already lunch, so it was time to eat. While making vegetable stir-fry on the oven, she was uh-huh and humming. Not only from Marie, it makes her happy to hear Thank you from customers. You can realize that what you did was useful to people. (Somehow, I recently feel good. Every day is fun and fulfilling.) Poetry felt that way. Both life in this world and the work with medicine got more familiar to her more than she thought they would. And Roche was a much better boss than she expected. She did not know what she did not understand carefully and sometimes he would threaten her with the whip, but if the Shiori tried hard to recover it, he bought cookies and muffins and even candy for her. (TLN: Maybe not 100% correct, the last part. ֤ʤ¤|ж˽̤Ƥ뤷ޤ˥إޤơޡȤФ¤⤢뤱ɡؤ褦ԊBСȤΥå`ޥեIäƤƤ롣) She was just a bit dissatisfied, he just taught her the work for the first three days, and almost always been out after that? Leaving the store to Shiori the rookie, Roche was going out in the morning saying It is to stock medicinal herbs. She guessed he were actually buying them, but she thought that it took too much time for that. He may be selling oil somewhere, but to Shiori can not complain because the daily wages are properly paid. As usual there are few customers, but it is strange that she get a proper salary. At first she was worried about the communal life with Roche, but he was now becoming like a guardian, and their relationship was good. It felt rewarding to work, the relationship with the roommate and boss was also not bad, it was a challenge to remember new things every day. Even without a television or a mobile phone, Shiori was very satisfied with her present life. (After all I found a job that suits me, there are so many things to remember and there are serious things to think of, but I feel that my heart is filled) While stirring vegetable stir-fry dish, she smiled and thought of such a thing. However, Shiori suddenly stopped moving. To begin with, she- What normally makes us familiar with this world! She finally noticed it her second week and raised her voice. And I also forgot about Krust! CH 10 Why am I humming a song while cooking on the stove? Although she was Japanese she had never seen a stove like it when she was in Japan, Shiori wrinkled her brow. (TN: After trial and error this was what I got from this sentence: ޤɤʤձˤrҊ¤ʤäΤˡȡԊügˤĤAlthough it should not be 100% exact translation it should fully have the same meaning, at least in my opinion. ޤ Kamado is a traditional japanese stove.) (It is not the case of when one is spending a fun day in this world. It is not a familiar case. Because Im returning to Japan.) She thought so to herself, however, Shiori had doubts. If life here was so fun and fulfilling, why did she need to return? No no no what kind of idea is that I feel useless Wanting to return home, is it not a normal feeling as a person? Even if she didnt go back to Japan, it would seem like she was a very heartless human. But she had a job here. It was fun and rewarding, and the salary was good and there was good enough work. That keeps Shioris heart in this world. This job of making medicine is the work of a lifetime thing of the so-called hand job system. The knowledge she had learnt from Roche could also be applied elsewhere. The job was no longer overwhelming. But, if she returns to Japan, can she get this kind of job again? That was Shioris thoughts. What she cared about in Japan were her parents. No matter how much a couple love one another, family is important. You should be worried if your daughter is missing. She didnt want to make them worry. She wanted to let them know she was fine by returning to Japan. But on the contrary, thats the only reason Why do I think I should go back to Japan? She sat on a chair, and muttered while messing around with the stir fried food on the dish. So, why do I want to remain in this world? Primarily her job, she finally got a job and she didnt want to let go of it. In addition, Krust She also forgot him for a couple of weeks, but when she recalls him, his presence gradually swells in Shioris heart. I want to meet(TLN: Here I went aw) I spilled it. Shiori now had a job and she didnt want to rely on him to help her. However, if she was in the same world anyway, didnt she want to ask him Long time no see, how are you? she would like to recall the three months they lived together, laughing. Krust is also the person who Shiori had a faint love with She wanted to see how he had changed over the course of three years. It is a similar feeling to meeting your first love again at an alumni gathering. But she did not want to be a companion to the hero, she wanted to be a lover. However, it might be nice if they could just occasionally meet and talk like friends. Even if its just that, then life here would surely be more fun. And if Krust could introduce her to the magician he is acquainted with, she could ask if there was any way back to Japan. If there is a way back she would have to decide whether to go back to Japan or stay in this world. Well then, right now my biggest wish is to meet Krust. After having resolved herself, she started eating. And the next day, Shiori got half a day off at afternoon and decided it was time to go see Krust. Roche also left in the morning, so the shop closed at noon. (What on earth are you really doing Roche, are you okay?) While thinking about such a thing, Shiori put the closed tag on the doorknob, locked it with the key and left the store. Though Shiori worked fifteen hours a day, she had little fatigue. Unlike work in Japan, this might be due to less stress and pressure. Work starts early in the morning, but as the sun goes down at night the shop closes at the same time so you can have plenty of sleep. (This kind of slow life was might be alright.) Even during the same day, she felt that time in this world moved more slowly and gently than time in Japan. However, there were also many inconveniences. There were no refrigerators or washing machines, and the primary means of transportation was on foot, but when its two hours away Shiori looked at the castle behind to town and how far away it was. She couldnt ride a horse and carriage since that cost money, so she had no choice but to walk. Shiori sighed and stepped out, giving up. +++ Alright, I arrived! In front of a big castle, Shiori raised a joyful voice. Because it was the second time, she had arrived earlier than last time. It probably even took a bit less than two hours. She went around to the front, and as before, she headed towards the gate. There were two gatekeepers holding spears standing there, but one of them seemed to recognize Shiori. Oh, you again. A tall young man with bright brown hair. Shiori somehow thought that he seemed to be a member of the basketball club. A different person would have been better, this person absolutely thinks that im a fan of Krust. While muttering such a thing Shiori advanced towards the man in front of her. It seemed the other side remembered her face, because when he saw her he spoke. So youre here again? He said a bit amazed and laughing. Should her goal be known, would he still be laughing? Hello Shiori lowered her head. You want to meet Krust today as well? Yes, Krust, want to meet. Unfortunately, Mr.Krust isnt here today. Hes going to Edwella to visit the Majesty, hell be gone for maybe two or three more days. Eeeehhh.. Edwella seemed to be the name of some place, Shiori shrugged her shoulders. Even though she had time off from work, if Krust wasnt there it was completely useless. Well, Krust, back soon - - Its no use he wont talk you. The gatekeeper finished Shioris sentence imitating her. They laughed a bit, making fun of Shiori. Shiori frowned and glared at them. Why? Because I will not take any action Why? If I let fans like you in, you will bother Krust. I am different fan, know each other. Oh, you said that before. But its incredible that enthusiastic fans will try to meet mr. Krust with lies like that. Although Shiori had been frowning for a while, her opponent grinning the entire time. She had the feeling she was being made fun of. Shiori made a scary face to intimidate the other party. Bully (TLN: lol Google didnt want to translate this properly, good thing I could read the Hiragana and see that it said ijiwaru which from my knowledge should mean bully or meanie.) A knight is supposed to be absolutely gentle and courteous to women and children, and of course, sincere and serious. Without any special meaning, this was the image of a knight in a field of flowers that Shiori had in mind. At least Krust was Thinking about that, Shiori decided to revise her idea. It may not have been so in the first place, Krust was gentle, but somehow there was some weird malicious switch there, there was flowers, but at the same time there werent any. Oh, scary. The guards shrugged their shoulder and pretended to be afraid of Shioris intimidation. But its useless to be in love with a hero, because from the beginning, there is no hope. So I am just trying to save you from that sort of barren love. After saying that, the guard laughed as if it was a joke. Although Shiori shut her lips tightly and glanced at the gate, she was a bit take aback by the word barren love. It certainly is barren, though. And it was muttering in Shioris heart. It certainly was a mysterious feeling to not even know if Krust still remembered her. But apart from that she was still in love with Krust But maybe She shouldnt be. When she was living together with him, he was happy every day and there was a sense of the two being in love, but she thought it would be different now. Three years had passed since then, she felt somewhat calm, apparently that person could become a hero. But even so, she had heard that even loving hearts could be stretched out. In Japan Krust had to rely on Shiori, so he stayed with her. So there would be no problem with her doing the same, she calmly reasoned. And, while Shiori was thinking about such things, raindrops fell down around her, breaking into pieces as they hit the ground. Rain was starting to fall. Rain(TLN: I didnt know the kanji for rain, but I learned it now, read as yuo or ame I think.. (TLN inside a TLN: so many translator notes!)) Shiori looked up at the gray sky, hoping that it wouldnt be too bad before she got back to town. But she was worried, it seemed that Krust wasnt at the castle, so it was probably better for her to go home for today. Shiori glared at the gatekeeper. I will return, prepare yourself! She declared this imitating Roches tone and turned her body. She wanted to get away as quickly as she could so the gatekeeper wouldnt have a chance to talk back. Wait a minute Her arms were grabbed from behind by the gatekeeper and she stopped. She turned around, thinking back on if she had overdone it. However, the gatekeeper immediately released her arms and went back to his place beside the gate saying Dont wait here. Her arms were now covered with a white coat of some kind. Its starting to rain, you can borrow it. Its a coat to help against the rain, use it. Eh? Because of this unexpected kindness, Shiori blinked twice. I can borrow it? Oh, so you dont catch a cold, if you get caught in this this weather. Its enough to stop this little rain, but you should hurry home. What a nice person! While thinking that, Shiori gratefully received the coat. Thank you, I will borrow, it will be very helpful Because the cloak was for men, it was rather large, and when Shiori wore it she looked ridiculous. The hem of the coat reached down to her ankles, and the hood was also attached, so it almost seemed like she had wings. Shiori put the hood on and smiled towards the gatekeeper. I am sorry to say Bully before. It seemed to Shiori that this man was not a mean person at all. Well then, I will come again. She waved at the guard, and walked towards the city in the rain. Oi The Gatekeeper spoke to the basketball-player like gatekeeper who Shiori had smiled at. The other guard hadnt been talking, he had been watching their interaction from the sidelines. Now, seeing the other guard he was turning red all the way to his ears. Oh, was he falling in love? Its rather fearless of you to fall in love with a girl who is in love with the hero. The guard muttered his advice Wait stupid! Who is in love .!? He turned completely red and with a funny expression on his face he desperately tried to deny his romance. CH 11 It doesnt seem to dry easily Shiori spoke in a troubled voice, touching the cloak hanging in the back of the shop. The cloak she had borrowed from one of the gatekeepers yesterday was still moist. Even though it isnt raining the weather is still bad today, so isnt it better to let it dry in the warm shop? It would probably dry quickly near the oven. Thinking so, Shiori decided to leave the cloak in the store to dry. When Shiori entered the store from the back door, she saw a guest that had in an unkempt way entered the store. Sorry, behind, I did not notice you As she said so, Shiori put the cloak over the work table and went to the counter. No, its okay. I just arrived. The guest was a elegant gentleman with grey hair. He seemed about in his seventies and had a cane, but the spine was straight and his legs were solid and youthful. Was this a person from the city? Shiori wondered. The man seemed like an upper class citizen, he had a slightly different atmosphere from the customers who usually came to the store. Are you looking for something? Asking this, Shiori was a bit nervous. The gray-haired man responded while he looked at the various medicines on the stores shelves. No, I do not have any drugs that I want urgently Right.. Shiori wanted to ask him why he had come then, but she couldnt. So, instead she watched him while sorting things on the counter. Actually I heard a rumor of this store in the street. The gentleman said this and smiled watching Shiori over his glasses. Rumor? Yes, but its not a bad rumor. Its a good rumor, they say that the medicine in this store is really effective. Shiori broke her expression and relaxed a bit. She was pleased that the store was being praised. Miss is still young, but is this your shop? The gentleman looked around the store and then back at Shiori after confirming that there was no one else there. No. There is, shopkeeper. Out now though. Is that so. Roche was out from morning that day as well. Taking care of the shop almost by herself was already becoming normal for Shiori. Actually, Im a doctor, I was looking for some good medicine. Doctor! Shiori nodded, it certainly seemed possible. There are many who have bruises and cuts among my patients, are there any medicines that would work well for that? Er Shiori headed toward a shelf and picked a brown large bottle up, inside there were dried medicinal herbs cut to a reasonable size. This, wound medicine. Put it in a little water, put it on a clean gauze, put it on a wound. Of course, wash the wound well first. Shiori opened the lid and tilted the bottle to show the contents to the gray-haired gentleman. This medicine is a medicine that covers the wound so as to not dry the bodily fluid coming out of the wound, it heals using self-healing power. Shiori thought it seemed similar to humidification therapy which recently became known in Japan. The impression the first time Roche had told her about it was something like Oh, so the effect is similar to that high adhesive bandage? Also, this and this is also recommended Shiori grabbed two small bottles this time. This, the fever of the affected part, this medicine dampens it. This, the pain of the affected part, this medicine helps relieve. Is this pain reliever made from the roots of Silole? I am sorry, wait just a moment. Shiori took out the note from the shelf next to the counter and began to flicker through it, she had written down the different notes she had heard from Roche in japanese. She wasnt supposed to share the recipe for the medicine with other people, but the Silole thing should be okay. It is a medicinal herb thats widely known for relieving pain. Yes, the main ingredient is roots of Silole but there are a few other things mixed in there, so it should be highly effective. Fumu The older gentleman put his hand on his chin in thought. Then, Lets try it, give me one of each of those three medicines. If it seems more effective than what I am using right now, I will continue to purchase it. Thank you. She had done it, Shiori smiled. She was getting a new customer. Moreover, this customer was a doctor, so they would buy more medicine than the general customers. Well Its a medicine against pain, a medicine against heat, We need to inventory it somehow, its not a bad medicine, but its insufficient, we need to stock some herbs, so it takes a week to prepare it. Shiori said, the gentleman acknowledged it with a It doesnt matter while paying. Anyway, today I have some more things to bring back home by myself, after a week I will bring my baggage and come again. The gentleman smiled, and Shiori smiled back. What a nice person, making her wariness disappear. She didnt think she would forget, but just in case she should note the type and amount of medicine he had order once on paper. Because the characters of this world have different figures from Japanese. What is your name? People call me Syllabus. Syllabus, a word I often heard during my college days, it was easy to remember. While thinking this Shiori took a few notes under that name. Suddenly, while looking behind her Syllabus asked, Is that the same one that knights use? What he was looking at was the cloak that had been placed on the work table. The one Shiori had borrowed from the gatekeeper yesterday. Why is that here? As Shiori understood what the man was asking she explained how it had happened. There was a person she had wanted to meet so she went to the castle, but in the end she couldnt meet him. As she started to give up it started raining and then, she borrowed to coat from a gatekeeper. Who would you like to meet? Are you also a lady s acquaintance working in a castle? No, well er Shiori felt a bit lost on whether she should explain it or not. If she said she knew the hero, would he think she was lying? Syllabus seemed gentle and he gave the hesitant Shiori a sense of security. In fact, I also work in the castle, as an exclusive doctor of the Order and if your acquaintance is a person I know, I can tell him the message My daughter wants to meet you. Shiori instinctively froze at the counter. Ah, that my acquaintance, Krust Orfeld. It may be impossible to believe, but true, I know I met him, I want to see him. Shioris heart was beating faster now and her speech became faster. When presented Krusts name, Syllabus remained the same as before, this surprised Shiori. It might have been unbelievable to think that there was any sort of connection between an ordinary girl working at a drugstore and a national hero. True, isnt, a lie, is different. Prior acquaintance before Krust becoming a hero. But it was taken in with serious eyes because Shiori was appealing so much, after thinking a bit about it Syllabus, Well, i do not think miss is a liar, because you can see that in peoples eyes when you get older, is that so, Orfelds ? Shiori nodded. Krust, do you know? Yes, of course. I also knew him before he became a hero, since I was with the knights. Well then, please let him know I am here, I want to meet At Shioris request, Syllabus shook his head No. Shiori was confused, but Syllabus lowered his eyebrows and smiled, Ill take him directly here, he will help me carry my luggage, well come in a week from now. Tha, thanks !! No doubt at such a time, she would have multiple opportunities to meet with Krust. Shiori seemed to cry lightly, grasping Syllabuss hands and shaking them like a politician before an election. Orfeld is a busy body, but it will be okay. I will make sure of it. Thank you, I really appreciate it very much. Its not a problem, and that mantle, should I return it to the gatekeeper you borrowed it from? Anyway, I will return to the castle for now, so I can do it. Syllabus offered, pointing at the coat on the workbench in the back. He really was a nice person. Super gentleman! While thinking that, Shiori shook her head. If she asked something more of Syllabus who bought a lot of medicine and said he would bring her to Krust, that might be too much. I am grateful, but I will return it myself, I want to thank him directly, Its bad to make others return what you borrowed. Besides, the cloak was still wet, so she would have felt sorry for making Syllabus return it to the gatekeeper. After having smiled so its like that, Syllabus checked his pocket watch and left the store after speaking to Shiori in a slightly panicked tone. Oh, it looks like I have stayed too long, I have to return soon Then I will bring him here lady, bring Orfeld in a week. Im waiting . Thank you! Hooray! With this she could meet Krust. Finally! Now, looking forward to the next week, Shiori raised her chest high. CH 12 Thank you, this was very helpful. The day after Syllabus had come to the store, Shiori went to the castle with a perfectly dried cloak. She handed over the carefully folded cloak to the gatekeeper who stood by the gate as usual. In fact she had thought she should bring something as a token of gratitude, but Shiori unfortunately did not have any money. She had used her salary for the necessary items for her life in this new world. If life became a little bit stable for her, she decided she would come thank him again. This was what Shiori decided. No, no You really dont have to thank me. The gatekeeper seemed upset by Shioris appearance, even so, he stood up and received the cloak. Are you okay, is there something wrong? Shiori tilted her head and looked into his face, it felt funny. However, the gatekeeper turned to the side as if avoiding her. While lying back against the wall, he said what it was. Oh, no! Its okay! Theres nothing wrong. ..Is that so? No, there was clearly something wrong, but while thinking Shiori drew closer to him. It may be because she suddenly drew closer to him, however he stepped backwards and expressed shock even though he shouldnt. It may be that she was hated because she had constantly been coming there looking for Krust, Shiori guessed. Well, goodbye. Sorry. That, truly, thank you. Thanking him once more, and leaving the palace no longer needing to linger around. Since she had asked Syllabus about Krust, she did not have to persist on persuading the guard. She did not want to disturb his work, while thinking such a thing Shiori left. Oh, wait The voice of the gatekeeper became quiet and was nearly drowned out by the laughter of the other gatekeeper saying Pfft But none of this reached Shiori who had quickly left the castle. When Shiori returned to the shop, the sign that was supposed to say closed said open, inside Roche sat at the counter smoking a cigarette. As he went out in the morning Shiori had thought he would not come home until evening as usual. What? Roche, why? Is it bad for a shop owner to be at his own? While checking the sales of the shop, he said that with an idiosyncratic tone. Because, unusual. Because you told me you were going outside, I came back to my house. So, where did you go? Roches tone was rough, but there were no nuances of blaming Shiori, there was no feeling of blame. It seemed more like Roche was worried about Shiori going out alone. Shiori wanted to be honest with him, but decided against it. Only towards the main street, She lied, because it was obvious he would ask what for? If she said I went to the castle. Huuuuuh Roche was turning pages in his book and didnt seem to doubt Shiori. Shiori was confused, should she tell Roche she was from a different world, that she was familiar with the her Krust? They had been living together and she thought Roche was a reliable person, regardless of his appearance. But it does take awhile to decide if she should or shouldnt divulge her secret to him. If she remembered correctly, Krust had told her that going to other worlds was not common even in this magical country. Although it seemed like everyone believed there were other worlds, so Roche surely would. If she told him I came from a different world and I am acquainted with Krust Would he just be amazed or would he say something like, A different world and knowing the hero? What are you saying He probably would. Roche had also not tried to dig further into where she was from, and he didnt seem particularly interested. So it may be better to confess when she or Krust felt they were in need of another world trip or Krust was absent. This is what Shiori decided. Oh yeah, Odoms fruit and Carleson, Rickory, we are going to buy those. Yesterday I received an order from a doctor. I spread it on a Zaru and it is being dried in the backyard.(TLN: Maybe some help?this is a really weird one:ХɥΌgȥ쥽󡢥å`ȤաҽߤעܤäƤġˎڤơYͥ˸ɤƤ뤫ʡ) Roche closed his book and extinguished his cigarette. I understand Roche seemed to be in a good mood since he had gotten a large order the day before. He also praised Shiori and said Ill buy a cake. While hoping that Roche would not forget this promise Shiori started working. After taking off her coat and putting an apron on she put herbs in a pot and cooked it. It was different from the order she received from Syllabus, this was a different medicine. Roche had told her it was a medicine she had made before, all she had to do was boil the water and add a few kinds of herbs and honey. Then she had to filter it and remove the herbs and other germs.Then she had to add color powder to the pale yellow-green transparent liquid and it would become Whenever I see it, it is all colors. Shiori muttered in Japanese. When she put the cooled medicine into a beautiful glass bottle, a thick ink liquid swayed amidly. She had been told You can make it like this by Roche, but she didnt know what medicine it was, but she knew the medicine was different from other medicine. First of all, the medicine would later be collected by Roche and not lined up at the store. Coloring, adding honey, putting it in a bottle of fresh glass that was different from others. She thought that honey was used as a preservative instead of a sterilizing effect, but it seems it was simply used to sweeten the medicine. (Im afraid of what this medicine might be Its scary to make medicines that I dont understand the true purpose of, but I dont think its a potion, because of the herbs used.) While thinking such a thing, Shiori watched Roche sit at the counter reading a difficult book. As usual, it is bad that this cant be seen as much of a healthy pharmacy. Roche, question. Pouring the pink liquid into a small bottle with a dropper, Roche responded with a simple Huh?, even if he spoke with a disinterested tone, Shiori did not falter as she knew this was his usual tone. What is this, what is the medicine effective for? Roche closed the glass lid and shook the small bottle in his hand. Do you really want to hear it? I want to hear You cant turn back once you hear it. .. Roche smiled nastily which made Shiori get a cold sweat, wondering if she really should have asked. Dont let it get to you that much, its just an aphrodisiac. Huh? Its a drug that amplifies libido and sharpens the bodys senses. Easier. Its a medicine used for the nights act, women often drink it. Shiori silently stared at the liquid in the small bottle, she wouldnt expect that from that color. Use honey, on purpose? Shiori raised her face and asked Roche. Whenever you took this medicine it would have a sweet scent which would make your head smoother. Since honey is a bit expensive you cant use it extensively, but it makes the fragrance of the flower spread and melt thoughts. Roches lips curved upwards as if he was satisfied with Shioris conclusion. Thats right, its supposed to have a sweet taste and smell, even the color is intentional. Its supposed to make you think This medicine must have a great effect judging from its appearance and taste. Shiori was convinced this was a placebo effect. It is said that if you believe Ramune is cold medicine, it will help you recover. Actually, in addition to this, there was another medicine that she had made without knowing its purpose, this medicine was colored bright red, she had mixed things like purple cold peppers into it and it smelled spicy. She wanted to know the details of this medicine as well. Well, one more red medicine, effect, what? That is an energetic agent, a drug that makes a man feel better Ah.. That was all Shiori could say, she felt dizzy having made medicine like that without knowing it. Well .Id like to ask you about it. Is this a crime? Arent we going to be caught? Its okay, youll only be punished if the medicine you drink is too strong. Thats why were suppressing the effect on purpose. If you dont risk it being a crime you can make money. Well, Shiori thought, in this regard Roche was reliable. He was intelligent and could think of ways to make money, because of that there was no need to cross the dangerous bridge of selling bad drugs. While thinking about such a thing, Shiori noticed, Roche often goes out to sell this medicine. She asked about it, and Roche gently nodded without removing his eyes from the book. As we take care of familiar customers we are also always looking for more customers. The owner of the brothel who I was eating together with at the hotel the first time I met you, hes also a customer. A memory she had repressed and been revived, Shioris face stiffened. But, she did also admire Roche, he was doing something like that outside of the store.So even if there were a few customers coming to the store, they would not need to wait. If you earn money, sexual relationships are quick. In addition, unlike ordinary customers who come to the store, the customers that demand special medicine are often wealthy people. When she saw Roche with a bad smile, Shiori got worried Can I really work with this person? No, it didnt seem he had done anything really bad, and perhaps, maybe because he loved money he did not feel guilty about exploiting it from the rich , Shiori tried convincing herself, however it didnt feel right. But if Roche really was thinking only about money, he should focus on special medicines and do business, in fact he shouldnt even have the shop open. The medicine in the store didnt earn him much, and earlier she had seen Roche sparing medicine for kids who were short on money. So it was okay, Roche really was a nice person.. Hey Shiori. Handle that medicine with care, because its important so I can wind up some gold from a stupid rich man. Probably, a good person? CH 13 Hiya! Took a while to get this chap done, I need some of your help some pretty please go and vote, much appreciated. Chap 14 may be delayed as well, sorry, next week is the week I got most work. Translator: Sakuraid (with the aid of Google-sensei) Editor: Intel & Sakuraid In the narrow attic, which was Shiori''s current residence, there were only beds, clothes, and a mirror stand. None of these were second hand goods, nor were they boring, but they had an antique atmosphere which Shiori rather liked. "Fufufu" When she got up in the morning, Shiori cleaned her face and prepared her dress. Sitting in front of the mirror she laughed quietly, remembering the day before yesterday, she smiled. Sea thought in her head that she hasn''t become a fool. Only, this day would be so fun. (Finally, I can meet Krust!) A week had gone by since Syllabus came to the store, and today was the day he would bring Krust to pick up the medicine he had ordered. Shiori brushed her hair while humming a song, she could not suppress how her heart was fluttering with excitement. Even now she felt like dancing, even her anxiety about such things as Krust forgetting about it was swallowed by her great expectations. "I wonder if Krust has changed?"(TLN: Remember I means that it is spoken in japanese.) When she saw her cheeks had been dyed peach in the mirror she shrugged to herself. Just what was so embarrassing about seeing an old "acquaintance"? Krust was never Shiori''s lover. When she meets him today it would be embarrassing if only she were excited. Krust might also think of it as annoying. She should be friendly but also keep her calm and play it cool. While she thought this, feelings of joy sprung up like a fountain. She grabbed a small bottle containing perfume from on top of the mirror stand and carefully sprayed it in her hair. With this her hair became shiny and her skin felt good thanks to having gotten enough sleep every day. There were also no bags under her eyes. "Fufu otto"(TLN: Japanese here, otto is kinda like ops) After, holding down her laughter, Shiori headed downstairs. "Don''t get too happy." The moment she entered into the store, Roche, who was getting ready to open the store, said this to her. Shiori covered her cheeks with both hands, wondering her face really was that easy to understand. "Different, normal, not happy." "Hmm," After looking at her with his eyes filled with suspicion, Roche went to open the shop door. She hadn''t told him, that one of this world''s heroes was coming and that she also was familiar with this hero. But Roche was intelligent. "Well, you have been cheerful for a few days now, you aren''t calm Is something happening today?" Shiori shivers even with a fire burning in the stove. Although Krust might come when Roche wasn''t home, it had still been upsetting hearing she was being too happy about it. When she gazed at him with simple gesture, Roche took up a notebook containing the her daily schedule from the counter and looked for the day''s date. "Speaking of today''s schedule, an example is that doctor that is coming to pick up medicine, from an order you took." Saying so Roche directs his line of sight towards Shiori and gave her a glance, She was tensing up. Roche laughs with a grin, still holding the notebook. "What? Was that doctor a nice guy?" ".not, Syllabus, much older, Grandpa!" He was an nice gentleman, but it wasn''t love. But Roche again threw an eye of suspicion towards Shori. "Heee, Grandfather huh" She wondered he seemed to think that she was lying about Syllabus''s age. Roche didn''t seem to believe that Syllabus was an elderly gentleman man at all. "Really not, Syllabus, just a visitor!" "Hmm" Roche lit a cigarette while replying like that. While thinking that some strange misunderstandings are happening, well wonderfully, Shiori sighs. The more you desperately you deny the more suspicious it seems. "Today, Roche, not going out?" It was noon. Shiori saw the man sitting opposite to her by the work table having lunch by drinking soup. Yesterday Roche was unusually in the store, so she thought he would go out as usual today, but now that seems unlikely. He also made a new aphrodisiac yesterday and he should be selling it and go to the market. "I have a problem in the store today, is there any inconvenience?" He was making a funny expression there, as if teasing, but Roche said it in a grumpy voice. (Roche, I am going to stay all the time inside the shop. I''m absolutely waiting for Syllabus to come.) It was probably interesting. But it is true that Syllabus is an old man, so it does not matter if Roche meets him. Rather, the weird misunderstanding will be solved. Shiori drank up the rest of her soup with vegetables and dried meat and looked up at the clock on the wall. Since Syllabus came around evening last time, would it be around then today too? Looking at Shiori whilst cleaning away the dishes, Roche says something while biting on some bread. "If you have finished eating, I need you to do an errand." "Eh~" With a bad face, Shiori straightened her lips. She usually goes as much as he wants to but she would like to stay in the store as much as possible today. Yet she couldn''t utter such selfish things since she is employed. While bending her eyebrows, Shiori reluctantly listens. "Errand, what?" "Puput, five." Roshe opens his palm and hold up five fingers. Putput is the name of a fruit that is commonly circulated in this country. Usually it is peeled and eaten, but what Roche wants is its skin. Puput skin is contains ingredients for improving blood flow and can be used in a various amount of medicines. As to Shiori, it is now a familiar fruit. After receiving money from Roche, she got ready to go out with her basket. There is still some time before the evening when Syllabus will come, and is she hurries to the fruit shop and buy some puput she would be back in twenty minutes. Go quickly and then hurry home. Yet she didn''t want to miss the opportunity to meet Kurst, so just in case, Shiori asked Roche. If Syllabus arrive, have them him for a while. Please ask him to stay until I return." Roche nodded, "I understand" though he misled that he was eager and enthusiastic. Shiori who saw that was relieved. "Well, I''ll be back." She quickly left the store. But it was just after that, that Syllabus appeared in the store. C From the direction opposite to what Shiori went running, accompanied by a silver haired knight, the timing was bad. Reminder! Please vote < > CH 14 Things didnt happen as I imagined when I first started translating Ring Ring. Well I can only wait together with you guys for the right moment. I typesetted and some manga shorts of Arifureta (chapter 1 of the comical short), you can read it here: Oh and please please look at my next post, especially those who have voted. It isnt a Ring Ring chapter but the results of the voting. Oh and here is a new one, focusing on the names. I will announce the name voting result next week so make sure to read that post then. The prologue of the new story is already written, avoiding names and after I have announced name voting results I will write a synopsis which I will release as soon as it is done together with a new page. Vote Because I got work this weekend and the next we will see when I and my editor are done with chapter 15. Translator: Sakuraid (& Google-sensei) Editor: Intel & Sakuraid On that day, as usual, Krust Orfeld came to the kings side, and did his work as a guard. The soon to be fifty-three year old king had a very energetic spirit and was quite active. He enjoyed going out hunting and waving his sword at opponents. His physique was solid and his personality pleasant, at first glance he gave of a rough impression, but in reality he was a very kind and diligent character, Krust respected him. Krust thought that it was a happy thing that he was able to serve such a lord as a knight, but somewhere inside he didnt feel satisfied with the way his everyday was. Three years ago, ever since he came back from that world, this feeling had been going on constantly. The king walked through the castles corridors towards the lunchroom. Behind him Krust and the other guards followed. The maidens who passed them by looked at them would often throw short glances at them. A row of maids passed by halfway down the corridor and rounded the edge by the end. Krust-sama, he is as handsome as always. After Krust passed them, he could hear whispers. He was not arrogant, but since he heard such things everyday, Krust continued walking without changing his expression. So nice~, to be popular. His colleague next to him said with a envious tone. This, in the same way, was also normal. He would often get angry and say such things as "luxury!" to his colleagues, Krust had the favor of many women, but what was there to be pleased about when one could not turn around and have a favorite woman. In Krusts case, even if he turned around, that person was a resident of a different world. So it was even worse. "Krust-san" As he heard footsteps coming from behind him, he turned around and saw a young knight running towards him. The young knight had cried out in a loud voice, but Krust turned around again saying "What happened?" While still walking behind the king. "Syllabus is calling for you." "Sensei is?" Krust was taken aback by the call from such an unexpected person. He had known Syllabus, who was a exclusive doctor for the order for a long time. This was because Krust had once been badly injured when he was young and Syllabus had been the one to take care of him. Since they were both of nobility there was also a connection between their houses. Also, after he had returned from Japan with Garrell''s transmission magic, he had recovered under Syllabus monitoring for several days. This was because they had wanted to see if there were any side-effects of the transmission magic. Since the fact that Krust was transferred was kept a secret from the public, Syllabus was among the few people that knew of it, besides the king, Garrell, and a few others. But this time he did not know why Syllabus had called him. Ah, that said The king who was walking in front spoke to the confused Krust. "I have been asked to lend you to Syllabus, go on break for the day." "As you wish." Krust nodded without knowing the whole picture. As both Syllabus and the king had told him to go, it could not be avoided. Leaving his colleagues behind Krust quickly walked through the hallway. After he knocked on and opened the doors to the medical office, he saw Syllabus was waiting for him inside. Yaa~, Orfeld-kun. How are you? Yes, Im fine, but did you need me? When Krust asked Syllabus gently smiled and answered in his usual tone. "Would you like to have lunch together for the first time in a while? Well go eat in town. Of course, I will pay." "Then, spare your words." Krust wore a dagger for self-defense, but he always had his sword strapped by his side anyway. He had taken of his elegant clothes and now he felt great. He wanted to attract as little attention as possible because he was not in the city to work. However, silver-haired and well-equipped as he was, even though he wasnt in Japan he still stood out. When he walked down the street, the citizens were astir. Look, there! He is. "Krust-sama." "The hero" "Really awesome!" Although dazed women looked at him from afar, fascinated many boys walked up to him to shake hands. When he finished shaking hands while walking, his arm was pulled by a restaurant owner who said, "Since the times are good, come eat at us by all means." But, carefully refusing it, Krust followed Syllabus. As usual you are popular Syllabus said, and Krust smiled a bit. "Although it should be pleasing, there are times when it feels troubling." "Even if you are a hero, you are still a human being, it''s natural for you to react as such. I guess it can''t be helped that we are conspicuous when walking on the main street like this, shall we go backwards?" "Well, a lady still in her late teens I heard her name was It was I should have asked for her name. She seemed like a foreigner judging by her wording and appearance, but her face was something I don''t see much in neighboring countries, so I think she came from somewhere far away." "A younger woman who works as a pharmacist? No, I have no such acquaintance But who was that person?" "In fact, she is a woman in the drugstore facing us. I have been asked by her, she wants to see you." Syllabus turned around looking a little sorry. "There are a lot of women who try to approach you by saying saying such things, and you may be tired, but this woman did not look like she was telling a lie. If she really is your acquaintance, would you please meet at once?" Indeed, while convinced this was the real purpose of Syllabus visit here, Krust smiled and nodded. "Okay, I might have forgotten. There is a possibility we are acquainted. I will meet her, the shop where she is was close to us, wasnt it?" "Yes. But first I should apologize, since you might not have come if I told you this, I had to lie a little. Although" "Thank you. As you said, I do not have time to eat slowly with guard work, so I got a good breather." "That''s good Oh, here it is." Syllabus feet suddenly stopped in front of a shop with a small sign that said pharmacy. "Since I heard about the reputation of the medicine from this store, I ordered a wound medicine etc. when I visited before. I plan on receiving it today." Following Syllabus who opened the door to the shop while talking, Krust entered. "Welcome." A bad-looking man was sitting at the counter and he greeted them with a gentle voice, although he observed them from behind the counter. In the same way, Krust focused his gaze on the man behind the counter. Although his first impression was "neighborhood thug" he had a well-ordered manly appearance and and a calm air. If you asked if the man seemed like a pharmacist the answer would be no. Again, there was a suspicious atmosphere. Krust had thought there was only that woman in this store, but it seemed to be different. It seemed that Syllabus was also not acquainted with this man, for a moment. But soon after that he smiled and spoke to the man with a gentle voice. "Hi, are you the owner of this shop? I am Syllabus, I came to pick up the medicine I ordered last week" "So, you''re Syllabus?" The man seemed surprised for some reason, he opened his eyes wide and looked at Syllabus. He then muttered to himself saying, "Was that not a lie?" Please remember to help me by voting! < > CH 15 A few minutes had passed since Shiori went out to shop and customers had come to the store. Roche was sitting at the counter motivationally and politely welcoming guests and rose up from the chair. Welcome! Two customers, a gentleman with gray hair wearing glasses and a tall man with silver hair. Both were dressed elegantly and he felt that their status was different from the residents who usually came to the store. THe young man looked at him with sharp eyes. (This, this guy is a knight?) Wrinkles were visible between Roaches eyes, although he was not carrying a sword just by his atmosphere one could tell he was a knight. However, he didnt seem to be working at the moment. Roche knew the name Krust Orfeld but he didnt realize that the man in front of him was the hero. He wasnt interested, nor did he know his face since he hadnt been to anything like the Triumph Parade. While he was gazing closely at the knight, the gray-haired man in front of Roche spoke with a gentle smile. Hello. Are you the owner of this store? My name is Syllabus. I came to pick up the medicine I ordered last week Syllabus? Thats you? Roche quickly moved his eyes to the gray-haired man. If he was Syllabus that meant that Shioris description of a very old grandfather was indeed correct. What, so it wasnt a lie. He thought that she was embarrassed because she fell in love with Syllabus, so he decided she was lying to hide it. Clear, young blue eyes, but his face definitely looked like an old doctor As Roche was unwillingly in the position of Shioris guardian, he thought he would have to be a bit threatening if such a man came. Shiori was living in a very relaxed country, even so the time here is dangerous because she doesnt seem to be always good at crisis management. Although she doesnt seem to be fully conscious of herself, basically she was full of gaps, and it is only gaps, so it is not always the case that a man would come in here looking for a girl. However, as far as he could see, Syllabus didnt seem like a bad man, though Shiori probably wouldnt fall in love with him. Roche gently dismissed Syllabus from the list of people he should be vigilant off. But the young knight wasnt good yet. Roche thought, Could it be, the reason Shiori was so happy wasnt because of Syllabus but this beautiful knight? Even when she received the order for medicine last week, this knight had come along with Syllabus and there was a possibility she fell in love at first sight. Well, this is the medicine that was ordered. Roche thought about what to do now while he put the prepared medicine on the counter. He was asked to hold them until Shiori returns. This knight cant be seen as a dishonest human being, and there was also the feeling of Shiori wanting to have a poetic love. I will quit working here and follow him! It is possible for her to say that, but he wouldnt cheer for her. (A knight huh) Roche murmured in his head, Syllabus was a doctor and seeing as he was accompanied by a doctor he was probably a knight of the Order. Too bad for Shiori, but Roche didnt really want to engage with the order more than necessary. The aphrodisiacs and energetic drugs he secretly sell did not have a bad influence on the body or mind, nor were they addictive. As it was a legal medicine, Roche didnt mind being watched by the eye of the Order, but that was only Roche himself. But, his customers were different. For those Roche sold to, there were also a lot of big names from noble and merchant families, and they were very sensitive to rumors about them. They didnt want people to know that they who often cared about appearance and had connections in higher places used aphrodisiacs. Moreover, some customers were not satisfied with the medicine Roche made and turned to more severely effective illegal drugs. People like dustbags that have dust come out them when you hit them.* All of those people would not appreciate knights entering and leaving the shop, because rumors of it being searched and selling obscene medicine would spread, and they would become scared of getting caught. If they knew knights and their people came in and out of the store, many customers would surely stop coming to him. Roche sighed lightly while preparing the medicine for Syllabus. Shioris find, she thought she has found a large customer. Well, they are many and also a certain class of customers. If Syllabus became a regular at the store, there is no doubt that his medicine sales would significantly improve. But that was limited to the sale of healthy medicines on the table. If it became known that a physician exclusive to the order was his regular, the under the table customers he had would disappear and sales would be drastically reduced. Roche calmly calculated it in his head with a cheeky face, should he choose Syllabus or his under the table customers? He had decided, after all it was better to pick the under the table customers. If he chose Syllabus his sales would be even lower than they were now. This is the medicine you ordered. Its quite heavy, because it was so expensive. When Roche finished putting all the medicine on the counter he Krust came up and easily picked up the big bottle. The medicine here is of good quality, so Im looking forward to using it. Syllabus smiled. Right He then changed the topic while looking at Roche. Isnt there a female pharmacist who received this order the other day? Oh, shes out right now. Okay Seems our timing was bad. Syllabus glanced at Krust next to him, Youre too busy, should we go home for today? From now on, there is a possibility that this store will be used by the Order, so there will be many other opportunities to meet her. Thats it In the conversation between Syllabus and Krust, Roche interrupted. He had raised an eyebrow to the word Order. If you are an official of the Order, Im sorry but I cant do any future deals. So, do not come here anymore. Roche spoke in a polite but clear tone, Syllabus expression was one of confusion and glanced at Krust while he scratched on the side of his eyes. He said in a difficult tone, Is there some trouble that prevents you to deal with us? No, to say there is trouble Roche deliberately shrugged his head and made a bitter smile and then laughed before ending in a frown. I personally dislike knights. In a provocative way, Krusts eyes sharpened. Well, we tend to be disliked by those who dont behave properly, so are you one of those people? Hahaha, that is what you think. Although they both spoke with relaxed tones, an invisible spark scattered between the two which bothered Syllabus. Roche thought for a bit Dont say something stupid, not something stupid and made up a suitable lie at this moment. Once, a long time ago, a knight stole my woman, so I hate them, thats it. Do you really not sell medicines for such a trivial reason? We think its a good deal for the shop. Krusts eyes were still full of allegations towards Roche, was that really the reason? Was he doing something wrong behind the scenes? That was what what Krusts eyes seemed to ask. However, Roche was not afraid of such a gaze he kept diligently lying. Yes, I stopped selling to knights for that reason. Even now, everyone named a knight is hateful and it can not be helped. It would be amazing to know that a woman was stolen by a noble knight-sama, but she was very important to me. I loved her. Roche played the role of a pathetic man while standing his ground, staring in Krusts direction. Is there a woman for you too mr.Knight? He shook at the story. If you have one, can you understand my feelings too? Judging from his appearance, Krust seemed quite motivated and probably didnt have the sort of personality to be obsessed with a single woman. So Roche was a little surprised at the reaction that followed It was sillence. Krust didnt reply to Roches words and wore a bitter face. He had deep wrinkles between his brows as if he was resisting a heavy pain. Apparently he had someone he desired. Imagining a scene where she was stolen by another man, that was what it looked like. Roche guessed this and bit his lips tightly, keeping his smile. Lets go back Krust, with the appearance of a depressed man, spoke to Syllabus with a dark voice. It seemed to be because of what Roche did. While embarrassed, Syllabus nodded Eh, yeah, I see. He then turned to Roche. Well then, we are sorry but lets not come here anymore, please give my regards to the other female pharmacist. He carefully said his goodbyes and left the store together with the melancholy Krust. Funny knight Roche, muttering at the counter, had no idea that the cause of the strangeness of the funny knight was his own subordinate. *A metaphor that basically means people that as long as something bad is found out about them the rest of the bad things will easily be found out too. CH 16 Sorry for the long wait, both some problems and laziness on my part was the cause of it but here is chapter 16. Oh and Im currently watching totally spies which I saw some episodes of on tv in my childhood. Ah memories. Another oh and I also happened to be stupid and slightly burned one of my fingers today, ops. My editor was a bit busy so in the latest 72 hours I finally made myself finish the editing (Most of it I might add but credit to Intel for the first few paragraths.). Translator: Sakuraid (& Google-sensei) Editor: Sakuraid & Intel) When Krust and Syllabus were visiting the store, Shiori was at the stall of a fruit shop on the main street. With her breathing fierce she ordered 5 Puput from a young simple-looking man. Oh, if it isnt Shiori! Thank you as always, for the Puput. The young man was the son of the owner of this fruit store, and Shiori was familiar with him after coming to the shop every once in awhile. Shiori paid and said thank you before going back towards the main street. Ah, wait a moment! The young man called out to Shiori and picked up one of the fruits lined up in the store. He showed it to her, it was a cherry-colored fruit shaped like a plum. Do you know of this? Is there any Atra in your hometown Shiori? Oh, no there isnt. She was a in a hurry so she shook her head and answered briefly. Then the young mans face lit up. Well then, please eat it, its really sweet and delicious, like yourself. You dont need to pay. He put three Atras into Shioris basket. Thank you. Im happy, I will eat it Wait! The young man used his hand to stop Shiori again, who had been speaking swiftly to raise a signal that she was leaving. While having a blushing face and watching the ground he said. Oh, uh, well if you dont mind, it doesnt have to be now it can be anytime If youre free if Shiori as some free time then, go together Because Im in a hurry, cant talk, at this time! Bye bye! Looking at the young man stuttering away Shiori thought He doesnt seem to ever get to the point, he will probably go on for a long time. and while feeling a bit bad left in the middle of it. Ah, yeah, bye bye While looking at Shiori disappearing in full speed the young man was left standing there lonely waving his hand. Im back! Shiro who had finished her shopping ran for the store in a dash like a baseball player who aims for a point in a baseball game. The small bell hanging by the door rings, and Roche, who sat at the counter, sees her face as lascivious. While catching her breath Shiori put the basket with Puput and Atra on the counter. It didnt even take her 20 minutes to do go and come back. While thinking that there is no way for Krust to have arrived yet she asked Roche t make sure. Syllabus, arrived yet? Of course not yet? Is what she thought the answer would be. No, they have already left. Roches answer was cruel. huh? So, you are back already. Seriously!? I told you to hold them back! Shiori cried out in Japanese and tried to jump out of the Store to follow Keut who had gone home. However, Roche stopped her by shouting wait in an overwhelmingly strong tone. What? Shiori turned around with a slight irritation. She was uncertain about where Krust was now. Still in town? Or had he already returned to the castle? Roche slowly stood up from his chair and said, You, do not get involved with them anymore. Why? Roche grasped Shioris shoulder who once again tried to follow Krust and said. You dont have to be personally connected with that knight, I dont know whether it was love at first sight, but give up on that silver haired knight. Love at first sight? Am I wrong? When they came over to buy medicines last week, you met that knight, you fell in love with him at first sight. Wro, wrong! Although it seemed like the misunderstanding that she had fallen in love with Syllabus have been solved, Shiori felt like she had gotten a headache when she now had another strange misunderstanding. I did not fall in love at first sight! I Dont feel bad, you will have more chances at first love. Not me though. Roche didnt let go of her arms while he said that and Shiori desperately tried to get free to follow Krust. Anyway, it is useless with that knight, give it up. While she was dragged to the back of the store, Shiori thought that it might be better to tell him the truth. That she came from another world, that Krust had tripped to her world. Roche might change his mind if he knew that they knew each other, and learn that there are man reasons for her to try and pursue him. Roche, hear a little! Shiori turned towards her boss with a strong determination in her eyes. Roches first response after listening to Shioris whole story was like this. Well, was that silver haired knight who came today, the rumored hero? Only that? Even though she was prepared for him to say things like, do yo really come from another world or dont say stupid things. Shiori exhaled and relaxed her shoulders. Did you believe my story? When he heard the fearful voice, Roche looked at Shiori while blowing out cigarette smoke. Well, if you are an excellent magician in the castle, then it is not strange that you can use such arts right? But the knowledge of that type of magic is fresh. Apparently he really believed her. Perhaps it is easier for people of this magical world to believe in different world trips than it is for Japanese people. Shiori timidly walked away from Roche towards the shop entrance. Well, Ill chase after Krust She lightly said with one hand raised. Now that she had explained her circumstances he should let her go. At east that is what Shiori expected, No, its useless She was once again stopped by Roche. This time he caught her neck like a cat. To Shiori Shouting Why! Roche said bitterly, Regardless of what circumstances you and the hero have, this circumstance has not been changed. The connection between you and a knight is not good for the shop. Besides, the knight is a hero If that is known then this store will lose a lot of customers, stupid. Roche seems to have no heart. Rather than the reunion of Shiori and Krust who have been living in different worlds for three years, the sales of his shop is more important. Shiori thought that every human being has emotions, but she changed that recognition only for this man. She muttered in Japanese cold blooded and in response she got a right now, you said something bad right? look. Even if you reunite with the hero, it is a disadvantage for me. You might be able to connect with the knight, but there is also a risk that you will return to your former world as you meet the heros magician acquaintance. Its a minus. He pulled her face closer while still holding her neck. Shiori got surprised by the close range and tried to take a step back, but Roche did not allow that. She was frightened by his sharp eyes that looked like carnivorous beasts aiming at prey. Also I let you learn the recipes for my medicines, do not even consider that I will easily let go of the chick that I brought up to be able to use it. Threatened with a low voice, Shiori stopped trying to get free from his nape grip as her body stiffened. She didnt really intend to do it right now, but when she quits the shop, maybe she will have to Cut her finger off? And thats seriously fearsome. Did you understand? Since any answer other than Yes were unlikely to be forgiven, so she couldnt reply with anything else. Shiori was praised by Roche with him saying Yoshi and stroking her head like a dog. There were two reasons why Shiori wanted to reunite with Krust. One was simply a want to see a person who she used to be in love with. However, Shiori couldnt risk losing a good job, a bed to sleep in, food and clothing to chase after Krust, she was in this situation, she was not a girl either. She didnt know whenever Krust wanted to reunite with her too, or even accept Shiori who has no work or home. Shiori is a proper adult, she knows how to reason and calculate. She wants to see him, but she cant move easily just because. She also have to consider the life afterwards. Another reason she wants to see him again is to learn how to get back to Japan. However, the desire to return to Japan was originally small in Shiori. Because she felt that it would be enough if she could contact her parents and tell them that she was safe and that life in this natural and peaceful world would match her much better than her hurried contemporary life in Japan. It would be regrettable to lose this life with a fulfilling job. There was only unemployment over there. If Krust were to strongly say You must return to Japan, Shiori wouldnt mind following Krust to be introduced to the magician To have a job is a happy thing. If you have a job you can find out where you are in the world. She can feel relieved that she also have a role. The reason she felt that way could be because of her endless job-hunting in Japan that only got responded with not-hiring notices. If you think about employment alone, there was no place for Shiori in that world, bt there is a place in this world. She wanted to see Krust. However, if she used whatever expense she can to reunite with Krust, she would always lose. Same with Roche. There are many things he hasnt taught her yet, he helped her when she was about to turn into a prostitute, and he gave Shiori who had come from another world a decent job. He also provided her with food and a place to sleep, and she was in a situation where she couldnt say she didnt need him to teach her the language and common sense of this world. So, following Krust, she did not want to not return the favor to Roche. Besides, she still had something she wanted to learn from him. It was not like Shiori had met other pharmacists, but she thought that is was very fortunate for her to be able to study under a superior person like Roche C not humanly but as a pharmacist C to the end. Shiori did not follow Krust. Her legs seemed to want to start moving in line with instinct, but after considering various things, she stayed in the store by her own free will. CH 17 When Roche told her that she should in no way interact with the order, Shiori accepted it, but the feeling of wanting to meet Krust again wasnt that easily abandoned. She had also thought about seeking a chance to meet Krust by sneaking into the castle, but now that was not so easy either. Roche, who only used to be in the shop once in awhile, was now at the shop regularly even when she needed to go out. He used reasons such as that he needed to check the medicine and that he needed to eat lunch. It took a few hours for Shiori to make a round trip to the castle with her feet. Even if she didnt return, she would be worried about Roche, if she went to see Krust she was worried that she wont be able to go back to the store and work, she had to be completely prepared for that. As she was about to see him again, Krust got misled, it would the worst if she got scolded by Roche and was fired. While thinking stuff like this, the time quickly passed. Maybe two months would soon have passed since she came to this world. (Is it impossible to ever meet Krust again?) She felt sick when that thought appeared in her mind. If Krust wasnt there, she felt that the fun of living in that world would be reduced by half. There was still some hope and pleasure for Shiori, such as the fact that her work was fulfilling and that she had gotten many new acquaintances in this country. In the morning, seeing that the food storage was soon empty, Shiori decided to go out shopping. Roche went to special customer that day, but since he seemed to have decided to go in the afternoon, she asked him later if she could leave the store. As she passed through the alley and exited it to the main street she noticed that the city view had changed. Different plants such as trees and lovely flowers were placed out in regular intervals and small stalls and tents were being assembled around the street. There were always a lot of people on this street, but that day it was more than that. The residents of the city seemed to stand out. (I wonder, is there a festival in the near future?) She remembered the atmosphere in school that appeared when a school festival was approaching. Even though she didnt know the reason excitement started to swell in her chest. She approached a kind-looking middle aged woman, who was sweeping leaves off the street, and called out to her. Hello, good morning Oh, you are Shiori, right? The woman was the owner of the bakery Shiori was planning to go to. When she came shopping there several times they became friends through small talk. There was a smell of stiff wheat coming from the cozy shop behind the woman. While being attracted to the smell that intensified her appetite, Shiori asked the woman. The city, lively atmosphere. What, a festival? Oh, right, you just came to this country. Together with the tournament in two days, the city will be opened tomorrow. Its preparation for that. ? The woman explained in detail to Shiori, who tilted her neck. Do you know about calvary matches? Knights dressed in armour and fighting with spears and shields. The woman said with hand gestures imitating knights with spears and shields, Shiori thought it looked like a dangerous game. The spears seemed to have a rounded tip rather than the usual sharp one, but the woman added It is natural for injured people to appear every year, sometimes there are even people who die apparently. The tournament was held once a year, and it took place when the season changed from autumn to winter. By the way, in this world and in Japan, the seasons like the Earths southern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere were greatly shifted. In May, it was not spring here. Did you know that there will be a stadium at the east of the city? The horse race will be held there. Speaking of places in this city, the place she frequented the most was this boulevard, so she didnt know about any stadium in the east. Because it is like an amphitheater, she imagined it would look like a Colosseum. The matches would only be held for one day, and the city, with that game day in the center, would apparently be in a festival state. People would gather from all over the country and it seemed like it will turn quite lively. That, can we also, go and watch? The woman shook her head slightly. No, I think thats impossible without an invitation. Because in the stadium only rich merchants, royalty and aristocrats are allowed. There are not only nobles from inside the country but also from abroad, there are no seats for us commoners. Is that so If Krust had come out she would have wanted to watch his fighting figure, the woman gave her a wry smile and patted on her shoulder. Oya, is there a knight you are yearning for? Well Shiori got a little lost before she answered. Krust the Hero Oh! So it is Krust-sama. It is not only Shiori-chan but everyone wants to see him, but dont worry C There is an opportunity to see Krust without even entering the stadium. Well, really? Shioris dark brown eyes gave of a bright shine. The woman said. Didnt you know? The castle where the knights usually are and the stadium where the matches will be held on the opposite side just across the city centre. The Knights go through here when heading to the stadium. On the morning of the tournament, the royal family and their accompany will slowly march through here in a line. From what the woman said, the march seemed like a parade before the tournament for the people not allowed to enter the stadium. By watching the appearance of the courageous knights marching forward, those who couldnt watch the tournament could also get excited. If it is like last year, Krust-sama should be first in the queue, so he should be easy to find. When the woman added those words, Shiori got excited inside. She may see Krust for the first time in 3 years! That day there will be many people on the side of the road, and it may be impossible for Krust to recognize her figure. But Shiori was fine. Even just seeing Krust a bit would be good and then Roche wouldnt complain. She imagined that Krust was as cool as he was three years ago, and a blush unintentionally appeared on her cheeks. The tournament would be the day after tomorrow. And it was the morning that day that the knights would pass here. Shiori confirmed the date and time again from the baker woman and decided to see Krusts appearance. Im home~ Finished food shopping, Shiori returned to the store. Roche smoked a cigarette, while simmering a mossy colored liquid in a pot. Has something good happened? As their eyes met, Shiori stiffened her face and seemed to strangely behave suspiciously. No, noth, nothing really! Truly nothing! She had meant to secretly go to the cavalry match parade. Thinking if she should reveal it here, Shiori panicked. She was afraid that Roche was thinking of something in silence, while observing her. Roche was an unusually sharp man, like, he seemed to easily realize what her thoughts were. Thats right, you heard about the cavalry matches that will be on in the city, surely it was the day after tomorrow? The knights will march on the main road. The hero would surely also come. Cold sweat had started to run on Shioris back. Could Roche read others hearts? She doubted that. But here is what one have to do. No matter how suspicious it was, she should keep pretending she didnt know anything. Deciding that she would put up a fight, Shiori swept her eyes around the room and tried to make a poker face. Eh Eeeh? Whats this? Roche, I dont understand what you are saying. What is a kni, knight? Strong acting guys. well, its fine, you can go and watch the parade. Wow!? Words she didnt expect, it turned her voice inside out. Shiori put the basket she had in her hand down on the counter quite roughly and stood in front of Roche. I can go, really!? I can go and see Krust? She cutely grabbed Roches arm and looked up at him. She couldnt believe it, she realized her eyes were sticking out. Roche replied while stirring the pot with a wooden spatula. I guess its fine if you go and watch. There will be a lot of people that day, even if you notice the hero, I dont think the hero will notice you, but I will be there as well. Yay! Thank you! She didnt mind having a guardian. Shiori smiled like she was playing hitting the hand, Roche saw that and gave her a glare. CH 18 Was this a dream? Sorry it got so late, you can go now Ah, yes, then Im going ahead The store manager said and Shiori retreated to the back of the kitchen. She went to the changing room, quickly changed her clothes and came out. She seemed to be in a hurry. Umemoto-san, you can bring this with you. She was caught by the store manager when she was about to head out, he gave her a plastic bag. There was a paper with letters spelling fried chicken in there. It was a frozen version of what the store offered. Are you sure its okay? Actually, I dont need to do something like this, but Umemoto-san is doing her best. But since its near its expiration date, please eat it up as soon as possible. Yes, thank you Oh, I remember. Shiori thought while floating in the air. This is a memory of the past. This dream is a replay of the past events. It was a Saturday, there were many customers so it was busy. Moreover, the part-timer that was scheduled to enter the same shift as her didnt show up. Shiori had to work as much as an hour and a half more than usual. Holding the bags containing some frozen fried chicken, she had to leave quickly or else Krust would worry. She left the store. But when she opened the back door, Shiori unintentionally let out a loud voice. A Shadow that had melted into the darkness of the night emerged, only slightly illuminated by the light inside the store that leaked out of the door. A man whose face was deeply hidden beneath the hood of his black hoodie. .Huh? Could that be Krust? She said with a surprised voice. She judged that it was him by his tall and strong frame that she could see even though the man wore clothes. In response to Shioris voice, the man lifted his hood up. Silver hair like the color of the cold fading moon showed up beneath. It was Krust after all. Shiori rushed to him with confidence. Did you come to pick me up? Im sorry Im late. We had a lot of customers. At that time, two months had already passed since she started living with Krust. He also showed an amazing learning ability and adaptability, it was around the time where he had gotten used to life in Japan. Krust had learned how to use a vacuum cleaner and a washing machine, in the stead of Shiori who went out, he took care of most of the housework. His cooking was almost perfect, Shiori thought he was the image of a perfect bride. She didnt put it into words, because it seemed like it would hurt his pride as a knight. Besides household chores, Krust wanted to help with anything he could. For example, picking up Shiori from her part-time job when she tends to work late into the night. However, since Krusts appearance stands out, Shiori didnt allow it. However, whenever Shiori worked late which she often did, Krust would often come and pick her up like this. Although she did not want him to go out as much as possible in order to prevent Krust from getting caught up in a strange disturbance, she felt sorry for keeping him alone at home. Also she was glad that he was worried about her so she did not scold him whenever he came to pick her up. That is? He saw the plastic bag Shiori was carrying and asked her in Japanese. Deep-fried chicken. Didnt you like it Krust? Over there was, the world Krust came from. Recently when he talked about his hometown, Shioris chest hurt for some reason. Did Krust want to go back to his original world? Thinking about it, she would turn impatient and get uneasy. She hoped Krust would stay with her forever, she felt disgust over thinking such a thing. Not to mention Krust, he had already decided that he would return home. That was what he wanted, so thats what she wished for as well. Isnt it heavy? Krust grabbed the bag out of her hands and began to walk. They went out to the street through the parking lot of the shop, and proceeded along the sidewalk toward the direction of the apartment. Suddenly Shiori heard a distant voice from the front and she raised her face. It was a young couple. It seemed like they were looking at each other, while walking towards Shiori and Krust, she couldnt tear her eyes from them. She didnt want to see such a frustratingly perfect couple, with their hands lit by the lights of convenience store, Shioris eyes, were firmly stuck whether she wanted it or not. It was the so called lovers connection. She wished that she could hold hands with Krust, she completely and honestly envied that couple. When they got a bit far away, Krust who had been silent until then opened his mouth. There are a lot of black haired people in this country. Black hair isnt uncommon in my country, but there are many more here. Shiori payed attention to their hands, it seemed like Krust payed attention to their hair. She was ashamed for daydreaming alone about holding hands with Krust, the atmosphere turned stale. While somewhat down, Shiori bitterly smiled and said; That is because its one of the characteristics of Japanese people. It seems that foreigners find it difficult to distinguish people because our facial expressions are so similar, is it the same for Krust? Cant you tell the difference between the Japanese? From him, it seemed that everyone including Shiori, would be replaced with a flat face. That was what Shiori thought. Yes. They all look the same. Although she became somewhat sad, Shiori tried to return with a smile saying after all, she opened her eyes unexpectedly to the words of Krust who had continued. - Apart from Shiori. She was told with a seductive smile that could have been missed, heat instantly gathered on her cheeks. Although she didnt want to react excessively, she was shaken. Because she was a girl inexperienced in love, she had tried to challenge herself. But, Krust happened to catch how Shiori had turned red like an apple. Dangerous Krust, who noticed the bicycle coming from behind her on the sidewalk, took a hold of Shioris wrist and pulled her aside. The bicycle passed by uneventfully, she thought that her wrist would be released soon but Krust silently gazed at their connected hands, and then moved his hands. His long fingers and Shioris thin fingers got tangled. Like how the couple from before had done. Eh, Ah, that Lets hurry home. Krust ignored the confused Shiori, and started to walk away. Of course, while still holding hands. Did Krust possibly, when he looked at that couple from before, did he not just look at their hair but their hands as well, like Shiori had done? Shiori got happy with that thought. Her face got even redder, and her chest also started to heat up. The temperature between the connected hands was really comfortable. She woke up on a hard bed in the attic and got discouraged. Aha, I woke up She wanted to keep dreaming a bit more, thought Shiori while hugging a pillow. The past, what actually happened was only being replayed in a dream, rather than thinking back on it in her head while she was awake, there was much more realism in her dreams. It felt like the warmth of Krusts hand still lingered on her right hand. At that time, Krust didnt release her hand until they got to the apartment. Even after entering the flat, their hands were connected until Shiori shoddily had said I want to change clothes, but. From that kind of behavior C (At least that time, did Krust think that he didnt hate me?) Shiori thought so but quickly shook her head, No Im being too self-conscious.. It shouldnt have been hate, but Im not confident it was love either. Because she didnt know how much she should think, Shiori stopped guessing Krusts feelings and got up from the bed. She looked at the sky from a small round window, the clear blue sky spread in the morning. Today it was the tournament competition where the knights would participate. Of course, the parade would be held as well. A quiet tension rose in her chest. Today, she could finally see Krusts appearance for the first time in three years. While feeling joy and anxiety, Shiori began to get dressed. CH 19 As she finished her morning preparations and descended to the first floor, Roche was already there looking at Shiori. Somethings shining here? Roche said, maybe her hair that was more carefully conditioned than usual? Or her lips that had some oil packs on them since last night? Alternatively, it could be her face that was washed with homemade cosmetic water. A light blush appeared on Shioris cheek in shame. Today, you will only look at hero-sama from afar. There is no use in making yourself stand out so much. I, I know! It seemed like he said its too much, so Shiori felt that if there was a hole she would hide herself in it. With her hands she his her lips which had become plump and elastic thanks to the oil packs. Roche gave out a nasty laugh and raised one of the corners of his mouth. Well, shall we go? Then he stood up. Roche, you dont even have to come I will go because unless there is someone watching you, you wouldnt know what to do. The two people left the store while arguing. As she neared the main street, the lively voices of people came to her ears. It blended into the bright morning air and made Shioris mood surge into a storm. It felt like an exciting festival atmosphere. As the time of the parade was approaching, the street was already packed with people. Nonetheless, the people are separated into two sides of the road, leaving whole way in the center free for the knights to march. There was various shops, but they didnt seem to sell anything as their owners had also mixed in among the crowds. Seemed like business would start after the parade. It also seemed like not only the residents of the city were there, there were many people dressed in traveling clothes, they might have come from another town to watch the parade. Shiori also tried to move inside the crowd, but as she would probably only be shoved around, she decided to remain at the back of the crowd. As the knights were going to ride on horses, it would be easy for her to see Krust that would march in the front. Its a bit annoying to be among such a big crowd Roche said standing next to her. Glancing at the profile that stirred his own hair, looking annoyed, Shiori rudely thought that surprisingly, mornings doesnt suit him. About 20 minutes later. From the back of the street, from the direction of the west where the castle is located, they heard a trumpet of trumpets and a drum performance. At the same time people start to cheer. Both of the sounds gathered momentum and gradually neared the spot where Shiori was. Since the people starts to stir to try to get a better look at the back of the street, Shiori also gets caught up and looks in that direction. Krust should certainly be in the front. She recalled what she heard from the bakery lady, her heart starts to beat in excitement. Even though she was just slightly nervous, the drum beats boosted that feeling. The excited voices of the crowds come closer like waves. Along with the booming sound of drums pricking her ears, the drum and fife band appeared in Shioris view who stretched up. They had a slightly flashy appearance of red and green, and they werent riding on horses. It didnt seem like Krust was first in the parade line. Despite being a bit disappointed, without any raise of heartbeat, Shiori watched the ensuring parade. An old man moved his head briefly, while he stretched his neck towards the opposite side. Next were three knights with horses. Each had a large flag with different crests drawn on, Shiori didnt understand their meaning. Maybe it was the emblems of the Order, the Country and the Royals, or so Shiori thought. They bore not the knight clothes Shiori was knew of, but heavy armour. Even so, looking at the masks that were covering their heads and faces completely, she wouldnt know who they are! She got anxious. Then, at that momentDD. Suddenly the cheers in the surroundings got loud enough to reach the skies. The air in the place got more excited. A girl who was at the front row of the opposite side of the crowd, grabbed pink petals from the basket they had, and threw them towards the street. Voices of excitement rose from the surrounding people. DD Krust?sama. Shiori turned her eyes wide open, and looked towards the street. Though her toes were nearing their limits due to stretching all the time, it didnt matter. Before Shioris eyes, he was there. Krust. Its Krust Instinctively, her trembling voice came out. Every pore on her body opens up, she got goosebumps. Is this the feeling of excitement? Dokidoki, the pulsating sound of her heart echoes in her body, it was badly loud. She couldnt understand the reason why she was letting out cold sweat. Krust rode on a white horse dressed in various accessories and wore a silver-laden armor. He had removed his helmet and held it under his left arm, he looked dignified as he rode on. Apart from the drums, the fife band and the flag holders, he marched slowly in front of the line. Although they followed behind Krust, the other knights who were aligned in two to three rows with their helmets removed, couldnt make Shioris gaze move away from Krust. He looked more mature than before. She thought. A calm, manly, adult aura encircles him, he had gotten a fearless face. Without diverting attention to the noisy cheers from the surroundings, Krust moved forward looking only in front of him. That figure was exquisitely majestic, exactly like a true hero. While she looked at his figure, Krust came up to the front of Shiori. The distance between them was only a few meters. At the moment she thought that, Shiori suddenly realizes something. Just look at Krusts figure. He doesnt need to be aware of her. She thought that, but now she cant hold herself back like that anymore. (I want Krust to notice me!) She wants him to realize that she is here, in the same world as him. Shiori strongly thought that. She felt intense impatience and loneliness when Krust passed by her without noticing her existence. She didnt think about boldly crawling through the crowd and jump onto the street where the knights were marching. But Shiori couldnt help but to unconsciously advance a step. Running as it was, she tried to shout the name of Krust in a loud voiceDD. At the same time she tried to take action, Roche, who was next to her, tightly gripped her arms. Feeling uncomfortable about not being able to move as she wants, Shiori looks back at her boss and glares at him. The advice from him that she should not have any connection with the Order of Knights was totally out of her head, and it was just annoying to her that Roche gets in the way. Let me go What are you going to do once you meet again? Roches did not go through to Shiori which resisted swinging his away his arms, Roche looked at the back of the Krust which keeps going away gradually, and as usual, Roche was in a state of calm. While thinking he moved his gaze to look at Shiori, saying with a cold voice; If you still have hope of maybe, I will push it away properly. The hero has a wi- a fiance. The other party is this kingdoms princess. The movement of Shiori which was resisting stopped suddenly and even her breathing stopped for a moment. Im not lying, I heard it from a backdoor customer. Although it hasnt been released yet, it seems to be a known story among the nobles It took her a awfully long to firmly understand the meaning of Roche s words. It was because the brain was showing a reaction of rejection as she didnt want to take in that fact. (Engagement Krust and the princess of this country) Shiori managed to take the words like swallowing a sticky and unpleasant liquid. She returned her line of sight to Krust who already only had the back, forgetting to blink and keeping her gaze still. Her heart felt strained. (Maybe, I still love Krust?) Poetry vaguely thought. No, she really felt like she already knew. But she was afraid to expose her true feelings even to herself, so she was desperately pretending not to notice. Unchanged from three years ago, she still has feelings for Krust. She was a person who used to be in love long time ago, but also a person who is still in love currently. That was Shioris real feelings, that was a truthful fact. However, nothing changed as soon as she realized it. She still had her heart broken. Even though the surroundings were still noisy, a strange quietness was spreading in the head of Shiori. The crust which was going down the street eventually gets hidden behind the following knights and disappeared. Shiori thought; It may be that she hoped somewhere in his heart that he did not forget her as much as she still didnt forget Krust. In the last three years, she had many encounters with heterosexuals. Since she was a college student, she often got invited to Gokons*. From the opposite sex that she got acquainted with there, there were also things that had been implicitly conveyed. But she didnt enter into a relationship she couldnt forget about Krust. The time in Shioris mind stopped three years ago, when Krust suddenly returned to his world. But Krust was different. Became a hero, got a fiance, he is moving forward. Only she was stuck in the past. Hey.. When she heard Roches impudent voice, with a cold touch on her cheeks, Shiori realized that she was crying. Roche strongly wipes his eyes with a rugged finger. Was it surprising that she was cried? Looking at his unexpectedly upset expression, Shiori was ashamed that she shed tears in such a place. In a hurry she wiped her tears with the sleeves of her clothes, The royal family will soon come through She heard a man near her say. People who saw the hero were now waiting for the arrival of the king and queen this time. Can I get to see a glance of Princess Cattorea today? Followed by the words she heard, Shiori unfailingly solidified and listened carefully. Is princess Cattorea, Krusts fiance.? I wonder if you didnt come last year. His Majesty was reluctant to bring her. His Majesty is patronizing the princess. It would naturally not be good to show a horse race game where death sometimes happen No, no, just worried that the princesss heart will be robbed by the knight in the game? As a father who also has a daughter, I will keep this in my mind. Residents of the city smiled, laughed and then continued talking. See, the majesties carriage One person pointed with his finger, Shiori followed its direction and looked ahead. She saw a luxurious, glitterless type of carriage at the back of the street, but before her line of sight had reached the royal people on board there, Shioris head quickly looked downwards. In case princess Cattorea was onboard, she felt frustrated. She had no courage to see the face of Krusts fiance. It was certain that she would be a beauty that would overwhelm Shiori. A honorable hero who saved the country and a beautiful princess. Isnt that a perfect match? There are no gaps which one could enter there. Lets return to the store Even though she intended to talk normally, the voice that she aimed towards Roche was trembling small. Roche looks Shioris state as if to observe, and nodded silently. Then he pushed Shioris back, they silently left the main street where the bustle went on. CH 20 With this chapter Im officially stopping my translation of Ring Ring, feel free to pick it up and continue where I left off. Chapter 19 was posted May 11th 2018 after all which was over a year ago. This copy pasting and translating was fun the first few chapters but now I quickly get bored of it. Thank you for reading my work, I appreciate it. Shiori recalled the day when she met Krust for the first time. He appeared in her room in a strong bright light, all stiff and wide eyed. Yet he soon puts his hand on the sword on his waist, being wary of her while his eyes were left to wander around the narrow apartment. The reason why Shiori was able to swallow her scream of horror that almost came out of her throat was because she was able to read from Krusts face that he was as confused as she was about the situation. The other party was the same as her, unable to understand why. Excuse me. When she timidly called him out from the kitchen, Krust instantly turned toward her without letting his guard down. Poorly approaching with a slashing force. With Krust glaring at her with sharp eyes, Shiori said the same thing she had said to a stray cat she had seen in the morning. Its alright. I will not do anything As expected after only soothing a bit she did not continue, only asking herself why she was trying to reassure the intruder. Krust gazed at Shiori for a while but eventually gently released his hand from the sword. By the way, Krust apologized for his behavior from that time later. He wasnt seriously about to slash, but there was still a possibility C indeed it was rather rude to point a sword at a innocent female. Well, what are you. What kind of magic was that? Also is that cosplay? Was he a magician cosplayer? A cosplaying magician? While trying to figure out Krusts identity Shiori heard him say something. But, she wrinkled her brow as it was in a completely foreign language. *****? It wasnt Japanese, Chinese or English. It was an unfamiliar language. She had no idea at all what he was saying. ***, ****? Troublesome. Shiori was at a loss. Krust was like wind when asking something to Shiori, he couldnt be understood, and closed his mouth as if giving up. After looking around the room again, turning eyes suspiciously on unfamiliar electrical appliances such as television and air conditioner, he returned his gaze to Shiori again. As it stayed on the same spot for a while, Shiori turned puzzled. ***** He briefly lowered his head lightly and turned his head and body towards the window. When he opened the curtain, the outside was dark, but the lights of the surrounding buildings were lighting up the scenery. Krust opened the window with the key, and went out on the narrow veranda. Wait, Wait a minute? In front of the Shiori who was confused to what he was going to do, Krust put a foot on the handrail of the veranda. Checked with thought if it was ok to go, and prepared to jump off as it was Do-, dont! Its impossible! This is the third floor! Then Shiori rushed beside him and pulled on his upper garment. **,*** Krust gave a troubled look to Shiori who had just stopped him. But after he descended back onto the veranda obediently, he was dragged back into the apartment. Ah, its dangerous, if you jump from such a place! Rather there is an exit on the other side I mean, if you go outside like that, people will definitely question your job. Here, sit down a bit lets calm down, both you and I. Ah, take of your boots. In a Japanese house its strictly forbidden. *****!? She said. While placing Krust on a cushion with a lovely polka dots cover, Shiori took off his boots. Now that she remembered it, she thought those actions of hers at the time was pretty funny. She thought about that she had held back a suspicious man trying to leave again and let him stay. Even if she did stop him from trying to fly off the veranda, she did not drive Krust out from the door after that, somehow he seemed to be a dangerous human being without knowledge. He seemed not to know of the Japanese society or the rules and common sense for those that live in modern society. His facial features were somewhat, a bit like a foreigner, as soon as he went out it seemed like he would cause trouble. But thus, their shared life had brought to a start the pleasures of life that Shiori hadnt noticed before by herself. For Shiori, only the memories of her having fun together with Krust was left. Even the things that happened thanks to the difference of language and culture were interesting. Shiori was shy to strangers, but somehow she was able to open herself up to Krust like she hadnt been able to do with anyone else. Their feelings matched, words cant describe such a relationship. There are humans that dont do well with horses, but Krust wasnt one of them. Shori thought that she felt comfortable and calmed down. At first, a conversation between the two people was hard to establish. It couldnt be helped since they couldnt understand each other. ****,**? Nn? When conversing, Shiori had to keep eye contact with him to know what Krust wanted to convey. Because there was no other way to read someone elses thoughts and feelings except for looking in their eyes and at their expression. However, the partner had a perfect face that screamed the highest artwork God created.. Since she was desperate in the beginning, she did not think anything about it, but as the first four or five days passed, Shiori became ashamed of staring at Krust. Even with a secretive glance, she usually had to give up every 3 seconds, after that she would blush and look away. At first Krust seemed to be puzzled about Shioris reaction. He might have been slight hurt by it. However, when such a thing continued several times Krust eventually realized something. He realized that just before Shioris eyes turned away her cheeks always had a slight blush. After that Krust became like a devil. When Shiori attempts to divert her face, his hands on her cheeks casually obstructs it or he gazed at close range to look on her face, making Shiori red ripe like an apple. Krust must have thought that Shiori is a person who has no immunity to love. While pointing to yourself like that was just like being teased, however, Siori could not be upset with Krusts movements. Because they could not communicate with words, they had to have more physical contact. When she was tired for a task during winter vacation, she was moved when he calmly asked her Are you ok?. And when she made egg tarts with a recipe she found in a cookbook she got hugged from behind as an expression that he was moved. She got to know this later when he knew her language better but Krusts world seemed to have exactly the same sweets. Her heart almost seemed to be about to explode. For Shiori, who had followed a straight path, living with Krust was exciting. In a sense it was a very stressful life for her heart, and sometimes she was puzzled by the range of her emotions, but it was not disgusting. She often found herself happy having girlish feelings like this. A Life where hear heart beats everyday. The time spent with Krust was sparkling like a treasure in Shioris heart. However, now that sparkle is so bright a dazzling that it hurts her eyes. Every time she thinks of Krust it becomes painful. Her burning heart was fragile and was likely easily to shatter with further damage. The day after the parade Shiori went to the store as usual. Roche was also in the store but he had been acting weird since yesterday and that made it kinda uncomfortable. Seemed to at one time almost make Shiori tempted to cry. But it was a bit uncomfortable to be treated like touching a swelling. [TLN: Thats what what is said] Roche glanced and observed the eyes of Shiori who came down from the attic, when he saw no traces of tears, he felt relieved. He asked to confirm. Are you ok? She thought she was going to respond with What? but stopped because she had no energy. Un And so, she just went back to work. In fact she only cried at that time during the parade. She thought that crying the whole night and appear would make her heartbreak apparent, so she felt disappointed at her own reaction, more than she thought. However the was that heartbreak appear would me different for each person. Rather she thought it would be better if she could change her mind by spending the whole night crying. In Shioris case a black shadow began to appear in the back of her chest the day before. It could not go wild, digging its roots there, not easily disappear. (If you fall in love again the shadow will disappear.) Thinking of such a thing she suddenly notice someone of the opposite sex standing close to her. It was Roche who was counting money. Roshe stopped moving while holding a coin, noticing her gaze. Shiori sighs. No, I wonder Roche I dont know, annoying. Words that express her emotions for Roche are difficult to find. The word like seems slightly off. Of course if she likes him she likes him and if she hates him she hates him but she often gets angry. For Shiori Roche is an unfriendly guardian and an almost perfect boss. She also respects him for his knowledge and technology in making medicines and his intelligence. But she also doesnt want to admit that she honestly respects him, such complex feelings. It was not the type of relationship that would develop into love anyway. It seemed to be difficult to find a new love, so she decided to gradually try to forget Krust instead. On that day and the next, Shiori fully focused on her work. Other things- she doesnt want to think about Krust engagement and she also doesnt want to neglect her work because of a broken heart. If she loses her job, she will lose all the support she needs to continuing on living in this world. That would be really scary. But the bad things had yet to end. Three days after the parade that determined Shioris heartbreak, the little alley store suddenly lost its lord. -Roche went missing. CH 21 Roche did not return to the store for two nights, but Shiori had no idea how serious it was. Roche is an adult man over his thirties. This was different from a child not coming back. Still, if this was Japan, Shiori would have reported to the police at least Perhaps hes staying at someones place? She considered that possibility first. For example, a womans house or a friends. Hmm Regardless of the possibility, something was not clear. Roche seemed to be popular, but he didnt seem to have a specific lover, and she doesnt think there was someone close enough to him to be called his ? friend ?. (TLN:_Ȥˬ䤫g郎Ȥ˼ʤ -> she doesnt think there is someone he has a refreshing relationship with who can be called a friend. Refreshing relationship sounded a bit weird but maybe I should keep it) Besides, even if he did stayed at someones place, given Roches surprisingly detailed personality, he would always inform Shiori beforehand and say, Be sure to lock properly It is unlikely that he would suddenly stay overnight without notice for two nights. In this case, it was better to think that Roche may be in trouble. Yesterday, Shiori was in the store all the time, just waiting for him to come back, but today she decided to go outside and look for him. Shiori was nervous and locked the store restlessly. Roche is a careful and cautious man, but she was worried that he is safe. The store temporarily closed, she put on a thick shawl and went outside to search for Roche. A chill and dry wind passed through the alley. Shiori shrugged in the cold and looked around the store for the time being. She was worried if he didnt fall down somewhere. Roche isnt the type to get drunk or to drink himself into stupor. So, at least, she didnt think he would loose consciousness on the way home when sodden with alcohol. Since the season extended for the past few days, if you lose consciousness along the road, it may be possible to freeze to death. Shioris body shivered at this unpleasant thought. I wasnt really conscious of it, but I seem to rely more on Roche than I thought. Shiori thought so. If Roche cannot be found, I dont know what to do. What about the store? What about the job? It has been two months since Shiori came to this world. I cant do it alone yet. Of course, the first concern is Roches safety, but at the same time, I also think about myself and my work. Like a lost child, she was nervous and uneasy. After looking around the store, she headed towards the main street and went around Roches favorite shops. A bar with a calm atmosphere, a small tobacco shop and a shop that purchases rare herbs from foreign countries. However Roche was nowhere to be found, and none of the shopkeepers knew where he was. After searching around the city all day, Shiori couldnt even find a clue. Honestly, where did you go She muttered at a loss. The color of the sunset illuminating the city in red was somewhat eerie, and Shioris frustration raised. The felling of being insignificant in a different world, which she didnt get at all recently, was now clinging to her body, making her feelings dark and heavy. There were no one with the same values as her who can be consulted at such a time -no parents, friends or police- it was painful. It was the first time Shiori thought so since she came to this world and now she was a little homesick. Some people in this city have become familiar with Shiori, such as the bakery woman and the son of the fruit shop. But when she asked them about Roche, they just laughed saying Surely he was going secretly to his lovers. Its not a big deal for them to have a man of good age staying out for two nights. Its ok, hell be back eventually they said leisurely. However, even if they say that, Shioris anxiety didnt disappear. When she was wondering if there was anyone else she could talk to, the first thing to appear in her mind was Krust. But she immediately shook her head and rejected the idea. Krust is now out of reach. The hero who is engaged to this countrys princess is no longer a person one can approach as easily as before. Sadly, Shiori dropped her gaze down. She sighed after a while and switched her mind. She tried to recall the reason why Roche was going out before he went missing. Recently, Roche didnt tell Shiori where he was going, that day too ? Im going out for a bit ?, thats what she felt he said. I guess its the back customers. (TLN: the ones Roche sells illegal potions to. Sorry, I dont know how to phrase it properly so I let it as Google-san put it.) Most of Roches business is related to them. Shiori groans while frowning. It might be a bit annoying if the back customers were involved in his disappearance. After all, Shiori doesnt know anything about their matter. Roche was in charge of selling aphrodisiacs and energizers, but she has never followed them before. Is there something like a list of back customers? , Shiori thought with her finger on her lips. Ive never seen one in the store, but it might come out if I search in Roches room. But even if there is a list, there should be many noblemen and powerful merchants on the list. Even if Shiori visits suddenly, there is a high possibility that she will be turned away without hearing about Roche. There was only so much that Shiori can do now. Since the sun has set, Shiori decides to return to the store for the time being. She must look for the back customer list. And maybe Roche is back. Those were her faint expectations. She quickly crossed the city at twilight, entered a narrow alley and followed the familiar path. As she turned around the corner and reached the point where the store was in sight, Shiori stopped and stiffened. The stores door is open Shiori rushed out, wondering if Roche has returned, but stoped again at the noise she heard. She strained her body listening carefully. From the store, the sound of someone rummaging around was leaking. It was a bit far, so Shiori couldnt look inside the store from where she was. But apparently, several people were moving around. Its not Roche. Shiori intuitively thought so. A thief? She whispered. A young mans voice reached her ear from the open door. Be quick! The suns setting. The voice was excited and slightly haughty. One that Shiori did not recognize. Occasionally, there was a sound of glasses hitting each other, and Shiori frowned. Are they moving the medecine bottles? Carry the full box to the carriage thats waiting in the street. Honestly, this place is such a pain! The man sighed as if he was fed up. Do you want to bring everything? Asked another man. Yeah, all of it, everything! The proud voice replied. Are they going to steal from the store? Her ears were ringing and the anger arose in Shiori. Unknown men who seem to be thieves were ruining the store. Shiori thought that the emotions arising would be fear. Suppress her screams so the men do not notice, escape from this place with trembling feet from tension, confusion and fear, then seek help from someone. That should be the correct behavior of a normal woman. However, Shiori headed towards the store with indignation. She couldnt forgive stealing important medicines and money. Thats true, of course, but even more than that, she hated the idea of Roches shop being vandalized. Maybe she thought so precisely because he, the shops owner, was missing. Besides, there was a sense of responsibility. She had to protect the store instead of Roche. Sweat slowly spread in the palm of her hand, and the artery behind her ear was pulsating. As expected, Shiori was nervous. However, she didnt have enough composure to step back and see her action as dangerous. It felt like her field of vision has narrowed and her eyes were stuck to the entrance of the store. Her feet started moving on their own and carried Shiori to the unforgivable men who were ruining the store. What are you doing! In spite of it all, isnt it still scary? Shiori, who stood at the entrance, shouted to the inside of the shop and her voice, which has a higher pitch than usual, trembled in fear. Leave the store immediately! She tried to continue with a strict tone but her mouth was tightly closed and could barely be moved. Her eyes widened and she stared at the men. Whwhat? Her train of thoughts stopped at the unexpected scene. She didnt understand the meaning of it and was confused Bad men in dingy clothes ruining the store. That is what Shiori imagined. But right now, in front of her was- a knight? She muttered in Japanese. I cant believe it There were four men in the store. They were all wearing knight uniforms and swords. With these four good-looking men inside, the small shop felt more and more cramped. While feeling their gaze, Shiori finally moved her eyes and checked inside the store. Medicines that should have been on the left shelf and a bunch of suspended herbs were all packed in several wooden boxes and placed on the floor. The cupboards on the back and right side of the counter were as rough as when they were in the wild. (TLN: 󥿩`Y҂ȤΑϡұ˝O줿Τ褦˻ĤƤ. I have absolutely no idea how to be as close to the meaning as possible. Im sorry.) Shiori knew that a knight was a person who represents justice. Or was it just an arbitrary assumption because of the impression she had from the gentle and brave Krust? After all, the ally of justice cant possibly do mischief. Who are you? The leader said while glaring at Shiori with an eyebrow raised in disgust. CH 22 Taken away Even Shiori, who was unfamiliar with the way of this world, knew that this haughty knight would be a high-ranking person. Definitely a noble. And one at the top. He looked older than Shiori, just like Krust, and the impression Oh, this little monster! he gave off, just grew. (TLN: rԊϤǥ饹Ȥͬ餤Ҋ뤬ȤΤ󡻤Τޤ޳L褦ӡä. I did what I could with what I know. Im sorry for my incompetence.) His dull blonde and white skin, his strong eyes that looked childish somewhere. Say your name!, the blond knight ordered, as if frustrated by Shiori, who was standing still. They ruined the store and on top of it he was arrogant, Shioris blood rushed to her head a little. While avoiding to involuntarily speak in japanese, she tried to talk calmly with this worlds language. Who are you? What is it? Is it okay for knights to do this? When I look at the empty, lonely medicine shelf and the roughed up store, I feel sad and want to cry. However, Shiori bore with it and stared at the blonde knight. Since Roche isnt here right now, I have no choice but to protect the shop by myself. Purpose, what? What are you going to do? I ask the questions. Give me your name. What are you? Why, its obvious that Im this shops employee She returned with a strong tone while being a little confused. What else did it look like? employee? The blonde knight put his hand on his waist in a bossy attitude and whispered to another knight behind him. Did that woman said so? No, only Roche Ghouls name is issued. Besides, Roche Ghoul himself didnt say he had any other employees. Well, I guess she was trying to protect herself. That woman simply didnt know there was another employee Shiori didnt know what they were talking about or who the That Woman was referring to, but she reacted to her bosss familiar name. Roche?-His whereabouts, you know !? However, as she said that, the blonde knight quickly grabbed Shioris arm. And he gave instructions to the other knights. Theres a high probability this one is also an accomplice. Lets arrest her. Accomplice? Arrest? She couldnt believe she was subject to these terrible words, and Shioris face grew pale. She didnt understand why, she was just confused. However, when she got roughly pulled and was about to be taken away, Shiori snapped back. I dont know what these knights are saying, but I wont let them catch me. I have to resist. Let me go! She forcibly pulled her arm out of the blonde knights hands and kept a distance from her opponent. Be quiet saying so, he closed the distance little by little with an affordable attitude. Shiori unconsciously searched for a way out and wandered her gaze. She noticed back door was halfway open, kicked the floor and ran out. Someone behind hermost likely, that blonde knightclicked his tongue, annoyed. She rolled out of the back door after kicking it with her body, but the sight that spread out before her eyes stopped Shioris escape. The herbs It seems that it wasnt just the store that was ruined. The knights footsteps remained in the small herb field in the backyard. The soil was devastated and miserable. Some herbs seemed to have been harshly pulled out only leaving open holes. This field was Shioris oasis. Growing plants was a way for her to ease her life in a different world, and although it was exaggerated to say that it was like her own child, she had a certain attachment to the grown herbs. It was in this state now. Shivering with shock and anger, Shiori knelt down. Dont think you can escape, thug. words thrown from behind stabbed. Shiori sat down and looked back, staring at the blond knight who had followed her out of the back door. I do not know the meaning. I want explanation. Ill do as much as I can in the prison. Come on. When she heard the word prison, her spine froze. The figure of the knight approaching to capture her was villainous and could not be seen as a very good ally of justice. But whether knight is good or evil, it should not be an enemy for Shiori now. (TLN: ԊˤȤäƤϔˉʤΤ⤷ʤ, Google-san said It may not be an enemy for Shiori now but it sounded kind of strange giving the situation shes in) ! Afraid by the knights hand stretching out, Shiori grabbed and threw a small watering can that was rolling to her side. Weakly sent, it flew at a slow speed towards the blonde knight, but fell to the ground just before hitting his face. The knight used his arm as a shield to prevent the watering can from hitting his face. The expression of the knight who lowered his arms was rage with cold anger. Probably no one ever threw something at him. This with deep wrinkles between his eyebrows he muttered as if he spat. The next moment, he was impatiently trying to capture Shiori. Kya! She was grabbed by both of her wrists and slammed down with her back on the ground. However, because it was a field, Shioris back only dug into soft soil. Dont struggle! he said but she couldnt listen. Shiori got even more violent as the blonde knight leaned on top. Because both of her hands were stuck to the ground and could not budge, she moved her feet and flicked. But that messed up move turned into an unexpected attack. It hit a critical point of the lower body. ! his sorrowful cry was muffled. The other knights who came out in the backyard all at once seemed to be doing the same thingeven though they were not kicked, they felt the pain. The blond knight, his eyes bulging out to the limit, wheezing from the deepest part of his throat, pressed his knees and forehead on the ground in agony. Both hands were joined to protect the crotch. Shiori escaped from his restrain, saw the misery of her opponent and realized where she has kicked. He looked at her right knee, which would have hit there, with a long face as if it was a dirty thing. Its bad, but honestly she didnt feel any guilt. It was almost at the same time that Shiori rose from the ground and the blonde knight was resurrected from hell. He still had cold sweat, and cursed Shiori with rage, Damned you! But, you started it! They gazed at each other while maintaining a safe distance. She was cautiously watching for his footsteps, so when the knight tried to come from behind to restrain her, Shiori dodged as well. If the knight turned to the right, Shiori turned around to avoid the opponent. The knights surrounding the two kept on watching them circling. But, Oi, why are you standing still? Help me! When the blonde knight ordered, Shiori was outnumbered. She was surrounded by knights and quickly got caught. The knight with the best physique twisted her arm from behind, and she screamed a little when it hurt her. Bound her with a rope the blond knight gave his instructions with satisfaction when he saw Shiori was stuck. I did nothing! Arrested, odd! She desperately appealed, but that didnt change anything. Both of her hands were tied and she was taken away by the knights. The carriage that they parked on the main street were not designed to carry people. A sober wagon that had a roof but no chairs and looked sturdy but unadorned. Shiori was packed with bottles of medicine and documents collected by the knights from the store, herbs pulled out of the field, and so on. Both wrists were tied with rough ropes and restrained in front of the body. Suddenly, the rattles and the carriages vibrated violently, probably because of the paved cobblestone road. Shiori didnt sit but stood up leaning against the wall. Her bottom jumped up for a moment due to the vibrations, and collided again and again with the wagons floor made of a board until it hurt. However, standing was also very hard. Shiori grabbed the carriages windowthree square timbers in a square wooden frame and no glassand caught her balance feeling like she was in a crowded train. Outside the window, three knights were riding on horseback surrounding the carriage. The remaining knight seemed to be sitting on a pedestal. When she stared at the blonde knight riding alongside the carriage, he peeked at her with a piercing glance, Stay quiet, criminal What the hell is it ? Why am I getting caught? What will happen next? Shioris chest, was filled with anxiety and tension, to the point that it wouldnt be a surprise if it was about to burst. Remembering the conversations the knights had at the store, there was little information available from them. But did the fact Roches name appeared meant that he was also caught by the knights? Did Roche do something, and I was caught too? Shiori thought so and shook her head. Even if he looks like it, he shouldnt be a criminal. I have to believe in Roche. But if Roche did nothing, I still dont know why they captured us. Suddenly the expression false charges came to her mind. It floated in black letters and distorted quickly melting like mud. Shioris face turned blue. Even in Japan false charges have occurred, and unrelated people were punished. In this country, which was somewhat behind Japan in various parts, of course, it can happen. Is there fair inquiry here? Are the human rights of suspects and criminals protected? Dont tell me theres torture Thinking so, Shiori shivered. Cold sweat sliding down her forehead. Contrary to Shioris desire to escape from this situation, the carriage went steadily forward. And arrived where Shiori had come several timesthe royal castle. CH 23 One strategy By the time we arrived at the castle, the area was already dim. Once the carriage had stopped, Shiori looked outside the window. There was the familiar large gate in front, which was slowly opening under the direction of the blonde knight. When the gate was fully opened, the carriage started moving again. Shiori still grabbed the wooden window so she wouldnt fall down due to the vibrations. A torch was set up beside the gate, and the swaying flame brightly illuminated a person outside. It was that gatekeeper who knows Shiori well. Tall, brown hair The moment she passed by the gate, he also noticed Shiori in the wagon, and his expression stiffened. Shiori couldnt afford to laugh at his surprised face. She didnt call out to him from inside the carriage, they just crossed each other but, That A few seconds later, she heard an impatient voice from outside. Although it was not visible for Shiori who had passed through the gate, the guard seemed to try to talk to the blonde knight. However, his voice was drowned by the sound of the carriage moving, and did not seem to reach the blonde knight. Leaving the gatekeeper behind, the carriage and the knights carried Shiori as they entered the castle grounds. Has it been more than five minutes of the carriage swaying since then? Through a small gate that separates the premises, Shiori was unloaded from the carriage, at a distance from the castle. In front of her was a stone building, which, unlike a beautiful and gorgeous castle, created a gloomy and cold atmosphere somewhat. If possible, Shiori wanted to stay out of this building, but her hopes crumbled. She was pulled by the blonde knight and entered from a guarded doorway. Is it because there are few windows? The interior was as dim as the outside, with only equally spaced lamps dully illuminating the hallway. The air was heavy and cold, and Shioris nape shivered. She passed through the heavy iron door, by the stairs leading to the basement. Somehow, Shiori was relieved that she didnt go to the underground, but the situation was still bad. Even though she imagined it, she still widened her eyes to the sight expanding beyond the corridor. A prisonis it? Closed small rooms made of stone are lined up, each with a sturdy iron door with a viewing window. Just with Shioris confirmation, it seemed like there were six rooms. Shioris expression froze, as if she could already see herself into this prison. Herewhat? Jail? She asked, terrified, to the blonde knight who was leading. He stopped in front of a rooms door nearby. Not exactly. The prison is underground. This is a place to keep people like you. Youre still not yet convicted, youre a suspect. But Im sure you are guilty. The tone of the knight was implicitly saying so. When the heavy door of the detention room opened with a harsh noise, the blonde knight thrust Shioris body into it. And turning to the other knights, Im going to report to the captain. I will return soon, so be prepared for the interrogation. He gave these instructions and left. Listening to his footsteps echoing in the hallway, Shiori looked around the room with a blue face. The blonde knight said its different but isnt this a normal prison? She thought. There was only one simple bed in the room. A ventilation window was placed on the wall opposite to the door, but it was small and had a grate, so there was no sense of openness. Its cold, dark, heavy, and merciless. That was the impression of this place. Once the iron door was closed, the fear that it would not be possible to get out in the sunshine again hit her chest, she was terrified. Shiori thought she had become used to this world, but realized that it was still a foreign country for her. She was scared of being imprisoned in a foreign country. Surely she had no ally here. She seemed to scream in heart, KRUST! Involuntarily asking him for help. However it may be difficult for Krust to save this situation. Although he was a hero, first he was a knight. She didnt know what allegations have been raised against her but she didnt think a knight was free to release her. But she thought just with him by her side saying its okay, she will be reassured. Then she can stay calm in prison. I want to meet Krust. Shiori wished so much stronger than before, but at the same time ruled herself that it was not good. As if I could call Krust here and see him Shiori imagined and closed her eyes painfully. And if I can meet himI will only be a bother. His position may become difficult if its known that Krust, the countrys hero, is acquainted with a crime suspect. The talk about his marriage to the princess may be cancelled. If his brilliant future was to be destroyed Thinking so while frowning, Shiori tightly hugged herself. I have to fight alone. Now, I cant rely on Roche either. What was the state of the judicial system in this country? Will they properly hear the suspect? Will she be tortured until shell plead guilty or be dropped into the spring while being bound, while theyll say, Leave it to Gods judgment? A voice came behind Shiori, who was shaking with anxiety. Hold your arms out One knight was entering the room. The door remained open, but there were no other knights in the hallway. lll cut the rope. In this room, as long as you dont rampage, the restraints are to be removed. The knight said with a knife in one hand. From his tone and expression, he seemed to see Shiori as a suspect. In other words, it looks like he thought she wasnt guilty yet, and followed the presumption of innocence that seemed to existUnlike a blonde knight. Shiori recalled the hateful face of the blonde knight while unwrapping her wrist. So proud and conceited But actually, he may be in a great position in the knight order. At least among the four knights at the store, his position might have been at the top. Thinking up to that point, she held her head saying, What should I do? What did I do to him? I kicked his important placewith my knee Shiori covered her face with her hands. What should I do?-What should I do? I may have done something outrageous! The impression he has of me must be the worst. That will surely have a bad influence on the interrogation later. When I met them at the store, I wish I had been more mature. Not fleeing or resisting, just like the blonde knight said, it would have been better to say I do not know anything calmly! Shiori bit her lips. Is it too late to apologize now? Would you please forgive me? I apologize, even though I didnt do anything bad, at least I think I didntbut honestly, I dont think it was that bad to kick himIf my fate can be changed with the blond knights judgment, I want to recover a better image of me, even a little. To get out of here, its nothing to flirt with that bad knight. Shiori was determined to do so, but deep in her heart, she was lamenting, Why do I look like this? Why should I, who is being treated unjustly, care about that knight? The tears came out of regret, anxiety and distress. (TLN: Literally its her heart wearing thin) This was not Japan. She didnt know how investigations and interrogations took place and how the rights are protected. Im absolutely weak right now. (TLN: Its more on the without ressources side of the word.) With that in mind, Shiori really wanted to cry. Feeling the tears coming out, she held them back with a small sniff. With a rattling noise, the knight entered the room with two wooden chairs without backrests. He placed it face-to-face and prompted Shiori to sit down. She stopped blinking, carefully, so the teardrops accumulated on the outer corner of her eyes dont fall and gently obeyed. It is better not to disobey. Since I did not do anything, I have no choice but to be brave and plead innocence. Shiori strongly gripped her trembling hands. Are you ready? The voice of the blonde knight echoed from the back of the hallway. It was easy to recognize since it was so pretentious. While listening to the knight in front of the room replying with a yes, Shiori stood around and thought things over. The blond knight seemed to have a high pride, so it may be better to appear fragile and to appeal to his compassion. Use even the tears that are about to overflow to plead your innocence. I will start the interrogation. The blonde knight who entered the detention room looked down at Shiori with an arrogant gaze while laughing somewhat. It feels like hes ready for a tough interrogationShioris bullying that is. Suppressing the urge to retort, Shiori raised her eyebrows gently. Looking up at him with tears moistened eyes. ! At that moment, Shiori felt a reaction from the stunned knight. Even her dull self had something like female intuition that felt it. Alright, lets go with this strategy. Well, the other person has a simpler character than expected though. CH 24 Rewind time a little, to the blonde knight Schyle, "I''m going to report to the captain. I''ll be back soon, so I''ll leave the preparation for cross-examination to you." He told this to his subordinates again after leaving Shiori''s detention room. Schyle advanced through the dimly-lit corridor and climbed up the stone steps to the second floor. He expected his superior to be there. And just as he expected, from the innermost detention room of the second floor he sensed the presence of a number of people that included his superior. "Don''t make me say it over and over again. I said I don''t know." A low voice that seemed to suppress irritation could be heard from the room he was looking for. Schyle knocked and slowly opened the cold iron door. "Captain, I''m back." "Is that Schyle?" There were four men inside. Three knights similar to Schyle and one suspect. Schyle''s superior, Captain Otto of the 4th Division Imperial Guards and the male suspect sat facing each other in the narrow room. "Did you get a good harvest?" Otto asked in a gentle voice while looking back at Schyle. He was the type of mild-mannered boss that didn''t get upset for no reason. Schyle puffed out his chest and nodded. "The medicine in the store, documents such as ledgers, to the herbs planted in the fields, generally all the suspicious items were collected. We''ll be investigating these further for any evidence. After that" "Hey, surely that isn''t my store you''re talkin'' about?" Interrupted in the middle of speaking, Schyle frowned as if he was personally offended. The interruption came from the male suspect. Schyle glared fiercely at him Roche Ghoul. It was impossible to say that his appearance is by any means refined. He was clean and his clothes seemed alright, but his terrible look, the tattoos peeking out from under his cuffs, not to mention the man''s tone and attitude greatly undermined Roche''s image. Schyle judged Roche to be a cunning, street-smart hooligan type. No matter how you looked at him, he did not seem at all like an honest pharmacist in any way. While Roche doesn''t seem to have admitted to any of the charges yet, there''s no mistake in that he''s involved in the "current incident." He [Schyle] was confident of it. "Hey, answer me. What happened to my store?" said Roche as if to threaten him. That arrogant tone only served to make Schyle grow more irritated. Normally, a vulgar commoner like you would never even get the chance to speak to me, he cursed at the suspect internally. Schyle is the second son of an upper-crust aristocrat, possessing such pedigree bolstered his strong self-confidence and pride. "After that" Ignoring Roche completely and returning his gaze to Otto, Schyle resumed talking as if nothing happened. "A lone woman was apprehended. She seems to be a subordinate of that man, so the possibility of being his accomplice is high." "What''re you saying?" But the one who answered was Roche instead of Otto. He raised an eyebrow and his eyes narrowed with dissatisfaction. That expression filled Schyle with a measure of satisfaction. It confirmed that for this man, having the woman captured is unpleasant. Roche''s eyebrows knitted together. "She''s not involved in any of this. ......that said, I''m not involved either." "It would be better for all of us if you hurry up and confess," snorted Schyle in retort, but Roche returned fire. "I didn''t do shit so what the hell am I confessing to? Tell me, boy. " T/N: Boy - Roche uses ''obouchan'' here to address Schyle as a young, pampered kid "What did you call me?" Angry at being branded withboy, the muscles on Schyle''s temple started twitching. This was why he hated talking to commoners unfamiliar with etiquette and it frustrated him. T/N: Twitching - piku-piku, to denote the veins that pop out on angry anime characters However, at this point he felt that he had already lost the quarrel, so Schyle forced himself to make a complacent smile and replied with sarcasm. "I see. If the boss is like this, it''s no wonder the employee became such a violent woman." However, Roche''s skill with sarcasm was leagues ahead of him. Smiling with delight, he replied, "Why, what did Shiori do to you? No way, did she beat you up? A great knight such as you? By an ordinary woman?" This enraged him. TN: lit. fanned [the flames of his anger] "I wasn''t beaten up or anything!" Schyle blew his top. He hadn''t been beaten up but there was absolutely no way that he would admit that he had been kicked in the crotch and had fainted in agony. While loathing the smirk Roche gave him, getting pulled completely into the other''s pace would be even more awful so Schyle tried to regain his composure. He turned to Otto and said, "...... please excuse me. I will return to the female accomplice and begin cross-examination." "Ah, please do so." Otto flashed a wry smile at his hot-tempered subordinate and nodded. "Be careful not to get beaten again!" Roche shrieked provocatively just before he could exit the room but Schyle ground his teeth and bore it. Inwardly he cursed and reviled him but that was all he could do. (Of course it would be that way, if the subordinates are like that then the boss would be even more so! Incredibly incompetent, vulgar, violent, lazy bastards. They don''t understand their own position at all.) Irritated and stomping his boots, Schyle headed towards Shiori''s detention room. I''ll smash all of my irritation towards that woman, that was his current mood. Thus, with such thoughts regarding Shiori surfaced in his head, what angered him the most was the treatment he received from her. Until now he had never received any sort of violence from the hands of women. Not to mention, specifically kicked in the crotch......... Just remembering the pain at that point contorted his face. His mental impression of Shiori carved into his mind was that of a crude, violent woman. Having grown up surrounded by aristocrat women, who were likewise educated as nobility, they possessed the same kind of bearing and manners as Schyle with no exception. While he had no perception of their true nature, for what little he had encountered of them, they presented nothing besides a modest and elegant expression. (But then that violent woman came.....!) Schyle felt like he had encountered a strange, unknown creature. "A little wild monkey with no discipline, that woman," he muttered in his head, and laughed at the analogy he had in mind. To tell the truth, its a very apt metaphor, he thought. Fundamentally, torture of the suspect is not allowed in accordance with the tenets of chivalry and, even with a woman like Shiori, Schyle had no intention of using physical violence. However, even with this style of cross-examination he planned to severely attack and pay back exactly the "damage that was done" to him. He will mentally return the pain and humiliation that he suffered. The edges of his lips quirked up and he grinned to himself while proceeding down the corridor. If his opponent is that violent woman, then there''s no chance any guilty feelings would arise. In fact, he was looking forward to hunting the enemy down. (Although she was docile on the way here, she''s probably going to rage and bite during the cross-examination. Anyway, she''s just a little wild monkey. It might be a little cruel but I''ll have to bring restraints.) With that in mind, Schyle''s cruel smile deepened. That was the only way to counter suspects who are being cheeky and rebellious. If cross-examination was a type of battle, then it was a situation where he not only had the overwhelming advantage but also the better position. He would only be tormenting the opponent. However, Schyle could spare some room for a margin of error. "Are the preparations done?" "Yes." He called out to his subordinates at the end of the corridor. As the unbeatable victor in the upcoming battle, Schyle triumphantly opened the door of the detention room. And then he laughed maliciously, "I''m starting the cross-examination," he declared, but what greeted him was Shiori in a state with downcast eyes that his own eyes widened in spite of himself. "......!" Schyle had imagined a silent, glaring, impertinent woman Schyle had even envisioned in the blink of an eye the form of a cursing, chair-throwing, violent woman about to jump at him. However right now, that wild little monkey For some reason, became a weak rabbit. She must have cried, for she looked up to Schyle with wet, teary eyes and sat in the chair with tense shoulders as if frightened. The round dark eyes with large irises were feminine and so lovely as to be worthy of praise, while her eyebrows tapering downwards invited sympathy. She gave him an imploring look as if to ask for forgiveness, to the point that even Schyle felt a little moved. What on earth was this transformation, it agitated him. He had come bruising for a fight, but all that momentum had been easily deflected. In front of such a feeble opponent his fighting spirit drained away. While he had no problem putting a dangerous little monkey into a cage, to tie up a shaking rabbit that offered no resistance, even someone like Schyle would have his conscience feel reproach. "Uhm......." Straightening up as if she had made up her mind, Shiori timidly addressed Schyle. Even her voice quivered slightly, and the effect was ephemeral. Her wet eyelashes seemed to shine enticingly every time she blinked. Schyle gulped and swallowed spit. "Earlier, I''m sorry. ...... for kicking you. Please forgive me." Shiori''s accent-laden words should have been difficult for Schyle to listen to. But why does her halting delivery feel a little cute right now. "I apologize as much as possible, because. I''m really sorry. Um....... d-does it still hurt? " "No, it''s fine." Schyle glanced quickly down his lower body and replied with difficulty. To be so meekly apologized to by the opposite party embarrassed him. While he had intended to carry the grudge for the rest of his life, even he thought that they should already forget about the matter. "Will you forgive me? Are you not angry?" Seeing the frightened and worried Shiori, Schyle felt the impulse to yell at her and scratched his own head. He didn''t understand what emotions were being set ablaze in him right now. "Oh, about feeling angry and such, I" I''m not. Schyle caught himself as he answered. "Thank heavens......!" Shiori exhaled relief with her whole heart, her eyes welled up and she laughed silently. Freed from anxiety and tension, her smile was awkward but it caused a great fluctuation in Schyle''s heart. A wobbling sensation seemed to spread through his legs. To think that such a coarse woman like her could also smile like that made him feel dizzy. He thought he hated her existence just a few minutes ago, but now she''s so ...... how else could he describe it...... yes, she seems so adorable. Even his contempt and anger have completely vanished. Schyle couldn''t help but be confused by the change in his own feelings. What the hell is this, he thought. However, there was indeed a term that could accurately describe the change in his state of mind. In short, he had been done in by the gap moe. T/N: lit. Schyle was hit by the ''gap''. If you''re unfamiliar with the term Gap Moe, think of characters whose looks or initial impressions don''t line up with their actual personalities, like the cold, frigid character suddenly acting cute, or like a grizzly war vet who knits baby sweaters in their spare time, or vice-versa, there is a ''gap'' or dissonance between their outward appearance and actual character which makes them intriguing or more attractive. CH 25 Author''s note: I haven''t behaved like a good child at all (> <;) "Kya~h!" Sophia was startled. Well, too bad! The mud dumpling didn''t reach her and fell just at her feet. I should get it next time...... I tried to steal the mud dumplings made by my disciple, Elle. However, Elle had run from my side to approach Sophia instead. Is she planning to hit her at close range instead? "Come play together with Nika.* We''re throwing these." *Nika - this is Elle''s nickname for Veronica. "...... Eh?" "Huh?" Elle egged on a confused Sophia. Somehow, before I knew it, she had made a lot of the mud dumplings and carried most of those in a bucket. wait, no way! I knew it wouldn''t hurt even if it hit. But there would be an obvious disadvantage if it''s two versus one. Why? We were supposed to be mean to Sophia, so why am I the target? That Elle, instead of a disciple, she''s a traitor. Since it had come to this there was no need to care about appearances. I ran about, to and fro while holding a mud dumpling. The half-finished mud dumplings didn''t hurt at all and didn''t dirty as much as expected. At any rate, as long as it wasn''t given time to dry up and harden. It''s just like playing intensely with sand. Screeching and screaming, the three ran around the garden. However, soon enough one ended up paying the price. The mud dumpling I was trying to throw rather, the sand got into my eyes and I couldn''t open open them. "Nika, don''t rub them. Show me where exactly." Speaking as if she wasn''t the ringleader that caused the escalation, Elle spoke in a worried voice right next to me. I opened my aching eyes little by little, and found a beautiful face peering into mine up close. Her clear purple eyes and innocent expression made her look like an angel. My tears were streaming from the pain but for some reason I felt nervous. Our family''s Sophia is cute but Elle is just as beautiful too. If I keep just idling by, wouldn''t this make me the ugliest noble villainess in the future?! "Maybe we should wash it with water. Sophia, gimme a hand?" It seems that Sophia, upon hearing her words, went into the house to get water. I heard some light footsteps. These days, Elle is closer to my step-sister than I am. Even though she said she would be my disciple...... It seems that even those of the same sex cannot resist the charm of the white rose, Sophia. Everyone around me is attracted to the cute Sophia. No matter how much I console myself that it''s that kind of story, sometimes it still brings up emotions I couldn''t speak about. I cried for just a little bit. If anyone asked me what for, I could always say it was because of the sand. "Don''t worry, Nika. It looks like it''s almost all gushed out." Elle consoled me like that while patting my head. Sometimes when I try to pretend like this kind of older sister, I feel incredibly uncomfortable. After all, I''m the noble villainess. I shouldn''t just lose to a background character* or a mud dumpling like this. Just to make sure, we washed with more water. Thanks to Elle and Sophia, nothing bad happened to my eyes. However I, who has grown dishonest, was unable to express any gratitude. "Ugh, whose fault was it. Playing around like children, who comes up with that? Thanks for all the trouble, that''s what." ....... thanks to me. But I was fine with only hitting Sophia''s skirt, I didn''t expect it to turn into something like a battle. Besides, I learned something this time. Sophia is really quick on her feet. Or maybe Elle protected her and kept pulling her off somewhere safe. "I had so much fun." "That''s true. But I didn''t want anyone to get hurt." Following Sophia, what Elle said made sense. I''m glad those two didn''t get hurt. Come to think of it, Sophia hasn''t met the prince yet. Perhaps it''s impossible to injure my step-sister until the very scene where the two of them meet. On that note, isn''t the role of the noble villainess actually a matter of life and death? Before, the fruit juice with chili peppers ended up in my throat, this time the sand almost blinded my eye. A husky-voiced, eyepatch-wearing noble villainess...... In its own way, I feel like it would suit me. But as I thought, I''d like to meet Gildo with a beautiful appearance as illustrated in the side story volume. And thus. I have, upon reflection, started working on fake gore* that will not injure Sophia''s skin in the future. I think it would astonish you that it would only require throwing impact to dirty anyone. The main component is pomegranate juice and it is sweet and delicious even if it gets on your face. The raw materials are easy to obtain. Take the fruit juice thickened with wheat flour and insert it into wiener skin, which is made from animal intestine, then tie it up with string. It''s designed to spread out and stain, once hit it will explode. There''s a knack as to how hard and how you throw it but I''ve practiced in secret so that''s okay. You won''t even see my own dresses that have been dirtied. I put the homemade fake gore bombsin a wooden bucket and triumphantly carried it to the garden. If it bursts indoors, it will splatter onto expensive rugs and furniture. Of course I could never go that far. Not only will it be awful to clean later on, the fruit juice will be hard to remove. I''m not just a noble villainess, I also aim to be an eco-friendly noble villainess. In the original story, this part was only written as Due to Veronica''s various incidents of harassment, Sophia cried. Well, even nasty pranks can''t pad out the number of pages. However, I can''t help but question if the author was cutting corners on this issue. Well, now that preparations are done, all I have to do is call Sophia. Once the white rose cries, this time the prince will appear for sure. "Sophie, don''t be scared and come he~re." I made my voice as gentle as possible. Presently, I had decided that it would be one evil a day, so this whole time I have been stealing her leftover bread, or scribbling in Sophia''s favorite picture book and such. For revenge, Sophia herself would eat my dessert or pull my hair. Of course I could retaliate twice over, but recently I''ve been content with avoiding any more harassment than that. "At times like these it would''ve been convenient to have Elle around......" My step-sister is more fond of Elle than I am. If she had been the one that called, Sophia would immediately show up. While muttering to myself, a voice called out from behind me. "Did you call me? Could it be that you were waiting for me?" Whirling around, I found Elle standing there with a smile. Even today, she is as cute and as beautiful as ever. "Thank goodness! You came at just the right time. Bring me Sophia at once." I ordered my disciple. However, Elle wanted to know the reason first. "What for? Nika, are you thinking about something strange again?" "It''s rude to change the subject. If I don''t do this, the prince won''t appear. Don''t you know how rare a Prince Rafael sighting is?" I have even confirmed with my father, who goes to the palace quite often, whether this prince really exists. But my father only replied with, "Of course. Though I''d be surprised if I ever run into him," and did not elaborate on any details. Could it be that the prince has a surprisingly bad personality? CH 26 Your Majesty It was right after Kurst and the king returned to the office that the voice called from the corridor. Im Schyle Killing. Ive come to report today. Come in. When the king answered, the doorknob moved faster than Kurst could open it from the inside. The person who entered the office lightly glanced at Kurst standing nearby, then stepped forward in front of the king with a clear face. His rudeness was the usual, so Kurst went back to the back of the room as if nothing had happened. Kurst didnt understand. He finds himself regarded one-sidedly as a rival by Schyle. Since the two were close in family background and age, they were often compared to each other since they were little, so Schyle has been conscious of Kurst ever since he can remember. Armed with a sword, education, knowledge, and good looks. For Schyle, who was confident in his ability, Kurst, who easily surpassed him, was irritated. He could not help feeling jealous and competitive. On the other hand, Kurst was aware that he was hated by Schyle for some reason, but he didnt care much about his obstinate personality since long ago. However, unfortunately Kurst didnt realize that it was also fueling Schyles frustration, saying, Im so conscious of it, but he doesnt care at all! Did the made make any new statements? The king asks while sitting on a chair by the window. Schyle, who was facing him across the heavy desk, shook his head saying No to that question. The statement remains the same as before. Is there a motive for the crime? Yes. It seems she couldnt allow the concubine to be blessed with a boy, leaving the queen. The more I talk to that maid, the more I understand how much she loved the queen. No. I guess you could call it worship. This incident is probably the result of that feeling running wild. Hearing Schyles story, the king closed his eyes and let out a small sigh. The maid in question was originally from a lower-ranking noble family, but she led a rather tragic life, saying that her parents failed in their business and fell into disrepair, and when she was fourteen she was sold to a large merchant in the capital. But thats where the real tragedy begins. She was sold to a middle-aged merchant who made her a plaything. She was given beautiful dresses and appeared in the glamorous social world with a big merchant, but behind the scenes she was treated much worse than a cheap prostitute. And it was the queen who saved her. When the queen exchanged greetings with the merchant at an evening party held by a certain noble, she noticed that the eyes of the girl he was accompanying were dark and emotionless. The girls tragic circumstances came to the fore, and it seems that the queen couldnt help but help her as a woman. The girl who entered the castle under the custody of the queen four years ago worked and healed her wounded mind and body as a maid, but at the same time she devoted herself quietly and deeply to the queen who saved her. And for such a maid, the concubines pregnancy must have been unforgivable. It doesnt matter if the Queen is happy about it. The maid tried to kill the concubine and the child in accordance with her feelings of queen supremacy. Both Kurst and the king knew of her, who had always stood behind the Queen, but they only had the image of aa quiet and capable maid, and never thought that she would cause such an incident. Even the Queen, who was closest to her, could not see through to the bitter feelings that were hidden in the maids heart. How did she get the poison? The king asks bluntly. That dangerous abortion drug is no longer a drug. Its just poison. Schyle held the report in one hand, but without looking at it, he turned his face to the king and spoke. The statement about that has not changed either. She bought it from the pharmacist Roche Ghoul. . . Its not like Schyle and the other knights are taking the story of the maid with a grain of salt. They think she may be lying and are looking for other ways to get it. However, from the first interrogation, her story was consistent, and the knights had to pursue Roche more severely. So, the pharmacist still refuses to admit the charges? Yes. I also mentioned the name of the maid, but he said, I dont know such a woman, Ive never made an abortion drug.'' Kurst listened silently to their exchange. If Kurst, who had no involvement in this matter, interjected poorly, he would be stared at by Schyle. He hasnt received any orders from the king to join the investigation, so he has no choice but to concentrate on his work as a royal guard and leave the incident to Schyle and the others. Kurst, who didnt know that Shiori was one of the suspects and was imprisoned in the prison, took it easy. If there is anything new to report. . . Schyle paused as if hesitating to say it. Kurst also pays attention to his unusual character, which is always full of confidence. Its not much information, and its not necessary for His Majesty to hear it. . . He has to report it, but he doesnt want to say too much. Schyle stutters. Okay, say it. In order to prevent a similar incident from happening again, report even trivial information about this matter to me. However, when prompted by the king, Schyle opened his mouth in resignation. He lowers his gaze to the record and speaks quickly. I have learned that Roche Ghoul had a subordinate. She is still a young woman. Right now, she is being held on the ground floor of the prison. Its only been two months since she started working as a pharmacist, so I dont think she has anything to do with this incident. I dont want to go too far into this matter. Even if I make a mistake, I dont want to receive an order like Pursue harder. Feeling that kind of air from Schyle, Kurst felt a slight surprise. While thinking about rude things such as whether he also had human feelings that he didnt want to ask a woman a tough question. When speaking of Schyle, there was an image of a cold-hearted person who doesnt get carried away by emotions. Then today, I searched Roche Ghouls shop and seized various drugs and documents that could be used as evidence. Thats where I am. Schyle ended the topic of the woman early and changed the subject. I see, then continue analyzing the confiscated items. . . By the way, did you find out what the abortion drug the maid used was? What about the analysis of the leftover tea leaves? Yes, we have continued with that, but we have not been able to pinpoint the name of the medicinal herb that was used for the tea leaves. The maid said she didnt know the type of herb because she only bought it from Roche Ghoul as an abortifacient. After nodding once, the king said, Thank you for your hard work, and made Schyle step back. Just before Schyle left the room, Kurst, If you dont have enough hands, we the first squad will always cooperate. He tried calling out, I have enough hands, so you guys dont have to come out. It was so bitterly returned. Schyle raises his chin as if to show off and goes out into the hallway. You two are the same as always. I dont remember doing anything to make people hate me, but. . . Kurst tilts his head while replying to the wry smile of the king. I will go the the Queen and rest. Its time for you to change guards. Yes And Kurst, who knew nothing, ended the days work peacefully. Meanwhile, Shiori lies alone on a hard bed in an almost prison-like detention room. She wraps the blanket around her and tries to sleep, but her anxiety and the cold have made her blind. After finishing the interrogation, the blonde knight Schyle showed unexpected kindness and gave her another blanket, but she still couldnt wipe away the chill. At this time of year when the season changed to winter, the unheated stone room was cold. A small ventilation window installed high on the wall lets in the cold air from outside, and it caresses Shioris cheeks. This room, as well as the building itself, is so quiet that it hurts my ears. There should be a guard, but I cant feel the presence of anyone outside the corridor, which makes me feel very uneasy. Perhaps due to the effect of the humble strategy, Schyles attitude softened, and the interrogation was not harsh. Besides, he didnt deny Shioris statement, and it seems he believed it to some extent. However, the fact that she is still being confined here means that his suspicions have not yet been cleared. Shiori thought so and sighed. She tossed and turned and recalled the story that Schyle told. Shiori wanted to hold her head because she and Roche were involved in a bigger situation than she expected. When I was in Japan, I thought that using poison to assassinate someone was only a story in movies and novels. . . A lady-in-waiting to the queen tried to force the concubine, who was pregnant with the kings child, to take abortion drugs and cause her to have a miscarriage. If thats all, its nothing to do with Shiori, its an incident that happened inside the castle. However, the captured maid named Roche as the person who she bought the abortion drugs from, and as a result, he was detained. And even Shiori, who works at his shop, is suspected of being an accomplice. I want to cry. The Roche that the maid named was the same as Shioris familiar Roche. Thats the thing. . ., since hes thought to be a suspect involved in such a serious incident, it doesnt seem like hell be able to get out of here easily. I wonder if Roche is also in this building? It was a little reassuring to think that way, but in the dark and cold room, the positive feelings quickly dissipated. The insecurity soon returned. Kurst. . . Murmuring a single word. Imagining him in the darkness of the night, she tries to being herself out of her depressed feelings. But now, when she thinks of Kurst, a beautiful princess always appears next to him. A perfect beauty, she is always close to Kurst in Shioris imagination. Are they spending time together while Im here alone? When she thought that, her chest was crushed tightly. Not jealous, just sad. The feeling of loss that Kurst belongs to someone else is almost overwhelming. CH 27 In the end, Shiori hardly slept until the next morning. The detention room, which only receives a faint amount of sunlight, is dim even in the early morning when it is sunny, and the sense of time is dulled. If I stayed here all the time, my internal clock would go crazy. There is no toilet in the room, so she has no choice but to ask someone who seems to be the jailer to take her there. Its impossible to take a bath, but they can bring a cloth that has been wetted with water and wrung out. Shiori wiped her face with the cloth and ate the simple meal that was served. She doesnt have an appetite, but if she doesnt eat, her strength and willpower will drop. After breakfast, Shiori began to waist time, and Schyle arrived just in time. Even his dull blond hair seems to sparkle this morning. For Shiori, who is confined in a dim room, everyone who comes from outside feels dazzling. It hasnt even been a day since I was put here, but I already miss the sun. Did you sleep well last night? Shiori shrugged her shoulders, saying, Not much. However, in her heart, she wondered if this kindness of Schyle was the effect of the humble strategy. Where did the arrogant man I met at the store go? Schyle hesitantly continued. . . . I see. Id like to hear a little more from today, are you okay? Its okay. Talking is distracting. Even if its an interrogation. If I dont talk to him and prove my innocence, I cant leave here forever. The chairs were placed facing each other just like yesterday, and Shiori and the others sat there. A knight with paper and pen comes in and stands by the wall. Schyle quietly started asking questions. If you were to make an abortion drug, what materials would you use and how would you make it? After thinking for a moment, Shiori shook her head in resignation. I dont know. Which medical herbs should I use. . . The only reason Shiori, an amateur, can make medicine is because of Roches recipe. She tries to think of various herbs and their uses that shes dealt with, but she doesnt even know if any of them can be used as an abortifacient. I havent reached the level where I can synthesize medicine by myself yet. Now look at this. What was presented was a small amount of medicinal herb leaves wrapped in a thin cloth. It seems to have been dried and crimpled into small pieces, but it is not shredded or powdered, so it retains its original shape to some extent. Shiori picked it up with her fingers and examined it carefully. This is? Its leftovers from the abortion drugs that the concubine drank. It was brought by the criminal maid as a rare tea leaf. Have you ever seen this in your shop? Did you see Roche Ghoul making it? To be honest, all the dried medicinal leaves have similar shapes, and Shiori cant tell them apart unless theyre unique. I dont think Ive ever seen it. I also havent seen Roche making it. Then, do you know the name of this medicinal herb? Actually, we havent been able to identify the name of this medicinal herb yet. Uh-huh, I dont know. . . Im sorry. No need to apologize. Shiori couldnt help but be bewildered by Schyles gentle voice. It wasnt that the strategy worked, but maybe he hit his head somewhere? And he seems to have changed so much that Im worried. Even though she was agitated, she tried to smell the leaves. It doesnt seem to have been fermented or roasted, and the grassy smell of the medicinal herb itself remains, but its a scent that doesnt stand out. Did you show this to Roche? He might know the name of this medicinal herb. Roches knowledge of medicinal herbs is formidable. Im sure he knows more kinds than the old pharmacist who has been doing this for decades. Not satisfied with what he has now, he actively incorporates medicinal herbs from overseas. Schyle says, No, I didnt show it. Actually, I didnt give that man very detailed information. . . . . Why? We are aiming for him to inadvertently utter information that only the person concerned can know. Ive only said to Roche Ghoul that a maid put poison in the concubines tea. But if Roche knew that the tea leaves themselves were poisonous-rather than mixing liquid or powdered poison into the tea-or if he knew the shape of the tea leaves, the suspicion that he sold abortion drugs to the handmaiden would deepen. Roche seems to be under more serious suspicion than myself. Shiori thought so and frowned at him. Why didnt you do it for me? She wondered and asked Schyle. According to the criminal maids testimony, she bought the abortion medicine from Roche Ghoul about three months ago. It seems that it took some time to put the plan into action when she waited for an opportunity while watching the consorts condition. You werent at Roche Ghouls place three months ago, were you? You didnt know, and youre pretty much cleared of the suspicion of selling her abortion drugs. However, there are still suspicions that she was manufacturing and selling drugs, including abortion drugs, under Roche Ghoul. . . Schyle continued awkwardly. And according to him, he didnt give Roche any details about the maid. He didnt tell him, but if he knew her hair color, it would be suspicious. How can we clear your suspicions? Shiori looked at Schyle pleadingly. Schyle flinched at that gaze, eyes watering. Kuh, Im in the process of investigating the items I collected from your store yesterday. . . If there is no evidence that you were making abortion drugs or illegal drugs, you will be released for the time being. How long does it take to check the store? Because the amount is large, it is impossible in one or two days. No way. . . Shiori shrugged. She doesnt want to be here for a minute or a second more, she said. This stone-enclosed room has a strange sense of oppression, and the constant darkness makes you feel depressed. Its cold, hard, and gloomy. . . If you spend a week here, youll get claustrophobic. What if it took months to investigate what was confiscated from the store? She shuddered at the thought. . . .Dont be discouraged. I will instruct my subordinates to finish the investigation as soon as possible. Schyles words didnt reach Shiori, who rubbed her arm with a gloomy expression. I cant even take a bath or go to the bathroom freely for days in a place like this. . . I feel depressed. And from now on, the cold will increase in severity. If you say that talking is distracting. . . I, I will come here every day. . . heh, Ill come to see you. If it snows, I wonder if Ill freeze to death here. Shioris face turned pale at that thought. If you have any trouble, you can rely on me anytime. Should I get another blanket? I wonder if theres a convenient heating device that uses magic. Just to be clear, Im not always this tolerant of suspects. A lot of cold air comes in from the small ventilation window, doesnt it? When its cold, it would be nicer to cover it with a wooden board or something. Because of you, ah, youre being kind to me. . . that means that. . . Oi, selfishly. . .! While Shiori was thinking about how to deal with the cold, and Schyle was blushing while talking to himself, an angry voice suddenly came from the back of the hallway. Shiori and Schyle both lifted their heads and turned their gazes towards the corridor. Two men were probably walking toward them from the entrance of the building while arguing with each other and making a clattering sound of footsteps. One of them seemed to be the jailer guarding this building, trying to stop a man who entered without permission. The two stopped in front of the door of Shioris room and continued arguing. Noisy. Schyle stands up with an annoyed look. He furrowed his brow, opened the door, and scolded the people outside the hallway. Shut up. What the hell are you doing, you idiots? Shiori felt a sense of relief in his haughty and arrogant tone. Oh, good thing you didnt hit your head, she said. Im sorry. The prison guard apologized, but Shioris gaze focused on the man standing in front of him. He is tall with brown hair and looks like hes in the basketball club. The gatekeeper. . . She let her voice out. And in response to that voice, the gatekeeper in the corridor also found Shiori in the room. . . . ! When he saw Shiori trapped in the room, he held his breath again in surprise. Schyle blocks the gatekeeper, who unconsciously tried to enter inside, with one hand. He grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him back hard. Seeing that the gatekeepers gaze had shifted to himself, Schyle began to speak. So grandiose. What is your name and affiliation? What are you here for? Schyle doesnt seem to know about the gatekeeper, but the gatekeeper seems to know about Schyle, for he flinched slightly in confrontation with him. Even though his expression stiffened, the gatekeeper looked back at Schyle and said, Im Parker Cork from the Guard. I know her. . . Shioris eyes blinked, Eh? Did he come here because of me? And. Schyle raises an eyebrow questioningly. Acquaintance? What kind of acquaintance? No, umm, you could call me an acquaintance. . . a little bit of an acquaintance. . . Schyle snorted at the words of the gatekeeper who lost momentum. So you dont know much? . . . , but I dont think shes a bad person. Its not like shes involved in this incident. . . Shiori rolled her eyes. Apparently he came to defend her. He seems to be a surprisingly nice person for lending me his overcoat when it was raining. Even though weve only talked to each other twice. . . and even though Ive only been bothering him by telling him to let me meet Kurst. Shiori was even moved by his kindness. On the other hand, Schyles mood only gets worse. If youre going that far, do you have nay evidence? Evidence to prove her innocence. No, no, the evidence it. . . Do your best, Gatekeeper-san! Shiori cheered in her heart, but at the same time, she knew that he couldnt beat Schyle. Dont say random things without evidence. Did you just come here with momentum? Do you think you can get her released with just that? Why dont you use your head before you act on your emotions? See, Shiori smiled wryly. Hearing Schyles rapid succession of words, the gatekeeper muttered Uh. . . and was just beaten. Its getting pitiful. I was so happy that you tried to protect me, so its enough. If there was a towel here now, Shiori would have thrown it at the gatekeeper. If you have time to do something stupid, get back to your post. Dont bring your personal feelings into work. Uh. . . yes, sorry. . . Kankankan and the gong rang, and the gatekeepers heart broke. Because what he is saying is correct. Finally, the gatekeeper turned to Shiori while feeling dejected and depressed. He said sorry for not being able to help. Shiori gave him a weak smile and whispered, Dont worry about it. I dont know if he could hear me. She was glad that the gatekeeper tried to help her, but Shiori felt keenly that she wouldnt be able to get out of here easily. Even if she turned to someone-Kurst was what came to Shioris mind at the time-but it wasnt easy to get someone to help her out of this situation. However, waiting for the confiscated goods from the store to be investigated is painful because I dont know how long it will take. I wish there was something I could do to prove my innocence instead of just being locked up here. As Shiori thought so, she closed the iron door and appealed to Schyle, who had returned. Um, is there anything I can do to prove my innocence? Ill do anything. She furrowed her eyebrows and pleaded earnestly. Even if you, the suspect, can do something. . . While hesitating, Schyle seems to be thinking about listening to Shioris appeal. After thinking with a hand on his chin, he opens his mouth in a flash. Then. . . lets call the magician here. Magician? Not understanding what it meant, Shiori tilted her head. Poor Gatekeeper-san. But he really should have had a plan. I wonder what the magician is going to do though. . . I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading! CH 28 Release the vigilance of peoples hearts and remove pretenses and lies. There is such a magic. Schyle explains to Shiori, who has a question mark floating in her head. People who fall under this spell will not be able to think deeply. In order to lie, you have to use your head to some extent, but you cant do that, and you can only speak with your true feelings. Just what you think. Its like youre in a state of letting it out. . . Do you mean to cast that spell on me? Shiori listens, guessing what Schyle is thinking. If I say, I didnt do anything, while Im under the spell, does that mean that Ill believe that Im falsely accused? Thats right. So if we find out that what youve said so far is not a lie, you should be able to get out of this room immediately. Really!? She leans forward involuntarily. Then, I want you to use that technique on me! Wow, I understand. In order to improve the accuracy of the technique, lets bring in the best magician in the country. But hes like a god. . . I dont know if hell be brought here by the end of the day. No way. . . The thought of spending the night here again made Shiori depressed. In this dark room, even a second feels like a long time. Please, I want you to bring him as soon as possible. . . She held her hands in front of her chest, and with a fading voice, she looked straight into Schyles eyes and pleaded. I want to be released as soon as possible, I want to convey my thoughts. Im really depressed when Im here. After Schyle froze for a while, Ill call him right away. He quickly got up from his seat and hurried out of the room. And just like he said, Schyle came right back. When Shiori was sitting alone on the bed in her room, Its still gloomy here! A bright voice could be heard coming from the hallway outside. He looks like a man, but his tone is high. Its gloomy, cold and damp. Its the worst. I dont like this gray stone. Why dont you paint the walls red? Its so bright. Its just going to be creepy. Its like its soaked in blood. A voice that sounds like its singing is answered by a voice that sounds like its fed up. The latter is Schyle. The footsteps of the two men gradually approached. By the way, who are you? Ive seen your face. . . I wonder if youre the one who always looks at Kurst hotly? I was just looking at him! As soon as the iron door of the detention room opened, Schyle came in screaming hysterically. He wrinkled and raised his eyebrows sullenly. Shiori, on the other hand, was twitching when she heard the name Kurst. Is Schyle an acquaintance of Kurst? And so on, she thinks, but she remembers that knowing it wont do her any good. I cant and dont want to ask Kurst for help. Itll just end up causing trouble like him, the gatekeeper, and even if we meet again now. . . Schyle irritatedly clenched his teeth and urged the person behind him to enter the room. Come in. This is the room. I dont like it, its so narrow, isnt it? Its almost suffocating. The moment Shiori sees the person speaking in a harmless tone, her eyes widen. Oh, isnt she the one? The weirdo who wants me to perform the Open Heart Spell. The weirdo. Its him. His long hair with slightly spattered ends is deep bright red. The long robe that was just draped over the shoulders, the layered clothes inside, the trousers and the boots were all red, though the colors and materials were slightly different. The clothes were embroidered with gold threads and had gold buttons, but the whole was unified in calm wine red. The neck and wrists were covered with many layers of ornaments, and they were making jingling noises from a little while ago. Schyle introduces him with a sloppy tone, saying, He is the magician Garrell. Is this person the best magician in the country? Shiori stared at the red covered man in front of her. And she thinks for a moment. I wonder if he knew about the existence of another world, Earth. Certainly, the magician who sent Kurst there was said to be the most powerful magician in the world, but I dont know if the man in front of me is the same person. Kurst rarely talked about him, and he didnt even call him by name. What a rare face. You look young, but how old are you? Garrell approached Shiori and peered into her face without hesitation. For a moment she is captivated by his androgynous and beautiful features. Um. . . Ah, its okay, dont answer. Anyway, lets ask after applying the technique. After finishing the conversation at his own pace, Garrell sat down next to Shiori on the bed, Then lets get started. I want to finish it quickly and get out of this prison with bad air. And he reached out his hand. Shiori agrees with her words that she wants to get out of here, but when it comes down to it, she becomes a little afraid of being cast a spell on her. No matter what she does, she can only speak from her heart. I really like Kurst, or I cant give up. . . she might start to cry, or get angry, saying, I couldnt forget you for three years, but youre so heartless that you got engaged without permission! explode and start cursing the innocent Kurst. However, Garrell didnt care about Shioris shrinking back, and placed his outstretched hands on her cheeks. Look at me. She was a little shaken by being told to whisper in a smooth voice. His face is so close that she cant help but feel embarrassed. Is it necessary to touch the other person? All you have to do is make eye contact. Schyle said something while being annoyed from the side, so she almost turned around, but Garrells hand was there, so she couldnt move her face. I need it. Only if its a pretty woman. . . . Now, concentrate. The first half is for Schyle, and the second half is for Shiori. Look into my eyes. Schyle was mumbling and complaining-you fucking magician, or something like that-but Shiori concentrated as she was told, and met Garrells gaze at close range. His eyes are deep red like rubies, giving off a mysterious glow even in a dimly lit room. The moment Shiori spotted her reflection in the image, the image swayed and distorted into a swirl. Garrell moves his lips just a little and starts chanting a spell in a small voice. Flowing, endlessly. Its supposed to be chanting up close, but it feels like its coming from somewhere far away, and it feels good to the ear. When she noticed, the Shiori reflected in Garrells eyes had completely disappeared, and the color of his eyes had changed to the green of a dense forest. At that moment, the green melts and turns into a deep-sea-like blue. Next is the black that seems to suck her in. The spell continues endlessly, forcibly releasing Shioris tension. His eye color suddenly changed. It is now icy cold silver. She becomes sleepy and loses strength in her whole body. But she doesnt fall. The feeling that only her useless tension is coming out. His eyes turned a sweet yellow, like honey. The spell continues. Fluffy and comfortable. Shiori dropped her eyelids. She did, but theyre not completely closed. The color of Garrells eyes flared like fire, returning to his original red. And so the spell ended. . . . Im dizzy. But as soon as she could no longer hear the spell, the fluffy comfort disappeared. Instead, she started to feel more chilly. Shiori realized that she was mentally very vulnerable. She suddenly feels the danger that she will become negative all at once. For example, when she hears harsh words such as the suspect who made the poison or Kurst is engaged, she feels like shes going down a hill, and she feels like shes going to cry. It seems that the reason that calms my heart has gone somewhere. In the corner of her head, she also understood the current situation. Oh, Im under a spell, she thought. But thinking about the details is tiresome. Im more worried about the cold than that. She even got annoyed with the ventilation sills that let in the cold air. Garrell is looking at her with a slightly confused face. Im kind of worried about you. Even if you wanted to do it yourself, its a bit too early to start the technique. Even for me, this is a technique with a high degree of difficulty. . . Is it because you are not wary of other people, because you have no resistance to opening your heart, or because you dont know the terror of magic? How have you been able to live with your five senses satisfied until now? He says it as if he is genuinely surprised. And continued. But well, the technique is perfect, so lets ask the question right away. Lets start by askin the name first. If its a name, Ive already heard it. Schyle cut in, Maybe she gave you a false name? Garrell scoffed. He asks Shiori again. Could you tell me your name? . . . . . . . Shiori furrowed her brow and fell silent. She doesnt answer anything after a while. Garrell says again, Whats your name? . . . . . . . . As expected, Shiori didnt answer anything, instead she tilted her head. Like she doesnt know what hes talking about. Can you tell me your name? . . . Im sorry, what are you saying. . . I dont know. Shiori replied with a vague voice, but this time Garrell and Schyle frowned. The words Shiori spoke were in Japanese, and they didnt understand the meaning. What is she saying? What Language? . . . Maybe its the language of her hometown? I dont even know what shes saying. Shiori continues to speak loosely in Japanese. Excuse me. . . your words. . . sound familiar, and Im sure I know them. . . What does this mean? Why did she suddenly stop speaking the language of this country? Schyle asks Garrell. Garrell pondered for a moment whether he heard the question or not, and muttered to himself. I thought she had a bit of an accent, but I wonder if she just came to this country. Maybe she isnt familiar enough to unconsciously understand and speak the language of this country? What does that mean? Schyle asked again. Garrell answers while still facing Shiori. When she spoke or listened to the language of this country, I think she was translating it in her head. However, those who fall under this spell will stop thinking about it in detail, which makes it impossible for them to lie, but. . . in her case, she will not be able to understand what Im saying before she can tell a lie. Thats what it means! Schyle frowns at Garrell who laughs and says, Im in trouble. The he moved to Shioris side and asked her questions as slowly as possible, as if he were asking a child. If you dont give a negative answer to this, theres no point in performing the Open Heart Spell. Did you make and sell illegal drugs? Did you know that Roche Ghoul was making dangerous abortion drugs? Please understand the words properly and answer No. Schyle looked at Shiori as if praying, but the answer that came back was again in Japanese. Im sorry. . . I dont know what youre talking about. I know youre asking me a question. . . but. . . um, it doesnt matter, but isnt this room too cold? Shioris vacant gaze shifted from Schyle to Garrell. . . . Youre a magician, arent you? Can you use magic to make flames? A small one is fine. . . Please. By the way, When can I get out of here? Take a bath and put on my clothes. I want to change my clothes. . . Ah, Im kind of thirsty. I want to drink cocoa. Shiori said what she felt and thought at that time. But its all in Japanese. It is troublesome to translate each and every one into the language of this country. Garrell sighed. Its no use. It cant be helped. Its useless to try any more. As soon as he says it, he snaps his fingers. The bouncy light sound entered Shioris brain and made her head clear. Repeatedly blinking several times, she realized that the technique has been completely solved. Deep thoughts are back. However, at the same time, they are also confronted with unconvincing facts. The memory of the time she was under the spell remained firmly. She was too lazy to translate, and she was rambling in Japanese. . . Also, apply the spell again, please. Im an idiot!! She asked timidly while screaming in my heart. This time in the language of this country. However, it is easily rejected by Garrell. Unfortunately, its the same no matter how many times I try. Until you can speak the language of this country as well as your mother tongue. He shrugged his shoulders and stood up. Also, I would like to warn you that you should be more wary of other people. I cant believe you were going to do it so easily! Its very dangerous. Ill be careful. . . Shiori hunched her back dejectedly and said scornfully. Liberation is now far away. Again, I have no choice but to wait until the investigation of the mountain of confiscated goods from the shop is over. However, she suddenly came up with something. Wait a second! She hurriedly stopped Garrell from leaving the room and begged him. . . . to apply the same technique to Roche and the criminal maid. I was no good, but if Roche testified that I didnt do anything while he was under the spell. . . or if the maid admitted that buying the medicine from Roche was a mistake, would my and Roches false accusation be cleared? Thats what she thought. Garrell, who heard the request, distorted his face as if it was troublesome. Its time for me to have tea. Do something! Please! It cant be helped. Somehow, youre very pitiful. Fine, Ill put a spell on those two as well. However, Schyle warns Shiori, who is about to rejoice. She looks very embarrassed. But dont expect much. Ive tried open-mind interrogation with other sinners in the past, but it hasnt yielded any results. Garrell agrees with that statement. Well, magic that manipulates peoples minds is difficult because there are many restrictions, even for me. There is a restriction that you must first make eye contact with open-mind techniques. . . Fire and wind are much simpler and easier to manipulate, because theres nothing more complex and delicate than the human mind. Well, Ill try it just in case. While saying that, Garrell left the room. While ordering Schyle to guide him to Roches place. Schyle resented that, saying, Im not your subordinate, but turned to Shiori and said, Im going to Roche Ghoul, so please wait for a while. It probably wont go well. . . And just like Schyle said, it seemed that the attempt to cast a spell on the two ended in failure. Later, when he returned to Shioris detention room he told her that the maid closed her eyes and refused to undergo the Spell. Roche tried his best to prove his innocence, but he only groaned and said nothing. Why? Hes the exact opposite of you. Hes cautious and doesnt trust others very much. He tried to accept the spell, but his instincts refused him. He would have to reveal his true feelings to people. He must be reluctant to do so. He is very cautious. Roche, you idiot!! After hearing Schyles explanation, Shiori screamed again in her mind. CH 29 Shiori didnt hate the night. The moon, which emits a soft light, is mysterious and beautiful, and it is fun to look at the twinkling stars. Darkness is gentle, quiet, and envelops everything. A feeling that time flows slowly. But now, in this cold prison, the night doesnt seem that way. You cant see the moon or the stars through the small window, and the darkness is closing in on Shiori, only stirring up anxiety and fear. Shiori rolled over and leaned against the blanket. The second night spent in the detention room. How many more nights will I have to spend here? Shes been thinking about it since yesterday. As the sun went down, the already cold stone building got even colder. I cant sleep because my feet are cold. My back tingles. Shiori sniffed her nose and crawled deeper into her blanket. I wish I could at least know how long it would take me to get out of here. If I can see the exit, I can endure this situation. In the darkness, Shiori thought about the criminal maid. Why did she use Roches name in the first place? Shiori couldnt believe that Roche made and sold abortion drugs. Its unlikely hell take the risk of selling illegal drugs because hes a smart guy. And even if he was making abortion drugs, Roche would probably create something more sophisticated and terrifying. It would be impossible for the concubine to stop drinking halfway through because its too bitter. If the target is a fetus, only the fetus, if you want the concubine to die too, Roche can make a medicine that will definitely kill them. If he wanted to, he might even be able to produce something that didnt leave traces of poison. However, if Roche is really irrelevant, I dont understand the meaning of the maids statement. Did she happen to visit his shop before and knew about Roche? So did she randomly mention his name? Did she really try to frame Roche to protect someone who actually made the drug? My head hurts from thinking too much. I want to stop thinking and rest, but its cold and I cant sleep. Shiori sneezed slightly and shivered. Its windy tonight. The wind, which makes a roaring sound and strokes the outer wall of the prison, finds a gap and tries to enter inside. Shiori shrugged and thought as she felt the cold breeze coming through her small window. She said she should ask Schyle tomorrow if she could block the windows with wooden boards or cloth. Also about changing clothes and bathing. I dont want to say that I want to take a bath, so I want to wipe my body with a cloth. Especially if the confinement life continues for a while. Also, having a female jailer would be very helpful for Shiori. Because she doesnt have to blush every time she wants to go to the bathroom. Cold. . . . . . Shiori closed her eyes and hugged herself. Two topics looped in her head all the time: Its cold and When will we be able to get out of here? She was sorry for causing trouble, but Shiori thought about asking him for help. She cant go so far as to ask for the charges against her to be cleared, but she may be able to grant her wish to improve the conditions in this overly cold detention room. Its a little scary to think about meeting Kurst and if he talks about his engagement. . . Shiori was depressed thinking about what would happen if Kurst was unfaithful to the princess, but she made up her mind and decided to talk to Schyle tomorrow. Judging from his conversations with Garrell, he should know Kurst. I hope Kurst remembers me. . . Shiori closed her eyes in prayer. What Shiori suddenly felt when she woke up at dawn was not a comfortable slumber, but a lethargy that dominated her whole body. She feels so heavy that she cant even toss and turn, and her chest tells her shes sick. Her throat is a little rough, and her breathing is shallow and rapid. Haa, haa. . . I must have a cold. My body is hot even though I have chills. I got a fever from sleeping in such a cold place. When she finally lifted her eyelids and opened her eyes thinly, her vision started spinning. Reluctantly, she immediately closes her eyes. Scary. . . . . I havent had anything well up to my throat so far, but Im still feeling sick that I cant throw up. My head hurts, and this is not a mild heat. I cant believe Im getting a fever at a time like this. As Shiori curses her fragile body, she suddenly hears a noise coming from the corridor. Its a security patrol. When she thought that the footsteps of the prison guard moving down the corridor were approaching, they stopped in front of the room. Shiori was sleeping with her face towards the wall, so it couldnt be seen, but he seemed to be peeking inside through the small window in the door. Shiori tried to get up and say out loud that she was not feeling well, but it was difficult to put into action even such a simple gesture, and in the end she just flinched lightly. The prison guard also leaves without noticing Shioris rough breathing. Dawn isnt far away, and Schyle should probably be here again in the morning. It is impossible that no one will notice that I have a high fever. However, Shiori, who was already mentally weak, could only imagine dark things. When I was in Japan, I used to think that if I take medicine for a cold and sleep overnight, I will be cured. Theres no way my cold will go away overnight in this freezing prison, and its actually going to get worse and worse. Besides, I dont even have the energy to fight a cold. Its often said that Illness starts with the mind, but Shioris mind is no longer good. Even if you have a cold, if your fever doesnt go down of you get pneumonia, you can die. . . Be timid and reach extreme conclusions. I wonder if Im going to die. . . Just like this, here, all alone. . . Without meeting Kurst. . . Her chest tightens. The corners of her eyes, which were still closed, slowly leaked tears. +++ Kurst went to work that morning as usual. He replaces his night-shift colleague to serve as the kings guard. However, the king asked him to go see how the concubine was doing, so he followed the instructions and went down the corridor alone. When he visited the concubines room and asked the maid how she was doing, she said that she had recovered even more than yesterday and had a better complexion. It seems that the doctor had already finished the morning examination, so Kurst followed him and asked for a detailed diagnosis. The doctor is a different person from Syllabus. He is the royal familys physician, and usually comes to the castle regularly from his mansion. However, after the incident occurred, he was given a room in the castle by the king so that he could respond immediately even if the concubines condition suddenly changed, and he was stationed there. When Kurst heard the doctors report that both mother and fetus are recovering well and there is no problem, he left the room with a sense of relief. And from there, on the way back to the king, he met a group of emaciated people. The faces are familiar. They are the royal guard knights of the concubine. However, Schyle is nowhere to be seen. Three slightly younger knights. Everyone was walking down the corridor looking tired, each carrying a number of thick books. Are you okay? When Kurst unintentionally called out to them, the young knights who were walking slowly straightened their posture. For them, Curst is a dream. Those books? Did you do some research on the previous incident? With a few greetings, Kurst asked, looking at the large amount of books they had. The royal guards of the concubine have been clarifying the whole incident for the past few days. Yeah, the man who is under suspicion of selling the drugs to that maid runs a pharmacy in the city. . . Were investigating every single thing that was in that store. We couldnt find anything, but there is one more suspicious thing. . . but the analysis is at a dead end. Its a suspicious notebook filled with notes written in a foreign language, but we have no idea what country its written in. Weve been looking into it all night, but we cant decipher it, so were going to return these useless books to the castle reference room. The three knights answered in turn with sleepy voices. Everyone has dark circles under their eyes. Im impressed with how hard you wok, but if you dont get enough rest, youll collapse. When Kurst cared, the three of them laughed troubledly. Actually, Schyle-san is pushing us to finish the investigation quickly. . . But well be resting until the afternoon today, so its okay. Well go back to the dormitory and sleep. I see, then thats fine. . . By the way, what is that suspicious book? Somehow stuck, Kurst asked. He had a feeling that they wanted to return them as soon as possible after they had finished staying up all night, but the fact that it was written in a foreign language made him very curious for some reason. He was driven by the desire to see it with his own eyes. Its here. One of the knights pointed at the top of the pile of books he was holding. Kurst walks up to him and picks up the thin, white notebook. Since there is a picture of medicinal herbs attached, I think it is a memo on how to make medicine, but it may be an illegal method of manufacturing medicine. . . Other books confiscated from the store are written in the language of this country, but it worries me that this is so different. They wrote it in-in other words, they might have written something that they wanted to hide from others. Come to think of it, I heard that the employee of the pharmacy the Schyle-san and the others detained the day before yesterday seems to be a foreigner. . . The other knights stared at the knight muttering as if he remembered. Huh? So this memo was written by the employee in their own language? I mean, why didnt you say that sooner, you idiot! If we ask they what country theyre from, we might be able to decipher it! Wah, Im sorry. . . When I received that report, I was concentrating on another investigation, so I completely forgot because it had nothing to do with it. You forgot! Give me back my all-nighter! The clamoring voices of the three knights, however, did not reach Kursts ears as he stared at the open notebook. Kurst recognized these characters, this handwriting. Kurst finally knows that Shiori is not only in his world, but also that she was captured and is in prison. I wonder how he is going to react to this new information. CH 30 The prison guard who brought breakfast was the first to notice Shioris anomaly. After seeing Shiori lying on her bed and breathing hard, he reported it to Schyle. Shiori! Thus, Schyle came in a panic. His voice echoes in her head as he rushes into the room, and Shiori groans softly on the bed. The fever is still high, and the helpless feeling of fatigue and discomfort dominates her whole body. Are you okay!? Please lower the volume of your voice. While thinking that, Shiori slightly opened her wet eyes. Schyle is kneeling on the floor in front of her, checking Shioris condition. A hand that was timidly stretched out with a feeling like that, avoided Shioris bangs and directly touched her forehead. He doesnt even have a fever, but for some reason, even Schyles face is red. Thats a terrible fever. Schyle said with a mysterious expression while blushing. . . . maybe, hmm. . . a cold. . . The pain in her throat wasnt that bad, but Shioris faint voice was a little more hoarse than usual. Have you got a cold. . . Even after taking her temperature, Schyles hand didnt move from Shioris forehead. She didnt have the energy to turn away her face and shake off his hand, so she left it as it is, but his hand is so hot that it feels like hes actually the one with a fever, so its a bit uncomfortable to have each others too high body temperature. . . If I had been touched by a cold hand, Im sure it would have felt good. Ill call the doctor, so lets get you examined and get some medicine. Shiori was half relieved and half disappointed by Schyles words. Im happy to have a doctor called, but it seems like I cant get out of this cold detention room. She had hoped that she would be able to move to a warmer room, but the suspicion against Shiori hadnt been completely cleared yet, so it couldnt be helped. Hey, call Syllabus-sensei. Schyle turned around and gave instructions to the jailer who was waiting in the corner of the room. The jailer sprang into action immediately, but when he was about to walk out of the door into the hallway, he stopped abruptly. Kyo, it would be a problem to enter without permission. . . ! Its okay, dont be so hard on yourself. Hey, you. Eh? Yeah. . . no, yeah. . . I dont know what do do in my position. . . Three voices. The first troubled voice probably belonged to a different jailer than the one here. And the other two voices were familiar to Shiori. Garrell, the red-haired magician, and him, the gatekeeper. The people who soon entered the detention room were exactly as Shiori expected. Schyle wrinkled his brow and stood up to interrogate the jailer. Hey, what are you doing? I-Im sorry. I stopped him at the entrance when he said he wanted to meet with the suspect. . . It seems that he is the gatekeeper. The prison guard shifts his gaze to him once, then immediately returns to Garrell. Later Garrell-sama also came, and the two of them shook off our restraints and headed inside. . . Schyle made a sullen face, but he didnt blame the jailer any further. Its impossible for him to tell the self-reliant Garrell to stop. When Shiori glanced at the situation, Garrell confidently said that he hadnt done anything wrong, but the gatekeeper seemed to be aware that he was doing something wrong, so he looked apologetic and became a little smaller. It seems that he was pushed by Garrells momentum and ended up entering with him. Since hes wearing plain clothes, I wonder if hes off duty today. Magician Garrell. I dont remember calling you here today. I dont want you to do whatever you want, even if youre the best magician in the country. Besides, youre called Parker, did you come here the other day? You did, didnt you? Havent you learned yet? What the hell are you doing? The gatekeeper trembled at Schyle who preached while clanging his shoes frustratingly. S-Im sorry! But life here will be inconvenient, and Im worried that she might be in a lot of trouble. . . Oh, I wish I could help you! Noisy, shut up. Dont shout so loudly. The treatment while asking what its for. However, the gatekeeper, who seems to be afraid of Schyle, hastily closed his mouth. Shiori was overwhelmed with fever, but thanked the gatekeeper for his concern. Hes a really nice guy. Thank you. . . . After saying thank you in a hourse voice, the gatekeepers attention shifted from Schyle to Shiori. He finally notices that Shiori looks unwell, and he looks upset. Garrell also looked at her and frowned with a grim face. . . . I dont believe it, but are you feeling unwell? For some reason Garrell didnt seem to want to believe it. If Shioris health is bad, it seems to be inconvenient for him. He looks a little embarrassed and cornered. Schyle was surprised by the magicians unusual expression and attacked him when he asked an obvious question. If you understand that, then get out of here. However, Garrell ignores Schyles words and rushes to the back of the room. Can you get up? Lets get out of here. Youre going to recuperate in my room. Garrell tries to reach out to Shiori who is lying down, but Schyle comes running over and stops him. Leaving here? She cant! Shiori frowned again at Schyles yelling. Shes begging him to lower the volume of his voice in front of the sick. . . Schyles angry voice, which terrified the unrelated gatekeeper and jailer behind him, didnt seem to have any effect on Garrell. He speaks slowly, like an adult trying to tune into a child who is throwing a temper tantrum. Okay, okay. You dont have to yell so much. Then Ill be responsible for clearing her of the charges against her. So Ill take her. Hey! What is so! Nothing is connected! The battle between Garrell, who tries to lift Shiori up, and Schyle, who stops him, continues. Shiori endured Schyles loud voice echoing in her head while sighing. Shes begging him to turn is voice down (third time). . . Isnt it connected? Since I, the worlds number one magician, am saying that I will prove her innocence, her innocence has already been decided. Its no problem to take her out, right? No, theres a big problem. Instead of proving her innocence after shes out, prove her innocence first. Right now, my subordinates are in the process of doing that. Garrell the Magician. Even if you dont bother her, shell be cleared of suspicion soon! Thats too late! Even Garrell finally raised his voice. Shiori decided to endure silently. Even though I know the situation shes in, I cant leave her alone. After saying that, the rest of the words continued mumbling as if he was talking to himself. . . . Im also responsible, so what will happen if Kurst finds out about her situation? Before he finds out, I have to improve the situation even a little. . . ove to a better room. Let her get healthy. . . Garrells small murmur didnt reach Shioris or Schyles ears. Then let Kurst know. In fact, Garrell knew that Shiori was Kursts Woman from Another World. However, he only found out this morning. Ever since yesterday, when Shiori was open-hearted, Garrell has been wondering about her. At first, he was interested in Shioris native language. . . Garrell has lived a long time and visited many countries around the world, but Shioris language was a completely new language that even he had never heard of. . . . He was vaguely wondering where she was from. Even though Kurst talked about Earth and Japan, he didnt tell Garrell any details about the Woman from Another World other than her name. He doesnt know if he was wary of Garrell plotting something bad based on that information, or if he wanted to keep the information about Shiori to himself. However, due to such circumstances, Garrell was unable to judge that Shiori was the Woman from Another World just by looking at her appearance. The dark brown eyes and black hair are not particularly rare in this world, and there are quite a few people from foreign countries who have come to work in the royal capital. Garrell had a lot of free time last night, so he was drinking tea in the warmth of the fireplace and pondering where Shiori was from. The language she speaks is not that of a peripheral country, nor that of a major world power. Then, she most have come from a very remote land. . . . Huh? Did you come from a remote land? Then, for some reason, he remembered the hair that he used when he tried to summon the Woman from Another World. She had long, glossy black hair, and although it wasnt exactly straight, it had almost no peculiarities. And the hair of the woman in the detention room was similar to that. . . . . . Shiori from Japan. She is the Woman from Another World that Kurst pursues. And so Garrell came to this detention room again. In order to fulfill his responsibility to protect Shiori, and to avoid Kursts wrath as much as possible. Shiori is now caught up in the big case of attempted assassination of a concubine and the unborn prince, and is treated as a suspect and imprisoned in a prison. On top of that, she fell ill and developed a high fever, and was in the midst of suffering. Even Garrell was terrified to show Kurst Shiori in this pitiful situation. And, of course, there is guilt. What kind of hardships did Shiori have to go through until now, coming to this world without knowing why? Garrell was supposed to be by her side until he let her meet Kurst, and he was supposed to explain the situation first. Come on, lets go to my room. Its warm and I have a softer bed. Garrell tried to lift Shiori up, but he couldnt lift her up. Originally, Garrell had no physical strength. After all, relying on magic is the best, so he decided to make Shiori small and carry her around. Im sorry for Kurst, but lets delay your reunion a little longer until Shiori gets better. While Schyle continues to interfere, Garrell points his magical fingertips at Shiori on the bed. But in that moment. . . . . . . . . . . . Shiori? Suddenly, someones mutter leaked out. When he turned around, he saw a man standing dumbfounded in front of the open door of the detention room. His hair is a little disheveled because hes been running all this way, but he doesnt care about that, and stares at her lying on the bed with her eyes wide open. Garrell lowered his long eyelashes as if giving up. Ah, he found out. CH 31 I am in a fever and seeing an illusion. Kurst. . . Say his name between painful breaths. I dont care if its an illusion or anything. The moment she saw him, Shiori instinctively lifted her upper body using her arms as support. My head feels dizzy and I feel like Im going to collapse, but it I lose consciousness here, the precious illusion will disappear. With such fear, Shiori desperately tried to keep her consciousness. Kursts eyes were wide open and he didnt even move, but his appearance was as perfect as ever. He has a more grown-up charm than three years ago, and is as fearless and beautiful as when I saw him on the day of the cavalry parade. It is a figure that would not raise doubts even if it is said to be an excellent sculptural work, but it also exudes Kursts inner calmness, gentleness, masculinity and bravery, and colors him like a human being. Three years ago, he caught my eye and my heart many times. In this painful situation, it may be an illusion, but he is by my side. Her eyes were hot and tears were pouring down. The anxiety she had about her reunion with Kurst-She wondered if Kurst would forget about her, or if he remembered her, would he be annoyed? Even if she met him, she would only cause trouble, or about his fiance, the princess-all of those things had disappeared from Shioris mind for just this moment. Or maybe it didnt just disappear, but was swallowed up by a greater wave of joy. Kurst. . .! Using up all of her remaining strength, Shiori got up from the bed and started running. Her legs quickly got tangled and she almost fell over forward, but she took advantage of even that and jumped into Kursts chest. Ive always wanted to see you. . .! It would be foolish to hide it now. In the corner of her heart, she was worried that he might be bothered by being hugged, but Shiori didnt have the time to think about her partners feelings right now. She wraps her arms around the tall Kursts neck and leans against him. She was afraid that if there was a gap between the two of them, they would be easily separated again, just like when they separated three years ago. Shiori called out Kursts name several times to make sure he was there. Kurst remained frozen as the voice of his beloved called his name over and over again. Certainly, he saw a notebook written in Shioris handwriting. SO he came here in a hurry C he was sure that Shiori was in this world, but when he actually saw her, everything seemed like a dream. My desire to meet Shiori was so strong that I ended up having hallucinations. Otherwise, this would be too convenient. Shiori said I missed you and hugged me while crying. This must be an illusion of my own making. But thats okay. After this illusion disappears, I will surely feel a strong emptiness. Even knowing that, there was only one thing that Kurst could do. Accept this happy hallucination. How could I refuse Shiori, who was crying and clinging to me? He couldnt, at least not with Kursts mental strength. Shiori. . . Hatefully, Kurst let out a hot sigh as he embraced the vision of her, which had an enchanting feel to it. Her sweet scent melts his head. Shiori? When he suddenly came to his senses, she had lost consciousness and was exhausted. Her slender arms, which until now had been wrapped around his own neck, were now stretched lazily under her. What happened? Even though it was just a phantom, Kursts heart shrank when he saw Shiori looking unwell. He watches her carefully. Her face is red and hot, and her body is warm. Her softly arched brows are twisted painfully, and a hot sigh escapes from her thin, parted red lips. . . . . .What are you doing! Hearing Schyles speechless voice, Kurst suddenly came to his senses. He couldnt stand the temptation of Shioris lips, and he dropped a deep kiss there. With her lips blocked, it made her breathing even harder. What are you doing all of a sudden! Let her go! Seeing a stimulating scene in front of him, Schyle turned bright red and yelled. He desperately reaches out his hand to get Shiori back. But the action fueled Kursts anger. The expression that melted while holding Shiori in his arms suddenly became cold. Anyone that tries to separate Shiori from him is his enemy. Dont touch my illusion (Shiori) Intimidating with cold eyes and a sharp voice. Kurst didnt pull out the sword he was carrying on his waist. However, Schyle was unable to move as if the blade had been thrust at his throat. For better or for worse, it was the first time that Kurst, who was tolerant of Schyle, had restrained him in this way, and he was overwhelmed by the sense of intimidation. Its frustrating, but Schyle didnt have the courage to take Shiori back from Kurst in this state. Kurst looked away from Schyle and looked around the room cautiously like a wild beast. He wondered if there were any other enemies trying to steal Shiori. A little further away, there were two prison guards and a young man in plain clothes, all of whom were staring at him with surprised expressions. The prison guards are silent with wide eyes, but the young man in plain clothes muttered things like, Were you really acquainted. . .? Judging that they werent enemies, he moved his gaze again and found a familiar mage in the darkness at the back of the room. . . . He seems to be trying to turn his eyes away from them and become one with the wall, but given his flamboyance, it was absolutely impossible. Kurst said quietly while still holding Shiori. Garrell? Why are you here. . . This isnt the kind of place he wants to come to because he likes glamorous places. Its like finding a bright red bird in the dark sea. . . Kurst alternately looked at Garrell and Shiori. And finds a possibility. His heart beats fast. Possibly, Shiori in his arms isnt an illusion. . . Garrell? He looks to Garrell for answers. Even without putting everything into word, the clever magician understood exactly what Kurst wanted to ask and responded. . . . thats what it means. The summoning magic I did two months ago wasnt a complete failure. Garrell was prepared for taunts from Kurst, but it was a baseless fear. At least at this moment, what was important wasnt to curse Garrell, who didnt realize that Shiori had come to this world. A doctor. . .! Kurst picks up Shiori and rushes out of the detention room. *If shes real and not a phantom, then this overheated body is also real. Shiori is in real pain.* In that case, solving it is the top priority for Kurst. But then, Schyle once again interfered. Perhaps because he learned it earlier, he didnt reach out his hand this time, but he tried to stop Kurst with a tone that was as persuasive as the title of Deputy Commander. Wait! Only after the doctors diagnosis that it is necessary, and permission from His Majesty and our captain, can we release her, who is a suspect, from here. That is the rule. If you are a knight, follow the rules. Kurst, who was about to leave the room, slowly looked back at Schyles words. In his arms, Shiori remains limp. Who do you think I am? . . . . . . . . Eh? Schyle raised an eyebrow. He says it often, but its the first time hes heard it from Kurst. I am the hero of this country. What. . . . . Its different from a mere knight. His Majesty has said that he will allow a little selfishness. *However, he has never behaved selfishly until now, just because he was told to do so. Because using his position like that is an abomination for Kurst. But if its to help Shiori, Ill use my position as a hero as much as I want. Thats how he felt. I dont care if anyone despises me. I dont mind losing the kings trust. Confining Shiori, who had a fever, in this cold and dark room was more unbearable. Its my responsibility to get Shiori out of here. I wont let anyone complain. Kurst left Schyle with that and left the room with Shiori. CH 32 Shiori, who was brought to the infirmary where Syllabus is by Kurst, continued to suffer from a fever on the bed in the room at the back. . . . . Kurst While Shiori is immersed in the fever, she sometimes wakes up and opens her tear-stained eyes slightly to call Kurst. Here. Im here. And each time, Kurst would answer and hold Shioris hand. Shiori sighed in relief, Im glad. . . not yet. . . disappeared. She mutters softly and falls asleep again. Hasnt disappeared? Does Shiori think Im an illusion too? At first, I also thought that Shiori in front of me was a phantom. Kurst held Shioris hand and stared at her painful sleeping face. She was given some medicine earlier, but her fever doesnt seem to be going down yet. According to Syllabus, who is away from the infirmary due to some business, she wont get any worse if she rests. Youre a cruel man, you. Kurst didnt turn around even when he suddenly heard a voice behind him. He knew right away that the owner of the voice was Garrell, and most of all, he couldnt take his eyes off Shiori. After all, it had been three years since he had seen her. For the time being, Kurst was making up for three years worth of lack of Shiori with his own eyes. I really want to hug her body, kiss her, and do other things to make up for it, but its a crime to do so without her permission. There is still enough reason to think so. Were you there? Kurst stared at Shiori on the bed and spoke to Garrell, who was behind him. Garrell replied with a stunned expression. Yes. Its been a long time. . . . why am I cruel? Because youre always grinning at Shiori, who has a fever. It wasnt until he said that that Kurst turned his attention to his own expression. He certainly seems to have his cheeks loose and the corners of his mouth up. Shiori is in front of him, even thought she is having a very hard time because of her fever. Its not like I was laughing at Shiori being in pain. I know. Youre so happy shes here, arent you? Garrell Shrugged and said. Kurst readily admits it. Thats right. . . Thats right. For the past three years, what Ive been dreaming about is happening in reality. Shiori is in my world. I cant help but be happy about that. Of course, it hurts to see Shiori suffering from a fever. In addition. . . Kurst muttered, but didnt say the rest. . . . Besides, Shiori was looking for me. Kurst loved it more than anything else. Kurst. . . His name was called with a hoarse voice, and Kurst suddenly regained consciousness. Shioris eyelids are still closed, so it doesnt seem to have happened. Just now is sleep talk. Still holding Shioris hand, Kurst looked back at Garrell with his eyes sparkling as if he was moved. Did you hear that? Shiori called my name in her sleep. Kursts expression collapsed again, as if he couldnt hold back. Its already loose. Garrell raised an eyebrow lightly. He thought he knew Kursts feelings, but he still couldnt believe his eyes. Even when Kurst was promoted to the kings royal guard, when he subjugated monsters, and even when he was greeted with admiration and respect by the people at the triumphant return parade afterward, he didnt make such a face. Thats just one of the sleep talks of the person hes thinking about. . . But Garrell was pleased with his change. He couldnt help but smile. Garrell, like himself, is called a genius by those around him, and in a sense, he arbitrarily recognizes Kurst as a lonely existence. When Kurst looks happy, he is happy too. But on the other hand, seeing Shiori repeatedly breathing heavily and painfully, Garrell felt apologetic. Even though he summoned her, he didnt notice it for two months, and it hurts his heart to think how hard it was that she had to go through that time. Two months ago, thinking that the summoning had failed, he wanted to take away the cup filled with warm tea from himself who was enjoying tea time gracefully while muttering things like, Its a shame. Its not the time to be drinking tea. Garrell says quietly. I did something really bad to her. Even I will reflect on - The words were cut off unnaturally. . . . . . . . What are you doing? He was distracted by Kursts eccentric behavior. A dull sound echoes through the infirmary room. Kurst was banging his head against the wall. Stop it, Im scared, whats wrong? Garrell asks while revealing his true thoughts. Garrell knew that he had attracted others many times with his eccentricities C his eccentric costumes and remarks C but this was the first time in his life that he had been attracted by someone elses eccentricities. . . . . . No, its the second time with Kurst. When he kept the clothes Shiori gave him in the safe, he actually pulled back a little. Kurst turned around slowly and answered. If I dont feel pain, my face will inevitably become a grin. Kurst looked at Shiori on the bed and covered his mouth with one hand. Trying to hide his smirk. I hate myself for smiling so happily at seeing Shiori again when shes suffering from a fever. . . . No, its okay to be honest. Im sure Shiori will forgive you. Garrell comforted him with appropriate words. He just wanted him to stop banging his head. But Kurst never stopped blaming himself. This time he made a bitter face and clenched his back teeth. I dont have the right to rejoice in a reunion. While I was living my normal life, I can easily imagine what kind of hardships did Shiori endure in this world. . . that is, until just a little while ago, she was trapped in prison. Kurst furrowed his brows as he spoke. I want to kill myself from two months ago. I didnt realize that Shiori came to this world, my foolish and insensitive self. Stop it. Everything you say to blame yourself will just pierce me! Garrell said without hesitation and opened up. Its all my fault! I called Shiori on my own and thought I failed! Are you really angry with me too? You can blame me. Its all my fault for summoning Shiori here without even asking your opinion. From the moment the two met again, Garrell was always on guard for when Kursts anger would turn on him. Why didnt I notice Shioris summoning two months ago! Because he is aware that he is in a position where he cant help but be teased. Kurst shook his head loosely at Garrell, who frowned in embarrassment. Since I was always down without Shiori, you thought you should call her over here, right? I cant blame you for thinking of me. I thought I was acting normal, but Garrell saw through how depressed I was from being apart from Shiori. Saying that, he laughed as if he was ashamed of himself. You. . . Garrell sighed. . . . Youre a good boy. You havent changed since you were a child. Kurst has been like this since he was little. Thats why I want to support him. I wish he could succeed in his love with Shiori. But it may not be necessary for Garrell to take care of him. Because. . . After a while of silence, Garrell muttered when he saw Shiori sleeping. She likes you too. Kurst responded to those words by opening his eyes wide. What, suddenly. . . I was wondering what I should do if it was just a one-way street for you. It would be too pathetic for you to be so single-minded and get dumped so easily. However, looking at her reaction when you met again, Shiori likes you. Well, Im not very familiar with the subtleties of peoples hearts, but I wouldnt hug someone I just knew passionately like that, right? Garrell regained his normal tone and began to speak fluently. In response to that speculation, Kurst made a grim face. Because he desperately tried to stop his cheeks from loosening, it seemed that instead he ended up with a scary face. But no matter how he tried to pretend to be calm, his hopeful eyes said it all. . . . Do you think so? Garrell nodded at the carefully spilled words. You can tell by looking at her now. Calling you in her sleep, and sleeping with peace of mind when youre by her side. Thats. . . isnt it just because I know you? Not because I like you. The only person she can rely on in this world is me. I dont think thats all there is to it. Why dont we use the Open Heart Spell and ask her if she likes you? If we do the spell, shell only speak Japanese, but you would know how she answers, right? But the spell. I dont think theres even a need to put it on. Shiori definitely likes you. You dont have to use magic. . .! Kurst raised his voice a little, but his face was flushed with happiness. And when he covered his face with both hands to hide it, he said, Is that so. . . Do you think so too? Or. . . he began muttering to himself. It is a picture of a single-minded boy who is irresistibly happy that they may both have feelings for each other. Thinking that this is a scene he doesnt want to show to men and women of all ages who admire heroic Kurst, Garrell tries to summarize his story. Well, once Shioris health has recovered, you can do whatever you want, whether its a confession or a marriage proposal, and youll be happy soon. It seems that you were completely useless in Japan, so I recommend that you two live here together. Like I said before, I cant easily send a hero to Japan, and if Shiori misses her home world, I can let her go home as much as she wants. Im responsible for that. Its difficult to move someone I dont know, but Ive already met Shiori and seen her in person, so the summoning magic will be successful. Its not difficult. It will increase the accuracy of the technique, and it wont make the mistake of landing in a different position like it did two months ago. If she knows that she can always return to Japan, I wonder if Shiori will have less resistance to living in this world. Listening to that voice, which seemed to be a little high for a man, Kurst lifted his hands from his face. His cheeks were still flushed with joy and it was somehow sexy. He firmly grasped the sleeping Shioris hand and made up his mind. He intended to convey his feelings without Garrell telling him. Ive thought about Shiori since I was in Japan, but I couldnt earn money there, and my sword was useless. Even if I whispered love while living a life that relies on Shiori, doesnt it sound like Im selling flattery? He was so worried. However, in this world, he can honestly express his feelings. I have the confidence that I can protect Shiori and the confidence that I can make her happy. Shiori, get well soon. . . And hopefully you will accept this thought. However, two days later, Shiori, who was craving Kurst so much when she was asleep, began to avoid Kurst for some reason as she recovered. CH 33 Shioris fever had subsided and she was recovering to the point where she could get out of bed without any problems. She has regained her appetite and is able to eat the food provided by Kurst and Syllabus. Wah. . . Dangerous When she stumbled, she was supported by Kurst on the side. Shioris heart jumped once at the body that was in close contact. Her cheeks heated up. Im sorry. No. . . . She apologized in Japanese and hurriedly distanced herself from Kurst. Kurst looked puzzled when she avoided him, but Shiori was too embarrassed to turn her face toward him, so she had no way of noticing it. The Kurst in front of me is real. Its not an illusion caused by a high fever. Now that the fever has gone down, I know that. And Shiori vaguely remembers what she was doing while she was asleep. She called Kursts name over and over again and asked him to hold her hand. . . Shiori wanted to cover her face with both hands and squat down. What were you doing, me! Its nice to be with Kurst again. My heart is so excited that I feel like I can fly like this. Even no I cant see him properly next to me. But she was just as scared to talk to Kurst. Even after three years, he still remembered Shiori, and he devotedly took care of her as if to repay her kindness in Japan. At the moment, he doesnt seem to be annoyed, so Im relieved for the time bein, but. . . However, Shiori was nervous about when the topic of engagement would be brought up. When he happily reports his engagement to the princess with a smile that seems to melt. . . If Kurst directly asked her about her feelings. . . Its too hard for this weak body. I might fall asleep again. Shiori, are you okay? Kurst said in fluent Japanese. Im glad he hasnt forgotten Japanese yet. A hand was gently put on her shoulder, and Shiori shrugged her head. I-Im okay. I can walk alone! While making a strangely loud voice, she takes a step back. Kursts hand naturally left. Ah, its dangerous. . . Any more contact with Kurst is dangerous. When Im touched by his kindness, I feel more and more excited. Even though it cant be helped that Im raising feelings for someone who has a fiance. Because I have to give up on Kurst. If she can get over this broken heart, she wants to be friends with Kurst. But now she cant. It just hurts when youre near me. I dont want to touch Kurst as much as possible. There is nothing more painful than kindness to a broken hearted person. Kurst, Im fine now, so you can go back to work, okay? Thank you for always being by my side. Im sorry for being a nuisance. I dont think its a nuisance. Kurst frowned a little angrily. Shiori involuntarily apologizes. Sorry. . . . . Kurst hurriedly followed. A slight silence follows between the two. Kurst timidly called out to Shiori, who was looking down. She has a somewhat painful look on her face. Are you still angry? . . . . Eh? Shiori looked up at Kurst. Isnt he the one whos mad? Kurst adds words to Shiori, who is confused. Garrell summoned you to this world. And I didnt realize it for two months. I couldnt protect Shiori, who was going through a difficult time. Kurst gritted his teeth as if a sword had been thrust into his heart. Its natural for Shiori to get angry. I cant forgive myself. Even though I was saved by Shiori all the time in Japan. . . Shiori hurriedly shook her head, knowing that Kurst was blaming himself. She worries that if he clenches his teeth so hard, his molars will crack. No, Im not angry. You apologized for that earlier, and thats enough, really. When Shioris fever subsided and she regained consciousness, Kurst and the red-haired magician Garrell first apologized from the bottom of their hearts. It was hard to stop Kurst and the others because they were about to kneel on the ground. Its not like Garrell-san was mean to me either. . . He thought we were nostalgic for each other, so he just wanted me and Kurst to meet after a long time, right? You two dont have to feel responsible. And because of what Kurst said to Schyle-san, I was able to move from the detention room to this warm infirmary room, right? Thank you. Please stop saying thank you. Then, Kurst, stop blaming yourself. When she said that with a troubled smile, Kurst reluctantly nodded, Understood. However, Shiori thought that Kurst would never forgive himself in his heart. He is that kind of person. Thats why she fell in love with him. But then why. . . Shiori turned her gaze back to him when she heard Kursts mournful mutter. He has a sad face that looks like hes going to cry at any moment. Why are you avoiding me? No way. . . No, I was prepared for that possibility, but. . . Do you have a lover in Japan? But Shiori misses Japan too much. That doesnt seem to be it. . . Didnt you also refuse Garrells offer to allow you to return to Japan? Even thought he brought up the subject himself, Kurst seemed to want Shiori to deny that possibility. Shiori is pierced by his gaze as if he is begging. I dont have a lover. . . Shiori said softly. She couldnt forget Kurst and she tried to make it. For the past three years, there hasnt been a single one. Besides, I didnt completely refuse Garrell-sans offer. . . I plan to temporarily return once this case is settled and my suspicion is clear. There are things I have to do, such as explaining to my parents and canceling my apartment. She needed more time to decide whether to live in Japan or stay in this world. I like the spirit of this world, the ease and warmth of the people in the city, and above all, I like the work. Thats why I dont have much of a desire to go back to Japan, but now that Im here, Im a bit lost. The cause is of course Kurst. Its hard to face him. The thought that she will see him and the princess happy again and again and hear rumors makes her stomach cringe. Considering that, I think it would be easier to return to Japan and cut off all contact with Kurst. That might get him out of my mind faster. Even if you love someone and you know it will never be fruitful, if you love that person, would it be happier to live in the same world and under the same sky? Or is it happier to live in a completely different world without feeling that persons existence? When Shiori thought about such a thing and felt pain in her heart, Kurst, with a painful expression on his face, approached Shiori as if he had no composure. Then. . .! Did you get a guy you like in the last two months? Who is the other person? For him to be better than me- A voice from a third party interrupted, and both Shiori and Kurst suddenly turned their attention to that direction. Garrell entered the hospital room. Hes bright red as usual. Flashy, yet somewhat elegant. He was here with Kurst when Shiori first woke up, explaining the situation and apologizing, but after that Shiori fell asleep again for a short time and when she woke up, he was out of sight. Hey! Are you feeling better already, Shiori! Your complexion is getting better! When Garrell raised his voice in his usual tone, . . . Great Magician Garrell, Im sorry, but could you please keep your voice down in the Infirmary? Shes not in good shape yet either. A gentle caution flew from the next room. He was invisible from Shioris position, but this voice is Syllabus. He seems to be tending to an injured knight over there, and occasionally he hears a short scream from a young man, Ouch. . .! Excuse me, Syllabus-san. Garrell casually responded to Syllabus, who was much older than himself in appearance. Then lowers his voice a little and says, Hey, Shiori. When you can walk, come to my room. Its much more comfortable than the poor bed here. Eh, thats it. . .I dont need to sleep anymore, and if I move around on my own, Schyle-san will get angry. Shiori spoke Japanese with Kurst, but answered Garrell in this language. Her mind, dulled by her sickness, takes a moment to form her words. Garrell smiles. Its a smile that somehow retains its innocence. he says, Schyle cant hold you anymore. Shioris innocence has been proven! Youre free! Great Magician Garrell, in the infirmary. . . When Garrell unintentionally raised his voice he heard a second scolding from the next room. Shioris eyes sparkle at the wonderful word free. Free, really? Have they finished analyzing the items in the store? Yeah, Ive finished investigating everything. And as a result, I didnt find anything suspicious. The one who replied to Shiori, who still couldnt believe it, was Schyle, who entered the room behind Garrell. As usual, he puffs out his chest proudly. He glanced at Kurst behind Shiori, then shifted his gaze again to Shiori in front of him. The arrogant attitude hides a little. Shiori, you were innocent. . . . Im sorry, I did something rough at first. Shes still not used to Schyle being humble. Is it because the first impression is too bad? Kurst yelled in the background, Something rough?, but Shiori accepted Schyles apology. If he apologizes honestly, she has no choice but to forgive. They must have had a job too. And now there is no anger towards Schyle. Even though he didnt let her out of the detention room, he was completely on Shioris side halfway through. So, Roche. . . When she suddenly noticed and asked Schyle, His innocence has also been proven. It was returned with a dissatisfied face. As usual, he doesnt seem to like Roche very much. Its true that nothing was found in the stores confiscated goods, but above all, the maid changed her statement. She changed her statement? When Shiori asked, Schyle nodded. Thats right. Even after being persuaded by the Queen, she kept her mouth shut, but after being begged to tell the truth by someone she admired, she finally decided to tell the truth. She didnt buy the poison from Roche Ghoul. Then who is the real culprit who sold the drugs? He hasnt been caught yet, but I have a guess. When I showed the poison to Roche Ghoul, I found out that it was a medicinal herb that could only be harvested in a certain area of the neighboring country. . . I hate to admit it, but his knowledge is the real thing. Its a medicine when its raw, but it seems to be a special medicinal herb that becomes toxic when dried. Thats all he heard from Roche. Schyle explains reluctantly. So, regarding the true culprit, it turns out that the manservant she was close with when the maid was still a lower-ranking noble was from that village. There are also eyewitness testimonies that they were dating, and rumors that they were once in love. That means that former manservant was cooperating with the maid. The poisonous medicinal herb must have been taken from his hometown. And the maid was protecting him. When Kurst interjected, Schyle answered while becoming even more sullen. Yes. However, the maid still doesnt admit to the servants cooperation. No matter how much the queen persuades her. Shiori suddenly raised her voice after listening to the story. Then where is Roche now- Im here. Roche slowly appeared from the infirmary room door. He seemed more energetic than Shiori, but he still gives the impression of being a little haggard. Roche! When she happily rushed over, Roche smiled awkwardly. Hey, how are you? You had a fever? He caressed and stroked her head as gently as he had ever done before. Not knowing that Kurst was frozen behind her, Shiori worriedly looked up at Roche. Yeah, its okay now. Is Roche okay? When did you get out? While you were sleeping- Roche cuts off his words and says apologetically after a pause. . . . Im sorry. I got you involved. Did you lose a little weight? Shioris eyes widened at the unexpected apology. On the contrary, she got scared that Roche apologized. Or rather, she just got an apology today. Kurst and Garrell, Schyle and Roche. While being slightly shaken by Roche who was worried about her, Shiori said, What are you apologizing for Roche? Even Roche had nothing to do with it. But its not completely irrelevant. Schyle snorted and glared at Roche. On the other hand, Roche has a bitter face. He had an unusual demeaner for a man who was always easygoing. What do you mean? In response to Shioris question, Roche reluctantly began to explain. Roche, who seems to have met with the maid after he was cleared of suspicion, said that there was something familiar about her face. However, when he couldnt remember her name, let alone where he had seen her, the maid behind the iron bars began to explain with cold eyes. You dont remember me, but I remember you very well. Before the merciful queen reached out to me, I was in a large merchants mansion. You were just selling drugs to the man for work, you didnt do anything directly to me. But I hated you. Thats why I thought Id have you take the blame for this matter. Having heard that far, Roche finally realized the identity of the maid. That woman was the mistress of a client I was close with until a few years ago. At least thats how I recognized it at the time. She always had an expressionless face, and it seemed that she was languidly snuggling up to the big merchant, and it is said that Roche never even exchanged words with her directly. And it seems that she was always dressed in a luxury dress, had her hair done, and looked like she was being treated with care. He seemed to have a serious and gentle personality as a merchant, and at first Roche was surprised that he bought aphrodisiacs. However, according to Schyles addition, she had a very miserable life under the merchant. It was such a disgusting thing to say that when Schyle explained it to Shiori, he had to choose less stimulating words. Every day, the maid was forced to commit acts that trampled on a womans dignity. The maid said to Roche, When you came, the night was hell. I, too, felt ashamed of my body, which showed selfish reactions due to the effects of medicine. You are a really good pharmacist. But thats why I hated you. Roche said exhaustedly, It may sound like an excuse, but i didnt know that woman was going through such a terrible experience. No matter how much money is piled up. . . Due to the nature of the medicine, I thought I was paying attention to those who abused it, but I was naive. A tired tone. Roche may have been in shock, too. There was a person who had a terrible experience with his own medicine. Not everyone uses drugs to deepen their love life with their partner with mutual consent. But you were just about to be falsely accused, so youre still a better person. Schyle looks at Roche and interjects. Then, he shifts his gaze to Shiori, who had a questioning expression on her face, and explained. Actually, the merchant was brutally murdered about a year ago. The body was in a terrible state, and the investigation was continued as a bizarre murder, but today the maid admitted that she killed him. The former manservant probably cooperated in that crime as well. With the power of a woman alone, an adult mans body could not be in such a terrible state. I sympathize with her situation, but what she did was just unforgivable. Shiori nodded while listening to Schyles calm voice. While there are people who end their life without salvation, she was once saved by the queen. Couldnt she somehow change her life there? Nonetheless, if she were to experience the same thing, she might not be able to get rid of her resentment easily. Shiori felt helpless. Roche. . . I know what you mean. Roche stops Shiori who is about to speak. But if you do that, your salary will be less than half what it used to be. Well, me too. Schyle and the others made a face that they didnt understand, but Shiori nodded firmly. Im fine. If I work hard from now on, Ill be able to do something about the money. . . . Lets stop doing the business behind the scenes. Its not illegal, but if theres an example like the maid, I dont want to make aphrodisiacs anymore. It may be good to sell it to men who really need it. As Roche fell silent, Kursts surprised voice, Aphrodisiac? An energetic agent? Shiori continues. Roche, you just said you understand what I wanted to say. In other words, Roche was thinking the same thing. Right? Once upon a time, I remember Roche telling me about his upbringing. It seems that Roche grew up in a poor village, where even if someone got sick, they couldnt buy enough medicine. Poverty-stricken people cannot afford medicine. Roche didnt say more, but I think that past made him a pharmacist. He ripped off his back room customers, but the front medicine was priced a little too cheaply for its quality. Shiori thinks that it would be better to quit the back room business completely and go back to the beginning and get serious. Dont worry! Roches medicine is of the highest quality, and the effect is outstanding. If you advertise it, the store will surely be crowded. Shiori said confidently. His skill is certain. And hes so serious and diligent about medicine that you cant imagine from his appearance. The amount of knowledge is not inferior to other pharmacists. The store is in a difficult place to find, so Ill hand out flyers. Ill also put up a guide sign on the main street. Once they use the medicine, Im sure everyone will become regulars. As she was saying this, she was filled with motivation. I have a goal to live in this world C to make Roches store more prosperous than it is now. Lets do our best! She cheers Roche up with a lively voice. Roche laughed like an adult and silently patted Shioris head, then muttered, Im going to live a frugal life for a while. CH 34 Im going to the store now, but it seems that these guys messed up a lot, so I have to clean up. Please rest here until youre fully recovered. Roche said to Shiori while glancing at Schyle. Yeah, Ill go back to the store once I get Syllabus-sans permission. Wait a minute, Shiori. And there Kurst waited. When he moved in front of Shiori, he grabbed both shoulders and met her gaze. You dont have to work anymore. I will take care of you as much as I can. Or rather, let me see. How much you took care of me in Japan- Thats not it! You dont have to worry about things in Japan. Kurst speaks to her in Japanese, so Shiori responds in Japanese. The lightly grasped shoulders stiffened with tension. If she is touched by Kurst, she will feel nervous. She hung her head down, worried that he might notice her blush. Besides, I like my job and intend to continue, rather if my current job is taken from me. . . Anyway, I will go back to the shop with Roche. He is not very trustworthy. Shiori smiled wryly as Kurst wrinkled his brows. She spoke in Japanese, so Roche wont understand what shes saying. Indeed, he looks like that. I thought it was really suspicious at first too. I still dont know if hes a good person or a bad person. But I think hes a good person at heart. But that man had Shiori make an aphrodisiac, right? But Ive already said that Im quitting that kind of business. . . Besides, I owe Roche the help he gave me when I came to this world. Without him, I wouldnt be able to take care of my body by now. I could have sold it. After saying that, Shiori thought, Im sorry, The Kurst in front of her has hardened like a stone. Even breathing may have stopped. Im sure hell be blaming himself for this again. Kurst has a strong sense of responsibility and is gentle. Um, so what Im trying to say is that Roche is a pretty reliable person. He gave me a job, a place to live, and knowledge, so dont say bad things about him. Hes my benefactor. . . . When Shiori said something while troubled, Kurst frowned as if he was trying to endure something. That man did to Shiori what I should have done. What I should have done. . . And muttered painfully. After that, he closed his eyes once, exhaled to suppress his emotions, and quickly walked over to Roche. We met once before. Im Kurst Orfeld. I didnt think Shiori was working at that store too. When Kurst spoke in this countries words, Roche, who looked tired, lifted one corner of his mouth and smiled as usual. Ah, about that time? It seems that Shiori was taken care of, and I thank you as well. Its outrageous to be thanked by a hero-sama. This is between me and her. Roche! Shiori hurriedly stopped Roche as Kurst glared at him and his face became a little ferocious. Kurst is a serious person with a strong sense of responsibility, so please stop teasing him. Shiori glared at him and Roche shrugged like a child who had been caught playing a prank. Hurry up and get back to the store! Dont say unnecessary things to Kurst! She gently pushed Roches back and tried to drive him away from Kurst. Kurst lost his expression when he saw the two of them playing around. Shioris line, Dont say unnecessary things to Kurst, seemed to say, because hes and outsider. With a terrifyingly serious face, he approached Shiori again. Shioris hand, which was touching Roches back, was restrained and forced to turn towards him. Wait a minute. Could that man be Shioris lover? Come to think of it, you told me not to speak ill of him earlier. Kurst used to speak Japanese when he spoke to Shiori, but now he doesnt even have time to do that, so he was accused of speaking too quickly. Shiori was a little surprised at the state of Kurst and said in Japanese, Well, thats because Roche is my benefactor. . . theres no other meaning. Theres no such thing as a lover. Really? Please, I want to know who stole your heart, can you trust him? What does he look like, what is his personality, what do you like about him- Wait, wait. . . Calm down! I dont have a lover here or there (in Japan)! Shiori raised her voice to stop the fast-talking Kurst. She didnt understand why he was so desperate. Kurst was silent for a moment and tilted his head slightly. . . . . Really? Shiori nodded while thinking that gesture was a little cute. Kurst breathed a sigh of relief and smiled brightly. Thats good. Dazzling. Very dazzling. Shiori involuntarily narrowed her eyes at that smile. Kurst made the following suggestion. But if hes not your lover, I dont think its a good idea to continue living together under the same roof. Ive been to that store once, but the building itself isnt that big. No, its narrow, isnt it? As she wondered what he was trying to say, Kurst continued in a sincere tone. Thats why Shiori should live in my mansion. Ill prepare a carriage, so it wont be a pain to commute to the store every day. . . . . Eh? Stay at Kursts house? Could she live with her favorite Kurst? If you think about it normally, it may be a proposal that you should be please with. However, for Shiori now, it is equivalent to torture. To be allowed to live in Kursts house where his fiance is. . . Its too narrow, and Im sure Ill end up experiencing a tremendous amount of mental pain. Every time she sees Kurst every day and realizes his coolness and kindness anew, she is deeply hurt by the heartbreak that this person is not hers. If you live like that, the wounds will never heal. Shiori turned pale and screamed. Living with Kurst! Absolutely not! Since it is said in Japanese, Schyle, Roche, and Garrell would not have been able to understand it. But of course, it was transmitted perfectly to Kurst. Rather, it went too far and punched a hole in his heart. After Kurst silently took in those words that had tremendous destructive power, he timidly grabbed Shioris shoulder with his hand shaking lightly from the shock. . . . youre still angry, arent you? I didnt even notice that Shiori was here for two months. . . I couldnt get forgiveness from you anymore. . . you hated me. . . thats what. . . . . . Kursts words faded away. Shiori shook her head, saying, No. Its not like that! It doesnt matter. I said Im not angry anymore. Then why. . .! Kurst was speaking in this countrys language, and Shiori was speaking in Japanese. They dont seem to have the luxury of being careful with each others words. Schyle was a little nervous about the strange interaction between the two C he wondered if Kurst would raise his hand to Shiori, as if to stop him at any moment C watching carefully, Roche and Garrell seemed calm. They were watching. They think its just like a flirtatious quarrel. Please, tell me why. Otherwise, I cant let you go to that store. The thought that you were sleeping in the same house as that man every night. . . Kurst then glared at Roche with burning eyes. . . . Im going crazy with jealousy. Its possible with Kurst, isnt it? Garrell nodded. The only ones giving off a tense atmosphere here are Kurst, Shiori, and the outsider Schyle, who is watching the exchange with bated breath. Jealousy. . .! Why would you say such a thing? Something that makes me expect. . . Its terrible, Kurst. Swallowing a sob that seemed to leak out, Shiori glared at her opponent. Her favorite Kurst. Even though you have a fiance. . .! Ive always liked Kurst, but Im about to step back gracefully! Before she knew it, Shiori was crying shamelessly and tapping Kurst in the chest with both hands. Its an interesting sight. I dont know what theyre talking about. Roche muttered with deep emotion, and Garrell spoke lightly. Schyle was a little flustered as to whether he should stop Shiori. And Kurst was worried about Shioris hands attacking him, saying, Youll get hurt by hitting the buttons on my clothes, but he was distracted by her remarks that he couldnt ignore. Shiori, calm down. Wait a minute. Youve always liked me, are you sure. . .? No, thats also important, but leave it for now. . . Kurst also seemed to be a bit of a mess. He tries to organize his story while holding Shioris hands as she launches cute attacks. You say I have a fiance. . . . . . . Are you talking about Princess Cattleya? Yes, let go. . .! Shiori tries to escape from her restraints, but Kurst refuses to let her go. He grabbed Shioris wrists with one hand and placed the other hand on Shioris cheek. Shiori was forced to raise her head and glared at Kurst with tear-stained eyes. But no attack would work against the current Kurst. Ive always liked Kurst, said Shiori, to the current Kurst. He regained his composure and softly whispered in Japanese to soothe Shiori. Shiori, thats not true. There are certainly rumors around me. . . There are rumors that Cattleya-sama and I are engaged, but that is nonsense. Ive been told if its you, its okay to have my daughter. Perhaps that leaked out from someone and became a rumor. However, His Majesty didnt mean it seriously. . . After all, that person is Cattleya-sama. He dotes on her. To be honest, he doesnt want his daughter to get married for the rest of her life. Saying that, Kurst laughed troubledly. However, Shiori is still not in the mood to laugh. Seeing Shioris grim face, Kurst continues ahead. But even though it was half joking, I flatly refused that offer from His Majesty. Kurst smiled and kissed Shioris tearful eyes. . . . !? Shiori is greatly upset by the sudden kiss. However, there was such a deep affection in his act that even the dull Shiori could sense it. There was a certain warmth to Kursts lips. Huh? Huh? . . . Huh? No way. . . As expected, Shiori realized who he was thinking of, and at that moment, her cheeks blushed. The black haze in the depths of her chest cleared up in an instant. Kurst likes me too. . . ? An unbelievable, dram-like reality. She unintentionally wanted to pinch her cheeks to see if this was real, but her hands were still tied up as usual, so she couldnt do it. Because you couldnt forget me, you turned down the engagement offer. . .? Shiori looked up at Kurst as if to confirm. Her voice trembles slightly with the joy that lies within her. Kurst has been giving Shiori a sweet smile since a while ago. Thats right. Did you finally realize it now? Ever since I was in Japan, youve always held my heart. Then, once more, this time he kissed her cheek. Shiori is so preoccupied with the fact that Kurst liked her that she is being kissed again, not paying attention to him. Taking advantage of Shioris quietness in his arms, Kurst continued to kiss the corner of her lips. Schyle is trembling with his mouth wide open. The words of Kurst containing plenty of sweetness do not stop. Having won the fact that Shiori likes him, he is now in his strongest state and cannot be stopped by anyone. So cute, Shiori. Were you jealous of Cattleya-sama? You are the only person I love. That will never change for the rest of my life. While Shiori, who was still unable to keep up with this development, was blushing and confused, Kurst quickly, but deeply and carefully snatched Shioris lips. . . . hmm Shiori, I swear I will never leave you again. And i will never let you go again. N, uh, wait a minute. . . nn, wait. . . Shiori, whose lips were violently stolen after recovering from illness, after the long kiss ended, she leaned against Kursts body while being hugged. It wasnt long after that that Shiori found out that Princess Cattleya, whom Shiori had imagined to be an amazing beauty, was actually just an innocent eight-year-old girl. Roche, who has no interest in the royal family, apparently didnt know about it, but it goes without saying that Shiori took her anger out on him. CH 35 After the commotion settled down, Shiori ended up living in Kursts mansion. Kurst never, never allowed her to sleep under one roof with Roche. As for Shiori, it was a pleasure to spend the night with him at his house, as it was difficult for Shiori to meet Kurst because they were both busy with work. She somehow remembered her life in Japan. However, the mansion was much larger than Shioris one-room apartment. She commutes to the store by horse-drawn carriage, and when the time is right, Kurst will sometimes pick her up on the way home. However, there is one thing to be aware of here. When she was chatting with Roche at the store, or when he was teacher her how to prepare a medicine, Kurst, who came to pick her up, would sulk. Then, in the carriage back to the mansion, Shiori would either have to sacrifice her own lips to fix Kursts mood, or utter embarrassing words of love to reassure him. She tries to be a little careful when Kurst comes to pick her up. On the business side, sales dropped sharply for a while after quitting the back room business, but as Shiori continued her promotion, the number of customers gradually increased at the small shop in the back alley. Some of them said that they had been curious about this store for a long time, but there were also cases where they were afraid of Roche sitting at the counter and went home. However, she succeeded in bringing some women to the store, thinking that an ordinary woman like Shiori was also there. As she continued to steadily attract customers, customers who had used the medicine were impressed by its effects, and word of mouth gradually increased the reputation of the pharmacy. Originally, the reason why there were few customers on the front side was because Roche didnt do and advertising or bartering because the customers on the back side would drop enough money without doing such a thing. However, to put it the other way around, the quality of the medicine is good, so if you advertise it, customers will come. She also feels that Roche has changed his way of doing business and has become a little more serious. Shiori was surprised when he apologized to Syllabus and accepted the job from him again. When Roche apologized for his disrespect, Syllabus happily accepted and said. Because the medicine I bought before worked well, and ordered a lot of medicine for the knights again. As expected of Roche when taking a large order like this. . . its like if you fall, you wont wake up for free. . . Thanks to these and other efforts, the amount of her salary, which was quite lonely, returned to the same level as before. She went back to Japan once, explained various things to her parents, and came back. Her parents were stunned when their daughter, who had been missing for about two months, suddenly appeared at her parents house accompanied by two flashy men named Kurst and Garrell. It time to get people to believe in the existence of another world, and at one point they were almost taken to a mental hospital, and Kurst and Garrell were about to be arrested by the police, but in the end, her parents understood. It seems that they trusted Shioris words and Kursts sincerity. However, it seems like they half doubt about the trip to another world. Their daughter, who started dating a cosplay-loving foreigner, was telling a playful lie. Shiori intends to visit her home from time to time, so she has no choice but to patiently explain that there are things in this world that cannot be proven by science. +++ The older you get, the faster the year goes by. . . Shiori looked at the blue sky spreading overhead while muttering lines like an old lady. I feel relieved the the blueness of the sky is the same here as it is on Earth. When she turned her gaze back, in the center of the amphitheater, two knights clad in armor were riding horses, holding spears, and engaged in a serious duel. Today is the once-a-year sunny stage for the knights. Its the day of the cavalry match. A year ago, I thought I was heartbroken. I saw Kurst at the parade and was told that he had a fiancee. . . Comparing the situation at that time with the situation now, I realize how happy I am now. Today, Shiori came to support Kursts match as his lover. At the invitation of the king, she was able to enter the arena that commoners were not allowed to enter. When she looked at the royal seats where the royal family was sitting, she could see the king, the queen, the 9-year-old princess Cattleya, and the concubine holding the prince. It seems that the king was interested in Shiori because she was the hero Kursts lover and because she came from another world, so far she has been called to the castle several times to talk. Despite Shioris nervousness, the king and queen were kind, and Princess Cattleya was very friendly and cute. She is willing to listen to Shioris otherworldly tales, as if she were pestering a fairy tale. Unbeknownst to her, Shiori is now something of a celebrity among some in power. A woman who stole the heart of a hero who had never had a lover until now, was liked by the princess, had the guardianship of that eccentric magician, a senior noble and elite knight, Schyle, and a doctor belonging to the knight order. For some reason, she was also close to Syllabus, but she herself was not a noble, and had become a mysterious existence. Even now, the gazes of the aristocrats in this area are glancing at Shiori. However, Shiori didnt pay attention to such an impolite gaze C or rather, she simply didnt notice it. She worked at Roches shop in the morning and came straight to the stadium, so she was watching the game among the nobles, who were dressed up, in her usual dress. Right now, the final game of the tournament was taking place in front of her, in other words, the final match, and it was Kurst and Schyle who were fighting. In the first match, Shiori was worried about what would happen if Kurst got injured, but now that shes made it to the final, her worries are almost gone. Kurst is ridiculously strong. She realized halfway through that there was no one who could hurt him. Even now, Schyle probably wasnt weak at all, but even Shiori, who was an amateur, saw the difference in ability. Kurst runs around the arena on horseback, timing out when to beat Schyle. Im sure the next attack will decide the outcome. I want to get a little more nervous, but. . . Shiori complained extravagantly. But shed rather watch a boring match than have Kurst hurt himself. Shiori described the match as boring, but it seems that the evaluations of those around her are different. Surrounded by loud cheers, Shiori knew the match was over. The heros victory! Its lovely! No, Master Schyle was also quite skilled, but should I call him a hero? The people around her share their thoughts. Schyle, who fell off his horse after being hit by Kurst, threw off the helmet that covered his head and lay on the ground with frustrated, but pleasantly tired look on his face. Shiori nodded in her heart when the woman next to her commented that Kurst was lovely. *Sure he was cool. Even though he was clad in silver armor, I could sense his fearlessness and bravery.* She once again wondered if such a perfect person could be her lover. *Lets celebrate when we get home today. Ill make Kursts favorite menu and bake egg tarts for dessert.* With that in mind, she stood up from her seat and turned her gaze to Kurst in the stadium once again before returning. He held out his hand to Schyle, and after the hand was coldly removed C Schyles attitude was the same as ever C but he didnt seem to care at all, and this time he began to look around the audience. Kurst took off his helmet and brushed his lightly sweaty hair, and the woman next to her blushed and let out a sigh. Shioris face also blushed unintentionally. That sex appeal is a deadly weapon. Are you looking for someone? Kurst looked out over the audience while riding a horse. His line of sight never settles in one place, and he is constantly moving. However, it seemed that the person he was looking for could not be found no matter how much time passed, and Kursts eyes, which were shining with excitement at first, gradually became stained with despair. A disappointed, hurt face. Even if its wrong, its not the expression of a knight who won the cavalry match. Maybe Im the one youre looking for? Shiori finally realized that possibility. She didnt realize it sooner because she still hasnt quite come to grips with the happy reality that shes the lover of that perfect Kurst. Feeling embarrassed if she misunderstood, Shiori raised her voice and called Kurst. Kurst! However, her voice was quickly drowned out by the cheers of the crowd around her. The distance to Kurst in the center of the stadium is far, and there is no was he can hear it. She thought. . . The moment Shiori called out his name, Kurst, who was facing in the opposite direction, turned around and looked straight at her. Even though the venue was quite lively and noisy, it was astonishing that Kurst was able to hear Shioris voice out of the crowd. She raised her voice while thinking that there was no way he would notice her, so she was startled when he turned around. Kurst This time, she said it in a low voice and waved her hand slightly while paying attention to the eyes around her. Shioris eyes are almost blinded by his somewhat innocent, popping smile. She may have become accustomed to Roche, who is always with her, and has become accustomed to his ill-natured, somewhat irritating smile. Kurst seems happy that Shiori came here to watch his match, so he manipulates his horse and runs towards her. At first, Shiori was a little hesitant when she heard about this cavalry match and was told by Kurst to come and see it. She knew that all the audience were nobles and big merchants, so she was timid whether she should go to such a place. Kurst also knew that Shiori didnt want to come, so he might have been worried about whether she really came to see him today. But seeing that happy face made Shiori think it was a good thing she came to support him. She was kind of overjoyed, and she naturally smiled back. But that was all Shiori could afford. Kurst came running towards her while riding a horse and looked up at Shiori who was sitting in the middle of the audience. Shiori! He called out and reached out his hand. All eyes in the arena gathered on Shiori at once. The cheers stopped, replaced by a roar. Despite Shioris freezing, kursts hand is still outstretched as if to say, Come here. In this situation, does Kurst want me to go to him? Shiori cowered in embarrassment from being in the spotlight. Hes used to standing out, so maybe he doesnt think anything of it, but for Shiori, whos not a hero and has lived a normal life, she didnt want to be the center of attention for so many people. . .Cold sweat flows from shame and tension. I want to ignore Kursts hand and run away from this place, but that would make him too pitiful. Even those eyes that stare at me with expectation, I cant resist. She uses the stairs to go down to the bottom of the auditorium. If I go down in a hurry, Im going to trip, so slowly. The height of the spectator railings was about the same height of Kursts face on horseback in the arena. Since he is in a lower position, she inevitably looks down. Shiori, blushing at the gazes of those around her, took Kursts hand and smiled awkwardly, congratulating him on his victory. Congratulations. At that moment, Kurst smiles happily again and pulls Shioris hand. Wah. . .!? When Shiori closed her eyes while thinking she was going to fall, she was already in Kursts arms. Thanks to Kursts proper reception, Shiori was not shocked, but suddenly the weight of one person was added, and the horse seemed to be a little surprised. Lifting its front leg lightly, it kicked the ground of the stadium and ran. Shiori, who was not used to riding horses, screamed and hugged Kurst, but Kurst skillfully manipulated the reins and soothed Shiori and his beloved horse with a calm demeanor. The horse quickly regained its composure and, following Kursts direction, began to run at a leisurely pace around the field. But Shiori was still upset. I, can I get down now? Or rather, Im getting a lot of attention. . . Shiori, who is a timid person, is always worried about the gaze of the audience around her. She was embarrassed and she leaned against his body to hide behind Kurst. She is in an unstable position sitting sideways, so she is afraid of falling of the horse. Kurst didnt understand Shioris fear and embarrassment, or perhaps he knew everything about it and was using it. He was in a good mood. What are you so happy about? When Shiori raised her head and asked, Kurst frowned for a moment. I wont let you say you forgot. If I win this tournament, you promised to marry me. Ah. . . ah I couldnt say I forgot. But Shiori didnt forget about it because it didnt matter. She didnt hate Kursts crushing defeat, and she was going to marry him whether he won or not, so she didnt really care. He proposed to her about a month ago C actually, the marriage proposal itself had been made right after they met again, but he waited until the pharmacy got back on track C what is it like to honestly say yes? She became embarrassed and lightheartedly said, Well, why dont you win the cavalry match in a months time? I want to show off my wife. Kurst said that with a very nice smile and continued running across the stadium while holding Shiori. I wish I hadnt said things like, If you win, because I was in a good mood. I didnt have any intention of refusing the marriage proposal, so I should have accepted it obediently on that occasion. Shiori regretted from the bottom of her heart. That way, the joy of Kurst would have settled in that place, and todays shameful play would have been avoided. Shiori slowly looked around the audience. Their reactions vary. There must have been many people who knew about the rumors of Shioris for a long time, but even so, their eyes widened in shock at the sight of the usually calm and hard-working hero sending a sweet smile to a woman. . . Even so, some people cheered, and a young woman even threw jealous glances at them. If this is the case, maybe I should have dressed up too. Shiori groaned in her mind. Even though she was wearing a dress, she thought she had chosen something neat and pretty, but the women around her were all wearing dresses, and many of them were wearing hats with flowers on their heads. Kurst said that it doesnt matter what kind of clothes she wore, and there doesnt seem to be a particular dress code, but she regretted that she should have dressed up a little more. I dont care how people look at me because Im poorly dressed, but I dont want to cause trouble for Kurst. It would dbe nice if people didnt think that it wasnt worth it for a hero to give even one dress to his lover. A person is whats on the inside, but from now on, Shiori thinks she should pay more attention to her appearance. Kurst is both a noble and a hero of this country. Shiori also has the title of Mrs. Orfeld or wife of a hero. If she were to become his wife, she would no longer be just an ordinary pharmacist, and there would be more opportunities for her to dress up and go out. I think its a little annoying, but in order to be a woman worthy of Kurst, and not to embarrass him, I can endure at least the restraints of a tight-fitting dress and a painful corset. Luckily, or rather, I have a lot of dresses and accessories in my closet that were gifted to me by the overly rewarding Kurst. I should take advantage of it. While Shiori was thinking about such things, Kurst continued to run along the spectator seats in the wide stadium, as is to show off his relationship with his new wife, just as he said earlier, I want to show off my wife. When Shiori got used to the vibration on horseback, she suddenly looked at the seats for honored guests, and saw the king looking at her and laughing heartily. Its far away, so she couldnt even hear the laughter, but she can see the white teeth with his mouth wide open. And next to him, Princess Cattleya seems to be pointing at her and saying something to the queen. She may be complaining, Theres Shiori! In addition, behind the royal family, she was able to discover the figure of a magician dressed in a full red costume. She didnt think he was in the audience until just a little while ago, but she wouldnt be surprised if he suddenly appeared because Garrell is always out of sight. The jewelry around his neck and ears shone brightly in the sunlight, making him much more flashy than the dressed-up women around him. He watches Kurst with a satisfied smile. And in contrast to that, Schyle, who had been fighting Kurst until just now, was dissatisfied. Hes already on his feet now, holding his spear and staring at them C or rather, glaring at Kurst. Do you think that if Kurst gets too excited and frolics, hell throw me off the horse? But for today, I want you to let me down. Shiori thought so. Kurst isnt just basking in the joy of winning. . . . Same as myself. Im happy. Kurst said while manipulating the reins with a lively expression. When Shiori looked up, there was a clear blue sky above Kursts head, which seemed to express his joy. A clear sky with no clouds. Shiori smiled involuntarily. Im happy too. Happy to have Kurst next to me when I wake up in the morning.The happiness of living in the same world, breathing the same air, under the same sky. And happy that it will continue forever. Shiori put her hands around Kursts body and hugged him tightly. . . . Surely, the two of us will never be separated again. Feeling the warmth of Kurst and the gentle breeze caressing her cheeks, Shiori narrowed her eyes in happiness.