Of All Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #136

 

Of All Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #136

Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain

 

 

*Rainelle’s POV

I blinked blankly.

Are the golden eyes looking at me an illusion?

I rubbed my eyes.

"...I have been sleeping too long, haven’t I?"

Karmeut, who softly whispered, raised his upper body. He hugged me tightly before I could be mad at the hard-earned posture.

"Sorry for making you worry."

It was only then that I was really aware of the warmth and familiar arms.

Ah, this is real, not a dream or fantasy. Karmeut is really awake…

Tears flowed when I realized that. These were not tears of sadness or worry. It was just, it was just tears.

"...ughuu---!!"

"I'm sorry, Rainelle."

Karmeut patted me on the back while saying he was sorry. It was no different from usual, so I was relieved, but also because of that, more tears came out.

"I thought you were going to die----!! No, you are indeed dying!! Why did you receive that blow, why!! You've seen it before! That I can eat magic! But, but why take it on with your body! Your body was charred!!"

“Because you were in danger.”

I raised my head and met his gaze at his action of answering without a moment’s hesitation. Karmeut continued, reaching out and caressing my cheek carefully,

"My mate is in danger, so there's no one I can stay still."

"I was fine!"

"No. Even if you thought you were okay, I couldn't allow you to get hurt in the slightest."

"Then what about you? You don't think I also feel like that?"

Karmeut went quiet. I was angry and relieved at the same time.

I felt the realness that Karmeut was really alive.

I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand and escaped from his arms.

"Wait a minute, I'll call the others. You woke up after a week, so we need to check your body condition and you need to eat."

"---a week? That long?"

His eyes drooped as he murmured in disbelief. It was clearly visible that he was really, really feeling sorry.

When I informed the others that Karmeut had awakened, I had the illusion that the Imperial Palace became energized in an instant.

Healers and physicians were busy checking his condition, while the Imperial chefs cooked porridge, which was good for the body and easy to digest, for him.

His physical condition was fine, but since he had been lying down for a week, it seemed that he couldn't eat a regular meal right away.

When the servants brought the porridge, I received the bowl myself. Then, after scooping it up and cooling it down, I put it near Karmeut's mouth.

"Open up, Karmeut."

Karmeut opened his eyes wide in surprise. But soon he accepted it with a small smile.

"Is the temperature okay?"

"Yes, it’s fine."

"That’s a relief..."

"You want to continue feeding me like this, Rainelle?"

"Of course. ---by any chance, you don't like it?"

"There’s no way I wouldn't like it."

Karmeut's behavior of saying such a thing with a satisfied smile was sly, but even that was a welcome sight to me.

...Of course, it's not like I'm used to feeding others like this! Still! It's been a while since Karmeut woke up, and I want to do at least this much---!!

First of all, it's a little cute. The way he eats by opening his mouth and accepting each spoon of porridge was different from his usual appearance. ---Ah, of course the slick expression is familiar.

"I'm happy to be with Rainelle as soon as I wake up."

"...Me too."

"---Huh?"

"I was very, very scared that Karmeut would never open his eyes again."

My hands trembled involuntarily, and the sound of the spoon and bowl colliding with each other disturbed my ears.

"Your fur is all charred and brittle, your wounds are all burnt and not a drop of blood comes out, you were barely breathing... so, so..."

Just thinking about that time made my chest feel tight and it was difficult to breathe.

There was never been anything as terrible.

I started to raise my head at the touch on my cheek. As soon as I lifted my head, something soft touched and then fell on my lips.

"Rainelle, I'm alive."

He lightly kissed me and put our foreheads together. The golden eyes were shining warmly.

"I'm alive thanks to you. If it wasn't for your strength, I wouldn't be here."

I was taken aback by the remark.

"...You know?"

He said "Yeah," while running his hand through my hair. Sweeping down gently as if soothing, he continued,

"...it smelled like you."

I stared at his softly curved eyes as if bewitched. Karmeut kissed me lightly once again before opening his mouth once more,

"That's why I know. --I'm asking just in case, but it's not too much, is it?"

He immediately looked at me with concern. And I scrunched my brows at his behavior of asking that question.

"---Who should say that? The one who did too much was Karmeut."

"---Haha. That's right."

"It's going to get cold at this rate, so let's finish your meal and then talk."

Saying that, I hurriedly scooped up the porridge and held it to his mouth.

A peaceful silence filled the room until we finished the bowl of porridge.

"---Karmeut, do you want me to tell you what happened? Or after you have had a good rest...?"

"Tell me now, Rainelle."

"---Are you alright?"

"Except for being a little drowsy, I'm in excellent condition. The physician and healer said that too, right? It's also because I slept too much that I'm drowsy."

Looking at him saying “So now I have to move slowly,’ while smiling, I sighed briefly.

"---You aren’t overdoing it?"

“This… It seems that our position has changed?”

“Karmeut is the reason why.”

As I pouted and grunted, Karmeut laughed lowly. Then he kissed me on the lips.

"Karmeut!!"

"If you pout your lips like that, it looks like you're asking for a kiss, you know?"

"Ah, really---!!"

"Sorry, sorry. Please understand how my heart fluttered when I woke up and the first one I saw was you."

---I really can't beat Karmeut.

As I looked at him with that thought in mind, Karmeut smiled and held my hand.

"So, what happened? From how you said it, Rainelle seems to know."

I was close to saying “In fact, since this is a world of a game, I know the future,” and I swallowed the words.

This, it will be metafiction¹, so pass! Even if I tried to explain it, I don't think he will understand anyway!

In order to let Karmeut understand, I conveyed it like this:

The sudden attack was caused by Namuel who ate Crobanlock, awakened as a wolf, and ran out of control. And the Imperial Knights were seriously injured as a result of his rampage. When I said that Namuel was detained in the Imperial Palace after all that happened, Karmeut nodded his head.

"...I see. Is that what Rainelle ordered?"

"...I didn't take the empress lessons for fun."

"That’s impressive."

I scratched my cheek at the word ‘impressive’. It was embarrassing to receive praise from Karmeut.

"...By the way, what are you going to do with Namuel? The decision was left for you to be made after you woke up,"

“How is Marquis Namuel doing now?”

"He’s locked in a room where he can't escape and can’t use magic, and he’s recuperating. They said that his body was overworked while he was running rampant."

I thought of Namuel lying on the bed. And the image of Adriana who begged to let her meet Namuel at least once also surfaced.

"...Honestly, because he tried to kill you, I want to end him almost every time I see him, but I know it was unintentional. ...so I can't decide. Karmeut is the biggest victim. I want Karmeut to decide."

At that, he was silent. Then he reached out his hand and stroked my hair.

“Rainelle, did the Marquis regret it?”

"...He said that a prison would be more suitable than such a comfortable place."

"I see."

He stroked my hair without saying a word. I was used to the gentle touch, so my heart got calmer without my knowledge.

Finally, Karmeut, who lightly tousled my hair as if tickling my feathers, speak:

"I shouldn't decide rashly. But... you did well, Rainelle."

"---By treating and confining him in a comfortable room?"

"It wasn't a prison. And if you haven’t locked him up, you'd get opposed by others. What you did was the best."

Karmeut, who responded with a soft smile, continued,

“By the way, what about the nobles? Since the emperor is inactive, they must have made a fuss by coming to visit.”

"...I kicked out all the nobles who didn't even show themselves during the incident without hesitation. What makes them worthy of visiting Karmeut?"

Hearing that, he burst into laughter.

"I see, I see. Of course it happened suddenly, but even if it's so, nobles are mostly like that. Loyalty is based on a calculation to some extent, so it's natural that they won't show up."

Nobles who behaved like that were disgusting, but I nodded my head as if I understood. ---Looking at Karmeut, these words came out of nowhere:

"---The emperor's position is also difficult."

"It's a position where you shouldn't trust anyone easily. That's why it's lonely and solitary."

His hand stretched out. Grabbing my arm and pulling it gently, Karmeut whispered,

"Except for my one and only companion. I can trust you as much as I can."

The shining eyes filled with strong emotions were so pretty. Faced with the beautiful eyes that I couldn't take my eyes off, I said something I didn't mean to say,

"---When I read human history books, I learn that even the empress fights for power? The power of the king is diminished when the power of the queen is stronger."

At those words, Karmeut laughed lightly.

"Sure, but it doesn't matter."

"Why?"

"Even if you want my heart, I'm willing to give it to you. Can't I give that one heart for my one and only companion?"

Karmeut bowed his head and kissed the back of my hand. His soft lips tickled the back of my hand, then the lips parted slightly and his tongue touched the back of my hand.

I flinched at the touch and tried to pull my hand, but I couldn't get my hand out of his grasp.

"I'll do anything you want, my beloved one, my crow."

I avoided his hungry gaze without even realizing it. However, I couldn't get rid of the warmth on his hand, so I quietly held hands with him.

"---Even crows don't look for another partner until their mate dies. You know what I mean, right?"

"Then all the more reason for me not to die, because I don't want anyone to take you away."

“If you died that time, I would have been taken away.”

"Is there another man?"

"Hmm, well? I don't have one, but..."

There is no way. Several crows move on with others, but… if Karmeut died at that time... Uhm, it's useless to imagine because it didn't happen, but honestly, I don't know what would happen.

For a moment, I was under the illusion that the air had frozen. It was Karmeut who broke the awkward silence.

"...Ugh..."

"Karmeut?!"

He suddenly groaned and tightened his hold, and I reflexively looked at him in surprise. My heart sank at the sight of him suddenly clutching his stomach and slouching.

"Ka, Karmeut?! Where does it hurt? Your stomach? Your stomach hurts?"

"Ra- Rainelle..."

"Uh, yeah! I'll call a physician right away! No. Healer, call a healer!!"

My mind went blank at his sudden appearance. Stuttering, Karmeut pulled my arm as I searched for the bell.

"Come this way…"

"Uh, okay."

Carefully, I sat down on the bed. Then Karmeut hugged me tightly.

"Hm?!"

"...Haaaa... I think I'll live a little longer now."

“Ka, Karmeut?”

"Will you stay like this for a while, Rainelle?"

Bewildered at Karmeut's behavior, hugging me as if he was a child, I nodded my head.

...Don’t tell me, are you thinking that I might get taken away?

Questions popped into my head, but I couldn't continue thinking.

"Oh!"

It was because Karmeut, after biting my earlobe, buried his face in my shoulder while taking a long inhale.

"Please don't say that. Even if you don't have one, I'm jealous."

It was a very low voice, but I wasn't afraid. On the contrary, I even laughed at the thought that he was really jealous.

When I let out a small giggle, I flinched as he ran his lips around the nape of my neck.

"Ah, Karmeut..."

"I get angry just imagining that my only precious mate is taken away, you know?"

Suddenly, my body was laid on the bed. Karmeut's eyes above me were dark yet gleaming dangerously.

"Crow symbolizing disease and death, the black bird flying high toward the sun, the queen of all birds, --that's you. But even if you were an ordinary crow, I would have loved you."

"---Even if I can't transform into a human?"

“But I can cherish and give affection as a family.”

He smiled softly and kissed me on the lips. His tongue, which was licking my lips as if expressing affection, came into my mouth.

Like Karmeut, I felt drunk on the gentle sucking of my tongue in a soft, careful way. His lips, which kissed me deeply, slowly came down and reached the back of my neck. It was a little itchy, but there was a moist texture, which made me laugh.

The hand that had been gently stroking my waist paused for a moment at the sound of my laughter.

Then he felt a stinging sensation on my neck.

"Eup---!!"

Heat rose at Karmeut's act of gently licking the sore spot.

---Will it leave a mark on my neck?

"---I can't stand it anymore."

A low, growling voice sent chills down my spine. The eyes looking at me were dark. Dark with desire.

"Let me taste you. From head to toe."

***

 Notes:

1  Metafiction is a self-conscious literary style in which the narrator or characters are aware that they are part of a work of fiction.^↩

 

Translator's (Ririi's) Note: This is a kinda awkward atmosphere to end the year. Or is it just me. Oh, I'm so single. Anyway, see you next year!!

Nyx's Note: We'll see you again at January 5th! Happy holiday!

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Regarding the End of Volume 8 Dragon Chain

Hello guys, PolterGlast here.

I just want to talk about Dragon Chain WN. As you know that we've caught up to the latest chapter of the raw. And I realize that many of you think that the series end in volume 8. So I'm here to tell you that it is not ended yet (Well, I hope so).

Here is what the author said in one of his notes:

"... for the time being, my priority will be to work on the third volume of the LN version, so I think I will just write some side stories..."

"...I don't think I will be able to continue (the WN) anytime soon, but I look forward to your continued support."

You can check it here

Volume 8 of the WN is not the end. Besides, the author has already hinted to us what the next volume will be about. Like taking back Shina's hometown. About the bigger battle that Vitora told us about. She said that she need Nozomu's power for the upcoming battle. About that Raven guy who sealed Zonne in another dimension. Also, Nozomu still not befriend Tiamat yet. He just forcefully used her power through the chains. It was just like Naruto when he first re-seal Kurama so that he could use his power forcefully. And later we know that he befriends Kurama and break the seal so he can use Kurama's power with his consent. And maybe there are many more things that I might not be aware of.

Well, that's it. The WN is still ongoing, but we don't know when it will be updated. If the worst thing happens maybe the author decided to end it right now (volume 8). So, we can only hope that it will never happen.

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[Teaser] DCO Side Story : Do You Like Puppies?

 

TEASER

Side Story: Do You Like Puppies?

 

Two shadows were reflected in the dimly lit room.

Surrounding the two figures was a row of weird equipment reminiscent of a laboratory, with various colors of magical light shining through the equipment.

 

"So, how are things going?"

 

One was a tall, slender guy. His ears and tail, covered with shiny golden fur, were illuminated by a suspicious glow of magical light.

 

"We haven't gotten any results yet. We just finished that prototype a couple of days ago, you know. More importantly, where did you put that prototype?"

 

The other one is a boy with a rather distinct medieval tone in his voice.

He had been moving around the room for a while now, working on some kind of equipment that had been installed there.

He placed something in the form of a shredded thread in a beaker that glowed purple, and subsequently placed a sheet of paper on the laboratory table.

A circular magic circle was drawn onto it, and a plate-like object reminiscent of a crescent moon was placed on top of it.

 

"Since it's a prototype, it needs to be tested. I thought so, so I'm putting it to the test now."

"Where did you put it?"

"Don't worry. We are dealing with a reliable customer."

 

The boy gave a disgruntled glance at the fox-eared guy, but at that moment, smoke erupted from a purple beaker.

The boy hurriedly took the thread-like material out of the beaker and placed it on the magic circle on the lab table.

 

"Anyway, we don't have enough material to make the complete version."

"If so, I guess I'll have to go out and get some. I'll be right back."

 

The fox-eared guy turned on his heel and quickly left the room.

The boy was left behind, illuminated by a purple magic light as he continued his dubious experiments.

 

 

 

 

 

==================================

 

 

 

 

 

One day after school. Nozomu was invited by Irisdina to the forest north of the city.

According to her, she wanted him to help with a request she had received from the guild.

Of course, they were going to split the commission fifty-fifty, and since it was Irisdina's request, Nozomu gladly accepted the offer.

 

"So, the request was to take care of the wild hounds, was it?"

"Yes, the son and daughter-in-law of a hunter who died last year asked us to take care of them. There were two of them. There have been several sightings of similar-looking dogs in these northern woods. They wanted us to escort them home and protect them if we could, but if that's not possible, they'd like us to take care of the Hounds for them. That's what they said."

"I see…"

 

The request was to protect them. If it was not possible, the request was to kill the Hounds.

The Hounds were originally owned by the client's father, and when he passed away, they both disappeared.

Hounds that became wild and started to harm people were identified as demon beasts. Demon beasts known as Wild Dogs were classified in this category.

In particular, Hounds that have been kept by people are especially dangerous because they are not afraid of humans.

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Dragon Chain Ori : Ch 8 Part 50

 

Chapter 8 Part 50

Translator : PolterGlast

The Guest House.

One of the school facilities used for the opening ceremony. It is also where Nozomu lives now.

Returning to the guest house, Nozomu entered through the main gate and went straight to the residential section of the building.

When he opened the door to the dining room, he was greeted by an appetizing aroma.

 

"Welcome home, Nozomu, you're late."

"Yeah, I'm home, Iris."

 

A black-haired girl greeted Nozomu upon his return.

She was probably doing some cooking. Irisdina stood in the kitchen, which is attached to the dining room, wearing an apron over her regular clothes.

The bell of her hair ornament, which adorned her, made a shrill and refreshing sound.

 

"The meal will be ready in a minute, you can go wash your body first."

“A-, alright, thank you. I'll take you up on your offer then..."

 

Nozomu and Irisdina were currently living together in this guest house.

Considering their special circumstances, this is a natural arrangement.

Of course, they are not alone. Two teachers are living with them as supervisors.

The teachers who live together with them are Inda, Jihad's second-in-command, and Anri, Nozomu's homeroom teacher.

However, according to Irisdina, they have not yet returned from the academy.

Incidentally, the other Francilt family members are being taken care of at Madame Parline's mansion.

The place where the Francilt mansion used to be has literally been cleared, so Madame Parline took care of them.

After cleaning off the day's dirt and getting dressed in the simple bathroom provided, Nozomu went straight back to the dining room.

 

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Oh, just in time. It's ready just now, so let's eat it right away."

 

Dinner was already laid out on the table.

Bread, stew, and salad. And a grilled wurst. It was a typical commoner's dinner.

Nozomu took his seat and first put a spoonful into the stew.

Meat simmered with animal milk and a variety of vegetables danced in the bowl.

The aroma of the milk and melted vegetables stimulated his nose, and his throat naturally started to salivate.

Nozomu gently put the spoon into his mouth, trying to appease his stomach's urge to hunger.

 

"... It's good!"

 

The spoon naturally kept moving. Such words were unintentionally leaked out as the umami taste spread in his mouth.

Seeing Nozomu's reaction, Irisdina's mouth was smiling happily.

 

"Thank you. I've never done home cooking before, so I was a little worried."

 

Irisdina said that although she had learned about this kind of cooking, she had hardly ever practiced it.

However, it turned out to be quite delicious. The vegetables that melted in one's mouth went well with the stew, which had a concentrated flavor.

Above all, the warmth and comforting feeling of the stew naturally permeated into the body.

 

"Thank you for the food. I'll wash the dishes."

"T-, thank you. Well then, please."

 

After finishing the meal, Nozomu began to put away the dishes. Meanwhile, Irisdina went to the bathroom.

As she left the dining room, Nozomu wiped off the stains on the dishes and rinsed them off with water.

After cleaning the stains again with the soap provided, he wiped off the remaining water with a dry cloth.

The soap was not the soft one used on the continent, but a stiff, hard one.

It seemed to have been recently made in the craftsmen district of Arcazam, and it was easy to use, with little of the characteristic smell of something made from animal oil and lime.

He then covered the leftover stews and salads with a cover so that they would be ready to eat when Anri and Inda returned home.

 

"Okay, we're done..."

"Thanks for your hard work. What will Nozomu do now?"

 

After a while, Irisdina came out of the bathroom.

Her wet black hair and nightgown were glamorous, and the way she brushed her hair back made his heart skip a beat.

His heart thumped loudly. Since they had started living together, Nozomu had been getting nervous more and more often.

 

"U-, umm, there's nothing more to do today. But I don't feel sleepy yet either... I think I'll go for a little walk in the garden, just to freshen my stomach."

"Okay, let's go together then."

"Aren't you cold?"

"Don't worry, I won't be out that long."

"Good grief…"

 

Nozomu picked up a scarf from a nearby coat rack and draped it over Irisdina's shoulders. He thought it would be bad for her body if she got cold after taking a bath.

 

"Fufu~, thank you."

 

After putting on their coats, they went outside the guest house.

The garden, which had been crowded with people during the opening ceremony, was deserted, and snow was piled up here and there.

The frozen snow made a crunching sound as they stepped upon it.

The cold winter air caressed their bodies, which were burning from the bath and meal. For a while, the two of them walked slowly side by side along the garden path, relaxing in the pleasantness of the air.

 

"Iris, how's your body?"

"No problems at all. Rather, I'm in better shape than I was before. Even my hair is back to normal."

 

Nozomu was concerned about Irisdina, who had become a Dhampir, but she smiled cheerfully while making a fist pump with both hands.

Although Nozomu was relieved to see her energetic demeanor, he couldn't help but notice that Irisdina's eyes had turned a dark purple-blue color.

 

"But the color of your eyes is..."

 

Irisdina's hair returned from white to black, but the color of her eyes did not completely return to normal.

This was probably because she had changed into a completely different race. This fact left Nozomu with a little regret.

 

"Well, it can't be helped. Besides, I'm glad. Thanks to this power, I didn't lose anyone I cared about."

 

Irisdina, on the other hand, was unperturbed and didn't seem to be bothered by her situation. She was still smiling as she kicked the snow around her feet like a little child.

 

"Of course, now that I've changed, things certainly won't be the same as they were before."

"Did something happen?"

"I am officially no longer the next head of the Francilt family. In other words, I'm disinherited."

"...……"

 

According to Irisdina, since she is no longer a human being, she is no longer qualified to take over the Francilt family.

Nozomu was taken aback by her words.

 

"Hold on, there is more to this story."

"Eh?"

 

Upon seeing Nozomu's serious expression, Irisdina continued her story, looking a little flustered.

 

"The next head of the family will be Somia. Along with that, I will serve the Francilt family as counselor and regent."

"Somia-chan?..."

"Yeah, and this idea came from Somia herself. Fufu~, surprising, isn't it?"

"... No, not really. If it's Somia-chan, it wouldn't be surprising if she would voluntarily consider succeeding Iris."

 

Nozomu's stiffened eyes naturally relaxed as he looked at Irisdina, who smiled again and began to play with the snow. This time, he was able to properly accept her words.

 

"Hmm, you seem to be saying that you know Somia better than I do. I'm not going to let you get away with that!"

"You're showing a competitive spirit over such a thing?..."

 

Even after becoming a Dhampir, Irisdina is still a sis-con as ever.

Nozomu couldn't help but let out a chuckle at the sight of her unchanged character.

 

"Well, that's how it is. When I heard this idea, I actually did not feel sad or frustrated, but rather happy for Somia's growth."

 

This was the beginning of a transition from being an object of mere protection.

This incident brought about a big change in the two girls, Irisdina and Somia.

Such a change in two cherished people. Nozomu was genuinely happy to see their growth.

The Francilt family will undoubtedly face difficult times in the future, but there is hope for the future. That's what he thought.

 

"Well, Father, after much dismay, was being shaken down by Mena and Madame Parline though..."

"Victor-san?..."

"When I told him that I was going to be disinherited, he almost bit his tongue and cried tears of blood. Seriously, Somia seems to be more dependable than him..."

"A-, hahaha..."

 

But there were also those who were more likely to remain the same. It should have been a good thing, but Nozomu's body was drained of strength all at once.

Although Viktor has been behind a lot of things this time around and must have a lot of responsibility to bear, he seemed to have not changed his love for his daughters.

 

"Well, that's how it all worked out for us. So I have nothing but gratitude to you. Thank you for coming to our rescue at that time."

 

Illuminated by the moonlight of the night, Irisdina suddenly looked up at the sky.

 

"It's a nice moonlit night. It's cold, but that's why the moon looks so beautiful."

 

As if drawn by her, Nozomu also looked up at the moon.

The moon shining in the sky illuminated the night sky with starlight.

Irisdina, perhaps inspired by the cold but gentle moonlight that enveloped her, opened her mouth, looking a little excited.

 

"That's right. Now that we're here, why don't we dance?"

"Eh?"

"Such a nice night. Wouldn't it be a shame not to dance?"

 

Nozomu's eyes blinked at the sudden invitation to dance, and he looked up at the sky once more.

Indeed, it was a beautiful night. A quiet, yet moonlit night that made one want to return to one's childhood.

Nozomu, too, gently held out his hand to Irisdina, as if inviting her to join him.

 

"I guess so. Then, may I ask you to dance with me?"

"I gladly accept your offer."

 

As if guided by the overlapping hands, the two naturally began to dance.

In the starlit garden, their shadows drew beautiful footprints on the snow.

Nozomu took the lead with fluid steps, followed by Irisdina.

*Tap-tap-tap*, *tap-tap-tap*, the tempo of the dance was fast, yet calm and elegant.

Their movements overlapped each other without a single deviation. As if drawn by their movements, their gazes naturally intertwined with each other's.

 

"It's just like when we were practicing our dance in Francilt's mansion, isn't it?"

"Ah, that time. Even though that was only the third time you danced, your dancing has improved a lot."

"Is that so? Hearing Iris say so gives me a lot of confidence."

 

Prior to the Opening Festival. They smiled as they recalled their rush training at the Francilt mansion.

Then they remained silent for a while and continued to dance, surrendering themselves to each other's breathing.

Not even the sound of the wind could be heard. Only the sound of footsteps on the snow in the garden of the guest house and the chime of the bells of the hair ornaments that rang in the air.

After repeating the same routine several times, Irisdina suddenly opened her mouth.

 

"Why did you come to help me?"

"Because I wanted to connect with everyone's-... no, with your dreams."

"My dreams?"

"You told me about them when we were practicing our dance at the Francilt mansion at that time."

"Oh, now that you mention it. Fufu~, it feels like a long time ago."

 

Irisdina's dream was to protect her family and the people she cared about, including Somia.

He didn't want her dreams to be extinguished. Nozomu again clearly spoke up in front of her.

 

"My dream was to do that after all. I want to support the dreams of my loved ones."

 

Nozomu's reason for fighting. His reason to become strong.

It took him a long time to realize it, but it has not changed.

Hearing his words, Irisdina's mouth hung open.

 

"I see, so that's how you managed to seduce Lisa-kun."

"Isn't it awful to say I seduced her?"

"Not at all. You're a playboy with no self-awareness after all. If I don't say something like this to you, I can already imagine you helping anyone you want and getting into trouble."

 

You'll eventually get stabbed in the back on a moonless night.

Adding those words at the end, Irisdina puffed out her cheeks with a pout.

In response to her slightly dissatisfied expression, Nozomu showed his dismay by saying, "Ha~~."

 

"Unfortunately, I'm not good enough to be a playboy."

"I know. I said so because I wanted to make fun of you."

 

The disgruntled look on her face changed. Nozomu let out a deeper sigh than before at Irisdina, who gave him a wide smile on her face.

 

"Iris, you're a terrible person..."

"Well, I am a cold-blooded aristocrat. Formerly though."

 

*Chuckle*

Both of them let out a chuckle and continued to dance under the empty winter sky.

Eventually, Irisdina stopped her dance.

Is something wrong?

Nozomu tilted his head and looked into her face. Irisdina looked up at him with her purple-blue eyes shimmering with anxiety.

 

"Hey, Nozomu, why-... did you come to help me?"

 

Again, it was the same question. But Nozomu knew right away what she wanted to ask.

He met her gaze and mulled it over for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.

 

"Because I like you... There's no other reason."

"...-again."

 

Irisdina's lips quivered as she demanded to hear the words again, which came calmly but clearly from her ears.

 

"Because I like you."

 

Is that true? Is that not a lie?　

Her anxiety was quickly dispelled by Nozomu's reiterated words.

What followed was a surge of intense joy. Her whole body heated up, and her eyes could not look away from him.

 

"Can I hear your answer?"

 

A single tear spilled from a pair of flickering purple-blue eyes.

 

"I-... I adore you too."

 

The distance between the two, which had been only slightly open, slowly closed and then overlapped.

Their hands were gently entwined in a white chain that glowed with a faint light.

 

=================

We've caught up to the latest chapter of the raw, wohoo~!

So only the side stories are left now.

By the way, the next chapter would be the continuation of the Volume 7 side story that I skipped before.

Also, I want to let you know that I currently translating the LN version of the series. But for the time being, it will be Patron Exclusive Content.

You can check it out here.

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