NOVEL NEXT Chapter 120
I stared blankly at Yurasia’s innocent blinking eyes for quite a while…
“…Huh? What did you just say?”
“I was asking why the smell of Stella is coming from the Young Lady.”
The strength of Yurasia, who was clinging to me, intensified.
Without drawing up any mana, I realized I couldn’t win in a pure strength contest against Yurasia… No, it was a hug that firmly confirmed that.
…There was no escaping this without being forceful.
I casually shifted my gaze to Pina and Stella.
The danger-sensitive Pina turned pale, and Stella…
Well, I probably had a face like that too.
“Well… I guess it’s because we were just together?”
“If you were together, was it in the Young Lady’s room?”
“Exactly. Pina and Stella were… preparing things in my room.”
“Then, there should be a Young Lady’s smell on Stella, but why is there a Stella’s smell on the Young Lady?”
With her eyes narrowed, Yurasia glanced at Stella, then looked back at me.
“Did you sleep together?”
At her gaze, I flinched – my body shuddered.
But why am I feeling depressed?
What did I even do with Stella?
I decided to respond confidently. Just as I was about to open my mouth…
“Hey, sis!”
Stella spoke first.
“Yeah? What is it?”
“We, um… did sleep together. But it was just sleeping! Of course, it was! I’m with her, and she’s a girl!”
“Is that so?”
Yurasia’s voice remained calm.
But strangely enough, it sounded like it was filled with anger.
“Yeah. And about the reason… I’ll tell you!”
“Reason? The reason you had to sleep together?”
“Uh-huh!”
We had decided early on to tell Yurasia about what happened in the Labyrinth and the underground waterways.
Stella and Pina said that if we only kept it secret from Yurasia, it felt like we were excluding her, so we had to say it.
I agreed with that point. Though it wasn’t the whole reason. It was to disclose the source of the gift I’d be giving.
What I was giving Yurasia couldn’t simply be something I found casually.
Yurasia stared at me again, her gaze piercing as she let out a small hum.
“Young Lady… Is something wrong?”
“Not that nothing happened.”
“Was that… the reason you had to sleep with Stella? You’ve never once shared a bed with me. So why Stella? Is it because we’ve spent so long together, and you’ve grown tired of me? Or is it because I’m too big? Do I smell? I never thought my sleeping habits were bad, but is my hair itchy? I can tie it up for you if that’s the case. I could even cut it off. If not… then why? Is it my scent you dislike? No, you definitely said you liked my scent last time. Is it because of the calluses on my hands? Is it because I have muscles, unlike Stella? Even if they are muscles, I pride myself on having pretty muscles, but is that not how you see them? Do you dislike me, Young Lady? Am I too annoying?”
I couldn’t keep up with Yurasia’s rapid-fire, madly shooting words.
W-what did she just say?
“…Uh, n-no, Y-Yurasia?”
“Yes?”
Her wide, innocent blue eyes were staring at me steadily.
What am I supposed to do in a situation like this?
Is she sulking? Is it jealousy? Disappointment? I have no idea why she would feel that way… but I learned a way to fix this. From Sara.
…I’m not sure if that will work on someone other than a parent.
Ahem, ahem. I cleared my throat, smiled as brightly as I could, and hugged Yurasia’s waist tightly.
Then… I stood on my tiptoes and whispered in her ear.
“I… missed you.”
“Um…”
It had an immense effect.
*
In a private room at one of the most renowned restaurants, away from prying eyes, Yurasia hung her head like a sinner.
“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Stella. Pina… I’m sorry. I was… I didn’t know, I was so stupid… Ugh…”
“Uh, no! Why would you be sorry, sister?”
Shaking her head vigorously!
I told Yurasia the story from the weekend, giving it a fitting twist.
And before this incident occurred, I mentioned how I gathered the information.
I bought information through a very kind interaction.
While talking with Silina, I grew suspicious of Paid, which led me to follow Pina to class.
During lunchtime, I was convinced Paid was the culprit.
While preparing and strategizing with the new information brought by Silina, our class got canceled, and when I went looking for Stella, Pina was kidnapped.
Then I escaped the Academy with Stella and entered the Labyrinth together.
During this whole process, it was said that Stella ended up sleeping with me due to the monsters she saw in the Labyrinth.
Of course, I omitted parts about Pina and spirits, Eustetia’s secrets, Stella’s story, and the reaction to the Purgatory gate.
Pina will talk about spirits, and Stella will eventually share her story too.
As for Eustetia’s secrets… I feel like Yurasia isn’t ready to know yet.
I don’t think she’ll turn her back on me just because I don’t have a Hero’s bloodline.
I just think it’s better to inform her when things are clearer.
Anyway, after hearing all my story, Yurasia realized she misunderstood everything and was too embarrassed to lift her head.
Sitting next to her while locking arms with Yurasia, Stella gazed at me with a strangely expectant look in her eyes.
No wonder she would feel that way.
I did mention I brought back the things left behind by my ancestors at the end of the Labyrinth.
I even briefly showed Pina the branch of the World Tree and mentioned that I had things for them, so it’s only natural she’s excited.
“Anyway, now that that’s settled, let’s eat.”
“…Yes. I’m really sorry, Young Lady.”
“Yeah. It’s fine.”
“I didn’t suspect you at all! It was just… I felt a bit sad, so… that’s why.”
“I understand.”
“Then, tonight I’ll sleep with you, right?”
“Huh? What?”
What? Did I miss something in between?
Why is this suddenly about that?
“What…? Why is the conversation going there?”
“Hehe.”
I squinted at Yurasia, but she just chuckled and picked up her fork.
“I think you prefer floral scents over citrus, so I’ll wear that perfume!”
“Sure… you do you.”
“Yes!”
We had shared my story, so now it was time to hear Yurasia’s.
Fortunately, Yurasia hadn’t experienced anything extraordinary. Just the usual family stuff.
What she ate, what she saw, what she heard.
How she got scolded, how she was disciplined, how she trained.
She mentioned getting scolded by her Grandmother for picking a fight with a demon at the Arant Museum, but now that she was improving, she felt the difference between her and her Grandmother clearer than before.
Yurasia’s Grandmother seems quite strong.
I heard she’s from a mercenary background, and if Yurasia can’t even win against her now, she must have been more than an ordinary mercenary. Yurasia likely inherited her talent from her Grandmother.
Pina also spoke about the spirits.
Upon hearing Pina’s tales, Yurasia gasped and made a fuss, but during that, she inadvertently let slip an unexpected comment.
That she had felt something unknown from Pina, which, she sensed, was a spirit.
That sounded like something a demon would say.
Thus, we shared a warm conversation, feeling a sense of camaraderie as we all ate together.
And finally, the moment arrived.
We were still in the private room.
In front of us lay not a meal but dessert. Of course, my Mint Chocolate Latte was in front of me.
“So, about Eliaernes.”
“What?”
“Do you really… have gifts to give to me and sister?”
Slurp – having finished my Mint Chocolate Latte, I nodded.
“I do.”
“…For free?”
“Naturally, I’ll want something in return.”
At my words, Pina flinched.
Then, with trembling hands, she handed me the branch of the World Tree.
“I won’t pay in money.”
Tilting her head? Pina cocked her head, and Stella shot me a horrified glance.
But strangely, her expression bore a peculiar… smile.
“I’ll pay with my body.”
With that, I spotted my pouch hanging at my waist and placed it on the table without looking at the reactions of the others.
“First off, Pina. I have more for you.”
Rustle rustle – rummaging through my pouch, my hands moved busily, maybe due to my small hands, finding things was incredibly easy.
“Here, this is a branch of the World Tree. Hmm… you’d know it better as the branch of the World Tree.”
“Eh?!”
Pina’s eyes widened.
The World Tree. There’s no way she’d not know it. The whole world knows.
Not just Pina, but Yurasia and Stella’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.
I continued my explanation, regardless.
“It can’t be used as is; it needs processing to become a staff. So, you’ll need something to put at the end of that staff, right? This is Polaris’ horn. While it’s not a mana stone, it’s orders of magnitude more efficient.”
Pina’s jaw began to tremble.
Her tail fluffed dramatically, and her two hands gripping the branch of the World Tree came together in front of her chest.
“I’m afraid to have it forged by a smith in the Empire… Considering the nature of the material, I’m uneasy. So, I’ll send it to a smith I know in the Eustetia Duchy. Wait for about a month. I’ll send it today.”
Once I finished speaking, all sound seemed to vanish in the private room. The kids didn’t even breathe.
In that silence, Yurasia slowly opened her mouth.
“…Young Lady. The name Polaris is…”
“…the King of the Light Spirits, right?”
Stella quickly chimed in.
“Correct.”
I nodded.
“Wow… wow…”
Pina began to shake like a leaf and presented the device with a thud.
[I have no ability to repay this.]
“It’s okay; I’ll find some way to collect. Oh, and Pina, I’ll give you a special discount.”
I gave Pina a bright smile.
“We’re friends, after all.”
Pina did not nod.
But that’s fine. I had already decided to give it.
Refusal is not accepted.
“Eliaernes. You… you can’t just take something like this without permission, right?”
“Yes.”
“The branch of the World Tree and Polaris’ horn. Shouldn’t these be sent to the Empire, or at least the Eustetia Duchy? Handling something like this carelessly could cause us a lot of trouble…”
“That’s why I’m giving it to you. From the moment you accept it, we’re all accomplices.”
Next, I took out what I had for Stella while laughing kya-ha-ha.
“If you don’t want to be executed, you’d best keep your mouth shut after receiving it!”