Episode 11
In the end, I was dragged to the forest without any preparation.
No, why does it always end up like this?
“Do you like plants that much?”
It’s a funny question to ask, but seeing her, who always has a sleepy expression, looking so happy makes me want to ask.
Of course, I don’t get an answer.
I never know what she’s thinking, she just quietly observes the plants.
Sometimes it seems like she’s even talking to them, but why won’t she say a single word to me?
“Hey, but is there really a reason to be doing this here?”
It just occurred to me now, after being dragged out here in a hurry.
If she wants to study plants, she could just have someone collect them for her and then focus on the research.
“You could just have someone collect them and then you can focus on the research.”
“The room isn’t a suitable environment for research.”
She’s picky about that too?
I thought she would be fine as long as there were grass and flowers.
“Hmm, then if we go back early today, I’ll make a research lab for you. How about that?”
This and that aside, our family is a Count family.
And I’m their only child.
What does that mean?
It means I have a decent allowance.
Enough to easily build a lab or two. Ahem.
“Research lab?”
“Yeah, if the room is uncomfortable, we can just build a lab. You’re going to stay here for a while anyway, right?”
“…Alright. Then let’s go back after I finish looking at this.”
The negotiation worked.
Well, of course.
It would be better for her to observe and research in a place with professional equipment than to crouch on the ground like this.
I feel a bit more relaxed knowing that I just have to wait a bit and start looking around, staying close to her.
I don’t know when her observation will end, but it’s fine as long as it’s before any monsters appear.
Of course, monsters don’t exactly schedule their appearances.
“Well, there’s no way one would suddenly pop out in this short time, right?”
…What?
I feel like I just jinxed it.
It’s always like that in novels and anime, isn’t it?
Whenever someone says something like that, monsters appear.
“…Haha, it can’t be.”
This isn’t a novel or an anime.
There’s no way monsters would just pop out like that…
“Screech-“
There is…?
Ah, damn it.
I had a bad feeling about this.
“Celia, Celia!”
We need to run away now.
I don’t know what’s making that strange sound, but I don’t need to know.
We have to run away before we find out, before it fully reveals itself.
Otherwise… we’re dead, damn it…!
I quickly call out to Celia, but there’s no answer.
“Could it be…”
I wonder if she’s already been attacked by monsters. I shift my gaze from where the sound came from to the ground.
“Ah, is that it?”
…I see that damn girl leisurely talking to a blade of grass.
“Hey, you little…! Now is not the time for that!”
I urgently grab Celia’s arm and pull her up, but she doesn’t care.
She just keeps staring at the grass, completely ignoring me. I really…
I really want to punch her.
Hey, do you even realize how dangerous this situation is?!
We can’t defeat a monster with one useless person without a status window and one plant otaku with a status window but no combat skills, damn it!
“Kieeeek-!”
And then, thankfully, the monster that appears is a goblin, known for its low intelligence.
They said goblins are the most common monsters in this forest.
That’s a relief.
We should be able to create an opening to escape if we trick them a little.
First, I need to somehow get this plant otaku up and then use any means necessary to draw their attention and run away… but the problem is that this plant otaku has no intention of getting up.
“Hey, you… please… just! Ugh!?”
Problems in life don’t just appear all at once.
They gradually reveal themselves, like a veil being lifted.
Why am I saying this now?
Haha, why indeed, damn it.
Because the goblins that appeared aren’t just one or two, but dozens.
“We’re fucked…”
Seeing the goblins surrounding us and closing in, I wonder if these guys really are those low-intelligence creatures.
Well, actually, it makes sense.
While these idiots were thinking and trying to surround us, we were wasting time.
There’s no way to escape now.
But we can’t defeat them either.
A dilemma.
“Celia, do you have any combat skills or anything?”
“Not interested in combat.”
No, damn it…
I’m not interested in combat either!
At least not while I don’t have a status window!
Is this the end?
Am I going to die here without achieving anything, without even seeing the “s” of status window?
Mother, Father, thank you for everything.
Sob, sob, thank you for raising this useless child as your own. Sob, sob…
This useless child is going first!
“Kueeeeek!”
The moment I close my eyes, seeing the goblins charging at us.
I start to hear strange screams.
“Huh…?”
And it doesn’t hurt at all?
I slightly open my eyes and see green blood and flesh splattering everywhere.
What the hell…?
Were there landmines planted around us or something?
How else could this happen when neither of us did anything?
Anyway… are we alive?
Seeing Master struggling, I instinctively draw my sword.
Of course, I don’t doubt her abilities.
The moment she draws her sword, this group of goblins would be sliced…
No, they would be obliterated.
Despite that, the reason she’s struggling must be because of that woman who’s been crouching and muttering something.
I know she heard that strange comment about the Goblin Chieftain in our first meeting.
So it’s only natural for her to be concerned.
“I don’t like anything about that woman.”
I click my tongue and turn my gaze to Master, who’s looking at the goblin corpses with a dry expression.
Her style has changed quite a bit since I last saw her.
Her hair, which she always tied in pigtails, is now tied up high in a bun, and her frilly dress has been replaced with a simpler one.
If she was cute before, now she’s incredibly pure.
No, she’s the embodiment of purity itself.
It might be disrespectful to think this, but…
“I want to meet her…”
I want to meet her and talk to her.
I want to share everything with her like before, even trivial things like “Your style has changed.”
But I was the one who left her.
She’s always strong, kind, and lovely.
I wanted to become someone worthy of her.
And then, I wanted to appear before her with confidence, expressing my respect, admiration, and love.
I wanted to tell her that I love her.
“Let’s go back now.”
“Oh… Is it finally over? Alright, let’s go. Please, let’s go.”
But I’m not worthy yet.
I want to become someone everyone acknowledges.
If I become that kind of person, wouldn’t you look at me too?
“Just one more…”
“Ah, no! I won’t make you a lab then.”
“…Alright. Let’s go.”
A sullen voice, tinged with fatigue.
If I were there, I wouldn’t let anyone tire her out.
I take a deep breath to calm my heart.
“..My legs hurt.”
“Of course they hurt, you’ve been crouching for so long.”
“…Carry me.”
What?! Crazy!
What nonsense is that woman saying?!
She dares to ask to be carried on Master’s back?!
“Huh?”
Please refuse, Master.
You don’t have to offer your back to that useless woman..!
“Alright, fine. Get on.”
Contrary to my wishes, the kind Master lifts the smaller woman onto her back and starts walking.
She’s touching Master’s back.
I, I put in so much effort not to make her uncomfortable just because I’m a different gender.
I’ve never even properly touched her..!
That woman is casually touching Master just because she’s the same gender.
This is unfair.
Even if I run out there and tear that woman apart, this anger won’t subside easily.
“But… that would make you sad, wouldn’t it?”
Master is strong.
She’s a truly upright, righteous, and strong person.
But she’s also kind.
She’s kind to everyone, offering them her company and treating them preciously.
That’s probably why even that woman, who’s so indifferent to others, is openly expressing her affection for Master.
“It’s painful for me.”
I want to eliminate everything around you and be the only one by your side.
But I don’t want to see you sad because of my selfishness.
So I’ll just watch over you like this, for as long as time allows.
“Master, I’ll be going to the academy soon. I’ll watch over you a little longer until then.”
Actually, with Master’s level of perception, she must have already noticed that I’m watching her.
But the fact that she’s letting me watch like this means…
Could it be that you also feel something for me…?
I finally make it back to the mansion.
Even in the forest, I kept feeling like someone was watching me, so I ran back home in a hurry, worried that a monster might appear. My legs are shaking a little.
I’ve been feeling this gaze lately…
Do I have a stalker?
Ugh, anyway, I’ll be safe in the mansion.
“You can let me down now.”
“Ah, uh-huh.”
I let Celia down from my back and let out a sigh of relief.
We almost died back there.
As expected, it’s dangerous without a status window.
The status window is the only answer.
I have to get one somehow.
“I want to go to my room.”
“Ah, uh-huh. Alright. But you need to eat more.”
“What’s with that random comment?”
“No, you just feel light…”
“I’m average weight.”
Celia, who’s heading to her room after speaking firmly, shrugs.
Was it rude to comment on her weight?
I should apologize next time I see her.
“Hmm, should I go see Father?”
I need my father’s permission to build the lab I promised Celia.
I’m not sure how to bring it up, but I decide to see him first and think about it later. I head towards my father’s office.