Free Web NovelChapter 43: I wonder why...
Amid the thick, suffocating killing intent, I slightly turn my face toward the girl and check on Erika and the others with my eyes.
A little further away, I could see Erika’s figure behind the three girls who had drawn their weapons, as if they were protecting her.
"Wow, how impressive. To think you’d dare look away from me."
"...I thought I’d have some leeway since you were the one who came asking for a reason."
"Yeah... I won’t give you any more."
The girl smiled beautifully with eyes devoid of light, then began directing stronger killing intent and magical power toward me.
From her reaction, there was no doubt—she was the older sister Croana had told me about.
She was clearly angry. She must think I did something to Croana.
...But I never expected her way of confirming things would be through scent.
I never imagined we’d run into each other this quickly, and in Santony of all places.
The girl raised one hand toward me and spoke.
"Why do you smell like Croana?"
"...Croana is my lover."
The moment I said that, the girl showed a surprised expression.
She tilted her head and peered into my eyes, as if trying to determine whether I was lying.
My back was drenched in cold sweat and felt disgusting, but if I looked away here, she’d probably take my life.
Her killing intent and magical power were enough to instill that much terror in me.
"Rea, he’s not lying."
"...Fia-nee, is that true?"
A voice similar to the girl’s came from inside the house, from behind Frair-san.
The girl called Fia, who had appeared behind me, spoke to the girl in front of me called Rea.
"It’s true. He doesn’t have the color of a lie."
"...I understand. I’ll believe you."
Rea, believing Fia’s words, withdrew her killing intent and magical power.
The instant it disappeared, the thread of tension snapped. A wave of sweat and exhaustion washed over me.
Rea, with light returning to her eyes and looking amused, smiled at me and said:
"Sorry about that? ...Umm."
"...I’m Raid."
"Raid, huh. I’ll remember it!"
After saying that, Rea slipped past my side and ran behind Frair-san.
Frair-san looked puzzled at my condition. It was probably because of something the girl standing next to her—who looked very much like Rea and was called Fia—had done.
Fia looked at me with a bitter smile and said:
"I’m sorry."
"Compared to you two, I’m basically a baby... I’m counting on you."
As a small bit of payback, I let out a sigh in reply. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Fia smiled awkwardly at my response and urged Frair-san to go inside.
Fia also headed deeper into the house, and only then did Erika finally run over to me.
"Are you alright!?"
"...I want to say I’m fine, but... I really had to steel myself for a lot of things."
"So did we..."
"Being with the instructor is never boring~"
"...Stimulating..."
The three girls gave their not-exactly-happy impressions.
Before entering the house that Frair-san had invited us into, I took out a spare jacket from my magic bag and changed into it.
I was soaked with sweat, after all.
We were told to sit at the large table inside, and I gratefully complied.
Frair-san sat across from me, with Fia-san and Rea-san on either side of her.
Erika sat next to me, and the three girls sat on the sofa in the back.
Frair-san smiled apologetically at my state and began to speak.
"It seems the two of them did something to you. I’m sorry."
"No, it was me who came here uninvited."
At my reply, Fia-san narrowed her eyes with a smile, while Rea smiled happily.
...Because of the tension, I hadn’t noticed earlier, but this was the first time I’d seen such "small mountains" in this world.
Yes, both of their chests were like small mountains.
Both of them had the same beautiful, long black hair as Croana.
They were both beautiful, but their facial features were different.
Fia-san had a seductive, bewitching air about her, while Rea-san had a playful, mischievous vibe.
I explained the situation with the three songstresses to Frair-san and had Erika talk about becoming a patron.
Frair-san was surprised by the patron story, but when we explained the details—what we could provide—she looked delighted.
She was especially happy about the underwear selection at Flower Mist.
As a singer, choosing underwear and clothes that don’t show lines is always difficult.
Frair-san also told us that without an instructor, it took her a long time to choose them herself.
The conversation progressed smoothly, and it was decided that Erika would become her patron.
By the way, she had firmly refused Baron Tegagusa’s invitation.
Once Frair-san finished speaking, Fia-san opened her mouth.
"Nice to meet you. I’m Fia, Croana’s older sister."
"I’m Rea. Nice to meet you!"
"I’m Raid, Croana’s lover."
"...I’m Erika."
When Fia-san and Rea-san looked at Erika, they smiled awkwardly.
Erika, being stared at, trembled slightly.
Well, after what had just happened to her... it couldn’t be helped.
Fia-san tilted her head and kept smiling.
"So Erika-san is also his lover?"
"N-no... Well, yes, I am."
"Oh my, there are others? One? Two? Three? ...Two, huh."
"H-how did you know...?"
"I wonder why~"
Fia-san smiled mischievously, while Erika stiffened.
Just like how Rea had spoken at the entrance earlier, she could probably sense it through "colors."
I braced myself, thinking Fia-san was going to say something to me.
But she brought her index finger to her lips and made a "shh" gesture.
"Let’s talk again later, okay? ’Different color’ boy?"
"..."
Being called "different color" made me nod slightly while my body twitched.
It wasn’t out of fear.
Nor had I been drained of magical power.
It was an indescribable feeling. The only thing that came to mind from "different color" was my reincarnation.
Did she notice? Or was she testing me?
If colors show in the atmosphere, then I’ve probably been found out.
If it’s just words, since I haven’t answered, I might still be able to manage.
I let out a deep sigh.
