Chapter 144 - If It’s Just Myself (1/2)

“Kunpei-san? Kunpei-san.”

Aoi’s voice woke me up.

Oh?

Oops, it seems like I fell asleep.

I felt like I was having a very nostalgic dream.

“Are you okay? You look like you had a nightmare.”

“Are you thirsty? Here’s some water.”

Mikuma and Aoi’s worried faces filled my vision.

It might be because I just woke up, but I was a bit startled.

“Ah, sorry. Healing magic feels so good, doesn’t it? How long was I asleep?”

“About ten minutes?”

I took the mineral water that Aoi handed me and looked around.

This was inside their hideout. I was lying on a worn-out couch in the corner of the living room.

I was in the middle of having my injuries treated with Kayone’s healing magic after the duel.

I had fallen asleep to the unexpected comfort of healing magic.

“The wounds on your body have mostly healed, but your fatigue and physical exhaustion should have increased. When you get home today, make sure you get some rest, okay?”

“Ah, thanks. Just taking care of the injuries is already enough.”

I replied and sat up.

Ah, I see. My body felt heavy.

“In addition to healing with magic power, I also increased Kazamachi-sama’s own recovery power.

Hmm, even if you tell me that, it doesn’t quite make sense to me.

I touched my face.

My face, which had been puffy and swollen earlier, was now just a little swollen.

Magic is amazing.

“Where’s Atol?”

“His Highness’ treatment is just beginning. It’s like my own little revenge, to make him reflect a little…”

Kayone stuck out her tongue a little after saying that.

Kayone looks much more mature with her tanned skin and black hair, but when she makes gestures like this, she is more like a girl of her age. Yep, an oriental beauty.

“If you’re talking about me, I’m right here.”

We suddenly heard Atol’s grumpy voice, and we all turned around at once.

“Your Highness, please don’t forcibly get up.”

“Shut up. This is nothing. Hey, Kazamachi.”

Atol glared at me as he backed away slightly from Kayone, who rushed over to him.

“What?”

My heavy body couldn’t move very well, so I leaned back against the sofa and replied.

I don’t think of this guy as a big deal anymore.

“… The duel is my loss. Tell me three things you want. Ah, the round trip to sphere continent is separate. I was planning to do that originally.”

“Hah?”

Like usual, he’s still saying the same incomprehensible things.

“Then, just one thing.”

“What?”

“Apologize to Kayone right now.”

It’s no fun unless you see it.

“Hey! You!”

Hey, he’s flustered!

I’ve been trying so hard to see that face of yours since the beginning!

“K-Kazamachi-sama! I’m fine!”

Kayone appealed to me in a big hurry while shaking her hands.

“Even if you’re fine with it, I’m not fine with it. Come on, hurry up.”

It’s getting a little interesting, isn’t it?

“Kunpei-san, you’re making a very evil face.”

“Hm, it looks like he’s having fun, but it’s little scary, isn’t it?”

Huh?

Ladies, this is not your turn to humiliate me, okay?

“People with villainous faces like you shouldn’t smile like that, you know.”

“Shut up, furball!”

Gasara appeared from behind Atol and pointed at my face with a grin.

Ah, it seems that Atol was resting in Gasara’s room.

“Never mind that and apologize! You said I can ask for anything, right?”

I have to turn the focus back to Atol as soon as possible!

“Yes! I have a suggestion!”

“Whoa!”

“Kya!”

“Aah!”

“Gyaaaaah!”

Aoi, Mikuma and I quickly covered our ears in surprise at the loud sonic attack that was suddenly unleashed, while Gasara, who had been hit up close, screamed and fainted. Serves you right!

It was the sudden appearance of the smiling ultrasonic girl, Utai.

“D-don’t startle me like that, idiot!”

“What an amazing voice…”

“I thought my heart was going to stop…”

You’re going to kill someone if you keep showing up at that volume without warning!

The windows of the hideout are shaking dangerously!

“I’m sorry? Is this okay?”

Utai apologizes with a mischievous gesture while laughing and sticking out her tongue.

As she moved, her chest, which was larger than Mikuma’s, jiggled.

She’s only a little taller than Shouhei, so how did she grow so much over there? I’m curious.

Her similarly tanned skin, like Kayone’s, perfectly accentuated Utai’s atmosphere.

“You know what? I was almost forgotten today, wasn’t I? Even though I’m His Highness’s fiancée too.”

I know you think you’re whispering, but it’s still very loud, you know?

That’s right, Utai was also Atol’s fiancée, wasn’t she? She was completely excluded, though.

“It’s not the first time that His Highness and Kayo have been lovey-dovey with each other, and I love them, so it’s okay. But it’s still quite a shock that they forgot about me.”

This person, when you think about it, is probably in the most complicated position.

Sandwiched between Atol and Kayone, an idiot couple who are mutually in love with each other, and on top of that, it is already decided she’ll be his future second wife or whatever, what kind of feeling is that?

“So, your apology to Kayo-san and your apology to me will be counted separately from Kazamachi-kun’s reward for the duel! Isn’t that good, Your Highness!”

“You! Saying that as you please!”

Oh? What does that mean?

“Because, this time… or rather, since we left Dailan until now, His Highness’ attitude was the worst, wasn’t it? I think it’s only natural that you apologize to me and Kayo-san, who were following you around. Ah, that was tough, wasn’t it, Kayo-san?”

Ah, I see.

That’s right, it’s true that I was the most inconvenienced one today, but Kayone and Utai have been pushed around by Atol for over a year.

There’s nothing wrong with demanding an apology for something like that.

Rather, getting told to apologize by an outsider like me, doesn’t make sense.

“Guh! But!”

“Is that okay? Is it really okay to act like that towards me? Is that really okay?”

With a smirk on her face, Utai bent her waist and looked up at Atol while approaching him.

Doesn’t it look like you’re having fun?

“Um, what was it again? ‘Don’t be silly. I’m the only one who understands how good Kayone is. The smile that appears on her face at a moment’s notice is like the holy mother, I…’ mmfgh”

“Ha!? Y-you! Why do you!”

Atol’s eyes widened, and he hurriedly covered Utai’s mouth with his hand.

Holy mother?

What are you talking about?

“Mmmmhm! Fuhah, Your Highness must have forgotten, right? You must have forgotten who showed His Highness around at the mansion on the day that the elders’ meeting said that Kayo-san had a marriage proposal. Well, that was a passionate speech. It was so loud that even I, who was cleaning outside the room, could hear it, you know?”

“You knew? You knew this whole time and didn’t say anything?”

What’s going on? Are they leaving us behind again?

“I wonder if Jaja and Nana are awake right now?”

“It’s already evening. Let’s go home as soon as we’re done.”

Aoi and Mikuma didn’t seem to be interested anymore.

Hm, it seems like this sketch comedy is going to be prolonged.

“I knew it, you know. I heard everything after all. After that, His Highness started to think a lot and his attitude suddenly changed, so I thought he must have something on his mind, so I kept quiet. I’m great, aren’t I?”

“No, not great or anything like that! Listen up, okay? Don’t ever tell anyone, okay? Not even to Kayone! Ever!”

I’m going to have to cut them short, I’m starving.

I still have two infants waiting for me at home. Please hurry it up.

“Guh!”

“Uta-chan was that true?”

“Yes, it’s true. From now on, every time His Highness does something terrible, I’ll teach you one phrase, okay?　After all, he was giving a speech to the old men about his feelings for Kayo-san for almost an hour.”