Chapter 6 (1/2)

“Claudia-san, do you have brothers or sisters?” (Kamui)

In the cla.s.sroom after school Kamui does something unusual and starts a conversation with Claudia on his own accord.

“Ahh, yes. I do.” (Claudia)

Even while being perplexed by that, Claudia replied.

“Elder? Or younger? Since you don’t give off a elder sister-like feeling, Claudia-san, it’s the elder one I guess?” (Kamui)

Kamui has known for a long time about Claudia having siblings. He is asking while being aware of it.

“There is an elder sister above me.” (Claudia)

“Hee, I see. Only an elder sister?” (Kamui)

“That’s right.” (Claudia)

This point was slightly off Kamui’s expectations. Claudia mentioning only the older sister is likely referring only about her elder sister from the same mother. If she answers like this, I won’t be able to ask about the prince, who is first in the succession order.

“What kind of elder sister is she?” (Kamui)

“Why are you asking about such a thing?” (Claudia)

Wariness slowly welled up within Claudia due to Kamui asking about her elder sister.

“I’m an only child, so…” (Kamui)

Kamui talks while slightly casting his eyes down. Because of this poor acting, Claudia easily lowered her wariness.

“… She’s gentle, I think?” (Claudia)

However, the answer to his question is truly ordinary. With only this much, I won’t understand anything about her nature.

“Is that towards you, Claudia-san? Or is she kind to everyone?” (Kamui)

“My elder sister is kind to everyone.” (Claudia)

“That’s great.” (Kamui)

Being kind is a good thing. It would be best, if her kindness extended to the border territories and the other races as well.

“Great?” (Claudia)

“It’s great, isn’t it? To have a kind elder sister.” (Kamui)

“Yeah.” (Claudia)

“But, will your elder sister succeed the household since there are no brothers?” (Kamui)

“It will be nice if that happens, but…” (Claudia)

“Oh?” (Kamui)

Unintentionally Kamui’s mouth leaks a surprised voice. Claudia in fact readily gave the answer Kamui desired. Moreover, the answer isn’t “That’s true”, but “It will be nice if that happens.” In other words, Claudia is wis.h.i.+ng that her elder sister succeeds.

“What?” (Claudia)

“It’s nothing. How old is your elder sister?” (Kamui)

“… It’s only about older sister*.” (Claudia) (T/N: She uses aneue here, formal way to address her elder sister)

“Eh?” (Kamui)

“Why are you enthusiastically asking about my elder sister, although you don’t ask anything about me?” (Claudia)

Claudia felt happy about Kamui starting a conversation with her, which is rare, but she has become slightly sullen with Kamui’s interest being only centered around her elder sister.

“How old are you, Claudia-san?” (Kamui)

“… I have the same age as you, Kamui-san.” (Claudia)

“I see. So, you elder sister is?” (Kamui)

“… 3 years older.” (Claudia)

Kamui didn’t consider Claudia’s feelings at all.

“Then she graduated already, didn’t she?” (Kamui)

“No, my elder sister doesn’t go to the academy.” (Claudia)

It’s rare for the imperial family to study at the academy. An education environment, at the same level as the academy or above, is prepared in the castle. There is no necessity to deliberately study at the academy. There is also the reason that it’s not advisable for them to become close to specific n.o.ble households.

“I see. Are you living together with her?” (Kamui)

“Yes, but we don’t meet each other very often.” (Claudia)

“Although you are living together?” (Kamui)

“That is…” (Claudia)

“Claudia-sama, let’s go home.” (Theresa)

It’s Theresa who came interrupting. As usual she is looking at Kamui as if glaring at him.

“But…” (Claudia)

“It’s wrong to talk with such man. What will you do, if it even causes bad rumors?” (Theresa)

“What kind of man am I?” (Kamui)

Kamui complains due to her usual harsh way of speaking about him.

“A bug, which sticks to Claudia-sama.” (Theresa)

However, she returned even crueler words.

“… Cruel. That’s cruel, isn’t it, Claudia-san?” (Kamui)

“Ah, well, that’s true. Theresa, I think that you were rude towards Kamui-san just now.” (Claudia)

“I’m sorry…” (Theresa)

Silencing an annoyingly barking dog should be left to its owner. Kamui’s idea was right.

“Which reminds me, where do you live Theresa-san?” (Kamui)

“Why do I have to answer that?” (Theresa)

“Well, then forget it.” (Kamui)

“Oy!” (Theresa)

He was able to make sure that Theresa wasn’t a real idiot either.

“How about you, Claudia-san?” (Kamui)

“Let me see, … it’s at home. You, Kamui-san?” (Claudia)

“Mmh?” (Kamui)

“Where do you live, Kamui-san?” (Claudia)

Being asked one-sidedly, Claudia returned the question.

“I live in an orphanage.” (Kamui)

“What?” (Claudia)

“We are originally from the orphanage, thus we are receiving their help even now. We are paying donations properly and are also doing voluntary work.” (Kamui)

He only wanted to say that it didn’t mean that they are accommodated for free, however Claudia got stuck on an unexpected point for Kamui.

“Voluntary work, you say, what are you doing?” (Claudia)

“We are giving the orphans lessons.” (Kamui)

“How unexpected…” (Claudia)

Kamui’s reply was unforeseen for Claudia as well.

“What do you mean by that?” (Kamui)

“No, I didn’t think you were so fond of studying, Kamui-san” (Claudia)

“Hee? I like it quite a lot though.” (Kamui)

“However, you don’t seem to listen to the lesson with very much enthusiasm…” (Claudia)

Claudia’s seat is right behind Kamui. Whenever Claudia observes him, Kamui is always not listening to the teacher’s cla.s.s properly and is doing something else.

“Something like teaching by only reading from a textbook, that’s annoying even if you listen to it, right? Besides, if it’s the textbooks, I have advanced further than those.” (Kamui)

“A lie?” (Claudia)

“It’s the truth.” (Kamui)

In fact Kamui is trying to progress ahead in his studies with quite the speed. The time he has in the Imperial capital is only until he graduates from middle school. Considering that, Kamui has quickly finished the teaching material of the middle school wanting to study other things.

The Imperial Academy has a library that boasts a number of books ranking next to the Imperial Public Library. In this place, that has the best environment for studying, Kamui planned to study as many things as possible.

“Of course there are parts I don’t understand though. I make it a rule to properly listen to the lesson to check those parts.” (Kamui)

“Is that so…? Umm, what do you do the rest of your time?” (Claudia)

“I prepare to give lessons. Although it’s nice to be relied on, it’s quite the ch.o.r.e. It’s almost every day after school ends.” (Kamui)

“Today too?” (Claudia)

“Indeed, I will teach them once I get back.” (Kamui)

“… Is it fine for me to come with you as well?” (Claudia)

“Haa!?” “Claudia-sama!” (Kamui & Theresa)

Kamui and Claudia raised their voices at the same time. It might be the first time that their opinions matched for a moment.

“I’m interested in what you call voluntary work. Besides, I also want to know in what place the orphanage might possibly be.” (Claudia)

“That’s right. I’m interested as well. Alright, I will go together with you as well.”

A voice suddenly cut in. Thanks to this voice, Kamui missed the time window to refuse.

Someone notices that and a stir spreads in the surroundings. It’s the entrance of a celebrity of the academy.

“Diefried-san… you are kidding, right?” (Kamui)

“I’m serious.” (Diefried)

“It’s an orphanage?” (Kamui)

“As member of the n.o.bility it’s necessary to know such places. Besides, we are expected to donate to the imperial capital’s orphanages, too. It’s also indispensable to make sure whether the donations are being handled appropriately.” (Diefried)

It’s obvious that he is forcing the matter. Diefried only wants to accompany Kamui, that’s all there is to it.

“Then it mustn’t be today or anything, right?” (Kamui)

“No, today I have time to spare. There is no need to say why I’m free, right?” (Diefried)

He has decided to have a talk with Kamui.

“Well, then let’s go? You will also accompany us right, Claudia-san?” (Diefried)

“Yes, I will come with you.” (Claudia)

Ignoring Kamui, who has an expression as if being completely against it, Diefried advances the talks.

In the end his resistances were overcome with this and it was decided that Kamui will take Diefried’s group to the orphanage.

If Claudia goes, Theresa will naturally go with her as well. Taking the three people along, Kamui is heading towards the orphanage.

Compared to the academy, which is in a safe place close to the castle, the orphanage is in an area with not overly good public order. In addition it’s far away. It takes more than 30 minutes to walk normally from the academy to the orphanage.

For the sake of shortening those 30 minutes, Kamui is following his usual course.

“Oy, you? Are you really heading to the orphanage!?” (Theresa)

Theresa complains to Kamui, who walks in front, in a loud voice.

“That’s obvious, isn’t it? There is no other home in the Imperial capital I can return to, but the orphanage.” (Kamui)

The path chosen by Kamui was a shortcut to the orphanage, but naturally it follows back streets. There was no issue as long as they were close to the academy, but as they got further away, the surroundings gradually changed into something questionable.

“Are you alright, Claudia-sama?” (Diefried)

“Y-Yeah.” (Claudia)

Diefried calls out to Claudia, who looks uneasy.

“Of course it’s alright? I’m taking this path everyday.” (Kamui)

Kamui, who is walking in the lead, said that in a grumble.

“It’s not dangerous?” (Diefried)

“This ain’t the slums. It won’t go as far as having your life taken… Ah.” (Kamui)

Without being aware that it was Diefried, whom he addressed, Kamui ended up answering in his usual manner of speaking.

“It’s fine. That’s your usual tone, right?” (Diefried)

“I will be careful. There are no particular problems around this area. Well, for a person who doesn’t know the vicinity, to walk around by themselves is a bit (dangerous)* though.” (T/N: Typical j.a.panese case of letting the describing word away as it’s clear from the context, added it in brackets)

“You see! Isn’t that dangerous!?” (Theresa)

Latching onto Kamui’s words, Theresa complained once again.

“Theresa-san, don’t nag about every little thing. I told you, that’s if you walk alone, right? With how many people are we walking right now?” (Kamui)

“3 people and 1 animal.” (Theresa)

It’s unnecessary to ask about the fact that the one animal means Kamui. If there’s something impulsive, Theresa will think it up.

“Ho. I don’t particularly mind, even if you stop following me?” (Kamui)

“There’s no particular problem, even if you aren’t here.” (Theresa)

“Then, we will do that. Well, it will be alright since Diefried-san is here.” (Kamui)

Kamui readily decided to leave as Theresa asked for it. At last it has reached a point, where it became difficult to deal with her.

“Yeah, he is 10.000 times more reliable than someone like you.” (Theresa)

“Then, by all means, follow from behind as I will be going ahead. If you follow this path straightforward towards the orphanage, there will be a building in front. As you can tell at first glance it’s impossible to go inside so take the alley next to the building. Be careful since it’s a narrow alley. You will probably be fine since it’s still bright, but don’t forget to be cautious towards attacks from above. Once you get out of there, go right. Once you walk for a bit, there will be a light brown building on the left. That’s the rear entrance of the orphanage. Never, ever, enter other alleys. Ah, there’s also the option to go from the main street by returning the way we came. As for me, I would recommend that way. Bye.” (Kamui)

Once he has finished saying up to that point in one go, Kamui tries to go ahead by himself.

“Say, Kamui-kun.” (Diefried)

“What is it?” (Kamui)

“Is it really safe?” (Diefried)

“I don’t know? I will be alright, but how about all of you? That much I don’t know.” (Kamui)

“After all.” (Diefried)

“I have explained it to you pretty well, but the one who was hostile towards me, is Theresa-san, no? Please don’t ask me to take responsibility, if something happens. Then, until later.” (Kamui)

Saying this, Kamui advances ahead this time. As if forgetting about the three, he headed directly forwards.

Only once, at the time he talked with a man who approached him from somewhere, Kamui looked over his shoulder. After exchanging a few words with that man, Kamui glanced in the direction of the three and shook his head.

“… Let’s return?” (Diefried)

At the moment when Kamui’s back became distant, Diefried suggested to retrace their steps.

“Why? That guy has taught us the way.” (Theresa)

Theresa insists on her doubt towards that suggestion.

“We probably won’t be able to proceed safely, if it’s just us. The looks in the surroundings have already become strange.” (Diefried)

They almost didn’t see any figures of people up until here, however once Kamui left them, they could feel the stares of people from all over. Those were stares which didn’t seem to be good-natured in the least.

“That guy!” (Theresa)