TCHB 06

Chapter 06

“Brother Kiel! What are you doing today?”

A few days had passed since then, and as if it were part of my daily routine, I headed straight to Kiel. I put on the brightest smile I could muster, but as always, it didn’t work on him at all.

Damn it. Tears blurred my vision. Sob.

“Why.”

“I just want to hang out with you?”

At my pitiful words, Kiel looked at me with indifferent eyes. I thought things had improved a little after we started attending lessons together, but apparently not. It was back to this again.

What a miserable life I have.

“I’m going to sword training.”

“I’ll come watch!”

I immediately grabbed Kiel’s hand. With a reluctant expression, he pulled his hand free.

That’s so mean. You didn’t have to shake it off like that!
That was what I thought, but I couldn’t say it out loud. If it were Kiel, he’d definitely reply, “There’s no reason to hold hands in the first place.”

I’d clung to him persistently even during study time, so lately he’d stopped rejecting me verbally and instead answered with silence. He’d probably given up.

I trotted along after Kiel. Maybe because of the difference in leg length, I kept falling half a step behind.

I really wish I’d grow taller already. Should I try stretching exercises again?

As I was thinking that, Kiel’s pace gradually slowed. I wondered if he was being considerate and glanced at his face, but nothing had changed. Still expressionless.

Figures.

“……And who is this?”

The instructor teaching Kiel looked troubled the moment he saw me. From the look on his face, it seemed like he was wondering whether he had to teach me too.

You don’t have to worry about that!

“My name is Shurerrer Clambach.”

I greeted him with a bright smile, as if to say you can put that worry away. But then Kiel suddenly acted strangely. He stepped in front of me, standing as if to shield me.

What is he doing?

“……She’s my younger sister’s friend, sir.”

There wasn’t a trace of emotion in his voice, but it was polite. After exchanging a few words, the instructor seemed to realize that I was just here to watch, and his expression brightened again.

I felt a little offended, like he was dismissing me, but I stayed quiet. That kind of reaction was probably normal in this world.

And so, Kiel’s sword training began. He trained with a wooden sword.

Resting my chin on my hand, I watched the boring scene and naturally drifted into idle thoughts.

The holy sword… it was noisy. Always chattering nonstop, so it was exhausting. I wonder who’s keeping it now? The magic I’d cast on the blade must’ve worn off, so it’s probably rusted by now. Would it recognize me if we met again?

A soft sigh escaped my lips.

Just then, a sword went whoosh through the air toward me. I reflexively tilted my head to the right and avoided it. Maybe because I was in a child’s body, my movements were slow. If I’d been even a little later, it would’ve been dangerous.

Huff, huff. That scared me! What was that?!

Avoiding it was one thing, but this was something else entirely.

I’d been so startled I thought my heart was going to shrink. I widened my eyes and looked at the two of them, only to find them staring back at me with dazed expressions.

No, why are you two the ones spaced out…?

“Y-Young lady! How did you avoid a sword moving at that speed just now?!”

By turning my head?

I stared back at Kiel’s instructor with the same blank expression he was giving me. Then, suddenly, he strode forward and grabbed my hands with both of his.

…Excuse me? Weren’t you annoyed with me just a moment ago?

That change in attitude was no joke. I was genuinely impressed by how fast he switched gears when he suddenly boomed,

“You must be a genius, young lady! That sword was moving quite fast, yet you dodged it!”

“I’m not.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said I’m not a genius!”

I’m not a genius, so why do you look disappointed?! Where did that annoyed attitude from earlier go? Just go back to being annoyed, please!

“Then how did you avoid it?”

…With reflexes from my life before my previous life, triggered by a life-threatening situation?

If I said that, I’d definitely be treated like a lunatic. I couldn’t bring myself to say it and hesitated, trying to come up with an excuse.

Come on, brain. Think. Quickly!

“A butterfly! A butterfly fluttered by, so I just turned my head.”

“So you’re saying you were lucky?”

“Yes!”

That’s exactly it!

When my eyes sparkled, the instructor put on a look as if he’d realized something.

“Luck is also a skill. In my opinion, young lady, you’d be very good at swordsmanship if you learned it.”

This man’s intuition is terrifyingly sharp. Shouldn’t he be setting up a fortune-telling mat somewhere? I admired him silently, then cleared my throat.

“I don’t want to! And it’s class time right now! This is negligence of duty, Kiel’s instructor! You’re not the shameless type who takes money without working, are you?”

“Ah, negligence of duty… shameless…”

The instructor covered his mouth with his hand as if he’d been struck by shock. Muttering about negligence of duty and shamelessness, he awkwardly shuffled back to Kiel.

Only after seeing that did I finally let out a sigh of relief. In this life, I had no intention of picking up a sword. Absolutely none.

“Puhahaha!”

Just as I was relaxing, a clear, refreshing laugh struck my ears. The sound came from above. The moment I lifted my head, I screamed at the figure falling down.

“Eek!”

Lucain jumped down from a tree. Startled by his sudden appearance, I breathed roughly. My heart was pounding.

Th-that scared me…

“You’re seriously hilarious. Shuri, are you really eight years old?”

“If I’m not eight, then how old do you think I am?!”

Why is everyone’s intuition so sharp? Or am I just giving myself away?

So flustered by his spot-on remark that I forgot to be angry, I rubbed my face.

I don’t know. Lucain, that instructor, Kiel—what are these people, really?

“An eight-year-old skipping class and saying things like that… Shuri, you’re too funny.”

Your face is even funnier. How do your eyes curve like that?

At first I’d just thought, Let’s make him a prince-like emperor! and chose blond hair and blue eyes, but he really did look like a prince.

Ah, well, he is an imperial prince, so I guess that fits.

“Shuri, do you like Kiel? Why?”

“He’s handsome.”

“I’m handsome too.”

Lucain tilted his head slightly and grinned. It was exactly the angle most people would think, Wow, he looks handsome.

In other words, he was very good at using his face.

“Huh? Y-Yes. Of course you’re handsome.”

I made you that way, so of course you’re handsome. No, but could you say weird things like that to Lotte instead of me?

“But you’re not my type!”

As soon as I said that, I bolted. Honestly, I didn’t think I could handle whatever he might say next.

Why does he keep saying things that feel like he’s going off the route?!

“He’s not following me, right?”

I kept glancing back and confirmed that I’d successfully escaped.

Thank goodness. Relieved, I started walking cheerfully without deciding where to go.

Where could Lotte be? Hmm, no idea. Ah! I was going to talk more after Kiel finished his sword training! I totally forgot because of Lucain…

Should I go back? Or not? Ngh… there’s still plenty of time. I’ll go in the evening!

“Demanding even more gold and treasure—how ridiculous! What’s so special about a mere dragon? Can’t we just send an expedition like before and kill it?”

A dragon? I stopped walking when I heard voices coming from around the corner.

Why is that thing suddenly being mentioned?

“Watch your words! Don’t forget that this is the ducal house. There are many ears listening here.”

“The ducal house was originally mine! If my father hadn’t passed it to that bastard…! Even if I’m adopted, I’m still the eldest! Until that guy was born, that seat was mine! And that Alena Clambach—why did she have to die so early and break the clause with that dragon? Hah.”

So they’re blaming me for the dragon going berserk because the life-bound contract was broken when I died?

Dumbfounded, I stepped out in front of them. Their beady eyes widened slightly, then relaxed again when they realized I was just a child.

“Hey.”

At my casual tone, the two men stiffened.

I twisted the corner of my mouth, glaring at them as if to say, What? Got a problem?

“If you don’t like it, why don’t you go deal with the dragon yourselves?”

With cold, icy eyes, I blatantly scanned them from head to toe and let out a scoffing laugh. Their faces turned bright red.

“W-What?! What was that behavior just now?!”

“Good behavior? Well, with bodies that weak… you’d probably die the moment you went. And if your bodies are that bad and your heads are that bad too… how did you even get your titles? I really don’t get it.”

With that, I walked past them. I felt a hand reaching out to grab me, but I dodged lightly and continued on my way.

Seriously, this is so irritating. Did I die because I wanted to? I went to war because I was ordered to, fought, and died—what is all that trash talk? Is that even human speech? It’s ridiculous.

I was so frustrated that tears welled up, when Kiel passed by me. I immediately grabbed his collar.

“Why aren’t you asking why I’m crying? Why are you just walking past?”

“…Why are you crying.”

“It’s just really annoying.”

At my words, Kiel looked at me as if I were unbelievable.

My life hadn’t been filled with only happy memories, but I had no regrets. Yet the fact that there were people who thought of my death like that made me unbearably angry. It felt unfair.

Did I really go to the battlefield to save people like that? Ugh… I want to cry. I’m so annoyed.

“Here.”

Kiel held out a handkerchief. I took it and wiped away my tears. Since it had come to this, I had no intention of letting those people off easy.

“Gasp! Shuri, why are you crying?!”

I heard Lotte’s voice. When I turned slightly, I saw her running toward me in alarm.

“Lotte…”

The only one worried about me is our little baby…

Holding me in her arms, Lotte gently patted my back, as if trying to calm me down.

“Don’t tell me… Brother, it wasn’t you, right?”

“No, Lotte. I’d never make your precious friend cry.”

Oh, really? In the original story, you did make her cry—and even tormented her badly. All for the stupid reason that she seemed closer to someone else than to you…

I looked at him with distrust. When our eyes met, he raised one eyebrow as if displeased.

He was kind just a moment ago, and now he’d changed again.

Do you have some kind of switch or something? Why do you keep changing like this?! Give me back the Kiel who was kind for three seconds!

“Shuri, are you okay? Did someone say something to you? If so, I’ll scold them!”

Lotte rolled up her sleeve and flexed her arm, striking a pose like she had muscles. When I poked it, my review was simple: extremely squishy.

Suddenly, she spoke into the empty air, telling someone to come out.

A guard? Just as I wondered that, an adult man fell from the sky.

Maybe because my days as Alena felt so distant, or because I’d been living without much vigilance, I hadn’t sensed his presence. I hoped I’d never need to. As that thought crossed my mind, a lively voice rang out.

“My bodyguard!”

So that’s why I felt a presence…

“Shuri, look at me!”

Lotte took a deep breath and stared seriously at the guard.

“Yaaah!”

She lightly tapped him.

The sound was so insignificant that it somehow made it even cuter…!

To me, Lotte’s hand was like a cotton fist, but the guard pretended to be hurt. What a kind bodyguard knight.

When I looked back at Lotte, her eyes were shining as if to say, See how strong I am! She looked like a child begging for praise, so I spoke up.

“W-Wow. Lotte, you’re really strong!”

This wasn’t acting. And it definitely wasn’t exaggerated surprise…

Even at my awkward words, Lotte smiled happily. Feeling guilty about that, I decided I really should practice my acting skills.

“That’s right! I’m strong! So if anyone bullies Shuri, I’ll beat them up!”

…What did you say, Lotte? I—I must’ve heard that wrong, right?

I stared blankly at Lotte, who was smiling innocently while using the phrase beat them up. I wasn’t the only one doubting my ears—the bodyguard and Kiel both wore strange expressions.