Kays Translations

Chapter 31: Villainous Aristocrat Suffocates and Faints

How did it end up like this?

"Kunou-sama, would you please come over here more?"

"No, Kunou-kun, it's impossible. The princess right now is a wolf in sheep's clothing."

It's all Kotori's fault, really.

Felsy, too, is a part of it.

Why would they agree so readily to sleeping together as three? I don't understand...

But yeah, Kotori is definitely the worst, yeah.

I'll just subtly reduce the amount of tomorrow's meal that only she notices.

That seems to be the only retaliation I can come up with right now.

Even though the heated sleeping bag I made is cozy, for some reason, it feels uncomfortable...

Ah, well, at least there's no risk of getting burned with the heated sleeping bag.

I've already adjusted the output, after all.

If I hadn't and used it beforehand, I would have been severely burnt all over. It would have been a difficult recovery. I narrowly escaped being burned alive.

"Well, Felsy-nee-sama, you say I'm a wolf. But I'm just a little lamb who wants to be eaten by a wolf."

"Hehe, Your Highness, you have a talent for jokes."

Or so she says. But something feels off.

Wasn't Eleanor supposed to like Felsy?

I can't put it into words, but there's some tension in the air. It's unsettling.

Is there some underlying reason for this tension?

"Huh!!"

"Oh? Kunou-sama? Kunou-sama!?"

"The usual expression... Was there something surprising?"

I got it. I've figured it out.

Eleanor barged into my tent because she anticipated Felsy's intervention!!

And surely, I must be a huge nuisance to Eleanor!!

Well, thinking about it calmly, it's understandable.

It's natural to feel uneasy when there's another man between you and the person you like.

Even if Felsy and I are siblings, it wouldn't be amusing from Eleanor's perspective.

I better make a graceful exit here..

"I'll just step out for a moment to feel the night breeze."

"Huh? W-Wait, Kunou-sama!!"

Eleanor, I'm rooting for you.

When you think about it rationally, Eleanor is the perfect match in every way—looks, power, personality, and potential.

Gender is just a trivial thing. I can entrust Felsy to her.

I came up with a suitable excuse and left the tent. I'll leave the two young ones alone to enjoy their time.

"Hm? It's not time for the watch change yet."

"Well, I thought I'd be considerate. I'll be your neighbor for tonight."

As I stepped out of the tent, I bumped into Viola, who was sitting in front of the campfire keeping watch.

Even though it's the forest near the royal capital, there are still monsters around here.

Having shifts for watchkeeping like this is part of our training.

"..."

"..."

"Hey, how about saying something?"

"Huh? Um, the sound of the campfire is quite calming, isn't it?"

"That's not what I meant."

While glaring at me, Viola spoke. He's as sharp-tongued as ever.

"Um, Lord Askam. Did I do something to upset you?"

"...Not really."

"Ugh, you're definitely hiding something, aren't you?"

I've always been curious.

Viola always seems to have an issue with me.

It's not outright hostility, but there's something he doesn't like.

For someone like me, who gets upset when people dislike me, I can't help but be curious about the reasons.

"If you tell me, I'll work on it. I don't want people to dislike me."

"...There really isn't anything. It's just my jealousy."

"Jealousy? Towards me?"

I tilted my head, and Viola began speaking without acknowledging my presence.

As if he were talking to herself.

"I was born into the Askam Duke's family, who have served as the commander of the Royal Knights for generations. So I was raised to be strong, and for that, I had to give up a lot."

"Oh, I see."

"But my father has never praised me once. Well, he wasn't the type to praise others much in the first place, so I didn't mind. But there was only one instance when he praised someone."

"Oh really? Who was it?"

"It was you, Kunou von Dorana."

"Huh?"

　No, why is Viola's father praising me?

“I heard that when Her Majesty asked you about the method of killing Kelbek, the former knight of the royal guard who kidnapped Her Royal Highness, you stubbornly refused to say anything.”

"Well, that's true."

"It seems like he sensed some kind of determination from you at that time. He said you were wonderful even though you were a child."

Determination? I didn't really feel that... 

Well, maybe?

I mean, I wouldn't want a war to break out because of something I made, resulting in the deaths of many people. I'd hate it even more if the people close to me were in danger, right?

I was prepared to some extent to keep the information confidential at all costs.

I see, Viola's father was there on the day I became a baronet.

"So this is my problem. I apologize for glaring at you. I do see you as a rival, but I don't mean any harm."

"I see. Well, that's good. I do want to get along with my classmates."

"...Were you not listening? I do see you as a rival. I don't intend to get along..."

"Even if we're rivals, it's better to be on good terms. That way, we can compete openly without holding back."

"Hmm... Well, that might be true..."

Perhaps unable to respond to my words, Viola suddenly seemed to recall something.

"It's time for the shift change. I need to wake up Kotori—"

"Whoa, be careful."

He nearly stumbled and fell as he stood up, likely due to sitting for a long time. I instinctively reached out and gently supported him by the waist.

His waist was unexpectedly slender, almost like that of a young girl.

"Hey, l-let go."

"Ah, sorry."

And then, I probably asked something I shouldn't have.

"Lord Askam, you're not a girl, right?"

"I-I, w-well, I—"

"Hm?"

"I'M A GUYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!"

"Eh!?"

An unimaginably powerful right straight hit my face.

"Hmm. Feels like a setup. What's going on?"

"N-Nothing at all!! Dorana, just go to sleep already!!"

"...Sure."

Thanks to Kotori, who unexpectedly popped her head out of her own tent, I avoided further attacks...

But that punch just now would probably haunt me tomorrow.

"Hmm. Kuno-Kuno, tell me more."

"...Seriously, I'm cutting your portion tomorrow."

"!? W-Why?"

"Just a feeling. You pissed me off somehow."

Ignoring the unusually flustered Kotori, I decided to return to my tent.

Now, I wonder how things are going over there.

"Oh, both of them are sleeping…”

Although I hadn't talked to Viola for a long time, were they both tired?

Well, Eleanor was excited about her first fishing experience, and Felsy was fulfilling her role as a supervisor.

They might have fallen asleep from exhaustion.

"I should probably sleep in the corner...

That's what I thought, but.

"Mmm, Kunou-kun..."

"Huh?! Ah, Onee-sama!?"

"Hehe... Kunou-kun, I love you..."

I couldn't tell if Felsy was dreaming or if she was still half asleep, but she clung to me.

inevitably, my face ended up buried in Felsy's well-developed chest.

Even if I tried to escape, my legs were firmly held, and I couldn't move.

Oh no, I'm going to suffocate... 

Or rather, if I breathe, the smell is too dangerous in many ways!!

"Oh, Onee-sama, please let go—"

"Kunou-sama~"

"Gah!!!"

Another girl embraced me from behind, using me as a pillow for Felsy.

It was Eleanor.

The two well-developed fruits of the girl hit my back, and a strange noise escaped my lips.

T-This is really, really bad!! Seriously!!

"S-Someone, anyone—"

"Mmm, Kunou-kun..."

As I tried to call for help from Kotori, who was outside the tent, Felsy embraced me even tighter.

Oh no, I can't breathe... losing consciousness... It's soft...

At that moment, my consciousness completely blacked out.

And an unexpected situation unfolded on the second day of the outdoor class.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter