kscans

Chapter 661 - Meanwhile, Two Sins

“—…and, well, we just heard what sounds like the lament of a man with no luck in love, but what’s your take on that, Sora-chan, honestly?”

“What are you talking about…!?”

“...I won't force you, but I'd like to hear as well.”

“Ri-na-chan, you too…!? I’m telling you, what in the world are you…!”

At the Eastern table, a short distance from the commotion—or rather, at a separate table a little way off. A single girl, having been escorted away for what was declared a secret maiden’s chat, found herself surrounded by two little women.

After months of proactive get-togethers, their bond had grown quite strong. Add to that the carte blanche of a post-battle feast, and once the question was out, there was no stopping it.

“Ehh, you know what we mean.”

“Big brother is popular with everyone, boys and girls alike.”

“I mean, it makes sense with his character, and I get it, right? But he also keeps getting results that draw attention, so it's kinda deserved.”

“But, honestly.”

“From your perspective, Sora-chan… or rather, as someone who’s seriously making a move on him.”

“We can't help but think you might have some thoughts on the matter.”

“We’re trying to be? Moderately? Meddlesomely worried about you here.”

“Please don’t talk in turns…! It feels like you’re ganging up on me, it’s scary…!”

And so it went, on their little isolated island.

From a nearby table, a young man in formal samurai attire shot them a look that said, ‘What in the world are you doing?’ Mi-na glared back with a ‘Don’t look over here,’ but even Ri-na, who was surprisingly proactive in these kinds of conversations, showed no signs of stopping.

Furthermore, the sight of a girl who was, in a sense, a ‘rarer character than the rankers’ in the current Istia, being playfully swarmed by the twins (who weren't twins) who were among the most popular of the rankers, was literally the center of attention.

These were elite players, whose manners were as refined as their combat skills, so no brazen, tactless stares were directed their way. However, the occasional glance was neither preventable nor punishable.

And so, the girl who was apparently called ‘The Maiden of the Scales,’ ‘The Priestess of a Thousand Blades,’ or ‘The Golden Angel’ by the public, could only blush in shame—

“...Ugh…, ...”

Without being told, she recalled her ‘debt’ to them. Coupled with their words, “we’re worried,” which she knew were likely not a joke, she dutifully sealed her own escape route.

“……………………—W-…”

““W?””

Hearing the sound that was barely a word, one girl grinned with a look of victory. The other, expressionless, also declared victory and pressed closer to her sides. Averting her face from the girls clinging to her,

Sora said,

“I, too… am, you could say, one of them, you know…?”

““Oh?””

“I—… I understand why people would develop feelings for him. And his personality, the very parts that make people fall for him, are what I—um, that’s why, so…?”

““Hmm.””

“Um, so… telling him not to be liked, that would be strange, wouldn't it? Haru doesn't, with his words and actions, consciously or unconsciously try to flirt with people… at least, not recently. He doesn’t do that.”

““Uh-huh.””

“H-He doesn't…! It’s just that, depending on the situation, or the image people have of him, he can seem to shine to some people, or so I think.”

““Well.””

“So, so… uhm.”

In small, broken fragments, she desperately strung together a surprisingly long explanation.

Her entire exposed skin was flushed crimson. A faint wisp of steam, not seen in a while, rose from the top of her head.

“I’m, personally, fine with it so………… no, I mean, it’s not that I’m fine…”

““…””

Under their silent prompting, she desperately averted her eyes, which were glistening with the heat of her shame.

“I-I want him to stay just the way he is, so…”

She took a short, sharp breath.

“...I’ll be right next to him, holding on tight, so it’s okay.”

One second, two, three… four, five, six seconds ticked by.

“O-Ohh…”

“Wow…”

Mi-na and Ri-na, having been hit with a surprisingly high-powered love confession from point-blank range, could only let out awestruck voices, their own cheeks flushing. Having used up all her strength—

Sora covered her face with both hands and summarily collapsed at the separate table.

◇◆◇◆◇

“—…and, well, we just heard what sounds like the pained cry of a man with no luck in love, but what’s your take on that, Princess, honestly?”

At the Southern table, near the commotion. One guest had moved to the North, and another had hastily departed, saying, “Well, I should probably get going…” leaving only the insiders at the feast. The [Thread-Weaver], no longer having to be shy, posed a question to her master, who had been unusually quiet.

Her direct choice of words was half her own personality, and half born from a trusting resignation toward the ‘Princess,’ who never tried to hide her own feelings about love.

And so, in a place where members of the opposite sex were present,

Iris, who had suddenly been addressed, blinked her garnet eyes… but it seemed that even though she appeared to be lost in thought, she had been fully aware of her surroundings.

Furthermore, she accurately read the mix of intentions, concerns, and worries that Natsume had packed into her words, similar to a certain pair, and answered.

“What my take is? I find that a difficult question.”

Her words alone might suggest an attempt to evade the question. But the invincible Princess, at a calm and steady pace that allowed no one to interrupt, continued as if it were the most natural thing in the world,

“He is the one I fell in love with, after all.”

She declared it proudly—in a manner befitting a monarch.

“Is it not only natural that the most charming person in the world would attract a great deal of affection?”

“““““““Oof, wow…”””””””

She returned the direct question with a direct confession of her own, completely overwhelming everyone present.