Anoseka Volume 2 Chapter 13

This is MTL. So, I cannot guarantee that the translation 100% contextually accurate or appropriate.

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Chapter 13 "Contract"

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Part 1

School building after school.

Walking down the hallway, Olivia was feeling nervous about her surroundings.

When she feels the presence of people, she tenses up.

She was more worn out and frightened than when she first entered the school.

Olivia came to the place where the map was posted.

A large framed map of the Kingdom of Horfalt.

However, outside craftsmen are here today, and they are writing something on the map they took out of the frame.

Something was written in red on the original map.

Olivia was curious and decided to speak to them.

The other party is not a nobleman but a craftsman, and since he is an outsider, he is not familiar with Olivia's circumstances.

In fact, even when he sees Olivia, he assumes she is the child of a noble family and treats her politely.

"Excuse me, what are you doing?"

When she asks, the workmen explain the situation to Olivia.

"We are also surprised at how sudden the news was."

With that, he shows Olivia the map, and her eyes widen.

Part of the map has been modified.

It is a map of the Kingdom of Horfalt, but the territory of the kingdom is drawn in lines to show the territories ruled by the nobles.

In addition to the name of the place, the names of the noble families that ruled the area were also written.

One of the family names has a horizontal line drawn in red.

"T-This is"

"The Viscount Lafan's family is going to be demolished and their lands will be taken away from them. That is why we are erasing the family name from the map. We are working on a new map, but it won't be completed for a while."

"Demolished? Why all of a sudden?"

Olivia couldn't believe that the names of noble families suddenly disappeared from the map.

The craftsmen look at each other and then tell Olivia, while keeping a wary eye on their surroundings.

"It's just a rumor. Whatever it is, it seems they were demolished because they have incurred the wrath of the royal family."

The blood drained from Olivia's face.

The reason is——.

(Just like that, even a nobleman can easily lose everything.)

——Olivia now felt like she had been confronted with the fact that the words of the girls who usually threatened her were true.

The craftsmen, not noticing Olivia's state, continue talking.

"The other family name that will disappear is Count Offley's family name. This one will also be demolished, but the estate will be taken over by another nobleman."

"Taken over?"

"It's war. Everyone's surprised at the suddenness of it all, but it looks like they were easily destroyed."

Destroyed —— the word sounded awfully heavy in Olivia's mind.

When she lived in her hometown, she didn't realize it.

Before coming to the academy, Olivia believed that the country was peaceful.

However, she realizes that the country she lives in is far from peaceful.

Olivia asks as she looks down.

"W-Why were they destroyed?"

Even the craftsmen don't seem to know the details, but they answer while scratching their heads.

"I don't know the details, but rumor has it that it was because they offended a certain nobleman. But that nobleman is also terrifying, isn't he? He destroyed a count's family in just one day."

The craftsmen laugh at each other, saying, "Well, it's just a rumor."

It's a face that knows these stories are not true because they have tails and exaggerate.

Still, it sounded awfully scary to Olivia now.

(If even the Count can be easily destroyed, my hometown will surely be easily——)

Olivia bites her finger out of fear and walks unsteadily away from the craftsmen.

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Part 2

After the inquiry was over and we met with Kara, we returned to the school.

The classroom after school is dyed orange by the light of the setting sun.

The scene reminds me of a school classroom from my previous life —— and I feel a sense of nostalgia.

However, Marie is the one who ruins that atmosphere.

As soon as we returned, we were summoned to the school's office, so we headed there and were told to complete various procedures there.

As a result, Marie is crying while banging her right hand on the desk.

"It's not my fault they were demolished!"

The reason she is crying is because, along with the demolition of her family house, the decision has also been made to strip Marie from the nobility.

It is true that Marie has been found not guilty in this case.

Originally, she would have been punished in some way for her family's crimes, but due to the intercession of me, the poor baron group, and the Roseblade family, she has been acquitted.

But with the disappearance of her family household, Marie is no longer a noble.

What is different from Stephanie is that she is a citizen of the kingdom.

From now on, Marie will be treated as a commoner.

If that happens —— Marie will not be able to attend the school.

They said that Olivia-san, a commoner, was admitted to the academy as a special exception and that this could not be applied to Marie.

The procedures were related to leaving school.

With the Viscount Lafan's House being demolished, Marie was no longer eligible to attend the academy.

"You're not noble anymore, so get out of here, isn't it cruel!?"

For Marie, who was looking forward to school life, leaving school was apparently unacceptable.

In the classroom, just the two of us, Luxion is also visible and floating around.

It was floating between me and Marie.

[No problem. I hold Marie in high regard. Let us provide you with a better educational environment than the academy. This will solve the problem.]

Luxion's comfort makes me sigh.

"What Marie wants is a school life, not an educational environment. If someone wants to enjoy their youth as a student, then telling them that you're going to make them study isn't going to appeal to them."

[Is that so?]

Luxion turned his single red eye to Marie.

Marie looked up and nodded with a tearful face.

"It's obvious, isn't it? I wanted to relive my youth. I wasn't rewarded in my previous life, so I just wanted to get those good times back again——gusu"

[Is that so?]

Looks like Luxion is dumbfounded.

I give Marie a handkerchief and tell her to give up.

"It's better than marrying Ricky, right?"

"That's true, but"

While lightly pulling back at Marie, who was blowing her nose with a handkerchief, I felt somewhat reassured by the sight of her.

She looks like a certain someone.

Why——hadn't I noticed it before?

I start to talk to Marie about something important.

It's a very important topic for both of us.

"Hey, I told you before that I had a little sister in a previous life, didn't I?"

Marie looked away and nodded at the topic I brought up.

"——Yes."

Marie might also be aware of it, albeit in a vague way.

I talk about my little sister —— the one from my previous life.

It's about a little sister who is an excellent at playing innocent and the worst personality.

But now that I think about it, she had more common sense than Stephanie.

"My family —— in a previous life, there were four of us, my parents, me and my little sister"

When I mentioned the family structure, Marie gave a small nod.

"——Me too."

I should have realized this sooner.

I regret that I have come this far without considering the possibility, thinking it was impossible.

If I had realized this earlier, neither Marie nor I would have had to go through this.

"I knew it. I should have known when I told you that I forced my big brother to play that otome game."

I didn't say it out loud, but Marie knows what I'm talking about.

The feeling was sufficiently conveyed.

"It really is a surprise, isn't it? How could this have happened? In the first place, the timing of our deaths were different."

Judging from Marie's story, she died much later than I was reincarnated.

What exactly happens that makes us in the same grade?

Partly because of this —— I couldn't believe that Marie was my little sister.

"That's right. It's all really strange. To begin with, the whole situation of being reincarnated in that otome game is just impossible."

"Haha, that's also true."

Marie is smiling, but she also looks somewhat sad.

Even though we were able to meet again in a world like this, I think there's something wrong with both of us for not being genuinely happy.

For a moment —— What would have happened if I had remained ignorant of what was going on? The thought crossed my mind.

I shouldn't be thinking about this.

Out of nostalgia, I talk about my little sister from my previous life.

"She was quite a selfish little sister."

"What's that?"

Out of mischievousness, I tell Marie about my little sister in a previous life.

It also meant that she should look back on her past life a little and reflect on it.

No, maybe I just want to talk to Marie about old times —— about our previous lives.

After all, she is the only person in this world with whom I can talk about my previous life.

"You remember that, don't you? You were good at playing innocent, and you were good at winning over our parents. Thanks to that, our parents like you, and I get scolded all the time."

"Yes. Yes?"

Marie was listening to me while nodding, but halfway through she tilted her head.

Looks like she has some objections.

"Wait a minute. You mean that your parents trusted me more than my big brother?"

"That's true. You were good at being pampered."

I said it while laughing, but Marie was deep in thought.

"That's strange. Because my parents trusted my big brother more than me."

"——Eh?"

A disagreement arose between me and Marie.

Luxion, who had been silent until now, interrupts the conversation.

[From what I have just heard, it seems that the two of you thought that you were each other's siblings in a previous life. However, I am concerned about the discrepancy in information that is occurring.]

Is it just my imagination —— that Luxion seems to be having fun?

No, I'm sure I'm not wrong.

Because many times I saw my little sister overlapping with Marie's figure, and we have other things in common.

"No, I'm certain of it! Marie couldn't clear that otome game, so she forced her big brother to do it for her, right? If that's the case, he's just like me."

However, Marie argues with me here as well.

While making a face like it was unexpected.

"You said I forcefully pushed him —— Indeed, it was a bit forceful, but I did beg my big brother to clear it properly. Also, you're making it sound like I was a terrible sister~ but I wasn't that terrible."

"You're kidding."

"It's true! Why do you doubt me?"

Wasn't she a terrible sister? No, but don't trust her self-assessment.

Then it would be better to check Marie's perception of her big brother —— me first.

"Then tell me about your big brother."

It was embarrassing, as if I was asking about myself, and Marie felt kind of weird and had a complicated look on her face.

It's just——when Marie talks about her big brother, she seems a little happy.

"My brother is normal? He can be a bit overkill at times, but I'd say he's a pretty ordinary brother. So I usually have him rolling around in the palm of my hand. But when he gets angry, he is very scary! Also, he is very insensitive to romantic relationships. His relationships with women were terrible. ——Well, he's a dense guy."

If it's just information that he's usually ordinary, I'm the same way, but I can't help but think he's a different person, like overkill or being scary when he's angry.

And what's with the terrible romantic relationship stuff? I've never had any romantic troubles in my previous life.

"Did such a brother even exist? I mean, how could you even think of rolling him in the palm of your hand when he's so scary when he's angry."

"Because he's my big brother. Is it a limit to how much I can anger him? I knew exactly what the limit was. But now that I think about it, he was too soft on me, his little sister."

——He's nothing like me!

In the first place, my little sister from my previous life forced me to play that otome game.

Besides, it is impossible to be rolled in the palm of my little sister's hand.

Also, I'm definitely not a dense person.

What's up with that big brother who looks like the protagonist of a light novel!?

I don't like a dense protagonist, so if I had met him, I might have punched him.

And I never thought I was doting on my little sister.

To sum it up —— He's different from me?

"My little sister had a pretty terrible personality. You see, when she left the house, it was like her personality changed drastically. She was good at dealing with things, and she did whatever she wanted with the trust of our parents."

Marie listened to me and shook her head.

"Then she's different from me. Or rather, she's the type I hate. I bet your little sister's a no good person."

"Y-Yes."

I don't think I need to ask about my little sister's fujoshi rotten hobbies anymore.

Without a doubt, Marie is a different person from my little sister.

As I was thinking that, Marie showed me a pose similar to what a gravure idol would do.

"Also, I was a beautiful woman in a previous life. I look like this now, but I had a great figure and style in my previous life."

——I think my younger sister had a good face, but did she have a good figure? She was certainly slender, but I don't think she was as slender as Marie.

There was so much conflicting information that the atmosphere was starting to get a little weird.

Both Marie and I realized that our ideas were way off.

I couldn't stand the atmosphere of the place, so I apologized.

"——Sorry, I thought you might be my little sister. Apparently I'm wrong."

"Stop! Do I look like such a terrible person? Isn't it terrible!?"

"N-No, sorry about that. But you thought I was your big brother, too, didn't you? I'm not the scary, dense type like your brother."

I'm just an ordinary guy you can find anywhere.

I was not the unique big brother that Marie described.

Marie is also embarrassed.

"M-My bad! I was just thinking that maybe —— but I knew it wasn't true?"

In the first place, it's no laughing matter that the siblings were all reincarnated into the world of that otome game.

Marie and I just kept looking at each other with strange expressions, but it gradually became funny and we started laughing.

"What the hell. I guess we were misunderstanding each other?"

"That's right. It's impossible. It makes me look like a fool for worrying about it just now."

When the two of them were laughing together, Luxion seemed happy for some reason.

[I'm glad that the misunderstanding has been resolved. This will also solve Marie's problem.]

"What does that mean? Does Marie have any other problems besides dropping out?"

"That is——Oops, looks like the teacher is coming. I shall keep out of sight.

When Luxion disappeared, shishou came into the classroom.

"S-Shishou?!"

As I stand up from my seat in surprise, shishou urges me to sit down, saying, "Stay put".

"I was looking for you two when I heard that you were back at the school. It seems that you both went through a lot of trouble this time."

Shishou, who deserves the word "gentleman," is a teacher who teaches manners at the school.

He is also a wonderful person who introduced me to the world of tea.

I affectionately calls him Shishou.

"If you'd called us, we'd have been the ones to show up."

While I was talking with my master, Marie was looking at us with an incomprehensible look.

"——You really only behave differently towards your mentor, don't you"

I turn around and tilt my head at Marie.

"It's obvious. After all, he is my mentor. I have to respect him, don't I."

Marie had a resigned look on her face as I said it out loud.

Shishou looked at the two of us alternately, and finally turned to the papers on Marie's desk.

"Is it a letter of withdrawal?"

When Marie recalls being expelled from school at shishou's words, her shoulders slump and becomes gloomy.

"It can't be helped. Because I —— my parents' house is gone, and I'm not a nobleman anymore. I wish I could have stayed at the school just a little longer. There's a school trip coming up."

Seeing Marie looking so sad and disappointed made my heart ache, too.

"Don't get discouraged, I'll take you on a trip next time."

"I'm happy about that, but I'd rather go on a school trip! I've always wanted to go on a school trip."

Confused by Marie's bully behavior, I turn my body toward shishou.

"More than that, shishou, do you need anything from us?"

It would be embarrassing to keep showing off my pathetic appearance in front of shishou.

Let's get things done quickly and invite Marie out to eat to get her in a good mood.

As I was thinking about that, shishou looked at us and smiled.

"Mr. Leon is mean, too. Knowing how to fulfill Miss Marie's wish, you are being impatient?"

"Eh?"

When I was surprised by my master's words, Marie suddenly got up from her seat and started shouting at me.

"Are you kidding me!? Leon, you were just playing with me!? That's terrible! Do you really enjoy playing with me so much!"

I objected to Marie's words that were likely to be misunderstood, and my voice became louder.

"Don't say things in a way that will cause misunderstandings! If shishou misunderstands, I'll cry!"

"Why are you saying about a man here?"

For some reason, Marie seems creeped out, but I can't understand it.

As we glared at each other, shishou covered his mouth with his fist and laughed.

When we looked at shishou, he apologized and said, "I'm sorry."

"After watching the two of you, I have nothing more to worry about. This troublesome intruder who has been meddling will leave the room now."

After saying that, shishou leaves the classroom.

After a while, Luxion appeared and came to my side.

[Master's shishou seemed to know the solution. ——Well, so what will you do about it, Master?]

Unable to bear Luxion's gaze as he pressed me to make a decision, I returned to my seat and sat down.

Marie sits down and gives me a disgruntled look.

"If you have a solution, why don't you tell me? You're really mean. In that way, you resemble my big brother from a previous life."

"Don't lump me in with your big brother. Well, you know——"

A way to keep Marie at the academy, but it actually exists.

However, since I had assumed that Marie was my little sister in a previous life, it was also a solution that I could not choose.

With other boys it would be difficult, but now with me it would be possible.

Marie glares at me, and Luxion stares at me with his single red eye.

Unable to bear the gaze of the two of them, I let out a deep sigh and looked up at the ceiling —— Then, I spoke in my usual mood.

"Marie——Do you want to get engaged to me?"

"Heh!?"

Her sullen expression turned to surprise in an instant, and her voluminous hair seemed to puff out.

I feel like Marie's face is turning red —— but I can't really tell because of the sunset.

Marie is trembling.

"W-What are you talking about all of a sudden——"

"If you get engaged to me, you can stay at the school"

"Rweallyy?!"

She must have wanted to say, "Really!", but Marie was so upset that she ended up chewed.

While Marie was covering her mouth with both hands in embarrassment, I explained the situation while laughing out loud.

"Even if your family home is demolished, you're still a former noble. If you get engaged to me, you'll eventually become a baroness, right? You're fully qualified to attend the academy. ——Well, you'll have to pay tuition though."

Marie was a little surprised to hear me.

"How do you know? Did you look it up?"

"Well, yes."

When I avert my gaze from Marie, Luxion brazenly interrupts our conversation.

[Master was consulting with his mentor about this matter. Naturally, the topic came up about how to handle Marie in the future. Until a few minutes ago, we had misidentified Marie as Master's little sister from a previous life, so the solution was to have her engaged to a boy from the same group. However, this was a somewhat challenging solution.]

Marie nervously asked Luxion, but her eyes were glancing at me.

"Why?"

[They say that being the daughter of a family that has been demolished is not a good public reputation. ——I don't understand the values of these new humans, but I assumed that there would be no boys who would accept the engagement out of concern for the world rather than for Marie personally. ——But here is a boy who is willing to accept Marie.]

Luxion's gaze turns towards me.

Marie looked at me and her mouth was agape.

Strangely embarrassed, I jokingly press Marie to get engaged.

"That's how it is. Besides, if I get engaged to you, I can get out of the marriage hunting life, too, right? You'll be happy to go to school, and I'll be happy to get out of the marriage hunting life. Well, I know you have some complaints, but please bear with me. I'm putting up with it too."

I made it clear that the engagement I mentioned was a "contract".

Not an engagement after loving each other, but a contract because it's convenient for both parties —— makes me realize that I'm getting used to this world, too.

In the first place, Marie prefers good-looking boys like the capture targets, rather than me.

I know she's not keen on this engagement, but even I have something to say about it.

I've been hiding it from Marie, but the truth is that —— I prefer women with big breasts.

As a result, Marie is far out of my preference.

In fact, if it were possible, a big-breasted, older, beautiful woman like Dorothea-san is —— no, that person has a problem with her personality.

I was the one who laughed when I saw Nix being taken away, but if I was asked to marry Dorothea-san, I would refuse.

She looks great, but I have to think about the upcoming life.

——I feel just a little bit sorry for Nix.

Well, that's why —— having this engagement go through is the same as giving up on a girl with big breasts.

It was a decision I made in tears.

However, Marie raised her eyebrow at me when I offered her engagement.

"No"

It was a short, yet strong-willed statement.

"Why! You may not like it either, but I have to endure a lot of things myself——"

When she shouts at me, not knowing why she refuses, Marie gets teary-eyed and starts shaking.

That sight was more than enough to make me feel guilty.

When the words "Ah, I'm sorry," came out of my mouth in apology, Marie yelled at me, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"I wanted to be confessed in a more romantic place! What's with the after-school classroom? And the confession line was "I'm putting up with it too" ——This is absolutely unforgivable."

"——Eeeeh"

As I'm pulling away from Marie's reaction, Luxion looks at us in turn and says.

[Does this mean that if we offer to get engaged on the terms Marie has set out, we will get an immediate acceptance?]

Marie, who was glancing at Luxion's question, nodded.

"Yes."

[Master, it looks like we have a provisional contract. Good for you.]

I look at them both with a faraway look in my eyes, and Luxion starts going over the details.

[So, under what circumstances does Marie want to be confessed to?]

Marie immediately smiles, folds her hands, and lays out some conditions regarding her ideal confession scene.

"Right. First of all, a place with a beautiful starry sky would be nice. We can do it outside with a nice view, or at a fancy restaurant. Also, I would like an engagement ring. I didn't get a wedding ring in my previous life."

[That's all?]

"Not yet! In the first place, the confession is no good! What do you mean, "I'll put up with it, you put up with it too". I will never accept such a confession. You need to put me in the mood! I'd like to see you say the cheesy line with a straight face, even if it's a lie. Can't you at least say, "I'll always be by your side to protect you"?"

[——Is that all?]

"Right. The others are——"

Luxion takes Marie seriously as she gives him one order after another.

I was dumbfounded and ignored it at the beginning, but artificial intelligence is really serious.

I mean, why would I lie to her and say cheesy line? And she wants me to stay by her side all the time and protect her —— she's older than I am on the inside, but she's a pretty girly.

Marie continued to give conditions in a good mood, and Luxion listened silently.

When I let out a sigh, it seemed like things had calmed down.

As a result of Luxion confirming Marie's conditions——.

[Understood. We will begin work on the ring immediately. This one should take about an hour, and we can have a ring made of mithril and gemstones. We have also picked out a few spots with a good night view. Three hours from now, all conditions will be met.]

——Hearing that, Marie turns serious.

"Eh, three hours later? What is that?"

[The perfect situation that Marie desires will all be in place in three hours. Master, I will prepare a draft of your confession right away, please memorize it later.]

When Luxion asked me, I replied while putting my hand on my forehead in a troubled manner.

"Keep it as short as possible."

[I'll do my best.]

The arrangements are progressing steadily, but Marie doesn't seem to like it.

"Don't end it in such a careless way! This is the second time in my life that I've finally had the chance, you know?! It's more like this——take your time and prepare carefully."

I can understand what Marie is trying to say, but in this case there is no point in wasting time.

Luxion doesn't understand Marie's feelings.

[Even if we spend more time on this, it won't make much difference to the outcome.]

"It feels like a light thing when you think it was all set up in three hours, doesn't it? Besides, I'd like Leon to think about what he's going to confess."

Luxion and I look at each other at Marie's request, then refute.

"There's no use trying to get me to come up with cheesy lines. I'm not used to that sort of thing, and the manuscript Luxion prepared would be better."

When I said this proudly, Luxion moved up and down as if nodding.

[It is wrong to ask Master to be poetically gifted. I understand. If you give me an extra 30 minutes, I can prepare the fireworks. How about three hours and thirty minutes?]

When Luxion gave off an impression of making a compromise, Marie was trembling.

"Y-You guys —— you should be more serious about the confessiooon!!"

Marie shouts, and me and Luxion look at each other and discuss it.

"I guess I should tell the academy we're getting engaged first"

[That seems like a better idea. Anyway, Marie can now remain at the school. But I'm not sure if she can enjoy her youth with Master.]

"Oi, are you trying to say that she will be unhappy with me?"

[——No.]

"There was a pause in your answer. Are you also dissatisfied with me?"

When I start to fight with Luxion, Marie grabs me.

"Don't ignore me!"

In the end, the atmosphere was no longer in the mood to redo the confession, and the engagement proposal was postponed to a later date.