Chapter 97: Preparing for Battle
Behind the beach was a mountain with a narrow animal trail where cars couldn’t pass. Since it was the end of the year in winter, no one would be using a path like this. So, without worrying about being seen, we used the minor body enhancement spell, Increase Physical (Small), and sprinted through.
Suzuka ended up being princess-carried by Souta. It was too dangerous to strengthen her body with magic and run through the mountains without any practice.
At first, Suzuka looked a little embarrassed but happy being carried by Souta, but the moment we started moving, her expression froze instantly.
“Eeeek!!?”
Souta shot forward at an unbelievable speed while still holding Suzuka.
Amazingly, he had full control over his magically enhanced body.
The path was covered in grass and blocked by wild trees, yet Souta didn’t slow down. He jumped from branch to branch, leaped several meters from rock to rock, moving acrobatically without losing momentum.
Even with just the World Tree staff on me and no other luggage, I could barely keep up with this insane speed.
…Yeah, this is probably scarier than any roller coaster.
Watching Suzuka cling desperately to Souta with her eyes shut tight, I quietly put my hands together in prayer.
The convenience store beyond the mountain path behind the beach was more than three kilometers away in a straight line. When we reached it, less than ten minutes had passed since we departed.
Thinking we were far enough away to not get in trouble with the police, we decided to take a break at the convenience store.
Since there were people around, we couldn’t use magic to return to the city. Suzuka contacted her butler, Andou-san, to come pick us up.
By the way, poor Suzuka, who had been tossed around by Souta, was left unable to stand.
“…Souta-san, you idiot!”
With teary eyes, Suzuka couldn’t stand on her own, so Souta had to keep princess-carrying her while apologizing nonstop, trying to cheer her up. At some point, Suzuka started acting angry while clearly enjoying being pampered by Souta.
…These damn lovebirds.
Unable to watch anymore, I left the flirting duo behind and entered the convenience store decorated for Christmas.
Since I couldn’t find my coat that I’d tossed aside during the battle, I was still in my shrine maiden outfit. But surprisingly, I was treated normally—probably because they thought I was in a Christmas costume.
I took some money from my wallet hanging from my neck and bought three hot drinks.
When I came out of the store, Suzuka, who could now stand on her own, looked a little downcast.
She accepted the tea bottle I handed her with a thank you.
“It’s the first time Suzune has ever scolded me this much…”
Apparently, Suzuka had gotten a serious scolding from Andou-san for what amounted to an unauthorized overnight stay.
After that, we started discussing how to explain things to Andou-san.
We couldn’t tell her about magic. Even though Andou-san was trustworthy and a good person, she was employed by the Hashimoto family. It would be naïve to count too much on her goodwill.
Also, we couldn’t talk about being kidnapped by Aymok. It wasn’t because we wanted to protect Aymok’s position. Suzuka had said that if it came out that she’d been kidnapped twice in a row, her parents wouldn’t let her stay in Japan and would make her go live overseas with them.
So, in the end, we decided to say that Suzuka had stayed at my place last night and that Aymok was a mutual acquaintance who had visited.
It felt like a bit of a stretch, but with no better idea, this was the best we could come up with.
“…But won’t Andou-san misunderstand and think I seduced Suzuka into covering for me?”
Souta voiced his concern.
…Yeah, to be honest, I’d thought the same thing.
“…Even if that happens, I’ll clear up Suzune’s misunderstanding later.”
Apparently, Suzuka had been thinking the same thing.
“Ugh… well, I guess it can’t be helped.”
While I was feeling a little guilty about possibly leaving Souta to take the blame, Suzuka suddenly spoke up, her expression one of determination.
“Um… I don’t have any plans after the party tonight… so… well… I wouldn’t mind… if… it wasn’t a misunderstanding…”
Blushing bright red, Suzuka said this, her voice gradually shrinking and trailing off from embarrassment.
Even just listening made me want to crawl under a rock—it was such a painfully straightforward invitation. Maybe it was because it was Christmas Eve… but Suzuka’s courage genuinely moved me.
But before Souta could respond—frozen in shock—Andou-san arrived to pick us up, leaving Suzuka’s brave confession hanging in the air.
…What a coward.
Later, we stuck to the story we’d agreed upon when talking to Andou-san, but thanks to the awkwardness between Souta and Suzuka, Andou-san definitely seemed suspicious.
At that point, though, I felt no sympathy for Souta whatsoever.
I knew Souta was seriously thinking things through, which is why he couldn’t give a quick answer. But seeing sincere and earnest Suzuka like that, I just couldn’t help but root for her.
Riding in Andou-san’s car, we stopped by Suzuka’s house before heading to the party venue at school. Since Suzuka had stayed out overnight, she needed to get ready.
Suzuka’s house was on the top floor of a luxury condominium, clearly in the high-end range. The living room we were shown into had a huge window with a panoramic view of the city and was elegantly furnished with expensive-looking pieces in a chic style. As total commoners, Souta and I felt completely out of place.
Suzuka changed into a classical, authentic maid outfit as her party costume. It suited her very well, but maybe because she was a genuine rich girl, she looked too glamorous to really pass as a maid.
Souta, whose uniform had been left in tatters from the battle, was persuaded by Suzuka that he couldn’t go to the party like that. For some reason, a butler outfit perfectly sized for Souta had already been prepared, and he ended up changing into it.
Its design was different from Ando-san’s butler uniform, and seeing Souta dressed in it—like some delinquent butler from an otome game—made me chuckle a bit.
Incidentally, I had intended to go to the party just as I was. The blessed vestments I wore had been restored to like-new condition after I infused them with magic, and I had cleansed the dirt off with purification magic.
“You simply cannot go to a party without makeup! It’s unthinkable for a lady!”
But thanks to the strong insistence of both Suzuka and Ando-san, I ended up lightly made up.
…Wait, Suzuka does know I’m a guy, right?
Besides, even if it’s called a party, it’s still just a school event, so there’s no need to go all out… My objections were brushed aside with nothing but a smiling face.
While Ando-san complimented my skin and even admitted to being jealous, I sat quietly and let them do whatever they wanted to me. It felt strange—ticklish and oddly soothing at the same time.
“There we go. All done.”
I checked my finished face in the mirror.
My features looked more defined than usual. My face still looked young, but even so, my plump lips, now a soft shade of pink, had a seductive charm to them. I actually startled myself a bit with how provocative it looked.
“…How do you like it?”
Ando-san asked me with a gentle smile.
“It doesn’t feel like me at all… I don’t know, it’s kind of making my heart race.”
So this must be what it feels like to be treated like a princess. Ando-san had been treating me with such reverence from the start that I felt strangely light and floaty inside. I think I now understand why some women get hooked on those butler cafés.
“Kisaragi-sama is truly beautiful, so it was a pleasure to work on you. Paired with that delicate outfit, you’re sure to be the belle of the ball.”
…That’s not really something I want, though.
Still, I couldn’t say I disliked being told that by Andou-san.
“It’s kind of weird, isn’t it? Me, wearing makeup…”
Noticing Souta staring intently at my face, I gave a wry smile and asked him.
For some reason, he looked away, his mouth moving awkwardly before he muttered under his breath without meeting my eyes.
“It’s… not weird… I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all…”
“I-I see…”
For some reason, his reaction made me feel embarrassed too, and I ended up turning away as well.
Ando-san stood nearby, watching over the two of us with a warm smile.
…Ah, Suzuka looks a little sulky now.
Even after learning the truth about me, she still worries so much. She really is a worrier…
There’s nothing going on between me and Souta, though.
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