Chapter 162, Interlude, I Can Give Advice (: Navy)

Translator: Nonon

Proofreader: Silavin

 

POV: Cyan

 

“Hey, welcome back, Cyan.”

 

It’s been several days since I’ve been away from Shiki.

Even though I arrived late at night, Father Snow White stayed up waiting for my return.

It must’ve been hard to keep Shiki in check for several days in Clo’s place, but the way he smiled without showing a hint of exhaustion the moment he saw me was truly adorable. I want to hug him.

But hugging him out of nowhere would be too indecent. I’ve got to calm down… for now, I’ve finished my duties in the hellish capital. In other words, he can interpret my actions as me being mentally weak. In other words, I can do this!

 

“I’ve just returned, Father. I have completed my duties. You could have gone to rest earlier instead of waiting for me to return.”

 

… Nope, can’t do it.

I thought I could do it, but when I was about to do it, I couldn’t help but find Father’s voice, smile and actions so adorable that I got nervous and wasn’t able to do it.

If it was so easy, I wouldn’t have to suffer for those last few years. Besides…

 

“No, I couldn’t rest until you returned home, Cyan. I would be too anxious until I confirmed that you were safe.”

“You’re still as worrisome as ever, Father.”

“Of course. After all, you are my precious family.”

“Haha, thank you very much.”

 

Before I realized it, I’ve started to feel like I didn’t want to hurt our relationship.

The family in this case means that he looks at me like his younger sister. He recognizes me as the opposite sex, but not as a potential romantic partner. I would like to make more progress, but… I can’t take that step because I know that if I try to move forward, I might even lose this relationship.

Father would probably keep treating me like before, but I wouldn’t be able to do the same.

… I really can’t make fun of Clo. It’s just like that vampire said.

 

“You must be tired, right? I’ve prepared a bath for you so you can take your time and soak in. If you are too tired, you can leave it for tomorrow and go to bed. I’ll take a bath instead and boil water again tomorrow.”

 

Ah, jeez, he’s already being considerate of me. I love him.

I’m scared of our relationship falling apart, but I’m also scared that my feelings of love will fade away. I guess I have no choice but to go on the offensive here.

… Oh right! It looks like Father hasn’t taken a bath either so I’ll ask if he’ll join me!

Yeah, sounds good. I’ve been living in a monastery since I was young, so I don’t know the details, but it shouldn’t be strange for family members to take a bath together!

 

“Wou-“

“Wou?”

 

Come on, say it! Say it, Cyan! ‘Would you like to join me?’

Say it clearly so he wouldn’t think he heard wrong.

 

“Then I’ll take your offer and take a bath.”

 

You coward!

“Yeah, take your time soaking in. I’ll leave your luggage in your room, along with your sleepwear, so you should be on your way soon.”

 

Father did all various things with a smile. What a truly wonderful person. I love him.

… Haa, I’ll just take a bath obediently. I’m certainly mentally and physically tired from being in the capital, so I’ll take my time to heal myself.

Taking advantage of Father’s kindness, I headed to the bathroom.

After saying a prayer of thanks at an appropriate place, I took off my habit and entered the bathroom that was too impressive to be just for me and Father.

 

 

“Ah, the temperature is just as I love it…”

 

When I put my hand in the water, I noticed that the temperature was just right, exactly as I liked it. Father must have kept it this way by injecting mana in the temperature control device. I love him.

 

“Haa…”

 

After washing up, I soaked in the bathtub and let out a big sigh.

I wonder why I can give advice to Io, but things don’t work out the same way when it concerns me? With the way things are going, I’m far more of a coward than Clo and Io, because I’ve been in this situation for longer.

Maybe I should use somebody as a reference too. Yes, for example—

 

 

“If only I could do it like Mary…”

 

Mary, who I met in the capital due to her connection with Io.

When I first met her, I felt like she lived in a different dimension. However, when we parted ways, she seemed to have gotten over her demons.

I can’t help wishing that I could meditate with men as well as her. Though, unlike being able to captivate many men like her, the only one I want to enchant is Father. Anyway, Mary is very good at dealing with men. It’s as if she knows what to do from the beginning.

It seemed like her relationship with Io also settled down a little, so maybe I’ll ask her advice the next time we meet.

 

“… Come to think of it, I feel like Riem was acting strange.”

 

As I thought back on Mary, I suddenly remembered Riem, also known as Kriemhild.

Although I didn’t feel the same oddness from her as I did from Mary, there was something strangely off about her. Her smiling face made me feel strange, as if it was a smile, but not really. It felt like she belonged somewhere else instead of this world, but she had strayed away from it.

… That being said, if you asked me exactly what was strange about her, I wouldn’t be able to answer.

Just like with Mary, I couldn’t feel any malice from her. She’s a rare good person, who doesn’t harbor any ill will. She’s also a good friends with Io and is fond of me too. She’s usually a cheerful and kind girl, so maybe I’m overthinking it.

 

—- Maybe I’m just being sensitive because I’ve met so many bad people in the capital?

 

Like a perverted bishop who made female believers take off their clothes and poured holy water (which was just normal water) on them saying that it was necessary for purifying them.

Or a perverted nun who took advantage of the boy’s pure heart to wash him to satisfy her own desires.

And yet, they act so prim and proper on the surface, that anybody who criticizes them gets put down instead. I just can’t deal with it. Maybe I’ve become strangely suspicious because I had to meet those people again.

Calm down, Cyan. It might not be just water, but I’m going to pour hot water on myself to clear my mind. If I use normal water, I might catch a cold.

 

“How do you like the temperature, Cyan?”

“Yes, it’s perfect. Would you also like to join me to purify yourself, Father?”

“Haha, you seem to be fine if you can joke around like that. I was worried because it seemed like the capital didn’t sit well with you, Cyan.”

“Fufu, the capital was mentally exhausting, but I still have plenty more  strength left, so please don’t worry. I hope you weren’t too concerned just because I went as your substitute, Father.”

“You’ve completely seen through me… still, I’m glad you seem to be in high spirits. Oh, I’ll leave a change of clothes for you here.”

“Yes, thank you very… much?”

 

… Huh? I think I just casually invited Father, who was talking to me from the changing room, to join me, but he thought I was joking and rejected me?… that was just my imagination, right?

I didn’t just blurt it out because I remembered some bath-related issues with nasty people in the capital, right?… right?

 

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