This seems like a light novel with some game elements and harem/romance tropes. Let me translate this faithfully to English while maintaining the tone.Episode 204
- Ring! Ring-ring!
"Hwaam..."
I opened my eyes to the noisy alarm clock and got up from bed while yawning.
"Hm?"
The weather has been quite chilly lately, so as I was pushing aside the blanket to get up from bed, I noticed someone under the bed and tilted my head in confusion.
"Hmnya..."
Before long, as I looked down, what came into my view was Lulu, who had fallen asleep curled up next to my bed in her pajamas.
"........."
Lately she keeps coming into my room to sleep. I tried to stop her, but when she said it's only natural for a pet to sleep beside its owner, I couldn't really argue back.
"Lulu."
"Haeup."
Since a cold energy was circulating in the room, I reached out to wake her, but she bit my finger in her sleep.
"Ouch."
Thanks to that, I slightly frowned, then left her alone as she smacked her lips, and sighed while lost in thought.
'Today is... the day I meet Aisi, right?'
That's right. Today is the day I received a letter from Aisi asking to meet.
'And also... it's the day I receive training from Isollet...'
It's been a week since I received what was essentially a threat-like proposal from Isollet.
If I meet Aisi before stopping by Isollet's house today, I would have met all the sub-heroines I needed to meet.
Of course, there are still those who need observation and those I need to be careful of... but at least one worry will be lessened.
"Ebe..."
Thinking such thoughts, I carefully pulled my moistened finger from Lulu's mouth and cautiously got up.
"I even got a new bed prepared, so what's so good about that place?"
After that, I carefully covered Lulu with the blanket I had been using, worried she might wake up, and quietly headed to the desk.
"Master...?"
But despite such efforts, she woke from her sleep around the time I sat in the chair, rubbed her eyes for a moment, then slowly got up and started walking toward me.
"Hehe..."
Having approached right behind me like that, she began to nuzzle her cheek against me while hugging me.
'Here we go again...'
For the past few days, incidents of being tackled by someone have increased.
Ever since I was tackled by Isollet, Lulu, who has somehow become more aggressive, keeps hugging me like this whenever I'm lying down or sitting, as if I were some large dog.
And Irina's pet, that red large dog, completely tackles me down every time it acts cute.
Thanks to that, lately I've been feeling my energy drained. My lower back hurts a bit too.
- Creak...
While thinking such thoughts and opening the letter envelopes on the desk, the door opened and Irina came in.
"Oh, today's breakfast... Frey."
Still with her puppy ears that haven't disappeared, twitching, she placed an omurice with a heart pattern on my desk.
Looking at her who was wearing a maid outfit today as well, glancing at me furtively, I quietly asked a question.
"Irina, I have something to ask."
"Yes yes, ask away. I'll answer anything..."
"When is Klana coming?"
".....!!!"
Irina, who was looking at me with enthusiastic eyes at first, froze upon hearing those words.
"W-w-w why do you ask that? Frey?"
Before long, sweating cold sweat, she sat next to me and urgently asked questions.
"No, just curious. You didn't tell me exactly when you'd go to the Western Continent and Klana would come, did you?"
"Ah..."
Hearing those words, Irina started to have a blank expression.
"N-now that you mention it... there's not much time left... what should I do? The shift change is soon... ugh..."
"Irina?"
"What I've done so far isn't enough... impact... I need to do something with impact..."
Then she started muttering something with an expression like she was possessed by a ghost.
"Did you get in contact with the Magic Tower Master?"
I asked about the favor I had requested a few days ago to such Irina.
"Ah, y-yeah... not yet. I don't know why, but she's not responding. Maybe she's busy with something?"
"Hmm..."
Such an answer came back.
"I wanted to ask about the experiment the 'Youngest Saint' was involved in... it's a shame. I hope contact is made as soon as possible..."
"Sh-should we barge in today then? If I take that 'pet' with me, I'm confident I won't lose even if I fight that damned old hag..."
"Forget it, I have to go meet Aisi today. I need to meet Isollet too."
"...Ah."
I calmed down the slightly excited Irina, and while looking at her excessively trembling ears, I carefully spoke.
"Hey, Irina. I have a favor... you know that pet dog of yours."
"Yes?"
"Lately it seems to be in heat... couldn't we do some training or something?"
Upon hearing those words, Irina started to space out.
"Lately it keeps tackling me. If it was once or twice I'd understand, but being tackled multiple times... it's a bit strange. That guy is female too. So, we might need to get her spayed..."
"I-I'll restrain her!"
"What?"
"No, I'll make her restrain herself! That kind of tackling won't happen often anymore. Yes yes."
Before long, Irina, whose face had turned completely red, answered like that and quickly slipped out of the room.
""........""
And after a moment, silence flowed in the room.
"Master, if that dog attacks you next time, please tell me."
Lulu, who was hugging me from behind, whispered in a low voice, breaking the silence.
"Because Master's pet is only me, I'll discipline her."
After saying those words, Lulu licked my face once and then slipped out of the room.
"Hua."
Being left alone in the room like that, a chilly energy started to wrap around my whole body.
"Happy..."
In such a room, I was looking at the things placed on my desk with a smile.
"I am happy but..."
Then I took back my smile and trailed off with a slightly dark expression.
"Lately I've been a bit anxious..."
Right now I am very happy. Compared to the past when I had to handle everything alone, it couldn't be better.
That's why sometimes I'm scared.
Because I don't know when this happiness will disappear, I'm afraid.
When I had no comrades and had to do everything myself, I was lonely but my heart was at ease. Because I only needed to protect myself.
But now, Kania, Irina, Klana, Serena, Perlotche. And recently Lulu who came to live in my house. Quite many people have become completely on my side.
So I'm no longer lonely or unhappy, but now that I have to protect them, my heart sometimes becomes anxious.
That's why, even though this winter break was supposed to be for healing my worn-out insides before entering my second year, somehow I keep finding things to do.
Happy times are too good, but they pass too quickly.
Just right now, hasn't a week and several days passed in the blink of an eye?
The irony of seeking out work to enjoy this peaceful and enjoyable time a bit longer makes me laugh emptily even when I think about it myself.
When there was no one, my heart rotted away from loneliness, but now that comrades have appeared, my heart is being eaten away by anxiety... I guess I don't have the fate to live peacefully either.
"Sigh..."
I heard the news that Demon King Ruby is gradually recovering. If so, the 'Verification Ceremony' will definitely be held within this break.
Once the 'Fake Hero Verification Ceremony,' which is the main event of winter break and when I'll truly fall, ends.
What I'll experience next are heavy events like the 'Student Council President Election' and 'War with the Church,' which are the main events of second year.
And the finale will naturally be the 'Academy Defense Battle' and the fourth ordeal.
Will I really be able to finish those without a single casualty? Will I really be able to save the girls I can even give my life for?
"...Originally, it would have been impossible."
Muttering like that, whether it's because I've weakened or it's a psychological issue, I got up from my seat, trying to soothe my heart that keeps tightening with anxiety these days.
"Meow."
At that moment, a cat doll poked its head out from my coat pocket.
"Puh... when did you get in there?"
A gift from Kania, who called a few days ago with a panicked voice asking if I was kidnapped, then cautiously asked about my tastes, was staring at me blankly.
- Swipe...
Then, she suddenly handed me a note.
"Ah."
Only after seeing that note could I regain my smile a little.
- DLC
A note with a half-moon, boomerang, and crescent moon shapes drawn on it, which Serena gave me as a birthday present.
"Meow..."
"Yeah, I know."
I stroked the cat holding the note I always cherish and keep in my coat pocket with a smile.
"The fact that hope definitely exists."
"Meow!"
I pushed her along with the note into my pocket and left the room.
"Prepare the carriage. I need to go meet Aisi."
"...Yes."
"And I'll be stopping by Isollet's house too. Make sure to finish the housework by then."
I gave such orders to Alice, who was expressionlessly sweeping the corridor.
"Mr. Rosewin sent flowers and a letter... what should I do with..."
"Send them back."
After answering Ariane's question that appeared beside her, I went down to the first floor.
"...Irina, by the way, about those test results from before. Is that certain?"
"Yes?"
And seeing Irina waiting for me at the entrance, I asked such a question.
"You know, the detailed examination I asked you to do about the curse. Is that really correct?"
"Ah, that...? It's certain. I personally checked every corner of your body."
"Hmm..."
Hearing those words, I was lost in thought for a moment.
'Why did the Frozen Heart curse become like that?'
A few days before meeting Aisi, I had received a detailed examination about the curse from Irina.
The result was a surprising one—that the 'Ice Bird' containing the curse in my body was shattered to pieces.
Irina said it was a major event that had never been reported in magic academia until now.
No wonder I hadn't been feeling any chest pain or cold energy lately. I never imagined something like that had happened.
"Is there any possibility of recurrence?"
"...The only thing that's certain is that it's currently inactive. For anything else, I need to research."
"Hmm..."
Hearing those words and swallowing a groan for a moment, I quietly took out a letter from my bosom.
- Sender: Cloud Kingdom
[To Frey Raon Starlight.
I understand you recently made an appointment with Lady Aisi. To such you, I have something to tell you regarding Lady Aisi's recent changes...]
I read through that letter I had read multiple times again.
"...Going to my sister's house is scary enough, but why is she suddenly doing this?"
I said that while stepping out of the mansion.
"Well, I'll find out when I go and check."
.
Meanwhile at that time. At the meeting place.
"Your Highness."
A servant of the Cloud Kingdom began to cautiously approach Aisi, who was sitting at a table drinking tea.
"......."
"Lady Frey is coming. She just departed from the mansion..."
"You, come here."
"Yes?"
Aisi gave such an order to the servant in a cold voice.
"Y-yes..."
The servant who approached her with a slightly frightened expression was.
"Eek!"
Then suddenly stepped on ice that appeared on the floor and fell magnificently.
"........."
Aisi looked down at such servant blankly.
"...Puh."
Then covered her mouth and whispered with a devilish expression.
"You're totally clumsy."
A chilling cold energy began to circulate in the room.