Ryuu Kusari no Ori -Kokoro no Uchi no 'Kokoro'-

[LN] Volume 4: Chapter 1.4

Volume 4 Chapter 1.4

A Fresh Start Part 4

Translator : PolterGlast

The girl from the Cat-tailed Tribe and a classmate, rolled her eyes when she saw Karanti sitting at the same table as Shina. Although they had reconciled, they had been on bad terms until recently. Surely she would be surprised.

"Mimuru? There's no way you would ever come to the library by yourself, so Tom must be with you. Where is he?"

"You're saying an awful thing, Shina. Even I would read at least a book!"

Shina started to look around for her other companion when Mimuru appeared. Mimuru's cheeks puffed out in dissatisfaction at her best friend's behavior, and she held up the books in her hand as if to refute her friend. The titles of the books were about attribute interference theory, fluctuations in reaction rates due to magical qualities, and other seemingly complicated topics. No matter how one looked at it, it was not the kind of book Mimuru would read.

As Shina gazed at the books with suspicion, a small boy with glasses appeared from behind the bookshelf. He was carrying a stack of books in his arms, and once he noticed Shina and the others, he put the books on a nearby desk and approached them.

"Shina, we meet again. Oh, Mimuru, I see you brought me the materials I was looking for. Thank you."

Hearing Tom's words, Mimuru froze while Shina let out a small sigh.

"...... I knew it was Tom who had business in the library."

"Hmm? What is it?"

Shina glared at Mimuru for lying. Mimuru's little lie was exposed in a flash, and she looked downward with a red face and trembled her shoulders from embarrassment.

Tom, on the other hand, who couldn't grasp the situation, just tilted his head.

"T-Tom, you idiot―!"

"E-Eh!? Why~!?"

Mimuru, who could no longer stand the embarrassment she felt, came up to Tom and grabbed him.

"Why won't you cooperate with me!? You should be on my side!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

Mimuru was screaming and Tom, who couldn't understand what was going on, was being jostled by his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Shina and Karanti were sighing deeply.

In the midst of all this, Tima tapped Mimuru on the shoulder, calling out to her in a panicked manner.

"M-Mimuru-san, if you make so much nosiness, you'll cause trouble for the others......"

"What do you want, Tima-san!? I'm in the middle of something important here-...... ah~"

Mimuru, turning around in agitation, looked in the direction to which Tima pointed and let out an involuntary yelp.

A cluster of gazes directed at her from the surroundings. All of them were clearly expressing their dissatisfaction with Mimuru, as though saying [Be quiet!]. Originally, this was a place where many students came to study by themselves. If one were to raise one's voice here, one would naturally be reprimanded.

"A-Ahahaha ...... S-Sorry."

Mimuru let go of her grip with a twitching smile on her face and quickly hid behind her lover to escape the stares of those around her.

"Tom, you sure have a hard time, huh?"

"It's fine. I'm used to it."

Tom smiled as he stroked his lover's shrinking head with the back of his hand. Mimuru began purring at the feel of Tom's hand caressing her head.

"So, what were you guys talking about with such an unusual line-up?"

Once the protesting stares from those around them had subsided, Mimuru leaned forward again and pressed close to Shina and the others.

"It was just a coincidence that we ended up together. Why are you so curious?"

"Well, it's just that my whiskers caught a whiff of something sweet and sour......"

"What the heck? In the first place, the Cat-tailed Tribe doesn't have that kind of ability."

Shina once again cast a suspicious glance at Mimuru, who was puffing out her chest while twitching her whiskers as if to show off.

On the other hand, Somia was looking at the movement of Mimuru's whiskers with interest. She is a cat lover by nature. Perhaps it is because she loves cute things that she is attracted to such small gestures.

"Ehem, a maiden in love is sensitive, you know? Tima-san, you're also a damsel in love, isn't that right?"

"Eeh~!?"

Tima, who was suddenly asked such a question, shouted in surprise. Remembering what she had said previously, Tima's face turned bright red.

"Huh? Am I wrong? I thought I heard Mars-kun's name?"

"...... You were eavesdropping on us?"

Shina's doubtful gaze turned to accusatory. Mimuru smiled bitterly and let out a dry laugh, "Hahaha.......".

"So, you were indeed talking about Mars-kun, right!? I wonder how far you and Mars-kun have gotten!?"

"H-How far you ask......."

"Well, have you gone as far as making out, or are you still in the stage of flirting in the same room? ...... Don't tell me you're still dawdling in the entrance!?"

Before the sermon could begin, Mimuru forcefully pressed Tima to get to the bottom of it. It could be said that her switch flip is as quick as ever. The corners of Shina's eyes lifted up in a grimace.

Tima, on the other hand, turned to Somia, who sat next to her, as if asking for help. It was undoubtedly that she could rely on an eleven-year-old girl, but this girl might be able to help her if she had a strong core just like her sister. Tima had such hopes......

"Ah, I'm kind of curious, too!"

"Eeh!?"

Tima's hope was abruptly busted by Somia herself. She leaned forward, her eyes shining just as brightly as Mimuru's. The attendant, Mena, did not seem to stop Somia, but rather happily watched the situation unfold.

"I know it, Somicchi will be curious about it as well."

"Yes. I'd like to hear about it for future reference......."

"F-Future?...... Isn't it a little too early for you, Somia-chan?......"

"Umm, I don't know. Some of my classmates have kissed......"

"Eh!?"

Since they were Somia's classmates, they should be around 11 years old. Incidentally, Tima had never even held hands with a man before, except with her father. Of course, there was no way she could have had any experience with kissing.

Kiss, kiss? ....... A kiss at the age of eleven?

The image of a boy and a girl facing each other flashed in Tima's mind. Their gazes intersected. The distance between them was so close that they could even feel each other's breath. Soon their respective faces filled each other's field of vision, and eventually.......

"A~u."

After imagining that much, Tima rolled her eyes while her face bright red.

Her brain apparently overheated as her head filled with pink scenes.

"Oh, my? Was it too much for her?"

Mimuru peeked at Tima, who lost her mind and poked her on the cheek.

Meanwhile, seeing her best friend's savagery, Shina looked at Somia while holding her temples.

"U-Umm, Somia-chan, is that true?"

"Yes. According to Ransa-chan, some of her friends are even already done it. For example, Mary-chan, Kinea-chan, -......"

"I-I see."

Somia folded her fingers to count as she named several of her friends. One of her hands was not enough, so she used both hands, and when it was still not enough, she folded it back again. Seeing this, Shina's face twitched and she raised her voice.

"T-That's enough, Somia-chan......"

"Eh? Are you sure?"

How many names would have come up if I hadn't stopped her? Such a thought strangely popped into her shaken mind after hearing about the surprisingly progressive love life of a younger generation.

"Don't tell me, Somia-chan, you too......?"

"Eh, me!? No way, I-....... I’ve never done such a thing. My father and sister told me to be modest!"

"Y-Yeah. I figured so."

"My sister and I both understand that we are in a position where we can't decide on a partner so easily. It's a bit unfortunate though......"

With a smile on her lips, Somia smiled a little sadly. She looked so mature that it was hard to believe that she was an eleven-year-old girl.

If one thinks about it, she is indeed the daughter of the Francilt family, just like Irisdina. She must have a good sense of discretion in this regard.

Shina thought it was only natural, but inwardly she felt a little sympathy for their family situation. Shina, too, was in a position where she could not escape the pressure of her surroundings when it came to her marriage partner.

Elves are a race whose life span is among the longest on this continent, which makes it difficult for them to produce offspring. Despite this, they lost their homeland in the great invasion 20 years ago and suffered many casualties.

Having lost their safe haven and greatly reduced in number, the elves are in constant danger of extinction. As a countermeasure, the elven elders encouraged marriage between men and women of the right age who were able to bear children.

Naturally, Shina was approached with marriage proposals as well. At the time, she had lost her ability to use spirit magic, but it did not pose much of a problem for her to leave behind some children.

But she turned it down and instead came here to Arcazam. Behind her eyelids, she could still recall the burning forest and her family lying on the ground. And the image of the black demonic beast was etched into her memory.

"Well, it's indeed kind of tough. Lots of stuff, I would say......."

Shina soliloquized as she leaned back in her chair.

There is only so much that a single individual can do to change his or her environment. Shina said these words because she actually experienced this when she was a child.

But even so, she was still able to smile peacefully. Mimuru looked at her best friend and muttered.

"As I thought, you've changed, Shina."

"I guess so....... If we talk about change......"

The image of a young man flashed through her mind. A person with whom she felt painful emotions just a few moments ago. But now, she felt a warmth in her heart.

(If this is called love, it probably is......)

The one who reestablished the bond that was nearly lost, the connection that she thought was gone. The person who risked his life to save her, who was tormented by past traumas and could only throw swear words at him.

The elf girl's thin, white fingers naturally reached for her lips.

"By the way, Shina, haven't you kissed Nozomu-kun already? Why don't you tell Somicchi how you felt at that time?"

"......Haa!?"

"That reminds me! Shina-san has kissed Nozomu-san!"

"Ah, at that time, huh? Even Leader was dumbfounded."

Shina recalled the time in the forest when she rescued Nozomu, who was about to be devoured by a dragon.

The contract magic she used to bring him back to consciousness. The contract method at that time was ...... a kiss. Moreover, she did it in front of everyone, including Irisdina.

Shina's skin, white as fresh snow, flushed at once. Her spinning mind went into overdrive, causing her to dismiss all sorts of important things in her daily life, such as appearances and calmness, without question.

"Please, tell me! How did it feel!? Does it taste like lemon after all!?"

"W-Why are you so curious!? You're acting totally different from when you were talking about that girl named Ransa!"

"What's wrong with that!? I have only kissed someone on the cheek, so I was just wondering what it would feel like to kiss someone on the lips......"

"Eh, what do you mean!? When did you kiss!?"

"When I went on a date! And it was with Nozomu-san, of course!"

"Eeeehh―!?"

Shina knew that Somia and Nozomu had gone on a date before, but only while she was helping at a candy stall. She did not know that Somia kissed Nozomu afterward.

While Shina was shocked by the new revelations, Karanti, who had been sitting next to her and just listening to the conversation, suddenly spoke up.

"Speaking of which, you were also proposed to by Leader, remember?"

"Marriage proposal!? Is that true, Shina-san!?"

"What a surprise. I thought you were a modest person since you're an elf, but apparently, you're quite aggressive, huh......"

"Hold on, Karanti......!"

At the surprise attack from the side, Shina spontaneously turned her head toward Karanti, letting out a flustered voice.

There she saw the wolf tribe girl with an extremely dissatisfied expression on her face.

"Of course, I know. I know you don't really care about it, and I know the leader meant it as a joke. Yeah, I know it very well."

"Then can you please stop that murderous look in your eyes.....?"

As the conversation spilled over and flared up, Mimuru, who loves to play with fire, unleashed a line that further fanned the flames.

"Oh, by the way, currently, Nozomu-kun and Irisdina-san are on a date in the forest together~~. Just the two of them, alone in a place where no one can disturb them! I wonder what they are doing right now~~"

*Crack*......! The previous chest pangs were back again, and a streak of bulging veins formed on Shina's forehead.

"Mimuru, come with me behind that bookshelf for a minute."

"Eh?"

While telling her to come, Shina grabbed her bad friend by the collar and tried to take her away behind the bookshelf.

Somia, who was standing by the elf girl's side without a care in the world, wore a slightly complicated expression on her face.

"S-Shina. Don't make that kind of face. You're ruining your beautiful face...... Spare me, pretty please?"

"No."

Mimuru attempted to make amends with a cramped smile on her face, but Shina cut her short. With Shina's personality that usually restrained herself from various things, the result of releasing the restraint was tremendous.

"Shina-san, would you like to use this?"

What Somia took out was a book as thick as a dictionary. It was the book Mimuru found for Tom. Somia was quite merciless in casually handing over something that would make the punishment more severe.

"Alright, let me borrow this for a second."

"Wha!? What are you gonna do with that!? It will dent my head!"

Shina, ignoring Mimuru's desperate cries, took the book Somia offered her by holding it with one hand. The sight of Shina's slender hand dragging a single person was so disconcerting that one could hardly believe one's eyes, but at the same time, it exuded a spine-tingling intimidation.

"A-Anyone, please save me!"

Feeling her life in danger, Mimuru desperately resisted, but it was all in vain. Shina, who usually wielded a powerful bow, actually has a very strong grip. She could even crush an apple in her hands with ease.

Naturally, she was not even a bit fazed by the slight struggle.

A few seconds after Shina took Mimuru away with a thin smile on her face and her figure disappeared behind the shelves, there was a scream so loud that it shook the entire library.

Incidentally, because the scream was so loud that the windowpanes shook, Shina and the others received a grand scolding from the librarians, and all of them had to be thrown out of the library.

†

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