Chapter 47: Lolita and Snacks
My maids busied themselves around me as they prepared me for school.
One brushed my hair carefully while another adjusted the ribbons of my uniform with military precision.
Honestly, getting dressed like this every morning felt less like preparing for class and more like preparing for a royal execution.
Still...
My thoughts drifted back to the girl from a few days ago.
Amber Hunt
And that cute little commoner girl was already attracting attention from practically everyone around her.
My eyes slowly narrowed.
"Could it be...?"
A horrifying realization struck me like lightning.
"That girl... she's one of that bitch goddess' summoned heroes?!"
Silence filled the room.
One of my maids quietly pretended she hadn't heard anything.
.........
I walked beside Elliot on the way to the first class of the day.
The morning breeze carried the scent of flowers through the academy courtyard while students gathered in noisy groups around us.
"Hey, Elliot," I began casually, "do you know anything about Amber Hunt?"
"You mean that commoner girl?" he asked. "Yeah, actually. I met her earlier while I was heading to your dorm."
I froze.
"…Say what?"
"indeed, she bumped into me in the corridors the other day, apprantly seeming like she'd been crying. She dropped her handkerchief, so I picked it up for her."
I grabbed his shoulders dramatically.
"What happened after the handkerchief?!"
Elliot blinked at me.
"I... gave it back?"
"And then?!"
"She thanked me?"
"So what was she like?!"
"Huh?" He looked genuinely confused now. "Just... normal? She seemed polite."
I let out a deep sigh of relief.
No romantic development detected.
Seems I was overthinking. 😌
Elliot continued staring at me like I'd finally lost my mind.
"What's up with you lately?" he asked cautiously. "You're acting weird."
"It's nothing."
My smile faded slightly as I caught someone staring at me from the corner of my eye.
The feeling vanished almost immediately.
"…Shiori?" Elliot asked.
"Nothing," I repeated quietly.
But even as we continued walking, I could still feel it.
Someone was watching me.
--
Kuro's POV
[Location: Port Town of Okinawa]
I sat atop one of the kitchen stools inside a small local restaurant, watching my so-called cooking mentor work with terrifying concentration.
"Fuko," I whined, "can you show me how to do that again?"
"Again??"
"Of course. I'm working here specifically so I can learn how to cook."
Fuko sighed the sigh of a man whose lifespan had already shortened considerably because of me.
"Well, since you paid the owner just to study here, I guess I don't have a choice." He pointed the knife at me accusingly. "But promise me you won't swing it around like last time."
I pouted.
"But flashy knife techniques are all I know..."
"That's exactly the problem."
He grabbed an apple before slowly peeling the skin in one smooth motion.
"This is called the rotary peeling method."
I stared in awe.
"Rotary...? What does that mean?"
"…Honestly, no idea," he admitted.
I narrowed my eyes thoughtfully.
"This method could be useful outside cooking."
Specifically for efficiently removing flesh from human bodies.
"What are you thinking about right now?" Fuko asked nervously.
"Nothing."
He looked unconvinced.
---
Ryuchi's POV
I sat quietly within an old wooden shack hidden deep inside the forest.
Rain tapped softly against the roof overhead while mist curled around the trees outside.
"Did you find anything?" I asked.
"Indeed. It seems Master isn't the only individual summoned into this world. There are supposedly several heroes personally chosen by the gods."
He placed a few documents on the table.
"One resides within the Lumia Kingdom. Another was summoned by the eastern empire
Fortunately...
"They still know nothing about her," Alex added.
I nodded.
"It would become troublesome for Shiori-sama if her existence were exposed."
A brief silence followed.
Then my gaze shifted toward the door.
"…However, you've become sloppy," I said flatly.
Alex stiffened.
"You were followed."
Several presences approached the shack.
"Who's there?" Alex demanded.
"Travelers," a voice answered.
"Enter."
The door creaked open.
A Black haired man stepped inside first, followed by a silver-haired woman and a timid red-haired girl.
"Whoa, another samurai?!" the black-haired man exclaimed excitedly. "How many cosplayers are in this world?!"
"We are guards of the Hoshiko Trading Company," I interrupted coldly. "State your business."
The silver-haired woman stepped forward gracefully.
"We heard your companion possesses a rather unique weapon."
Alex instinctively held his katana closer.
"Your speech pattern is seriously cool," the Raven-haired man said while staring at me. "How old are you anyway?"
I deadpanned.
"We barely know your names and you're already asking personal questions?"
He looked genuinely wounded.
The woman sighed.
"This is Tomoki-kun. The girl beside him is Mora. I am Lily."
So this is one of the summoned heroes.
"I'm Ryuchi. This is Alex."
Tomoki suddenly leaned forward.
"Can I see the sword?!"
"That's fine." I slowly unsheathed my blade. "Though only I can properly wield it."
The polished steel gleamed beneath the lantern light.
Everyone froze.
"That blade..." Lily whispered.
"It's beautiful..." Mora murmured softly.
I sheathed it again.
"Satisfied?"
Lily's expression sharpened.
"Would you be willing to part with it? Name your price."
"No."
I rested my chin against my hand lazily.
"My blades are my partners. I have no interest in selling them."
Lily's smile thinned.
"Then perhaps I should properly introduce myself. I am Princess Lily of the eastern empire, and this man beside me is one of the goddess' summoned heroes. If you assist us, humanity itself would be indebted to you."
"My answer remains unchanged."
I smiled mockingly.
"Or did you believe your title alone would make me kneel? How laughable."
For the first time, irritation crossed her face.
"You seem desperate for my blade," I continued. "Could it be you're attempting to replicate weapons from another world?"
Lily's eyes narrowed dangerously.
Interesting.
"This conversation is over," I said while waving my hand dismissively. "Leave."
Mist swallowed the room instantly.
The next second, they vanished.
Honestly...
For a summoned hero, Tomoki was disappointing.
Staring at my body so shamelessly despite me being male.
He could learn a thing or two from someone refined and charming like Shiori-sama.
I briefly remembered the time she accidentally saw me shirtless.
The way her face turned bright red...
A small smile tugged at my lips.
Cute.
---
No One's POV
Princess Lily and her companions reappeared somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
"A dragon hybrid capable of mind reading and mist manipulation...?!" Lily hissed furiously.
Tomoki grinned darkly.
"He's insanely overpowered."
His eyes gleamed with obsession.
"I want him."
---
Shiori's POV
As I walked back from class, that strange feeling from earlier returned.
Someone was following me.
Even with my detection skills, I couldn't properly track them.
Weird...
Suddenly, something sweet drifted through the air.
My eyes sparkled instantly.
"What's that smell?!"
I followed the scent like a starving predator.
It eventually led me toward a secluded corner of the academy garden.
There, I spotted a guy being bullied, he should have been around my age despite looking younger. His uniform was surprisingly victorian style as his had fluffy purple hair and pale purple eyes caught my attention.
Several male students surrounded him while he held a basket filled with freshly baked muffins.
One of the boys suddenly smacked the basket from his hands.
The muffins scattered across the grass.
"Don't act special just because your kingdom is doing well now!" one sneered.
"To us, you're still just the illegitimate child of that slut you call your mother," another spat before kicking the guy to the ground.
My expression darkened instantly.
"And look," another mocked cruelly, "he even baked sweets. Are these for amber?"
He lifted his foot toward one of the muffins.
"Stop."
My voice cut through the air sharply.
I stepped protectively in front of the bullied boy.
The boys paused.
I stared down at the ruined pastries.
What...
What did they just do...? 😡
Look at the food...
Such a crime was unforgivable. 😡
"You have exactly three seconds to run," I said calmly, "before I beat all of you into bloody pulp."
"You don't scare us, girly!"
The moment he stepped forward, I moved.
I grabbed his arm, flipped him over my shoulder, and slammed him into the ground before twisting his wrist behind his back.
He screamed.
The others panicked immediately and fled without hesitation.
"Cowards..."
I released the boy with a disgusted click of my tongue before turning toward the purple haired boy.
My gaze fell onto the muffins.
"…Aww look at what they did...."
I picked one up carefully, sniffing in the goodness before taking a bite.
Delicious. 🤤
Without thinking, I continued eating.
One muffin became two.
Then three.
Then all of them.
I finally snapped out of it after swallowing the last bite.
Silence.
I slowly looked towards him.
He stared back at me.
…Crap.
I got carried away.
"I'M SORRY!" I bowed dramatically. "I accidentally ate all your evidence!"
"I'm honestly more concerned that they fell on the ground," he admitted carefully.
"Nah, they landed on grass. Five second rule."
"I don't think that's how it works..."
I handed him the empty basket awkwardly.
"But seriously," I admitted honestly, "those were amazing."
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"thankyou, I'd hoped to give some to the student council... "
Aww.
That's actually really sweet... ☺️
"I'm Shiori Komori, first year from class 1A..."
"I'm Nicole Valentine....first year, class 1 C" he bowed politely
Wow, up close he's super cute~. Definitely a lolita
"There you are, Lady Shiori—"
Nate suddenly emerged from the bushes.
His voice stopped.
He stared at mine and Nicole's hands touching around the basket.
A look of pure horror crossed his face.
"…Shiori," he asked carefully, "what exactly are you doing?"
"Oh! Hey, Nate."
"I was looking for you," he said while forcing a smile. "I'm heading to the student council room and hoped you'd accompany me."
"Sure."
Though his eyes kept drifting toward Nicole suspiciously the entire walk there.
......
The student council room looked less like a school office and more like the headquarters of an elite corporation.
Bookshelves lined the walls while massive windows overlooked the academy grounds.
"Shiori!" Mia beamed excitedly.
William and Xavier sat nearby, casually waving.
"What are you all doing here?" I asked.
"We're members of the student council, obviously," Mia replied proudly.
"Welcome."
Oliver approached us with his usual calm smile.
I blinked.
"…Wait. You're on the council too?"
"I'm actually the vice president."
I froze.
Excuse me? 😧
How?!
, We spent some time chatting while Oliver handled paperwork at terrifying speed.
Seriously.
His hands were moving so fast they looked blurred.
Was he possessed by a spirit?!
"Here," Oliver said softly while serving tea he brewed himself.
I lifted the cup carefully.
The elegant design immediately caught my eye.
Hm. Maybe I should improve the branding design for my merchandise too...
I took a sip.
Warmth spread across my tongue.
Rich.
Smooth.
Gentle.
My eyes widened slightly.
"This is amazing..."
Mia grinned proudly.
"The vice president makes the best tea."
I slowly looked toward Oliver again.
The way he brewed tea somehow matched his personality perfectly.
Elegant.
Calm.
Comforting.
After the others eventually finished their work and left, I stood from my seat.
"Thanks for the tea," I said honestly. "It was wonderful."
Oliver smiled softly.
"I'm glad it suited your tastes."
I tilted my head thoughtfully.
"There's something unique about it."
"Hm?"
"It tastes... gentle."
For the first time all evening, Oliver looked genuinely startled.
I waved casually before leaving.
Behind me, he quietly stared at the teacup I used.
.......
Later that evening, I took Mochi outside for a walk.
"Sorry for keeping you trapped in the dorm lately," I apologized while patting his head. "You must've been bored."
Mochi nodded dramatically.
"Well, good news. I'll be visiting the demi-plane again in two days."
Mochi immediately started dancing in circles.
I giggled softly.
The evening breeze brushed against my hair.
Then—
That feeling returned.
Someone was watching me.
Slowly, I turned my head.
A pair of purple eyes met mine.
The boy stared at me silently for what felt like forever before eventually looking away and continuing down the path.
I remained frozen.
…Nicole?