Chapter 31

Illustration Note:

Please note that my drawing skills are not up to the task of depicting the beautiful settings of the water and snow spirits (in human form).

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Summer has come to this region, albeit much cooler than in Japan. However, it is a tough time for me, a snow spirit. The surroundings of my mountain abode remain comfortably covered in snow all year round, but apparently, I don't have the right to stay cooped up (so everyone at the fortress says), and so here I am at the fortress again today.

It's hot.

My stomach feels stifled.

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During the summer at the northern fortress, the number of people who go naked increases.

After training, everyone starts to strip off as a matter of course, but I wonder if they have forgotten that there is one maiden among them.

I wish they would remember that I am a very cute girl.

And I wish they would be considerate.

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Kicks found out about my weakness. This is the worst.

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I was passed around.

Remember this.

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It was discovered that the one-eyed knight is surprisingly weak against alcohol.

Moreover, the shocking fact is that he becomes a kissaholic when drunk.

Even if it's just on the forehead or the top of the head, I think we should stop those kinds of kisses that create a somewhat erotic atmosphere.

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The next day, the one-eyed knight had a hangover.

He was flustered when I looked at him with a cold eye, but of course, he should be. I'm going to hold him responsible for kissing my forehead multiple times.

Let's settle this with a week's worth of jerky.

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A strange sound came from the mouse hole in the discussion room, which I thought was securely sealed.

He's trying to break through the board from the inside...!!!

Tina-san!! It's an emergency!!

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When I told my father that it was hard to breathe when carried in his mouth, he turned me around.

Isn't this a really awkward position? Is it okay?

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It's not an exaggeration to say that summer is the season of the fire spirit, Kugaru.

I was worried about how he would behave in summer, even though he was energetic and mischievous even in winter, but for some reason, he turns into a gentleman during the summer.

He seems to think that I will melt if exposed to too much summer sun, so he tries to stick to me and put me in his shadow when we walk outside. How sweet! I was moved.

I don't think it's too hot to be stuck to him. I definitely don't think so.

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Apparently, it was the deputy commander who hung fruits on the trees in the fortress for the birds, as I heard from everyone at the fortress.

But apparently, I shouldn't tell the deputy commander about it. I don't understand why, but I was told to pretend I don't know.

But I want to tell the deputy commander.

Summer is when nature is abundant with food, so the birds are getting plump.

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Kicks found out about my second weakness.

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I was trapped in a trap that used my weakness.

However, I did not jump into Kicks' arms. If I have to ask him for help, I will overcome my trauma with ink.

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Hehe, happiness. A child's privilege.

Mother is cool and smells good.

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I received a boastful letter from the prince saying, "I ate cake with Mir."

The deputy commander, fueled by competitiveness, treated me to cake, but more isn't always better.

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Every day is hot, so I wanted to swim in the large lake where my father lives. When I asked, "I want to play in the water!" he rejected it, saying, "It's dangerous, no..." and instead used his power to create a small puddle for me.

No! This is not the kind of water play I wanted!

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While pouting and splashing the puddle, my father, who had sighed, transformed into human form and took me to the lake. The water was cold, and my spirits lifted. I was excited.

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Holding onto my father, I practiced swimming.

But my skills from my previous life, where I attended swimming lessons, should be better than this.

One day, I will swim the butterfly stroke.

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I was so engrossed in swimming that more time had passed than I thought, and my mother came to fetch me.

Seeing my mother angry, saying, "How long do you plan to monopolize my Milfia!" I was worried that they would fight, but in the end, they didn't.

Ignoring my mother's words, my father greeted her casually, "Snowlea... It's been a while," and then coolly added, "You're as beautiful as ever."

Even though my mother is used to such comments, she seemed a bit flustered, saying, "W-What are you saying, all of a sudden?"

Father, you're good.

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I received a teddy bear from Tina-san that was hopelessly ugly.

And it's big. Pointlessly big.

And it's not cute. I'll say it again, it's not cute.

But the height of the teddy bear's legs is just right for resting my chin, so I decided to use it only for that.

Tina-san was happy, saying, "Mil-chan is sleeping with my teddy bear!"

But Tina-san has probably never seen a bear.

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When I go out with Kugaru, he still tries his best to create shade for me.

He's so kind, but it's hard to tell him.

Even if there's shade over there, the sun is over here, so I'm still getting direct sunlight. It's hard to tell him that it's completely useless.

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The one-eyed knight gave me ice.

While thinking that I'm not a polar bear at the zoo, I thoroughly enjoyed its coldness.

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While playing with the young knights, including Kicks, during the break, I accidentally drenched the deputy commander with a bucket of water as he passed by.

No, it wasn't me who drenched him.

The deputy commander, drenched from head to toe, silently glared at us with icy eyes, and Kicks and the others all prostrated themselves, rubbing their foreheads on the ground, saying, "S-Sorry, so sorry!!"

I also prostrated myself and apologized.

No, it wasn't me who drenched him.

But thanks to the prostration, Kicks and the others only received a light reprimand. The deputy commander, who sighed in exasperation and ran his hand through his wet hair, looked so sexy.

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After scolding Kicks and the others, I chased after the deputy commander, who quickly entered the building. I was asked by Kicks and the others to "please go and cheer up the deputy commander, Mil-sama." I had no choice.

When I caught up with the deputy commander and apologized again on behalf of Kicks and the others, he poked my nose and laughed.

I thought he had forgiven me, but then I was kidnapped and subjected to the rough towel treatment. I didn't drench him with water!

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My mother discovered the "nice wooden sticks" I had secretly collected in the cave and threw all but one away.

This is terrible... How could she...

My "nice wooden sticks"!!

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This hasn't changed since I was human, but I'm afraid of insects.

The hard, dry texture, the buzzing sound of their wings, and the unpredictable way they sometimes fly straight at me are scary.

I'm okay with caterpillars because they're soft, but I feel only fear towards larger flying insects.

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While waiting for everyone to take a break in the fortress's discussion room, I must have dozed off.

In my dream, I met my family from my previous life.

"——-chan, come here," they all called my name, a name that wasn't Mil.

My mother, who was always kind and bright. My father, who told silly jokes but was fun. My older sister, who teased me but cared for me.

I loved them all, but for some reason, I can't remember their faces.

What happened to my parents after I died? They must have been very sad. They must have shed many tears.

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...

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Apparently, I had been crying in my sleep, and when I woke up, I was surrounded by the one-eyed knights who had come for a break and were worried about me.

Their tough faces, usually so composed, were comically flustered, and my tears involuntarily stopped.

I am so lucky. In both my past and present lives, I have been surrounded by kind people.

I sincerely hope that my family from my past life is happy.

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I regret not being able to express my gratitude and love to my family in my past life.

So in this life, I decided to clearly express my feelings.

To the one-eyed knight, my mother, my father, the deputy commander, Tina-san, everyone at the fortress, and sometimes Kicks and Kugaru, I will say, "I love you."

"Thank you always."