Chapter 58

■ Chapter 57. Confession (4) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

“I just like you, that’s all.”

As she said this, Mari slowly leaned back and quietly sat down. Then, as if nothing had happened, she gave a bright smile. It was a smile so beautiful that the word "beautiful" seemed inadequate.

For a while, I couldn’t grasp the situation and blinked for about five seconds before I unconsciously touched my lips. If what Mari had just done was an illusion, then the sensation on my lips now must be a lie.

But this feeling is definitely not an illusion. The soft sensation that lingered on my lips for a moment was etched clearly in my mind.

'So... Mari just...'

Did she kiss me? Not a deep kiss, but a light kiss, often called a "bird kiss"?

I couldn’t believe it and couldn’t say a word. Then, Mari looked at my face and spoke with a hint of shyness.

“Well?”

“... ...”

“Whatever you say, this is my answer.”

Ah, seeing her say that, it’s not an illusion.

She really did give me a light kiss.

Mari really likes me.

...Oh my God.

Whoosh!

After three rational judgments, a silent scream burst out. At the same time, my face began to burn in less than a second.

I couldn’t bear to meet Mari’s eyes and bowed my head deeply. As a result, my thoughts, which had been improving... well, my brain circuits were completely tangled and not functioning properly.

'Really? Really? Is this real?'

These thoughts kept floating around. I couldn’t think of anything else.

No matter how I thought about it, the fact that Mari kissed me was undeniable. A kiss is an act that goes beyond just being close friends and is something lovers do.

We haven’t even officially started dating, and her bold move made me feel so embarrassed that I couldn’t handle it. In my previous life, I had a girlfriend, but I always took the lead, and I never experienced a situation where the girl took the initiative.

'So gentle...'

Was it because of the heat rising to the top of my head? Even though I hadn’t drunk any alcohol, my head felt slightly dizzy.

I’ve seen people who get dizzy due to high blood pressure, and this must be what it feels like. The difference is that they have a chronic condition, while mine is temporary.

“Huff. Huff. Huff.”

I tried hard to calm down the heat that was rising like a fireball by taking deep breaths. With each exhalation, I felt the heat in my face dissipate.

Strangely, it was much more intense than when I touched Cecil’s chest. Maybe it’s because I have a romantic interest in Mari. Moreover, the feelings I’m experiencing now are not lewd ‘desires’ but pure ‘emotions.’

“Huff...”

Finally, with a long exhalation, I managed to calm my wildly beating heart. Of course, the heat didn’t completely subside, but my brain circuits were functioning enough to think.

Then, I slowly lifted my head and looked at Mari, who was sitting opposite me. She was busy smiling, seemingly unaware of what she had just done.

“...Mari.”

“Yeah. Yeah.”

When I called her name, she replied in a voice filled with affection. She took the pose often called a ‘flower petal’ and looked at me straight.

I almost had another heart attack but managed to stop it. I took a deep breath and asked her in a slightly trembling voice.

“Do you know what your actions just now... mean?”

“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t know.”

“... ...”

“Do you want me to do it again?”

Mari said this and started to move as if to get up from her seat, ready to do it again.

I reached out and urgently stopped her. It’s not just embarrassing, but if we do it again, I have a strong feeling it won’t end ‘lightly.’

This isn’t because I don’t trust Mari, but because I don’t trust myself.

Before, I could control myself when I touched Cecil’s chest, but when my fingers moved quickly, my instincts took over.

To emphasize, I’m not a pervert at all; I’m just a normal guy who likes a beautiful girl like Mari.

“Sigh...”

“Hehehe.”

While I was running my hand through my hair in frustration, Mari was busy smiling. I wanted to grab her annoying cheeks and stretch them out.

The ‘confession’ I planned to make today was definitely not this kind of confession. I just wanted to tell Mari that I’m the author of the Zayon Chronicles and that we could think about our relationship later.

But now, everything is completely reversed. Like a snowball, the line I gave Mari at the restaurant entrance has come back as a huge snowball.

Does that mean I feel bad? Absolutely not.

On the contrary, thanks to Mari’s bold actions, all my hesitation has disappeared.

If I really want to be by Mari’s side, I should become a man who suits her.

And I can be that man. No, I already have the qualifications.

“...Mari.”

“Why~?”

Mari answered with a voice full of affection, maintaining the ‘flower petal’ pose.

I looked at her, who was spreading happiness like a virus, and bowed my head.

“Huh...”

Was I infected by the happiness virus she was emitting? A sudden, hollow laugh escaped me.

It wasn’t a normal hollow laugh. It was a laugh filled with happiness and sincerity.

Since my reincarnation, the only times I’ve laughed freely were with my family, and now such a laugh was coming out. It shows how elated I am right now.

“Really, I’m going crazy. Huh...”

“Why are you going crazy?”

“Don’t ask. Sigh...”

This is bad. I need to say it, but every time I look at Mari’s face, a silly laugh comes out automatically.

Even when I had my first girlfriend in my previous life, I never acted like this. I don’t know why I’m acting this way.

“Sigh...”

Fortunately, the laughter stopped after a while. At the same time, my wildly beating heart and burning face mostly calmed down.

Then, I lifted my head and faced Mari directly. Mari was still looking at me with a smiling face.

Now, I really need to say it. But surprisingly, I’m much less nervous than before.

“Mari, I said I had something I wanted to tell you, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Before I say that... can you look at this first?”

I handed the envelope containing the first edition to Mari. She took it with a smile, as if she had already guessed, and took out the contents.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. Even though I was less nervous, revealing a secret directly is always nerve-wracking. Moreover, the secret I’m revealing will have a significant impact on Mari.

“... ...”

The more Mari read the manuscript, the more her smile faded. She glanced at me, a reaction that suggested she had expected it but found it hard to believe.

I licked my dry lips while Mari skimmed through the first edition. This was the first time I felt that every minute and second was so long.

“Sigh...”

How much time had passed? After quickly skimming through the first edition, Mari lowered the manuscript and sighed.

It was a sigh that seemed both relieved and strange.

Then, she fixed her gaze on the first edition for a while before lifting her head to face me. Her blue eyes had a hint of doubt.

“So that’s why Cecil was so interested in you... It was because of this?”

“...Cecil?”

“Yeah. She told me after you left last time. She said you share a secret. I suspected it might be this, but...”

She trailed off and looked at the manuscript again, saying with a disbelieving tone.

“I didn’t think it was real.”

“...Do you really believe it?”

“To be honest, it’s hard to believe. As you know, people speculate that the author of the Zayon Chronicles is a sage, not someone under 20. Since your father is famous as the Red Lion, everyone probably thinks it’s him.”

Mari is right. When Leort sent people to investigate, they predicted my father was the author, not me.

But Mari seems to really believe I’m the author of the Zayon Chronicles. I was slightly puzzled.

Why did she determine I was the author of the Zayon Chronicles?

“Do you really believe I’m the author?”

“If you hadn’t shown me this, it would have been hard to believe. Your handwriting is exactly the same, and the paper is almost discolored, indicating it was written a long time ago.”

“Did you think I might have copied it onto discolored paper?”

“If it were a forgery, that could be possible, but look at the ink. It’s also about to discolor, just like the paper. If the ink and paper were both dirty, it might be a forgery, but if only the ink is clean, a discerning person would quickly notice it’s a forgery.”

“Ooh...”

That’s true. I was impressed by a fact I didn’t even know.

Mari blushed slightly, perhaps embarrassed by my admiration, and cleared her throat. Then, she glanced at the manuscript and scolded me in a slightly teasing voice.

“Why don’t you take better care of it? Do you know how valuable this is?”

“Um... I don’t really know.”

“That’s why you’re not taking care of it. Just one of these could be designated as a national treasure, not just a masterpiece. If it were put up for auction, it would spark a battle not just among collectors but between countries.”

“Really?”

I thought it would just be rich people bidding, but the idea of it becoming a national-level issue is hard for me to imagine. I know my value is high, but I didn’t realize the value of the first edition.

Mari looked at my reaction with a ‘What do I do with this guy?’ expression. She seemed genuinely baffled.

Then, she sighed deeply and spoke in a slightly lowered voice.

“...I told you today, didn’t I? The author of the Zayon Chronicles, that’s you, is a big deal, someone the country would treat with utmost respect. No, you’re more than a big deal; you’re a walking culture. Culture is a unique characteristic of a country, and you are that characteristic. We can tell the world that we are the country that has the author of the Zayon Chronicles.”

“...Is it dangerous?”

“It could be, depending on what you do.”

Mari warned me seriously. I could only laugh bitterly in response.

“Isaac.”

“...Yeah.”

“You heard my answer earlier, but I don’t mind if you reveal your secret. However, this is a different issue. I’m worried you might write with ulterior motives. Changing the perception of demons is an achievement no one has ever accomplished, but... remember the scene in the early part of the eighth volume of the Zayon Chronicles? The scene where the light and dark sides of the nobility were revealed.”

A somewhat controversial scene was mentioned by Mari. As a noble, and a member of a duchy, it’s a concerning issue for her.

I realized what she was trying to say and leaned forward. I could firmly tell her that her worries were unfounded.

“...Mari.”

“Yeah, go on.”

“I have no intention of writing with such motives. I just want my readers to enjoy my writing.”

This is why I’ve been avoiding the situation. As I always say, I was just a regular web novelist in my previous life.

A profession far from politics, I wrote simply to make people happy. And I plan to keep writing as long as people enjoy it.

As Mari said, I have no intention of writing with specific motives. The complete change in the perception of demons was something I didn’t expect, and the more popular it became, the more pressure I felt.

I just want to write. I just like seeing people enjoy my writing.

“If my writing causes harm to the world, I won’t write anymore. If someone forces me to write with malicious intent, I’ll cut off my hand.”

“... ...”

“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I’m sincere. I just want people to enjoy my writing.”

It feels relieving to unload all my worries. I’ve told my family, but I could only do so because they are family. This is the first time I’ve told someone else.

Although I didn’t realize it, it also means I trust Mari. Perhaps the kiss earlier acted as a catalyst to build this trust.

“...I see.”

Mari nodded slowly after hearing my words. Then, with a strange expression, she asked me.

“Seeing you tell me this, it seems you trust me.”

“...Maybe?”

“What do you mean, maybe? If it’s true, just say it. You’re not honest in this aspect.”

“Haha.”

I laughed awkwardly as Mari grumbled. She also seemed to relax and chuckled at my laughter.

“Still, it feels good. Being the second person you trust after your family. Do you know anyone else? Cecil seems to know, and maybe Lina too?”

“No. Lina thinks my father is the author, and so does Leort.”

“What? What do you mean? Why does she think your father is the author, not you?”

“Well...”

I explained everything that happened to Mari. I was a bit worried that it might make her feel worse, given her existing animosity towards Lina.

And as I explained, Mari’s expression grew increasingly grim, to the point where it was scary to look at.

“That woman really... to someone who didn’t do anything...”

“Still, things worked out well, so don’t worry too much. As you said, they won’t just mess with me.”

“Probably not, but you should still be careful. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“Oh, and, there’s one more thing I want to ask...”

“Ask?”

“Yeah...”

I was puzzled by her request, and Mari started to hesitate. She seemed embarrassed, twirling her white hair with a hint of blue and looking at me cautiously.

Her face was slightly flushed, suggesting she was embarrassed to say it. The more she hesitated, the more my curiosity grew.

Mari is different from others and wouldn’t make strange requests, so why is she acting like this? Just as I was thinking this, Mari cleared her throat and spoke quietly.

“Cough... Um... Can I have an autograph...?”

“...What?”

“An autograph... Is it possible? Since you’re the author of the Zayon Chronicles... I thought an autograph would be okay...”

“... ...”

I just blinked without saying anything, and Mari laughed awkwardly.

“Hehehe...”

She’s so cute.