CH 36

Delirious Speech

I return to the student dormitories with Mize.

Along the way, Mize was telling me about of the uncomfortable feelings that my recent actions gave her.

“I was wondering why you seemed to be somewhat occupied recently.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“No, I didn’t feel anything at that time…But when I recall it now, there were various instances that give an uncomfortable feeling. Even during the times when we were acting together, Tweight-san, you often said ‘I remembered that I had something to do’ before you went off and did your own thing. During lunch breaks, during the times we were returning from the Guild, and also during the times we were exploring the Labyrinth.”

“You’ve remembered well.”

“…Ah!? C-could it be, also during the time we accepted the commission to defeat Sharp Rabbits? I’m certain that Tweight-san, after arriving at the forest, you left us because you had something to do in the Royal Capital…”

“That’s correct.”

When I nodded my head, Mize let out a sigh and dropped her shoulders.

“…I completely didn’t notice.”

“I was moving in such a way that I wouldn’t be noticed. Well, it’s pointless now.”

After I said that, Mize stared at my face seriously.

“Tweight-san, as I thought, you’re strange.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes…Normally, no one would treat me so casually, even if I asked them to, because I am a member of royalty…most people would be mindful of their social graces around me, and simply flatter me.”

Mize says sadly, looking down.

“Did you not have any close friends in the Kingdom of Arcadia?”

“…Yes. I was always alone.”

That might have been a somewhat mean-spirited question.

If she had such close friends in the first place, she shouldn’t have become a runaway.

“If that’s the case, then that means that no one was aware of Mize’s true character.”

“My true…character?”

“Yeah. To me, Mize is a strange person, despite the fact that you’re a princess…Of course, I mean that in a good way. When you’re with me, I never get bored. I think that probably, Gran and Elysia also feel the same way.”

“Is that so? I lack self-awareness of any such thing…”

No self-awareness…

“You have the tendency to suddenly sing out of nowhere, don’t you have any self-awareness? It’s Mize Howence~ Yes~ it is~ (Mize Howence desu~. Desudesu~)”

“WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?”

With a bright-red face, Mize violently shakes my body back and forth.

“W-why do you remember that!?”

“Because it was pretty shocking, after all.”

“Please forget about that! Please forget about thatt!!”

I don’t think I will be able to forget about it for a while, but I gave a nod to Mize, who was pleading while half-crying.

“Uu…so you aren’t bored when you’re with me, is that what you mean…that does make me a little happy.”

“Well, honestly, it’s because Mize constantly surprises me in different ways. You become very talkative when it comes to adventurers, and when we explore the labyrinth, you become filled with curiosity…”

“Um…I’ll take this opportunity to ask clearly, but, Tweight-san, just what do you think I am?”

“A foolhardy tomboy.”

“A foolhardy tomboy!?”

How outrageous! is what Mize’s face seems to be saying, but I am not joking in the least; this is what I really think.

In the first place, the reason why I decided to reveal my true identity was because Mize took unexpected measures to catch her escort.

“That reminds me…If Tweight-san is my escort, does that mean Oz-san is also one? When we were introduced at the Guild, it was quite abrupt, now that I think about it…”

Mize, who had regained her composure, asks me.

“Yeah, so you’ve noticed that as well…It’s a been a while, so I’ll call Oz as well.”

Since the fact that I’m her escort has come to light, there’s no point in keeping Oz’s identity a secret from now on. In the first place, this is how an escort is supposed to be; we shouldn’t have been concealing our true identities from the target. Although our work has been exposed, the escorting itself should be easier from now on.

Now that it has been revealed that we are escorting her, a relationship built on trust will be necessary from now on.

In order to show our sincerity, Oz should meet with Mize now, so they can speak face-to-face.

“28?”

“Oz. As a matter of fact…”

I promptly contact Oz through the [Communication Paper] and explain the situation.

“Ahaha, you got found out as an escort. That’s a rare mistake, coming from 28.”

“A lot of unexpected things happened. I’ll notify Chris later. Oz, can you come here now? It would be better if you could talk to Mize yourself.”

“…I guess so. I’ll be right there.”

Oz’s reply was unusually brusque.

Suddenly, I remembered what happened a while ago.

Mize was able to find out about the escort due to various unexpected circumstances– and one of those unexpected circumstances was the fact that I couldn’t get in touch with Oz.

“Oz. I tried to contact you a while ago, why didn’t you answer?”

After a short pause, Oz answered the question.

“Hmm, well…sorry, I must have been out of my post for a bit.”

“…I see. Be careful from now on.”

“…yup.”

I end the transmission with Oz.

“Mize. Oz will be here soon.”

“I understand.”

We would meet Oz in front of the girls’ dormitory.

Since I was planning to accompany Mize there, it was just right.

“Does Oz-san also, possibly, see me as a foolhardy tomboy as well…”

“No, Oz just met Mize recently, so I don’t think so.”

“You’re right…I hope that’s the case.”

It seems like Mize was shocked to be called “a foolhardy tomboy”.

Mize seemed depressed because of our previous exchange.

“…but still, even if it was in order to run away, how did you investigate the injustices of the Royal Family?”

I indirectly ask Mize about something that has been bothering me.

“You’re right. At that time, I was completely absorbed in trying to run away——”

Mize responds while recalling the past.

However, Mize abruptly stops speaking.

“Huh? How did I…know something like the injustices of the Royal Family…?”

We stopped, and I tilt my head at Mize, who said something mysterious.

“You didn’t investigate it yourself?”

“Yes. I didn’t tell anyone that I planned to run away, so I couldn’t have heard about it from other people– ugh!”

Suddenly, Mize crouches down, placing her head in her hands.

The people walking on the street turned their gazes to Mize. To obstruct them, I went to Mize’s side and called out to her.

“Mize, what’s wrong?”

“I-I’m sorry. My head… it hurts…”

Mize’s face turned pale. Her forehead was covered in a large amount of sweat, and her breathing had become rough.

Instantly, I feared that there was a possibility that she had been poisoned. Was it at the time that she was attacked by the bandits?– No, the timing of these symptoms is too strange for a poison.

“Is that… a prison…? Locked up… inside a cage… the one I see, in my dreams…”

Mize seemed to be looking at something with unfocused eyes.

And with what seems like delirious speech, Mize muttered.

“… I want, to be free… I need… to be free…”

Mize says while holding her head.

“Tweight?”

I heard a voice call for me from behind.

When I turned around, Oz was standing there.

“Oz, there’s been a change of plan. I’ll take Mize to a safe place.”

“You’re right… It might be better that way.”

Oz says, looking at Mize.

“… but there’s no meaning to that anymore.”

I couldn’t understand what Oz meant by that mutter.

Translator’s Note:

The original Japanese used for “Foolhardy tomboy” is じゃじゃ馬 (Jaja Uma), which means a hard-to-control horse. When used to refer to a girl, it means someone who does not listen to others. While others may translate this as shrew, I felt that a fool-hardy tomboy would be more appropriate, since the definition of shrew is an ill-tempered woman.

It’s the same as the Manga version.