4 Chapter 4

Ugh, what am I even saying. It's so cheesy.

"I never thought you would say that..."

"Hmm."

"Alright, I'll smile since you told me to."

"Yeah, that's gre—"

...I shouldn't have told him to smile...

He looks even more dazzling when smiling. It's too bright. He looks like a puppy getting a new toy.

"Stop."

"Didn't you tell me to smile?"

"I did. So stop it."

When I said that, he pouted. That is... cute too. Do all capture targets look this cute? I should have Lucas acting like this everyday so I could get used to it.

But, it's still too much to handle for now. I'll tell him to do it next time.

"Lucas."

"What is it?"

"You have to act cute everyday so I could get used to pretty faces, starting tomorrow."

"Uh... what?"

"Act cute."

"O-okay."

"Great."

"Why, though?"

"I have to get used to it to be able to remain indifferent if I ever meet the capture targets."

"You... have such a weird way of thinking."

"Well, I'm from another world after all."

"I guess so."

"Even if I try my best to avoid them, we'll have to meet anyway. So, I should get used to it soon."

"Get used to what?"

"Handsome faces."

*cough*

Why is he suddenly coughing? Is he sick or what?

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing."

He said so while covering his face and shaking. His ears are somehow reddish.

"You don't have to suppress it, just laugh. If you laugh like that, I feel hurt too, you know?

"Pfft. I'll stop laughing now."

"...you're still shaking."

"Ahem, I'm not."

"Yeah, whatever."

"Alright, my plan is to avoid them. Since the otome game is like fate for the people involved in the game, it shouldn't matter if I'm not the one to bully the heroine since the game will make someone else bully the heroine."

"But you aren't avoiding me?"

"What, do you want me to pretend that we've never met and avoid you?"

"No! Never!"

"Then, that's that."

"You'll avoid them?"

"Yeah."

Should I? Or should I save up money and run away? Even if I avoid them now, I'll have to meet them later anyway. We're all nobility so we'll meet at banquets and balls.

Anyway, avoiding them is the best way to survive in this game. I doubt sucking up to them would do any good, plus, I feel bad when I need to act nicely to people that might kill me in the future.

"I'll help you! Definitely!"

"That's good."

"Hehe."

"..."

"Hm? What is it?"

"Nothing."

Sigh~

Averting his gaze, I mumbled quietly.

"Kids are so hard to handle..."

"?"

"Well, first things first, I should get strong enough to be able to at least fight back if they really try to kill me even after avoiding them."

"But you have me, though."

"I know that, but did you forget that you are also a capture target? Who knows what might happen. You might fall in love at first sight with the heroine like in the game."

In fact, I might get killed even if I avoid them. In any case, it's bast to be cautious.

"I'm not being cold, I just can't trust people. If you can't prove to me that you won't kill me, then I can't trust you."

"Is that so... Then, all I have to do is to prove to you that I won't kill you, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then, I will help you in anyway I can! As long as I can get you to trust me."

"...sure. Alright, end of discussion. I'm going out, let's go."

"But where are we going?"

"To practice magic."

* * *

"You said I can use every type of magic?"

"Yep! Since you already lived for 17 years in your past life, your brain is more developed. That's why you can handle more magic."

Now that I think about it, I don't really study for exams, it's a mystery to how I was able to get high scores on every subjects. Well, I guess it is natural for kids my age to be able to do that much.

"But... I'm curious, why did you pick me?"

"That's... a secret~"

"Haa..."

"I'll tell you when I want to."

"When is that?"

"I don't know, when I feel like telling you, maybe?"

Ugh. When exactly is that then? I should stop with this topic since it doesn't look like it'll progress anywhere at all.

"Can you teach me magic?"

"Sure! I'll teach you! I bet that I would be able to help you much more than private tutors."

"That's great."

We would be able to save money this way, even if it's just a little bit. I should have many backup plans as well,

Plan A: avoid them at all cost.

Plan B: save up money and leave the country before entering the academy.

Plan C: ...

I'll think about that later.

Oh! I got it!

Plan C: get powerful enough to be able to fight back.

Or...

Plan D: kill all of them.

...

That's... probably not a good idea.

I'll cut that out.

"Hng. I can't think of anything else."

"Think of what?"

"Plans to live peacefully."

"Is that so, then, why don't you stay with me?"

"W-what!?"

"Or do you want me to stay with you?"

What the hell is he saying while smiling?? Did he just forget about the fact that I'm already almost 30 considering my past life and this life? And to say something like that so innocently...

"Are you serious right now?"

"Of course I am!"

"Fu~"

Looks like I'll have to guide him properly from now on. So that he'll grow up to be a well behaved man and won't spout nonsense around.

"From now on, I will raise you into a good man! While you will teach me about magic."