The Fool

I messed up.

My spirit who was feeling down a moment ago suddenly shifted into being embarrassed. I mean, how couldn't I?

I got too full of myself and misunderstood. If one were to look into it, it would look like I have an extraordinary ego. The fact that I thought that protecting those two would be my responsibility when the time comes might be that bad... In a romcom story!!!

I mean! It's those two were talking about here! Aunt Amelie was a former police officer. Not just that, she's a once-in-a-millenium genius who became a Commissioner in less than a decade!

How? Results. That's what made it possible. She's a monster in her own right in that regard. And then, there's Claire which I probably don't even have to explain.

However, if I were to put it into words, those mother and daughter are two of the most badass women that I know of. Thinking that I will be responsible for protecting is simply just me getting ahead of myself!

"Huuu..."

I sighed as I contemplated my current situation. The two of them left in a rather over-the-top way but that's probably just Claire's way of encouraging me so there's no problem there. Once I return inside the mansion, she'll surely act like nothing just happened.

The problem is Jean. If he really wants to remove me from the picture... Then I have to be prepared for it. Prepared to intercept whatever his plans would be... and prepared to kill him when the chance presents itself.

——He could've snatched your gun faster than you can react.

That's what Aunt said. However, that is both right and wrong. If he were to try snatching, then I would definitely be able to catch him with my reaction time.

But just being able to catch sight of him doesn't automatically grant me the win. It would still end up in a physical battle of who can move fastest and that will no doubt go to Jean. After all, it doesn't matter if I can see him if I don't have enough agility to counter him.

While the logic of reaction times and physical agility being tied together can disapprove of my own logic, it shouldn't be able to. After all, when I left the camp, I never had any fights until this apocalypse, human or not.

That's why the reaction time I boast about was simply honed from grinding video games for hours on end. Of course, I've witnessed the results but a battle is a different story. After all, dodging a fist up close is very different from pushing a single button to dodge roll.

"Sir, would you like more tea?"

As I was immersed in my thoughts, the sudden voice of a woman startled me. Well, it's not like I overreacted.

When I turned to her, it was the maid from earlier.

"...Yes thank you."

I thought she left already...

"The Madame asked me to serve you during your time here at this estate."

Did she read my mind!? N- no, must be a coincidence. Anyway, by Madame she means Aunt, huh? So she assigned a maid for me... Well, I would have preferred it if she were to do it herself.

Aunt Amelie wearing a maid outfit...

The maid blankly gazed at me as if she knew what I was thinking. Maybe she's really an esper?

Anyway, I should ask her name first.

"Can you tell me your name?"

"... It's Maria, sir."

Maria? Hmm... I felt like I'd heard of that name before... But I can't remember.

I drank the tea she gave me as I covertly observed her profile. She had Nordic blonde hair and blue eyes that seemed to glow as I could see them even though it was rather dark out here.

I also didn't notice it earlier but she was pretty young. Moreover, because her maid outfit was a bit tight, it traced over her figure, revealing a voluptuous yet perfectly fit figure. Honestly, I would completely believe it if someone said that she was a princess and not a maid.

Moreover, even though she had a blank expression I could still feel a mature presence emanating from her, which places her right inside of my strike zone.

When I finished my tea, I looked at Maria as I stood up, wondering what words should I use to speak to her.

"You can go back if you want to, I want to catch more air for a little while."

"No sir, the Madame has asked me to keep you accompanied at all times. Please do not worry."

"Eh?"

Accompany? At all times? I think I just heard some pretty dangerous stuff there. But why would Aunt say that? It could only be about the matter earlier, right? Is she worried that I might just get killed when no one's watching!? 

Still, if that's the case then there might be more to this maid than what meets the eye... Maybe things are more hectic than it seemed...

Well, never mind. I didn't pay attention to her anymore and walked to the back of the mansion. Of course, I wasn't just wandering around aimlessly. If my prediction was correct, then this is the premier.

To my own battle...

When I reached a corner, the shadow of a person appeared just before I turned. That was the person I was looking for.

"Maria, hide yourself and don't come out unless things become dicey."

I spoke to the maid without turning back to her so I wasn't sure if she complied. When I turned to the corner, Jean was sitting on a bench beside a door that seemed to be his room. He was smoking a cigarette and when he noticed me, he was a bit surprised as he spoke.

"You've got guts for coming out here alone after that shitshow."

"Guts? I guess, you can put it that way."

It seems like Maria did hide herself. Now, it's my turn to speak. This is payback, Jean.

"You can't do anything to me."

"And? What makes you think that?"

"Because if you hurt... No, if you kill me here, then Claire would hate you. Not just that, she would even try to kill you herself."

"..."

"That's why you can't do anything to me, not unless you can find a good reason to do so. But I guess something like that would be impossible at this point."

As I said that, Jean sat back on his bench. With that, the first stage is cleared. I walked towards him and sat at the other corner of the bench, since it was pretty long, we were pretty far apart.

Jean quickly put his guard up but I calmly sat there. Then I began my second strike.

"You know... that woman is surprisingly passionate."

"...What?"

"I mean. you get that right? When I heard that she was a strong woman with military training, I thought that she would put up a front and keep her pride but man, I was dead wrong."

"..."

"She was amazing."

A devilish grin formed on my lips. I'm probably doing something bad that wouldn't make me any different than this guy but... I can't stop, not now when a lot of things that I care about are currently at stake.

"She was awesome! She was shy at first but when she got used to it, she rode me like crazy! Can you imagine it? Not just her body, but her face also became lascivious from the streams of pleasure that assaulted her. Oh, did I forget to mention her moans? Man that was killer! It was the best music that I've heard!"

Of course, that was all a lie. While we did have a lot of skinship, we never actually managed to go all the way. Although, it's more about me chickening out before anything can actually happen...

So what am I doing, you ask? I'm practically provoking Jean. Emotionally, at least. In psychological warfare, lies hold more power than truth. In fact, that's just true in almost every other talk.

Normally, something like this wouldn't work, especially for someone of a high caliber regarding professionalism. However, for Jean, his emotions far outweigh his logic.

Now, I talked about Claire and I making out in a way that even seemed to ridicule her. His not knowing of my identity as another childhood of Claire made it even better. Perhaps I have to thank her for this.

Now, what would happen when someone like Jean who had a deep obsession for her hears that?

Obviously, he would snap.

"Do you realize what the fuck you're saying!?"

"Do you take me for a fool? Of course, I do."

"Then!?"

"I... just think you're that you're kinda pitiful."

"Huh?"

Jean clenched the bench handle as if that was an action reserved for my neck. It's a bit funny, you know? When someone becomes like this, they would definitely lash out and start getting physical.

But Jean was different. No matter what happened, he still kept a tiny bit of logic as his emotions tried to devour him completely. However, what's funny is how the allocation happened.

Jean's emotions are slowly clouding his judgment, making him enraged at me. However, his logic is preventing him from lashing out at me because he knows that it will be his loss when he does so.

When he let go of the handle, I could see it got a bit deformed despite it being metal. That should be a terrifying sight for me, whose physical ability is barely passable for someone who has had to fight his since the beginning of this hell.

It was pretty scary but I wasn't done speaking.

"It must be hard for you... Getting your precious childhood friend taken away by some random man you don't even know."

Because you are pathetic.

"But it can't be helped! After all, that woman was way too gullible! A few sweet words and she's madly into me!"

That I can stand on the higher ground.

"You know that trope in stories? Ahh, when a woman who's very innocent when it comes to matters involving love gets it for the first time, she becomes an easy catch. One date and it's the hotel next!"

And take everything that you thought was yours.

"I'd say it was a really good catch this time. A beautiful and sexy woman who's a strong fighter but becomes a dog in bed, conquering someone of such qualities was sooo exhilarating!"

After saying that, I stood up from my seat and looked at Jean. He didn't cut off while I was speaking and I also didn't hear another word from him so I was worried about his reaction.

But it seems like I was successful.

Jean was sitting upright, clenching his fist and his nails were already digging into his skin. His face was like a hound as he was gritting his teeth too hard and they were starting to bleed.

In order to keep up my act, I flashed another twisted smile before hitting the last nail on the head.

"Now then, I might have to excuse myself for now. I still have a feast waiting for me inside. Take care, Jean."

Now, try what you want to try. Because I will also do my best and keep what's mine.

I walked away from Jean, however, when I heard him standing from the bench, I was a little alarmed that he would do something already so quickly faced him. But it wasn't that.

Jean, looked at me with the same face that was full of rage. 

"I will definitely kill you! Just wait for me you fucker! I won't let you... I won't let you sully her any further!"

"Do your best! You seem kind of heroic just now. But I can't just let go of such a tasty fish after a successful catch. I will show you... Kuku, what makes us different men."

Standing there are the two of us. Facing each other in a dimly illuminated area the moonlight made even more dramatic.

Jean seemed like a vengeful protagonist while I was the antagonist who took the heroine. Still, if this was a story, it would be a pretty dark one.

When I passed over Maria, she was now looking at me as if I was some kind of dangerous animal. I smiled and waved at her before heading inside the mansion. Even if I explain it to her now, I doubt that anything would convince her if it's just me.

Ahhh... I guess I should just ask Aunt and Claire to help me in that matter of explaining.

◇◇◇

Inside the mansion, there is a room that could only be described as an office. It has a row of computers, however, there were two in the middle that showed the captured videos of the CCTVs all over the estate.

In front of that were two seats and the ones who were sitting at them were Amelie and Claire, the mother and daughter of the Angestel family.

That's right, they were watching Leon converse with Jean just now.

Although the two had predicted such a thing from happening, they also had a different reaction to Leon's action.

"Haah... I knew that child could do something like this but... Isn't he going overboard?"

Amelie was obviously worried. Leon has officially recognized Jean as an enemy after this, the two would always be at each others' necks. It wasn't that she underestimated Leon, however, she couldn't help but worry as someone who knew Leon's enemy.

"Come on, Mom! This is Leon we're talking about! He definitely has a plan already! Still... That was bold of him to say those... ermm... stuff."

When Claire unexpectedly shifted the topic, Amelie placed aside her worry for Leon as she had the desire to tease her daughter.

"Ara, Claire, you didn't tell me the two of you were in that kind of relationship~"

"!?!? N- no! You misunderstand, w- we've never even done anything like that!!!"

Claire vehemently denied her mother's words. Of course, Amelie knew that but seeing Claire's face flush up to her ears, Amelie felt good, Certainly, no matter how much she grew up, Claire will always be a cute daughter in her eyes.

"Fufu, I'm just teasing you~"

"M- Mom!!!"

Leon's words aren't wrong. Perhaps if they really had that kind of relationship, then things would be as accurate as how Leon described it.

Claire sulked and stared back at the screen, looking for where Leon was currently at. Amelie looked at her side profile with a genuinely kind smile.

Fufu... My dear daughter, your man is a rather unique person. If I hadn't known him since he was a child, I would no doubt believe his little act.

Amelie thought about how Leon's personality might really be a complete fit to Claire's.

I'm sure... Leon would also be able to save this girl's heart. So I want to keep trusting him and I will also support him the best that I can. If he really succeeds, then... Fufu, I might give him a very enticing 'reward'.

It was at that moment that Leon fully became part of the family. However, only Amelie knows what that reward is.