Preparation
by Afuhfuihgs
Thanks to the setting that I become a kind, shy person when I don’t have my mask on, I was barely able to stop Estelle’s assault. I patted her back until Estelle’s anger subsided, and after waiting for a while, I returned the mask I had taken away.
Like the saying goes, time heals all wounds, Estelle didn’t rush at me again after receiving the mask back, so there were no unfortunate events. She just leaned back in her chair, looking exhausted, as if collapsing away from me.
As if she was contemplating something, Estelle lowered her gaze for a moment and muttered to herself in a low voice.
“Amy was Danger….”
She seemed greatly shocked that Danger, who saved Luna’s life, was Amy from another world. Seeing her lips trembling slightly, I also returned to my seat with a serious attitude.
Estelle kept her mouth shut and remained silent for a while, then finally opened her mouth.
“She’ll be taller than me in a few years…?”
Was that what she was worried about? I felt suddenly drained, and when I gave her a dumbfounded look, Estelle pouted and suddenly turned her anger towards me.
“You really were a lecherous pig.”
“…Out of the blue, you say?”
“You seduced and manipulated Amy from another world! You lecherous pig! What are you doing to our kind Amy! Stay away from her from now on!”
I didn’t know much about the romantic affairs of another world, so instead of answering, I subtly avoided her gaze and scratched my forehead. Then Estelle didn’t miss the opportunity and continued to berate me.
“You’re seducing an innocent kid who hasn’t even entered the Academy? There must have been other girls besides Luna! You’re not satisfied with one flower in your hand, you’re a greedy and lecherous pig!”
“…”
“Ember is also in danger. This lecherous and greedy pig will definitely aim for a sister-rice bowl. Like father, like son, you’re just like that womanizer Ross!”
As Estelle’s lips curled up, my head gradually lowered. Still, the rice plant bows its head more deeply as it ripens, as the old saying goes….
“You approached me, hiding your lecherous secrets, and naturally became a joint fate with me, and your purpose is to deceive the pure me, who knows nothing, and include me in your harem! You harem pig!”
“Ah, that’s not it. I mean… it’s Estelle, isn’t it?”
In response to my immediate answer to clear up the misunderstanding, Estelle somehow waved her fists around and reacted violently, so I hurriedly grabbed her wrist to block her attack. What do you want me to do?
After muttering to herself for a while, Estelle crossed her arms and glared fiercely at the ceiling before suddenly speaking in a serious voice.
“We are already a joint fate. We have a deep relationship that cannot be separated. Modiste will always be your reliable support, just like now. I promise.”
“Thank you. I won’t let you down.”
Hmph, Estelle made a noise and said as if she felt bad.
“It’s true that I and my clan are restricted by the Order, as Raelran is wary of. But that’s just a restriction to prevent our clan from rebelling. There is no compulsion to follow the Order’s orders.”
If it were me normally, I would have nodded my head at that statement and agreed with Estelle. But now was the time to show the image of a lord that my comrades could follow. I also needed a reason to appease Raelran, who would be angry that I didn’t follow her advice.
“I know. But if you refuse the Order’s orders, it will definitely harm your clan. And if Confession comes and threatens Ember or Amy’s lives and orders you to trap me… what are you going to do?”
As my voice lowered, Estelle’s atmosphere also became heavy. But my question was necessary. The betrayal of a joint fate would cause me fatal damage.
“…I can’t just let you die. The Order are crazy bastards trying to destroy the world, and you are the last hope to save the world. I have to… do something.”
If that situation really came, Estelle would not be able to abandon me. From the moment she regained her memories and deliberately lightened the mood in her own style, it was proof that Estelle was a trustworthy comrade.
But Estelle would not be able to give up Ember or Amy either. In the heart of a mesugaki who throws sharp insults to hide her shyness, there is a purity that doesn’t want to lose precious people.
If Estelle, who cannot even resist a single believer of the Order, could do anything, it would be to run away with Ember and Amy. But if the opponent is Confession, no matter how much Estelle is, escape will be impossible.
“There will definitely come a situation where ‘doing something’ won’t work. Since they failed to kill Roel and Luna, they will definitely do their best when they try to kill the Lily. If the situation becomes serious, the vice-leader may step in directly.”
Estelle let out a short groan, then said with a sigh.
“Hmph, then what do you want me to do? You recruited me as a comrade because you needed my help even if you took that risk. Anyway, you’re such a gloomy pig, you’re just thinking negatively in an unlucky way!”
But I couldn’t help it. Even if it was something that was unlikely to happen, I couldn’t help but worry about it for the sake of my precious people. Before I knew it, Estelle had become a precious person to me.
“It can’t be helped. I don’t want Estelle to get hurt.”
Hearing my sincere answer, Estelle twitched as if she was having a seizure, slightly lifting her butt from the chair and twitching her shoulders. After fiddling with her cat mask for a moment, Estelle asked with a sigh.
“…Then what the hell do you want to do?”
I had received a lot of help from Estelle, and although she was short, she was a reliable presence like an older sister to me. I was sure that if she became a comrade, she would be a great help. But on the other hand, I didn’t want my existence to become another shackle for Estelle.
Then I just need to make sure Estelle doesn’t end up in that situation.
“…The relationship between Modiste and the Lily must be severed. It should look like they have completely turned against each other to others. It would be good to give the Order information about the Lily in advance, except for the parts related to my identity, before they ask for it.”
At those words, Estelle crossed her arms and tilted her head, then suddenly gasped as if she had belatedly grasped my intention, and slammed the desk with a bang-! and shouted.
“Then the Order will naturally think that the relationship between Modiste and the Lily has been severed. That way, they won’t give Modiste orders about the Lily! You’re such a lecherous pig! You’re so great! You’re so sneaky!”
At Estelle’s criticism, I unknowingly smiled happily, then became serious. If you get used to mesugaki, you unknowingly become a pervert like this.
Estelle was also worried about that, so she asked me in a very happy voice.
“You’ve definitely changed a lot. You would have thought of a stupid plan before!”
“The setting that they are enemies on the outside, but actually on the same side, is a cliché that writers often use.”
“Still, you’re a writer~? Well, I still don’t really believe it. That you’re a writer.”
At those words, this time I tilted my head.
“Why?”
“You don’t give off the impression of being close to books. Unless it’s a dirty book. Ah, you did put a lot of dirty stuff in your novel, didn’t you? You’re such a pervert~!”
I felt a strange stiffness in my neck, so I unknowingly swept my face once. I felt like I knew what the expression ‘being drained’ meant.
“But how are you going to end the relationship between Modiste and the Lily?”
At Estelle’s question, a good idea immediately came to my mind.
“Wouldn’t money problems be good?”
“Money… that’s definitely convincing. Fighting over money happens almost every day in the capital.”
The reason that the relationship deteriorated because of money is quite common to the point that you can find it around you. Broadly speaking, a team fighting with its franchise star over money, or a celebrity and their agency fighting over a contract. Most of the fights between writers and managers were because of money.
“If we use the current situation where interest in improved portals is at its peak, we can add more persuasiveness. For example, the Lily backstabs Modiste’s guild leader and makes a contract with Bella directly regarding the improved portal.”
“You greedy pig!!! I’m so looking forward to that, and you’re going to backstab me?”
I hurriedly stopped Estelle, who got up from her chair with a scary momentum and leaned her body towards me.
“That’s just an example. Of course, Estelle should be in charge of the contract in reality. I’ve already told Bella that. That the guild leader of Modiste, who is a joint fate, will be in charge of the improved portal transaction.”
“…Really?”
“…If you’re so suspicious, should I transfer my memories to you?”
“No, of course I trust my joint fate~”
With a hmph, I sighed deeply at Estelle’s appearance as she sat back down. Estelle was extremely sensitive to money-related issues.
“That method will definitely work. If you put the transaction money into my secret golden bank account, you can avoid the Order’s eyes. Hehehe.”
In Estelle’s eyes, who was genuinely happy, it seemed like she could see endless piles of gold coins stacked on the table. Waving my hand to erase Estelle’s imagination, I said to Estelle.
“And I have a request. Send letters to Eunice and Raelran and have them come to the capital as soon as possible.”
“That’s easy. I’ll tell Ember.”
“Thank you. Then let’s have a proper conversation when all the comrades are gathered.”
Since the story was over, I got up from my seat to return to the Academy, and Estelle suddenly grabbed me.
“Wait! Amy is passing by in the hallway right now, so go out in a minute. Don’t try to run into her!”
“No, were you serious about that?”
“Of course! Do you think I’d just let you hit on my cute Amy? You lolicon pig!”
Scratching my head at Estelle’s words, I stood still and waited for Amy to enter the room before timidly protesting.
“Actually, I’m not really a lolicon… Amy is getting taller-“
I swallowed my words at the murderous aura filling the room and hurriedly ran away.
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