A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 29
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 29
I tilted my head curiously as I observed his expression.
“…If you’re so concerned about my wounds, wouldn’t it be better to simply give me medicine and bandages instead?”
“Well, you see. Medicine and bandages would have to be returned eventually.”
Sezare smiled gently. Piyak fluttered his wings and whispered loudly enough for all to hear.
【Kiana, that man seems rather cunning!】
However, there was something Sezare didn’t know—I had no intention of returning anything given to me by others.
* * *
Meeting Sezare at the Club House was unexpected, but regardless, everything went smoothly.
Before boarding the carriage, I handed a gold coin to the Spy Maid—one I’d taken from the pouch of gold coins I’d given to Sezare.
“This is yours, Spy Maid.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
The value of a single gold coin was tremendous. The Spy Maid’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“You quickly converted the information into money, so naturally you deserve an incentive.”
“But I… I was merely following orders…”
“And you followed those orders well, so you’re being rewarded. I hope you’ll continue to maintain your physical fitness and handle such tasks skillfully in the future. My own stamina is dreadfully poor, after all.”
“My Lady…!”
Emotion welled up across the Spy Maid’s face. Indeed, where there is wealth, there is gratitude. I gave a dignified nod and boarded the carriage with Piyak. Inside the carriage heading home, Piyak fluttered his wings.
【That was so much fun, Kiana!】
“Was it? What was the most entertaining part?”
【That gloomy man’s deflated expression! Just watching it was amusing.】
“Right? He certainly is impressive.”
Whether summoned creature or human, taste remained the same. We spent a moment seriously reviewing Sezare’s face in our minds.
After that, I stroked Piyak’s head and whispered.
“Since you had fun, you should work now, shouldn’t you, Piyak?”
【Pardon?】
“A reply might have arrived.”
Piyak looked at me with an expression of disbelief.
【Goodness, how long has it been since Piyak returned… and now you want me to work again…】
“Normally, you should still be working right now. But you returned faster than expected. So don’t complain.”
【How is that even fair!】
“It’s unfair, but remarkably logical. Go quickly.”
【Kiana!】
Piyak spoke urgently.
【There’s something Kiana doesn’t know yet. Delivering what Kiana gives me and receiving something to deliver to Kiana take different amounts of time.】
“Ah. The transmission and reception times differ?”
【Yes! We use the Otherworldly Realm for transport, so there’s a time difference between entering with an object and leaving with one…】
“So what’s your point?”
【Bringing something to Kiana takes much longer! When I was with Melissa, I estimated it would take about a month!】
So retrieving a reply would take additional time. I immediately offered my commentary on that explanation.
“But what does that have to do with me? Whether it’s a month or a week, do your best and bring me a reply.”
【Kiana, but there are so many fun things ahead now….】
Piyak looked reluctant.
【Starting tomorrow, Kiana and that gloomy man’s contractual romance will begin, and if our eyes happen to meet while I’m away for so long, it would be so predictable!】
“Well, what can we do? I’ll just enjoy myself.”
【Wow… your character….】
“So go on, Piyak. If a reply comes to my post box, bring it to me.”
And I added seriously, recalling my days as a professor.
“And like I said, try to do it a bit faster.”
【No, that’s not something I can control….】
“You can manage it if you try. Give it a shot and tell me. Once you get used to making an effort, you’ll keep living that way.”
【What kind of nonsense is that? Do you have evidence?】
“Yes.”
I answered calmly.
“The law of inertia.”
【….】
Piyak pouted and turned away.
【I hope magical engineering fails.】
* * *
Sezare’s Mansion after Kiana’s departure.
Sezare immediately got up, washed himself, and changed his clothes. Then he gave an indifferent order to his servant.
“Throw away all the clothes I wore when I went out today. The smell clinging to them is absolutely repulsive.”
For someone as sensitive to all sensations as he was, the Club House smell embedded in those clothes was unbearable. Moreover, with his obsessive cleanliness, he didn’t want to wear them again even after they were laundered.
Suddenly his gaze turned toward the drawing room table. Avian’s handkerchief was scattered there. Sezare looked at the handkerchief and spoke calmly to his servant.
“Send it to Avian of the House of Duke Risiniss tomorrow morning.”
Like a satisfied predator, a pleased smile appeared on his face.
“And be sure to mention that the House of Count Levin is returning it.”
* * *
‘Please let there be nothing, please let there be nothing….’
In the Otherworldly Realm, Piyak prayed quietly.
‘Please, let there be nothing at all….’
I wanted to return to the human world quickly. To be precise, I wanted to be by Kiana’s side.
The Club House outing and meeting Sezare were both so much fun. I didn’t mention it because I was worried Kiana might be displeased, but since Piyak had a sense of self, I couldn’t help but compare Melissa and Kiana. The softhearted Melissa and the sharp-witted Kiana were completely different.
‘It’s strange. I haven’t been with Kiana for that long in terms of time….’
Piyak trembled once, recalling Kiana’s composed face.
‘If anything, I end up listening to orders respectfully, as if I’m serving my master.’
In fact, when I was with Melissa, I used to slack off and shirk quite well. But Kiana had a subtle charisma, so strangely, I couldn’t resist her.
‘And it’s really strange.’
Piyak tilted my head.
‘I have more energy than when I was with Melissa.’
Originally, Piyak was not a particularly strong summoned creature. He could only transport objects small enough to fit in his beak. Moreover, since it took considerable time, there was no reason to expect any remarkable utility from him.
I had always accepted this limitation as inevitable. After all, Melissa was a branch member of the family. Not many branch members could even summon creatures at all, and those summoned by branch members had severely restricted abilities. Usually, they were bound by time constraints. It was no coincidence that the direct line of Prelai was held in such high regard.
In any case, Piyak had simply loafed about beside Melissa, offering comfortable advice about the world. So when Kiana began assigning him tasks, he found himself struggling to adapt.
Melissa was certainly the one who had summoned him. Yet standing beside Kiana, he felt his abilities growing stronger.
‘Could this really be… possible?’
He had always assumed he was naturally a weak summoned creature of a branch member…
‘Look at this.’
Piyak gazed at the note now held in his beak and swallowed hard.
‘I’ve already transported it… ‘.
A single note had been placed in Kiana’s personal post box. It appeared to be one that had arrived today. Piyak was using the Otherworldly Realm to move it without anyone noticing. Now he simply needed to return to Kiana with the letter.
It seemed to take an eternity to bring the target object into the Otherworldly Realm when he was with Melissa… but now it was instantaneous. And originally, returning from the Otherworldly Realm to the human realm took longer than bringing the object in.
‘At this speed, I could reach Kiana quickly, couldn’t I? It doesn’t seem like it will take a month.’
Piyak tilted his head in confusion.
‘D-did I really accomplish this through effort? Am I unconsciously exerting myself right now? Is that why my speed has increased?’
And the contents of the note held in his beak were simple.
The tone was light and playful, yet carried a subtle affection within it.
Despite concealing his identity, the handwriting was neat and precise.
The leisurely writing style was filled with certainty.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————