I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 41

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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41

 

“And… I don’t know when my birthday is.”

 

Even after hearing Kail’s words clearly, I wondered if my ears had gone wrong for a moment.

 

“What…?”

 

“No one has ever told me or celebrated it until now…”

 

“That’s impossible! Didn’t you ask your parents?”

 

“I didn’t ask Father. Mother just said it was during a harsh winter with severe cold…”

 

His faint voice couldn’t finish the sentence.

 

Duke Selpieus, that bastard who only realized his child’s existence after Kail was born, wouldn’t know the exact day the child was born.

 

The Countess who heard that question must have shown her displeasure and felt uncomfortable.

 

Obviously, Kail never dared to mention the word birthday in front of her again after that.

 

I understood why Kail had been particularly irritable during Darius’s birthday party.

 

So what Kail had called an ordinary matter wasn’t an exaggeration. Things worse than today’s incident were commonplace.

 

Since such detailed episodes weren’t in the original work, my heart ached.

 

I too had lived lonely in my previous life, but at least I didn’t live without knowing my birthday.

 

My eyes welled up as I vividly pictured how lonely this child, who had lived at most a dozen years, had been, and how much pain awaited him.

 

This time I quietly let the falling tears flow.

 

I didn’t want Kail to catch me crying. I was afraid it would seem like pity and make him feel more miserable.

 

It was fortunate that we were both soaked. I could disguise my tears as rainwater.

 

Kail continued walking silently.

 

After regaining my composure, I deliberately spoke in a bright voice.

 

“Kail. Then let’s decide on your birthday!”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“If you don’t know your exact birthday, you usually just pick one yourself. How about December 25th?”

 

“Why that day specifically?”

 

“It has a nice ring to it. It’s right before the new year starts, so it’s an exciting time.”

 

In the world I used to live in, that day was Christmas, a romantic holiday.

 

It would be easy to remember too.

 

Kail let out a dismissive chuckle.

 

“If there are no objections, then it’s decided? From now on, Kaileus Diern’s birthday is December 25th. Bang bang bang.”

 

“What difference does deciding that make?”

 

“It makes a huge difference! I’ll celebrate it for you every year, you know? With all my heart!”

 

“…”

 

“What’s the point of having friends? You comfort each other during hard times and celebrate during happy times.”

 

“…”

 

“I mean you should tell me when something like today happens. Just talking about it makes you feel better and gives you support!”

 

“Support…? From a kid in this state?”

 

Kail moved his elbow that was supporting my legs as he asked.

 

“Hey now. Even if I wasn’t much help, didn’t you feel grateful and better when I came to find you?”

 

“…Not really.”

 

He’s really not honest.

 

Oh. Come to think of it, the swelling on his face has almost completely gone down now?

 

The redness and hives had subsided to the point where you couldn’t tell unless you looked closely from this distance.

 

Thank goodness.

 

Around the time we passed the fourth cloth marker, Kail spoke up.

 

“Hey. I’m curious about something.”

 

“Yeah. What is it?”

 

When I leaned my head forward slightly and asked back, Kail cleared his throat softly.

 

After bringing up the topic himself, he seemed troubled about something, hesitating for a long time before finally opening his mouth again.

 

“…What exactly do you like about me?”

 

“What?”

 

How ridiculous.

 

He’s spouting lines like some romance drama male lead!

 

I almost burst out laughing but held it in.

 

From his serious tone, it seemed he wasn’t being sarcastic or teasing, but genuinely curious.

 

And that “like” probably means “like as a friend.”

 

I’ll specially indulge him this once!

 

“Do you need a reason to have goodwill toward someone?”

 

Instead of listing reasons point by point, I boldly threw out that I liked him just because he was him.

 

To let him know that there was at least one person in the world who was unconditionally on his side.

 

“I just like you! I’ve said it so many times.”

 

When silence flowed again for a while, I thought he might be too moved to continue speaking.

 

But Kail’s voice that came was sulky beyond measure.

 

“You say that, but you follow that bastard Darius more than me.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Why is Darius suddenly being brought up here…

 

“You clearly told me you don’t like Darius.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Didn’t you swear you’d shave your head bald if you were lying?”

 

The pitiful child who had been quietly sharing his inner thoughts was nowhere to be found.

 

Even though I was being carried, I felt a chill. I felt like I should jump down from his back right away.

 

“When I said I don’t like him, I meant I don’t have romantic feelings for Brother Darius. I do like him as a person. He’s kind and cool.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Kail made a cynical snort.

 

How should I explain this further?

 

Should I say it’s similar to how I like you? But affection for a friend and love as a fan are too different in nature.

 

Since he’s still young, would he be able to understand that there are different types of affection?

 

“Hey. About our competition.”

 

While I was struggling and wondering how to phrase it, Kail started talking about something else.

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Let’s make it so whoever reaches 100 wins first gets their wish granted by the loser.”

 

That’s out of nowhere.

 

“Suddenly talking about wishes? Do you want something from me, Kail? Then just ask directly instead of beating around the bush like this.”

 

“I don’t have anything. But… I might later.”

 

What kind of nonsense is that? Like insurance for the future?

 

But the idea of putting a reward on the meaningful milestone of 100 wins wasn’t bad.

 

Right now the numbers are just going back and forth, accumulating.

 

“Well, fine. As long as it’s not something unreasonable like giving up all my wealth, becoming your slave, or killing someone.”

 

“Am I a psychopath?”

 

…Not yet. But I can’t know how you’ll change in the future.

 

“Anyway, except for things that anyone would consider over the top. Deal?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

With Kail’s agreement, our simple competition evolved into a 100-win wish competition.

 

But for Kail to open up and share his inner thoughts with me so candidly like this.

 

I felt like all the suffering from wandering in the rain was being rewarded.

 

Before I knew it, the raindrops had completely stopped and the weather had cleared.

 

The blue sky showed its face between the dark clouds.

 

As if the world had been thoroughly washed clean, the scent of earth, grass, and water mixed together rose from the air.

 

***

 

Kaileus had only planned to hide in the forest for a couple of hours before returning to the chalet.

 

The allergic reactions on his face and body usually subsided after that amount of time.

 

He never imagined someone would come desperately searching for him, breaking through the forest path in this rain.

 

Rieze had wailed at him, calling him foolish, then snapped asking if he knew how hard it was for her to get here.

 

Had she really been that worried?

 

A tickling sensation arose in his chest, as if feathers were fluttering about.

 

He felt excited, feverish, and like he might cry all at once.

 

Not wanting to show his swollen, red face covered in hives, Kaileus kept his head buried downward.

 

He also wanted to hide this strange, unidentifiable feeling.

 

When he briefly looked up, Rieze’s disheveled skirt hem, hands, and knees came into view.

 

‘She searched for me so desperately that she ended up like this?’

 

Why? Why does she care about me so much?

 

An incomprehensible torrent of emotions exploded within him.

 

But his first priority was to return immediately and treat this girl’s wounds.

 

Whether his allergic symptoms remained no longer mattered.

 

Whether she knew of his urgency or not, Rieze followed as slowly as a slug.

 

When he looked back, she had turned pale and was limping on one foot, and seeing that made his blood boil. Who’s really the foolish one here.

 

He started walking while carrying Rieze on his back, pretending it was nothing… but honestly, she was heavy.

 

Heavy enough to make him resent his own small frame.

 

Still, he walked without showing it.

 

Whenever the path became confusing, pieces of Rieze’s clothing tied to tree trunks served as signposts showing the way.

 

His skin, which had been hot from the swelling, gradually cooled to a comfortable temperature as it touched her chilled body temperature against his back.

 

Without realizing it, Kaileus began pulling out deep, inner thoughts he had never shared with anyone.

 

Perhaps it was because listening to her worried chatter by his ear made him want to act spoiled.

 

And then… she cried.

 

Even though he himself hadn’t cried, she wept so sorrowfully.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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