I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 8

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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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8

Kail’s jaw, which had been moving up and down several times, soon closed with a hollow breath.

Kail turned his body back forward and picked up a new arrow from his quiver. Then he muttered in a suppressed low voice.

“…I clearly said no back then.”

“Tch, I even snuck into the Pantry to feed you properly.”

“Who asked you to?”

“What about today? Did you eat?”

“…”

Soon an arrow flew from the tautly drawn bowstring, adding another trace of failure outside the target.

Immediately after, Kail turned toward me. With an even more menacing expression, as if ashamed of the missed arrow.

“What’s your scheme?”

“What?”

“Are you approaching the son of Diern Duchy hoping for some scraps to fall? You think I haven’t seen kids like you before? Get lost while I’m still being nice.”

Wow, was his personality this twisted before meeting the female lead?

I was momentarily flustered, but didn’t show it and blinked my eyes calmly.

“I don’t have any scheme. I just like you and want to be friends with you.”

I responded naturally, but Kail snorted as if it was ridiculous.

“Don’t lie.”

“It’s true. Actually, I don’t have any friends.”

“Of course you don’t have friends when you go around picking up dropped food.”

This little…

“That was something you knocked down. Do you have friends then?”

“I don’t need that kind of thing.”

Yes, yes. Of course you would say that.

Sigh, let’s stay calm. There’s no point getting worked up over a kid.

Remember dealing with troublemaking brats in my past life. Compared to when I had an entire cream cake dumped on my head, this kid is an angel.

After lowering my blood pressure, I became magnanimous and smiled brightly.

“I need friends. Our houses are close and our brothers are close too, so let’s get along well.”

“No.”

“Why? I’ll be good to you.”

“I said no. Don’t bother me and get lost.”

It’s a more solid wall than I expected. But if I was going to give up this easily, I wouldn’t have started.

“Then let’s make a bet.”

I pointed at the target he had been aiming for. At this point, it’s all or nothing.

“If I shoot arrows better than you, we’ll be friends. How about it?”

“…”

“Not confident?”

“…Fine. But if I win, don’t pester me anymore.”

“Mm-hmm. Got it.”

Pestering, what harsh words. Anyway, his skills seem terrible too, so it might be worth competing?

I’ve never tried it before, but based on what I’ve figured out during about 20 days of possession, ‘Rieze’ had nimble fingertips and excellent dexterity. Today I even successfully performed butterfly wing surgery on my way here.

“Just give me three practice shots.”

“Whatever.”

Kail readily handed over the bow as if to say go ahead and try. I fitted an arrow to the bowstring and took position following Kail’s earlier stance.

Oh. The string is tighter and harder to pull than it looks.

But as a proud Korean whose spirit comes from a country that sweeps archery medals every Olympics, I can’t surrender to just this much.

I endured the pain that felt like my fingers would fall off and drew the bowstring. I held my breath and quietly aimed at the target, then released when the wind calmed and the trembling subsided.

The arrow that flew with great momentum cut through the air and stuck in the Wall.

As expected, success on the first shot was too much to ask. I pulled myself together and the remaining two shots I fired carefully also disappointingly missed the target.

It’s okay, they say the first shot is always the worst. I just need to do well in the real match. The last arrow I shot did get closer to the target, and I think I’m starting to get the feel for it.

I turned confidently toward Kail, who had been watching with a mocking expression.

“We each shoot one arrow, and whoever hits closer to the center of the target wins.”

“Don’t repeat yourself.”

“Kail, you’re the one who!”

Kail snatched the bow and took position. Since it would be my turn next, I carefully observed his movements.

Kail, who hadn’t moved an inch, released his hand.

Thunk.

Gasp, he kept missing until now, why now of all times!

Kail confirmed the arrow stuck in the inner edge of the target and handed over the bow with a bitter smile.

Did I make a mistake betting? Regret washed over me.

I took the bow without showing my nervousness, pretending to be calm. I fitted an arrow and drew the bowstring with intense concentration, praying desperately.

If any god or whoever is listening, please give me a miracle just once. I have to save our Darius!

Whiiiing—

Thunk.

Yes! I hit it!

It was far from the center, but it was slightly more inside than the arrow Kail shot. About 2cm or so?

It was probably a lucky shot, but a win is a win.

“Please treat me well, friend.”

I extended my hand for a handshake, but Kail let out an angry sigh and snatched the bow from my other hand.

“You’re not going to claim it was invalid, are you? I won.”

“…”

“‘Don’t repeat yourself~'”

When I comically mimicked what Kail had said earlier, he quickly covered my mouth.

I laughed and tapped Kail’s hand, so he soon moved away from me. I persistently stuck my face close to Kail, who was muttering curses.

“Hm? Hm? Kail. We’re friends now, right?”

“…Fine.”

Phew, I finally got his acceptance. Making one friend is damn hard. Though it’s a secret that I planned to pester Kail somehow even if I lost this time.

In the original work, Kail quickly warmed up to Adel, so I didn’t know it would be this hard to become friends with him. The protagonist buff really is different.

But to think his skills are only this level despite seemingly practicing constantly. In the story, Darius was always described as a genius while Kail was said to be the hardworking type. It would hurt his pride, so let’s not tease him more about his skills.

The arrow Kail shot this time stuck in a position close to the center of the target.

Gasp, did he finally get the hang of it? If I had bet just a little later, I might have lost.

Seeing him hit three times in a row after that made my spine tingle. He wasn’t… going easy on me, was he?

His skills jumped up in an instant! Was it because of his competitive spirit?

“Wow, well done, great job! You completely turned the Training Ground upside down!”

I hid my startled feelings and praised him, and perhaps his anger cooled a bit as Kail’s terrifying momentum became much gentler.

“Shut up, you’re distracting me.”

Even though his words were harsh, his previously murderous eyes became subtly rounder. The little brat, so transparent.

“Ah! Kail.”

Suddenly, another excuse to get closer came to mind. On the calendar for next month that I had flipped through this morning, ‘my birthday’ was marked.

“My birthday is coming up and I’m going to throw a party too. You’ll come, right? We’re friends now!”

“…”

Actually, there were no party plans. I was just using anything as an excuse to meet this kid one more time.

“Hm? Please come. You’re my first friend.”

“…We’ll see.”

Kail answered indifferently while fitting a new arrow.

The cry of a scops owl echoed across the darkening sky. Realizing time had passed, I decided to wrap things up.

“Make sure to come. My brothers are waiting, so I’ll go now.”

I took out a lollipop wrapped in plastic from my pocket and placed it on the tree stump next to Kail.

“It’s lime-flavored candy. I noticed before that you seem to like sweet things.”

His round golden eyes briefly touched that spot before moving away.

“Don’t like it.”

“If you don’t like it, don’t eat it then. I’ll come again soon. Let’s play together next time!”

I waved my arms enthusiastically, but as expected, there was no response. Since I had anticipated this, I left the training ground without much disappointment.

When Darius and I returned to the gate, Simon was waiting for me, leaning against the carriage. Upon spotting us, Simon tapped his wristwatch and grumbled.

“You said you’d just say hello and come back.”

“We got to talking and it took longer. You didn’t leave first?”

“If I had gone back first, Father would have made a big fuss again.”

“That’s true.”

“Hurry up and get in.”

As Simon urged me while boarding the carriage, the coachman prepared to depart.

“Well, I’ll be going now. It was fun! Thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you. Please come visit again, Miss Rieze.”

After lightly climbing into the carriage, I waved at Darius through the window.

As the carriage began racing down the main road, Simon, sitting across from me, poked at me with a pouty face.

“That pin brooch looked quite expensive. You really do have ulterior motives toward him, don’t you?”

“I don’t. It was our first meeting that day, so what are you talking about. Since he’s from the Count’s Estate, I thought I should give a gift of that caliber to save face. Stop making a fuss.”

“Then since when did you like butterflies? This is news to me.”

“I did it to win the Countess’s favor. I studied it on purpose.”

“How did you know the Countess likes butterflies?”

“That’s a seeecret.”

When I arrogantly lifted my chin, Simon let out a hollow laugh as if he couldn’t believe it.

“…Ever since you got sick, you’ve become strange.”

He shook his head disapprovingly and gossiped, then after that, he threatened me not to get too close to Kail.

Ugh, I wish this guy would hurry up and disappear to the dormitory.

Fortunately, the carriage arrived at the Count’s Mansion before the lecture could drag on longer and make me sick of it.

It had been a lucky day. I had secured a justification to visit the Count’s Estate anytime, and I had become friends with Kail too. Except for one piece of bad news.

‘Once he goes to the dormitory, I won’t be able to see him for a while…’

I should visit a few more times before Darius leaves.

While making plans to visit the Count’s Estate repeatedly, I also ordered premium coffee beans that he might like.

Never dreaming that I would soon be unable to meet Darius for quite some time.

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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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