It’s Trouble Because Unrequited Love Is So Fun - Chapter 72

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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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Large rivers and lakes flowed through the Capital of the Empire.

Because of this, there were islands scattered throughout the capital, and Art Island was just one of them.

So, 【Art Island】 wasn’t really that impressive of an island.

If there was anything special about it, it would be the reason why it’s called 【Art Island】.

It was because the buildings on the island had old murals painted on them.

So why did I suggest going to such an ordinary place…?

I stepped down from the carriage with a thud and cheerfully exclaimed.

“Wow! What a coincidence that there’s a swinging bridge on the path into Art Island!”

“It seems like you planned this.”

“Hehehe…”

That’s right. Art Island is an island.

And to enter the island, you have to cross a bridge…

‘Art Island is famous for its swinging bridge!’

I said seriously.

“That’s right. I planned it. You’re quite perceptive.”

“What’s with… that look in your eyes?”

Just as Raphael was about to step away from me, I quickly stuck right next to him like lightning.

“If you’re asking what this dark look means…”

I soon whispered quietly to Raphael.

“I was aiming for the swinging bridge effect. The swinging bridge effect is a theory that says people develop feelings of attraction in situations where their heart beats fast and they feel nervous.”

I had very dark and sinister ulterior motives.

But Raphael now seemed to have no interest whether I was aiming for the ‘swinging bridge effect’ or the ‘stationary bridge effect.’

“…Do people usually explain their ulterior motives in such detail?”

The point he raised was something I had never anticipated at all.

“I prefer being honest.”

“Then that makes sense. …You’re definitely a master.”

I’ve been curious about this for a while – is this some kind of trendy phrase?

Or is it a new nickname Raphael gave me?

‘Then this would be… a term of endearment?!’

When I looked at him with an expression half puzzled, half excited in front of the swinging bridge, Raphael turned his gaze away.

His earlobes seemed to be strangely reddened…

“So, aren’t we crossing?”

“Ah, yes!”

I stepped forward with a thud toward the swinging bridge.

Raphael stood next to me and moved his steps at the same time.

But here, a fairly big problem arose.

“…You’re really good at keeping your balance?”

This is definitely a swinging bridge.

From what I saw in the pamphlet, it was supposed to be a dangerous swinging bridge that was difficult to balance on.

But why, why on earth…!

“What reason would there be for me to lose my balance?”

…Why is he crossing it so easily?

The 【Guide to Major Attractions in the Capital】 said it would take a whole 5 minutes to cross the swinging bridge.

‘I can already see the end of the bridge!’

Something is seriously wrong here.

I had overlooked the fact that Raphael was ‘inherently strong as a human being.’

“We’re almost there.”

I looked up at Raphael with a deflated expression and took a step forward.

“Ugh…”

There was even another point I had overlooked. I was inherently weak as a human being.

“Only I keep swaying, only I keep getting excited…”

My body kept swaying, and I lost my balance like a frail scarecrow.

Whenever that happened, Raphael would lightly catch my body with a touch and then let go.

‘Even this makes my heart flutter.’

But this isn’t nearly enough!

It was when I determinedly stopped my feet.

Raphael, who had been walking beside me, looked at me.

“What now?”

“Huh?”

“Are you going to fall?”

His hand tilted as if it might or might not touch my wrist. Seeing him hesitate whether to grab me or not, I said seriously.

“Yes, please hold me. I feel like I’m about to fall over!”

I don’t know how I came up with such a brilliant idea! But yes, I’ll be satisfied if I can hold hands even like this!

Then Raphael’s hand slowly grasped my wrist.

He muttered while looking only ahead, as if concerned about something.

“While crossing this swinging bridge, one must hold the hand of the ‘elderly and weak.'”

…Ah, so I was being treated as elderly and weak?

I was now very accustomed to this kind of treatment.

So I could fully use this treatment as a type of scheme too.

“Yes yes, I’m mentally and physically frail… You can consider me very elderly and weak.”

I looked at Raphael while my wrist was being held. Then I smiled brightly at him, pretending it was an excuse.

But this time was different.

As I took each step with my wrist held…

It wasn’t just my heart pounding. I was getting some strange feeling subtly, but why was this happening?

I suddenly stared intently at the wrist connected to him.

A bluish light was slowly spreading from Raphael’s fingertips…

This is the light of death, isn’t it?

“Um, Raphael.”

“What.”

“Your hand…”

Then, Raphael looked at my wrist.

The moment his gaze touched it, the light that had definitely been flickering on his hand instantly disappeared.

“What now?”

No, seriously what is this?

“…It’s nothing.”

I almost became a pathological liar again…

But I learned one thing.

Even when touching something like the light flowing along Raphael’s hand…

‘…I don’t seem to be dying.’

This… is really strange, isn’t it?

Come to think of it, something similar happened before in Raphael’s Office.

Back then, I just brushed it off thinking it was my imagination.

‘But while once might be coincidence, when the same thing happens twice, it’s inevitable.’

True to someone who had died once and awakened, unable to bear the frustration, I looked at him and asked.

“By any chance, when I hold your hand like this… doesn’t light move in your hand or anything?”

Raphael’s gaze looked straight at me. His hand gripped my wrist a little tighter. Probably unconsciously while thinking.

“…The light hasn’t been precisely identified. However, my heart does race.”

…But doesn’t the heart always beat?

Anyway, it doesn’t seem like that’s what he meant.

My heart fluttering because our hands touched… obviously that’s not it.

The pounding in my chest is a typical side effect of ability rampage!

I narrowed my eyes and looked up at Raphael, gripping his hand tightly again.

“Then, this won’t do. We have no choice but to experiment.”

“What? What experiment.”

“Please shoot your death light directly at me.”

Raphael looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

“…Are you insane? Then you’ll die.”

“But I didn’t die.”

“It’s not ‘but’…”

Just as Raphael was staring at me like he was looking at an impossible person, wind blew across the swinging bridge.

“Careful.”

He gripped my hand even more tightly.

At that moment, a faint light flowed again from our touching fingertips.

But I didn’t die. It was exactly the same as before.

“What is this?”

“I also… don’t know…”

Just as we were both confused and lost in deep thought, the strength gradually left Raphael’s hand…

At that very moment, the swinging bridge swayed even more violently.

My body, unable to defend against the swaying, momentarily tilted toward him…

“Ahhh!”

Was it my subconscious finding it awkward to touch a man’s body, despite my mouth that flirted as naturally as breathing? Or was it because I was startled by the sudden swaying?

My body caused trouble.

While trying not to touch Raphael’s thick chest, I twisted my foot.

***

“Ugh…”

“Relax your leg.”

After crossing the swinging bridge, in front of a bench at the entrance of Art Island.

Raphael had seated Serenthia on the bench and was checking her ankle.

“Your ankle is a bit swollen. You won’t be able to tour the Art Island murals. That’s why I told you not to cause accidents.”

“Aha.”

“Aren’t you disappointed?”

“That’s not the problem. Raphael’s light touched my body and I didn’t die!”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“Did you know?”

“…I suspected. But I wasn’t certain.”

“How can this be possible? I’ve never seen a case like this… Though there aren’t many people with abilities to begin with…”

“Right. There are no reported cases.”

As soon as those words ended, Raphael examined Serenthia’s ankle again.

However, Serenthia had now lost most interest in her briefly twisted ankle.

She simply made a serious declaration to him as he rotated her ankle, checking the bones and ligaments.

“Can I call you my destined darling from now on?”

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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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