“Hey, you.”
“You stay like this until you sleep.”
Arthur presses her index finger on Fei’s forehead, immobilizing him. Using star essence manipulation, simple muscle force, and the human structure that prevents movement when the forehead is pressed, Fei is unable to move.
“Fei, I heard you beat those two horse guys?”
“…I can’t believe you’re talking normally in this situation… Let go of your finger.”
“Bad! No! So, you beat the horse guys?”
“…Fine. Who are these horse guys?”
“Um… True mentioned it.”
“That guy really can’t keep his mouth shut…”
“True said you were amazing! Right?”
“I don’t know why you’re so proud, but it wasn’t that impressive.”
“I’m curious about the new technique.”
“It’s nothing grand, but…”
Fei, feeling a bit annoyed, tries to intimidate Arthur.
“Is that the new technique?”
“…”
“Hmm, there’s definitely some pressure.”
“…”
“But, you had more intensity during the entrance exam.”
“What do you mean?”
Fei jumps at the chance to talk about combat. Arthur, too, looks happy to explain.
“Such techniques work because there’s an incomprehensible presence. Fei, you’re very unusual, like a missing cog, or maybe you’re the cog that’s flown off.”
“…Are you picking a fight?”
“Huh? No, I mean it in a good way. From others’ perspectives, even though you’re human like them, your actions and principles are completely different, making you an unknown and frightening entity. So, they try to understand you by comparing you to familiar sensations or similar people, wanting to empathize or distance themselves out of fear. You bring out that hidden ego just a bit, which becomes intimidation. But, you used to do it naturally. When you genuinely wanted to express something, when you felt it was necessary, when you needed to do it or you’d go crazy, those times were more intense. So, during the entrance exam, it felt more powerful. Now, you’re doing it just for the sake of it, so it’s not as strong.”
“…I see.”
Fei ponders over Arthur’s lengthy explanation.
“Also, you’re not good at doing things artificially, even with star magic essence manipulation. Being natural suits you best.”
“……I don’t like his condescending attitude, but… I can’t just ignore him…”
“Yeah!”
(I know Fei better than anyone!)
With a single finger pressing down, Arthur beams a wide smile! It seems like Arthur will sleep well tonight.
[Athena’s Cut! Arthur Observation Diary!!] The End
[Athena Editor]
There was no ill intent behind repeating Yururu and Arthur’s lap pillow event.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
◆
There’s a strange feeling. Before I knew it, I was getting a lap pillow from Master Yururu. It seems I fainted from overtraining.
Well, fainting from overtraining is a given.
Fainting from lack of oxygen is basic.
So, fainting during training isn’t surprising. But to get a lap pillow from Master Yururu… I’m usually cool, so I try to escape, but it’s impossible. With my head being held down, I can’t do anything.
Want to see some intimidation? Hmph, don’t get scared, Master! Huh? Not scared at all? Doesn’t work on someone superior?
Well, it’s not like you can gain power so quickly. Master Yururu tells me to cover my eyes and sleep. Even though it’s winter… but if I don’t sleep, I won’t learn the middle transmission. So, I guess I’ll sleep.
But isn’t a lap pillow something a heroine does…? Is this some kind of foreshadowing? The lap pillow feels like an important event a heroine would do…
Fell asleep.
Another day, I fainted. This time Arthur is giving me a lap pillow. This guy touches too much. Does she think I’m some kind of doll?
Pressing my forehead with one finger… I really can’t move… Plus, the conversation is quite bizarre.
Huh? Want to see a new technique? I’ll scare this guy a little. Even now, she’s pressing me with one finger. Not scared at all… So it doesn’t work on someone superior… I still need more training.
Arthur explains things in long sentences. It makes sense, but it’s annoying.
I look up at Arthur’s face. Really, such a beautiful face. A classic case of a disappointing beauty. In a visual novel, she’d be my rival in a decent position… No, really, a disappointing beauty.
If things were different, she could easily be the heroine. Her face is that good. Her figure is pretty good too. But, she’s not the heroine.
Pressing my forehead with one finger during a lap pillow… Somehow, this whole lap pillow event feels less significant because of her… Even if she’s not the heroine, a lap pillow is basic…
Rested for a while. Tried to lift my head, but it’s easily pushed down with one finger.
“Hey.”
“Yeah, I get it.”
Finally, she lets me go, thinking it’s enough. Staying like this would ruin the protagonist. Being held down with one finger, the humiliation… Don’t underestimate the protagonist!
I throw a wooden sword.
“Do you want to fight me?”
“Shut up. I’ll crush you now.”
“Sure, I’ll take you on anytime.”
Got beaten up… Damn, one day I’ll crush her. Don’t get too cocky, Arthur! The one who shines in the end is me,
the protagonist!!
A few days passed since then.
One day, after finishing my daily training and taking a short break, Master Yururu invited me for lunch.
“Fei, you treated me to a meal the other day, so today is my treat!”
“…I don’t really need it.”
“Let’s go!”
Master Yururu can be quite stubborn sometimes, not listening at all. She pulls my hand, leading me along.
Her palm feels soft, yet has a certain firmness. She’s been through a lot, practicing every day.
We walk through the capital. She takes me to what looks like a café.
An old man with a white beard, giving off a cool vibe, seems to be the owner.
Café owners with a seasoned look are always cool.
The white beard gives a nice atmosphere. Maybe this is what they call a cool old guy.
Watching him brew coffee with such expertise is oddly impressive. I’d like to try that too.
In a spin-off manga set ten years after the story ends, I’d want to be the cool café owner.
I could retire from being a holy knight.
Hmm, that’s an option, so I’ll observe him.
“As expected of you, Fei, you noticed.”
“Huh?”
“That owner was once a second-ranked holy knight. His posture is solid, and you were watching him closely, so you must’ve noticed.”
“Of course.”
That’s not really the reason. Being the protagonist might naturally give me that perspective.
As expected of me. Bravo.
“Let’s have two ham and lettuce sandwiches. What about you?”
“…Black coffee.”
“Then, I’ll have that too.”
For some reason, black coffee is the coolest.
When the coffee is served, I take a sip and relax. As time passes slowly, I feel myself unwinding.
Well, I’m still training with an air chair.
“Fei, when it’s time to rest, you should rest properly. I see you’re doing an air chair.”
Ah, it’s the slightly angry Master Yururu. I can’t help it. I’ll pretend to sit but keep my hips a few millimeters off the seat.
“Fei.”
Busted, as expected of Master. She knows me well.
“Here are your ham and lettuce sandwiches, and coffee.”
The owner’s voice is so deep. If it wasn’t me, anyone else would be scared.
Munch, munch. It’s tasty.
“Fei, I heard you have a mission soon. Be careful. You tend to dive into dangerous situations.”
“That’s the only way to make it interesting.”
“Geez, I’m saying it because I’m worried.”
It’s a protagonist event, so it’s natural. I appreciate her concern, though.
Master Yururu treated me to lunch because I treated her the other day.
I usually owe her a lot, though. I should learn from her sense of reciprocity.
When someone does something for you, you do something in return. That’s reciprocity!
“Fei, eat up! Your body is your asset!”
“Yeah.”
I ate the sandwich. When I finished, Master Yururu wiped my mouth with a cloth.
“You’ve got something on your mouth.”
She’s such a caring person. I drank the coffee to wash it down and stood up. She paid for my share too.
“Thanks for the treat.”
“No problem, it’s to repay you for the other day.”
“I’ll treat you next time.”
“Eh!? Is that a date invitation!?”
“I just wanted to return the favor.”
“Oh, right. That’s it.”
Phew, the meal ended, and training resumed. When I noticed, it was already dark outside.
“Fei.”
“Hey, don’t stand behind me.”
Arthur was behind me. If I were a silent killer, she’d be dead by now.
“I wanted to thank you for earlier.”
“What is it?”
“As a thanks for treating me, I made a lettuce sandwich. Here.”
“I already had one at lunch, I don’t need it.”
“Don’t say that.”
Suddenly, she shoved the sandwich into my mouth. The impression I get from her thanking me is so different from Master Yururu.
But her speed is insane. Her movements blurred until the sandwich was in my mouth.
Her skills are impressive, though.
“Oh, I heard you have a mission soon. Good luck.”
“Yeah.”
It’s strange that I don’t feel grateful even when she shows concern.
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