Chapter 112
Lefi’s Bizarre Behaviour
I had thought that Lefi might return to normal shortly after my return, but it didn't happen . Case in point, right now .
"Hold still . There is a speck of filth in your hair . " The dragon girl, who had approached upon noticing me, reached over and grabbed what looked like a piece of yarn from out of my hair .
"T-thanks . I didn't even notice . "
"You are very welcome . "
She casually sat herself down right next to me . She was so close that the two of us were basically touching . I tried not to pay her much mind as I continued transmuting weapons for the sake of boosting the skill's level . But I couldn't . The whole situation was just way too discomforting .
And it wasn't just because she was there . I was fine with that . The reason I was unable to focus was because the dragon girl did nothing but silently stare at me from up close .
"Sooooo uh… Is there something on my face?" I broke the awkward silence by turning towards her .
"There is not," she said . "W-would you prefer if I turned my gaze away?"
"N-Nah . I mean, I don't really mind, it's just… y'know, it makes me think something's up . "
Lefi had become much more clingy since my return . The most notable part was that the physical distance between us had shrunk by what felt like a full step . She would often position herself right beside me . I even felt as if we were almost always in physical contact, someway or another . Is it just me, or is it getting kinda warm in here?
Unlike before, she leaned on me a hell of a lot, and she would even tug at the hem of my shirt whenever she needed me for anything . The whole shirt tugging bit was something that our resident vampire did often . On several occasions, I'd caught myself spinning around and expecting to see Illuna, only to find Lefi there instead .
Though I had a bunch of different opinions on the matter, it wasn't as if I thought negatively of Lefi's newfound desire for physical contact . Men were creatures that loved how soft and wonderful girls like her were to the touch . And as a healthy male specimen, I was no exception . It's just… how do I put this? The problem is that it feels like Lefi's pushing herself real hard and forcing herself to do things outside her comfort zone .
Her face was basically always red, and she way she spoke made it obvious that she was feeling awkward . She kept tripping over her own words, and even sounded stiff or nervous at times . And her being off ultimately ended up throwing me for a loop as well . I just didn't know how I was supposed to react .
Just to reiterate, it wasn't as if I disliked the way she was acting . Hell, I would even go as far as to say that I found it adorable . But even with that said, I preferred Lefi's usual self . It just wasn't right for her not to be so brazen, shameless, or impudent . I really don't want her to have to keep forcing herself to act like someone she isn't . I really hope she gets back to normal sooner, rather than later…
***
"Soooo… Lyuu…" I said to the maid I'd arranged a meeting with . "You and I need to talk . "
Her back was to the wall, so I took advantage of our relative positions and slammed one of my hands into the part of the wall right by her face . It was a classic Japanese technique often used by males that wanted to pressure their female counterparts into agreeing to things, often dates, that they otherwise wouldn't .
Of course, my intention wasn't to create any sort of romantic tension . All I wanted to do was pressure her into speaking by blocking off all possible means of escape .
"Eep!" She squealed at the impact before timidly turning her eyes upwards . "W-What is it Master? The way yer smilin' right now is real scary . "
"Do you know why Lefi's been acting so weird lately?"
"H-Huh? W-w-what are you talkin' 'bout? Lefi ain't actin' weird at all?" Lyuu responded, abnormally flustered .
"Come on Master . Lefi's a girl too, y'know? And she's just doin' what girls do . "
"Lyuu, please . " I rolled my eyes . "Like, come on . All Lefi used to do all day was laze around in bed . She only ever got up to eat and play . You can't just write off a sudden shift like that as something girls do . She's been hella weird lately, and you know it!"
Lyuu paused . She had run out of arguments . "W-Why are you askin' me of all people anyway? I-I'm sure that Leila knows what's goin' on . She prolly knows way more, so whydda gotta pick on me!?"
Welp . That's Lyuu for you . She's started selling our her buddies just because she's run out of things to say .
"Well, that's just because I can't really bring myself to put any pressure on Leila . She does good work . "
Leila was nothing short of exceptional . She did more or less all the housework and even went above and beyond by teaching me about magic . I almost felt like I owed her for everything that she'd done for me .
"B-but then why would you think it's okay to pressure me!?"
"Because you're an incompetent, sorry excuse for a maid that can't even pull her own weight . Duh . "
"What the heck!? That's somethin' I'm really conscious of! You can't just rub it in my face like that! You're awful, Master! That's totally discriminatory! You're a tyrant, Master! A horrible, horrible tyrant!" Lyuu shouted indignantly . "Why can't you be nicer to me, and y'know, treat me with more care 'n respect!?"
"What are you, stupid? Of course I'm a tyrant . That's just what demon lords are . I don't know why you'd expect me to be anything else," I flashed a wide grin . "And you want me to be nicer to you? Give me a break, I'm being nice enough already . Are you already forgetting that I'm the only reason Rir ever comes anywhere near you?"
"Erk… I-I mean yer right, but…"
The warwolf could do nothing but respond with vexation .
"And there goes your argument," I smirked . "Right, anyway . Back to the whole Lefi thing . You mind explaining now, or what?"
"Ughhh… fine . " Lyuu finally seemed to realize that she wasn't going to be able to worm her way out of divulging the details, so she reluctantly began to speak . "…I'll tell ya, but y'can't let anyone know that it was me that spilled the beans, 'kay? Lefi'll turn me to nothing but a pile o' ashes if she ever finds out . "
"Yeah, yeah, I know . Don't worry . "
"Lefi seems to be kinda worried 'bout stuff," began the beastkin .
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, y'see…"
Lyuu explained the details to me . To summarize, the source of Lefi's distress was the fact that she had no idea how she was supposed to get closer to people . While it sounded like the type of problem a kid with few friends would have, I found it to be a surprisingly understandable concern . Lefi had always lived by herself . She had literally spent centuries without any real company . She had told me that the experiences I, or rather, we, brought her were fresh, new, and exciting . And that was what she had told Lyuu and Leila as well .
She explained to them that she was enjoying life as it were, but she wasn't sure if things could stay the way they were right now forever . Because she had never been the initiator . She felt as if everyone else was actively making attempts to grow closer with those around them, whereas she alone had put almost no effort towards the function . Her bonds were only what they were because of everyone else's initiative . And that was the problem .
Lefi had lived a long life, and experiences had taught her well . She knew that she couldn't just take the things around her, relationships included, as granted . She knew that her bonds would one day fade unless she herself actively participated in strengthening them .
The two maids had listened to her grips whilst I was away in the capital . They found her worries adorable and enthusiastically began giving her all sorts of guidance and advice . Of course, I wasn't privy to the exact details of what that advice entailed . Lyuu hadn't told me that much .
Either way, it meant that her current behaviour was basically her taking the maids' advice and trying her best to roll with it .
"Hah… I swear, Lefi…" I sighed before switching right over to my usual wry smile . You know, I can't even say that she's acting all that weird anymore . Like, now that I get it, I agree . She's just being awkward and clumsy . As usual . I get what you're trying to do now, Lefi, but you know what? You really don't have to try that hard . You can just be you . But I get it . You're trying because of how foreign the concept feels .
You know what? I probably shouldn't say too much to her . It'd probably be best for me to just keep nonchalantly playing along for now . I mean, I'm sure she'll figure it out eventually . We're going to be together for a long, long time, after all . But I might as well help her along where I can, right? Though, I guess I will at least tell her not to push herself too hard . Wouldn't want things to go south just 'cause she's forcing it too hard . I guess I should probably help her blow off some steam or something just to make sure everything goes well . Oh, I know . I'll treat her to the booze I got from the king . It'd probably be best if I did it sooner rather than later, huh? Hmmm . I guess today'll work . Or tomorrow if it doesn't .
***
"Whew…" Lyuu breathed a sigh of relief once her master was out of earshot . "Looks like I managed to trick 'im . "
Of course, it wasn't as if everything she had told him had been a lie . It was true that her other master, the mistress of the house, was concerned about strengthening her bonds with other people . But it was a little more specific than just that .
Her mistress wasn't concerned about bonding with people in general . All she wanted was to get closer to another specific individual . Listening to her explain her concerns had left a bittersweet taste in Lyuu's mouth . They sounded almost like the issues one would hear from the average girl that had just come of age .
Though she had been pressured, there was no way Lyuu could possibly spare her master the undoctored details . Because she knew that the truth was something meant only for her mistress to tell .
Lyuu giggled as she gave one of her fists a pump . "Do your best, Lefi! I know you can do it! Us maids'll be cheerin' you on from the sidelines!"
***
Editor's note (Joker): Hey, guys! Joker here . Aww, isn't that adorable? Lefi's trying to get close to Yuki and he's being as blind as a bat about it . Can't say I'm surprised . That's about par for the course for most isekai protags . They don't know love when it's rubbing right up against them . But hopefully, Yuki's Chuuni-Eye, I mean uh, Magic Eye, will see through Lefi's attempts and give her the loving she wants . I'm personally still torn between Black Mage and Samurai, but I'm actually leaning more towards Samurai . And it makes me sad . Maybe I'll try leveling both up . That'll be more fun . So we got 3 questions and 2 headpats for me (For whatever reason…), and 11 headpats for Nirvash, so thanks to kx, Sylphian and Tup for your questions, Tonatsi and Anime Dragon for the headpats to me . Again, don't know why you guys do that… and Nirvash would like to thank kx, جهاد السعيدي, Tonatsi, thedefend, Sylphian, Yashuul, and Anime Dragon . Remember, if you have a QUESTION for me, leave it below with the hashtag #AskJoker . If you want to headpat NIRVASH, put #NirvashHeadPat in the comments . See y'all in the next chapter!
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