Dragon Life - Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Waking up one morning, returning to the usual daily life . Breaking daily life .

I’m sure, it didn’t matter if it was me, anyone could help him .

“Looking for someone who has passed away…?”

If you hear those words, everyone would think: What an unbelievable story, looking for someone who’s dead . Don’t joke with me, I said with a strained smile, as Marius looked at me with a warped expression .

“Is it weird?”

“Yeah, that’s crazy . ”

If it’s like this, I will continue as just a regular, random person . I laughed bluntly, playing dumb . Even if it had hurt him, I had no choice but this left .

“But, if that person is not really dead, it’s a different story . If you are fine with me, I don’t mind helping you look?”

As if going along with a kid’s story, Marius giggled and laughed as he narrowed his dark blue eyes that were free of anger .

That’s weird . He would usually get angry if he was teased like this . On the contrary, “if so, then help me,” he irresponsibly said while leaning on the couch .

“Ahh if it’s gonna be like this I’ll be desperate! You don’t seem to believe it, but I’m grasping at straws . So clean your ears and listen well!”

I raised both hands raised in the pose for surrender .

“As I said earlier, my name is Marius . Marius Dufoe . I’m an apprentice knight in another world, in a Kingdom called Alvina . But rather than me, about a girl called Vito . One day, Vito went and selfishly died, after which she was enshrined as the Hero Beast and was revered as sacred . I came to this world because Lord Cleric told me she might be in this world . The time limit is three days . After that, I’ll be forced to go back . Until then, we have to find her somehow . ”

――― Hmm? Sacred, Beast? Revered? That’s a lot of cold sweat forming . I admit that I died selfishly, and not with the convenient excuse of saving the country and the world . It was not as honest and pure as that . That me, sacred? I can’t believe it . Now, I don’t want to go back to the other world even more . Ack, when onii-chan who went over to the other world gets back, ‘comrade!’ is definitely what he’d say, it’s scary . Rather, don’t come back .

“Bu, But, that person is dead right?”

“Even so, I am ‘here’ . That’s why I’ll look for her . That’s all there is to it . ”

His eyes were filled with a hidden determination . An expression I don’t know . It’s like an unknown boy suddenly appeared in front of me .

Three days . Once Marius gets through three days and nights, he can return to his original world and return to a peaceful life .

But if they find me .

“Find her, and punch her?”

How frightening . Being slapped is one thing, but being punched is completely different . If it’s now, Marius would be able to spectacularly beat me black and blue . I would like to avoid that .

“…In a sense, but that is my business . I can’t tell you why . ”

Oh thank goodness . He meant it figuratively . My heart is relieved .

“Is that so . But why tell that to me?”

There are plenty of other people who are asking for help . There are billions of people around the world . And yet, you appear in this exact place, what’s more, right above my head . He said that he was sent by Lord Cleric, knowing that I was here . What a terrifying person . At the same time, I was relieved to know that, Lord Cleric who worried about me when I left to die is still alive . Regardless of what I said, I was probably also worried about him . But that’s why I can’t bear to be my replacement .

“I told you, didn’t I . I’m grasping at straws . ”

Am I straw?!

I can’t accept such an answer, my feelings of such seem to have reached Marius as he sighed and continued .

“You seemed much kinder, and also seem to be more knowledgeable and understanding than that woman . You wouldn’t usually believe that people in this world come from another world, right?”

The truth is that Kikuko-oneechan is smarter . Just that she doesn’t show it . But I’m afraid that oneechan might just accidentally spill the truth, so it’s better for it to be me .

“…Is there any merit to me?”

“Huh?”

“Sure, I might be a nice person . I also said I would help, and if there is a girl in this area, I think it would be fine to help you out . But after hearing your story, as expected, I still can’t believe it . Helping you to look for someone who’s supposed to be dead, there is no way there is any merit or benefit for me . ”

It was just a waste of time, I said, and Marius’ reaction was different from what I expected . I leaned forward on the sofa and put my arms on my knees, stuck my chin out and laughed like it was funny .

“Hmm, then how about this? If you will help me, I’ll do any one thing you ask . Right, I mean, I can do any and all housework in general, so I don’t think that’s a bad deal, what do you think?”

Any housework! This house without Touka is in a state where help is necessary . That said, for food I can go to a convenience store, and it’s summer break, so there aren’t any real problems, but laundry is a pain . Nono wait a minute . Letting a boy wash my clothes for me, just how much of a sloppy and useless person am I! Mom, Dad, I’m sorry I grew up like this!

“Uh, well … um, that is, having one man and woman under one roof is a little…”

Is there still anything else to complain about? I frowned thinking .

No, this is important . With the boy who suddenly fell from the sky, doki![1] Love blossoming under one roof!？The risk of such a development is, nil huh . It is strange to be reluctant to just be living under the same roof when we used to sleep together on the same bed . But right now I’m posing as a civilian, and a young lady!

“If that’s the case, you don’t need to worry . As long as it’s not a guy it’s fine, right? Give me a minute . ”

Marius got up and started taking off his clothes .  Kya! As I failed to make such a cute sound, I watched dumbfounded at what he was doing but got scolded with “Don’t stare so much”, so I looked at the floor instead . It was all too sudden and I couldn’t even react .

What exactly are you doing? All the complicated looking clothes were thrown off . The jacket is long, almost like a dress, but it still made my heart race . I was told ‘don’t look’ again, so I obediently turned my stare to the floor .

“What do you think? There’s no problem like this right?”

After a while, I heard the voice of a tsun girl . [2] Raising my face, I was stunned seeing that figure . A girl in a cream coloured one-piece dress, with long peach coloured hair sat arrogantly with her hands on her waist .

An unrivalled beauty, one that would be envied by all the women in the world, sat in front of me .

Even using make-up, what kind of quick work is this . Involuntarily, I stared with my mouth open as the girl came to face me with a light gait .

“You have no complaints right?”

I just, when her face appeared in front of me, I could do nothing besides nod under that pressure .

“And, stop making things up . It’s really obvious . ”

With that final blow, I’m losing confidence in being able to survive through the next three days .
＊＊＊

Day one . Living with the peach haired girl .

That said, bringing strangers into someone’s home, and to end up living together for even a few days, is something that definitely not normal, much less if it’s a boy . For me who is the same age but lacking any experience in relationships, this might have been too strong stimulation, but the other party is that Marius . It should be fine . It’s a secret that I felt like a boy the first time I met him long ago .

Plus, he’ll be using Maribelle’s appearance that I’m more familiar with, which I am grateful for . But, for him to unhesitantly change into Maribelle in front of someone he just met, how should I say this, he became more like a man, or more gallant? In a place I couldn’t see, he must have been properly growing up and maturing . That dress may be cute but it’d definitely stand out . For now, I’ll just get him a T-shirt and a previously unused pale pink skirt, and also get him to hide those white wings on his back . It disappeared in an instant like magic, surprising me . In the first place, Marius- or rather, Maribelle to actually be a half-angel, her mother is probably of the Angel race too . Since the vice-captain isn’t an angel . Just thinking about a vice-captain with wings makes me feel like leaving for heaven already .
Maybe at that time you were reluctant to talk because it is related to that . [3]

“What is that? It’s running at incredible speed!”
“Car . ”


“What is this pole? The lines are getting tangled!”
“Utility pole . ”
“That outfit is cute! As I thought, a shorter skirt is cuter! I want to try wearing it too!”
“Clothes”
“…hey, are you even trying to explain?”

If you only tell me it’s name I won’t understand, Maribelle pouted . Cute .

The two of us were walking around the neighbourhood while searching for any kind of clues, when Maribelle’s eyes lit up looking here and there . It was tiring being forced to explain everything . And just like that, three hours passed . It’s almost evening and it was starting to get dark .

“Excuse me, are you even trying to search?”

Her cheeks turned red as an expression that screamed ‘I forgot’ formed . Is my existence that insignificant to you Maribelle .

Anyway, what’s up with this date . Looking from the side, fellow girls playing around is all I can see . No matter how cute she is, she is a he . This is important so I’ll say it again, she is a HE!

“I, I know alright! I just forgot for a short while! Come on, let’s go!”

To where, I asked and wordlessly, her eyes started swimming . Our current effort of searching by looking everywhere, has resulted in no clues at all . Even if there is a little information, I said, it’s almost impossible to find . But I also can’t say it’s because the person herself is right beside you .

“It’s getting dark, so let’s just head back home for now . ”

Even if we continue we won’t make any progress . For today, it’s best to just quietly go home .

“… Alright . ”

Maribelle obediently nodded . I think I was tired because it looks like I had to force a smile .

It goes without saying that on the way back home, I was attacked with questions about everything in sight .

＊＊＊

When we returned home, he started doing the housework as promised, saying “show me the kitchen” . Even here I was pestered for explanations on the refrigerator and cooking utensils . But he looked so good in Touka’s frilly apron, I wanted to take a picture .

I, want to have such a bride . Because she’s hardworking, after my limited hikikomori summer, please come be a bride here . Is what I secretly thought as I watched Maribelle from behind .

“This black liquid and this whitish thing, they’re salty . Don’t you have any sweeter seasonings?”
“I’ve got mirin, and some sugar too . ”
“Don’t you have any Gana?”

This is another world, Maribelle . There is no way there’d be seasonings from the other world .

Unfortunately for her, I didn’t have any, so it was replaced with sugar . If you mistake sugar and salt it’d be troublesome . Then I got a little worried, so I decided to stand in the kitchen with her and explain the seasonings and ingredients . Help? I refuse . Because I cut my finger with a knife, how astounding . Sorry for being clumsy .

“Itoka, you’re a girl, you need to learn to cook, if not you can’t get married!”
“Rather be fed”

At my immediate reply, Maribelle had a puzzled look . .

“What are you saying, for a wife, is it not normal to support your husband? It’s not very common for girls to be working . ”

I told Maribelle that here, there are much more women here who work, much to her surprise .

“Hmm, so this world has gender equality?”

Eh, I thought that in the other world there was little gender discrimination too, maybe I was wrong?

“Women can work too, and it’s fine if men do the housework too, I believe . Is it different in the other world?”

”It’s not too bad in the country where I live now . But that was the norm in the country where Mother lived . Women should shut up and just listen to men! Like that . ”

I’d believe it if it’s King Hector’s country . I definitely don’t want to live there . Not even if I was requested .

“What do you think, Maribelle?”

“Me? This is a hobby . I do properly like girls, and also my dream is to become a knight just like oniisama . But I like cute things too, … it’s weird, right?」

A self-deprecating laugh .

It’s not weird, I told her, but Maribelle had her back facing me to take food from the refrigerator, and I couldn’t see what kind of expression she made .

All in all, today was a busy day .

Kikuko- oneechan and Maribelle . Just when oniichan left for the other world to bring back Touka and the rest, I was supposed to be living peacefully, but instead, supernatural things happened, and I was honestly quite perplexed .

One person, lays on the bed while staring at the ceiling . Maribelle is borrowing Touka’s room, and should be asleep by now .

“Two days left . ”

Maribelle will return in two days . I just need to pull through till then .

But, contrary to wanting her to return quickly, there is another part of me that is happy . It’s not Itoka, it’s Vito . I’m happy to have seen you for the first time in awhile .

When I casually heard stories from the other world, it seems that a year has passed since I died there . I haven’t heard what is currently going on in that world yet, but it has only been a few days here since I returned . For a whole year to have passed, I wonder how their time works . Maybe this world’s time flows slower than over there .

While I was thinking about how a few days here is a year there, a soft ‘knock knock’ sound could be heard, surprising me .

When I opened the door, Maribelle wearing borrowed pajamas stood there, hugging Touka’s pillow with an uneasy expression . It goes without saying that my heart went ‘kyun’ seeing her . [4]

If I think about it properly, she came another world all alone . There’s no way she’s not lonely . Inviting her into the room, she turned her eyes to the floor, while opening and closing her mouth to try and speak .

“Can’t sleep?”
“Um … together, well…”
“Together?”
“It-It’s nothing! As expected, don’t worry about it!”

I’m going to sleep! Maribelle exclaimed as she stepped out into the corridor when I hurriedly stopped her there . Having snuck into this unknown world by herself, while carrying all her unease, it’s all my fault . I was able to pretend to not know about the other world, but what I couldn’t hide, is as Maribelle said, I’m soft towards others .

“Umm… do you want to sleep together?”

Oh, I didn’t mean it in a weird way! Actually, I had a nightmare! As I made random excuses, I was laughed at .

It’s fine then! I’ll sleep together with you!”

My expression brightened in an instant, and I first crawled into the bed I was lying in earlier . Patting the bed, I gestured her to hurry over . In the end, I was the one that asked you to sleep with me, but well, that’s fine too .

“Just two more days . ”

Well since it’s already past midnight, it’s just today and tomorrow left, to be precise .

“Why for three days? If you can come and go, you can come to search again and again”

I don’t want you to come though .

For us who were lying down facing each other, we were within arm’s reach of each other . I wonder what kind of me those navy blue eyes see . Black eyes, the colour of mourning, and the face of a regular girl . At the beginning, she kept staring at it, but while walking around during the day, there were plenty of other Japanese people who had similar colours . She should have gotten used to it .

“Hm, I don’t think I’ll be able to come back ever again . Lord Cleric used up a significant amount of power to send me here and is now weakened, so this is the only chance . ”

The only chance .

I can only spend two more days with Maribelle . Thinking like that, I felt happy and sad at the same time . I won’t be able to see you, ever again .

“And also, it’s dangerous . You should never ask someone else to sleep with you . ”

“Dangerous?”

I was wondering what she meant, and tilted my head confused, as Maribelle laughed ‘fufu’ .

“I, regardless of how I look, am still a man . ”

It’s bad for the heart if you suddenly switch to a guy’s voice . Even if his long hair is down, the face hidden in it moved to show a more manly expression . White, delicate hands stretched out, and pat my black hair as he narrowed his eyes .

“It’s weird . It’s kind of nostalgic . ”

Badump, my heart rate vigorously started to rise .

“I wonder why, it’s almost like …”

Without finishing what he was saying, his narrowed eyes gradually began to close .

The cold sweat came out from my body, my whole body . This is bad . I tried thinking of how to trick my way out of this, but he fell asleep while speaking, breathing gently and calmly .

Flustered, all the muscles in my body were tensed weirdly, thinking I was found out .

“… . I’m sorry . ”

I can’t tell you the truth .

I’m sure he was tired . It’s rare for him to fall asleep while talking . But I’m relieved .

It’s like … I shouldn’t hear the rest .

It’s going to be a difficult two days ahead .
While looking at the angel-like face, a sigh escaped my lips .

Translation Notes:
[1] Heart racing, I figured it sounds better than badump . Also had to make sure it is different from when there is another heart-pounding onomatopeia afterwards .
[2] Tsun is to act cold or uncaring . Part of the word ‘tsundere’, which is to act cold at times out of embarrassment, but cute/warmly at other times .
[3] Probably talking about an earlier chapter when Maribelle didn’t want to talk about her Mother . I’m not sure which chapter it is .
[4] More onomatopeia! Imagine having your heart shot by a love arrow, and your heart is pounding .