Published at 18th of November 2020 07:17:25 PM
Chapter 8: 8
“Good Morning,” I say with a slight upturn of my lips .
Hearing my greeting, the handsome boys turn to look at me all at once . The overall level of their appearances is so high that I feel like I might faint from seeing them all so up-close . And to make matters worse, they are all rushing towards me right now .
“So this girl is Al’s little sister?”
“She’s so cute!”
“So tiny~”
They start saying all at once, staring at me with bright eyes . And to be honest, I’m not sure if they are trying to compliment me or not .
How is a villainess supposed to act in a situation like this I wonder?
Whatever the correct answer is, I definitely don’t think now is the time to be acting modestly . Let’s see… . one of them called me cute, so maybe it would be a good idea to agree with him on that?
… . . No wait, before I do that I should introduce myself first . I don’t want them to end up thinking that I’m a girl who lacks manners or proper understanding of social etiquette .
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“I am Alicia . It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” I say, lightly grasping my dress and giving them my best curtsy .
“Hey, Alan, Henry… . Is this that little sister you’ve been telling us about? She’s nothing like how you were describing her!?” I hear someone whisper to my brothers .
Hmm? Just what exactly have my dear brothers been saying about me this whole time?
Though, I suppose I can actually imagine it . I bet they were complaining to them about how selfish and spoiled of a baby sister I am .
“But Alicia, what’s wrong? What are you doing here?”
What am I doing here? Albert-Oniisama… . . You couldn’t have forgotten already, right?
Today was the day that you promised to teach me how to use a sword . That’s the whole reason that I’ve been working out every single day in an effort to build up some physical strength .
… . Is what I want to say, but I somehow manage to hold my tongue and take a moment to calm myself down .
“Please teach me how to use sword,” I say simply instead, but I’m met with the exact same reaction as I was the first time .
And this time it’s not just from my brothers, the other boys all react in a similar way as well .
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Eric-Sama, your mouth is hanging wide open, you know .
Did I really say something so strange as to warrant such a response?
I know you all have very pretty eyes, but I assure you that I can appreciate them even if they are only open to a normal degree .
“Ali, that was only if you were able to finish doing your sit-ups and push-ups every day…” Albert-Oniisama says, smiling kindly at me .
…… . But I did! Moreover, I did triple the amount that you had told me to do .
He really is looking down on me way too much .
I’m slowly growing more and more frustrated with them to the point that I can feel my cheeks starting to puff up in an unbecoming pout .
Agh, this is not the way that a proper villainess would express her rage!
There’s no way that such a villainous and proud lady would be caught dead pouting . I guess I really am just a child still… . . even if my actual self isn’t a child anymore, this body still belongs to one… . It looks like I still haven’t completely internalized what it means to be a villainess . But there’s nothing I can do about it . My feelings have overcome me even against my better judgment .
“Aww, even her little pouty face looks adorable . ”
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Curtis-Sama, would you kindly shut your mouth?
I’m having a hard enough time without you adding oil to the fire like that .
“Ali, swords are really dangerous, you know . They don’t really suit you,” Albert-Oniisama says, patting me affectionately on the head .
Just what exactly did I find cute about someone patting a girl’s head like this in my previous life!?
Having it done to me, it’s not cute at all . It’s infuriating!
I lightly swat Oniisama’s hand away from my head and with that one move, the lighthearted atmosphere of our little get-together is destroyed in an instant .
Oniisama’s expression hardens . And it’s not only him, everyone else’s expressions seem to stiffen as well .
I really did it now… . Just what would a villainess do in a situation like this?
……How come nothing comes to mind when it really matters?
I guess I can only trust in my instincts at this point .
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Without thinking, I reach for the small sword that is sheathed at Oniisama’s waist and pull it out .
… . . It’s heavy! Are swords always heavy like this??
I guess the muscle training really was necessary before learning swordplay . But my past week of working hard wasn’t wasted .
If this was my past self, before I had worked out at all, I probably wouldn’t have been able to lift this sword at all .
But now, forget just lifting it, fully brandishing a sword like this… . . shouldn’t be something that I’m incapable of .
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I adjust my breathing, getting it under control, and I orient my body towards the tree that is standing right beside us . I focus all of my concentration on harnessing the power in my legs so that I can properly balance myself and maintain a strong base .
I glance over the branches of the tree and find an apple that looks like it’s ready to fall and then I kick at the trunk with all my might .
The tree shakes under the blow and the apple sways violently .
Please fall . If you don’t fall, I’m going to be extremely embarrassed . So please, please fall!
For an unbearably long moment, I can only watch as the apple continues to swing…… . But then the stem twists, and I know it’s about to fall .
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I quickly calculate its trajectory just like how I’d read in a Physics book previously . Thank goodness I was able to read so many books within the past few days .
I wonder if I’ll be able to do this right . I just have to go off of instinct… . But this is my first time ever using a sword… . I don’t really have any muscle memory for what feels right .
No! I can’t let myself be pessimistic now . If I can just do this right, then I’ll have taken another important step forward on the road to becoming a respectable villainess .
Taking one more steadying breath, I swing the sword in a horizontal arc with as much force as I can muster .
T/N: Cliffhangerrrrrrrr! Kind of . I’m guessing most of us can imagine what’s going to happen next XD But still! Author-san, don’t stop there~!
Translator’s short continuation fan-fic: (that’s as long as the chapter itself XD)
Taking one more steadying breath, I swing the sword in a horizontal arc with as much force as I can muster .
……Which, in retrospect, was way too much force! I somehow managed to calculate the correct trajectory and sliced neatly through the apple, but what I had not accounted for was the large amount of centripetal force that I was creating . Even after I had cleaved the apple in two, my body kept turning in the direction of my swing, out of control .
I was so caught off balance that I could feel myself falling towards the ground! Oh no! If I fall and get all muddy, my life as a villainess, or even as a proud noble, is going to be over! I won’t be able to deal with the shame!
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I shut my eyes, not wanting to see the moment of my social demise, but before I can feel any sort of impact, I instead feel some sort of pressure from around my waist and there is this odd sensation that I’m not falling anymore .
Just barely peaking one eye open, I look down to see an arm had caught me around the waist . Looking back towards the person attached to that arm… . . I see Duke Seeker!?
“Careful . It seems like you underestimated your own strength,” he says, settling me carefully on my feet .
I can’t help but stare at him, feeling a bit starstruck . His blue hair is so lovely, gleaming in the sunlight, and that smile… . ! Why does a man that I am determined to leave to the heroine have to be so devilishly handsome… . . !?
Without saying another word, Duke-Sama carefully grabs my hand that is still clenching the sword . He molds my fingers so that they are now lightly clasping the hilt in a much more comfortable way than my previously haphazard grip . With one booted foot, he also nudges my feet into a wider, shoulder-width-apart stance .
“There . How does that feel now?” He asks, looking down directly into my eyes .
I can feel a blush spread across my cheeks, but then I hear a faint cough off to my right . I had completely forgotten about my brothers and the rest of their friends! Albert-Oniisama is still smiling, but his smile now looks a bit forced .
“Better… . . ” I say, turning back to Duke-Sama . “Thank you . ”
“You’re welcome,” he replies, smiling kindly . (An actual kind smile! Not the type that Albert-Oniisama wears all the time, filled with hidden intentions . )
I swing the sword once more, just to test out the new grip and stance, and this time I keep my balance properly and manage to emit a clear whooshing sound from the air .
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I smile in satisfaction and then walk slowly over to Albert-Oniisama .
Handing him the sword I say, “Don’t go anywhere . I’ll get changed into some proper training clothes, and be right back for my lesson!”
And then I bound off in the direction of the house with my face having trouble deciding whether to grin like an idiot or blush for all I’m worth .
(Lol, if you read through to this far, thanks for putting up with my shenanigans . But isn’t this a better way to end!? That cliffhanger was too much haha . )