Chapter 31
“…………Huh–?”
–That was the only thing Emily managed to muster up, when she heard a familiar voice scream, “I wanted to be born a woman,” through the thin walls of the orphanage .
“Isn’t that… Kai-san’s voice?”
“Yeah… and he screamed, I wanted to be born a woman, right?”
“But he’s a man… why would he want to be born a woman?”
Emily, Anne and Marcel were looking at Leo with an expectant gaze, as if they were waiting for him to answer their questions . So he heaved an exasperated sigh and shook his head to the sides .
Leo pondered for a while on how to answer their questions, but that was something that even he, Kai’s master, didn’t know how to answer . So instead of making up a cheap lie, he decided to play it safe by using the typical phrase–
[–The adult world is too complex for you guys to understand . ]
However, they didn’t seem to understand the full phrase–
“Leo Onii-chan, what is [Adult world]?”
“Yeah, we haven’t learned that word yet!”
–Which was a good thing, since Leo managed to shift their attention to something else .
But, unfortunately, it was already too late in the night and they needed to wake up early for the festival tomorrow .
[I’ll teach you guys the meaning of that word tomorrow, okay? Right now we need to go to bed, the festival starts early and we need to rest . ]
“Oh, right, I forgot! Tomorrow is our squad’s first mission!” – Whispered Emily, with an excited smile plastered on her face .
However, Leo overheard what Emily said, so he leaned forward and asked–
[–Your squad’s first mission? What’s that?]
“Oh, that? It’s our business strategy for this year’s festival!”
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“Yeah, Leena divided everyone into squads, and we are the 73rd squad!”
[W-wait, wait, wait! Leena did what!? It’s like she’s making you guys are run a shady business for her–!]
(–Like a pickpocketing criminal organisation run by little kids!)
“You don’t have to worry, Leo Onii-chan, we’re not running a shady business!”
“Yeah, Leena just divided us based on our abilities, like intelligence and strength, then she assigned each of us to a different squad! That way, our stand will be a lot more organised!”
“And if everything goes as planed, we’ll earn a lot of money!”
Leo was wrong when he thought that Leena was just teaching Elandic to the little kids with Bruno . Apparently, she was also teaching them how to conduct business .
To tell the truth, Leo knew that Leena’s strategy was really cool, and the three kids smiling with their thumbs up just reinforced that, but he couldn’t help but feel like he had lost something really important when he saw their smiles .
[W-what the hell… weren’t you guys complaining a lot last year when I made you guys help me sell my products? Then why are you guys smiling like that right now? It’s more fun to work with Leena than it is to work with me…?]
“It was really fun to work with you, Leo Onii-chan, but the flow of time is irreversible… that’s what Leena taught us!”
“Yeah, it was really fun!”
“Ah, uh, y-you know… things change… I-I guess?”
Listening to their confessions shocked Leo, but he wouldn’t give up so easily, he came all the way to Richard just to spend the festival with with everyone, and that’s what he would do… even if he had to forget about his own products that he was planing to sell during the festival .
[Then… can I join you guys during the festival?]
That question came as a bit of a surprise to Emily, Anne and Marcel, so they glanced at each-other’s eyes for about ten seconds, before nodding . Emily then leaned forward, with a smile, and said–
“–What are you talking about, Leo Onii-chan? Of course you can join us—”
The moment Leo heard that, he patted his chest and released a relieved sigh—
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“—But only as Leonora von Harkenberg, that is . ”
“……………Huh?”
—However, the words that Emily spoke next were so merciless, that Leo even forgot to speak in Elandic .
“Leena’s strategy is perfect . ”
“Yeah, we’ve been preparing for the festival for an entire month, after all . ”
“Mhmm, the strategy sure is perfect . But if you went to our stand as Leonora, the noble, and complimented our products, I’m sure we’d sell the entire stock . ”
In other words, Leonora von Harkenberg could help them by complimenting their products… . but the real Leo wasn’t needed–
“T-that’s… a lie, right…? E-every year, we used to, prepare for, the festival… together… . ”
–Leo was so shocked by that realization, that he didn’t even know if he was just sweating… or straight out crying . He even felt his throat clogging up .
“Of course we’re not joking . ”
“Yeah, we’ll even pay you, Leo Onii-chan . You like money more than anything, right?”
“It’s a win-win! You just need to compliment our products . ”
Leo then stood up, with sad smile, and said, “Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom,” before exiting the room .
“Ah…… he left . ”
“Yeah, he left . ”
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“He left . ”
After Leo exited the room and closed the door, Emily, Anne and Marcel, who were paying attention to the sound of his footsteps, heard a loud “Thud!” coming from the end of the hallway . Leo had probably punched one of the walls of the orphanage–
“Haa∼, Haa∼, w-what should I do, I’m probably a sadist, Anne! T-those tear were enough to make my heart race!”
“T-that doesn’t matter, Emily! You heard those unconscious “Uuuh∼,” “Unyuu∼” and “Auu∼” sounds that Leo Onii-chan was making during our class on Elandic!? They were so lovely! I can’t even stop shivering, right Marc–wait! Why the hell are you having a nosebleed!?”
“…I think I’m in love∼♥ …Ahh∼, Leonorsama is so cute∼♥”
–But those three weren’t even paying attention to that right now, since they were being overwhelmed by Leonora’s cuteness .
“Haa∼, Haa∼, it’s no good! I-I can’t erase that cuteness off of my head!”
“Me too! I think I’m going to the other side! I can even hear my dead grandma calling my name!”
“Ahh∼, Leonorsama∼♥”
It’d be bad if Leo returned and saw their shameful behaviors… but they couldn’t calm down at all . Anne was screaming “Kyaa∼, Kyaa∼” while rolling on the floor, Emily was hugging herself while panting, and Marcel was……… anyway, it’d be bad if Leo returned and saw them like that .
When Leo suddenly came back to the orphanage, Emily, Anne and Marcel, finally understood why Leena told them that her original body was, “A sight to behold . ” Well, she really told the truth, her original body was perfection incarnate . But that wasn’t why those three were having a brain meltdown .
The person known as Leonora von Harkenberg was much more than just a beautiful girl… she wasn’t two faced, like everyone else… her emotions were all bare for everyone to see . The way that Leonora acted shy, her cheerful demeanor and her happy smiles were so dazzling, that Emily and Anne almost forgot who she really was–
“I know that Leonora is actually Leo Onii-chan… but I can’t help it…!”
“Me too, Emily… I’m a failure as a little sister…!”
“…More… I want to see more of that cuteness… . ”
–But the youngest of the three, Marcel, was more obsessed with Leonora than the two of them combined, which brought them back to sanity .
Marcel was crawling towards the door, like a zombie, but Emily and Anne managed to stop him by grabbing onto his clothes .
“You can’t, Marcel! Don’t you remember our orphanage’s number one rule!?”
“Yeah, Leo Onii-chan is everyone’s Onii-chan! You can’t steal a march on everyone else!”
“Khh…! I know that…! But Leonorsama is the first real girl that I’ve ever met!”
“………………Yeah, I guess you’re right . ”
“………………Yeah . ”
Leo was better at acting like a girl than most of the other girls of the orphanage . In fact, Emily and Anne were thinking that it’d be better for Leo to stay as a girl, since it’d be a waste otherwise .
Just imagining a sweet girl, like Leonora, saying: “I’ll give you, a discount, if you buy, 3 of them∼” or “Ufufu, do you really, have enough money, to buy this?” Was enough to make the three of them blush in excitement–
“–But that’s exactly why we have to protect Leo Onii-chan from those thugs!” – Declared Emily, with a serious face .
“Yeah, we’ll protect Leo Onii-chan!”
“We’ll protect him!”
Emily, Anne and Marcel, weren’t being mean to Leo because they wanted to . In fact, those three became really happy when Leo said that he wanted to join them . But their stand was located in one of them most dangerous areas of Richard .
Bruno would probably be able to protect Leo if anything bad happened, however, the thugs that Leena “tamed” were still thugs . There’s no way they would leave someone as beautiful as Leonora alone . Besides, if someone baited her with money, the bastard would probably have the time of his life with her in a back alley–
“–And that’s unforgivable… . ”
Their beloved Onii-chan was looking forward to the festival as much as they were, that much was obvious, but Leo was persistent when he wanted something, so they had be a bit harsh with him .
However, the exchange of words that they had with Leo made their hearts ache from the guilt, specially because of that sad smile at the end . But they were doing that to protect him, so a bit of guilt didn’t matter .
“Haaah∼, I hope Leo Onii-chan isn’t too sad… . ” – Said Marcel, with a dejected expression on his face .
“Yeah, me too…… but it’s better that way, right Emily?”
“…I don’t know… but that’s our best shot at keeping him safe . ”