Chapter 115
Chapter 12
Section 7: Transmitting Love
[Grimm]: “Then, Calvafon-sama is of the red rank, which means you are a red corundum adventurer?”
After that, we were guided to the church’s rear where the dining room for the sisters is located . It’s a room where over a hundred sisters might be eating together all at once, so it’s extremely large to make room for them .
I’m currently seated at one of the dozens of rectangular polished wooden tables all neatly lined up throughout the room . Tea and various confections are set at each table, giving the room a sweet yet refreshing aroma .
[Iris]: “Y-Yes . In Soletta Ritta, oh, that’s my hometown . It’s west of here, about a two week ride by carriage . So when I received my baptismal rites there, I was given the red rank . ”
I’ve been answering people’s questions for thirty minutes now . In order to keep my mouth from drying out, I grabbed a sweet shaped like pink flower petals and washed it down with a cup of tea .
Woah, this candy……it’s really sweet . But there’s more to it than just that; it smells like a real flower . The tea is causing the candy to melt in my mouth, filling me with a flowery aroma . Meanwhile as I was left astonished by the gentle aroma that had made its way up to my nose, somebody immediately refilled my cup of tea as soon as I had set it back down on its saucer .
[Grimm]: “Pardon my rudeness, but you don’t look the type . As far as my eyes can tell, you seem like a perfectly ordinary girl . ”
One of the warrior priestess with blonde hair tied back into a ponytail was sitting in the seat across from me at the table, er, I suppose she’s no longer a warrior priestess now that she’s a member of the Goddess Knights¹ . Her name was definitely…… .
[Iris]: “Grimm Lanselva”
[Grimm]: “Oh!? For you to remember my name, how fortuitous . ”
She rose to her feet, giving me a dramatic bow while speaking in a playful tone .
[Iris]: “Oh, um……well, whenever you’re talking with me Lanselvsama, you don’t really have to use a sama honorific…… . ”
[Milius]: “We can’t do that Calvafon-sama . ”
[Grimm]: “Hey, Milius . I’m in the middle of a conversation here with Calvafon-sama . Don’t butt in . ”
A beautiful woman with long black hair called Milius spoke up . I remember her last name was, Luotung .
[Milius]: “We know you were born and raised as a commoner . However, that was then . You are now the one whom the Goddess Knights serve . The one whom the Goddess Illya has entrusted her wish to . ”
[Ruruka]: “So lightly speaking with you-sama² is something we absolutely must not do!”
It was a woman with short green hair who picked up where Luotung-sama dropped off . She had a unique name, so I remember it quite clearly . Ruruka Ruruksama . I’m pretty sure she’s the youngest member of the Goddess’s Knights . Maybe around Toslin’s age?
[Grimm]: “Oi, Ruruka . You’re being too over-familiar with your words . ”
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[Ruruka]: “Eh!? What part did I screw up?”
[Milius]: “My apologies Calvafon-sama . Ruruka was born on a continent far from this one, so she still has some difficulties with our language . I shall punish her severely for this later, so please, forgive her rudeness . ”
[Ruruka]: “Aww, I messed up my words again…… . ”
Ruruksama sunk on top of the table and began to mope .
Between all the adventure novels I’ve read and the half a year I’ve spent together with Rose-san, I imagined that all warrior priestesses would be intense, rigid people .
But Ruruksama is a little outside of that warrior priestess image .
[Iris]: “U-Um, I really don’t mind at all……”
[Ruruka]: “Calvafon-sama is so kind . However, you-sama are my lord, and I cannot take advantage of your kindness . ”
At that moment, after making the same mistake a second time when Luotung-sama had already warned her, Ruruka’s punishment was set in stone .
The talks bounced around after that, and I got a chance to have some of my questions answered as well .
Apparently all fifty knights are of the yellow rank and are level ten or higher .
Peachseed-san and I talked a couple times when we were traveling down the highway together, and during one of those conversations, she explained to me that level ten is a huge milestone for adventurers .
Rank and file soldiers are around level three, and you can be considered a veteran once you reach level five . Captains would be level seven . And then once you’ve reached level ten, a yellow rank, you become qualified to be hired by the country as a knight .
Fifty of these amazing people joined our knight order, all to protect me…… . and I can’t fully express my gratitude .
For the next several hours the knights continued switching places, taking turns talking with me and giving me a chance to thank all of them .
We continued talking until the sun turned down and the sunset became visible out the window .
♠
[Iris]: “Aah, my tummy is all flabby!”
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[Lapris]: “Because you kept on eating like an idiot . ”
[Iris]: “But those sweets were so good . ”
Mmm, they really were so tasty . Marie-sama gave us a bunch extra to take back as snacks for later, but I’m positive we’ll have them all finished within a couple of days .
We are currently riding in our carriage, running down a road that had gone completely dark . We’ve already passed through the sixth wall and are making our way to the seventh .
Carol and Lapris might’ve partied a little too hard because the both of them fell asleep almost immediately after we boarded the carriage on my and Toslin’s laps respectively .
A bout of drowsiness started creeping on me as well amidst the quiet cabin . But then Rose-san started speaking from her seat next to me .
[Rose]: “Thank you for today Iris-san . ”
[Saluena]: “We wanted to give you a warm welcome at the church prior to your audience with the king is what she’s saying . ”
Saluena interjected in order to explain Rose-san’s words .
[Iris]: “Is that how it is? I’m happy for the gesture, but why didn’t you say anything about it? I was really surprised . ”
[Saluena]: “Good, then our two week plan was a rousing success . Right Rosa?”
[Rose]: “O-Oneesama!?”
Toslin and Carol are right across from me . And then Rose-san and Saluena are sitting on either side of me . Rose-san’s outburst caused Lapris to stir and drowsily raise her head with a grunt . But almost immediately afterwards she set her head back down again before going right back to sleep .
[Saluena]: “I told Rosa we’d get to see you surprised if we kept quiet about it . Honestly though, you’re reaction was even better than what I expected . I’m feeling very satisfied with how things turned out . I wanted to laugh every time talk of the capital was brought up, so I’m really glad all my struggling was worth the effort . ”
[Iris]: “…… . . hoh? So that means Rose-san was having a grand time watching me struggle out there as well?”
[Rose]: “N-No Iris-san . Y-You’re wrong . I was, Onee-sama said you would have fun, so I…… . ”
Rose-san looked like she was about to cry after I showed just a little resentment .
[Iris]: “Aha, kidding, I’m kidding . You really did surprise me, but I had a lot of fun too . ”
Rose-san’s long eyelashes fluttered a few times after I hugged her arm .
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[Rose]: “I-Is that so?”
[Iris]: “Yep . I was really excited when we got to the church because it was just like the world in the books I’ve read . Thank you for the wonderful present Rose-san . ”
Sitting next to each other, I turned my gaze downwards . When I finally looked back up, I tried looking a bit like a child with my naturally upturned eyes .
[Iris]: “Rose-san, I love you”
If you’re a child, it’s okay to act spoiled every now and then . I’m still only sixteen, so this is me trying to take advantage of the fact that I haven’t reached full adulthood just quite yet .
[Rose]: “S-So long as you’re happy, that is all that matters . ”
But when our eyes met, Rose-san turned away from me . Maybe I was being too direct?
But, thinking about it, I don’t think I’ve ever told Rose-san how I feel about her . We’ve always been together, and I’ve always loved being with her, so there’s never been a need before .
I’m sure she knows……is what I’d assume, but that might not be the case . So even if this is all from me going with the flow and taking advantage of the moment, I’m still glad I was able to voice my feelings aloud .
[Iris]: “Rose-san? Um… . . ”
[Saluena]: “Rosa’s just embarrassed . She probably never expected to hear something that pleasing come out of your mouth . ”
[Rose]: “O-Oneesama…… . ”
Hwah, Rose-san looks like she really is going to cry now .
[Saluena]: “I was just explaining things on your behalf . You should be thanking me instead of holding a grudge .
Joy and embarrassed, and just a little bit of resent for her sister who went spilling all her secrets like that .
Rose-san’s face was filled with a mixture of emotions when she finally turned back to look at me .
[Rose]: “I-I……love you too, Iris-san . ”
Rose-san has already told me that numerous times before now . As for me, I’ve been too negligent in conveying my feelings .
I’ll have to be sure to tell her properly from now on . And if my prize is getting to see her wonderful smiling face, then all the more reason .
[Saluena]: “Iris . So then, where’s my thank you?”
While I was preoccupied with Rose-san, Saluena cut in from my other side .
[Iris]: “Obviously I’m grateful to you too Saluena . ”
Leaving one of my arms wrapped around Rose-san’s arm, I leaned over and clung to Saluena’s arm as well .
[Iris]: “Thanks . I love you too Saluena . ”
While gazing up at her moonlit face, I voiced aloud the words I’m always thinking but never say .
[Rose]: “Oh my, Oneesama . Is your face turning red?”
[Saluena]: “……is this you trying to get your revenge?”
[Rose]: “Oh no, I am merely expressing what I see, Sally-oneesama♪”
I’m sandwiched between two people I truly care for, able to feel not just the warmth of their bodies, but the beating of their hearts as well .
Saluena is Rose-san’s sister .
And then Rose-san is my…… .
(…… . Oneesama)
…… . . I tried imagining it for just a bit .
A scene of the three of us, gathered around a table and sharing a cup of tea .
(…… . hold on, it’s really nice?)
The scene I drew in my head was even more dazzling than I had expected .
But, as I am right now………I still don’t have the courage to voice those kinds of thoughts .
1 . I didn’t originally translate it too well in English, but whenever someone says the ‘Goddess’s Knights’ that’s referring to Iris’s knight company . ‘Riviera Von Iliana’ and ‘Goddess’s Knights’ are used interchangeably . They represented that with furigana, and coding that is a lot of work, so I left it alone .
2 . So when speaking in Japanese, you’re supposed to drop the subject whenever you can . So you don’t use the word ‘you’ very often . Even if you are going to use the word ‘you’, it’s more proper to use the person’s name instead . So she’s not wrong in saying you, but it’s generally considered rude . She also attaches sama to the you which is just wrong although it does show she’s not being rude on purpose .