6kv #221 - Cat Ear Man
#221 - Cat Ear Man
Chapter 221 Cat Ears… Man
“I’m telling you, it’s normal to be stunned when looking at a beautiful woman, but staring at people like that is rude, nya.”
The person with the 'nya' speech habit is a young girl with shoulder-length, flaxen hair trimmed evenly, and a pretty, cute face.
As a woman, she is quite tall, almost the same height as Natsuki Subaru, more than ten centimeters taller than Zun Zun, but her figure is incomparably slender. Every gesture is full of feminine charm, or perhaps it should be said that she exudes feminine cunning and intelligence.
Her flaxen hair is decorated with a white ribbon, and her large pupils sparkle with curiosity.
“I can understand the demonic charm of cat ears.”
“Nya nya?”
As if responding to Natsuki Subaru's mutter, the beast ears of the same color as her hair twitched. Natsuki Subaru made an obvious effort to restrain his impulse, as if he knew he shouldn't be rude.
Walking out with this 'cat-eared girl' was a blue-haired maid. If he wasn't mistaken, she should be Rem.
The blue-haired maid bowed respectfully to Zun Zun. Although it wasn't necessary since he was Natsuki Subaru's friend, the guests of the Sword Saint family were inherently more noble than them, and he really hoped Natsuki Subaru would be aware of this.
However, expecting Natsuki Subaru to be respectful to him was probably impossible.
The 'cat-eared girl' tapped her cheek with her finger, tilted her head slightly, and her cat-like pupils narrowed as she stared intently at Natsuki Subaru.
“I see, so you're the boy Lady Emilia mentioned.”
She scrutinized him from top to bottom, then placed her hand on Natsuki Subaru's disheveled neck, her slender body pressing close.
“Eh!? ”
“Don't move, I'm going to check something.”
The soft touch and the wafting, wonderful fragrance caused Natsuki Subaru's whole body to stiffen, and he tried his best to remain calm. But his weak defense of composure was completely shattered when the 'cat-eared girl' unknowingly nibbled on his earring.
Zun Zun asked the blue-haired maid beside him.
“Hey, aren't you jealous?”
“…No, I wouldn't be jealous over such a small thing, and I believe in Subaru.”
Rem looked unwavering.
Honestly, Zun Zun was a little jealous of Natsuki Subaru. If it were Megumin, seeing him being close to another girl, a Explosion magic might come flying at him.
Mocking Natsuki Subaru, who let out a cute scream, the 'cat-eared girl' contentedly released the hug. Natsuki Subaru staggered backward, falling to the ground with a thud.
“W-What… what are you doing!?”
“What a cute reaction. Don't worry, I was just checking your body a little, and the nibble was a complimentary service.”
The 'cat-eared girl' winked playfully at him.
Natsuki Subaru still looked very confused. Even though he knew he was being teased, he couldn't retort in this situation.
It was still Zun Zun.
“Please stop, your joke has gone too far.”
He helped Natsuki Subaru up from the ground and expressed his dissatisfaction to the 'cat-eared girl'. Behind him, Wilhelm, who wanted to stop her from being mischievous, stopped in his tracks after seeing this scene.
“Oh, you are…? Ah, ah, sorry, sorry, Ferris was wrong.”
The 'cat-eared girl'… no, Ferris, put her hands together, looking apologetic.
That posture was as if she had seduced someone else's boyfriend but deliberately pretended not to know, putting herself in the position of a vulnerable group to gain sympathy, truly a scheming person.
That was it.
That was why Zun Zun disliked Ferris.
Ferris turned her eyes, noticing the carriage parked on the other side, and clearly seeing the family crest on the carriage.
“Could you be Reinhardt's friend? What a coincidence, I also know Reinhardt. Didn't he tell you about little Ferris?”
“Unfortunately, no. It seems you and he aren't really good friends.”
“How sad, it seems I'll have to complain to Reinhardt later.”
“I don't know if he'll listen.”
Although they were both smiling, one could feel the tense atmosphere. Everyone held their breath, knowing that the two might be about to clash.
So—
Ferris took the lead in questioning: “Reinhardt… no, could it be that the Sword Saint family intends to pledge allegiance to Lady Emilia?”
Normally, this should be something to speculate and guess about, but she boldly said it to his face.
“Although I'd like to respond to your expectations, Subaru, unfortunately, that's impossible.” Zun Zun shook his head, disappointing Natsuki Subaru, and then said, “I'm here only because of Subaru, after all, I haven't even met Emilia.”
“Emilia, huh…”
“Because we're friends, I don't think we need honorifics.”
Zun Zun spoke again.
—A troublesome fellow.
He knew it would arouse the other party's suspicion. After all, the news of Emilia losing her badge and bringing back Natsuki Subaru had already reached the council, and the information about the badge anomaly that night and Reinhardt taking away the three people must have been known by the other party.
The Crusch camp was different from the Emilia camp, which was isolated from information. The Duke, whose main base was in the royal capital and controlled a large number of troops, had a very terrifying intelligence network.
“…Forget it, let's just say that's the case.”
Ferris instead backed down.
In a short moment, everyone understood her true nature. Just as they were wondering why she backed down, Ferris instead said with a smile: “Anyway, you'll be staying with me for a while, so I'll 'interrogate' him properly then.”
After saying that, she blew a kiss to Natsuki Subaru, revealing a bewitching gaze, and at the same time gave Zun Zun a provocative smile. The simple Natsuki Subaru couldn't resist at all.
“Wait a minute, why has it suddenly turned into a love triangle?”
Natsuki Subaru belatedly said this dumbfounded.
Not only that, but he also put his hands in front of his chest in a defensive posture, and said righteously.
“Although I'm happy about this situation, but… I'm sorry, my heart is only for Emilia-tan, so I can't respond to your feelings!”
“Subaru (Little Bro), shut up.” X2
“—Speaking in unison!?”
Natsuki Subaru exclaimed, feeling like he was being used as a tool for their bickering.
Zun Zun also secretly rejoiced.
Fortunately, he hadn't told Natsuki Subaru his true intentions just now. If he had told him that the Felt camp intended to form an alliance with the Emilia camp, then the secretive Natsuki Subaru would have exposed it very quickly.
In fact, Ferris should have caught some clues.
Zun Zun's excuse was very clever. Visiting as a friend was also reasonable, and even, as he said just now, he hadn't even met Emilia.
But in this crucial period, any disturbance would arouse the vigilance of others, let alone someone as intelligent as Ferris.
What she said just now was a signal to him.
—She would be watching Natsuki Subaru.
However, as the saying goes.
What hasn't happened doesn't count, so Zun Zun had a clear conscience, looking straight at the probing Ferris, his eyes not dodging in the slightest.
“…It seems I misunderstood.”
Ferris nodded.
At this time, Wilhelm intervened, saying: “It's enough to do this much, Ferris. It's almost time.”
“Wilhelm-jii, really, I wanted to play a little longer.”
After exchanging words without being polite, Wilhelm bowed. He took a deep look at Zun Zun, and then looked at Grandpa Grimm beside him.
He didn't say anything, yet it seemed like he said everything.
Although Ferris looked dissatisfied, she changed her mood again and winked at Natsuki Subaru, saying apologetically: “Sorry, although I wanted to play with you a little longer, but there's no time, meow. Let's stop here for today. If I don't hurry back to my beloved Crusch-sama, I'll be worried and unable to sleep at night.”
“Crusch!… Who is that?”
“You better remember her well, because she is the one who will one day reign over this kingdom.”
Only this last sentence was without the frivolousness just now, but was serious, and Ferris even looked at Zun Zun as if declaring war, while Zun Zun was noncommittal.
“Alright, if fate wills it, we'll meet again in the royal capital, ja na~”
“Hey…!”
Unable to seek help, Natsuki Subaru could only watch Ferris leave a smile and disappear into the dragon carriage, realizing that his pace was being led by the other party, and he instinctively understood that the other party was his nemesis.
“Farewell.”
Wilhelm's words didn't seem to be directed at Natsuki Subaru, but more like they were directed at Zun Zun. After taking a look at Grandpa Grimm, he waved the reins in his hand.
The earth dragon roared, and the carriage made a rubbing sound.
The wheels began to turn.
In the blink of an eye, the dragon carriage accelerated and passed through the road, moving away while raising dust.
Natsuki Subaru's gaze still followed the other party.
“…Subaru, although I really don't want to discourage you, I have to tell you the truth.”
“What?”
“Ferris is a boy.”
“…Boy, boy… boy… boy!?”
Natsuki Subaru, who was still savoring the moment, suddenly changed his expression drastically, obviously looking very confused.
He looked towards Rem beside him as if seeking help.
The blue-haired maid nodded and said: “Yes, Ferris-sama is indeed a boy. He is a famous knight of the kingdom, and also the one who took the title of 'Blue' from Roswaal-sama.”
“Really!?”
Natsuki Subaru looked at Zun Zun, then looked at the departing dragon carriage, and shouted in pain: “Why do I always attract this kind of beautiful boy with this attribute, I'm really fed up with it!”
For some reason, Zun Zun felt offended.
Ignoring the crazy Natsuki Subaru.
Zun Zun jumped onto the dragon carriage, followed closely by Fram and Grandpa Grimm.
“Seeing you alive and kicking makes me relieved, Subaru. We'll probably meet in the royal capital soon, so come visit Reinhardt's house. Felt will be looking forward to your arrival.”
“Oh, I will.”
“Also, help me apologize to Emilia, I can't catch up with her.”
“Don't worry, Emilia won't mind such a small thing.”
Seeing Natsuki Subaru grinning heartlessly, Zun Zun couldn't help but sigh and rub his forehead.
Although Natsuki Subaru's deaths were mostly self-inflicted, his full-hearted enthusiasm for Emilia was also very touching. He hoped that he could die a little less in the days to come.
“…Be strong and live on, brother.”
“Again!?”
Under Natsuki Subaru's dumbfounded shout, the dragon carriage with the Sword Saint family crest slowly started and then disappeared into the Border Count's mansion in the blink of an eye.