Chapter 16

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

 

When my expression brightened a little, Kouka nodded encouragingly. A little excited, I moved my gaze to Shurin, next to me. However, she wore an ambiguous expression.

 

I stiffened and became uneasy. “Shurin?”

 

“Is this a bad idea?” Kouka also seemed to be curious about Shurin’s reaction and asked hesitantly.

 

Shurin made a startled expression and shook her head with a wry smile.

 

“No… I believe it’s a good idea, but…” My hopes withered away from the way she said it with a certain connotation.

 

At that moment, the door suddenly opened, and Jirun entered the room. Kouka glanced at him and almost opened her mouth but immediately closed it as if she was hesitating.

 

When I saw this, I remembered what Kouka had told me that I should not regret my own decisions after I decided to act on them.

 

Then, I stood up from my chair while staring at Jirun. Jirun, who noticed me, looked at me with his black pair of eyes.

 

“What do you need?” Jirun asked puzzlingly.

 

Although I was curious about Shurin’s reaction earlier, I needed to confirm what Kouka had told me about the business trip with Jirun. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

 

“I heard you’re going to Yansho in four days.”

 

Seeing how serious I was, Jirun blinked his eyes.

 

“Yes… That’s why I’ll be away from my wife for a month. Is there a problem?”

 

I leaned forward in excitement. “Could you tell me about your trip? I’ll do anything! I’ll carry your bags or pack your stuff.”

 

Jirun, while confused, responded with, “Uh… I’ve already asked someone else to do that….”

 

[If I still insist on following him, will I be stealing someone else’s job?] I dwelled internally.

 

Jirun looked upwards and continued, “Ermm, but as expected, you don’t seem very good at housework or …physical labor. It’ll be tough since this is all about physical work, you know.”

 

I felt like I’d been hit in the head after hearing that.

 

Even in Japan, my housework skills were mediocre, but that changed after I was transported to this world. After being taught by others, I was able to manage on my own. When it comes to housework, there are no easy shortcuts.

 

Furthermore, because the majority of the population is made up of beastmen, the majority of the people in this country are strong and sturdy. They are probably physically different from me. Compared to such people, even carrying things wouldn’t help much.

 

“Yes… well, I’m sorry for saying something strange…” When I replied with a crushing look, Shurin and Kouka were looking at me with sorrowful expressions.

 

 

※※

 

 

As I lay on the bed, I stared vaguely at the ceiling of the simple room. I had just awoken and had no idea what the time was. For the whole day, I slept and woke up repeatedly.

 

After being refused by Jirun to accompany him to Yansho yesterday, I carried out my work with a terribly depressed mind and a lifeless body. However, as I was getting paler, Shurin and Kouka were so worried that they advised me to rest the next day.

 

I thought it was pathetic as a member of society, but given the unusual state of the mating period, I decided to take their advice and rest at home.

 

I felt much better after resting for a day, but I couldn’t bring myself out of bed. So, as I closed my eyes, I resolved to consider what I wanted to do from now on with a slightly clearer mind.

 

If I went to Taizen alone, I would have to take an extended vacation. However, in this world’s this work environment, there was no trend of taking long breaks. In that case, I had no choice but to quit my job to see him.

 

However, I felt that quitting my job and seeing Taizen express my feelings would be an extreme measure. As a result, I was a little hesitant. If I were in Taizen’s shoes, I believe he would be perplexed at my actions. But I was curious what Taizen would think if he did that for me. Just thinking about it made my heart race and made me happy.

 

Honestly, it might seem like I fell in love with Taizen because he seemed like the type of person who could go out with me. However, I may have denied this fact instinctively because I didn’t want to get hurt.

 

As I was drowning in my thoughts, I suddenly heard a knock on the front door. I jumped up in surprise and held my dizzy head. The red hue of sunset was shining through the window and illuminating my room. I was surprised that it had already gotten dark.

While staring blankly at the slightly darkened room, there was another knock on the front door. I hurriedly got out of bed and put on my indoor slippers. With a few steps, I soon arrived at the front door of the small room.

 

“Who is it?” I called out as I held the knob.

 

“…I’m Ranrei.”

 

I gasped in surprise. Ranrei was Jirun’s insanely beautiful wife. In addition, she came from bird beastman lineage, an omega woman with no children. When I unlocked the door and cautiously pulled the door, large brown eyes surrounded by long eyelashes were looking at me.

 

“I heard that you’re in heat and not feeling well. If you don’t mind…?” Ranrei asked while lifting a basket containing a pot.

 

“Ah.. Thank you.”

 

I felt uncomfortable that my employer’s wife would go this far for a mere employee. However, I thanked her, stretched out my arm, and received the basket from her delicate hand.

 

When I held the basket with both hands, it was warm and smelled good. After I received the basket, Ranrei-san was still standing at the door. As a result, I was perplexed at the situation. So, I wondered if I should open the door wider while holding the door with my shoulder.

I asked, “Erm, would you like to come in? Maybe for some tea or?…”

 

However, Ranrei just shook her head silently. “ No. You are already not feeling well, and I’m sure I’ll just interrupt your rest.”

 

She closed her mouth and looked down after saying that. It was an expressionless gesture as if she was worried about something. After a while, she lifted her head and stared at me with big eyes.

 

“I heard you’re going to Yansho to meet someone you like.”

 

 

I opened my eyes wide, taken aback by Ranrei-words. I’m curious if Shurin and Kouka, or Jirun, had told her about my love affairs, that she knew about me wanting to meet someone I liked.

 

“…When I left Jirun, I also got sick during the mating season, and it didn’t stop until we became pairs.”

 

I tilted my head because I didn’t understand the hidden meaning behind Ranrei’s words.

 

“Becoming a pair means when an alpha leaves a mark by biting the nape of your neck. It seems that for fated pairs, they can only go into heat when they smell each other pheromones, resulting in some special changes on their bodies.”

 

[I wonder if she’s telling me this because it’s related to my deteriorating health?]

 

“At the time, when I was sick, my instinct was telling me not to leave Jirun. I remembered that whenever Jirun went to faraway places like Yansho, he would always take me with him. I’m sorry. It seems like I’ve gone off-topic. Whatever it is, I’m sure that person holds a special meaning in your heart.”

 

Ranrei’s statement made my mouth drop open. My cheeks turned red in approval when I finally realized the underlying meanings behind her words.

 

Ranrei would probably have wanted to say that this unexplainable poor condition of mine resulted from an induced mating period caused by Taizen. Taizen was a special alpha for me, so my instinct was telling me not to let him go.

 

I suddenly remembered my ex-girlfriends, whom I had been thinking about for a while. I’ve heard that men save their old lovers with a name, while women save them by overwriting it with their new lover’s names.

 

If you asked me which of my ex-girlfriends was more attractive when I was dating my ex-fiancé, I would have said they both had different personalities and couldn’t compare them. Of course, the girl I was dating at the time was the most important to me.

 

But now, at the very top of my heart, my heart stood still for Taizen. If you ask me who I love the most, including now, I will undoubtedly say Taizen. When thinking about this, I thought it was funny since I felt gloomy even when we weren’t in a relationship at the time. In fact, as Ranrei stated, I realized Taizen is more special to me than anything else.

 

Seeing me laugh slightly, Ranrei made a curious face. I hurriedly put on a smile and said,

 

“That’s right, it seems he is very special to me. I’m sorry, I know this is not the right time to say it, but I’m going to quit my job and go see him. Of course, I’ll organize my work before leaving.”

 

Ranrei-san laughed in relief when I said that with a bright expression.

 

 

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Translator’s Notes:

 

Go Kouhei! I’m cheering for you!

 

So, both Kouhei and Taizen are a fated pair? Well, no surprise there since there are crumbs of hints here and there in the early chapters.

 

And note, I think some of you might be confused as to why Jirun is not taking his wife along on this trip. Tbh, I don’t know either… 🥴

 

I think it’s probably the story loophole on the author’s part. So, you can probably turn a blind eye to it. See you in the next chapters!!!

 

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