Chapter 25

Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 25

Shinigami and The Secret of the Ducal House’s Residence 2

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“… Shit, I can’t not go.”

Recalling the last time I sneaked in, I breathed a large sigh.

The last time when I went to get a needlework box on Princess’s request, I saw hair-raising, dreadful things above the ceiling. Among them the scariest was the doll with growing hair.

Ever since then, I haven’t gone above the ceiling in Duke Vivoir’s mansion. I’m no good with it.

Or rather, I don’t want to get closer.

“Uwaaaa. After all it’s scary.”

Still, I can’t be standing petrified before Princess’s mansion forever.

Master’s orders are absolute, and I nodded by my own will.

I reluctantly went above the ceiling like the last time I’d sneaked in… But the area above Princess’s room was hell as usual.

Suspicious dolls and broken magical tools were abandoned there, now that I was aware of them, I very much didn’t want to get close. “Hiii”, I raised a small scream feeling the eerie aura drifting up to here.

“.. Let’s take a detour.”

I thought it’d be better to intrude from a room a little distance away.

Lame. I was aware I was running away.

“I was even called Red Shinigami… Pathetic…”

That said, I absolutely don’t want to get close to those creepy things ever again.

Especially to the enigmatic doll with growing hair. At the very least, I don’t want to get close to it.

If I don’t need to approach those, I’ll throw away all my pride as an assassin.

… That’s how scared I am.

“I’m alright with what I can defeat with my hands… but something I can’t quite comprehend is… impossible.”

It would be fine if they died when their vitals were attacked. But, those sorts of things are probably different.

Being unable to do anything by myself might be fanning my anxiety.

“… Avoiding them is the only way. That’s right, this is only a strategic withdrawal!”

While making excuses to myself, I decided to intrude from the room next to Princess’s. When I headed there above the ceiling… I saw something strange again.

“… It ain’t dolls again, right?”

Unsurprisingly, I want to avoid that.

When I fearfully got closer, it turned out to be nothing like dolls or magical tools, but instead quite a few books and magazines. Unconsciously I patted my chest in relief.

“What… It’s just books. But why are they here?”

Above the ceiling, in a place nobody comes. Curious about the books placed in such a deserted place as if to hide them, I got closer and casually picked up one of them.

The moment I flipped it open, I froze.

“… Ah!”

In a hurry I shut the book.

“Wha… wha… wha…”

My whole body was trembling, my heart was beating with incredible force. I was aware my face flushed.

In the book I picked up were depicted indecent appearances of women.

“Thi… this is…”

This room is next to Princess’s. Certainly, it should be Princess’s brother’s.

That inevitably narrows down the possible owners.

“… No way, is it Princess’s bro’s book…”

With all my strength I pressed my fingers to my forehead.

“… Uwaa.”

Rather, why are there so many of these?

After all, Princess’s brother is a splendid beauty. He also got the social status, there’s no way he’d be unpopular.

I completely don’t get why he needs things like these despite that.

Actually, the Crown Prince didn’t have anything of that sort.

I’m certain since Princess thoroughly searched before.

Besides… he’s a man only interested in Princess to that degree, so somehow I can understand that.

“That Crown Prince doesn’t have such interests, rather he’d have aphrodisiac… No, he wouldn’t.”

I can’t imagine why he’d use it when he’s so lovey-dovey with Princess.

Anyway, looking at these sorts of books piled up above the ceiling, I breathed a deep sigh.

“… Both brother and sister… hide strange things above the ceiling…”

Older brother, erotic books. Little sister, suspicious dolls.

I don’t want to approach either.

“Haa…”

Somehow I managed to pull myself together and brought back the thread requested by Princess.

◇◇◇

“Thank you, Cain! Right, right, this thread!”

When I handed the requested item to Princess, who looked to be waiting impatiently, her tense face shone.

Told so by my overjoyed master, I returned “I’m glad” and sat down on the carpet. Aah, I’m tired.

While I was listless, Princess peered at me.

“Huh? Cain, you’re tired, right? Did something happen?”

“Nn? Rather than happen, what should I say…”

“You went above the ceiling right? Eh? Perhaps there was something even stranger than the doll?”

Seeing Princess’s face stiffen in displeasure, I hurriedly shook my head that it was different.

“No, I didn’t get close to there. I was scared… So that’s not it… This time, I intruded from the room next to yours…”

As a fellow man I’ll protect his secret as it’s expected. I thought so, but Princess understandingly nodded.

“So you entered from Older Brother’s room. That means… Hmm. I see, you discovered Older Brother’s erotic books?”

“Pfft…!”

I completely choked over her clear words.

“Wha… wha… Princess!”

Speaking of Princess, she was cackling.

“After all, he’s my Older Brother, I thought it was about time he changed their location. I thought above the ceiling was suspicious, and bingo! Really, if he doesn’t want them found, he should hide them better.”

, Princess nodded, but I couldn’t understand what she was talking about.

However, having obtained the latest information about her brother’s erotic books cache, Princess laughed with a very bad face.

“Fufufu… With this material against Older Brother, I can again…”

“Princess, Princess. It’s hard to say, but you’re looking incredibly villainous right now.”

“What are you saying? There’s no way.”

, Princess looked to be having lots of fun as she laughed.

Really, Princess’s behavior never changes. I think it’s amazing how unwavering it is.

When I thought she surely won’t change even after becoming the queen, I could only smile wryly.

“Oh, huh?”

Suddenly I felt the Crown Prince’s presence heading here.

I looked up at the watch. It’s still a little early for him to come back.

Probably he quickly finished work, wanting to meet his lover he’d finally obtained.

Having noticed that, there was no way I’d feel like disturbing them.

, I stood up and told Princess.

“Princess, the Crown Prince is coming back. I’ll be going now.”

“Eh? Already? What a shame. I wonder if I’ll complete it by tomorrow. Truly, thank you, Cain!”

“Okay. Laters.”

I waved back to my master, who waved her hand with a smile.

Using the secret art, I slipped out of the Royal Castle.

I completed my task, so let’s relax.

“Now then, should I go to granny’s place… Oh? Nn?”

Huh? When I thought that, something fell.

Finding it strange, I looked down.

“Ah!”

What fell was a thin booklet. Seeing its cover, I quickly turned pale.

“Damn it…”

It was Princess’s brother’s book found above the ceiling.

I don’t know why, but it seems to have gotten tangled in my clothes somehow. Having noticed I brought it with me by chance, I picked it up, puzzled.

“What should I do…?”

I want to avoid sneaking inside the residence of Duke Vivoir again.

I never again want to go above the ceiling there.

Having said that, it feels wrong to entrust it to Princess asking her to hand it over.

“… Sorry. I’ll dispose of it here.”

I can’t do anything. On the other hand, I don’t want to hold onto it.

I quietly pressed my hands together in prayer, and secretly disposed of the booklet with magic.

―――― And on another day.

The natural consequence was that Princess’s brother went to blame Princess that he was missing one book with an angry expression, but being an outsider I couldn’t tell the truth.

When Princess answered that she had no idea, her brother loudly groaned while holding his head.

“Eh? Did you really not do it? Wait, wait a moment! If not you, who the hell took away my book!?”

“Shut up, Older Brother. Wasn’t it Father or Mother?”

“I absolutely hate it! Shit! Who was it? Rather, other than you, who was it exposed to!? I have no idea! Scaaaaary!”

“Older Brother, you reap what you sow for buying strange things every month.”

Princess lost interest and Princess’s brother hung his head.

While looking at them from a distance I felt very sorry. However, just a little, I thought that he indeed reaped what he sowed.

Really – both siblings are interesting.

These are the preeminent Duke’s children – the future Queen and Prime Minister who will support this country. After smiling for a while that the Wilhelm Kingdom is truly peaceful, I decided to completely feign ignorance.

Editor: Valeria