Chapter 42: A Literary Diversion

Yuli, brimming with excitement, wandered aimlessly through the streets of Purburg. In her hand, she clutched a simple map, lovingly drawn for her by her ‘little sweetheart’, Fran, indicating the location he had described.

‘Hmm…’

She picked up the small piece of paper, scrutinizing it. Crooked, black ink lines and peculiar forks crisscrossed the surface, haphazardly charting roads and turns. Thoughtfully, the boy had even included a scale in the bottom corner.

Pfft—

Recalling Fran’s earnest struggle to conceptualize the dimensions and then draw the scale freehand, the girl could no longer suppress the bubbling joy within her. A bright laugh escaped her lips.

“Pfft, haha, that little silly boy. Honestly, following his drawing, if I just walk along these straight lines, it’s actually quite convenient.”

‘Tsk, tsk, why is that fellow so adorable~’

The girl shook her head, trying to rein in the beaming smile that threatened to spill across her face. Then, with renewed vigor, she set off, following the map sketched on the small piece of paper.

‘Well… honestly, that little silly boy, Fran, why does he insist on renting a mailbox outside? Couldn’t he just have the magazines delivered to the mansion?’

‘Hmm…’

It wasn’t far, after all. Yuli walked for a while before spotting the mailbox. Using the key Fran had given her, she unlocked it and reached inside, surprised to find a magazine actually waiting there.

The girl pulled out the magazine, patted the pages, and focused her gaze.

‘Science Fiction Literary Journal?’

‘Hmm…’

She pondered for a moment, her fingers tracing her chin. ‘So that’s it~’

‘Ah, I understand~’

The girl turned, not intending to return to the mansion just yet. Instead, she deliberately walked a few extra steps to a bookstore. After searching for a long time, she found a collection of science fiction short stories within.

She paid for her purchases, carefully tucking both items away, then hurried home.

‘Hm~ Working for my little sweetheart, it feels… quite fulfilling?’

There was no helping it…

Who could resist Fran, that adorable little fellow?

****

‘Tsk…’

Fran sat at the table, clutching his head, his mind restless.

He felt uneasy. He wondered if there was a risk in telling Yuli about the mailbox, a channel of communication between him and his teacher.

To be precise, a risk certainly existed, but…

As long as his teacher didn’t panic excessively, and as long as they avoided communicating in plain text, Yuli shouldn’t discover anything, should she?

Besides, throughout the entire Purburg station, entrusting Yuli with this task was the lowest risk option, wasn’t it?

‘Please don’t find out, Sister Yuli. Just keep being a little airhead…’

No, he was still too nervous. He could only endure the agonizing wait for Yuli’s return.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

Suddenly, a knock sounded. Fran looked towards the bedroom door, swallowing hard.

His legs felt weak, his body trembled with unease, and his mind was a tangled mess. The knocking seemed to signal the end of his torment, yet Fran now wished for the suffering to continue.

For once Yuli entered, it meant his fate would be decided by a coin toss.

The silver-haired girl politely pushed open the door and entered Fran’s room, magazine in hand. No one in the mansion dared to stop Yuli, but…

Fran nervously buried his face on the table, his peripheral vision scanning Yuli as she entered. Only when he saw the bright, somewhat triumphant smile gracing her face did Fran finally let out a small sigh of relief.

‘Phew—’

His head still felt a little numb, but… it seemed the problem wouldn’t be too severe.

The boy lifted his head, his gaze innocent yet tinged with expectation as he blinked at the girl and inquired, “Sister Yuli, you’re back~”

“Mhm~” Yuli, having retrieved the items, adopted a peculiar gait. She lifted her slender, white-stockinged legs high, taking large, exaggerated steps until she reached Fran’s side. With a joyful flourish, she slapped the two reading materials onto the table.

‘Uh…’

Faced with the excited girl, Fran felt a fresh wave of tension. ‘What is this girl up to? Do Teutonic people always perform a shamanic dance for entertainment before chopping someone down?’

‘Help me, I’m scared…’

Seeing Fran’s trembling form, the girl, who had been feeling a little giddy, calmed down slightly. She sat beside Fran, cleared her throat with a soft ‘ahem,’ and then spoke:

“Fran, your mistress has brought you the books you wanted~ So, you like reading this kind of thing, huh?”

Observing the girl’s somewhat mischievous smile, Fran began to ponder.

‘Hmm…’

‘Could it be…’

‘Did Teacher leave a ‘Bunny Girl Customs Appreciation Guide’?’

‘Damn it!’

Yuli laughed, holding up the science fiction magazine and waving it in front of Fran. She continued, a hint of disbelief in her voice, “I never imagined you’d like science fiction, Fran. I thought a cute little thing like you would prefer romance stories~”

‘Hiss—’

Fran was speechless. ‘Damn it, it was a Science Fiction Literary Journal all along.’

‘Then why were you talking as if you’d seen some sexy lady in a bikini, Sister Yuli?’

‘Wait a minute…’

‘If I really think about what Yuli said, how does it sound…’

‘Is she implying I’m not manly enough?’

‘It’s probably that kind of ‘Oh, I thought Fran, who’s like a girl, would only like mushy romance, but beneath your delicate exterior lies a heart that loves the stars and the sea. How… contrasting and cute~’ feeling?’

‘Help me, I can already imagine Yuli teasing me with those words, a sly grin on her face!’

Fran shyly averted his gaze. ‘Damn it, the problem is, I haven’t really read much science fiction. Uh… most of the novels I’ve read before were indeed romance.’

‘Ah…’

The boy awkwardly picked at his nails. After a long moment, he finally mumbled reluctantly, “What’s wrong with liking it? I like everything.”

“Ahem, that’s not what I meant at all.” Yuli shook her head, then, with a slightly apologetic air, she took out the prepared collection of science fiction short stories and tucked it into Fran’s arms.

“Eh?” Fran was somewhat taken aback by her gesture. Only after Yuli released her grip did he lift the book she had given him and glance at it.

‘A collection of science fiction short stories…’

“You… you bought this for me?”

“Mhm, mhm. If Fran doesn’t like it, I can buy you some romance novels another day? I don’t really understand, I don’t read much, so I don’t know if Fran will like it…”

The girl lowered her head, a little embarrassed. Fran, holding the book, slowly let out a sigh.

‘This girl, why does she have so much tenderness?’

He held the book, sensing a faint trace of her scent still lingering on the cover. After a long moment, he blushed and softly said, “Thank you.”

“Mhm~ As long as you like it, I, your mistress, will do anything for Fran!”

“Mhm…” The boy nodded, looking at Yuli, unsure what to say.

‘Alas, he had to quickly push other thoughts aside.’

‘The Science Fiction Literary Journal…’

‘This means… Teacher is summoning me.’

He began to ponder. This newspaper was most likely left by his teacher after hearing about his incident.

‘In that case, even though I’m currently under house arrest, as long as I can take the newspaper, Teacher should understand that I’m safe, right?’

‘Phew…’

‘The crisis, it seems, has been temporarily averted.’

Quidar couldn’t hold him for long. Once the house arrest ended, he would go find his teacher as soon as possible.

‘Hopefully, everything will be alright.’

Fran leaned on the table, studying the science fiction novel alongside Yuli.