Please Do Not Abandon the Adopted Heroine

Chapter 12 – Yay♪! Hero, are you looking~at me♪?

Rebecca was in a foul mood. She had a habit of biting her nails when she was nervous.

“Damn it… what’s the plan?”

She had intended to take care of Cecilia in the snowy field. There were countless reasons, but the most significant one was because Cecilia was becoming a hindrance to her future.

Recently, the frequency of the hero Kim Yoo Seong’s eyes being directed towards Cecilia was increasing. Before entering school, Rebecca was able to ward off Cecilia, but in a school environment where she couldn’t monitor Cecilia all day, it was a nerve-racking factor.

She shouldn’t be careless. She was the only one fit to be the hero’s companion.

No one has mentioned the incident since returning from the snowy fields.

Cecilia may lack intelligence, but the fact that even Eugene Ser Neferna and that unpleasant professor didn’t say anything about it stabbed at her.

Cecilia was the one who jumped running towards the cliff, the moment she fell. Rebecca’s involvement should not have gone unnoticed if he had been observing.

Was he intimidated by the Chlorand family? If that was the reason, he should’ve explicitly objected when Kim Yoo Seong and Rebecca transferred to his class. Regardless of how notorious of a professor he was, he wouldn’t possibly call a person who endangered his student into his class.

‘It’s too quiet. Eerily quiet. … Do they have a plan?’

It was at that moment. Someone’s shadow lengthened.

Sharp fox ears and a soft tail. Cecilia, who had remained silent throughout the lesson, had been staring at Professor Neferna, now returning to the dorm.

Rebecca blocked Cecilia’s path.

“Hey, you. Wait.”

“…Good evening, Miss Rebecca.”

Although Cecilia’s expression and tone were neutral, she couldn’t conceal the slight tremor in her fox ears.

Rebecca smirked at her response.

“What are you exactly? Why haven’t you said anything to me since then? Are you ignoring me now? How did you survive down there? There must have been a monster prepared by your family…”

Realising she had said too much, she quickly changed her words.

“… A monster must have attacked you in the snowy field.”

“The monster… Professor Neferna took care of it.”

“No way! You expect me to believe that he defeated the monster without any injuries?”

A demon that had passed its maturity. Apparently, it had taken quite some effort to lure the demon even at the level of this family.

However, Cecilia’s answer remained unchanged.

“… Professor Neferna is the one who saved my life.”

“Damn it…! What on earth did you do to that professor…!”

“………..”

“Ha… oh…! Ah, now I understand! … Did you… exchange something of yours with him?”

“…………………… Pardon?”

“That’s it! That’s the only explanation! Well, did you? hahahaha! So, after exchanging once, was your treatment any different? Were you like a harlot, trying not to be mistaken for an animal? You can’t escape your nature?”

Cecilia’s face began to heat up with an unprecedented level of embarrassment and shame.

“I don’t know about beasts living in the forest like you, but if you ever thought a professor at this school could oppose our family, you’re gravely mistaken. Look at us now, they put you and me in the same class. That professor is doing things while looking over his shoulder.”

“Professor Neferna isn’t like that.”

“……Damn it! You have no idea what you’re talking about…!”

At that moment, when heated Rebecca raised her hand,

“Oh my~ what were you ladies talking about?”

A clean and clear voice, like a slowly shattering clear stream.

Turning her gaze, she saw white snow, silver hair like sugar sprinkles, and eyes that glowed like freshly poured strawberry syrup.

“The daughter of a renowned family from the empire said something interesting~ An exchange…? Is it some sort of new slang phrase? Unfortunately, I’m a bit slow when it comes to trends. I’m curious. I’d appreciate it if you could explain it to me.”

“…… You… what are you…?”

“Oh dear, my mind is slipping. hehehe, nice to meet you. I’m Undine, going to attend the same class.”

Rebecca threatened with a frozen facial expression.

“Can’t you see we’re having a conversation? Is it hard for you to understand simple sentences?”

“I’m sorry for being so insensitive. But it was such an intriguing conversation that I couldn’t help but step in.”

The atmosphere chilled like frost descending.

“What kind of lowly, insect, dare to… prattle on… I couldn’t help it… heheheh.”

Undine smiled subtly covering her mouth, that was all she did.

‘Her power… is dissipating…?’

Rebecca confirmed her completely depleted magic with astonishment. It was drained to the point of emptiness. She realized, with a parched sensation in her mouth, a situation that was hard to dismiss as a mere coincidence.

“Oh my… Your condition doesn’t seem too well… Are you okay?”

“Shut up! Don’t come near!”

“I understand you’re brave and confident, but sometimes it’s important to know your boundaries. Professor Nepherna in particular doesn’t like it when those lines are crossed.”

Suddenly, Rebecca was gripped by a mysterious unease. It was like an alarm that had originated from the way she had conducted herself over the past decade or so.

She had to run away.

Following the command issued by her brain, Rebecca stormed off, forgetting her embarrassment.

“It would be nice if you got the message.”

Undine sighed softly and said.

Cecilia, examining the situation with her ears and tail drawn back, cautiously thanked Undine who was before her.

“….Thank you…”

“Don’t get it wrong. I’m intervening because of the insult to the professor, not because of you.”

“…… Yes.”

In response to Undine’s firm tone, Cecilia answered calmly.

Then, without warning, Undine’s previously cool expression began to glow hotly.

She stuttered.

“He…hey…I… If you even think for a second that I am envious, you are mistaken! I am not envious of anyone?! It’s sort of like the relaxation of the winner, right? Because I am undeniably the real thing!”

As Undine turned away,

She turned her head,

“Because I am the real thing!”

She emphasized once again.

With a smug expression, her cheeks puffed up, Undine disappeared out of sight. Cecilia, looking after her distantly, could only stand there for a while.

Her head tilted in puzzlement.

“……Jeongsil?”

***

When Undine turned around the corner of the building, a pair of pure white wings shone there, mingling with her platinum blonde hair.

“You didn’t have to come. Thanks, Undine.”

“…………I hope you know.”

As Freya spoke with a bright smile as if she had been waiting, Undine swiftly passed by to her side, responding with a petulant expression.

***

The next day was busy from early in the morning.

Having arrived at the meeting place two hours before, I politely greeted Freya every three steps.

“Thank you. Thank you. I will repay your grace with my salary exactly three months from now.”

“… Let’s stop that. What would think Cecilia, if she saw this? She may misunderstand me as a stingy person who can’t even buy a meal for my colleague and student.”

“Kind Freya. I, who became a beggar overnight paying for the measuring device, am irredeemable trash. Please reprove me vigorosuly. Please curse me who can’t even afford to buy a meal for my own student.”

“Enough. End this. Stop joking. If you really want to treat Cecilia with a meal, make a reservation at an expensive restaurant and take her there when you have extra money. … Isn’t this enough? I’m getting embarrassed, so stop it. I’m getting angry now.”

Freya spoke firmly and furrowed her beautiful brows.

“Freya… You’re quite an amazing person, aren’t you?”

“hehehe, you just realized that? Do I look a bit more manly now?”

“Absolutely! Whether you look forward, sideways, up, down…… Anyways, wherever you look… um… you’re a real man… yes.”

I squeezed out the words with difficulty.

…… Cecilia, sitting next to me. Please don’t look at me with such a knowing gaze. I know I’m paying lip service without actually meaning it.

“I- Is it true? Really? I look like a man?! Manly?!”

But it appeared that Freya took it quite seriously.

No matter how good a liar I might be, It might be impossible to lie in the face of eyes brimming with anticipation.

Just as I was about to close my eyes and nod,

p-fi-yii-ing…!

A sharp forecast whizzed through the air.

A flash of light seeped into the corner of my vision, like a sudden bolt of lightning.

Reactively, I pulled out my sword and forcefully scraped it along the ground.

Kaba-boom!

“Wow… Wow!”

“Dangerous… Suddenly a sword fell from the sky. What in the world is going on? Are you alright, Cecil?”

“…I am fine.”

The calm expression on her face was a stark contrast to the startled bristle of her tail fur.

Where I had just been standing, sharp short swords were gleaming.

I knew exactly where these swords came from.

“…Did the crazed Fraya squad really plan to assassinate me just for a single comment…?”

“Huh? What did you say just now? Squash salad?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“Tasteless… You two seemed to have gotten close. Are you sure you’re not just deluding yourself, Eugene? Cecil doesn’t look so sure.”

Fraya casually deflected the conversation with a joke.

…Fraya dear? A sword just fell from the sky… It’s terrifying when you smile as if nothing happened.

But I wasn’t one to care about such minor inconveniences. I puffed out my chest proudly and answered.

“Hallucination? That’s a severe term. We have reached a level of closeness that Fraya, you wouldn’t understand. Like sharing a dangerous life-threatening experience, right, Cecil?”

Cecil stared blankly at me then slowly redirected her gaze to the dessert-filled plate she was holding.

My heart froze at her awkward response. It was devastating to my soft heart.

Ce…Cecil…? Won’t you…respond…?

“Someone catch that guy! He’s a thief!”

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the street.

The restaurant, not to mention the pedestrians on the street, all had their attention riveted to the simple yet powerful word – ‘robbery’. Almost simultaneous with the screams, a flash of light arose from the opposite end of the street.

Kwa-aa-aa-aa-ng!

Gas lamps and the main road, window displays and stands were all destroyed by an overwhelming blast of pressure and blown straight towards the robber.

“Hmm, well, I seem to have accidentally killed him. Surely, no harm done.”

“…That person…! He’s the hero!”

“It’s the hero again! Dealt with the robber in a single blow!”

Walking nonchalantly amidst the dust from the destroyed pavement, the figure was none other than Kim Yoo Sung, the Hero wielding the sixth celestial sword.

Regardless of the chaos that had erupted, our Hero walked straight towards us, carelessly leaving behind the corpse of the robber, whose heart had been pierced. It was a mystery as to how he had noticed us. As his eyes traveled back and forth between Cecilia and Freiya, his gaze noticeably narrowed the moment it met mine.

He was the first to greet us.

“Ah, Cecilia. Long time no see. Coming across each other like this, what a coincidence.”

“…………..”

As the hero reached out in greeting, Cecilia’s shoulders stiffened almost imperceptibly. Cecilia stepped back instinctively, taking refuge behind me.

The slight twist of confusion on Kim Yoo Sung’s face was surely not just my imagination.

“Cecilia… Ah…? What are you doing…? Are you avoiding me?”

“……… !”

It was not clear whether Cecilia had intentionally hidden herself, but she cautiously crawled out from behind me, her face pale and lips fluttering, as she lowered her head.

Cecilia’s deathly pale face, no matter how generously glossed over, was hard to interpret in a positive light.

Huh, is it my turn to step up?

My disciple believes in and hides behind me, a role I can’t ignore.

Gruffly, I yanked Cecilia by her shoulder, pulling her into a bit of a rough hug.

A victory ‘V’ formed from fanning out my fingers.

“Yay~! ♪ Hero, are you~ watching? You’ve suffered a lot, enforcing justice till your days off. While you devotedly contribute towards peace, your super ♪ cute companion here has been under my charge ♪. Ha ha ♪ We even enjoyed a delicious meal just before, didn’t we? Lucky ☆”

“……..”

“……..”

Silence fell.

Hmm, is this not right?

Cecilia’s expression is certainly not ordinary.

I sense a failure.

Wondering if I had embarrassed myself, Freya exclaimed, “He really, he’s crazy! My face is burning up!”, seizing my neck and Cecilia’s wrist, and abruptly departing from the scene.

Slap, Freya smacked my back, telling me to get a grip.

…… But what can I do, it’s fun.

I watched as the hero faded into the distance, his murmurs becoming fainter.

Seems, my keen friend did not know of my superior fox-tribe hearing.

But, dear hero, wouldn’t it be wrong to refer to someone as a “b*tch”, even assuming no one’s around to hear. Especially to Cecilia who has done nothing?

I mulled over the strangely unpleasant feeling, sincerely, genuinely hoping they won’t make the wrong choices.

As long as they don’t cross the line, there’s no need for me to directly intervene and nip the sprouting bud.

Even if I don’t yet know whether it will grow into a flower or a weed, what happened in the snowfield can still be seen as an act of petulance.

..……..

It’s absolutely not!!!! Because my account is completely emptied out from breaking the measuring device!!!!