Chapter 138 : Disturbing Lister Festival

TL:SummerPeanut

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6 November 2030.

I had a bad day yesterday... incontinence in a haunted house... I fainted and woke up in the infirmary... Luckily, Alice seemed to have experienced the same too and I'm glad she didn't find out about my big faux pas but I can't go near that haunted house anymore.

Besides, the fighting tournament I was supposed to watch yesterday was apparently the most exciting ever. I heard that the real fight between Ike, the ace of the Lister Imperial School, and Brad, the Duke of Syrians' legitimate son, was an emotional battle that made everyone's hands sweat...

“Big sis! Today's the first year S class maid cafe day! I'm looking forward to meeting Sir Mars. I wonder if he remembers me?"

Alice is still the same as ever... She was scurrying around the school all day yesterday, looking for Mars. What's so good about a guy with just a face like that? No, just his face is superb. I can stare at him all the time... I'd rather he look at me all the time... No, I shouldn't... I need to protect Alice from his poisonous fangs. Ah, for Alice's sake, I'd rather I'd be the first one to go into his poisonous fangs... or rather I’d want him to sink it in me.

"Are you okay, sister? Your face is bright red?"

Alice's voice brought me back to myself.

“I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm just a bit disappointed that I didn't get to see the fighting competition yesterday. I heard that Ike is apparently a pretty good-looking guy too. I'll definitely need to see the Reimei girls who are rumored to be at the maid cafe. I heard that all the members of the Shield of the Saintess pretty much got their bones melted during the handshake so it's pretty promising. Then we'll go to the arena afterwards and see Ike. Also, I heard that last year's Miss Lister, Edean, is also a member of Red Lotus like Ike so I definitely have to see her. Gosh, I'm so busy today!"

Since the five boys from Shield of the Saintess went to shake hands on the second day, they all seem to like a girl called Clarice.

Before they came, these five were so crazy about the two of us that they were willing to die as shields for us so they formed a group called Shield of the Saintess. What kind of girl could make all five of them fall in love…?

“Big sis, after all, you like good-looking men but you also love beautiful women, don't you?”

Well, it's not wrong. I mean, it's very accurate. I want to see a lot of things from now on, further improve my aesthetic sense, and in the future I want to be a merchant or a designer or something in that field.

I'm going to be an adventurer for a little while after I finish school, and then I'm going to pursue my dream in earnest.

“We're in the 8.30am section so we should be leaving soon.”

This maid cafe is so popular that it has become the most popular offering with a lottery drawn the day before and only those who win are allowed in.

The odds are multiplied by the thousands and the winning ticket is sold for about five gold coins. Alice found the lottery on her way home yesterday, drew it, and splendidly won.

6 November 2030, 8:00 am.

Today we paid another high entrance fee to set foot inside the Lister Imperial School, and for one week's entrance fee alone we sisters paid 14 silver coins, 49 silver coins if you include members of the Shield of Saintess… It's expensive indeed...

When we arrived in front of the building that houses the maid cafe, there was apparently a lot of noise in front of the building. When I asked about it, I found a man who was threatening others to buy the ticket for 10 gold coins per ticket...

He is apparently a prince of the Kingdom of Zarkham. He seemed to be fishing for tickets with an adventurer who seems to be his aide. How is it possible that such an arrogant man is a prince.

When the two of us tried to pass next to the prince of the Zarkham Kingdom, the prince said to us sisters.

“Hey, I'll make you my concubine. Be grateful."

He spoke to us in a high-handed manner but we pretended not to hear him and quickly made our way to the front of the classroom. The classroom where the maid cafe was operating seemed to have a magic mirror so it was impossible to see what was going on inside.

As the time drew near, more and more ticket-holders arrived, and worst of all, a man who looked like the prince of Zarkham and his entourage of adventurers from earlier included. 8.30am came and more and more of the guests in the classrooms came out.

Then a goddess we had never seen before said to us.

“Guests at 8:30. Thank you very much for your patience. Please come in."

A S-ranked beauty... Who is this silver-haired goddess... She has the cutest voice... And this maid outfit... the skirt is quite short but the white high socks that are raised above the knee to erased any lustfull thoughts. ...no, it's making it more intriguing instead… As I drooled and stared in shock, other customers kept coming in.

“Big sis! Let's go in quickly! They'll take our good seats!”

Alice called me back to our world. I rushed inside the classroom and found a spectacular view. No, this place is already a paradise...paradise of world...

The man in the butler's uniform and the woman in the maid's uniform, they were all A-rank beauties and above. And to my surprise... it was just the two of us that are females at this timing...which means four men escorting the two of us...

“Whoa, isn't this Sofia! Even Alice!"

Dominic then approached me and spoke to me. Dominic is also a good-looking man, and although he's changed a lot since I last saw him, he's the only person I can talk to without being nervous.

“I'm here because Alice drew the lottery and she coincidentally won it. Can I come enter?"

I emphasized that it was a coincidence. Well, it really is a coincidence.

“Yeah. You're welcome! Come on over. There's only two girls right now, apparently."

The two of us were led by Dominic to a corner of the room, where a handsome man was already standing and standing at a table for six. ... Mars, Baron...who is this handsome man with red hair...?

The other guests have already sat down and started chatting with the army of beautiful women. We sat down too and each handsome man sat on either side of me and Alice. On either side of me were Dominic and Baron. And next to Alice, Mars, and the red-haired hottie.

The red-haired hottie and Mars were signalling to Dominic. Then Dominic opened his mouth.

“Let's start with everyone’s introduction, shall we. From us the men. In order of rank, from highest to lowest, okay?"

Dominic said to the red-haired hottie and the hottie nodded. I guess it was a lie after all that Mars was ranked first in the S class for the first year. It's crazy no matter how you look at it. ...If such a blonde super handsome guy was so strong, there wouldn't be a woman who wouldn't fall in love with him...

“Nice to meet you. I'm Ike Bryant, 4th year Lister Imperial School, class S, ranked 1st. I hope you enjoy your time here today, even if it's only for a little while."

Huh...? Eh...? What did you just say? I don't think there would be any fourth-years here. ...?

Then Alice, who was sitting next to Sir Ike, said.

“Sir Ike, are you that Sir Glenn?”

Gathering up her courage and asked above, Ike-sama nodded in embarrassment.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, today's mission is almost complete!

Now I have nothing left to regret after I see the beautiful woman called Edean. But is there anyone who is this strong and so cool... Dominic is cool, but ... Master Ike is something else again ... and now...A blonde, extremely handsome man opened his mouth.

“I'm Mars Bryant, 1st year Lister Imperial School, Class S, ranked first. I'm Ike's younger brother as I'm sure you already know. Once again, nice to meet you.”

What...? Brothers...? This red-haired handsome guy and this blonde super handsome guy...? A and S-rank beauties collaboration... and my sister Alice is between the two of them... No woman would be happier than this... Wow, I'm sandwiched between them too... Alice seems surprised and looks at Mars and Ike-sama's faces alternately.

“Hm? You didn’t know? We still have to work hard and sell our names and faces, don't we?”

When Ike-sama said this, Mars smiled bitterly. Could it be that Mars is really strong...? But the banner saying about registering as an adventurer at the age of three at the handshake is definitely a lie... Then Alice asked Mars a question at just the right moment.

“Is it true that you were able to register as an adventurer at the age of three, Sir Mars? And is it true that you are a B-rank adventurer? It's so out of standard it’s hard to believe them...”

Alice asked. The answer was not from Mars but Dominic.

“Alice, I don't know about him being a registered adventurer at the age of three but B-rank adventurer talk is true. I think he could have been one earlier if he ever wanted to be one. I can vouch for Mars's skill. If anyone doubts it, I'll deal with them."

Dominic is serious in his answer... Alice didn't ask with any other intention. Dominic probably knew that.

The air was a little tense, but for the next ten minutes, Dominic took the lead and the party got very excited. I'd pay any amount of money for this. ...and then, in a moment of high spirits, it happened. ...

“Gashaan!”

☆☆☆

“Screw you! I paid 20 gold coins to be here! Bring all the maids to me!"

We were talking to two of Dominic's childhood friends when suddenly we heard the sound of glasses breaking with angry voices. One of the customers suddenly smashed his glass on the ground.

A shard of glass scratched Clarice's cheek and blood flowed from Clarice's cheek, and a shard also scraped Ellie's leg and a little blood flowed from Ellie's leg as well.

The shards of glass also stabbed the other male customers. Misha and Minerva quickly treated the injured guests.

The customers being treated looked ecstatic, perhaps thinking that these male customers were lucky to get a shard stuck in them.

But I was struggling to contain myself.

How dare you to my fiancées... my precious Clarice and Ellie... Clarice just seemed to be holding on desperately... a little of Ellie’s bloodlust turned to him. She’s not really mad, though.

Ike looked at me and nodded. Hinting that he’ll let me get the situation under control. This doesn't mean Ike threw it to me because he couldn't handle it. He seemed to think it would definitely be better for the future cases if I handled it.

And while Karen is about to pop up now, she looked at me and seemed to have weighed herself. ...Perhaps this is how it might have looked to Karen. That I'll take care of it so she should stay out of it.

A fierce anger tried to course through my whole body but the other me struggled to restrain it. However, I couldn't control my anger. Instead, I actively tried to get rid of the other me.

As I got up from my seat, Ryner who was guarding the maid cafe pointed his sword at the man who had slammed the glass down.

“Get out now! Or I will cut you down!”

Ryner was also quite angry. The man who smashed the glass then shouted at Ryner, his hands and voice trembling.

“I am Doaho Zarkham*1, third prince of the Kingdom of Zarkham! If you point your sword at me, you mean to start a war with my country! Does a teacher like you understand that!”

The man who broke the glass is a prince of the Kingdom of Zarkham...? But Ryner did not hesitate.

“I'll say it one more time! Get the fuck out of here! I am Ryner Orgo, B-rank adventurer, the Sword Hunter!'”

Ryner was even more enraged than before and brought his sword to Doaho's cheek.

Then a man who looked like an adventurer next to Doaho said to him. Hmm? This guy looks familiar...

“Your Highness... it’s is impossible to win against this guy... when it comes to Sword Hunter, our Zarkham Kingdom had the fair share of loses... and no matter how you look at it, I can't handle him by myself. I am no match for him alone..."

When the man said this, Doaho, with a hint of regret... tried to leave the room as if nothing had happened. Originally... if it hadn't been my fiancée who was wounded... I might have been able to continue to act as if nothing had happened...

It's true that it's a good thing that Ryner acted before me. Otherwise, I could have acted in anger...but there was another thing I regretted...why I didn't confront him first… If something happened to my fiancée, I'd definitely have to be the first one to run in!

“Wait a minute! You hurt someone and you're leaving without an apology!?”

I shouted, letting my...emotions get the better of me. Everyone was surprised by my statement but Clarice and Ellie seemed a little happy.

“Huhh?! Do you not know that I'm a royalty!? Don't get carried away!?”

“That’s in the Kingdom of Zarkham, no? This is the Lister Confederacy!”

I insisted.

“In the Kingdom of Zarkham, power is everything. If you want me to apologise, you'll have to show me some...or even overwhelming force. You're a chicken-shit who can only speak behind the back of that Ryner over there, aren't you?"

“Okay...what do you want me to do?"

“What? You’re alright with that? Do what...? You mean you're going to fight? Let’s see…I have two B-rank parties under myself. The party is called Moonlit Darknight and Abyss. This Origo here is the leader of Moonlit Darknight. I'll apologise to you if you can defeat Moonlit Darknight on your own!"

Ah...I thought I've seen him somewhere before but he’s the guy from the slave auction?  Meaning that includes that sleeping magic user too?

“I understand. Then I alone will take on Moonlit Darknight and Abyss two parties at the same time. And if I win, you'll have to apologise to us. Is that clear?"

My words startled everyone except Daybreak. Some of the male guests were shaking. ...Let's move out of here quickly.

“Brother Ike. Could you lend me the arena? I'll make it up to Sofia and Alice...when this is over, okay?"

As soon as Ike nodded, I went to the backyard, changed and headed for the arena. Sofia and Alice are surprised at what I said.

I decided to leave Bram here and have Ryner take Doaho and the others to the arena first, while I took Clarice and Ellie to the backyard for treatment. If we don't heal their injuries quickly, they might end up with a scar...

When the three of us went to the backyard, the two of them immediately hugged me.

“Mars. Thank you."

“...”

Soon I healed Clarice's cheek with my Heal. And Ellie's leg was bleeding too so I squatted down and used Heal on hers.

“Both of you, are there somewhere else..."

I looked up from below and of course they were both in mini-skirts, so I could see...a bright pink and yellow flower garden...but they squatted down and hugged me again.

“Really, thank you. I’m really happy."

After Clarice said so, Ellie also said.

“Thank you...for taking such good care of me...”

It's a problem that I made things worse but it seems that for both of them, my actions were the right thing to do... However, I'm sure that no matter how many times the same situation comes up, I would do the same thing.

I put an emergency wound dressing on Clarice's cheek, which had healed, and Ellie's leg was wrapped in a bandage.

It would be strange to come back from the backyard and find that there was no wound. I'd need to hurry up and get into my uniform too.

“Well, I'm off then, you two stay on and serve the customers. Clarice. Take care of the rest."

When I returned to the maid cafe, a male customer had taken the initiative to clean up the broken glass.

“My apology, everyone. Clarice and Ellie will be back now so I hope you enjoy yourselves for a little while longer."

I said to the audience, and they said.

"That was cool!" "That was refreshing as hell!" "Good luck!" “Get a hundred people around and gank 'em up!"

They're all cheering me on. They're good customers. I took advantage of their kindness and hurried to the arena.

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Author’s note:

This chapter was long…

TLN: T_T, ofc, I know.

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TL’s note:

1. Doaho…a play with japanese words. Meaning ‘the moron’.