Chapter 31
Lian Qi stood with her back to the wreckage of the black armor, looking at me resignedly.
“I wasn’t even needed at all.”
My apology wasn’t without reason. After all, Sister Phylicia’s original intention was to use the opportunity of subjugating the rebels to train Lian Qi. By doing this, I probably robbed her of the chance to even make a move, which isn’t great…
“Actually, you just had to help me protect Liluo,” Lian Qi said to me, one hand on her hip, wearing an expression that said, I really don’t know what to do with you.
“But I couldn’t just watch you get attacked and do nothing. After all, this isn’t a tournament ring… is it…?” I said weakly.
I, who had been looking down, glanced up at her. Lian Qi was actually pursing her lips nervously. Could it be… she’s shy?
“Hmph. Forget it. It’s not like I’m blaming you.”
I noticed the wreckage of the armor move and hurriedly warned her—“Look out!”
The black-haired boy leaped out from the armor’s remains!
“I’ll at least take one of you down!”
He swung his sword at Liluo.
“Can’t you see Fei’er and I are talking?”
Lian Qi was furious! She met him head-on, grabbed his head, and embedded it in the floor. At the same time, the enemy’s blade grazed past her ear, knocking off her wig.
The floor caved in a spiderweb pattern. The black-haired boy, in his desperation, tried to transform back into the black armor to protect himself. But just as the armor began to manifest on his body, inch by inch, along with spreading flames, the high-energy reaction of explosion magic followed immediately—!
“Thanks for your magic power,” Lian Qi said, pressing her hand on his helmet.
The opponent didn’t understand the meaning of her words before he was swallowed by the pillar of fire from the explosion.
I watched from a distance as Lian Qi, wreathed in blue magic power, walked out of the pillar of fire. She looked completely unharmed.
“Where’s the other one, the shadow-controller?” Lian Qi asked.
“I knocked her out with one hit from the hammer,” I gave a weak smile.
“Sister! Uu… That was scary.” Liluo rushed over and threw herself into my arms.
I patted her head, relieved. At least I managed to protect her tonight.
News of the assassination spread quickly. In just a short while, Sister Phylicia arrived with reinforcements, but the battle was already over. Sister Phylicia looked at the devastated scene and gave a knowing smile—“You’ve made a huge mess again.”
“Can’t be helped. When Lian Qi gets serious, she could level the house,” I said with a laugh.
“Hey! Don’t think I can’t hear you tattling on me!” Lian Qi glared at me indignantly.
“Little sister Fei’er, you completed the mission I gave you very well.” Phylicia stroked my head approvingly.
Uu… I always used to feel that Sister Phylicia was super unapproachable. Now, being looked down on and having my hair ruffled like this… it feels kind of like being doted on, eh?
One second passed, two seconds… By the time I snapped out of my daze of being doted on, Lian Qi was looking at me sideways with a resigned expression.
“Lian Qi, come over here,” I beckoned to her like a “lucky cat.”
“Wh-what is it?” She approached me dazedly. I took the opportunity to pat her ahoge.1
“Y-you want to die, don’t you?” She blushed and covered her head with both hands.
“Fei’er, me too~” Qifeng bent over, supporting herself on her knees, looking like she was ready to receive my praise.
“You’re joining in the fun too?”
I’m hopeless against her. I ruffled her hair, and she revealed a healed smile.
“Hmph.”
Lian Qi was still holding her head, not yet recovered from the humiliation of my headpat. She watched as the two assassins were shackled and taken away by the soldiers, a thoughtful look on her face.
“Won’t they break out? Especially that woman.”
“The shackles they’re wearing are specially made. As for breaking out, the jail they’re being sent to is called the Anti-Magic Prison. It can nullify magic. Once you’re inside, you can’t escape even if you sprout wings,” Qifeng replied.
“So there’s a prison like that,” Lian Qi said faintly.
“Leave the rest to me. The carriage is waiting for you outside. You can go back now.”
As Sister Phylicia spoke, she turned around. Her long hair drifted lightly on her shoulders, leaving us with a crimson silhouette and one last sentence—“At this point, four members of ‘Seven-Leaf Tree,’ including ‘Death’s Blade,’ remain.”
And one of her own subordinates died too, didn’t they? I thought, gazing at her back.
“Let’s go then,” Lian Qi said.
I nodded, but as soon as I took a step—“Ah---”
My ankle hurts so much…
“What’s wrong?”
“Fei’er twisted her ankle,” Qifeng bent down, her face full of sympathy, answering for me.
Lian Qi stared at me, frowning.
“Honestly. Who told you to wear high heels?”
“Uu… I’m sorry.”
I wanted to cry but had no tears. It’s all my own fault. How embarrassing…
“You’re really hopeless. I’ll carry you to the carriage,” Lian Qi sighed.
“Eh? Eh??”
I thought she was going to keep scolding me, but she suddenly became so considerate… I’m not used to it!
“What’s wrong? Do you want me to bridal carry you or piggyback you? Choose.”
“This… this…” I stuck out my tongue sheepishly. “Then--- bridal carry me?”
Although being princess carried as a boy means a loss of dignity and is very embarrassing, the piggyback posture is even more shameful for me… Because I’d have to spread my legs, I’m worried… that her back might feel something poking it…
Without another word, Lian Qi hooked her arm under my legs and princess carried me. Before I even had a moment to mentally prepare, my feet suddenly left the ground. My high heels almost fell off—!
Th-thankfully, they didn’t fall…
…This is a public place. It feels different from the last time she princess carried me and threw me onto the bed.
Last time, I was completely dazed. This time, I agreed to it.
Lian Qi looked down at me in her arms. We stared at each other for a moment. What’s wrong? Why is she staring at me? I’m so shy I don’t dare speak.
In the end, she was the one who broke the silence—
“What are you doing, not putting your arms around my neck?”
And here I was wondering what she was going to say. What was that? So fierce.
I had no choice but to wrap my arms around her neck.
Hmph. Next time, I’m going to princess carry you and let you have a taste of this shyness!
Although I felt indignant, I couldn’t help but gaze at her, not daring to move, afraid I’d be a burden.
“Am I… heavy?” I asked tentatively.
I’m very thin, but I don’t know why, because I’m a boy, I always have this worry that I’m heavier than a girl.
“You’re so light I can’t feel you. Besides, I have magic. Even if you were a tree, I could still carry you.”
“…Then, have you carried anyone else?”
“What are you thinking? No, I haven’t,” Lian Qi said, blushing.
“Then… you’re surprisingly skilled at it,” I muttered.
But Lian Qi is about the same height as me. One “girl” carrying another “girl” must look a bit strange to onlookers, right?
Along the way, Qifeng followed beside me with her hands behind her back. Judging by her expression, she looked like she really wanted to carry me too…!
She already carried me on my birthday! I was even wearing a Lolita dress at the time!
Footnotes
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呆毛 (dāomáo), a specific anime trope referring to a single, often prominent, strand of hair sticking out from the top of the head. ↩