Chapter 32

"Hmph! That little brat who throws her weight around." Luvia sneered inwardly.

Though furious, she had no intention of accepting Olga Marie's duel. After serving as acting head of the family for a year, she knew which choice was best for her. She would turn down this duel.

Just as Luvia and Olga Marie were confronting each other, a boy in strange attire stepped out from the crowd of onlookers.

Olga Marie noticed this person who had suddenly entered the fray. He was a boy around her age.

The boy had long, jet-black hair, neatly combed and tied behind his head, giving him the air of someone well-bred.

His features were handsome as well. His amber eyes glimmered enchantingly in the dim shadows, making one feel as though they might be drawn in with just a single glance. He was, without question, a beautiful boy.

What surprised Olga Marie most was that although the boy was about the same age as her, he carried an incredibly powerful presence. She had only felt such an aura from important figures before, and she could not bring herself to underestimate him in the slightest.

"I was actually worried you'd get taken advantage of. Look at how badly you bullied that poor little girl."

Higashino Kanade walked over to Luvia's side and shrugged, a trace of pity in his eyes as he looked at Olga Marie.

My dear Director, the person you're facing is a female devil!

"Mr. Uchiha, I..."

Luvia had just begun to speak when Higashino Kanade raised a hand to stop her.

Higashino Kanade stood on tiptoe and leaned close to Luvia's ear, breathing warm, damp air as he said, "I know you're too embarrassed to make a move. Leave the rest to me."

Luvia's sensitive ears twitched a few times. A tingling sensation spread from her ears throughout her body, and her previously flustered heart gradually calmed.

Luvia's face reddened slightly. With a maiden's unique shyness, she nodded and said, "I'll leave it to you."

Having received permission, Higashino Kanade stepped in front of Luvia and bowed to Olga Marie. Neither servile nor overbearing, he said, "I am Uchiha Kanade, Young Lady Luvia's study attendant. I accept your duel on Young Lady Luvia's behalf."

PS: Third update delivered. Hope the votes are doing okay.

66. Talking the Director into Submission

"You?"

Though Higashino Kanade's presence was powerful, the pride ingrained in Olga Marie's noble bones would not allow her to lower her head so easily. Her gaze toward Higashino Kanade carried a trace of contempt.

"You're nothing but a dog of the Edelfelt Family. What right do you have to duel me? What happens between me and your master is not something a servant like you can meddle in."

Higashino Kanade was not angered. He had anticipated this situation long ago. As an undocumented outsider in this world, even his identity had been arranged by Luvia. As a commoner, he truly was not qualified to duel a Lord's daughter.

Higashino Kanade did not rush to refute her. Instead, he looked toward Olga Marie's slender, shapely legs.

Although Olga Marie was still young, her legs were beautifully shaped. Her skin was fair and tender, and their curves were alluring. Yet what greatly disappointed Higashino Kanade was that she was wearing black thigh-high socks rather than her iconic red stockings.

Director, I really want to see you wear red stockings again!

Naturally, Olga Marie did not miss Higashino Kanade's appraising gaze.

Olga Marie only felt that his stare was terribly rude. Though he looked at her as though admiring a work of art, staring directly at a lady's legs upon their first meeting was not something a gentleman should do. Even if Higashino Kanade was handsome, it was unacceptable!

What angered Olga Marie most was that Higashino Kanade actually looked disappointed after examining her. Were the legs of a beautiful young lady like her really so unbearable to look at?

"Y-You insolent scoundrel!"

Olga Marie angrily pointed a finger at Higashino Kanade, her face flushed with shame and indignation.

As an old lecher, Higashino Kanade naturally possessed an exceptionally thick skin.

He gave a light cough and, as though nothing had just happened, began seriously debating with Olga Marie.

"Miss Olga, I understand that you wish to duel my Young Lady, but this duel is unfair to her."

"How is it unfair? I won't play any tricks. I'll defeat her head-on with my magecraft!" Olga Marie crossed her arms over her chest, utterly dismissive of Higashino Kanade's claim.

"I do not mean to question your character, but the greatest unfairness between you and my Young Lady lies in your ages."

"Ages?" Olga Marie tilted her head, looking utterly confused.

What did age have to do with a duel?

"As you can see, my Young Lady will soon come of age, while you are several years younger than she is. If my Young Lady defeats you in the duel, people will say that she won unfairly by having an adult fight a child. Some malicious people might even use it as an excuse to slander my Young Lady."

"So why should my Young Lady fight a duel that offers her no benefit even if she wins?"

"...That makes some sense." Olga Marie bit her lip lightly and fell into hesitation.

Though nobles were overbearing, they valued rules. They were not entirely unreasonable.

"But she humiliated me! No one can humiliate the Animusphere and get away unscathed! She must pay the price!"

Olga Marie's attitude remained resolute. Her female secretary seemed to want to dissuade her, but after hesitating, she chose to remain silent.

Nobles cared deeply about their family's honor. Though Olga Marie was young and impulsive, she was not wrong. She was merely defending her family's reputation.

"Then let me fight in my Young Lady's place."

"Hah, you? Why should I? This is a battle between nobles. What right do you have to interfere?"

"Because I am not a Retainer of the Edelfelt Family."

Higashino Kanade lightly patted his Red Cloud Robe, then bowed once more. "Allow me to introduce myself again. My name is Uchiha Kanade. I am a mercenary, and Young Lady Luvia's bodyguard."

"A mercenary?"

Olga Marie swept her gaze over Higashino Kanade in surprise, seemingly wondering whether he was lying. After all, Higashino Kanade only appeared to be twelve years old.

The reason Higashino Kanade called himself a mercenary was to raise his status to a level where Olga Marie would take him seriously.

For example, if Higashino Kanade claimed to be Luvia's Retainer, then in Olga Marie's eyes, he would merely be one of Luvia's dogs.

But if Higashino Kanade identified himself as a mercenary, Olga Marie might still look down on him, but she would at least treat him like a person.

"That's right. Mr. Uchiha is a mercenary I hired at great expense. He is responsible for protecting my safety and tending to my daily needs. I have no right to order him to do anything beyond that."

Luvia gave Higashino Kanade an assist. How could someone as clever as her fail to understand what he was thinking?

"To be honest, I am just a tiny bit stronger than Young Lady Luvia. If you defeat me, it will prove that you can easily defeat my Young Lady. At that point, she will naturally concede defeat and apologize to you."

Higashino Kanade gave Luvia a look, and she immediately understood. "Yes, I will apologize for my words and actions."

"Besides, I am around the same age as you. No matter who wins or loses, it will be a contest between people of the same generation. No one will gossip about it, and the fairness of the duel will be ensured."

"What do you think, Miss Olga?"

Higashino Kanade's argument was logical and well-founded. Olga Marie could find no way to refute it and fell into deep conflict.

On one hand, she dearly wanted to defeat Luvia herself and vent her anger. On the other, she felt that Higashino Kanade had a point. This duel was indeed unfair to Luvia.

After hesitating again and again, Olga Marie gave an unhappy snort and said arrogantly, "Fine. I accept."

Though she could not defeat Luvia personally, beating her supposedly stronger bodyguard into a miserable defeat would still vent some of her anger. The expression on Luvia's face when she witnessed his defeat would surely be a sight to behold.

"Let's set it for tomorrow afternoon, at the dueling grounds. How does that sound?" Higashino Kanade suggested.

"Fine. Just don't get scared and run away when the time comes. Tricia, let's go."

Olga Marie left with her female secretary, and the farce caused by a book finally came to an end.

Higashino Kanade yawned and said blandly, "Kids really are easy to fool. My opponent is just an idiot."

The moment he saw Olga Marie issue her challenge, Higashino Kanade understood that the current Director was still merely an impulsive child. She was comparable to the Second Uchiha when he was young—equally susceptible to being talked into things.

If Higashino Kanade had been Olga Marie, he would never have rashly dueled Luvia. Wouldn't it have been better to put a bounty on Luvia's head in the assassin world and annoy her every day?

"Come on, help me carry the books. There's still one day left for reading."

Higashino Kanade tugged at Luvia's sleeve and turned to leave.

"Mr. Uchiha, may I ask you a question?"

Luvia placed one hand on Higashino Kanade's shoulder while the other played with her spiraling blonde hair. Her eyes darted awkwardly from side to side, and she looked as nervous as a girl about to confess to the boy she admired.

"Why did you stand up for me? That wasn't part of our contract, was it?"

Luvia gathered her courage and voiced what was in her heart, then looked at Higashino Kanade in confusion.

Higashino Kanade scratched his head and hesitated for a moment. "How should I put it... Consider it repaying a favor."

PS: A routine plug. It's a good book, go check it out.

"Mr. Oreki Doesn't Need a Cheat"

Reborn directly into a Japanese anime crossover world, Oreki Bai groggily sat up in the middle of a road.

At that moment, a golden meme face appeared in his sight.

Meme Face: "My foolish host~, aren't you surprised and delighted to see this system?"

Oreki Bai: "Surprised, yes. Delighted, no."

Meme Face: "That's fine. With this system, you'll have plenty to laugh about in the future!"

Oreki Bai: "Oh? So what can you do? Can you give me money?"

Meme Face: "No."

Oreki Bai: "Then get lost."

Meme Face: "But as long as the host makes enough beautiful girls develop favorable impressions of you, money won't be a problem!"

After being endlessly sweet-talked by the system, Oreki Bai brought a lost Itsuki Nakano home.

After spending his last bit of money feeding her.

Meme Face: "Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have gained the talent: increased appetite without gaining weight."

Oreki Bai: "You should still get lost!"

Meme Face: "Host, this girl is definitely reliable this time. Please give me one more chance! Go pursue her!"

Three minutes later, Oreki Bai covered his face and fled wildly.

Meme Face: "Ding~! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the Weird Constitution: Infinite Healing from Tomie Kawakami."

Oreki Bai: "Go die!"

67. A Filial Disciple

It had been nearly two weeks since Higashino Kanade came to this world.

During that time, Higashino Kanade ate Luvia's food, drank Luvia's drinks, had Luvia resolve his identity problem, and even relied on Luvia to study at the Clock Tower.

Though Higashino Kanade had always aspired to be a freeloader, he still felt somewhat guilty about mooching off Luvia without giving anything back. When circumstances allowed, it was fine to help Luvia out with one or two small favors.

Living off a woman while acting tough was Higashino Kanade's creed. Constantly freeloading would get him thrown out by his rich benefactor. A true freeloader should show his value at the right time.

"Don't overthink it. You've helped me so much, so it's only right that I repay you a little. Don't think I did this because I like you." Higashino Kanade shrugged, then went to join Grea.

Luvia froze for a moment, then her cheeks flushed crimson. One foot restlessly traced circles on the ground as she said, "It seems this little brat isn't quite so annoying after all. The way he tries to hide it is so cute."

Luvia had clearly misunderstood Higashino Kanade's words. She believed he was merely being tsundere and still liked her deep down. Otherwise, why would he have stood up for her?

"Looks like I should treat Mr. Uchiha a little better from now on. I can't keep talking to him in the tone of a master."

The more Luvia thought about it, the more pleasing Higashino Kanade seemed. Even carrying books felt more energizing.

When Grea saw Higashino Kanade walking toward her, she hesitated before timidly saying, "Um... Junior Brother, go easy on her tomorrow. Don't make her cry."

Grea had witnessed Higashino Kanade's strength. Bullying a little girl from the Astronomy Department would be far too easy, and even Grea could not bear to watch.

"Don't worry. I know my limits." Higashino Kanade patted Grea on the shoulder.

Olga Marie was, after all, Higashino Kanade's beloved Director. He would not be too harsh on her. At most, he would play around with her a little.

After returning to his original seat, Higashino Kanade resumed being an emotionless Quantum Butterfly Reading machine.

Time passed bit by bit.

That evening, after dinner, Higashino Kanade and the others went to where Waver lived.

Waver did not live at the El-Melloi family estate. Instead, he rented an old house covered in ivy in London's old district, living there alone.

According to Grea, Waver was terrified of staying with his adopted younger sister, so he hid there to protect his stomach.

As Higashino Kanade and the others entered through the gate, a master and servant pair were leaving Waver's residence.