Don't worry, I'm not stupid!

"Strong-willed, aloof, and scheming beauty heroine vs. rebellious, handsome aristocratic heir hero. They love and fight each other, divorce before falling in love, and put her through hell before chasing her back."

Mercer flipped through the pages quickly. The more he read, the more the corner of his mouth twitched. What a melodramatic, angst-ridden romance—and it even had a perfect ending.

What a joke.

Click!

The bathroom door opened. Makino came out wearing a pink T-shirt and shorts. Seeing Mercer, she tilted her head in confusion. "What are you reading?"

As she walked closer, she caught sight of an illustration of a man and woman embracing. Makino froze.

Her mouth opened and closed without a sound. Then her face suddenly turned bright red. "Ah!!!"

After a deafening shriek, she bent down and snatched the book from Mercer's hands.

Clutching it to her chest, she hurriedly took a step back and glared at Mercer with an embarrassed, evasive look. She stammered,

"Y-you... why are you reading this book?"

"If you put it on the bookshelf, isn't it there for people to read?" Mercer looked at her helplessly. "And why are you so worked up?"

"It's just some cheesy romance novel, isn't it? There's nothing wrong with a girl your age liking that kind of thing. I don't even care, so what are you nervous about?"

Mercer gave her a look of exasperation and complained, then stood up and walked past her toward the bathroom.

"I'm going to take a bath."

With a click, the bathroom door shut.

Makino turned around, face still red, and ground her teeth.

"Damn brat! What do you mean, 'a girl your age'? You're younger than me!"

Her expression crumpled. It felt as if someone had uncovered her embarrassing past, and a wave of shame shot from the base of her spine straight to her head.

"Ahhh~ Ah!!!" Makino let out several despairing shrieks. Finally, her shoulders slumped, and she sighed, at a loss for what to do.

"What a brat. So precocious and asking for a beating."

Hearing the water running in the bathroom, Makino glared at the door again. But then she froze, as if she had just realized she'd forgotten something.

She sighed helplessly and prayed to herself, I hope he didn't notice.

Then she went to her room, fetched some clothes, and set them on the stool outside the bathroom. "I left you a change of clothes by the door. Remember to change later."

"Okay, thanks."

Mercer answered casually.

He quickly rinsed himself off and washed the short-sleeved shirt that was still greasy. After drying himself, he opened the door a crack and took the clothes Makino had left on the stool.

The blue T-shirt and shorts were obviously too big. In the mirror, Mercer spotted a frilly trim around the sleeve and couldn't keep the corner of his mouth from twitching.

But then he saw his own clothes, freshly washed in the basin, and shook his head helplessly. "Forget it. I'm a kid. Why should I care about all that?"

Mercer stopped thinking about it and walked out. By chance, he spotted Makino sitting on the sofa, smiling as she looked him over.

His expression perfectly calm, Mercer naturally turned around once in front of her. When he'd finished, he looked at her serenely, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

"Had enough?"

"Ahem, I wasn't looking at you." Makino guiltily turned her face away. "I wasn't looking at you at all. I just happened to be looking over there, and you just happened to come out."

"Oh. Where can I hang my clothes? I just washed them."

Mercer asked her.

Makino blinked, then finally realized what he meant. She suddenly covered her mouth and giggled. "Hehehe, so that's what it is, Mercer."

A hash mark popped onto Mercer's forehead. He stared at her without a word. When she'd laughed enough, Makino's eyes darted around.

"I washed some clothes too, and I was about to hang them up. I'll do yours while I'm at it. There, that's settled."

Makino stood up and ran past Mercer, darting into the bathroom. She immediately looked toward the bamboo basket in the corner.

She suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest. Everything was still as it had been.

"He shouldn't have noticed, right?" Makino muttered. "Yeah, he probably didn't."

"If you mean your clothes in the laundry basket, I saw them." Mercer suddenly spoke from behind her. "Don't worry, I didn't touch them."

Makino's body visibly shuddered.

Mercer grinned mischievously. "The color's pretty nice, big sis."

With that, Mercer chuckled and headed toward the sofa.

Hearing his footsteps recede, Makino's gaze turned unbearably rueful. Her face was so red it looked as if blood might drip from it.

Her heart was beating incredibly fast.

Her lips parted, and she was about to scream. But then she realized he was already gone, so there was no point yelling now.

A breath caught in her throat, neither going in nor coming out. It was so uncomfortable that the corners of her mouth began to tremble violently.

She took several deep breaths using the Breathing Technique Mercer had taught her. A few seconds later, without saying a word, she picked up the bamboo basket and was about to leave.

But after a moment's thought,

she finally picked up Mercer's clothes from the basin as well. She walked out of the bathroom, paused, and said only,

"I'm going to hang up the clothes."

Then she hurried toward the door.

Just as Makino reached it, Mercer called out, "Want me to help?"

"No." Makino answered instantly. "I can do it myself. You just relax."

With that, Makino stomped out, turned right, and climbed the stairs to the rooftop.

Mercer shook his head and sighed. "I didn't expect her to be such an innocent girl."

"Yeah, an innocent, lovesick chūnibyō girl who likes melodramatic romance novels."

Just then, a "tap, tap" sounded against the living room window. Mercer turned to look. As expected, it was Karasu.

He walked over and opened the screen window. Karasu stepped inside, hopping along with his legs splayed.

"Mercer, I... on rooftop, saw... that silly woman," Karasu said. "Clothes, bamboo pole."

Mercer closed the screen window and returned to the sofa. He poured a cup of cold tea for Karasu.

"Have some first." Mercer watched Karasu drink. "I know. Makino went to hang up the clothes."

"Here, where?" Karasu's hoarse voice asked curiously. "That silly... woman's home?"

Mercer nodded and reached out to smooth down a tuft sticking up on Karasu's head. Then he used his fingers to straighten Karasu's feathers.

Karasu contentedly narrowed his eyes, letting out a low, hoarse "caw, caw."

A little while later, Makino came back. As soon as she entered, she saw Mercer and the crow interacting. Her expression had returned to normal by then.

She came over and sat beside Mercer on the sofa.

Looking at Mercer, Makino suddenly said,

"Little Mercer, why don't you sleep here tonight? Your clothes won't dry by tonight, and you don't want to walk down the street wearing my pajamas, do you?"

Mercer glanced at her, then suddenly chuckled. "It's fine. Karasu can go back and get me a change of clothes later. He's very capable."

Makino paused, then glanced at Karasu, whose eyes were full of disdain for her. The corner of her mouth twitched. "Stupid bird."

Karasu gave a caw, his eyes growing even more disdainful.

What a foolish female monkey.

Does she think the crow doesn't exist? The crow can carry an iron grate. Would two pieces of clothing be too much?

Makino didn't want to deal with him, lest he get her worked up again. She turned to Mercer and said,

"Sleeping in a real house is much more comfortable than sleeping on a boat. You don't want to spend the night rocking back and forth, do you?"

That hit home for Mercer. It was definitely more comfortable sleeping on land than on a boat. Maybe he should go to Corvo Mountain and see Ace?

But after thinking it over, Mercer wasn't keen on staying in a bandit hideout. There were too many people, and he wouldn't sleep well.

Makino noticed his hesitation. She was about to speak when Mercer asked,

"Is there an inn in Foosha Village? I'll sleep there."

Makino froze, then darkened her expression. "No."

"What? My place isn't good enough for you? You'd rather go to an inn than sleep here?"

"It's not that. It's just that I'd be imposing on you."

"Damn you, Mercer. I think of you as my little brother. If I really thought you'd be imposing on me, why would I invite you to my house? Why would I let you sleep here? You ungrateful little brat."

Makino puffed out her cheeks and grumbled.

Mercer looked at her in surprise. He hadn't expected that was how she saw it.

"So you really haven't given up."

Makino froze at his words, bewildered. She didn't understand what he meant. But then she heard Mercer continue,

"You still haven't given up on making me your little brother. Didn't I already tell you? I won't, and can't, be your little brother. It's not in my nature, so you'd better give up on that idea."

Makino stared at him, then couldn't help but laugh. The next second, she turned and reached out to pinch his cheek.

At the same time, a sharp glint flashed in Karasu's eyes, and his pointed beak shot toward her.

Sensing Karasu's movement, Mercer's eyes flashed red for an instant. He deftly pressed his right index finger against the underside of Karasu's sharp beak, flicking it upward. Karasu tilted his head and asked in confusion,

"Mercer, why... stop crow?"

Makino's right hand had just pinched Mercer's cheek, and she'd also heard Karasu's question.

Her face went blank. Looking at his raised beak, she asked in a daze, "Was he going to peck me?"

"I stopped him. Don't worry, Karasu didn't mean any harm." Mercer explained, "At most, you'd have gotten a little scratch. He knew what he was doing."

"Oh!" Makino looked at the cheek she'd pinched, then awkwardly let go and rubbed it with her palm. She quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just got an itch to pinch you and couldn't help myself."

A glint flashed through Karasu's eyes. He croaked hoarsely, "Crow... sorry too. Beak itchy, couldn't help it."

Mercer laughed. "Since you've both apologized, then everything's fine."

Makino's eyes flickered. She shook her head with an amused smile. "He didn't peck me, after all. I'm fine."

"Right, then it's settled. You're sleeping here tonight. You can sleep in my room. I'll clean out my parents' empty room and sleep there."

Makino declared it settled.

Mercer shook his head. "I can sleep anywhere." He patted the sofa. "I'll sleep here tonight. In fact, I'll sleep here for as long as I'm staying here.

Is that okay?"

Makino hesitated, feeling a little bad about making Mercer sleep on the sofa. She was just about to try persuading him again.

Seeing this, Mercer smiled. "I just need somewhere to sleep. Your sofa's big enough, so I'll sleep here. I can't keep causing you trouble."

Seeing that Mercer had already made up his mind, Makino didn't insist. "All right, then. I'll get you a blanket."

Makino stood up to get Mercer a blanket. Looking out at the night sky, he saw the stars had come out.

"You should get some sleep too, Da Bao."

Karasu nodded and hopped onto the other sofa, flopping down comfortably and kicking his legs.

Mercer turned over and lay flat on the sofa.

A little while later, Makino brought over a blanket and pillow. Seeing the boy and the crow already lying down, she smiled helplessly.

She handed them to Mercer and said, "Get some rest. Good night."

"Mm. You too."

Makino turned off the light in the hallway inside the house, then went into her room in the corner of the living room.

The night passed quietly.

The next day.

Early in the morning.

After changing into his own clothes, Mercer jogged at an even pace around Foosha Village, covering about five kilometers. Then he went to the warship to wash up.

The mess hall.

Breakfast was big meat buns, white rice porridge, and stir-fried greens.

He and Karasu enjoyed a hearty breakfast together.

Then Mercer got another serving of porridge, a plate of greens, and five meat buns before leaving the warship.

At Makino's house.

Mercer went to the kitchen on the first floor, packed breakfast into a thermos, carried it upstairs, and set it on the table. Then he headed out.

About twenty minutes later.

Makino woke up.

As soon as she stepped out of her room, she smelled the delicious aroma. She tilted her head at the thermos on the table.

She went over and opened it. There was a note inside.

[Makino, don't forget to eat breakfast. You don't need to worry about washing the dishes. Don't wait for me for lunch. I'll be back tonight. —Mercer]

Makino took the breakfast out of the thermos. Holding the chopsticks, she picked up some greens, lowered her head to sip her porridge, then picked up a big meat bun and took a bite.

"Damn you, Mercer! You didn't even wake me up this morning, you idiot!!"

Her mouth was stuffed full as she mumbled words that were hard to make out.

In the lush mountain forest.

Mercer arrived at Dadan's Home on Corvo Mountain.

The wooden house's door was open.

Mercer went inside and immediately spotted Dadan cleaning.

"Hey, Dadan. Where's Ace?"

"Me-Mercer?" Dadan hadn't seen Mercer in ages. She froze, then brightened with delight, only to grimace and start complaining right after.

"You finally came! Go do something about that little rascal Ace! He's completely out of control, running into the mountains every day. No one can stop him. We're worried sick!"

Mercer helplessly rubbed his brow. It wasn't unexpected. Ace was nearly six, so it was normal for him to run into the mountains. Mercer was sure Garp knew about it too.

"Which direction? I'll go look for him."

Dadan brightened and hurriedly pointed in a direction. Mercer looked that way, then compared it with the route he'd taken to get here. "The royal capital?"

He smiled at Dadan. "All right, I know. I'll go look for him. Don't worry, Ace won't go down that easily."

Dadan's face darkened at that. The words came straight out of her mouth. "Better safe than sorry. There are huge tigers in those mountains.

Be careful yourself when you go looking for him. If something seems wrong, run first.

Got that?

Don't be like Ace, charging around like an idiot."

"Okay, okay, I know. I'm plenty smart." Mercer gave Dadan, who was acting like an old mother hen, a wry smile, then headed straight out. "Don't worry, I'm not stupid."

With that, Mercer headed in the direction Dadan had pointed, taking a small path that soon disappeared into the woods.

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