Don't Worry, I'm Not Stupid!

Chapter 38: Don't Worry, I'm Not Stupid!

"A tenacious, cold, and scheming beauty of a heroine vs. a rebellious, noble heir, handsome male lead, falling in love while fighting, divorcing first then falling in love, tormenting the wife is fun for a while, chasing the wife is a crematorium."

Mercer quickly flipped through the pages, his lips twitching more and more as he read. What a melodramatic romance, and it even had a perfect ending.

Are you kidding me?

Click!

The bathroom door opened. Makino, wearing a pink short-sleeved shirt and shorts, came out and saw Mercer. She tilted her head in confusion, "What book are you reading?"

As she walked closer and glanced at the illustration of a man and woman embracing, Makino's eyes widened.

Her mouth opened and closed unconsciously, her face suddenly flushing bright red, "Eek!!!"

After a piercing scream, she abruptly bent down and snatched the book from Mercer's hands.

Hugging the book to her chest, she quickly took a step back, her eyes darting away in shame and anger as she glared at Mercer, stammering:

"You, you, you, why were you reading this book?"

"Isn't it on the bookshelf to be read?" Mercer looked at her speechlessly. "Also, why are you getting so worked up?"

"It's just a cheesy romance novel! It's normal for girls your age to like reading them, I don't mind, so why are you so nervous?"

Mercer grumbled speechlessly, shot Makino a look, got up, walked past her, and headed toward the bathroom.

"I'm going to take a shower."

With a click, the bathroom door closed.

Makino turned around, her face still red, and couldn't help but grind her teeth.

"You brat, what do you mean 'girls your age'? You're not even older than me!"

Her face contorted, feeling like her dark past had been discovered. An intense sense of shame shot from the base of her spine straight to her forehead.

"Ahhh!!! Ah!!!" Makino screamed a few times in despair, then finally her shoulders slumped, and she sighed helplessly.

"Annoying, precocious brat."

Listening to the sound of water splashing from the bathroom, Makino glared back fiercely, but then her expression froze, as if she had forgotten something.

With a helpless sigh, Makino prayed inwardly, "I hope he didn't notice."

She then went back to her room, grabbed some clothes, and placed them on a stool by the bathroom door. Makino said:

"I put your change of clothes by the door. Remember to change later."

"Okay, thanks."

Mercer replied casually.

After a quick rinse, during which he washed the greasy short-sleeved shirt clinging to him, Mercer dried himself off, opened the door a crack, and took the clothes Makino had prepared from the stool outside.

The blue short-sleeved shirt and shorts were clearly too big. Mercer even noticed a ruffle around the cuffs in the mirror, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

But then he saw his own clothes, now washed in the basin, and shook his head helplessly. "Forget it, I'm a kid, why should I care so much?"

Mercer stopped thinking about it, opened the door, and walked out. He happened to see Makino sitting on the sofa, looking at him with a smile as she sized him up.

Mercer's expression was calm. He naturally turned around in front of her. After a full circle, he looked at her serenely, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips:

"Had enough?"

"Ahem, who's looking at you?" Makino averted her gaze guiltily. "I wasn't looking at you at all, I just happened to be looking over there, and you happened to walk out."

"Oh, where can I hang clothes? I just washed mine."

Mercer asked her.

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

A '#' symbol appeared on Mercer's forehead. He stared at her without a word. Once she had laughed enough, Makino's eyes darted around:

"I washed my clothes just now too. I was about to hang them up, so I'll do yours together. Yep, that's settled."

Makino got up and ran past Mercer, disappearing into the bathroom. Her eyes immediately went to the bamboo basket in the corner.

She suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest. Things were still as they were.

"He probably didn't find it, right?" Makino muttered softly. "Yeah, he probably didn't."

"If you're talking about your clothes in the laundry basket, I saw them," Mercer appeared behind Makino and suddenly said. "Don't worry, I didn't touch them."

Makino's body visibly trembled. Mercer chuckled mischievously. "The color is quite pretty. Bi~g sis."

After saying that, Mercer walked cheerfully towards the sofa.

As Makino heard his footsteps receding, her eyes became exceptionally resentful, her face blushing so hard it was almost bleeding.

Her heart was beating abnormally fast.

Her lips parted slightly, about to scream, but then she thought, he's already far away, screaming won't do any good.

A breath got stuck in her throat, unable to go in or out, making her feel terribly uncomfortable. Her lips began to tremble violently.

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

After thinking about it, he finally picked up Mercer's clothes from the basin beside him and left the bathroom. He paused by the door, leaving only:

"I'm going to hang the clothes."

Then he quickly walked towards the door.

Just as Makino reached the door, Mercer's voice sounded: "Do you need my help?"

"No need." Makino replied instantly, "I can do it myself. You rest."

With that, Makino stomped her feet "deng deng deng" and left the room, turning right towards the stairs leading to the rooftop.

Shaking his head, Mercer sighed, "I didn't expect her to be such a pure girl."

"Mhm, a chuunibyou pure girl who likes melodramatic romance and angst."

At this moment, a "ding ding" sound of tapping glass came from the window outside the living room. Mercer turned his head and saw that it was none other than Karasu.

He walked over and opened the screen window, and Karasu hopped in with a swagger.

"Mei, I'm here, on the rooftop, saw that silly girl." Karasu said, "Clothes, bamboo pole."

Mercer closed the screen window and sat back down on the sofa, taking a cup and pouring Karasu a glass of cold tea.

"Drink this first." Mercer watched Karasu drink the tea and said, "I know, Makino went to hang the clothes."

"Here, where?" a hoarse voice came, Karasu asked curiously, "Is this that silly girl's house?"

Mercer nodded, reached out to stroke a tuft of fur sticking up on Karasu's head, and then used his fingers to smooth its feathers.

Karasu closed its eyes comfortably, emitting a low, hoarse "wa wa" sound.

A moment later, Makino returned. As soon as she entered, she saw the interaction between the man and the crow. Makino's expression had already returned to normal.

She came to sit beside Mercer on the sofa.

Looking at Mercer, Makino suddenly said:

"Little Mercer, you can sleep at my place tonight. Your clothes won't dry tonight, and you don't want to walk around town in my pajamas, do you?"

Mercer glanced at her and suddenly chuckled, "It's fine, Karasu can go back and get me some clothes later, it's very capable."

Makino was taken aback, then looked at Karasu, who was looking at her disdainfully with its bird eyes, and couldn't help but twitch her lips, "Stupid bird."

Karasu fell silent, its disdainful gaze intensifying.

Stupid monkey.

Does it not consider crows to exist? Crows can carry iron nets, can't they carry two pieces of clothing?

Makino didn't want to bother with it, lest she get angry again. She looked at Mercer and said:

"Sleeping on a boat isn't as comfortable as sleeping in a proper house. You wouldn't want to be rocking around while sleeping at night, would you?"

This struck a chord with Mercer. Indeed, sleeping on land was more comfortable than sleeping on a boat. Should he go find Ace on Mount Colbo?

After thinking about it, Mercer didn't really want to stay in the bandits' den; there were too many people, and he wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully.

He glanced at Makino, who also noticed Mercer's hesitation and was about to speak when she heard Mercer ask:

"Are there any inns in Foosha Village? I'll sleep there."

Makino froze, her face darkening, "No."

"What? You don't like my place? You'd rather go to an inn than sleep here?"

"It's not that, it's just that I don't want to bother you too much."

"Stupid Mercer, I treat you like a little brother. If I really felt you were bothering me, why would I have let you come to my place, and why would I have let you sleep here? You ungrateful brat."

Makino puffed out her cheeks indignantly.

Mercer looked at Makino with some surprise, not expecting her to think that way.

"As expected, you have ulterior motives."

Makino froze at Mercer's words, looking a bit lost, not understanding what he meant. But then she heard Mercer say:

"You haven't given up yet, still wanting me to be your little brother. Didn't I tell you? I won't and can't be your little brother. It doesn't fit my personality. You should give up on that idea as soon as possible."

Makino was stunned and found herself on the verge of tears and laughter. The next second, she turned and pinched Mercer's face.

At the same time, a sharp glint flashed in Karasu's bird eyes, and its sharp beak swooped down directly.

Sensing Karasu's movement, a flash of red light flickered deep within his eyes. Mercer's right index finger precisely hooked the base of Karasu's sharp beak. The beak was lifted, and Karasu tilted its head, asking in confusion:

"Mei, why are you stopping Crow?"

Just then, Makino's right index finger pinched Mercer's right cheek, and she heard Karasu's words.

Her face went blank. Looking at the lifted beak, she asked hesitantly, "It was going to peck me?"

"I stopped it, don't worry, Karasu means no harm." Mercer explained, "At most, you would have just broken some skin. It knows its limits."

"Oh!" Makino looked at the cheek she was pinching, feeling a bit awkward. She quickly let go and rubbed her palm, apologizing profusely, "Sorry, sorry, I just got a bit antsy and couldn't help myself."

A sharp glint flashed in Karasu's eyes, and it croaked in a hoarse voice, "Crow, also sorry, beak itchy, couldn't help itself."

Mercer immediately chuckled, "Since you've apologized, then it's alright."

Makino's eyes flickered, and she shook her head with a hint of amusement, "It didn't hit me anyway, so I'm fine."

"Right, then it's settled, you're sleeping here tonight. Hmm, you can sleep in my room. I'll tidy up my parents' empty room, and I'll sleep there tonight."

Makino said this.

Mercer shook his head at this, saying he could sleep anywhere. He reached out and patted the sofa, "I'll sleep here tonight. Hmm, I'll sleep here for all the days I'm staying here. Is that okay?"

Makino hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed to make Mercer sleep on the sofa. She was about to try and persuade him again.

Seeing this, Mercer smiled and said, "Having a place to sleep is enough. Your sofa isn't small either. I'll just sleep here. I can't cause you any more trouble."

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

Makino got up to prepare a blanket for Mercer. Mercer looked out at the night sky; the stars had already come out.

"You should sleep early too, Dabao."

Karasu nodded, hopped onto another sofa, and comfortably sprawled out, his bird legs kicking.

Mercer turned over and lay flat on the sofa.

A short while later, Makino came back with a blanket and a pillow. She looked at the man and the bird already lying down and smiled helplessly.

After handing Mercer the items, Makino said, "Rest early, goodnight."

"Mhm, you too."

Makino turned off the light in the hallway inside and went into her room from a corner of the living room.

The night passed without incident.

The next day.

Early in the morning.

After changing his clothes, Mercer ran a lap around Foosha Village at a steady pace, about five kilometers, and then went to the warship to wash up.

Canteen.

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

He and Karasu had a hearty breakfast.

Then, he packed another portion of porridge, a plate of greens, and five meat buns and left the warship.

Makino's house.

Mercer went to the kitchen on the first floor, packed breakfast into a thermos, took it upstairs, and placed it on the table before leaving.

About twenty minutes later.

Makino woke up.

As soon as she stepped out of her room, she smelled a tempting aroma. She saw her thermos on the table and tilted her head.

She walked over, opened it, and saw a note inside.

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

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

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

Her mouth full, she mumbled some unintelligible words.

In the lush mountain forest.

Mercer arrived at Dadan's Home on Mt. Colubo.

The wooden house door was open.

Mercer went inside and immediately saw Dadan cleaning.

"Yo, Dadan. Where's Ace?"

"Mei-Mei. Mercer?" Dadan was stunned to see Mercer after so long. She then rejoiced, but immediately put on a bitter face and complained, "You're finally here! Go and manage that little brat Ace. He's completely out of control, running into the mountains every day. We can't stop him, and it's terrifying."

Mercer rubbed his temples speechlessly. It was as expected; he was almost six years old, so it was normal for him to run into the mountains. Mercer believed Garp must know too. "Which direction? I'll go find him."

Dadan's face lit up, and she quickly pointed in a direction. Mercer looked, comparing it to the path he had taken. "The Royal City?"

He smiled at Dadan, "Okay, I know. I'll go find him. Don't worry, Ace won't die that easily."

Hearing this, Dadan's face darkened, and she blurted out, "It's better to be safe than sorry! There are big tigers in the mountains. Be careful yourself when you go find him. If things go wrong, run first. Do you hear me?"

"Don't be like Ace, all dumb and clueless."

"Alright, alright, I get it, I'm super smart." Seeing Dadan acting like a mother hen, Mercer gave a wry smile and immediately left the house. "Don't worry, I'm not dumb."

Leaving those words behind, Mercer headed in the direction Dadan pointed, taking a small path and disappearing into the woods.

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