I Favor the Villainess - CH 246

“Claire-sama, it’s almost time for our patrols… what are you looking at?”

When I came to Claire’s room to pick her up for our patrol and final check on the preparations, I found her looking fondly at something long and thin.

“Ah, Rei. Just this.”

“Is that… a bookmark?”

“Yes, it was something I received from Pipi and Loretta. They’re pressed flowers made from flowers we raised together at the academy.”

Oh? Really?

It’s not like I’m jealous or anything.

“Wait, so when we first met, those margarets on my desk were raised by you?”

“Y-yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier!? If I had known that Claire-sama had raised those flowers, I wouldn’t have pressed them, but instead eaten them so they could become part of my flesh and blood!!”

“I’m very sorry abou- what?”

Oops, it looks like I lost control for a bit.

“Once the fight is over, we should go visit them.”

“Yes, I’d like to tell them about all that’s happened, perhaps over some tea.”

“Yes.”

“It’s almost time now, let’s go.”

◆◇◆◇◆

With our departure for the confrontation with the Demon Queen set to be tomorrow, today, we were performing our final checks and saying farewells in Zurück.

Though it was a farewell, it wasn’t really anything so pessimistic. Instead, everyone was sending us off with fierce encouragement.

“Don’t lose out there. Please take back the capital.”

“Of course, we’ll make sure we hit those demons where it counts.”

“Don’t push yourselves too hard, alright? As long as you return safely, that’s all that matters.”

“Daddy, do your best.”

Amidst the march, Claire and I gazed at the town of Zurück as we walked.

Mei and Alea were back at the inn with the maid chief and some guards.

“… We must make sure that we return these soldiers to their families.”

“Yes, Claire-sama as well.”

“I know. I have no intention to allow Mei and Alea to return to being orphans.”

She must be remembering when they both cried, saying that they didn’t want to return to being alone together.

Unlike during the revolution, Claire-sama now had something she wanted to protect, and a home that she wanted to return to. She no longer had the option to mischievously offer herself up as she tried to before.

“Ah, so this was where you two were, Claire-sensei, Rei-sensei.”

“Ah, Tred-sensei.”

“Hello.”

It seems that Tred-sensei had been looking for us.

He was not in military garb, but dressed as a civilian.

It’s because he was not participating in the upcoming confrontation.

“A letter from Bauer has arrived. It’s from your students.”

“Are the letters from Lana and the others?”

Tred-sensei took three letters from his bag and gave them to Claire-sama.

“They must have rushed to write them after hearing about the confrontation. The penmanship is rather messy compared to what I’m used to seeing from those three.”

As expected of Tred-sensei.

He’s really quite attentive.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave here.”

“Thank you very much, Tred-sensei.”

“Thank you.”

Tred-sensei gave a silent bow before leaving.

Though he would not directly participate in the confrontation, he too had many things to do.

“Even though Tred-sensei took such good care of us, we still really don’t know much about him, do we?”

“We should ask him once we return home. Of course, we’ll thank him too.”

Everything hinged on returning home alive.

“Claire-sama, what do the letters say?”

“Let’s see…”

Claire-sama tore off the seal and confirmed the contents of the letters.

The first letter was from Lana.

“Rei-sensei, Claire-sensei, I heard about the battle with the Demon Queen. Sorry I couldn’t be there to help when things got rough.”

The beginning of the letter was an apology that didn’t seem to suit her.

“I’m kinda worried, but I’m sure that the Rei-sensei I love, along with the Claire-sensei that she loves, will be just fine.”

This part was very much like the usual Lana.

“There is still a lot that I want to learn from my teachers. So make sure to return safely, ‘kay?”

The rather brief letter ended with that line.

“It seems that Lana is worried about us in her own way.”

“It appears so. However, Rei is mine.”

“Oh? Is it the dere peeking out?”

“So what if it is.”

What the- what is this?

She’s just too cute.

Next was a letter from Joel.

A short one liner,

“I’ll believe and wait for your safe return. Godspeed.”

Looking at this letter that was even more curt than Lana’s, I couldn’t help but feel it was just like Joel.

“However, I’m sure that it took over an hour for her to write this one line.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Joel had that kind of quality to her.

Though she doesn’t tend to be very expressive, there’s a lot of emotion and thought that goes into what does come out.

The last one was a letter from Eve.

Her letter was the longest.

“To Rei-sensei and Claire-sensei.”

That’s how the letter began.

“I know it isn’t right for me to say this considering how much trouble I’ve caused, but please, I have a request. Please offer your help to Manaria-sama.”

The letter continued.

“Manaria-sama is a very strong individual, but on the flip side, she tends to drop the ball where you’d least expect. Please keep an eye on her so she doesn’t end up dead in her carelessness.”

That was a surprise.

Even Manaria-sama, who seemed like a superhuman, was perceived in this way by Eve who had intimately served her.

“In particular, Rei-sensei, you are Manaria-sama’s weak point. As you keep an eye on Manaria-sama, please also ensure your own safety.”

I had no words.

I couldn’t help but think how much better things could’ve gone if this letter had reached me before the summit.

“Claire-sensei, I’m not too worried about you. I ask that you please take care of Manaria-sama and Rei-sensei.”

And so, the letter ended.

“It seems Manaria-sama and I really aren’t trusted.”

“She’s worried about you. That’s just how important you two are to her.”

I’m sure that’s the case for Manaria-sama, but I’m not so sure about me.

Compared to her beloved, I’m probably just an afterthought. However, now that Eve has been released from her brainwashing, perhaps she doesn’t resent me so much.

It would be nice if that were the case.

“To think that they’d go out of their way to send letters, we’ve really been blessed by great students.”

“Absolutely. When we get home, we must make sure we thank them.”

After nodding in unison, Claire-sama caringly stowed the letters in her bag.

It was at that time that someone called out to us.

“My, you two. Is it alright for you to be loitering about around here?”

“Ahー, Uhm…”

“Good day to you, Marthe-san. It’s been a while, hasn’t it.”

As I struggled to remember her name and return the greeting, Claire-sama came in with a timely save.

This somewhat plump middle-aged lady wearing an apron, Marthe-san, is the Imperial Academy’s cafeteria lady.

Back during the cooking competition, she had also served as a commentator alongside Lana.

“We’re currently performing our final patrol. What brings you to Zurück, Marthe-san?”

“I’m here as part of the supply division. No matter what you’re setting out to do, you can’t accomplish it on an empty stomach. Wouldn’t you agree? Marco.”

“For sure.”

I couldn’t seem to recognize the somewhat plump man that Marthe-san had called Marco.

“Uhm…?”

“Who might you be?”

It seems this time, Claire-sama didn’t know either.

“You all, I can’t believe it!? It’s me, me! Do you remember if I say I’m the kitchen instructor?”

“Eeehh!?”

During the cooking competition, I seem to remember him being quite lean. The current kitchen instructor however, really had rounded out.

“Well just imagine. I’m able to eat such delicious food without any shame, you know? Of course I’d fatten up.”

“Don’t get defensive about it, damn greenhorn!”

In response to Marthe’s thunderous rebuke, the kitchen instructor seemed to retract.

“Anyway, you don’t have to worry about food, alright? We’ll support you in that regard. So you all focus on what you must accomplish.”

“Thank you very much.”

“We’ll be in your care.”

If these two are in charge of meals, I’m sure army morale will increase.

The old saying, war can’t be fought on an empty stomach, really is true.

After parting ways with them to continue our patrol, it wasn’t long before another familiar face appeared.

“Sandrine-san!?”

“Oh my, the Pope!?”

This woman dressed in habits was Sandrine-san.

During the time where the Pope and I switched places, she was the one who took care of me. She serves the Pope, even testing for poison in her food.

Coincidentally, she was the first to engage in erotic asphyxiation with me.

“Who might this be?”

“Uhm…”

I had unwittingly called out to her, but I had only ever interacted with her as the Pope.

I had forgotten that I personally had never formally met her.

“… It seems that you’re not the Pope. Then would that mean that you are Rei Taylor?”

“You’re acquainted with Rei?”

“Yes, during the Pope’s failed assassination attempt, I heard that she put her own safety at risk to protect the Pope. I deeply apologize for the trouble that I caused at that time.”

Sandrine-san bent over in a deep bow.

It seems that she had already received an explanation for the events at that time.

“Don’t say that! I was also deceiving you at that time, so I should be the one apologizing.”

Lured in by her apology, I too lowered my head.

“That’s enough, you two. Isn’t it already in the past? Over that, why is Sandrine-san here?”

“If possible, I wanted to continue caring for the Pope, but it seems that I would just get in the way so I’ve decided to wait here for her return.”

It must’ve been disappointing.

Sandrine-san’s brows were curved up in concern.

“I do not have the strength to fight. You two are participating in the confrontation, right? I ask that you please also take care of the pope on my behalf.”

With tears in her eyes, Sandrine-san said that as she held both of our hands.

While I faltered,

“Of course, please leave her in our hands. We will surely return the pope to you. So please, rest easy as you wait.”

Claire-sama offered her an affectionate smile that she rarely ever showed me.

Leaving Sandrine-san who seemed touched by Claire’s words behind, we once again continued our patrol of Zurück.

“Hey, you two over there!”

Turning to face the source of the pointed female voice, we saw the appearance of a female soldier.

“Geh.”

“Hey Rei, that’s rude. Good day to you, Adelina-san.”

“Hmph. Prim and proper as always, aren’t you, Claire François.”

Adelina-san was Otto’s older sister, the one who gathered the young soldiers within the Empire’s military and planned the coup d’état.

Though the coup d’état ended in failure, we were by no means in good terms with her.

“Adelina-san will you also take part in the confrontation?”

“Was that sarcasm, you! There’s no way us small fry would be allowed to participate in something as glorious as this final confrontation!”

Not that I care.

“Then why are you in this town?”

“This is why amateurs are… Listen now. Military operations aren’t something that can be managed in the front lines. As the battle stretches out, supply lines must be maintained and checkpoints must also be―”

Adelina-san spent around the next 10 minutes expunging her vast military expertise on us.

“―That’s how it is, got it?”

“Nope.”

“You. Are you making a fool of me!?”

Not particularly, but I mean, the conversation was both long and difficult.

“I see. To put it simply, Adelina-san has the dire task of supporting the main squad from the back, is that correct?”

“Hmph, it seems that Claire understands the gist of it. You’re a bit cocky, but yes. It doesn’t sit right to me that we’ll have to leave the demons to you, but this is Empress Philine’s judgment. Strive so that you don’t betray the Empress’ expectations!”

Adelina-san began walking away after she gave her piece, but suddenly stopped,

“… Otto is worried about you. Come back alive.”

Having said that in a subdued whisper, she now walked away.

“What in the world was that.”

“I know, that’s what’s called a tsundere.”

It seems that Claire-sama had finally come to understand the concept of a tsundere.

If ‘tsundere’ is acquired by a tsundere, then does that mean there’s even more tsundere?

… Even I felt like that was a pointless thought.

Even after that, various people called out to us, giving us fierce encouragement each time.

“It seems that we’ll be fighting with the hopes of all these people on our shoulders.”

“… Yes, it seems so.”

The fight with the Demon Queen was not only to stop my other self’s rampage.

It was also a fight to take back the daily lives of everyone who lived in this world.

“We can’t afford to lose.”

“Yes.”

That should be enough for our patrol.

Firmly clasping back on the hand that Claire-sama offered me, we began our walk home.