Citrine, a ‘changeling’ whose very existence is hard to forgive, was smiling brightly.
“What’s going on, Citrine?”
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? What? What happened?”
“Why is Murmur like that?”
The students waiting for Professor Marea’s announcement were all whispering while looking at Citrine.
It was only natural. Citrine was clinging to Murmur like sticky rice cake, wearing a smile as if she had all the happiness in the world.
“Murmur… what on earth is this, what’s going on?”
“Did you run out earlier to meet Citrine?”
Esme and Torlin were also trying to figure out the situation, but Murmur had no intention of telling the truth.
“Hoho, it’s a secret!”
From the beginning, Murmur wasn’t even given a chance to say anything.
“…What do you mean by ‘secret’ all of a sudden?”
“A secret is a secret, right?”
“…Why did you suddenly become so close with Murmur?”
“Hoho, Esme doesn’t need to know.”
“People are askinggggg!!!”
Esme was so annoyed that she stomped her tiny feet on the floor, but she couldn’t get an answer.
“Murmur will tell you later.”
“Oh! If Murmur says so, I’ll stay quiet!”
Citrine was smiling so brightly that even if Murmur told her to dive into hell, she would do it without hesitation.
Esme looked at her with suspicion.
‘Is the person I need to save… …’
Esme bit her lip slightly, recalling the desperate expression Murmur had shown when she ran out of the huge treehouse.
‘It was an expression that said she absolutely couldn’t follow. The person she saved was Citrine… Is that the right thing to think?’
What on earth is the story here?
Esme was extremely curious, but since Murmur’s expression looked quite pitiful, she decided not to press further.
“Everyone, quiet. I will now announce the results of the collaborative assignment.”
The noisy atmosphere of the children was neatly settled as Professor Marea appeared, clapping loudly.
“Oh~ hohoho! It’s obvious that Murmur will be first!”
“Citrine, please…”
No one denied Citrine’s words. Even the students who usually disliked Murmur had to admit her achievements.
“…The group with the best performance in today’s collaborative assignment is Group 6! Esme! Torlin! And…”
Professor Marea glanced at Murmur.
A small, young demon. With huge horns, often talked about among the faculty.
From Marea’s perspective, a very, very, very annoying brat.
“Murmur!”
“Wow…! As expected, Murmur is first.”
“She even found three of the hardest-to-find treasure chests, right?”
“Citrine found the most treasure chests, right? Is it because of the Black Mudman?”
“That monster was terrifying…!”
Amid the loud applause, Esme and Torlin managed to smile comfortably.
Unlike Murmur, who knew the results of the collaborative assignment from the beginning, they were a bit anxious. They had defeated the huge and terrifying ‘Black Mudman,’ but with Citrine showing up with a cart full of treasure chests, they couldn’t help but think they might lose first place.
“Group 6 showed the most outstanding performance in today’s collaborative assignment. They didn’t flinch in front of the powerful monsters! Instead, they maximized each other’s strengths, proving their friendship!”
Marea praised them but looked at Murmur with a self-loathing expression.
Considering the scars left in her life, praising a ‘demon’ like this was extremely shameful.
“You did really well. Finding the treasure chests exactly according to the number of people was also very well done. Today, you also filled in for the respected Princess Nicasia, who had to leave due to unavoidable circumstances, which shows you protected your friendship.”
Marea closed her eyes and shouted.
“Everyone, praise Group 6! Esme, Torlin, and Murmur!”
The students clapped again as if they had been waiting.
“Tch… Next time, this won’t happen.”
“But fighting the Black Mudman was amazing, right?”
“She was kind of cute too!”
They were still soft-hearted children.
They say what they dislike, but they also honestly admit what they find impressive.
Since Professor Marea had praised them, the students who participated in today’s collaborative assignment naturally approached Murmur, Esme, and Torlin to talk.
As soon as she saw those students, Citrine smiled brightly and grabbed Murmur’s shoulders.
“My, foot…!”
“Oh~ hohoho! Everyone, come quickly! If you want to hear more about Murmur’s exploits, now is the only chance to ask questions!”
“…Don’t do it!”
Murmur, with a red face, flailed her hands in the air, and everyone burst out laughing because it was quite cute.
“…So why did you become so close?”
Esme was on the verge of flipping out.
* * *
The day I thought would never come finally arrived.
『Citrine’s affection level has reached stage 1!』
I had heard the line signaling the start of the demon lord route, so I expected this, but Citrine’s affection level soared without waiting for me.
And honestly, even without the status window, I could immediately tell that Citrine was showing affection towards me.
“Murmur! Feel free to eat! Today, you saved me and worked hard in the collaborative assignment, so you deserve to be treated!”
Citrine, with sparkling eyes, clung to my right arm and spoke to me.
It would have been fine if she just talked, but as soon as Professor Marea’s announcement ended, she hugged me and begged to eat at a restaurant in Starry Alley. I tried to avoid it by mentioning Esme and Torlin, but it was no use.
“Wow… is it okay to eat this?”
“Is it okay to order this much?”
Citrine naturally brought Torlin and Esme to the restaurant too.
Well, money wouldn’t be a problem for Citrine.
“Oh~ hohoho! Of course! Torlin and Esme also helped Murmur today and achieved a great result, right? Don’t feel burdened and eat comfortably!”
“…I don’t know much about Citrine, but I know she’s not the type to treat people for free, right?”
“It’s not free? I told you. I’m treating you because you helped Murmur.”
Esme blinked.
“Murmur, what happened between you and Citrine?”
“Citrine was attacked by a monster, and Murmur helped her.”
Given the situation, let’s just eat comfortably for now.
Citrine, clinging to me, doesn’t seem like she’ll let go anytime soon.
And after this, let’s check the reward I got from Rowan. It must be an incredibly useful item, right?
Because of Citrine’s overwhelming affection, I didn’t even have time to check the status window or the items I obtained.
“…How did you know Citrine was attacked by a monster?”
“Hohoho, Esme? It’s a simple story.”
“It can’t be that simple, can it?”
Esme’s doubt was natural.
“Murmur and I are connected by the red string of fate!”
“… … …”
“Wh-what is the red string of fate? I’ve never heard of such a magical tool.”
“Oh~ hohoho!! Torlin? The red string of fate isn’t a magical tool! It’s a beautiful metaphor for the inevitable destiny between me and Murmur! Murmur saving me is literally fate!”
Citrine, clasping her hands and sparkling her eyes, was in full swing.
In some ways, I’m really grateful.
“Ugh, my head hurts… Murmur, you answer.”
“The spirits told me. And the flow of magic was blatantly abnormal.”
“Spirits? Ah… Murmur is indeed close with spirits.”
Esme closed her eyes and twitched her eyebrows.
“When we were looking for the treasure in the treehouse, Murmur definitely got help from the spirits, right?”
“Y-yeah. A spirit that looked like chocolate pudding was running around diligently.”
That was a decent cover-up, but since Esme and Torlin accepted it right away, I feel at ease.
“The monsters deployed in this test were incomparably stronger than last year.”
“…Huh? I felt that too.”
“Murmur is a delicate person, so she expected that a student might be attacked by such a monster.”
Citrine’s voice was serious, and Esme finally started eating her steak with a fork.
“I understand. Murmur would never leave a friend in danger, right? So Murmur saved her, right?”
“Hohoho, that’s correct.”
“Then I’m also Murmur’s friend, so take care of me too, Citrine.”
Citrine looked at me and then at Esme. Please, please don’t fight, you guys.
“I’ll take care of you too! Miss Esme Bloodberry.”
Phew, that’s a relief. I was nervous Citrine might say something like ‘Why should I?’
“Sorry… I’m late, aren’t I?”
Right as I sighed in relief, Nicasia appeared as if she had been waiting. Seeing her wiping sweat from her forehead, it seemed she had run hard.
“Not at all. Come on, Nicasia.”
“Hmm…”
Citrine quietly looked Nicasia up and down and then clung to me so closely that her butt touched mine.
What, there’s plenty of space, isn’t there?
Nicasia, seeing Citrine like that, sat next to me.
Wait, why is she clinging to me too?
“Murmur, congratulations on being first today.”
“Thanks, Nicasia. You were worried, weren’t you?”
“I thought Murmur would naturally be first. But I’m really sorry for not being there.”
Nicasia smiled and patted my back.
“Oh my, respected Princess Nicasia, weren’t you really busy today and had to leave? You seem to know well what Murmur experienced today.”
“…It’s Murmur’s matter. I keep track of it properly.”
“Are you keeping track to eat Murmur if she does something bad?”
…Guys?
“I feel like there’s a bit of a thorn in your words. Citrine? How much have you seen to cling to Murmur like that?”
Nicasia grabbed my waist and pulled me towards her.
“Hmph! What kind of relationship does the great princess have to attempt such close skin contact? I made a beautiful secret with Murmur today!”
“Isn’t that beautiful secret a troublesome promise involving money?”
“How can you say such a thing about someone?!”
Nicasia snorted and looked at me.
For a moment, her eyes wavered slightly. But she still grabbed my shoulder tightly and pulled me more blatantly into her embrace.
“Murmur? As your friend, I have one request.”
“Murmur! Look at that! It’s not a request, it’s an order!”
“…Don’t get close to Citrine.”
Nicasia spoke in a very serious voice.
“Murmur, I want Nicasia and Citrine to get along.”
“Abso~~lutely not!”
“I don’t think so either, but it seems we agree on that?”
Why on earth are you fighting?
I just want to check the item Rowan dropped, but guys, can’t you just get along?!
