Chapter 100: Lise Confession
Chapter 100: Lise Confession
Translated by AmaLynne
「Sam, may I have a word?」
That night, too many things happened in one day, starting with a duel and ending with a dragon attack.
Lise came to Sam’s room.
「Of course. Please come in.」
Lise, who was wearing a nightgown and appeared to be wearing only light makeup, gave a small smile and said,「Thank you,」entered the room.
「Tea, if you don’t mind.」
「I’m sorry I came to visit you so unexpectedly.」
「No problem.」
Have her sit in a chair, Sam prepare the tea.
Sam was just about to have a cup of tea since he couldn’t sleep yet either.
Lately, he had been reading the magic book left by Ur, but today he was a little tired and hadn’t even opened the pages.
「My, what a strange aroma.」
「It is tea from the East, from The Land of The Rising Sun.」
The light green liquid is poured into a teacup.
A calming aroma wafted through the room, tickling Sam and Lise’s nostrils.
「Here you go.」
「Thank you.」
They drank the tea without a word.
(What’s wrong with Lise-sama? She seems a little nervous…Well, I guess I’m nervous too. There’s a woman of her age in my room alone, I’m quite nervous, not just a little.)
Even Sam is a man.
He would be nervous if a beautiful woman like Lise came to his room unprepared.
Especially since Lise is usually so close to him, he is aware of her as a member of the opposite sex.
However, he feels bad about harboring feelings toward Liese, who is like family to him.
He tries to keep his composure as a younger brother and a disciple.
「It tastes different from black tea, but it’s delicious. I like it.」
「I’m glad it was to your taste. I like tea too.」
In Sam’s previous life―――in Japan―――he didn’t have much of a taste for tea, but he feel nostalgic when he can drink it in a different world like this.
Although he has no desire or regrets about returning to his former world, it is quite a strange experience to be able to find something that he had in his former life in another world.
「Um, by the way, what can I do for you?」
「I just wanted to talk to you properly after everything that happened during the day. Am I bothering you?」
「No, it’s not like that. I wanted to talk to Lise-sama, too.」
「My, I’m so glad. Sam―――congratulations, once again, on your status as court wizard and for being the most powerful.」
「Thank you.」
Sam is tickled to be praised by Liese, the master of close combat.
「But I was very worried.」
「I’m sorry for your concern.」
「I always wondered why Sam didn’t use his skills in training with me, but after seeing that, it makes sense. You didn’t dare.」
「Yes. My skills are dangerous. It wasn’t so bad before, but when I used it in combination with offensive magic, it became lethal. I can’t use it casually in a normal fight.」
「Right. I don’t want to be cut in half like Albert. But I’m glad you won. To be honest, some people said it was too much. But as long as Sam is safe, I don’t care about Albert.」
Certainly, Sam was prepared for some to say that it was too much.
After anticipating all this, Sam killed Albert to stop all the troubles.
He knew there would be more harm than good if he kept him alive, and it was unclear what kind of stupid behavior a defeated man would have if he had been allowed to live.
Taking his life would save Sam from having to regret later that he should have killed him.
「But I never thought he would fight the dragon after that.」
「It’s true. And it’s Albert’s fault.」
「He really was a slippery son of a bitch. But it did make me realize one thing.」
「Realizez? Umm, what is it?」
「That’s, you know, how I feel.」
「Lise-sama’s feelings?」
「I’ve always thought of you as my little brother.」
「I appreciate that.」
「Fufu, he was my first disciple, and he was so cute that I could not help it.」
「I, too, am grateful to Lise-sama. Thanks to you, I could learn close combat.」
「But―――」
Lise hesitated for a bit.
But then, as if determined, she spoke.
「I found myself thinking of Sam more than of my brother.」
「Umm, what does that mean?」
「I was happy that he treated me the same after learning about my past, but I developed feelings for Sam that were more than I deserved.」
「Lise-sama?」
Sam is confused because he doesn’t quite understand what Lise is trying to say.
「I’ve tried to keep these feelings to myself. But, you know, when I thought that Sam was going to fight the dragon and that maybe I would never see him again, I thought I should at least tell him how I felt.」
Sam understood that the battle with the red dragon worried Lise greatly.
Faster than Sam, who was about to say a few words of apology, Lise continued to speak.
「Look, this is just something I want to tell you on my own, so you don’t have to reply or anything. I’d rather you keep this between us.」
「Huh, if Lise-sama says so. But what?」
「I like you, Sam.」
「What?」
Sam didn’t understand what was being said to him.
「I like you as a man.」
Finally, Sam understood the meaning of Lise’s words.
But he could not hide his confusion.
(What? Huh? Lise-sama about me?)
It was hard to believe that a beautiful woman and a master swordsman would fall in love with a child whose only skill was magic.
If she laughed and said,「I’m joking,」that would be more convincing.
But Lise’s face was too serious, her cheeks were slightly red, and she was looking straight with moist eyes.
Even Sam, who had little experience in love, could see that her feelings were true.
「Um, Lise-sama.」
「I know you love sister Ur. But I still wanted to tell you.」
Yes. Certainly, Sam still loves Ur.
That feeling will never change.
He’s sure that he will continue to love Ur for the rest of his life.
But Ur did not want that.
Ur told him that she hoped that one day Sam would be together with someone else, have a family, and be happy.
It is not an easy thing to do, even if it is the words of someone you love.
So, Sam only thought that one day such a time might come.
But he never dreamed that Lise would tell him that she loved him like that.
How could he not be happy to be liked by someone as kind and charming as Lise?
Sam tried desperately to find the words to reply.
But he was so shocked and confused that he couldn’t get the words out.
Lise, perhaps sensing this, opened her mouth.
「You don’t have to answer me. I just wanted to let you know how I feel.」
「But, Lise-sama…」
「It’s fine, really. I just want you to remember. That there are people who love Sam. That even though sister Ur is gone, there are still people who care about Sam.」
Lise then stood up and approached Sam.
Then she bent down and gently placed her lips on Sam’s.
「―――!!」
「I’m sorry. But please forgive me for this.」
Lise smiles at the surprised Sam, her face somewhat amused.
Lise gently strokes Sam’s hair as he stiffens under the sudden confession and kisses.
「Good night, Sam. Have a good dream.」
With these words, she leaves the room.
Sam tried to stop her, but he couldn’t think of what to say to her.
In that short time, Lise leaves the room.
Left alone, Sam puts her hand to her lips and says
「―――Lise-sama.」
The tension is even greater than when he fought the dragon.
He wonders what he will look like tomorrow when he meets Lise.
What should he say in reply?
She said she didn’t want it, but Sam think that would be insincere.
(―――What am I supposed to do!?!!)
The confession from the person he had loved like a sister kept Sam up at night, unable to sleep.