Tensei Shoujo no Rirekisho - Volume 3 - Chapter 76

76. Student Activities 4 – Farm Date Advisory

Alone, I escaped the devil’s hand, escaped from behind the waterfall, and as I hurried toward the school building met Alan. As soon as he found me, he rushed toward me, shouting, “Ryou!” Alan, you’re sweating a lot. …Were you looking for me?

“Alan, what is it?”

“You looked different from usual somehow, so I came looking for you… I-I didn’t follow you! I just got worried halfway through and went out looking.”

He’s sensitive about whether he was following me because I got angry at him for being a stalker before. I’m suspicious about how desperately he’s trying to explain, but if he were really following me he wouldn’t have lost sight of me, because Alan is the best stalker. So I’m sure he really did get worried partway through and come looking for me.

“…Thank you, Alan.”

When I gave him my sincere thanks, Alan grew suspicious.

“As I thought, you don’t look so good. Your complexion is off… Are you okay?”

I still hadn’t recovered from my shock over Henry, so Alan’s words of concern made me happy. But Henry’s sleazy proposal must have dazzled and clouded my mind. We serve the magicians…

“Hey, Alan… what do you think of me?”

“Eh! That’s so sudden!” Alan hurried to speak.

Ah, I’m stupid. Since Henry thought that way, maybe other magicians think that way, too… I lost my trust. Alan, I’m sorry. You’re my friend. I know you feel the same way. I know because we’ve been together so long. Rather, it’s rude to doubt him.

“No, I’m sorry. You’re my dear friend, Alan.”

Yes, he doesn’t think of me as livestock or anything. Henry is an exception. Maybe this kingdom has a sleazy kingdom inside it, and Henry must be the prince of that place. I shouldn’t think of him as the basis for magicians. ‘Alan, I’m sorry I doubted your friendship even a little!’ I thought, looking at Alan, but he seemed kind of dissatisfied.

“What’s the matter?”

“We are friends, but… It’s a little…” He’s struggling to say something.

Oh! I see… Alan and I…

“That’s true, Alan. You and I are more like a boss and henchman relationship.”

“No, that’s not-, well, it is, but-! In that case, I’d rather be friends!”

Alan was barking, embarrassed, but he knows who his boss is! This natural henchman constitution! He’d love watching mobster movies! Ah, that’s good. I felt a little better talking to Alan. I have to recover my mental fortitude.

Because soon I have to go on a date to that bastard Henry’s farm…

On our next day off, Henry brought me to the royal farm. If this were with anyone other than Henry, I would have made a fuss, saying “A farm date, awesome!”

The other day, I raised my voice a little in front of that pervert, but I can’t get too wild this time. It wouldn’t be good to make enemies of the royal family. I’ll just take it easy.

Setting Henry aside, the cows and pigs on this farm look very cute, with sparkling, happy eyes. Well, even cows and pigs can be cute. I’m an animal lover, so I know the feeling… But can the farmer who’s feeding the animals stop looking at them with such loving eyes?

This was Vulgar Prince Henry’s favorite farm, and he was familiar with the farmer. We were admitted on sight to the farm and even allowed to pet the caged animals. It’s become a petting zoo. Oh, but the piglets are really cute. In my previous life, I went on a field trip to a farm. The milking experience was very interesting.

While I was stroking an adorable piglet, I felt a warm gaze.

“No, it’s good after all. Seeing you playing with the animals, like I said.”

The Vulgar Prince was watching me and the piglet.

Stop it! Stop putting me in the same box as the animals! Of course piglets are cute! They’re cute!

But I’m going to keep going. I’m going to stay calm today.

“Slea-… I mean, Sir Henry, you went to the personal referral site the other day, but do you go there often?”

“Oh, if I have the time I’ll go check it out. I often come to the farm as well.”

Hey, will you stop talking about the farm and the personal referral site as though they’re on the same level?

“…Have you ever bought someone there?”

“Yes. Isn’t that what the store is for?”

Well, that’s true.

“What do you do with them when you buy them?”

“The people do manual labor. I often use them as servants. I guess I have a habit of collecting things, and when I find something good, I want to put it where I can show it off.”

Stop, don’t tell me your weird habits. But using them as servants is fairly normal. …Though I don’t know what kind of work they’re doing.

“Well, like last time, I’ll sometimes buy one if they look interesting, even if they don’t fit my hobby. Ah, I wonder if I should have bought her after all. I wanted to see what kind of face that guy who wanted her would make.”

This Vulgar Prince has bad taste after all!

“That’s despicable. Didn’t you say you loved both humans and animals?”

“Ha ha, that’s why I love you! You’ve got a little mischief in you. Isn’t it fun? Pigs become delicious meat, and humans become fun toys. That’s division of roles for you,” the Vulgar Prince said, looking between me and the piglet.

What division of roles! Stop it! Don’t compare me to a pig!

“I think that’s bad taste! Don’t go back and buy that woman after all!”

“No, even if I went back there now… I’m sure that male already bought her.”

That male…? Oh, Joshua. He said he was going to save up some money and pick her up. But that guy didn’t seem to have any money, and didn’t seem like he was making much either. His mood felt like he was almost at his breaking point…

Henry kept talking, as if noticing that I was thinking about it.

“Because that female was being promoted as a virgin. If I were in that male’s position, I would take the female’s virginity and leave a scar. Then the next day, I’d casually go to the store, complain to the managers, and buy her at a discount.” Isn’t that the surest way?”

PLEASE stop saying such filth with an innocent smile. Do you know the meaning of “surest”? Also, stop calling them “male” and “female”. Really, quit it.

“He probably doesn’t think like that. How should I say it… It’s hard to come up with such a vile idea, and he wouldn’t be able to carry it out. I think he’ll just figure out a way to raise the money and pick her up.”

When I said that, he said, “I wonder…” and shook his head. Yeah, I guess this guy doesn’t just have one screw loose, but dozens. I have to stop thinking about this guy so much. I can’t understand what he’s thinking just by trying to be understanding. He’s a pervert. It’s hard to understand how a pervert thinks. After all, that’s what I’m the most worried about…

“Sir Henry, you’re with Sir Cain a lot, what do you think of Sir Cain? Does he know how you think?”

I thought they were friends. After all, they were getting along well, talking and eating together…

“Oh, Cain? He’s the best! He’s the ideal human: beautiful, healthy, strong, and obedient. With that in mind, don’t you think Cain makes good livestock? I’ve never told Cain that, but I’m sure he understands.”

“I doubt it!”

I answered without thinking. Because I can’t allow you to insult Sir Cain! Even if you didn’t consider it an insult.

“Oh, Ryou, you don’t like being considered livestock… Sometimes humans are like that. The pigs, cows, and goats understand properly…”

Don’t look at me with such a pitying look! It’s not just me, most people think the same way… Probably!

“Anyway, Sir Cain is definitely beautiful and strong. But obedience is a little different. If he thinks you’re wrong, Sir Henry, he’ll tell you that you’re wrong.”

“I wonder… Well, it’s fine. Cain’s been my favorite the last few years, but I’ve found something else to interest me. Chicky, can we talk like this again? What activities do you want to do… You want to be able to read the books in the library? I don’t think that’s necessary for livestock… but I’ll cooperate!”

Saying that, the sleazebag gave me a really annoying wink.

Ah, I’ve had enough. When I’m with this guy I either feel sick or angry.

“No, I’m fine without your cooperation! I only came to the farm with you, Sleazy, because you said you’d interfere with my plans. You made a promise, so please just don’t disturb me!”

No matter how strong my language, Sleazy didn’t mind, laughing, “By ‘Sleazy’, do you mean me? That’s a funny name, ha ha.”

Ugh, I need to get out of here soon. Ah, with the way things are going, let’s go home! I thought, but Sleazy slowly approached me. His hands reached for my head. When I swiftly avoided with my mountain life agility, he looked confused.

“Don’t avoid me. I just wanted to touch it because it’s so shiny. I’ll pat you gently.”

D-Don’t judge me like you’re at a fair! I didn’t clean my hair just so Sleazy could touch it!

“What’s this, all of a sudden! No way. Please don’t touch me! I’m going home!”

I took advantage of the way things were going and decided to go home. I’m being rude for a woman on a date, but I can’t help it. I turned around and ran. Somehow I’ll get picked up by a carriage on the way back. As I was wondering how far it was from here to the school, I heard Henry’s voice.

He was reciting a tanka.

Oh no, a spell.

I looked back. Henry was a long way off, so I tried to throw the thing in my skirt properly, but I was too late. My foot didn’t move smoothly and the throw failed. When I looked at my feet, they were covered in ice. My legs wouldn’t move. It was magic. I didn’t make it.

“Don’t run wild. I’ll take you back to school. Now take my hand and I’ll dispel the magic.”

Saying so, he reached out like a gentleman escorting a lady. No matter how you look at it, he has a refreshing smile.

I raised my hand and thought of scratching his beautiful face. But what could I do? What would happen if I hurt him with, say, a secret weapon under my skirt? What if I was forced to quit school and leave? Could Mama Kou get in trouble…?

But I was afraid that such thoughts would make me unable to disobey, like livestock… Right, this country was originally formed when tame humans flocked around magicians, throwing away their fangs and claws. That’s true, but…

I quietly put my hand in his, and he dissolved the spell. My feet were free.

That’s right, Ryou. I’m sure you’ll understand someday. Obeying magicians is what’s best for humans. So I’m going to wait for you to come to me and ask me to pet your hair.”

I silently let him escort me.

It may be natural for humans to flock like cattle and for magicians to think of them as livestock… But I still don’t like it! As he was gently guiding me to the carriage, I lifted some pig dung with my toes and secretly dropped it into the cuff of Sleazy’s clothes. When he gets home, Sleazy’s family and servants will hate him and say, “Ugh, it smells like he put crap in his pockets!!”