Chapter 42: CH 24.3

Editor: ShinonomeResearchLabs, Proofer: Hakou

“Just what’s up with him!?”

Aileen stalked back to the inn with a sullen, puffy face. 

After entering the Golden Goose, she got her key from the landlady with the polite smile and returned to her room.

The small, single-person room was cluttered with luggage.

Aileen hurled herself on the bed and began hitting the pillow.

“ …Just why.” 

After abusing the pillow for a while, she suddenly fell prone on the bed as if exhaustion had taken over, burying her face amidst the bedsheets.

—Recently, Kei has been cold for some reason.

Or so Aileen felt.

Even though they talked to each other, it felt awkward, completely different from the open attitude they had back when everything was a game. It felt as if Kei was hiding something from her, and recently, he even seemed to be avoiding eye contact when they were talking.

(He was looking kind of down, so I took him out to town and everything, but… !)

Not only did he not look happy at all, every time he smiled, it looked pained. That was the worst part.

Moreover, Alexei’s behavior was aggravating too.

(Why didn’t Kei stop him? Why didn’t he say anything!?)

Although Aileen was bilingual in Russian and English, it was still easier for her to speak in Russian. Therefore, at the beginning, she tried to actively interact with Alexei while also gathering information. That’s why she wanted to talk to Kei about it, but it seemed that Kei himself was avoiding her for some reason. Not only that, whenever Alexei talks to her, Kei simply leaves to go somewhere else like he doesn’t even care.

(What the hell’s with that… Is it so boring to talk to me… ?)

Aileen despondently hit the pillow again.

When did they get so out of touch with each other?

Aileen thought. It was probably after the mess in Satyna—certainly after they joined the caravan.

The mess in Satyna. Thinking about it, Aileen felt the anger in herself wilting.

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At the time, she had confronted Kei over rescuing Lily.

Aileen now deeply regretted saying the word “monstrous.” Given his reaction at the time, there’s no doubt those words hurt Kei. And by hurting him, it meant that she took the option of abandoning Kei without realizing it. (ED Note: In case you forgot, the chapter referenced is here.)

Why? When? Where? As long as she didn’t ask, she would never find those answers.

However, she could guess.

The reason for Aileen’s lack of understanding might be caused by the events that happened right after coming to this world, whether that be when she fainted after getting hit by an arrow, or when Kei went to fight the people of the plains and she didn’t get to participate. However, whether it’s about what happened at the village of Tahfu or about the plains people that came to attack them… She didn’t know that far, but there’s no point blaming them at this point.

Aileen knew well that Kei was not the type of person to abandon someone.

No matter what Kei chose, it must’ve been determined by a visceral feeling. During that time, all she did was run away or faint.

Getting called “monstrous” by such a person, how would Kei feel about it?

( …Maybe he hates me.) 

The muscles on Aileen’s back quivered.

In fact, if you think about it, Kei’s actions have been consistent with what’s happened.

This could be the reason Kei had been cold recently. Maybe that’s why the conversations have been so awkward… 

“ …Why?” 

Aileen’s murmur echoed through the air.

Her room itself was small and narrow… 

But despite its dimensions, it still felt far too large.

Editor’s Note:

Well, would you look at that! It’s not a rickroll but a double release! Kinda. Admittedly, this chapter was disgustingly short due to my horrible chapter-cropping skills (they don’t come in parts you know?), but just to preserve the three-section system I’ve got, here’s an extra short bonus section.

But wait, there’s more! If you didn’t read the Author’s Note, the author actually has a references page which, for you’re convenience, we’ve translated too. So, it’s a triple release! You can find it here. Technically, the page covers the author’s inspirations until the end of this arc, but since we aren’t there yet, I’ll just continuously update the page when we actually get to the relevant chapter.

If you want to find the references page and not want to go back to this chapter, please see the Vermillion page. I’ve revamped it, so it should be easier to use now, and the references page is under the “Miscellaneous” heading below Index at the bottom, so that’s that.

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