Reincarnated User Manual-Chapter 239: Lucia (2)

Beep beep beep beep—

A loud alarm rang in her head. Latera trembled as she looked at the message window, which had turned red.

Even though she was in a room with high-level magic formulas that prevented her from knowing what was happening outside, the status window, detached from the world’s rules, gave Latera a good idea of the situation outside.

“…What? Say that again, you son of a bitch.”

“I said, you’re a pedophile. Why? Did I say something wrong? Put your hand on your chest and think about your age!”

“What’s wrong with my age!”

‘C-crap, this is bad…’

A translucent window showed a fierce conversation continuously popping up. Judging by the content, it seemed to be an argument between comrades, something Latera had feared. While it was still a verbal fight for now, the level of the conversation was heated enough that it wouldn’t be surprising if it escalated into a physical fight at any moment.

“I was reborn! Isn’t that enough? I’m two, two years younger than Shiron right now?”

“But your mental age is the same! Don’t you remember how old you were when you died? I don’t know human ages well, but I know that once you’re past your mid-twenties, you’re considered an old maid!”

“What kind of nonsense is that? I died at 25! And if you count the birthdays, I’m still 24!”

“That’s not the point! Look at the kid’s age, he’s only 22. Doesn’t that prick your conscience?”

“…Ah, geez. I’m Lucia, and Lucia is 20, okay? That’s why I didn’t want to reveal that I’m Kyrie.”

“So, do you admit that your mental age is the same? And it’s not just that, the kid already has Siriel as his fiancée. Do you realize that what you’re doing is basically stealing someone else’s man?”

“That’s…”

“See? Even you know it doesn’t make sense.”

“But! I can’t be without Shiron! I’ve fallen for him, what am I supposed to do…!”

‘……Oh.’

Latera, who had been watching the message window, couldn’t close her mouth at the shocking content. She couldn’t take her eyes off it due to the blaring alarm, and the provocative nature of the conversation made her mouth water.

“And I was the first in the world to like Shiron. Isn’t that enough?”

“…According to little Siriel, she liked the kid from the day of the succession ceremony in the carriage.”

“Then that’s fine! I liked Shiron since he went to get the holy sword!”

“Really?”

“Yes, really! I didn’t realize it at the time because I wasn’t used to romantic feelings, but looking back now, that was… My heart pounded at the boy who willingly took up the holy sword in my place… It felt like, for the first time, I was being protected…”

‘Sheesh…’

“And how old were you then?”

“…Eight?”

“So, you liked the kid since he was ten?”

“Ah…”

“Yeah, you’re a pedophile.”

Beep beep beep beep-

“This isn’t the time for this.”

Latera, who had finally come to her senses, shoved the translucent window aside. She had to stop the two of them. If this continued, their emotional rift might become irreparable!

“Hero! Hero!”

Latera, who had released her spirit form, ran to Shiron, who was lying on the bed.

“Wake up! It’s a big deal!”

She knew that as long as they had self-awareness, they couldn’t always be happy and cheerful. They weren’t golems devoid of emotions; a little bickering was expected.

But Latera thought the timing and place were extremely inappropriate.

The hero who had fallen asleep against his will.

Lady Seira, whose usual gentle demeanor was now extremely sharp.

Kyrie, acting foolish because she was cornered.

And,

The alarm ringing in her head felt like a countdown to the destruction of this relationship.

“Wake up, I said! Come on!”

But no matter how much Latera shook him, Shiron didn’t wake up.

Was this not enough to wake him? Latera jumped onto the bed and sat on Shiron’s chest.

Slap- slap-

Latera began slapping Shiron’s cheeks.

Slap- slap- slap-

At first, she didn’t use much force, afraid of hurting the hero, but the urgency from the alarm made her involuntarily apply more strength.

Slap- slap-

“Wake up! Wake up! Wake uuuup!”

Was it when her tiny hands started to sting? The chest she was sitting on suddenly rose upright, causing Latera to tumble off the bed.

“What are you doing?”

“Hero…”

Latera, holding the bump on her head, staggered back to the bed and collapsed onto it with teary eyes.

“Sniff.”

“What is it?”

Shiron, clueless, rubbed the bump on the back of her head. The warm glow healed the bump, and only then did Latera wipe her tears on the bed sheet.

“There’s trouble, hero! Outside, outside! Lady Lucia is fighting with Lady Seira!”

“Why are they fighting?”

“……Lady Seira has figured out Lady Lucia’s identity!”

For a moment, Latera hesitated about telling Shiron the truth, but then she confessed while questioning why she had such a vile thought.

Shiron rubbed his lips, recalling his last memory.

No wonder the sudden fatigue had a reason.

‘…How annoying.’

The magic Seira had cast on Shiron wasn’t for maintaining his stay in the deep sea, but to ensure no one could hear them for Lucia’s sake.

‘If you didn’t want me to hear, you could’ve just given me some pocket money and told me to go buy a pork cutlet. Why lock me up with magic?’

He appreciated that the fatigue from the battle had disappeared, but the way it was done left a bitter taste. It was hard to feel completely good about it.

“That being said, they figured it out quite early.”

“Oh, come on! This isn’t the time for that! You need to stop them quickly!”

“I know, just go in first.”

Shiron, harboring a slight grudge, approached the area where the translucent barrier was placed. As expected of a grand mage, it wasn’t just a simple soundproof barrier; there was a mechanism that roughly transmitted what was happening inside to Seira.

After clearing his throat a few times, Shiron naturally opened the door.

“Anyway! Isn’t it enough if Siriel doesn’t find out? We can just end it as a fun relationship!”

“Now you’re blatantly talking about committing adultery? They say late bloomers are scary, but now you’re openly committing a crime…!”

“Sorry, but adultery was a crime 500 years ago, not now.”

“…”

He had miscalculated. Neither Lucia nor Seira noticed that he had awakened. It was only when he got close enough that they both looked at him, so focused were they on their argument.

Shiron sternly addressed the two.

“Stop fighting.”

His voice, carried by the sea breeze, cooled the heads of the two women. Their pale faces turned towards Shiron.

“Oh… you’re awake?”

Lucia gulped as soon as she saw Shiron, who looked exhausted.

“When did you wake up? You look tired, you should sleep more…”

Seira sensed that Shiron’s atmosphere was unusual. Could it be that he heard the conversation with Kyrie? That thought sent a cold sweat down her spine.

Striding towards them, Shiron gazed at the girl who was two heads shorter than him.

“Lucia.”

“Y-yes?”

“No matter how easy you think Seira is, why are you being so rude? She’s at least hundreds of years older than you, show some respect, okay?”

“…Sorry. I’ll be careful from now on.”

“You should apologize to Seira, not me.”

Chastised, Lucia bowed her head towards Seira.

“I’m sorry. You look so young that I forgot you’re actually hundreds of years old. In fact, you’re much older than our ancestor.”

“I-I also lost my temper too much with a child… yes.”

Seira forced a smile, but her expression contrasted with Lucia’s composed demeanor. Ignoring Seira’s discomfort, Shiron dismissed the grudge he had for being put to sleep.

“Now, shake hands and wait here without fighting.”

“What’s this? Where are you going?”

Lucia called out to Shiron as he turned to leave. Without looking back, he grabbed the inn key.

“I’m taking Johanna home. Just in case, I’m going to gather the merfolk scattered along the coast. Killing Kiara didn’t end everything.”

“Should I help?”

“No, I have some personal matters to discuss with her. I need to apologize too.”

“Oh…”

Lucia waved her hand as Shiron left the room. Seira felt a sense of pity watching her.

An unchosen, tragic heroine. Wasn’t that exactly what Kyrie looked like?

The man she had liked for so long had already found a partner, and just when it seemed like an opportunity had arisen while the main lady was away on business, the concerned maid caused the male lead to not even glance at the heroine.

A common storyline in subversive literature.

It had been somewhat entertaining when she read it to kill boredom, but seeing it unfold up close was unbearably awkward.

Especially since the target was a comrade she had reunited with after 500 years.

“Hey, Kyrie.”

Seira approached Lucia.

“The kid doesn’t seem to care about you at all. Are you still not going to give up?”

“Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden?”

Lucia shot a sharp look at Seira. Seira met her gaze unflinchingly with her narrowed golden eyes.

Even after 500 years, Kyrie was still Kyrie. Aside from swinging a sword, she was hopelessly clueless, yet her pride was so strong that she wouldn’t back down even a single word.

But she didn’t dislike that side of her. After all, this was a friend she had met after 500 years. Even if they argued, the bond they had built wouldn’t disappear.

The harsh words she spoke to Lucia were out of concern for her.

Clearing her throat, Seira bent down slightly to meet her eye level. Kyrie had been taller than her in their previous life, but now, having reincarnated, Kyrie was a head shorter than Seira.

“It’s not picking a fight, it’s called concern from an old comrade. You just look so pitiful.”

“Get lost, granny elf. It’s embarrassing for old folks to meddle in young people’s love affairs.”

“I’m actually a romance expert. What do you think I did to pass the time over the last 500 years? I’m thoroughly knowledgeable about relationships.”

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“Have you gone senile? Stop spouting nonsense and pack your things.”

Snorting, Lucia turned to leave but then looked back.

“Really?”