I Favor the Villainess Chapter 60Homecoming

“Yo, Rei! It’s been a long time!”

“McCloy-san. It’s been a while”

“Isn’t it Rei. Did you come back”

“Jane-san too, it’s been a long time”

The next day, as I was walking through my hometown, various people greeted me along the way.

I’ve forgotten, but I’m an otome game heroine.

That is to say, a popular person in town.

“Have you been doing well? Everyone was worried due to unrest in the city”

McCloy-san from a hardware store in the neighborhood said with a kindhearted expression.

“I’m okay. It’s not as scary as it appears”

“Is that so? Recently, this town became dangerous. Just a few days ago, a nobleman who came here by boat for Undead Hunt went missing――”

Then, McCloy-san noticed the person next to me.

“Who is this young lady?”

“Ah, she is――”

“I am Rei’s school friend. My name is Claire”

At McCloy-san’s question, Claire-sama tried to conceal her status for some reason.

Oh?

“I see, you’re a polite young lady. It’s reassuring Rei-chan has such a friend in the royal capital, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I’m very grateful”

“How’s Rei-chan, Claire-chan. She was the most excellent child in town, but…”

“Even in the academy she remains excellent. Everyone acknowledges it”

“I see I see!”

Claire-sama’s words seemed to improve the mood of people in town.

For them, I’m like a representative of this town.

But, I thought with a forced smile showing on my face.

Do not disturb the time between the two of us.

Without caring about my thoughts, fellow townsfolk gathered one after another.

When I started getting fed up――.

“… Rei?”

With the memories of Rei Taylor, I recognized that voice.

Ooops…

He’s the person I didn’t want to meet the most.

“Louise-san…”

“It’s Rei after all. Have you come back”

A man came here pushing through the crown.

His name is Louise-san.

“Louise-san, it’s been a while”

“What’s with this reserved manner. I and Rei are close, right?”

Claire-sama made a suspicious face at Louise-san’s loud laughter.

“Who is he?”

“He’s Louise-san. How should I put it, he is…”

“Rei’s big bro. Claire-sama”

Louise-san continued after me who ended the sentence ambiguously.

Huh?

Has Louise-san by any chance realized Claire-sama’s identity?

“I’m an adventurer, you know? There’s no way I wouldn’t notice”

Although it may be unnecessary to explain to those familiar with fantasy worlds, adventurer is a generic name for a person who takes requests and receives rewards from the guild.

Rather than staying in this town, if you’re an adventurer you travel all around the world, no surprise he knows the only daughter of the Minister of Finance.

“Rei. Can you take it easy in this town?”

“Well, during the holidays”

“I see. Drop by my house later. Mother surely wants to meet you”

“I understand. We’re slightly in a rush, so please excuse us with this”

Saying so, I led Claire-sama away from this spot.

“Were you not a little impolite?”

“It’s fine. Louise-san is a little troublesome”

“…?”

I was aware of a question mark floating above Claire-sama’s head, but I deliberately didn’t answer.

Even so,

“Louise-san is in love with Rei”

“Heeeey!!!”

The one who bluntly said an uncalled-for thing was――”

“Ara, if it isn’t Misha”

“It’s good to see you again, Claire-sama. What in the world are you doing in such a place?”

Misha switched from her uniform to everyday clothes.

“I was invited to Rei’s house”

“Invited… I wonder what happened to be invited to Rei’s house”

“Well, there were various things?”

It’s been awkward between Claire-sama and Dor-sama… It’s difficult to say that in front of Claire-sama.

“Such things do not matter! More importantly, what did you mean by that man being in love with Rei!”

Eeeh…

Are you continuing with that, Claire-sama.

“It’s simple. As you could see just now, Rei is a popular person in town. Naturally… She’s well-liked“

“… Hee, hmph”

Ah, Claire-sama’s eyes glazed.

“Louise was also among those. Rei too, before she left the town, she did not really dis――”

“There’s not a speck of truth in that. I am only Claire-sama’s”

I covered Misha’s mouth to stop her from saying further unnecessary things.

Claire-sama’s gaze turned icy.

As a matter of fact, what Misha said is roughly correct.

Louise-san was the closest member of the opposite sex to protagonist.

He’s the so called “Past man”.

No, it’s not that the protagonist was really in love with Louise-san, but even if the otome game protagonist was supposed to be an ordinary girl, somehow she was popular with the opposite sex.

Louise exists for the sake of that setting, his role is to make things lively.

If you return home for the holidays without using the ticket, a love triangle event between the closest prince and Louise develops.

Because in reality none of the princes has come, I made light of that event, but――.

“No way, Claire-sama is jelly of me”

“I am not jelly!? No, I do not understand the meaning, but somehow!”

Claire-sama, sensing something, denied.

Most importantly, it seems Claire-sama’s understanding of me is gradually deepening.

“Claire-sama”

“… What is it”

“There’s nothing between Louise-san and me”

“… I wonder”

“Don’t you believe me?”

“… Hmph”

I need to humor her somehow, but Claire-sama is stubborn.

“Umm…”

“What is it, Misha?”

“Could you take your lovers’ quarrel somewhere else?”

“It is not lovers’ quarrel!?”

Claire-sama snapped.

“Is that so. Then that’s fine. I’ll also excuse myself with this. Rei, take care”

“Hey, Misha!”

Leaving only a bomb behind, Misha left.

Really, what did she come for.

“Hey, let’s go, Claire-sama”

“Hmph”

“You’re the cutest when you’re jelly”

“… You will not deceive me with such words?”

Hmm, I thought for a while.

“Ey”

“Ukyaa!?”

I tried hugging her in the middle of the crowded street.

“Wha, wha wha wha…!”

“Yup. Soft”

“What are you doing!!”

I was slapped with all her strength.

It hurts.

But, I didn’t let go.

“We are in front of people――!”

“I won’t let go until Claire-sama forgives me”

I increased the strength of my embrace.

“I understand! I understand therefore separate from me!”

“Eeh”

“Why do you seem disappointed!? Were you not asking for forgiveness!?”

“That’s one thing, but embracing Claire-sama feels wonderful”

“Ne・ver・mind・that・se・pa・rate・from・me!”

She forcibly escaped.

A shame.

“Fuu, fuu. Recently you have not been behaving recklessly so I got careless…”

“This overflowing love of mine, no one can stop it?”

“Silence! Jeez… I am terribly tired before even meeting father or mother…”

“Eh, father-in-law and mother-in-law?”

“You have absolutely thought of a ridiculous thing just now!?”

I feel it’s been a long time since we’ve had such a lively exchange.

After all, we need to be like this.

“Then, Claire-sama”

“… What is it this time”

“Here’s my house”

Claire-sama stared blankly.

“Then, shall we go in”

“… My mental preparations have been all sorts of ruined…”