Copy Skills with Affinity! - Chapter 81

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

◈ Copy Skills with Affinity! ◈

Chapter 81: Remnants (2)

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“So, you little punk. Shall I hear why you’ve extended your clutches even to me, though I’m dead, and what you intend to do to the girl I think of as my little sister?”

With someone like her, it was probably better to be direct than beat around the bush.

To open Noel’s personal quest, he needed to delve a little deeper into her heart. He had to take their relationship further.

But when he thought about it...

‘Unlike Katia, Lady Noel is a little...’

There was still some distance between them, perhaps.

Unlike Katia, who had opened the door to her heart at once when the opportunity arose, Noel still seemed cautious, hesitating awkwardly from afar.

Had the system not even given him a tip to seek Teresa’s help in closing that distance?

And the answer he received was much simpler than expected.

“Just tell her about yourself. Even a little.”

“...Pardon?”

“She’s scared. Don’t you know how timid Noel is? She’s constantly worrying about being rejected, and constantly worrying that making the first move might be a burden. That’s the kind of girl she is.”

Teresa chuckled and rested her chin on her hand.

“Open up to her just a little. Just treat her like an equal, and that should be enough. When it comes to things she doesn’t know, she’s genuinely clueless. She probably won’t even know how to begin. That much should be enough to close the distance.”

“...How can you give advice like that after seeing her only once?”

“I told you. I have good instincts.”

This went beyond good instincts. Was this not practically a superpower?

As Aiden stared at Teresa in astonishment, she smiled again.

“I can give you as much advice as you want, so feel free to call me again later.”

“Thank you.”

“But grant me one favor.”

“Yes?”

“Later, let me meet Noel just once.”

“...”

“There’s something I never got to tell her. At least that much, I want to tell her.”

Aiden silently nodded.

“...Of course. That much is no problem.”

Besides, once he had brought her in here, it was only natural that he should let her meet Noel.

He would have to look into how to make it happen.

“Then I’ll try speaking to Lady Noel tomorrow.”

“Right. The moment you bring it up, things will probably get all warm and fuzzy.”

...Hmm.

Aiden listened quietly, then nodded carefully.

“Understood. I’ll give it a try right away.”

▣

Noel Astria Seamus’s recent days had been terribly gloomy.

Her daily life and duties themselves had not changed much. She still oversaw national defense and the overall administration of the military at the Imperial Capital’s government offices.

There were a few troublesome matters among them, but...

‘...What in the world is this man doing now?’

She frowned as she looked over the report on her desk.

It briefly summarized the movements of the Prince, who should have been keeping his head down after picking a fight with her not long ago.

‘He’s too quiet.’

That was the only way to put it.

It was not as though he was doing nothing. He seemed to be involved in one thing or another, but all of it happened behind the scenes, making it impossible to identify what he was doing or investigate and uproot it.

It felt like she could not openly crack down on him.

Still, it left her with an unpleasant feeling.

It felt like the calm before a storm. Like he was keeping quiet because he was preparing to cause something enormous.

Every time she saw it, her expression tightened without her realizing it...

“...”

No. That was not it.

It was unpleasant, but it did not explain all of her gloom.

She had already been through too much trouble because of that man to become depressed over this. If he tried anything again, she could simply knock him down properly and make sure he never got back up.

The real reason for her gloom was the man who had become her fiancé.

“What exactly are you two?”

...Not long ago.

She remembered Katia asking her that.

And the fact that she had been unable to give a clear answer still caught in Noel’s heart.

‘...What exactly are we?’

They were engaged by contract.

...Even as a summary, it could not have been more vague. Noel had no idea how Aiden truly felt about her.

That was why she, famous for never allowing distractions during work, was holding a communication magic stone in trembling hands.

[...Is that why you contacted me?]

The person on the other side of the video call let out a faint laugh.

Having gone through the Coalition War, Noel naturally knew many people. Elena Va’del, one of the chieftains of the Great Plains’ tribal alliance, was one of the few people Noel could speak openly to about her feelings.

The so-called “normal person” of the Great Plains.

Why had she earned such a nickname?

The world of superhumans was fundamentally a harsh place full of conflict, and those at its highest levels were all strange people with more than a few screws loose in one way or another. Regardless of gender, they were light-years away from ordinary common sense.

...Unfortunately, it was hard to say Noel herself was entirely different.

How many women in the world had killed more men than they had dated...?

If someone asked what she knew about men, all she could say was that kicking someone in the groin was surprisingly effective in an emergency during battle.

So.

Even among superhumans, people who still retained soft feelings like romance were an extremely rare breed. Elena was exactly that sort of person.

She was a remarkable rarity who had somehow kept ordinary sensibilities amid all those lunatics.

In other words.

As another woman of a similar age with plenty of experience in such matters, Elena was practically Noel’s only savior right now.

“...Elena, please. There’s no one else I can ask about this.”

[...Hmm.]

Elena rubbed her chin as she looked Noel up and down.

Lionheart herself had contacted her, so Elena had wondered what could possibly be the matter. Now Noel was desperately begging for advice, her eyes full of earnestness.

Accustomed to seeing Noel on the battlefield, Elena could only prop her chin on her hand with interest at the sight.

‘...This girl.’

She was deeply smitten. There was no doubt about it.

The woman who had taken lives without batting an eye on the battlefield was worrying herself sick over this. Elena could not help wondering what kind of man had made her like this.

Still, the answer to Noel’s concern of wanting to take their relationship further but not knowing how was already obvious.

[Noel.]

“Yes?”

[How many men in the world do you think could reject you?]

“...What?”

[Just make a bold move, and he’ll probably fall for you. You could take your pick of men, so what are you doing, you silly girl?]

When she thought about it, it was only natural.

Whether it was her social standing, her personal ability, or her sheer physical beauty, it was hard to deny that Noel was outstanding by any standard.

There had been political calculations involved, certainly, but had she not once been courted by the crown prince of an entire nation? That alone proved it.

And what was the reaction of a woman with such strengths?

“But he could still reject me.”

[...If his tastes are exceptionally strange, perhaps.]

“...Then what if he rejects me?”

[...]

...She was trembling in fear of that incredibly slight possibility.

“W-What if Aiden comes to hate me...”

[...Hey.]

Elena pressed her aching temples and glared at Noel.

Even as Noel spoke, tears were starting to gather in her eyes. She looked as though the situation she feared had already happened...

[You said he accepted when you asked him out on a date last time.]

“...He did.”

[Then just think of it as doing the same thing again. What exactly are you worried about?]

She had already succeeded once, so Elena understood her even less.

“But... what if he only went with me because of all the time we’ve spent together?”

[...]

“There’s no guarantee the second time will work.”

[...We are talking about your fiancé, right? How did you two meet and get that far?]

...There was no answer to that.

With the helplessness of someone completely at a loss, Elena covered her face with one hand.

She had vaguely known this woman was more inexperienced with romance than expected, but she had never imagined it was this bad.

[I am curious what kind of person he is. He made you worry this much, so I would like to meet him at least once...]

“No.”

[...]

The way she flatly refused something like that was absurd.

The image of Noel trembling like a small animal just moments ago was gone. She answered coldly, as though she might start a fight if Elena said one more word.

“You cannot meet Aiden. Never.”

[...Why?]

“You might be his type. It’s not like you’re unattractive.”

[...]

Elena was not sure whether she should be happy at the compliment or sad that she was being treated like trash who would steal her friend’s fiancé.

[...Fine. Do whatever you want. Other than telling you to make the first move, I cannot really give you any other advice.]

“...That’s difficult, but... I’ll try.”

Elena snorted at Noel, who had wilted again, then tilted her head.

[There is one thing you should probably be careful about.]

“Yes?”

[I do not know him well, but looking at how desperately you’re clinging to him, he seems much more skilled at handling people and wrapping them around his finger than you are.]

“...Yes.”

She could not deny that.

Both Noel and Katia had their hearts completely tied to him. It was obvious as daylight.

If someone like that was not skilled, then who was...?

[Be a little careful if he is the one who approaches you first.]

“If he approaches me first?”

[Yes. Especially if he calls you out saying he has something important to tell you, or suddenly says that the two of you should get to know each other better.]

“Why should I be careful about that...?”

[If he has bad intentions, winning you over right now would be easier than eating cold porridge. He could deceive you about something important and harm you...]

“Aiden is not that kind of person, Elena.”

Elena sighed at Noel’s cold response.

[I am talking about what if, what if. Even if that man sweet-talks you because he wants to spend one night with you?]

“...Ah.”

[Even if he likes you, things can still develop that way. Men are faithful to those instincts. Are you prepared for something like that?]

“...”

Noel’s face turned so red it looked ready to burst.

[Or perhaps you need to prepare yourself. He might be tired of both of you constantly worrying like this. He might say that he is disappointed...]

“...”

Noel’s eyes turned so red they looked ready to burst.

[...No, do not start crying. It is not as though that has actually happened...]

“W-Wait! I’ll call you later!”