The Strange but Effective Villainess Life

Episode 29: Someone Is Back (VII)

Looking at him, I tilted my head and asked.

“…If you’re so worried about my wound, why don’t you give me some medicine and a bandage?”

“Well. Medicine and bandages cannot be returned.”

Cesare laughed mischievously.

Peep flapped her wings and whispered in full audibility.

<Kiana, I think that man is a bit demanding!>

But there was something Cesare did not know.

It was that I didn’t have to give back what others gave me.

─➽⊰

It was surprising to run into Cesare at the clubhouse, but it all worked out anyway.

Before boarding the carriage, I handed a gold coin to the spy maid. It was the same gold coin I had taken out of the bag of gold coins I had given to Cesare.

“This is yours, Spy.”

“…Yes?”

The value of a gold coin was enormous.

The spy maid’s eyes widened.

“Since you quickly turned chips into money, there must be an incentive.”

“I-I was just following orders…”

“I’m giving it to you because you followed that order. I hope that in the future, you will work hard to improve your physical strength and handle such things well. I’m out of shape.”

“Princess…”

The face of her spy maid was filled with emotion.

‘Indeed, where there is wealth, there is emotion.’

Coolly, I nodded and got on the carriage with Peep. And in the carriage on the way home, Peep flapped her wings.

<It was so much fun, Kiana!>

“Oh? What did you enjoy the most?”

<The handsome face of that grim man! It was fun just to look at it.>

“Right? It’s great.”

As expected, summons and humans had the same discernment.

We took a moment to seriously examine Cesare’s face.

After that, I stroked Peep’s head and whispered.

“Then, since it was fun, you should work, shouldn’t you?”

<What?>

“Maybe there’s a reply.”

Peep looked at me with eyes containing disbelief.

<Oh my God, how long has it been since Peep came back… work again…>

“Actually, you should still be working. But you came back sooner than expected. So don’t feel bad.”

<W-What is that nonsense!>

“It’s forced, but very logical. Go quickly.”

<Kiana!>

Peep said urgently.

<There’s something Kiana doesn’t know yet. It takes a different amount of time to deliver something Kiana gives and to receive something and pass it on to Kiana.>

“Ah. Is the time required for sending and receiving different?”

<Yes! Because we use the Other World for transportation. There is a time difference between bringing things in and taking them out…>

“So what’s the point?”

<It takes much longer to bring something to Kiana! When I was next to Melissa, it’s about a month!>

That meant it would take longer to get a reply back.

I immediately commented on that further clarification.

“But what does that have to do with me? Whether it’s for a month or a week, try your best to get a reply.”

<Kiana, but now it’s full of fun things…>

It was a pitiful sight to see.

<Tomorrow, Kiana and that dreary man’s contract relationship will begin, and it’s obvious I’ll miss some things while I’m gone for a long time…!>

“Well, what can I do? I’ll just have fun on my own.”

<Wow… your personality…>

“So go, Peep. If there is a reply in the mailbox, please bring it.”

And I added earnestly, recalling my days as a professor.

“And like I said, try to go a little faster.”

<No, it’s not up to me…>

“You just have to try. Try it and tell me. If you work hard, you will get used to working hard, and you will continue to live like that.”

<What nonsense is that? Do you have any evidence?>

“Yes.”

I responded calmly.

“The law of inertia.”

<…….>

Peep pouted and turned around.

<If only magic engineering is ruined.>

─➽⊰

Cesare’s mansion, after Kiana had left.

Cesare immediately got up, washed, and changed his clothes. And indifferently ordered the servant.

“Throw away all the clothes I was wearing when you went out today. The smell on those clothes is very disgusting.”

Acute in all senses, the smell of the clubhouse ingrained in the clothes was unbearable. Besides, he had mysophobia, so he didn’t want to wear it again, even if it was washed.
(TL/N: mysophobia is an extreme or irrational fear of dirt or contamination.)

Suddenly, his gaze turned to the floor. Avian’s handkerchief was scattered there.

Cesare stared at the handkerchief and said calmly to the servant.

“Send it tomorrow morning to Prince Abian of the Duke of Lisinis.”

A satisfied smile appeared on his face, like a happy beast.

“Be sure to add that it was returned by the Marquisate of Levin.”

─➽⊰

‘Please don’t, please don’t…’

In the space of another world, Peep quietly prayed.

‘Please, let there be nothing…’

She wanted to return to the human world as soon as possible. To be precise, she wanted to be by Kiana’s side.

Going out to the clubhouse and meeting Cesare were so much fun.

Peep didn’t say it because she was afraid Kiana would be upset, but since she had an ego, it was inevitable that Melissa and Kiana would be compared. Melissa, who had a weak heart, and Kiana, who was addicted to research, were completely different.

‘Strange. It hasn’t been long since I was handed over to Kiana…’

Peep thought of Kiana’s calm face and trembled.

‘But I listen to orders like I’m serving my master.’

In fact, when Peep was with Melissa, she was good at skimping and messing around. Perhaps she couldn’t win against Kiana because she was unexpectedly charismatic?

‘And there’s another really strange thing.’

Peep tilted her head.

‘I’m more energetic than when I was with Melissa.’

To begin with, Peep was not a very strong pet. She could only carry objects small that fit into her beak. And, delivery took a long time, so she couldn’t be of great use.

She thought these limitations were natural. Because Melissa was a collateral.

There weren’t many collaterals that could call summons. Most collateral summons had very limited abilities. Usually, it was a time limit. Prelai’s direct lineage was not recognized for no reason.

Anyway, that was why she mostly sat idle by Melissa, giving her worldly advice. It was also why she wasn’t used to working.

It was Melissa who summoned her. But when she was next to Kiana, it felt like her abilities were being strengthened.

‘It could be… Is there…?’

Yes, she thought she was a weak summon of the collateral… 

‘Look at this.’

Peep swallowed dry saliva as she stared at the piece of paper.

‘Already…’

There was a note in Kiana’s personal mailbox. Apparently, it came in today.

Peep was using the Other World to move without others knowing. Now all she had to do was return to Kiana with the letter.

With Melissa, it took a very long time to bring the object to the Other World… It was an instant now.

And it took longer to go back to the human world than to bring the object to the Other World.

‘At this speed, I can get to Kiana quickly? I don’t think it will take a month.’

Peep tilted her head.

‘Did I really work hard? Am I unconsciously trying? Is that why the speed increased?’

And the contents of the note bitten by the beak were simple.

Hello, my benefactor.

It was written in a light, playful, and yet slightly affectionate way.

I am well.

Despite hiding himself, his handwriting was neat.

If you’re in a difficult situation, don’t worry.

The laid-back style was full of confidence.

It’ll be solved soon.