The Incompetent Noblewoman Marries the 'Devil of the Far East' as a Substitute Bride—Told by Her Parents to 'Die in Place of Your Sister,' She Left the House, but Her New Family Turned Out to Be Wonderful and She's Happy - Episode 1.41
I ended up taking a yakatabune a traditional Japanese houseboat.
With Satoru-sama, just the two of us…
A yakatabune is quite different from the kind of boat I had in mind.
First of all, it’s quite small.
It’s a single-story small boat.
But there is something like a hut built on the ship.
Inside, there were tatami mats laid out, a table set up, and food arranged on top of it.
Sashimi and tempura, delicious dishes unique to the Far East, are lined up…
But I was more nervous than I was about the meal.
because we’re on a ship, just the two of us in a space where no one can disturb us.
Just the two of us, with the person I like.
That too, in a private room, and… at night.
My body stiffens, and my hands start to sweat slightly.
“Ray, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, no…”
We are sitting side by side.
He sticks to me closely.
Normally, I wouldn’t refuse because I think refusing would be disrespectful to my parents, but… I’ve created a bit of distance between us.
“Um, um… you’re too close.”
“Really? Isn’t it always like this?”
“Y-yes, but…”
Satoru-sama is approaching again.
No good. For some reason, my heart is racing more than usual.
“Are you nervous?”
“Y-yes…”
“Is that so? …To be honest, well, I’m the same way.”
“Even you, Satoru-sama?”
Satoru-sama is giving a wry smile while holding my hand.
I-I can’t go… I’m all sweaty… Huh?
Satoru-sama hands were also sweating.
As he himself said, he seems to be nervous.
“Why…?”
“Don’t you understand?”
“Yes…”
I am with the person I admire, and I’m feeling nervous.
I wonder how Satoru-sama is doing…
“I’m nervous about being alone with the girl I like in a closed room at night.”
“A girl I like…?”
“Who else is there besides you?”
In a sulky manner, Satoru-sama says.
That slightly childish side of you is cute, but I can’t help but think it’s a bit disrespectful.
You like me.
Really? Do you truly mean it? Are you really thinking that?
I can’t help but think how nice it would be if I could use Princess Lisa’s awakening ability.
But reading someone’s mind without permission is rude.
So… even if I could use it, I won’t.
Even if Satori can use the imitation copy of Nue…
“Ray”
Satoru-sama is approaching me slowly.
Thud, the sliding door hits my back.
Satoru-sama looms over me… There’s nowhere left to escape.
“I like you. Really.”
If I could have taken those words at face value, how much better it would have been.
But, as a useless noble lady, I can’t help but think this way.
Really, though.
Because I have always been looked down upon and insulted by those around me as an incompetent noble lady.
Since coming to the Far East, indeed… I have blossomed in various ways, and people around me have been praising me.
But even so… maybe it’s just because everyone around is kind, or because Satoru-sama is kind, that I’m being praised…
“Rei. You’re thinking about unnecessary things.”
“Eh…?”
Satoru-sama is bringing his face closer to mine.
“What would it take for you to listen to my words without blocking your ears?”
Satoru-sama has a face that looks like he’s about to cry.
Ah, no. Really, I’m such a bad kid.
I’ve really made the other person uncomfortable…
“Rei. I’m… so frustrated. I love you so much, but you don’t seem to understand that at all.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Rei, please… don’t be so self-deprecating. Just… accept it. Accept me…”
Satoru-sama is leaning in closer.
Little by little, their face is getting closer.
I realized you were trying to kiss me.
A kiss. It’s something that couples do as a matter of course.
I am the bride who came to marry into the Ichijo family by royal decree.
Kissing him feels like an obligation imposed on the bride.
I have to… kiss him.
But. I wonder if it’s really okay to do this.
If I do this, I won’t be able to go back anymore…
The incompetent young lady and Lord Satoru… have no choice but to become a couple.
Is it really okay for him to take someone like me as his wife?
I wonder how I am.
I definitely have the desire to kiss. After all, I… like the kind Satoru.
Close your eyes and try to surrender.
But, is it okay?
And then, the calm part of me questions me.
Am I not taking advantage of Satoru-sama kindness…?
“Rei. Why do you look so troubled…?”
When I opened my eyes, Satoru-sama… had a sad look on his face.
“Do you hate me?”
“It’s not true…! I don’t hate you!”
“Then… why are you rejecting me?”
“Reject… No, that’s not it… Because I… I can’t help but think that someone like me, a worthless person, shouldn’t be with someone as wonderful as you, Satoru-sama…”
“Rei… Why do you have to be so self-deprecating? I… love you this much…!”
Ah, I’ve made them angry.
Look, I’m just a clumsy and incompetent young lady.
So… after all…
And then, at that moment.
“Rei-chan! Outside!”
I heard my sister’s voice in my head.
“Outside…?”
“Enemies! Be careful!”
With a loud bang…! the roof and walls of the houseboat are destroyed.
Zoom! Something approached us at an incredible speed.
“Rei!”
Satoru-sama is… hugging me.
The sound of “swish…!”
“huh?”
Satoru-sama collapses on top of me, utterly exhausted.
“Eh? Eh? …Eh?”
A deep cut had formed on Satoru-sama back.
A large amount of bl00d flows out.
“Huh…? What… why…?”
“Ah, I missed it.”
When I looked in the direction of the voice… there stood a man in mid-air.
No, that’s not right.
It’s not above the sky, it’s above the water.
From the surface of the water, a column of water is rising, and on top of it… a man is standing.
The place was not a river.
It was the sea…
I heard that the ship would only go down the river and not go out to sea…
“I was disguised as the boatman, and you never even noticed. What a fool!”
“Who are you…?”
The man smirks.
“I am the servant of Lord Hakumen Great Sea Demon – Suiko Mizuko!”
White face…
I’ve heard it somewhere. I think it’s someone with a connection to the Ichijo family…
“I’ve come to eliminate the annoying presence that hinders Lord Hakumen resurrection!”
Erasure… Killing…
R-right! Lord Satoru!!!!!!!
He is exhausted and unable to move.
Bl00d is pouring out… I’m about to… die…
“No, no… don’t die… Satoru-sama…”
What should I do…? What should I do…?
I can’t do anything…
See, I really can’t do anything.
Zashiki-warashi?
Tao Tie?
Nue…?
Even if you have all sorts of amazing abilities, it doesn’t matter because the person using them is a fool.
A treasure that is not used.
Someone like me… doesn’t deserve to be noticed by Satoru-sama…
“Rei…”
“Lord Satoru！！！！！
At the moment of death, he… murmured.
“I… love… you…”
In a situation where he might die, he… said it.
I love you…
“Will this… get through to you… I… like you… I… love you…”
Satoru-sama is dying.
It’s not a situation where you can lie.
I don’t have that kind of free time.
Because it was words spoken at the brink of death, there was… a sense of truth in them.
Ah…
Finally, it reached me. His words and thoughts, in my ears.
I love you, I love you. He told me so many times.
I… really…
I can’t believe I have to go this far to trust him…
“Gyahaha! Ichijo Satoru is dead, huh…! With this, Hakumen-sama will also be revived and will surely be delighted…!”
“re”
“All that’s left is to kill you! Dieeeeeee!”
Suiko Mizutora swings her arm.
A blade of water is flying towards us.
I will… say.
“Shut up.”
With a roar, the blade of water vanished.
“What!? My water blade… was extinguished!? An ability killer!? No, but that power doesn’t activate unless it touches…!?”
Then… next to me, a creature with a strange shape appears.
“Wha, what!? No way!? T, Tōtetsu… is that you!?”
What is Suiko Mizutora surprised about?
I am a reincarnated-type ability user of the gluttonous beast.
It’s strange to be surprised.
“Spirit Source Release!? Nonsense!? There’s no way a newly awakened woman could use such an advanced technique!!!”
Ah, so noisy.
“Shut up”
The beast that appeared beside me… the gluttonous beast, Tōtetsu, soars through the sky.
“Eek! D-don’t come any closer!”
Suiko the Water Tiger throws multiple blades.
But the gluttonous beast devours it all.
Open wide… and then swallow Suiko whole.
“Even Satoru Gojo can’t… master the Reigen Kaiho… what a monster…”
The gluttonous beast, Tōtetsu, swallows Suiko with a gulp.
All that remained was silence.
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