Chapter 17: Be Careful When Coming Out

The weather outside was sunny and warm.

Carna suggested to have a picnic someday, so they made plan to have a tea party at the flower garden next time. While they were talking about the plan, they had reached a huge building that was as tall as the clock tower.

“It’s huge!” Folia exclaimed as she raised her head to look at the library. So many books and documents were stored here including research materials and popular publications. Researchers who have obtained a special pass would also come to borrow technical books from this library.

Such a luxurious place. Razé was amazed at the overwhelming number of books she saw the moment she entered the library.

Carna: “With this scale, I don’t think we can cover the whole area just in one day.”

Razé: “Right. Just like Folia said, we really could get lost in the library.”

Folia: “Don’t worry. You can ask for help from the librarian. Shall we meet later at the counter on the first floor?”

Carna: “I’m okay with that.”

Once they have confirmed that, the three of them separated and went to the areas they were interested in. Razé straight away went to look for a biology journal.

“Found it.” She managed to find the book in no time by using detection magic. Then, she walked around looking for the other two girls.

“Which floor could they be …” Razé thought most likely they had went to read novels, so she went down to the third floor. As she walked down the aisle, she checked each row between the bookstack and saw milk tea colored hair not far away from her.

Razé: “Ah, Fo-”

Carna: “Razé-san, wait!”

When she was about to call out to Folia, Carna suddenly appeared from behind a bookshelf and pulled Razé’s arm.

Razé: “Wha- What happened?”

Carna: “Shh, don’t make a sound. I’m trying to confirm something now.”

Razé was puzzled when Carna covered her mouth. She then joined Carna to observe Folia who was standing some distance away. Folia was stretching her arm trying to pick a book from the top shelf.

“Is this the one?”

Claude Orr Lesir suddenly appeared next to Folia. Seeing this, Razé thought that it was rare for Claude to be by himself because he usually stayed by Ruben’s side.

Folia: “Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Claude: “No problem. That book was quite interesting.”

Folia: “Really? I can’t wait to read it! I really like the book written by this author. Lesir-sama, you know this author too?”

Claude: “… You can just call me Claude.”

Folia: “C- Claude-sama?”

Claude: “Yes. If you like this author, then I’d recommend you to read this book.”

The two of them looked like they were having fun and it was kind of a sweet moment. Razé was unsure how Lord Moldir felt about Folia, but looking at this situation, she felt sorry for him.

“Hmm, it seems that not all plots got changed …” Carna muttered to herself. Razé heard those words and looked at her.

Razé: “Plot?”

Carna: “No- Nothing.”

Carna averted her eyes awkwardly but Razé wouldn’t let her get away and grabbed her arm.

Razé: “Carna-sama. Are you perhaps …?”

Carna: (￣△￣；)

Razé: “It’s not convenient to talk here. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Razé pulled Carna away and went outside the library. Carna looked at Razé’s reaction as she thought, could it be …

At the same time, inside the library.

“Lady Carna?” Ruben, who was standing by the window, saw Carna being pulled by Razé. He had an incredulous look on his face.

There was something that Razé and Carna had overlooked; if Claude was in the library, then of course Ruben should be nearby too.

* * *

Once they had reached a place with no one around, Razé turned around to face Carna. It was important for her to verify her doubt. If she was wrong, it was fine. But if she was right, then this would affect the future.

Carna: “Ra- Razé-san?”

Razé: “Lady Carna, there is something that I want to confirm with you.”

Carna: “…Actually, I’m thinking about the same thing too.”

Razé: “Really?”

Carna: “Yes.”

Both of them fell silent for a while. They steeled themselves before they spoke up simultaneously.

Carna: “Are you a reincarnator too?”

Razé: “Can you use precognition magic?”

…

Although their voice overlapped with each other, they could clearly understood what the other person had asked. Both of them were stunned.

Carna and Razé: “… … huh?”

They both had the same expression on their face.

Razé: “Wa- Wait a second! Carna-sama, are you a reincarnator?”

Carna: “Forget what I said just now! When I saw your expression when you asked about the plot, I thought you also know that this world is an otome game. I thought that you’re also a reincarnator. It was my mistake! Ah, you wouldn’t even understand what I said, right? Oh, what have I done-”

Carna was in a panic. She covered her face with her hands. When Razé heard her words, she felt like she had been hit by a lightning.

Razé: “Aaaaaa!!!”

Carna heard her scream and jumped up in surprise.

Razé: “That’s it! That’s what it is! This academy feels like a world inside an otome game!!”

Razé finally recalled the memory from her previous life. She got so excited and grabbed Carna’s shoulder.

Carna: “Huh? What do you mean? Could it be … you too?”

Razé: “I’ve never told anyone about this, but I have the memories of my previous life. The otome game that you said is a love simulator game, right?”

When she heard those words, Carna’s eyes were shining brightly.

Carna: “That’s right! This world is from an otome game called Blue Orchid. Razé-san, you are a reincarnator but you don’t know about this?”

Razé: “I know what an otome game is but I’ve never played it in my previous life.”

Carna grabbed Razé’s hand like she wouldn’t let her ran away.

Carna: 「Do you understand what I’m saying?」[1]

Razé: 「Of course. Japanese was my native language too.」

Listening to someone other than herself speaking Japanese, Carna got so happy, she spontaneously hugged Razé.

Carna: “Oh, how I wish I had meet you sooner!! I’d always thought that maybe there is another reincarnator other than me!”

Razé: “Me too. In these 15 years, you are the first one that I met.”

Carna: “15 years? You had your memories since you were born?”

Razé: “Yes.”

Carna: “I see. I recalled my memories when I was 12.”

Razé: “Seems like it varies from person to person. It’s a miracle that we could meet like this.”

Carna calmed down and let go of Razé. The person in front of her was also a reincarnator but didn’t know that this world was an otome game.

Carna: “There is one thing I need to ask you. Are you in love with Prince Ruben?”

Razé: “Huh?! Why are asking this question?!”

Carna felt relieved after looking at Razé’s reaction. Razé then remembered about the stereotype plot in an otome game.

Razé: “Prince Ruben, and the other top aristocrats’ sons. Folia who is a commoner that can use healing magic. Carna-sama is the fiancée …”

Razé felt like she can see the storyline of the game and her face turned pale.

Razé: “Could it be …”

“Yes. Folia is the protagonist in the Blue Orchid and I’m her rival, the villainess Carna Foote Mortens. And the worst thing is this game has battle fantasy genre. In the end, I would be drowned in hatred, became a kaiju, and was destined to be defeated by the heroine and the others,” said Carna in a trembling voice as she collapsed to the ground.

Razé caught her and said, “I won’t let that happen.” She promised Carna with a serious look. Carna tears fell down when she heard it.

“It’s fine now. Whatever happen, I will protect you.” Razé hugged Carna and stroke her back until she calmed down. Actually, Razé was screaming in her heart. Heyyyyyyyy! I didn’t hear that it was an otome game?!!!!

And this otome game has a very scary plot. Prince Ruben’s fiancé, Carna became a kaiju (?) and ended up getting killed. Such big incident that never happened before. I’m on a mission to protect them. If I couldn’t prevent it … I’m going to lose my job. Or most likely, I’m going to lose my life.[2]

She couldn’t stay calm in such situation. But she couldn’t panic in front of Carna so she desperately pretended to be calm.

Carna: “Thank you. Razé …”

“It’s fine. I couldn’t let a lady cry by herself,” Razé said as she wiped the tears on Carna’s face causing her heart to skipped a beat.

At that time.

“What are you doing there?” Suddenly a dignified voice came from behind them.

Razé spontaneously used detection magic when she felt someone nearby, but she was shocked when she heard that voice.

Carna: “Your Highness!”

Carna didn’t want him to see her crying face, so she quickly hid behind Razé. Razé could understood her intention but she was at a loss.

Ruben: “What’s wrong with Lady Carna? What did you do?”

Razé: … (ﾟﾛﾟ;ﾉ)ﾉ

She could feel his murderous aura and it made her nervous. At this rate, she feared he would misunderstand that she had done something to Carna.

Carna: “Your Highness, you’ve misunderstood! Razé is my precious friend. I cried because I was happy to meet her.”

…She called her Razé? It was very unusual for Carna to call someone by their first name[3]. Ruben frowned when he heard this. He walked towards Carna and bended his knees.

Ruben: “…I see. I understand. But please don’t show your vulnerable face to other people.”

Carna: “Huh?”

Ruben suddenly picked her up and effortlessly carried her in a princess carry.

Carna: “Y- Your Highness?!”

Ruben: “Stay still.”

Wow … Razé felt dizzy as she witnessed this scene.

Carna, whose ears had turned red, stayed obediently in Ruben’s arm and called out to Razé.

Carna: “Razé!”

Razé: “Yes?”

Carna: 「Can we talk more later?」

Razé: 「Of course. You’re my precious friend. I promise I will protect you. Oh right, I will get your bag and send it to your room later!」

Razé noticed that Carna purposely talked to her in Japanese most probably because she didn’t tell Ruben about the otome game. If she hadn’t talked to Carna just now, perhaps the girl would struggle alone facing her tragic ending.

“Thank you,” Carna said embarrassedly. She definitely didn’t look like a villainess. Razé waved her hand lightly as she watched her being carried away.

Carna seemed to be unaware, but Razé, who was stared by Prince Ruben just now, could sense the truth. She said to herself, “…It looks like her death flag [4] has already been snapped.”

No matter how she looked at it, it was obvious that Ruben liked Carna very much.

Razé was left alone by herself. Thinking of Ruben’s reaction and his strong possessive nature, Razé felt worried about the future. If he thought of her as a rival, the future was going to be very tough.

“There’s no use to think about it … I have to collect Carna’s bag and pick up Folia.”

Regardless what Ruben was going to do, she needed to make preparation. She was still skeptical about this world being an otome game, but she knew that Carna could foresaw what was going to happen.

As a soldier, she was required to report about Carna’s precognition ability … But the situation was a bit complicated. People might think that it was a make-believe, so she had no choice but to continue her duty to watch over the students here.

In Shian, those who could use precognition magic are required to be put under protection. For example, the Great Grandmother who had predicted that a child born in Year of Seira would be blessed with divine oracle. She lived in a palatial residence.

If something did happen later, then Razé would be held liable for not reporting about Carna’s ability. Nothing was more horrifying than this.

(；´д｀)=3

Razé let out a sigh involuntarily.

[1] Dialogue inside of 「this bracket 」 indicates that they were conversing in Japanese. ↩

[2] A word play. Lose a job in Japanese is クビ (lit. neck), while to behead is 首を落とす(lit. drop your neck/head) ↩

[3] Carna called her first name ‘Razé’ without any honorific title (san, sama, chan, kun, etc.). You cannot drop the honorific title unless you’re very close with the person. ↩

[4] If you are unfamiliar with ‘death flag’, you can read more here. ↩