Vol. 7 - Chapter 373 - Furious Sierra, is that the demon behind her?
"Zephyr, if you have any explanation, I am all ears."
"S-Sierra, there is a very intricate reason behind it. A-Atleast listen to me first. I hope you make a judgement---correct judgement after that!"
I bowed my head to Sierra, who was standing imposingly in my room.
Her quiet words were the last thing one would want to hear. I was so deterred by her anger that I instinctively straightened my posture, kneeled on the floor and bowed my head in a three-fingered gesture.
Prostrating, and me? No, it's just my way of earnestly pleading with her. I wasn't guilty of anything!
Seemingly my feelings being conveyed to her, Sierra spun merciful words.
"Alright. You can speak normally."
"Yes!"
Bless the goddess, she has calmed down. Atleast, she was open to talk. I raised my head, otherwise stayed kneeling on the floor. I just had that nagging feeling it wouldn't do good if I broke my posture. My legs were starting to numb a bit, but I endured it.
As I raised my head, I caught the visage of a person, who was as beautiful as a meticulously crafted sculpture, at the corner of my vision.
Sitting next to me was the Sister-chan who had pleaded (?) me to carry her when I was on my way to my room. Needlessly to say, I kind of ended up carrying her.
I had taken extreme measures this time, so i shouldn't be reported...... probably.
In my favour, my thoughts were as pristine as freshly fallen snow. It's just, it was really dangerous to leave her in that place alone. With no option, I brought her to the aristocratic dormitory, which had better security.
It was a force majeure to bring her to my room. And at this late, I couldn't climb the stairs to girl's floor either. I had no way out. Not at all, absolutely!
As a proof of my unblemished, transparent as glass thoughts, I was in touch with submaster Sierra over chat. Soon, she came to visit my room --- and I swear I could see the silhouette of a demon behind her --- and that's how the current situation played out.
I glanced at Sister-chan once again. It was dim outside so I couldn't see it clearly but in this room, as I see her in light, she was really a breathtaking beauty.
Her face was incredibly gorgeous. Her eyes, in particular, were striking; pale aqua colour and perfectly arranged eyelashes, they conveyed both strength and vulnerability at the same time, so mesmerising were her eyes.
"Zephyr?"
"Y-Yes! I will explain now! Or rather, it is just as I said in char, it was dangerous so I brought her along with me."
"...............I believe in Zephyr."
But that sure was a one long pause.
"Then, may I ask you a question?"
This time, Sierra turned to Sister-chan. Sister-chan hadn't utter a single word ever since Sierra arrived. Although not as talkative, she had spoken a fair amount before. Was she considerate of Sierra?
"You can."
Oh, she finally spoke up. It seemed she was simply being polite until Sierra and I finished our conversation.
"I should introduce myself first. I am <Combat Department Class-1 Year-1> Sierra, the submaster of guild <Eden>."
"I see. <Support Department Class-1 Year-3> Tabase."
Sister-chan revealed her name! I mean, so she was a 3rd year student!?
But I see, that beauty was the pinnacle of what the senior could achieve huh (Confused). Well, I had a hunch she might be a 3rd year student from her equipment.
"So Tabasa-senpai, are you related to any guild?"
"Yes, but not."
"Which is?"
"......want to leave."
"......I see."
Sierra seemed to have grasped the meaning hidden behind Sister-chan's simple word.
She wanted to leave, but couldn't, so Senpai probably went along with the thought of let's run away. She must have thought so. So in the end Senpai was a runaway girl!?
No, she was not just a simple runaway girl. If she had been, she wouldn't have uttered those words. I stared at the mesmerising eyes of Tabase-senpai, but I didn't see a shred of emotion in them. ......Something drastic must have happened.
"I will be straight, why did you cling to Zephyr? What is your goal?"
Oh, Sierra threw a straight ball. But indeed, this action might be akin to embroiling into the discord of another guild.
Furthermore, the one to call out her was the guildmaster of 1st year's strongest guild <Eden>.
So it was good enough to reason to doubt she must have some hidden motive. Except, it wasn't. As for why---
"Zephyr?"
"Ah~, it's my name."
"I see."
"Wait, you didn't know?"
"......Speaking of, who are you?"
"Is that where we are starting!? I am <Combat Department Class-1 Year-1> Zephyr, guildmaster of <Eden>."
It might be late, but Tabase-senpai didn't seem to know about me so she asked while fluttering her long eyelashes.
I self-introduced myself with a self-defeating expression. It seems like this esteemed Senapi of mine seriously wasn't aware.
So it wasn't just my imagination that her eyes were on me, she wasn't looking at me at all!
After another affirmation, it became clear that Tabase-senpai had requested me to 'carry her', unaware that I was the guildmaster of <Eden> or <Brave>. In short, anyone would have worked for her.
Sierra herself seemed to be baffled as she rubbed the corner of her eyes. But at the very least, it had proved my innocence.
Phew, finally.
"I understood. You can stay with me in my room, so go back tomorrow."
"I don't want to go back."
"Don't be selfish."
Ohh! As expected of ever-so-reliable Sierra, she didn't even miss out on 3rd year senpai.
"Hmm."
"Also, don't enter a boy's room so defensively. Boys are like a beast, it was fortunate Zephyr found you. However Zephyr is our precious guildmaster, so no tempting him. If you want to tempt someone, do it to a girl."
"What? Is that the problem?"
I was really rejoiced that Sierra said I was important to her, but her later words unconsciously make me rebut.
"My tongue slipped. Don't tempt girls either."
"I know. I also like boys."
Sierra was gradually losing her composure. Perhaps, she was just not good at dealing with that type of talk.
Also, I was relieved that Tabase-senpai was just an ordinary, simple girl.
Just imagining her heading to Sierra's room without that line nearly brought some wild fantasies to my mind.
"Zephyr, that's the situation over all. So I will be taking Senpai with me."
"O-Okay. It really helps."
Anyway, Tabase-senpai was going to be looked after by Sierra. Somehow, I feel like I was owing her a lot more favour. I still have yet to return the favour from before and more are already piling up. I needed to find a way to clear them somewhere.
Just as I was thinking that, Tabase-senpai turned to face me while continuing to kneel on the floor and lightly bow her head.
"Zephyr-san. Thank you for today."
"You're welcome. But as Sierra said, you really shouldn't say that line to just anyone."
"You're right. But I don't think I said that to just anyone."
"Hmm?"
"Yes, that's enough, Tabase-senpai. You seem to have already forgotten what I said earlier."
Just as I was musing over the meaning behind Tabase-senpai's word, Sierra chimed in suddenly. 'Don't think deeply about it', somehow I understood what she was trying to say as she interrupted us at that time.
Let's do that.
After slightly cleaning up the place, I waved them goodbye from the entrance.
"See you later, Zephyr. Also, I will do something about Senpai, so don't worry about her."
"Thanks, Sierra. See you later. Also, goodnight."
"Hmm, good night."
"Zephyr-san, good night."
"You too, Tabase-senpai."
Waving goodbye, the two went back.
It wasn't a big deal but I found myself mysteriously too exhausted.