What If the Strongest Villain from the Original Story Became the Protagonist's Ally? - Chapter 37 - Can't Read the Room, and Going Home

I returned to the village with Iris.

Iris and I, having defeated large numbers of monsters, were immediately surrounded by villagers.

“Princess Iris! Thank you for defeating the monsters!”

“Princess Iris! Thanks to you, the village was protected!”

“Princess Iris! That was magnificent swordsmanship! I was completely entranced!”

Everyone without exception celebrated Iris’s achievements wholeheartedly.

From this situation, it seemed like the matter of me blowing away part of the forest would be swept under the rug.

That had left quite a wide area completely bald. I couldn’t afford to pay damages.

“Um, well… it wasn’t just my achievement. This Yuu-san here—mmph”

Since Iris was about to say something unnecessary, I physically closed her mouth.

When she looked at me, she protested with half-lidded eyes. Her eyes spoke more than her mouth would have. “What are you doing?”

In response, I brought my mouth close to her ear and—

“Sorry, Iris. You don’t need to talk about me. For now, accept their praise.”

—conveyed that.

Then Iris—

“Mmh!”

—suddenly blushed and twisted her body slightly.

The voice that leaked through the gaps in my hand sounded strangely seductive.

“P-Princess Iris? What’s the matter?”

One of the villagers called out to Iris, whose behavior had changed.

When I removed my hand from Iris’s mouth, she shook her head while her face remained flushed.

“N-no… it’s nothing. More importantly, I’m a bit tired, so may I rest?”

“Oh my, of course. How inconsiderate of us. Please, relax in my home.”

The one who said that was the village chief, who had approached while parting the crowd.

I’d been to his house once before. Taking him up on his kind offer, Iris and I followed the village chief’s back as he began walking.

Quietly, as we walked, Iris said—

“Please don’t suddenly whisper in my ear. You surprised me.”

—so a mischievous impulse sprouted in me.

I erased my presence and brought my mouth close to her ear again…

“Sorry, Iris.”

“~~~!?”

I muttered an apology in a whisper.

Her shoulders jumped.

“Yuu-san!”

“Ahaha. Sorry, sorry. Look, we’ll be left behind by the village chief, right? We need to hurry and follow him.”

“Grr…! I have various things to discuss with you later!”

“Is it okay if I run away?”

“Feel free if you don’t mind being put on a wanted list.”

“…Roger that.”

It seemed I couldn’t escape from her.

I’d been told something quite serious so casually.

▼△▼

We arrived at the village chief’s house.

The village chief and his wife said they would report this incident to the villagers and immediately went out.

Seeing the village chief’s happy expression, I wondered if they were also being considerate of us.

Well, taking them up on their kind words, I settled into a chair.

“Whew~. Rest after working hard is exceptional.”

“I can’t believe those are the words of someone who pushed a monster onto someone else.”

“That was for Iris’s sake.”

“At least give me a little time to think! Really…”

Puff, Iris puffed out her cheeks.

I could tell that expression wasn’t one of genuine anger.

I chuckled and—

“I’m really sorry. Next time I’ll report it beforehand if possible.”

“‘If possible’ doesn’t sound like the words of someone who’ll definitely do it… Fine, whatever. I know that’s just how Yuu-san is.”

“We’re in perfect harmony.”

“Do you know what that means?”

Glare, Iris stared at me.

I averted my gaze while whistling poorly.

She—

“Well, as long as Yuu-san is safe, that’s fine.”

—muttered quietly.

Come to think of it, I remembered.

“You said the same thing earlier. Sorry for making you worry. Only Iris can kill me, so you can feel at ease, okay?”

“Is that supposed to be reassuring? Rather, it seems like Yuu-san would be the anxious one…”

“Not at all. I wouldn’t mind being killed by you. Of course I want to live, but I could still accept it.”

“Why?”

“Because I like Iris.”

“!”

Ka~~~~! Iris’s face turned bright red.

Including that tendency to react easily, I loved her. Talking, looking, interacting like this—my feelings swelled even more.

“I like you, so I wouldn’t mind being killed. That’s love, right?”

“Wh-wh-what are you saying! Suddenly, ah, ah, love, and such…”

“Ah, that’s right, that’s right. I left Nana in the royal palace. I need to keep His Majesty in good spirits too, so should we return to the capital today?”

“Yuu-san… you’re the worst.”

“Eh?”

When I changed the subject, Iris glared at me with an extremely dissatisfied expression. Even her previously bright red face had changed to a demonic aura.

D-did I… do something?

I wouldn’t say I didn’t do anything, right?

As I trembled in fear at Iris’s transformation, she sighed and then—

“…But you’re right, I am worried about Nana. As Yuu-san says, shall we return today?”

“It’s decided then. When the village chief returns, we’ll tell them that.”

Iris nodded silently. I need to prepare a souvenir for Nana too…