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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 9 Chapter 4.2

Hearing that, I started panting (no, I was just trying to catch my breath because I was tired from running), and turned my attention to Ulysses, who was looking my way.

「What do you mean?」

「Because you looked like you were desperately trying to find an answer.」

I couldn’t help but react.

「… you’re just imagining it.」

「Really?」

「You’re getting really involved.」

「You won’t really show your true feelings unless I get involved.」

「Is that so?」

「That’s right. It was the same when we were staying here before. Kunon showed her emotions very openly, but you never showed any, Juugo.」

When they were in elementary school, Ulysses and Ishbal stayed with us for half a year as a homestay student.

「I’m just a wimp who gets nervous around girls.」

「I’ll leave it there.」

「Actually, you’re like that too. You’re reluctant to tell us how you really feel.」

「Is that so?」

「Yeah that’s so.」

They look at each other and then burst out laughing.

「It’s hard to know things about yourself, you know.」

「Yeah, you know, people around you actually know you better.」

Sora-neechan has been asking me a lot of questions lately, and that’s what I’ve been thinking.

Taking a sip of my sports drink, I suddenly look at the scenery in front of me. The cicadas’ chirps are loud as ever, and the cool breeze through the shade is pleasant.

「I kind of understand. Until recently, I was like you are now.」

After a while, Ulysses mutters, 「So, does that mean you don’t really want to get married?」

When I asked that probing question in a light-hearted tone, Ulysses shook her head with a gentle smile.

「I was worried before the topic of marriage came up. Besides, I want to marry Juugo-san.」

Wow, when she says that to my face, it really hits home!

Well, anyway, I’ll put my lust aside for now and ask her what I’m curious about.

「So, what changed then, Ulysses-chan?」

Ulysses, who was looking at the scenery, dropped her eyes to the plastic bottle in her hand.

「I stopped worrying.」

「You stopped worrying?」

A slightly unexpected answer.

「Yes. And I just thought that I will do what I can. And I vowed to fight for it. If it would make my beloved family happy.」

She looked straight at me. Her eyes were crystal clear, like the blue sky. They were very beautiful, but I couldn’t help but want to look away.

「For the sake of your beloved family, huh?」

「For that I will do anything.」

Those words were filled with determination. With that thought in mind, I stopped looking away from those eyes.

「Anything?」

「Yes.」

「Even if it’s something you don’t like?」

「Yes, I’ll do anything.」

「Even if it’s something that’s not right, like killing?」

She was surprised for a moment but then nodded.

「I can do it.」

Her determination remains unchanged, but he can also sense a slight hesitation.

That’s why I laughed.

「You’re strong, Ulysses.」

「I’m not strong. I’m probably weaker than anyone else. So I just do what I can.」

Because she’s weak. I guess that is why she’s so determined.

「Will your intentions remain the same even if you marry me?」

「Yes.」

「Would you do anything for your family?」

「Yes, if it’s for you, Juugo.」

「Then let’s get married.」

「…Um.」

「What’s wrong? You suddenly look like you’ve been hit by a blaster.」

「Um, there’s something strange about this… I don’t know why you decided that just now, with how the flow of this story was going.」

「What don’t you understand? I just thought we should after hearing the answer to the questions I asked. It’s pretty simple, right?」

「Yeah, that’s true, but… I mean, it’s not like you to decide like that, Juugo…」

「Oh, by the way, that thing about killing him earlier was just a joke.」

「Yes, of course I understand that.」

「That’s good. Sora-neechan would take it seriously.」

「I agree with that.」

Sore-neechan, it seems that even your best friend thinks you’re easy to fool.

「So, Juugo-san, what do you want me to do?」

「Something naughty, of course.」

In an instant, Ulysses-chan’s face went red and she started to panic.

「Um, well… I’m not that knowledgeable about that sort of thing, so I’ll study up, but I don’t know if I can do it well… but if you can teach me, I’ll do my best…」

「No, calm down, Ulysses. That was just a joke. Don’t react like you’re seriously going to do that.」

「You were joking?」

「Yeah, half.」

「Half?」

「I’ll make sure you can do it without any mistakes.」

「You’re really going to do it!」

Even if you act like an adult, you’re just a middle school girl, and teasing is so easy.

Anyway though, setting that aside.

「Also, I’ll let you know in advance that I have something to do, so I’ll be leaving soon. So even after we’re married, we probably won’t be able to see each other for a while.」

「Are you going somewhere?」

「Yeah, I’ve got some personal business to take care of.」

Important personal business I really want to really have to finish.

「Without even having a wedding night or anything?」

「Well, if you get married, it’s bad manners if you don’t spend at least that night together.」

I was completely shaken. I mean, Ulysses, you really have such a way of putting it.

「Well, high school boys are easy to fool after all.

「You’re quietly getting revenge on me! I’m being played by a younger girl!」

Damn, you’re pretty good, Ulysses.

「Then here’s an order from your future husband.」

「Are you going to make me do something naughty here? Outdoors? In the middle of the day!?」

Stop that. It makes me really want to take advantage of you.

I pull myself together and give a serious order.

「I will never make you do anything you don’t like.」

「….」

「So rely on me.」

「…So you’ll marry me?」

For the first time. For the first time since coming here, Ulysses’ eyes have become serious. These are the real eyes of Ulysses Korunald.

「No?」

「…I don’t know how to respond.」

「That’s a strange thing to say. My wish has come true and you’re going to marry me. What’s more, my future husband has said he’ll do anything for me.」

「Because I don’t interpret it as having a superficial meaning.」

Even so, interpretation is a difficult word, this European knows it well. Sora-neechan probably doesn’t know the word though.

「It doesn’t matter if you don’t like me. It’s just a formality anyway.」

「I..I don’t think that’s right!」

「No, but…」

「It’s not that I dislike you Juugo-san! In fact, I like you a lot! So, that’s… how should I put it… it’s difficult.」

She has a sad look on her face. Well, I didn’t want to see that.

「Are you planning on paying the price?」

Her eyes are clearly wandering. Her hands tighten as she grips the bottle.

「Um… what do you mean?」

「It just means what it means right? I don’t know unless you tell me more?」

「…what do you know, Juugo?」

She looks at me as if searching for something. So I answer honestly.

「All of it.」

「How?」

「That’s a company secret. To give you a little hint though, after Ulysses-chan looked into me, I also looked into various things. Of course, not in a regular way. In a secret way.」

He grins and puts on a cool expression. By the way, the reason Ulysses-chan flinched just now was because she was surprised by how cool I was, and I’m sure it wasn’t because she was scared of the look in my eye.

After a while, Ulysses-chan sighs as if she has given up.

「As expected from the next head of the <<Matsuri>> family.」

I decided not to say that I was disowned.

「So then, specifically, what was the plan going forward?」

When I urged her to confess, Ulysses began to speak frankly.

And then Ulysses-chan told me everything.

「I see.」

「Juugo-san, I’m sorry.」

After telling me everything, Ulysses bows deeply.

「Don’t apologize. Don’t make that face.」

「But…」

「I told you the other day, didn’t I? Girls shouldn’t bow their heads so easily.」

「But it’s wrong, so I have to apologize.」

「Wow, you’re such a nice girl, I really want to hug you.」

「What are you saying all of a sudden?」

「Oh, no. I couldn’t help but let my thoughts out.」

I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but I’m alone with a cute girl who’s all bubbly, and Ulysses-chan smells nice after exercising. Of course any healthy high school boy would think that. Well, I’ll be reasonable and hold it in.

「Well, I have something to apologize to you for too, Ulysses-chan.」

「What is that?」

「The truth is, I didn’t know anything.」

「Huh?」

「Well, yeah. I didn’t know anything about the Korinald family’s, or rather Ulysses’, intentions.」

Ulysses is blank-faced, not understanding the situation.

「Ummm… you said earlier that you had looked into everything and knew.」

「Yeah, so that was a lie, or more like a bluff.」