Damn Reincarnation

than just getting enough rest.

‘…Isn’t Anise going to show up?’ Eugene thought as he looked at Kristina’s back.

But even with all the intense light pouring forth from Kristina, Anise’s figure couldn’t be seen.

“…About that fucking bestial bastard,” Eugene said as he lay on the ground, clenching and unclenching his tingling fingers.
“He knew about you and me.”

“…Does that mean someone let slip the news about us?” Kristina asked, her face stiffening as she worked through the implications.
After hesitating for a few moments, she continued speaking.
“…The only ones who knew that I’d be coming to Samar… are the Pope and Cardinal Rogeris.”

“Are you sure?”

“…Although I’m not sure if they have told someone else, those two are the only ones that I sent my report to,” Kristina confirmed with a nod.

“Do you trust those two?” Eugene asked as he looked straight at Kristina.

Truthfully speaking, Eugene was even prepared to get slapped in the face for asking such a rude question.
On the one hand, there was the Pope, the supreme leader of the Church of Light.
On the other hand, there was a Cardinal, who was just one step below the pope, and Kristina’s adoptive father.
It would only be natural for Kristina to be furious at having these two be addressed with such suspicions.

However, Kristina didn’t show any signs of being enraged.
Instead of replying immediately, she only stared at Eugene for a few moments.
Eugene couldn’t clearly read the emotions that were buried in those eyes.

However, he still got the feeling that the emotions were something other than anger.

“…What about you, Sir Eugene? If news about us has been leaked, then it isn’t just the Holy Empire, but also the Lionheart clan that needs to be suspected, right?” Kristina asked without answering his question.

“There’s no way that the Patriarch would do this,” Eugene stated confidently.
“He has no reason for doing so.
However, if it’s the Head of the Council, then I think he might be capable of doing something like this.”

Eugene was an adopted child who had proven himself superior to the direct descendants of the main line.
No matter how much Eugene denied having any desire for the seat of the Patriarch, the Council of Elders would have no choice but to be wary of Eugene’s ambitions.

In fact, that wasn’t the only reason why Doynes might have betrayed them.

Eugene and Kristina knew that there wasn’t any corpse resting inside of Vermouth’s tomb.
The Lionheart clan’s honor was something that had been passed down onto them from their ancestor, the Great Vermouth.
If it was for the sake of protecting the clan’s honor… then this could also be a convenient way of burying this shameful truth so that it would never be revealed.

“How about you?” Eugene asked again.
“Do you trust the Pope and the Cardinal?”

After a short silence, Kristina spoke up, “No, I don’t.”

She continued in a subdued voice, “I can’t trust those two.
I can’t figure out what reason they might have for doing this, but if they felt it was needed, they would even be willing to cooperate with the demonfolk.”

“…,” Eugene was struck silent.

“However, Sir Eugene.
I also heard what that beastman said.
He claimed that after we guided him to the elven territory, he had intended to kill both of us.
Although I can’t really tell at this point if he was telling the truth or not, if that was the truth, then….” Kristina hesitated before finishing confidently, “then neither the Pope nor Cardinal Rogeris should have made a deal with the beastfolk.”

“Is it because I’ve received the Holy Sword’s recognition?” Eugene asked.

“That might also be a factor, but the two of them also wouldn’t want me to die like this,” Kristina said with a faint smile on her face.

This wasn’t a topic of conversation that would cause any amusement, so it was obvious that the smile was artificial.
It was the same type of smile that Anise used to show whenever she talked about the Holy Empire so long ago.

Anise had been strangely reluctant to speak of the Holy Empire.
Even when everyone else was chatting about their past, Anise had just remained silent.
There had also been a twisted smile on her face that was different from the one she usually wore.

Right now, Kristina looked exactly the same.

After some hesitation, Eugene decided to ask.
“…Why not?”

Kristina refused to answer.
“I feel like the relationship between you and me isn’t deep enough yet for me to be willing to share such a story.”

“Fine then,” Eugene mumbled as he stood up.

Or at least he tried to stand up.
He couldn’t properly muster up the strength in his body, and even after gritting his teeth in effort, he wasn’t able to bend his waist past a certain angle.

At this sight, Kristina’s smile changed back once more to her usual one.
She chuckled and then reached a hand out towards Eugene’s armpit.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Eugene cursed in surprise as he tried to twist his body out of the way.

With amusement in her eyes, Kristina asked, “What’s with that tone, Sir Eugene? I’m just trying to support you.”

“Don’t lie to me.
You weren’t trying to support me, you were trying to tickle me in the armpit!” Eugene accused her.

“…Where in the world did you get such an idea? It’s not like I’m insane, so why would you accuse me of trying to tickle you in the armpit, Sir Eugene?” Kristina asked with a frown.

Although her argument was reasonable, Eugene had clearly felt that Kristina’s fingers had been wriggling slightly as they tried to reach below his arm.

“…That’s… there’s no need to support me.” Eugene finally gave in.
“Just give me a hand so that I can pull myself up.”

“Would it really be all that shameful for you to place yourself safely in my hands without putting up such resistance?” Kristina inquired.

Eugene maintained a stubborn silence.

“So you actually do have a cute side to you.
It feels I haven’t really realized it until now because of your usual words and actions, but looking at you now, you truly are younger than I am,” Kristina observed with a soft smile as both her hands reached out towards Eugene.
“Now then.
Try not to feel ashamed and raise both your hands so that this big sister can pick you up.
If you need an example, raise your hands like you’re cheering.”

“…You’re mad because I accused the Pope and the Cardinal, aren’t you?” Eugene insisted.

“Not at all,” Kristina replied with a shake of her head.
“I don’t feel any anger at being asked such a question.
Because there is no reason for me to feel angry.”

“Then why are you doing this to me? Why exactly are you harassing me like this?” Eugene asked dramatically.

“Sir Eugene, do you know what the word ‘karma’ means?”

Eugene played dumb.

“Sir Eugene, you have also harassed me on several occasions since we’ve entered this forest, and your harsh words have left their marks on my heart.
Of course, I have never harbored any hatred towards you because of those actions, but if not at a time like now, when else will I get the chance to do whatever I want with you, Sir Eugene?” Kristina asked rhetorically.

Eugene tightly squeezed his lips shut and stubbornly stuck his arms to his waist.
In response to this, Kristina directly grabbed Eugene’s hands and spread them wide open.
Eugene resisted with all his strength, but the way he was now, he simply couldn’t overcome Kristina’s strength….

““You really are very stubborn, Sir Eugene,” Kristina commented.
“Judging from the condition of your body, even if I supported you, it would be difficult for you to walk.”

“…At least get a stretcher…,” Eugene murmured in embarrassment.

Kristina decisively rejected his request.
“No.
There’s no need for that.
I can piggyback you myself, Sir Eugene.”

“You’re going to piggyback me…?” Eugene asked in disbelief.

“Yep.
And just so that you won’t fall or feel uncomfortable, I’ll make sure to securely support your bum as well,” Kristina reassured him.

Eugene’s eyes were shaking in embarrassment.
Was he really about to be piggy-backed, at his age? His rough past, from when he had made a living as a hard-bitten mercenary in his previous life, flashed through his head.
Eugene decided that he thoroughly hated the thought of getting piggy-backed by Kristina.

Yet, no matter how much he hated the idea of it, the state of his body made it impossible for Eugene to resist.

“Are you ready?” Kristina asked, not waiting for a response before swinging him onto her back.
“A bit higher… there we go.
Now, please hold on tightly to my neck.”

Eugene groaned.
“You… don’t you feel any shame?”

“Why would I feel shame when all I’m doing is taking care of a wounded patient?” Kristina asked innocently.
“But does that mean that you’re feeling ashamed right now, Sir Eugene?”

Eugene desperately kept his silence.

“Please don’t forget this feeling.
I hope that Sir Eugene will hold on to the experience of this day and use it to become a better person from now on,” Kristina cheerfully requested.

Eugene clenched his trembling lips and bowed his head.

The feeling of Kristina’s hand supporting his bum from below was truly hateful.

1.
The raws say “Kristina and Anise”. ☜

Openbookworm & Namu's Thoughts

OBW: Karma is defined as the retribution for the deeds of a former life.
These days, it’s used more in the sense of ‘what goes around, comes around,’ but it’s rather ironic for this word to be used in the same context as Eugene.

penguin’s thoughts: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA GROPED LMAO

Favorite