Just Because I Have Narrow Eyes Doesn’t Make Me a Villain! - Chapter 155
TN: Thank James Baily for the chapter.
“Arte. I’m telling you, you don’t have to come…”
“Huh? But…”
Seeing her hang her head dejectedly made my heart ache.
I’m grateful she comes to pick me up every day because she wants to see me. I’m thankful, but…
“Well, your belly is getting bigger now. Right? It could be dangerous.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. There’s always someone protecting me.”
“Hello.”
Sweat ran down my face as I saw Lyla looking at me indifferently.
At this rate, I’ll be overwhelmed by Arte’s logic.
I have to do something.
“B-but… Lyla is treated as a dead person, right? If you’re discovered coming to the academy…”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m wearing a hat, and my appearance has changed slightly since my abilities strengthened. Nobody will recognize me.”
“…”
I know.
It’s been over a month since Arte started consistently coming to pick me up at dismissal time.
If anyone was going to recognize her, they would have done so by now.
Is it because of the werewolf genes? Or is it because of her slightly sharper features?
Or is it because everyone firmly believes she’s dead?
Despite all the attention at the academy’s main gate, no one notices, so I guess it’s safe to think it’s okay.
“The others aren’t suitable for escort duty, and I get to slack off at home. It’s not like I’m being a nuisance. You don’t need to worry so much.”
“Y-yeah…”
…This is bad.
I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
Logically, what reason is there for Arte not to come?
I thought I had to say it properly today of all days.
Looking around, I could hear people whispering while pretending not to look at me.
“Is that her?”
“Wow, I thought it was a lie, but she is pregnant…”
“That’s so awful… How hard must it be at that age…”
Ugh…
It’s starting again.
I was grateful for Arte coming, but the pitying looks the students gave her and the looks they gave me as the guy who caused trouble… it was just…
It evoked feelings that were hard to describe.
“…Do you dislike me coming?”
“Ah, no, that’s not it…”
Of course, there was no way Arte wouldn’t notice my reaction.
It’s embarrassing to say, but she really cherished me.
As her expression darkened, the reactions of the people around us became even more intense.
Of course, in a bad way.
“O-of course it’s fine. Haha…”
In the end, I also failed to stop Arte from visiting today.
…Damn it. I’ll be teased again today. I think it’s about time she shows up.
“Oh, Arte. Hi. Are you here to pick up your husband again today?”
Speak of the devil.
Sometimes, I resented my intuition.
Couldn’t it be wrong just this once?
“He’s not my husband yet…”
“Our Siwoo is so scared of going home alone that he asks his pregnant girlfriend to pick him up, right?”
“…”
I was angry at Amelia for teasing me at every opportunity, but I couldn’t say anything to her.
My intuition warned me that the situation would get worse if I retaliated.
At times like this, it’s best not to react at all.
Knowing Amelia’s personality, she would get bored soon anyway.
“Aw, you’re no fun.”
Just as I thought.
Having lost interest quickly, Amelia stopped teasing me and started to take an interest in Arte’s belly.
“It’s really amazing though. A person’s belly can get this big.”
“Do you know how many times you’ve said that already?”
“So what? It’s amazing every time I see it. Aren’t you amazed? Your daughter is in there.”
“…It is amazing.”
Well, Amelia’s right.
The fact that Arte and my child exist in that belly is incredibly amazing.
Maybe it feels even more so because I never thought about having a child until just last year.
I can understand why she says it’s amazing every time she sees it.
“You say that every time. Don’t you get tired of it?”
“Of course not.”
“Geez. I wonder what you’ll think when the baby is actually born.”
…A baby, huh.
It still doesn’t feel real.
The fact that I’m going to be a father.
The fact that I’m going to start a family with Arte.
“Enough of this useless talk. Shall we head back?”
“…I guess so.”
“Yes. You should spend some time alone together without interruptions.”
I stared as if mesmerized at Arte, smiling brightly and offering her hand.
Time alone together, huh.
Come to think of it, it might be difficult to spend time alone together from now on.
Once the baby is born, the child will always be between Arte and me.
I heard that Arte has been feeling bored when she’s alone lately…
But maybe we don’t have much time left to enjoy that kind of boredom.
Arte and my child will come into the world in a few months.
I don’t know exactly because I haven’t experienced it, but I’ve heard that raising a child is quite a struggle.
Even going home together like this might become rare if that’s true.
“… Aren’t you going to hold it? Mmph!”
Suddenly, I impulsively stole a kiss from Arte’s lips.
Taking Arte’s hand as she was flustered by the sudden kiss, I smiled brightly.
“Alright, Arte. Let’s enjoy our time alone.”
“…Really, kissing me so openly outside like this? It’s embarrassing.”
“Haha, sorry.”
Come to think of it, there were other students around.
I was so full of thoughts about Arte that I didn’t notice how others might react.
Looking around, everyone seemed quite flustered.
Maybe they didn’t think we’d show such public affection in a place like this.
I felt good about giving those whispering about me something to talk about.
“Well then, shall we go?”
Maybe because I was in a good mood.
I decided to show some affection I don’t usually do in public.
I linked my arm with Arte’s, making it clear to anyone who saw that we were a couple.
“What’s going on? You don’t usually do this.”
“Just felt like it today.”
“…Hehe, I don’t really understand, but it feels nice.”
Looking around, I noticed some people’s expressions visibly darkening.
Maybe they’re thinking they want to find a partner too?
Judging by the envious looks, that must be it.
I didn’t feel particularly sorry about it.
Their constant whispering had been annoying anyway.
“Shall we go then, Arte?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Finally, I grinned at Amelia who had been teasing me, and leisurely started walking.
Soon after, I could hear the sound of teeth grinding behind us.
“Can’t you do that kind of thing at home…”
“Yeah. Don’t the boss and Siwoo know any shame?”
Hahaha.
Who told you to tease us like that?
This is payback for teasing us every day.
Take it gracefully.
***
“…Hmm, good. It’s fine.”
I tasted the seasoning of the food I made with ingredients we bought before coming home.
Fortunately, it didn’t taste too bad.
I hope Arte will enjoy eating it.
As I thought that, a disgruntled voice came from the living room.
“I could at least do the cooking…”
“Now, now.”
“Siwoo must be tired after coming back from the academy…”
“Shhh.”
“…”
I forcefully suppressed Arte’s complaints.
I had no intention of making her cook in her pregnant state.
It’s not like I don’t know how to cook.
Of course, my skills are inferior to Arte’s. Still, thanks to my experience living alone, I have enough cooking skills to serve others.
“But, it feels like I’m always just receiving…”
“That’s not true.”
I knew well why Arte kept trying to do something.
She must be feeling indebted to me.
There was absolutely no need for her to feel that way towards me.
“You don’t know how much strength you give me daily.”
I didn’t think I had the upper hand in his relationship with Arte.
But she was different. Was it because I had helped her?
She seemed to have some kind of obsession that she needed to do something for me.
I was grateful and found it cute, so I left it alone.
But if Arte struggled because of it, that’s a different story.
“What do you mean…”
“Arte. I help you because I love you and worry about you. You don’t need to feel that way.”
“B-but…”
She’s more stubborn than I thought.
Arte sometimes has this side to her.
“Besides, you have a big gift planned for me.”
“…A big gift?”
Her expression of confusion, as if thinking, “Did I prepare something like that?” was too cute.
Could she really not know?
I gently stroked Arte’s belly.
“Yes. I’m going to receive the big gift of a child between us.”
“…”
“So, I’d like you to eat well without worrying too much… How does it taste?”
I said that, but I carefully asked because I felt the quality might be lower than Arte’s food.
Arte, who had been looking at me as if moved, smiled wryly.
“Ahaha, what’s that? It would have been perfect without that last part.”
“Is that so? Sorry.”
“… It’s really delicious. Thank you.”
I smiled, feeling good about Arte’s sincere praise, and she smiled back at me.
A moment of love with a dear partner I couldn’t have imagined before was passing by.
Translator’s Corner
Novel is ending in a few chapters. If you have some suggestions or just want to chat with some questionable people, find my corner in the galaxy discord server. I believe an invite expires after some time, so yeah.
-Ruminas
