I’m Not Even an Otome Game Mob Character

d that is careful to make sure Katherine-san won’t trip.
Because she’s holding Ojou, the speed isn’t very high, but rather than rushing, it’s better.
The moment we return to the market street, I shout.

「It’s a kidnapper, someone please call the guards!!」

About half the people respond to my voice, looking our way.
Ojou was surprised that I yelled and undid her lightning field.
After that, it was fast.
Some shop people came out, someone went to call the soldiers, several men grabbed rope and went to tie up the guys in the back alley when I explained.
Some passing aunties were worried about Katherine-san and Ojou, and waited with them until the soldiers arrived.
Until we escaped, there was a feeling of a lot of time passing, but undoubtedly the incident only took twelve minutes.
I became exhausted with a feeling of relief when the soldiers arrived and went into that place.
When the soldiers arrive, Ojou and Katherine-san are guided to the closest outpost for the sake of protecting them.
I’m also brought along together with them to be questioned.
At the investigation, one of the older soldiers was worried about my injury, and showed it to a combat medic.
I’m cautioned not to scratch the burns on my wrist since they will become blisters otherwise.
What should I do, when I look at them, I want to scratch them because they seem itchy.
I have to do my best and endure.
It seems the numbness in my hand is alleviating as well.
I’m also told just to be sure, to get it checked once more by another medical professional.
During the investigation, I was puzzled about whether or not I should let this just pass by, but since I revealed my personal identity, they wanted to get in contact with my mother.
The older guard scolded me, saying that a child did something absurd, and promised he would notify my mother.
Ojou and Katherine-san decide to wait at the station until someone from the house comes, and I, as a servant of their house, am worried, so the guard lets me meet them.
In the neatly tucked away reception office, Ojou was drinking something warm.
Because there’s a sweet smell, it’s cocoa, I think.

「Zack……」 

When I enter the room, Ojou gazes at me, puts down the cup of cocoa, and rushes over to me.

「Are you okay!? Your hand……」

「It’s fine.
It was only a little numb.」

It’s especially fine since with my sleeve, the bandages aren’t visible, and I thoughtlessly smile, waving my hand around.
Because I willingly put my hand into the defense magic, it’s just the consequences.
So, I want Ojou not to worry.
Ojou, as if searching for my true intentions, looks between my eyes and my hand.
Then, she wasn’t able to understand a bit, but is relieved at my safety.
When I look in Katherine-san’s direction, I wondered if she had been crying, as her eyes were swelled and red.

「Katherine-san.
You did your best, didn’t you? You were cool.」

「……No, that…」

Although it was a ridiculous request she was given, Katherine-san, for the sake of Ojou, persevered.
Although she looks cowardly, she’s strong.
In that situation, if she had frozen up, they wouldn’t have been able to run away.
Katherine-san’s eyes were a little wet as she humbles herself.
That facial expression was showing she was regretful.
The source of her regret, I was expecting it.
I put my gaze back at Ojou and seriously ask.

「Then, Ojou, why were you in such a place?」

Ojou looks at me and with a jump, her shoulders shake.

「…………I, I, was going to visit Zack since you fell ill……」

「Did you not tell anyone, since the guards weren’t with you?」

「……well, Roy-sama also came to the downtown area, didn’t he!?」

Ojou raises an exception, but I calmly reply.

「Because Leo doesn’t say anything, but he also has escorts.
That guy also can defend himself to some extent, so he comes.」

Behind Ojou who suddenly fell into silence, Katherine-san tries to defend her, but with a look, I ask her to stay silent for me.
To meet the eyes of Ojou, who has fallen silent and hung her head down, I get down on one knee.
I then cover both of her hands that are balled into fists.

「Ojou.」

When I call out to her, she’s afraid, but meets my eyes.
Looking back into those pale blue eyes, I tell her.

「Ojou, you should be aware of how pretty and charming you are.」 [T/N: My sides]

「……!?」

「Listen.」

Towards Ojou who is misunderstanding that I’m poking fun at her with how her cheeks turn red, I convey I’m being serious with my eyes.

「For me and Katherine-san who know Ojou, understand how pretty and beautiful Ojou is on the outside as well as in.
But, even for strangers, Ojou is pretty and charming .」

Ojou, not understanding my intentions, looks puzzled.

「With something pretty and charming, those guys who thought there is value there, Ojou is the same as a jewel.
The eyes of those guys today, they were scary, right?」

She remembers the eyes of those who didn’t see the other person as a human, I think, and Ojou trembles, slightly nodding.

「Among the guys Ojou doesn’t know, there are guys who don’t grasp that Ojou is a fellow human being.
So, you have take care of yourself.」

「……I won’t do such a rash imitation again.」

「Mhm.
Thank you.」

After tightly biting her lower lip, Ojou told me her decision.
Hearing that reply, I’m relieved and smiled.
Because it’s just right, so incidentally, let’s do it.

「Though, Ojou.
I’ve always wanted to invite you downtown.」

「Eh……」

「But, I can’t guarantee your safety.
First of all, if I become strong, I don’t think there will be a problem, so…… Heinz-san is training me.」

When I smile as if I’m a simple fool, with great surprise, Ojou froze.

「But, right now, it’s not enough.
It would have been better if I had properly talked to Ojou together about it…… I’m sorry for having such a scary desire.」

If I had said my thoughts to her beforehand, Ojou might not have done this kind of unreasonable thing.
This is the reason I was expressly avoiding Ojou hearing about this dangerous talk.
It’s too shameful, and I feel I can’t even cleverly smile.
Ojou shakes her head and denies it.
Certainly she blames herself.
Although the numbness of my hand weakened, I notice it, that it’s taken into both of Ojou’s hands with a strength that isn’t painful.
Gradually, her temperature is being transmitted.

「I was training, but really…… it’s better if I don’t do that sort of thing.」

With the sense of her training being like extra-curricular activities, I’m glad it wasn’t useful.
I didn’t even think one bit that I wanted to use her earned abilities.
I’m glad that I was able to be of use in this one scene for my whole life.
What sort of facial expression should I make towards Ojou, I don’t know, as Ojou’s collar is attached to me, so I can’t see her face.

「It was scary.」

I thought about if Ojou wasn’t there.
That was very frightening.
The time I found Ojou, my mind became red with anger at those guys, but that was for the sake of wiping away the fear.
Would I now lose even the warmth in this hand?
I already don’t want to have these kinds of scary feelings.

「……I’m sorry.
I’m sorry, Zack.」

Her shaking is transmitted through her forehead.
At that trembling voice, when I lift her head, there was a crying Ojou.

「I will never make Zack cry again……」

With a face of tears coming out one after the other, while heaving with sobs, she says something incredibly handsome.

「The one who’s crying is Ojou, right?」

Somehow I ended up smiling.
Even though there was a part that was enduring until now, I feel guilty that she ended up crying, and patted Ojou’s head.

「It was also scary for Ojou, right?」

「It was… scary……」

I wanted to calm down, but it seems to have the opposite effect, as tears furthermore gathered in her eyes, and Ojou burst into tears.
Then, she pressed her forehead into my chest, beginning to cry.
As if to check that I am there, she tightly grabs onto my clothes, and as if to say it’s okay, I gently pat her back.
Until Ojou calms down, I stay with her, and she ends up crying until she’s tired and falls asleep.
Because she didn’t let go of my clothes, I hold her in my arms and sit together with her on the sofa she originally was sitting on.
Katherine-san dampens a handkerchief to cool the area around Ojou’s eyes.
Incidentally, when she was weakening, the door opened, and a guiding soldier led someone familiar into the room.

「I’m sorry for being late.」

「Duke-sama.」

Duke-sama is accompanied by my teacher, his butler, Heinz-san, and came to pick up Ojou.
Katherine-san immediately recovers from waiting near the sofa and bows her head, apologizing.
But, for me, who Ojou is clinging to, I can’t move, so I don’t know what I should do.
Duke-sama, who was approaching with a stride like a flowing stream, kneels down, and runs his palm across Ojou’s head.

「I’m pathetic…… it must have been very scary.」

As if to sympathize with her, Duke-sama puts his lips on the forehead of Ojou who cried her eyes out.
At Duke-sama’s words, there was a deep sense of guilt weighing on me.
Suddenly, he bites his lip, and then opens his mouth.

「I’m glad Isaac is also safe.
You did well to escape.」

「Eh……」

Preparing to be scolded, I ended up having my head patted.
Seemingly amused at my reaction, Duke-sama smiles.

「Katherine and Zack are both important employees of our house.
There is no way I won’t be delighted at your safety, right?」

Because I wasn’t expected something such as being worried about, I was surprised.
Although Duke-sama is only kindly smiling like always, it looked extremely trustworthy.
At the same time, I realize that I’m a child, and become embarrassed.

「T… thank you very much.
I’m sorry for having worried you.」

I thank him in some way or another while my face becomes hot.
I was happy to have had a fever.
I’m glad I work for the Ernest house, that feeling filled my heart.
When he smiles as if satisfied at my reply, Duke-sama using his hand, then separates Ojou from me, carries her in his arms, and stands up.

「Well, right now, because I want to make Dia my top priority, I’ll go back home.」

I stand up and firmly stand up straight.

「Yes, please take care of her!」

When I make my body stand at the right angle, Duke-sama makes an amused laugh.

「Then, Zack should also be careful when going home.」

「Um, Duke-sama……」

When I panic and call him, Duke-sama looks back over his shoulder in an elegant movement.

「Is there a problem?」

「I think that you’re busy, but soon, may I humbly have some of your time? There is a something I want to talk about.」

「I understand.
Then, until then.」

With the relief that I was acknowledged, I breathed a sigh of relief from behind Duke-sama and the others.

Duke-sama unexpectedly made himself available, as the next day, in the evening when I was at work, I was called.
Guided by Master, I was brought to Duke-sama’s study.
There’s a tension and mood of being like the school principal’s office.
With something like the principal’s office, there’s the impression only guys who have done something amazing or very dangerous guys get called in, huh? In my past like, I had never entered because I was neither of those.
When I give my greetings and enter, Duke-sama smiled as if to say it’s fine not to be nervous.
I look at the sparkling Duke-sama, and as soon as I thought about such a young principal, I became a little discouraged.
Even inside, Duke-sama’s blonde hair is radiant.

「So, what did you want to talk about?」

On the opposite side of the desk, Duke-sama cheerfully asks.

「Before that, for yesterday’s incident, I’m truly sorry!」

I deeply bow and apologize.

「In the first place, I, even though I’m working, I neglected my health, but because I’m something like the cause, and I didn’t properly say that the downtown area could be dangerous, so……」

When I argue my case while bowing my head and apologizing, the sound of something gushing out like 「buha」 could be heard.
When I raise my head, Duke-sama was there, smiling and making an amused sound.
I don’t understand the meaning and tilt my head in confusion.

「Um……?」

「No, I’m sorry.
I was just thinking you’re a good kid, aren’t you?」

Even though he’s restraining his smile while talking, it doesn’t feel like he’s praising me.

「The one who decided to be here with Isaac was myself.
Rather, for apologizing, it should be me.
For crisis management, I should have been taught by my parents.
Via was also mad at my similar weak points.」

Saying that, Duke-sama has on a strained smile.
If he ends up saying it in that style, there is now ay I can apologize anymore.
As if to say this matter is finished here, Duke-sama brings up a new topic.

「Then, what did you want to talk about?」

「Ojou… Lydia-sama, please provide her an escort.」

Because I was receiving Duke-sama’s precious spare time, I directly conveyed my request.
Duke-sama, in the same way as Ojou, has his pale blue eyes go wide.

「Why?」

「Mas…… Heinz-san, I heard, is arranging preparations for an escort.
Because if something like yesterday were to happen again, I would find it unpleasant, I want that time to come as fast as possible.」

「Unpleasant?」

「Yes, unpleasant.」

I don’t think very hard about it.
So, because I simply want to avoid things I find unpleasant, for things that are unreasonable to do alone, I should do what I could.
It’s only that much.

「Is that so…… unpleasant, huh?」

Repeating my words, Duke-sama again strangely smiled.
Ojou would get mad at my foolishness, but Duke-sama is smiling, it seems.
I intended to have a relatively serious discussion, though.
After he smiled for a while, Duke-sama spoke.

「That’s fine.
I’ll consider it.
Although I must say, I wasn’t originally thinking I should advance the time.」 [T/N: “Originally” isn’t in the raw, but it helped to clarify the sentence.
Otherwise, it could read as he isn’t thinking of advancing the time even with this info.]

「Thank you very much!」

At Duke-sama’s smile, my facial expression lights up.

「……I didn’t say you would be protecting her, you know.」

「Eh? Ojou smiling is more important.」

Rather than a question, it was closer to a mumble, but what was I saying, as I unconsciously replied with that.
At my dazed self, Duke-sama’s eyes went wide, and he smiled again.
Then, he said the same thing to me, saying I was a good kid, wasn’t I.