The Great Sword is not the Main Body!-Chapter 87: Festival (2)

Two days ago, together, to buy? What does that mean? If it's two days ago, I should have been sleeping—

"Sorry, Noah."

Rubia’s head dropped.

Two days ago...? Then, it wasn't me, but... another Noah?

That could be possible... Yeah. I think that's quite plausible. I’ve been asleep for a whole month...

"Traitor..."

Huh?

"Rubia... is a traitor..."

Huh...?

My mouth keeps acting on its own. My voice flows out as it pleases.

This... this must have been in my head. No, not even in my head. It was deep down in my heart, the things I was thinking...

"Noah...?"

Rubia's confused expression is funny. Funny, cute, hateful, irritating, and frustrating.

I’m angry.

Yeah.

Since I’ve already said all of this...

Let’s go all the way.

Just... well... can I say it’s a side effect from waking up not long ago?

No... but... what if Rubia starts hating me after all this...? I might seem obsessive... She might get upset.

Ugh... hmm...

Ugh! I don’t care!

"I hate you. I hate you so much... Rubia is a traitor. A player... No... wait... no, a flirt...?"

This is definitely Rubia’s fault! No... I mean, it's not that hanging out with friends is wrong. Friends... friends.

You said there was no one else but me!!

I... I don’t have any other friends except for Rubia...

You said I’m your closest friend!!

Grind my teeth together as I walk over to Rubia and plop down next to her.

"I... can't see straight... I’m so dumb... I can’t even talk properly... and can't catch Tylant... pathetic Noah... probably you wouldn’t like me, huh? Yeah... that’s definitely how it is."

"No... what are you talking about? I couldn’t possibly—"

"What? Not? Really? Then... then why did you hang out with that other Noah instead of me...? You bought... bought underwear too, didn’t you? You must have had meals together...? Hmm? Meals, desserts... and then... for digestion, you probably went for walks too. I’m sure..."

"...There’s a reason for that—"

"Mm... I see. Yeah... okay. There was a reason, I get it... heh... okay, forget it... I don’t care about the rest... just answer one thing..."

I blurted out the biggest question that had been in my mind.

"Which one do you like more...?"

"Eh, eh...?"

I turned my body while sitting on the bed. My clothes lightly wrinkled as they brushed against the bed.

At the same time, Rubia’s gaze dropped down. But I didn't mind and spoke as clearly as I could.

"Which one do you like more, the strong Noah who went to buy... underwear... or me, the useless Noah who was just sleeping?"

She must realize she did something wrong because she can’t even lift her head. A little... I’m a little willing to forgive.

So, answer me properly, Rubia!

"Are you... not going to answer?"

"Uh... Ah, well... obviously, I like Noah."

"But... but Noah is two people...! Which one...?"

Rubia slowly lifted her head. She licked her lips, swallowing her saliva.

Is she going to lie after licking her lips?!

"The useless one... not the one talking to me right now, but the other Noah."

"Really...?"

"Of course."

"...Why?"

I asked Rubia what I wanted to know. She gave me the answer I wanted.

But why?

I don’t even know what I think. But... I want to know.

"Uh, what... do you like about me?"

I can’t even see Rubia's face. Without the greatsword, I can’t even walk properly. I can’t cook, talk, or even make coffee. I’m no good at anything... why would you like me?

"Hm..."

Just as Rubia opened her mouth, I let go of the greatsword. I was too scared to look at her expression. I felt like I’d get too upset if I found out it was all a lie...

Just as I was about to take my second breath, Rubia’s hand touched my cheek.

"Even with your eyes closed, the way your eyelids twitch in response to emotions is cute."

"Ugh..."

"Your messy hair is cute too."

"Ugh..."

"Your soft skin, the way your nose wriggles when you’re without your greatsword, it’s all cute."

"Ugh..."

"When you smile awkwardly, your trembling mouth corners or when you smile brightly and I can barely see inside your mouth."

"W-what... what are you—"

"Every little hair on your head, your tiny and delicate fingers, your cute toes, your nails, your feet, your sweet scent."

"S-stop... I understand already... please... stop..."

"The promise you made to protect me forever, the way you always walk in front of me, and how you always lift me up, Noah."

I can hear Rubia’s voice so clearly. The bed shakes. Her clothes brush against my knee. Her scent gets closer.

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Before I realized it, I grabbed the hilt of my greatsword.

At that moment...

"I love you."

The smile on Rubia’s face was bright, something that couldn’t even be measured with the word happiness.

"Ah... ugh..."

"So don’t say things like that. Don’t doubt me either."

"Got it..."

"Even if the whole world hates you, even if they push you away because you’re a heretic, I’ll be by your side."

Rubia stretched her arms out.

"Come here, let’s hug."

I can’t do that. If I hug her... I’ll just keep expecting more and imagining it.

"Hurry up."

"Ugh...!"

In the end, I couldn't resist and threw myself into Rubia’s arms.

After that... It was so intense...

Thud!

"Noah, sis!"

"Huh? Hephaestus...?"

I grabbed the greatsword that was next to the bed.

"Sis... sis!!"

As my sense kicked in, Hephaestus ran over and hugged me tightly.

"Ugh... ack!"

"Heh... Are you okay? Are you hurt? Are you fine?"

"Ugh... yeah, I’m fine... please, let me go..."

"Noah, long time no see."

While struggling in Hephaestus’s hug, Yuriah walked over and pulled Hephaestus away.

"Rubia has... gotten a lot better."

"She’s always been the same, what are you talking about?"

"Hehehe... sis!!"

Hephaestus, held by Yuriah, started crying... and of course, a lot of snot came out.

Ugh... embarrassing...

"Charlotte was going to come, but she said she had a lot of things to do because of the festival... she’ll come separately later."

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

Ah. Come to think of it, Charlotte is a princess, so she probably has a lot of duties.

Her behavior... doesn’t make it obvious she’s a princess though, so I had forgotten.

"Heh... maybe it’s better if Charlotte isn’t here."

Rubia got up from her seat and walked toward the table.

"Would you like coffee? Or peppermint, chamomile... we also have strawberry milk."

"I’ll have coffee, please."

"Heh... huff... I, I’ll have chamomile..."

"Noah, strawberry milk, right?"

"Yeah."

Nodding, I stood up. I fixed my messy hair and straightened my crumpled clothes...

As I was doing that, Hephaestus and Yuriah started staring at me.

Why... why are they staring at me like that?

"Hmm... I think Noah’s gotten a little shorter?"

"Yeah, it’s definitely noticeable that your height’s decreased..."

Huh? What are they saying?

I tilted my head and looked at Rubia. Rubia, with a startled expression, came up to me.

"Uh... Noah, I forgot to tell you something."

"Huh...?"

"That... elixir Yuriah made..."

"Oh, right..."

"Well... it has side effects..."

"Side effects...?"

Rubia, who had been turning her head and couldn’t look at me, lowered her head deeply and spoke.

"Your height... has decreased."

"What...?"

My already small height has shrunk?

"How much...?"

It doesn’t feel different. Wait... maybe it ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) does?

Come to think of it... When I hugged Rubia, my chest, which used to touch my chin, was now pressing against my face, right?

"About... this much...?"

Her fingers awkwardly spread and rested on top of my head.

"Th-this much...?"

No... huh?

"But why... I didn’t even know—ah..."

I hadn’t even tried walking properly. I hadn’t swung my greatsword. And I didn’t even realize my field of vision was lower...

I should have known, I guess...

"It’s probably about a 10% decrease. The lost part of your body is taken from the healthy parts, so the height loss is inevitable..."

So how much has it decreased...?

My height was originally 145.7 centimeters.

"Noah, the good news is... it’s over 130... phew... 130 at least... haha..."

131 centimeters...?

That can’t be right...

"Rubia... no... that’s impossible... wait... no... this can’t..."

I couldn’t even properly hold my greatsword up straight.

Before, if I stood on tiptoe and stretched out my arms, I could somehow manage. But now... no chance.

"Ugh... what... is this..."

"Ha-ha! Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!!"

Rubia finally put her teacup down and burst out laughing.

"Ahem... heh, I’ll have to shorten the length of your greatsword... ha... shorten it."

Yuriah turned her head while shaking her shoulders.

"Yeah, uh... about 15 centimeters, ha...! I’ll make it quick, Noah!"

Hephaestus... was cautiously coming up next to me, sneakily measuring my height.

They’re all happily laughing. Are they enjoying this? Are they happy!?

I feel like the world is collapsing around me!

"Is... is there a way to make it grow...?"

"Hmm... that depends on Noah’s growth, so I can’t make any guarantees."

Growth? Growth...?

"I’m... already a full-grown adult... I’m 20 years old... so... then..."

"Well, that’s gonna be tough... haha!"

"It’s okay, sis. You’re, you’re cute...!"

"Yeah, Noah. Well, um... at least your skirt got longer, so it'll be easier to cover up."

You’re the worst, Rubia.

"Enough... get out... I want to be alone..."

I turned my body and hugged the greatsword.

At that moment, the greatsword, full of intense energy, swung fiercely.

And at the same time, I swung the greatsword, hugging Rubia.

Zzorrng—!

The magic from the greatsword tore through the air, creating chaos around us.

"Whoa! Have you already grown this much in strength?!"

And in the center of the chaos.

"Nice to meet you! The name of the main heroine is Shirin!"

A little kid, slightly taller than me, stood there.

"I've come to be your master!"

She stood face-to-face with me, her greatsword clashing against mine.