Chapter 34: Being Framed
"KYAAAAAAA!!"
I froze.
My head slowly turned towards the source of the sound—and right at that moment, three village girls emerged from behind the bushes. They looked about 15–17 years old, carrying baskets full of flowers.
Our eyes met.
Silence. Then—
"A MAN!? THERE'S A MAN IN THE WOMEN'S POND!!"
I blinked, about to stand, but then I realized—I wasn't wearing a towel. My towel was on the rock, and it was quite far away. Raising my hands hastily, I stammered loudly.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't know this was the women's pond! I was framed!" I said loudly.
The three of them observed me more closely, then froze. In their eyes, I looked like a snow prince descended from a fairy tale.
The boy in front of them—with silver-white hair glistening under the sunlight, plastered to his face from the water. His eyes were crystal blue, and there were tiny stars in his pupils.
Although he was only about ten years old, there was something in his gaze—calm yet sharp, and innocent—perhaps?
Something that rendered them speechless.
"...He," one of the girls whispered, her face flushed, "looks like... a little angel."
Another swallowed hard, "I-I even forgot I was going to be angry..."
I saw them staring at me. I immediately hid half my face underwater, turning my head away.
Looking at them, I pointed towards the towel that I had placed on a rock a short distance away from the edge of the pond.
They looked at each other.
One of them with light brown hair finally realized what was happening and exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, "Ah! Don't look at us like that!"
I frowned softly underwater. I wasn't even looking at them, idiot... I thought, but I didn't have time to answer because they screamed even louder.
"Don't move!"
"Why are you naked here, you little pervert!"
I looked up slightly, still half-submerged. "I told you I was framed! Amy told me to bathe here!"
The three girls fell silent. Then they looked at each other with confused expressions.
"Amy? Do you mean... Grandpa Himmel's granddaughter?"
I nodded with a flat expression. "Yes. She dragged me here." Then I looked away, "Besides, I didn't know this was the women's bathing area..."
Again, they fell silent. One of the girls covered her face, giggling softly.
"So... you were framed, huh?" she said, holding back her laughter.
"..." I looked at them again, still half-submerged in the water. "What's so funny?"
Another girl bent down, covering her face with both hands.
"No, it's not that... it's just that you look so cute..." she said in a trembling voice, holding back her laughter.
I exhaled into the water, making a small popping sound, before looking up, "If you are done laughing, could you please hand me my towel?"
They looked at each other again, then one of the girls—who seemed to be the bravest—slowly stepped towards the rock where my towel lay. But as her hand was about to touch the cloth, she stopped.
"U-um... if I take it, do you promise not to get out of the water first?"
I looked at her like she was an idiot. "Do you think I want to come out looking like this?"
Her face immediately flushed red. "O-Okay!" she said quickly, then snatched the towel and threw it towards me with her eyes closed.
The towel flew and landed on my face.
"Thank you," I said softly.
They stood still, but my voice snapped them out of their daze—
"What are you doing?" I asked them softly. Then added, "Turn around."
Hearing that, they flinched and hurriedly turned their backs.
I just sighed deeply as I slowly stood behind the rocks, covering my body with the towel. Then I looked at them for the last time.
Bowing my head slightly, I said to the three girls, "Goodbye."
POV Amy:
I walked through the garden, humming softly. Looking toward the forest where I sent that boy.
Suddenly, I stopped, "That's right... What happens if the girls see him?"
Right then, I felt uneasy in my heart. I paced back and forth in the middle of the yard, biting my nails. Wondering what the village girls' reaction would be if they saw Ren.
"Hmph... I don't care!"
I scratched my hair in frustration, looking at the small forest with an apologetic gaze.
"Was I too much?" I muttered softly.
I stood there anxiously for a long time until finally—a silhouette appeared. Ren came out of the forest, rubbing his hair.
Then he looked at me with a gaze as if I were a traitor.
A few moments later, he arrived in front of me with a flat face. I stood motionless with my arms crossed.
"You tricked me..." he said with slight annoyance.
I lowered my hands and chuckled awkwardly, "Hehe, I was joking..."
Then he, Ren, replied with a flat, unamused tone. "Honestly—your joke was terrible."
He sighed and started walking past me casually. I turned and looked at his back. Clenching my fists, I asked Ren.
"You! What's your name again, stinker?" I asked loudly.
He stopped briefly then continued walking, saying, "My name is Ren and... Don't call me a stinker, you chatterbox."
I placed my hand on my lips, muttering his name several times. Then I remembered the word 'chatterbox' he used.
I stomped my foot angrily then chased after him.
"I, I am not a chatterbox!"
POV Ren:
A few minutes later...
I was now wearing a white t-shirt and knee-length shorts that I didn't know where Amy got them from—I didn't want to admit it, but they were quite nice.
Since there was no mirror here, I couldn't see my reflection. Shrugging softly, I left the room.
As soon as I opened the door, the aroma of toast and chicken immediately greeted my nose. I walked slowly towards the kitchen, and there—Amy was sitting on a high chair, casually eating toast, as if she had never framed anyone in the women's pond before.
Himmel, or now my Master, was sitting next to her. He gestured for me to sit across from them. I nodded, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
Amy turned with an awkward smile.
"Are you dry now?" she asked, tilting her head.
"That outfit... suits you..." she continued, quickly looking away.
I nodded slightly, gently rubbing my hair. "Yes. But my hair is still a bit wet, and I'm quite annoyed about something."
Amy smiled, placing the toast she was biting into back on the plate. "That was just a small incident."
"Small incident?" I looked at her flatly. "I was almost attacked by three girls..."
She immediately covered her mouth, suppressing her laughter. "M-My bad... I didn't expect you to actually go there."
"But you told me to go there."
Amy looked down, pretending to stare at her plate. "Just consider it... patience training."
Himmel, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. He took a bite of fried chicken then pointed at us with the hand still holding the chicken.
"What happened, you two? You seem to have gotten closer?"
I looked at Himmel, who was chewing fried chicken casually. Seeing him like that, I almost couldn't believe his rank was Transcendent if he hadn't mentioned 'pest.'
I took a piece of toast and bit into it. "Closer, huh? Not really. I'm just the victim of this naughty girl's prank."
Amy immediately looked at me, her eyebrow raised. "Naughty girl? You call a girl as cute as me naughty?"
I looked at her, still chewing, "That's the fact."
I sighed softly and leaned back, then said in a teasing tone. "And are you that cute? I don't think so."
Himmel choked on his chicken and coughed loudly. "Kuh...hahahaha!