Chapter 72

A Persistent One
After storing my aunts’ bento in my storage, I left the kitchen and made sure no one was around.

(Um, the training grounds… The training grounds… Teleport.)

*Poof.*

Upon teleporting to the training grounds, I found not only Brother Aran but also Brother Noel, Brother Gene, Gan, and Martin.

"Huh!? Ah… ehehehe…"

"Hey! Joan, didn't Uncle just scold you yesterday about teleporting recklessly!?"

Brother Aran grabbed my head and scolded me. Hand claws hurt—seriously.

"Owowow… I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Brother Aran! H-help me, Brother Noel~"

"Haa… Jo, even though you're my adorable little sister, I can't cover for you on this one."

"Uuuh~ I'm really sorry, Brother Aran~"

"You get it now? No more doing that."

"……"

"Jo, why aren’t you answering?"

Brother Gene asked, puzzled.

"Because… it's so convenient. So, I won’t promise not to do it!!"

"Why are you saying something you're getting scolded for with so much confidence!?"

Brother Gene covered his face in exasperation.

"Well, if I say I won’t do it and then I do, I'll get scolded, right? So, I figured it’d be better to just say upfront that I’ll do it…"

"Haah… Jo, that's called sophistry."

Brother Noel sighed.

"Haah… Joan, you want to use teleportation, right? Then you just need to make sure the people at the destination aren’t startled. For example… if it’s here, teleport to the edge of the training grounds."

Brother Aran suggested.

"Oh, I see. So the problem is that I'm surprising people. Then, in guest rooms, maybe inside the closet?"

"”"Why the closet!?”""

Brother Aran, Brother Noel, and Brother Gene all said at once.

"Huh? Because it wouldn’t be surprising."

"Uh, Little Joan… if someone suddenly popped out of a closet, that would definitely be surprising."

Gan pointed out the obvious.

"Oh, right. Then how about the bathroom?"

"What if someone’s in there? Like Aran bro—ow! It was just an example!"

Brother Gene, trying to give an example, got smacked by Brother Aran.

"Wouldn’t it be better if you just didn’t teleport into guest rooms at all?"

Brother Noel suggested.

"Oh, right. That makes sense too. Okay, no teleporting into guest rooms. So anyway, I’ll keep teleporting, so everyone, don’t be surprised anymore—ow, i-iihh… Ahyan bwodhel, ith huwts…"

As soon as I declared my intent to continue teleporting, Brother Aran pinched both my cheeks.

"Haah… Why do you always say things that get you scolded?"

Brother Gene sighed.

"And why do you make it sound like it's the startled people’s fault?"

Martin was just as exasperated. After being thoroughly scolded by Brother Aran, I was finally released and sat down on a bench.

"So, Jo, what are you here for?"

Brother Noel asked.

"I was wondering if you were doing morning training again today~"

"Ah, we were, until someone surprised us with teleportation."

Brother Aran narrowed his eyes at me.

"Ahaha… Oh! Here, a new sports drink. It's Mirange-flavored."

Laughing to evade the situation, I took out drinks for everyone from my storage.

*Gulp.*

"This is really good. Teach me how to make it later."

Brother Aran requested.

"Sure, got it. Oh…"

I suddenly remembered. This was bad. If they found out, I’d get scolded again.

"Hm? What is it?"

Brother Aran looked at me curiously.

"No, nothing. Ehehehe."

"Hey, Little Joan, this drink is really tasty, and it feels like it instantly gets rid of fatigue. What’s in it?"

Martin, please don’t ask that—especially not now! What do I do… Can I bluff my way out of this?

"Um… love?"

As expected, everyone was dumbfounded.

"Ah~~~~"

Brother Noel suddenly shouted.

"What the hell, you scared me!"

Gan got mad.

"Jo, did you use it?"

Brother Noel questioned me.

"W-Watashi, nani mo shiranai yo."

Panicking, I somehow ended up speaking in Japanese.

"Ahaha, why are you speaking like that? Ahahaha!"

Brother Gene laughed.

"Jo… just be honest. You used your skill, didn't you?"

Brother Noel grabbed my shoulders, looked me in the eyes, and questioned me.

"”Ah!!”"

At his words, Brother Aran and Brother Gene also remembered about my skill and stared at me.

"… Yes."

"Haah… We’ll have to report this to Father."

"Ah, no, Brother Noel, anything but that… Please. I’ll st—I’ll be careful from now on!"

"Why can’t you just say 'I won’t do it'? It's the same dumb excuse, isn’t it?"

Brother Gene was utterly baffled. In my past life, I could argue down even Father or Guren with logic, but when I knew I was in the wrong, I just ended up making excuses.

"Haah… Fine. But you need to come up with another way to make that Mirange-flavored drink. Got it?"

"Yes!!"

"You’re always so quick to answer."

Brother Aran said sarcastically.

"Of course!!"

I proudly declared.

"Jooaaan~!!"

Brother Noel scolded me again.

"Sorryyy—" *Poof.*

"Haah… Why does she use teleportation right after getting scolded for it?"

Gene sighed.

"… She really never learns."

Aran muttered.

"Haah…"

Noel could only sigh.

Watching the three of them, Gan and Martin thought to themselves—Joan was cute, but dealing with her must be exhausting.

Of course, the matter of the Mirange-flavored drink remained a secret among the five of them.

What do you think about this chapter?