An Otome Game’s Burikko Villainess Turned into a Magic Otaku

Note: Please dont read it in the little pop-up for the reader. For some reason it doesnt reflect my later edits (which I often make a lot of after publishing), so please click view original.

You know, people have mentioned that Camille is smart because shes a genius in magic. However, its been mentioned in the memo that her nature is one of someone who is fundamentally above average in all aspects, but can never get really good at anything. Could it be that as compensation for her magical talents, the universe has robbed her of her other mental facilities?

Today I came to the forest together with Royce-sama and Achille to have a picnic.

Beatrix of the Diamonds faction is accompanying us as a guide. It seems that shes familiar with this forest. Royce-sama When did you get so friendly with Beatrix? I think it was probably after that girls only gathering, but that he became close enough with her to invite her on a picnic is surprising.

When I mentioned this, Camille, wont you have fun being with a girl friend? he replied to me. Certainly, its just as he says. What, did he invite Beatrix for my sake? Royce-sama really is so kind, huh?

Camille, Achille, please look after me as my guards today.

Understood.

Please leave it to me!

Royce-sama is sparkly and lovely today as well. The light clothing hes wearing for the picnic really suit him, huh!

When I stared at Royce-sama as though eating him up, breathing wildly, Achille stood in front of me and blocked my view.

Camille, your robe is going to get caught on branches, you know? Its because youre wearing something like this even though were going on a picnic

But If you say magicians uniform then its a robe

Its the clothing I always wear to work, so just putting it on puts me at ease. Its already gotten to the point that I feel uneasy going out without it.

Take it off.

Eh-

Youre wearing clothing under the robe, right? Today were walking in the forest, so the robe will get in the way. So take it off.

Wai- Achille.

Achille slipped in behind me and easily pulled off my robe.

Under my robe, Im wearing a long black vest, and shorts. Under the vest is a grey, shoulderless shirt. This is also my work-wear. Even like this, I can move around just fine, but like I thought, I cant calm down without the robe.

Camille Do you not have any clothes besides those?

Of course I do. The robe also comes in red, and as for the underclothing Ive worn them in a variety of colours before, and

Achille looked at me with an astounded look.

Lets go shopping next time.

In the end, my robe was confiscated by Achille.

While crunching fallen leaves, we headed to the depths of the forest. Our destination was a lake within the forest. There wed eat, and then wed head back.

Not that way, Camille. Over here.

To stop me from heading in the wrong direction, Achille grasped my hand.

Hyaa!

Because I stumbled with bad timing, I fell into Achilles chest. Even though hes dainty for a guy, Achille easily caught me without staggering.

T-, Thanks.

Suddenly, the time when Achille held me and told me that he liked me crossed by my mind, and my face grew hot. Achille thinks of me in that way, doesnt he? He likes me as a member of the opposite sex While I was at it, I even recalled the incident at the girls gathering, and I was even more shaken. Even though it wouldve been fine just to say that Royce-sama was my type The face that appeared in my mind, was Achille for some reason. Aahh, all of that was completely because that guy did something so raunchy to me! T-, To kiss me like that!

Camille?

Achilles wondering voice snapped me out of it. While I was stuck in thought, the whole time I was being held by Achille.

Sorry It-, Its not-, -hing.

I leapt out of Achilles arms in a panic.

Because I was feeling awkward, I turned to gaze towards Royce-sama, and found that he was having fun chatting with Beatrix. Its rare that Royce-sama is that close with a girl. Even though he normally deals with noble daughters quite blandly, and never lets them into his personal space

Up until now, except for me, hes never been especially close to any women. Even if theyre a girl thats close with me. Dborah and Dsire are a good example. Whats with this uncomfortable and hazy feeling in my chest?

Im sure its because of the overeating I did at dinner last night. I mean, it was the cream cheese pasta that I like. I was hungry for it despite myself, and was even gluttonous enough for seconds. Im reflecting.

I decided to breathe in the fresh air of the forest and refresh myself. Even though I say its a forest, right now were walking in a relatively less dense area, so theres a lot of sunlight. Perhaps because people walk this way often, theres a path large enough for several people to pass though. There are flowers blooming on either side of the path. Whilst looking around for flowers that seem like theyd be good for magic experiments, I continued heading into the forest.

We finally reached the lake. We left when it was the morning, but right now it isnt even noon yet. It seems that we got here faster than Id have thought. By the lake was a clearing, and I could see the sky properly. The weather is good today, so the water in the lake is calm as well.

At a place a little distance away from the lake where the ground was flat, we immediately began spreading out lunch boxes made by Royce-samas maids on the cloth we were using as a picnic blanket. Inside the large, but light lunch boxes were sandwich-ey things made from various foods stuffed in a baguette-like bread, and in another lunch box they even had fruits for dessert. It looks delicious. Because Im always eating high class-ish food, eating this type of food is a great change of pace.

We began to eat while drinking the magic tea that Beatrix brought. Today as well, it was a tea with fatigue recovery effects. Its just right for a picnic. Magic tea sure is convenient, huh

I picked two baguettes. One was a roast tomato and cheese sandwich with something like basil in it, and the other was a sandwich with roast apple and caramel sauce, with something like custard cream mixed in.

Its delicious

I dont know where the fullness from yesterday night went, but I immediately began devouring the baguettes. Dessert was something like strawberries, something like grapes, and something like mangoes. I keep saying something like because Im finding it hard to declare confidently that theyre exactly the same thing. The foods in this world are extremely similar to those in my old world, but I cant say that theyre exactly the same. The strawberry-like fruit has no hairs growing from the seeds after all, and theres no calyx either, and the grape-like fruit dont grow in a bunch either. As for the fruit like a mango, theres no seed or skin, and its a flashy and rainbow coloured. Of course, these all have their own names as well, but theyre complicated so in my head Im just giving them the names of fruits from my old world.

Camille, theres cream around your mouth, you know?

Achille wiped my mouth with a napkin for me. He does it skilfully, like a mother. The fact that the only one he takes care of this much is me, is something that I only recently realised. No, to begin with, theres no one but me who does childish things like getting cream around their mouths though.

The weather is good, and the temperature was nice and warm, and even though it was in the middle of a picnic, I became sleepy. To fight back the sleepiness, I tidied up the lunch boxes, and went on a walk around the lake. Fortunately, it isnt that large a lake, so it doesnt seem like itll take me too long.

Royce-sama and Beatrix were getting along well and having a conversation while drinking tea Hmm? If I look carefully, for people who were getting along, Beatrix seemed a little withdrawn. Royce-sama was smiling incredibly happily though.

Beatrix?

C-, Camille Suddenly standing up like that, are you going somewhere?

A stroll. Im just going to walk a lap around the lake, so Ill be right back.

M-, Me too

For some reason, Beatrix looked like she was making me an entreaty with hers eyes. Maybe she needs the toilet.

Well then, together with Beatrix-

Ill come with you, Camille. Itd trouble me if you wandered off somewhere weird again, after all And Beatrix-sama, while Im gone, could I trouble you to look after His Highness? We wont take all that long, so itd be great if you could enjoy the lake after we come back.

Achille cut off my offer. Is he feeling sleepy too? But geez, even I wont get lost just walking around the lake.

Mn, that sounds good.

Before Beatrix could reply to Achilles slightly overbearing proposal, Royce-sama answered for her.

Achille, Camille, you two go on ahead. Ill be fine.

If you say so, Royce-sama.

Though I felt dissatisfied with the way this conversation went, I decided to take a walk around the lake first.

Then Ill be going first, Beatrix. Ill leave Royce-sama to you, okay?

With my hands joined with Achilles, I began slowly heading towards the shore of the lake.

We were at a place with flat ground and a little grass growing, but after walking for a little while, more and more trees started to appear. But there was a small path between the trees due to people walking there, and the path seemed to lead all the way around the lake. Each generation of students may have walked along this path like we are now.

A picnic once in a while isnt bad, huh?

I looked up at Achille who was next to me. Achille was walking with a peaceful expression, still holding my right hand.

Yeah.

The area around the lake is peaceful. All I could hear was the sound of leaves blowing in the wind, and occasionally the songs of small birds.

Were always passing here through the sky, so a picnic is fresh. Achille, you havent done this sort of thing much either, right?

Its because youre always flying through the sky, Camille, that you cant remember the paths on the ground. Really, dont even think about taking a stroll in the forest by yourself, okay?

Its fine. If I get lost, I can just fly.

Achille looked astounded by my reply.

When we had made it halfway around the lake, suddenly a strong gust of wind blew. The leaves of the blowing trees danced in the air.

Wah-, what a strong wind.

I unconsciously shut my eyes, and Achille pulled me over as though covering me.

Are you okay?

I-, Im fine Thanks.

Even though I said I was fine, Achille wouldnt move away. On the contrary, one of his hands began fiddling with my hair Its ticklish, you know?

Umm, Achille?

When I spoke up, lost, Achille finally parted his hand from my hair.

There were petals stuck to your hair, you know?

Eh?

In the palm of his hand were small flower petals of a slightly deep pink, that he had picked out of my hair. Lovely flower petals blown in the wind from somewhere.

What, so it was because of flower petals? I was surprised.

Isnt it your fault for making me wonder what was going on, because you suddenly started touching my hair? Because of Achille, my heart is beating violently again.

Im just chatting with Achille normally, and being alone together is something that happens all the time. But then why is it that when Im alone with him nowadays, my heart will just suddenly start pounding?

Just what did you think it was?

Achille asked me teasingly with a smirk. He kinda seems like hes in a good mood. As if I could say it, that lately Ive been repeatedly interpreting what he does as a continuation of that shameless thing he did to me.

Nothing really.

Because the embarassment was just too much, my reply ended up curt. Im not sure what was so funny, but Achille was chuckling away. As if my heart had been seen through, the embarassment in my heart just kept piling up.

Theres no mistake that by the time I was led by hand back to Royce-sama and Beatrix, my face was as red as a boiled octopus.

Authors Note: It was a coordinated play by Royce and Achille.