Volume 12 - CH 10.1

Intermission 1: The Lioness Seeks Her Prey 

And so the difficulties (?) of Colbert began. 

Time passed, and we return to the story after Mio’s umpteenth proposal had just been shot down by Colbert. The callous dismissal made her purse her lips. 

“What’s wrong with me? I’m a devoted woman, you know? ...I’ll do everything other than administrative work.” 

“Please, don’t remove the one thing I want you to work at from the list.” Colbert continued looking at the documents without further reply, causing Mio to puff up her cheeks. 

Here she was, confessing her feelings, and this guy didn’t feel a thing. This was an affront to her as a woman. Mio put her hand to her face and struck a model-like pose that came off as awkward, probably due to its unfamiliarity to her. “T-They say I’m a beauty, like my mother, and I think I’ve got a pretty good figure. I stick out in all the right places, you know? My three sizes are...” 

“You don’t have to say! ...Hahh,” Colbert sighed and began rubbing his own shoulders. “I am aware that you’re beautiful. If you would become a lorelei, I think you’d be an immediate sensation.” 

“Oh, I’m a terrible singer. My voice is loud, but I can’t carry a tune. I was the rare exception that those rule-obsessed totalitarians at the officers’ school allowed to lip-sync when we were singing the school song.” 

“...You’d be popular if you’d just keep your mouth shut.” 

“That correction just makes me sad. But you’re complimenting my looks, right? I don’t come from a bad lineage either, so why won’t you accept my proposal?” 

“Because. We. Are. Still. Working!” Colbert emphasized every word of that.