Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 324: Jealousy and Tricks

Laxus got jealous?!

He was completely thrown off.

Meanwhile, Laxus puffed up his cheeks in a mix of frustration and pouty defiance.

"Because! You’re weirdly sweet and gentle with that guy Feilu, even after everything that happened! You’re kind, yeah, but usually when someone’s bad, you’re like, ’It’s punishment time!’ and all!"

"I-I’m not that dumb, okay!? Don’t underestimate me!"

How rude! Seriously, that was so disrespectful! Don’t mess with him, don’t make fun of him!

Even as Rocco stomped his feet in frustration with a "hmph hmph," he was cool-headed enough to keep listening to Laxus’s explanation.

Hmm, so it seemed Laxus had gotten jealous of Feilu.

Hmm...

—Wait, what?! Laxus was jealous...!?

"L-Laxus, you got jealous!? But you’re always so calm and composed! I thought I was the only one totally head over heels for you! But you—wait—you were all pouty and jealous like muuu?!"

With a shocked "hawawaa!" Rocco threw his arms straight up in surprise.

Laxus, the ever-composed one, actually losing his cool and getting visibly jealous?

This was huge news!

For some reason, Rocco ended up turning beet red instead, spinning in place in a flustered panic.

Laxus, watching him buzz around trying to hide his embarrassment, easily scooped him up with a swift motion.

With a pout and furrowed brows, Laxus huffed, "Yeah, so what? I was jealous. And what about it? You clearly likes Feilu better. You like Feilu more than me, don’t you!"

Rocco started to panic—this was bad!

Laxus was totally mad! If he didn’t calm him down, someone might end up dying at this fancy evening party!

Rocco immediately threw his arms around Laxus in a tight hug and vigorously shook his head.

"No way! Feilu’s just a friend! I mean, yeah, I love him as a friend, sure! But you—you’re special! You’re not like Feilu, or my brother, or my dad—you’re totally different!"

He panted, trying to catch his breath.

That outburst took everything out of him.

As he huffed and puffed, it suddenly dawned on him—Laxus had gone completely still.

"Huh?" Rocco tilted his head and looked up—and froze.

There stood Laxus, grinning from ear to ear.

Wait... no way... Did he just—get played?!

"Hmmhm, hmmhmm. Oh, is that so? I’m special, huh? I’m the only one you love that way? Not like the others? Really? Ooooh, I see, I see~"

"Wha—wha—whaaaa!?"

Steam practically shot out of Rocco’s bright red face.

He’d been set up! Laxus had been cool and collected the whole time!

Realizing this made Rocco feel both embarrassed and frustrated, and he started flailing again.

"Grr! Grrr! You’re so mean! You big jerk, Laxus!"

Rocco thrashed and flailed in protest, but Laxus quickly pulled him into another tight hug, patting his head to soothe him.

"Hmph! Even if you pet me like that, I’m still mad! You can’t just make this go away with head pats!"

...But the pats were really nice...

"...Nnngh, right there, yeah... keep petting..."

"Munyaaa..."

"Aaah, you’re just too cute. You’re ridiculously, adorably easy, Rocco."

Laxus rubbed his cheek against Rocco’s, who completely melted under the affection.

With Rocco all limp in his arms, Laxus scooped him up with a satisfied grin, clearly in a fantastic mood.

Rocco pouted inwardly.

Seriously—what the heck.

Why had Laxus suddenly pulled that stunt anyway?

Going so far as to fake jealousy?

Rocco casually lifted his face from where it had been buried in Laxus’s shoulder—only to freeze in horror at what he saw over Laxus’s shoulder.

"Ha-hawah..." he whimpered, trembling.

Laxus, noticing Rocco’s shaking, tilted his head and turned to look behind him.

"Oh, looks like everyone’s here," he said smoothly, raising a hand in greeting.

"Ha-wa-waaa...!" Rocco let out a soft cry, face draining of color as he continued to tremble. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Apparently, they were standing right in front of the drawing room—where everyone had been waiting.

And there they were: his father radiating a murderous aura, Sylas with a cloud of gloom hanging over him, and the ever-smiling Makarov.

A full lineup of the usual important people was gathered, and Rocco broke into a cold sweat at the sight.

N-no way... Did they... Did they hear everything we just said? Right? They didn’t... right?

"—So the bastard’s more ’special’ than me, huh..."

Hawaaaah! They heard it! They totally, absolutely, clearly heard it all!

Sylas muttered those soul-crushing words, looking completely dejected.

That sealed the deal.

Rocco whipped his head toward Laxus in a panic.

How were they supposed to recover from this situation!?

But then he noticed Laxus’s face—that smug smile, the unwavering confidence.

Wait... no. No way... Was this all according to his plan!?

Starting this whole conversation right in front of the drawing room... yelling about jealousy loudly enough for everyone to hear... Was none of that a coincidence!?

C-could it be... this was all part of his plan?!

"L-Laxus..."

Rocco called out in a teary voice, desperate.

This isn’t real, right? It was just a coincidence, right? He prayed for a reassuring laugh and a casual "Haha, yeah, totally."

But the moment he saw the sparkling smile Laxus flashed in response, he knew.

He knew everything.

"This way, it’ll be easier to bring the topic up!" Laxus said with a bright, victorious grin and a thumbs-up.

Rocco slumped in utter defeat.

Sniff sniff... I really am the only one head over heels for him... Laxus’s always calm and composed and totally in control... the ultimate older brother type... Gaaah...

"...Well, I guess I should go ahead and kill Feilu, just to be safe," Laxus muttered above Rocco’s head, his expression now flat and tinged with jealousy.

But Rocco who is still quietly weeping, didn’t notice a thing.

...

"So yeah—we’re getting marrieeeed!"

The cheerful declaration that was accompanied by a round of self-congratulatory applause, came from a beaming Laxus the moment everyone had gathered in the drawing room.

However, Rocco, who was supposed to be included in that very "we," couldn’t possibly match Laxus’s bright grin.

Instead, his face drained of color.