Chapter 31: Negotiation

25 MAR 2022NOOBCHAN TRANSLATION BERSERKER MOB

“Master Al. My apologies. I have tried to harm you.”

　Vera kneels and apologizes. She inwardly gives up on the idea that there is nothing she can do to make up for her apology.

　I never thought I would make such a blunder,… but I also feel a sense of frustration and desperation that I’ve felt refreshed somewhere along the way.

(Mister Vera. Nothing happened between me and you. We did not go to the rubble of the abandoned church. Isn’t that fine? You’re not even a real squire. …… (I’m afraid of your backers in the first place. The shadow of Monster Claire and the power royal family…)…)　

　Al being Al, is a bummer. Same thing with Cyrus. Because his own unintentional words and actions have provoked her to do something. He was the one who did it.

“…… Al-sama. That’s not the way it works. I will resign from my position as the shadow of the royal family after this incident. …… No, that’s an excuse. I am …… tired of it all. ……”

　Vera faced herself while she was unconscious. With Vera crying, still in her infantile form.

　Normally she kept a lid on it, but that lid broke. No, it was on the verge of breaking in the first place.

　This case was a big trigger, but Vera recalls that something similar had happened earlier in the evening. She just didn’t realize it herself.

“Well, it’s your life, Vera. I can’t speak for you if that’s what you decide. …… But is it that easy to quit being the shadow of a royal family?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I will be erased as it is. but it doesn’t matter anymore. I have nothing. I realized that I had nothing. I had no reason to live in a particular way. I have desperately clung to life, but there was no point!”

　Vera smiles self-mockingly. It was the first time Al had ever seen her smile, and it was an unpleasant one at that.

“Phew. I wonder. I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision for Vera, but giving up on life …… kind of pisses me off. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve been talking to Cyrus for a while now.”

“… Cyrus. He’s the leader of those children, isn’t he? Heh. I envy them ……　You said that earlier, didn’t you, Master Al? You can run away. It’s a fight to stay alive, so it’s only natural to run away to survive…”

　Cyrus is now headed back to the back street to gather the other kids in the group. Now it is just Al and Vera. A quiet confrontation.

　Vera could hear him and Al talking. She could hear them. It wasn’t long after she had been put to bed that she was awakened. She was too stunned to move, though.

　She wouldn’t have heard it if she hadn’t been awakened, and she would not have been so tormented by helplessness.

　In retrospect, I had escaped, but I had not lived. I just drifted along and responded to my surroundings. Worse than the insects in the Great Forest. I realized that I had lamented my own powerlessness, hated those around me, and used that as an excuse to do nothing. No, I didn’t even want to do anything.

“eh? Is that the story we just talked about?”

“…… Yes. I heard you. I am an orphan like Cyrus, I spent some time in the back streets, though not in a royal city. but …… Master Al did not appear before me. It was the shadow of the royal family that took my hand. I thought I had escaped the cold reality, but what awaited me was a bitter and painful spacious prison. There is no future there. Ha ha. I want to escape already. From this prison of reality”

　Vera’s mannerisms are wildly disorganized. Her mind is too. Al did not understand the true meaning of her words, but he guessed that she was not in a normal state.

(Oh, come on. What’s wrong with you? Well, I guessed earlier that she was a former orphan or something, but suddenly quitting the shadow of the royal family? Did you want to die or run away …… that badly? Also, are you jealous of Cyrus and his friends? What the hell is that?)

　Al is not sure about Vera. But aside from dying or running away, if she really is resigning from the shadow of the royal family, if she is a former orphan, …… I had a few thoughts.

“Master Al. I have been selfishly biased towards you, but …… I was wrong. Perhaps I was envious. I just envied you, Master Al, for being able to live freely and naturally.”

(What? Did I really make you hate me so much? Do you envy …… Or do you envy its natural state? No, your bosses usually collar me though.)

　Vera looks at Al with different eyes than she did a little before.

　There is no deeper meaning in his words and actions. As it is. The customs and status of the noble family really didn’t matter to him. ……

　The backstreets where I wandered as an orphan.

　If it had been Master Al, who appeared in front of me, then, like Cyrus and the others now,…… Would the young Vera have stopped crying? Or would I have been vulnerable to the severity of the battle he describes? Suddenly, such a thought crosses her mind.

　Conversation between Al and Cyrus.

　Living in the Great Forest.

　To fight.

　To him, there is no difference between a nobleman, a commoner, and a vagrant.

　The fact that Cyrus and his friends’ lament was dismissed as a boast of misfortune.

(Ha ha. I guess a truly strong person is someone like Al. I can’t do it anymore. I cannot continue to fight any longer. I’ve been desperately trying to hold on to my life……. but the little Vera in my heart will never stop crying……. No matter how long it takes. At least I hope that Cyrus and the others that Master Al reached out to will pursue a different path than mine…)

　Vera was prepared. Backward-looking, ready to produce nothing, ready only to end. If she were to resign from the shadow of the royal family, she would surely be erased. And Vera knows that. It is impossible not to understand.

　She is a candidate for the Kingsguard of His Highness Adam.

　The royal family’s shadowy peers were jealous of her. They harassed her. They sometimes said things like, ” You probably used your body to get what you wanted,Slut”

　However, she was neither pleased nor interested in being chosen as a candidate for the Kingsguard. Thinking back, she may have been faintly aware of the cry of the young Vera in her heart, whose heart had been screaming since that time.

　The departure of death. Vera goes forth.

“…farewell. Master Al. I know it’s not for me to say, but please help …… Cyrus and his friends to live in a place where the sun shines and they can live a decent life.”

　Kneel on both knees and lower your head to the floor. This is the so-called “Kneeling on the Ground” in Al’s previous life. It is rarely seen in this world, but the meaning is similar. It is a form of bowing down, a form of surrendering one’s pride, and is considered to be the manner in which a person who has committed a blunder asks for forgiveness from a goddess or a superior.

(Yeah, I’m not used to someone kneeling, and I’m not used to getting down on my knees or anything like that. …… Is it really that big of a deal? Well, if you don’t like the royal shadow, that’s fine, but if you’re that concerned about Cyrus, and his friends…)

　Vera bowed her head, wishing only for the future of Cyrus,, and the others, rather than forgiveness for her own blunder.

　Amid what could have been a prayer, Al’s words came from overhead.

“Um, …… if Lady Vera is really going to resign from the royal shadow …… if you re going to be erased anyway, I would like to ask you to help me put Cyrus and the others together ……?”

Not knowing that he was prepared to that extent, Al casually asks Vera with a idea that he has come up with.

“……..ehh?”

　Vera raises her face, which had been downcast.

****

“So… so what? You want me to send Vera to help you with a project you’re doing in a town of outsiders?”

“Well, to put it simply, yes. Incidentally, this is also related to the “Divine Child,” right?”

　The salon room has somehow been turned into a confidential meeting place for Victor’s team.

　Sitting on a sofa, Al confronts Victor across the table. Negotiations on pulling out.

“…Nonsense. What’s the use of collecting town rumors and such? And you think it’s a bunch of vagrants who use them? What can you do with such people? If you want to support them, donate to the church.”

“Well, …… I would say so, but there are a good number of people in town who have a flicker of that black mana, you know? To be honest, we have the support of the royalty and nobility, the church, and the academy, including Mister Victor, who is extremely talented, and we will not have any problems connecting face-to-face with the gods and godchildren. But it is not so in the town. There are “enemies” among the commoners. Even if we can’t get to all of them, we might be able to destroy them before they get to us if we find any that catch our attention. I’m the only one who can confirm the black mana at the moment, and …… I thought I’d go where no one else was going anyway.”

　He slurs and says all the right things with a nonchalant expression on his face. More than half of what he says is true, but Al does not expect Victor, or anyone else in this world, to understand his quest.

(Hmmm …… That’s inconvenient when you think about it. I wonder if there are any other reincarnations, transfigurations, possessions, or such people besides me? I hadn’t really thought about it before, but the story of the games’ setting is four years long anyway, with the main characters ranging in age from 16 to 20. Maybe I could try to find someone in a similar situation to me? No. Will it still be a hassle? This world is a game! …… yeah. It’s a regular Inquisition course.)

　Al sips his tea and waits for Victor’s reaction, thinking about something that has nothing to do with him. He is thinking about him. Al’s aim.

(This guy …… What does he want? Did you notice Vera’s identity? Are you seriously going to use vagrants to gather information? Some of the other dark side use such methods. ……?)

(What is it? You’re not making yourself clear. If you’re so generous to Vera, you should treat her better. She was crying because she had no freedom. …… Well, I don’t know if that’s really the reason.)

　They don’t mesh, but of course they don’t show it. They are quietly facing each other and drinking tea. No, one more. A non-human monster is watching the exchange between the two of them as if it doesn’t matter.

　Then, unexpectedly, the monster interrupts.

“Kid. What you are trying to do is in the interest of the “Divine Child,” isn’t it?”

“Ummm …… no – if you ask me if it is beneficial, it never is. Let’s say, it reduces the harm. ……I guess that’s what it’s like. Well, I can’t say for sure.”

　A monster outside humanity. The red eyes of Claire, who looks like an elf, shoot through Al.

　Her eyes are blood red.

　In this world, it is considered a sign of a being with the attribute of immortality, which is the …… impurity of the advanced undead.

　However, since even the church accepts her existence, it is said that she is not a kind of undead, but only a very limited number of people know the truth of this and Claire’s true identity.

“Albert Falconer. A question from me. Are you …… going to make Vera your mistress? Have you been bewitched by her sex appeal?”

　Next, a question from Victor with a very serious face. Al’s manners, which are usually rarely disturbed, were disturbed. Mainly with laughter.

“Puft! …… Ah-ha-ha-ha!”

“You! What’s so funny?”

　Sudden bursts of laughter and angry shouts.

　Joel, Rauno, and Vera, sensing something unusual, rush into the room.

“….It’ s fine. All three of us. No problem. Victor just asked a stupid question.”

　Claire lightly raises her hand and signals to the three of them. She can’t hide her dismay at Victor’s question earlier.

“hahahahahahaha …… Oh no, I had no idea that Mister Victor had such taste, I just laughed. No, I don’t mean to speak ill of your personal sexual preferences. …… Pfft…”

“You, you! ……!”

“Don’t do it, Victor. That was your fault. I’m sorry. I knew he was a …… bore, but I didn’t expect him to be this stupid…”

　Joel and his colleagues had no idea what was going on. But they guessed that Victor, their direct superior, had made a mistake.

“Oh no, you are absolutely right. It’s a stupid question. Do I want to make Lady Vera my mistress? bewitched by her sex appeal? I don’t mean to say this in front of her, but…”

　Al glances at Vera. Her expression falls a little, as she doesn’t think she’s being told such a thing. She doesn’t think he was looking at her that way? Tense. My heart.

“Just a kid, right? She is still a young child. Would you look at such a child with lustful eyes? …… What are you?”

　Al’s gaze becomes cold as he turns his gaze back to Victor.

“Answer me, Mister Victor. I’m sorry, but I simply don’t like ” those guys”. You should choose your answers carefully.”

“Stop it, kid. Victor was a fool this time. That’s all. He didn’t think too much about it. He just said the words. …… Well, a little thing like that can be fatal.?

　Even Al knows this. Victor’s statement was probably one of the preparations to shake him up and fry him. However, he only got himself in trouble because of that planted comment.

　But it doesn’t change the fact that Victor made a fatal slip-up. And it is natural for Al to feel frustrated by Victor’s statement.

“Well,. Good for you, right? Mister Victor. If this were Falconer territory, you would be dead just for what you just said. At least in the harsh frontier of Falconer Territory, unless you are an enemy, you pay respect to women who can bear children. And a child, a mass of potential, is everyone’s treasure. So anyone who would considers a girl so young that she can’t bear a child as a sex object is …… deserving of death. I recommend that you stay out of Falconer’s territory, Victor.”

“…Damn! Let me tell you, ……!”

　Vera felt a little complicated when she was called a child and a little girl, but at the same time she was embarrassed.

　Al is referring to Vera’s own crying little Vera, whom Vera herself had kept locked up under a lid. He realized. Even Vera herself had looked away until recently.

“Haha. That’s a terrible thing to say, Victor. But I completely agree with what the boy just said. Vera.”

“…huh! Ha, yes!”

　Red eyes catch Vera’s. I knew Claire existed, but I had never spoken to her directly. She is truly above the clouds. Besides, she was the first person whom Vera could not sense mana at all. There is probably too much difference in all abilities, including the control of mana.

“Do you choose to resign from the shadow of the royal family and become a collaborator of this boy?”

” if it is possible …… I would like to quit …… royal shadow …… and seek …… another possibility”

　Red eyes. Symbol of impurity. Attribute of immortality.

　However, Vera said that at that time, for some reason, she felt warmth in Claire’s red eyes. Perhaps it was the young Vera who she was staring at? The truth is unknown.

“Fuhh. …… Victor. Vera resigns her royal shadow with strings attached. And moves as a collaborator of the little apostle kid. Deal with it in that form. Of course, don’t tell them that the kid is an apostle. But it is okay to hint at it. Vera’s replacement will be procured in due course. Yoel and Rauno will remain in place for the time being. Oh, and make sure some money goes to Vera and the kid.”

“……I understand.”

　Swallowing his complaints, doubts, and even his own label of disgraceful sexual orientation, Victor nodded his head in approval. There was no way he could resist. The same goes for Yoel and Rauno.

“Although you are resigning from the shadow of the royal family, Vera. I will ask you to share information with us regarding the Divine Child and the Apostles, and I will ask you to move in from time to time. Is that all right with you, kid?”

“Yes. I don’t mind. Or rather, I would rather ask you to share information with the royal shadow from my side.”

“…Yes. I will spare no pains to cooperate with the royal shadow.”

　Claire spoke about her decision. With that it’s settled.

　And the beginning of a new battle for Vera.