Chapter 426
Chapter 426
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: My Friend Asel (2)
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Cleaning up the trash didn't take long. The once-arrogant thugs were now all crippled, rolling on the ground.
Groans filled with agony and desperate pleas for life rose from my feet.
"Ugh... urk."
"S-save me. Please...!"
I never drew my sword once. Even for Lin, I couldn't let it taste the blood of such filth.
Not a single member of Nimburton's famed vigilante group (what a joke) could withstand even one of my punches.
"You're lucky bastards. Back in the day, I'd have killed you the moment you pointed a blade at me."
"Argh! M-my wrist...!"
The ones who hadn't passed out were weeping uncontrollably at the sight of their hands, limp as rice stalks.
No wonder—their wrist bones were completely pulverized. I'd knocked them all down with a single punch each, then stomped every hand that dared swing a sword, shattering them.
"Sniff... waaah..."
"Quit your whining if you don't want to hear it, you cripples. Now that none of you can use your hands, you can service each other when you're lonely. Who knows? After a year of rehab, you might even manage to button a shirt."
"Guh... sniff!"
The terrified trash shut their mouths. It wasn't a joke—they were genuinely lucky.
Normally, out of worry for my sister, I'd have beaten them half to death and sold them off to slave traders. But now that I knew her strength, there was no need.
'If sis is the pure extract... honestly, the blood I inherited is like clear broth strained from it.'
The daughter of the stars, who inherited Father's blood most purely.
Seriously, ten thousand of these punks couldn't draw a single drop from her. Still, I didn't want her breathing the same air as them.
I planted my foot on Hans's head—the most pitiful one here, with his ear sliced off and wrist broken—and growled.
"Listen up, Hans. If you're still in Nimburton by tonight, I'll snap your ankles too. Hole up in a cave or build a shack in the mountains—find somewhere."
"Guh... o-okay... I'll go."
"Good. Now scram. That dwarf's done with you lot, so don't come sniffing around again."
I pointed at Asel. The only vigilante whose wrist was intact. He sat on the ground, having witnessed the entire slaughter.
"Ah, ahh..."
His long, thick eyelashes—prettier than most women's—trembled. I turned my back on the trash and approached Asel. Squatting in front of him, he averted his eyes like meeting my gaze would kill him.
"So, Asel. Shall we talk?"
"R-R-Ronan... I-I'm sorry. I messed up."
"I know."
"D-don't kill me. Please...! I swear I won't do it again."
Asel huddled, clutching his wrist. Tears plopped from his pretty face. His breathing—racing like a pulse—betrayed his utter terror.
A good scare here, and he'd probably piss himself.
Part of me wanted to see that, but I held back and let out a sigh.
"Haa... you moron. Why would I kill you?"
"......Huh?"
"I'm sorry. I won't kill you or hit you, so lift your head."
"Y-you're... sorry?"
Asel slowly raised his face. Pale as a sheet of paper, with only his eyes red-rimmed.
I extended my hand and continued.
"Yeah. From your side, it was the first time seeing me in years. I pop out of nowhere doing this shit—must've freaked you out. Guess I overdid it."
I felt bad for the sudden explosion, but Asel's downfall had hit me that hard.
I hauled him up half by force. Legs wobbling, he clung to me and managed to stand.
"S-sorry! I didn't grab you on purpose..."
"As long as your hands aren't covered in shit and piss, it's fine. They aren't, right?"
"...No."
"Then hold on comfortably. How the hell did you end up running with those thugs?"
"W-well..."
Asel trailed off. Looked like there was something he couldn't say.
After a few seconds, I shook my head.
"Forget it. Tell me later when you've got time. For now, let's head to my house."
"Y-your house?"
"Yeah. I'll write a letter for you to leave at the door. Don't want sis catching on."
"Huh?"
Asel tilted his head. I scrounged paper and a pencil from the village and scribbled a note. Barely any content to it. Reviewing it, I gave a wry smile.
[Sorry for leaving without a word. Be back soon.]
In this world, I planned to see sis later. Meeting her here would just waste time, and I wasn't the brother she was looking for anyway. Asel did as told, left the letter at our house, and returned.
"Phew... that was close. Left it, Ronan."
"Thanks. Sis doing okay?"
"Yeah, healthy. Still her bright self... but every time she sees me, she asks if I have any news on you. Maybe meet her yourself?"
"I want to, but not now. Let's leave it here."
Asel's eyes narrowed at the cryptic words.
Sis was pitiful, but no helping it. Better to track Akasha while finding this world's me—Ronan-3—beat some sense into him, and send him back than some half-assed reunion.
With sis worries settled, I looked down at Asel.
"Alright, Asel. Take one hit first."
"...Huh?"
"Gotta pay for your sins, you pathetic bastard."
"Argh!"
Crack! A crisp sound rang out as Asel clutched his crown.
I'd dialed back the force plenty, but it'd still feel dizzying enough to suspect a skull fracture.
Squatting again, I pressed on with the lecture.
"No matter how they sweet-talk you, using magic for thug bullshit?"
"M-my head...! My head!"
"You won't die, so quit the drama. That washes your slate. Time to go."
"Ugh... go where?"
"Where else? Phileon Academy, to straighten out your life. I'll take responsibility and make you a real archmage."
"P-P-Phileon Academy?!"
Asel's eyes nearly bugged out. I explained it properly: your talent's no joke, don't rot in this backwater.
Sprinkled in miscellaneous details for extra persuasion.
"S-suddenly like that..."
"Just go, man. Call it lightning striking your life. Want another?"
"Eek! N-no...! I'll go!"
Asel shielded his head with both hands. Didn't matter if he hated it—I'd drag him anyway. Persuasion done, I clapped his shoulder.
"Alright, we're off? Oh, before we go, say bye to your parents. Almost forgot."
"W-what? Honestly don't get it... but no need. Let's just go."
"What kinda unfilial crap is that? Even if you're twisted, your only kid vanishing without a word—how worried would they be? Go say hi quick."
I spun his body toward the village. But he didn't budge, like nails driven into his feet. About to flick his head again for the attitude.
"...They're gone."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Died two years ago. Mom from illness, Dad slipped off a cliff gathering herbs for her... So it's fine to just go."
Asel gave a bitter smile. My mind blanked for a moment. That single phrase echoed in my ears. Reciting it back, I clenched my fist.
'...Damn. No wonder he's gone so far off the rails.'
Asel was good at heart. I'd vaguely guessed a reason for his rebellion, but losing both parents? Never imagined. In the original world, they were fine—Asel entered Phileon, made bank adventuring and on scholarships, averted all that tragedy.
Chills crawled up my arm. Flicking him then would've made me irredeemable trash. Licking my lips absently, I fished my pipe from my inner pocket and stuck it in my mouth.
I drew deep, exhaled. White smoke scattered into the sunset.
"That's how it is."
A sigh escaped on its own. My family's a mess, but this was worse. No sister to fill the void of love for their only son. Utterly alone in the world.
Of course, that gap wouldn't stop him becoming an archmage. The guy's talent was overwhelming—a genius who'd star as protagonist or in his party if compiled into a book over a century.
But like this? Happy archmage seemed unlikely. Needed to hustle various things, but having seen it, I couldn't ignore my best friend's misery.
Pondering solutions.
"Right. That thing."
An ancient memory brushed my mind like wind.
"Hey. Before Phileon, let's hit Acalusia first."
"...Acalusia?"
Asel looked up at me. Thinking of his parents, his violet eyes brimmed with gloom.
"You mean that great house, Acalusia?"
"Yeah. You'd be better off entering there as an adoptee first. One of my really solid friends is there. I'll tie up some business too."
A distant-feeling past now. After acing Phileon's entrance exam, I'd gotten an invitation from Erzsebet de Acalusia.
The prestigious house splitting Grancia and the Empire—they adopt raw talents.
'In the original world, I got it but never went. Totally forgot.'
Show his skills, and they'd back the dirt-poor Asel like no tomorrow.
Not entirely selfless, either.
Even earlier, I'd heard rumors from the Grand General about Acalusia's trials and their treasure vault.
'Perfect timing. Can hunt for something to track Akasha there.'
Blood needle's useless now—needed a new way to pursue. A great house like Acalusia's vault would have useful items aplenty.
Goal locked in, no more fretting. Mulling the route briefly, I took the lead.
"Let's roll out, Asel."
"Huh? The road to the city's the other way... why there?"
"Faster and easier this way. Join the main flow, and we're at Acalusia lands in one shot."
"Huh? Main flow?"
Asel tilted his head. Ignoring him, I strode up the hill. Cresting the peak revealed the river snaking through the village, glowing the color of sunset.
A nameless stream without even a proper name.
"There it is."
Scanning the bank, my eyes locked. A small, weathered raft bobbed in place, tied to a stake. I leaped aboard like reuniting with an old pal.
"Hell yeah, this is it. Been too long."
"N-no way...!"
Asel's face drained of color, grasping his fate. The local brats used this for snagging mullet or splashing around.
"R-Ronan... no?"
Panting raggedly, he forced an awkward grin.
I get it. Normally, sailing a log like this to Acalusia territory? Impossible. The must-pass main current—the Taimen River, Empire's lifeline—was vast, called a long sea for good reason.
'Time for some river breeze.'
If we announced rafting this to Taimen, most folks would toss us coins for the afterlife ferry. Ferryman fare for the River Styx.
Irrelevant to me. I sliced the mooring rope and beckoned Asel.
"What're you waiting for? Hop on."
"Ah."