Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Slum (2)
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"It seems like you were looking for me, so I came straight here. Lady Elena."
"Hmph."
Elena quickly put on a stern face at my greeting and snorted.
...But what was with that fan?
She held an Eastern-style fan up to her mouth, peeking only her eyes over it as she stared at me.
Well, whatever. That wasn't important right now.
I took a bold step toward her and spoke.
"Why are you suddenly hiring people from the slums? What do you want from me?"
"Tch..."
"If I'm your target, then come after me alone!"
Even though I was a slave and she was a pureblood noble, I stood my ground this time.
But instead of answering, Elena pressed the fan even closer to her face and squinted.
Then she pointed at me with her fingertip and shouted.
"Don't come any closer!"
"......Pardon?"
"I said don't come closer!"
Ah, the Male Pheromone.
That explained why she was covering her mouth and nose with the fan.
It didn't smell bad or anything—Taira, another pureblood, had even sniffed appreciatively.
Anyway, the real issue at hand.
"So, what is it? What do you want from me?"
"Hmph..."
As I stopped advancing and pressed the question, Elena snorted again.
"I don't want anything in particular. Half-breed."
"Nothing...?"
"We elves need troops, so we're hiring half-breeds from the slums. Through proper procedures, of course."
"What good are they in a war...!"
"Well, they can serve as meat shields, at least."
"......"
My face hardened at the words "meat shields," and Elena's eyes curved into a smile visible over the fan.
"Don't pity them too much. Even if they all die, their families will get more money than they could earn in a lifetime. Besides, participation isn't mandatory—we gave them every right to refuse."
"Urgh..."
"Anyway, I know exactly what you're so upset about."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Whoosh. With that, Elena folded her fan.
Revealing a slightly flushed face and a pleased smile, she pointed the tip of the fan at me and continued.
"If you enlist with us and join the war... we might not need the meat shield strategy at all."
"......"
"Hehe, how about it? That should resolve your complaints, right?"
You said you didn't want anything from me.
But her goal was obvious from the start.
'She wants me to join the war as a mercenary...'
And why was she pushing me specifically into the war?
That was obvious too.
My death.
"......Why are you doing this to me?"
I asked her, irritation bubbling up.
"Is it because I can use your revered ancestors' magic?"
"......"
"Tell me! Why are you after me like this?!"
If there was some reason, at least I wouldn't feel so wronged.
If it was something I could resolve, I'd fix it and be done.
I didn't want others getting hurt because of me.
Elena, who had been silent, furrowed her brow slightly at my question.
"You insulted me."
"......"
Is she crazy?
That was my first thought.
'Insulted you...?'
When had I even seen her enough to insult her?
We'd only met twice—last time and now.
"......"
"......"
Then I noticed her fan again.
And how she'd yelled at me not to come closer just moments ago.
'...Damn it, is that it?'
The Male Pheromone.
A trait that intimidated males and aroused females.
That's it. I finally realized.
I hadn't noticed because no other women had reacted negatively.
'She hates that a pureblood felt desire for a half-breed...'
It was a grudge I couldn't resolve.
One that didn't make sense from my perspective, but...
Clearly, a simple apology wouldn't cut it for someone who treated half-breeds like bugs.
She wouldn't be satisfied until I was dead.
"Hmph. Anyway, I'll give you some special time to decide. Two days. Tell my soldiers your choice by then... and we'll leave the slum residents be. We'll even pay them as promised."
Elena smirked slyly as she said it.
Her expression screamed: If you get conscripted, they'll still get the money—so they can't refuse, right?
Creeeak.
Thud.
I left her room and headed outside.
I walked, deep in thought about what to do.
Before long, a familiar sight approached.
The slums.
The crowd from earlier had dispersed, leaving only a few men walking the streets.
"Excuse me..."
"Oh, Gladiator! What brings you here at this hour?"
"Has there been a decision on that mercenary offer from earlier?"
"Ah, that. Yeah."
The man I asked smiled brightly and nodded.
"We all agreed to take it! For that kind of money, we have to step up!"
"You're all joining...? It's war..., no one opposed?"
"One young guy was scared, but we all have families. Even if we die, we figured our families could live happily. Everyone agreed willingly."
"......"
I bid the man farewell and continued through the slums.
That's when I heard sobbing from somewhere.
"Hic, sniff, hic..."
"Anna...?"
It was the girl Anna, sitting behind a rock at the edge of the slums.
Spotting me, she spoke in a tear-soaked voice.
"Gladiator, sir..."
"......"
"What do we do...? My dad..., hic, if he goes to war.... I might never see him again...."
"......"
"What should I do...? Gladiator, sir...."
Anna wasn't specifically asking me for help.
She probably thought it wouldn't change anything even if she did.
"......"
But my situation was different.
'War, huh...'
I'd never experienced war, but I knew how terrifying it was.
Even with my ancestors' power making me stronger, my body was still that of an ordinary human.
An arrow to the back of the head could kill me instantly.
War was a deadly gamble for me too.
"......"
I left Anna behind and headed to the Colosseum.
My thoughts grew even deeper.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After finishing my afternoon duties, I lay on my bed, lost in thought.
If I sacrificed myself, the slum dwellers could live.
But war was dangerous.
And given how far Elena was going, she definitely had some scheme in mind.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' looks at you pitifully.] [Ancestor 'Star Prophet' silently watches you.] Should I ask the ancestors?
Conveniently, Elena's revered ancestor Elisis was here.
'...No, my ability to communicate with ancestors is thanks to my trait. No way around it.'
If I went and claimed to speak for Elisis's will, she'd probably take it as an insult and try to kill me.
"Haa..."
My dilemma only deepened, and I couldn't fall asleep.
Then.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' asks a favor of Ancestor 'Star Prophet'!] [Ancestor 'Star Prophet' scolds Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies'!] 'Elisis and Astril...?'
The messages showed the two bickering somehow.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' rolls on the floor!] [Ancestor 'Star Prophet' lets out a small sigh.] It looked like Astril giving in to Elisis's tantrum.
And right after.
I widened my eyes at the next message.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'Star Prophet' bestows a gift upon you!] "What...? Now?!"
⚔ STATUS ⚔ You have acquired 'Fragment of the Milky Way'. I'd thought the sudden gift might grant some ability.
But what I obtained was the Fragment of the Milky Way.
An item from Astril that let me see her prophesied futures.
"This time, what...?"
With that, I lost consciousness.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "P-Please...! Can't you just tell me that? Huh? Uwuu...! Th-The Quartet of the Wind originally belongs to us elves...! Hic, pleeease...! I really need it...! I'm begging you like thiiiis...!" I opened my eyes.
"......"
I recalled the prophecy I'd just seen in the dream.
The perspective was definitely mine.
Elena was right in front of me.
And she was on her knees, rubbing her hands together as she pleaded.
Begging me to teach her the Quartet of the Wind.
'The Quartet of the Wind is elf magic—why would she ask me...?'
A question popped into my head, but there was an answer.
'Come to think of it, even Ireila, a royal harpist, only knew two parts...'
I'd assumed she only taught me two because she was royal.
No.
"It's lost..."
Not impossible.
After so much time, it could happen.
Anyway, the key point: In the near future, Elena would beg me to teach her the magic.
"......"
I stared into space for a moment.
A message floated before my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' gives a thumbs-up while bleeding!] Just like last time.
Showing me the future always came with a risk.
Elisis had taken that risk to show me this future.
So, why show me this one?
The answer came quickly.
'If I can just survive until that future..., Elena's petty grudge will end.'
Observing the future creates inertial force from fate.
Unless it's something as absolute as a fated death, most destinies can't be overwritten.
Since no future of my death had been prophesied yet, that future was practically 100% guaranteed.
And so was my survival.
At least until I reached that point.
"That's what you wanted to tell me, Elisis."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' smiles brightly!] With this, I made up my mind.
Playing into Elena's scheme pissed me off.
'But when the time comes, I'll pay her back properly...'
I choose the slum residents.
I'll go to the war.