Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Child of the Abyss (2)
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Screeech―
The pork that had been brined in salt for ages was sliced thin.
This ham had been salted for so long that its color had turned brown, and it was incredibly tough.
Yet inside the cut surface, a pink hue lingered, with flecks of salt crystals visible here and there.
Beside it, an entire deer haunch was roasting whole.
The meat, placed on red-hot gravel, sizzled as droplets of fat bubbled up and dripped away.
Bread and cheese followed, set upon the table.
The soft white loaf tore easily along its grain, revealing dried fruits nestled within.
The cheese, made from goat's milk, sat alongside some sheep's milk cheese, their nutty aroma wafting through the air.
Crunch crunch crunch crunch―
The child of the abyss, Rorschach, devoured it all at an astonishing speed.
How did all that food fit into such a small, scrawny body?
Crunch crunch crunch crunch―
Rorschach chewed and swallowed an entire hunk of salted ham whole, then grabbed the deer leg, its heat not yet faded.
After wolfing down the scorching meat, she gulped down cold milk in great draughts before lunging at the bread and cheese again.
A grown man's ten days' rations vanished in the blink of an eye.
But.
"Eat up. There's plenty more where that came from."
Federback piled even more food beside the table.
Fish caught from pools in the cave sizzled and popped on the grill.
Fried birds and egg fritters from those near the abyss entrance piled up on the table one after another.
Crayfish and shrimp dug from the muddy bottoms of the pools heaped high on plates.
"……! ……! ……!"
Rorschach's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the food.
Watching her, she seemed every bit the innocent child.
But.
An unexpected sight.
Federback recalled memories from before his regression as he observed her.
Those sharp eyes confirm it's her, no doubt.
It was definitely those eyes he'd faced on the battlefield before regressing.
Though they were much younger now, the same went for him.
Rorschach Roshek.
The name of the monster who once drove House Meursault to the brink of ruin.
"More?"
Nod nod―
But for now, she was just a child.
Federback kept feeding her.
If this wins her over...
Rorschach would grow into a terrifying figure.
A master strategist flawless in tactics, administration, logistics—nothing escaped her grasp.
She had wielded the emaciated prisoners of the abyss to slaughter thirty percent of Meursault's elite forces.
Because of her, Federback had spent a full half-year trapped in the abyss.
...That day taught me one person can turn the tide for an entire group.
Federback glanced aside.
At Rorschach's feet sat a wooden crate.
Inside that crate, packed with salt and sawdust, lay Hadley's severed head.
He had been her longtime enemy.
Not content with killing her parents, he had hunted her down too—a true demon.
Federback spoke to her.
"I've already proven your parents' innocence."
"……."
"The ones who framed them have all been dealt with. More will be locked up here soon enough."
At that, Rorschach finally replied.
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"……."
This time, Federback fell silent.
The child of the couple framed by Yuda and thrown into the abyss.
Raised by all the prisoners and some guards within.
And destined to become humanity's greatest military genius.
There was no reason not to recruit her early.
"It's not about being nice. Saving the innocent and compensating them is a noble's duty."
Federback gave a principled answer.
Not exactly a lie.
Rorschach tilted her head.
"Mom and Dad said House Meursault folks aren't bad. The bad ones are the administrators in between."
"I'm from House Meursault. It's my job to execute those bad administrators."
Federback slid a plate of thinly sliced salted pork toward her.
"I'd like your help with my work."
"Mom and Dad said there's no such thing as a free meal in this world."
Rorschach chewed the ham as if it were the most delicious thing on earth.
Federback nodded.
"I like how quick you get to the point. Good upbringing."
He continued toward her.
"I have a lot on my plate. Half of it requires brains."
"And the other half?"
"Requires a blade."
"Not confident with blades."
"Then use your brains. Plenty you can do."
Rorschach fell silent at Federback's words.
Then, she made one demand.
"I'll do anything. Just grant me one request."
"What is it?"
Federback asked.
Rorschach answered.
"Give every person here one mug of beer."
"Beer?"
"Yeah. Ice-cold, the kind that makes your teeth ache."
"That's all?"
"……."
Rorschach nodded at Federback's question.
"After Mom and Dad died, the grandpas raised me."
"The prisoners, I take it."
"Yeah. They all said they were framed and thrown in here."
"……."
Federback rested his chin on his hand at her words.
Probably not true.
He had investigated all prisoners' backgrounds upon becoming warden.
Few were truly innocent, and those had long since died.
So the ones who raised her were likely real criminals.
Knowing that, she didn't ask to free them.
Federback nodded soon enough.
"Got it. I'll have it prepared right away."
A mug of beer was distributed to each prisoner in the abyss.
Ice-cold mugs, buried in ice buckets, were carried in.
The prisoners, who had awaited only death behind their bars, accepted the mugs with dazed expressions.
They lifted the trembling mugs to their faces.
"This isn't a dream, is it?"
"To think I'd taste beer again before I die."
"My favorite brew. Oh― it's still being sold."
The prisoners savored the beer slowly.
No elixir granting immortality would be handled with such reverence for even a sip.
Tears flowed as they drank the cold beer.
Then.
♩♪♬……
Music drifted from somewhere.
The prisoners turned to see Rorschach standing there.
A child playing the violin.
The piece was Song of the Free Poet, Movement 7.
The prisoners closed their eyes, mugs in hand.
And for a moment, forgot the world as they listened to the child of the abyss play.
……Meanwhile.
Taking her sweet time.
Federback stood behind Rorschach with a bored expression.
Though it was her first time touching a violin, she played it masterfully.
She'd learned to read sheet music from her parents, the instrument from other prisoners.
With only experience on makeshift rattles from stones, wood scraps, and bat tendons, to play like this—truly a genius.
Tsk.
Federback clicked his tongue lightly.
In the distance, prisoners wept.
Regret? Self-mockery?
Federback sought punishment over rehabilitation, so he cared little what they felt.
At last.
The long performance ended.
The prisoners returned their empty mugs, and Rorschach returned to Federback.
Then.
"Live well."
As Rorschach passed a cell, an old man spoke.
"……."
Rorschach didn't reply.
She merely bowed her head toward that cell.
Federback clicked his tongue again at the sight.
He asked a nearby guard.
"What meals are the abyss prisoners getting?"
"Originally two meals a day: potato stew and black bread. But since you became warden, sir, it's been one meal every two days—potato stew only."
Federback clicked his tongue a third time at the guard's answer.
He issued a curt correction.
"From now on, three meals a day. Back to potato stew and black bread, plus a bit of pickled vegetables on the side."
"!"
The guards' eyes widened at Federback's order.
The man who had seemed ready to starve them all to death had softened, just a touch.
Federback spent a long time talking with Rorschach.
Measures against monsters crossing from the north, impacts of military expansion, tax strategies, relief plans for the poor in Meursault territory, managing diversifying merchant guilds...
Most were policies pushed by her parents, the Roshek administrators, before Yuda blocked them.
If these had been debated and enacted on time, House Meursault wouldn't have declined this far.
Her parents had been the upright officials this territory desperately needed.
Now that they were gone, framed and dead, Federback planned to raise Rorschach and place her in their role.
"From now on, think of me as family. Your sorrow is House Meursault's sorrow. I'll personally be your guardian."
"How old are you?"
"?"
Federback furrowed his brow at her words.
Rorschach continued.
"It's weird if my guardian's younger than me. You look way younger."
In noble society, elders typically guarded the young.
Federback replied.
"I'm fifteen this year."
"I'm fourteen, so... that works."
After pondering Federback's answer, Rorschach suddenly asked.
"You said to think of you like family, so can I call you big brother?"
"……."
"Kidding. Mom and Dad always said you need the leisure to joke and laugh, no matter the situation."
She smiled brightly through her messy hair.
"I'll call you Sir Federback from now on. Nice to work with."
"……Sure."
Federback nodded, trying hard not to show surprise.
Never imagined a girl.
The messy hair, dirty face, and gaunt frame had screamed boy.
Before regressing, in the chaos of battle, she'd worn heavy armor and a large helmet—no close look then.
Doesn't change anything, though.
Federback stood.
He said to Rorschach.
"A gift to mark becoming my subordinate."
"?"
Rorschach looked up.
Federback set a key on the table.
...Clunk!
Rorschach followed his gaze.
In the corner of the stone wall loomed a massive iron door.
The key fit its lock.
Click―
Rorschach turned the key in the lock.
Then.
"……!"
She saw what was inside.
"Mmph mmph mmph―"
"Mmph― mmph!"
"Hic― sob sob― waaah......"
Men and women in their fifties and sixties.
All gagged and bound tight with ropes.
Federback stepped behind the stunned Rorschach.
"The ones involved in framing your parents."
"……!"
Her demeanor shifted instantly.
Seeing her expression turn ice-cold, Federback knew intuitively.
Picked the right gift.
Nothing strikes a woman's heart like the head of her enemy.