Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Did You Really Spend the Night with Lady Asrania?
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"Did you really spend the night with Lady Asrania?"
Marigold smirked, then immediately fired back.
"Then, sis, did you have a kid because you liked them so much?"
She was still calling me sis.
But what was this about?
"What the hell kind of nonsense is that?"
"Esira, duh. When did you even give birth?"
Was it because she looked like a little kid? Just bringing up this topic felt so off-putting.
If only she'd stopped there, but she was like an eight-ton truck with busted brakes.
"So, does Esira grow big on sis's breast milk? I'm kinda curious what it tastes like."
I furrowed my brow so hard it felt like wrinkles were carving into my forehead.
"I've never given birth."
"You're denying the kid now?"
"Esira's not my biological daughter."
I took a breath and drew a firm line.
"We weren't ever in a relationship where I'd call her my daughter to begin with."
"Then what is she?"
This time, I was the one at a loss for words.
I'd never really put much thought into how to define my relationship with Esira.
"Partner."
"Has every talented person in the world dropped dead? Walking around with a little kid as your partner."
"What, you running a background check? You've been awfully chatty."
"I'm curious, okay? The great Asrania playing house. It's just... fascinating."
She looked every bit the innocent child, but her words were sly as a fox.
"Looks like your body shrank and took your brain cells with it."
"Oh my."
"Forgot you're within reach of my sword?"
She knew exactly who I was, yet here she was, cool as ice.
What did she plan to do if I exposed her?
"How about we change the subject? Something pure and innocent, fitting for a kid like me."
"......"
"Who's the baby's daddy?"
I clicked my tongue in annoyance.
"You really trying to die?"
"But you two look way too alike."
"......"
"From the hair to the eye color, identical copies. It's like if sis got younger, she'd look exactly like that."
I couldn't argue with that part.
Even I had felt an uncanny mirror-like dejá vu the first time I saw Esira.
But admitting the resemblance didn't mean I'd given birth to her.
"Enough pointless crap. Not interested, so drop it."
"Huh? You don't wanna talk about it?"
"No energy to play along with your bullshit."
"No way you don't even know who the dad is, right? Like, multiple guys or...?"
She didn't finish that last bit.
I swung my greatsword in a flash.
With a thunk, her head shot into the air.
Blood sprayed like a fountain from the stump of her neck, and her headless body thudded to the ground.
"See? Keep it up, Calendula."
"......"
"One more word outta that mouth."
I'd been going easy because she looked Esira's age, but she'd crossed the line hard.
"I'll cut your soul next."
"Eeeek~ You're so mean!"
The voice came from the fallen corpse.
Smoke rose from the headless body.
Pop.
With a burst of smoke, a perfectly fine Marigold popped out.
Looking exactly the same as before.
As the smoke cleared, the corpse had vanished without a trace.
"You can't just actually chop me! Bad girl!"
"You've got multiple lives anyway."
"I lost a life! A life! Ugh, lives are so precious!"
Was it the kid body? She was using words more fitting for a commander.
If the one that just shattered was Marigold A, then this was Marigold B, I supposed.
"For a second there when I died, I thought about self-destructing."
"Guess you held back."
"If I blew up here, we'd both get in trouble, so yeah."
"From who?"
Who was there to scold us?
"Sis might not care, but I'd get my ass handed to me by Sage."
Sage wasn't the type to let his building get wrecked. And fights were definitely off-limits at gatherings.
"You're Number 30."
"Way below when I was Number 3."
"Then just head back as Calendula."
Marigold shrugged shamelessly.
"......Being a kid makes it easier to move around. Anyway, I'm relieved."
"About what?"
"You blew my head off without mercy. Perfect."
What kind of story was I even hearing?
Who says that right after getting their skull popped? It was enough to corrupt the listener's sanity.
"I thought you'd gone soft after having a kid. Motherly love or whatever changed you."
"......Get in my way, and I'll cut you down."
She twisted her body in ecstasy as she whispered.
"When you slashed me just now, I felt it. Your killing intent. Ah, you really wanted to kill me that time!"
"I'd have ground every last one of your lives to dust."
"Yes, yes! That's more like you, sis."
Marigold even clapped.
"Seeing this through to the end wouldn't be so bad."
"......Planning to kill off all your remaining lives?"
"You crossed the line."
Marigold eyed my sword intently.
The playful glint in her eyes vanished. She knew better than anyone that Asrania didn't make empty threats.
"......Okay, okay."
Marigold threw both hands up high.
"I lose. Yeah, no way I beat you like this. Plus, lives are expensive."
"If you're not serious, I won't let you leave alive."
"I'll apologize with all my heart."
"Verbal apologies don't cut it."
"Knew you'd say that, so I prepared."
Marigold suddenly grabbed the hem of her skirt.
"Shall I strip, then?"
"......What?"
"Going full nude dogeza is the ultimate apology on our side. So humiliating! Ahh, how can this be."
"What're you gonna do naked?"
"I'll show you a naked prostration."
Early Axiom member, alright—pure madness. Gave me chills, like a total psycho.
They say hearing something too absurd cools your anger, and this was exactly that.
"Forget it. No need. Words are fine."
I cut her off flatly, and Marigold's eyes went wide as saucers.
"Huh, really? Turning down this rare treat?"
"I'd rather hear it than see that monstrosity."
I clicked my tongue and sheathed my sword on my back.
If this woman lived on Earth, she'd be locked in an asylum, not prison.
Marigold, frozen mid-bow on the floor, just lifted her head to stare up at me.
"Amazing."
"What is?"
"A reaction I'd never have imagined from the old you."
Marigold hopped up, dusting herself off with a beaming grin.
"Fine, I admit it. From now on, you're 'New Version Asrania.'"
"What am I, a robot? Quit with the version talk."
"You got an update! How about shortening it to 'New Asrania'?"
She meant it as 'new,' but it kinda sounded like a divine being.
"......Don't mess with my name."
"It fits perfectly, though. Anyway, you accept my apology? Then one last question."
I could guess what it was.
"Esira has no father?"
Back to square one, huh.
She's not my biological child, so no genetic father.
In the original story, there was an Esira father figure. Someone kinda like my position.
The Commander.
Could I call him her father now?
The Commander's first meeting with Esira was a disaster. First impressions last.
Yeah, no way.
"......He doesn't exist. Yeah, Esira has no father."
A bitter smile flickered on Marigold's lips, then vanished. Her eyes darkened oddly, like she was probing for cracks in my answer.
'Just say she doesn't have one if she doesn't......'
That hesitation meant dragging out a memory she hated even voicing.
'Who knew Asrania could make a face like that?'
Honestly, Asrania and Esira were eerily alike.
No wonder the rumors of a hidden daughter started.
Marigold hadn't believed it at first. The Asrania she'd known since her Number 3 days was a monster devoid of maternal instinct, or even affection itself.
Then she showed up with a kid, and the person changed completely.
New Asrania.
Maybe she'd had the child but had to hide her for some reason.
Who was the man that left Asrania looking so forlorn?
Who turned her into a mother?
『Esira has no father.』
Asrania never named him in the end.
If he truly didn't exist, would she have hesitated that much?
Denying the father's existence.
Maybe he's already dead.
Or worse than dead.
Marigold bit her lip lightly.
She hadn't expected this woman to stir such unease. Irritation twisted in her gut.
Asrania might be...
...just a normal human after all.
It was the first time that thought crossed her mind.
A secluded table in the corner of the hall.
"Didn't you say before that if you met the Commander, there's something you really wanted to ask?"
"Ah, th-that... is it okay to say it?"
At Dancing Butterfly's words, the girl known as an Axiom member glanced at the Commander, then quickly looked away.
"B-but what if it's awkward? If it upsets him..."
"It's fine. The Commander's got a heart as big as the Pacific—he takes it all in stride."
The Commander nodded.
"I could even tell you my waist size. Reina's too, if you need..."
"Commander!"
Reina cut in. Her ears flushed pink.
"Kidding. As if I'd know."
The Commander waved it off with a laugh.
"W-well then... there's something I've been dying to know."
Black Purple fidgeted with her fingers. Her face burned red, eyes darting aimlessly.
"Ask away."
The Commander flashed the most relaxed smile to ease her nerves.
Emboldened by it, Black Purple took a deep breath, lips trembling as she spoke.
"Did you really spend the night with Lady Asrania?"