Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: A Miraculous Story
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It's truly a miraculous story.
'...Wait, isn't that Blackjack?'
One of the characters I'd rolled as gacha fodder in the original story.
A hunter from Axiom, just like me now.
She usually perked up at the smell of money and lightened the mood with jokes, serving as the group's comic relief.
But her skills were no laughing matter.
That's why she was part of Axiom.
'Ah, so that's it.'
Why I'd specifically thought of this building.
Because it was Blackjack's hideout.
I'd heard she used to run a gambling den before. That must be why.
But that's the past now.
And here I was, face-to-face with her in the flesh.
Normally, you'd feel sorry for turning someone's place into a bloodbath.
But I felt strangely calm.
Once I realized the trembling woman in front of me was Blackjack,
a hint of fondness even lifted my spirits.
We're from the same Axiom, after all.
Though her side of things seemed completely different.
Blackjack cautiously gauged my expression, then squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again, like someone resigned to their fate.
She opened her mouth with grim determination.
"Um, Lady Asrania."
"...".
"Can I ask one thing before I die?"
"What?"
"What's the motive behind this incident, exactly?"
Motive?
What is this, a crime scene from a mystery novel?
"That way, even if I go to the afterlife, I can at least complain about the injustice. What did I do so wrong? Run a gambling den? Skimp on taxes a bit?"
Her muttering trailed off, her face crumpling as if she might cry.
I didn't even get a chance to respond.
Esira glanced up at me briefly, then fixed her gaze straight on Blackjack.
"Those uncles."
The child's finger pointed at the chunks of meat scattered across the floor, one by one.
"They told her to do this and that in bed. And to me too..."
Esira paused, choosing her words, then scowled.
"They said if Mom's busy, the daughter can roll around in bed instead."
"...".
Silence fell.
I hadn't expected the child to say it like that.
Blackjack's expression twisted slowly.
First confusion, then growing horror.
"No, fuck...?"
The curse slipped straight out.
"Crazy. For real? Those bastards said that?"
In the original story, she hardly ever swore.
At most, something like "Oh dear" or "Damn it."
How shocked must she be to let a full swear fly without a filter?
Blackjack stammered, mouth half-open.
"Uh, and hold on."
Her eyes darted between me and Esira.
"Mom? Did you just say 'Mom'?"
Is that a point of surprise too?
She's not actually my mom, but still.
"...Mom?"
Blackjack's pupils lost focus slightly.
Like someone who'd just grasped some profound cosmic truth.
After a long silence, she nodded slowly.
"Ah."
Thud.
Blackjack collapsed to her knees, kowtowing perfectly.
"I deserve to die. I admit it."
"...What?"
"Even if I died a hundred times, I couldn't complain. Letting trash like that spew nonsense in front of Lady Asrania. I'll take full responsibility for the oversight."
Blackjack slammed her forehead against the floor.
Then shouted with resolve.
"Kill me! Make it clean!"
She peeked up slyly. Her eyes glistened pitifully.
"One last favor?"
"...".
"Don't chop me up. I want to keep some dignity going to the afterlife. At least fit in the coffin in one piece."
She meant it.
This woman wasn't cracking jokes to lighten the mood—she truly believed her life ended here.
I was too dumbfounded to speak.
Glancing at Esira beside me, the child watched with sparkling eyes, full of curiosity.
Wondering how I'd handle it, no doubt.
Should I laugh or cry?
No, why would I kill Blackjack in the first place?
Asrania's reputation was brutal, but I hadn't realized it was this bad.
Not even asking for mercy as a fellow Axiom member—instead, coolly offering her life.
I'd never imagined such a scene.
As I pondered how to defuse this absurd situation,
Bang!
The closed entrance exploded inward with a deafening crash.
Now what?
"Security Bureau! Responding to a murder report—"
The woman's booming voice cut off abruptly, like her neck had been snapped.
As if someone had grabbed her throat.
The metallic tang of blood stung the nose.
Pools of blood covered the floor.
Chunks of meat unrecognizable as human.
The squad leader at the front scanned the room, then locked eyes with me.
Her pupils shook like there was an earthquake.
I could only see her throat bobbing as she swallowed hard.
She reached a conclusion with unbelievable speed.
"...Everyone, about-face. We're leaving."
"Yes?"
"Huh?"
The confused officers exchanged glances, frozen in place.
The Security Bureau leader finally bellowed something close to a curse.
"Fuck, didn't you hear me?! Turn around and run! Don't look back!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Whether they finally grasped the situation or the leader's killing intent lit a fire under them,
they fled like a gang of criminals bolting from a crime scene, unworthy of those who'd come to catch one.
They'd smashed the door spectacularly but didn't even properly enter before scampering out.
How ridiculous was this?
Even Blackjack, kneeling on the floor, let out a hollow laugh.
"Wow. Look at that bitch recognize me and bolt."
"...".
"What a joke, the Security Bureau living off our taxes. Sigh, the country's doing great."
I almost let out a incredulous chuckle myself.
People in charge of security fleeing at the sight of my face.
No wonder groups like Axiom ran the show.
Above all, it was strangest to see Blackjack swearing like a sailor.
Blackjack stared blankly at the retreating backs of the Security Bureau goons, then glanced up at me slyly.
"Um, Lady Asrania? You're just letting them go?"
She seemed to think I was dragging this out.
"Normally, you'd silence a few to keep mouths shut, right?"
"Not interested."
I flicked the blood off my twin greatswords and slowly sheathed them.
No apology.
Even after turning the place into a slaughterhouse, things had escalated to where it wasn't an issue.
She could clean up or not; who would complain?
"...That swordsmanship earlier."
Esira spoke cautiously from behind me.
"It was pretty."
For a moment, a spark like firelight flickered in the child's eyes.
Pretty?
Really?
It was the first reaction like that since bringing Esira along.
Pretty. My swordsmanship.
"Where'd you learn it?"
Her eyes shone with genuine curiosity.
Asrania's swordsmanship, so I couldn't explain precisely.
"Just happened."
I brushed it off vaguely.
"Picked it up along the way."
Not wrong, exactly.
Bright energy lit up the child's face.
Like a hedgehog baring its belly for the first time.
'...This is it.'
My heart raced.
Like solving a long-stuck puzzle in one go.
I'd found it.
The way you and I could grow close.
"By any chance."
I asked as casually as possible.
"Interested?"
"Yeah."
She's interested.
I cheered inwardly.
Of course. I'd forgotten.
Who Esira was in the original story.
The girl who cleaved enemies with a single blade, later joining Axiom under the protagonist.
One of the rare Axiom members to ally with the protagonist's group.
"Good."
My voice nearly trembled.
"I'll help you."
I'd never forget this day.
"Let's start now. For that, we'll need..."
I scanned the surroundings.
My greatswords wouldn't do.
Far too big and heavy for a child.
She might get crushed under the weight before even learning swordsmanship.
I could wield them because of my monstrous specs.
'Something that'd fit perfectly in Esira's hands.'
A single sword gleaming at Blackjack's waist.
"Perfect. Found one."
Blackjack followed my gaze, her face paling.
"Wait, this is... This is my personal sword. My one and only, like my heart..."
Blackjack's personal sword?
No better sales pitch to stoke my collector's itch.
I stepped forward and held out my palm.
"Hand it over."
"Yes, ma'am."
Blackjack placed the sword in my hand.
Almost reflexive.
A chill gleam flashed from the sheath.
The blade's flat bore intricate trump card patterns.
Blackjack mumbled reluctantly, dripping with attachment.
"See those patterns? They all mean something. Spades for death, clovers for luck, diamonds for—"
"I'll put it to good use."
I cut her off and handed the sword to Esira.
"Esira, don't tense up. Just relax."
Leaving the blood-soaked tavern behind, we exited the hall.
At the door,
I gave a light wave.
Only after the door fully closed did Blackjack remain alone in the hall.
She sat frozen-faced for a while, then a hollow laugh escaped.
"...I survived?"
Today, one unbelievable event after another had unfolded before her eyes.
Unfortunately, all in her own shop.
And yet Asrania hadn't killed her.
She'd even walked away alive—after losing her sword.
"How the hell does this even make sense?"
And she'd witnessed something utterly shocking.
A little girl with the exact same hair color as Asrania.
She recalled the child's words from earlier.
『They said if Mom's busy, the daughter can roll around in bed instead.』
Those fucking lunatics.
Even thinking back, it was dizzyingly vile.
Here's the key point.
Mom.
That single word pulled all the puzzle pieces together.
"Asrania has a kid...?"
Blackjack clutched her head with both hands.
Emergency!
Emergency!
Ultra-urgent national disaster-level news!
Sirens blared in her mind.
This was a bombshell that could be milked for at least a century.
The whole world would erupt in chaos, she was sure.
The obvious follow-up question.
'Who the hell's the dad?'
Just imagining it sent chills down her spine.
She couldn't even guess.
Who dared to impregnate that monster?
Was that even possible?
Solving this mystery might etch a name in history, she thought.
As Blackjack caught her breath, something clicked in her mind.
Did Asrania leave just because of the kid?
No other explanation.
Thanks to the little one, she'd kept her life.
'My lifesaver.'
Asrania had a child, and because of her, I survived.
It's truly a miraculous story.