The Deltrack Empire (1)
“How have you been settling in lately?”
Since I had already come all the way to their house, I figured it would be good to learn more about how the younger sister was doing. Instead of simply handing over the items and leaving, I settled down comfortably and started a proper conversation.
“Because I’ve been sick for so long, I never got to do anything. So lately, I’m trying to do everything I possibly can. I’m making friends, studying… I’m so busy I don’t even notice how the day passes. I want to learn as much as I can and start earning money quickly, just like my sister.”
“Aren’t you still at the age where you should focus on doing what you want rather than worrying about making money?”
“How can I keep living off my sister when I know exactly how much she’s suffered because of me? She spent so much money traveling everywhere to get me treated that she barely has any savings left. But lately she keeps saying I should do all the things I couldn’t before and is spending money like water.”
In truth, the older sister had shouldered every sacrifice simply because she was the elder.
“When I was little, I believed everything my sister told me. That she had already eaten it, that she had already tried it so I didn’t need to, that she was tired of it, that she didn’t like it, and so on.”
In my previous life, it was a famous saying that one’s mother hated black bean noodles. Here, it seemed the older sister played that role.
The problem was that the younger sister had grown old enough to notice her sister’s sacrifices.
“Our sister really is such a fool. She always lives for me. She doesn’t know how to take care of herself at all.”
So, out of guilt, she wanted to learn something as quickly as possible so her sister wouldn’t have to sacrifice anymore. That was what the younger sister told me.
“Well… I’m not sure your sister would like that kind of thinking.”
“Even if she doesn’t like it, it matters to me, so I have to do it. I’m going to settle down as fast as I can and become independent from her.”
The older sister had been living for the sake of caring for her sister. And now she wanted to become independent?
“It seems she thinks she’s a burden to her sister, which is why she’s saying these things. To others it might look like a burden, but to the person themselves, it can become a reason to keep living.”
“I’m my sister’s reason to live?”
“Yes. If the person she’s been caring for suddenly says they want to be independent, she might feel happy, but she would probably feel much more emptiness. So it would be better if you two have an honest, open conversation before you talk about independence.”
“…I’ve always thought about it. It would have been better if I had just died quickly so my sister could live freely.”
The problem with these two sisters was that they were both too kind. One tried to give everything to the other, while the other thought she was a burden and tried to leave. If they didn’t communicate properly, a misunderstanding could drive them further apart in the worst way.
“Have you two ever told each other how you feel?”
“Our lives are already gloomy enough. Why would I bring up such depressing topics? I can already imagine how my sister would react. There’s no way she would just say ‘okay, go ahead.’ She thinks her own sacrifices are completely natural.”
She hadn’t said anything because she knew she would only hear the obvious response.
“So in the end, you’re trying to become independent without saying anything. Don’t you think your sister might misunderstand that?”
“Misunderstand what?”
“Her self-esteem is already quite low because of what happened at the temple. She might misunderstand and think you’re abandoning her—someone on the Blacklist—to start a completely new life without her.”
“What??”
If I hadn’t been the priest who saved her, a curse would probably have flown out of that small mouth. Just from the look in her eyes, I could tell she was desperately holding back some very harsh words.
“Don’t just say it’s not true. Think about it carefully. I think it’s entirely possible.”
“There’s no way my sister would think that. She should feel relieved. No more burden, so now she can live doing whatever she wants.”
“And what does she want to do?”
“That’s something my sister has to figure out. I don’t know. She’s always been either working or taking care of me.”
I understood the desire to set free an older sister who had sacrificed for so long because of her. After all, even this child must have noticed how beautiful her sister still was.
I knew she was anxious, but I hoped she wouldn’t make a mistake out of the pressure to let her sister go. Especially if that mistake would leave deep scars on both of them.
“Everything you’re saying right now is just speculation. Assumptions you’ve never heard directly from her own mouth.”
“I know even without her saying it. I know what she’s sacrificed because of me. She’ll probably be happy. If I get healthy and can take care of myself, how free she’ll feel.”
“No. She’ll feel hurt.”
To her, the younger sister was probably like her own child. And I knew all too well that when a child says they’re going to be independent, even if the parent feels proud, they can’t help but feel a little sad. Moreover, hadn’t this child been sick for a very long time? The sudden independence of someone so precious—someone you wouldn’t feel pain even if you held them in your eyes—would surely bring confusion.
“Why don’t you believe me? I know my sister better than anyone…”
To the younger sister who was timidly pushing back, I said,
“Then shall we make a bet?”
“A bet?”
We would bet on how the older sister would react when the younger sister said she wanted to be independent.
“The bet itself doesn’t make sense. I’m going to win. My sister isn’t the type to show it even if she feels hurt.”
“Is that so?”
“…There is one way, but I can’t do it.”
“There’s a way to hear her honest feelings?”
“Yes. It’s to make my sister drink a ton of alcohol. She holds her liquor pretty well, but once she gets drunk, her drunken ramblings are no joke. She spills out everything in her heart. She doesn’t hold back anything she wants to say or shouldn’t say.”
So she had that kind of side to her. Since it was perfect for our bet, I immediately accepted the younger sister’s idea.
“Sounds good. Let’s set up a drinking party, get her properly drunk, and hear her true feelings.”
“But what do you get if you win?”
“I’ll grant you one wish. Anything.”
“A wish… anything?”
She must have thought of something, because the younger sister’s eyes sparkled.
“As long as it’s something I can do, I’ll grant it.”
“Okay, let’s do it! Even if you regret it later, I won’t take responsibility. I won’t go easy on you.”
For now, since the person in question had left for the Deltrack Empire, the bet was put on hold. Still, I was already looking forward to the day it would begin.
* * *
We left the shabby house and walked down the darkening alleyway. The dawn air was refreshing as it filled my lungs, but Melody remained vigilant, never letting her guard down because of the dangerous neighborhood.
“She lives in such a dangerous place.”
“Are you worried?”
“Yes. It would be terrible if something happened while she’s home alone.”
“Then how about bringing her to the temple for a while and looking after her?”
I never expected Melody of all people to suggest something like that.
“Would that really be alright?”
“If it is what you wish, Priest, who would dare oppose it? Everyone would welcome it.”
Unlike before, facilities to protect children were now being prepared. Adding one more child wouldn’t make much of a difference.
“I’ll have to visit again later and ask.”
I couldn’t tell whether she would like it or hate it. I really hoped she would like it…
“May I ask you one thing?”
“Yes, what are you curious about?”
“Why did you make that bet with the child? What if she wins? I’m worried she might take advantage of your offer to grant any wish.”
“I said I would grant any wish I am capable of, so it should be fine.”
It had been a casual promise on my part, but Melody seemed to view it as something far more serious.
“You may not realize it, Priest Arthur, but there are far more things you are capable of than you think.”
Me? That much?
“In the future, please refrain from making such promises lightly.”
“Since you’re saying this so seriously, I’ll be more careful.”
“Leaving that aside, there is something else I don’t understand. The Priest I know could have persuaded the child with words. Why did you deliberately choose to make a bet?”
Even thinking about it myself, if I had persuaded her properly with words, she probably would have changed her mind. After all, I was practically her savior. She wasn’t the kind of child who would take my words lightly.
“It wasn’t simply a matter of winning or losing. If I had kept persuading her, she would have understood. But understanding doesn’t solve all the problems.”
What was needed was a catalyst to completely change the younger sister’s thinking. And since her drinking habits were apparently quite unique, it seemed like a good opportunity to create the right setting.
“They need time to release all the emotions they’ve built up inside. But it’s surprisingly difficult for family members to create such an occasion.”
One would think it would be easier because they’re close, but it’s actually the opposite. Because they are close, it can be harder to open up. It’s because they cherish each other so much.
That was why I had suggested the bet—to create that opportunity. Once the occasion was made, the two sisters would surely clear up their misunderstandings and get along even better than before.
“You are very thoughtful. You didn’t have to go this far.”
“Um… to me, it was only natural. I could see that they needed help.”
It was the same as when I had helped Canaby and Reciel. I had simply felt sorry for the sisters’ situation and offered my help. Melody seemed to fall into deep thought at my words.
“So you simply gave help to those who needed it. It seems I have learned something from you again today, Priest.”
“Do I really have anything worth learning from?”
Was there really anything about me worth learning from? I believed only someone like my master could truly teach others through their actions.
‘Because he carves it into your bones.’
Of course, if my master suddenly offered to teach Melody, I would desperately oppose it. Still, hearing her say there was something to learn from me was surprisingly touching.
Compared to when we first met, her personality had become much gentler. I wondered if that had come from watching me.
‘Though she still responds rather stiffly to people she’s meeting for the first time…’
When we first met, everyone had been too scared to even approach her, so this was a tremendous improvement.
“It looks like we won’t have any schedule for a while. Until the people we sent to the Deltrack Empire send word, it would be best to lie low and stay quiet.”
“Yes.”
“I hope the news comes quickly…”
The fact that there was nothing to do but wait made me feel restless. My personal situation was like the eye of a typhoon—perfectly calm—while all around me, whirlwinds and fierce gales were raging. Just because I stood in the eye of the storm didn’t mean I could let my guard down.
I was incredibly curious about what was happening in the Deltrack Empire right now, and whether Reciel was safe.