Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Island. Galliante (7)
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Shirone’s chest felt tight. How much abuse must a child endure to say something like that?
“After that day, those words became a kind of spell. Whenever my stepfather hit me, I'd say it. ‘It's okay if you kill me.’ Then he'd stop hitting me with an angry look on his face and leave. Hehe, I just lived like that. At twelve, at thirteen, until I left home at seventeen.”
“That’s around my age now.”
“Right, an age when you start to see the world for what it is. Then one day, I finally realized the meaning behind my stepfather's actions all those years. No, maybe I already knew. That's probably why I never demanded anything.”
Shirone could now guess what she meant. Marsha’s stepfather had been harboring terrible thoughts, ones he should never have had.
“Stupid man. If he wanted to do it, he should have just gotten it over with. Then we wouldn't have been tangled up in this mess for seventeen years. In the end, he was just a pathetic coward who couldn't commit one way or the other. From then on, I started carrying a knife. One day, I looked into my stepfather's eyes as he was hitting me. Ugh, he looked so pathetic I couldn't stand it. So I just said it.”
Marsha said calmly, her emotions restrained.
“You can hold me.”
“…Did he?”
“Hehe, funny how stories like this never have a twist. The man pounced on me as if he'd been waiting for it, and I stabbed him in the neck with the knife. Honestly, I didn't feel a thing. After that, I left home and wandered around until I ended up here.”
Shirone's chest felt tight. Hearing a story he had only ever read in books or heard as rumors from the person who lived it filled him with an indescribable indignation.
“Um, I… I don't know what to say…”
“It's fine! I'm doing well enough for myself now. My stepfather is dead, but this habit of stealing is hard to shake. It's gotten me into trouble more times than I can count. Ugh.”
When Marsha smiled brightly, Shirone felt better too. He thought it was amazing how she could still be considerate of others after everything she'd been through.
“If the pain is unforgettable, I think embracing it is one way to deal with it. You're doing your best to overcome it. The kleptomania will go away soon, too.”
“Thanks for understanding. If you were planning to make a move on me tonight, that would've worked like a charm.”
“No! I really…!”
“I know. No need to blush. Having a little brother like you wouldn't be boring.”
“I feel the same way. Actually, I was just thinking that you really feel like an older sister, Marsha.”
“Heehee! Yeah, thanks.”
Shirone meant it. Seeing Rian and Reina together before had made him wish he had siblings.
Would it feel like this if he had an older sister? Her every word and action put Shirone's mind at ease.
Just then, the bartender who had gone into a back room came out.
Though he didn't know the specifics, it seemed all sorts of information was gathered in the room the man had emerged from.
“Gamos alert is off. Sounds like he found a woman he likes and went back to his mansion to throw a party.”
“Phew, that's a relief. At least it's not too late.”
Marsha shot Shirone a sidelong glance.
“Hmph, I guess you were that desperate to get away from me. Just a moment ago, you were all, ‘Marsha, please be my real big sister,’ in that little kid voice of yours.”
“…I didn't say it like that.”
Shirone felt a pang of disappointment as well. It was the first time he, someone unaccustomed to women, had lost track of time talking with one.
But for the sake of the others waiting at the villa, clutching their stomachs, he had to leave.
“I should probably get going. Will I be able to see you again?”
“Of course. You think I'm going to run away in the middle of the ocean? Come visit when you're bored. I plan on staying here for a while.”
“Haha! Okay, I'll be going then.”
As Shirone hurried out of the bar, Marsha, looking relieved, ordered a strong drink.
As expected, two men who had been waiting for an opportunity approached her as if on cue.
“Well, look at you. Maybe I'm drunk on you, 'cause my tab is higher than usual.”
“Getting a room? A woman alone can't be too careful around here. How about we join you?”
Marsha didn't even turn her head.
“Get lost. Before I kill you.”
“What? You finished talking? You looking to get hurt tonight?”
The man picked up a bottle from the table and held it upside down. The tense, touch-and-go atmosphere made people turn to look at the bar.
As all eyes focused on her, Marsha let out an inaudible sigh. Then, she suddenly changed her demeanor and let out a coquettish laugh.
“Hohoho! Fine, let's go to my room. But can you two really handle me? If you have friends, why not bring them along?”
“W-what?”
“Bring them. Ten? No, twenty would be fine too. I'll play with you all night long, so go on and bring them. I hate being interrupted.”
The men felt uneasy without even knowing why. But Marsha knew. When the competition for mating intensifies, the male reveals its inherent weakness.
“W-what the hell. She must be crazy. Let's go.”
“Tch, what bad luck.”
Marsha watched the departing men with a look of contempt before turning around.
The drink she had ordered was already there. She downed it in one go, a fire shooting up her throat, her mind growing hot.
“Phew, now that's a drink. Bartender, another one.”
Instead of getting a new glass, the bartender came over and poured a drink into Marsha's.
“…Are you *that* Marsha?”
“Hehe, is there another one?”
“I heard you're wanted by the Magic Association. You've done a good job evading them. Are you here to stay?”
“No. I'll be leaving soon. I just came to tie up some loose ends.”
“I'd appreciate it if you kept things quiet. If a big shot like you causes a commotion, it'll throw the island into chaos. We don't want our agreement broken. Promise to cooperate, and we'll let you stay here for a while.”
“Forget it. I never planned on staying here anyway.”
The bartender wiped a beer mug until it squeaked. After a long silence, he spoke nonchalantly.
“The boy will be disappointed.”
“Hehe. It's fine. It's normal to get your heart broken at that age.”
“I thought you liked him.”
“He was fun. Haa, to be honest, it was a little dangerous.”
Marsha hugged her shoulders and looked up at the ceiling.
“How can such a disgusting person exist?”
Priorities (1)
The villa was quiet, as if no one was there.
Amy was sitting on the sofa by the fireplace, and Rian and Tess were so busy watching her that they couldn't even speak.
Shirone hadn't returned. It had been two hours since he'd left to go shopping; unless he was out catching fish from the sea himself, he should have been back by now.
“Sh-Shirone's late, isn't he?”
Tess, who had spoken up to break the icy atmosphere, was startled. Her own voice seemed louder than usual.
Despite this, Amy remained motionless, staring into the darkness.
*Ugh, we're walking on thin ice here.*
Tess shivered. Amy's mood seemed so foul it felt like the room was actually getting colder.
Of course, as a fellow woman, she could completely understand. Even setting aside the “couples trip” aspect, wasn't this their first exciting vacation together?
*Shirone, you were too thoughtless. I'm disappointed in you this time. Tsk!*
Girls stick together, and Tess was on Amy's side.
As a woman, she knew just how much Amy had compromised for Shirone.
Despite their disagreement at the port, she had readily offered to cook. Men might not think much of it, but from a woman's perspective, it was the most honest way of saying, “I want to make up with you quickly.”
And yet, Shirone was an hour later than Rian. He could have gotten lost, so it wasn't time to worry yet, but Amy wanted him to be responsible even in such small matters.
“Agh, I'm starving. What's taking him so long? Should I go look for him?”
Rian muttered cluelessly, clutching his stomach. Then again, for a guy who didn't eat a set number of meals a day, waiting an extra hour was a long time.
“Don't. You might just miss each other.”
“Really? Then can I eat the potatoes I bought?”
Tess glared at him and shouted.
“Why are you so dense? Think about Amy for a second!”
“What's the big deal? Shirone had more to buy than I did. It's natural he'd be late.”
Tess felt a surge of anger. Shirone wasn't her partner, but she was already resonating with Amy's feelings, and even Rian was starting to look hateful.
“Even if Shirone had more to buy, he's smarter than you, so he should have been back faster. That's why this is a very serious problem! You go sit in a corner and stuff your face with potatoes or chew on a leek for all I care.”
“Why are you so angry? What did I do?”
Rian scratched his head like a bear. He was so oblivious to her insults that you couldn't even call him selfish.
Amy spoke for the first time. She seemed to be forcing a smile, as if sorry for ruining the mood.
“I'm sorry, this is my fault. You two go ahead and cook and eat. I'll eat with Shirone when he gets here.”
“We can't do that. It was a cooking competition.”
“But Rian is hungry. It's Shirone's fault for being late anyway. Let's just say we lost.”
Tess comforted Amy, her expression on the verge of tears.
“It's okay, Amy. I'm not hungry at all, really. We just need to do something about that glutton over there.”
Rian was actually in the corner, chewing on a raw potato. He was a man who couldn't use Schema, but possessed strength comparable to those who could.
To maintain such immense strength, his calorie consumption must have been several times that of a normal person, so in a way, you had to feel sorry for him.
As they reached no conclusion and silence descended again, Amy propped her feet on a chair and rested her cheek on her knees.
*Why isn't he here? Did something really happen?*
He wasn't the type to break a promise. Nor was he foolish enough to make a mistake and be delayed.
There must have been some unavoidable circumstance.
But no matter how she tried to compose herself, she couldn't help but feel hurt.
*You're the one who brought me here. Everyone else is someone I just met today.*
She felt lonely. She had gotten closer to them, but Rian and Tess had a connection as partners. There was no room for Amy to squeeze in between them.
Knock, knock. Knock, knock.
Someone was knocking on the door. Tess's face brightened, and Rian clenched his fists at the thought of finally being able to eat.
“Shirone? Just a sec—!”
Before Tess could finish, Amy walked to the door. With her eyes narrowed, she flung the door open temperamentally and shouted.
“Hey! Where the hell have you been that you're only now… Huh?”
Amy stood there with the door wide open, just blinking.
It wasn't Shirone. But it wasn't a stranger, either. What was certain was that this person had no business being here.
It was Jis, the man they had argued with at the port.
“What? Why are you here?”
Jis's face turned red. Of all the people to open the door, it had to be this woman.
Thinking about what happened earlier today made him grind his teeth, but seeing her in casual clothes—a novel sight—made his heart pound again.
Collecting himself, Jis brazenly looked around the inside of the villa. His abdomen, where Falcoa had hit him, throbbed with pain, but his expression remained composed.
“Wow, this place is really nice. Nobles sure are different, huh?”
“I asked what you want. How did you know we were here?”
“I asked around and found you. For Jis, the ruler of the port, something like this is a piece of cake. Now you see how well I know this island, don't you?”
“So? You came all this way just to show off that one little trick?”