Chapter 476: Times of Choice (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 476: Times of Choice (3)
*
Tikan was still in the throes of a massive construction project to transport and install the Black King Corps’ equipment.
The work, which had begun the moment the Black King Corps joined their ranks, was not just for the defense of Jin and his allies or the safety of the residents. It was also the final piece of the puzzle for Tikan’s elevation to a sovereign nation—a project that demanded a long and meticulous process.
“Lower it, lower it!”
“You there! Tilt the angle of that ship cannon just a bit! To the left, left… there! Stop!”
Even for the world’s greatest mercenary group, the labor was so intense it left them utterly exhausted every night. Yet, for some reason, the members’ voices remained bright and cheerful.
It was all because of Amela.
Inwardly, everyone had been worried. They had feared that the legendary Great Mercenary might put up a better fight against Jin and Murakan than they had, or perhaps that she might never surrender at all.
Of course, their loyalty to Valkas’s chosen new lord would never waver, regardless of the outcome. However, if Amela had managed to hold out for long, they couldn’t help but feel it would have been a blow to their pride.
Fortunately, Amela’s bravado had lasted for only a fleeting moment. As soon as Jin began to reveal his true power, she had immediately begged for mercy and surrendered.
“Hehe, our Captain really has an eye for people. I was a bit worried that the Great Mercenary might make us or our Lord lose face. There was also the matter of her rank compared to the Captain’s.”
“Was the title of ‘Great Mercenary’ just a bunch of hype? From what I overheard Lord Murakan saying, she gave up on the spot.”
“Hype? Don't be an idiot. You think the officers who actually faced that woman on the battlefield were all just blowing hot air?”
“Besides, she didn't just surrender; she even agreed to be declared officially dead. Do you know what that means? It means the Lord our Captain chose is just that incredible.”
In any case, the members of the Black King Corps were highly satisfied with the results of their Lord’s trip to the Gaifa Archipelago. The members of the Ghost Unit, who were assigned to work alongside them, felt the same way.
On the other hand…
A certain pair of siblings inside the Tikan mansion did not share that sentiment.
“Ugh, get lost…!”
“Ugh, this is so annoying!”
It was Rata and Fey Prochi of the Ghost Unit.
They also believed it was a wonderful thing that Jin’s forces had grown stronger with Amela’s inclusion, but they simply could not accept their current situation with a smile.
“My little cuties, are you tired already? Play with me more! Let’s play!”
Amela reached out from inside her puffy bush camouflage suit and waved her hands. The Prochi siblings looked at her with absolute disgust.
However, the siblings were playing along to a certain degree to ensure no unfortunate incidents would trouble their lord. Normally, they would have drawn their blades by now, but they were settling for hurling curses or simply running away.
Sir Rata and Fey seem to get along surprisingly well with Amela… I suppose they didn't actually hate her that much.
Jin, watching them, was completely misinterpreting the situation. The three of them, sprinting all over the mansion, looked for all the world like they were playing a game of tag.
“You lot sure are having fun, tsk. Hey! It’s distracting, so stop running. Are you going to spend the whole damn day just running around? Huh?”
The moment Murakan shouted, Amela came to a dead stop.
“I’m sowwy.”
Amela bowed deeply toward Murakan. Twigs and leaves fell from her puffy bush suit. The Prochi siblings wiped the sweat from their brows and reached for their cigarettes, their faces etched with the bitterness of life.
Jin stared blankly at Amela.
“I’m sowwy to Jin, too.”
“Ugh, why did her way of speaking change like that? She was so confident at first back in the archipelago.”
“I was a wittle crazy back then…”
From what he had observed since their time in the Gaifa Archipelago, Amela was like a child—a troublemaker with the temperament of a cheerful animal. She was completely unsocialized and lacked common sense or any awareness of the world around her.
However, she didn't show the murderous side she had displayed in the archipelago.
—The very few lucky bastards who made it back alive would lose their minds and tremble in fear at the mere mention of Amela’s name.
—It’s hard to put into words. It was as if she viewed us as toys or playmates. She’d say she was bored while her hands were busy swinging a sword.
She was also quite different from the description the Prochi siblings had given.
—In other words, it means we must make Amela one of the Lord’s people. Fighting on opposite sides because of different clients is one thing, but becoming clear enemies is a completely different matter. Personally, if it seems like she’ll become an enemy, I believe we should consider killing her.
—I understand what you mean. Our priority is to figure out what Amela wants. Is there anything specific you know?
—Exploration.
—Exploration?
—Amela has spent her whole life wandering and exploring the world. When I asked her casually while eating after a battle, she seemed to be searching for something with an incredible passion… but she wouldn't tell me exactly what it was.
She felt somewhat different from the way Valkas had described her as well.
Since coming to Tikan, Amela hadn't been as violent when playing pranks on the Prochi siblings, nor did she seem to possess the “incredible passion for searching and exploring” that Valkas had mentioned.
Amela was simply a child who liked to play (especially with the Prochi siblings), was polite with her greetings, and had a few people she was scared of (especially Murakan and Jin).
“Amela-nuna!”
“Amela-unni!”
Perhaps because of this, she got along very well with the other children. Not only did Kou, Pinte, and Yuria treat her warmly, but she also seemed to follow Enya around just as much as the younger children did.
This was why Jin was conflicted.
She’s also dangerous.
For now, she seemed to have melted into Tikan as an ally immediately after her surrender, but Jin could not yet truly trust Amela.
It was only natural. There was no telling when or how the unstable elements she possessed might manifest. It wasn't as if she had formed any real bonds with his comrades in Tikan, either.
—[Tell me anything! I won’t be friends with Bubar and Kinzelo anymore; I’ll be your friend.]
There was also the fact that she had betrayed Kinzelo so easily. If someone else offered her clues about Chaos, she could just as easily betray Tikan.
A person who could neither be fully trusted nor entirely rejected. That was how Jin perceived Amela.
“Lady Amela.”
“Yess?”
“There are quite a few things I need to hear from you. The events at the Gaifa Archipelago, the matter of using Bubar’s soul to amplify the power of Chaos, and the information regarding Chaos you’ve gathered so far.”
“Ask me anything! I’ll tell you evewything.”
“But right now, I can’t trust what you say.”
“Good Amela doesn't tell lies.”
“That’s why I’ve invited someone who I think can see right through you.”
Amela tilted her head and met Jin’s eyes. One could almost see a question mark floating above her face, hidden as it was inside the bush suit.
“Someone who can see through me? Ah, is it Yuria?”
“Unfortunately, it’s not me, Amela.”
Yuria did not call Amela “unni.” Her way of treating Amela was closer to how one would treat a younger sister.
Of course, it was possible to filter Amela’s words using Yuria’s Authority of Truth.
However, his comrades in Tikan had concluded that they should avoid using Yuria’s power on Amela because of the Chaos. Since so little was known about the power of Chaos, they had no idea what kind of effect it might have.
“Ta-da!”
“Kyaaaaah!”
Suddenly, someone screamed right into Amela’s ear.
Startled, Amela’s body recoiled like a spring. The others nearby also jumped in fright, their eyes widening.
It was Yona. She was the person Jin had called to examine Amela.
As always, she had used her ghost-like infiltration techniques to find Jin without being detected by anyone.
“Hehe.”
Yona grinned as she looked at Amela. Her very first words were:
“Want to die?”
“M-me?”
“Yeah, you.”
As Yona began to step forward, Amela scrambled backward. Before she had even taken a few steps, she began to tremble violently, unable to even meet Yona’s eyes.
“Uwaaa… h-help me.”
“Hehe, shh.”
“Hic!”
Soon, Amela reached a wall and curled into a ball. Yona looked down at her with her characteristic gaze, brimming with murderous intent.
No one knew why she was acting this way, but they were all gripped by the same intuition: if they tried to stop her, things would only get worse.
Even Murakan didn't breathe a word of protest against Yona’s behavior.
Come to think of it, my sister also emitted a fierce aura when she first saw Bubar’s sculptures back when she was a Reserve Flagbearer.
The same kind.
Looking at Bubar’s sculptures in the Kurano Duchy back then, Yona had said he was the same kind as her. At the time, Jin hadn't known she was talking about Chaos, but now he understood.
Whooooosh!
Cr-crack, crackle!
Suddenly, a violent wind began to blow through the room.
Magic lamps shattered, cracks spiderwebbed across the walls, and the ceiling shook as if it might collapse at any moment.
At Jin’s signal, the Prochi siblings quickly led the children out of the room. Simultaneously, the aura Yona was emitting grew even stronger.
[Come out.]
Yona’s voice echoed, her feet hovering a hand’s breadth above the floor. In the darkened room, her shadow grew exceptionally large, looming over the cowering Amela.
The shadow is different from Sister Yona’s form…!
The massive shadow was not shaped like Yona at all. Instead, it looked like the gaping maw and fangs of some monstrous creature.
Jin and his comrades instinctively realized that this was the true form of the Chaos Yona possessed.
And a moment later.
Sssssss…!
As Amela slumped forward as if she had fainted, a black, soul-like entity emerged from her. It was the Chaos that Amela possessed.
Unlike Yona’s, this Chaos had a clearly recognizable form. It was a black figure, similar to a human, but with horns and a tail.
Had it been alone, Amela’s Chaos would surely have exuded a tremendous sense of intimidation. But standing before Yona, its presence felt weaker than a single fang of her own Chaos.
[Did you think I wouldn't know if you hid?]
Yona spoke, looking down at Amela’s Chaos with cold eyes.
[M-mercy…]
[I will give you your first and last warning. If you harm my brother...]
Slash! Slice!
[Kaaaaah!]
Black lumps fell to the floor.
The arms and legs of Amela’s Chaos had been severed, dropping away. Yona hadn't swung a weapon; she had cut off its limbs simply by moving her gaze.
Then, Yona’s Chaos swallowed those limbs whole.
[You will never enjoy freedom again.]
[I will obey! I will follow you and your brother as my masters!]
Despite suffering the humiliation of losing its limbs, Amela’s Chaos could do nothing but bow its head to Yona.