Chapter 113
Chapter 113
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 113
>Chapter Title: The Nature of People's Hearts
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Was it Shine's petty scheme? Fortunately, the headmaster senior didn't draw his sword.
In my view, the biggest reason was that he didn't have a sword.
"……Sorry."
Unexpectedly, the headmaster senior bowed his head readily.
Huh? He really bowed his head.
It wasn't a deep bow like a criminal guilty of high treason, but it was a polite apology.
"No, well……"
It was pretty bewildering for me.
Because it was something that was bound to happen someday.
The headmaster senior had tolerated my existence only because he was a madman far from normal.
My exploits in the Great Forest of Numbers were bizarre even by that madman's standards.
As I stood there awkwardly, the headmaster senior explained the motive behind his suspicions in detail.
"I'm not trying to make excuses. It's just…… it reminded me of the old days. That's all."
It went something like this.
The old war between the Empire and the kingdoms.
Even the surface-level local battles were horrific, but the covert operations underneath were even more intense.
If we sent one spy, they'd send two. If we sent four, they'd send eight.
Cases like our squad's ace turning out to be an enemy spy were commonplace.
"……."
I listened quietly and could somewhat understand the headmaster senior's feelings.
Here, 'understand' meant literally his heart, not the reasoning behind his actions.
Post-war trauma.
A symptom commonly seen in retired soldiers, where they continue to suffer from the shock of severe events even after experiencing them.
The headmaster senior, whom I thought was steadfast. In one corner of his heart, the scars from the old war remained intact.
I was the same.
I habitually erased my presence, minimized my existence, and when facing new people, I first assessed not who they were, but whether I could kill them.
Even my paper-thin heart bore the deep stains from my Troubleshooter days.
Anyway, at this moment, I faced my senior earnestly as well.
"Senior."
"Speak."
"I fully empathize with your feelings. Yes, I can't expect you to understand. Born a Black-White Slums urchin. The only special thing is my connection to the Blandoga Family."
"……."
"Does that background explain my realm……? I'd rather hear a dog barking. That's how nonsensical it would be. ……But."
A gentle breeze leaked into the hideout.
With hollow eyes fixed on my senior, I continued in a clear voice.
"Even so, I have no answer to give you."
"……."
"It might be hard to believe, but I've spoken only the truth. No lies. If I still can't earn your trust, what more words are needed here? This is…… just me."
Yeah, that's just who I am.
Of course, I could explain my existence if I wanted.
My realm could be explained by my past life, and regression by revealing the Fire Mark.
But this…… wasn't a secret I had to carry to my grave, but neither was it something I could easily reveal.
Truly, a being that fell from the sky.
In fact, this wasn't just the senior's issue.
The Blandoga Family, Obern, Rihaym senior, not to mention Chenbi and others. Maybe even Damian.
Anyone in the senior's position would doubt my rootless essence.
Our relationships could shatter at any moment without surprise.
This solitude was homework I'd have to carry for life in this current life.
It wasn't particularly hard. I was prepared to endure it.
Just……
"I don't want to fabricate lies to buy trust. So…… can't you just believe that's all there is to it?"
This was my small greed.
I had no great expectations.
I couldn't do it myself.
Believing in a person as they are is easy to say but never easy.
Looking back, my trust in Damian, Chenbi, Shine, and the headmaster senior wasn't in the people themselves, but in the situations, backgrounds, and shared interests.
Silence descended on the hideout as I finished speaking.
Breakfast No. 1 seemed to sense the mood, just staring blankly at the headmaster senior and me in turn with wide eyes.
The petty Shine kept glaring at the headmaster senior, who gazed at me with hollow eyes.
Shine spoke first.
"I believe you."
A voice without the slightest waver.
"You're a vile piece of trash, but I believe you."
This bastard who believes me followed all the way here? ……The words rose to the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them.
At the same time, what should I call it.
‘…….’
My heart felt at ease.
And when the headmaster senior's mouth opened.
"I…… believe you too."
I unknowingly set down the burden I'd been carrying completely.
Thud.
It wasn't a bad night.
Even though the sun was high in the sky.
* * *
Was it because of that little tussle? The conversation with the headmaster senior went smoothly afterward.
"Ahem, hmm."
"Hmm."
It's awfully embarrassing to express inner thoughts at our age. Awkward coughs filled the gaps in our talk.
"By the way, this one……."
"This is Shine von Lur…… mmph!"
"The 'found' one out of the found and lured guys I mentioned earlier."
"Shine von Lurman, vampire, or whatever……?"
I swallowed curses under my senior's suspicious gaze.
This foul-tempered stalker couldn't hold back his crowing and spilled the identity.
Right in the heart of the Empire. At Jenion Academy, an imperial institution, no less? No, that wasn't all.
‘Vampire my ass…….’
This was even worse than his real name.
Vampires, well, fairy tales and myths aside, in popular perception, they're legendary demonkin. Or humanity's arch-enemies comparable to them!
But was it because of his crimes?
"……Well, he must be a guy with a screw loose."
"Yeah, well. Pretty much."
No. That look in his eyes wasn't for a 'guy with a screw loose.'
Blood-red eyes. Sharp fangs. Corpse-pale skin. Anyone would see 'vampire' incarnate.
And popping up from the shadows? On top of that, claiming to be a vampire— a lord, no less—with his own mouth!
This was an undeniable situation.
Yet, why?
The senior didn't pry further.
Just.
"They say a dog that bites is the owner's fault."
"The dog I raise won't bite. Never owned one, though."
"Everyone says that…… Alright, I'll trust you."
Shine was the only one who couldn't follow the conversation.
‘What nonsense about dogs?' He stared at me and the senior like we were lunatics, and I nearly smacked him for it.
We exchanged various small talk afterward.
Oh, by the way, my realm didn't come up.
No, it probably wouldn't be a topic unless absolutely necessary going forward.
The concern was Rihaym senior. He was one of the few who knew my realm well……
‘Well, it'll be fine.’
He's not one to blab carelessly.
From Rihaym senior's perspective, he'd think the headmaster senior knows me better anyway. So he wouldn't spill what he knows.
When the grand princess came up, the conversation flow broke once.
"By the way, the third one's arriving next week or so. Want to see her face?"
"Are you mad? That crazy bitch isn't your average crazy."
"……Hm."
What was that look?
Like, 'That's not something from your mouth.' An awkward silence anew.
The headmaster senior looked at me for a moment, then apologized on behalf of the grand princess's rudeness at our first meeting.
At this point, I couldn't help but be curious.
"But what's this token of Shakwol that's got her like that?"
"You haven't heard?"
"Well, I have, but. Isn't it like the uniform of 'Bear-Eaten Moon' or something?"
"That's part of it. A memory, not quite a memory."
The senior peered at the token of Shakwol on the table with wistful eyes, reminiscing about those days.
For a moment.
"The third one's after the token because of a promise we made among comrades regarding the tokens."
"A promise?"
"Yeah. Should call it a wish grant? We agreed to grant one wish to the token's successor."
"……Ah."
Hearing it like this, I could understand the grand princess's greed for the token of Shakwol.
‘If this goes well, couldn't she reassemble Bear-Eaten Moon?’
Her regret is probably the 'fall of the famed magic house.'
So Bear-Eaten Moon is essential for her.
Even though they're figures from generations ago, look at the current headmaster senior. He's as spry as any active duty.
Did he notice my gaze? The headmaster senior grinned mischievously.
"Why, want it?"
"No."
This time, it was sincere.
"Oh? I thought your eyes would roll back for it."
"Nah."
Bear-Eaten Moon or whatever, it's outside my interests. Well, if I could track down each one and snag a book or two, maybe, but that's no small task itself.
"Good thinking. And it's called a 'wish grant,' but it's not an absolute promise. We'd act as we please anyway. With so many comrades, how could we fulfill every successor's request? They'd sooner kill them on sight."
"Yeah, well. Birds of a feather, right."
"……?"
A glint of murder in his eyes. Definitely serious.
Here, I realized one fact: the Bear-Eaten Moon members were as mad as the headmaster senior.
Then, something popped into my head.
"By the way, why were you calling Rihaym senior?"
"To set up some barriers. Need his help to guard against Salvatium this and that. You saw it, so you know?"
Sure.
I nodded in agreement.
Making an on-the-spot barrier formula that sifts out only ancient spirits—Salvatium couldn't handle that for sure.
"By the way, he's coming around vacation. Want to see him?"
"No, not really."
I shook my head again.
Someone like Rihaym senior, I'd recognize instantly even without knowing his face. 'Ah, that's the guy.'
That could repeat the pattern with the headmaster senior.
Anyway, I wrapped up the conversation with a few requests to the headmaster senior.
"By the way, can you get me an ID?"
"ID?"
"Yeah, this guy needs one to use."
I pointed at Shine.
He seemed able to hide decently today, but for moving around, he'd need some identity.
"Oh, and look into a job too."
"A job?"
"Yeah, picked up another freeloader. A Pathfinder buddy. Academy guard position or something fitting."
"Alright. I'll look into both."
Today's headmaster senior was quite meek. Well, with his guilt, he'd suppress his mania.
As we finished and I rose to leave.
"Junior."
"Yes, senior."
"Sorry."
I smiled faintly at his solemn voice.
"……Water under the bridge, isn't it?"
"……Yeah."
No more words needed between us.
Just.
"Senior, but are you really sorry?"
"……?"
"You know, just saying sorry with words, or truly sorry from the heart. People's hearts don't show unless you speak and express them, right?"
A small token of sincerity.
What was needed now wasn't some material price bridging hearts, but perhaps this?
I thought so.