Chapter 17
Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Unreasonable Adaptation Period (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"So, who the hell are those people?"
"What?"
"No, I mean, what's your deal with them?"
Having a late lunch at a high-end Japanese restaurant, Yuseong shot a glare at Lawyer Baek Minho, who was rambling on without even a subject.
Seeing Yuseong's brows furrow, Baek Minho reacted with exaggerated flair.
"Ah, don't look at me like that. You get scary when you do!"
"You've seen the faces of every kind of criminal scum in court, and here you are whining."
"That's exactly why you're scarier. A hundred, no, a thousand times more than those bastards."
"Cut the crap. What do you want to know?"
"You know those foreigners. Where'd you even pick them up?"
"......"
"Ah, got it. I won't pry, so stop with that look. I'm serious, it's freaking me out...!"
"If you can't hold back your curiosity, just spit it out. Before I crack your skull."
"...That's a crime, you know."
He protested, but knowing Yuseong was the type who'd actually do it, Baek Minho handled him with extra caution.
Because the only ones who could rein that guy in when he got mad were his parents.
'Filial dog bastard...!'
Hiding his inner thoughts, Baek Minho spoke in a mild, compliant tone.
"Ahem, yes, just like you said, I've filed all the applications. You should have IDs within a week."
"Faster than I thought."
"After all the booze I bought them, they better hustle."
"Wasn't that all coming out of my pocket?"
"Heh heh, well, when you put it that way."
"...Whatever, faster is better."
"Right? Ahaha."
Seeing the fierce bird of prey finally relax, Baek Minho let out a sigh of relief.
Mess up, and he might not have even collected his bones...
"Ahem!"
With the mood somewhat eased, Baek Minho cautiously tried for round two, unlike before.
"Um... I won't ask about your relationship with those pushovers anymore, but..."
"What now."
"Don't get mad..."
"...As long as it's a question that won't piss me off."
"It's not like that, really. I mean, those guys... they're really well-behaved, right?"
"...?"
"No, hear me out. It's not just anyone asking, it's you, so I pulled some strings... But if they cause trouble the second they get their IDs, it screws me first, and everyone who helped me out."
"...I get it. Don't worry. I'll make sure nothing happens."
"You mean that? I can trust you?"
"......Yeah."
"...Why the long pause?"
"......"
"Hey?"
"......"
Even the brazen Yuseong couldn't give a confident reply, a shred of conscience holding him back.
It was no different from claiming safety as long as you didn't step on a landmine...
'Those guys... they haven't caused any trouble, have they?'
No matter how inhuman they were, Yuseong figured they couldn't stir up chaos in less than half a day.
...
‥‥
…
‥
·
Valian was experiencing something novel.
"Um, excuse me..."
"What?"
"C-can we take a photo with you?"
"...Sure, I guess."
"Ah, thank you! Guys, it's okay!"
"Kyaa, thank you!"
Young, vibrant women surrounded him, demanding photos. Valian was utterly bewildered.
Sure, he'd had flings with plenty of women, but only widows without husbands.
Young ladies usually preferred pretty boys. Even without doing anything, he was often shunned.
This held true across nobles and commoners alike...
"Whoa! Check out those muscles."
"You must work out?"
"How old are you, if you don't mind?"
"...Hmm."
The women's excessive attention, chattering tirelessly like sparrows.
Valian realized anew.
'...What a great world.'
He swore to bury his bones here again.
"That rabbit bastard...! He needs to get bloodied down there to come to his senses, tsk!"
"...Rabbit?"
"Rabbits are animals in heat all day. Kinda like you humans."
"......"
It felt unfair to get lumped in and cursed without doing anything.
And technically, as a non-human, why lump him in...
"Excuse me, are you an actor? Or a model? You're so handsome!"
"...Ahem!"
"...Rabbit bastard."
"......"
...Unfair.
The three drew crowds wherever they went.
What were they, bees that couldn't pass by a flowerbed? People approached so boldly...
"People in this world just approach strangers like that by default?"
[Hmm, not really. They have their own sense of manners and morals.]
"Then why?"
[Guess that means you're all that attractive and cool.]
"...Aram, you're an ego but you sure know how to say nice things. Way better than Luke or those rabbit bastards."
[Hehe, just stating the obvious. Oh, and I'm not an ego—I'm an AI.]
Alicia hated humans.
Partly because she was born a noble high elf, but mostly from traveling the world and never seeing a decent human.
Kings and nobles, knights and mercenaries, workers and slaves.
Different titles and statuses, but their ugly innards were the same everywhere.
Alicia felt more fondness for this non-human AI that served its master with warm words.
"...I've said it before, but not all humans are like that."
Leon hoped to ease his comrade's contempt and prejudice toward humans, even a little.
If this were Midgard, it wouldn't matter, but this world was ruled by 7.9 billion humans.
Sticking to that mindset would only hurt her.
It was heartfelt advice for his comrade, but Alicia scoffed in response.
"Hmph, I'll throw your words right back at you. I know not all humans are like that."
The hero Leon and Saintess Sylvia.
They had personality issues, sure. But judging purely by character, they were saints worthy of the title.
She'd met plenty of other respectable figures and philosophers too.
But...!
"Out of ten, or even a thousand, there's maybe one 'person.' How am I supposed to accept that?"
One person surrounded by pests— she wasn't about to understand that.
It happened not long after Alicia joined the Hero Party.
While resupplying in a city, she witnessed a soul-shaking, nauseating sight.
None other than...!
-......An elf?
A fellow elf enduring a wretched life as a human noble's plaything!
-That...! That trash dares to...!!
Anger? It was beyond words—an inexpressible rage engulfing her body, leading her to summon a high fire spirit.
-Burn them. Not one left.
The fire spirit incinerated the lord and his entire family.
-If they just die, they won't feel my kin's suffering. Know that an easy death is a luxury...!
Burn them in flames, heal with recovery magic, burn again—endless torture!
Even as their flesh melted and blood vessels evaporated, the lord and family were denied death, tasting horrific agony.
Not just them.
Her fury swept up everyone connected to the lord. Wherever she passed, only ashes remained.
Even that should've quenched her rage, but when flames threatened innocents with no ties, Leon and Valian intervened.
-Stop. The guilty are all dead.
-This is just venting.
-Venting?! No! This is righteous fury! Did those vermin not know?! They all did! While my kin suffered, they watched and laughed!
-That's just your imagination, Alicia.
-Move, Leon! Unless you want to burn...!
-......Alicia. Hating all humans will only torment you.
-Don't try to persuade me. Of course you'd side with humans, being one yourself.
-Leon's wrong. She's beyond reasoning.
-......Sigh.
Silent, Leon drew his sword, Valian his twin axes. They clashed with Alicia, only subduing her after half the city was razed.
"—You're exactly the same as back then."
"My rage was justified."
"Sure, it was. But trying to kill innocents too? That's not justice—it's unreason."
Among the humans Alicia burned were those not just innocent, but trying to free the elf from the lord.
And the captive elf wasn't entirely blameless either.
Word was, she'd killed soldiers just for "talking" to her?
"Killing over mere words—is the elf at fault? Or the humans who subdued and enslaved her?"
"That's...!"
"One thing's clear: you massacred without grasping the situation. Was that truly right?"
"......"
"You call humans contemptible. I get it. But refusing to admit your sins even after all this time, showing no remorse—you're no different from the vermin you despise."
"You bastard...!"
"Heard a good saying in Korea: Nothing's more annoying than the truth. That's exactly your actions."
"---!"
Who'd call Valian a dumb barbarian after hearing his calm rebuke?
Alicia looked ready to roar and charge. Valian spread his arms welcomingly.
No axes, but his thick hands were axes themselves, poised to cleave her.
A powder keg moment—!
As the two warriors were about to clash...!
[Um... fighting is fine, but first, could you check on Leon...]
"...Hm?"
"What?"
[It looks like it'll be bad if you don't stop him now...]
"......"
Only then did the man and woman notice the hero who'd been mediating between them was gone. Turning, the barbarian and elf saw:
Leon standing before some people, giving a speech. And they remembered.
Leonhardt's "incurable disease"...
"Ganging up to bully the weak...! And you call yourselves men?!!"
......Nosiness—that was the name of his incurable disease.