Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Unexpected (12)
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"Manager. What are you doing?"
"Just pondering something. It's not urgent, so no worries. What's up?"
"Nothing. I just got curious since you're usually out front whenever customers are around."
"...You remember I went to the academy, right?"
"Yeah."
"Some students died."
That's right. Students had died.
Danil wasn't the type to attack the academy in the first place. You could tell from his style—he was the kind where the number of souls absorbed directly translated to power, so holing up in his lair was the strongest option for him.
Even so, stepping out quickly this time and getting involved in something so out of character must have been because of Carsis.
I'd blocked Carsis swiftly and saved the elves, but on the flip side, that might have drawn Danil out and gotten the students killed. That thought crossed my mind.
"People who are meant to die will die anyway. In raids like this, it boils down to two types: the weak who get killed, or the righteous ones who send others away and try to hold the line alone, only to die. It's a structure where the weak and the good-hearted go first."
"Feeling any regrets?"
I shook my head at Leimi sis's words.
This wasn't regret. It was just mulling over how I should handle things going forward to avoid repeating the same mistake.
"In the end, the only option is the emperor, huh."
A setup where I wouldn't be dragged into the spotlight, could get proper support, and solving the problem would benefit the imperial family too.
The only one who could give me both my 'identity' and 'demon intel'—the two biggest issues right now—seemed to be the emperor.
When I laid it out like that, both Leimi sis and Mina sis voiced their opposition.
"The Magic Tower could help with that too. Professor Elvin would step up if you asked, and he's got connections everywhere—pretty much anything's possible."
"I could reach out to my family, the Elcarts."
"Weren't you unable to go back home, Mina sis?"
"It's a bit tricky, but not impossible."
"...Mind if I ask what's the situation? Feels awkward asking for help without knowing."
"My mom's the clan leader, so I have to succeed her, but it's boring, so I left."
Sounds like a huge deal.
Reading my expression, Mina sis added:
"She told me to come back when I find a husband. Already got one lined up."
"Uh, okay."
"Elves have weird senses of time. Just say you'll do it and stall—that's it."
They say races that live over a thousand years think completely differently. Even at the academy, the elf professor was the odd one who assigned homework but only due by semester's end.
They also said that when something new catches their eye after centuries, they'll risk injury to satisfy their curiosity.
"Anyway, owing the emperor big time isn't great. No, it's really bad. You'll end up strung along, living in the Pallan Empire palace."
"Well, yeah, fair point."
Surprisingly, Empress Alina's romantic feelings seemed pretty genuine; every time we talked, she tried to show off somehow.
Frankly, with nothing to gain from wooing me like that right now, I figured it was sincere.
And if I kept leaving openings, she'd publicize my existence at the right moment, crush the Lebedevs hard, and silence any backlash.
Honestly, I didn't feel much rational attraction to her as a partner, so it wasn't exactly an appealing future.
"Alright, then I'll ask both of you for help. More info and allies, the better, after all."
"No trouble at all."
"Yeah. I'll message Mom."
Say what you will, they're the ones you can rely on when things get rough.
They both headed off right away to handle it, leaving the cafe—sans Dras—quiet once more.
I hadn't shown it in front of them, but I did feel some responsibility for the students' deaths.
Death in this world is never fair. Some races hardly die at all, the strong outright defy it, and that strength is often inherited from parents.
"Born to commoners, poured everything into honing mediocre talent to enter the academy, only to meet a powerless end."
That's this world—you can't even voice your injustice. In pivotal moments, human grit saves the day, but flip it over, and it's packed with grim realities.
Even pondering how to minimize wrongful deaths, I kept circling back to the conclusion that I'd have to trade my own life and peace for it.
"Sacrifice... is that what to call it?"
Nah, probably not. It wasn't something you could sum up so simply and one-sidedly.
The world had gone off the rails since my rebirth.
Still, 'saved' felt off, but I was grateful the Spiegel elves survived. In the original story, they'd likely have died, so at least one person benefited from my existence—thankful for that.
Teaming up with Spiegel might even help with Mina sis's Elcart visit, mutually beneficial.
"Ugh. Enough gloomy thoughts. Time to prep my way to smash those demons."
Not to brag, but taking down scheming demons? Piece of cake.
Anything solvable with force was a breeze.
The issue was they were gimmick bosses, with characters like Ermina essential for direct counters. Questionable if brute force could bulldoze through.
I'd grown way stronger than original characters, but how much was needed to pierce conceptual defenses? No clue.
Shrugging it off, I sipped coffee and sketched training plans when a letter fluttered down from above.
From Karin.
"Justina's dropped the pursuit... And Professor Selene's smoothing things over regarding me...."
Professor Selene, as expected. Amid faculty indifferent to students beyond classes, she's the rare one who cares about personal lives too.
Wanted to send thanks with something nice, but needed Karin here first—would plan later.
She'd been through hell lately, so maybe a relaxing menu.
Everything I do for others ends up food-related, huh.
Laughed at how unthinkable that was years ago.
Neatly noted tasks, savored my coffee with the cool breeze, when the door opened and Cosetica sis entered.
"Meow. No Mina."
"She left for something related to me."
"Oh meow. Something involving you, Manager."
"...Not like that."
"I'm rooting for it, though. And that academy student looking for you last time? All sorted?"
"The incident wrapped up fine."
"Then another problem cropped up?"
"A bit."
Cosetica sis plopped down at my words, looking troubled as she spoke.
"Sheesh. Everyone's doing whatever they please."
"It did need my help, though. So it worked out by going."
"Glad it's resolved, then. But aren't you feeling too busy lately?"
"Yeah. Really."
I made her Einspänner and set it down. She slurped it up, mixing cream and coffee with the straw wildly, then asked:
"Those things—couldn't anyone but you handle them?"
"Pretty much."
"No resentment or anything?"
"Hate it. I'm the type who despises fighting and stepping up."
"Tricky, tricky. You gripe about it, but if it doesn't get properly fixed, you'd regret not stepping in, right?"
Cosetica sis grinned slyly, nailing it, so I couldn't just laugh it off.
Professor Selene had once told me not to overdo it—maybe that's what she meant.
But seeing those situations naturally sparked 'is it my fault?' thoughts. Can't help your personality just by deciding to.
"Well, if you hate it, can't force you. But if you're interested, lemme know. Guild office is always open, and employee benefits are top-notch."
"Hide my identity too?"
"Naturally."
Tempting.
Couldn't help chuckling, and she asked for a massage. I kneaded her whole body like before, easing the fatigue.
Adjusted the fan so the purring, dozing Cosetica sis wouldn't wake from the heat.
Say what you will, a peaceful life like this suits me best in the end.