Vol 2 Chapter 7 (1/2)

Chapter 7

(Hiragi POV)

I am completely trapped.

Yes, these are the most appropriate words to express my current state of mind.

Eh, what? When I came to visit the grave of a man who I liked in the old days, I was unexpectedly trapped. I was just going to visit the grave, but it seems I might join him down below.

But even if I have remodeled their military uniform, they should forgive the offense since it’s cute. Even if the Imperial Academy has come here to kill me, considering the design I thought they should probably only leave me half-killed. (帝国書院皆殺しにしてもデザイナーだけはちょっと半殺しで済ませてあげようかなと思う程度には好感度高いのよこう見えても)

…This is not the time to think about that.

The two enemies wearing black coats were casually intimidating.

On either side there is the one who had scarred her previously and the other who had rode the tombstone like a kudzu vine. The Imperial Academy seems to be lacking in decent people.

What was the worst was this. The rude woman was staring at me with open hostility, a girl who seems to be wielding an ocarina. What kind of songs are planning to perform in a graveyard?  Vocal magic? …The magic of the Empire has many variations.

So, the one who is observing me with a calm and composed appearance is making me nervous.

Ah, yes-yes I am a demon who doesn’t know how to deal with you. I want to get away. I want to escape so much. Seriously. I want to go where Shuten has gone. Though it’s annoying, it’ll be better if I escape.

I will help you! Telling him that…No, even at the back of that demon I could do nothing against these two magic librarians chasing me. (って言って……いや後ろから鬼の形相の魔導司書二人に追いかけられてる状態で手伝ってあげるも何もないか) Such a lie is lost in the blink of an eye.

Firstly, I have to explore well the opportunity to escape.

Winning? I did not think about that sort of thing. It would be too much for me who is currently weakened.

“…Hey, do you know the Marshall?” (Grendel)

“What?” (Hiragi)

An abrupt question came from the pretentious blondie.

I think Shuten said his name, but what was it? Pretzel?

Pretzel asked if I know the Marshall.

…Yeah, maybe it’s not pretzel. But for convenience it will be pretzel.

Pretzel is good enough for you. (TL: pft, haha. She might be spending too much time with Shuten)

Nonetheless, I didn’t know anything about the hierarchy of the Imperial Academy…least of all the Marshall. If I had to guess it would probably be a human. Which does not have a long life.

“…Since how long has that guy been alive?” (Hiragi)

“…”

Asking the pretzel while emphasizing my foot stomping on the ground. I might be able to obtain information while I stall for time. Measuring the chance to escape, I wait for his words.

I wonder if I can get him off guard. Though it is not necessarily a win.

But since the rude freckled woman seems to be on lookout. This was probably the reason why Pretzel could afford to talk.

I would like to burn the woman who had been sitting on the tombstone right now, but…I do not know what kind of attack will come from her ocarina…certainly she wouldn’t use it to hit with, right? Blow! Do you want to tell me that is a means of attack?

I’m scared of the magic librarians following me…and I don’t know what I would tell Shuten…

“…the Marshall has been alive at least before I was born. But since you were sealed a hundred years ago, that’s probably not the answer you were looking for.” (Grendel)

“Oh yeah…Thanks to that, it’s become somewhat awkward, hasn’t

it?” (Hiragi) (そうよ……おかげでこんな無様になってしまったけれど、それが？)

“No, I bet he has been alive since that time. Or, it may be more correct to say that he is not dead.” (Grendel)

What is this pretzel saying? With such a fearless smile floating up to me.

Were you trying to say something cool? (カッコいいこと言ったつもりな訳？)

Does he mean like an undead or disembodied soul? There is no person like that outside the Imperial Academy. Although I feel that Yatano is kind of an exception…is that Marshall based on the same idea? In other words, the Soul Jewel Seal? (だとすれば魂魄封珠)

“Has he lost his shape?” (Hiragi)

“…That’s the case. But even if he has lost hhis shape there are no particular obstacles…Do you know which of the buildings of the Imperial Palace were remodeled in your time period?” (Grendel)

“I don’t know about such a thing.” (Hiragi)

“The answer is that that a building of the Imperial Palace was remodeled to now be known as the Imperial Academy.” (Grendel)

“Wha…” (Hiragi)

My voice leaked out in spite of myself. It was obvious that if the if the Imperial Academy Agency was established by the emperor, then naturally the Imperial Academy would be near the royal family.

I still do not know much about the origins of the Imperial Academy, such as the existence of the “Marshall of the former Emperor’s Office,” and there are still answers missing.

Even more so if anger arises every time ti is brought up. (ましてや、私を連行しようという腹なら尚更のこと。)

To think that, That man. To think that he would still live by using the energy of Soul Jewels.

“Talos, the fifth generation…?” (Hiragi)

“The Marshall seems to want to see you.” (Grendel)

“…!” (Hiragi)

I bit my lip. The possibility was low, but I didn’t want to be right. Because it’s troubling.

I just decided yesterday to not get involved. I will not go to the capitol, just greet Garland and leave the Empire quietly. Yes, I decided yesterday.

Don’t remind me, since I have just decided not to try and take revenge on the Empire. Just the thought that he might be alive makes me want to burn up the capitol…!!

Talos II. The Emperor of the time a hundred years ago who made me mess up. (百年前の私を滅茶苦茶にした、時の皇帝)

Why is he living like that?

Besides, why bother calling me now.

…Also, I will say something now that I am out of the seal.

Please leave me alone.

“Hey Tenth Seat. I guess this guy is fascinated with magic, but is it really okay to take it as it is?” (Bentta)

“Mu…basically its charming magic won’t work. I didn’t even notice.” (Grendel)

“I think the reason is because of your lack of combat sense.” (Benetta) (その辺が戦闘に向かないって言われる理由っぽいよね)

……

Who is this ocarina-thing who tagged along.

Thank you for resisting it Pretzel. I will only give grat.i.tude for now. It’s in my mind. I mean it. Though it is refres.h.i.+ng, it seems the hostility or murderous intent will not stop from… the Eighth Seat? What is it? It looks like an ocarina.