Vol 2 Chapter 10 (1/2)

Chapter 10

Imperial Capitol Gransil II [Tourist Etiquette is Different between Individuals]

(Hiragi POV)

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was that my magical powers had been subtly drained.

I was filled with a bad feeling of nausea. My vision was hazy and my thoughts had disappeared while I was unconscious.

“…w-where is this?” (Hiragi)

Cold.

On my skin was the sense of something cold and hard. It seemed I was lying on a floor. No, that’s not all. It seems I regained my consciousness due to some sort of stimulus.

I quickly noticed that my bangs were stuck to my face, like I had been splashed with water or something.

[Hehehehe…It’s been awhile Hiragi.] (Marshall)

“…Talos V…?” (Hiragi)

Unpleasantly energetic, it was a familiar voice.

Since I had been stunned and was still regaining consciousness, I could not yet look around for the origin of the voice as my eyes were barely starting to open.

From what I could see, I was in the center of a magic circle engraved on the ground. There were a few people nearby who seemed vaguely familiar. When I thought that I had seen them somewhere I realized that the one standing closest to me was called Benetta, the Eight Seat magic librarian.

That reminds me.

Why was I in such a place? What happened before that? I searched through my memories as I tried to stand up, my arms pus.h.i.+ng downward for support.

“Ga!…?” (Hiragi)

“Tch…” (Benetta)

My arm was kicked out from under me and I again fell to the ground.

If I thought about it, of course Benetta was looking down at me with cold eyes.

I knew that her hate was aimed at me as she had not been hiding her murderous intent, which had been expressed in her frustration. However, even if I had been killed a second ago, I had no thoughts that I would be able to compete in this terrible situation.

“What…is happening…?” (Hiragi)

[I just wanted to talk with you after a hundred years.]

“I had refused, but…?” (Hiragi)

[As usual, this broken person is polite. Do it Bennetta.]

“Ga!?” (Hiragi)

Where was the origin of the voice? I could not understand it. The back of my head was stomped on by someone’s heel. A rough pain echoed in my forehead as it hit the ground.

[Your magical power was drained out as much as possible. Was your power considerably weakened compared to a hundred years ago? You have lost, as during all this time I kept at it and built a powerful organization. That, is the difference between you and me…!]

“Ga, ha…!” (Hiragi)

The ruthless heel continued to grind me down. I could hardly reply to Talos. I did not know what kind of woman Benetta was that she would act like this, but as for Talos I could not forgive him for putting me in this ridiculous situation where I was helpless.

“So…You know that I am weakened…” (Hiragi)

[That is because I ordered to have the weakening technique put upon you. I have always been waiting for this day! Yes, it has been too long…!]

“…!…!” (Hiragi)

Sorry. The voice that I gathered with my whole strength stuck in my throat.

Indeed, this man was from the old days, and with what little power I had I looked up. As this opportunity arose, I perceived that the waves of magical power seemed to be overlooking the room from a place near the ceiling.

[While keeping you to himself, keeping you to himself…I was deceived by Garland. I have never experienced as much humiliation as I did at that time!]

“For such a thing, you…how arbitrary…!” (Hiragi)

[Benetta]

“Ah! Gu…!!” (Hiragi)

A curse of Enchantment lives in this body. Even if that thing caused a problem for him, this was too unreasonable.

The Empire of those days had built a society that oppressed demons, and when a single person had reached out his hand to me, the Emperor had tried to intercept it.

The attachment of Talos II is much more dense and terrible than my own revenge. Even though he felt humiliated enough to become full of resentment, it was not enough to make him yield.

“How should I put it? It is good to keep an insect like this under such a ‘charming’ curse. Were you fascinated by yourself? This thing. So foolish.” (Benetta)

“What do you understand…!?!” (Hiragi)

“Don’t you two know each other?!” (知らないのはお互いさまで、しょっ)

“Gua…!” (Hiragi)

The toe of her military boot again dug into my back, and the feeling of nausea surged in my stomach as if I were about to vomit. A few tears from a mixture of sorrow and regret squeezed out without thinking, and I desperately bit my lip to catch myself.

Even if I tried to escape, I realized I had lost feeling below my waist, and I couldn’t move my legs at all. There was only numbness rather than pain. (自分の無様さがもはや辛かった)

[Hey, Hiragi. Thanks to you the Empire was broken and scattered…but it has finally been put back together. You have also become weak. I am preparing choices.]

“Anyway…it has been determined that you are not too dangerous!” (Benetta) (どうせ……ろくでもないことに決まってる……！)

[Such is the case. It is not difficult to see.]

I clenched my teeth and stared at the ceiling. When that man stood in a dominant position he acted arrogant like this.

[Even in the Imperial Capitol, there are quite a few n.o.bles who still keep demons as slaves.

We can also introduce you to your fellows…Aahh. That’s right, this feeling. I wanted to perfectly trample you like this once before for what you have done…!]

“…!…!!” (Hiragi)

His voice was mixed with joy.

However, it was also inflamed with murderous intent. Yet I cannot do anything due my shortage of power. How frustrating to get to this point and for everything to be in vain, is there nothing that can be done? (ここまで悔しいことが、ここまで虚しいことが、ここまでやるせないことが、ほかにあるだろうか)

At that time, making such remarks like trampling people, I tried to understand. (そういう時、どれだけ人を踏みにじるような発言をするのかくらい、分かっているつもりだった)

However, he seemed to have remembered what he wanted to do.

[If you express that all that with Garland was a complete lie and you flatter me, then I will keep you to pour drinks for me. Otherwise die here.]

“…You are…really…!!” (Hiragi)

The reign of Talos II was a time when demons were originally treated like slaves.

That is why this man also treats demons like they are not people in this way.

But saying that, even if that was the case.

Isn’t this too terrible?

Is it that he became tired of just tearing the hearts of people, and the more he thought about it the more he wanted to shatter people and crush their dignity into the ground? Is it possible for someone to be so cruel to people? (人の心を引き裂くだけでは飽きたらず、一縷の思いをも粉々に粉砕して尊厳を地にたたき落とすほど、人は人にこうも惨く当たれるものだろうか)

[It has already been around a hundred years since then. I was thinking of releasing you from the rock. I never thought that something would break you out…well, what will you do Hiragi? If you choose death, then I’m sorry, but can Benetta kill you here?]

The year where I fell in love with another.

That was not only a time with enjoyable feelings.

There was also the disturbance of the Emperor, whom Garland desperately trying to protect me from. So, it can be said that it was not a restful time for either of us.

But even so.

Those feelings were not cheap enough to deny as just lies.

“I do not know why the Marshal is hesitating over such a demon, but I will kill it.” (Benetta)

No matter how much me and my precious person are brought up, at this stage I cannot do anything as I am now. It is extremely frustrating, and among my many feelings I want to break the neck of the owner of the voice, while my thoughts extended outward towards those who couldn’t help me.

I’m far too helpless.

[Benetta]

“Do not answer quickly, demon!” (Benetta) (さっさと答えを出しなよ、魔族！)

“Gua…!” (Hiragi)

She stomped on the back of my head and pressed me down again on my ear. The rough pain also wore on my spirit.

Somebody help.