Vol 3 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter 4

Narcissus Harbor III [An Idiot’s Missing Purpose]

TL: I don’t know what it was, and it might have just been me, but for some reason I had a really hard time with this chapter. Let me know if anything is incomprehensible!

Justa Welsea is from the Republic.

A country in the northwest, two years after the subjugation of the Demon King’s army it was invaded by the Empire. She had grown up the daughter of a chieftain in a remote town of that former Republic now ruled by the Empire.

Although her original homeland was not all that wealthy, the people from the area liked her, and her parents were also warm. But with the struggle from the Demon King’s Army followed by pressure from the Empire she could no longer afford to be weak. Therefore she learned how to fight from her father who was the chieftain, and she improved her abilities as a ninja and mastered the dagger and Kunai.

However, at that time she was at most only a 9 or 10 year-old girl. Therefore, she could not avoid the upcoming tragedy. Two years after the Demon King was known to have been defeated by five warriors. She lost everything. To that giant military nation, the Empire.

“…Imperial, Academy?” (Justa)

The words she spoke with a trembling voice was the name of her hated enemy.

“I am from the Imperial Academy, the ones who swallowed the Republic. More specifically, I am a magic librarian. I am you &$^*% enemy. So hurry up and get out of here.” (Desiree)

Just like before, an intense aura overflowed into this narrow alley that was even more intimidating. That indigo mist did not appear, but even so Just could not think of the man before as anything but a man beyond human strength.

As such, her instinct told her to run away.

However.

“Ttsu…!!” (Justa)

The sight before her eyes became clouded in red.

The enemy that she completely hated was now in front of her.

With that fact, even though she remembered being helped, her heart shook from the force of it. No matter how the man before her was wrapped in a tremendous aura. No matter how much of a gap there was between their capabilities. Even so, she was young, and the anger hidden in her heart was genuine.

That’s why she acted on reflex.

“Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!” (Justa)

“…Oioi, are you serious? This brat had more hatred than I thought…but” (Desiree)

Pulling out two daggers from her waist she made a slicing attack at his throat from a close distance. Then, just at it seemed the dagger would cut through skin, it somehow spun and flew out of her hands into the air.

“…Eh?” (Justa)

“Trying to take revenge, without even being aware of the difference in power, how amusing. Even if you are just a kid, you won’t survive. If you seriously want to take down the Empire, then you’ll have to use your %^&# head.” (Desiree)

“Ah, gu…” (Justa)

Having been hit too hard, her daggers were knocked away and she fell to the ground.

She did not understand what had happened. She could only understand one thing, that his right hand, which was carrying the large Naginata, had not moved at all. The dagger technique that she had trained with the chieftain had been deflected by his left hand. And also, without a weapon.

“A Ninja of the Republic?…certainly being able to fight with the two weapons of dagger and Kunai is an indicator.” (Desiree)

“Wha-what…” (Justa)

“But it is still immature. There were plenty of stronger people in that country. Just pick up your life and escape. Leave already.&rd

quo; (Desiree)

“…” (Justa)

Desiree waved his hands as if he was shooing a dog away.

His att.i.tude was that Justa’s attack was nothing to him at all. The humiliation made blood rush to her head.

However, it certainly seemed that she wouldn’t be ale to beat him even with the Kunai hidden  in her pockets. Dropping her gaze to the fallen daggers around her, she understood just how powerless she was before the man in front of her.

“……” (Justa)

Even as she slowly moved to pick up a dagger, Desiree did not particularly move. He simply looked down at Justa, and did not do anything.

“…Even if I was saved” (Justa)

After collecting her daggers, only once Justa bowed her head slightly. In the blink of an eye, she turned around and leapt to the back of the alley where she disappeared.

He became alone in the narrow alley.

Carrying the Naginata over his shoulder, Desiree turned on his heel before suddenly thinking of something.

“A long time ago, I also had a strong opponent…however, lowering my head to the enemy, I could not do that.” (Desiree)

Well, such a thing is difficult to say.

“…” (Desiree)

He looked back without any expression.

Although she seemed a little older than Yatano, a ten-year-old girl still had a long way to go. Given her aims, it was easy to predict that she would eventually become a problem for the Academy.

He hoped that she would find happiness in the minimum of her desires being fulfilled.

Otherwise, she would have to live with resentment against an opponent like this for more than ten years.

For now it would be best to quickly return to the inn near the harbor in order to watch incoming people. It would be troublesome if it became known that a magic librarian crushed some Crusaders in a back alley, so he would have to return quickly. In any case, since he was in another country he was not required to wear his coat uniform.

It would be best if he gathered information while at the Narcissus Harbor and found what he was looking for. If he was able to obtain knowledge of its’ location, then it would only be a matter of disposal.

There is something he must do.

“…^&%$ demon.” (Desiree)

Absolutely intolerable.

The t.i.tle given by Yatano in ridicule as “Shuten-killer” was not that bad of a name for Desiree when he thought about it carefully, but he was deadly serious.

Because that strange demon had destroyed his most important and highly developed laboratory, there had been a great blow and he had lost expenses for development.

Thanks to that he could not work on his favorite kind of research, and could only do field work.

Because of that, he would not be able to easily abandon his grudge.

It would be a mission requiring a long absence, but there was no concern to be found in Desiree’s expression.

“…Impossible? Whether or not it is possible is not for me to impose on another.” (Desiree) (TL: possible to forgive, I believe is what he means)

With a slight smile, he left that place.

(Shuten POV)

“I remember that moment when the old woman on that large boat pa.s.sed by, and she screamed and swayed before cras.h.i.+ng down noisily. (Shuten) (TL: This is my best guess for the mixture of sound effects Don, bura, kokko- that were used to tell this story.)

“What’s really unbelievable is that a Nine-tails and demon got on rowboat, but since we’re still moving I have not yet gone insane.” (Hiragi)

“Because that old woman fell down with her eyes rolling back into her head, I was seriously worried.” (Shuten)

“She was still younger than me.” (Hiragi)

“What are you trying to compete with?” (Shuten)

h.e.l.lo, this is Shuten here.

After that, we finally saw land after rowing our boat, so we beached and climbed out on sh.o.r.e. For the old woman in the fis.h.i.+ng boat who fainted, I think I am a little sorry.

I guess the aura that is leaking from me is somehow really bad?

“So, where are we?”

“Near the Narcissus Harbor. What do you want to do, go sightseeing in the night?”

“There are a considerable amount of Crusader Cross Legion guards keeping watch, and it is a port town that has kept the light’s lit until late evening.”