Chapter 2-4 (1/2)

Blacksmith Volume 2 Chapter 4

Recently I’ve noticed that my school life has been progressing in a terribly violent flow, so seeking refuge, I decided now would be a good time to take a look at the school fountain.

On the south side of the school, there’s a huge fountain right in between it and the main gate. I’ve seen it from afar several times now, but it sure does give off a different impression when you look at it close up.

The water is blown up high, causing the temperature around it to feel cooler than it should be.

“Uhyo~”

I chased the apex of the spray with my eyes, and then shook my head a little bit.

“Oh?”

Glancing downwards with the fall of the spray was what appeared to be a girl sitting on the other side of the fountain.

…and she was crying.

*Bushu* (sfx: spurt) The fountain spurred back to life, hiding her appearance.

I was certain, that was the girl who was one of Eliza’s original ‘Four Heavenly Kings’, I think her name was ‘Mary’ or something like that.

She was also the girl who always called me ‘Servant’, so I don’t have a very good impression of her either…

The fountain’s spray fell back down, and her figure could be seen again.

Yup, she’s still crying.

I think I just saw something that I shouldn’t have seen…

The fountain rose again, and her figure was hidden.

I think it would be better if I just leave right now.

Yeah, that would be for the best.

It shouldn’t be worth mentioning that getting involved with a crying girl, let alone one who hates me, would definitely bring trouble.

Only a problematic story would await me if I intruded.

The fountain spray fell back down, once again revealing her.

““Ah.””

We made eye-contact.

After staring at each other wordlessly for while, the fountain spray came back up, blocking our lines of sight yet again.

I’ve been seen, there’s no way out now. I can no longer afford running away in silence in this situation.

Building up my courage, I walked over to the area Mary was sitting at along the fountain.

While putting out my best smile, I called out “Hey”. Though it’s already impossible to pretend to be a naive boy that doesn’t know anything.

“…*gusu*” (sfx: crying)

She sniffed her nose, but didn’t reply.

Either that, or sniffing her nose was her reply.

Her eyes had become red from her tears, so it looks like she’s been crying quite a decent amount.

While saying, “Is there something wrong?”, I tried sitting down beside her as naturally as I could.

“…*gusu*, don’t sit next to me.”

I was shot down instantly?!

“Did something happen with Eliza?”

Although her body language clearly said so, it was still a guess.

“It doesn’t concern you.”

I know that but I’m already involved!

I could just walk away now you know?! But I didn’t you know?!

“Don’t say that, at the very least I’m not completely unrelated to Eliza. If you need me to, I can say something to her.”

“What do you know about Eliza-sama?! Don’t get involved!”

Rubbing her swollen eyes, she threw some violent words at me.

Eliza in a nutshell, is a ‘tough’ woman character. I know that very well, so there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed how close she is with her entourage.

This is also something necessary to maintain the ‘balance’ of the world!

“The same Eliza that always keeps people at arm’s length and has a scary face when she closes her eyes, though in truth she’s just thinking about what kind of dinner she’s going to have later?”

“She’s not that kind of person!”

“I also know that her favorite food is chiffon cake, though buttered potatoes come a close second for her.”

“Th-that can’t be… I would’ve noticed something like that by now…”

“More or less.”

“I-I get it already okay?! You know more about Eliza-sama than me okay?!

“I’m not looking down on you or anything, I only said what I knew, nothing more, nothing less.”

Mary had a somewhat depressed face.

She must’ve not liked how much I knew about Eliza that she didn’t.