Chapter 56 (1/2)

Chapter 56

From the stone fountain at the center of the research center’s garden, clean water was flowing smoothly into a basin.

Without sparing a glance at that flow of water or the garden’s blooming flowers, Harold was sitting on a bench with his hands resting on his knees, contemplating the distant sky. But the reflection of that sky was nowhere to be seen in Harold’s eyes. All he could see was the word “Regret,” with all the heavy feelings that came with it.

(I got way too carried away…)

He couldn’t deny that he jumped the gun at getting a reliable friend in Elu, one of the original story’s characters.

But his opponent was Justus. The last boss.

He should have been more cautious, however, as soon as things took a turn for the better, he acted rashly. I’ve been way too bold, he thought bitterly.

The worst part was that Elu could have become his trump card but had now been marked. With Elu under suspicion, the actions he could accomplish without help had become limited.

Like this, the pace of securing people to strengthen Liner’s group was back to its starting point. It could even become worse than what Harold had initially planned if Justus’ surveillance tightened due to his suspicions. Harold was drowning in raging streams of self-loathing.

As he was stricken with that feeling, a person’s shadow approached behind him. Harold’s eyes were still pointed at the sky, but he was somehow able to sense whose presence it was.

【”May I sit here?”]

【”…Why bother asking when you already know the answer?”]

【”But you didn’t reserve this seat, right?”]

Meeting Harold’s sarcasm head on, Elu sat down next to him. However, there was so much distance between the two that another person could fit in the middle.

As they both kept silent, time quietly ran by.

Isn’t it suspicious for the two of us to be alone in such a deserted place? Although Harold had such a reflection, he immediately thought again “it’s too late for that already.” It was clear as day that Justus’ words were a threat along the lines of 【”I have my eyes on you.”]

So Justus probably wouldn’t question Harold if he insisted that he was having a more in depth chat with Elu. Even if someone approached them, they would notice since their field of view was wide open. They didn’t need to worry about anyone eavesdropping.

As Harold thought about these things, Elu finally opened his mouth. And his first words were an apology.

【”I’m very sorry. Not only did I fail to get the results you hoped for, but I even gave him a chance to press us.”]

Harold couldn’t answer right away.

Elu did not need to apologize. Rather, at that time, it was thanks to Elu’s followup that there was no fatal error. In the first place, Elu’s job was to handle information, that didn’t prepare him for the role he was assigned.

The problem was Elu mistakenly blamed himself. He couldn’t get that feeling out of his mind and he was currently in a state of self-loathing.

【”Don’t think too highly of yourself. I told you I didn’t expect much from you.”]

【”…Right, you did say that.”]

【”Look, It’s your problem if you want to feel responsible for my mistakes, but don’t drag it behind you and let it come back to bite us later. If you’re going to get stuck in that kind of state of mind, you better get rid of that shitty guilt of yours right now.”]

【”Are you trying to cheer me up?”]

【”Do you really think that’s possible?”]

【”Guess not. Oh well, If that’s how it is, then I suppose I’ll just switch my mood.”]

Elu raised both of his arms to the sky and stretched himself. Perhaps it was Harold’s imagination, but Elu’s voice and countenance seemed to become lighter.

He took a deep breath, and then, he continued talking with a somewhat worried face.

【”The issue is that, while I can recover like this, Lifa cannot.”]

【”What?”]

【”It seems like she regrets reflexively taking Justus’ invitation.”]

Lifa had misunderstood. The one who allowed her to follow him and convinced her to come along to the research center later on was Harold himself, Lifa was just used and dragged into this.

Normally, from Lifa’s point of view, she would stand to gain more from associating with Justus than Harold. Well, that eventuality would be troublesome so Harold wasn’t going to prevent her from siding with himself.

Unable to comprehend Harold’s facial expressions, Elu seemed confused.

【”Is it that surprising? Anyone would be worried when getting in their friend’s way.”]

【”…I don’t recall making friends with that girl.”]

【”Maybe, but you sure don’t have many friends.”]

Said Elu while looking at Harold with a surprised look. And Harold couldn’t really argue with that.

When speaking of friends, the first person to come to his mind was Itsuki. Though Harold hadn’t seen much of him lately, their friendship was still going. They had been friends for nearly eight years.

(TLN: Itsuki = Erica’s big brother)

However, Harold couldn’t come up with anyone else.

Strictly speaking, Liner, who he fought in the competition five years ago, wasn’t really his friend. The same went for Robinson, Sid, and Aileen, who were Harold’s classmates in the Knight Order. He hadn’t seen them since his destitution.

And although Harold was mentally older than Zen, the servant at the Stokes residence, their physical ages were too disparate, so they never achieved a great sense of comradeship. As for Erica, she and Harold were like cat-and-dog.

In conclusion, Harold’s only friend was Itsuki. Thinking back upon his situation again, his interpersonal relationships were frail, and his friends few. But that was only natural since Harold’s mouth would spit insults whenever he initiated contact with someone or anyone else approached him.

As Harold was finding excuses for himself, his mouth let out the words of a sore loser.

【”Things like friends are a waste of time.”]

【”But that depends from one person to another, doesn’t it? And in Lifa’s case, friendship seems to be important.”]

Harold was no stranger to that feeling, even though it was a mystery why she would recognize him as a friend after the ridicule he put her through on their journey here. Nevertheless, if Harold casually went to comfort her, his unrestrained words would only add fuel to the fire.

But from Elu’s words, Lifa was feeling considerably down, so Harold wanted to at least indirectly tell her not to worry.

However, now was not the time.

【”Hmph, who cares?”]

The truth was that he did care, but there was something he wanted to speak of with Elu so he forcibly changed the topic. He had better tell Elu now while there was still little worry of someone eavesdropping.

【” Leaving that aside, bastard, I’ll tell you about the job I’ve granted you.”]

【”I’m listening.”]

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Elu adjusted himself.