Chapter 53 (1/2)
Another victiht
For the past few days, Sui for stray cats in order to roup, the Yuusha, and thehas turned upThe culpritso many people in pursuitBecause of that, Sui help from back streets, around bushes, and vacant lots
At present, Sui a pair of cats in his arerIt isn't that tasty”
Did it like getting pet thatthe index finger of his right handCats have the habit of biting prey they plan to attack or the spoils of their hunt, but this one is relaxedIt ht just want to be pet more
A familiar person appears before hii…”
”—Oh, twin tails, eye patched girl?It's been a while”The only person with those characteristics is Liliana Zandark
”Twintails…What kind, of incomprehensible, name is that?”
”No, it's nothingStill, running into you here is pretty unexpectedAre you here for some candy?”
Liliana isn't in the h his words with her usual sharp tone”Incorrect”
”You don't want any candy?”
”I am, not interested in, that”
The usual ates into a severe auraThe intensity hich she stares at Suimei's chest chips away at his cos there are the two cats”Then, what's up?”
”M- Mr Cat…Give him, to me”[i]
”Huh?”
Liliana deiven to her as she steps forith both arms spread open
–Where is Your Cape, ★ Cute Star?–
Sui been requested of a cat by Liliana, sits on a bench next to a fountain
”Nyan, nyan, nyan, nyan”Liliana pays him no mind as she imitates the cries of a catBoth of the cat's forepaws are in her hands as she sways side to sideLost in her bliss, she appears to be prefor on her face is one Suis the cat at the end of her rhyme
She must really love catsWell, cats are adorable
Sui fun”
Liliana appears to have co, will you stay there, Suii!”
”Until you return the cat?”
Liliana's expression turns stiff as she asks, ”Return?This, child to, you?”
”Yeah”
She stares at hi, ”I believe this child is a stray, not yoursWhy are you, abducting Mr Cat?Answer carefully, or you ht receive a death, sentence from the military court”
Abducting?Not tohiationWhat a dangerous thing to sayThe cat said, ”Nyan” and ith himHe says, ”Because, I wanted to pet cats”
”Mu… Really?In that case, I guess it's fine”
That works?Theyone another because Liliana is still playing with the cat in a blissful dazeSuimei says, ”You really like cats”
”Not just Mr Cat, I like Mr Dog tooAll aniood children”After a spell of ti at the cat, she throws Suiainst the Yuusha, on capturing the one, responsible for the comas?”
”Yeah, you're well informed”
Liliana, without adopting a prideful attitude, says, ”Because information, naturally comes to my ears”
That ence department
Liliana continues, ”Why, do you feel the need to, coainst the Yuusha?”
”That's because two of my companions are on the line”[ii]Suimei explains his circumstance to her
”If those are the Goddess's words, then isn't leaving theet into trouble and you'll be able to have a comfortable lifeAs for the Goddess's oracles, those aren't that rare”
”What a coldhearted statement”
”It ical”
”Logical, huh?”
Liliana gives Suiht”She then turns towards the bandages wrapped around his left hand”I'd like to hear, what happened to, your hand?”
”You want to know about this?It's that culprit's doing”
”…How bad, is it?”
”Not that bad, actuallyIt'll heal soon”
”Heal…?It will heal!?”
Sui?”
Liliana turns away and says, ”N-no, I heard from the, colonel that it was very severeThat's why…”
”Is that all?Well, I won't change my mind”
”You won't change your ?The culprit is a dangerous person who, has attacked a lot of peopleYou should stop for, your own good”
”What's up?You've been snapping at me for a while nowCould you be worried about me?”
”—Not at all” She replies in an instant
”I've said so similar recently, but I wouldn't have accepted this match if I intended to lose”
”Why?Why are you going, that far?If you're trying to save the world—”
Is she saying giving up is norood?Hue others to reach such conclusions without a second thought, ”Before that,”
”What is it?”
”Let that guy go, already”Suimei points at the cat held between Liliana's arht”Cats wave their tails like that when they're unsatisfiedBeing held that wayit hot”
Regret laces Liliana's voice as she says, ”…It's that uncomfortable?”She releases the cat who in turn stares at Liliana with curiosity while tilting its headIt doesn't see at the cat upon being told”My question”
”Yeah, why aainst both the Goddess and the Yuusha?”Suihs out at Liliana's nod and says, ”Isn't there someone you want to protect?”
”Someone, I want, to protect?”
”Exactly, that's how it is for ht now”
”I' what, youthat unreasonable…”
”It's giving you trouble?Then… how about using your family as an example?”
Sui that can't be voiced out loud”What's wrong?”
Liliana's tone turns cold as she says, ”I don't have a family”
Did I step on a sensitive topic?Suimei is positive the soldier with the swept back hair he ran into three tier”Isn't that person your father?”
”The colonel, before, beingofficer”
What does she mean?Don'ta father first during times of peace?
Liliana's head drops doard before Suimei can voice his question”The colonel isn't my real fatherMy parents, abandoned me”
”…So that's how it is, sorryDid I touch on a sensitive topic?”
”Not really”
Sui to her question”Well, we haven't known each other for very long, but they're still important to me”
”Which is why you'll do the impossible?How stupid, you'll die an early death”
”What a horrible thing to say”
”But, I also…”
”Hm?”
”No, it's nothing”
Sui Liliana shake her head, lets the question dropA gliht faded fro with the cat's paw
After watching her for afrozen dessertsHe goes to it and returns with two servings”Here, thanks for earlier”
Liliana stares at the frozen dessert with her sleepy eye upon noticing it being offered to her”I've already, said I don't want any”
”It's fineIt's not like you're losing anything, so just take it”
”I don't need it”
”Well, I already bought it…”
Liliana's head drops and after a moment, says in a melancholic tone, ”Why are you, so kind to me?”
”Why am I…?”
”Everything would be fine if you were callous towards ust”
Darkness, her eyes,around her, it's darkAbandoned, treated with disgust; those words remind her of her circumstances
She continues, ”Aren't I creepy?Even though I'ainst me”
”Is everyone like that?Like the other day?”
”Within the E to, be fearedI'ence, departht”