Chapter 285: Invitation to the inner area (1/2)

Chapter 285: Invitation to the inner area

TL: Hey guys, Reigokai here!

Just wanted to let you know that I have placed a widget at the side of the main page to let you guys know which story will be coming for the next scheduled chapters.

Since my updates are really whimsical, I thought this would be for the best.

Anyways, enjoy the chapters ????

Do~ne.

“Shii, shouldn’t you return? You are a bit–no, you are quite weird right now.” (Hokuto)

“…I feel kinda…spaced-out. My body is tingling, and I feel restless. But, it doesn’t feel bad. I don’t mind feeling like this forever.” (Shii)

“Hah…” (Hokuto)

“What’s with that sigh?” (Shii)

“I was wondering if that Ryoma infected you with something.” (Hokuto)

“Ryoma? Ah, one of the assassins that fluttered around like a butterfly, and danced like a honeybee.” (Shii)

“Yeah. Since the moment that person approached you, you have been acting weird.” (Hokuto)

“Hm~, I wonder. I only have memories of being pricked by something.” (Shii)

“Waka-sama is also in that state, so…well, let Shiki-sama or Tamaki-sama check it out. Understood?” (Hokuto)

“Yes~.” (Shii)

Looks like Shii and Hokuto are conversing about something.

Ah…but it really feels disheartening.

I feel heavy.

“Now now, Waka. Whatever the case, the negotiation has been safely turned to our side.” (Tomoe)

“It is just as Tomoe-san said-desu wa, Waka-sama. Later, I would like to ask you for permission about something in regards to Rokuya and Aznoval… That’s right, you just have to nod once, and later, I will take care of everything…” (Mio)

Tomoe and Mio seem to be saying something at my side.

By the way, Beren is stuck onto Aznoval-san on a talk about his sword.

…That’s right. It is the fault of that sword.

It is way too compatible with Aznoval-san.

Even when broken, it has enough regenerative ability to restore itself in the middle of battle and has the ability of allowing illusory beasts to possess it to obtain a variety of powers.

It was a sword just for him.

But…now that I think back, the people at their side gave several hints of him.

In the battle with Aznoval-san not that long ago, I judged him as a danger, called him without honorifics like an enemy, and was trying to finish the battle by rendering him into a state where he wouldn’t be able to speak at all.

It was the worst.

Because I thought I could defeat him.

It is because I judged he was an opponent I could defeat, that I decided on doing it.

Even though I should have acted as if I was having a tough fight against him so that it would reduce the animosity of Picnic Rosegarden, and on top of that, surrender while everyone was watching to finish the fight.

It was an easy answer.

If it was Rembrandt-san, he would have been able to draw the picture since the moment he received the proposal of fighting with Aznoval-san, and would have perfectly carried it out.

By surrendering, I would have been able to enter a positive negotiation environment with Picnic Rosegarden for the sake of our objective, and what I would be losing is nothing at all.

It was truly a ‘no risk, high return’.

I am not a battle junkie or a warrior; I am a merchant.

That should have been the case, and yet…

What I actually did had no positives at all. Not only that, I simply got injured and made everyone worry.

This is nothing but disheartening.

“Mio, don’t do anything to those two. Also, I won’t nod. Got it?” (Makoto)

“N-No way. Just a bit, it will be just a little bit. Towards the man that humiliated me to a point I have never felt before, and the man who cut W-Waka-sama’s face…… If a bit is no good, let it be only a tiny little bit. With my discretion—” (Mio)

“……Mio.” (Makoto)

I have heard of what Rokuya-san did to Mio.

I do have my thoughts regarding that.

But rather than feeling something towards him…it is more correct to say that I am feeling something towards myself.

Honestly, I am hating myself right now.

I would normally be able to get back up decently, but I currently can’t.

The negotiation has turned with Tomoe as the focus, and from the other side, there’s Vivi-san, Ageha-san, Nomad-san, who are advancing the matter, and it is practically already wrapped up.

I used the medicine of Shiki that Tomoe, Mio, and Beren brought from Asora, and treated the wound on my face and was present in the negotiations only in form.

Because I had lost quite a good amount of blood, Tomoe told me: ‘I will take the front and advance the negotiation’.

Well, in the end, my role was practically coercion. Like the scary Gargoyle statues outside mansions.

Now that I have acted in such a stupid manner, the most I can do is that much.

…Hah…

“Uh…Understood. Uhm, Waka-sama, is your wound really alright now?” (Mio)

Wound.

The wound on my head.

At the end of the fight, the Iai that was the trump card of Aznoval-san had scraped my face.

Right after…he stopped his sword in an unnatural posture, and then, closed his eyes and surrendered.

If I had been the one saying those words, all of this would have ended harmoniously.

When I heard that, I returned to my senses.

Rather than calling it ‘returned’, it was more like, I remembered.

The objective of why we came here.

It was not to fight.

My vision was completely red, and the inside of my head had gone completely pale.

His sword had cut around the part slightly above my eyebrow, and with an unpleasant sensation as if it had touched my bone, it slid and passed by.

The heat, that came right after, had cooled down the insides of my head instead.

In other words, my vision was reddened because of the blood.

It seems I was bleeding real hard.

The head is an important part, so even with small things, it would bleed extravagantly, is something I think I heard somewhere, so I myself didn’t mind it much.

But, right after 2 seconds of Aznoval-san’s words of surrender, everyone from the Kuzunoha Company here had surrounded me.

It seems it was good that at least one layer of skin was still adhered to it.

Even if it wasn’t on the level of instant death, it could still be categorized as a grave injury.

And yet, what I was thinking at those last moments of the fight…was truly nothing good.

“Of course. Thanks, Tomoe. Thanks to you, I will be able to give a good report to Rembrandt-san.” (Makoto)

“Don’t mind it. I am accompanying you in this journey after all. Gotta be of help.” (Tomoe)

“…Hey, if we had continued fighting just like that, what would have happened to the negotiations?” (Makoto)

“The result itself…wouldn’t have changed much. The negotiations would become an order, and the cooperation would have become subordination instead though.” (Tomoe)

“Haha, that would have been the worst then.” (Makoto)

That wouldn’t have been a negotiation or a contract anymore.

“Don’t worry about it that much, Waka. In the first place, the proposal of that Aznoval was basically a gamble in itself. Waka is not a gambler, and you are not the apostle of good luck either. On top of that, the Adventurers of Origin are all ruffians, not only him. I think this result couldn’t be helped.” (Tomoe)

“Is that so.” (Makoto)

“Yes.” (Tomoe)

“In that case, should I be happy about this result where we have wrapped the negotiation up as a request with a reward, and see it as safely accomplishing the first step in making the defense of Tsige firmer?” (Makoto)

“That’s right.” (Tomoe)

Tomoe nods, and Mio shakes her head up and down several times.

“Dispatch their main force to Tsige without sparing anyone and have them join in the defense, accept teaching as well. A two year contract, renewal possible. Well, the price is on the high side, but personally, in this occassion, this group is worth the price. Waka-sama, congratulations on the successful contract.” (Beren)

“Beren.” (Makoto)

At some point in time, Beren had returned and spoke of the result of Picnic Rosegarden’s negotiation result and evaluated their war potential.

At his back, there’s Aznoval-san.

Even though we were fighting not that long ago, he lifted his hand and greeted with a ‘Yo’.

His sword was on his back.

The armor that had transformed into a shield, was now covering his body once again. There doesn’t seem to be any visible damage in the armor.

So this armor also has regenerative ability huh.

It is truly an equipment made for continuous battle.

Is his offensive ability reliant on the illusory beasts?

“In reality, Beren, you and the others were the ones who held them down.That evaluation you have of them is the most trustworthy one we can get. Thanks.” (Makoto)