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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Sage, The Doll of Ruin (6)
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Jane looked at her suddenly visiting younger brother and asked,
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, well. I came to ask if we should really let this slide."
Phase said, scratching the back of his head, his tone hesitant.
It had been a long time since her brother had shown such hesitation, so Jane tilted her head and asked again.
"What?"
"You know, that Green guy from the mercenary guild. The one we're having do all the dirty work."
"Ah, Green, you mean."
"He's planning to stir something up, and I don't think it's quite right."
"What could someone like him possibly do...? Just tell me."
"Well…"
Phase, who had been glancing around nervously, explained Green's plan, and Jane, who had been exuding an air of annoyance, soon began to listen intently.
"…"
It was understandable. The plan Green had devised was unsettling even for Jane, who despised Sage.
Phase, who had been explaining diligently, seemed to decide that this was truly not right, and scratched his head, changing the subject.
"…This is a bit much, isn't it? No matter how much we dislike her, the family's standing…"
"Tell him to do it."
"Right, I'll talk some sense into him… What?"
"Let him go ahead with it."
Jane spoke in a rigid tone, and Phase, dumbfounded, stared at his sister.
"Sis, no matter what, this is a bit…"
"Phase."
"Huh?"
"Here, give this to him. And tell him. If that girl resists, to infuse mana into this."
Saying that, Jane took out a black orb from the drawer and handed it to Phase.
"This is…"
"Phase."
And then she called her brother.
"I am the heir to the family."
"…I know."
"And you're my true brother, sharing the same blood as me."
"…I know that too."
"If you understand, then leave. I want to rest."
"…Okay."
Jane said, looking out the window, and Phase, glancing furtively at his sister, who seemed sharper and more distant than usual, stepped outside.
"Haa…"
Feeling that his presence had completely vanished, Jane sighed with a complicated expression.
How long had she been like that?
Jane composed her expression, stood before a mirror, and checked her attire. Then she took out a communication orb from the drawer and placed it on her desk.
"Phew…"
What could have made her so nervous? It was only after several deep breaths that Jane could place her hand on the communication orb.
Then, black wisps began to slowly rise from the communication orb.
"...Jane."
And someone's voice calling Jane.
Jane struggled to suppress her quickening breath, and with difficulty, parted her lips.
"...The preparations you spoke of, they seem to be nearing completion."
****
"Chirp, chirp!"
While Tweet vigorously spun his wheel, I lay on my bed, organizing my thoughts.
"This is frustrating."
The situation, flowing as I had planned,
And the attitude I was adopting.
There was nothing that wasn't frustrating.
I had clearly made the most rational choice and acted accordingly.
And it was clear. If moments like these continued, the best outcome would arise not just for me, but for everyone.
I was surely preventing any contact from forming between Fran and Sage.
Is that all? Through this, I had also succeeded in implanting hostility towards me in Fran. If this hostility was maintained as it was now, Fran would inevitably focus more on me than on the heroines.
I was also effectively monitoring the gang. Letting them act as they would in the game, but ensuring they didn't cross lines they shouldn't. Most importantly, making sure they didn't provoke Sage's deepest anger.
"Actually, it's good to keep going like this."
If I did that, I could obtain various pieces of information from Phase and Jane.
The most important among them was their plan for when they would hand Sage over to the Chaos Cult.
Because the place and time they would tell me were absolutely crucial pieces of information for saving Sage.
A rescue that was merely superficial would be worse than no rescue at all for Sage.
To truly free Sage from her suffering, sufficient time and place were needed.
If I were even a little late,
If I were to attempt what I intended in an ill-suited place.
I might not be able to save Sage.
That's why I hadn't acted according to my nature, even while suffering internally.
Because I wanted to minimize dangerous elements and variables as much as possible.
Because I desired the best outcome more than anyone.
"But it's frustrating, you know?"
Is it because of my personality?
Honestly, it was hard to bear.
Just watching Sage being tormented,
Not being able to beat up the pathetic guys who kept repeating their foolish acts,
And looking at Fran's expression, who looked at me like an insect, despite being capable of destroying the world.
Not a single thing pleased me.
–CRASH.
As I was thinking that, a loud noise reached my ears.
"Chirp…"
Turning my gaze, I saw the broken wheel and Tweet lying on the floor.
I wondered. Just how hard had it been running for that large wheel to lose its balance and fall to the floor?
I picked up the pained Tweet in my hand and said,
"You really do live exactly as you please, don't you?"
"Chirp…"
Whether I cared or not, Tweet let out a mournful sound, gazing wistfully at the broken wheel.
Seeing that sight, a chuckle escaped me.
"Just like your older brother, huh?"
"Chirp!"
Was he upset by my words? Or was he asking me to get him a new wheel?
Tweet pecked at my hand, and I reached out towards the wheel.
"Chirp? Chirp!"
Tweet, who had been watching, tilted his head in confusion, then gasped in surprise and approached the wheel.
It was understandable. The broken wheel had not only regained its original form but also shimmered with an ethereal glow.
"Pretty cool, huh?"
"Chirp, chirp!"
When I asked, Tweet turned away as if he no longer cared about me, and began to spin the even more beautiful wheel.
Truly. He was nothing short of an impertinent bird, living exactly as he pleased, doing everything he wanted.
"I don't know."
I ruminated on the conclusion I had reached earlier in the day.
And then I uttered it.
"I'll just live as I please."
Thinking about it, this was also the reason I had toiled like a dog for seven years, building my golden tower.
*****
The 'Combat Practice' class was held once a week, in various locations within the academy.
Today was the day for duels between students, and the location, naturally, was the training ground.
"Hello?"
And I had arrived early at the training ground, standing before Green and his gang, who were chattering away.
"Oh, hello?"
"You came… early. As expected of the top student…"
The gang members were giving me awkward greetings.
"…"
Green glared at me, remaining silent.
That sight felt incredibly insolent.
But since I had just renewed my resolve yesterday, I decided to convey only my purpose in a friendly tone.
"You won't even return my greeting, but you'll glare at me like that? Want to go a round?"
My real purpose was separate, but I'd start with the one that seemed immediately necessary.
At that, Green bit his lip, then soon lowered his fierce gaze.
If he was going to do that, he might as well have returned the greeting.
"Hey, you're going to bleed. Stop biting your innocent lip and listen to what I have to say."
"...What do you want?"
"You know today's the day for duels, right? So don't do it today. It'll ruin your image."
"...I don't care about my image."
When I stated my purpose, Green replied, clenching his fists hard enough to crush them.
Seeing his pathetic display, I sighed deeply and continued.
"I was talking about the Astrea family's image, not yours. Hey, your guys' image is already in the gutter."
"Ugh…"
"Don't you guys want to look good to them?"
"…"
"If you want to do that, wouldn't it be better to show at least a somewhat decent side on a day like today? Like, 'We're useful like this, we can do more than just bully people.' You make that kind of appeal. How about it? I think it's a pretty brilliant plan."
As I said, shrugging my shoulders, the gang's reactions split in two.
Green, who was mumbling and trying to babble something, and the rest, who seemed impressed by my words and nodded vigorously.
"Who do you think you are!"
I had hoped he wouldn't do that.
Green stubbornly tried to grab me by the collar, yelling.
Is he crazy?
"Aargh!"
It was out of the question. I grabbed the sluggish wrist reaching for my collar, twisted it, and sneered at Green.
"Who am I, you ask?"
"Let go, let go!"
"Someone better than you."
Saying that, I released Green's hand.
"Ugh… Ugh…"
Had I twisted too hard? Green grimaced in pain, clutched his wrist, and simply collapsed on the spot.
Seeing that sight, a sudden thought occurred to me.
Am I being too harsh only on him?
Would those guys behind him think it's unfair?
So I asked.
"Anyone have an objection to my suggestion?"
"…"
Unfortunately, it seemed not.
"Alright. Let's do well today."
Still, it seemed my message had been well-received, so I showed the kids a pleased smile before turning away.
****
So they were kids who could understand reason after all.
Green and his gang kept a considerable distance from Sage until Dean and Kalmia appeared in the training ground.
"Kamel."
While Dean was explaining at length about today's duels, Rose, who was beside me, called out my name in a small voice.
"Hmm?"
"Tell me honestly. You beat them up yesterday, didn't you?"
"No?"
Rose gestured towards Green's gang with her eyes and asked, and I, suddenly accused unfairly, shook my head vigorously.
"Then tell me, really honestly. You beat *him* up, didn't you?"
This time, Rose asked, gesturing with her eyes towards another direction.
Following her gaze, I saw Fran, glaring at me as if to kill me.
"Not yet."
"You haven't?"
"Yeah. I only talked to him."
"Gasp."
"I got cursed at by that guy yesterd—"
"That guy is so pitiful."
Why was she looking at Fran, who had cursed at me, with more pity than me, who had been cursed at, without even listening to all I had to say?
Just as I was about to protest, feeling unjustly treated, Dean's voice, imbued with mana, rang out.
"Student Kamel."
"Yes?"
"And your opponent is…"
The name that came from Dean's lips was a familiar one to me.