3-2 Part 1
The Strange Book Says to Save the Girl
I Met in the City
— The Shovel-Carrying Mercenary —
Translator : PolterGlast
It’s true that I acted arrogantly, but that doesn’t mean I
was haunted by nightmares that night. If I had left Dags the bandit as
he was, many more people would have suffered from a real-life nightmare.
I had the conviction that I did the right thing. For my own
purposes, I literally preyed on evil and obtained new power. I don’t intend to
be ashamed of that.
This country is distorted. Commoners without money aren’t
even properly protected by the law. To a greater or lesser extent, the weak are
made to submit to the strong, and if they try to resist, they are crushed. Like
the typical example of Carral Hez.
In this country, wealthy and orderly yet harboring such
corruption, an arrogant condemner who ignores the law was sometimes necessary.
“Ashley, how long do you intend to sleep? The
opportunity to speak with wagahai1 has arrived, yet do you intend to oversleep?”
1 Wagahai is a first-person pronoun
("I") that is archaic, stiff, and self-important. It is almost never
used in real modern conversation, but it is very common in fiction (anime,
manga, novels).
Let me repeat it daringly: I didn’t have nightmares. That is
likely also because this blue girl, Zirant, guided me to this paradise
in my sleep.
“It’s you...”
“Umu, you’re awake. You must be happy to see wagahai,
Ashley.”
“What a self-conscious dragon-sama... Yeah, I wanted to see
you, Zirant.”
“Good. I shall consider those words to be sincere.”
Taking the cynic’s words to her advantage, Zirant
boasted of her own beauty. If she grew up a bit more, the word ‘beauty’ would
suit her, but this composition...
“Do as you please...”
“Fufufu, you don’t need to be embarrassed.”
It seems I was receiving a lap pillow. I sat up, resisting
Zirant's hand as it tried to hold me back. What reflected in my vision was
paradise; the exact same sunny weather as before, the same tropical landscape
was there.
“So, how is the power of wagahai's tome?”
“Without flattery, it’s wonderful. It’s an outrageous
book...”
“I see. If you are satisfied, then that is good.”
“No, it’s hard to say I’m satisfied. The demands are
outrageously hard, and the fact that I glow regardless of place is... can’t
something be done about that?”
Zirant stood in
front of me as I sat. Standing there, the sunlight was blocked by her back,
reminding me of the ancient saying from another world: Backlit is Victory.
Those who carry the sun on their backs are victorious. It
seems to be some logic I don't really understand.
“There is no growth without hardship.”
“That is another worn-out sound argument.”
“Besides, you were enjoying yourself too, weren’t you, Ashley?
Both the 5 laps around the Imperial Capital and the purging of evil. Kukuku...
it was exhilarating. The sight of evil being condemned is good no matter how
many times I see it...”
“Both you and Sigrun are insane.”
Zirant affirmed
my self-righteousness. She was enjoying my actions from the bottom of her
heart. There are no allies of justice in the real world. That is precisely why
people desire heroes in stories.
“You need not be ashamed. You did the right thing; you are not
wrong. The Imperial Capital desires a Dark Hero.”
“Then let me ask, what do you gain from this? Why do you
desire justice from me?”
One cannot live unless they turn a blind eye to evil. Even I
am like that. Even if my relatives were staining their hands with injustice, I
said nothing to them.
“Because that is your wish.”
“I see. Is there any connection between that and sitting on
my lap?”
Zirant is small.
Having her sit on my lap makes me feel like I’m playing with a little sister or
something. She might be trying to gloss it over with a honey trap. But, sorry, Zirant,
I am not a lolicon.
“Well? You must be happy. Uffun... is what one says
at times like these, correct?”
“What era’s culture is that...? Ah, I’m so grateful tears
are coming out.”
However, since it’s a good opportunity, I’ll consult Zirant.
It’s getting suspicious, but she should be much older than me.
“Setting that aside, Zirant, lend me your wisdom. How
should I rebuild the Hez Trading Company?”
“I don’t know. Try doing that in your own way.”
“Then you’re just throwing it all on me... This time the
demand is too unreasonable.”
“Rest assured, the current you is strong. Show me your
ingenuity with that power. Besides, well, eventually... when my power returns,
I’ll cooperate just a little.”
It was a haughty way of speaking, but being told that while
sitting on my lap, it sounded like nothing more than a child’s pleading. Zirant
is saying this: save Carral Hez in an unexpected way and entertain wagahai.
“Understood. Then you just watch from there. I don’t know if
I can rebuild the Hez Trading Company, but I’ll at least show you I can
protect that girl.”
“Kukuku... That is good. It’s a good synopsis, Ashley.”
The Blue Dragon of Paradise seems to be overconfident in her
beauty after all. Perhaps mistaking that I was pleased, she kissed my forehead
and then smiled bewitchingly with pride. She seems to be convinced that she is
enchanting.
Sorry Zirant, it looks like nothing more than a child
acting grown-up.
The next day, I visited the Hez Trading Company
behind the Red Avenue in the west of the Imperial Capital again. Then,
whether the timing was good or bad, that thinning-haired big brother and his
all-talk underling were obstructing business at the storefront again.
— Business —
- 【Rebuild the Management of Hez
Trading Company】
- Completion
Reward: DEX +50
- “Oi,
hurry up and save her, you fool!”
Obstructing the management of Hez Trading Company.
That equates to obstructing my acquisition of DEX +50. So, sneaking up
with exactly the same method as before, I smashed the big brother’s head with
my Shovel. By the way, no holding back this time.
“B-Big Brooooo?!”
“Sorry, my hand slipped.”
“Y-Yo-You, you bastard! You appeared again, you Shovel
bastard!”
“Shinza! No way, your timing is too good! Seriously,
you saved me!”
The underling is a coward; he didn’t draw his short sword
this time. From last time, he must have realized he couldn't beat me.
“More importantly, shouldn't you tend to your big brother? I
hit him seriously this time; you’d better show him to a doctor quickly.”
“R... Remember this!! Shinza! I’ve memorized that
name!!”
“I feel like I’ve heard that line before.”
“S-Shut up! Just remember this!!”
They are a truly cliché bunch. Having obtained an excuse to
escape, the underling dragged his big brother and gradually moved away from the
Hez Trading Company.
“It would have been fine if you beat him up too... Ah,
sorry, my true feelings slipped out♪ Thanks Shinza, you really saved
me~!”
“Do you have a grudge or something?”
“Well, yeah... something like that. More importantly, how
about some tea again?”
“That’s perfect, I’d love some.”
Now, how should I brought up the subject? How should I convince her and boost this
trading company? Thinking a little, I was guided to the second floor of the
company and sipped the black tea while relaxing slowly.
Carral Hez’s
attire had the air of a cross between a merchant and a sailor. Indeed, this
shop seems to deal in imported goods, so she probably has many contacts with
maritime trade.
“Eh...?”
“I want to cooperate in rebuilding the shop. Let me help
with something.”
When I brought up the subject, she was bewildered. That’s understandable. A
prodigal son like me aside, the people of the Imperial Capital have
their hands full with their own lives.
“Does that mean you want a job?”
“No, I don’t need money.”
“Ah, I se... eh?
What are you saying!?”
“Actually.”
The reward of EXP and DEX +50 is sufficient.
If I have that, I can catch up to Brother Georg; I don't need money.
“N-No way... Did you fall in love, with me!?”
“How in the world did you reach that conclusion?”
“Because, it was quite a dramatic encounter... And, I
thought so today too!”
“So, you think I fell for you?”
“No? My late big
brother said so, but apparently, I’m cute.”
She might be a similar type to the cafe auntie. The type who
likes talking to people and swallows the person they are talking to into the
conversation more and more.
“Don’t ignore that part! Retort properly!”
“Ah sorry. As your brother said, you are a cute woman.
Including that cheerful personality. But unfortunately, that’s not my motive.”
“Ugh, killed with compliments... Then what is it—!?”
“Actually, I’m a man with free time.”
There is a certain unfortunate fact about me. To borrow a
certain title from another world, the existence known as 'me' is a NEET.
I have no duties as a Prince. I have lived as I pleased
until today. It probably fits the definition of a NEET perfectly.
“Hah? Free time?!”
“That’s right, free time, unemployed. But my parents are
wealthy, so I’m not troubled for money.”
“Uha... somehow that makes sense. Or rather, instead
of a man with free time, that’s... a weirdo...?”
“That’s fine. Now then, let me rephrase: is there anything I
can help with?”
Carral Hez
looked at me strangely. She probably thinks I’m a type of human she’s meeting
for the first time; she seemed unable to understand.
“Shinza, you really haven’t fallen for me!? Let’s
just say that for now! Somehow it doesn’t feel right! Is Shinza perhaps
a saint!?”
“No way, I’m just moving for my own convenience. More
importantly, hurry up and order me; I don't want to disturb your work.”
To win against Brother Georg, to become strong and
simply survive, I am just using you. If I help you, I can catch up to Brother Georg.
There is no motive beyond that.
“Seriously might be a saint... Then, since I have no leeway
right now, I’ll rely on you!? Is it really okay!?”
“Just say it, what should I do?”
“Guard me! Help me transport trade goods! Destination is the
Imperial Capital’s west, the coastal city Naglfar!”
“Guard duty, huh? Then even I can do it. Fine, I’ll help.”
“Yay! Shinza! Shinza is an angel-sama, a god,
a savior! Thank you Shinza—!”
My hands were grabbed by Carral and I was swung
around whirr-whirr.
If she calmed down a little, she could afford to doubt me a bit more, yet Carral
believed in me.
“What about packing?”
“Half done!”
“Then I’ll help with that too. ...Oi, what are those hands
for?”
“Praying... oh,
what a blessing, what a blessing,
thank you Shinza-sama...”
“Stop it...”
I felt like Zirant was laughing inside me... After
that, we finished packing quickly and departed from the Hez Trading Company.
Our destination is the west, the coastal city Naglfar.
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