3-5 Part 2
Carral Hez's
Departure
— Carral's Love —
Translator : PolterGlast
“Sorry, Carral. I
want to go give Jii a hand.
Otherwise, that strange pride of his will kick in and he'll hurt his back
again.”
“Absolutely not! Shinza,
you come over here! You're with me!”
Carral and I had
free hands. So I conveyed my intention to help,
but apparently, it was a no-go.
“I don’t think there was anything left undone... but
alright, I’ll accompany you for a bit.”
“Whaaaat?! Shinza, you
are way too nonchalant about this! As far as I'm concerned, there is plenty left undone!”
“Is that so. I have no idea what it is, but the development
of Hez Trading Company is in my interest, so by all means, let’s hear
it.”
“Eeeeh... That’s not it~ Jeez, not that, not that! Anyway,
just come here!”
I didn’t understand, but I was pulled to the end of the
pier. Then, matching Carral, I turned back toward the eastern sky.
Viewed from the front, the majestic form of the Schooner made our chests
heat up.
That vessel is the result of my support for the Hez
Trading Company up to this day. Besides, it seems I like ships. For me,
bound to the land known as the Empire, ships and adventurers were symbols of
freedom.
“Dawn is breaking soon...”
“Yeah. I hope Jii doesn’t rush and push himself...”
Carral used a
sentimental tone unlike her usual self. Looking up, the eastern sky, which had
been pale, was beginning to be dyed a light pink.
“That’s not it! Worry about your grandpa after I’ve
set off!”
“Understood. So, what kind of business talk is it this
time?”
“WROOOONG! We won’t be able to meet for a while, so cherish
the farewell! Don’t make me say it!!”
“...I see.”
I unintentionally struck my palm with my fist. Carral
seemed to be watching my reaction with a grumpy look, but I don’t understand;
why is she angry?
“Not ‘I see’, Shinza...”
“Sorry, as you say, I am a blockhead. But...”
I stared intently at Carral’s profile instead of the
sky. I won’t be able to see this refreshing brightness for a while.
“Honestly speaking, I am lonely. Though I don’t even have
the intention to tell you not to go, it is lonely not being able to see you.”
“Shinza... Me too... Wait, ‘don’t even have the
intention,’ you don’t have to voice that part!”
“I simply stated my honest emotions.”
Before I knew it, I was looking at the Schooner
again. I even felt envious. With this, she will depart for the Maritime
Province with her comrades.
I even thought about abandoning Sister Atomina,
Brother Georg, Jii, and Father the Emperor to go with her.
“Want to come
with me...?”
“Did you see through me? No, I’ll refrain. There is an opponent I want to beat no matter what. And
I’m worried about Sister, too...”
It’s somewhat strange; Sister has been immersing herself in
the palace of the Imperial Capital. She rarely returns to her husband,
seemingly hanging out only with me, Brother Georg, and her old female
friends.
“Hmm... Shinza, you’re full of mysteries.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Then I gazed blankly at the ship and the sky again. Eventually,
the sun rose in the morning sky, illuminating the brand-new white sails.
“Hey, Shinza. I will definitely come back.”
“Naturally. Otherwise, there was no point in going this
far.”
“I’ll become strong enough to compete with that corrupt
merchant, lead a great fleet, and come back!”
“If you set your goals too high, you might find yourself
unable to return.”
But a great fleet, huh? With her eye for business, she has
plenty of capital now. She’ll likely be able to buy a ship bigger than this
soon.
“Ah, that might be true. So, you know, Shinza... I
have just one request, and a vow.”
“Then let’s hear the request first, in proper order. It’s a
farewell for a while; tell me anything.”
“Alright! You won't lie about those words, right!?”
“Well now, I shall do my utmost.”
The woman named Carral Hez takes actions I cannot
predict. Perhaps that is a glimpse of her business talent. She suddenly moved
in front of me and grasped the back of my right hand with both of hers.
“I want to know your real
name.”
“So that is what you wanted...”
“Well, of course! If I think
about you when I'm across the sea, I can't exactly call out your name if it's
just an alias, can I?!”
“You’re
going to call out my name...? That is embarrassing.
I’m starting to not want to tell you.”
Officially, I do not exist. Those who know the name Ashley
are limited to the Imperial Family, close nobles, some who serve in the palace,
and that cafe auntie. While it would be unwise to make it public, there was no
harm in revealing it to Carral.
“Eeeeeeeeh?! No way, tell meeee, please!”
“It’s Ashley.”
“Heh... Eh, Ashley...? Shinza is?”
“I am Ashley, the prodigal son of some family. Well,
a life like a firefly; I might be dead tomorrow.”
Mother died when she gave birth to me. Father might hate me.
However, unable to become a complete demon, he has let the deformed infant who
killed his mother live until today.
“Wa-Wait a minute! What is that, what does that mean?! I
haven’t heard about thaaat?!”
“I am in a rather precarious position. That is why I live so
that I have no regrets even if I die tomorrow. So, what is the vow?”
“Live!!”
“I am making an effort. However, the opponent is simply too
formidable.”
The Empire is the strongest in the world. If the next Emperor
decides to execute me, pursuers will come no matter where I flee.
“So, are you done with the vow? It looks like the loading is
about to finish.”
“Ugh... You’re too pragmatic, no matter what...”
If I obtain enough power to defeat Brother Georg,
something might change. If I master the Shovel, I can cause miracles
like this warehouse break-in. There is still hope.
“Listen, Ashley... I will definitely return... so live
without losing, absolutely.”
“Understood. I will try to survive somehow to see your
triumphant return.”
“So, and then, you know, Ashley...”
Are her eyes tired? Carral’s complexion suddenly
looked better. Her face was so red I thought she might be dead drunk; she
looked very hot.
“When that happens, make me your bride...!!”
There wasn't even time to reply. Carral Hez ran down
the pier and boarded the Schooner without looking back. It seems I was
left standing there in a daze. This is the first time in my life for something
like this...
The sailors on the ship were teasing Carral and me,
and the Captain was yelling at them. Jii? Since he likes Carral,
he didn’t complain.
Shortly after, Jii disembarked. Immediately the
anchor was raised, the high masts caught the sea breeze, and the ship began to
move forward, illuminated by the morning glow.
“Don’t forget, Shinza! I’ve already decided!”
“Yeah, I’ll do my best to survive too. Go, Carral Hez;
I will be waiting for you. Though, I might be in a grave by then. ...Jii's
grave, that is.”
“Ashley-sama?! Please do not kill me on your own
accord!”
“Ahahaha! Shinza! I fell for you, Shinza! I looooove
yoooou!!”
For some reason, it suddenly became strangely hot. Jii
was grinning and looking at my profile for no reason, looking somewhat happy.
Aiming for the far, far south, the fast ship with white
sails created a wake on the water surface. That figure filled with hope was
indeed beautiful, and I thought from the bottom of my heart:
“Jii, maybe I should have gone with her after all...”
“What are you saying, Ashley-sama. You are Imperial
Royalty, a son of His Majesty. There must be a role that only you, and no one
else, can fulfill.”
“Well, I wonder about that.”
“However, Ashley-sama, you have grown... This Jii is
already, moved by this occasion, my tears
are, bueeeeehh...! Madam, Ashley-sama has become a splendid
man... Ha, hauah?!”
It was a clumsy ending, but I glowed at the very last
moment. The departure must have been the trigger. The possibility of the goods
being taken back disappeared, and I fulfilled the conditions of the Tome of
the Evil Dragon.
— Purge —
- 【Steal 100,000 Crowns of Dirty
Wealth】 Completed
- Completion
Reward: AGI +50 (Received)
- “Chivalrous
Thief, learn a little more about a woman's heart. You utter blockhead.”
— Purge —
- 【Steal 300,000 Crowns of Dirty
Wealth】
- Completion
Reward: AGI +100
- “You
are the natural enemy of the rich. But plan a little more carefully next
time.”
— Table of Contents —
- 【Name】 Ashley
- 【Lv】 12
- 【Exp】 1320 → 1330
- 【STR】 26
- 【VIT】 100
- 【DEX】 90
- 【AGI】 27 → 77
- 【Skill】 Shovel LV 3
- “Georg
is waiting for you.”
“Let’s go home, Jii. Join me for an eating tour.”
“S-Stop glowing, and please have more consideration
for the elderly, Ashley-samaaa!”
“Can’t do that; the warehouse district must be in an uproar
by now. We’re going home immediately, Jii.”
I will survive. So you do your best too, Carral Hez. By
the day you return, I will change the Imperial Capital into a slightly
better city. While slaughtering evil and stealing wealth with this Shovel.
【Tome
of the Evil Dragon】
— Adventure —
- 【Complete 3 Jobs at the
Adventurer's Guild】
- Completion
Reward: EXP 450 / ???
— Exploration —
- 【Lap the Imperial Capital
another 10 times】
- Completion
Reward: VIT +100
— Exploration —
- 【Lap the Maritime City Naglfar
once】
1/3 Completed
- Completion
Reward: EXP 100 / VIT +5
— Business —
- 【Grow the Hez Trading Company】
- Completion
Reward: DEX +100
— Purge —
- 【Bury 5 Villains】 Remaining: 2
- Completion
Reward: EXP 900 / Shovel LV
+1
— Purge —
- 【Steal 300,000 Crowns of Dirty
Wealth】
- Completion
Reward: AGI +100
— Investment —
- 【Spend a total of 10,000 Crowns】 775 / 10000
- Completion
Reward: EXP 1000 / Premonition
of an Encounter
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