17-3 Part 2
The Abyss and the Cursed Child
- The Girl Born with Calamity -
Translator : PolterGlast
「Certainly,
if the Empire falls into a civil war, the surrounding countries will be put in
a difficult position. However, it doesn't directly affect us living at the
Farthest End.」
「So you
have no reason to cooperate.」
「Nn...
I want to lend a hand, but it would be correct to say that I cannot. Haa... I
see Sigrun hasn't told you anything...」
「Again,
my deepest apologies. But do you
think that would tell us the detailed circumstances?」
「She
wouldn't... Then I will explain in order. This is not just a village. We are
the people who guard the Ark. That is why we do not want to take risks.」
Ark. That's a word
that appears in stories from the other world too. It's mostly a stage device,
and I haven't really seen developments where it's actually used, though.
「The
Ark, huh. As if this world is going to be destroyed someday?」
「I
don't know about that. The Ark is like insurance for the world. In the event
the world is destroyed by some trigger, the Ark's role is to sprout seeds on
the new earth. And it is us who guard that Ark.」
Non-interference
with the world. That exactly is correct, Plea says. The logic is sound.
It's not wrong either. The system called the Ark won't save the present, but it
will probably save some future.
「Don't
be stupid, there are guys from the Abyss behind the enemies!! Is there an idiot
who would just shut themselves up in here without fighting back!!」
「I'm
fine with being an idiot. We only uphold the ancient covenant. In case of
emergency, use the technology of the Horned race to preserve every species.
Since Yulan-sama ordered us so, that is absolute.」
Suddenly, unexpected
words jumped out. Is that referring to that Dragon God Yulan, who is
frequently compared to Zirant and irritates her?
「Then
I'll say it again, you idiot!! Yulan does not desire such a thing, he
would surely say to lend a hand to A-Zir, without fail!!」
「Sigrun,
we are different from ungrateful humans. Even if eternal time flows, Yulan-sama's
words must be absolutely obeyed.」
「This
is a crisis of the A-Zir Empire that Yulan created, you know!」
I'm starting to not
understand what they're talking about. Neither opinion is wrong. That's why
persuasion is difficult. It even seemed impossible.
「Kukuku...
Yulan, huh. Then, how about if it's Wagahai's request?」
The last resort is
only Zirant. That last resort manifested with light right above the
study desk and landed on top of the documents. Zirant, why do you always
want to specifically appear in conspicuous, high places... I won't be held
responsible if your feet get pitch black with ink.
Ignoring my
thoughts, Village Chief Plea opened her eyes wide, surprised by the
young girl with dragon characteristics, and jumped up from her chair.
「That
appearance, could it be, Yulan-sama...!?」
「Incorrect...
My name is Zirant. As for Yulan—well, you can think of him as
something like a relative.」
Zirant didn't
try to get down from the desk. I'd like to pull her down saying it's bad
manners, but I stopped because I felt like I'd get kicked.
「Fuhaha,
look, does this dragon not enter your eyes!!」
「Uwa,
I'm flabbergasted...」
During the journey, Zirant
had hidden her figure. For that Zirant to suddenly reign divinely, the
old man's surprise is natural. On the other hand, Village Chief Plea
pondered deeply about something, and after a while, she raised her face.
「Zirant-sama,
in that case, I have a condition for an exchange.」
「Very
well, the magnanimous Wagahai shall at least listen.」
「Yes.
It is embarrassing to say, but one concern remains in the depths of the Ark's
land. If you remove that problem.」
「Umu,
and then you will prostrate yourself before Wagahai's majesty, correct?」
「To
Prince Ashley, whom you favor, we shall provide the elites of the Horned
race, technical advisors, and put in a good word with our brethren scattered
across the world.」
She completely
changed her attitude just for Zirant. To me, she's nothing but a
gluttonous young girl who tends to overstretch herself, but Plea seems
to be another one who feels divinity in Zirant. I don't understand...
「If you
had joined the seat from the beginning, the talk wouldn't have gotten so
complicated.」
「Kukuku,
there is such a thing as timing in matters.」
When I held out my
hand asking her to get down already, Zirant jumped down towards me. When
I caught that light body, unbelievable for a dragon, and stood her on the
floor, Kachua was looking this way enviously. It seems Kachua is
still at an age where she wants to play.
「So,
what should we do?」
「If it
is an existence of the same rank as Yulan-sama, you might be able to
seal that.」
「What
is that, that's the first I've heard of it!? Why didn't you rely on me back
then!?」
「...Eeeeh~?
Cause like~, if I said it, it's Sigrun we're talking about~. I could see
you charging right into the Ark's land~, so why would I say it~? Y'know?」
「Eeei,
having your character changed suddenly seriously pisses me off, so stop it!!
I've been telling you since the old days, next time I'll hack you to pieces!!」
Sorry, but I agree
with Sigrun. While holding down the hilt of Sigrun's sword, I let
out a sigh at the village chief who throws off my pace. Being good friends with
Sigrun, her personality is even thicker than her makeup...
「I'll
ask again. What should we do?」
「Before
that, I will explain the circumstances. ...Once upon a time, in a very distant
past, our ancestors were about to be destroyed by the hands of the evil god
Samael. Because Yulan-sama betrayed Samael and sealed him in the
heavenly prison, we were no longer hunted by angels, but—due to certain
circumstances, our ancestors had no choice but to flee to this Farthest End.」
The woman with black
horns gazed at the village from by the window. This is a beautiful village, but
looking at it another way, it resembles a birdcage. The ancient promise became
a cage, confining them here. I felt a little sympathy—no, something akin to
empathy.
「Umu,
it is a fact. The Creator Samael was a god who trifled with life. That is why Yulan,
finally unable to bear watching it, betrayed his precious friend Samael.」
Zirant added
that matter-of-factly.
「Among
the numerous races, we, the Horned race, were the species that excelled most in
intelligence. In order to ensure the survival of the species, our ancestors
poured their technology into this land, and at the same time—seeking a way to
retaliate against the evil god and humans, they created numerous hidden
treasures. One of them is currently in a somewhat bad state.」
「Eeei,
how roundabout! In short, what should we do!?」
「In the land of the Ark.
Please close the Great Gate of the Abyss located in its underground.」
「Mu,
what is that? Is it connected to the Abyss or something?」
「Yes.」
「Wahahaha,
were our ancestors idiots? What's the point of creating such a thing, were they
planning to invade the Abyss or something!?」
Invade the Abyss. Sigrun
is probably the only one who could come up with such an idea. In the first
place, that there is a gate leading to the Abyss, that it is normally open, and
that it is still left unchecked now, is very hard for us to believe.
「Our
ancestors tried to take the world itself hostage. If you intend to seriously
destroy us, we will unleash this gate, they said.」
「Taking
them down with you, huh... A terrifying method, but the effect would be
certain. Understood, I'll go close that gate as requested.」
In Ratatosk, I
was able to gouge out and destroy the Abyss Gate with the Shovel's power
to pierce everything. I'm sure we can manage somehow this time too.
「Umu,
there is no need for Wagahai to take action. This Prince Ashley
will manage something of that level.」
「Please.
The likes of Abyss entities cannot cross the barrier of the Ark, but I want to
remove the unease just in case.」
And so it was
decided. After preparing ourselves and undergoing a troublesome ceremony, we
entered the world of the Ark guarded by the Horned race at the Farthest End.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
・The
Black Horn
That year, the
village of the Horned race was struck by strange phenomena. Wells boiled, a
white rainbow considered an omen of misfortune floated in the sky, and
livestock birthed half-human half-beast offspring. That was not all. All the
babies born that year were stillborn.
The people of the
village trembled in fear at these terrifying omens of misfortune, and gasped at
the tragedy of their beloved children dying one after another. In such a year of
calamity, a single baby received life. From the womb of a mother who died of
illness, that child appeared in the world as if crawling out on her own,
becoming the only living baby that year.
The people of the
village feared that baby as a cursed child, and the mothers whose children were
stillborn were especially harsh towards her. You killed my child, it would have
been better if you had never been born, they said.
Even so, the baby
grew up rapidly and energetically, or rather, she grew up too energetically,
and despite her unfortunate birth and environment, she developed an extremely
bold, audacious, and highly troublesome disposition. But perhaps that
disposition also made her incompatible with the people of this land. The cursed
child, with martial arts talent bestowed by heaven, defeated the strongest man
in the village at just 13 years old, and flew out of the village at 16. Her
name is Sigrun.
Even so, I'm glad she came back. I'm truly glad to be able to see her safe and sound. No matter how badly the people of the village speak of her, because I am the only one who is Sigrun's friend――――like, you know? Seriously, her personality hasn't changed at all~, it's super hilarious~♪
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