Chapter 4
Part 1
—Little Garden, Outer Gate Number 54545’s Stage Area, entrance to the Corridor displaying the [Tablet of the Sea of Stars].
“—Well then, Rin, what are you guys up to?”
“Wuai?”
Rin, who was sitting in the corner of the café, with her cheeks stuffed full with the Golden Yam Egg Tart had halted her hand that was holding another of those tarts when she heard that question. Seeing her face in that state, Percher who had wanted to approach the matter at hand seriously could only give a sigh instead.
Currently, Percher and Rin were on a different task that caused them to go on their separate ways from Jin and the others.
Jin, Sandra and His Highness had gone to the scene of the Corridor of Displays to conduct their investigations while Percher and Rin were to wait for orders at the entrance area.
But as they had much time to spare, they had decided to go for a bite, the famous local delicacy of [Salamandra]—the Golden Yam Egg tart. As she was still unclear on the motives of those two who didn’t seem to be taking things seriously, Percher gathered her courage to assert her question once more:
“I’ve already seen through your reasons for coming to this City. So tell me. How long are you going to put up that act of yours?”
“Hoho, that really sounds interesting coming from you. Percher knows of our plan?”
*Wow so scary~I’m so surprised!* Rin had that sort of smile hanging on her lips.
The style of speaking after giving a staggered pause with an accented voice. That was the conversational skill of this young lady. Seeing how guarded her opponent was even though she had tried to shake her up, Percher decided to put on the pressure:
“Let me say this in advance. Everyone from [No Name] will be coming to this Corridor of Displays. As long as I meet up with one of them, the possibility of me escaping successfully will not be zero. The sneak attack that you are planning for the [Floor Master] will also end in a failure. Then, you guys will also be chased out of this place too you know?”
Percher gave a calm leisurely smile.
— Of course, all that she had said were only unsupported information fabricated just for the purpose of shaking up Rin even for a little. But little would Percher know that her lies would become a reality.
Rin made an act of pondering over it for a moment before smiling maliciously.
“Well then, if things really come to that point, we will just have to put an end to our plans there.”
“Isn’t it? Well, then why not stop n….”
“Mhm. I guess it’s time to kill Percher-chan then.”
—*Suu* A sharp dagger was already grazing Percher’s neck.
Seeming to be an amazing control of strength, the tip only grazed a thin layer of skin that covered the pulsing artery.
The instantaneous drawing of the dagger that now pressed on her neck was so quick that it even caught Percher off guard even with all her heightened wariness from before. It was until the prick of pain started to register in her brain that Percher noticed the graze on her neck caused by Rin’s dagger.
And that stunt caused Percher to stiffen up and turn pale.
Whereas, Rin only leisurely stowed away her killing intent that had been released instantaneously just a while earlier as she gave a mischievous laugh.
“Just playing with you there. I only wanted to play a prank on you a little. After all, Percher-chan isn’t cut out for negotiations, so there’s no need to push yourself. Moreover, if you really do have an information that is to be used as the trump card, you shouldn’t be waving it around from the get-go. You should to wait for all the conditions to be set before bringing it out. If you just bring it out just like what you did moments ago, it wouldn’t have much of an impact you know?……But, Mah[60], it’s still a false report from you anyways.”
“……Uu!!”
At this point, Percher’s anxiety had finally come close to the critical point.
She had already made a mental preparation to create a chaotic situation with a battle if things made a turn for the worse, but it would seem that this was a really bad idea. Initially, she had had high opinion about the innocent looking girl’s power, but little did she expect that her opponent’s strength was one that exceeded her original expectations.
(The difference is too great. Be it a use of melee or a tongue fight……)
She had already entered a dead end and had no other moves to take. Even though it was the only chance she had when His Highness wasn’t around, Percher was still unable to find the way out of this mess.
Noticing Percher’s distress, Rin gave an unguarded smile as she shook her head.
“Really now. Just relax. At the very least, we do not intend to kill you, Percher, nor do we want to get rid of Sandra and Jin either. You could say that it would run contrary to our intent.”
“……Contrary?”
Percher narrowed her eyes as she tilted her head in doubt.
Rin’s gaze took on a serious look as she gave a giggle: “I for one, wish to get you three to become a valuable asset of our Community.”[61]
“wha……What?!”
Percher spluttered out her words due to her surprise. That must have been the most improbable possibility that she did not even bother considering about—the enemy’s general and trusted aide wanting to recruit people from their side?
But Rin who misunderstood Percher’s reaction immediately leaned close to a distance just three inches away from Percher’s nose.[62]
“No worries, we can discuss about the treatment and privileges! Percher-chan’s loss can also be forgiven and written off. We will also be giving you the other Gifts of [The pied piper of Hameln]! The age of witch hunts had also been quite close to the era that Percher-chan came from. I think you might just be compatible with Orsola you know~If you return the other half of [The Death Eye of Balor], we might even let you reappear as Black Death Demon Lord—”
“Wait, Hold it right there! Saying such things in a public place… Are you out of your mind?!”
Percher’s eyes kept darting around at the open-air café and the passers-by outside as she frantically covered Rin’s mouth. To be so bold as to speak of such things in the open, that was the really evil streak in this girl. Bur Rin continued to have that nonchalant look.
“There’s no problem at all you know? Because our voices, will not be able to reach the ears of others around us.”
“……I beg your pardon?”
“Try screaming at the top of your voice if you want. There’s no one who will be able to hear you.”
Using a very confident voice to announce such a scary thing. But that was something that Percher should have noticed from the start. If she had given it some thought, she would have known that such a thing would be possible with Rin’s Gift.
Regarding Rin’s Gift, Percher had heard of it a little—The mysterious Gift called [Achilles High][63] was conceptual type of Gift that controlled the spatial “distances” between objects.
And besides that piece of information, the conditions for its usage, effective range and real name for the Gift was unknown.
The only thing that could be confirmed was that it was truly a sort of ‘invincible’ Gift and Percher only knew of two existences that could defeat this sort of Gift.
As long as it is used to create a [Wall of Distance] between us and the other people around us, it would naturally create a soundproof condition that traps the sound waves from leaving. No, it isn’t only for that alone. It also prevents any escape or call for help.
(……In other words, there wasn’t a possibility for me to create a ruckus that would draw in everyone into the chaos from the start?)
That sort of consideration made that girl more horrifying.
In addition to that, the current [No Name]s did not have anyone who could force Rin into a corner and the only possibility would be to bet it all on that Izayoi to mess up the situation as much as possible.
What a pinch. She complaint in her heart.
“……Anyways, sorry about that. I don’t have any intention to join your group. Moreover, my master is Jin, so please convince him first.”
“Oh, is that so? If we get Jin, we can get a free Percher as well……That really sounds like a good bargain.”
Rin was mumbling to herself seeming like a girl deciding on the purchase of a candy that promised to have a free gift upon payment.
And though she might be displeased by that tone, Percher had chosen to be silent to avoid needless conversations.
“Well, let’s put that matter aside for now for I would also like to confirm your thoughts on this. Percher, do you have any dissatisfaction about your current master and servant contract?”
“I can’t say that I’m satisfied…… but it’s still not at the point where I would want to terminate my end of the contract.”
An answer that held no deception. That was undoubtedly the honest opinion of Percher.
The [No Name]s are a Community that have the potential to rise higher from amidst the lower levels for they possessed a variety of talents and a handful of elites who could fight on par with Demon Lords.
If they obtained the Alliance Flag, it might even be possible for them to rise up rapidly into the Five Digits as well.
But Rin narrowed her eyes to slits.
“……Is that so? But you do know that he doesn’t possess the power required to help you, Percher, to achieve your dream right?”
“Uu…That…….”
Rin’s words rang so true that it seemed to have struck home into her heart. Although her childishness earlier had caused Percher to be confused and hence lowering her guard, Rin had not let that chance pass her by. And this girl had a sharp tongue that had the accuracy to hit its target every time in a clash of words.
The words embedded itself so deeply into Percher’s heart that it gave off an illusion that the whole conversation had been staged just for that particular line to deal the finishing blow.
“……………”
—To fulfill Percher’s wish, the boy whose name is Jin Russel wasn’t strong enough at the moment.
She had already known that for a fact.
No matter how extraordinary the comrades of [No Name] were, the most important person—Jin, the leader is still too immature. The problem that Rin had pointed out would not have been a problem if the wish were to be a normal one. But Percher’s wish—-is one that would be a heavy burden of making enemies out of real gods.
If the secret wish that she harbored in her heart were to be leaked……it wouldn’t be too surprising if Jin Russel were to cancel the contract or even seal Percher away for good. That sort of insecurity caused Percher to be unable to tell the [No Name]s of her yearning.
And it did not take much effort for Rin to see that insecurity in her.
Rin gave a charming smile[64] as she crossed her arms before her chest.
“But it won’t be that way for us. Although we may have been beaten in our own game by the Community of Jin and the others before, the battle this time will be a Game of a larger scale than before. And if everything proceeds as smoothly as planned……the world of Little Garden might just be totally thrown into chaos for real.”
Resting her hand on her puffed up chest, she continued to look at Percher with confidence in her eyes.
That strong will in her gaze was really intense and seemed to shine in Percher’s perspective. As one of the authoritative figures in an organization to have such a clear target in mind and the resolve and attitude to pull along her comrades in the chosen path, it really made Percher’s loyalty waver.
“But……My ownership is still with Jin……”
“Isn’t that simple? We just need to take Jin along with us and it’s all solved right?”
“Wha……?!”
“I’ve discussed with Aura and Graiya Oji-san before and we feel that we still need another boy around the same age as His Highness to be paired as his friend. I would say that Jin’s brains is quite good and he would fit perfectly to help our His Highness who lacks the knowledge of common sense in life skills. More importantly, we can also prepare many Demon Lords suitable for [Genier Contractor]—In the first place, his Gift will only be utilized to its truest potential when he comes to our side.”
Rin added happily.
Jin’s power was indeed a Gift that was indeed one that is specialized in the enhancement of sealed Demon Lords that are under his control. Leticia had also said that such a Gift was also quite renowned. Even in Little Garden where many Demigods and Gods roamed, it could be considered as one of the most unique Gifts.
Legend has it that [Genier Contractor] is a Gift that is conferred to [Solomon, The Spirit King] who sits in the Four Digits for having achieved the accomplishment of sealing seventy-two Demon Lords.
If he had defeated all those seventy-two Demon Lords by himself, that would make him run for second placing in the rankings for defeating Demon Lords.
And the ancestors of Jin Russel had cleared one of the trials prepared by [Solomon, The Spirit King]—the <ARABIAN NIGHTS> which had a part of the Gift as the prize.
Rin who knew of all that had also seen the true value of Jin Russel even if he was still developing in his Gift.
“The trials which were prepared by [Solomon, The Spirit King] has already been completed without leaving a single trial left undone. What’s left is only the defeating of the seventy-two demon lords which can be left to others to handle. And that makes Jin’s Gift incredibly desirable—even if some rough measures need to be taken, it might just be worth it.”
“……”
A sharp glint could be seen in those child-like eyes of hers but that sort of atmosphere had been dispersed almost immediately.
For Rin had suddenly stood up, preparing to leave the open air café.[65]
“In any case, I guess that’s the end of today’s persuasion. Percher-chan also needs more time right? I will be taking my leave first, and I will leave His Highness to you today, Thanks.”
“Heys, wait…wait up!”
“Nay~I’m not gonna wait♪ But no worries. I will be back to sway you over to our side for I feel that it would be for the best for both parties. Ah~and don’t forget to keep the real identity of His Highness a secret—this is also for the best for both of us.”
Rin gave a spin, causing her short skirt to flutter, as she turned to disappear into the crowd. While at the opposite end of the table in the open air café, a cup of unfinished drink was all that was left behind.
The girl who had appeared just like sudden storm had just left after having been satisfied by its destruction.
(……to return to the Demon Lord Alliance?)
Percher pressed her hand on her chest as she felt very uneasy about it.
She who is the representative of the eight million vengeful spirits—the collective of spirits killed by the plague of Black Death.
And this body had come into existence for the sole purpose of fulfilling the wish of those spirits who have died with much resentment in their hearts.
What should she decide on then?
The lonely girl who couldn’t find an answer to that question could only sit at her original spot.
(I….what should I choose now…..?)
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