CH 79.2

We are taken in the mansion as if we were criminals.

As it is a mansion for nobles all the furniture inside are first-class. A glittering chandelier and a crimson carpet. A maid who was doing housework hurriedly got out of mine and Sytry’s way as are surrounded by knights.

We are guided to a very large room. A luxurious large sofa and table are there. The walls are adorned with paintings and silver armors. I heard that they were a military house, but it seems that they are richer than what I expected. You can see why the Ojou-sama who isn’t an adult yet is able to spend one hundred million Gils on a Relic that she never saw.

When we are being shepherded to the Ojou-sama, she looks at us, crosses her legs and put on a smile. Éclair-Jou is wearing a light blue dress today. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the sword that is hanging on her waist. She has a big attitude, but as she is still young her body is small, so even I am not afraid of her.

“I do give you credit for your gut to come here in this house to play fair and square.”

No, it is not like I came here to be your enemy. I don’t want to turn a noble into an enemy.

I am no scared of the Ojou-sama but the one I am scared of are the knights lined up to guard her. I am also scared of the knights lined up behind us too. I unwillingly imitate Sytry and smile. The expression of Éclair-Jou immediately harden.

“Kuh… Despite being surrounded so far, to think you still have your composure… I see, your audacity is comparable to Ark-dono1.”

Hmm? I am not sure but isn’t she… Praising me? I did tell them in advance that the subject I wanted to talk about is the Relic. I just want to quickly end this subject and go home but I don’t understand what nobles are thinking in their head.

“No, no, the only thing that I win against Ark is my Level.”

“Wha!?”

By the way, Ark Rodin is a popular man. He is popular regardless of their age or gender and he is particularly popular with Zebrudia nobles. Strength, personality and even his face looks good. Moreover, he come from an honored family that has contributed to Zebrudia a long time ago, I can understand that he is popular. Even Gladys the famous Hunter haters acknowledge the Rodin, I can only say, as expect of him.

Sometimes there is a story about me being his rival because of my High-Level but it is an absurd story.

Perhaps Éclair-Jou said this because she believed in those groundless rumors. Is that why she has a strong enmity against me when we first met? No way. Isn’t it total nonsense?

Éclair-Jou is staring at me with a grim look. Should I clarify it for her?

“Is it possible that Éclair-sama has heard rumor about me being Ark’s rival? No way, that is ridiculous.”

“…Ho?”

“Everything about me and Ark is… Our magnitude is too different. Those are groundless rumors, at least I don’t think of Ark as my rival. He is just a friend, a friend.”

“Ku… What… did you say…?”

The squeezed fist of Éclair-jou is shaking. Her lips are quivering and her cheeks are flushed as if she was holding her rage.

What did I say something strange? The Imperial Capital is huge. Since the ancient time, there are several top-skilled Hunters active in this country. But even so, Ark is definitely in the top-class in the Imperial Capital and he will one day eventually be called the strongest.

“Ark is not… Your rival, you say?”

That is right. Not my rival. You can rest assured. You don’t have to look at me like an enemy with your eyes. I have no idea why her eyes were getting tighter and tighter. The guards who are behind us also solidify and clench their teeth while looking down at us.

Do you think I am lying? … Aaah, I see. I raise my hand and say.

“Aaah… To be precise, he is not my rival but my party member’s rival. It looks like I am self-praising, but they are very talented… Even Ark will surely be convinced with this. Right, Sytry?”

To my words, Sytry smiles and shyly says.

“Yes. Ark-san is a rival. So far, in the overall, our side has one more win, but we are always amazed at Ark-san’s growth rate. We may lose someday.”

Oi, oi don’t say something that will prick her.

From Sytry’s words who makes her looks superior (Moreover you can’t feel any ill intent from how she is), made Ojou-sama’s ears bright red. I quickly make a follow up.

“Nooo, I do think that Ark is better than them. Well, even if the Shrines we capture are higher but…”

“No way… Cry-san, whose ally are you, Ark-san or me!?”

“No well, I am Sytry’s ally… But there is a time and a place for that.”

It is a serious remark from Sytry that can always read the room with her calmness. I feel like a middle manager who is caught between his boss and his subordinates.

In the first place, rating Hunter’s is difficult. Ark is the strongest. His strength stands out among the generation of young Hunters. In a one-on-one scenario, there is almost no one who can win against him.

However, if it is a party battle between “Ark Brave (The Holy Spirit’s Son)” and “Strange Grief (The Lamenting Ghost)” then it will definitively be our win. It is not a problem with Ark but a problem with the party members. “Strange Grief (The Lamenting Ghost)” is incredibly strong except for the Leader but in “Ark Brave (The Holy Spirit’s Son)” the Leader is the strongest, but the other members aren’t still at his level. They are not weak and has first-class ability but simply say, they are just a bit short. Even if they add new excellent members, due to their inferiority when facing against their Leader, they won’t last long. Especially for a man, he will quit immediately. I think it a slippery slope. It is too heavy and a little too difficult to get it…

But if I tell her that, will it make the Ojou-sama laugh? No, she won’t probably get it…. As I was grinning, the Ojou-sama suddenly unsheathe her sword and hit the table.

Wooden chips rise up and fall down.

To her sudden action I spontaneously stiffen. Éclair-Jou shamelessly put her right leg on the table and says in a quivering voice. Her face was bright red. Tears are gathering in her well-shaped eyes.

“You, you scoundrel, I understand what you want to say! That, you are making a fool of Ark-dono and my house!”

“Eh? We aren’t treating you like an idiot…”

“If I have the authority, I would have beheaded you both scoundrels!”

Beheading!? Did that girl, just says beheading? Oi, oi what did we do?

Éclair-Jou’s guards are all holding the swords on their waist. If they received the order, then they will all be ready to jump at us. And the knights behind us should also be in the same posture. To have thought that we will end up being killed when we came here in good faith.

Unlike me who force myself to have a strong face, Sytry mouth keeps on smiling. It is nice that you are always calm but as expect I don’t think that your expression matches with your current situation.

Ah, right… Compare to a Shrine, this isn’t too much.

Éclair-Jou points her index here. I don’t care but as your leg is on the table, I can see your panty.

“But, your arrogance is only until now. I will make you regret making fun of the Gladys! The strongest Relic, I will absolutely absolutely absolutely absolutely get it!”

“…… No, that is a dangerous Relic. The appraiser has also made the same declaration. You should stop trying to get it.”

Despite the confusion, we enter the heart of the matter as initially planned and I try to persuade her. In the first place, I don’t have any power nor money, so you don’t need to do anything anymore. If I was the daughter of a Count, I would do nothing and become all sluggish.

However, Éclair-Jou doesn’t seem to listen to me at all.

“In my investigation, you seem to be gathering Relic! In any case I am sure you used those to reach your Level 8! You scoundrel’s strength, is only something borrowed it isn’t even yours!”

“Hm? Eh…? …… Un, un, you are right?”

You got a point, but it is still off. Certainly, my strength is a hundred percent coming from my Relics but even if I use hundreds of Relics my ability is completely below my Level 8. I don’t understand at all. Why is this Ojou-sama heating up?

And then, Éclair-Jou yells as if she was roaring.

“The strongest Relic will be given to Ark-dono! And it will be the end! This will be the end of your reign!”

That is… I think it will be a problem if you get it.

Ark already possesses powerful Relics as the heir of the Rodin House, more choices doesn’t always mean more strength. He is strong. Even without Relic, he is strong. As Luke can kill me with empty handed, a strong person is strong even without Relics. And I am weak no matter what I do. That is the truth.

“It is meaningless. The strong are strong even without Relics and the weak will still be weak even with Relics. Yes, they will be weak like me.”

“What!?”

“That is the truth. Once you get that Relic, it will never lead into making Ark stronger. In the first place, I will tell you this from my point of view as his friend, Ark won’t be pleased if he gets stronger with the power of such a strange thing.”

So, give up and give me that Relic. Ark is fine duh. He is an Ikemen so he doesn’t need to change his face duh. He doesn’t need to hide himself as he can fight them off even if he is attacked duh2.

Éclair-Jou expression momentarily become blank and her complexion changes. She was shaking for a while, but she screams while in tears.

“Guuu… Shut it, shut it! Baaaka, baaaka3! I won’t absolutely absolutely never give it to you!! Go home! Go home alreadyyy!”

“What is… O, Ojou-sama please calm down!”

Probably because he heard his Mistress obscenity, the butler jumps in from outside the room. He tries to calm her but Éclair-Jou is shaking her head and crying.

Eh? Doesn’t that make it sounds like I made her cry? Isn’t this dangerous? Won’t it be an offence of contempt? time, I will ask Eva to send her a cake.

And then Sytry who had been watching everything happening up to this point stands up.

“Éclair-sama, today we came here in order to tell thee to yield the Relic.”

“Sniff…… What… did you say!?”

Éclair-Jou rubs her eyes and looks at Sytry. No, well sure it is true, but do you need to say it now? I mean, I said the same thing just earlier, right?

“That Relic is something that is uncontrollable for both Éclair-sama and Ark-san. So, it is wiser to give up.”

Why do you say it in a way that pour oil in the fire…? Blood rises again in Éclair’s head. Blood flows down from her lips because she bites too hard on it.

And in the middle of everyone stares, Sytry put her hand on her cheek and smiles.

“Éclair-sama said that you will buy it for one hundred million Gils in the bar but here we have collected… two hundred million Gils.”

“Two hundred… Million…?”

Éclair-Jou murmured. Sytry makes a big nod and declares.

“This is our very limit. No matter if you are Gladys-kyo’s daughter, there should be a limit to the amount you can use… That Relic has no meaning for Éclair-sama. But still, if you really want that Relic… Then gather over two hundred million Gils! If Éclair-sama succeed to do that… It will be a very painful story, but we will also acknowledge our loss as well.”

Sytry-chan…

Thanks for reading! HAHAAHAHA Sytry making a huge lie like this, she wants to make her gather just 200 million so she can crush them with her wedding funds XD Will Éclair fall for it? And I love Cry’s desperate “Sytry-chan” as he knows she have way more money XD Tchao à plus

If you are in a generous mood and want to support me, I will be very grateful! : Click here for Ko-fi donation or the button bellow

1. Dono: Suffix on a person name to show their respect to the person. It is like to say Sir or Lord

2. Duh: Cry end his sentence in *jan* like a kid who can’t get his stuff and go complain about it

3. Baka: Means idiot, stupid.