Akatsuki Translations

After enjoying a sweet and delicious dessert that seemed to melt his cheeks, the Count instructed Aise to arrange for a carriage and to prepare the souvenirs. Though puzzled why he didn’t ask a servant to do it, Aise quietly carried out her father’s orders.

Shuou walked along a wide, long corridor, accompanied by the Count who had offered to show him around the mansion.

The gently flickering lamplight illuminated the row of portraits lining the hallway walls. Matching the Count’s slow pace ahead of him, Shuou carefully examined each face.

“These are the successive heads of the Mordred family,” the Count explained.

The portraits grew more antiquated towards the end, mostly men with a few women interspersed, almost all with blonde hair and blue eyes. Their blood had been passed down through generations, the lineage continuing to the Count walking beside him and his daughter.

“Our family is known for its bravery, but also for its short-lived members. Aise’s older siblings were exceptional, but all lost their lives just before reaching adulthood.”

“I see,” Shuou replied.

The Count stopped, clasping his hands behind his back. They were alone.

The corridor was silent. Only the shadows cast by the flickering candlelight moved.

“It’s a pitiful tale, but after losing children one after another, I became afraid. Especially with Aise, I can hardly remember showing her any love. But she successfully completed the deep realm traversal test, with unprecedented excellent results. Conveniently, I’ve had more opportunities to converse with my daughter lately. Perhaps finally having an heir has allowed me to lower the high walls I had built around my heart.”

The Count slowly turned around, bringing his hands forward and bowing slightly.

“What’s this about, suddenly?” Shuou asked.

“As a father and the head of this land, I’m reluctant to admit it, but it seems my daughter has developed romantic feelings for you. I agonized over it all night, but I’m glad I had this chance to talk with you privately. Our conversation has made one thing clear to me.”

Shuou remained motionless, slowly clenching only his fist.

“What did you realize?”

“That the feelings you harbor for my daughter are not equal to hers. And also, that the young man named Shuou is someone one can reason with. Surprisingly, I’ve taken a liking to you. You’re a person who knows himself. That’s why I humbly ask you to please find a way to make my daughter give up her feelings for you.”

Shuou became aware that he had unconsciously tightened his fist, his nails digging painfully into his palm.

Shuou knew that Aise’s feelings for him went beyond friendship. But knowing that, what could he do? She hadn’t directly said anything to him, and telling her to give up on him would be arrogant and foolish.

The Count’s words were true. Shuou didn’t have feelings for Aise that crossed the line of friendship. But that didn’t mean he was entirely unmoved by her presence. He sometimes found himself admiring her beautiful face, and her sweet, fruit-like scent made him feel restless. Her serious personality was comforting to be around, and he respected her constant effort to do what she thought was right.

Shuou lowered his head, feeling an indescribable discomfort.

He liked Aise. As a travel companion, as a friend who gave him sweet treats, as a colleague working in the same place.

But just now, he felt as if the affection he held for her had been forcibly categorized.

Shuou slowly raised his face.

“I don’t want to give an answer.”

The Count furrowed his brow at this response.

“Pursuing one’s own desires without regard for one’s position is a child’s love. It must have been quite a burden on you as well. As the head of the family and as a father, I’ve said what needed to be said. I have no intention of saying or doing anything more. It seems I’ve made you uncomfortable. I apologize.”

Shuou remained silent, averting his gaze.

The Count turned forward again and slowly began to walk.

Perhaps trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere, the Count deliberately brightened his tone.

“By the way, about the gift I mentioned earlier—”

Shuou also tried to change his mood and spoke up.

“About that, I really can’t accept it.”

The Count twisted his neck to look back while walking down the long corridor.

“Oh? It might be bulky, but have you considered how much profit you could make if you view it as merchandise? Since you don’t have to consider wholesale prices, whatever you sell it for would be pure profit.”

Hearing this, Shuou raised his eyebrows.

“Money…”

“Indeed. Mordred crafts are especially renowned for their high quality. What I’m offering you is my masterpiece. I’m presenting it to you on exceptional terms to repay the debt of gratitude for what you’ve done for my daughter. Please, don’t hesitate to accept it.”

There was a reason Shuou hesitated to accept the Count’s gift. It was primarily due to its distasteful design. However, the words suggesting it could be sold for money were tempting indeed. The Count’s speech was incredibly effective in swaying Shuou, who had been acutely aware of the importance of wealth lately.

“In that case, I’ll gratefully accept.”

“Ah, is that so? I’m glad.”

The Count seemed somewhat relieved, which made Shuou secretly tilt his head in puzzlement.

Suddenly, among the portraits of the Mordred ancestors that he had been casually observing, one caught Shuou’s attention. It stood out starkly among the paintings of handsome, dignified figures gazing forward.

The subject appeared to be in his mid-twenties, with the same blonde hair and blue eyes as the others. However, he had his thumbs stuck in his nostrils with his palms spread wide, fake eyes drawn on closed eyelids, and a strained grin showing bared teeth.

“What is this?”

When asked, the Count stopped in front of the portrait and pressed his fingers strongly between his eyebrows.

“Ethardt Mordred. An eccentric genius produced shortly after our family moved to the eastern lands. It’s said he lived a nocturnal lifestyle and spent his private fortune on strange inventions. Like other families, we Mordreds place the most talented individual as the head of the family. Though Ethardt was a madman, he must have been gifted as a Bright. He seemed to have an abnormal obsession with the life and death of living beings. There are many unspeakable anecdotes left from this period of the Mordred family. To be honest, Ethardt is a stain on our lineage, but he had outstanding talent in artistic endeavors. Therefore, while feeling shame, I don’t hate this ancestor.”

Shuou swallowed hard.

“Could it be that the stone statue at the entrance of the mansion…”

“Oh, you’ve figured it out. That’s a sculpture created by Ethardt himself. Many of his works are stored in this mansion and in a separate villa on our estate. The cost of preservation is considerable, but his works are worth it. Don’t you think so?”

As he listened to the Count’s words, Shuou stared intently at the portrait of Ethardt Mordred.

It was you.

The incredibly bad taste that had been passed down in the Mordred family until today might have its roots in this Ethardt. This was evident from the actions of the later descendants who continued to carefully preserve the items he left behind.

“By the way… are you acquainted with Her Highness Princess Sa’salia?”

Startled by the sudden question, Shuou tensed.

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, I’ve heard rumors of that nature. So… what’s the truth?”

“In a way, yes. I was with her—Princess Sa’salia—when she got lost in the mountains of Adulelia.”

The Count clapped his hands together. “I know about that! Indeed, Her Highness was said to have lost her way in the mountains of Adulelia for a time. Don’t tell me you were the one who saved the princess?”

“If I said so, would you doubt me again?”

“No, I see—that makes sense then.”

Shuou frowned at the Count’s mumbling attitude. “What are you trying to say?”

Suddenly, the Count grasped Shuou’s hand firmly. “I’m glad you asked. Actually, I have an important matter to discuss with you—”

After bidding farewell to the Count’s family, Shuou was given five large wooden crates. Unsure where to store them, he decided to temporarily place them behind Kumokari’s shop.

Bringing such large luggage without warning late at night troubled even the usually accommodating Kumokari.

“What is all this…?”

“A gift from the Count.”

“A gift? What’s inside?”

Shuou showed Kumokari the elephant figurine he had received as a sample.

“Oh, gross… What is this? Just looking at it feels like a curse—” Kumokari shielded his eyes from the eerie elephant statue. “—Don’t tell me all these boxes are full of these?”

Shuou nodded weakly, almost in a daze. “Yeah…”

“Why did you accept something like this?”

“I heard they could be sold for money, so…”

As he distanced himself from that bizarre mansion and time passed, allowing him to think more clearly, Shuou was struck with regret at the thought that he might have taken on an incredible burden.

“Well, sure, if you can sell them, they’d make money. But did he really give you all this without asking for anything in return?”

“No, he did ask for a favor.”

Kumokari gave him a knowing, troubled look. “What kind?”

“He asked me to introduce him to Sa’salia… to the princess. I didn’t give him an answer since it’s not something I can decide on my own.”

“That’s good. You did the right thing. But be careful, they say there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

Shuou was acutely feeling the reality of Kumokari’s words.

Kumokari tapped one of the wooden crates, the heavy sound echoing in the night alley.

“You know, selling these wooden crates might actually make more money— And sorry, but we can’t leave these in the back alley. It’s a shared passageway that the neighbors use too.”

Shuou crossed his arms and squinted at the stacked crates. “I’ll take care of them by tomorrow morning.”

The next morning, passersby on the busy street stared at a man carrying towering wooden crates.

“Hey! Is this what you wake people up early in the morning for?!” Shiga shouted angrily.

Walking calmly beside the yelling Shiga, Shuou smiled faintly.

“What’s with that creepy smile?” Shiga grumbled.

“I’m just thinking that for the first time, I’m glad I hired you.”

“Damn… If my hands were free, I’d punch that annoying white head of yours.”

Shuou slapped Shiga’s back with an open hand. “Just shut up and carry them to the Gemstone Academy. It’s your employer’s order.”

“Pay me properly before giving orders!”

Shuou watched with satisfaction as the man he had claimed to hire finally proved useful.

However, his light steps grew heavy the moment he saw the brightly glowing miracrystal in Shiga’s hand. Shuou compared it to his own turbid miracrystal, pursing his lips with a somber expression.

The serious face of Count Mordred, who had bowed his head asking Shuou to distance himself from his daughter, remained stuck in Shuou’s mind, stirring up an endless internal debate in his heart.