Akatsuki Translations

In one of the dormitory rooms used by the attendants in the temporary temple.

It was a high-rise stone building created by the power of the earth spirits. Due to being an emergency shelter, the exterior had no decorations at all, but the interior was well-equipped. It was the fruit of the attendants’ power and selfishness, and it was fully furnished with household goods.

“What luxury.” -Ur

Ur muttered softly as he lay on the bed, which was a gift of the attendants’ luxury. The original owner of this room was no longer there. It seemed that during the commotion of the assault from the siege of the Sun Knights, they had “disappeared”. If one didn’t think too deeply about the meaning, the soft bed was simply comfortable and appreciated.

“Ur-sama.” -Shizuku

Shizuku appeared gracefully in front of Ur as if she had been there from the beginning. For some reason, she was in her underwear. Her voluptuous body, usually restrained by her robes, was exposed.

“Put on some clothes, you pervert.” -Ur

“I was just putting Echelle-sama to bed until a moment ago.” -Shizuku

“That doesn’t explain why you’re showing so much skin.” -Ur

“Body heat is optimal for healing a wounded heart, you know?” -Shizuku

Ur closed his mouth and sank into the bed at Shizuku’s smile, like that of a loving mother. It was tiring to argue. Even without that, today was truly exhausting.

The city’s anomaly, the attendant’s escape and return, the encirclement of the City of Sin, Gradol, the execution proclamation and Echelle’s new quest, and then the commotion of securing those two perpetrators. It was very taxing for someone just out of recovery.

However, the hardships of this day were still just the beginning.

After capturing the two perpetrators and explaining the situation to Echelle, she cried again. But she wasn’t more flustered than that. She just cried and cried, and it was a relief that there was no trouble calming her down, but it was painful to watch.

–I’ll hear the details from them, so Ur, please take care of things in the meantime.

Diz had swiftly tossed it to him. Even if asked, there wasn’t much they could do once the culprits were taken away… or so Ur thought at the time, but it wasn’t that simple.

Kalkara had been taken away as a perpetrator, and Echelle was now unable to do anything. As a result, the chain of command in the “temporary temple” had become completely paralyzed.

Although there were “attendants” who were supposed to be the next in power after Echelle and Kalkara, they were also in a state of confusion. Having run away from the assault by the Sun Knights, who were supposed to protect them and be their “sword”, and then returned, they were in complete panic. Naturally, there was no one who could take charge.

In the end, there was no choice but for Ur and the others to run the temporary temple.

They spent an entire day treating the attendants who were merely wailing, giving instructions to those who could move, and running around to quell the chaos. It was very tiring. It was not uncommon for them to be hurled abusive language instead of gratitude from the attendants, and they thought about really abandoning them, but there were some with life-threatening injuries, so they couldn’t do that and continued working until late at night. It was really troublesome.

“If the attendants start doing as they please again tomorrow, I’m done with them.”  -Ur

“Let’s have Diz-sama take command tomorrow, even if it’s just for show. It will be easier for the attendants to follow her instructions.” -Shizuku

“Yeah… So, why are you snuggling up to me, Shizuku?” -Ur

At some point, Shizuku had slipped into Ur’s bed and snuggled up close to him. It was soft and pleasant, but perhaps because he was extremely tired, his body couldn’t keep up with the excitement of his mind at all, and he felt unnecessarily sluggish.

“Since you’re tired, I thought I’d comfort you.” -Shizuku

“Thanks for your concern. Right now, it’s really unnecessary, so please get off.” -Ur

Shizuku gripped and hugged Ur’s head. She wasn’t listening to him at all. However, Ur thought it was a bit unusual for this woman to actively make contact on her own.

She’s a woman who doesn’t hesitate at all to flatter someone she needs, but she shouldn’t do that to him very often…

“…Did something bad happen?” -Ur

“To me?” -Shizuku

“That’s what I meant when I asked.” -Ur

She has an abnormal observational ability when it comes to the subtleties of other people’s emotions, but her understanding of her own is quite shallow. If she continues to make contact even after Ur refuses, the behavioral principle lies within Shizuku herself.

In other words, she’s come here to be spoiled. Probably, maybe.

Shizuku tilted her head, pondered for a bit, and fell silent. Ur waited silently for her to solidify her emotions into a form. And then,

“…Nothing particularly unpleasant happened to me… but…” -Shizuku

“But?” -Ur

“I thought that something sad would happen after this.” -Shizuku

“What’s that supposed to mean?” -Ur

Shizuku groaned, trying to verbalize her abstract impressions again. In the meantime, she kept pressing her breasts against him, which was not very good for Ur’s mental health.

“Let’s see–I wish for everyone to be happy.” -Shizuku

“Ah, yeah. I know that.” -Ur

Her essence is that of a twisted saint who wishes for the happiness of others because of her low priority for herself. No matter how much Ur tries to correct it, that foundation doesn’t waver easily.

“That’s why I want to do anything I can. Anything at all.” -Shizuku

“I know that too.” -Ur

And for that purpose, she doesn’t choose the means. Sometimes, she even tramples on and crushes the dignity of the other person. That means that her standard for “happiness” is–extremely–low.

As long as you don’t die, you can surely start over. You can be happy.

Such an extreme judgment criterion exists within her. That’s why she’ll do anything. She’ll take any means. As long as she can save a life, as long as a life can be saved–

“–But this time, it will probably be difficult.” -Shizuku

“Difficult.” -Ur

“I think that making everyone happy will be impossible.” -Shizuku

“…I see.” -Ur

Ur understood the implications of those words. It was hard to deny. Because as far as he could think, it was obvious that nothing good would happen after this.

He also understood the reason for her sadness. That’s why Ur silently accepted her embrace. If it could reduce her stress, he didn’t care what happened anymore.

While he was thinking that and letting her do as she pleased, suddenly, Shizuku peeked at Ur’s face. The color of her silver eyes was beautiful.

“But Ur-sama, unlike me, you seem to be quite angry, don’t you?” -Shizuku

“Me?” -Ur

Being asked, Ur also explored his own inner thoughts. Unlike Shizuku, he had no trouble seeing through his own thoughts. Soon, he found the anger she was talking about.

“…Maybe so.” -Ur

“Is it about Echelle-sama?” -Shizuku

“I’m not virtuous enough to get angry for someone else’s sake.” -Ur

“Is that so?” -Shizuku

“Yeah, it is. I’m angry about my own problem.” -Ur

That’s right, it’s a personal matter.

It’s what I’ve felt since the outline of this incident became clear ――Discomfort.

“Originally, this whole thing started with Echelle trying to use us to solve the anomaly in Uuga. We had no right to refuse.” -Ur

“That’s right.” -Shizuku

“Then, as we proceeded with the investigation, it turned out that Echelle was also just a puppet. Her aide Kalkara and the temple attendant Kalan were actually the culprits behind the city’s anomaly, and Echelle continued to spin her wheels without realizing it.” -Ur

“That’s right.” -Shizuku

“And if we delve further, even Kalkara and Kalan were just pawns, minions of the City of Sin, Gradol and the cult of the Dragon that Devours the Sun.” -Ur

“That’s right.” -Shizuku

The structure of this incident was layered in multiple levels. It was an incident on a scale that Ur had never experienced before. That’s why Ur had a thought.

“Do you think the culprits behind this incident, Gradol and the cult, know about us?” -Ur

“I don’t think they even recognize our existence.” -Shizuku

Shizuku answered straightforwardly. Ur agreed with her.

The perpetrators, Kalkara and Kalan, should certainly be aware of Ur and his party. But even for those two, they must have been nothing more than an accessory to the 【Hero】. The intense surveillance focus on Diz’s carriage shows that.

Moreover, if you ask whether the cult and Gradol, who weren’t even present here, are cognizant of Ur and the others, they definitely aren’t. Even if Ur’s party caused some problems for them, it would be lumped together as “the Hero’s doing”.

Considering Diz’s ability, fame, and the prestige of the Seven Heavens, that’s a natural thing. It’s only natural for Ur and the others to be treated like twigs compared to her. Ur also understands that.

However, that being said, it is an undeniable fact that Ur and his party have been pushed around to this extent by the schemes of opponents who don’t even recognize them.

“–Heh.” -Ur

Ur laughed.

It wasn’t because of the ridiculousness. The more he sorted out the situation, the more he seethed with anger, and it came full circle and became laughable.

It’s something that happens quite often. Ur is a Nameless. It natural that one’s life gets blown away by the extremely one-sided circumstances of existences far above oneself. It’s common. He’s used to it. No, he was used to it.

However, living as an adventurer, running around desperately, facing numerous difficulties in a short time, Ur finally gained a small, palm-sized confidence. It was pride that was too small in the eyes of others, but for Ur, it was probably the first time in his life that he had acquired it.

The pride of being able to cut through and move forward in this world full of irrationality with his own power.

And such a small pride was blown away like a piece of paper. It wasn’t even due to malice. The ones who trampled on Ur’s pride didn’t even realize they had trampled on it.

“We’re just pebbles on the roadside.” -Ur

They didn’t even notice that they had kicked us.

His hubris was crushed. He was made to understand that he was still a pebble in this world. It was a good thing that he realized it sooner than later, making a mistake by misunderstanding.

But, that being said,

“–There’s no need to be kicked around without a word, is there?” -Ur

At those words that Ur spat out with a steady gaze, Shizuku smiled and said, “Well then.”

“Shall we try our best to dig into the ground?” -Shizuku

“At most, I’ll make ‘em stub their toe and roll on the ground.” -Ur

Thus, in the deep, deep darkness, the epicenter of malice woven by history, in the Dragon-Devoured City Uuga.

In its recesses, the flames of counterattack quietly ignited.