Akatsuki Translations

Black’s statement instantly froze the atmosphere in the room.

The previous discussion had been intense, with strong arguments being thrown around, but this sudden proposal, completely detached from the ongoing debate, stopped everyone’s thought processes.

“Wait a minute! What are you saying!?” Gloria was the first to reboot. She slammed her hands on the table and glared at Black as if to intimidate him. However, he seemed completely unaffected. He stared at the enraged Gloria with a puzzled look on his face.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong, Glo? If you let your emotions explode like that, you’ll start crying again, you know?”  -Black

“I’ve already overcome that bad habit! No, what I’m asking is, what’s with that proposal you just made!?” -Gloria

“It’s a proposal to buy and sell Uuga, isn’t it?” -Black

Black stood up. Just the act of a man over two meters tall standing up was quite intimidating and impactful.

“It’s simple. Uuga seems to be of tremendous value, but it also has problems. It requires various conditions and has entanglements. Moreover, if we’re not careful, that 【Heavenly Demon】 guy might take it from us for free. This is troublesome.” -Black

Then, we should just sell it.

Black laughed. His canine teeth peeked out, making his smile look friendly. At the same time, it also looked like a horrific smile that could devour everything.

“Getting rid of a troublesome case and getting something in return. It’s simple, right?” -Black

“There’s no way we can do that!” -Gloria

“Why?” -Black

“Even if it’s twisted, this is a satellite city!! The Grand Federation with the Wise Heavenly King as its leader! The symbol of the primary star!  A place for rituals to offer prayers to God and the spirits! Buying and selling, such things cannot be allowed!” -Gloria

While it could be said that they were the ones trying to take it away, Gloria’s words were certainly correct. The idea that Uuga could be easily bought and sold was not a common understanding among everyone present.

“No, it is allowed.” -Black

However, Black denied it. He walked over and stood in front of Gloria. Being short even among the forest people, Gloria was looked down upon from directly above and recoiled in awe.

“If you haven’t noticed, let me tell you, Glo. This 【Dragon-Devoured Uuga】 does not require a 【temple】. In other words, it is not structured to gather prayers.” -Black

“–What?” -Gloria

“To put it simply, this place was never meant to be a satellite city in the first place.” -Black

The room buzzed. The Sun Knights, in particular, had a surprised look on their faces as they looked around and glared at Black. But Black didn’t care.

“The strongest driving force for offering prayers to temples, God, and spirits is the obsession that one cannot live without their protection. People pray earnestly because they believe they cannot survive outside the city, and God and the spirits respond to that.” -Black

Of course, there was also pure faith, faith derived from the teachings of God and the spirits, but not many could maintain the high level of consciousness to straightforwardly accept the teachings and offer gratitude to beings completely different from themselves.

Not wanting to die and needing it were undeniably significant factors.

“But then, what about this place? Little Ur. Have you experienced any inconvenience in the two months since the completion of this Uuga, where there are hardly any priests?” -Black

“……” -Ur

Ur did not respond. But it was true.

Ur, who had been living here for two months, naturally understood. He realized that the power of the Temple and the spirits was not necessary at all to live in Uuga. Therefore, he was not surprised by Black’s point.

Due to its characteristics as a giant familiar, monsters do not approach, so barriers are not needed.

The magical power required for the operation of the entire city can be recovered over time by becoming one with the earth.

Although productivity is low, it can be moved if necessary, and trade is very easy.

It does not depend on the power of God and spirits. Their presence may make it more prosperous, but they are not essential.

When he heard about the Ruptured Realm of Sloth from Jain, Ur was surprised. To think that there was a place other than here that was an independent country not reliant on God and the spirits.

“Normally, satellite cities exist to control the population, increase prayers, and increase the total amount of power offered to spirits. However, the opposite phenomenon occurs here. As time passes, people forget their gratitude and prayers to the spirits, and their power weakens.” -Black

Therefore, this is not a satellite city. It is something else that only superficially resembles one.

“They’ve made this command center look like a temple style to make it seem like that, but it’s just a façade. I don’t know who they were trying to deceive, but the designer has a pretty bad personality.” -Black

Next to Ur, Echelle hid her expression, but tightly clasped her hands under the table.

The one who created this city was the heretic Yog, and the one who commissioned it was probably Aesula. However, the resulting place was a city that did not depend on priests.

If Aesula were alive, he would never have admitted it. Aesula had strong confidence and pride in the spirit of the earth. He would never acknowledge that their power would be diminished in Uuga. That’s why Yog “deceived” him.

If he had started operating Uuga without realizing this, what would have happened?

The remarkable power of Uuga did not depend on Aesula himself, who wielded it.

If the inhabitants had realized this and stopped praying to the earth spirit–

Ur stopped thinking. Because the imagination of what lay ahead became frightening.

Even at this late stage, he was forced to learn about another part of the woman called 【Ruinous Yog】.

“That’s why, you see. This place isn’t essentially a satellite city. You guys have been saying it over and over, right? That Uuga is a ‘familiar.’ Exactly. This place is nothing more and nothing less than a giant familiar.” -Black

“Even so, even if that’s the case!” -Gloria

“Why don’t we ask the Wise Heavenly King, that Arnold guy, for confirmation? I think that honest fellow will say it’s ‘not necessary.’ Right, 【Hero】?” -Black

When prompted, Diz let out a big sigh and then nodded.

“…That’s right. That’s the kind of person he is.” -Diz

“Then, there should be no obstacles. It’s just a matter of selling a slightly large familiar. Right?” -Black

The gaze turned to Lacretia. Lacretia, who had been silent with her eyes closed for a while, opened her eyes, stared at Black, and asked.

“By the way, how much money do you intend to offer?” -Lacretia

“Lacretia-san!!?” -Gloria

“Let’s see…” -Black

Ignoring Gloria’s scream-like voice, Black folded his fingers and started calculating something. It must have gone beyond the realm of equations that could be counted on fingers, but after a while, Black nodded.

“Around 3 million gold coins? Well, physically, we don’t have that much, so we’ll have to use several items of considerable value as a substitute for the bill.” -Black

Everyone fell silent again. The number mentioned was so absurdly large that it defied comprehension.

《…Diz, how many gold coins is 3 million gold coins again? 》-Ur

《We could buy 3,000 Akanes with that. 》-Diz

《Am I that cheap? 》-Akane

While the beginning of Ur becoming an adventurer was to earn enough money to buy back Akane by the time he rose to the rank of Gold, this was on a completely different level. No, there was no way Black could earn this much just by being a Gold-rank adventurer. This man was definitely abnormal.

“With this much, Gradol should be able to compensate for the damages incurred during the Uuga incident and even exceed it. Sounds like a good deal, don’t you think?” -Black

When asked, Lacretia remained silent for a while. Then, she raised her head and smiled slightly.

“You’re right, it’s not a bad deal.” -Lacretia

“What!?” -Gloria

“Although I feel like we’re being slightly underestimated. Considering Gradol’s current situation, this might be reasonable.” -Lacretia

Gloria was the most shaken by Lacretia’s words. That made sense. She had come all the way here to seize Uuga from Gradol. However, upon arriving, the ownership was about to change. To an even more troublesome opponent.

“…Are you sure about this? If you were to purchase Uuga, and then we were to reclaim it afterward, you would lose an exorbitant amount of money.” -Eckstein

As if resisting, Eckstein told him so. However, Black didn’t seem to care at all.

“Don’t worry about it. I have plenty of reliable comrades. We have the management capabilities for Uuga that you mentioned today. Of course, if you’re worried, you’re welcome to come to our place and hold a trial like today.” -Black

Naturally, no one laughed and said, “That’s good.” Everyone was glaring at Black as if he were a terrifying monster. Black took in all those gazes as if they were nothing. He turned his gaze towards Lacretia. She smiled and nodded.

“But I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.” -Lacretia

“What!?” -Black

Black nearly stumbled at the sudden rejection.

Lacretia, who had pushed him away, watched Black’s surprise with slight amusement and laughed. “Well,” she began, “in the first place, even if it’s a twisted process, we can’t just sell something we built during the course of running a city just because we’re offered money, right?”

“Didn’t you take complete control of the Temple’s power, taking advantage of Gradol’s chaos, Lacretia?” -Black

“Of course not,” Lacretia dismissed.

Most of the Caraleigh family had been wiped out. However, there were still survivors. In addition, Lacretia’s faction, while a gathering of groups that had been in opposition to the Caraleigh family, was not perfectly united. There were still many seeds of chaos in Gradol.

In the midst of that, if Lacretia were to decide, “It’s too much trouble, so we sold Uuga,” all the efforts that had somehow restored calm, even if only on the surface, would be for naught.

“Besides, if I hand over this Uuga to you, you’ll surely use it for no good. I haven’t lost my sense of ethics to the point of being blinded by money when dealing with one of the most dangerous individuals in this world.” -Lacretia

“Eh? Do I really seem like such a bad guy?” -Black

“You do. Overall, your color is black.” -Lacretia

“Seriously? Maybe I should wear brighter colored clothes next time.” -Black

Black dropped his shoulders dejectedly. Until just a moment ago, the entire scene had been about to be swallowed up by an atmosphere that seemed to be his exclusive domain, but that atmosphere dissipated in an instant. Ur wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

If Lacretia had sold Gradol to Black just like that, there was a high possibility that Ur and the others would have been driven out as well. Of course, Lacretia would probably prepare appropriate compensation for Ur and the others, but it wouldn’t have felt good to have all their hard work unexpectedly nullified.

“Damn it. I was hoping to use Uuga to travel around the world.” -Black

But more than that, Ur had a very bad feeling about handing Uuga over to this man named Black. Not to pick up on Lacretia’s words, but the unfathomable aura emanating from this man was certainly ominous. There was no telling what he might do.

As Ur was thinking this, Black, who had been hanging his head in an exaggerated manner, looked up. And he looked at Ur.

“Well, it can’t be helped. Then you guys will just have to do your best after all. Little Ur.” -Black

“What’s with ‘Little Ur’?” -Ur

“It has a nice ring to it, right? Little Ur. Do your best, Little Ur.” -Black

With that, he returned to his chair. He put his feet up on the table, rocked the chair, and began gazing out the window leisurely as if the conversation until now had never happened.

Everyone in the room lowered their shoulders slightly in fatigue. They were very tired. And in the end, the conversation had returned to where it started–

“…Hm?” -Ur

Ur noticed. The conversation had changed slightly, but decisively, from before.

“…If this place is unfit to be a satellite city, if it’s just the operation of a familiar, then it shouldn’t matter which country’s magicians are involved, right?” -Ur

The scales swayed.

The scales of the 【Spirit of Judgment】 weigh the weight of the words in the debate equally. Even if the Envy Knights try to take advantage of it, its ability itself never fades. It is absolutely fair.

Therefore, even if Ur’s words were like a monologue not directed at anyone, if 【Judgment】 deemed it to be just, the scales would move.

“……” -Ur

Ur raised one eyebrow in surprise at the scales that were about to fall in front of him, and then he looked at Black. He was smiling at Ur. He seemed to be enjoying himself. Ur might have to thank him, but he felt like punching him.

At the same time, the debaters moved. The stalemate was abruptly broken.

“Indeed, you may be right, Ur-san.” -Lacretia

Lacretia agreed with Ur’s words. In the midst of the dizzying changes in the situation, she had never lost her composure, but now she had a slightly bitter look on her face.

However, Gloria and the others also had gloomy expressions. Eckstein beside her also had a slightly stiff expression. But he, too, opened his mouth and turned to argue.

“Just because this place isn’t a satellite city, it’s okay for 【The Walkers】 to manage it?” -Eckstein

“【 Judgment】 seems to have decided so, right?” -Lacretia

“The scales haven’t fully tilted yet.” -Gloria

In fact, the scales had stopped just short of slamming the plates on the table in front of Ur’s eyes. It still wasn’t enough. The scales were telling them that it was unfit.

“Even if it’s true that this place cannot be a city, the priests, who are the ruling class, are essential. There’s no way they would recognize to the existence of the priests of Lust.” -Eckstein

“No, in the first place, the idea of trying to manage it like a city might be wrong, don’t you think?”

The one who interjected at Eckstein’s words was not Lacretia. Nor was it Echelle, and of course, not Ur either.

“A form of governance of Uuga, by Uuga, for Uuga. Isn’t that right?”

It was Shizuku.

She removed her hood, revealing her beauty. Even in the midst of the confused meeting, her unwavering beauty stole glances and forcibly made her the center of the meeting, no matter how much attention one tried to pay.

“Let’s have our final discussion.” -Shizuku

Shizuku smiled lightly. As she declared, the final discussion of this meeting began.