kscans

Chapter 175 - The Raid on the Elven Palace and the Bond of Master and Servant (Part 2)

Maryanne's situation had become critical. She was already breathing heavily, her all-or-nothing strike having been parried. Wake closed the distance, and she retreated, unwilling to engage. After this dance was repeated several times, she was drawn in and slashed at him. But her attack lacked the sharpness of her first two strikes; it was listless.

The difference in their strength was obvious. I couldn't let her fight any longer. If this became a trauma for her, she would never be able to beat Wake.

This was a raid, not a duel. There was no need to fight one-on-one like a fool.

Just as I was about to look to Mizuki for help, someone tugged on the hem of my clothes. I turned to see Reeni looking up at me with a serious gaze.

"Reeni will do it."

"Are you serious?"

She gave a small nod.

"I see… You’re serious, huh…"

My anxiety reached its peak when she pulled out a banana and started munching on it.

"Alright. I’ll leave it to you, Reeni. If she fails, I, Famu, Mizuki, Myra, and Yanan will charge in. Mo, you provide magical support. Patricia and Shizuka, stay back."

Everyone nodded.

"Did you buy that banana yesterday?"

Reeni nodded again.

"They were selling them cheap at a stall. You have one too, Mash."

So they have clearance sales in this world, too. I took a banana from her and ate it. It was soft and creamy, with a rich sweetness that spread through my mouth. For a moment, I almost forgot that Maryanne and Wake were in the middle of a swordfight. As I was thinking this, my eyes met Famu’s.

"Ngh—I-I wasn’t doing a food review!"

"Then why did you look at me when you said that?!"

Reeni offered a banana to the fuming Famu, who took it, peeled it, and took a bite.

"Hmm, this is sweet, soft, and delicious. The flesh practically melts with just the force of my tongue."

Famu’s usual commentary had begun.

I was hoping for a more… erotic way of eating it. I’ll have Mizuki eat one later.

"W-What are you saying?!"

By the time we finished our bananas, Reeni had collected the peels.

So that’s the plan…

Her strategy was obvious. Throw the banana peel at Wake’s feet and wait for him to accidentally step on it, slip, and fall. The "Banana Funeral"

gambit.

I thought it would never work. I was about to stop her, but she was already carefully timing her throw.

I gave up and signaled to Famu and the others, getting ready for our all-out assault.

The clash between Maryanne and Wake continued. Into the fray, Reeni tossed the banana peel. It landed exactly where she’d aimed, right at Wake’s feet. And Wake stepped on it.

"I did it!"

Reeni shouted.

But Wake didn’t slip and fall. He continued fighting as if nothing had happened.

"Huh?"

she tilted her head.

After a moment of thought, she placed a banana peel at her own feet. Then, she stepped on it.

Before I could catch her, her body flipped. A dull thud echoed as her head hit the ground, and Reeni went still.

"Reeni!"

I rushed over and cradled her in my arms. She was limp and unresponsive.

"…Wake, how childish can you be, doing that to a child!"

Marmi shouted.

"What? I’m in the middle of a one-on-one duel with the head of the One-Land family. I don’t have time for such things!"

"…But because of you, the rabbit-eared girl hit her head. Can your justice not save a single child? Or is it something that cannot exist without the sacrifice of children?"

At Marmi’s words, Wake lowered his guard.

"I have never fought for the sake of justice. Everything I do is for Lady Mo."

"…If you say it’s for my sake, then all the more reason. I don’t want a child like this to be sacrificed,"

Mo said.

"Then allow me to say this. Lady Mo, you are called the last child of the elves, the only child born to the Star Union family. Those around you may say you are a slow learner and dim-witted, but I know better. You may be a bit lazy and childish at times, but you only act that way to avoid causing trouble. In truth, you are wiser and more capable of sound judgment than anyone. So what is this? I did not devote myself to your service only to see you married off to some old man!"

"…Then who would be better? Are you saying I should just marry into the Leafkraut family? The only reason I kept quiet was to protect my own time. Besides, I knew an Otherworlder would be sent to this world once every hundred years. I just wanted time to prepare for that."

"You can’t mean you were aiming for an encounter with a hero from another world from the very beginning?"

"…Not exactly. I just hoped, a little, that such a future might exist. And as I wished for it, Famu appeared and made it come true. I was shocked that he was an old man, too, but… Mash is different from other people. He lets me be myself."

Marmi glanced at Famu.

"I feel a subtle sting in those words. Does Mo dislike the Master? If so, I cannot forgive that either,"

she muttered. Famu seemed to show no mercy when it came to Marmi’s words. Was this what it was like to be close friends? I wouldn’t know, so I kept quiet.

"Lady Mo, to us, you are a being with whom we can share less than a tenth of our lives. However, this is the first tenth that will decide the course of your life. I implore you to think more of yourself. Furthermore, the other elves will not permit a marriage with another race. Not even for a hero from another world."

"…I think Mash should be my first. Besides, the first matriarch adventured with many generations of heroes from other worlds. If she had regretted it, she would have ended her interactions after a single adventure. Perhaps, in my body…"

"Lady Mo. That is taboo. You must not speak of it further,"

Patricia interjected.

"…Patricia, I am going to touch upon that with Mash from now on."

"Lady Mo…"

Patricia lowered her face. Marmi turned back to Wake.

"…Wake. I will be leaving the Star Union family for a while. It may be for the last time. Act as my Wake. Offer a hand to the child who has fallen."

Wake looked down at Reeni, lying in my arms. He took a step, then another, approaching us.

Just then, Reeni’s body stirred, and she pressed the end of a rope into my hand.

"Pull!"

At her shout, I pulled the rope. The loop that had been laid out sometime before tightened rapidly, snaring Wake’s feet.

"What—!"

He lost his balance and fell, and we wrapped him up tightly. Unlike with Mizuki, we bound him with all our strength.

"Mash, get the clubs from storage!"

As Reeni instructed, I pulled clubs from my storage, and one by one, my companions grabbed them and descended upon Wake.

"Alright, boys, get him!"

At Shizuka’s command, the clubs came down in unison. To my surprise, it wasn’t just Marmi; Patricia had also joined the circle and started beating Wake with a club.

I took a club myself, but the sheer brutality of the scene made me hesitate to join in.

"Mash, you’ll rarely get a chance to take down such a big target. You should get a hit in for the memory,"

Maryanne said, her words nonsensical. Her bright, refreshing smile was a world away from the tragic air she’d had while fighting just moments before.

Then, the attack stopped. Just like with Mizuki. Everyone was waiting for me to hit Wake. But I just couldn’t bring myself to strike him.

As I hesitated, Shizuka stepped on Wake.

"Everyone! A victory cry!"

"""""""RAAAAH!"""""""

"Hmm? That was quiet. Again!"

"""""""RAAAAH!"""""""

"One more time, louder now! Oyeessss!"

"""""""Oyeessss!"""""""

"Hey, stop that. What is this, an 80s variety show?!"

I pulled Shizuka back.

"They can see your underwear, you know."

"It’s not like I’d mind if they saw what’s under them, but would you mind, Mash? Hmm?"

She pressed her shoulder against me, a strangely pleased look on her face.

I pushed Shizuka away and turned back to Wake. He wasn’t struggling; he lay there quietly, his gaze fixed on the ground.

"Mizuki, what does she mean by an 80s variety show?"

"I don’t really get it either."

Mizuki and Famu were talking. Shizuka’s sense of humor was just weird. I figured I probably wouldn't get it either and turned my attention back to Wake.

"Sorry about that. You knew this was going to happen, didn’t you?"

"Who knows. You may as well hit me as much as you want."

I bent down to untie his ropes.

"Could you leave me like this? I still don’t know if Lady Mo’s choice is the right one."

"…I understand."

I nodded and stood up.

"Patricia…"

Wake murmured.

"Yes,"

she answered.

"Is this really for the best? Will Lady Mo truly be happy?"

"I do not know either. But while Lady Mo acts childishly around myself and you, Wake, she is normally an honest person who tries not to inconvenience anyone. And yet, sometimes, when no one is looking, I see her sigh. When I see that, I cannot bear it…"

"…"

"I cannot protect Lady Mo as you do, Wake. I can only serve her so that what she decides becomes the right thing for her."

"…I see."

Wake’s gaze remained on the floor. I couldn’t read his expression. Marmi tugged on the hem of my clothes.

"…I don’t think I can be the ruler they want me to be. But I swear on my Patricia and my Wake that I will live a life I am not ashamed of."

"Lady Mo, I am glad that you have continued to show me your gentle heart. I will follow your heart to the end."

He closed his eyes.