Chapter 101

When we returned to the inn, we decided to change our clothes first .

Currently, I am dressed in clothing that could easily blend along with the citizens .

I’m also changing my undershirt and underwear everytime that I can .

[Should I leave the room for a while?]

[No, it’s no problem . ]

[All right . ]

We both turn our backs around each other and started changing our clothes .

I could hear all kinds of sounds of the rustling clothes .

I feel like the sounds we’re making were different .

I kind of feel like my sounds were rougher .

Maybe you could also find out someone’s personality at times like this…

I finished changing my clothes a bit faster than Seras .

[Well then, I guess we should start packing our things . ]

Seras fastens her belt .

[Yes . ]

We then started gathering our luggage and putting them back into our bags .

Pigimaru who had been house-sitting coiled around my body under my robe .

[Pyuuu~♪]

Seras charmingly smiles .

[You really like Touka-dono huh, Pigimaru-dono?]

[Pyyuu . ]

[I also like you too, Pigimaru . ]

[Pii! Pyuuu~♪]

I carry my backpack on my shoulders .

My luggage has increased for a bit .

Is it about time I started thinking about bringing along a luggage carrier with us?

[Now then… Preparations complete . After this, we would now wait at that bridge in front of the large front gate just as we planned . ]

Finishing the formalities, we left the inn .

There are still many people walking around at this time of the night .

The night breeze feels rather cold .

However, you could also say that it’s mildly refreshing .

Kyururu~

[Unnghh…]

That sound just now…

Is that Seras’ stomach?

Seras awkwardly turns away .

[That’s quite embarrassing of me…]

We went out to the main street .

Standing in front of the food stalls, we bought some light dinner .

This is one of the convenient advantages of being in large cities .

There would always be stalls available even at night .

As expected though, there are no stores that are open 24 hours just like those convenience stores back in my world .

I bought some cylinder-shaped meat skewer .

It kind of looks like a tsukune skewer . (T/N: Chicken meatball skewer often cooked yakitori style)

[Nom…]

Biting into it…

[Hmm?]

It hardly had any seasonings .

Well, it’s fine as long as I get full .

While eating, we started walking our skewers .

[Omnom… I’ve just thought about this while we were buying those skewers earlier . ]

While eating her skewer little by little, Seras speaks .

[While you’re acting, I sometimes feel like I’m seeing an illusion that you’re just a stranger in front of me . Is that what you’re talking about, blending along the surroundings and becoming less conspicuous…?]

I remembered my uncle’s family .

[It’s because I couldn’t afford to let others see through my acting . ]

I had always been acting as the “Kind Mimori Touka” .

That’s right— It’s so that my uncle’s family wouldn’t know .

If they were to see through my acting, they may become worried about me .

I understood that .

They would think that I’m overdoing it and acting like a “good child” .

If my uncle’s family were to be concerned about me, they would be worried sick .

That they may have been lacking when they’re taking care of me .

That’s why, it’s necessary for me to act like “I’m not overdoing it” .

[So, that’s something you learnt because it’s necessary?]

[…Yeah . ]

I look towards Seras who still had some meat residues beside her mouth .

[On the contrary, you may be too noticeable . ]

[A- As I thought, that’s the case huh? I tried to blend into the surroundings and eliminate my presence but…]

The ability to alter your appearance by the power of the spirit of light .

She can’t greatly deviated from her original appearance .

In short, no matter how much changes she makes in her appearance, she can’t completely hide her beauty .

As a result, she tends to attract the eyes of the public .

Besides her beauty, Seras also had many other factors that attract the opposite sex .

Well, how should I say this…

Seras doesn’t have any hint of mobness in her .

[There are things that we can’t do even when you put in our utmost effort . And most of all, nobody is perfect . For example, like that place . ]

I pointed my finger beside my mouth .

Informing her the area where meat residues were left .

[Ah . ]

Seras looked surprised .

She then proceeds to take out a white cloth from her pocket .

Subsequently though, she went closer towards me .

Hmm?

[Please excuse my discourtesy… should I wipe it off?]

Seras extends her hand out closer to my mouth .

Though, I immediately hold Seras’ arm .

[Milord?]

[I’m not talking about my face . ]

[Not Milord’s face…? Ah—]

It seems that she finally noticed .

[Umm—]

[I’ll borrow that for a sec . ]

Snatching away the cloth in her hand, I wipe away the meat residues from Seras’ mouth .

[…Excuse me . ]

I exhale out a bit .

How should I say this…

[It would be better if things don’t suddenly get strange…]

▽

I could already see the bridge in front of the large front gate .

There’s hardly any people around the area .

I walked towards the side of the bridge and stopped there together with Seras .

For the time being, we stood in a place that can’t be seen from the large front gate .

It’s so that we could avoid being seen by the guards .

Putting down my luggage for a moment, I take out my pocket watch .

We have around 4 hours until we reach the limit of time we could wait…

[It’s unexpectedly difficult to act like a stupidly honest good person who’s firm on his conviction…]

There are some easy things you could do when you’re being stupidly honest .

Most of all, Eve is…

[Do you want her to accompany us to the Demon Zone, MIlord?]

Standing next to me, Seras asks .

[She’s the strongest Blood Champion after all… I just think that it would be a great advantage for us if Eve becomes our comrade in some way . ]

That’s right…

[If we were thinking about the future…]

[Whichever it may be, I will follow your decision . ]

I look towards the Blood Colosseum .

[Even if she were to survive today, Eve Speed would still have to decide which way to escape from Monroy . ]

The problem is “when” she will escape .

Before her duel?

During her duel?

After her duel?

[At some point, Eve would know what reality really is . ]

However, we will be out of that tomorrow .

No matter whichever time it may be…

It will be troublesome for us to interfere tomorrow .

It may be possible for us to save Eve .

However, if that were to happen, it will cause a lot of fuss in the royal capital .

According to how I read her situation, Eve will not be able to leave the royal capital tomorrow .

In other words, we will need to take action in the royal capital if we want to save her .

As a result, there’s a risk that the goddess might know of my existence .

I want to avoid it for the meantime .

The whereabouts of the Witch of Taboos .

The risk of being perceived by the goddess .

These two were two sides in a balance .

And I’ve chosen to avoid the latter .

That’s why at the time that the day changes, we would leave Eve behind and depart from Monroy, aiming towards the Demon Zone just as we planned .

The time limit is until the time I designated before .

This is all the compromise I could do .

The rest would be— depending on what Eve chooses .

Seras casts her eyes downwards .

[Is there even a future where she gains her freedom as a Blood Champion and live peacefully with the young girl?]

[None . ]

I refuted .

[As far as what I have heard from the citizens, Eve’s owner, Duke Zuan is one of those sh*tty bastards . There’s no bright future waiting for them . Genuine garbage like him would always be poison towards good people . ]

I already know how toxic garbage could be .

[Genuine garbage would always make sure to thoroughly eat the good people . They would even go as far as sucking up their bone marrows… until they’re no longer useful . ]

That is the reason why my uncle broke off with his brother, my father .

Because he knew that he couldn’t abandon a pitiful child .

Seras looks disappointed .

[Is there no chance of a happy ending?]

[None . ]

I don’t have any confidence when the other person is garbage .

I don’t even have any hopeful observation in this situation .

[As long as Eve Speed stays as a stupidly honest good person, the happy ending will never appear . That’s right—]

Unless someone who spreads poison himself controls the poison that’s currently ruining Eve’s life .

▽

As time passed, the number of people who people who goes in and out of my sight decreased .

Humans are meant to sleep at night .

I saw such a story on the internet before .

[I wonder, will she come?]

[I don’t know… I don’t really have any confidence myself . ]

Eve’s personality .

Information about Eve .

The people surrounding Eve .

The circumstances surrounding Eve .

Our behaviour when we spoke with her…

[I think we already did what we could . ]

We already did our best .

After that would be which direction her eyes would turn .

Even back then, I had always been gambling .

Even back when I confronted with the Soul Eater in the Disposal Ruins…

Even when I faced Civit…

There is no absolute victory in all those cases .

There is no certainty of my victory .

That’s why, this time would also be a gamble .

Whether it would be my win or not .

Which side would the balance tilt?

[Even so—]

I snorted .

[If I don’t see any chance of success, I wouldn’t have bothered waiting here . ]

As the lights in the road began disappearing one after another, we are waiting until that time arrives .