Book 9: Chapter 15: Double-crossed Yasushi
The discussion with my master went well.
It was the first time I learned that One-Flash had a long-held mission, but I was honestly happy to be told that I was the successor to my master.
It seems that in addition to that giant octopus, there are many other similarly troublesome individuals in this world.
A corrupt lord, one must brush off any fire sparks that may fall on him.
I have made up my mind to slay every single person who threatens my safety, but the problem is that I have enemies that not even my master has been able to match.
He is stronger than me. So there must be someone stronger than that giant octopus I defeated.
I had no idea that there was such a secret in the swordsmanship I learned by chance.
Hats off to my guide for his support.
It seems as if I have been burdened with an unnecessary fate, but it doesn't matter because if I had known, I would have asked him to let me learn it from him.
"The wishes of One-Flash are fine. But the problem is--"
Marie, standing next to me, is concerned about my health, perhaps thinking I look uncomfortable.
"Liam-sama, wouldn't it be better for you to receive treatment first?"
"No problem. More than that--let me through."
I was in the reception room to respond to the person who requested to see me.
When the door opens, there is Rosetta standing there with red around her eyes.
She came to my side with tears in her eyes, perhaps relieved to see me.
She seemed to be holding back from hugging me.
"Darling, you made me worried! I heard you were hurt. Are you okay? We'll get you medical attention right away!"
Rosetta, who keeps winding me up, seems to be worried about me.
Of all people, it was Rosetta's SS that saved me - I'll be honest and thank you for saving me, guide.
Yet--yet! I'm still not sure I like the idea of calling this one.
"I am grateful for your help this time, Thank you, Rosetta."
"I'm glad we were able to save you, Darling."
I had left Rosetta's SS out of it, but I didn't think it had grown to 20,000 ships.
They were of adequate skill and quality, but they were stronger than the enemy fleet, which was a papier-mch tiger.
Rosetta's presence as a reinforcement would have certainly helped to ensure the victory.
--But I didn't want to owe Rosetta anything.
"I will pay you back."
I muttered in frustration, and Rosetta wiped her tears with her fingers.
"It's enough that my darling is safe, besides, I've had a lot of help from my darling, so I'm happy to be able to help in any way I can."
Rosetta's happy face seems to speak her mind.
But my heart is not convinced.
How could I possibly owe Rosetta more than anything else?
I hold my head in my heart.
Yasushi was walking unsteadily around the ship.
"It's over. My life is over."
Yasushi had slipped out of the medical office and was running away from his beloved disciples, Rinho and Fuka, who were chasing after him.
I hate to imagine what my life will be like from now on.
After all, he is living under house arrest on Liam's main planet.
Liam and his two disciples are sure to barge in on him at every turn.
Life was about to begin for the unwary.
If it were just me, I could have escaped.
His wife Nina would not let Yasushi escape.
Yasushi shuddered as he recalled the horror of being cut by Nina with a kitchen knife while trying to escape once.
Also, his son, Yasuyuki, is adorable.
He is a good boy who looks up to his pathetic self as a father.
Such a son is being held hostage by Liam.
"Damn it, my life is in shambles because of him."
Even if they were able to escape from Liam's main planet, what awaits them is a life on the run from the braggarts who want to make a name for themselves.
In addition, the imperial nobility, the High Kingdoms, and even other countries are looking for Yasushi as a false image of the Sword God to take him under their wing.
It is a hard life whether he stays with Liam or runs away.
But I didn't want to end up like this.
"I want to at least give the son of a bitch a beating, I need to harass him in some way that doesn't make him mad at me!"
Yasushi is a man of small stature, but he is also small-minded.
Yasushi swears to Liam a small revenge, but something seems to have crossed his vision.
"Hm? Is there a dog in there?"
The dog appeared to have entered a narrow passageway.
When he peeked down that passageway, he saw a girl at the far end.
The girl in the maid's uniform was writhing with her head in her hands.
Only - there was no dog in sight.
"If this keeps up, everything will go Liam's way!"
Yasushi looked at the girl.
(I thought there were only guys on this battleship who respected Liam a lot--but I guess there are others.)
Yasushi finds Ciel - a girl who has a dislike for Liam - and calls out to her as he approaches.
Stroking his stubbly bearded chin, he shows himself to be a fine swordsman in atmosphere only.
"You seem to be in some kind of trouble."
Ciel, who turns her head to look at him when she is approached, shudders at the sight of Yasushi.
"Sword God! --Yasushi-sama."
Seeing Yasushi, who professed that even he, Liam, was out of his league, Ciel's face paled as if he remembered his previous mutterings.
Yasushi is convinced in his heart that he has found an ally.
(You thought you heard me say bad things about Liam. With you like that, I could get back at Liam in so many ways.)
"Don't be so frightened. Actually - I want to talk to you about Liam. Actually, Liam has been giving me a lot of trouble as well.
Ciel looks doubtful at Yasushi's words.
"You are the master of swordsmanship that Liam admires so much, aren't you?"
"Liam is causing me a lot of trouble because of this fame. So I thought I would give him a little payback."
Ciel, though half-convinced, probably thought that Yasushi had no merit in lying about such a thing.
He also thought it would be reassuring if she could get Yasushi to join her and talk about Liam.
"He's not the great lord he's made out to be, he is an evil man at heart! He treated the people like fools and decided to raise taxes based on his own mood. When he said the people would suffer, he said they should suffer!"
"Ho, ho, ho."
(Huh? Is that a bad way to get back at them? You have to be careful not to use too much salt to get back at them.)
That doesn't stop a man named Yasushi from getting even.
Ciel tells Yasushi the truth.
"Everyone is being deceived. Rosetta-sama, his fiance, is the same way. She's a good person, but Liam is deceiving her. Liam's not married and he's playing around with Rosetta, even though she's there."
Once I'm done with my training, we'll get married immediately! But Liam's selfishness has caused it to be postponed indefinitely.
Rosetta forgave him for that.
From Ciel's point of view, Rosetta seems to be very devoted to Liam.
"I can't forgive Liam! My brother and father were deceived by him..."
Seeing Ciel's frustration, Yasushi felt his gut churn.
Then he came up with an idea to get back at her.
"I understand. I will help you here."
Ciel smiles like she has millions of allies.
"Ho, really?"
Yasushi put his hand on Ciel's shoulder.
"I will take care of it."
Yasushi rode into the parlor with Ciel.
There they found Liam, Marie, Rosetta, and their female knights escorting them.
When Yasushi suddenly entered the room, the escorts gave off a murderous look for a moment.
Yasushi breaks out in a cold sweat, but his expression is unconcerned.
"Don't you dare attempt to kill my master, or I'll kill you."
"I am sorry, sir."
The female knights who were trying to kill Yasushi also suppressed their killing intent when Liam told them to do so.
They also hurriedly apologize when they realize they are dealing with Yasushi.
Rosetta looks at Yasushi, lifts her skirt and greets him in curtsey. She lowers her left leg, a gesture of bending over.
"I have been hearing from my fiance. I am Rosetta. I am betrothed to Liam-sama."
Rosetta, who had stopped calling him darling, was paying her respects to Yasushi.
Seeing her, Yasushi thinks.
(Blonde hair drill lady, huh? Not my taste.)
From the perspective of Yasushi, who likes dark-haired, intelligent, beautiful women, Rosetta was certainly a beautiful woman, but not to his taste.
Liam looks uncomfortable.
"What is it, Master? If it's urgent, I can come to you."
Liam asks what he can do for me, and looks like he wants to get out of here.
Yasushi is certainly a small man, but he is more than capable of seeing through people's weaknesses.
(I knew it! This guy's not very good with fiances!)
Yasushi, who had heard from Ciel that Liam had decided to get engaged to Rosetta for the duke's title, thought there was no love there.
I also infer from Ciel's story that Liam is running away from his marriage.
Ciel's eyes lit up when she saw Liam's dismay.
Liam was surprised for a moment to see Ciel behind Yasushi, and immediately gave her a bitter look.
"Why are Master and Ciel together?"
When Liam gives him a dubious look, Yasushi thinks this is the right time to attack and gets back at him.
"I heard you, Liam-dono! I hear you have a fiance and you are running away without marrying her!"
"What!?"
Liam was not alone.
Everyone present was absolutely stunned by Yasushi's straightforward question.
Marie, for example, would have cut him down if it had not been Yasushi who said this. After all, she looked very complicated.
Then they came to stop Yasushi.
"This is a very sensitive issue for the family. I don't mean to imply that you are an outsider, but please refrain from touching it if at all possible."
I'm being underhanded, but the people around me are also saying, "Don't touch that subject!" The look on their faces says, "I'm sorry, but I can't help it."
For better or worse, Liam holds power all by himself.
Therefore, he is a man who is allowed to be selfish.
That's why there were few people who could complain about him running around without a wedding.
If Amagi or Brian ran around making petty complaints, the others would not even listen to them.
Then Yasushi came in with his feet in the dirt.
Liam's gaze wandered and Rosetta looked troubled.
Apparently, Liam was in trouble because he was asked by his beloved Master Yasushi.
(I can do it!)
Yasushi concluded from Liam's reaction that he would not be offended by mentioning the subject.
So, a small payback for Yasushi.
It didn't matter if it was a big problem for the Banfield family.
"I'm not impressed that you're running away from your wonderful fiance. You have completed your training as an aristocrat, and there is nothing wrong with that, is there? What is it you don't like?"
Yasushi is saying the obvious, but inwardly he is not.
(I'm married and in the graveyard of my life, and you're not allowed to live a free and unrestrained life as a bachelor! You get married too! No, wait! If he starts a family and has kids, he'll be around me less often, right? You can harass them and have a practical benefit--it's the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone!)
Yasushi turned around and gave Ciel a thumbs-up.
Seeing this, the people around him guessed.
--Ciel had told Yasushi about the situation and enticed him into it.
Except for Rosetta, all of Liam and the others' stern gazes were on Ciel.
Ciel looked at Yasushi and shook her head.
"No, no! It isn't! It seemed to mean, I am a good person," but Yasushi interprets it conveniently.
They are strangers after all. They are not husband and wife, and they cannot communicate.
(Not enough? You mean you want me to go further? Then!)
Yasushi stared at Liam, and when he turned his gaze on him, he decided to block his escape route.
"Liam-dono!"
"Yes, sir!"
"How pathetic for the heir to the One-Flash! Now go back to your territories and perform the wedding ceremony! As a master, you are shameless!"
"No, no, but this is the--"
"No questions asked! Declare right here and now that you will return to your domain and marry!"
Liam was so pressured by Yasushi that he drooped.
"I'll certainly do that."
"Lord Liam!?"
Marie was surprised, but she was a woman of ability despite her personality.
They had been recording Liam's statements for some time and had secured the evidence.
He then approaches Rosetta.
"Lady Rosetta, we will return to the main planet immediately to prepare for the ceremony!"
"Yes, yes. --Uh-huh?"
Rosetta, too, seems bewildered, perhaps unable to keep up with this turn of events.
When Yasushi turned to Ciel, she was shaking her head furiously.
(Not enough? No, what's more -- ha!?)
Yasushi realized.
(Let's hope Liam can embarrass himself some more.)
Yasushi thinks of his next prank.
Vol. 9: Epilogue
"Liam-dono--don't you like Rosetta-dono?"
"No, that's not true."
It was just me and my master in the room.
The master wanted to speak with me privately, so he had the others leave.
And what was asked was how I felt about Rosetta.
"Then why aren't you married?"
"I mean, that was my preference, but now I'd say it's different--I think she cares for me, and I think she's a kind woman, but I can't make up my mind."
The master nodded with his arms crossed in agreement.
"It will certainly feel a little heavy, but that's a good thing, too. Liam-dono will come to realize how good it is when he gets married."
I felt like I wasn't on the same page, but I couldn't say to my mentor, "I liked the way Rosetta endured the harassment, but now that she's obedient, it's not quite the same."
I ponder.
Do I really want to marry Rosetta?
When I think about it, there are only a few female faces that come to mind other than Rosetta.
There are many beautiful women in the mansion, but among those who come to mind, including Amagi, Ellen, Rinho, Fuuka, and even Serena's face comes to mind.
He intended to play with women, but he was shocked to find himself thinking of an old woman's face because he had so little to do with her.
I even thought of Kurt's face because I was thinking of women and there were so few of them.
You're a man. It's a different category, so go away.
I thought of Tia and Marie's faces, but they are in a different category.
Nias and Elysia are in the unfortunate category.
Chino? Ciel? They are in the pretty frame, so they are not considered women.
But in Rosetta's case, a smile comes to mind.
"Master--can all this go on and I still marry Rosetta?"
The master smiles at my statement, as if I were in a marriage blues.
"Everyone has insecurities."
"My reasons for marrying are impure. Still, is that okay with you?"
I couldn't talk about my impure motives for wanting to marry Rosetta, whom I didn't like, but the master seemed to have guessed.
"Were you aiming for a knighthood? Nobles are all kinds of things. I wonder if Liam doesn't like Rosetta?"
I don't dislike her. No, I think she's better than the other women.
I've just been holding off on them because I'm afraid that one day I might be betrayed.
"I'm afraid to face it."
"Then it is extra important to face it. Where did you go, Liam-dono, who is willing to take on even the strongest enemies? You're too deep in love."
I never thought I would be asking my master for advice on love.
My face is hot with embarrassment.
The master speaks up.
"You should make a passionate confession. You should marry not for the sake of the other person, but for your own sake. Shut up and follow me! This would be perfect."
"What? A confession?"
"Let your feelings be known, Liam-dono!"
After the master told me, I called Rosetta into my bedroom.
I'm pacing so and so, waiting for Rosetta.
"Oh, calm down, me. I'm the most vicious lord in the empire. I'm the most vicious lord in the empire, and I'm not in a hurry for one woman. Just confess like a villainous lord. --What's an evil-lord confession?"
What is a typical confession of an evil lord? The junior staff, who were well versed in manga and anime, did not tell me.
It was Amagi watching me scampering around.
"Please calm down."
"Oh, I'm calm! All I want to do is walk."
"I see. Well, I will take my leave now."
Amagi tries to leave the room before Rosetta arrives.
"Oh, hey, you don't have to leave!"
"It is a confession to your fiance, my presence would be a distraction, wouldn't it?"
"I don't need a woman who treats you like an obstacle."
Amagi gives a complicated look at my words.
She seems pleased, disappointed, and dismayed.
"Master.*" (Danna-sama*, Ill follow the previous translations of what Amagi calls Liam.)
"What?"
"Do you dislike Rosetta?"
"I don't hate her. I like her more than other humans."
Amagi leaves the room, and a short time later Rosetta enters the room in the same way.
"Oh, um, darling?"
Rosetta, looking restless, stands at the door and looks at me.
A hundred years had already passed since I was betrayed in my previous life.
I begin to feel ashamed of myself for being bound to my ex-wife forever.
"When I return, I'm going to marry you. I want the title of Claudia, your family."
"Yes, I know. Yes, that's what Darling's master said. So I agree! Besides--"
Rosetta smiled a little sadly when she was told that I wanted a title.
The decision to get married was also because of the words of my mentor.
For her part, Rosetta was happy and healthy, even though she couldn't help but feel caught up there.
"--The position of duke is only appropriate for you, darling. It would make me and Mother happy."
"You are right. And I will take your titles away from you."
Rosetta is looking down as if she can't say anything.
It is a political marriage typical of aristocrats, and she is probably saddened to know that there is no love there.
Then, when the silence continues, Rosetta's voice is squeezed out.
"I don't care. Even if you are only interested in the title, I am with my darling--"
Interrupting Rosetta, I look at the space projected on the wall monitor and raise my voice.
"I'm greedy! I want to have it all!"
"Darling?"
"I'll have it all. I'll have Claudia's title! And you! --Don't think you can get away with it. You'll always be mine."
Her voice was hoarse at the end, but Rosetta held her mouth shut and her voice became tearful.
"I won't run away! I will never run away. I will always be by your side."
I turn around and walk up to Rosetta, who is crying.
Ah, I'm sure I confessed to you in good standing as a vicious lord.
--maybe.
Yasushi parted from Liam with a refreshing smile on his face.
He was walking around feeling tipsy, as if he had had a drink somewhere.
"Hmmm, that was fun."
When I found out that Liam was in fact a shy guy, I played the role of a senior and even gave him pointers on love.
I was in the mood and said a lot of things, but it was all in the heat of the moment.
I also got a free drink, and I thought I was perfect as a cheapo.
While Yasushi was walking down the hallway in a good mood, Ciel came running.
"Ciel! You saw how I got back at him--kahaha!"
Ciel jumped on Yasushi, grabbed him by the chest and shook him.
No, it's not! Why did you go the extra mile! If we went back and they got married, we'd have a normal conversation! Why, of all things, did you make them decide to get married!"
"What? Why? That was just the right amount of harassment!"
What may have been harassment to Yasushi is a blessing in disguise for the Banfield family--and for Liam.
"Even Rosetta-sama is somewhat absent-minded when she comes back from Liam's room! What are we going to do if we end up talking like this!"
"What did you expect from me? What did you expect from me? It was me!
"You could have done so much more, like rehabilitate Liam!"
Yasushi retorts to Ciel's recklessness.
"I can't do such a thing!"
Yasushi is struggling and will continue to struggle because he can't do it.
Ciel is teary-eyed.
"You were giving off a can-do vibe! You traitor!"
The location changed, a planet where Chester was a deputy.
There, a small octopus was crawling on the ground.
"Don't fuck with me, this me!!"
Gudwar, small and speaking in a cute child's voice, was wandering around in search of negative emotions.
He is searching around for negative emotions to regain his lost power.
"The God of Gold--if it weren't for that sword that he used, I wouldn't be in such a pathetic state. This is all his fault."
Footsteps approach the crawling Gudwar.
It was the guide with a glass of wine and a glass in his hand.
The liquid in the wine bottle is the negative emotions of those who died in the battle on this planet and in the universe just now.
Concentrated resentment, bitterness, and hatred are in liquid form.
Gudwar stretches his legs.
"Give me that! Because of you, I'm--GUGYAA!"
The guide poured wine into the glass and stomped on Gudwar.
The liquid inside shook black smoke like steam.
The guide who drank it looked down at Gudwar.
"I've scraped together all this trouble, and there's no way I'm going to give it to you, is there? Gudwar, you have further strengthened Liam. --you worthless piece of shit!"
When the guide drank the liquid, he threw down the glass, put his mouth on the bottle and drank it straight down.
Then he tosses the bottle away as well - grabs up the gouge d'oeuvre and opens his mouth wide.
"What are you doing?"
The guide threw the panicked Gudwar straight into his mouth - chewed it up and swallowed it.
"Hmmm...bloody hell. But now my strength is returning, isn't it?"
Black smoke appeared and flickered from the guide's body.
He had regained his strength after eating Gudwar.
"Liam! This time I will not make a mistake. I will take you by the hand--"
Behind such a guide was a dog - a dog that was waiting behind him.
As he stared at him, holding back a growl, the dog turned back in surprise.
The space cracked open, and a huge light giant wearing a warrior's mask peeked through the crack at the guide.
The guide, who was smiling broadly, turned around in disquiet.
"Ha-ha-ha! What the--?"
When the guide noticed the light giant forcibly prying open the rift, he grabbed something in his right hand.
He is about to hand it to the guide.
Seeing this, the guide breaks out in a cold sweat.
"Oh, oh, my, that's--heeeeey!"
The guide, who runs away regardless of his own actions, runs away into space as if he were running up a staircase in the empty air.
However, he is caught by the outstretched left hand of the light giant.
The left hand of the Giant of Light was deadly poison for the guide.
Furthermore, he feels as if he were being gripped by a hot iron hand.
"Gyaaaah!!! It burns!"
Even though this alone was painful, the Light Giant was trying to force Liam's gratitude - the ball of light he held in his right hand - against him.
Across space - the light giant began to deliver his gratitude.
He was trying to deliver his gratitude a little more forcefully than usual.
Whatever happened, there seems to be some mixed feelings about the guide there.
But gratitude makes no difference.
It was the gratitude of Liam - who hated the guide.
"Wait, wait, wait. Wait!!!! That's no good!
The guide, who intuitively knew that he would be mortally wounded if he received this, discarded the torso and detached the hat part.
The torso receives the thanks and disappears, emitting an exclamation.
"IGYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The guide's torso is charred black and disappears without leaving a single ashes in gratitude as it is.
The hat, the main body, is detached and escapes into space, spewing fire like a rocket.
"If only the main body survived!"
But the Light Giants were watching the guides through the rift.
"Hiiiiii! They noticed us!"
The light giant disappeared as the guide flew away.
The dog turned its head, whirled around, and sat down once to look up at the guide.
He was shouting something as he headed off into space.
"I'll never give up on you, ah! Liam, don't think this is over...!"
Then the guide's figure became a dot, glinting and invisible.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om