A Heroic Tale Starting From Zero Part 2
Translator: Remonwater
Side story from tanpenshuu vol1. I changed my mind and decided to continue this story after all. Completely worth it. Rem’s lines make me so happy, my god. She’s so cute... No long monologue this time since I’ve already recently let out a lot of my feelings into an unrestrained mega monologue I’m preparing for Rem’s birthday. Classes start tomorrow again, so I’m not sure what type of pace I’ll have from now on. My schedule isn’t that busy compared to last semester, so I might be able to keep a pace similar to my current one, not sure yet though. It’ll depend on my motivation, and my motivation depends on the type of content it is. Meaning, the more Rem there is, the faster it’ll come out. She means so much to me. I love Rem so much
[Roswaal: I am the owner of this mansion, the Lugnica kingdom Margrave, Roswaal L Mathers.]
[Liliana: ………....]
He sits down at the chair up front. Liliana stiffened up without saying anything in front of the person who introduced himself.
He sympathizes with her behavior, viewing it to be understandable with his side glance.
He’s been introduced to people like the Margrave, along with nobles of high positions, without having mentally prepared for it. Out of all people it could’ve been, to make matters worse, this was a person who was so intimidating with the sense of lifelessness he had and──
[Subaru: I didn’t think we’d meet a pervert painted in white clown make-up.]
[Ram: Barusu. I will not forgive disrespecting Roswaal-sama. I’ll twist and cut your thing off.]
[Subaru: You’ve also made the same offensive of noticing Ros-chi’s current look, and what exactly are you going to cut off?]
[Ram: Hm, I wonder what…….]
The person staring at Subaru to her side was this girl who completely lost her previous politeness, Ram.
Roswaal holds back Ram from her side, and he calmly crosses his legs on the leather couch.
His blessed appearance and title were mixed with those strange habits and costume into very small pieces, throwing them down the drain.
People thought highly of him as a feudal lord even in an appearance like this, so they’d suffer in the gap between the reputation he had in the territory and the real thing they’d witness.
[Roswaal: Juuuust as expected, seeing this new person’s surprised face is the greeeatest joy. I like Subaru-kun’s kind of reaction too, but this sort of reaction really is the best. Riiiight, Subaru-kun?]
[Subaru: Can you not imply that I’m an accomplice in toying with people’s hearts while enjoying it? I only have a little bit of those types of poor characteristics.]
If he had to say something about it, he did feel an indescribable pleasant feeling whenever he got on other people’s nerves.
From an outsider’s point of view, Roswaal was much the same as Subaru. Considering how each of them thought they were better than one another, they both really were making themselves hopeless. Anyhow
[Liliana: I am extremely humbled and delighted that you’ve granted me an audience. I─I am the bard, Liliana. I am honored to meet you, Margrave-sama.]
[Roswaal: Hmmm, splendid, splendid. If you’re going to speak in this situation while shaking that much, then there’s reason in meeeting with you. I am famous for being tolerant, soooo relax.]
He was blowing his own horn, but Roswaal’s words were not lies. If Roswaal was someone that held the temper of a villainous noble of a work, then people like Subaru would be dismissed the first day.
[Emilia: I heard that a bard was coming, and then I met Liliana. This girl says that she’s looking for tons of rare stories, so I was thinking that maybe Roswaal would be able to help.]
[Roswaal: I seeee. If Emilia-sama has that much expectation in me, then I have no choice but to show what I have up my sleeeeve.]
Roswaal gives a faint smile, creaks the back of the chair, and crosses his arms. Closing his eyes to go into deep thought, after a few seconds, he looks at Liliana with one eye──with his yellow eye.
Liliana gets put in the spotlight with that questionable look as she sits next to Emilia, and she starts to shake.
[Roswaal: You don’t have to be frightened like thaaaat. I am on your side. Seeing that Emilia-sama has decided to be on your side, I’m also putting in efforts to do the same.]
[Liliana: Y─yes. Th─thth...thank you.]
[Roswaal: However, Bard. Bard, right. Geeeez, this is wonderful timing.]
Roswaal deepens his smile at Liliana as she cowered in fear.
For some reason or another, Subaru had a bad feeling while seeing his scarlet lips turn into a smile. This was because he could see nothing but Roswaal planning something from that smile of his.
[Roswaal: You said your name was Liliana, riiight? This is Emilia-sama’s request. I care about satisfying your wish. This is when I’d like to hear a little mooore details.]
[Liliana: W─when you say details, what should I talk about…….]
[Roswaal: Let’s see. ──How about the goal of your journey? Frankly tell us about the goal itself.]
In response to Roswaal’s tone lowering slightly, Liliana’s facial expression changed, who had been stiffening up until now. And then Liliana connected that change with an expression she’d never shown before.
Liliana closes her eyes just once, and when she opened them once more, she looked straight at Roswaal.
[Liliana: ──I am on a journey to seek newer “legends” in this world.]
In front of the leading domestic powerful person’s look, he saw Liliana’s unwavering determination in her eyes.
The words that she said──the sound of those words “newer legends” made Subaru’s heart tremble.
Subaru was a man. There’s no way the power those words held wouldn’t cause his chest to fire up.
[Emilia: Newer legends…….]
[Liliana: Yes, that’s right. I am looking for those, and I’m on a journey to sing them.]
Liliana had devilishness in her voice.
It was devilishness that sent feelings directly into the hearts that listened to it. Then the person who had whispered quietly, Emilia, nodded her head as if it touched her inside. She picks up the instrument that was to her side and makes a sound with it.
[Liliana: We...bards are beings who live and turn stories into songs. The songs permeate into the audience’s hearts, and they etch into the soul that hears about the certain past...about the history. The song that passes down for a long time, so long, has power. This means that the poet who made the song still has his/her remnants remaining in the world, even after death.]
Liliana continues to speak in a bright voice. Nobody could interrupt her.
[Liliana: We can’t leave something tangible behind. Our instincts won’t even let us settle down while not making things, not knowing letters. We wander the world with these feet, sing songs at the places we arrive at, and if we’re able to pass the song into someone’s heart, we search for another place and begin walking again. And if at some point we arrive at empty wilderness, our instrument decays as a pillow──that’s the type of people we are.]
There was power in her voice, words, eyes, and gestures. It was just like when she sung.
[Liliana: Since we are beings that can only leave things in people’s hearts, not being able to leave something of form, we want to create something that will continue to remain in everyone’s hearts. We want proof that we certainly lived, a proof that has our souls carved into history. That is the only honor we wish for, if we were to want something out of this.]
There wasn’t music, but the words of the girl who told her will were comparable to it, and they etched within Subaru.
Liliana had such an established view of life that it was touching. Hearing that speech, Subaru could not let out a word, and it was the same with everyone else in the room.
They probably judged that she was being obstinate and excessively self-righteous too. However, doing that would mean denying the way of life bards had, which was the same as hers.
Subaru still lacked a certain “something” in order to do that.
Therefore, Subaru was not qualified to evaluate Liliana’s determination.
[Roswaal: I seeee. ……...So that’s why you want new legeeends.]
The voice that responded to Liliana’s determination in this period of silence was Roswaal’s.
The man who had the most experience with coming across determination out of all these people nods at her readiness.
Liliana also straightened her back to show admiration for Roswaal’s nod.
[Liliana: Vivid legends──history that continues to remain in everyone’s hearts strongly for a long time. Passing down existing songs already is a prideful way of life as a bard. However…….if I could, I would like to be the first singer that sings a song that remains in everyone’s hearts. I want to sing and pass down the newest, freshest history in this world with my throat...with my tongue. ──That is my wish.]
[Roswaal: ……..Ah]
“That is why I want the newest “legends””, Liliana said.
The first page of history that nobody sings about and knows about yet, but is still etched into the world.
That’s why this girl wished to accomplish singing, despite knowing that what awaited her would be her last moment of decaying in the wilderness, as she continued along the journey.
[Roswaal: That enthusiasm is spleeendid. However, what kind of legends are you looking for? Chasing things without form is the same as grabbing onto the clouds, after aaall. You might even miss the things you desire, unless you have a definite form inside yourself.]
[Liliana: …….If possible, I want a heroic tale.]
[Roswaal: A heroic tale…….]
Roswaal asked a question. Liliana answered. Emilia admired it.
The meaning of those three’s reaction and the power of the sound of the words “heroic tale” also fascinated Subaru.
Heroic tale──those definitely were words that excited people and had the power to cause anyone to have wild enthusiasm.
Even in his original world, many of the names left in history were heroes that rendered famous, distinguished services in war. Heroic tales were things that had the power to captivate anyone’s heart in any world during any time period.
[Emilia: Then Liliana wants to know new stories of heroes?]
[Liliana: …….Well it’s not that simple coming up with new heroes in this current age. There may have been a place for development of a hero several hundred years earlier when witches were rampant and the world was full of threats…….a new hero in this world with peace, even if it’s only apparent peace, would be very…]
There was no room for a hero to be born precisely because it was a peaceful age.
An age without a hero was also an age when a hero wouldn’t be necessary. It seemed that Liliana also understood that, but she stifled her emotions in response to that helpless matter. However
[Liliana: ──interesting.]
It was a slight murmur, but it reached everyone’s eardrums.
But, Subaru had confusion on his expression since he could not understand the meaning of that murmur. Being looked at everyone, Roswaal opens his differently colored eyes widely and laughed.
[Roswaal: A bard has come here like this, seeking a not yet known heroic tale. How should I describe this flow events that is like fate, other than saying it’s amusing? Wait wait I caaan’t, this is amusing!]
[Emilia: Wait, Roswaal. What are you saying? Everyone….is bothered, including Liliana...along with myself. Don’t just have understanding by yourself, give a proper explanation.]
When Emilia drew closer to Roswaal, him looking like he was enjoying himself, he looked at that beautiful face and says
[Roswaal: Easy to do, Emilia-sama. I will fulfill Miss Liliana’s wiiiish.]
[Emilia: Eh!? Then does Roswaal have an idea of a new heroic tale?]
[Roswaal: Of course I do. ──Also, it’s related to Emilia-sama toooo.]
[Emilia: I’m related to it…….?]
Roswaal gives a profound smile at Emilia, who had a look of being completely clueless. Subaru suddenly understood Roswaal’s intent, as he looked at that expression, being across from Emilia.
──If his prediction was correct, then that sure was a new “legend”.
[Liliana: You know a new hero? If so, then please let me hear about it……!]
[Roswaal: Ah, I wiiiiiilll noooot.]
[Liliana: Moohin!]
Roswaal mercilessly knocks down Liliana, who was in high spirits after hearing that the goal of her journey would come true. Emilia takes place of Liliana, her letting out a shriek like a squashed frog, and she glares at Roswaal.
[Emilia: Roswaalll]
[Roswaal: Don’t make such a frightening look. It ruins your beautiful face. Aaalso, nothing about this is me being maliciooous. Do I seem like that kind of a bad guy to you?]
[Emilia: I’m doubting if it’d actually be weird for you and Subaru to do things like that.]
[Subaru: That’s an impassioned harmful rumor!]
In response to Subaru, him getting hit by a stray bullet, Emilia says “Ah, is it not like that?” as a follow up in a panic. In front of that follow up, Liliana looks up at Roswaal once again, still being crushed, and says
[Liliana: Th─then…...what can I do...to have you tell me about it?]
[Roswaal: This new “legend”.......it’s not something we can rashly talk about eitheeer. Thuuus, we must make sure that you are a person we can truuust.]
[Liliana: Wh─what do I have to do? Y─you can’t have my hands, but if it’s just my toes, then I can offer them as an oath!]
[Subaru: Calm down. Also, take more care of your own body, young woman.]
Subaru calms down Liliana, who started to talk about which muscles would be acceptable and unacceptable to give, and he sighed.
It sure was difficult to make a differentiation between the title flow bard and someone who had no fixed address and no occupation. It was comparable to the suspiciousness of Subaru’s lineage, as he was someone who was summoned into a different world and didn’t have a family register.
Anyhow, Roswaal had a sound argument. If Roswaal’s plan was exactly what Subaru was thinking of, then they couldn’t rashly get Liliana involved.
Liliana drops her shoulders. It was too ironic how being a flow bard was forbidding the reason to act as a flow bard.
[Roswaal: So, thaaaat is why we first need time for ascertainment. Let’s see what we could do. How about we allow you to stay at the mansion for a few daaays. If we’re able to see you as a trustable person during that time, then I’ll reveal what I know about heroic tales.]
[Liliana: ──!]
Perhaps this was her reaching the light at the end of the tunnel.
Surely that would be how you’d describe Liliana’s current mental state. That is what Subaru thought while looking at Liliana, who had hope within her eyes despite being pushed into the tunnel by Roswaal.
[Liliana: O─okay! I’m also a woman! If you’ll compromise that much, what kind of bard would I be if I wasn’t on board with it! Come at me with what you got! Come at me!]
Seeing this girl being this easily manipulated in the palm of his hand by a carrot and stick made him vaguely think about if she had talent as a dancer.
6
[Liliana: …...Oops. Did I perhaps just get manipulated? Is it just my imagination?]
[Subaru: It’s more something you brought upon yourself, rather than your imagination.]
Subaru points out Liliana’s simple mindedness while they walked the distance to get to the Alam village together. When he did, she makes a look indicative of being very hurt and says
[Liliana: H─how cruel of you to say that. This isn’t the behavior you should have towards a dejected girl that has just noticed that she got fooled and manipulated…...don’t you think? Don’t you think so!?]
[Rem: Wrong, ma’am. Subaru-kun is always lovely.]
[Liliana: I have no way to express my anger towards that blind reply.]
The person who turned down Liliana, her half crying, was Rem, who was accompanying the two of them. While looking at Liliana as she shook and fought alone, Subaru let out a sigh, as if thinking that it would be boring for a while.
Liliana successfully got caught in Roswaal’s tricks, and it was decided that she’d be observed in the mansion.
They were now on their way towards the Alam village to get the luggage she left behind. Subaru and Rem appeared to be her helpers, but they actually had the role of supervising Liliana to make sure she wouldn’t escape.
In actuality, Subaru was warned by Roswaal to not let Liliana out of his sight, and Rem was this unreliable person’s backup. Neither Subaru nor Liliana was trusted.
That being said, in truth, it was actually just Subaru reading too much into it, and Rem respecting her intentions.
[Subaru: But, Ros-chi is boorish…....we don’t know what he’s aiming for either, after all.]
[Liliana: But can Mr. Maid imagine what the Master’s idea is?]
[Subaru: Roughly. However, I won’t speak about it for the same reasons Ros-chi has. He and I have the same opinion, although it irritates me.]
[Liliana: Mugyuuffu]
Even though Subaru spoke out, it was a failure, and Liliana let out scream that sounded similar to one of a peculiar animal. There were points where he should’ve felt sympathy for this girl’s circumstances, who had her journey’s goal in front of her and still couldn’t see the full picture very well.
[Subaru: In reality, etching your name into history isn’t a simple task. If we look into history from now for things like heroes and all that, we can’t learn about them intuitively.]
[Liliana: I agree. It’s very difficult. I couldn’t be any happier if I found a hero whose name hasn’t even shown up in the world yet and put their traces into a song…….although it would be a different matter if we had a method to look into the future.]
[Subaru: A...a─a─a...as if a method like that exists, stupid!]
[Liliana: Why are you overreacting that much?]
In some sense, it would be correct to call “Return by Death” something that was similar to being able to foresee the future.
The conversation becomes blurry because of his own peculiarity, and Liliana turned towards Subaru with a doubtful look, him being disturbed. However, Rem interrupts Subaru and Liliana’s moment. Rem claps her hands with a smile and says
[Rem: Ma’am, I have good news for you. The truth is that I know a new legend.]
[Liliana: Ehh!? R─really……!?]
Liliana comes across unexpected good news, and her look becomes weird as she had both surprise and joy. Considering how Rem had been friendly until now, there was credibility in her line of saying that she had an idea.
However, on the other hand, the person who stayed silent and didn’t overlook it was Subaru. If Rem’s idea was Roswaal’s secret details, then it was still too early to tell Liliana about it.
Subaru’s worries were put aside, and Rem pointed to the side with a face full of confidence.
[Rem: It’s Subaru-kun.]
[Liliana/Subaru: ──Ehh?]
[Rem: It’s the newest legend. And it’s a hero whose name will rise up, Subaru-kun.]
Subaru and Liliana’s dumbfounded voices overlap, and Rem supports Subaru to pile onto that.
Subaru forgets to ask “Eh, a joke?” as a response to the excessively confident recommendation.
[Rem: It’s Subaru-kun.]
It was hard to say if Rem was being serious or if she was trying to deceive them, as she presses for an answer. But at the very least, it seemed like a conclusion appeared inside of Liliana. She compares Subaru and Rem’s face and says
[Liliana: I’ve got it. Please listen. ──A new legend: Skillful Playboy]
[Subaru: Shut up!]
Subaru scolds Liliana, her not even acting like she believed in him, and he lets out a deep sigh.
The feudal lord’s attendant male servant that sensed the disaster that would happen in the village before anything happened, the person who risked his life to stop the mabeasts from causing damage, the person that protected the citizens’ safety and trust──who would believe in that guy? Such blasphemy.
[Rem: I was serious…...too bad you won’t believe me.]
Rem feels discouraged, hanging her head, and she really did look disappointed, so Subaru started to feel sorry.
Subaru was confident that he wasn’t great enough as a man to be rewarded with that much pure trust.
The “Return by Death” ability was Subaru’s unique last bit of hope in this different world──however even when he had that power, there were many times when Subaru couldn’t save the swirl of tragedies at the village and the mansion.
If it was someone else, that person would do a better job. That type of evaluation of himself was rooted within him.
[Subaru: No matter how I die, the pain is the same. …….Even if I could save & reload more easily, Heaven wouldn’t punish me.]
It was an ability with many restrictions that had “death” as an absolute trigger for activation.
He couldn’t welcome it with both hands either because it wasn’t something he wished for.
He actually wanted to complain about the existence of this paranormal power he had been given, more than he wanted to show his thanks for it.
That was when the mood suddenly changed.
[Rem: ──Subaru-kun]
Rem calls out to Subaru with a low, cautious voice, and after she reached out, the course of the situation was interrupted.
The sound of the seriousness in Rem’s voice caused Subaru to immediately come back to reality after he had been in deep thought. And then, he clearly saw why Rem stopped him.
[Subaru: …...Who are these people.]
Before Subaru’s eyes, who whispered, there were figures of four people that blocked the road to the village.
They were clearly suspicious people──they were completely covered in white clothing. Their faces, the length of their hands and legs, and their builds were concealed, completely burying their lineage in white.
They had white hoods, white masks, and white costumes. They were entirely white, from head to toe.
[Subaru: To think I’d see the day when I’d come across perverts other than Roswaal like this…….]
Subaru tells a joke and scans his surroundings.
The eccentric clothing catches his eyes. He couldn’t commence an independent surprise attack for now. If that was the case, then it was unlikely that the mere itinerant entertainer would do so either, considering how she stayed silent and stood in his way.
[Subaru: If you don’t know the road, trace your footsteps. The globally common term for ground with no maintained grass is “road”. By the way, the feudal lord’s mansion is behind me, and a small village is at the front, but………]
[──]
[Subaru: Ah, I guess you guys aren’t lost children that want to hear about the road after all.]
Subaru acts provocative. The edge of their knives flicker at the end of the white clothed people’s sleeves.
They put their specialized weapons for specific times into their hands and the white clothed people sliding towards him cause Subaru to gulp.
The four people swing up their knives towards Subaru and the others without even a warning and──
[Rem: I don’t know who you people are, but I judge that you all have hostile intentions.]
The faces of the white clothed people that were at the front receive a violent punch from Rem’s fist, pushing them upward.
Her rough fist hitting their bodies makes a sound, and the men sent flying into the opposite direction land on the ground with their heads, tumbling down. Their limbs are made limp, and they saw that the masks on their upwards facing heads were becoming red.
Subaru sees that ridiculously gruesome state and says “Wow, that looks painful”, honestly letting out his impression that he had.
[???: ──Eh]
After he took a look, the white clothed people that were silent until now let out their voices in dumbfoundment. They look at their comrades that were sent flying, and they quickly started to feel the human kindness in the figure that stood upright.
Although, that would have no effect at all on the event that would happen from this point on.
[Rem: I lost my weapon the other day at the forest, so until I get a replacement, I’ll fight you empty-handed. Got a problem with that?]
“Lost property in the forest” was a cute way of saying it, but the thing she lost was her morning star, which was a brutal thing that had thorns on it. Rem’s white slender hands that liked to use those as her specialized weapon were also beautiful but dangerous weapons that sent those men flying just a moment ago.
Rem put up her hands, and the white clothed people immediately conspire with each other in response to the girl who showed those dangerous weapons.
[???: Retreat!]
The men slip away to retreat just like when they were nearing them, and they carried their unconscious comrades, quickly withdrawing from the area. Rem kept an eye on the men that came into the side forest and tried to run, but once she saw that not a trace of them was left, she lost the strength in her shoulders.
[Rem: I was a little anxious. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to protect Subaru-kun empty-handedly when we come across people like that, after all.]
[Subaru: You say that you were anxious, but that was a serious, good straight right.]
[Rem: Subaru-kun, you’re making me blush with how you’re praising me that much.]
Subaru nods at Rem, who put her hands on her blushed cheeks, and he looks at the forest that the white clothed people ran from, although they didn’t look like mere thieves.
[Subaru: What do you think that was about? Maybe it was disturbance related to Emilia or something.]
[Rem: That’s a possibility, but Roswaal-sama is also someone that doesn’t have many enemies. If he restrains himself that much, then I don’t think he’d get frequent enemies, but it’s a possibility.]
[Subaru: Seriously? I’m a little worried about my workplace's safety. ──Also]
While getting cold feet from Rem’s response, Subaru finally glares at the side. He saw a girl that kept her silence until now, and she had just stealthily turned her back.
Subaru grabs her shoulder from the back, and while putting on the friendliest smile he was capable of he says
[Subaru: Whaaatcha doin, trying to run off? Hmm, Liliana-chaaan?]
[Liliana: Eek! Sorry. I apologize. I’m sorry, so please don’t make that angry look.]
[Subaru: I don’t look angry! It’s a smile of a smile that’s trying to loosen its tension. Take a good look!]
[Liliana: Eek!!]
Liliana continued to be frighted by Subaru’s full throttle smile. That reaction astonishes Subaru, but Rem takes over Liliana for him as she patted her back like she was comforting a puppy.
[Rem: Don’t worry, Subaru-kun isn’t scary. It’s just that his eyes are a little more lovely than others’.]
[Liliana: Th─that’s a personal opinion, but I’m fine. I’ve calmed down, yes.]
[Subaru: I have some subtle feelings about that…...but whatever. Anyways, why did you try to run? I think this would be unlikely, but are you perhaps…..]
“An accomplice of those white clothed people, and a comrade that’s trying to disturb Emilia’s royal selection”──was she someone that got close to Subaru and the others with that goal? The moment he tried to ask that, Liliana prostrated herself.
[Liliana: I’m sowwy! But but, I am not a bad person! It’s just that those people have always been trying to get me. I tried and tried not to think “Man, I want to do something about this. Oh yeah, how about I get the mansion people to help me”.]
Subaru listens to Liliana explain herself, as she prostrated herself, and it made him goggle in astonishment, and seeing that franticness made him erase the possibility of her being a threatful spy.
[Subaru: You’re telling me that when you said assassins were trying to get you while you were dozing off at the mansion, that actually was true!?]
Subaru could do nothing but be troubled and groan in response to feeling another problem popping up.
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