重生萝莉岛

Chapter 116: Rejection

From the perspective of the Verdi Household, the guardians of the northern borders, it would seem like we were allowing the borders to be opened or closed at a whim.

Findenai suddenly lowered her voice as she seemed to have read my mind.

“I’ll go secretly, without letting the Head of Household Bastard or Deia find out.”

“I find it amusing that you think I would permit you to do so.”

When I crossed my arms and responded to her conservatively, Findenai awkwardly scratched the back of her head.

“Well, I won’t go if you tell me not to, Master Bastard. However, it seems like something troublesome might be taking place on that end.”

“…Explain.”

The fact that Findenai brought up returning to the Republic, a place she really detested, already hinted at something serious happening.

For a moment, doubt and unease rushed through my mind.

However, Findenai unexpectedly asked me back instead.

“Huh? Are you interested in my affairs?”

“…”

I stayed silent, choosing not to respond, leading Findenai to rub her neck before replying.

” Besides our Scrapyard Nomads, there are many other resistance groups in the Clark Republic. The largest among them is a group called ‘Dog Trader.\'”

Dog Trader?

As my eyebrows slightly twitched, Findenai chuckled and added.

“Their leader looks like a Doberman. As soon as you look at him, you can immediately see the resemblance, you know?”

“So, are you going to meet with them?”

Since I could already guess the gist of the story without needing further explanation, I prodded, causing Findenai to nod.

“Word has it that the Dog Trader has been gathering the scattered resistance groups recently. I don’t know what they’re planning, but I need to go and confirm it myself.”

“….”

“I’m not scheming anything. Anyway, it won’t even take that long if I go.”

Upon hearing that, I hesitated for a moment. Even in the game, stories about the Clark Republic were mentioned vaguely, like some sort of Neapolitan Story¹An East Asian way of expressing horror/mystery story..

However, even after witnessing the ending of the game, I had never come across any narratives about the leader and system of the Clark Republic being overturned.

I felt quite uneasy, but from Findenai’s expression, I got a vague unpleasant feeling that if I did not allow her to go, it would leave a lingering discomfort.

“One week.”

“Huh?”

” I will return to the academy exactly one week from now. Come back before then.”

“That’s quite a tight schedule.”

“I will not let you go if that is impossible for you.”

“I didn’t say it’s impossible.”

Findenai smirked as she removed the white frilly headdress she was wearing on her head.

“After all, you have part of my soul, don’t you?”

“So, you remember?”

“Of course.”

When I first made a contract to take Findenai as my maid, I also made a contract to obtain a part of her soul.

Considering her recent actions, I had expected her to have forgotten about it, but she surprisingly remembered.

At that time, my abilities as a Necromancer were lacking, so I needed Findenai’s consent to proceed with the contract.

Looking back now, it seemed quite sloppy—Both my technique and way of handling mana were amateurish.

“Since I only have a week, I’ll depart right away.”

After saying so, Findenai immediately turned around. Although she acted like it was nothing when talking to me, her demeanor seemed quite tense as she walked away.

At that moment, she was no longer Findenai, the maid, but the head of the resistance group— the leader of the Scrapyard Nomads.

The wolf that crossed the northern mountain range had returned.

As I observed her silently, I hesitated for a moment before adding something else.

“When you go.”

“Hm?”

Findenai turned her head around slightly. While she waited for me to continue speaking, I blurted out something without realizing it.

“Do not smoke too much. The cigarettes of the Republic are too strong; it will be difficult to travel around if the smell becomes noticeable.”

Hearing my words, Findenai’s blood-red eyes widened for a moment before she chuckled.

“Should I bring back souvenirs? Aphrodisiacs and perforated condoms are the specialities there. It seems like you would like those, Master Bastard.”

What a dirty joke.

But that was the end of our conversation.

Even though Findenai had only departed for a short while, I unintentionally found myself waiting for her.

After unleashing the wolf, I returned to the mansion.

Since I didn’t have anything to do in particular, I planned to rest for a while, but strangely, Findenai’s expression lingered in my mind.

Even though I knew that she hadn’t disclosed everything to me, I decided that it would be better for me not to delve deeper into it.

However, it strangely bothered me.

From the game’s storyline, I knew that the Clark Republic wouldn’t align with any changes even in the next five years. So, I hoped the resistance wouldn’t make any unnecessary moves.

But she is not someone who would die here anyway.

If we were sticking to the game’s original storyline, this would currently be Aria’s first-year summer vacation. In the game, this period marked the gradual shedding of the beginner tag.

Since Findenai didn’t even appear in the story at this point, she surely wouldn’t lose her life during this period.

At that moment, I saw members of the Scrapyard Nomads chopping wood in the mansion’s garden. Since it was summer and firewood wasn’t really required, it seemed more like they wanted to show off their strength.

“Heave-ho!”

“Y-Young Master!”

“You’ve come!”

The guy, who was wielding the axe while flexing his muscles to show off, glanced at me before sheepishly lowering his head like the other members.

Their chief, Findenai, was currently crossing the border. Would it be okay for them to remain here like this?

“I heard there has been some strange activity in the Clark Republic recently.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I also heard that the chiefs of the resistance groups have gathered for a meeting.”

“It’s because the extermination units have been making a fuss.”

The Scrapyard Nomads crossed the border to stay here because the extermination units of the Clark Republic were actively trying to eliminate the resistance groups.

“But I don’t think the Chief will be attending the gathering this time.”

“That’s right, she was never really interested in the other resistances.”

“Come to think of it, where did she go?”

Hearing the questions asked by the Scrapyard Nomads’ members, I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded for a moment. I thought that Findenai would have obviously told them before leaving. Did she leave without saying anything to her subordinates?

“… She is running some errands for me.”

“Hehe, please handle our Chief with care.”

“She might not look like it, but she’s actually still a virgin.”

“But she’s really good at chopping off men’s genitals with her axe!”

Observing these members boast about something strange, I could only remain silent.

The more I saw how important Findenai was to them and how they treated her like family, the more I realized that I shouldn’t disclose Findenai’s independent actions any further.

It is fine.

Since she said she’d be back in a week, she would surely manage well on her own.

I could only hope that the Mountain Lord would watch over the road she would pass through.

“Ah.”

As I entered the mansion, I happened to lock eyes with Deia. She was grimacing, probably still feeling the effects of yesterday’s drinking session.

She glanced at me, then abruptly turned around and hurried off in another direction.

“Damn, damn, damn. I must be crazy. How could I… towards a bastard like him…!”

Deia muttered to herself as she walked away. I wondered if I should follow her in this kind of situation and ask her questions as an older brother, but I decided against it.

I knew it was best not to disturb Deia when she was in such a bad mood from experience.

After seeing Deia off, I headed to my room. I intended to go there and read a book or something to help sort out my complicated feelings.

Just then, the Dark Spiritualist, who was waiting for me in the hallway…

[You’re finally back! There’s an uninvited guest in your room right now!]

“…Uninvited guest?”

[It’s Aria Rias. You remember that girl said she brought a gift or something, right?]

Yes, now that I thought about it, the energy around Aria seemed off last night. She wasn’t like an ordinary girl; she seemed to carry the aura of death with her.

It was like she had an aura that was similar to the Dark Mages of Dante.

[I would’ve probably liked the gift a lot… But it does not seem like the kind of gift you’d be thrilled about.]

“…Hm.”

Since I had a vague idea of what the gift might be, I took a deep breath and cautiously placed my hand on the doorknob.

[Still, you should handle this situation gently. Got it? That girl seems intent on making a good impression on you.]

“That is precisely the problem.”

As I abruptly pushed the door open and entered, Aria Rias stood there with a tense expression.

She had a blunt greatsword lying on the floor, and the screams of evil spirits overflowed from inside.

“The Sword of Predation, Duathane.”

Aria exclaimed in surprise and clapped her hands the moment I recognized the sword and uttered its name.

“That’s right! As expected from Professor! You’re amazing!”

It was indeed quite a valuable item.

It was not a unique item like the Necromancy Stone or the Holy Grail, but even at its lowest tier, it had an overpowered performance.

To be able to acquire such good equipment, I couldn’t help but think that she wasn’t a regressor for no reason. However…

“What did you feed it?”

Even though I knew it was a weapon that changed its nature depending on what it consumed, I couldn’t help but ask.

Aria replied with a bright smile.

“Souls! It’s not just any souls; it’s an item that has devoured the souls of two Dark Mages from Dante!”

[T-that’s truly impressive.]

Since the Dark Spiritualist had once fought against Dina, a Dark Mage from Dante, I could deeply understand the weight of her words.

Of course, there were some constraints as they had to protect the yokai as well, but Dina still faced both Findenai and the Dark Spiritualist at the same time.

It was truly an achievement to have executed two such powerful Dark Mages who were comparable to that woman.

A sinister mouth formed on Duathane, letting out a shriek, and every time it did, the aura of the Dark Mages wafted strongly.

“Since it might be a bit challenging to use this sword, you can simply extract the souls from it and use them! Then, you can become much stronger, Professor!”

“….”

“You’ve already become incredibly strong even though I only gave you the Necromancy Stone. So, I was really surprised, you know? Professor, you’re truly the best. In the previous round, you just had bad luck, and I hadn’t helped you develop your talent extensively enough…!”

“Aria.”

I couldn’t help but feel my emotions turn cold before I realized it as I gazed at the girl who looked like she would continue praising me like a fanatic if I let her.

Feeling like a sharp knife had been thrust into a corner of my heart,I lowered my gaze.

She was the same girl I had directly controlled in the game as a character.

To be honest, [Retry] was the only game I could play at that time, so I was fully invested in it.

Journeying through this world together and experiencing all the different endings, she had been the character I was deeply invested in.

A girl who had devoted herself to everyone and shouted out trivial yet beautiful emotions like friendship and love with her comrades…

“P-Professor?”

Was now calling out to me, her face flushed with excitement as she held her breath.

The fear that I might never see her innocent, bright smile again rose within me.

Out of impulse, I placed my hand on Aria’s shoulder.

“Never again.”

“….Huh?”

“Never again take someone’s life for my sake.”

“….”

The anticipation of receiving praise from me that filled Aria’s eyes vanished in an instant.

With a voice that was as cold as the cold wave of Norseweden, yet hidden beneath a deep and dense darkness.

“I can’t promise you that, Professor.”

Aria refused my request.

/genesisforsaken