Chapter Fifty-four: After the Toast 2
In the past, she could only tell Natalia about it. But somehow, she felt she could tell Julius. Though she hadn’t expected him to accept it.
Sure enough, Julius’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“I have the Ehlertt family backing me, so I can punish Marian who has the powerful Gubert Trading Company behind her… not because Marian is evil, but because I’m the stronger one. But don’t you think that’s strange?”
“Is it strange?”
To put it extremely, in this world the weak who serve no purpose could be crushed even if innocent, while the strong were forgiven no matter what they do.
That was obviously wrong.
Because I thought it was wrong, I just wanted an apology and for her to stay away from me forever… But I should have realized sooner that letting Marian go without consequences meant abandoning the other victims of the Gubert Trading Company.”
Even if Karen didn’t wield the axe of the strong, the Gubert Trading Company wouldn’t cease to swing theirs. Marian only regretted provoking someone powerful and tried to curry favor with the strong—she never acknowledged her crimes or showed true remorse.
Karen had overlooked the fact that Gubert Trading Company would treat the weak just as they had treated Karen in the past.
“If you’re talking about the victims’ association, you need not concern yourself with such matters.”
“The strong have no obligation to protect the weak, right?”
“That’s right, Karen.”
“But I think the strong should protect the weak.”
“…You’re not simply arguing that those with military strength should shield those who defend the country in other ways, are you?”
Karen was saying that even those with no power deserve protection.
“You cannot force such ideals on others, Karen. Especially not on the strong.”
“But the Ehlertt family is trying to help the weak victims.”
“We’re just using victim relief as an excuse to pressure the Gubert Trading Company.”
“Well, I had a feeling that was the case.”
There was a slight disconnect in Karen’s conversation with Sara as well. Karen’s values and ethical views were hers alone—it was difficult for even her friends in this world to understand them.
“Then I guess I have to fight.”
Even if that meant following the very rules of this world that Karen believed needed to change, nothing would change unless she fought first. In that case, Karen herself had to change first.
“If you’re talking about abandoning your naivety, I welcome it—whatever the reason may be.”
“At any rate, I’m glad the Ehlertt family is protecting the victims. If I had realized it later, the guilt would have been overwhelming.”
“…What reason could you possibly have to feel guilty about the victims of the Gubert Trading Company? What are you even saying?”
Seeing the disbelief written all over Julius’s face, Karen gave a wry smile.
“This is just how I see things, please don’t worry about it.”
“…So you think this world’s values are wrong and your way of thinking is correct? That’s terribly arrogant.”
“I figured you’d think that.”
As Karen internally sighed, knowing she wouldn’t be understood, Julius said:
“If you want to maintain that arrogance, you need to climb higher.”
Karen caught her breath and looked up at Julius.
Even Natalia would listen to Karen’s thoughts, but she had never helped to think about concrete ways to achieve such goals.
“The words of those who have drawn close to the goddess are treated as equal to the goddess’s own words.”
“That means I need to climb the hierarchy, right?”
Those who defeat monsters and expand their magical capacity were said to have climbed the hierarchy.
At the top of that hierarchy, far above, was said to be the goddess.
Karen frowned. Having to fight monsters would be quite difficult.
“Raising your magical capacity isn’t the only way to climb the hierarchy. For alchemists, it’s said that those who touched the goddess’s mysteries climbed the hierarchy as well.”
“The goddess’s mysteries…”
As Karen muttered this, Julius brought his lips close to her ear.
“For example, your panacea.”
Looking down at Karen, who had startled and pulled back, Julius said:
“That must be one of the highest mysteries the goddess keeps hidden.”
“…Then maybe I’m already unexpectedly high up.”
“You must prove that to others and make them acknowledge it.”
Julius answered seriously to Karen’s embarrassed, joking tone. So Karen also stopped joking. She swallowed hard and answered earnestly:
“…Then I’ll aim to become an S-rank alchemist.”
It was paradoxical that to change a world ruled by the strong, one must become strong—but that was the necessary step to start.
Julius gave a wry smile at Karen, who spoke with an embarrassed and tense expression as if even saying it aloud was shameful.
“You’re more frightening than I thought, Karen.”
“Frightening?”
Julius had called Karen’s way of thinking arrogant.
She thought that was natural, and it made sense to be feared.
“Your thinking is unique. It’s frightening because I don’t know what dangerous situations you might get into if I’m not watching, and it’s frightening how you make me believe you’ll really become an S-rank alchemist despite having D-rank magical power.”
“…Eh?”
“So, please let me stay by your side to protect you.”
Julius knelt down, set down the sachet bottle he was holding, and took Karen’s hand. Still holding her hand as she stared with wide eyes, Julius looked up at her and said:
“If you aim to become an S-rank alchemist, I shall be the sword that cuts away the thorns blocking your path.”
Saying this, Julius kissed Karen’s hand.
Karen gaped down at him.
There was no one here watching them.
There was no need for any performance.
Karen’s heart began to beat with a different rhythm than before.
It was different from when Julius brought his too-beautiful face close, or when he performed a marriage proposal, or when he suggested kissing her as a gift.
From her kissed fingers, she felt an intoxicating heat of excitement coursing through her body like blood.
If she wasn’t careful, tears might spill out.
“It’s late, you should go inside, Karen.”
“…Yes.”
Julius stood up and spoke after checking the moon’s height in the sky.
Karen nodded.
“Good night, Karen.”
“Good night, Master Julius.”
Back inside, Karen slipped into bed where Sara was sleeping. When she closed her eyes, golden stars continued to twinkle endlessly behind her eyelids.
*chuckles*
ReplyDeleteHer brain began to melt