Unlucky
All he could say was, she was unlucky. Mira＝Estheim was, all in all, unlucky. The fact that on the very day King Raizer started advancing his troops, she was coincidentally shopping in the Capital of Veybar. The fact that over there, she encountered her mother, and she was hugged by her with all her strength. The fact that she was called to the house of her family, who was still living in that village. None other than the fact that, Mira herself, really loved her family.
The fact that right in the middle of enjoying dinner as a family, the crooked soldiers, they started ravaging the village. The fact that in the middle of everybody becoming desperate to protect their own lives, a child who’s running away in tears entered her eyes. The fact that she had a personality that’s unable to leave that alone.
She was unlucky.
Asch, he concluded her death, as such.
＊
Back in the Capital of Veybar, a building in the back alley away from the shopping district. Along with the young boy, Asch opens the door and enters.
Parin.
The bartender, who held a glass, expressed his astonishment by slipping his hands and breaking it.
“Hey, Rick”
As always, the Dark Magician bows gentlemanly and sits on the counter.
“Wha, what’s with that kid?”
“……treat him to a cup of warm milk”
The young boy has already stopped crying, and he plops down onto the corner seat. He’s in a dazed state, and one can’t read any emotions from his expression at all.
“More importantly, Rick. Your information was perfect. Both the timing of the advancement of King Raizer’s troops as well as the route. A job well done as expected. From now on, I will be expecting the same of you as well”
“……”
‘In this world, one can be so unhappy to receive a compliment huh’, the competent informant sighs.
“Now then, it’s about time……”
When Asch looks at the time of the table clock and mutters,
“I am already here”
Schwinn, the weapons merchant, appears beside Rick.
“……uu”
The bartender who’s horribly shaken, by the man who appears without any indication. According to what’s inside his heart, ‘it ain’t 『I am already here』’.
“Well……I had known though”
The Dark Magician, who casually lies and shows off, finishes the cocktail.
“The preparation is more or less completed. The rest is, up to your discretion”
Schwinn kneels to the Dark Magician.
“Hmm……well done. If the matter this time around succeeds, I’ll have to thank you variously”
“No. It is something that greatly benefits us as well after all”
“It is something that also simultaneously has a risk. Well, go ahead and take it. No harm in receiving too many rewards, right?”
“……”
An instant of hesitation.
A dilemma of whether or not he should get further involved with this Dark Magician, struck Schwinn. That is, not his guts as a weapons merchant, but his instinct as a human. His primordial hunch, had vividly sensed that the very incarnation of ominousness before his eyes, will bring about nothing but destruction.
“Kukuu……I’m buying, that side of you. But, you know, it’s better for you to be more honest”
The Dark Magician stands up, tilts his head, and opens his eyes widely.
As though, he sees through everything.
“You can’t forgive it, right?”
“……my feelings are of no concern”
He only swore to keep his brethren alive. He lives not for revenge, he lives not for the past. He has his eyes on the future.
But.
“Kukuku……your parents, your brothers, your friends. Can you forgive those who robbed you of all that? Nothing comes out of revenge? They’re just sugarcoated words”
“……”
“In that case, let’s kill them. Let’s test if those who preached that loudly and stole everything can say the same thing. Even after their family, their brothers, their friends, and the person they love are killed. If they can say the same things to you people, even if they got taken revenge on. I have yet, to see a person like that”
“……”
“Schwinn. I understand you well. That’s why, walk with me. I can surely provide, the conclusion you wish for from the bottom of your heart”
“……yes”
The youngster nodded, at the Dark Magician’s invitation.
“Thanks……now then, shall we go”
Asch finished drinking the cocktail in one go and stood up.
“O, oi! What about this kid?”
“I’ll leave him in your care, for a bit. Well, you can do as you like if I didn’t return”
“‘Do, do as I like’, you say. You have a butler, right? You can just let her take care of it, can’t you?”
“…… I’m counting on you”
The Dark Magician said, stood up, and left the bar.
