CH100: [Side Oliver] Retrospective
“… Uh… Is this…?
I found myself looking at an unfamiliar ceiling.
I know I’m lying in bed.
But why?
“Good morning, Mr. Oliver. Are you feeling any discomfort?
I hear Luna’s voice beside me.
I’m going to sit up and check your physical condition, but you don’t feel any discomfort at all.
By then I understood why I was sleeping here.
“I feel no physical discomfort… I guess I’ve lost.
I’ve never lost to Orn before in my life ・・・・・・・.
I’ve never lost to him and I never doubted that I would.
But now that I had lost, I had a feeling of resignation, almost like giving up, like “It can’t be helped that I lost ・・・・・・・・・・.
I can’t explain why I have these feelings.
But there’s also something refreshing about it.
“… How long have I been asleep?”
Two hours, sir. The awards ceremony is already over. Marquis Forgas asked me to return to the villa as soon as I woke up. I’m sorry to wake you so early, but we’d better get moving.”
A call from the Marquis de Forgas.
No doubt he’s just nitpicking because he didn’t win.
I don’t feel like it at all, but I can’t not go.
Okay. I’ll be right back.
***
I was thinking about the future as I walked along the deserted road from the arena back to our house.
The heroes’ party is in bad shape these days.
There have been glimpses of this before, but it seems to have already reached a level where it is difficult to repair.
The biggest reason for this is probably the addition of Philly.
Not only Anneli, but lately even Derrick’s been approving of everything Philly’s doing.
Therefore, she is now practically deciding the policy of the party.
But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, and there’s nothing wrong with her being the party leader.
I feel confident that I can trust her…
Then what’s wrong? It’s a conflict with Luna.
Luna seems to have had some sort of change of heart and recently she’s been actively intervening in the party’s policies.
It’s not a denial of everything, like he did right after Orn left the band, but it shows that he really cares about the party.
And whenever Luna and Philly clash, Anneli and Derrick always respect Philly’s opinion, so Philly’s opinion is adopted by a majority vote.
I’m willing to respect Luna’s opinion, but the three of them won’t allow it.
The mood of the party turns sour with each disagreement.
And for the past few days, Luna’s been looking decidedly down.
I don’t know why, but I’d like to follow up.
(Maybe it’s time for this party to go…)
I’ve been thinking about this for a while.
I think we should break up this party.
I myself don’t want to continue as an explorer with the current members, and more than anything else, my defeat this time will give the people the impression that the Golden Dawn Rabbit is lower than the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky.
I have to be the best to protect what’s important to me.
Otherwise, you’ll lose what’s important to you.
… What is it? What’s so important to me?
My friends?
No, I don’t think you’re afraid of losing it, since you’re thinking about breaking it up right now.
So, family?
My parents died ten years ago when the village was destroyed by wild thieves.
I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t have anyone I wanna start a family with.
So family won’t be as important to me now.
So what’s your claim to fame?
No. That’s not why I’m still an explorer.
What is it that I want to protect even if I have to become stronger?
Mr. Oliver? Can I help you?
Luna’s voice brings me back to myself.
Apparently, I was stopped in my tracks.
“… No, it’s nothing. Let’s just go home.
The more I think about it, the more I get stuck.
I’ve cut off my best friend who promised to conquer the Grand Labyrinth with me and I’m trying to conquer the Grand Labyrinth myself.
But looking back, there was nothing I wanted to protect.
The goal of becoming strong in order to protect what you want to protect has somehow turned into the goal of becoming strong itself.
Ha-ha-ha. Why are you just now realizing…
***
When he came back to the villa he went to the drawing room first.
There, sure enough, was the Marquis de Forgas sitting in his expensive chair with a glass of wine in his hand.
Philly’s sitting in a chair across from her. It looks like she’s been here all this time.
And then there’s Anneli and Derrick, both standing behind Philly like samurai.
It’s strange to see two people who are so self-centered, for better or worse, doing so, but if that’s all there is to it, it seems a hundred percent possible.
They’re so into Philly these days that it seems that way.
But the two of them were standing there with their unfocused eyes, it was such a funny sight that I thought they might be puppets.
It’s not hard to imagine that something’s wrong with you two, but the Marquis de Forgas is our priority right now.
I’m back.
The Marquis of Forgath caught sight of me and his expression showed an anger he couldn’t hide.
“How dare you disgrace my face not once, but twice! How will you pay for this?
The Marquis de Forgas is usually a man of leisure, but there’s no sign of him now.
“… I wasn’t letting my guard down. Orn was stronger than me. That’s all.”
I’m still surprised at what I said.
I thought I would be so disappointed if I lost to Orn, but now my mind is just at peace.
“I was on my guard”? You’re not this good! Ten years ago, you put up a good fight against the Beleaguered Suns! And yet…”
“Marquis Forgas, you talk too much.”
In the space of yelling voices, a voice interrupts with a sense of pressure that makes you say whether or not you want to be there.
Was that Philly?
The Marquis of Forgath was supposed to have been angry and his voice was getting rougher, but Philly’s words made the Marquis of Forgath shut up.
Oh, my God. Philly talk like this?
One word from Philly and the whole atmosphere changed.
It’s like Philly’s the top of this place.
But Marquis Forgas, in his anger, seems to be annoyed.
“Shut up, you little bitch! You don’t know who I am! I’m the Marquis who rules this land!
“Would you please stop barking? You don’t have to make so much noise, I can hear you just fine. I didn’t mean to interrupt you in any way, but you can’t just mention the name of that man ・・・・. You’ve said that before, haven’t you? Or are you one of those bird-headed people who forget things after a few steps?”
“Bird… I’ve never been so verbally abused in my life. Don’t think you can get away with this.”
“Oh, you’re just a greenhouse-bred brat to get so upset over something like this. You’re the one who should know better.
Philly’s not one step ahead of the Marquis of Forgath… if only in terms of atmosphere.
But this is a bad idea. We’re dealing with a marquess… A high lord. You’ll be punished for disrespect…
“Oh, come on, Philly, just calm down…”
“The fox with the tiger’s prestige…! Without the authority of Beria Sans, I can do nothing… What?
As soon as the Marquis de Forgas mentions the name “Beria Sans” again, which Philly had told him not to mention, Philly releases an intense deadly force.
I got chills all over my body when I touched it.
(I’ve never felt anything like this. Who the hell is Philly?)
Luna’s standing next to me, gulping at the sight of Philly’s deadly energy.
But even here Anneli and Derrick don’t even flinch.
What’s going on?
I can’t catch up with the sudden development.
“He’s still a bird. If he’s this inept, it’s not going to help our plans. Let’s get rid of him here.
Philly gets up, muttering something disturbing.
You’re going to kill me?
The Marquis of Forgath is in a state of confusion as Philly stands up to him and is disrespected by him, combined with Philly’s murderous intent.
“Yes, I know. It’s the quickest way to get the job done, but luckily you’re a very powerful man. And if I take you out now, that’s gonna be a problem. So I won’t kill you… Physically ・・・・・, right?”
“Hi…! Don’t be stupid! I won’t let it end like this…! If you’re going to do this…!
Marquis Forgas makes something golden appear.
Is that a magic stone?
I’ve never seen a golden magic stone before.
What are you gonna do with that?
“… What? What the hell is that? Don’t do that!
The first time Philly saw the magic stone, she became impatient.
Is it worth it?
“Oliver! You have to get this magic stone in your eyes!”
The Marquis of Forgath thrusts a magic stone in front of me as he says so.
“Oliver Cardiff! Close your eyes now! Don’t look at them!
Philly says don’t look.
But I can’t take my eyes off this magic stone.
My heart starts palpitating as I look at the magic stone.
“Uh-uh…”
I finally can’t stand up anymore and I crouch down on the spot.
“Mr. Oliver! What’s wrong? Are you okay?
Luna’s voice seems so far away when she’s supposed to be calling out to me nearby.
(What the hell is this? I’m so hot.)
“I’m… My head…”
Then I felt a pain so intense I thought my head was going to split open.
At the same time, memories ・・・・・・ that I don’t know flow in.
“Aaaaah!”
I knew in my gut that somehow I had been ・・・・・・ faking it, even though I didn’t know that memory at all.
And you can feel the power flowing out of your body.
I was in the middle of a turmoil and I couldn’t control the power that was overflowing in me.
And I…
I gave up my consciousness with the determination to destroy the Guild.
