Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~

Previous - ToCOuroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~Chapter 088 : And the Journey Continued

――In front of her eyes, the world was burning.

Everything, absolutely everything, was trampled, crushed, and thrown into the fire like firewood.

The old and the young, men and women, all engulfed in a hell without discrimination or distinction.

Amidst it all, one man laughed.

“Kuku… fufufu… ahahahahahaha!”

The sight of grotesque rubble and mountains of corpses. A joyful laughter incongruous with that scene.

No, he was laughing gleefully at the bottom of hell. If that's what a devil is, then perhaps there couldn't be a more fitting description.

The devilish man outstretched his hands towards the scene in front of his eyes. As if embracing something he dearly loved. Or perhaps, as if seizing his prey without letting it escape.

"Aah, finally! At last, the time for my wish to come true has arrived!"

“Aa, youyaku da! Yatto, yatto boku no negai ga kanau toki ga kita!”

A voice filled with ecstasy and a hue of joy.

How ghastly the sound resonated. It sent shivers down the spine and even induced nausea.

Behold, countless corpses had been sacrificed. Listen, the roaring flames and the dying screams were rising from their midst. Who could bear to listen to the voice of a monster writhing in joy amidst such a scene of devastation?

"There's nothing to be afraid of anymore! From this moment on, I shall become an eternal being――!"

“Mou, osoroshii mono nante nani mo nai! Ima, kono toki kara, boku wa eien no sonzai to naru――!”

So he proclaimed, shedding tears of joy.

His hair, perhaps reflecting the calamity of infernos, was colored red bronze, his gleaming eyes resembled those of a serpent――

~~~

"――lla. Hey, Irmaella!"

“――rra. Oi, Irumaerra!”

The voice that reached her ears and the strong sensation of hands shaking her shoulders jolted Irmaella wide awake.

Instinctively, she looked around with tension in her gaze.

The visible scenery was that of a forest with darkened hues of trees, and a narrow path winding through them. It was the landscape of the land beyond the Great Mountains at the border, St. Gallen――No, it was the scenery of Elpis-Roanne, the domains just before it.

"H-huh? Was that… a dream?"

“A, are? Ima no wa… yume?”

"…Even for a carriage journey, that's oversleeping, you know."

“…Ikura basha no tabi dakara tte neboke sugi da zo.”

It was Yuuto, sitting with her in the carriage, who spoke in a cold tone. Elisha, who had been idle in her seat in front of Irmaella, also chimed in with a wry smile.

"Don't say that, boy. After all, we've just finished crossing the mountains. Considering how depleted she was in Volden, it can't be helped if the accumulated fatigue is catching up."

“Sou iu na shounen. Nani shiro, yamagoe o oeta bakari da. Vorudan demo soutou ni hihei shiteita koto mo aru shi, tamatteita tsukare ga dete kite mo shikata arumai.”

"Crossing… the mountains…"

“Yama, goe…”

Right, she remembered. Irmaella and the Omnia delegation had crossed the mountains and were on their way to St. Gallen.

Just three days ago, they had saved the pioneer village in the mountains that was attacked by those orcs, and with the help of additional supplies donated by the Oubeniel family, they had managed to traverse the difficult terrain. The carriage adorned with a crest on it, which were once dismantled to be loaded onto wagons to travel on the mountain roads, had been restored and was now running along the highway. Finally, they were back on track with their planned itinerary.

"It seems you've been quite restless. Were you having a bad dream?"

“Zuibun to unasareteita you dearu ga, nani zo yume-mi demo warukatta no ka?”

TL Note: 魘される (Unasareru) can also mean to cry out in one’s sleep.

"Y-Yes. Even though we are finally near our destination, I am feeling a bad omen."

“E, ee. Youyaku mokuteki-chi no temae da to iu no ni saisaki ga warui ki mo shimasu ga.”

She shook her head lightly.

What was that dream just now? Was it just a nightmare caused by travel fatigue and the disturbing situation they encountered when they fought the orc?

Or perhaps…

(Could it be… a new revelation…?)

(Masaka, arata na takusen…?)

What Irmaella recalled was a form of vision into the future that was said to be rare even among priests that were blessed with tremendous divine power. It manifested in dreams, providing visions of potential threats to humanity in the near future. The very reason that led to Yuuto's summoning into this world was also the revelation that once visited her dreams.

She lowered her gaze, reminiscing the contents of the dream she just had.

――A hellish scene where people were dying and cities were crumbling.

――In the midst of world collapse, a sinister man roared in laughter.

――His hair was red, his eyes devoid of warmth, resembling those of a serpent.

(…Marquis Oubeniel?)

(…Ōbuniru-kou?)

The features of a man resembling the figure in her dream came to mind.

Tullius Shernan Oubeniel. A young nobleman with hair reminiscent of copper or dried blood, bearing a serpent motif as his family crest. He was the one who established a regime in his domain that condoned the harsh treatment of slaves. Upon reflection, he was a man with an eerie presence, fitting the destroyer depicted in her nightmare. Could he truly be the one to bring a threat comparable to that of the Demon King to this world?

(No, that is… overthinking it, surely.)

(Ie, sonna koto wa… kangae sugi desu, kitto.)

She shook her head lightly, denying the notion.

Surely, there was no way she would receive revelations of this magnitude so many times within such a short span of time. While Marquis Oubeniel was indeed an unpleasant person, it was likely that his negative impression had simply seeped into her dreams. Rather, she should reflect on her own inability to let go of such biases—this was the conclusion drawn from the common sense that Irmaella had been cultivated.

"What are you brooding over by yourself? You're giving me the creeps…"

“Nani o hitori de hyakumensou shiteiru nda ka. Kimochi warui yatsu da na…”

TL Note: Well, 百面相 (Hyakumensou) means making different faces, like when someone was thinking about various things and their expression is changing continuously according to what they were thinking. It's hard to include it in Yuuto’s line and my brain couldn’t come up with the right words so I’ll just note it here. But if any of you have suggestions just tell me.

"Ugh… M-my apologies."

“U… su, sumimasen.”

Hearing Yuuto's venomous remark from the seat next to her, Irmaella blushed crimson. She realized that she had been showing herself lost in thought and felt ashamed.

But at the same time, she couldn't help but think:

(Did Yuuto-sama just speak to me by his own accord?)

(Ima, Yuuto-sama no hou kara hanashi kakete kudasaimashita yo ne?)

Since the incident with Phantony and overhearing the conversation with her father, Yuuto hadn't even directed a single harsh word towards her. Yet now, he was speaking to her and expressing his thoughts. Is it alright to consider this as a small step forward…?

'Listen, Irma. A boy his age won't understand anything unless you spell it out, you know? Only well-made adults can understand our troubles and concede. He's still young, and he's not even a protagonist of a story. Rather than having high expectations for a youngster, we should take action from our side.'

‘Naa, Iruma. Ano kurai no shounen wa kotoba ni seneba nani mo sasshite wa kurenu zo? Kochira no nayami o rikai shite jouho shite kureru no wa, otona――sore mo yoku dekita otona dake da. Kare wa wakai shi, monogatari no shujinkou demo nai. Waka-mono aite ni taka-nozomi o suru yori, kocchi no soba kara koudou seneba.’

She recalled Elisha's words in the cave. Yuuto had shown a gesture of reconciliation that would have been considered as high expectations in normal situations. So, if she would follow that advice, wouldn't it be her turn now to respond to that?

Swallowing hard, she suppressed the fluttering of her heart with one hand. After gathering her courage for exactly one minute, she finally spoke up.

"U-um, Yuuto-sama!?"

“A , ano! Yuuto-sama?”

"W-What?"

“Na, nan da yo?”

He seemed to tense up at her unexpectedly loud voice, but there was no rejection. Instead, he turned towards her and inclined his ear, showing a willingness to listen.

Irmaella felt her chest tighten at the faint sense of relief, but she tried to shake it off and continued.

"…I-I'm sorry!"

“…Go, gomennasai!”

"Huh?"

“Ha?”

"U-um… We, I mean, I have really dragged you into my own selfish circumstances, and I am truly sorry!"

“E, etto… Watashi-tachi, ie, watashi no katte na jijou ni makikonde shimatte, hontou ni moushiwake arimasen deshita!”

She spoke in one breath, then bowed deeply.

Summoning him as a hero despite his lack of connection to battle. Even if she wanted to take responsibility for it, there was no way to return him to his original world until he defeated the Demon King or prevented their resurrection. And then, she inadvertently hurt his heart, leaving him stranded in a world with no refuge. It was an apology for all of that.

She didn't expect forgiveness. She still didn't even have a way to make amends. She didn't even want forgiveness. Irmaella just wanted Yuuto to know, for now, that there was someone beside him who wanted to at least partially fill the scars and void in his heart. Perhaps he would find it disappointing that that person was the cause of all this mess. But even so, she didn't want to continue to inflict loneliness and suffering on him while she searched for the right answer to repay him.

Apologizing was not for her own sake, but for the sake of the person hurt by her wrongdoing. The young girl had finally realized that.

As for whether he accepted her apology,

"I understand."

“Wakatta yo.”

"…Eh?"

“…E?”

"I said I understand."

“Dakara, wakatta tte.”

He repeated, then turned away as if sulking.

He wasn't forgiving her. But he wasn't rejecting or pushing her away either. He simply accepted her words and responded that way.

Nothing was resolved, but their relationship had taken a step forward. The girl felt her heart leap at the tangible feeling of that progress.

"Th-thank you very much, Yuuto-sama!"

“A, arigatou gozaimasu Yuuto-sama!”

"Don't get too excited. It's not really something to be extremely happy about, is it?."

“Hashagu na yo. Betsu ni sonna oo-yorokobi suru you na koto demo nai daro.”

"U-um, well, maybe you are right, but for me it is not like that――"

“E, etto. Sore wa sou desu kedo, watashi ni totte wa sou janakute――”

"…Ah~ It's still spring but it feels strangely hot~ Do you mind if I open the carriage's window?"

“…Aa~ Mada haru da to iu no ni myou ni atsui na~ Basha no mado o akete mo kamawan ka?”

Elisha's somewhat teasingly deadpan voice interjected. Hearing it, Yuuto became flustered and retorted.

"Wait, no! Elisha-san, it's not like that――"

“Chotto, chigaimasu tte. Erisha-san, kore wa sonna nja――”

"Huh? Not like that? Um, d-did I not apologize enough!?"

“? Chigau? Etto, sha, shazai ga tarinakatta no desu ka!?”

"――No, that's not what I mean… Ughhh, you're such a troublesome woman, you know that!"

“――Iya, sou iu wake demo… aaa mou! Mendokusai onna da na, omae!”

Yuuto seemed flustered for some reason. The fact that he was irritated was unchanged, but now he was expressing his emotions more openly than before. Irmaella wondered if it was her favoritism that made her think that way.

The carriage continued its journey over the mountains. Despite the difficulties, they were overcoming them and moving forward, little by little. If the future ahead was going to be like that too… No, she hoped it would be like that. The girl, holding hope in her heart, soon found herself forgetting something she had glimpsed in her dreams.

――And she would regret it not that far in the future.

~~~

A small town that could be called the entrance to Elpis Province. There, the group parted ways with the delegation. Originally, Tullius and the others' purpose was to inspect the new territory. Unlike them, who were hurrying on their journey to St. Gallen, their aim was to carefully explore this area.

That was the official pretext.

"Good grief. We're finally managed to get away from those troublesome people."

“Yare yare. Youyaku mendou na no to hanarerareta ne.”

Tullius said as he settled heavily into a chair. This was the mansion of the magistrate who ruled the town, their first stop upon arriving in Elpis. It had facilities that were inferior not only to his residence in Marlan but even to the mansion in Volden City. However, it was tolerable enough for a temporary stay. He occupied one of the rooms. Having taken various precautions such as soundproofing and blocking remote viewing, he had only just begun to feel at ease. Uni, who stood by his side as usual, served the tea she had prepared before he knew it.

"I understand your troubles."

“Go-shinrou, o-sasshi itashimasu.”

"Exactly. No matter how much consideration we put in, it's never enough for a foreign envoy, especially one of high religious standing. It's more than just mentally draining."

“Mattaku da yo. Gaikoku no shisetsu de sono ue shuukyou no o-erai-san nante, ikura ki o yatte mo tari ya shinai. Kizukare suru nante mono janai ne.”

He muttered as he sipped his tea. He originally preferred coffee over tea, but given that coffee beans were not cultivated on this continent, if one wanted caffeine without paying a hefty sum to the Canales merchants, tea was the only option.

A black cat approached him, nuzzling at his feet as if seeking affection.

"Meow."

“Nyaa.”

With a single meow, the cat leaped onto his lap. He inadvertently softened his gaze and gently stroked it with one hand.

"Hey there, good kitty… But, Omnia is still as sluggish as ever, or rather, out of place, one might say. Sending a delegation to St. Gallen just now, huh. They should have come and stopped it last year, if you ask me."

“Ou, yoshi yoshi… shikashi Omunia mo aikawarazu koshi ga omoi to iu ka zureteiru to iu ka. Ima sara ni natte Zankutogaren ni shisetsu, ne. Douse dattara kyonen no uchi ni tomete kurereba yokatta darou ni.”

"Then Your Excellency would have been spared the burden of Elpis-Roanne?"

“Sou sureba kakka mo, Erupisu-Roānu nado to iu nimotsu o showazu ni sunda, to?”

Laubert, the domestic affairs officer accompanying them, remarked. He was eager to identify the problems in the new territory, also for Victor's part, as Victor was still preparing for the unpredictable domestic situations that allowed no room for complacency. Even so, Laubert didn't have a favorable impression of those who imposed additional expenses under the guise of guest receptions and donations. It was only natural that his wry smile was tinged with a hint of annoyance.

"Well, yeah. But it's true that stopping the civil war in St. Gallen isn't a bad deal for us either."

“Maa, ne. Tada Zankutogaren no naisen o tomeru tte no wa, bokura ni totte mo warukunai hanashi dewa aru.”

"The Volden Campaign drained mainly the smaller federation member states. Rather than having the leader, Grandenburg, to establish hegemony through the civil war, it's more convenient for us if dissatisfaction smolders within the federation."

“Vorudan sen'eki de shoumou shita no wa omo ni chuushou no renpou kousei-koku. Naisen o ki ni meishu no Gurandonburuku ga haken o kakuritsu suru yori mo, renpou-nai ni fuman ga kusubutteita hou ga koutsugou desu kara ne.”

"Exactly. That's why I'd like them to do well."

“Sou iu koto. Kare-ra ni wa umaku yatte itadakitai mono da yo.”

Tullius was tasked with the territory of Elpis-Roanne to resist St. Gallen's military pressure as their hypothetical enemy. If that was the case, it was more advantageous for the corruption harbored within the flaws of that enemy to endlessly continue festering. No matter how much that country was a military powerhouse, it couldn't go on an expedition while having internal discord.

"But… will it go smoothly?"

“Shikashi, umaku ikimasu ka ne?”

"It will. Our strategy—no, our experiment will also contribute to that."

“Umaku iku sa. Boku-ra no sakusen――iya, jikken mo sono tame no ichijo ni naru kara ne.”

Experiment. Tullius stated the essence of this maneuver like that. The direct damage alone was equivalent to the Volden Campaign, or even worse. The plan, which could shake the entire continent if one included the aftermath, was nothing more than an experiment.

The trial commotion and the Great Fire of the Capital two years ago. And the Volden Campaign last year. These were all incidents that brought about comparable disasters. With confidence in having devoted massive efforts to them and having successfully overcome them. Above all, the dropout of Lavallee, his biggest enemy in terms of strategy. The heretical alchemist judged that under these circumstances, it would be possible to conduct an unprecedentedly large-scale experiment.

Laubert, though, still couldn't suppress his anxiety. What was about to happen wasn't just an experiment. He had heard it over and over again that it was also effective for the survival and subsequent expansion of the Moderate Faction led by Tullius. But still, the scale of the expected damage was only that, an expectation. Maybe they were overlooking something unexpected, one or two concerns like that occasionally floated in his mind.

"Are you scared, Laubert?"

“Kowai no kai, Rubēru?”

In response to his master's words that saw through his inner thoughts, the man who was nothing more than a pawn broke out in a cold sweat.

"I am scared… but more than that, I have an eerie premonition."

“Kowaku wa… arimasu. Ga, sore ijou ni bukimi na yokan ga itashimasu ne.”

"Premonition? An unusual sentiment coming from you, isn't it?"

“Yokan to wa mata, kimi rashiku nai mono ii da ne.”

"I apologize, but I can't put it any other way."

“Kore wa shitsurei o. Shikashi, sou to shika ii you ga nai mono deshite.”

"Are you implying, Lord Laubert――"

“Rubēru-kyou ga ossharu no wa――”

Uni interjected.

"――that the impact of this plan might yield unexpected results? For instance, the expansion of the forces of the monsters as mentioned by the Holy King Church, which could ultimately lead to the resurrection of the Demon King."

“――konkai no saku no eikyou ga, yoki senu kekka o umu no dewa to iu koto deshou ka? Tatoeba, seiou kyou no iu mamono no seiryoku kakudai, hiite wa maou no fukkatsu ni tsunagaru, to.”

His face tensed as his thoughts were read accurately once again.

Jean-Jacques Laubert was a self-professed realist. Normally, he would brush off apocalyptic sermons reminiscent of the doctrines preached by the church without a second thought. But this time, the situation was different.

The increased frequency of monster occurrences in Volden was certainly not Tullius' intention. Breeding monsters like livestock for research purposes was strictly limited to the mountains of Marlan. Moreover, they were culled as needed to maintain an appropriate population, and great effort was made to ensure that their influence did not extend beyond the designated areas. In addition, low-ranking creatures such as orcs and goblins, which have a strong desire to breed, were far from Tullius' tastes or needs. What happened deep in the mountains of eastern Volden this time was completely beyond expectations.

Could this be a harbinger of the calamity preached by the priests? It was not unreasonable for such thoughts to cross Laubert's mind.

"The resurrection of the Demon King, huh."

“Maou no fukkatsu, ne.”

Kuku, a laugh echoed in his throat. The sound sent another chill down Laubert's spine.

"If it were possible, it would be quite fascinating, wouldn't it? Even if defeated, if the time passes, it would come back to life. Such a being would be a perfect subject for researching immortality, don't you think?"

“Moshi ariuru no da to shitara, naka naka ni kyoumibukai janai ka. Kari ni taosareta to shite mo toki o hereba yomigaeru. Sonna sonzai, furoufushi no kenkyuu taishou ni wa zekkou da ne.”

TL Note: HOOOOHHHHHH AS I’VE THOUGHT!!!!!

With these words, the heretical alchemist sneered. Even the terrifying existence that threatened the world was just one sample to him. In his hands, the black cat purred in agreement, as if resonating with his thoughts.

"It's no laughing matter, Your Excellency. If it were to truly happen, before immortality, wouldn't your own safety be at risk?"

“Warai-goto dewa arimasen yo, kakka. Moshi hontou ni sou nattara, furoufushi no mae ni onmi no kiki dewa arimasen ka.”

"It'll be fine. It seems those in Omnia are also making arrangements, after all."

“Daijoubu sa. Omunia no renchuu mo tekubari wa shiteiru you da shi ne.”

"Will a ceasefire request in diplomacy alone really settle the situation?"

“Gaikou de no teisen yousei dake de, hontou ni osamari ga tsukun desu ka?”

"No, not that. It's about the preparation of the countermeasure against the Demon King."

“Iya, sore janakute. Maou e no taikou shudan no junbi no koto.”

Laubert was perplexed by Tullius' words.

When it comes to countermeasures against the Demon King, summoning a hero would be the obvious choice. However, they hadn't grasped any information indicating that the Omnia Empire was moving for that purpose. Moreover, if they were actually doing it, they would have announced it loudly without the need for Laubert to investigate. Even if they were hiding it for some political reason, it didn't make sense for Tullius to be the first to know it.

"Well, there's other possibilities, too. But still, that was too obvious. To put a boy like that by the side of the young saintess, it's crystal clear."

“Maa, hyotto shitara betsu kuchi tte kanousei mo nai dewa nai keredo sa. Ni shita tte, are wa akarasama sugiru darou. Wakaki seijo-sama no o-hata ni anna shounen ga, nante sa.”

"…Your Excellency, do you mean to say that boy is the hero?"

“…Kakka wa, masaka ano shounen ga yuusha da to?”

As he spoke, he recalled the black-haired, black-eyed boy who had accompanied the delegation. Tullius had shown quite an interest in that boy. Although he had evaded the question the last time Laubert asked, could it be that he saw him as the hero? But why? Where did such an outlandish idea come from?

"It's just speculation mixed with bias. The basis… Well, it's pointless to tell Laubert, who won't believe it anyway. Right, Uni?"

“Tabun ni henken ga konjiru suisoku dakedo ne. Konkyo wa… douse shinji kkonai Rubēru ni itte mo shikata no nai koto dakedo. Nee, Yuni?”

"Yes, Master. Considering the underlying conditions, it may be difficult for Lord Laubert to be convinced."

“Hai, goshujin-sama. Zentei to naru jouken kara shite, Rubēru-kyou ni wa nattoku shi gatai ka to.”

"Um, but it's a bit troubling if only you two are convinced…"

“Ano, o-futari dake de nattoku sareteite mo komaru ndesu keredo…”

"No, it won't trouble you at all, right? Your responsibilities remain the same, and there isn't much for you to do this time anyway. Just do your best with domestic affairs or information gathering. We'll handle our part."

“Betsu ni nani mo komari wa shinai darou? Kimi ga subeki koto wa kawaranai shi, konkai wa yaru koto jitai ga sonna ni nai ndakara sa. Seizei ganbatte naisei nari jouhou shuushuu nari shiteite kure. Boku-ra wa boku-ra de yaru koto yaru kara sa.”

With that, he took another sip of the slightly cooled tea. This was a sign that he no longer wanted to continue the conversation. Indeed, when Tullius spoke again, the topic shifted to their future plans.

"Uni, have you sent the blueprints to the lab?"

“Yuni. Sekkeizu no hou wa rabo ni mawashita?”

"Yes, without delay."

“Hai. Todokourinaku.”

"The plan you kept on drawing even inside the carriage during the journey over the mountains? What is that, anyway?"

“Yamagoe no tabi no aida mo, basha no naka de kaki tsuzukete irareta zumen desu ka. Nan nan desu, are?”

He felt unsettled at how everything was being decided without proper discussion. Laubert couldn't help but interject.

This time, it seemed Tullius would properly answer him.

"Aah, that? He had something interesting with him, so when I asked him to show me the other day, I figured out the rough structure and thought I'd try to recreate some of its functions."

“Aa, are? Kare, omoshiroi mono o motteita kara ne. Kono aida ni misete moratta toki ni oomaka na kouzou o haaku shite, ichibu no kinou o saigen suru tame ni tsukurou ka na tte.”

"Again with that boy… Does such a child really possess something that would catch Your Excellency's interest?"

“Mata ano shounen desu ka… anna kodomo ga, kakka no go-kyoumi o hiku you na shiro-mono nante shoji shiteita no desu ka?”

The thing that he seemed to be so focused on drafting while complaining about the vibrations of the carriage, neglecting the preparations for the Elpis-Roanne inspection. It was something Tullius put a lot of effort into. He predicted it probably would be something preposterous anyway. However, if that were the case, it didn't make sense for that seemingly ordinary boy to have such an item.

"That expression on your face says, 'He's making something preposterous again.' Really, when it comes to you, you're always like that."

“Sono kao wa ‘mata roku demo nai mono o tsukutteru na’ tte hyoujou da ne. Mattaku kimi to kitara, itsumo sore da.”

He was caught off guard as his inner feelings were revealed, but it seemed his master wasn't too bothered. Tullius chuckled, wearing a mischievous grin as he looked at Laubert.

"What he had was a phone—aah, no, it's more like a miniature computer. It has various functions, but all I need is that."

“Kare ga motteita no wa keitai――aa iya, kogata no keisanki mitai na mono da yo. Hoka ni mo iro iro kinou wa aru keredo, boku ni hitsuyou na no wa sore dake sa.”

"A computer?"

“Keisanki, desu ka?”

Laubert imagined something like an abacus. But why would the man in front of him be interested in such a thing? It didn't seem relevant to alchemy that extends life or development of a weapon that protects life.

In confusion, he glanced at Uni. The person most knowledgeable about Tullius' research was this slave in a maid appearance who had served as his assistant for many years. He thought maybe she would know something, however…

"…My humble thoughts cannot compare to Master's wisdom."

“…Watashi gotoki no kangae dewa, goshujin-sama no eichi ni wa oyobi mo tsukimasen no de.”

Unfortunately, even Uni seemed to have trouble understanding.

Tullius shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, it's something that, even for me, is at the level of 'it would be nice if it could be done.' If it turns out to be unusable, I'll consider other options, as it's a tool for use in fields other than research on immortality."

“Maa, kore wa boku to shite mo ‘dekitara ii na’ tte reberu no shiro-mono dakara ne. Tsukai-mono ni naranai nara betsu no te o kangaeru shi, furoufushi no kenkyuu yori mo sore igai no bun'ya de katsuyou suru dougu dakara sa.”

"Even if Your Excellency were to examine the actual object, is it difficult to create?"

“Kakka ga genbutsu o te ni totte mite mo, tsukuru no wa muzukashii no desu ka?”

This was an unexpected statement. With the right materials and understanding of structure, anything could be created—wasn't that what alchemy was? He didn't know about other alchemists, but he was sure that, for Tullius Shernan Oubeniel, it was the case.

Compared to the intricate workings of the human brain that he usually tinkered with, a mere computer seemed considerably simpler.

"It's strange, isn't it… I can easily create the central processing units for golems, I can modify the human brain, but apparently, making an electronic computer is difficult."

“Fushigi na mono da yo nee… gōremu no enzan chuusuu wa kantan ni tsukuretari, ningen no nou o kaizou suru koto wa dekiru no ni, denshi keisanki no seisaku wa muzukashii nante sa.”

"Electronic…? No, setting that aside, what use does a computer have?"

“Denshi…? Iya, sore wa tomokaku, nan no yaku ni tatsu ndesu ka keisanki tte?”

"It has various uses. It's particularly important in weapon development. Ballistic calculations require many complex equations… apparently. It's not just about distance and angle; we also have to account for things like the Coriolis force."

“Iro iro da yo. Toku ni heiki kaihatsu dewa juuyou na fakutā nanda. Dandou keisan ni wa iro iro to shichi mendou na suushiki ga ikutsu mo hitsuyou ni naru… rashii kara. Kyori ya kakudo dake janakutte, koriori-ryoku toka mo fukumenai to ikenai.”

Another unfamiliar term came up. This man seemed to be bad at explaining things in an easy-to-understand manner even to outsiders.

Seeing Laubert's confusion, Uni stepped in with a succinct clarification.

"Specifically, it is used in the design and operation of the 'Guardian of Riney,' whose construction is currently entrusted to Seis."

“Gutai-teki ni wa, genzai Seisu ni kenzou o makasete iru “Raini no Mamori” no sekkei un'you ni tsukawareru to no koto desu.”

"Aah, so it's that thing…"

“Aa, are desu ka…”

It was something called a strategic weapon that he heard was being deployed to Tullius' new territory, Elpis-Roanne. What exactly it was remained unknown, but it was said to have been constructed by pouring iron ore, a local specialty, like water. Naturally, this was clandestine usage. Thanks to this, he had been forced to create duplicate ledgers in preparation for an audit from the government.

From Laubert's perspective, to be honest, it seemed like just a gigantic toy whose usefulness was doubtful…

"It has other applications aside from that—but well, that's an 'if possible' scenario. There are plenty of other matters to prioritize… So? How are the preparations for that top priority matter? ――Jet."

“Sore igai ni mo ouyou wa kiku nda kedo――maa, kore wa dekireba no hanashi sa. Hoka ni yuusen subeki anken wa ikura demo aru… De? Sono saiyuusen jikou ni mukete no shikomi wa dou nandai? ――Jetto.”

He turned towards the fourth person who had not participated in the conversation up until now. Well, can it even be called a person? The black cat that had been lounging on Tullius' lap raised its head languidly.

"It could be said that everything is in order, Master Creator."

“Isai bantan to itte mo yoi deshou na, zoubutsushu-sama.”

It was unmistakably perfect human speech, sounding nothing like an animal's cry, with a deep, low voice of an adult man.

"The necessary forces have already been mobilized. Additionally, the contingency measures should function without issue."

“Sude ni hitsuyou na senryoku wa douin sumi. Kuwaete hoken no hou mo mondainaku kinou suru ka to.”

"It's good to have confidence, but be careful not to become overconfident, 07. Considering the significance of the experiment, failure is not an option, you know?"

“Jishin o motsu no wa kekkou desu ga, sore ga kashin to naranu you chuui nasai 07. Jikken no igi o kangaereba, shippai wa yurusaremasen yo?”

"That's quite a harsh remark. It's troubling when all my female comrades are like this."

“Kore wa mata tekibishii o-kotoba da na. Waga douhou no mesu-tachi wa, sorotte konna choushi dakara komaru.”

An abnormal situation where a cat talked. However, there was no one in the room who showed surprise at this fact. Opus-07 Jet, a 'masterpiece' who possessed the ability to transform and was making full use of it. His presence has already been notified to those who can be called executives of the camp. Even Laubert, who didn't often meet Jet, had developed some immunity to abnormalities. It was odd, but not surprising enough to be startled by it.

"Hey, hey, Uni. Don't bully this child too much, okay? Jet has already proven himself quite capable in these matters countless times since winter, hasn't he?"

“Oi oi Yuni. Sonna ni kono ko o ijimenaide kure yo? Jetto ga kono te no shigoto ni tsukaeru tte koto wa, fuyu kara sanzan shoumei shiteiru koto janai ka.”

"Yes, my apologies."

“Hai. Shitsureishimashita.”

"Well, being cautious is a good thing, though… Well then, let's just wait patiently for that time to come, shall we? Until the moment our first large-scale experiment in a while begins."

“Maa, shinchou na no wa ii koto dakedo sa… sore jaa, bokura wa yukkuri to sono toki o matou janai ka. Hisashiburi no oogakari na jikken ga hajimaru made.”

Tullius said, smiling cheerfully. Laubert stared at Tullius' face, which was beaming with happiness, with a stern expression.

(As I suspected, His Excellency is feeling anxious.)

(Yahari, kakka wa asette irareru.)

The concerns that had crossed his mind repeatedly lately resurfaced once again.

Tullius' relentless pursuit of immortality remained unchanged, but recently, it had become even more extreme. In the past, he would have shown some reluctance towards such risky endeavors, no matter how useful they might be. Moreover, it seemed unlikely that he would be so fixated on something as dubious as the 'Guardian of Riney' which could make one question his sanity just by hearing the summary of it.

His stance had always been to prioritize his own preservation. So what was the reason for this sudden shift towards such radical measures?

'…I hate to admit it, but perhaps the demise of that old fool is influencing him.'

‘…Mitometaku wa nai ga, yahari ano roushuu no saigo ga eikyou shiteiru no ya mo shiren.’

Victor had remarked with a grim expression when Laubert had consulted him about it.

'Even Lavallee, who had been a nuisance for years and was eventually planned to be eliminated by his own hands, could not go against his lifespan. Do you not think that it is hard to imagine that such a thing had no effect on His Excellency's fear of death?'

‘Naganen ni watari wazurawasare, izure wa kono te de haisou to omowareteita Ravare de sae, jumyou ni wa sakaraenakatta no da. Sono koto ga ano kata no shi o osoreru omoi ni eikyou ga nakatta nado to wa, kangae gatai to omowan ka?’

Initially, Laubert had laughed at the absurdity of it all. Could someone like Tullius really have such sentimental emotions? Excluding his bothersome final desperate attempt, the mere death of Lavallee would surely make him clap his hands and laugh. That would be more like our master, he thought.

However, witnessing this outrageous experiment unfold before his eyes, he couldn't help but entertain the thought that perhaps, just perhaps. Was he treading into areas of anxiety, opening doors that should remain shut? Was it really safe to be doing this? Such thoughts kept creeping up one after another.

Ignoring the concerns of his pawn, Tullius turned to his prized 'masterpieces.'

"The postponement of the research ends here. The experiment will begin soon… Gallerin, the capital of Grandenburg Grand Kingdom, the Leader of St. Gallen Federation, that's where the entire experiment will unfold without a hitch."

“Kenkyuu o todokouraseru no wa koko made da. Mou sugu jikken ga hajimaru… Zankutogaren renpou oukoku, meishu Gurandonburuku dai oukoku shuto Garerin. Asoko ga subete amasu koto naku jikken no butai ni naru nda.”

~~~

To be continued… (But I don't think it will, so just consider it the end.)

~~~

TL Note:

IT HAS ENDED GUYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

How unfortunate, what a cliffhanger. It’s as expected, though. I’ll just hope that someday there’ll suddenly be chapter 089 in syosetu. I don't care if it’ll take years… just, PLEASEEEEEE YAMASHITA MINATO-SANNNNN😔

Thank you very much for reading my work! Due to my irl circumstances and my status as a student, I couldn’t always make it in time, but it's been a blast translating this masterpiece of a novel!

Also I've decided to re-tl the web novel version of The Lazy King after this but I'm also still searching for another novel to translate, so just tell me if you have any suggestions!😁

See ya~ ヾ(￣▽￣) (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ) /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~

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