Chapter 197: Inner and Outer Self
Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7583de/
Author: Hirukuma
Translated by Zzonkedd
Edited by Gumihou
The Generals of the Netherworld are as follows:
Left Arm General | Right Arm General
Pinky General | Ring General | Middle General | Index General| Thumb General
“Put your back into it!” Vice-Leader Felmina shouted.
“I’m starting to realise how amazing Ramis was,” said Red.
“Same here, Red, same here,” said White.
At Vice-Leader Felmina’s rousing shouts, the twins worked hard to push me forward. They had tried lifting me, but could barely move a few steps before having to rest. [1] Unable to take their suffering any more, I attached wheels to my base, which allowed them to push me along.
[1] Technically, I could turn into a <Cardboard Vending Machine> and make their life easier, but I decided not to waste my points or show my hand too much in this place. Plus, they should suffer a little for having betrayed us.
Fortunately, the floor was made with evenly paved flagstones, which made their work a little easier. Still, it looked like I was heavy enough to make their life difficult.
I inspected the map that I had taken a good look at just now and noted that our current location was on the third floor of this fortress-like structure, on the far east side.
Sulrim’s room was on the complete opposite side of the west wing. It was a corner room and rather spacious. Looks like the ‘generals’ get to have nicer rooms.
Compared to my cell, her room was about 3 times larger, too big actually.
“Hnnngh!”
The twins groaned as they pushed and hauled.
Technically, I could quietly make things easier for the twins by removing the goods in my body, but, nah. [2]
[2] Vice-Leader Keyroil knocked three times on the door before calling out, “We are here. Lady Sulrim, we have brought Hakkon.”
“Very well, enter,” Sulrim’s icy voice said.
The wooden double doors opened, and I was pushed in.
As expected, the room was rather luxurious.
The carpet was obviously the expensive type, and the furniture looked like someone had raided an antique shop. The expensive kind of shop where everything was kept in perfect polished condition, not the dusty dingy type.
They even have a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Well, it looked like people still show off wealth in a fairly similar way. Although this kind of wealth showing was kind of dated.
The thing that caught my eye most was the enormous window directly in front of me. It was a complete piece of glass without a single pillar or wall to obstruct the view.
Not only that, but brilliant sunlight shone on an endless body of water that seemed to stretch on forever. Then again, it could be a really huge lake. If I have a sense of smell, I can tell whether it’s the sea or a lake. I shall have to ask Pitee later.
“Excellent. Leave the Hakkon thing here and take your leave. I shall have the Skeleton Guards take it back later.”
Sulrim was standing by the window in a bathrobe and a towel around her neck, exuding the image of a Showa-style rich person.
The only thing that could top that would be her sitting in a plush leather chair while petting a white cat on her lap while holding a glass of wine.
“Excuse us… Please be careful,” Felmina whispered to me before leaving.
Well, even though they had technically switched over to the other side, it looked like Leader Keryoil’s party was still rather concerned about my well-being. What an odd relationship.
“You appear to be a sentient magic tool. I may despise humans, but I do not view other species with the same hostility. Although if you try to oppose me, I have no choice but to show you no mercy.”
She sounded a lot calmer than the few times I had seen her.
Hold it. Where’s the Leader’s child? I thought that she had to keep holding his hand to prevent the terrible pain due to <Corrosion>?
I took another quick look around, but could not find the child in the room.
Had they somehow deemed the child unnecessary and cast him away? No, if that’s the case, Felmina and the rest would not remain calm. In short, that means the child should be alright even if he cannot be seen.
Wait, does that mean there’s another crystal coffin here to keep the child asleep and not in pain? If that’s the case…
“Elder Sis~ where are you~”
A boy wearing a bathrobe burst through a door; his hair was still wet. [2]
Elders sis?
Isn’t ‘elder sis’ a rather sweet way of calling your enemy?
“Come now, you haven’t properly dried your hair at all. Come here, I shall dry it for you.”
“Yes, thank you, Elder Sis~”
Sulrim then proceeded to tenderly dry the boy’s hair.
Her expression was one of gentleness and tranquillity, unlike anything I had ever seen before. In fact, who are you?
They looked like a much older sister with her young brother, or a young mother with her child. Regardless, the child acted sweet and spoiled, as though he trusted her completely.
Eh? Huh? What?
“Dear, I’m so sorry for pushing you away like that earlier. Did it hurt?”
“I’m fine. Was my acting good? It was good, right?”
“It was excellent. You did an amazing job.”
So, his writhing in pain on the floor was all an act? He even foamed at the mouth; honestly, his acting skills are off the charts. He’s certainly Leader Keryoil’s son.
Come to think of it, they did say he was the smartest and most reliable of the triplets. So, it was all an act?
If that’s true, that would mean Sulrim’s cold attitude towards the boy was also an act.
“Still, do stay close, hm? Even in this room, if you’re too far away from me, I cannot fully suppress the curse.”
“Okay! I’ll be careful~”
The two shared a smile, looking like the perfect pair of loving siblings.
[1] I took another look around the room. So, there’s a range to her skill? The widest bit of the room was about 20 meters from end to end. Although it was not ideal, at least they did not have to keep holding hands to keep the curse at bay.
By the way, it felt like they had completely forgotten about me. They looked like they were in their own happy bubble, making it difficult for others to intrude and… hold on, isn’t it bad for me to know this secret?
Wait, is this a flag?
“Ah, Elder Sis, is that the rumoured Hakkon?”
“Indeed, you said that you wanted to try using it. Therefore, I had it brought here.”
“Um, if it is sentient, is it okay to show our real relationship in front of it?”
[2] No, please don’t worry about me. I am nothing. My existence is nothing. Being too clever could be bad for your health, too. Or my health…
I studied Sulrim’s expression cautiously, [1] wondering if I should deploy <Barrier>. [2] Fortunately, the only thing she did was give me a disdainful look as she said, “Do not fret, it could only speak fixed phrases. There is no one it could communicate with.”
Well, well, it looked like Leader had left out some details about me.
If that’s how she sees me, might as well go along with it.
“Welcome”
“Wow, it really spoke! Hey, hey, can I buy some of this stuff?”
“Of course, buy anything you like.”
“Then, I want this…”
[1] The boy pressed on one of the panels, but since I was pretending to be a regular vending machine, I declined the sale since he had not given me any money.
“Ah, wait, I think it needs money…”
“Here, dear. Feel free to use as much as you like,” said Sulrim as she handed him a pouch of coins. I caught a glimpse of its contents, and inside I saw not only silver coins, but gold as well. Isn’t she a bit too generous?
I never thought that the reason I was summoned was to entertain this boy. For now, let’s pretend to be a regular, obedient vending machine and not let the other person know just how far my self-agency is.
I should also remind Pitee to pretend the same, so that she doesn’t blow my cover.
“These are all drinks, right? Now, which, one, should, I, choose~~” [2] he sang out the last bit in a way that was just too, too cute~
[1] That’s right, the kid was so cute that Sulrim’s face, which was just behind the boys, seemed to be melting. Her face was flushed red, her nostrils flared as she panted in a rather unseemly way… Ugh, I sense a dangerous vibe coming off of her.
The doting older sister’s eyes had turned beastly. By beastly, I meant the beastly gaze of a wild beast in heat.
“Elder Sis, what would you like to drink? Or, should I get something to eat?” the boy asked, turning around to look at Sulrim, whose expression had phased back into that gentle older sister smile again.
“Hmm, your sis is fine with anything. Just whose whatever you like… there’s something else I want to eat…”
That final remark was said in a near whisper. I don’t know if the boy heard it or [1] picked up the nuance, but I certainly did!
[1] And it’s not ok!!
[1] Not ok at all!
Run away, little boy! Leader Keryoil, you must take your boy and run away! There’s a shotacon here! A sicko pedo!
Before I had the chance to feel relief about how the boy was being so well cared for, I found myself worrying for his virtue instead. For the moment, it looked like he had not been touched yet, but no matter what, the child was in a very dangerous situation.
To think that he had just woken up from a long slumber only to be taken hostage by a pedo… Not to mention that poor kid can’t get away from this hostage situation without falling into excruciating pain.
So long as Sulrim still retains some semblance of sanity, he should be safe, but from what I have seen… it looked like she could lose control at any time.
What should I do?
A new and unexpected problem had cropped up.
Moreover, it looked like the boy admired Sulrim… so, would it be fine to leave things as it is… no, no way, no way, it’s a criminal act! It’s a crime!
Could Sulrim’s attraction to prepubescent boys be down to how Snow Spirits have a child-like body until they reach their adult age?
However, there’s no point to all these speculations!!
Ahhh, what should I do… help me, Ramis!
My cries of anguish remained unheard as I watched the two dangerous people hug each other in front of me.
[Gumihou: The word ‘shotacon’ doesn’t cover MC’s worry, so went with ‘pedo’ instead]
[1] Added details
[2] Adjusted details
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