Chapter 54 The Worst of the Worst â¢
Part 1
At this point, Sofiaâs attitude remained the same as when she was his disciple.
I felt an unknown, strange fear. Even if she wasnât pointing any weapon at me.
A Member of ãStrange Grief (Nageki no Bourei)ã. Although this was enough to be considered as an enemy, it was the first time for Noto to feel like this while he wasnât facing a powerful Magi.
Above all, I donât know what their purpose wasâ¦
In the first place, what Sytry did wasnât the kind of thing that would be accepted even if it was for an infiltration. Sofia became a disciple close to three years ago. Even if her hand wasnât as dirty as Noto and the other disciples, it was enough to get a death sentence.
If all her actions so far come to light, no explanation will be tolerated, and she will be sent to prison.
Indeed. This Hunter was once falsely accused of assisting in that great prison breakout⦠That impregnable South Isteria Prison was a place where numerous criminals who have absorbed a large amount of Mana Material were locked in there.
Even now, most of those who escaped are still on the run. Their vigilance had been increased since that incident. Once you get in, you can never go out.
âYour motivation is⦠Is it revenge for that infamous Alias the Explorer Assoc. gave you⦠Because you werenât guilty!?â (Noto)
Revenge on the Imperial Capital. Then I could still understand. Burning anger can sometimes transform people.
I asked this while hiding my murderous voice, Sytry turned her eyes down and raised a crying voice.
âDonât you understand, âShisho (Teacher)â? My motivation is⦠To seek knowledge, that is it. Sometimes, it is necessary to use unspeakable and unlawful ways to unravel and obtain the truth. There are many things to learn from âShishoâs (Teacher)â behavior which was free to do whatever you want without nitpicking. âShishoâs (Teacher
)â and I⦠Might be similar.â (Sytry)
Similar, with this word. Noto understood everything.
Everything this woman said was the truth. She didnât become Notoâs disciple because she wanted to infiltrate, but it was to satisfy her insatiable desire for knowledge and inquiring mind.
Regardless of being a High-Level Hunter, being forbidden by the law, or touching a taboo that can destroy the world⦠This woman in front of me joined the ãTower of Akasha (Akasha no To)ã only for herself.
âRevenge⦠Donât you think that it is pointless? Also⦠False charge?â (Sytry)
Then in front of me ãThe Worst of the Worst (Saitei Saiyaku)ã was trying to ãClean upã.
âThe best ãMaterialã⦠I wanted it whatever the cost. âShisho (Teacher)â, I have always thought about it, but Golems are really too expensive. Akasha is a masterpiece, but even though it took so much time, money, and effort to create it, it canât be controlled without an operator, it is inferior to a Phantom or a gimmick from a Shrine.â (Sytry)
She said with a voice as if she was expressing her opinion on her research.
As if being pressed by it, Noto fell back and slowly distanced himself.
â⦠Did you think you can escape!? Against me!â (Noto)
ââShisho (Teacher)â, you are a first-class Magi. If âShisho (Teacher)â could reform⦠I could have bragged it to Lucia-chan but I canât let you go. Also, I wanted Akasha. But I am sure that the Empire already collected it. This is very disappointing.â (Sytry)
There was no malicious intent at all.
Even when being pointed by a wand, you canât see her trembling. And she sighed as if it was unfortunate.
After hearing all the information he needed, you could still see in the reflection of her deep blue eyes the tip of his wand.
âI am, in fact⦠the ãWeakestã among ãStrange Grief (Nageki no Bourei
)ã. As âShisho (Teacher)â knows, I donât have any talent in a frontal battle⦠Even if I have said all that, I might lose. If possible, I would like you to surrenderâ¦â (Sytry)
To this weak voice, Noto, without reacting, started to cast a Magic he had always used.
The most basic Magic usable by most Magi ãFire Bulletã.
The firing speed was fast, and its power was high. It was also a Magic that greatly reflect the ability of the user. If you mastered Magic to the same point as Noto, even if you omit the chant, it had the power to turn three people to ashes.
A low difficulty magical attack. The preparation to cast it was completed in an instant.
Sytry hasnât even stood up. From this distance, it was impossible to avoid.
I am not careless. She wasnât an enemy I could be careless against.
At the moment when he tried to release the magical power built up inside him⦠He suddenly felt a pain running through his whole body.
The sudden shock made his hands lose strength and the wand fell down making a hard noise. But he didnât have the composure to care about that.
As Noto screamed and crouched in pain as if his body was being assaulted from the inside, he could hear Sytryâs relieved voice.
âThank goodness⦠It seems that it works even against the âMaster Magus (Sage)â.â (Sytry)
âWhat⦠Did⦠Youâ¦!?â (Noto)
Sytry picked one of the chocolates and put it in her mouth.
âA drug that suppresses the activation of magic. It will cause pain right before you cast your spell and the magic you built up will disappear. Hunters are used to pain, but you are not âShisho (Teacher)â.â (Sytry)
âKuhâ¦!? Ha⦠Ha⦠You planned to betray meâ¦. From the beginningâ¦â (Noto)
I have been given a drug!? But when she took the chocolates out, she still shouldnât have known what we will be talking about.
Sytry bowed her head as she looked at Noto who looked at her while twisting in pain.
âIt was just preparation. You also understand, right âShisho (Teacher)â? What is important for Alchemist are ãPreparationã and ãClean Upã. I am weak and âShisho (Teacher)â was on alert, even if I didnât have the intention to betray you, I will do that much.â (Sytry)
He is a Magi. A genuine Magi. He doesnât trust anyone, he wonât hesitate to kill his own disciple who studied under him for several years, a slave to knowledge. A seeker of the truth.
And he trampled on the feeling of others as if was the most obvious thing to do. There is no one more suitable to be in of the ãTower of Akasha (Akasha no To)ã than him.
Still enduring the pain, Noto picked up the wand, which was in front of him, leaned on the table in front of Sytry, and got up.
âIt is time to finish this. There are things to collect before the Empire gets their hands on it⦠I know that it was sudden, but I wasnât ready at all⦠I need to be more careful next time.â (Sytry)
Those words must be true.
Alchemists have less fighting ability than Magi. It is common practice to use Golems or Homunculus, Artificial Lifeforms for battle but there was no one behind Sytry.
If she could overwhelm him face-to-face, she wouldnât have the need to use drugs.
To support his idea, Sytryâs footsteps were full of caution. She carefully approached Noto.
It was impossible to use magic. It would probably be useless to try again. Even if he knew what was coming⦠He couldnât focus on his power due to pain as strong as being hit by lightning.
But I manage to stay conscious through all that pain.
And I still have a hand to play. Just like Sytry who has prepared to suppress me before the battle, Noto had overcome many battles until now.
I put my right hand inside my pocket. In the bottom of my pocket, I insert the hidden ring into my finger. Sytry looked at Noto and said in a gentle voice.
âIt is fine, there is nothing to worry about. I wonât kill you. But I will⦠Erase all your memory. Like âInfinite Variety (Senpen Banka)â, I am aiming to be a ãPhilanthropistã.â (Sytry)
âKuh⦠Donât underestimate me Sofia!!â (Noto)
Sytryâs eyes opened, and her line of sight turned towards Notoâs hand.
TL notes:
Thanks for reading this!
I canât believe when I started to translate this chapter, I thought itâs okay thereâs only 4500 words. I got too used to 6000+word in a chapter TT.TT
When I read Sytry helped in a Prison break and I was singing Prison Break opening song. (The French one of course Jâai pas le teeeeeeeeemps! Mon espriiiiiiiiiiit! Glisse ailleuuuuuurs !!!!!)
Tchao à plus!