Boukensha Ni Naritai To Miyako Ni Deteitta Musume Ga S Rank Ni Natteta Chapter 17

A long one, this chapter. And for some reason, I found it particularly difficult! I wanted to post it on Wednesday but, alas! I miscalculated. But, anyway, here it is. The chapter of the week! By the way, the links are again inside the text. Cheers!

There are many people in the center of the city, and there is always a lot of activity and hustle and bustle.

In a narrow alley, hidden in the shadows of the buildings, there are several stalls of street traders who intercept people walking around looking to sell their products. However, even the food in these establishments has a dubious look. People who eat it are likely to end up with a terrible stomach infection.

Orphen is a big city, and as a result, some places stay out of the public eye. Beggars' dwellings, criminals' dens, street-children, and homeless people… All these people gather in the same place and make up the slums.

At that moment Lionel and Chebolg are walking through that crowd. Due to Chebolg's height and size, several thugs occasionally hit his shoulders and turn to see him with bad intentions, but when they see the warrior's appearance, they all run away scared and say nothing.

Lionel still seems to be tired and without energy. As the budget sent to them by the Central Guild was not enough to cover all expenses, they were forced to borrow money from the n.o.bles living in Orphen. But none of the n.o.bles like the idea of lending money without collateral, and Lionel, who is not particularly good at negotiations with political touches, could not afford to rest. Today's negotiations can be held because old Chebolg's terrifying presence keeps all the neighborhood thugs in line.

Although Lionel's hard work does not seem to have an end, the administration of the Guild in Orphen itself is working quite well. The adventurers have returned to the city, and quest to subjugate magic beasts, collect materials and inspect dungeons have returned to normal.

Currently, Orphen´s Guild has also partnered with mid-ranking traders to further strengthen the sale of raw materials and ensure a decent budget. Thanks to the return of the veteran adventurers and the collaborators who responded to Lionel's call, things have gone a long way.

However, there are still many problems. After all, they're using an archaic system more than a hundred years old. There are many who think it's a good system, but Lionel, who has to bear all the responsibility of the Guild, still suffers from stomach pains because of it.

While they're walking, Lionel keeps rubbing his belly.

“I can't believe this is happening~… I would have preferred to end up in an intermediate position in the Central Guild or one of the regional branches… All this stress makes my hair fall out~…”

“What?! Lionel, did you say something?”

“I'm talking to myself, Mr. Chebolg~… and you should lower your voice a little.”

“Ghahahahaha! Don't be so depressed! You've been promised a loan! Cheer up!”

“The problem is that they approve it…”

Lionel sighs heavily. There is no doubt that the lender will give a lecture on their reasons for lending the money. So Lionel will have to exaggerate all the achievements of the adventurers and at the same time, flatter the generosity of the lender. Lionel gets even more depressed when he thinks about it.

“Haaaa… If Miss Angie returns safely, it will all have been worth it… Do we know if she was able to reunite with her father without any problems?”

“There's no way someone like her can get in trouble! She must be with her father right now!”

“All right, but… I find it hard to believe that the father Miss Angie admires so much, lives in such a remote village… I wish they'd come back to the city together so I could meet him…”

“Gahahahaha! He must be an incredible guy, don't you think?! The person Angie has never been able to defeat! The 'Red Ogre' Belgriff. I'd like to fight him sometime!”

“If you do, please do it outside the city~… But, I've never heard the name of the ‘Red Ogre' or ‘Belgriff' before. I wonder if he's built his reputation abroad.” Lionel says as he scratches his head and then checks the stalls for a late lunch. Suddenly, a large crowd that is gathered a little further ahead catches his attention. Apparently, someone is giving some sort of speech and the public is making a big fuss about it.

Chebolg and Lionel tilt their heads and approach the place. In the middle of the crowd, there is an upside-down box and a girl wearing black clothes similar to those of a monk stands on it. At first glance, she doesn't seem to be more than twenty years old. In contrast to her black attire, her long hair is completely white. She also wears a black leather hat on his head. Her style and elegance are very refined, but her skin is morbidly white and her eyes are scarlet red.

The girl also has a flag in one of her hands. Her face can't be clearly seen since her hood covers most of it, but by her height, it is possible to guess that she is between fifteen and sixteen years old.

The girl is making exaggerated gestures and talking out loud.

“Everyone! Many of you are plunged into poverty! Is there really any salvation? The priests of the Viena church say that blessings descend from heaven and spread throughout the earth. If so, why do people in the slums have to keep suffering?”

The audience agrees with the girl promptly. When she sees this, she continues her speech with a proud expression.

“The era of the church of Vienna, and of the Empire of Rodhesia where it rests, is over! G.o.ds do not save people! People save themselves! The way Solomon preached is the only way to salvation! Let's look forward to his return! He who controls the Demon King and rules over magic beasts! With the guidance of the Great Philosopher Solomon, we will never again have to fear the beasts! Those who unjustly obtained wealth and power will be destroyed and the poor will be saved!”

The public applauds fervently.

The girl raises her flag, in the center of it is the image of a magic circle that represents a big eye. It's the coat of arms of the powerful heretic sorcerer, Solomon.

The girl laughs with satisfaction and pulls out a strange piece of paper from the bag hanging from her shoulder. The paper also has Solomon's coat of arms engraved on it. The girl lifts it as high as she can and says, “Now! This is a talisman of the Great Philosopher Solomon! As long as you have this, you won't have to fear destruction upon His return! Normally, we can't give this talisman to anyone! Even if they offer me a mountain of gold, I shouldn't sell it! But I want to save you all! As a special occasion, if you give me twenty copper coins, I'll sell it to you!”

The audience quickly reaches out and the talismans are sold like fresh bread.

Lionel sighs heavily at the sound of those pagan rumors. It was an absurd story. There is no way that a man who tried to conquer the entire continent and then disappeared tormented by his own madness could be a good ruler. Besides, what good is a piece of paper like the one the girl offers if it doesn't even emanate magic power? It was nothing more than a religious fraud.

Even so, many of those who are dissatisfied with the current situation approve of this speech, which makes Lionel feel even worse.

“The world has become very chaotic! Pathetic!” Chebolg says with a smile.

“Again with conflicts, it's regrettable~…”

At that moment, a group of soldiers rush to the scene and make their way through the crowd as they blow their whistles.

“What are you doing?! Why are you trying to deceive these people with your suspicious speech!” Shouts the one who appears to be the captain.

“I just told the truth! Everybody! That's how this government does things! The people in power think you should stay poor and ignorant! Do you think that's okay?” proclaims the girl snorting.

In response to the girl's words, the public complains and jeers at the soldiers. Some people even throw objects.

The soldiers get angry, so the captain takes out his saber and emits with a loud voice. “Quiet, quiet! You'll be considered criminals for disturbing order! Catch that girl!”

The soldiers rush on the girl with weapons in hand. The public screams and runs away hurriedly. But the girl, contrary to her immature appearance, remains calm and shakes her head as if she was disappointed.

“Fools are hopeless… ” Then she raises her hand and chants something. As soon as she does, the soldiers stop moving. It's like their bodies are paralyzed.

Suddenly, in front of all the terrified eyes of the crowd, the soldiers begin to rise through the air with expressions of pain. The pain is so terrible that the soldiers are unable to breathe.

“Foolish people who dare to challenge the power of the Great Philosopher Solomon, repent!” says the girl coldly.

Lionel immediately removes his hands from his hip. However, as he is on his way to a n.o.ble meeting, he has no weapon or special equipment. Then he frowns and glances at Chebolg.

“We must stop her.”

“Ghahahahahaha! The soldiers were careless!”

They both jump over the crowd and land in front of the girl. Chebolg reaches out his hand, grabs the girl's arm and pulls her down from the box. The soldiers fall to the ground and struggle to breathe again.

“Ah! What?!” The girl widens her eyes due to the surprise.

“This is too much for a prank! It's time for the children to return obediently to their homes!”

Chebolg raises his free hand and prepares to stun the girl. She looks at the two strangers and when she realizes their intentions, she screams.

“Byaku! Help me!”

When Chebolg moves his arm, an invisible force repels him. The old adventurer steps back a little with an astonished expression.

A boy appears next to the girl and points a finger at Chebolg. Moments later, a ferocious impact hits the body of the adventurer. In fact, it's as if Chebolg's skin were hit by numerous spheres of magic, invisible to the naked eye.

“Ooooh?!”

Faced with the incessant a.s.sault, Chebolg releases the girl's arm, takes a few steps back and puts his arms in front of him in a defensive position. As soon as he sees this, the boy extends both arms forward and advances. Much bigger and stronger hits than the previous ones start to besiege Chebolg's body.

“Ghaahahahahahahahahahahaha!” Chebolg laughs thunderously as he is pushed back.

“Magic Bullets~? But the color…” Lionel squints his eyes with suspicion.

Commonly, a magic bullet has different colors at the moment it is fired. But the kid's bullets are totally transparent. It's also completely different from Chebolg's technique, where he amplifies the shock wave the moment he throws a punch, thanks to the magical power he infuses in the magical tattoos on his arms. Lionel has never seen magic like this before.

The Guild Master rushes to the boy's back, a.n.a.lyzing the situation. Then he jumps to him to try to subdue him. But his hand is blocked before reaching the boy. A translucent geometric pattern flashes at the place where his hand stopped.

“An automatic magic barrier?” says Lionel surprised.

The boy points the palm of his hand at Lionel, who has stopped moving and fires one of his attacks. A transparent ma.s.s comes out of the boy's hand and Lionel is thrown backward. The attack takes him by surprise, but the magic bullet is not very strong and he receives almost no damage. Lionel turns in the air and lands safely.

However, the attack has pushed him farther away from the boy. Lionel instantly kicks the ground to close the gap. Chebolg also starts running.

The boy approaches the girl, who is crouching on the floor, and murmurs. “…Hey, are you all right, Your Holiness?”

“Idiot! You're an idiot, Byaku! What were you doing?! Don't let those two come near me!”

“Mmmm… Whatever… we have to retreat. Those two are former S Rank adventurers, they're no joke…” With an expression of tiredness, the boy quickly chants something and waves his hand as he hugs the screaming girl. Moments later, the two figures are enveloped by an enormous sea of flames and vanish from the place, leaving no trace behind.

Lionel approaches the place where the mysterious kids disappeared with a stunned expression.

“Transfer magic~? A high tier magic spell that only some magicians and sorcerers of the Empire are capable of using… And if that wasn't enough, an automatic magic barrier and invisible magic bullets… Who were those guys~?”

“Ghahahahaha! Those brats are really interesting! I got a little careless and they managed to escape! Next time I won't let my guard down!” says Chebolg as he laughs thunderously.

Lionel senses that something big is about to happen, and he also feels an increasingly intense pain in his stomach.

○

The revitalization of the fields has been completed and the sowing of vegetables has begun here and there. The of wheat plants has come to an end, and the Spring Festival will soon begin.

Unlike the Fall Festival, the Spring Festival is not a celebration frequently attended by people from elsewhere. It is a celebration in which thanks are given to G.o.ddess Viena, Chief of the G.o.ds, for allowing the village to survive the harsh winter and welcome the warm spring.

Since the festival takes place right after the winter, not much food is available, but still, several barrels of alcohol are opened and a lot of meat and wild vegetables are grilled, and wheat porridge is prepared.

One hot day before the Spring Festival, Angeline grabs her head and crouches in the garden. Once again she has been defeated by Belgriff.

“Angie… How many times do I have to tell you? Don't look at the place where you plan to move. I'm sure you're capable enough to stop doing it, right?”

“Uuuh… But the only person who can notice that is you, Daddy…”

“And who says there won't be another person who can notice it in the future? What will you do when that happens? The other person won't wait for you to come up with some excuse. You know better than anyone that adventurers can lose their lives at any moment…”

“But…” Angeline puffs up her cheeks and looks away in anger. As if having a tantrum.

Two weeks after Angeline's return to Tornela village, where the spring weather increases day by day, she walks around the village and the mountains, works in the fields, does housework, and practices her sword technique daily with her father, Belgriff.

Apparently, all this makes her regress to a childish behavior. Instead of seeking to improve her swordsmanship, she sees the practice like a game and the fact that she can't hit her father even once is something that makes her overly happy. In fact, she seems to have become accustomed to defeat and her fierce and unyielding att.i.tude has disappeared.

On the other hand, Belgriff has depressed expression every time they train. Unlike her father, Angeline is incredibly happy.

Angeline usually gets stronger by the minute. However, she is losing her combative instinct and, if she continues like that, she will surely not be able to win in future battles. However, Angeline doesn't want to take training seriously, despite all Belgriff's protests. The relentless confidence she feels because of her youth, and the fact that she has established herself as a top adventurer at seventeen may make her arrogant.

Belgriff lowers his gaze and brushes his beard. He doesn't feel capable of scolding her strongly since he himself has spoiled her too much. However, as his father, teacher and fellow adventurer, he cannot allow her to return to work in this way and die a meaningless death.

“You two, dinner's ready,” Miriam shouts from inside the house.

“We prepared hare meat and wheat porridge, doesn't that sound delicious~?” says Anessa, sticking her head out the door.

“Oh, thank you. Sorry to leave dinner in your hands…”

“Don't worry. It was fun for us…”

The two girls seem to have adapted to rural life in Tornela, and now they also work in the fields, help with household ch.o.r.es, accompany Belgriff and Angeline on morning patrols and even train with them. They also have improved their culinary skills.

Belgriff wanted to fix Angeline's bad habits so he asked the girls to help him with the housework. But in the end, Belgriff couldn't get satisfactory results. He scratches his head with an uncomfortable expression and urges Angeline to stand up.

Angeline jumps up and the grumpiness she had until a few seconds ago disappears from her face, as if it had never been there. Then she looks at Belgriff and smiles broadly.

“Let's have dinner, Daddy!”

“…Angie.”

“Yes?”

“Do you still want to be an adventurer…?”

“Yes! It's a lot of fun and I think it's what's best for me.”

Belgriff puts his hand on his forehead and sighs heavily. He can't allow everything to go on like that. He has to do something about it.

Dinner is served at the table. The roasted hare meat and steamed wheat porridge are still smoking, and there is also dry goat cheese. Anessa and Miriam have experience cooking because of their lives as adventurers and their years in the orphanage, so the food looks enticing. The porridge also has a spice brought from Orphen, which gives it a much more appetizing aroma.

Belgriff starts eating the hare's meat and tastes the porridge. The three girls also eat happily. It's a peaceful scene. If everything could go on this way, there would be no reason to fix any bad habits with the sword.

But Angeline still wants to be an adventurer. Apparently, she still wants to increase her strength, and some claim that the vocation of an adventurer is a lifelong one. Even if you try to quit, you won't be able to.

If she intends to continue, then she must relinquish all her weaknesses. A single instant is the difference between victory and defeat. The loss of his right foot is evidence of this.

A person can have a normal life, even if they lose a limb. But everything comes to an end if you lose your life. You could no longer sit at the table surrounded by your loved ones, talk to them, feel the warmth of summer or the cold of winter. You could never feel joy or sadness again. Parents could no longer look forward to their children's return if they died at the hands of a magic beast. What good would all those years of pampering do at that time?

If this were to happen, I'd really become an ‘Ogre'. Belgriff thinks as he sighs.

Angeline, who has already finished her hare meat and is preparing some tea, notices the worry on her father's face and asks in a trembling voice. ” Daddy… What's going on? Is something bothering you…?”

Belgriff gets up without saying anything and grabs his sword. Then, with a twitch of his head, he tells Angeline to go outside with him. Angeline gets up with a stirred expression, takes her sword and then follows Belgriff out of the house. Anessa and Miriam also look at each other anxiously and follow in silence.

Belgriff kicks the garden floor with his prosthetic leg for a while but finally turns to Angeline. The warm look that Belgriff had a few moments ago disappears and now his face reflects no expression.

“Angeline.”

“Y-Yes, Daddy…”

“If you want to continue to be an adventurer, you must defeat me in this match.”

“What? But… “

“I can't allow you to remain an adventurer if you don't have the right preparation. If you keep saying you're one, but you're not even capable of defeating your old father, then…” Belgriff looks coldly at Angeline. “You will no longer be my daughter.”

Angeline can't move. She drops the sword in her hand, her gaze reflects the fear she feels at that moment.

“Lies… My Daddy wouldn't do that… He would never say something like that…” says Angeline with tears running down her cheeks.

A throbbing pain hits Belgriff's chest as he sees his daughter like that. But if he doesn't do this, Angeline can't continue her growth. Children must eventually leave the nest. Belgriff represses her desire to withdraw and looks at Angeline with sharp eyes.

“Get ready.”

“…No,” Angeline squeezes the hem of her clothes and looks at Belgriff with teary eyes. “No, no, no, no, no! I don't want to do this…!”

“Do you think a magic beast would understand that excuse?! Stop behaving like a spoiled child!” Belgriff has to use those cruel words to disguise the doubts in his heart.

With a trembling body and hollow eyes, Angeline lifts her sword. However, she does not adopt a combat stance. She sways from side to side as she mutters continuously.

“It's a lie… That… My Daddy would never say something like that…”

It's like her mind has stopped working.

“Angeline!” Belgriff shouts as he notices the girl's condition.

“…!”

At the same time, Belgriff closes the gap between him and Angeline at a tremendous speed, as if he didn't have a prosthetic leg. As of now, Belgriff has put aside his previous strategies and has taken the initiative, something that surprises Angeline immensely, but she manages to block Belgriff's attack.

The attack is unlike any other. And even though the sword is in its sheath, Angeline would probably have been badly damaged if she had received the blow. She had never seen Belgriff like this before… No, she had, once, when she was just a child. She had seen him with that same look during a harsh winter…

The sword that protected her that day now sought to defeat her.

Why? Why is this happening? Angeline thinks as she receives several merciless attacks, one after the other. Did I do something to make him so angry? Does he not love me anymore?

No. Belgriff's attacks are fierce. But somehow they are also sorrowful. Angeline can feel that her father is not furious but sad.

A heavy blow hits her sword and Angeline steps back. Belgriff stands still for a few moments after that chain of ferocious attacks. Apparently, he has run out of energy after those movements to which he is not accustomed. But after a few deep breaths, Belgriff calms down and again adopts his combat stance.

Angeline, despite having stepped back, slowly lifts her face, relaxes her arms and begins to transfer all her energy through her body. Belgriff narrows his eyes. Although Angeline seems to be full of openings, the energy that runs through her body is enough to cut him in half in one stroke if he makes a wrong move.

Belgriff's body begins to tremble, but it's not clear if it's out of fear or excitement. But as he begins to shake, Angeline makes her move. It's as if a ghost were sliding at full speed into the corner of his eyes. Belgriff can't follow her daughter's movements.

But I mustn't give up yet!, Belgriff thinks as he swings his sword. He steps forward with his prosthetic leg which generates a tremendous momentum and creates an impressive attack.

But Angeline manages to dodge it. In fact, rather than dodging it, it's as if the sword attacked a place where Angeline hadn't been from the beginning.

She got me, Belgriff thinks. He has no way to defend himself now that he's in the middle of an attack. Angeline stands a few inches from his chest. He didn't know she could move that way. But that calmed his mind. As his teacher, Belgriff is extremely proud.

However, instead of the blunt blow, Belgriff feels something soft b.u.mping into his chest. It's so unexpected, Belgriff falls back to the ground.

“Angie?”

Angeline drops her sword and embraces Belgriff's chest, she remains silent and begins to tremble.

Seeing the fragile figure of her daughter, Belgriff feels like all the tension that covered his body begins to disappear. He did not receive any blow in the match, but he knows he has lost. Then he puts a hand on Angeline's head and caresses her gently.

“Well done. You are, without a doubt, my daughter”.

However, Angeline lifts her face with an angry expression and looks at Belgriff. Her eyes are full of tears.

“…Apologize.”

“What?”

“You must apologize for what you said! You can't ever say that I'm not your daughter again! No matter what happens! I'll always be your daughter!” After that, Angeline buries her face in Belgriff's chest and cries.

Belgriff quickly caresses Angeline's head.

“I'm sorry. I just wanted you to take things seriously… “

“No! If you want me to forgive you, you have to hug me!”

Angeline is still angry, but when Belgriff extends his arms she embraces him without hesitation.

Belgriff doesn't think this will help improve her daughter's bad habits, but the move she just made was simply breathtaking. If she's capable of doing that in a fight against her father, then she deserves to be pampered a little. After all that has happened, Belgriff can't help but be a doting father.

As Belgriff tries to calm Angeline's crying, Anessa and Miriam can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“What a relief… I had no idea what was going to happen…”

“Yes~… But in spite of everything, it's good to see that those two still love each other~.”

Anessa and Miriam smile at that scene. However, they also remember the great power that Belgriff wielded, and they are convinced that he is worthy of his nickname, the ‘Red Ogre'.