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Dialogue With The Butler
An hour later, I was being thrown into a dusty storeroom within the mansion’s premises in silence. I was suddenly tied up and hung down from the ceiling. Some young men came in. They had sticks in their hands.
Oi, no way, right? What were you doing? I certainly touched the young lady. I touched her? But, if I had not done that, the young lady would have been over by the carriage, y’know?
Aah, I see. I chased the young lady around without even contacting the maids in the surroundings in the first place. If things had gone well, she would not have been able to escape. But, it all depended on the situation. How could I look for the servants scattered about in the city when the young lady was about to fall victim to that suspicious man?
Damn it. Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, I regret not resisting. Why does it turn out this way.
I tried explaining without giving up. If I got a punishment after that, there was nothing I could do then.
「Umm」
My voice was hoarse and I could not speak well. It was a situation where I was about to get lynched. Even if I had a near-death experience, this was something you get used to.
「It couldn’t be helped earlier. There was a suspicious man, with the young lady」
I thought I heard the sound of something whooshing, and then I felt a sharp pain on the sole of my foot. I couldn't even let out a groan.
「I was almost attacked, you know」
A second wave of pain shot through my body.
Sonofab-. They’ll hit me if I say anything, huh?
No. That was not the case. What happened just now was just a coincidence and either way, the punishment was about to start. Before long, countless sticks hit my entire body.
It was around sunset.
I was lying alone in the usual children’s room.
It was unbearably painful no matter what position I was in. The sole of my foot was hit and I couldn't stand now. And my back was also hit so I couldn’t lie on my back. So I lay face down, but this time, each time I breathed, my undershirt rubbed against my back, making my back hurt.
At least they seemed to still be aware of my commercial value as they did not hit my face and stomach. But, that wasn’t that much of a comfort in this pain.
I was indignant.
It was not me who helped the young lady run away from the mansion. Even if the reason she snuck away from the mansion was that she wanted the savings box I brought in, that didn't mean I urged her to run away.
Certainly, I did expose her to danger when securing the young lady. But, what would have happened if I were to take it slow to ask for help? I did what I had to do, and I ended up like this.
I knew it well enough. No matter how hard I work here, I wouldn’t be rewarded. On the contrary, I would just get into trouble. In that case.
Just as I was about to make up my mind, the door behind me opened.
Wondering who it was, I slightly shifted my body and sneaked a glance toward the entrance.
It was Ifroz, with a stern expression on his face. Nah, he always had this kind of expression.
He was as taciturn as always, and there was a kind of atmosphere that felt like he would not allow any careless remark.
I wonder why he came here for.
He should just talk if he has any business with me. Was it a dismissal? That was perfectly fine. Am I going to be returned? That was not something I’m happy about. That was not something I want Myluc to see. Even though the other children were also sold to nobles, the most brilliant children, me was.....even though I should be able to do the tasks even children could do.....that was too uncool.
But, Ifroz remains silent. Was he waiting for me to speak? That was probably it. Whether it was complaints or grudges that came out of my mouth. He was going to respond depending on that.
I won’t fall for that. If you had business with me, you’re the one who should talk first. I just kept lying face-down.
「Not even a greeting, Fay?」
Che.
「You can see with just a look, right? It’s hard to even speak」
「Hmm」
Dragging a chair from his feet, Ifroz sat down.
「Do you know why you ended up like this?」
「I don’t」
「I heard you’re a smart kid」
I was annoyed at his way of talking.
I slowly raised my body, sat down on my sore bottom, and turned to face him.
「Is it because I touched the young lady? If I hadn’t done that, she would have been dead by now, you know? Is it because I chased the young lady around? Is it because I surprised her? Or because I didn’t call for help? If I hadn’t beaten up that perverted old man right then and there, she would have been eaten alive by him long ago! Or, is it because I found her? If that’s the cause, then I have to agree」
「Hmm」
Ifroz’s expression relaxed a little.
「It seems like you’re quite unhappy」
「Yeah」
「But, you are a slave. You are not free yet」
Not really. I glared back at Ifroz. Even if it was you, I won’t be scared now. Let’s sneak out from this mansion today. A mansion where they could not even keep watch over a single girl. There was no way they could catch a flying bird.
「Hou?」
Perhaps he grasped my intent from my gaze. Ifroz lets out an amused voice.
「You’re going to leave outside just like the young lady? But, even if you did that, what would it change? There is no place where a single child can live. In addition, if a slave were to escape on their own, they would just become a wanted person as long as they are in this country. And if you are caught that time, you will become a criminal slave, you know?」
Was that something like a threat?
I scornfully laughed.
「Hohou, confident in getting away, huh?」
But, I managed to say it, suppressing the agitation inside me as much as I could. If possible, I wanted to be free after I’ve properly secured my position. That was why I am content with my current position.
「Give me one month」
「Hm」
「I will, buy myself back if you let me move freely. There won’t be any complaints with this, right?」
At that, Ifroz’s smile disappeared.
「What?」
「I said, I will earn the money to buy myself back, so set me free in return」
「You, did you forget your winning bid?」
「It was 6000 gold coins, right」
If I was serious about it, that amount was no big deal for me. I could just steal the body of someone rich and buy myself back. Even if there were no person with such wealth, I could simply become the Viscount himself. Someone like Ifroz would probably notice something strange about it, but he would have no proof anyway. Or I could just erase all those eyesores.
On top of which, I would buy myself back in accordance with legal procedures. I could also escape and make the situation vague but I don’t want to get punished later.
「How are you going to do it」
「There’s no reason to tell you」
He narrowed his eyes, seeing my confident demeanor.
「Then, why did you become a slave? It would be better if you could buy yourself back before being sold, right?」
That was an excellent question. But, I had a good reason for that. I had no obligation to tell him and I didn’t want to, but I’ll just tell him a part of the reason while leaving the essence of my plan.
「Because I thought there was something to learn」
「What?」
That was the reason I still hadn’t stolen the experience from the human around me ever since I came here. I thought I was acting carefully back in the housing facility but Dona, Tamaria, and Myluc partly figured it out. It was good that they all became my friends, but I didn't want to make that kind of mistake here.
Besides, I still hadn’t seen the greatest treasure in this mansion at all.
「Although it is a branch family, it is still a lineage of nobles with a history. I thought there was probably a precious collection of books.....and there must be excellent leaders around」
Even if I took away their skills, it wouldn’t change anything. If there was no opportunity to learn any knowledge. It was my honest thought that there would be plenty of opportunities here.
Ifroz frowned at that. As expected, he didn’t get angry. But, my statements were almost a provocation to him. He was told that I decided to serve this House since I thought it was a prominent noble house but then I told him there was no capable person here, and it was worthless. And the man who managed that worthless noble house was Ifroz himself.
「First」
Perhaps he was trying to calm himself down as he deliberately spoke in a gentle tone while reseating himself.
「The shortage of talented people.....it is due to my negligence and lack of ability as the steward. But, that does not harm the honor of House Tviety itself」
A common honor student answer. Hmph.
「As for the collection of books.....even this Viscount House has quite a few. But, there are steps in everything. Only when the loyalty to the master and achievements have been recognized can the door of knowledge be opened」
「Do you.....seriously think so?」
I decided to speak politely for the time being. Honestly, I wanted to say ‘Are you stupid?’.
Even so, despite my polite words, he noticed I had an entirely different view and gestured to me to continue.
「First, provide the opportunity to learn. People who will grow, will grow. Shouldn’t that come first?」
「It is fine to grow, but that will have no meaning if they do not have loyalty to the master」
「It’s the opposite. A master who helps their servants grow is worthy of serving. The people who get cast off are those worthless types who can’t even understand the benefits being handed to them」
「Hmm」
「And so, are the servants in this mansion truly loyal in the first place? Everyone is only thinking of avoiding responsibilities. Whether the adults or the children, they are all the same」
「Okay, that’s alright」
Ifroz rose from his chair.
「I would like to give you a month to see if you can really prepare the money to buy yourself back, but.....」
I thought I could see a faint, really faint smile on his face.
「Unfortunately, I can not give you that kind of time off」
Naturally, my gaze also became stern. I didn't need any rest. I’ll just leave quietly. Only, before that....it seemed that I was going to take some experiences from Ifroz.
He continued, without paying attention to me.
「However.....I can not just keep quiet when you say you can not learn anything from the Viscount House. Very well」
No matter what he said, I couldn’t care less.....it was fine, wasn’t it?
So, were you going to show me the Viscount House book collection? I especially want to look at the magic books at all costs.
But, he spoke as if he could see through my thoughts.
「I will consider your reassignment. First, you will have to get the result in that place. And, if you can prove that you have the ability you just mentioned.....I will put in a good word for you to the master. In any event, you have to first break free from your status as a slave with your own effort」
I accepted it despite feeling slightly disappointed.
The conversation just now was mostly a complete failure for me. Nothing good ever came out of speaking according to emotion. What went wrong? It went without saying. I declared I have no loyalty to the Viscount House and that I could leave anytime I wanted.
After hearing this, would he show me their treasured books? There was no way.
My ability allows me to steal others’ abilities but it was impossible to steal their knowledge. That was why, my boujutsu/staff technique was self-taught and as for magic, I could not use anything else other than the one I stole from Irich. I may be able to forcibly steal the book collection of the Viscount House, but when it came to the basic skills of specialized skills, such as reading and writing the magic letters, I needed to be taught at least once. Because I thought like that, I was trying to rise in the Viscount House. And yet.
Oh well, if I looked for another teacher somewhere, I could just ignore all the small details and just take anything I could right away and run away, but.....
「Also.....the reason I came here, is to give these to you」
What he had in his hand was the custom-made savings box.....and of all things, my necklace. That was right, the string had snapped during the beating earlier. It had fallen on the floor and I was unable to get it, but it seems that Ifroz picked it up.
「Such a strange necklace」
Not good.
Ifroz had a skill related to pharmacology. It was possible that he realized those lumps of resin were not just decoration.
「I got it as a gift. Seems that it’s cheap stuff」
Even so, I could only play dumb. At worst, even if the secret were exposed, Ifroz had no means to avoid my Piercing Hand. Since I could silence him anytime, I still have some leeway.
But, he showed no further interest in the necklace.
「Also, this ring」
That was given to me by Myluc. It was an unrefined piece made of silver.
「This, where did you get this?」
「Someone gave it to me」
「Hm, who?」
Perhaps he thought it was something valuable, since it was made of silver. Maybe I stole it?
「The one who sold me, that slave merchant」
「What?」
For an instant, strength filled Ifroz’s eyes.
「Myluc Necamel, personally passed this to you.....are you sure?」
「Yes. You can check with him yourself if you like」
At that moment, Ifroz’s expression was indescribable. How should I put it, he looked sullen.
After a short pause, he finally spoke.
「At that time, what did he say to you?」
「Eh?」
「Do you remember what he said back then?」
If you ask whether I remembered or not, I remembered. Certainly, I remembered hearing about Myluc’s past. But of course, I could not speak of that in this place.
「He told me to go and meet his brother Tiz, who is going to be patriarch of the Necamel clan someday」
This shouldn’t be a problem to tell. And I’m not lying.
Ifroz stood still for a while after hearing that. Many thoughts seemed to be crossing his mind.
「I see」
By the time he said that aloud, he had already regained his composure, however.
「I will return this」
He gently placed the necklace and ring next to me while I huddled in pain.
「That’s right, one more thing」
He turned his back and was about to leave the room and then he turned around as if he remembered something.
「I would like to thank you for protecting the young lady. It was almost irrecoverable」
Before I knew it, he had returned to his usual expressionless face. Now that it had come to this, I could no longer even guess what he was thinking.
「……there are things worth seeing in our Viscount House, Fay. You will understand it soon」
After saying only that, he closed the door and left. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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