Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy
Saul
Two hours before midnight
People of this world typically went to sleep much earlier than back in Japan, but now, with the festival just around the corner, the streets were bustling with lights from the stalls and drunk people walking around.
Amidst all of this… I was wandering alone, aimlessly searching for someone.
“Tch… Still no sign of him.”
Just days ago, I had felt the gaze of that “Death Serpent” once more.
Since that encounter, I had been unable to rid myself of the compulsion to search for him. Yet despite venturing into the city’s lively streets, no trace of him could be found—not even a shadow.
Had the sensation from that day been nothing more than my imagination? A hopeful thought flickered in my mind.
Determined to call it a day, I turned on my heel.
It was pure coincidence that I noticed the voices.
Upon returning to the grand arena, I heard familiar tones from a secluded spot near the entrance. Turning toward the sound, I saw them—
“You’re…”
“Oh, my… What a coincidence to see you here, Your Highness.”
“No need to refer to me as ‘Your Highness’, just call me Saul. It’s more comfortable that way. You’re Folse-san, right? And Shin.”
The boy, Shin, bowed deeply, his nervous demeanor evident.
Seeing him here confirmed a suspicion—Folse, a former player, was connected to my earlier suspicions.
“Shin-kun here is my subordinate. Managing the merchant guild alone would be impossible, so I rely on him as my right-hand man. Though… he’s a bit too honest for his own good.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Folse chuckled while Shin shrank back, their camaraderie clear.
But that’s not the issue.
“…Why are you in a place like this at such an hour?”
They were currently standing around a deserted spot next to the arena, with a view of the towers that were the VIP residential area.
“Simply scouting an evacuation route. As the Prime Minister’s aide, I must ensure his safety in case of emergency.”
“…Very well. I’ll take your word for it.”
Shin nodded, albeit stiffly, so I let the matter drop for now.
“Shall we move to another location? Lingering here might invite unwarranted suspicion.”
“Agreed.”
I didn’t have to follow them, but curiosity about their motives urged me forward.
As I walked, my hand briefly checked the hidden weight beneath my tunic.
They led me to a tavern on the main island across the bridge.
Inside, the festive crowd thrummed with activity. Folse spoke briefly to a staff member, slipping him something, and we were ushered to a private room in the back.
The room had a subdued interior, furnished with high-quality sofa and table.
“This is a soundproof room used for business discussion. Please, take a seat.”
I complied, settling onto one side of the sofa.
“Would you like a drink? Alcohol, perhaps?”
“No, tea will suffice. I’ve never been much of a drinker.”
“Alright.”
Folse placed the order, and the waitress who were serving us took her leave.
…The items he picked from the menu clearly took some time to prepare, so I guess he intends to hold a long discussion.
“First, let us celebrate this chance meeting between fellow players.”
“If you say so. But you aren’t the original guild master of Sea Breeze, are you? What happened to him?”
“He… didn’t make it here.”
Folse’s expression turned somber as he gripped his glass.
“He wasn’t much for level grinding, preferring to take things at his own pace. From what I’ve gathered, only those who achieved third-tier tertiary class were transported to this world. Would you agree?”
“Yes. I’ve yet to encounter a player who didn’t meet that criterion.”
Folse nodded knowingly, a truth he seemed resigned to accept.
“If that’s the case… then there’s no way he could have ended up here. Perhaps that’s for the best—he wouldn’t have thrived in a place like this.”
“Yeah… I have to agree.”
With a shrug of his shoulders, Folse dismissed the matter.
“So, I have something to ask you.”
“Please, Saul-san, ask away.”
“I’ve heard words about a mutual aid organization for former WGO players. Am I correct in assuming it’s the same as your Sea Breeze Company?”
It wasn’t so much a question as a confirmation.
After all, Shin, who was nervously listening to our conversation nearby, already made it a certainty.
“Yes, that’s correct. I’ve also heard about yesterday’s events from Shin-kun. It seems we caused you some trouble… My apologies.”
He bowed his head surprisingly sincerely, catching me off guard. Internally, I smiled wryly at my earlier assumption that their organization would behave more arrogantly.
“Um! Things may seem problematic now, but originally, the reason we reorganized Sea Breeze into a mutual aid group was simply because it was necessary!”
Shin burst out, unable to contain himself.
” Yes, just as he says. On the western continent where we were based, many players were stranded and unable to return to their home regions. Three months ago, when we were first sent here, the situation was truly chaotic.”
“I see… It must have been quite the ordeal.”
The former players, thrown into a new and unfamiliar world, were caught in a maelstrom of confusion.
Particularly on the western continent, which, compared to the other three major continents, had a notably smaller number of players. In the in-game population surveys, the western continent lagged far behind the northern, southern, and even eastern continents in terms of player presence.
Even so, a large number of players made their way to the western continent because it was home to many merchant guilds, making it an ideal place for trade and searching for items.
As such, when we were sent to this world, many of them found themselves separated from their original homes and isolated.
The players on the western continent, having lost their support systems, were plunged into turmoil. To manage this chaos, an organization was urgently needed to serve as a unifying force, even if it was hastily assembled and fraught with imperfections.
And it was the Sea Breeze, reorganized and renamed the Sea Breeze Trading Company, that managed to achieve this.
“…However, entering the market proved was more challenging for us upstarts than we anticipated.”
Folse said bitterly. He explained that while they had managed to grow by leveraging knowledge from the original world that was profitable in this one and by gradually turning the fringes of existing powers over to their side, they were reaching their limits. A toxic atmosphere was starting to permeate their organization.
“Nowadays, I’ve secured the Prime Minister’s support and gained some advantages, but even so, we’ve hit a ceiling. Soon, it’ll be our turn to fall apart.”
It seemed that several recruitment offers had already been extended to Folse and other talented individuals within the group.
Though no one had left yet, the day would come when someone would accept an offer, and once one or two departed, the rest of the organization would collapse like a house of cards.
“When that happens, those who aren’t valuable enough to receive offers will inevitably be left adrift again. The Western Trade Confederation is a meritocracy, for better or worse. It’s a land where no one will take care of the weak or useless.”
With that, Folse placed his hands on his knees and bowed deeply.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but I beg you. Saul-san, won’t you lend us your support?”
—It was about what I expected from this meeting.
Hearing rumors of their recruitment attempts, I had suspected that the offer would eventually come our way.
Folse’s demeanor thus far had been nothing but sincere.
And yet…
“To unite everyone, we need a symbol. Someone with strong, centralizing influence.”
“Why don’t you do it yourself? You’re the leader, aren’t you?”
“Unlike the guild master, I’m not fit for such a role. I’m well aware of my limitations. I’m much more suited for working behind the scene.”
Though he spoke humbly, I could sense otherwise.
“Let me ask you something. Is it really my cooperation that you want?”
The tension between the two of them was palpable as they noticed the shift in my demeanor.
It was true that I currently am the Prince of Norglacier.
Both Reiji and I had honed our skills through combat experience. Among the players sent to this world, I was confident that we were among the strongest.
Yet, even so, I doubted our influence was significant enough to serve as the unifying force they sought.
And… within our group, there was another—someone who held immense sway among both the players and the people of this world.
“As expected, you’re quick to understand. Yes, what I truly want is… the cooperation of Miss Iris.”
“……And?”
“Among the players sent to this world, she is the only one worthy of holding such a position as the symbol to unite everyone.”
“Is that position a puppet for you people to manipulate?”
“Don’t say such harsh words. I believe that Miss Iris, with her boundless charisma… she’s…”
At that moment, his words faltered.
“…Folse-san?”
Folse suddenly fell silent, mumbling incoherently with a vacant expression. Alarmed by his odd behavior, Shin tugged at his sleeve, calling out to him.
Folse shook his head and took a sip of water from his glass, seemingly regaining his composure.
“…My apologies. Would you consider our request?”
“Sorry, but not a chance.”
I cut him off decisively, my answer having been decided long before I came here.
“You mentioned earlier that you preferred working behind the scenes. Cut the crap. Someone with eyes like yours could never be content with such a role.”
I had realized this the first time we met, during that gathering.
From the moment Iris, who sat next to me, showed the faintest hint of fear, I had been suspicious, and that suspicion had grown.
The gentle demeanor he wore was merely a mask. His eyes betrayed a buried pride and vanity.
“What exactly do you plan to have Iris do? Do you think people will simply accept it if a princess from Norglacier suddenly becomes the head of a western trading company?”
“That’s…”
“What you need to climb higher are achievements, wealth… and status, isn’t it? A rising merchant marrying a princess from the northern continent would be quite the story, wouldn’t it? Enough to garner popular support—and even a bid for next year’s prime minister election, don’t you think?”
My relentless words left both of them silent.
“No matter what you’re playing at, your real aim is to bind Iris to your organization and slowly claim her for yourself. If that’s the case, from this moment forward, you are my enemy.”
“…It seems negotiations have broken down. In that case, I’ll have no choice but to speak with her directly—!”
I didn’t let him finish.
Perhaps he couldn’t react in time—or perhaps he chose not to. Either way, my blade, Artorius, was already pressed against his neck.
“Silence.”
I spoke only that single word, pouring all my fury into it.
It was true that if he approached Iris directly, she wouldn’t be able to ignore him.
Iris bore heavy sense of guilt—the belief that the events leading to our arrival in this world, and her existence as a Lightwing race, were all orchestrated for her. If he emphasized helping other former players, she might just be persuaded. In the worst case, she might even agree to such a plan out of sheer desperation.
This was, after all—whether intentionally or not—a calculated move to exploit Iris’ most critical weakness.
There would be no happiness for Iris if she was led down this path.
“I couldn’t care less if all of you were kicked out on the streets. To me, only Iris’ happiness matters. And there’s no happiness for her within your organization.”
Only one person could bring her that happiness now. And if anyone stands in our way… I will surely eliminate them.
“Saul-san, that’s going too far…!”
“Calm down, Shin. He just hasn’t given this matter some proper thought… Well, not yet.”
Said Folse, his face pale and beads of sweat forming on his brow as he tried to reassure the boy with him.
“Yeah, not yet.”
Should my mood shift, I could slit his throat and paint this room red with his blood in an instant. I whispered those thoughts, laced with murderous intent, and Folse raised his hands in surrender.
“I see now… It seems I’ve misjudged you. I thought you were a rational and composed person. But it appears you’re more of a hothead than anyone else.”
Folse shrugged in resignation.
He could say whatever he wanted. Keeping my blade against his neck, I closed the distance and sneered.
“Folse-san, are you an only child?”
“Yes, I am. Why?”
“Then let me enlighten you. Throughout history, big brothers have always been very protective of their little sisters.”
“I… don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“It’s simple, really…”
Suppressing the black, raging flames threatening to erupt from Artorius’ blade, I leaned closely and whispered into his ear.
“This is what I mean: I will never entrust my precious little sister to the likes of you.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Satisfied for now with his strained response, I withdrew Artorius from his neck and slid it back into its sheath at my side.
“Please do. Unlike us, who were too preoccupied with our own survival, you’ve worked tirelessly for the other players in this world, and for that, you are worthy of respect. That’s why I’d rather not seriously have to take your head.”
I smiled faintly, subtly implying that I might do it if necessary, and stepped back.
“My apologies for my sudden rudeness. I hope we can still build a positive relationship moving forward.”
“…You are a terrifying individual. Far more than I anticipated.”
“That makes two of us, doesn’t it?”
I had made my point clear.
However, I suspected he understood that the proposal he’d made could still appeal to Iris.
In other words, this was a draw.
As I left the private room, his faint, bitter laughter lingered in the air behind me.
Making my way across the bridge that connected to the bustling grand arena, packed with throngs of people, I walked with purpose. Yet, for some reason, not a single person collided with me as I strode swiftly through the crowd.
APM - Translation 