abcnovels
Chapter 272: Why are you this......
Chapter 272: Why are you this......
Chapter 272: Why are you this......
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Our next course of action has finally been decided.
With the meeting over, the group disbanded.
The Seven Warlights started leaving the room one after another.
At that moment though......
[Ummm, Belzegia———-, ......A moment?]
Calling out to me was Lieselotte Ornick.
Her body turned towards me, she had her arms loosely folded in front of her.
However, with her gaze turned away, she asked.
[Do you have something you need to do after this?]
Thinking about her question, Looked at my pocket watch once.
[I have some time before the evening appointment with the Mad Emperor. Yeah, I have time.]
[C- Can you...... come to my room?]
[Your room?]
[Ah, well...... I wouldn’t mind even if you refuse. It’s not that important anyway.]
It seems like she wanted to talk about something.
However, it probably isn’t about the direction of this country.
I guess it would be something personally about Liese huh.
[Alright——— Seras, you return to our room first.]
As if she understood what was going on, Seras bowed.
[Understood. I’ll go back first.]
And thus, I went straight to Liese’s room in the castle.
?
[For a private room, this place doesn’t have a lot of decorations, does it?]
With its appearance, it wouldn’t have been strange if she called this her office.
Though I say that, it’s probably wide enough for a private room.
Well, she’s the Prime Minister of the country after all.
Besides, even though it’s unadorned, it’s cleanly furnished.
Even though it looked plain, that doesn’t mean “it’s not gaudy”.
The room could be described as a uniform room with its calm color scheme.
At the back of the room, I could see a simple kitchen space.
I could also see what seemed like a restroom.
There’s also a room where you could have a light bath.
It seemed like this room could handle most of people’s daily needs.
Being the Prime Minister, she must be busy, so she probably needs a room like this.
As for the other rooms......
There seems to be another room behind the room we’re in———
[? Ahh, that’s my bedroom. It’s...... a bit messy at the moment, so I’d rather not invite you in.]
As Liese recommended that I sit on the couch, I sat down.
In front of the couch is a long table.
This table seemed like it had plenty of space for about eight people to eat on.
According to Liese, she sometimes held light meetings with the Ornicks in this room.
There were a few chairs for other species near the wall.
However, it seemed like a chair for a humanoid had been prepared in advance.
Pouring water from a jug into a silver cup, Liese places it in front of me.
Bam!
[Here you go!]
[Thanks.]
As if to brush my words aside, Liese snorted.
I could clearly see the slight blush on her cheeks though.
It seemed that unlike Seras, this Arachne’s expression easily shows on her face.
[Listen here, okay!? Drink that and just wait right there! ......It would be just a moment, so quietly wait right there!]
Pointing at me while sternly saying this, she then turns towards the kitchen.
As she began moving about, I observed the back of Liese’s head.
It seems like she started a fire.
Eventually, a fragrant smell drifted into the air.
[Sorry, Belzegia...... Just wait a bit longer.]
[No, you don’t really need to hurry.]
She’s putting a lot of effort into this.
It doesn’t seem like she’s used to cooking.
Heck, she probably doesn’t usually stand in the kitchen that much.
Waiting leisurely on my seat, I took off my mask and sipped some water.
[Hmmm? Tonoa Water huh.]
Moreover, it tastes a little different from the normal one.
The one I’m drinking now tastes sweeter.
Hearing my words, with her back still turned towards me, Liese responded.
[That’s my homemade Tonoa Water...... Something I drink when I’m tir——– Ouch!]
[You alright there?]
[I- I’m alright! How rude!]
[Just in case what I thought happened, you need to cool the burnt area.]
[I——— I know...... Uuuu...... T- Thank you for the concern.]
[......................]
I guess she invited me here to cook for me huh......?
Soon after, Liese brought a wooden tray with plates on it.
However......
[Wait...... W- Why the heck are you unmasked!?]
[Well, I can’t drink with the mask on. I also can’t eat whatever you’re serving me.]
While cooking, Liese kept her back to me.
So, she hadn’t noticed that I had taken off my mask.
I thought she’d realize it when I sipped the Tonoa Water.
Still holding the tray, Liese stopped in place.
[————-I- Is that how you really look?]
[Does it look like I’m wearing any other mask? I mean, you already know that I’m human, right? I don’t think you should be surprised now.]
Then again......
I guess in her mind, someone who usually wore a full-face mask had taken off their mask.
With that in mind, I guess it’s not surprising that she was surprised.
[Well...... I was originally wearing it because I don’t really want to feel out of place in a country filled with Demi-Humans and Monsters.]
Of course, it meant that I had been hiding my true identity in the earlier fight outside the door.
It’s also to avoid having my facial features be circulated around Alion’s side.
But right now, it’s just Liese and I here in this room.
[Though I say that, I’d still like to keep my face hidden as much as possible. I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell anyone about my facial features.]
[Yes, I understand. Everyone has their own different situations after all. I’m not going to pry!]
[Thanks.]
[......Hmph.]
A little embarrassed, Liese observed me with her eyes half-opened.
[ ? ]
[Y- You...... look like that huh. You look different from what I expected.]
[Disappointed?]
[———–, Is that something I have to answer!? Look, that aside, I’m done cooking!]
[You’re the one who brought it up though......]
[I’m sorry then! Like I said, look, I’m done cooking——-]
In contrast to the roughness of her voice, Liese gently placed the tray on the table.
Even so...... This Arachne really is that easy to understand.
For example, if I were to point out one easily recognizable feature......
When she was embarrassed, her two forelegs had the habit of fidgeting.
I wonder, do spider’s legs express their emotions more easily than a humanoid’s arms?
I guess it’s something like a cat’s tail.
That aside......
It smells good.
[This...... is my way of apologizing and thanking you. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do in a situation like this...... The only thing I could think of was to serve you food. See, you didn’t get a good meal while you were fighting, right!? Since you’re hungry, I thought I’d just fill your stomach!]
Guess that’s obvious.
[J- Just eat it before it gets cold! The heck is your problem now!?]
She’s feeling embarrassed.
Embarrassed and tired.
Perhaps, she may have been agitated.
You’re getting rather tense there, Lieselotte Ornick......
——–Fumu, even so......
[Putting aside the appearance, it smells good.]
Its aroma softly drifted in the air.
What an appetizing smell.
It kinda resembles German fries.
It looks...... in a bad way, soggy.
I heard that they were already boiled before they were fried them, but perhaps, were they overboiled?
There were even some that didn’t manage to keep their shape.
The size of the sliced vegetables were also oddly inconsistent.
The amount of greens seems to be just right but......
[E- Even if it looks like that, I already did the best of my limits......! Uuuu...... If you don’t want to, y- you don’t have to eat it......]
......If I were to point out what’s most distinctive about this dish......
It would that it’s covered with this deep red sauce.
Looking at it......
I have this feeling that it’s hot sauce.
Well, putting my misgivings aside——-
[Nom.]
I decided to try it out.
......................
Hmm?
No, this......
[Tastes good.]
[Really!? ——–, ......It’s just I told you, didn’t I!? Hmph! I’m the Ornick Tribe’s Chief after all! ......Does it really taste good?]
[It looks really bad though.]
[Ughhh...... It looks the same when you eat it anyway......]
[I guess so.]
I mean......
That I’m actually hungry is true though.
Unnn.
The sauce on it isn’t bad either.
I think this sauce meshes well with fries.
[It certainly may look like that, but the ingredients used in that sauce have a calming effect. It will give you a good night’s sleep, which is especially needed by those who use their brains. However, it’s a precious commodity, so I can’t make too much of it...... It would be troubling if you ask for more.]
In short......
A dish filled with Liese’s care and attention.
Perhaps, the fact that it’s boiled that they weren’t able to keep their shape is also a consideration to make it easier to digest.
After I finished eating, Liese took the seat in front of me.
[Ummm...... What happened today was really my fault. I’m sorry.]
Hearing what she said, I took a sip of my Tonoa Water.
[I already received your apology before.]
[I just want to properly say it...... My thanks.]
Straightening up, Liese bowed her head.
[Thank you very much. With your help and advice, this country has been saved——— I, Faraway Country’s Prime Minister, Lieselotte Ornick, personally express my gratitude.]
I see.
In short, this is what she wanted to tell me.
This is why she wanted to talk to me, one on one.
How conscientious.
[The swelling in your face.]
[Eh?]
[It has abated quite a bit.]
[Y- Yes......]
Liese touched her cheek.
It’s still a little swollen, but the injury wasn’t as serious as I thought.
[I had it examined, and it apparently wasn’t as bad as it looked...... Then, I had a Centaur from the Meiru Tribe use Recovery Magic on me...... They also plastered medicine on it...... and a little colorant.]
Saying this, she wryly smiled.
It’s possible that the healing process is faster than natural healing because she employed various means of treatment.
However, Mikhail did say that she was going to send Liese and the others to a brothel.
In that case, there’s a possibility that he was taking it easy on them.
However, the fear Liese felt at that time should be real.
The mental pain may have hurt more deeply than the physical pain.
[The reinforcements at the final stage of the war...... You did really great sending them. Thanks to that, the fight against the 7th Cavalry is much easier.]
[Ahh, that huh...... I thought that the more of us in the field, the fewer deaths we’d have.]
[You say all that, but I think your ability to persuade others is quite impressive.]
Dropping down her face, a self-deprecating smile appears on Liese’s lips.
[......No, that’s not true. I just—— honestly asked them for help. Admitting that I made a mistake...... I asked them for help to save my friends who are fighting outside. That’s why...... The credit for those reinforcements doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to everyone in this country, they who still kept on believing in me.]
Closing her eyes, Liese clenched both fists in front of her stomach.
[And there, I understood...... I’ve only been able to be an “excellent Prime Minister” thanks to the goodwill of everyone in the country...... So, it wasn’t that “I” was excellent...... Because they place their trust in me——– in Lieselotte Ornick, I misunderstood that I can do everything......]
Opening her eyes, Liese softly mutters.
[......Hey, can you tell me why?]
[Tell you what?]
[This negotiation with Mira. I didn’t object to it at that time......but why did you choose me to represent the country? If it’s a representative, King Zect or Qir would have......]
[Just now, you said that “the credit belongs to everyone”, right?]
[Y- Yes......]
[This victory...... That “everyone” also includes you, doesn’t it?]
[———————–]
[Indeed, the people who responded to your plea may originally have been good people. However...... The one who decided to send reinforcements outside——— is no other than you, Lieselotte Ornick. Even if you were to ask anyone, that achievement is no one else’s but yours. You made a great judgment...... At least, I’m grateful for that judgment you made back then. Just keep that in mind.]
[......................]
Hearing my words, her mouth pursed.
Liese———- Even as she looked like she was about to cry, desperately held it back.
[W- Why...... Why!?]
[..................]
[Even though...... I said all those horrible things to you! Even though I’ve said so many terrible things! In the end..... Everything I thought was wrong...... and because of it, I exposed everyone to danger......, ———and yet, why do you......! Why———]
However, it seems like Liese was unable to hold it back anymore.
[Why are you this kind to me......]
The answer to this——— is actually something simple.
Yes......
[There’s nothing special to it. It’s just something simple.]
[......................]
[It was because Lieselotte Ornick hadn’t done anything that “enraged me”.]
For example, the 6th Cavalry.
They certainly infuriated me.
[In a way, I’m unable to look at someone objectively. Judging someone if they’re righteous or ethical....... isn’t something I can do. That’s something I would do either. It’s only whether I’m displeased with someone or not———– In short, if they had incurred “my” wrath. That’s all there is to me.]
In other words......
[For me, Lieselotte Ornick isn’t someone I’m that displeased with. That’s why, I will remain kind to you and I wouldn’t eliminate you. It’s that simple.]
Yes.
Like my own parents.
Like that sh*tty goddess who treats people with contempt.
Like those irredeemable b*stards I’ve encountered in this world.
Compared to them, what she did isn’t that big of a deal.
Thus, for me, Liese isn’t like them.
That’s the only reason why.
Thereupon, I jokingly spoke.
[Well, the Lieselotte Ornick back then was astonishingly narrow-minded...... stubborn and awfully aggressive...... cheeky and unafraid to use hurtful words——— You really were quite horrible back then.]
Hearing my words, she tried to make her body look smaller.
[......Uuuuu, I’m sorry.]
[However, you’re different now.]
[.....................]
[The current Lieselotte Ornick has a wider perspective...... You’ve learned to be flexible and listen to the opinions of others, and isn’t unreasonably aggressive...... You’re still rather cheeky——— but well, I guess that’s just your personality———, ......but anyhow, you have also become considerate in the words you say to others.]
[......Is that right?]
[Yeah, your efforts are paying off.]
[However, cheeky, me?]
[It’s your personality, so I think it’s alright.]
[You aren’t denying it......]
[Even if I try to compliment you, there are just things that couldn’t be helped, you know?]
[......Uuuuuu......]
Thereupon, I noticed Liese’s forelegs were entwined together.
[That means...... You’re being honest in your other evaluations...... Uuuuu......]
[I’d have thought that the Prime Minister would be used to getting compliments.]
[———S- Shut up. Whether you’d get embarrassed or not depends on who compliments you, right?]
[You get embarrassed when I compliment you?]
[That is———- Y- You’re misunderstanding things here, aren’t you!?]
[ ? ]
[ ? ]
Thereupon, softly muttering “That’s not it......”,
[Don’t you dare misunderstand, okay!?]
She rephrased it.
It seems like she misspoke.
Well, indeed...... I wonder what she’d do if I did misunderstand anything though.
[Anyway, I’m counting on you in the evening negotiations.]
[I- I’ll try...... You and Seras are coming with me, right?]
[Yeah.]
[Will you help me at that time?]
[Naturally.]
[That’s great. I’m really going to rely on you, okay......?]
[You can rely on me.]
[I’m going...... to rely on you and the others after all.]
[......................]
Faraway Country’s Prime Minister, Lieselotte Ornick.
She can now upfrontly ask for help from the people around her.
Not just giving self-righteous directives from up top......
She has come to be able to listen to the opinions of those around her.
As a Prime Minister, I suppose she has grown a step better.
?
When I returned to my room, Seras greeted me.
[Welcome back, Touka-sama.]
[......I’m back.]
The words “I’m back” naturally came out of my mouth.
How should I say this......
I wonder if this is how husbands feel when they come home from work.
Unintentionally———- I thought about such an insignificant thing.