52 – Silencing
Chapter 52 Silencing
「Malta, you are amazing!」
「I heard that you beat the bad guys. I didn’t know that you can do such amazing things!」
「Eh, uh…」
The morning after Malta was discovered to be a skewered murderer, she is being fawned over like a hero. She, who said she was being isolated, seems to can’t keep up with this situation look puzzled.
‘Why did they know? ‘, she turns such eyes to me. To such Malta, I give her a thumb up and smile.
Fuu… the strategy to reduce my value by increasing her number of friends by making the mermaids accept Malta… It’s going well.
For this reason, I put the trouble to spread that a slave hunter human was invading and she beat them to prevent it. Well, the fighting sound yesterday was loud, so there were many mermaids who worried about what happened, so I was able to convince them easily.
…No, they should have come out. They could have fought for me.
『Even if they came out, I’ll have you fight. I can’t make women fight after all.』
Stop thinking stupid things like that. There are many women that stronger than me. Even Malta, she’s stronger than me if I don’t have this cursed sword.
『Nevertheless. Or rather, not all mermaids are as strong as her. Malta is exceptional.』
Do you understand my feeling that became a friend with such exceptionally dangerous mermaid?
I want to fade out as soon as possible. That’s why I arranged for Malta to be accepted by other mermaids. If she has a lot of friends, my value will naturally fall. In the first place, I’m a human. It’s obvious that having friends with the same race is better.
What a perfect strategy…
「You did a dangerous battle for us, and you protected us, aren’t you like a hero!」
「N-no, I’m not that great… Not just me, Alistar also fought …」
Malta is still fawned over.
She took a glance at me and said unnecessary things.
Well, it is true that I fought too. Although it was lucky that my opponents are much weaker than Malta’s opponent. Still, even though they were weak, they were normally stronger than me.
Hmph…… praise me, and then become Malta’s friends, you mermaids.
「Hmm… but, isn’t that person a human too? Humans were trying to take away mermaids, so that person is a bit…」
「That’s right.」
What the hell with them. Who do they think that saved them?
There’s a limit to rudeness.
『No, you did it unwillingly, right…』
Who do you think want to fight risking one’s life for others’ sake!? And they are complete strangers you know!!
「You’re wrong! Alistar is kind and he helped us, so he shouldn’t be a bad guy!」
……I thought something like that, but Malta was desperately trying to praise me.
Stop it. It’s irritating if I’m not being thanked, but I don’t want to stand out so much because it can be a hassle.
「B-besides, if he tries to do something, I’ll beat him!」
Malta clenches her fist.
As for me, I suddenly remember the ruthless killing last night.
Please spare me from skewering…. I don’t want to die in such a cruel way…
「How reliable!」
「Thank you, Malta!」
‘Kyaakyaa’, shrill voices are showering at Malta.
I was wondering about her saying she will beat me, but it seems it has a good impression so that’s fine. Please forget me just like that. I do not want to be involved with the mermaid again.
「My, that was a disaster.」
It was Magali, the one who started talking to me while smiling.
What an annoying face. Do you want me to pinch your nose?
「Huh? Did you notice it?」
I was caught up in Magali’s words. Saying it was a disaster means she knew what happened last night.
……Don’t tell me, this woman!
「It’s a matter of course, you know? Some of the mermaids seem to be sleeping in the sea, but I’m a normal person. I was sleeping at a house on the raft. If such noisy sound is roaring, I’ll wake up and see what’s happening.」
Magali said so while sighing as if she was amazed.
T-this bastard…! Did she hide on purpose knowing that I was suffering…!?
You rotten…!
『Look who’s talking.』
「And you didn’t come out after looking at the situation?」
「That’s a matter of course. I’ll die for sure if I rushed in. Also…」
Magali grins.
「You were fighting with such bothersome face, it was fun to watch.」
That smile is precisely that of a demon. That’s unsightly!
This woman…! If you’re suffering, I won’t help you and I’ll sneer at you!
Let’s push Herge and Eria to her and make her suffer…!
「How noisy. Did something happen?」
When I and Magali were pulling each other’s cheeks, Pamela, the leader-like existence, finally came. When I saw her puzzled face, she didn’t seem to know what was really happening.
Still, I feel like she hides something and I can’t help but feel uneasy…
「Pamela-sama! Malta repelled the slave hunter that was invading here!」
One of the mermaids who praised Malta tells about her joyfully to Pamela. Then, Pamela looks at Malta in surprise.
「Malta did…?」
「Y-yes, Onee-sama…」
「…………」
Malta is fidgeting. It seems that she can’t see her sister’s face properly because of the guilt of her always holding her sister back.
However, Pamela’s face that saw such Malta is hard to describe. She’s not happy nor angry… she has a complicated expression.
「Onee-sama?」
「Is that so. You did well, Malta. I’m proud of you.」
When Malta dubiously talked at her, Pamela suddenly changed her expression to a smile and praised Malta.
Hmm, I feel there’s something hidden. I want to break off and leave them as soon as possible…
「Did you killed them?」
「I killed one, but Alistar caught them alive.」
To Malta’s words, Pamela’s gaze is pointed at me.
Don’t look!
「You are… as expected, the holy sword’s…」
Pamela mutters as she thinks something. It seemed convenient for me, so I didn’t miss to hear it.
After all, Pamela seems to want the cursed sword. It seems she will be happy if I present it to her, and I will be happy that I can let it go. Everyone will be happy.
Okay, let’s give it later.
『Are you trying to sell me!?』
The cursed sword’s sad voice reverberates inside my head.
Not sell, I’m forcing it to her for free.
『That way is more awful!!』
Rather, I’m fine paying her so she will pick this sword.
While thinking about such a thing, the man I captured was being brought.
He was pulled out before Malta, and he was so frightened. Well, the one who killed his leader in an overwhelming way of fighting is going to interrogate him while holding the trident spear, there’s no way he won’t feel scared.
「Will you tell me who’s the one that ordered you? If not…」
Malta splendidly swings the trident spear. With her ability, she can make the man’s head fly in the air if she wants it. The man’s face turned pale as he imagines that.
「H-hii!? I’ll speak!!」
Originally, he’s one of the gray guild’s members. He’s not a trained soldier that will protect information even if he dies.
Well, that’s a matter of course, everyone thinks what important is their own life. Even I will submit both the cursed sword and Magali if needed.
「We received the request from Maximilian Doles!」
……Who?
Magali and I tilt our head at the name we are not familiar with, but the mermaids seem to know, they become noisy.
「Doles… If I’m not wrong, he’s a noble who governs the nearby territory…!」
「I a human noble trying to make us slaves!?」
Hee, so he’s a noble…
…Come to think of it, the one who enslaved Silk is also a noble, right? I forgot his name though.
What? Is this country only has good-for-nothing nobles? What the hell is going on, don’t screw around, give me all the property!
『That’s unrelated.』
「Why did you know our place!?」
「That’s right. Why did you know our place?」
When one of the mermaids said so, Malta thrusts the trident spear. The man that scream a little when his cheek scratched a bit, he then easily tries to open his mouth again.
That’s right, why did they know this place?
Even though I feel like we can’t reach this place if there’s no mermaid guide us here.
Well, not that I care about them making the mermaids as slaves, but I’ll be troubled if they come attacking when I’m in a situation where I can’t pretend not to see that.
I’ll leave today, so do that tomorrow.
「That’s simple, because we――――」
「――――Enough.」
It was when the man about to say something important.
When Pamela said so with a cold tone, she took out something similar to Malta’s trident spear from somewhere…
Then, the man was beheaded.
「Wha…!?」
Hiee….
「Hiee…」
Marta and the mermaids are stunned. Magali and I tremble inside.
The eyes of fears and doubts of why Pamela did that are turned toward her.
「Now we know the mastermind, there’s no need to keep this human alive. We have to immediately do something about the cause.」
「Y-yes…」
Pamela smiled brightly to these girls.
To her words, the mermaids other than Malta seem to can only nod.
…I can only see it as if she killed him to seal his mouth though. It must be that no matter how you think about it.
There was some air where I couldn’t trust her, but now I’m convinced.
If something happens, let’s leave the cursed sword and sacrifice Magali, then break off with Malta and escape to my homeland.
I strengthen my determination and start to think about escaping from this place.
