Hi everyone! It’s the TL, Hasr.

So over the weekend, I found someone using our TLs and making money off them. I won’t name them, coz that’ll just publicise them and I don’t want them to get more hits or link them anywhere on my site. How do I know they’re our TLs? Because they clearly have the same titles for the chapters and very oddly have chapter 11 labeled as chapter 13. Which was an error I did (but fixed a while later).

While I don’t have anything against people sharing my TLs or even retranslating and stuff (heck, if you want to retranslate my TLs but can’t copy them coz of the site, just contact me and I’ll easily give you the TL docs you can easily use). But profiting off of what is clearly freely available on the internet is no no. 

So if you are going to use our TLs, retranslated, or otherwise, please do not ask people to pay for something available for free on the internet. Credit the correct translator. And for god’s sake do not delete the site or the translator and editor’s name from the chapter. I’m already struggling with aggregator bots stealing my work and I don’t want to add humans to the mix now.

This applies to the humans who cheaply try to create a Patreon off my (and many other TLs translations), or try to retranslate into Xyz language and paywall them. My translations are public and free for all. If you wanna make money, go translate off the Japanese raws.

And if any of you so badly wants to give money, might as well give it to charity. Stuff like BLM and Yemen need money. Or even me the rest of the team. Your average broke translators in a third world country and then hardworking editors.

And if any of you do find my chapters in English or any other language and people asking to pay for them, please report them and if you could, ping me about it. Leave a link to this site in their comments or something.

Tl;Dr: Don’t make money off our TLs. Credit us and the site. That’s Watashi wa Sugoi Desu (dot) com.

Rant over,  click here for the chapter

Translator: Aby

Editor: GracelessLiar

Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu! Support the Translators and Editors!

The Knight Commander

When Knight Commander Jolga and Prime Minister Morino visited the Asbal estate, three days had passed since they sent a visitation notice.

I greeted Jolga, dressed in his usual military uniform and [Quistacis: He who Controls Dragons] at his side, along with Morino— who was, for some reason, burdened with a large stack of documents— at the second-floor study. The two of them looked around the study, seemingly surprised at the bare room. The shelves were essentially empty, and the room itself stripped of all decorations. Before beginning the discussion, I confirmed with High Priest Malacia that he could be seated beside Lutora, who had accompanied him from the temple. Jolga and Morino sat on a two-seater sofa, while Malacia and Lutora sat on the sofa opposite them, a low table between them. Meanwhile, I took my place on a single-seater sofa between them. Once the butler, Thomas, took up his place in a corner of the room, I began by urging Prime Minister Morino to reveal the reason for his visit.

“First, I am returning the contracts I had borrowed. It has been determined to be genuine… From the bottom of my heart, I express my respect for the devotion of the Asbal family over the years.”

“I gladly accept your praise for the Asbal family… However, that no longer concerns me.”

I put my hand on the folder Morino had placed on the low table and shook my head slightly.

“As you will inherit this mansion, it should be used by you. Once he ascends to the throne, I would advise you to draw up a new contract with Crown Prince Vikram as an addendum to the original.”

“In regards to that matter, shouldn’t the inheritor of this mansion not be me, but rather the new fief lord Sigurd?”

Having learned that I had stepped back from acting as fief lord, it was natural for Morino to harbor doubts. In reply, I gave a bitter smile and leaned back against the sofa, letting my gaze drift slightly.

“…At best, Sigurd’s reign will only be for a brief period. He… will likely leave the Asbal family.”

Aside from Malacia, the faces of the four people present changed color. I took out a diary from the inner pocket of my coat and placed it on the table. The thread-bound book did not have a title written on the front, instead, the name of the book’s owner was written in small letters on the cover.

[Yurikano Nana Lisette]

Jolga’s eyes widened.

I didn’t stop him as he reached out towards the book with trembling hands.

“…Head Priest.”

Jolga took the diary in hand, opening it to reveal faded pages, and Morino peered at them with restraint from the side. I left them to it and called out to Malacia.

“I would like to confess the deceased. Please grant forgiveness for my late wife, Yurikano’s sins.”

“… I am at your service. As three witnesses are required for confessions of the deceased…

Lord Morino, Sir Lutora, as well as Thomas. Would you agree to witness this confession?”

A confession of the deceased, which only the Head Priest had the authority to preside over, was something the bereaved family could request, to cleanse the deceased of sins committed. Proof of the sin, a bereaved relative to confess, and three living witnesses were required. Malacia took it upon himself not to choose Jolga as a witness. Of course, this was because the [sin] I was about the reveal, had a deep connection to Jolga.

“…The child Yurikano bore… Sigurd, is not my son. Jolga Von Oswein, he’s your son.”

“…So it was true.”

“T-that can’t be!”

“How…!”

“…ngh.”

While my words agitated the witnesses.

Jolga simply nodded quietly, with the diary still in his hands,

“The night before Yurikano was to be married to Lord Anderheim… Yurikano and I had an overnight fling. Sigurd was likely conceived at that time. This diary was definitely written by Yurikano. I’m familiar with her handwriting… It is undeniable evidence.”

“…I see.”

Shocked by the sudden confession, Lutora had stood up without even realizing it. Jolga looked up at him with an expression full of distress.

“I’m sorry… Lutora. This blame may fall upon you too. …Lord Anderheim. This should be a sin borne by myself alone. I beg of you, please be lenient on my sons.”

“…”

“I know that guilty as I am, I have no right to request so. However, Lutora and— Lutora and Sigurd, my sons, have done nothing wrong.”

“…Haa.”

A sign escaped my lips.

Jolga, who pleaded repeatedly on his knees, and the speechless Lutora and Morino froze.

“…You misunderstand, Knight Commander.”

“…Lord Anderheim…?”

“Did I not say it was a confession for the deceased? I have no intention of persecuting you. I was simply seeking forgiveness for my late wife’s sins.”

“…But that is…”

“Of course, there was a reason for deliberately summoning the Head Priest and confessing here. Knight Commander… I would like to make a deal.”

“Deal…?”

Hearing words inappropriate for the situation, Morino raised his voice in vigilance. I nodded, taking the diary from Jolga’s hands and, once again, placed it on the low table.

“The diary left behind by Yurikano is undeniable proof of the Knight Captain’s adultery. However, if you accept the conditions I suggest, I will present the diary to you untouched.”

“… And your suggestions would be?”

At Morino’s question, I raised three fingers.

“Firstly, to wait on acknowledging Sigurd as Captain Jolga’s son. I never had any intention of letting him succeed the Asbal family, however, as the circumstances have changed, I need him to temporarily succeed me no matter what. It’s fine if you wait until the political situation has settled. Until then, I would like Sigurd to protect the fiefdom.”

“…No problem.”

Having received Jolga’s confirmation, I lowered my ring finger.

“Secondly, do not make the role the Asbal family has played all this time public. This family does not need prestige. That we are not honored for our role is the very reason we take pride in it. Additionally, moving forward, this role will be undertaken by Prime Minister Morino. It’s a tough job… but it’s for the kingdom’s sake.”

“…I understand.”

Nodding back at Morino’s nod, this time, I lowered my middle finger.

“Finally, the funds received from disposing of the Asbal family’s assets will be set aside as retirement funds for the servants who have served the Asbal family. I have double-checked the estimations Thomas had calculated, and the funds should be more than enough. Any leftover funds will be donated to the Shrine’s orphanage.”

“Master…”

“Lord Anderheim…!”

Thomas choked on his words and Malacia gave a deep bow of his head.. With a small smile, I lowered the last finger.

“Those are my conditions. Do you accept?”

“…Rather than that, I have a question, Lord Anderheim.”

Morino’s voice was full of confusion.

“None of the conditions you have raised were unacceptable, and not a single one of them has any benefits for you. Why would you ask for those conditions?”

As expected, Morino gave voice to the question they were all wondering about.

“Because I do not need benefits, Your Excellency.”

“…?”

“I bought a small mansion on the west hill with a sweeping view of the capital. I am thinking of spending the days up until the Dragon God Festival there, with Julieta. Of course, I don’t mind if you put me under surveillance. There may be few rooms, but it is a house with a beautiful garden… Julieta is sure to like it.”

“…”

As I thought of my daughter, Jolga stared at my fatherly expression, and suddenly, something seemed to occur to him and he grabbed the diary again.

“…Lord Anderheim.”

“What is it?”

“When did you discover this diary?”

Ah, so he was the one who had realized the crux of the matter.

I had predicted Morino to be the one to realize it, but it seems Jolga was more perspective than I thought.

“When Julieta returned to the mansion from the shrine, she started using her mother’s room. The other day, she boldly decided to remodel the room and found it behind a picture frame.”

Jolga hesitated slightly.

“How did you know? That Sigurd… That the child Yurikano bore was not your flesh and blood?”

“…”

That was right, if one properly thought about my words, they would realize this point.

I had only discovered proof of Yurikano’s infidelity in this diary a mere month ago, and yetI had declared that even before that that I had no intention of letting Sigurd succeed the family. Rather than it being that I hated Sigurd, it was almost as if I had known he did not have the Asbal family’s blood in his veins all along and thus could not entrust him that responsibility.

How could I know that Sigurd was not my son, and was instead Jolga’s? While there was the flimsy truth that Sigurd looked nothing like me, Sigurd himself was aware that I had never once brought him to the underground vault with the blood lineage sensor.

“…I was well aware of it.”

The thorn that would pierce Jolga’s heart left my mouth.

“After all, I had never once held Yurikano.”

Birthday Release (3/5)

Hasr: Thanks Aby for helping me out and making this (sorta) mass release possible

Check out our new series: The Gentle Death God Laughs Above the Cherry-Blossom Sky!

Translator: Hasr11

Editor: Vnovember

https://ko-fi.com/vnovember

Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu! Support the Translators and Editors!

A Diary and A Letter

The heir of Prime Minister Anderheim, Sigurd Isys Asbal, the imperial knight directly under the orders of the Crown Prince, was not his son.

Sigurd’s mother, Yurikano Nana Lisette was a refined beauty with lustrous black hair and the fiancée of Jolga Von Oswein. Their engagement had been decided by their parents. Their territories neighboured each other, they were close in age and had been close friends from childhood. They were waiting for the two to become adults and it was certain that the two would get married.

The one who interfered in the two’s relationship was Anderheim, who saw Yurikano at a ball for the first time. Anderheim took over his father’s seat as the Prime Minister at the young age of twenty. The incident took place about a year after that. All this while, the king and the eminent people of the court urged him to quickly take in a nobleman’s daughter as his wife, for the sake of high society. Although he thought of it as troublesome, Anderheim still attended the ball. There, the one who caught his eye, waltzing joyfully as she was escorted by her fiancée Jolga, was Yurikano.

Both Jolga and Yurikano were seventeen then. The two youths were deeply in love with each other, and their future seemed bright. Already known to be the most promising rookie amongst the knights, Jolga had a strong sense of justice. His political stand was exactly opposite that of Anderheim.

Anderheim’s actions were swift.

Not even a month had passed since the ball when a letter came to the Osweins from the Lisettes, requesting an annulment of the engagement. The Osweins were surprised and asked the reason for the engagement annulment. The Lisettes were vague and dodged the questions, saying it was ‘An internal matter’. While Jolga and Yurikano were at a loss, this time it was the young Prime Minister Anderheim whose engagement to the daughter of the Lisettes was announced by none other than the royal family.

Yurikano was in despair, and Jolga, indignant. The Osweins tried everything they could, but the one behind the scenes was the Prime Minister from the Asbal House, who even had the Royal Family as his allies. In the unlikely event of them rejecting the offer, not just the Lisettes, even the Osweins would be implicated. Persuaded by her family, Yurikano decided to marry Anderheim.

And on the night before the wedding.

Jolga and Yurikano, spent a night of passion, vowing to make it but a passing dream.

After her marriage to Anderheim, Yurikano did not show her face in high society and thus never met Jolga.

Shortly after, Yurikano gave birth to her eldest son Sigurd, at the age of eighteen. Not even a year had passed before she was struck by an illness and departed the world.

Anderheim took in his second wife after a year of mourning and when Sigurd was three, his sister Julieta was born.

At that time, when the children had their first social debut at the Asbal House, the nobles that scrambled for a look all had expressions of astonishment.

Although she was just an infant, Julieta had golden hair and jade eyes unique to the Asbal family. On the other hand, Sigurd, with his black hair and hazel eyes, looked gallant. Most importantly, despite being so young, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the talented and newly appointed young Vice Commander of the Royal Knights, with his hazel eyes— Jolga Von Oswein.

When Jolga was nineteen, he married a viscount’s daughter he was introduced to, and at twenty, his eldest son, Lutora was born. Barely a year had passed since then.

Rumors flew through the kingdom as if it were the truth, deeply troubling Lutora’s mother and Anderheim’s second wife who had just given birth to Julieta. Perhaps it was due to their anxiety that they passed away when their children were still young.

Now, this was the truth that would come to light in the hidden capture target Jolga’s route. After he cuckolded Anderheim with his so-called tryst with Yurikano the night before her marriage, he had never met Yurikano again. Jolga did not know that the one Yurikano gave birth to was his own son, till Sigurd’s debut at three.

By the way, there was no proof that Sigurd is Jolga’s son.

He no doubt resembled Jolga, but it could be passed off as coincidence. There was no DNA testing in this world, but there were magic systems that could detect bloodlines. The lock in the basement that only opened when the people with the same blood opened them was an example of their use. If it was used. it would make it evident that Sigurd and Anderheim were not related by blood. But, that would not prove that he was Jolga’s son.

That was where the proof that appeared in the Jolga route, the secret diary left by Yurikano, would come to use.

Yurikano had very kindly written of her dalliance with Jolga on the eve of her wedding and how Anderheim was too busy to visit the bridal chamber on their wedding night. Counting backward from the day her morning sickness began, she realized that she was pregnant with Jolga’s child. She felt disgusted, and the fact that she had invited Anderheim to her room and was held by him in that way to protect her child… she spelled it out quite clearly in her writing.

Originally in the game, the diary was hidden behind an oil painting hung on the wall of the room of the mistress of the house— Julieta’s room. The one who first found it was Julieta and her father Prime Minister Anderheim used it as proof to blackmail Jolga and schemed to make him betray the Crown Prince in exchange for hiding his immorality. The heroine used the mansion’s master key that Thomas stole to sneak into Julieta’s room. While Julieta was dozing on the bed, she stole the diary. Or that’s how the story went. At the end of the Jolga route, Jolga was preparing to surrender himself to the court of inquiry to make up for the sin of adultery he had committed when the heroine approached him and uttered nonsense like “it was fine even if you spend the rest of your life in regret, so please live with me” and burned the diary in front of Jolga. This was their happy end.

{Now we continue in first-person narration from Anderheim’s point of view}

As for the diary, I quickly collected it from behind the picture frame and altered the contents just the slightest bit. This time I did not take the ancient Dragon Kharis’ help and only took out a few pages from the diary and bound it again. The part that I took out was the one that detailed Yurikano inviting Anderheim to the bedroom. With just this, I could frame up a [Certain Fact].

Furthermore, as I diligently sorted the documents in the office with Thomas by my side, I spread out the contents left on top of the desk. Most of them were trivial messages and invitations to banquets from nobles and some sealed letters. But I picked up one that stood out, with my fingertips and lightly muttered “So it was here.”

“…”

While I sensed Thomas trying to avoid glancing at me as hard as he could, while trying to ascertain my actions at the same time, I quietly stacked the letter up with the other documents and bundled them up together.

“Thomas.”

“Yes, Master.”

Seeing Thomas’s approach, I handed the stack of letters over to him, and nonchalantly requested him to burn them along with the unnecessary documents.

“Understood.”

“Good, I’ll leave it to you then.”

Saying so, I left. Thomas was left, alone, in the basement.

I had to leave him alone. He needs time to confirm.

“Master, a messenger has arrived from the Royal castle.”

As I prepared to go to the courtyard where Sigurd and Julieta were, a maid in uniform spoke. Waiting behind her was a messenger holding a sealed letter in his hand.

“Lord Anderheim Yucht Asbal. His Excellency the Prime Minister and the Knight Commander request an audience with you.”

“Oh? Leaving aside the Prime Minister, has the Knight Commander returned from his expedition so soon?”

I asked as I ascertained the contents of the sealed letter I received. The messenger, who wore a justaucorps¹ over his hose² gave a wry smile and while hiding his face under his feather cap, he spoke in a tiny voice.

“I heard that the Crown Prince’s fiancée, Lady Nasha, was quite eager to meet His Highness soon and pleaded with him. Before they even dealt with the aftermath of the suppression they had to return to the royal castle, together.”

“Hah, they seem quite free.”

“I’ve heard that her training isn’t going well either. I wonder what will happen.”

“Well, it has nothing to do with me now. Please tell the Prime Minister and the Knight commander that I have received the message,”

“Understood.”

Seeing off the messenger as he returned to the royal castle, I once again headed towards the courtyard where Julieta and Sigurd were.

“Father!”

“Father.”

Julieta smiled as she sat on the garden chair as Sigurd awkwardly guarded her from the back with his head hung low. Having spent nearly two months in each other’s company, this pair of brother and sister who had lived apart, finally opened up to each other a little.

The sweets on the white plates laid on the table were the cake that Julieta proudly boasted of lately having “made it myself.”

“Both of you. The Prime Minister and the Knight commander will arrive at the mansion in a few days.”

“Morino and the Knight Commander?”

“Is that so? Should I also help out in some way?”

“No, it’s fine. The one they want to talk to is me.”

“…”

“Sigurd. When the two come, please be with Julieta in the courtyard.”

“Father?”

“It won’t be anything pleasing to the ears after all.”

Sigurd was thus admonished.

Certainly what he would eavesdrop upon would be far worse than what he had anticipated.

Little did he know how it would shatter his world.

Technically it’s still thursday so this counts as a birthday release, right?

Hasr’s Birthday Release (2/5)

Hasr: Let’s play guess the ML! No spoilers ofc! Guess who the 3 main couples in the story~

No prizes for the correct answer tho. Wackiest responses win. Ya can also add some crappy fanfics if ya want

Winner gets the smut chappie (or the next chapter to be released if you’re underage)

DM me your answers on NovelUpdates Forum (hasr11) or on discord (hasr11#9300)

If ya don’t wanna participate, you can always find the next chapters on patreon OwO

Translator: Aby

Proofreader: Hasr11

Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu! Support the Translators and Editors!

The Shrine

Mornings in the Shrine began early.

Lutora woke up to the faint and distant sounds of hymns, slowly sitting up in the darkness of his room. Accompanying Lutora’s stirrings were small arms and legs stretched unreservedly across his supple, muscular shoulders, and abdomen tumbled onto the sheets.

“…The brats slept here again.”

Uncaring about Lutora’s muttering, the children who had cheekily trespassed in the middle of the night continued sleeping soundly.

Half a month had passed since Lutora started sleeping in the Shrine. Lutora had arrived with the firm belief that he was intruding on enemy territory, but contrary to expectations, Head Priest Malacia welcomed him with a smile and didn’t treat him badly. He even introduced him to the Temple Knights and priests, conscientiously explaining about his stay.

As the Head Priest, Malacia’s days were busy. They began with morning prayers, followed by a breakfast of bland soup with bread, then listening to the confessions by shrine visitors and giving advice to their problems. His lunch would be wild vegetable stew, after which he would head to the shrine’s orphanage, where he would teach the children to read, write and count. In the evening, he would meet with the nobles who, avoiding public notice, snuck into the shrine. When they were gone, he would then have a late dinner followed by a bath. After all that, he would handle all operational matters within the Shrine, then make his prayers in bed before sleeping late at night.

The same routine– rinse and repeat.

After several days of working together, Lutora had lost most of his malice. Malacia soon requested him with a smile one couldn’t refuse, saying, “It’s a good opportunity to teach the children swordplay”. Before Lutora could protest, Malacia introduced Lutora to the children, “This is Lutora, a member of the Royal Knights, who has been staying in the Shrine. He’s a very strong knight. If I recall, there were several of you who wanted to learn swordplay?”

Immediately, numerous small hands were raised, their owners staring in longing expectation at him, making Lutora unable to refuse as he wished.

While the Kingdom of Palcemith was affluent, there was still a disparity between the capital and countryside. Families struggling with poverty no doubt existed.

Children abandoned by their parents, children who had lost their guardians to one reason or another, children sold into slavery. The shrine accepted all the lucky children who managed to make it to the Shrine not minding their origins, or whether they were rich or poor,. However, the shrine was only allowed to raise the orphans until they were fifteen. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to accept new children. Before that deadline, the children had to decide their future…be it to be adopted, enter the workforce, become an apprentice or re-enter slavery.

“The Temple Knights, unlike the Royal Knights, have a pitifully low military power. That’s why they could only act as guards of the Shrine. Political concerns prevent the Shrine from having too much military might. But the Temple Knights are largely orphans who never had formal training in swordplay, to begin with.”

There were more than twenty children who wished to learn swordplay. Lutora himself was young for a knight, and while he had vast experience in receiving training, he had next to none in instructing. Recalling the instruction he had received from his father Jolga since he was young, Lutora was contemplating how to gather the basic training equipment, when the equipment was donated by the Temple Knights.

“…We’re weak.”

Having learned of the swordplay lessons, the Temple Knights had gathered together their funds and managed to scrape together enough training equipment for the children to use. The Temple Knight representative who brought the equipment to Lutora, was a young lady, her face hidden under her conical sugarloaf helmet.

“All of us would have been long dead if we hadn’t been picked up by the Shrine. On top of that, I’m not that smart…and couldn’t get an apprenticeship with a merchant family. My features aren’t attractive, so I couldn’t get adopted. The only options left were to become a slave or a prostitute…That was when Lord Malacia appointed me as a Temple Knight.”

The other Temple Knights all had similar reasons for becoming knights, she said.

“To be able to receive training from a Royal Knight is the best. Unlike us, who are only knights in name, you’re a true Knight. If the children can become stronger, perhaps even the rat-tag Temple Knights might be able to be more active and successful. …Sir Lutora, please, we’re relying on you.”

Her sincere bow of gratitude shook Lutora’s conviction, who had simply vaguely followed in his father, the Knight Captain’s footsteps, to the core.

In the afternoon, while Malacia was giving lessons to the orphans, Lutora systematically taught the orphans who wished to learn swordsmanship.

Originally the cheerful mood maker even amongst the Knights, Lutora had a friendly aura despite being nobility. The orphans quickly warmed up to him and started following him around.

“Even so…they didn’t have to invade my bed too…”

It was a recent development. Every night, a few children would sneak into Lutora’s bed while he was asleep. As the eldest orphans left the shrine at fifteen, the eighteen-year-old knight Lutora’s physique was perhaps found dependable by the children. Still, even if there was no hostility, to not wake up even when his bed was being invaded brought Lutora some uneasiness at his sound sleeping.

After changing his clothes, he left his room and came across Malacia, who was moving after finishing his morning prayers.

“Lutora, good morning. …Did you receive a nightly visit again?”

Lutora had already lost the will to rebut the joke Malacia made while smiling.

“A group came…Thanks to that, I slept well and woke refreshed.”

“Fufu, that’s because of the children’s body warmth. …Lutora, today before noon, we’ll visit the Dragon Priestess’s room.”

It had been half a month since he came to stay at the shrine.

Lutora had requested a meeting with Melia countless times and was even willing to be accompanied, but Malacia had firmly rejected his requests.

Looking at Lutora’s immediate tense expression, Malacia continued speaking quietly.

“These few days, I’ve received reports that her condition is stable. However, any action that may be stimulating, or words that may upset her are forbidden. Also…The pain that the Dragon Priestess suffers cannot be put into words. Should Lady Melia hurl verbal abuse, it’s simply a product of the agony eating away at her. Please, do not slight Lady Melia for it.”

“…I understand.”

“Then first, let us have breakfast. We’ll head to the Dragon Priestess’s room after.”

Nodding back at Lutora’s obedient nods, Malacia left with a flip of the sleeve of his dalmatic robe. Lutora waited until he could no longer see Malacia in the corridor before he slipped his fingers into his uniform’s breast pocket and took out the small magic stone hidden within.

“…Can you hear me, Morino? I’m going to check on Melia’s situation now.”

He couldn’t hear any reply, but a small light blinked within the magic stone, so it should be functioning properly.

To be able to gather information within the Temple with its inviolable wards, Morino Swettso invented this tiny voice transmission device. The receiving device was set in the Royal Office and had the same structure as the eavesdropping magic stones set as decoration at visiting nobility’s tables at banquets. On the off chance the magic stone was discovered, there are plenty of knights who carry magic stones sent by their families or lovers as charms so it wouldn’t be suspicious.

“I will pull as much information as possible from both the imprisoned Melia as well as Malacia. Please carefully record it.”

Lutora grasped the magic stone he had entrusted his words to once before he returned it into his pocket.

As Lutora chased after Malacia who had disappeared down the corridor.

Two small pairs of eyes.

Trained on his back through the crack in the door.

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Translator: Aby

Editor: GracelessLiar

Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu! Support the Translators and Editors!

Adapting to Darkness

Ever since it’s founding 600 years prior, the Kingdom of Placemith had never encountered such a terrible crisis, and the Langrede war 400 years ago had cast a shadow over the country’s governance. Truth be told, the long-lasting peace had driven the Kingdom of Placemith into complacency.

The aftermath of the war was far more disastrous than anyone could have anticipated.

The roads that connected farmlands to various cities were destroyed, delaying the distribution of goods and leading to widespread looting. The country’s military was barely able to maintain domestic peace, let alone finish disposing of the trenches and temporary bases of enemy troops. Selfish merchants withheld provisions, pushing the price of a single bag of wheat within the capital to nearly 10 times the pre-war price. The royal family was unable to determine their priorities for the reconstruction, leading to haphazard efforts that proceeded based on the whims of the nobility. Despite nearly emptying the national treasury, their efforts at recovery brought no relief to the suffering citizens.

Understanding the severity of the situation, the reigning King, Migliore Gakach Palcemith. and his close friend, Prime Minister Okha Semz Asbal, engaged in a heated discussion for three days and three nights on the future management of the nation.

They concluded that a government relying on the assumption of good intentions should never have existed.

Such a country would have been beautiful— an ideal nation, but it was nothing more than an illusion the blessing of the dragon had shown. If the country was allowed to continue on such a course, in the near future, they would be brought to ruin.

Information was necessary. An understanding of the deep darkness that must exist in this peaceful kingdom was necessary.

…Thus, the two of them exchanged a secret pact.

…Thus, the pair made a secret vow.

[The children of Asbal shall carve loyalty into their hearts— unafraid of staining their pure hands red, they shall support Palcemith from within the shadows.

The children of Palcemith shall understand the pain that shackles the children of Asbal, and shall not question their devotion, only praising them in their hearts.

The children of Asbal shall be prepared for any situation. They shall keep enough gold in reserve to support both the royal family and citizens through four seasons.

The children of Palcemith shall rely on the Asbal family in times of emergency, and request aid from the family Head who serves as Prime Minister.

He who swears to stand in the darkness to protect the future of the kingdom, my dearest, closest friend,

Okha Semz Asbal, to you, I swear my eternal friendship.

Milliore Gakach Palcemith]

. “That’s… assuming this secret vow is even true.”

After Jolga reluctantly spoke, I answered in a flat tone.

“It’s the truth…The Asbal clan has heeded this pact for generations. We became familiar with the darkness of the country, always preferring the muddied water..”

This contract was actually something passed down within the Asbal family. It was secretly given by the king to the then-Prime Minister, who had decided to throw himself into the underbelly of society for the sake of the kingdom. It was prepared for the eventuality that the descendants of Asbal would one day need to proclaim their innocence.

That was how the Asbal family began to control the underworld after the Langrede war. In other words, about half of my actions were due to promises made by my ancestors. Of course, I believe some descendants simply preferred the darkness.

And regarding this contract—

In actuality, it had endured some editing of its “contents”.

The third and fourth lines of the contract had been added by His Grace Kharis at my request.

This parchment was signed using a method based on the [Atrizia] that Malacia showed Morino the other day as a base, and written as it was, in a mix of blood and magic, it was impossible to change the words.

In Morino’s route, there was also a case of forging a contract. It had happened when Nasha stepped down as Sacrificial Priestess on His Highness’s orders. Malacia had dispatched the temple knights to Nasha’s family, requesting the immediate return of the gold they had earned from selling Nasha. Through this, Nasha learned she had been sold by her own parents, and that when she was no longer the Sacrificial Priestess, her family was threatened to repay the money.

Morino had consoled the grieving Nasha and requested that His Grace Kharis help by altering the contract between Nasha’s parents and Head Priest Malacia.

…Even if the holy maiden steps down as Sacrificial Priestess, there is no obligation to repay any monetary offerings made to the priestess’s family…

With that single sentence added to the contract, they escaped from their predicament. This time, that demand for repayment was being conducted under the table, so as not to stand out. There hadn’t been any results as of yet, but I was looking forward to hearing about it in the future.

And with the addition of the third and fourth lines in this contract… I successfully created a plausible reason for all the money that had been illegally accumulated over the past generations.

Jolga understood the true meaning of that line, and his expression grew stiff.

“All in order to protect the citizens, as well as the royal family… Did you know, Knight Commander? The one who gave His Highness his name was not His Late Majesty, but rather myself. The night His Highness was born, His Late Majesty summoned me in secret to the castle, and allowed me to hold the newborn Highness.”

I lowered my gaze to look at my hands.

As if I was remembering what had been there— whom I had held in my arms.

“I was asked to name the prince, and so I named him Vikram, a name that means ‘bonds.’ However, no matter what, I couldn’t tell people that I had given His Highness his name. Even so, whenever the citizens extol His Highness’s name and look forward to his reign, my heart fills with pride.”

“…Lord Anderheim.”

“Now, none of that matters anymore.”

I took the holder from Jolga’s hands, put the contract back in its place, and then closed the cover and handed it back to Jolga. Assuming my intentions, Jolga looked me in the eyes, as if to confirm his reasoning.

“…Is this alright?”

“I don’t mind, take it with you. If you pass it to the new Prime Minister or his aides, they can confirm its legitimacy.”

“Did you not think that there’s a possibility I might somehow dispose of such important evidence?”

“…Hah. I’ve never once thought the irreproachable, personification of virtue, the great Knight Commander, would engage in such foolish behavior.”

“You have my thanks.”

I tried provoking him with arms wide, but he just obediently bowed his head. How uninteresting.

“I shall return to the castle first, and have the contract I have borrowed from His Excellency looked over. Sigurd, as planned, you will assume your position as Lady Julieta’s guard.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, Knight Commander. Wait one moment.”

I returned to the office next door and took the stack of documents left on the desk. When I returned to the center room, I handed it over to the waiting Jolga.

“According to my predictions, the situation will become volatile soon .”

“What…?”

“Didn’t you just read the contract, Knight Commander? The Asbal family stood within the darkness, and using its influence, pacified those who lived in the underworld.”

“In other words, we had served as a stopper. Now that the knowledge that I’m no longer in power has spread, I’ve made some rough predictions about how they will move. You’ll need to take more specific measures; you should activate the knights immediately.”

The “rough predictions” were on the documents I handed over.

Now, if only they would rampage well.

“…You have my gratitude. Please excuse me.”

“You don’t need to speak like that anymore.”

I protested the formal address, but Jolga simply replied with a slight smile and headed swiftly to the stairs leading above ground, carrying the documents and the leather case.

“…Sigurd.”

“…”

“Sigurd, Julieta will awake soon.”

When I raised my voice, Sigurd, who had been looking down, slowly raised his head and bit his lips when our gazes met.

“…Father.”

His gaze was full of distress and hesitation, sincerely requesting answers to countless questions.

“…We’ll talk more later. For now, concentrate on protecting Julieta, Sigurd.”

“…Understood.”

I patted Sigurd’s shoulder gently while he hung his hand, and left the basement after urging Thomas ahead of me.

That’s right, we should continue our conversation next time.

When regaling such a mockery of a tale.

It was only interesting if there was a large audience, after all.

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Update: I’m really really sorry, but I accidentally posted the wrong(and unedited) chapter instead of chapter 11. Please check out the updated chapter…

Translator: Hasr11

Editor: GracelessLiar

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In the Basement

Built around 400 years ago, the Asbal family’s mansion boasted of an expansive basement, and from then on the mansion was known as the “The Prime Minister’s House.” The treasury under the mansion hid the vast fortune the Asbal family had amassed over many generations. Moreover, the wealth was all in the form of gold bars that were both easy to carry and did not depreciate in value.

In the game’s original story, the heroine received Thomas’s help, and, accompanied by Sigurd, opened the gates to the treasury… There was even a scene showing their dumbstruck reaction upon seeing the golden light emitted from the overflowing wealth included in the game.

And now, that very basement was the one I was leading them to.

“Sigurd. This mansion was built 400 years ago. Do you know what was happening in the Palcemith Kingdom at the time?”

As I went down the stairs leading to the basement with a candlestick in hand, I asked Sigurd a question. He thought for a moment and then answered, “The Langede war.. His answer was completely correct.

“You’re right. The Palcemith Kingdom is protected by His Grace Kharis’ blessings. Blessed with a mild climate, we never get plagues and our harvests are abundant too. However, our neighbors who did not get the same blessings could not stomach that. The kingdom of Langede to the west of Palcemith was in particularly dire straits.”

“Four hundred years ago, it was hit by a severe snap. Crops throughout the continent were damaged by the chill, and food supplies ran short. Records state that around a third of Langede’s population died at that time.”

.Jolga continued from where I left off, and I nodded.

“The impoverished Langede was left with no options. Of course, after the damage to their crops, Langede received aid from Palcemith. But as Jolga said, that year, all of the Yugena continent had been hit by the massive cold spell. Langede wasn’t the only impoverished nation, other countries were affected as well. We couldn’t show Legande any favor. As a result, Langede was driven to the point where they had no way to survive other than taking over Palcemith.”

“And so they waged war against the Palcemith Kingdom. It’s a famous tale. Even I know of it.”

“In terms of national power, Palcemith was superior in all aspects. We predicted the war would be a walk in the park. But as the war waged, the results weren’t what we expected.”

“…For the enemy, it was life or death.”

Jolga muttered under his breath.

“That’s right. They had no means other than that to survive… the soldiers of Langede, driven to such a point, were frighteningly powerful. Eventually, the superior Palcemith did emerge victorious, and we expanded our territory by annexing Langede. But the scars from the battle ran deep.”

This history was something every child in Palcemith knew. In the thousand-year history of Palcemith, this war had been the hardest fought. Though Palcemith has had constant disputes with countries other than Langede, this was the only one to shake the country.

While conversing, we reached the basement.

I took the master key from Thomas and handed the candlestick to Jolga. I flipped the lock over so Sigurd could see the way I unlocked the door, teaching him the order in which to insert the key into the three keyholes as I showed him the angle each needed to be turned to.

“This lock is of a special make. If one attempts to open it with anything other than the master key, the keyholes themselves will close. It’s the same if you mess up the sequence. Thomas, Sigurd, watch carefully.”

“As you will.”

“…Understood.”

After receiving an affirmation from the pair, I opened the doors to the basement.

“…”

“…This is…the basement.”

“It’s wide…”

The first thing to greet their sight was a space that could be called the entrance to the basement. It was a square room furnished with a two-seater sofa and a table. Other than the door that led us in, there was a door each on the other three walls. I urged Sigurd to open the doors in a counterclockwise direction one by one, starting with the one on my right, and check inside each one.

Behind the first door was a wide, open space with three double beds covered in white sheets.

“It’s a bedroom that can be used as a temporary resting place in case of emergencies. If you head further inside that room, you’ll find a path that connects to the underground passage of the royal family that runs under the capital. It’s to be used should we ever need to shelter the royal family.”

“…Has it ever been really used?”

“Not in my generation. It has happened many times in the past though.”

Next was the one on its left, opposite the door we entered through. It was an office with a colonial-style desk and a shelf on one wall filled with documents.

“This place stores nearly all records of the Asbal family ever since we took residence in this place. Needless to say, that includes the current generation. Even if the mansion above were to burn to the ground, it wouldn’t affect anything here. …Thomas.”

“Yes, Master.”

I immediately turned my focus to a specific section of documents and called out to Thomas. I removed a document from the shelf and handed it over to Thomas.

“Master, this is…?”

“An external evaluation of all the employees currently working at the Asbal mansion and their work ethic. The evaluation was given by a mediator acting as a guest. Using this, calculate the severance pay for all employees. In addition, gather the requests of all who wish to work at other residences. I will write letters of recommendation for them.

“…S-Severance pay?”

“That’s right. I have already resigned as the Prime Minister and will leave the residence before long. I’m truly sorry, but the employees will have to be dismissed temporarily. Depending on the views of Sigurd and Prime Minister Morino, they might be able to continue their work. Please convey this to them.

“…I understand.”

Inside, I had also nonchalantly left records of my injustices— heavily taxing the citizens and squeezing every last pie out of them. Morino would surely search for the records. The problem was what lay beyond the final door.

“Sigurd, the last door.”

Pushing Sigurd’s back, I made him open the last door to the left of the office.

In there.

“!!”

“This is…”

“What…”

Each of the three expressed their shock differently.

The luster of gold shone before their eyes. In a nearly 160 square foot room, a mountain of gold bars filled nearly half the room. Though they were all speechless, Jolga was clumsily glaring at me, arms crossed, while I gazed about the room. As expected of the Knight Commander, despite his turmoil, he still managed to take action.

“Lord Anderheim… could you please explain what this is?”

It was plain to see the amount was something a person could possess using legal means.

No matter how many generations of Prime Ministers served the kingdom, building up such a fortune was a Herculean task.

That is, even if one engages in malpractices. As long as one stayed within the bounds of the law, of course.

“It is just as you see, Knight Commander.”

That was why I smirked.

In the midst of their confusion, it was time to crush their belief that their victory was close at hand.

…Did they really think the conversation we’d had along the way was pointless?

“Father, what is this? Such fortune has never been recorded by the family.”

At Sigurd’s persistence, I shrugged my shoulders and replied.

“That’s obvious.”

“…What, so shamelessly…?”

Turning to Sigurd, who was raising his voice in anger, I sighed.

“I’m saying that it’s obvious that there are no records, my stupid son… Well, you won’t get it even if I explain it.”

In a corner of the room buried in gold bars, I stood in front of a small safe. I bit my fingertip and then placed my hand on the dial-style key. The door used a lock that opened by identifying blood, a technique lost to the ages. Only those who possessed the blood of the Asbal family could open it.

…Sigurd could not possibly open this.

From inside the safe, I took out a signed sheet, carefully placed in a faded holder.

The leather holder preserving the paper was made using cordovan¹ and had the feel of an ancient relic. I handed over the holder without opening it to Jolga. As he suspiciously ran his eyes over what was written within, his face changed color.

“…You understand, right, Knight Commander?”

The meaning of the contract written in it.

“None of the gold here belongs to my… the Asbal family. It is of the Royal Family.”

“!?”

“What…!”

I gave an additional blow to the shocked Sigurd and Thomas.

I continued to speak.

“Everything was decided four hundred years ago. The Asbal family—the descendants of Sage Asbal, besides containing the curse in their bodies, also were obligated to serve as the Palcemith Kingdom’s [shadow]. These were the orders of the then-king, Migliore Gakach Palcemith.”

The best lies were the ones that had a grain of truth in them.

Hasr: Some foreshadowing here, let’s see if you know what I’m talking about~

I’d really appreciate it if you could leave some positive reviews for this series. We’re quickly reaching the point where things get dark…

P.S. You can also check out my other novel When She Becomes a Witch. It’s a lighthearted fantasy thall help pick you up after this dark plot~

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Translator: Aby

Editor: GracelessLiar

Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu! Support the Translators and Editors!

The Elderly Butler, Thomas

After loading Julieta’s trunk full of personal items onto the baggage area, I climbed onto the horse carriage alongside her. As she held onto a bouquet given to her by the ladies-in-waiting, we departed for the Asbal mansion.

The Asbal mansion was located a certain distance from the royal castle, within the capital’s residential area for upper-class nobility.

As Prime Minister, it might have been better to set up residence in the castle’s vicinity, however, the basement located under the Asbal mansion had also served as an emergency shelter for royalty in the past. As such, this was the better option.

When the gates to the mansion came into view, the coachman called out to me, “My lord, it looks like there are guests”.

I slid a finger through the gap between the window curtains and opened them to look outside. Standing before the mansion’s entrance was the butler, Thomas, my son Sigurd, and the Knight Commander, Jolga.

“Again, exactly as expected.”

“…Father, who are the guests?”

“It’s Sigurd and the Knight Commander. Julieta, it’s been a while, so feel free to act spoiled around your brother.”

“Oh my.”

Julieta embraced her bouquet, as the sound of her giggles comforted my heart, the carriage arrived at the mansion’s entrance. Thomas opened the carriage doors, dipping into a bow and offered a “Welcome home, my lord”. I generously nodded in return and reached out a hand to Julieta before Thomas did. As Julieta descended from the carriage, half-carried in my arms, Sigurd looked on with a slight knit to his brows. This was the lady he had had a hand in pushing into hell. The enemy of Nasha, for whom he harbored feelings he could never voice… However estranged they might be, Julieta was still his sister. Was it possible he was already starting to feel some guilt? Such naivety would only bring him regret in the future.

“Lady Julieta, welcome back.”

“Thank you, Thomas. I’m home.”

Thomas’s expression faltered for a brief moment at Julieta’s kind reply. However, as expected of a butler serving the Asbal family since the previous generation, he regained his calm demeanor in an instant. After ordering the footmen to bring in the luggage, he smiled gently at Julieta.

“Milady, you must be tired. Your room has been prepared, would you like to take a rest first?”

“Is that so? …In that case, I shall heed your suggestion. Father, may I be excused?”

“Yes, go ahead. After all, I seem to have guests.”

“…”

As I gave a low chuckle, the two men stared at me and their expressions soured. It seemed like the three of them hadn’t been able to come to an agreement before our carriage arrived.　

The elderly butler, Thomas. He was the Head Butler of the Asbal family and also a supporting character in the route belonging to Sigurd, the Prime Minister’s Heir, as well as the route of the hidden capture target, the Knight Captain Jolga, who appeared only after capturing Sigurd.

Thomas lamented at the suffering of the commoners under the Asbal family’s heavy taxations. Though he had reported them countless times to both the previous lord and Prime Minister Anderheim, every time his reports were ruthlessly dismissed.

In despair, Thomas lent his aid to Sigurd, who had been troubled by his relationship with his father, and helped him enter the Knights’ squad. Thus, after Sigurd built a close friendship with the Crown Prince and stood on the side built around Sacrificial Priestess Nasha, opposing his father, Thomas became the spy that leaked the Asbal family’s movements to the Crown Prince’s faction.

…He was such a convenient existence.

That was, of course, to [me].

After seeing Julieta and her attendant off, I invited Sigurd and Jolga in and headed to the parlor with a fireplace.

As soon as he sat on the leather sofa opposite me, Jolga immediately requested to appoint Sigurd as Julieta’s escort. On paper, it was to guard and observe the recuperating Julieta. In truth, their aim was probably to keep an eye on me and to search the grounds.

“Julieta and I are fine with it, but what about you? Even if it’s just for show, aren’t you part of the Knight Guards attached to His Highness, the Crown Prince?”

In other words, he was the head guard.

“Under His Highness orders, I have temporarily withdrawn from the Knight Guards and am now part of the Royal Knights again. There is no cause for concern.”

“I see, that’s fine. In that case, properly protect Julieta. I’ll say this first… Julieta is far weaker than you may think. Take care of her.”

“…I understand.”

I waited for Sigurd’s acknowledgment, and then called over Thomas who had been standing in a corner of the room.

“Thomas, I’ll leave this to you.”

The necklace that I held out to Thomas held a single key with the Asbal crest engraved on it. Jolga was confused by the sight, but the expressions of Thomas and Sigurd, who knew what it was, changed in an instant.

“Lord Anderheim, that is…?”

“…It’s a key.”

“I can tell that much at a glance.”

“…Sir Jolga. This is the master key for the mansion.”

“What…?”

The mansion’s master key, as the name suggested, was held only by the master. With that single key, entry was possible into any place within the mansion. That included even the room that Morin wished to investigate—the Asbal family’s secret basement.

Ignoring Jolga who had frozen in shock, I tossed the master key in Thomas’s direction.

“This is a good opportunity, Sigurd. When Julieta is resting in her room, you should spend your time learning how to manage the fiefdom. Thomas, I’ll allow your usage of the key. Gather the necessary materials and guide him.”

“…Huh?”

Sigurd’s foolish voice reached my ears. Despite being my son, he certainly showed his surprise too easily.

“What do you mean by ‘huh?’. In the near future, I will leave this mansion. After all, this mansion has to be handed over to the current Prime Minister. At that time, I will step down as the fief lord. That position will then be handed to you.”

“…Don’t just decide this on your own!”

“Lord Anderheim, regardless of circumstances, this is absurd. For close to ten years no, Sigurd has barely even set foot near Asbal lands. As such, even if you tell him to become the lord, he will just be lost.”

I sneered at Jolga’s words.

“Such ironic words coming from the source of this issue? Isn’t that right, Sir Knight Commander?”

“…Ugh.”

“…To make things clear, I never had any intention to make you lord after me. However, the situation has changed. I no longer have the time to wait and groom a successor. And I didn’t say that you have to continue being the lord forever. When the situation has calmed down, you can decide to do anything, be it returning the territory to the country or donating it to the church, or even appointing another lord.”

“…What are you scheming?”

“I have no such plans… I’m simply tired.”

I let out a huge sigh.

I leaned back against the sofa and looked up with uncertain eyes at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

“For the sake of the royal family? For the subjects? I no longer wish to suffer for such ridiculous reasons. It’s not worth my beloved Julieta being treated so horribly.”

“…Father?”

“…That’s blasphemy, Lord Anderheim.”

“Report it to His Highness if you wish. In any case, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“…”

I lowered my gaze from the ceiling and let it wander until Thomas, standing motionlessly with the master key in hand, entered my sight.

In Sigurd’s route, Thomas would find a chance to steal the master key and find evidence of illegal doings in the basement that only Anderheim could enter. In Jolga’s route, the master key played a key role in discovering decisive evidence for a certain secret between Anderheim’s first wife—Sigurd’s mother— who was also Jolga’s former fiancee, Yurikano and Jolga.

In either route, it was a tool that Thomas had to go to great effort to obtain.

Yet, it was suddenly handed to him. Undoubtedly, he has been must be feeling bewildered.

Now then…It was about time to execute the plan.

“…Ah yes. First, I should teach you how to enter the basement.”

Thomas stiffened even further while Jolga and Sigurd exchanged incredulous looks of disbelief. To Morin and the others, they had predicted there would records of illegality hidden in the Asbal family’s mansion. And yet, I was inviting them in so matter-of-factly. As my actions were far from their expectations, they didn’t know how to react.

“Even with the master key, the door to the basement requires a certain technique to open. After all, the lock is a bit tricky. I’ll show you on location, come, follow me.”

There were no objections to my suggestion.

I grabbed the candlestick that was sat on top of the fireplace and led the three of them towards the staircase to the basement.

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