Arc 7, Chapter 42 - 'Beast of Ambition”

Arc 7, Chapter 42 - “Beast of Ambition”

Olbart: [I’ve taken the liberty of makin’ tea for myself, does anyone else want some?]

The moment he heard the shrill old voice, the blood flow in Subaru’s body began flowing backwards.

His skin covered in goosebumps started aching, the air he had taken in froze over within his lungs. As if a heavy, sharp object had been buried deep in his chest, Subaru’s soul was urged to awaken.

――Return by Death had activated, and he had been thrust into this most terrible of situations.

Taritta: [――Hk!]

A moment later, before Subaru could react in any way, Taritta took aim with her bow.

The target was, of course, the uninvited visitor who had suddenly appeared in the room―― Olbart Dunkelkenn. One of the Nine Divine Generals, and the old man who had murdered Subaru and the others just ten seconds ago.

Even without knowing the circumstances, the unmannered way in which he broke the ice would make one wary.

Nevertheless, in the same room, Olbart, while having an arrow pointed at him from ultra-point-blank range, as if to ridicule the caution displayed by Subaru and the rest, shrugged his shoulders and,

Olbart: [Whoa, whoa, don’t do it, don’t do it. I don’t like havin’ pointy things aimed at me. Ya know, ol’ people go ta the bathroom more often than not, and ya wanna scare them into pissin’ their pants? I’m shakin’ in my boots here, yeah?]

Taritta: [You’re kidding me...! Who are you...]

Abel: [――Olbart Dunkelkenn.]

Taritta’s face flushed with anger as Olbart ignored her piercing hostility. But it was the man with the oni mask, Abel, who drew the attention to him as if to interrupt her, calling out the old man’s name.

Unphased by his appearance, Olbart’s gaze turned to the man concealing his face, the one who had spoken his name.

And so it began, a gut-wrenching battle that left him with an awfully thirsty impression――,

Subaru: [――――]

While keeping the conversation between Olbart and Abel on the perimeter of his consciousness, Subaru matched the unchanging scenes of this world to that of his own memories. Just before, the events of around merely ten minutes prior. ――In those was where he must search for a breakthrough in fate.

???: [Can you do it?]

Subaru: [——Hk.]

While in those thoughts wishful of a breakthrough, a cold voice wedged itself in, catching him off-guard. Born of impatience and frustration, it was none other than the feeble voice of Natsuki Subaru himself.

Subaru: [Can you do it? He wiped out all your friends just a moment ago, ending in that mess.]

The more he tried to remember what had just happened, the more the voice whispered to Subaru devoid of mercy.

Subaru’s failure, his blunder, his irreparable mistake.

This second chance granted by Return by Death was not to make up for his mistakes.

The mistakes he had performed were irreversible. The only thing granted to Subaru was atonement which he could not really atone for. Because that was the sole product of the Authority in Natsuki Subaru’s possession――,

Subaru: [――Hk!]

Olbart: [Oh! What’s up with’cha all of a sudden?]

Medium: [Whoa! What, what, what?]

Louis: [Uu!? Aa, uu!]

He slapped his cheeks as hard as he could with both hands, trying to shake off the snide remarks that had been whispered in his ear.

A dry sound echoed through the room. Olbart, Medium and Louis screamed at Subaru’s sudden action.

Although they had not raised their voices, Al and Taritta were just as surprised.

Of course they would be. It was unfortunate, but it just was necessary.

Subaru: [――――]

Once Subaru opened his closed eyelids, his vision, which had seemed wobbly and unsteady, became clearer. Within his field of view, in the midst of the people who had been surprised by Subaru’s strange behavior, a single gaze was trained on him in silence.

Only the oni mask-wearing Abel was as unfazed and composed as he had been at the time of Olbart’s first appearance. ――What lay within his heart, was wholly unknown.

Subaru: [Sorry for surprising you... I had to motivate myself.]

Olbart: [A lil’ kid with red cheeks and a big smile on his face, how nice... Hmm? Aren’t’cha that one? Aren’t’cha perhaps the girl in red from yesterday? Ya startled me.]

Detecting the eccentric-behaving Subaru’s real identity, Olbart raised his thick eyebrows in interest.

Just like in the previous loop, Olbart had again now made the connection between Subaru and Natsumi for the first time. Going along this line, having confirmed that Olbart was the mastermind behind the “infantilization”, it was possible to bring about negotiations.

However, they would be committing the same mistake, then. ――Olbart was a dangerous man.

At the very least, Abel’s circumstances could not be relayed as to get Olbart on their side.

As soon as he found out that Abel was the real Emperor, that Abel was Vincent Vollachia, he would disclose his own long-held ambitions and make an attempt on his life. ――He was a potential enemy already.

The rest――,

Al: [...That’s my bro. Even the shinobi head honcho didn’t know who you were.]

Olbart: [Oh, how impressive, how impressive! I wish the people in my village could learn from that transformation. How ‘bout bein’ a lecturer? You’d be welcome.]

Subaru: [――――]

Olbart: [Guess it’s impossible ta talk peacefully. Seems I’ve put’cha on yer guard a tad too much and made a tad too grand an entrance. I messed up, I messed up.]

Olbart stuck out his tongue and admitted he had made a mistake.

However, the situation in which this would warm up or soften the atmosphere had long passed. Subaru had not the slightest intention of relaxing his vigilance toward the old man.

――Prior to his assault, Olbart had stated that human faces said a lot.

Probably, the combination of his good-natured attitude and casual behavior, as well as the surprise produced by his silent intrusion into the unprotected room, were all techniques to elicit the other party’s true reaction.

If the shinobi of this world and Subaru’s perception of “ninjas” were of the same nature, then the entirety of Olbart’s conduct should consist of traps, poison and all kinds of ninjutsu.

He would spare no effort to achieve his goal.

Olbart: [Ya best not take me lightly ‘cause I’m an ol’ man with a short life ahead of me and all that, tho’. Gonna have ta get a lil’ rough, takin’ into account how much time I got left in me.]

Taritta: [Rough... Are you going to fight us in this situation?]

Olbart: [Kakakakka! Well, it’s true I might get a lil’ jumpy with a bow pointed at me, don’t’cha think? But fightin’ isn’t the only method for me ta get my way, is it?]

Medium: [Weeell~, what do you mean? What are you trying to say, Gramps?]

Taritta and Medium cast a question towards the sincerely-muttering Olbart, who shrunk his small body even further. The old man’s cheeks twisted into a smile at the pair’s questions, their height difference had been flipped around.

Then, with his hand, he pointed at Medium and then at Al, the two trying to block his exit route,

Olbart: [It’s hard ta do this and that havin’ been shrunken, isn’t it? I did that. It’s a kind of shinobi technique. Strange and interestin’, right?]

Al: [Old man...!]

Olbart: [Don’t be angry, one-armed young’un. In fact, ya can thank me. I’d be miffed if I killed ya by accident before I could’ve asked ya any, so I just shrunk ya.]

With Al closing in on him for an answer, Olbart spoke and stopped his advance.

Upon understanding that the words spoken to him were indeed true, Al’s breath caught, and he fell silent.

Indeed, this statement of Olbart’s was both true and factual.

Had he so desired, he could have killed Subaru’s group during the battle of the previous day, at the Crimson Lapis Castle. He could have pierced their hearts with a simple thrust of his hand, instead of this infantilization technique.

The fact that Subaru and the others were still alive, even after becoming small, came down to nothing more than the whim of the old man.

So Subaru thought, but――,

Olbart: [Well, even if I’d tried ta kill ya for real, you’d’ve blocked all my attempts at doin’ it, so I just did it outta desperation, ya know? Right, young’un?]

Al: [...I wonder what you’re talking about.]

Olbart: [Kakakakka! Ya won’t tell me ‘bout yer trick? I can’t really blame ya. If I could tho’, I’d ask ya how ta do it in detail and leave it in my book of secrets.]

Al: [It doesn’t matter how many times you say it. ――I wonder what you’re talking about.]

His face covered by a piece of cloth, Al answered in a muffled voice.

That response should not match his expectations, yet Olbart nodded with a “Is that so, is that so”, seemingly enjoying Al’s reaction.

Subaru: [――?]

On the other hand, Subaru had no idea what could be the meaning of the current exchange between the two.

During that fierce battle in the castle tower of Crimson Lapis Castle, Al had done the work of several people to save the lives of Subaru and Medium. Or perhaps the one who had squared off against Al there, Olbart, had noticed something shimmering in his fighting style.

However, even if Olbart’s words were true, Al’s technique, influenced by the “infantilization”, would not work on the shinobi.

Subaru had already been witness to the results of that, with his very eyes.

And derived from that, came about an absolute truth.

――That would be: under no circumstances whatsoever should they ever wage battle against Olbart. It was that simple.

Everyone: [――――]

Olbart was lazily playing with his teacup using both hands. Taritta trained her bow and arrow on him, and Al and Medium likewise were ready for battle―― but they would be killed helplessly.

There was a tremendous gap in strength between Subaru’s group and Olbart.

If they fought Olbart, they would be annihilated. ――No, even if they attempted to escape, one or two people may be able to escape, but the chances of that were incredibly small.

They needed to get Olbart to leave peacefully, at all costs. However, there was no time to have a discussion regarding that.

Subaru: [Why...?]

He could not help but lament that he had been forcefully returned to this moment.

He was aware of it being a thought terribly filled with pride and selfishness, as he had been granted a second opportunity by Return by Death. Had he at least returned before Olbart’s appearance, he would have been able to consult with his companions at least.

――Namely, forgoing the disclosure of their own hand, but instead disclosing Olbart’s own.

Subaru: [Our objective is as I told you yesterday in the castle tower. We’re going to overthrow Emperor Vincent Vollachia, who currently sits on the throne of the Emperor. This should also align with your goal.]

Olbart: [Wait wait, don’t make me out ta be some kinda traitor! This is treadin’ on thin ice, boy, you’re makin’ me so scared that I’m ‘boutta piss myself.]

Subaru: [But you aren’t denying it nor stopping me from saying it for real. You’re one of the Emperor’s Generals of the First-Class.]

With that future possibility caught with just his fingertips, Subaru moved forward in an attempt to fully reach it.

Of course, that did not mean that the threat posed by Olbart had diminished, nor that the danger had lessened. He was fully aware that with one wrong move, this place would become a bloodbath.

But Subaru was convinced that this was the kind of talk that was possible as of now.

Only after Abel’s true identity had been revealed had Olbart decided to take action.

It was akin to some sort of suicide mission for Olbart, in which killing Abel would fulfill his life’s purpose.

Without that conviction, Olbart would not be quick-tempered during the negotiations.

Even if he was a beast of ambition, devoid of the slightest sense of responsibility or loyalty, he would play the role of a Divine General who faithfully obeyed the order of “no interference” given by the false Emperor.

Olbart: [That’s, His Excellency’s ordered me ta stay out of it even tho’ you’ve declared war right ta his face. I’m not like Kafma, who gets mad all the time when it comes ta the Emperor. Not wise ta turn the foxgirl into an enemy, in this city.]

As expected, despite Olbart hearing Subaru’s appeal that could have just as well been derogatory, he nevertheless did not attempt to use force.

However, he did not take kindly to Subaru’s insistence, and his attitude naturally made Abel, Al and the others put into question whether the shinobi’s absurd ambitions were true, or not.

And――,

Abel: [――So would that be the ulterior motive dwelling within your heart that I was unable to conjecture?]

Olbart: [Good grief, these guys just don’t get it. At this rate, I’ll just have ta give up and acknowledge it’s no use talkin’ ta ‘em.]

Among those who were skeptical, Abel was the first to accept the unbelievable details.

Pierced by the glint in his eyes, Olbart blurted out some excuse as if he didn’t feel like it. There had been no reason for Olbart to open his heart to Subaru and the others in earnest at this juncture from the get-go.

Naturally, Al and the rest of the fighters were getting more tense due to Olbart’s attitude――,

Olbart: [Stop it, stop it, you’ll only end up losin’ if ya start a fight. I’m tellin’ ya, the reason I won’t use violent methods with’cha isn’t ‘cause I’m nice, it’s ‘cause I was told not to, aight? I’m prepared ta get even with’cha if ya folks make a move on me first.]

Taritta: [Guh... That may be true...]

They hadn’t fought yet, but they’d be back at square one if they tried to start something. Taritta’s cheeks tightened at Olbart’s warning, her narrowed eyes darting a glance at Subaru and Medium.

Seeing this, Olbart nodded his head as if to speak affirmatively,

Olbart: [Bring back the shrunken ones, ya say. That’s a tad greedy, don’t’cha think? I’m thinkin’ of leavin’ without doin’ anythin’, okay?]

Medium: [But Gramps, you made us small, didn’t you? Or is there anyone else besides Gramps who can bring us back to normal?]

Olbart: [I’ve never really thought ‘bout it... Girl, how old are ya, really?]

Medium: [Me? I’m what, twenty?]

Olbart: [Then maybe if ya wait ten years, you’ll go back ta normal? Dunno, tho’.]

Medium raised her hand and asked a question, her cheeks reddening at his blunt answer. Albeit it was just Olbart’s bewildering attitude, his answer was troubling for Subaru and the others.

But it was a fact that there was no way to get answers out of him by force, and no other method to undo what had been done.

And yet――,

Subaru: [You know you can’t just pack up and go home. Olbart-san, I’m going to have to ask you to stay with us a little longer...]

Olbart: [I don’t wanna, tho’. Since you’re treatin’ me like an ol’ man and all that. I’m an ol’ man with a short life ahead of me, and I got the right ta choose who I talk ta with the lil’ time I got.]

Abel: [――Then, I shall present you with the opportunity to kill the Emperor.]

Immediately after that, Subaru gasped at yet another change in atmosphere, and gazed the one who had spoken, Abel.

Abel had done nothing else than put his own life on the scales, that statement causing Olbart to scratch his head with an “Oioi”,

Olbart: [How many times do I gotta tell ya folks that yer premise’s wrong? Isn’t it pretty bad if ya can’t remember things better than me?]

Abel: [If your goal is the Emperor’s life, you have had many opportunities in the past. But you have not actualized it. ――Because the Flame of the Yang Sword protects the Emperor.]

Olbart: [Oh...]

Abel: [I can divulge how to overcome the Flame.]

Olbart’s expression underwent a shift, becoming distinctly different from the facade he had held up until that point.

The old man raised his eyebrows and stared at the oni mask-wearing Abel with clear surprise. Abel, on the other hand, had risen from his chair, standing there majestically.

Subaru: [The Flame, of the Yang Sword...]

What that meant, Subaru did not know for certain.

However, it was true that for Olbart, the shock was such that it made it possible to see through to the other side, breaking through the ostensible emotions that he had put up to this point.

Based on the conversation, it was some sort of secret that protected the Emperor of Vollachia, and it was because of this that Olbart’s ambition had not come to fruition thus far.

A method to remove those fetters and overcome them, that was what Abel had claimed.

Olbart: [――. I thought all ya did was hide yer face and not care for the elderly, who the hell are ya? Ya shouldn’t joke ‘round ‘bout such things.]

Abel: [Is your belief really that someone who weaves sophistry and jokes in a place like this can raise a rebellion against this mighty Empire? If so, they would have to be either a madman bereft of sanity, or a great man with a lot of nerve.]

Olbart: [You’re neither of those things, are ya?]

Abel: [Naturally.]

Consisely, Abel responded to Olbart’s question.

Whether it was serious or just sophistry, Subaru could not decide. Or perhaps the man named Abel was the real deal, a madman, a great man, or all of those simultaneously.

Olbart: [――――]

In reaction to Abel’s reply, Olbart fell silent for a moment.

He raised his bushy eyebrows and brought his now utterly cold cup of tea to his lips. Then, once he gently placed the empty teacup on the desk beside him,

Olbart: [I believe you were talking about the bell of Fire Time.]

Subaru: [Huh?]

With that sudden question, Subaru let out a stupid-sounding voice.

However, the one to reply immediately with “That’s right~” and a nod was Medium. Her body now smaller, she pointed out the window, indicating the majesty of the Crimson Lapis Castle,

Medium: [Yorna-chan’s calling us, so we’ll be in trouble if we stay small.]

Olbart: [Yorna-chan! Kakakakka! You’ve got real balls, lass.]

Medium: [――?]

He tilted his head, amazed by Medium’s boldness in addressing Yorna with “chan”.

At the same time, Olbart did the same, now calmed down, gazing towards the Crimson Lapis Castle, pointed to by Medium, as he muttered “Right”,

Olbart: [Putting aside the topic of whether I’m aimin’ for His Excellency’s life or not, I sure am curious ‘bout how ta get past the Yang Sword that protects the Emperor of Vollachia.]

Subaru: [――Hk! If that’s the case...]

Olbart: [Oh, com’on, it’s too early ta tell. I’m the one who got yer hopes up, but I got a lotta things on my mind. ――So, why don’t we play a game?]

Subaru: [...A game?]

Olbart: [Yes, a game. Ya like that, don’t’cha? Boy.]

Thrusting his finger right in front of Subaru’s nose as the latter leaned forward, Olbart so declared.

As his eyes had been wholly unable to fellow that movement, Subaru went stiff, stuck in place.

Olbart presented some kind of condition, or a “game”, as he called it as a preface.

Subaru was not sure if this was the way he wanted to avoid complete annihilation and improve this stagnant situation, but――,

Subaru: [What if I said no?]

Olbart: [Then ya won’t be able to get anythin’ ya want.]

Subaru: [――――]

Olbart: [By the way, since ya folks got what’cha think I want, the shinobi’s techniques’ll be comin’ down on ya folks without relent.]

As if it were an obvious answer, Olbart made that ruthless announcement.

The old man was smiling; the sight of the dark emotions stirring in the depths of his pale, cloudy eyes brought chills.

He may be having a peaceful and harmonious conversation on the surface, but under it, he was concealing a shinobi style of mercilessly reaping others’ lives.

Abel: [What shall the game be?]

Avoiding a bout with Olbart had been made impossible once he presented his conditions. Abel had sensed the same thing, and made his question in Subaru’s stead, the latter unable to open his mouth.

Olbart nodded his head to that appeal, and said, “Right”,

Olbart: [We don’t have much time before the fox girl calls ya, and I’ve been told not ta mess with’cha folks, so I’m in a bit of a pickle... Oh, that one’s perfect.]

Subaru: [Perfect for who, Olbart-san? For us?]

Olbart: [For both of us, me and ya.]

With a toothy grin at Subaru’s drawn-out question, Olbart showed his hands.

Then turning to Subaru and the others bracing themselves, he spoke,

Olbart: [――Tag.]

Everyone: [――――]

Olbart: [I’m used ta playin’ it with the young peeps from my village. Easy ta understand, isn’t it?]