WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Malfoid
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Don't Need a Family ◈
Episode 27
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“Wait, wait a moment.”
When I interrupted him, the mustached knight’s thick eyebrows rose.
He looked puzzled.
It was not often that a young lady like me stepped forward in such a dangerous situation.
“My lady, did you have something to say?”
“In a city where armed bandits run rampant, we aren’t even allowed to use magic? Then how are we supposed to protect ourselves?”
“You have the city guard. Leave dealing with thugs to us. Don’t step in yourselves. You could get hurt.”
“But you didn’t show up!”
My pointed cry made the knight stop stroking his mustache.
“Still, we came in the end.”
He looked around demonstratively.
The city guard soldiers who had rushed over were subduing the gang of thugs.
Those already on the ground, in a rather violent fashion.
As though that settled it, the knight waved a hand dismissively.
“We’re not saying you’ll be held accountable. Your attack magic was a bit excessive, but you didn’t cause any damage to the surroundings, and fortunately, they survived.”
“Would it have been a problem if they had died?”
Lola demanded.
“They may have committed crimes, but they are still subjects of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Hmph.”
Lola crossed her arms in displeasure.
The city guard knight surveyed us as though conducting an investigation.
“I won’t say any more. You appear to be nobles, and distinguished people shouldn’t waste their time on this sort of filth. However.”
He pulled a notebook and cheap pen from his breast pocket, ready to take notes.
“Madam, you’re a mage, aren’t you? May I ask your affiliation?”
“Why do you ask?”
“We need to determine whether you’re dangerous and report to our superiors. It’s standard procedure, so please cooperate.”
If Madam had an affiliation, it was obviously House Ashwilt.
But what if telling them plainly led to word reaching that family?
It was an awkward situation either way.
“Madam?”
The mustached knight frowned.
“Where are you from? Surely you’re not from abroad.”
By “from abroad,” he naturally meant a foreigner who had entered illegally.
Several unverified mages from other countries had recently crossed the border and caused fires, so security had tightened.
It was understandable that he would be cautious. But how were we supposed to explain this?
“Phil, let them go.”
The knight who had been silently watching from behind spoke up.
“Sir? But!”
The mustached knight turned to his senior in protest.
“I know them. I’ll vouch for them. Don’t stir things up. Let them go.”
“What? You know them, sir?”
Flustered, the knight looked back and forth between us and his senior.
“I’ll handle them, so go clean up the mess.”
“Yes, sir.”
The mustached knight hurried off.
Perhaps because they were knights, their hierarchy was strict.
‘Whoever he is, he just helped us out.’
“Um.”
I was about to thank him when the senior knight removed his helmet.
A familiar, unpleasant face appeared.
“You?”
‘He’s the man who caused such a fuss, calling Madam Fadde a witch.’
The one who had been thoroughly scolded and run off.
Was that childish grown man actually a knight? I had thought he was just some neighborhood bum.
It was surprising that the rude man from back then was a diligent knight who even worked on his day off.
It seemed everyone had a hidden side.
Then again, perhaps no one in the world could be trusted.
Apparently noticing my expression, the man smiled awkwardly and bowed.
“I’m truly sorry about that time. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I’m Adam Pollix, a rank-and-file knight of the Imperial City Guard.”
“...”
Silence hung between the four of us.
The man I had thought would become our enemy had helped us.
Why?
We had been in such a tight spot that I would have been grateful if he had simply passed us by.
‘The more I think about it, the more suspicious it is.’
“Please don’t be so wary. You just looked like you were in trouble.”
He scratched the back of his head.
“Um, I truly wanted to apologize for what happened that day. It was wrong of me to discriminate against and criticize a neighbor just because she was a mage.”
“If you knew that, why did you do it?”
Lola snapped.
Adam looked flustered, but answered honestly.
“At the time, I was briefly... Um.”
Judging by his vacant expression, he did not seem to have some other scheme.
Maybe he was simply an innocent young man who had not thought things through.
I decided to think of him that way for now.
Madam Fadde had said this as well.
“That apology is enough. Let’s put the matter behind us.”
“Thank you for accepting it.”
“Still, I never expected you to join the city guard. You must be interested in defending the Empire.”
There was a hint of mockery in her question.
But perhaps he did not catch it, because the knight answered quite seriously.
“I really do feel a sense of duty. Ah, that fellow does as well.”
Adam gestured toward the mustached knight from earlier.
“That’s why I apologize for our being somewhat excessive.”
‘Oh, he’s quite mature. Completely different from that day.’
Then again, he was well over thirty. It was only natural.
Madam Fadde gave a short, mocking laugh.
“So you’re the senior knight? Not bad for such a youngster.”
“I’m getting on in years myself, you know? Ha ha.”
Madam Fadde seemed completely at ease now.
Their reunion had gotten off to a rough start, but they had once been neighbors for a long time.
Before long, the two had returned to being friendly neighbors.
Only Lola still had a pronounced pout.
“My lady, Madam, we can’t waste any more time here. The performance will start soon.”
At that moment, heavy bells rang from the clock tower in the square.
Lola’s mouth fell open as the bells rang exactly twelve times.
“I think we’re already late, Lola.”
“Ah! If only we hadn’t wasted time on that gang of thugs! No, if that mustache hadn’t stopped us, we could have at least gotten in at the last moment!”
Lola glared resentfully at Adam.
Looking apologetic, he cautiously addressed her.
“Um, my lady?”
“Don’t call me that. I’m only a maid. And I know you didn’t actually do anything wrong this time.”
“...”
“I’m just upset. It was a concert my lady had been looking forward to so much...”
“I’m all right, Lola.”
I thought I understood why she was reacting so strongly.
Given Vivette’s personality, Vivette would chatter about nothing else for days on end once fixated on something.
Lola, who served at her side, must have thought Vivette was desperate to go.
Feeling guilty too, I found myself trying to comfort her.
“I really am. It’s nice enough that we all came out together.”
“But...”
Adam, who had quietly watched Lola and me, cautiously asked,
“My lady, do you like music?”
“No. More than music...”
I gave it some thought before answering.
“I think I’d prefer something more lively.”
Like walking around the festival market.
We could probably still go to a park.
I hoped Lola would make such a suggestion and regain her energy.
But Adam Pollix made an offer first.
“Then how about the martial arts tournament? I like it very much and go to watch it often.”
“The martial arts tournament?”
That did sound tempting.
“The Plaford martial arts tournament prohibits killing as a rule, so it should not be too much for a young lady to watch.”
“Still, isn’t it rather rough for a girl to attend?”
Madam Fadde looked displeased.
“It isn’t proper etiquette either.”
“Madam, I want to go.”
Not wanting to miss this chance, I lightly took her arm.
“What? You want to go? How could you bear to watch something so brutal? You should only see beautiful things.”
“Other young ladies go too. It’ll be all right.”
Please.
It did not suit my blunt personality, but I tried to make a pleading expression.
After all, throughout my long illness, watching sports had been my only hobby.
I especially liked martial arts matches.
‘I always wanted to learn something like kendo or judo.’
And now I could watch one in person? I wanted to go terribly.
I cast aside all pride and pleaded until Madam Fadde finally gave her permission.
“...You really are an unusual child. Perhaps you take after your uncle.”
Madam Fadde remained displeased until the end.
* * *
The gladiatorial arena in the center of Plaford was far larger than I had expected.
It was a grand circular stadium, with “Martial Arts Tournament” written on its sign in old-fashioned script.
Though large, it did not possess the slightest bit of luxury.
Since it was not run by the state, it was old and poorly maintained.
The exact opposite of the theater we had originally planned to visit.
Its greatest difference from the Lapierre Grand Theater was that it charged no admission.
Thanks to that, the place was very noisy with day drinkers, hot-blooded young people, and noble ladies seeking entertainment.
Though we had only barely made it in time, we managed to take seats near the very front.
“Oh, we’re lucky! My lady, we can see the gladiators’ faces from here. Why has such a good spot been empty all this time?”
“You chose well. Madam, sit on the inside.”
Unlike Lola and me, who were excited, Madam Fadde, who had lived as a noblewoman her entire life, seemed reluctant to sit in the grimy seats.
“It would be better if I could use cleansing magic. Tch, but then the guards would come after us again, wouldn’t they?”
“Please bear with it, Madam. Using magic here would draw too much attention.”
I gave her a handkerchief, then examined the large tournament brackets posted here and there.
“Are all the people competing here gladiators?”
“I suppose so. Even their names sound strong!”
“Then they must be good, right? This should be worth watching.”
“I’m so excited, my lady!”
However, our excitement faded the moment someone in the adjacent seat interrupted us.
“Is this your first time somewhere like this, ladies? You look like complete beginners.”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
The man, who looked like an idle playboy, had the unmistakable air of a diehard enthusiast.
Despite his swaggering manner, his clothes were expensive.
He was a capital noble.
Perhaps that was why he spoke down to us so naturally from our first meeting.
Even though we must have looked like nobles too.
“I couldn’t help laughing as I listened. They can’t bring proper gladiators to a cheap arena like this. Do you know how much they cost? You really are naive, just like girls.”
“Then?”
“They’ll gather a bunch of random people and make them compete. What professional fighting could you expect from matches held every day?”
The nobleman laced his fingers behind his head and sprawled backward.
The person behind him looked very uncomfortable, but he did not care.
That person could not even complain. They were a commoner.
“I guarantee I could fight far better. Still, watching weaklings fight is fun. Heh heh heh.”
I smiled sweetly at him. It was the groundwork for saying something unpleasant.
“Is that so? Then, young lord, why don’t you sit properly?”
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