WeTried Translations

Translator: Nemui

Editor: Nemui

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◈ Scum of the Brave

Chapter 14

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Lesson 3: Take Civilians as Shields

The days continued, a little busy and in a lousy mood.

At times like this, even the weather becomes depressing. The sky was cloudy almost every day, rain fell now and then, and at night it got colder than the inside of a refrigerator. Nobody said it out loud, but the days felt like a wake.

Ed Cyrus tended to keep the bar closed, and "Salt" Joe was acting in a way that could only be described as "wandering around" here and there. If you asked him, he might claim it was "information gathering." Maruta kept showing up and not showing up, same as always. I did not really know.

As for me, I had something clearer to do.

A capable man makes a plan and acts nimbly. What had Ishino the "Musician" been investigating? What kind of mistake had he made to end up like that?

And the Split Dragon Crest.

There were any number of things to think about and investigate.

Especially indispensable was dropping by Ed Cyrus's 《Goonies》 on Monday evening.

It absolutely was not just a fleeting desire to drink beer and play games for a change of pace. It was because Ed Cyrus, "Salt" Joe, or maybe Maruta might bring new information. Truly.

Unfortunately, nobody was there that day, so I sat with Ed Cyrus, staring stupidly at a baseball broadcast while drinking nothing but beer watered down with ice and water.

I do not know much about baseball, but Manager Ed likes it, so I had no choice but to watch.

The Tokai Deers, the team Ed supported, were down by three runs in the bottom of the eighth, but they had just hit a counterattack double.

At that moment, even grim-faced Ed groaned and emptied his beer mug.

"Nice! Did you see that, Yashiro? That kid Tsushima did it!"

"He hit that pretty well. It flew all the way to left."

"The next one decides it. Batting order is Inohara, huh. This is getting interesting."

"Inohara's only had cheap hits today, right? Is he okay?"

"Shut up, you ignorant bastard. Inohara's a man who delivers when it matters."

Ed glared at me with terrifying eyes.

They arrived at exactly that moment.

"Ah! Master!"

The moment he heard that voice, Ed made a sour face and turned up the baseball broadcast volume. "Sorry," I apologized, but he probably did not hear. Nothing for it. When I turned toward the entrance, I saw two girls in school uniforms entering with the dull sound of the bell.

Aki Jogamine and Indo Yukine.

Indo had the same absent expressionless face as ever, but Jogamine somehow looked dissatisfied. I vaguely thought this would be annoying.

"Master! What does this mean?"

Sure enough, Jogamine approached with an annoying opening. In my opinion, Jogamine seemed to lack the concept of logical verbal development. What kind of brain cells had formed in that head? Even her nerve tissue might have an extremely interesting shape.

As I observed her like that, she planted herself right in front of me and peered into my face.

"The exam was last Friday!"

"Huh?"

"The exam!"

"What exam?"

"The practical sword-combat exam."

Indo added it in a small voice, and before I knew it, she was sitting beside me. That made me understand.

"Oh."

After that, I had served as the opponent for these girls' "special training" twice or so.

Of course, there was a reason. I had information I wanted to draw out using them. The Academy. The pair who had come to the gymnasium that night.

Especially the golden badge worn by the woman called Levi. It was the same as the one clutched in Ishino's dead hand.

There was room to insert several questions here.

In other words, why? Why was a Brave-like woman like that at the Academy? What did that badge mean? Was it related to the Academy? That sort of thing. These girls and I currently had areas where we could use each other.

Find the people who killed Ishino and put them through something worse than death.

That was the only thing people like us, lowest scumbags called "Braves," could do. No matter how I thought about it, there was nothing else.

People often say the dead do not wish for revenge. But this case was different. Ishino would definitely say this:

Absolutely take revenge.

Put them through something worse than hell, and while you're at it, record their screams of pain.

"So, Master."

While I was thinking for a bit, Jogamine had continued talking.

"Why did Master not come to watch our brave figures challenging the exam?"

"Like hell I would. It's not a professional baseball game."

"If you were hesitant, that was unnecessary. Even someone as shabby-looking as Master may attend the Academy's exams, as they are open to the public. More importantly!"

"Hey, who's shabby-looking..."

"Any who spoke ill of Master's appearance would certainly have been crushed by me! Please deeply understand the respect and affection of this disciple!"

"You get crushed."

Once Jogamine entered speech mode, she basically stopped hearing anything anyone said. Ed Cyrus silently connected headphones to the television and began focusing on the baseball broadcast by himself.

With no choice, I decided to ask Indo.

"So? Her grade? She at least passed, right? Or did she fail, happily enough?"

"Retest."

Yukine said it calmly.

"Better than disqualification. The match was a draw."

"My opponent was truly formidable."

Jogamine looked up at the ceiling as if recalling profound history. It was the greasy, filthy ceiling of Ed Cyrus's bar.

"She struck and retreated, retreated and struck back. A razor-thin offense and defense. Sparks flew, nerves trembled. It could be called a fierce battle. I truly wanted Master to see it."

"Is that true, Indo?"

"Yeah..."

A brief silence. Her lightly colored eyes narrowed, and then Indo tilted her head.

"The opponent was... normal? Around that? I think. Mostly a mud fight..."

"No, wait, Yukine."

Jogamine immediately cut her off.

"This is in front of Master. I want you to exaggerate my achievements a little."

"Mm... really?"

She did not seem entirely convinced, but Indo fell silent anyway. In her place, Jogamine began chattering.

"The one I fought, Sakakibara Elena, was quite skilled. She belongs to the most excellent A Class, and like you, Yukine, she is always among the top practical grades. To supplement, she also ranks high in written exams."

"That supplement wasn't needed."

Indo grimaced hard. But Jogamine did not care. That was who she was.

"A Class's ability and daily training. There was much to learn. I was once again made to admire her."

"In other words, what?"

I snorted.

"You want to say you were amazing for drawing against her?"

"No, not that much."

I had meant it as sarcasm, but Jogamine seemed genuinely embarrassed. Her neck reddened slightly, and she bowed earnestly.

"My sleeping talent is one factor, but I believe most of it is thanks to Master's guidance."

"Sure."

Making Jogamine understand sarcasm was annoying. I abandoned the effort and nodded.

"If Indo says 'normal,' then, well, the opponent must have been somewhat capable."

"The way you say that makes me feel as though my statements are not being evaluated at all, and only your trust in Yukine is one-sidedly high."

I did not say that was exactly true. It would be even more annoying. I pointed at Jogamine.

"In the end, you haven't improved the weakness I taught you at all. If it became a mud fight, you earned points by aiming for passive counters, same as ever."

"Yes! However, I am proud that I made use of Master's teachings."

"That pride pisses me off."

"The disarming technique Master showed us the other day, what is called a kote strike in kendo. I thought I would actively use that! Your non-killing spirit was certainly conveyed."

"That's wrong..."

Idiot, I thought. True, that night, to neutralize Levi, I had actively aimed for wrist strikes. But that was because the opponent was protected by law. There are essentially no cases where a Brave armed and using 《E3》 against someone who is not a Dark Lord can successfully claim self-defense.

Breaking the limbs of an opponent you cannot kill is rational, but it is nowhere near a non-killing spirit. In fact, with such a troublesome opponent, if I could kill her, I would.

"If you can read people's hearts, read mine regularly. What non-killing spirit? It gives me hives."

"M-Master's heart? Such a..."

At that moment, Jogamine made a face like she had swallowed an unexpected delicacy. Or like she had been hit in the head with a club.

I did not know what kind of psychological change had occurred, but she took a large deep breath.

"No. As a lady's refinement, I still think such things must not be abused. It is too soon! That kind of relationship! It is improper!"

"Oh, that's a reaction far more annoying than expected. Whatever."

Truly, I no longer cared. There were plenty of things I had to care more about. For example, the third girl who had not shown herself today.

"So."

I changed the subject somewhat forcefully.

"How did Sara do? Actually, what's she doing today?"

"Yes. Thanks in part to Master's instruction, Sara passed. Today she has cleaning duty at the Academy, so she said she will be a little late."

"King Arthur's daughter has cleaning duty?"

As expected, Sara's position seemed far from privileged. Forcefully probing the Academy through her did not seem realistic.

"Therefore, on her behalf as well."

Jogamine stood at ease and declared proudly.

"I came here to offer thanks to Master."

"Oh, really. Then your role's over."

"No! If possible, I was hoping to flatter Master as much as possible like this and ask for today's lesson! My retest is coming up!"

"You're so honest you don't have many friends, do you? It pisses me off, so no."

"How did you know that?"

Anyone could tell that much. I looked not at Jogamine but at Indo. I felt her silent gaze. She was looking at me with pleading eyes.

"You said you would teach me too, last time."

"Did I?"

"You did. Completely."

"I see."

I thought for a bit. To be honest, I too wanted to use these girls to do what I needed to do.

"Excuse me, I feel a gap in how Yukine and I are being treated."

Jogamine said unhappily, but I ignored her and continued thinking. The information gathering I had in mind needed manpower. It would be more efficient than doing it alone, and safer too. It was still crossing a somewhat dangerous bridge, but...

Well, whatever.

I decided to work these girls to the bone.

"Are you free tomorrow night? If you are..."

"Yes! Extremely free!"

Before I could state the business, Jogamine cut in eagerly.

"Whether there is school or a natural disaster, I will accompany you!"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. So, Indo, are you coming?"

Ignoring Jogamine about eighty percent, I asked Indo Yukine. She blinked once.

"Where?"

"Uh... a social-studies field trip."

That was not a lie. However, it might have been far removed from the facts. Indo paid no attention at all to that subtle nuance and tilted her head.

"Will that make me stronger?"

"It's real-combat format. Depends on you."

"I'll go."

Indo Yukine answered immediately. Decided. I took out my cellphone.

"Then, Ikebukuro at seven tomorrow night. Don't eat beforehand. I'll contact Sara."

When she heard that, Jogamine's eyes rounded.

"Pardon? Um, now?"

"Because if you eat beforehand, you might throw up."

"No, not that. Contact Sara? How?"

"By email."

"Email!"

It was almost a scream. Jogamine nearly collapsed on the spot, but stopped herself at the last second by placing a hand on the counter.

"Why do you know Sara's email address?"

"Because we exchanged them."

"Heartless! You have not exchanged addresses with me!"

I thought, well, of course not, but before I could say it, Indo tugged hard on the sleeve of my coat.

"Instructor."

"What?"

"I want to exchange addresses too."

"Fine, but do you even have a phone?"

"...Sometimes."

After a brief silence, Indo nodded. Whether that was true was suspicious, but the style of not always carrying one around felt very Indo Yukine.

Even if she really had one, there was something otherworldly about Indo that made me think she probably did not know how to use it properly.

And then, from the side, Jogamine grabbed my shoulder in a vise.

"Master! Please exchange with me as well."

"Huh? With Jogamine?"

I think my expression probably showed tremendous disgust. I could already see that email with Jogamine would become annoying on an unimaginable level. Jogamine looked like she was about to cry.

"I sense a decisive disparity in Master's response between Indo and me."

Well, of course, I thought again.

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