A small square on the edge of the Imperial City.
　In this place, which was not very busy even at noon, Mabel stopped.
　I sit on the edge of a small fountain and look up at the starry sky with a sigh.

　I called out to her as she looked a little sad.

Hi,

　Mabel stood up as if she had been played and looked at me and reached for the pitching sword holder.
　I wave my hands at her.

"Wait, wait, wait. We're not here to fight," he said, "we'll settle this tomorrow. We'll settle this tomorrow. You'll be fine.

　Mabel glares at me and says, "I don't care if it's tomorrow or now.

"I don't care if it's tomorrow or now.
But you're not very good with daggers, are you?

　Mabel's eyes widen.

'Why?'
''It looked like you were kind of lacking in the fight. Isn't a weapon heavier than that two-handed sword really what you're getting?

　I sat down on the edge of the fountain as I said this.
　I sat down on the edge of the fountain and looked up at the sky.

It's nice and quiet here. It's just a shame it's a clear day.
What's wrong with the sunny side?
I like it better when the moon is covered with clouds. A moon that's too bright is dull. Even more so when there are two.
''Style...?　It's not surprising that there are two moons. Weird.

　Then Mabel moved away from me and sat down.
　A cool night breeze washed over the small square.

If you're not going to fight why did you come after me?
I'm here to talk to you.
You want to...?
You really want to win, don't you?　I won't give up if you ask me to, and I won't give up if you force me to. But... if you tell me what you're going through, maybe I'll change my mind.
It's crazy to talk about it after what happened.
But you didn't try to kill me, did you?
....
Didn't you try to get that intruder to let you go before I could do anything?

　Mabel shushes for a moment, then says with a small sigh.

'At the time, it looked like you were ... trying to make that witness disappear.
I didn't mean to do that.

　I was just trying to get rid of him because it was dangerous. It might have been a little bit of a kill, though.

　Mabel continues.

'All I needed was for you to get hurt and for me to abandon the game tomorrow.
Well, that was pretty extreme for a guy like that.
'I was going to get an arm or two or a leg or three. I figured if I didn't go that far, I wouldn't be able to hurt you.
....
'Actually, I couldn't do that either.... By any chance, if you got hurt, would you have been able to heal yourself?
Well, yeah.

　It's hard to say you could die and come back from the dead.

　Mabel looks at me and says.

"Only, still if you fight for real, I can't lose. I have my reasons for not losing. Please, you have to abstain. I can't take it easy on you. I don't want any more of you to die...
I told you. I'm not just going to give up a win, even if you ask me to.
....

　Silence falls on the square at night.
　Yes, it did.

Okay, I'll make my own prediction.
What...?
You are Amu's replacement.
....!
''It's your mission to win this tournament and disguise yourself as a hero to get the attention of the demon side. That's why I came to the academy after being adopted by Baron Crane's family.
Did you know about this?
'Nope. No one told me, it's just a prediction. Didn't you?
Right, but how did you know he was a hero?
It's all kinds of things.

　I chuckle.

But that's not all you've got going for you.
....
'There must be some other reason for you to be so desperate. Depending on that, I can consider abstaining.
....

　After a long, long silence.
　Mabel opened her mouth gravely.

'There is one part of your prediction that is different.
No?
What I've been asked to do is to lose in the final.
What...?
"To be killed by that evil-eyed swordsman in the final. That's my job. To make the demon tribe believe that the hero is dead.

　I take a breath and open my mouth.

"So Kyle was a sentinel, too. I don't understand. I don't understand who made such a sloppy plan, nor do I understand you. First of all, the demon tribe probably doesn't think of you as a brave person that much. It's much more likely that you're usually living in a village somewhere without even realizing it, or that the empire is hiding it.
Yes.
'The situation of coming into a tournament like this is too convenient. And yet ... if you're going to win, but lose in the final?　If you think that's how you can fake the death of a brave man, then the people at the court must be quite happy with their heads.
I didn't have a choice.
Is that a problem?　What?
It was a condition of loaning me out in the first place that Kyle would kill me in the final.
Huh...?
'The academy and above that, I had no choice but to drink. Because I was probably the only person who was the same age as the brave man, a woman, and the only person who could reliably win the tournament. I gave up on the idea of making him win and make him a shadow warrior, and decided to make it look like he was dead. Even if it diminishes the significance of that somewhat.
''I'm sorry, but I don't know what's going on. The terms of the loan........?　Where the hell did you get sent from?
"LeGrook and Company

　Mabel turns to me and asks, "Have you heard of it?

"Have you heard of it?
'Yeah the MC was talking about Kyle being from the escort unit there. I thought that was his official status.
Not ostensibly. Fact. Escort units are the names of organizations that keep reserve personnel who are not yet 'commodities'.
Merchandise?

　Mabel says after a beat.

'The Lugroek Trading Company sells people as commodities. Buying and selling slaves and sending mercenaries. That's the business of LeGrook.

　Mabel continues.

'What makes that trade association different from other slavers is that they find talented slaves and raise them into mercenaries themselves. Especially children with magical qualities. Kyle was one of them, and so was I.
....
'The Empire is aware of that, of course. That's why when this plan was made, I took it to LeGrook. I asked him if there were any strong children who could be made into brave men. I was the right age and gender, although my hair was a different color, but I was the right age and gender. But.....
But?
I was originally meant to be used for something else. I was supposed to be Kyle's last test partner. So instead of loaning me out, the Chamber of Commerce made a condition. That he had to go to the tournament and face me in the finals. And he must not take any (...) responsibility (...) for the result of my match (...).... So if I lose to Kyle in the final, it's not for the Chamber of Commerce to know. I guess the Imperial side knew what that meant, and they gave up on letting me win from the beginning.
....
'But I'm sure this was a good thing for LeGrook. He'll be able to profit from me, which he was going to use up, and he'll be able to get his exams done at the convention and even promote his confidence in Kyle.

　I think for a moment and then open my mouth.

What the hell is this test all about?　You're one of the merchant mercenaries, aren't you?　Why are you trying to squander it?

　Mabel shook her head.

"I'm not an official 'commodity'. To become an official mercenary for Lugrokh I need an operation to make me an official mercenary.
Surgery?

　I ask back.

"Why do you need to do that? "Why do you want to embed something in me?
No, no, no, no, just open your head.
...head?
Yes.

　Mabel traces a finger further up her forehead.

"I'm going to cut the skin off, drill a hole in your skull and stick the blade in your brain.
That's ... what's that for?
"Then you will be a perfect soldier. The perfect soldier who obeys every order without fear, anger or hesitation. Instead, you'd lose your emotions, like joy and sadness, and you'd become a different person.
....

　Then Mabel looked at me.

'Can't believe it?'
No I believe you.

　I'm not unaware of similar cases.
　I went on to ask, "You didn't get it, but Kyle did.

You didn't get it, but you did," I continue, "and that's why I thought it was so dehumanizing. It's no wonder I thought it was so impersonal. So what's the test?
"You can check on the success of the operation. By having a colleague killed.

　Mabel continues.

'Any child who is found to be gifted with magic or a sword in slavery is sent to a nursery. They are raised in pairs of four. They are always together. They sleep together, eat together, and go through rigorous training. Sometimes we would fight with each other, but for us slave children who had no one to rely on, we were like a family. The adults at the nursery told us to help each other.......but........

　Mabel says.

'Only one of the four can have the operation. The strongest one.
No way....
The test will involve killing three other people.

　I'm speechless, and Mabel continues.

"You can only become a Rougrok mercenary if you kill without hesitation.
So you're going to...
I'm one of Kyle's, one of three companions. The other two have already been killed. The only other person left is me, who became a candidate to take the place of a brave man and had my exam postponed. Killing me is the last test for Kyle.

　I open my mouth after a long silence.

"You... you were going to win for that? To get to the finals and be killed by that guy?
No.

　Mabel immediately denies it.
　For the first time, I could see what appeared to be emotion behind her voice.

'I don't know any brave men or exams. The reason I can't lose is because I have to kill Kyle in the finals. Regardless of the intentions of the Empire or the Chamber of Commerce.
Why would it be...
I had an older brother. My own brother.

　Mabel says.

'We were sold into slavery together, our only family. My brother and I both happened to have magical talents and were picked up by the Chamber of Commerce together. We were together at the nursery.
....
I will avenge you. That's why I do it.

　Listen to Mabel's words.
　The uncomfortable feeling that had been building up finally took shape.

'It would be a lie to say that Kyle is my brother's avenger.
Eh....
Isn't Kyle your brother?
Wha... why...?

　Mabel mutters, aghast.
　I sigh and say, "Why?

It's hard to answer why. 'It's mostly a hunch,' he says. It didn't feel right to be speaking against an avenger, and the way you were looking at Kyle in the arena. And I was also curious about the color of your eyes and the color of Kyle's not-so-evil eyes. And our faces look a bit alike, too.
Yeah.
Maybe your hair was just as gray as his before you dyed it?

　Mabel nodded her head.

　Looking at the girl who remained silent I had an additional thought.
　I ask her, scrutinizing her eyes.

I'm not sure if this is what Kyle wanted........or if he wanted it himself?　To die at your hands.

　Mabel rolled her eyes.
　Then she depressed her face and muttered to herself.

'You know everything.... Have you lived through a terrible world too?'
No I'm not as good as you are.

　At least in this lifetime, it is.
　Mabel begins to speak in a hushed tone.

Shortly before I had my surgery, my brother said to me, 'If I'm not me, then I want Mabel to make it easier on me. "Just before I had the operation, my brother said to me, 'If I'm not myself, then I want Mabel to make it easier for me. I didn't know what he was talking about when he told me, but I think he knew that he was going to be like that. Because all of the 'commodity' people were somehow strange. And the one with the highest chance of becoming the 'commodity' was my brother. Because my brother, who was born with an evil eye, was stronger than anyone else in the nursery.
....
"That man now........isn't your brother anymore. If you were my brother, you wouldn't have killed your opponent in a match without a fight. And more importantly, he wouldn't lay hands on two of his friends.... I don't know what he's thinking right now. But if there's still a brother left in him he's in pain. I want to make it easier for him.

　After a pause, I ask the question.

"Are you a match for Kyle?
I don't know... no. Maybe not.
....
'But I have to do it. It's the only thing I can do. And...

　Then Mabel laughed a small laugh, as if troubled.

'I'm just going to die no matter what happens to me. Even if I lose the final, even if I win, even if I run away. Even if that person doesn't kill me, the Chamber of Commerce will just dispose of me. If that's the case.......then I'll do my brother one last favor.

　I realized that I had never seen Mabel's smiling face before.
　The girl says, "Please.

"Please," the girl says, "let me fight my brother in the finals. I want to fight my brother in the finals. "I'm not trying to beat you. But I don't expect you to win for free either. I want to make sure I'm ready to face my brother. That's all I want now, so........
I've changed my mind.

　I look down.

"Actually, I meant to lose the semifinals. I wasn't interested in winning, and I knew what this tournament was all about. But I didn't.

　"I'll tell you quietly.

"I'll beat you in the semifinals. "And in the finals, I'm gonna beat Kyle.
Wha...?

　A moment later, Mabel makes an angry face.

'Why!　Why not!
You don't have to be killed by your brother and you don't have to. You need to get out of this tournament now. It's not right for you to have a single family member on your hands.
What do you know about it?

　Mabel exclaims.

'What do you think I've been fighting for!　To be put in a school, to be shown all the privileged people, to be reunited with your brother at a tournament like this!　Don't you ever say that stuff again!　I'm not!　Either the children of noblemen and their brave children or the brave men and women who will be protected and cared for, or you!　Don't take my last assignment!　What am I going to do when I'm defeated by you and can't do anything about it and then disappear?
I know what to do. You have to go back to school. You're a baroness and a student of the school now.

　I say, "I'll be congratulated for going back to school and making it to the semifinals.

"I'm going to go back to school and be congratulated for making it to the semifinals. Then it's back to school. I'll be studying with a bunch of nerdy kids, taking regular exams, getting promoted, eventually graduating... and then it's up to you to take it from there.

　Mabel's eyes widened and her lips quivered.

''Don't ... there's no way that's possible. There's no reason for the academy to keep me around after I failed and became useless.''
Hmm. My guess is, I wouldn't be too worried about that.
''Even if that were to happen the Chamber of Commerce would not be silent. There's no way they're going to leave me alone when they know what's going on inside. They will definitely send an assassin. I know that LeGrook has a lot of "merchandise" that's stronger than you. There's no way you can be safe...
I'm sure they're taking that much of a step as expected. But if it's just an assassin, there's nothing wrong with that.

　I laugh and say, "As long as I'm at school, no one is going to mess with you.

"As long as I'm in school, nobody's gonna mess with you.
That's not possible.
You can, because I'm the best...
What the hell...?

　Mabel said with a dumbfounded look on her face.
　Then, for some reason, she glared at us furtively.

'Are you hitting on me, perhaps?'
Heh?
'My brother told me. He told me to be careful of guys who make themselves look big to get attention.
No, no...

　It's making me uncomfortable, indeed.
　I shouldn't have said anything weird.

You know, I was joking about being the strongest, but I just wanted to say that I'm pretty good at what I do. It's not as good as Kyle and the 'product' above him at least. So you can rest assured.
....
And if your brother has a wish, it's not to have him killed. I think it's that my only sister should be free.

　Silence descended with the night wind.
　Eventually...

Thanks. But...

　Mabel opens her mouth quietly.

''I still can't believe it.''

　Mabel stands up with a start.
　And she looks at me with her sky-blue eyes.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to do my best. And I'm going to beat you.

　I laugh back at Mabel.

Okay," I laugh back to Mabel. Then I'll prove it to you. I'll beat you at your best and hand you over to Kyle in no time at all. That's a start.
Okay.

　Nodding, Mabel turned on her heel.

　As I watched her, I finally let my mind wander.
　It's a good thing I've been chasing you. I've heard that you get a prize if you win. I wonder how much money I'll get...

　As I was thinking about this, Mabel suddenly remembered and looked back halfway across her body.

''Well, I'm sorry about the inn. It would have been better if that woman hadn't been injured.
Okay ... okay ... what, woman?
Yeah. Uh, the white haired one.
What?

　Geez ... did he see you?
　I'll be kept quiet.

Wha... what are you talking about?
"...?　Didn't you bring in the, uh not?　But in bed.
'Huh!　It's not........no, I don't know. What are you talking about?
''Well if you want your squire and that brave man to shut up, I don't mind.
No, no, no, no!

　I appreciate that kind of concern!

'Wait, I don't really know. Try to remember. Was there anyone else in that room when you and I were having this exchange in that room?
Well, I don't know how long you've been gone.
'The door was closed and there's no way I'm going to disappear or anything!　I've always been alone to begin with. What do you see?　Don't do it, I'm scared....
"...?　You mean it was an astral monster?
Uh.... hmm.

　It's not very subtle.
　Doesn't this country have a culture of ghost stories or something...?

　He saw me tilt my head back.
　Mabel's mouth dropped into a funny little smile.

"...he's not...


****


　We left Mabel and were on our way to the city late at night.

''Yuki's premonition is going to be right. Seika-sama.

　I stammered at Yuki's sudden words.

I'm not going to be able to say that I've grown up. I've grown up.
That's not what I meant!　What are you thinking about, sir?　I've decided to live in this lifetime without flaunting my powers, haven't I?
Because.....

　I scoff.

"I felt sorry for him.


　Yuki gave a grand sigh.

'Seika-sama was always like that. Like picking up a dog or a cat, he'd pick up an unhappy child and take him as his apprentice.'
It's all right. They're all grown up.
.........It's true that for some reason or another, the children Seika-sama picked up were all excellent. Even those who didn't have a talent for curses were later to emerge as bureaucrats, warriors and merchants.
We all did our best.

　Then I say to add to the list.

''In a serious answer, it doesn't matter that you win a tournament like this. The real powerhouses don't show up in a tournament like this, and everyone has an idea of what they're talking about. You said it was Mabel.　I've heard that LeGrook has more soldiers than Kyle, and he's got more than a few of them.
Mm.... so how long before it becomes dangerous?
'Would it be bad if I had to wipe out a deployed army by myself, cure a disaster, or bring the dead back to life?
That's probably true.

　Then Yuki, after being silent for a while, says

''But........is that girl's story true? Yuki can't believe it.''
What's the catch?
"...a surgery where they open your head and change your personality. Is such a thing really possible?
It's not impossible.

　I explain.

"There was an anti-bomb shelter in the West that housed crazy people, and I've heard that they did things like this in the past. Surgery to insert a blade into the brain. Amazingly, some of the seizures and violent urges subsided and they were able to go about their daily lives. It's just that... most of them looked like cripples, or died from the wounds of their operations, or even took their own lives after seemingly successful operations.
'Then, after all, the operation to create a ruthless soldier is...'
No, that doesn't mean it's impossible.

　I say, "The operations in Western epilepsy clinics had no clear methodology as far as records are concerned.

The records show that there is no definite methodology for the operations performed in Western asylums. The way the blade was inserted in differently by different doctors, so it is only natural for the results to vary. So, on the contrary... if we can establish a method with a high success rate through experimentation, it would be a different story.
An experiment, sir?
Yeah.

　I continue.

"The LeGrook Company deals in slaves. They can get as much experimental material as they want. There's bound to be a certain amount of products that can be made unfit for sale due to madness or illness. And since we have healing magic in this world, we can prevent people from dying from surgical wounds.
Nah, I see...

　Next, Yuki asks fearfully.

''Well........can't Seika-sama undo the changes that were caused by the surgery?
I can't.

　I answer immediately, "If the vessel is changed, the soul is also changed.

If the vessel is transformed, the soul is also transformed. You can't put it back in, because it has no reference.
Is that so....
Still, I'm not going to kill Kyle, though.
What?

　Yuki sounded surprised.
　I didn't dare to tell Mabel, but I had intended to do so all along.

Even if your personality changes, you can still have a new relationship. I don't know if Mabel can accept Kyle now, but it's not up to me. And...

　I add, "It's a shame he has to die as a doll.

"It's a shame he has to die as a puppet.


　Yuki lets out another grand sigh.

'Seika-sama is so sweet.
I don't know.
'Yes, it's sweet. I'm worried about Yuki. I'm afraid that one day he'll be bonded to a bad girl...
I never laid a hand on my apprentice.
Ummm, you say, but...
I'll be fine.

　My apprentice was important to me, though.
　But I never once trusted him.

　When I think about it now, it's probably because of the fact that I killed my teacher in the past and rose to prominence.

　I thought I would end up doing the same thing, and that's exactly what happened.

　The only thing different is that I didn't expect it.
　The only thing different from what I expected is that she loved me to the end.