“……It’s my *Compensation Umbra.”
“Compensation Umbra?”
She could tell he nodded from the shift in his presence.
“It demands *physical contact with people*… as a delayed payment.”
The exhaustion in his voice made it impossible to doubt.
And it explained things.
Like the incident during Hinata’s first mission, when *Separation* had hugged her out of nowhere.
Now that she thought about it, that must’ve been his Compensation Umbra too.
And… though she’d rather forget, today in the Confessional as well.
More than anything, she understood the torment of being at the mercy of an Umbra’s demands.
“…………Just this once.”
“Huh…?”
“I’m saying I’ll let it slide this time. As fellow fans.”
The stunned silence that followed gave her a small sense of payback.
“You should be grateful I’m not the ‘no-same-oshis’ type.”
“—Th-thank you…! You’re a lifesaver……!”
“Hmph.”
With that exchange, silence reclaimed the space between them.
“…………”
“…………”
Neither spoke, waiting for Separation’s Compensation Umbra to run its course.
In that quiet, Rui noticed it—
“———”
A sound, echoing from within Separation’s chest.
—A heartbeat.
“Your heart… it’s beating.”
The same sound she’d clung to when Hinata hugged her—the resonance of something she couldn’t bear to lose.
—Ah.
In the end, Separation was just like Hinata.
—A life far more valuable than my own.
Even someone she’d considered her sworn enemy… had more reason to live than she did.
“………hk.”
A sensation like a gaping hole opened in her chest, waves of emptiness crashing in.
Maybe this was what they called… resignation.
—In the end… I can’t take anyone’s life anymore.
Not even the man she’d believed was her foe.
A phrase drilled into her at the Academy resurfaced:
[The scales tip toward order, not lives.]
—I… don’t think that’s true.
If only she had the strength to stand firm like Hinata, even now.
But one look at her current state said it all.
Pinned down by a mere grunt, utterly powerless—
—Maybe… I’m not cut out to be an Excia.
Not with this filthy Umbra, not when even my own mother couldn’t love me…
“Your heart’s beating too, you know.”
His words bounced back like an echo,
light as if stating the obvious.
“———”
For a second, she didn’t understand.
Then she realized—he was responding to her earlier muttering.
“…………Huh?”
But the meaning still didn’t sink in.
Her confusion must’ve shown, because the answer drifted down from above.
“I mean, your heart’s beating too, right?”
“Mine… too?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s not just you…?”
“Yeah.”
His light response seemed to betray an inner thought of “What nonsense is she saying?”
“Am I… the same as you…?”
“Of course you are.”
“……ah.”
It felt as though something deep inside her chest was being shaken.
“I’m……”
She pressed both hands to her own chest.
The steady pulse beneath her fingers.
“Ah… ah……”
—*Not just Hina. Not just *Separation.*
She’d always believed her own life was worthless.
—But… that wasn’t true……
No life was lighter than hers.
But none was heavier, either.
Just like his careless tone implied—
It was always this simple.
“Uuuh……”
“Wh-whoa!? L-Rui!?”
Panic laced his voice, his body stiffening against hers.
Not wanting him to see her like this, she pressed closer.
With forced lightness, she muttered:
“I’ll… stick around a little longer. For your Compensation Umbra.” “……Yeah. Thanks.” His terse reply made her smile faintly. Keeping one hand on her own chest, she gently laid the other over his. —Thump. Thump.*
Their heartbeats overlapped.
Just a little longer—she’d let herself drown in this resonance.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
♢♢♢♢♢
Once the Compensation Umbra subsided and some time passed, Rui and I finally stood up.
After retrieving our robes and longswords, we let the wind brush past us for a moment before I spoke up.
“……What do you think I should do from here?”
“……Jump off?”
Rui gave me a look of pity.
“No no no NO. That’s terrifying!? I’ve heard you can pass out from heights like this!”
“That’s just in your head. Skydivers don’t pass out, do they?”
“…………Good point.”
“because of my Lux, the air’s my domain. The infirmary teacher told me that.”
She puffed out her chest proudly.
So cute…!
But knowing how often she got hurt, it really wasn’t funny…
Eventually, we settled on at least getting down to ground level and headed for the emergency stairs.
Along the way—
“…………I won’t get in the way between you and Hina anymore.”
Rui gripped one arm awkwardly, avoiding my gaze.
She’d accepted us being together.
“Thanks.”
When I smiled, she smiled back.
“Not like I care if you two start dating.”
“…………Huh?”
Wait, what did she just say?
“Dating…?”
Tilting my head, I watched as Rui mirrored the gesture.
“Huh? You two… like each other, right?”
“———”
I froze—then shook my head violently.
“No no no NO!!”
What kind of misunderstanding is this!?
This is bad—if this keeps up, I’ll ruin the yuri—!!
“Nope nope nope! There’s NO way Hinata-chan likes someone like me!!”
As I flailed in denial, Rui blinked.
“Eh, really…?”
“Yeah! It’s like a little sister looking up to her big brother!”
I mean, my stepsister in my past life was kinda like that too.
“O-oh… If you say so, I guess.”
Rui nodded, swayed by my intensity.
“I’ve… never been in love, so I wouldn’t know…”
“Wait… WHAT!?”
Hold on—is she seriously unaware she likes Hinata-chan!?
Hinata-chan was oblivious too, but Rui as well!?
Good grief, these dense heroines…!
“Anyway! I care about Hinata-chan like a cute little sister, but I don’t like her romantically!”
“…Says the guy who was screaming about love earlier.”
“An oshi’s meant to be adored from afar!”
“Fair enough.”
As we cleared up the misunderstanding, my foot paused on the emergency stairs.
“…Are these stairs way too steep?”
“What do you expect? The building’s tall and narrow.”
With that, she floated down effortlessly, as if gliding through air.
“H-hey! That’s cheating!”
“Not cheating. You could jump too.”
She grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying herself.
♢♢♢♢♢
—Same time. Tenth Branch, [Star Tower] VIP Room.
Seated on the central sofa was Roselia C. Bloodrose.
Though she’d likely face repercussions for this incident, she crossed her legs with effortless grace, savoring the aroma of her coffee.
“You brew good coffee.”
“——Thanks.”
The one responding to the compliment is the vice-branch chief, Shindo Isana.
She stands behind the sofa, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
“Shouldn’t you be somewhere else? Aren’t you the one managing this branch in place of your absentee chief?”
“My subordinates are trustworthy enough.”
“Oh, that stings to hear.”
Isana shrugs at the dry, venomous remark from behind her.
After setting her coffee cup on the saucer, Roselia cuts to the chase.
“Half.”
“……Meaning?”
Isana returns the question at the vague statement.
“The construction costs for the Tenth Branch, loaned from my conglomerate to Prim Libra—approximately 1.146 billion euros. I’m proposing we wipe half of that debt clean.”
“Hoh.”
Roselia narrows her eyes at the unexpectedly indifferent reaction.
But in the next moment, her expression twists.
“——Let’s settle for the full amount.”
“……What?”
She can tell Isana is smirking behind her.
“1.146 billion euros—consider the entire sum forgiven. If we’re eliminating grudges, then fairness demands you do the same.”
“…………”
Roselia crosses her legs.
“Bold words for someone facing the Merchant of Death. Shindo—you’re greedy, aren’t you?”
She glances over her shoulder, her laugh dripping with amusement.
Isana’s expression remains unchanged.
“And you’re the arrogant one, no? Picking a fight with the Scales of Justice.”
“It’s my trade, after all. *Kukuku.”
After a bout of laughter, Roselia nods.
“Fine. It might be a fortune to you, but to me, it’s pocket change. Consider it done. Let’s call this matter settled.”
“Yes. Your understanding is appreciated.”
She’d expected some mild entertainment, but this surpassed her hopes.
Roselia snorts in delight.
——Yet, there was also disappointment.
The news that followed immediately: the capture of Izayoi.
(*Hmm. Not the most impressive outcome. Just a pleasure-seeking killer, a beast after all.*)
To a merchant of conflict who disdains one-sided slaughter, she was little more than a pawn.
Far more intriguing was this branch’s Excia.
(*I’d heard this branch collected misfits, but they’ve gathered quite the arsenal of capable fighters, haven’t they?*)
She held no particular attachment to Izayoi.
Still, the woman had served her purpose in gauging this branch’s strength.
(*And I confirmed that flag, too. Might as well reward the beast with a little something.*)
Deepening her smile, Roselia snaps her fingers once.
(*Go ahead—rage to your heart’s content.*)
◇◇◇◇◇
Visit the request page If there’s a Japanese Light Novel (LN) or Web Novel (WN) you’d like me to translate
When the donation goal progress bar above hit 100% one novel will be chosen for translation
| Table of Contents | Next* |
Support the Author by Buying the Original Books!
