Chapter 195 Discussion of the Future
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hey, that was pretty incredible. If you had stayed with our army, we wouldn’t have ended up with such a painful draw,” Kushe said.
Once the ‘atonement’ of the siscon—rather, Count Martin Popol¹—had finally concluded, Coalmine’s² Chief Court Mage, Kushe, approached Lily and struck up a conversation.
The pair had already been released from their restraints, and Martin, currently reduced to the state of some spineless mollusk, was undergoing medical treatment. Seeing him in such a pitiful condition and still being able to crack a joke… what kind of nerves does this woman have?
”I wonder. What I did was essentially a parlor trick, and I have no intention of fighting as earnestly as Mar-kun,” Lily replied.
”A parlor trick, huh? Well, either way, it’s a real pity.”
Kushe sounded genuinely crestfallen at Lily’s response—far more than I expected. This was only the second time meeting her, but despite her ‘I’m only interested in magic research and tools’ demeanor, she seemed to harbor a deep-seated regret regarding this ceasefire.
”I have to say, it’s a bit unexpected. I figured as long as you could conduct your research you wouldn’t care, but do you actually have an obsession with winning or losing the war?” I asked.
”Hmm? That’s quite offensive. Even someone like boku possesses a standard amount of patriotism. The only reason I can live like this is because the country recognized my value, after all,” Kushe explained.
”You mean because they took notice of your magical prowess?”
”Exactly. Say, if you’re so curious about boku’s background, why don’t I tell you the story while we wait for Martin-kun to pull himself together?”
Kushe flashed a wide, smug grin, looking at me as if she’d found something incredibly amusing. Well, I suppose there’s no harm in listening. For some reason, it seems I’m expected to teach her how to use our shop’s merchandise after this anyway… When I gave a small nod, she began to speak, her smile never wavering.
”Hehe, honestly though, it’s not a particularly unique tale. My family lived in a poor district of the royal capital, Mynar³. To give you an idea of the scale of our poverty, we couldn’t even afford enough firewood to survive the winter.”
She recounted this with total nonchalance, but in a frigid northern nation like Coalmine, being unable to pay for firewood is synonymous with a death sentence. I instinctively stiffened, but she didn’t seem to notice or care.
”Most of the houses in our area were the same. I just kept wishing that it would be warmer, and that’s when my magic finally manifested. From there, well, everything moved at a breakneck pace—I was scouted for the academy, became a Court Mage, and before I knew it, I ended up where I am today. Thanks to that, my family doesn’t have to shiver from winter drafts anymore.”
As usual, Kushe treated a heavy topic with a light touch. Her eyes, which had been fixed on me, suddenly darted over to the ‘Hot-Shot-kun’⁴ lying abandoned on the table. She snatched it up and resumed her tale.
”I won’t deny that I’m driven by my own curiosity and thirst for knowledge. In fact, lately, I’ve been living almost entirely by my own instincts. But it’s also a fact that I want the Coalmine Kingdom to prosper. Is it really such a crime for me to wish she had stood on our side?” Kushe asked, her gaze shifting to Lily.
I see—so this is how wars are born, I thought. However, I wasn’t about to nod in agreement.
”Who can say? All I know is that if Lily weren’t here, I wouldn’t have been able to keep going as a magic shop owner. I don’t even want to imagine a version of myself without Lily by my side,” I said firmly.
Truth be told, even if she had stayed in Coalmine, I have a feeling we would have crossed paths eventually and ended up together like this anyway.
”Hmm, is that how it is? If you put it that way, boku is forced to admit it’s a good thing you two met, but still…” Kushe said, a slightly bitter expression crossing her face as she looked down at the ‘Hot-Shot-kun’ in her palm. Her story had clearly reached its conclusion; she simply began spinning the ‘Hot-Shot-kun’ in her hand, inspecting it with intense focus.
* * *
In the meantime, it seemed Martin’s treatment had concluded. He looked up at Lily with the sheepish gaze of a child who had been thoroughly scolded before speaking.
”Sister, I…”
”There, there. You don’t need to say another word. You worked hard for the sake of the house and the clan in your own way. You did a fine job holding the Count Popol House together after Father passed away…” Lily said, comforting him.
”Sister…!”
To Martin, who struggled to find his voice, Lily showed the gentle, caring face of a true elder sister. She occasionally reveals an expression so full of compassion it’s startling, likely a trait born from her years raising her younger step-siblings in the Popol household.
”However, it seems you failed to honor my wish when I told you to ‘forget about me’… I am sorry to all of you, but I have no intention of ever returning to that life.”
”To forget you… that’s just impossible… I… I… we were all saved by your presence more than you know, Sister…” Martin squeezed the words out, his voice thick with emotion.
Lily’s step-sister, Flearis, nodded in silent agreement, and the two of them gazed intensely at Lily. Lily let out a small smile, looking like a mother dealing with troublesome children, and spoke.
”I see… Well, perhaps I was being a bit cold-hearted as well. I cannot go back to that house, but I will remain your sister. Once this child is born, I expect you to shower it with affection.”
”Sister…”
Despite the chaos from before, the atmosphere had settled into something quite heartwarming. Even Martin had an unexpectedly soft look on his face as he looked toward Lily’s baby bump. As long as there’s no threat to Lily or the child, I have no reason to complain.
If Lily accepts them as her brother and sister, then they are as good as my own. I suppose I should try to be kind to them too. I let out a long, heavy sigh of relief, thankful that I didn’t have to draw the ‘handgun’ from my pocket.
”I’ve caused quite a bit of trouble for you as well, Lord Harvest… To be honest, I still have many complicated feelings about all this, but…” Martin said.
”I’ll bet. Finding out your long-lost sister is living with a suspicious guy like me and even has a kid on the way… But look, I plan on making Lily the happiest woman alive, so try to make your peace with it, bit by bit,” I replied.
”You certainly have a large heart… Thank you. Somehow, I think I understand why Sister chose you.”
I didn’t think I’d said anything particularly impressive, but Martin seemed to have reached some internal epiphany. Well, if that’s the case, maybe I can give him a legitimate reason to keep coming around. I decided to make a pitch.
”So, uh, Martin? Count Popol?”
”Call me whatever you want. Even Mar-kun is fine if you’re so inclined.”
”Then, Martin. While we’re at it, why don’t we discuss the future?”
”The future…?”
”Yeah. Flearis told me that your family lands yield some pretty rare materials. If our shop and your house can set up a trade agreement, it could be a win-win for everyone,” I suggested.
”Flearis…”
”I acted on my own. But isn’t this a much better ending than picking a fight? My Lord,” Flearis interjected.
”That may be so, but…”
”Specifically, I’m looking for monster parts. Rare materials that aren’t easily found in the Canaria Kingdom⁵. It would be great if you could supply them on a regular basis.”
”Rare monster materials… It’s true that the creatures appearing on our territory are rarely seen elsewhere. Very well. I’ll bring some samples of what we can provide in the near future.”
Martin had been skeptical at first, but he finally nodded in agreement. It looks like we’ll be able to maintain a healthy relationship from here on out. At least, that’s what I thought…
”I’m glad we could reach an understanding. Oh, that reminds me, Mar-kun, may I have one more word?” Lily asked.
”W-What is it, Sister…?”
”Well, I’d like a little ‘introduction fee’ for our future partnership, and a ‘nuisance fee’ for everything that happened today, you see~”
”T-That’s… Understood. We can provide the initial batch of materials for free—”
”No, no, that’s not what I want at all! If you could just give me Fuu-chan, that would be more than enough!” Lily interjected.
”Huh…?”
”Si-Sister!?” Flearis cried out.
It seemed Lily was dead set on following through with the conversation from the other day. Martin stood there, completely frozen, while Flearis’s face turned a brilliant shade of crimson….
—
Summary:
Post-conflict, Kushe discusses her origins and patriotic motivations for the Coalmine Kingdom. Lily reconciles with her siblings, Martin and Flearis, while asserting her independence and new family with Harvest. Harvest initiates a profitable trade agreement for monster materials with the Popol House. The scene concludes with a comedic request from Lily for Flearis as a ‘fee.’
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Character Insight:
Kushe’s casual attitude toward her past poverty indicates a deeply pragmatic worldview where survival outweighs abstract ideals. Lily’s transition from a compassionate elder sister to a sharp business negotiator shows her multifaceted nature, effectively using emotional ties to secure future prosperity for the shop.
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Behind the Scene:
The author uses Kushe’s backstory to contrast the harsh northern reality with her current high status. The pivot to trade negotiation marks a return to the series’ merchant themes while integrating the Popol family into the main cast’s sphere of influence.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Kushe – The Chief Mage of the Coalmine Kingdom. She has dark green hair grown out haphazardly and wears a mage robe loosely over her shoulders. She has a blunt, informal, and somewhat insensitive personality, focused on her ‘thinking experiments.’
• Martin – Lily’s non-blood-related younger brother. Considered the strongest candidate to succeed the Popol family due to his lineage and manifested ‘power. He has pink hair.
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Flearis – A member of the diplomatic envoy and guard. Has pink hair.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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