<<Previous Chapter Index Next Chapter>>
Translator: Hidamarisou
Editor: Silavin
Nick let out a sigh filled with anguish.
“Ahh…”
“I think all of this was a huge success.”
“…I guess.”
“There was a reward from the guild, once the trial is over, you’ll get back the money that was stolen from you, and above all else, you got closure, right?”
“No doubt about it. Ah, thanks for the lawyer’s card. The conversation went smoothly.”
“No problem.”
“Redd right? Where did you meet him?”
The card that Nick gave to Leon had ‘South Gate law firm-Redd Chambers’ written on it. Nick thought the name sounded cool, and pictured a really tough guy.
“Lots of ladies want to be friendly with doctors and lawyers. This in turn leads to me meeting and being friendly too.”
“Sounds reassuring.”
“Then why the grim face?”
Nick put his hand on forehead and sighed again.
“…Two reasons.”
“Can I hear them?”
“Yes. First…”
“Yes?”
“It’s true that those places where girls serve drinks are not for me.”
“Yes.”
“But what mental gymnastics led you to choose a transvestite bar because of it?”
Nick and Sem were in a rather eccentric bar, even for the Labyrinth City. It was a transvestite bar named ‘Sea Anemone’, and they were sitting at the back counter.
“Oh? Don’t you like it?”
“That’s not it… It’s not something that I’ve ever thought about liking or disliking…”
Nick glanced at the counter, and saw a man that did not look at all like a man, a mysterious man that could just barely be distinguished from a woman, and a man he thought could stand to gain from trying a little harder.
“Have something to say?”
“Sem… This boy is so cold!”
“But he’s cute. How old are you?”
“Hahaha. Go easy on him, it’s his first time here.”
The employees laughed as they made fun of Nick.
Sem was completely unfazed. Nick almost said that Sem was crazy, but remembered the rule to not interfere in each other’s private lives, and held it back.
“No, I don’t anything to say other than that I want another drink… And can I get something to eat here?”
“““Yes!”””
All the employees had somewhat husky voices, but if you told someone they were women with deep voices, they would believe it, probably a result of voice training.
“…And just the other day Leon was talking about me liking to dress up like a woman.”
“Do you want to try? They’ll lend you a make-up set if you ask.”
“Why would I?”
Nick then noticed the dubious stares coming from the amused employees on the other side of the counter.
“…Want to try?”
“N-no! Absolutely not!”
“What a shame. Be sure to tell if you change your mind.”
Said the employee while smiling and placing plates in front of Sem and Nick.
On the plate were traveling dove meat, onion, fava beans and mushrooms seasoned and cooked with tomato and chili pepper.
This type of cuisine was brought from another country a long time ago, but people in the Labyrinth City had been eating it for over a hundred years, and it had taken root completely. Many had even forgotten it originally came from somewhere else, and called it Labyrinth stew or Labyrinth chicken.
When they camped out during their adventures, Nick would catch wild birds and make a similar dish. His parents used to make it often, and he remembered how to do it.
The other party members seemed to like it, and Tianna would even take what was left home with her.
“Hmm… It’s pretty good.”
“Right right?”
“Kyah! I’m so happy!”
The employee let out a saccharine voice in response to Nick’s sincere opinion.
“But it’s not better than mine.”
“Nick, why are you competing about that?”
“No, it’s just kind of frustrating.”
It was actually good. It was too spicy to be eaten regularly, but it was perfect for such a bustling place.
“If it was a calmer place, I could really get into it.”
“No, it’s actually pretty calm.”
“Is it? My back is kind of tingling.”
Said Nick, and Sem suddenly smiled.
“I’m scared of girls.”
“…Yes, you’re scared of girls around thirteen years old right?”
Nick remembered Sem’s story very well. A thirteen year old girl accused him of raping her, and as a result, he was expelled from his temple.
“That’s not fear, that’s more like psychological trauma. That’s not it, I’m talking about women in general.”
“I see.”
Nick was surprised, but at the same time, he could understand it.
Sem went to a lot of places with girls. He was set up by a girl, and saved by a girl. It would be one thing if he was just set up or just saved, but having experienced both left a big mark on his heart.
In a way, he felt weak, like he couldn’t win against them.
Even though he was afraid, he still enjoyed trying to overcome this fear. Diving head-first into this fear was probably one of the reasons why he enjoyed going to places where he was served by girls.
“Yes. Girls are so scary.”
“Still, we are girls at heart ufufu.”
“Well if your heart says you’re a girl then that’s fine. There’s species that don’t distinguish between men and women, and beings that fuse and you don’t even know what gender they are. That’s why you have to decide for yourself what you are.”
Said Nick, and the employee’s expressions changed.
“W-what?”
“…I can see why Sem brought you. You show promise. Here’s my business card.”
The mysterious employee that Nick couldn’t tell was a man or a woman sat next to him, pulled out a business card from the chest, and put it close to the mouth, leaving a kiss mark on it before handing it to Nick.
“I’m not going to become a regular or anything…”
“Oh? We’re going to be related through work.”
“Eh?”
A confused Nick looked at the business card, and was taken aback by what he read.
“Lawyer!? Wait, are you…”
It read ‘South Gate law firm-Redd Chambers’.
“Yes. I’ll be handling Leon’s case.”
“Seriously?”
Redd winked, and Nick was at a complete loss as to what to say.
“…Hum, it says South Gate law firm…”
“Yes, it’s this building! The first floor is the bar, and the second floor is the law firm.”
“Is that even allowed?”
“We have permission, so it’s no problem.”
Redd showed the cuffs on his suit as he explained, which had badges sewn on.
They had an abstract design of a scale. This was something that only lawyers recognized by the country could wear.
“I’m Leon’s lawyer, but I’m also in charge of making sure the reparations to you and the other victims goes smoothly. Let’s make sure everyone comes out a winner!”
“Y-yes.”
“You can count on me, but we still have some time until the trial so we can talk more about it later. Today, let’s just have fun.”
Said Redd while going back behind the counter. Nick was in stunned silence.
“What? Are you surprised?”
“Of course I am… I don’t even know what we were talking about.”
“Hum… It was about girls being scary.”
“That’s right. Sem, girls are scary, and transvestites are scary too.”
“That’s true.”
“But you’re scary too, Sem.”
“Eh?”
“You examine and save a lot of people. Lawyers help all kinds of people too, and people with that kind of strong influence are scary.”
Sem looked as though those words hurt him somewhere.
“S-scary?”
“I mean, put yourself in the position of the people you heal or give medicine to. They must think that they can’t upset you or you’ll abandon them, right? Their future probably looks bleak if you stop giving them medicine or stop treating them.”
“No, that’s not my intention…”
Whether or not this could be believed was a different story.
Furthermore, when Sem first got to the Labyrinth City, he realized he could use his healing magic and skills for his own profit, and even used it as a threat against a hostess bar that tried to rip him off.
“…It’s true, it’s scary. People with power are scary, and a lot of people can’t be defied. No matter how pure they seem…”
There was no guarantee that they would not have a change of heart.
Sem and Nick purposefully did not say it.
“But Nick, it’s incredible that you feel that way.”
“Really?”
“I mean, you were tricked by Claudine too right?”
“Don’t talk about that.”
Nick stared at Sem, who smiled and apologized.
“Haha, sorry.”
“But they were probably scared of us.Somehow, I think they attacked us because they were scared.”
“…I see.”
“Am I wrong?”
Asked Nick, and Sem shook his head.
“I don’t know the truth, and you probably know more than me, but what I’m saying is that immediately attacking someone because they’re scary and making them an enemy is way too hasty.”
“That’s true.”
“On the other hand, talking to someone because they’re scary takes courage too. In a way, you could say it’s an unfavorable bet.”
“Well, betting is scary. I’m sure Tianna would disagree though.”
“Who knows, but I think I’ve collected my thoughts. I think I’m like Tianna and like betting.”
“Don’t play with fire too much.”
Said Nick, and Sem grinned.
“This is no good. The idea was to hear your problems, and here I am getting advice.”
“No, I don’t have a lot on my mind.”
“Which means there is something. What is it?”
Nick made a bitter face, and after a few moments of silence, he said what was troubling him, almost like it was forced out of his mouth.
“…Break.”
“Break?”
“My favorite idol, Agate, decided to take a break!”
Silavin: Oh Shit
<<Previous Chapter Index Next Chapter>>
So annoyed we can’t post the “Girls are Girls” meme.
These chapter names are getting crazy lmao
Thanks for the chapter.