8 – Rustila (3)
Thump, thump, thump!
Sonia continuously hit Aidel.
“Ugh, urgh!”
Merciless pinpoint attack. There was no break. In front of Sonia’s brilliant hand and foot movements, Aidel went completely unconscious.
“Uh uh uh.”
Aidel, who had been floundering like a live fish, went limp. His complexion was pale like a sliced flounder sashimi. He was foaming at the mouth, as if he lost consciousness.
Sonia opened her mouth with a sigh.
“With injuries like this, it would be two months’ worth even with a long estimate. I, Sonia, am satisfied because it seems I’ve controlled my strength well.”
Sonia looked at Aidel lying on the ground.
Zermel, who had been blank-facedly surveying the situation, asked,
“Uh, who are you?”
“Ah, I realize I haven’t introduced myself.”
Flap! Sonia swung Aidel away before lifting him by grabbing onto the hilt of his sword with both hands.
“I am Sonia, the exclusive bodyguard of Sir Aidel von Rheinland, who is present here.”
“Sonia… a lovely name. My name is Zermel.”
Sonia, who had picked up Aidel again, spoke.
“We apologize for our lord’s violent behavior. I’m sure you must be confused. I’ll take care of this situation. Please wait in the guest room at the end. “
Zermel nodded impassively.
“We have a duty to protect Miss Rustila.”
“I’ll take responsibility for that duty temporarily.”
Sonia shook the unconscious Aidel, showing off. Zermel had no choice but to sigh inside.
‘When the boy in front of us was causing havoc, we could do nothing.
The dilemma created by colliding thoughts of ‘We should protect humans’ and ‘We cannot hit humans’.
In front of such a dilemma, it’s a human instinct to hesitate. Would it be any different for robots made of code?
After completing the feedback through an artificial neural network, Zermel bowed his head deeply.
“…Excuse me, but may I exchange information?”
“Anytime.”
Sonia also nodded her head.
An agreement was made. Zermel read the information from Sonia’s central chip.
‘This woman named Sonia, according to her serial number, she has a 5th generation model installed.’
Zermel is a 4th generation android.
In contrast, Sonia was a fifth-generation android.
‘The 5th generation is practically equivalent to a human compared to our 4th generation. It will protect the miss better than us. The use of violence against humans was due to the disciplinary access key.’
Information was exchanged in a short time. Zermel, who read Sonia’s intentions, nodded his head. Unlike humans, robots could persuade each other without words.
“Please take good care of Miss Rustila.”
“I will ensure her safety at all times.”
As if it had always been so, the androids broke their encirclement (?) of Rustila and entered the assigned room.
‘…What?’
Rustila looked blankly at the spectacle.
Gone.
The annoying androids who had been watching her were all gone.
“……Ah.”
Freedom.
Rustila had regained her freedom after a long time.
“Wow, idle, that crazy kid! He’s been quiet lately. I thought he was going to make another mess!”
Seti grinned and clasped the back of her neck. She sighed and looked back.
“I’m so sorry, sis. My focus was all broken because of that lunatic. I’ll apologize. For real….”
Rustila bowed her head.
That wasn’t important right now.
Her heart thumped rapidly.
“Seti.”
“What?”
“Can I… do this?”
Rustila, who had returned to her room, drew a wooden sword. She had brought it secretly from her parents. Seti tilted her head.
“Are you going to practice swordplay? Here?”
Though Seti’s room was spacious, it was only about 100 square meters. Considering the furniture such as beds, the actual space was even smaller. It was way too small to be a place to practice swordplay.
“It’s okay. I can practice with this space.”
“Practice…”
Seti’s lips rose bitterly.
Seti knew that Rustila had a fondness for the sword. It was a famous story.
On top of that, she had heard at social events that her parents forbade swordplay. It was a clear overprotection.
“Uh, yeah… sure, go ahead. I can do the assignment later.”
The desperation on Roustila’s face made it impossible to refuse. Seti could only nod.
“Really? Thanks!”
Roustila jumped around like a child. Life returned to her once dull eyes. She took off her cardigan and held a sword. She was only dressed in a sleeveless shirt and shorts.
‘Ah… this familiar feeling. It’s been so long.’
She held the wooden sword and concentrated. Adjusted her posture. A smirk lingered at the corners of her mouth.
Whoosh!
She took a light swing. There was a thrilling sensation in her spine.
It’s so enjoyable. Much more fun than studying relentlessly with a pen. Moving the body suits her aptitude.
It’s not anything else.
Roustila had a dream she could not give up.
‘I will become a soldier.’
Whoosh, whoosh.
The sharp blade cut through the air. Roustila’s gaze became concentrated. The gaze of one focused on the sword. She created an imaginary enemy with that gaze and aimed for the vitals.
At the same time, she made a vow.
‘No matter what my parents say.’
Swoosh, thud!
‘I will persist on this path.’
[– The God of Purity and Persistence sends applause to your persistence.]
[– You have received 100 coins!]
With only a few swings, Roustila entered a state of deep concentration. Becoming one with the wooden sword. The earthier she reaches this state, the worldly distractions fade, and she disconnects from the outside. Everything seems hazy and sacred.
As a result, Roustila was able to converse with her inner self.
She asked the sword.
‘…Who was that boy?’
Aidel von Reinhart.
His name is famous. Everyone in universe knows it. Isn’t he the problem child of Reinhart?
Roustila didn’t believe the story. She didn’t hold prejudices. She believed one shouldn’t judge a person based solely on rumors without meeting them.
Of course, Aidel, that boy didn’t look very mannered from the outside. The rumors seemed accurate.
‘However.’
Whoosh!
People should not be judged solely by their exterior.
Depending on the situation, and the context. One must carefully consider why that person behaved such. At least, that’s what Roustila’s sword insisted to her.
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‘There must have been some sort of intent.’
The true nature she figured out using the skill ‘Insight.’
Aidel was essentially a good person.
Why was he, then, displaying such ridiculous behaviors? The answer wasn’t hard to infer.
‘It must have been due to a foreign influence.’
The fear encountered when seen through ‘Insight.’ The existence of a white tentacle that she saw in passing showed that Aidel’s sponsor was an evil god from the outside world.
‘He has been crazy for a long time. Because he was tormented by this foreign influence, and almost never in his right mind.’
Roustila let out a sigh.
‘How difficult must it have been…?’
A life held hostage by an evil god. Looking at that life, others would have ranted, calling him a ‘madman.’ It was like pouring salt into a painful wound.
‘Even if I’m alone, I have to treat myself well in the future.’
Rustila emerged from her contemplation.
Even though she had stopped her hands, unknowingly she was closing her eyes, yet she saw the sword. Her talent had already reached an extreme level. If she continues like this, she will surely achieve great success.
However, she showed no interest in the state she had attained after a long while.
“Seti.”
“Wow, this is really delicious… Huh, what? Why?”
“Can I meet your older brother once?”
“Puhahahaha-!!”
Seti sprayed the juice she was drinking on the desk.
***
How long had I been lying down? I opened my eyes with a throbbing sensation.
As my blurry vision gradually returned, my senses became vivid. My whole body was sore, as if I had been severely beaten. It was incredibly painful.
“Argh.”
I groaned, my voice raspy and broken.
“You’re awake?”
I saw a fringed apron. I couldn’t lift my head, so I just rolled my eyes. Short blue hair, white eyes. Soniya was staring down at me with an impassive expression.
“…Where am I?”
“You’re in the infirmary. Please, relax.”
“Ah…”
I remembered what had happened. I almost forgot because I got hit so hard.
“Are you okay?”
“It’s not enough to kill me.”
“Then that’s fine. I won’t apologize since it was what the master ordered.”
“Ah, right… Speaking of which, what are the androids doing now?”
“I put them safely in their room.”
“Good job.”
It was a bit of a gamble, but it seems like things worked out. Even being strict, it was a success in the first phase.
From then on, I heard more detailed information from Soniya.
“They can’t attack humans, while I can. When faced with the same threat, they’ll probably rely on me. It’s the limitation of the 4th generation. At least for today, the control over lady Rustila’s body comes to me.”
I clapped silently in my heart. You’re competent, Soniya.
Even though I had been beaten quite badly, if the dark cloud hanging over Rustila had lifted even a little, and the chance of universal destruction has decreased even slightly…
Yes.
That would be enough.
“Soniya.”
“Please, tell me.”
“Do you have the workbook I was doing? Please bring it to me.”
“How about resting for a day? Even though I was gentle, you’re injured.”
“That’s why I said I’m doing it.”
“……?”
“Studying is my kind of rest.”
[– ‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is proud of your passion for learning.]
[– You have received a donation of 100 Francs!]
“Your Highness’s way of thinking always baffles me. Even after assisting you for over 10 years, I still can’t comprehend how you….”
“Ah, Sonia!”
“I get it. I said, I get it.”
When I threw a tantrum, Sonia brought me a workbook. She only brought two, but it was enough to kill time.
“Ah, my shoulder aches.”
“Are you suffering from frozen shoulder?”
“Didn’t it occur to you that this pain might be the result of a blueberry-colored maid beating me up?”
“Hmph.”
Sonia, who had been twirling her side hair round and round, smirked. She seemed slightly disappointed.
“If you’re going to study anyway, I’ll prepare a bookstand for you. Don’t strain yourself looking at it while lying down.”
“That sounds good, thanks for considering.”
“Ding Dong.”
“…Excuse me for a moment. It seems like we have a visitor.”
Sonia, who was inserting the workbook into the bookstand, paused and turned. She checked the intercom. Me, who was lying on the hospital bed, frowned.
“Is it a visit?”
Sonia asked me.
It’s unheard of for a knucklehead like Idel to have visitors, it’s as unlikely as the sun rising from the west.
Of course, I can guess who it is.
“Let them in.”
“You mustn’t cause any trouble.”
“I feel like I’m being torn apart and you’re still saying that?”
“What a person needs to be careful of is not just their actions.”
Sonia pressed the button to open the door. I took a short breath and managed to turn my head.
The next moment.
With a whoosh, the scent of flowers came flooding in, as fresh as standing in a vast field.
I followed the scent with my eyes and saw a pretty girl with a yellow ponytail there.
The girl bowed slightly and looked back and forth between Sonia and me.
“Are you… Idel?”
Her tone was extremely polite. Even though she was probably only middle school senior, she seemed quite mature.
After all, you can’t use informal language with someone you’re meeting for the first time. That’s my belief, so I responded respectfully.
“Yes, I am Idel Lineheart.”
“……”
“What brings you here?”
Roostilla’s aquamarine eyes stared at me slowly. Then, she looked startled and jerked back slightly.
“Ah, that’s….”
The faltering Roostilla opened her mouth.
“Are you alright where you got hurt?”
“Yes, I’m alright. I’m sorry for causing a nuisance before.”
I bowed my head slightly. The half-closed eyes of Rustilla instantly widened.
“Why on earth were you acting like that earlier?”
Rustilla asked.
Just when I was about to answer,
“Occasionally, our young master has such spasms. As you saw, I disciplined him each time. But once he faints and awakens, he seems fine for some time.”
Sonya stepped in.
“……Ah, well.”
She wasn’t wrong.
After all, didn’t I only get possessed because I was struck down by a casino security guard.
Having no excuse to bring up, I kept quiet.
“Ahh….”
Rustilla sighed like an old woman who had lived throughout the world. An emotion of sympathy flared up in her previously calm eyes.
Wait a moment.
Something feels a bit off than what I intended.
In haste, I contributed to Sonya’s words.
“I apologize for saying this upon our first meeting, but I was aware of Ms. Rustilla’s family circumstances.”
Rustilla did not even try to hide her surprised expression. Her pupils and hands trembled slightly.
“My, my family circumstances?”
“It’s well-known. I mean, the fact that the Kersil couple is treating their only daughter terribly.”
If it’s Kersil, it’s a quite renowned family. The voice of such a legacy usually gets spread through parties or articles. As if revealing celebrities’ private life.
“From seeing the many androids at the front gate, I thought. Ah, this is a bit….”
Here is the key point.
I continued my words,
“Suddenly, I lost my temper. Hence, I acted a bit…If I have bothered your studies, I apologize.”
I bowed my head at a right angle.
Ugh!
My whole body was screaming in pain. Damn, it hurts so much.
“Ah, that was it. I see. So that’s what happened….”
Rustilla slightly nodded her head. Her previously gloomy complexion seemed a bit brighter.
Did it work?
Though, I thought it’s a bit of an overreach.
“……”
Evidently, Rustilla had used ‘sympathy’. Whether when I was causing the ruckus, or now. Considering she came to visit, it’s likely she used it then.
“… You’re a good person..”
Rustilla gave a bitter smile.
“Is that book…were you studying it?”
“Yes. This year, if I fail the Stellarium, I will be expelled from the family.”
“Ah…”
Rustilla’s face saddened. She dropped her shoulders weakly.
Seeing you in such sorrow makes me feel sad too. No, if you’re this devastated, it’s as if the universe itself has fallen apart…
A moment of silence. Then, Rustila eased her expression and spoke, her face looking as determined as if she was making a vow.
“I’m also planning to apply to the Stellarium.”
“As smart as you are, you will surely pass.”
I smiled faintly, offering words of encouragement. Upon this, Rustila broke out into a snickering giggle.
“Ah, my way of speaking is so strange. We’re the same age and neither of us is an adult but why are we speaking so formally to each other?”
“…….”
“Shall we speak to each other informally?”
After thinking for a moment, I nodded.
“If we can meet after I pass.”
Things are progressing better than expected.
