Chapter 3(198): Emilia the Rich Lady, Do You Have Money?
"The living conditions here are honestly terrifying. The atmosphere feels uncomfortable too."
After entering the slums, the massive sense of contrast hit Hikigaya hard. Beneath such a magnificent city, there were always people who couldn't even secure the basics of life. If he hadn't met Emilia, he was certain he would've ended up as one of them.
So beyond sympathy for the people here, he felt deep gratitude toward the silver-haired girl Emilia protecting him.
Even if he had used her earlier, that didn't contradict his feelings. That had simply been self-preservation in an unfamiliar world. His gratitude now was genuine, born from seeing how much she cared.
Still, wandering around aimlessly was meaningless. There were countless ramshackle houses here. Finding a single blonde girl among them was no different from searching for a needle in the ocean.
In situations like this, borrowing the strength of locals was necessary. With enough money, information here wasn't hard to come by.
"Emilia, do you have any money?"
Emilia froze.
Puck, however, grinned mischievously: "Hikigaya, you're not planning to scam this innocent girl out of her money, are you? Even though Emilia is a half-elf, her mental age is probably younger than yours, so… I won't let her be tricked that easily."
Emilia nodded: "It's not that I don't want to help, but I don't have much money on me either. I can't exactly be scammed."
Hikigaya darkened, speechless, then sighed: "Why do all of you just assume I'm a bad guy? I don't need much, just enough to cover a meal."
Before Puck could speak, Emilia took out her rather shabby wallet: "I do have this much."
Hikigaya didn't hesitate and took the dozen or so copper coins.
[Puck: "What are you planning to do with that?"]
[Hikigaya: "Do you know what's truly terrifying in this world?"]
[Emilia: "Magic? Or swordsmanship?"]
[Hikigaya: "No. Human nature."]
Hikigaya: "Before that, I need to confirm something. That insignia of yours, there's absolutely no way you can give it up, right?"
Emilia paused, then nodded firmly.
"A person who can't give anything up can't accomplish anything. So… be prepared."
Hikigaya pocketed the coins and stepped out from the area Emilia had been protecting, moving ahead on his own.
Emilia still didn't understand what he was planning, but hurried after him anxiously.
This was the slums. Compared to the main streets, there were far fewer people here. What Hikigaya needed to do was find someone who would be willing to provide information.
"Excuse me, may I ask you something?"
A poor-looking young man walked toward them. At Hikigaya's greeting, he only shot him an annoyed look and didn't even slow down.
Hikigaya had expected this. He calmly took out the rubles he'd just gotten from Emilia.
"Answer one question, and you won't need to beg for food today."
The amount wasn't large, but just as Hikigaya predicted, the man stopped immediately, his gaze locked onto the money.
"Go on."
"Is there a blonde girl here, about up to my chest, who can run along walls and rooftops and often steals from others? I need to know where she lives."
"You're talking about Felt, right? People here may be poor, but most don't live by stealing. The kid you're describing can only be her."
"Where does she live?"
"She doesn't stay at her own place. If you want your stolen item back, go to Old Man Rom's stolen goods warehouse. But if you want it back, bring money."
This was human nature.
Without leverage, people wouldn't even look at you. With leverage, you earned respect. Even a small amount of money here equaled a full day, or half a day, of work.
After being given a clear path, Hikigaya didn't hesitate. He handed over the money, then patted the man's shoulder and said softly, "Hang in there. Please don't lose the last bit of hope you have for life."
…
Only after the man left did Puck step forward.
"You really know your stuff. But how do you know he didn't lie? What if he led us into a trap?"
"He didn't lie."
Puck finally showed a meaningful smile.
"Oh?"
"Words and expressions can be faked. Eyes can't. When he said that, his emotions carried gratitude and relief. And I hope he really can move toward a different life because, not long ago, I was living a life just like that myself."
"…Though I don't really have the right to say that. After all, that money was Emilia's, not mine. So the person he should be grateful to isn't me."
Emilia shook her head: "This idea was something Hikigaya-kun came up with. I only contributed a trivial amount of money, so…"
"Even so, it definitely isn't my achievement."
Puck let out a helpless sigh. Faced with the stubbornness of the two of them, he didn't know what to say for a moment.
In truth, Puck could roughly sense the emotions inside a living being's heart. Whether the young man had been lying just now was something he could tell instantly. Still, he simply wanted to see how capable the Hikigaya standing before him really was.
As things turned out, everything had progressed exactly as he had expected. Up to this point, Hikigaya had indeed relied on his intelligence, his insight into human hearts, and his ability to see through the essence of things to save Emilia a great deal of trouble. Reaching this stage with such efficiency was honestly impressive.
Puck was certain of one thing: if it had been only him and Lia searching for the insignia, this kind of aimless hunt would likely have wasted enormous amounts of time and still ended with nothing to show for it.
---
[Inside the chat group, Emilia watched the video of Hikigaya. For a moment, she didn't know whether she should sigh in admiration or feel shocked. Although she had already known about him beforehand, when it actually happened to her, when she compared herself to him, that shock pierced straight through the heart.]
[Puck: "I really don't know how this kid's perception can be so sharp. But Lia, meeting him really was your good fortune. Otherwise, the insignia you lost might never have been recovered."]
[Emilia pressed her lips together and said distractedly, "Even so… I was the one who led him into danger. Puck, you know this, right? He's just an ordinary person. And if I can't protect him…"]
[Puck: "Don't worry. His intelligence alone is enough to help him avoid all foreseeable dangers."]
[Even though Puck said that, Emilia's heart still couldn't calm down. She always felt that what came next would definitely not be something that could be resolved just by talking.]
[At the same time, Anastasia, who had always had a kind first impression of Hikigaya, widened her eyes in shock.]
["This guy… he's a natural-born merchant. If he could end up on my side, I'm confident I wouldn't lose the Royal Selection this time."]
[Ricardo: "I like this kid too. What a pity."]
[Mimi: "Mimi also feels that this big brother has a kind of natural friendliness to him. Why is that?"]
[Ricardo: "Idiot. You're watching him from a god's-eye view right now, of course you'd think that. Once you actually interact with him, you probably won't feel the same way."]
[Mimi: "Okay…"]
[Priscilla: "I really hope this man causes even more of a spectacle later on. Come on, come on, entertain me! Hahahahahaha!"]
[Al: "Uh… Princess."]
[Priscilla: "What is it?"]
[Al: "N-no… nothing."]
[Yukinoshita's heart also refused to settle down. Just as Emilia had said, she too felt that the danger ahead was definitely not something someone powerless could handle.]
["Hikigaya-kun… do you really intend to help her all the way through? You've already helped her find the person. If this continues…"]
[Hikigaya answered without the slightest hesitation: "Of course. Since I've made this kind of agreement with her, I've prepared myself for everything. I imagine the me in the video thinks the same way."]
[Someone who cannot abandon anything can accomplish nothing. Precisely because of that, Hikigaya had to discard the fear and unease within his humanity. This was something he had to do after stepping into this world.]
[Unlike the previous world, where people fought with fists, or used worldly reputation to force others to kneel, this world was one of real weapons and magic. Human lives were as cheap as grass. Only by making every possible preparation could one make decisive choices when hesitation was no longer allowed. There was no other way.]
[Survival has never been simple. At the very least, for an ordinary person, it required immense courage and thorough preparation.]
---
By the time they reached the warehouse, the sky had already begun to darken. Hikigaya and Emilia didn't waste any more time and walked straight inside.
"Welcome to Old Man Rom's stolen-goods warehouse…"
Hikigaya looked around, then fixed his gaze on the burly Old Man Rom standing before him, someone at least two heads taller than Hikigaya.
"So it really is a stolen-goods warehouse. The stuff hanging on your walls looks pretty valuable."
Old Man Rom: "It's worth a little. Honestly, it's just how I make a living."
Hikigaya: "Alright, then I won't waste words. A girl named Felt stole a very important insignia from us today. I want you to return it."
Old Man Rom's expression finally changed, from indifference to anger, almost in an instant.
"What did you say?"
"I want you to give that insignia back to us."
"The money, did you bring it?"
"No money."
"No money, then get lost."
Hikigaya let out a helpless sigh. At that moment, Emilia hurried forward and pleaded anxiously, "Please, that insignia is really important to us. I beg you, return it."
"Why should I return it to you? Young people these days really are getting more shameless, huh, you dare to bring trouble to me. Let me tell you plainly, even if Felt really did steal something from you, you still have to pay to get it back. That's the rule here. It's not something brats like you can break."
Hikigaya: "Oh? So even if it's our own property, we still have to buy it back with money?"
Old Man Rom: "No, you're wrong. The moment it left your possession, no matter what it was, it no longer had an owner. If it's a transaction, then you pay an equal price. You'd better remember that."
Hikigaya showed a mocking smile, though his gaze remained fixed on Old Man Rom.
"I see. I've learned something new."
Old Man Rom looked at the boy before him, somewhat helpless.
"Actually, I know you're victims too. But you really don't look like people without money. As for Felt, she's just a kid who grew up in the slums, even eating and sleeping takes all her effort. People like you wouldn't understand."
Looking at Old Man Rom's weary expression, one might have expected Hikigaya to rebut him with even sharper words. Instead…
He simply nodded in agreement and said in an understanding tone, "People who live in that kind of environment, worrying every day about food and shelter, do indeed have that kind of justification."
Hikigaya thought of Ichinose. She, too, had once resolved something through theft, but fortunately, she later came to her senses.
So…
He could understand, but he could not support it.
"When you can't even meet the basic conditions to survive, even stealing might be forgiven, right? After all, human life is more important than anything else. And in even harsher circumstances, even killing might become something one could do."
Old Man Rom's eyes widened: "What did you say?! Felt is absolutely not that kind of person!"
Hikigaya: "No. She isn't right now. But that doesn't mean she won't be in the future. She doesn't represent just herself, she represents everyone in this slum. It's true, there are far too many people here who can't even get enough to eat. And far too many who abandon their humanity and principles for money."
"Today, I also experienced one of the lowest points in my life. At times like that, I'm not trying to set myself up as a role model, but I was still able to trade what little dignity I had left for a job. Do you think Felt and you can't do the same? Do you think most people in this slum can't? No… it's not that you can't. You just can't let go of that pitiful pride, that worthless sense of face. And in the end, you walk down this road of no return."
After Hikigaya said that, Old Man Rom, who moments ago had felt completely justified, suddenly found himself at a loss for words, his breathing ragged, unable to find anything to retort with.
Visible anger twisted his face, but he had nowhere to vent it. In the end, he strode straight up to Hikigaya and lifted him off the ground.
"Then let me tell you just how cruel this world is. Just like right now, the difference in strength between you and me means you no longer have the right to preach these lofty ideals in front of me."
Emilia, who had hesitated to act before, lost all rational thought the moment she saw Hikigaya being lifted.
"Put him down! Or don't blame me for what happens next!"
Old Man Rom paid no attention to the girl. He merely glanced at her and said calmly, "See that, kid? This is the difference in power, and the qualification that lets me speak."
Hikigaya, gasping for breath, replied, "Even so… wrong is still wrong."
"Still talking back!"
Old Man Rom gave him no further chance to speak. With his powerful hand, he clamped down on Hikigaya's throat. His sharp nails even dug into flesh, cutting off his breath entirely.
"I said, don't you dare hurt him!"
Without any time to react, Old Man Rom was slammed into the wall by three massive ice spears. The violent impact made the entire building shake, and the items hanging on the walls came crashing down.
Emilia ran to Hikigaya's side, her eyes visibly moist.
"Are you okay… Hikigaya-kun?"
"Cough… cough… cough…"
"To be honest… this is the first time I've felt so close to death."
"I'm sorry… I said I would protect you… but I hesitated… I'm sorry… I'm really sorry…"
The girl choked back tears as she looked at Hikigaya. Hikigaya didn't know what to do for a moment.
Without hesitation, she cast healing magic on him. Since they were only superficial wounds, they healed quickly, and for the first time, Hikigaya truly felt the power of magic.
'Amazing…'
As a giant, Old Man Rom wasn't so easily taken down. He recovered from his dizziness, staggered over to beneath a table, and pulled out his spiked club.
"So I underestimated you… Turns out you're a half-elf, huh. Heh. But causing trouble on my turf, you're still not enough."
Emilia stood up, her hands already poised for battle. It was clear she had made up her mind not to let Hikigaya be hurt again.
After receiving treatment, Hikigaya also stood up.
"Hikigaya-kun, is there a plan?"
"If he's resorting to violence, then we don't have any choice either. We've already said everything that can be said. What we can do now is subdue him and use him as a hostage to force Felt to hand over the insignia."
Emilia nodded: "I don't like doing this, but since he hurt you, there's no reason for me to hold back anymore."
Hikigaya glanced at Emilia, who now seemed completely different from when he first met her. At this moment, only determination remained in her eyes.
"Forgive me for asking, but what are the odds of winning?"
"Certain."
"That's good."
"Hikigaya-kun, please step back for now."
"Alright."
Hikigaya didn't hesitate and immediately left the area of their fight. In truth, he already knew that someone like him had no place in battles like this. In a world of magic and swords, all he could do was use what little brainpower he had.
Emilia's body began to turn ethereal, countless shimmering particles gathering around her. Anyone standing nearby could clearly feel the frigid temperature spreading at an indescribable speed, until, at last, another indestructible ice spear formed.
Old Man Rom's eyes burned with ferocity. The moment he raised his club, he had only one target left.
"Rumble!"
The release of the ice spears caused the building to start collapsing. Old Man Rom could barely maintain a defensive dodge, because the number of spears was simply countless; after one was fired, a second, third, and fourth formed almost instantly.
Even when he tried to resist with his club, he couldn't withstand that terrifying volume.
"Bang!"
The explosive sound echoed through the sky. Hikigaya, who had been inside just moments ago, could only run helplessly outside the building.
Watching Old Man Rom pant heavily, Hikigaya knew clearly that Emilia had already taken control of the situation.
Before long, the scales of victory would tilt in their favor.
A cold wind blew past Hikigaya. His keen perception once again swept over his surroundings.
'Something's wrong…'
Even as he realized it, he couldn't move. A dagger was already pressed firmly against his throat.
"Felt, right?"
"How do you know me? You're that guy from this afternoon?"
Hikigaya didn't answer. Instead, Felt grew anxious.
"Make your friend stop, or I'll stab him!"
In the distance, Emilia, who had been focused entirely on the fight, seemed to notice. Her attention snapped toward Hikigaya, and her relentless attacks finally came to a halt.
"Let him go! Otherwise, I won't forgive you!"
Once again, Emilia was overwhelmed by guilt. She had promised to protect him… and yet.
(End of this chapter)