Sevens (LN) - Volume 10 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue
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──The merchant ship departed from Cartaffs’s port city and headed toward Beim.

Vera laid down on the bed in her room and caressed her collarbone. Suddenly she noticed what she was doing unconsciously and stopped her action in panic.

「T-this is that guy’s fault.」

She got a strange habit. And then, the more she tried to not think about Lyle, the more her head was filled with nothing but him.

She proposed an exclusive contract to Lyle was also because of this.

Vera looked up to the ceiling and sighed.

Whether she was asleep or awake, she was spending her days with Lyle filling the back of her mind.

The day she would part from Lyle was also approaching.

When the merchant ship arrived at the harbor, her involvement with Lyle would be reduced to almost nonexistent from there on.

That fact weighed in her mind no matter what.

The feeling on anxiety in her heart was also growing bigger when she counted the remaining number of days.

「I never thought that their objective would be something like taking over a country. Furthermore their target is Zayin. Are they right in the head?」

The country called Zayin was categorized as a big country among the countries around Beim. Rather than aiming for Zayin, aiming for Lorphys that was its neighbor would still be more realistic.

But the trump card that was in Lyle’s possession was tempting.

「Zayin’s former saintess Thelma and high priest Gastone huh. Certainly, I thought that those two seemed out of place, but to think that they are actually such outrageous bombs that are waiting to explode.」

The more she pondered the more it weighed her mind.

「But, is it really possible? Certainly they have the justification for it, and they also have the high priest who is knowledgeable about the internal condition of the country. Can they really take over a country if they’re supported?」

Vera seriously considered the merit of supporting Lyle’s endeavor. Then she returned to her senses and held her head in her hands.

「W-what am I thinking! I won’t do something stupid like assisting in taking over a country! B-but, if it’s possible to profit from it then supporting it is also fine isn’t it? After all if it will benefit Tres family, then that means this is just a business transaction.」

Vera was agonized. She was thinking of nothing but Lyle──.

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The merchant ship that had finished its trade at Cartaffs’s harbor returned back to Beim’s harbor.

The arrival was later than scheduled, but the trade succeeded greatly.

Eva spread her hands toward the harbor and she yelled with her clear and transparent voice.

「Aa, it’s the land after so long! I have finally returned!」

Clara who was reading a book was glaring at Eva in irritation.

「This elf is really noisy.」

My companions around me were looking relieved that this request was going to be completed soon. They were really tired from going through this sea voyage that they weren’t used to. I could clearly feel that everyone’s feeling was brightening.

Aria seemed like she was imagining the foods that she was going to eat after this.

「What should I eat after we get off the ship? I don’t want to eat fish or salted meat anymore.」

May lifted her hand energetically. She was appealing at Aria because she also wanted to come with her.

「I’m going to go around the stalls! Aria, let’s go together!」

「Going around the stalls sounds nice.」

The two of them were having fun──but I was unable to be like them.

「I didn’t expect that Tressie’s materials would be that cheap. What are we going to do now?」

Surrounded by my companions on the deck, I fret about how we couldn’t sell Tressie’s material at all.

Novem was looking troubled.

「T-that’s, they are rare materials, but because there is no way to use them they can only be used for research. It can’t be helped that the selling price is lowered because of that.」

The only thing that looked like it could be sold with high price was just the magic stone that Tressie had.

However it felt like the price would be knocked down if it was sold at Cartaffs, so in the end we couldn’t sell both the magic stone and the materials. We could sell it after we returned to Beim, but the problem was the reality that our earning wouldn’t match our expectation.

As expected our fund wasn’t sufficient for fighting against a country.

There was also a storm of booing coming from inside the Jewel.

『Lyle, get a hold of yourself!』

『Seducing Vera right from the start would be better if it’s like this.』

『Well, this is a problem of possibility though.』

『Looks like we’re going to have to give it a try even with insufficient fund.』

『This is a waste of time. Lyle, the fighting that is waiting ahead of us will be harsh.』

The time limit for retaking Zayin was approaching.

The ancestors were predicting that Zayin would move at autumn──right after the harvest was finished.

The adventurers gathered on the deck when the ship came alongside the pier.

「Yo, you guys were amazing!」

「Let’s meet again somewhere.」

「We should do a job together sometimes.」

I saw off the adventurers disembarking the ship through the ramp. Sophia was also waving her hand to the adventurers.

「At first I was worried how well we will do in this job, but we somehow managed to get through it.」

After Tressie’s subjugation, she became especially close with the sailors and adventurers who worked together with her. From here on our reputation would also surely increase from them spreading the words.

Our endeavor this time wasn’t completely a waste of time. Let’s switch my way of thinking from the negative spiral.

Miranda came to my side to confirm about our plan going forward.

「We’re going to have easier time to gather people if Lyle’s reputation increase from the case this time. Considering everything, I think that we’ll be able to gather at least a hundred people.」

If we also took the logistical support into account, the number of people who could fight would be far fewer than that number.

It would be hard to fight a country with that number.

However I didn’t have much money in hand, so it would be hard to hire even more than that.

「Let’s go earn money in the dungeon until the last minute.」

I suggested the safe choice to earn money. Miranda too said 「We don’t have any other choice」 in agreement.

I looked toward Thelma-san. Shannon and Gastone-san were also together with her. The three of them were getting along well somehow.

Miranda praised Shannon.

「Thelma-san finally get motivated thanks to Shannon. The lack of fund is painful but, we somehow cleared the other condition.」

「It’s impossible to have everything go well.」

「Oh? The post-Growth Lyle was brimming with confidence though?」

Miranda teased me. I averted my face from her. But, what I found ahead of my gaze was──Vera who was carrying a bag that was too small to be a travelling bag.

In addition Vera also wasn’t carrying her parasol. She was looking nervous. The sailors who were watching over her also looked vaguely tense.

Miranda whispered into my ear.

「You have done well haven’t you, Lyle.」

She said that and walked away from me. Then she instructed my party members to take some distance. Just what was going to start? While I was thinking that, Vera held out the bag toward me without looking at my face.

「Eh?」

「A-an extra reward for you. After all you were a big help this time. Sorry that it’s just the spare of handgun though. Err, I’ll be happy if you make use of it.」

「T-thank you.」

I received the bag and checked the content. Then the Seventh got excited seeing it.

『Silver! How tasteful! There are also a lot of bullets for it! Lyle, it’ll be your loss if you don’t make use of this!』

He started explaining desperately how wonderful gun was to me, but I ignored him and looked at Vera.

「This present is really amazing.」

「I’m glad that you like it. A-also」

「Hm?」

A lot of things happened this time, but I believed that the result was all right──then Vera suddenly brought her face close to me and our pressed her lips on my lips for an instant. Then she immediately pulled her head back.

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I blinked several times in surprise and looked at Vera. Her face was bright red.

She kept her gaze down and spoke with trembling voice.

「Y-you can consider the match as my loss. You haven’t gotten down to the harbor, so I’ll take it as you haven’t arriving at Beim yet.」

「Eh? Is that fine? Why?」

Vera raised her face at me asking her why and yelled angrily.

「I-I’m telling you, consider the match my loss!」

I couldn’t understand what was going on. It seemed the ancestors inside the Jewel were also the same.

『No way? This is a lie right?』

『H-, h-h-h-, how did you seduce her to make her fall for you, Lyle!?』

『This is amazing. Could it be that Lyle is actually more amazing when he is being Mr. Lyle?』

『Ee~, even I am creeped out by this development. Just what kind of dastardly method you had used here, Lyle?』

『Even though I thought that this is completely impossible.』

It seemed that everyone thought it was impossible for me to seduce Vera. I was also thinking the same.

However the reality was different.

Vera stared into my eyes.

「This Vera Tres shall give her backing to Lyle Walt. That’s why, you have to tell me about your plans from here on in detail. I promise that I’ll give you my maximum support.」

「R-really?」

When I asked back in disbelief, Vera put her fist on her chest.

「Lyle──you said that you want everything of me didn’t you? But my answer is different. I’ll make you win in your endeavor. This Vera Tres will invest on you. In other words, you belong to me. Do you understand?」

「That’s a bit complicated. Besides I also have companions──」

Vera yelled when I showed reluctance to become hers.

「S-stupid! It’s not you who chose me. It’s me who chose you! I won’t nitpick with the minor details, just don’t forget that fact. ──You understand!?」

「Ah, yes.」

What was the difference? But, with this could it be──I had achieved my objective at the beginning?

Vera smiled at me.

「Don’t worry, you’re boarding a large ship here.」 (TN: It was a saying in Japan, boarding a large ship meant that you had gained a reliable foundation and be in a safe condition.)

Then the sailors around us started cheering.

「Boss, take care of Ojou-sama!」

「Nobody else is worthier for Ojou-sama other than you boss who defeated that legendary monster!」

「So even Ojou-sama is going to marry with this huh!」

One man was hurriedly getting off the ship amidst the excited crowd.

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──That day, Fidel was getting on a carriage to head to the harbor in a hurry.

Although it was later than scheduled, Vera had returned back.

「Aa~, papa was really worried Vera. But papa is happy that you return back safely. I have to og meet her quickly now!」

Fidel had gotten slightly thinner from worrying too much. He hurriedly got off the carriage when it arrived at the harbor and stopped running.

He was going to run toward Vera’s ship, but then he saw Roland running toward him.

「M-master!」

Fidel welcomed Roland with a cold expression.

「Oo~, you huh. I’m busy right now so get out my way. I don’t have any time to talk with a mere employee like you.」

Fidel emphasized the word ‘worker’ and walked to leave Roland behind.

But he stopped walking from Roland’s words.

「Vera-ojousama has declared that she is going to give her backing to that Lyle! A-also, it seems that the two of them has entered an alarming relationship.」

Fidel grabbed Roland’s collar and shook him back and forth furiously.

「What do you mean alarming relationship!? Say that part clearly you brat! Is it that blue haired brat? That brat dare to lay his hand on my adorable Vera!? Is that what you said!? That’s what you said right!?」

Roland who was shaken fiercely replied back even while he was feeling his consciousness receding.

「The two of them──kissed.」

Fidel tossed Roland away, and then his face became like a demon with bloodshot eyes. He sprinted until the merchant ship.

「THAT BRAAAAAATTTT!! I’LL TURN HIM INTO FISH FOOODDDD!!」

Fidel left behind his bodyguards and subordinates and headed toward Vera’s ship──.

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『Let’s take revenge to Fidel-kun.』

The Third started saying something like that after I got off the ship.

When I grasped the Jewel thinking just what was this guy saying, the Third spoke in amusement. Surely he was making a villainous face right now.

『You see~, it’s because he suddenly picked a fight like that. What if you try provoking him? Fortunately you now have the material for that.』

The Third’s focus was directed toward Vera who was giving instructions to her subordinates while blushing. The sailors were making a gentle face toward her because of her going out with me. It seemed that she was really embarrassed by their gazes.

『Try teasing Fidel-kun using Vera-chan. It’s just a cute prank for payback to him.』

I didn’t think that I needed to go that far though. But then the Sixth tried to talk me into it.

『Lyle, provocation is also important in the battlefield. Try doing it for practice.』

Training by provoking my lover’s father? My family lineage was really horrible.

The other ancestors were also motivated.

The Third was having expectation on me.

『I’m looking forward how Lyle will provoke him.』

So I was the one who had to think it up? It couldn’t be helped. I stared at Vera, then she noticed my gaze and turned toward me.

「W-what?」

「No, I actually have a request.」

I told Vera that I wanted to play a prank to Fidel-san.

I didn’t think that Fidel-san wold be angry just from a mere prank, but the ancestors would be noisy later if I didn’t do this.

「──Something like that.」

Vera’s expression was slightly twitching when I finished explaining.

「Did papa say something to you? Well, that’s alright. If it’s just something like that then I’ll help.」

Then in a good timing Fidel-san ran into the harbor.

He collided on a pile of wooden boxes and rolled on the ground. Even so he immediately stood up and drew near with his battered state.

「VERAAAA!! ARE YOU SAFEEEE!!? PAPA IS GOING TO BEAT UP THAT BRAT RIGHT AWAY FOR YOU!」

The hostility that he was directing toward me was dreadful. He was radiating a genuine killing intent.

Vera followed my suggestion and put her left hand on her stomach──over her abdomen, and then she held my hand in front of Fidel-san.

「Papa, you should learn to let go of your daughters already.」

Fidel-san’s eyes were overflowing with killing intent as he looked toward me.

「You are deceived by that brat──Vera, papa will open your eyes right away.」

And then Fidel-san pointed at me.

「You damn brat, you better prepare yourself!」

He really loved his children. Well, that feeling seemed to be really excessive but, I didn’t hate this person.

I looked at Vera.

Vera nodded a little and then she acted embarrassed in front of Fidel-san. I was impressed by her acting ability──.

「Now look here papa. No, that way of calling isn’t fitting anymore. You are going to become grandpa soon after all.」

「──Eh?」

──She was acting with gestures and words to make him thought that she was pregnant.

Light vanished from Fidel-san’s eyes. And then strength left his body. The change was so noticeable that I even felt pity looking at him.

He fell on his knees on the ground and then he fell forward right away.

「Fidel-san!?」

「Papa!」

The two of us ran toward Fidel-san and helped him sat up. His face looked like he was completely burned out.

「Wait, call a doctor here! Someone, call a doctor quickly!」

Vera called for a doctor in panic. Fidel-san was mumbling deliriously in the meantime.

「Grandpa, grandpa, grandpa──I’ll become a grandpa, that’s a lie. Because, my daughters haven’t even married. That’s right, this is a dream. When I wake up, I’m going to eat breakfast together with Vera and Gina. There won’t be any other man there. It will be a happy world without that brat Roland or that scummy bastard called Lyle.]

Wasn’t it strange that my evaluation was scummy bastard!?

The inside of the Jewel exploded in laughter while I was thinking that.

『Hyaaaaaaah!! That’s was awesome Lyle!』

『The effect is more than expected.』

『You’re really a demon.』

『That’s it Lyle. You have talent for provoking!』

『Do you see you merchant brat. This is Lyle!』

After hearing what the five ancestors said in their great excitement, I got drenched in cold sweat. Perhaps I had done something really outrageous just now?

My companions were also laughing seeing what happened.

Shannon who was sitting on a suitcase was exasperated by Vera and me.

「In the end that woman is also really easy.」

You said that even though you are also easy, this stupid Shanneasy! (TN: Looks like a lot more people like Shanneasy more huh)

The harbor was in chaos because Fidel-san collapsed. The commotion was gradually getting gbigger.

To be honest, I never imagined that things would become this serious just from that small prank.

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(To be continued at Sevens 11)