Seeking Salvation

Part 1

A lone girl walked the Kingdom’s streets.

一名少女步身于王国的大道上。

There was nothing adorable about her, to say nothing of beauty that would make observers do a double take. However, she was still the center of attention, albeit in a negative sense.

她并没什么让人觉得可爱的地方，更没有让人回望的美貌。然而在不好的意义上，却吸引到着旁人的目光。

Her beady black eyes slanted upwards, giving the impression that she was constantly glaring at others, while the dark circles around her eyes made people think that she was the kind of person who hung around with criminals in seedy back alleys.

有着黑色小眼珠的眼睛向上吊起，给人一种时常瞪着他人的感觉，外加上深深的黑眼圈，无不让人怀疑她是那些住在后街深巷里的恶棍混混了。

It was useful for walking among crowds, but once she reached city gates and other such places, she would receive intensive scrutiny and searches from the local authorities.

That girl, Neia Baraja, looked to the sky.

这样在人群中行走倒是挺方便的，但一到都市门口之类的地方就会被绵密地进行随身物品搜查。而那样的少女、涅娅·巴拉哈看向了天空。

The heart of winter had passed, but spring was a long time coming.

那是深冬已过，但初春尚远的时节。

Neia sighed tiredly, then marshalled the keen senses she had inherited from her parents and walked toward the street which led to an inn.

涅娅吐出带有疲倦的叹息，动员其从父母那里继承来的敏锐感觉、向着通往旅店的道路走去。

The reason why she had to be so wary even in a city was because she felt a powerful sense of exclusion ever since she had entered this city.

要说为何在都市内仍然需要如此戒备的话，那是因为到了这里之后就一直感受到周围浓厚的排斥感。

Naturally, it was nothing more than the girl’s imagination.

当然，那样的感觉只是少女的错觉吧。

After all, when she wore a cloak with the hood drawn up over her head, there was no way to tell whether she was a foreigner. However, she had not been mistaken about the depression in the air. She peeked at the passers-by and saw that their faces were downcast and their footsteps were heavy. It was as though they embodied the gloominess of winter.

毕竟穿着带兜帽的斗篷将外貌的大部分都遮盖住了，那样的身姿无论谁都无法确认她是否是来自他国的人。然而，少女所感受到的那种无可名状的沉闷气氛却并非她的错觉。偷瞄一下街上路过的行人，就能发现人们的脸色非常的阴暗、脚步也很沉重。宛如是将冬日的忧郁穿在了身上一般。

Under normal circumstances, she might have thought it was because of the overcast weather. However, the sense of entrapment -- or perhaps a nameless melancholy -- which she felt here, in the capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom, ought to have stemmed from some other source.

若是换做平时的话，说不定会认为这是由于阴天的关系吧。但是在这里·耶斯提杰王国的首都中所感受到的封闭感、或者说是无可名状的阴郁感，却应该来自于一些别的什么原因。

Maybe it’s because they were defeated not long ago. Still, compared to the people of the Holy Kingdom, they’re practically jumping for joy.

（或许是因为他们前不久战败了吧。可比起现在圣王国的人民，这已经可以说是开朗到小跳步的程度了呢）

Although the southern bay region of the Holy Kingdom was still relatively safe, the northern reaches were essentially hell now.

虽然与圣王国隔着海湾的南部地区现在还尚属安全，但北方好像已经化作了地狱。

To the liberation army -- formed from the remnants of the Northern Holy Kingdom’s army -- and to her, who had come here as a member of an ambassadorial party, that news was of little comfort.

对于所属于由北部圣王国军的残存部队组成的解放军、以及本次作为使节团一员来访的她而言，即便知道那样的情报却也毫无幸运感可言

The more she thought about it, the more depressed she became, and Neia reached to her waist, seeking salvation. The cool sensation of steel travelled up her hand.

随着思绪变得越来越阴郁，涅娅像是寻求救赎似把手伸向腰间。从手上传来了的是钢铁特有的冰冷感。

It was the sword she carried, emblazoned with the crest of the Holy Kingdom’s knight order, which served as proof of her identity.

那是能证明她身份的带有圣王国骑士团纹章的佩剑。

Usually, a paladin’s sword would be enhanced with minor enchantments, but hers was not. That was because this was a sidearm of the sort issued to trainee soldiers.

一般而言，圣骑士的佩剑都会注入轻微的魔法以作强化，但她的却没有。那是因为这是一把训练兵阶级的侍从所使用的佩剑。

Only after completing her training and being officially ordained as a paladin would her trusty blade be imbued with magic. That was one of the rituals involved in donning the mantle of a paladin. While it was little more than a sharpened slab of steel until she officially became a paladin, it was still a personal weapon which had accompanied her through long years of training and practice. One could not fault her developing the habit of caressing it when she felt uneasy.

只有当结束了所有的训练、正式成为圣骑士之时，所用的爱剑才会被注入魔法强化。这便是被圣骑士任命仪式中的一环。虽然在正式成为圣骑士前这不过只是一把锋利的铁块，但毕竟是长年随身相伴修行锻炼的爱剑。就算是养成了每当感觉到不安之时，就抚摸剑身的癖好想必也是无可厚非的吧。

The sensation of her beloved blade calmed Neia down, and she sighed quietly. Then she opened her cape and quickened her pace.

从爱剑那传来的触感终于让涅娅心境恢复了平静，随即轻轻地吐了一口气，撩开斗篷加快了行进速度。

Her feet dragged every time she thought that she had to report bad news. However, it was because she disliked such things that she had to move quickly, to get this over with as soon as possible. Otherwise, she would have to continue bearing those unpleasant feelings in her heart.

每当想到要报告坏消息的时候，脚步总是会不经意地迟钝起来。但正因为是令人厌恶的事，所以更是要加快脚步尽快完成。免得心里既不好受又要时刻惦记着。

Finally, the inn where their ambassadorial party resided came into view.

终于，她的眼前出现了使节团一行人所驻留的旅馆。

It was a very flashy inn, said to be among the top five in the Kingdom. Naturally, the prices it charged were as high as its ranking.

那是一间非常气派豪华的旅店，据说是在王国内能排上前五的级别，。其住宿费自然也是与之相应的高昂。

As she thought about the tragic state of her homeland, the Holy Kingdom, she could not help but feel guilty over how she was basking in such luxury while her countrymen were suffering. The truth was, the female leader of the ambassadorial party had opposed staying here precisely due to its decadence. She felt that they ought to reduce their expenses on this journey and use the leftover money elsewhere.

回想起自己的故乡圣王国北部的惨状，就不禁会为在同胞们忍受痛苦时、却还在他国享受奢侈的自己等人感到内疚。事实上，担任本次使节团团长的女性就曾因太过奢侈而反对入住这里。她认为应该降低本次行程的消费等级，把多余的资金用在别的地方上。

However, her opinion had been rejected, thanks to the suggestion of the male assistant leader.

然而、由于担任副团长的男性的提案，团长的意见被驳回了。

“As representatives of the Holy Kingdom, if we do not lodge in an appropriate inn, people who see us might think that the Holy Kingdom is not long for this world. Therefore, we need to stay in a superior inn to show that our nation is still strong.”

『身为圣王国代表的我们，若是在在不够档次的旅店落脚，看见的人说不定会认为、圣王国已经时日无多了。因此我们有必要入住高级的旅店，向他国展现出我国依然是健在』

The assistant leader’s logic was irrefutable. Nobody else in the group could deny him. However, their leader was driven by emotion and could not accept that proposal, and she stubbornly refused to go along with it. After a long deadlock, she was finally persuaded by all the other members of the delegation to reluctantly choose this inn.

从理性的角度出发，副团长的理由是无可争议的，使节团内也无人能作出反驳。唯独仍然感情用事的团长依旧无法接受这一提案、顽固的进行了反对。经过了好一段时间的僵持，最终在众团员的说服只下好不情愿地挑选并入住了这家旅店。

However, everyone understood that their funds for this journey were very limited, so they could not rack up any unnecessary expenses. In order to accomplish their tasks as soon as possible, even Neia, a squire, had been roped in to carry out missions.

不过，大家都明白这趟旅行可以使用的的资金非常有限，不能有任何的铺张浪费。为了能以最短日程完成所有的事项，就连身为一介侍从的涅娅也被派遣出来执行任务。

The aim of the ambassadorial party’s visit to the Kingdom was none other than to secure aid for the Holy Kingdom. Therefore, Neia and the other members of the delegation were running around trying to arrange appointments with the movers and shakers of the Kingdom.

此次使节团到访王国的目的不为别的，正是希望获得王国给予圣王国的支援。为此，便让涅娅以及其他团员四处奔走向王国的掌权者们预约会面的时间。

Anyone could make an appointment, even a squire. There was no problem with that part of the leader’s thinking.

只是取得预约的话即使是侍从也能办到。在这点上团长的考量并无问题。

However, Neia was the sole squire among the delegation. The others were proper paladins. Even if she made an appointment, what would the other party think in the future when they found out that others had been visited by paladins, but they had only sent a mere squire to them?

可是团员中的只有涅娅一人是侍从，其他的都是正式的圣骑士。即便是取得了预约，可如果日后对方知道了造访别的掌权者的是圣骑士、而来自己这里的却是一名侍从时，心里究竟会怎么想呢。

Surely they would be unhappy. Even Neia knew that much. However, despite her roundabout protests, the orders handed down to her has not changed. As a squire, there was little she could say about it. That said, Neia had not given up because of that.

一般都会感到不悦的吧，这种事就连涅娅也非常清楚的。然而即使她委婉的上报了自己的意见，下达的命令却也没有任何变更。以一介侍从的身份，确实已经无法再多说说些什么了。然而、涅娅却并没因此放弃。

If it was a personal failure, she could gladly accept it. However, doing so might lead to the ailing Holy Kingdom losing more aid from the Kingdom. Neia could not simply write off the fact that her failures might lead to more of her countrymen dying with a simple, “Yes, I understand.”

如果只是自己一个人的失败,也只能欣然接受吧。可那样做的话可能会导致，原本已经奄奄一息的圣王国失去更多来自王国的援助。明明涅娅的失败有可能会让更多的国民因此而死去，不可能就用一句简单地「是，我知道了」来完事。

However, the fact that a mere squire had immediately rushed into action without waiting for orders had only made the leader even more unhappy. She seemed to think that everything was Neia’s fault. Fortunately, the assistant leader managed to smooth things over, but the delegation’s leader had a poor impression of Neia now.

不过只是区区的侍从竟然没有在接到命令后立刻行动，团长因此而变得更加不悦了。露出了一副好像一切都是涅娅的错一般的态度。还好副团长从旁介入好不容易让此事平息下来，不过已经可以确定团长对涅娅没有什么好印象了。

Neia had been selected for this ambassadorial party solely because of her keen senses, which would ensure their safety on the road here. She hoped that they would not expect her to contribute in other ways.

之所以会让涅娅加入使节团，应该只是看中了她拥有的敏锐观察力、来以此确保路上的安全而已。真希望上头可以不要对她其余的能力抱有期待。

But it’s not like I can say that...

（像这样的话又说不出口……）

Neia looked to the sky and sighed “Haaah”. Then, she watched as the white mist she exhaled drifted slowly in the air and vanished. As she thought about the uncomfortable reception awaiting her at the inn, her gut began to cramp up.

涅娅仰望着天空，「哈啊」地叹了口气，然后看着着呼出的白雾慢慢飘散在空中直到消失。一想到回去旅馆又要承受着如坐针毡的感觉时，胃就不自觉疼了起来。

The noble Neia was supposed to meet was not a very important person -- he was not highly-ranked in the Kingdom -- so not being able to make an appointment with him was not a great setback, but even so her leader would gripe at her.

由于涅娅这一次需要取得会面预约的贵族并非重要人物——在王国之中的地位并不高——的缘故，因此即使她没能成功取得预约机会也并无大碍，但即便如此团长也依旧会对着她发牢骚。

...Usually, even if you wanted to meet someone important right away, they’d still need some time to research your history and learn more about you. So the earliest you could have a meeting was in a week’s time.

（……一般来说，即使说想要马上和有一定地位的人会面。怎么说也需要一点时间来调查我的来历、进行情报收集什么的吧。要是能见的话大概也是一周之后了）

According to our leader’s instructions, we’ll be leaving the Royal Capital in a few days… our leader, huh...

（根据团长下达的指示、数日后就要离开王都了……团长啊……）

Their leader was now a moody person. She did not look like she could properly rein in her emotions. In the past, she had not been that way. Neia knew that much. She had been an easygoing… or clueless person, if one were not inclined to be polite. However, ever since the battle where they had lost the Holy Queen, there had been a dramatic shift in her personality.

现在的团长时不时就神经兮兮的，看上并没有办法很好的控制感情。以前的团长并不是这样的人。这点涅娅也知道的。而是一个落落大方……说得难听点就是个神经大条的人。可自从那场失去了圣王女的战斗后，她的性格就发生了很大的转变。

“...An unsatisfactory performance, huh.”

「……太不尽人意了啊」

No matter how unreasonable her leader’s lectures were, all she could do as a squire was hang her head and accept them in silence.

无论团长怎么蛮不讲理地呵斥，身为一名侍从也只能低着头默默接受着。

Even so, this was nothing compared to how the surviving people in the Holy Kingdom were struggling. All she had to do was keep her head down and weather the storm.

即便如此，相比起圣王国现在还为生存而抗争着的人们来说，受这点事根本算不上什么。只要低下头，在台风过去前安静的呆着就好。

After resolving herself -- however frail and weak it might be -- Neia reached the front of the inn.

下定了——虽然可能只是破罐破摔——决心之后，涅娅来到了旅店的前面。

She took a deep breath, pulled back her hood, and then pushed open the inn’s fancy doors.

深深地吸了一口气并掀开了兜帽，然后推开了旅店那气派的大门。

As one would expect of a high-class inn, she did not step into a lounge, but a small room. It would seem it had been designed for guests to clean the grime off their footwear.

不愧是高级的旅店，进来后出现在眼前的也并非休息室[lounge]，而是一个小小的房间。这是好像是为了让客人能将沾在鞋子上的泥土抖下而设置的小房子。

However, the place she had visited was in a high-end district, much like this inn, and it had been paved with stone. Neither had it rained, so there was nothing she needed to shake off.

不过刚才去过的地方都是像旅店这边一样有用石头铺路的一等区域。也没有下雨，自然没有沾有什么需要抖落的脏物。

Therefore, Neia went on to open the door before her.

于是涅娅便早早打开了前面的门扉。

A gust of warm air washed over her.

一股暖风迎面扑来。

After entering, the concierge lay before her, the bar was to her right, and the stairs were on her left. Beside them were sofas used for receiving guests.

进门后的正前方是前台，右则是吧台，而左边则是楼梯。在其旁边放置着接待用的沙发。

There were no heating stoves inside the room. However, the fact that there was still a temperature difference despite their absence was probably because of a magic item. Magic casters in the Holy Kingdom were generally priests, and while they could make some magic items, precious few of them were made to improve the quality of life.

房间内并没有设置暖炉。明明是这样却有着本不该有的温度差别，想必这是因为魔法道具的缘故吧。

在圣王国提到魔法咏唱者就是指的神官，虽然他们也会制作一些魔法道具，但是会为了生活上的便利而制作的却是少之又少。

In that respect, the Kingdom was superior to the Holy Kingdom. That being the case, how much more advanced was the Empire, which her father had once mentioned?

从这方面来看，相较圣王国王国的技术要发展得更高。这样看来的话，那个在父亲口中提及过的帝国又究竟有多厉害了呢。

Although she might never have the chance to act on it in her life, Neia still harbored a vague sense of admiration for the Empire.

尽管可能涅娅的这辈子都不会有机会了，但是她还是对帝国怀抱起了淡淡的憧憬。

Typically speaking, a village girl would only be able to see her village throughout the course of her life. An untalented warrior like Neia might spend her entire life serving her nation and never get the chance to visit other countries.

通常来说，一个普通的村姑一生能看到的最多就只有自己的村子罢了。而像是涅娅这样作为战士没有什么优秀的才能的人，即使终其一生地侍奉着国家，恐怕也难以有造访他国的机会。

In that case, perhaps the chance to travel abroad might be a faint silver lining on a grim, dark cloud.

要是这样想的话，这次得以到访他国的机会或许可以说是大祸中小小的幸运了吧。

These thoughts ran through Neia’s head as she climbed the stairs, toward the room on the second floor where the delegation was staying. The people in the inn seemed to have remembered Neia’s face, as none of them took her for an outsider and halted her.

涅娅就这样一边想着这些事一边爬上楼梯，向二楼使节团所在的房间方向走去。旅店里的人好像也都记住了涅娅的长相，没有人把她当作是无关人员叫住的样子。

Considering the matter of expenses, only the leader and the assistant leader ought to be staying here; the other members should have resided in cheaper inns. However, pinching pennies like that might make the other side think that there was no future for the Holy Kingdom. In the end, the assistant leader had managed to convince their leader of the wisdom of his words.

考虑到住宿费的话，其实应该只让团长与副团长住在这里，除此之外的人员去住便宜的旅店。可要是这么精打细算的话，也有可能会让对方判断圣王国已经没有未来了。副团长的话最后还是得到了团长的认可。

Neia reached the door of her superiors’ room and knocked on the door, whereupon it opened slightly. Within were the paladins stationed within the room for security.

涅娅来到团长们的房间前敲了敲门、随即门开了一条小缝。在里面的是为了护卫而留在房间里的圣骑士。

The person they were guarding was the strongest paladin in the Holy Kingdom, who was also the leader of their ambassadorial party. In that case, they would be more of followers than protectors. Going by that logic, would it not have been wiser for herself to stay behind? Neia knew better than to let her mouth get her ass in trouble, so she would never bring that up.

护卫的对象身为圣王国最强的圣骑士，同时也是使节团的团长。虽然比起保护，作为仆从的意义更强，如果是那样的话自己留下来才叫适才适用吧？知道什么叫枪打出头鸟的涅娅当然不会说出那种话。

“Neia Baraja, reporting.”

「涅娅•巴拉哈，回来报告」

As the door opened, she entered the room.

随着被打开的门，她也跟着走进了房间。

Before her was a large room. There was a long table in the middle, where her Captain sat.

在走廊的前方是个大房间。中央放着张长桌，那里有着团长的身影。

Captain Remedios Custodio and Vice-Captain Gustav Montanis were both seated there. And of the seventeen members of their delegation, more than half of them stood at attention along the walls.

团长蕾梅蒂欧丝•卡斯特迪奥与副团长古斯塔博•蒙坦尼斯正坐在那里。而总计十七名的使节团员中，半数以上的圣骑士们正在沿着墙直立不动地站着。

She snuck a peek at the documents piled on the table before them. Most of them had been crossed out.

两人将文件摊在桌上，偷偷看去，好几个名字的大半都被横线划掉了。

“Captain. Neia Baraja is here to deliver her report.”

「团长。涅娅•巴拉哈回报告」

She puffed up her chest, adjusted her posture, and stated her name.

昂首挺胸，端正姿势，报上名字。

“--How did they respond?”

「——对方怎么回应？」

“My deepest apologies. They declined because of a lack of time. They said they would like at least two weeks’ time.”

「十分抱歉。对方以没有时间拒绝了。他们希望至少要有两周时间」

“Cheh.”

「啧」

Remedios clicked her tongue.

蕾梅蒂欧丝咋了下舌。

Neia’s gut cramped. Was she expressing her displeasure at Neia, or rather, at the nobles who had rejected them? While both possibilities seemed likely, she dared not clarify such a frightening matter.

胃部一阵剧痛。她的咋舌是对涅娅呢，还是对拒绝了的王国贵族呢？虽然觉得两者皆有，不过可不能问这么可怕的事。

“Really now. Thank you for heading out amidst the cold. Go back to your room and rest, then.”

「是吗。辛苦你这么冷还要跑一趟。那么你先回房间养精蓄锐吧」

“Yes!”

「是的！」

Neia suppressed her sigh of relief at Gustav’s words. While she wanted to leave right away, Remedios called out and stopped her in her tracks.

涅娅使劲地把因为听到古斯塔博的话而安心的呼气忍住。虽然想快步离开这里，不过在那之前她就被蕾梅蒂欧丝喊住了。

“...I wanted to ask you before, but did you really tell them that we wanted to open negotiations as soon as possible?”

「……虽然我之前就想问了，你真的有跟他们交涉说希望尽早会面吗？」

“--Ah? Mm! Yes! I tried to ask them, but unfortunately they said no…”

「——啊？嗯！是的！虽然我当然跟对方这么请求了，很遗憾他们说不行……」

“So it wasn’t because of a failure on your part, then?”

「不是因为你的交涉方式不行吗？」

“Ah, that, that’s--”

「啊，那，那是——」

That’s not true, she wanted to say, but who would dare say it? In addition, she already knew that she would not be able to escape this reprimand no matter how she answered.

没有那种事，这样的话又有谁能说得出口呢。而且她也很清楚，无论怎么回答这顿斥责也已经逃不掉了。

“...Captain. It is not just the nobles she asked who refused. The other nobles have rejected the request for a meeting in a similar fashion. Among them were some nobles who indicated they could not lend aid to the Holy Kingdom, but who wished to speak nonetheless.”

「……团长。不止是她造访的贵族，其他的贵族们也以同样的方式拒绝了会面。这其中好像也有虽然不能支持圣王国，但是还是要想进行对话的贵族」

Remedios glared at Gustav, who seemed to have spoken up in order to interrupt their conversation. No words passed between them, but the tension built in the air.

蕾梅蒂欧丝狠狠瞪向像是要打断对话、而开口的古斯塔博。无法言说的紧张感渐渐升高。

“--Neia Baraja.”

「——涅娅•巴拉哈」

“Yes!”

「在！」

She was still gunning for her, after all. While Neia had mentally rounded her shoulders in defeat, she did not express it externally, instead responding in a timid tone.

攻击的对象果然还是自己啊。虽然在心中无言的垂下了双肩，不过她当然没有表露在外，而是战战兢兢的应答道。

Gustav had now moved between the two of them, but Remedios paid him no heed and continued glaring at Neia.

虽然古斯塔博站到了她们之间，但是蕾梅蒂欧丝仍然无视这一举动向涅娅投去了狠狠的视线。

“While we are wasting time here, many of our people are being slaughtered by the demihumans led by Jaldabaoth. In addition, four major cities have already fallen, in addition to countless more towns and villages.”

「当我们还在这里磨蹭的时候，可是有众多的人们正在被被亚达巴沃所率领的亚人们杀害啊。而且已经有四座大都市陷落了，至于小都市和村庄陷落了多少更是无法想象」

The four cities in question were, respectively: the capital Hoburns, which housed the Great Cathedral that was regarded as the high temple of the Holy Kingdom’s faith.

所谓的四座都市指的分别是，是有着被称为大圣殿的、作为圣王国的信仰中心神殿所存在，并政治中

心的首都荷班斯。

The port city of Rimun, which lay to the west of the capital.

位于首都以西的港湾都市里穆恩。

The fortress city of Kalinsha, which was the closest to the wall, and the first to be attacked by the demihumans.

最接近城墙（要塞线）的，应当在最初受到亚人们入侵，有着坚厚城墙的城塞都市卡琳夏。

And then there was Poland, the city between Kalinsha and Hoburns.

以及位于卡琳夏与荷班斯之间的都市、泊兰德。

In other words, most of the major cities of the north were now under the control of Jaldabaoth’s demihuman hordes.

换句话说就是存在于北侧的大都市全部被亚达巴沃率领着的亚人军压制了。

“And they’ve captured many prisoners, who they have imprisoned in camps made from captured villages and cities. Just the mention of being sent there is enough to chill one’s blood.”

「而且它们还抓了不少生存者，送进了在村落和都市制作的收容所。被送到那里就像是血液被冻住似得令人胆寒」

“Yes!”

「是的！」

Those camps were surrounded by walls, and nobody had personally witnessed what was happening inside because nobody had managed to infiltrate the interior. However, the rumors said they were guarded by demihumans. Those people who had probed as closely as they dared said they could hear groans and screams of agony from within.

收容所周围被墙壁围着，因为没人能潜入内部，所以没有人目睹过里面实际上进行着什么事。不过传闻看守的是亚人。据尽量接近到极点窥探内部情形的人所说，能从中听到痛苦的呻吟和惨叫。

What was more convincing was the fact that nobody felt Jaldabaoth, as a demonic leader, would grant any form of humane treatment to his human prisoners.

还有比什么都更具说服力的是，没人觉得身为恶魔的统治者、亚达巴沃会对作为俘虏的人类给予慈悲的对待。

“So knowing all that, you still came back with a result like this? Did you really try your best? Normally you’d have something to show for it if you did, no?”

「你都明明知道这些，却带回来这种结果是怎么回事？真的有为此努力过吗？要是那样的话照理来说是会有结果的吧？」

“Yes! My sincerest apologies!”

「是的！十分抱歉！」

Indeed, she was right. Remedios was correct. However--

确实这种话没错。蕾梅蒂欧丝的话是正确的，不过——

The thought that welled up in Neia’s heart refused to fade away.

浮现在涅娅内心的另一种感情怎么也无法消退。

In that case, what good is the Captain of the Holy Kingdom’s paladin order if she failed to rescue those prisoners?

（如果是这样，那么无法拯救成为了俘虏的人民的圣骑士团团长又算是怎么回事？）

She dearly wanted to retort with those words. However, as a squire of the Holy Kingdom, she could not possibly say such a thing.

虽然很想将心中所想之事就这样顶回去。不过作为在圣王国生活的侍从，根本不可能把那种话说出口。

“Since you feel sorry, what do you plan to do? What can you do to show concrete results?”

「既然觉得抱歉、那你打算怎么办？怎么做才能得出结果」

Neia was at a loss for words.

涅娅语塞了。

At the heart of it, Neia was just an ordinary citizen of the Holy Kingdom. She had neither a noble peerage, power or wealth. She was not even a paladin, just a squire. There was nothing which Neia, as she was, could offer a noble of the Kingdom which could appeal to them. In that case, all she could do was--

涅娅说到底也只是普通的圣王国人。贵族之位也好权力也好财富也好一概没有。连圣骑士都不是，只是个侍从。那样子的涅娅不可能提得出、能让王国的贵族觉得有魅力的什么提案。既然那样，只剩下——

“I’ll work harder.”

「我会更加努力的」

--Psychology. However, it would seem that answer did not meet with Remedios’ approval.

精神论。不过，看来这个回答并不讨蕾梅蒂欧丝喜欢。

“I’m asking you how you intend to work harder. Futile effort is--”

「我是在问你该怎么努力。就算做无谓的努力也——」

“--Captain.”

「——团长」

Gustav interrupted Remedios as she was about to begin something.

古斯塔博打断了开始要说什么的蕾梅蒂欧丝。

“Why not leave things be for now? After all, it’s about time we began our preparations, no? The esteemed members of Blue Rose will be arriving soon. If we take too long welcoming them, we will upset them, no?”

「暂时就先这样如何，差不多也该进行准备了吧？再过不久苍蔷薇的诸位应该就要到了。若是欢迎晚了怕是会令对方感到不快吧？」

“Indeed. Squire Baraja, work harder and show me something next time.”

「也是啊。侍从巴拉哈、再努力点得出结果」

“Understood!”

「遵命！」

Remedios made a shooing motion with her hand. In other words, she was saying hurry up and fuck off.

蕾梅蒂欧丝用手做出了赶她走的动作。就是说让她赶快滚蛋吧。

“My apologies, Captain Remedios!”

「失礼了，蕾梅蒂欧丝团长！」

Even though she was tired, Neia was shouting “all right!” and trembling with joy as she made to leave the room. However, her ally from just now transformed into her most dire adversary in an instant.

即使疲劳，涅娅在心中还是高兴地颤抖着大喊「好耶」地想要一边走出房间。不过、她那直到刚才为止的援军，在这个瞬间却化为了最凶恶的敌人。

“Captain, may she be present when Blue Rose arrives?”

「团长、苍蔷薇的诸位来访之时，是否也能让她在场？」

Gustav’s words made Neia’s vision black out for a moment. However, this was a topic that involved her, since she was a squire.

因古斯塔博的发言，涅娅瞬间感到眼前一黑。为何、不过是侍从身份的自己却不得不参加那样的话题啊。

Remedios looked at her adjutant. This was completely unlike the way she had looked at Neia. Her caring eyes made her seem like she had changed personalities, and it almost confused her.

蕾梅蒂欧丝将视线看向副官。那与方才朝向涅娅的视线完全不同，那蕴含亲切感的视线简直就像是不知在何时换了个人似的，几乎让人产生混乱。

“Really? Well, if you say so… but why?”

「是吗？如果你这么说的话……但是、为什么？」

“The main reason for bringing her along as a squire was because she has exceptional senses. Perhaps there might be things which only she can notice.”

「是。将她作为侍从一起带上是因为她有着罕见的敏锐知觉，也许有着只有她才能察觉的事也说不定」

Many paladins and squires had died during the battles with Jaldabaoth, but quite a few of them had survived. Even so, the reason she had been chosen to accompany their group was precisely because of her senses.

在与亚达巴沃进行的一连串战斗中有许多的圣骑士以及侍从死去，但在其中生还的圣骑士也还有好几人。即便如此将她选作为使节团的一员的原因，正是因为那个理由。

While paladins were excellent fighters, they were little different from the average commoner in other respects. On this mission, there might be a need for someone to pass unseen, spot the enemy at a great distance, infiltrate defense lines and perform other such tasks, which meant that there would be a need to have a companion who was capable of such reconnaissance skills.

虽然圣骑士在战斗中能展现出优秀能力，但除此之外却与一般市民并没有两样。也就是这次旅行需要有能不被敌人察觉而进行移动、察知到远距离的敌人、穿过包围网等，这些侦查技术的人作为伴随。

Under normal circumstances, one would call on an adventurer or hunter, but most of them were already dead, and the remainder had already fled to the south or to other countries. Therefore, with no more qualified candidates to choose from, Neia had been chosen.

一般来说这里该轮到冒险者或猎兵的出场了吧，可他们其中的大多数都已经倒下、而剩下的人也都逃往了南侧或其他国家。因此，在没有经验丰富人选的情况下，她才会雀屏中选。

While she was a long way from her father, she harbored some pride in the fact that her senses were sharper than those who had only been trained as paladins. She was very happy that her talents could serve her nation, but that feeling was steadily being worn away. Now, she was starting to resent the fact that she had been chosen.

她自己本身，虽然与父亲比较起来相距甚远，但自认为比起那些只经过圣骑士训练的人们来说，有着更敏锐感觉的自负。那份能力对于国家有所帮助让她很是高兴，但那份感觉在这一路也被逐渐消磨。现在的话甚至觉得有点怨恨被选中之事。

“Really?... Well, if you think so, then do it. I approve.”

「是吗？……如果你这么认为的话就这么办吧。我认可」

“Thank you very much, Captain.”

「非常感谢、团长」

“...Squire Baraja. Like we just said, you will remain in the corner of the room and listen to our conversation. If anything happens, inform us. ...Now go back to your room and freshen up before coming back.”

「……侍从巴拉哈，如妳所听到的，妳就在房间角落听我们说话吧。如果有什么事的话就告诉我们。……那么回去房间，做好仪容准备再回来」

“Understood!”

「遵命！」

Finally, Neia thought, but then Gustav followed behind her just as she made to leave. After they left the room, he spoke quietly to her.

终于解放了，古斯塔博在如此想着而退出的涅娅的身后跟了过来，在出了房间之后小声的搭话。

“Sorry about the Captain.”

「团长的事真是抱歉呢」

Neia halted in her tracks, turned around, and then she voiced the doubts she had been harboring in her heart all this while.

涅娅在停止脚步、转身、将至今为止一直怀着的疑问提出。

“...Did I do something to upset the Captain? I mean, I’ve heard that the battle where we lost the city changed her completely, so what happened?”

「……我是不是做了什么让团长生气的事？虽然在之前就已经听说过，在那个造成都市陷落的战斗中，让她完全改变了性格，发生了什么事吗？」

“...Many paladins died in the battle with Jaldabaoth, including the Holy Queen-sama and the Captain’s sister.”

「……在那场与亚达巴沃的战斗中失去了许多圣骑士们的性命，然后也包含了圣王女大人以及团长的妹妹」

I know that. But so what?

那件事我知道。只是、那又如何呢。

The same thing had happened to Neia.

这点涅娅也一样啊。

Both her father and mother were dead. People like this were hardly uncommon throughout the Holy Kingdom. Of course, she could not actually say that.

恐怕无论是父亲还是母亲都已经死了吧。而且对于现在的圣王国来说，有着那样境遇的人并不稀奇。但是，当然不可能将那样的话说出来。

“Without a place to vent the grief and anger she felt from that, the Captain chose to take it out on you. I think the reason why she did not do so with us paladins was because we fought and suffered with her.”

「以此为契机在团长的心中产生的所谓丧失感和愤怒的感情失去了宣泄场所，而对距离比较近的妳发火吧。不将那些感情发泄在我们这些圣骑士身上，我想原因是我们作为同一场战斗的参与者而共有着相同的痛苦吧」

What the hell, Neia grumbled in her heart.

什么嘛、那算、涅娅在心中如此嘀咕。

In other words, all this was because Neia had not taken part in that battle.

也就是说，就只是因为涅娅没有参加到那场战斗。

This was just too much.

实在是太不讲道理了。

Half of Neia’s fellow squires had travelled to the same city and many of them had ended up as casualties. The reason why Neia had not been in that half was due to her luck, and not because of any choice Neia had made.

涅娅这些侍从们也有一半赴往同一座都市，也出了许多的战死者。涅娅之所以没有被选为那一半是因为运气，并不是涅娅自己做出选择的结果。

“Let me also say this: please bear with it. Right now, the Captain is an irreplaceable person to the Holy Kingdom.”

「在此之上让我说几句，现在请妳忍耐。团长对于目前的圣王国来说是不可或缺的人」

“...Even if she takes her anger out on others and gives them a hard time, then?”

「……即使将不满发泄在他人身上、让他人痛苦也是吗？」

“Indeed.“

「没错」

Gustav looked at her with a pained look in his eyes.

古斯塔博以悲痛的眼神看着自己。

Anger raced through her body. She wanted to shout. Neia knew that woman was strong, but still, Neia had also done her part in getting them safely to the Kingdom. She had spotted the demihumans’ lookouts and she had been more careful than anyone else when they pitched camp at night. Neia had a role in getting the ambassadorial party to their destination. That being the case, Neia did not feel she was any less valuable than that woman.

愤怒在身体中奔跑环绕、想要大声怒吼。我认同那个女人很强，然而为了一行人能够平安无事抵达王国，涅娅也努力过了。注意亚人们的警戒网、在晚上野营时比起任何人更加小心注意。使节团能够平安抵达也有涅娅的一份力。那么在这段旅程结束之前，涅娅并不认为自己的价值要比低于那种女人才是。

However, Neia quashed her feelings as they boiled up.

可是涅娅还是压制住了将沸腾的感情。

She had to bear with this for the sake of the people suffering in the Holy Kingdom. Allowing any of them to be lost, and thus prolonging the sighs of countless people, was the most foolish course of action imaginable.

为了在圣王国中痛苦的人民在这里不得不忍耐。如果缺少任一方，而让多数人民的叹息再也得不到终止的话，那样的做法才是最愚蠢的。

In addition, she would be free of this duty once she returned to the country. Thus, all she would have to do was bear with it for a while longer.

而且回国的话就能免去这样的职务了，那么只需要再忍耐一下。

Neia smiled and nodded.

涅娅以笑容点头回应。

“Understood. If it is for the sake of the Holy Kingdom, I will endure it with a smile.”

「遵命。如果是为了圣王国的话，我会笑着接受的」

♦ ♦ ♦

Blue Rose arrived at the inn not long after Neia returned to the room.

在涅娅暂且回房之后没过多少时间，苍蔷薇的一行人来到了旅店。

Neia waited, among the paladins who stood motionless by the walls.

涅娅混杂在墙边保持直立不动姿势的圣骑士之中等着。

Soon, the door opened, and a group of people entered.

不久门被打开，一行人进入了房间。

While they were not exactly celebrities, their reputation still shone brightly in the Holy Kingdom, and it made Neia’s heart flutter. These were people of her gender who had ascended to heights which she herself could not reach. Personally, she would have liked to ask them all kinds of questions. That said, she could not do such a thing.

虽然还不到赶时髦的地步，但在圣王国中也有着响亮名号的一行人的登场，让涅娅的内心少许有些雀跃。那些是攀登到了自己无法到达的高处的同性伟人。就个人而言是很想问问各式各样的事的。但话虽如此，那样的事根本就做不出来。

They’re… one of the three adamantite-ranked adventurer parties in the KIngdom. Blue Rose… they’re awesome...

（她们就是……王国仅有三支的精钢级冒险者队伍之一。苍蔷薇……好厉害……）

While she had heard their descriptions and names from rumors, this was the first time she had seen them in the flesh. There was quite a big discrepancy between how she had imagined them from their stories and how they actually were.

虽然有从传闻中听过她们的外表和名字，但是实际上亲眼见到的、和从听说的故事中想象出来的形象，还是有着相当大的差异。

Standing at their head was Blue Rose’s leader. She was a priestess who bore the holy symbol of the Water God, the wielder of the demonic blade, Kilineyram -- Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra.

站在最前头的是苍蔷薇的领队。她是带着水神圣印的神官，那把魔剑的持有者、拉裘丝・亚尔贝因・蒂尔・艾因卓。

Her beautiful features were such that even her fellow females would be enthralled by them, and it was hard to believe she was a top-class adventurer of the like which only fighting geniuses could be. If she wore a dress, she would be the very picture of a princess which a commoner like Neia imagined.

那连同性也会看得入迷的端庄容貌，实在让人难以想象那是只有战斗的天才才能达到的最高级冒险者。如果穿上礼服的话，就是平民出身的涅亚所幻想中的公主般的女性了吧。

That beautiful woman spoke with a gentle voice that matched all of Neia’s fantasies about her.

那位美女发出如同想象般的温柔声音。

“Thank you for your invitation. We are Blue Rose.”

「承蒙邀请，非常感谢。我们是苍蔷薇」

Remedios, who had stood up to welcome them, nodded slightly to express her gratitude.

站起来出去迎接的蕾梅蒂欧丝稍微低下头，表示感谢之意。

“I cannot thank you enough for accepting our invitation, honored members of Blue Rose.”

「愿意接受我方的委托而来，真是感激不尽，苍蔷薇的各位」

“We are the ones who are honored to receive an invitation from the paladin who bears a holy sword and who has skills to match, Remedios Custodio-sama.”

「能被那位圣剑的持有者，以及物以类比的能力而周知的圣骑士、蕾梅蒂欧丝・卡斯特迪奥大人的邀请，我方才是非常荣幸」

Their exchange highlighted Remedios’ straightforward and somewhat stiff manner of speech and contrasted it with Lakyus’ natural way of speaking. It would seem she really was a noble heiress.

在这种流于形式的问候上，相对起蕾梅蒂欧丝那有些生硬死板的语调，拉裘丝则相当的自然。身为贵族小姐的事情看来是真的。

“Ah, I’m the one who should be happy to meet the wielder of the demonic blade like yourself. Ahem. Please take a seat. The people around us are all paladins of the Holy Kingdom. It would be good if we could all listen in. Erm, if there’s time after that, I would like very much to see the demonic blade.”

「啊，我才是能与魔剑持有主的您见面——感到十分高兴，咳。还请入坐。然后周围的人都是圣王国的圣骑士。要是能一起听听就再好不过了。呃，若是之后有时间，能让我拜见下魔剑的话那就、非常感激」

“Gladly, and the chance to behold your holy sword would please me beyond words. Then, let us do as our host bids and take a seat, everyone.”

「我很乐意，只是若也能让我看看圣剑的话就再好不过。那么恭敬不如从命，我们就坐下吧，大家」

The members of Blue Rose each sat down in their own way. Some of them had already folded their arms and grasped their elbows. Given their skills, it made Neia wonder if they had always been that way or if they had learned it along the way.

苍蔷薇的众人照着各自的方式坐在椅子上。其中已经有杵着手肘和抱着胳膊的人了。如果考虑到她们的实力，会让人不可思议的觉得，那份目中无人的态度该说是适合好呢还是本应如此呢。

“Shall we introduce ourselves?”

「首先该自我介绍下比较好吗？」

The vice-captain answered, probably to help Remedios out.

是要帮助蕾梅蒂欧丝吧，回答的人是副团长。

“No, there’s no need for that. News of your exploits has made its way around the Holy Kingdom. Ah, and while it’s a little late for this, I’m the vice-captain of the paladin order, Gustav Montanis.”

「不，没有那个必要。各位的传闻早就传遍了圣王国。虽然介绍晚了，我是圣骑士团副团长古斯塔博·蒙塔尼斯」

Lakyus smiled gently at Gustav’s answer.

对于古斯塔博的回答，拉裘丝温和地笑笑。

“Really now. It would be good if that news was flattering.”

「是这样吗？如果是好的传闻就好了呢」

“Ah--”

「啊——」

“--Yes. We’ve heard nothing but good things about you. In truth, I find it hard to hide my excitement over your heroic exploits.”

「——是的。听说的尽是些好的传闻啊。各位的英勇传说真是让我也难掩兴奋之情呢」

It would seem Remedios wanted to say something, but Gustav had interrupted her. After that, he smiled to Lakyus like nothing was the matter.

蕾梅蒂欧丝要说什么的时候古斯塔博打了岔，然后若无其事的与拉裘丝互相笑颜以对。

“How delightful. While I wish to ask about what sort of rumors those were, we are here today to accept a request. It is not our intention to waste our client’s valuable time. That being the case, let us discuss the particulars of this request.”

「那还真是令人开心。虽然很想问问是怎样的传闻，不过我们是接受委托而来的。耽搁掉委托人的宝

贵时间也并非我们的本意。那么请让我确认委托的内容」

“Mhm. Before that, I’d like to ask the name of that girl--”

「唔嗯。在那之前我想问下那个女孩的名字啊—」

Neia jumped in fright as she realized one of the twin thieves was pointing at her. The other one was also looking at her in interest.

被这话吓到一看，双胞胎盗贼中的一人正指着涅亚。另一人也兴致勃勃的看着这里。

The two of them ought to be the twin thieves known as Tia and Tina. Despite being members of Blue Rose, which was famed even in the Holy Kingdom, there were no rumors or tales of their deeds. They were a pair of mysterious individuals.

这两人应该就是叫做缇亚和缇娜的双胞胎盗贼吧。连在圣王国也大名鼎鼎的苍蔷薇成员之中，唯有她们没有一点英勇传说和逸闻，是两个谜团重重的人物。

And now those individuals were pointing at her.

那样的人物正指着自己。

She felt like she had suddenly been shoved on stage from an audience seat. Thoughts like why is this happening bounced around inside her mind.

感觉就像是从舞台侧面突然被丢到辉煌的舞台上一样。为啥、为什么、为何这些词语在脑中打转。

“That girl doesn’t have a warrior’s body. Different from our musclehead’s.”

「那女孩不是战士系的体格呢啊。跟我们家的肌肉完全不一样」

“Oi! What was that supposed to mean!?”

「喂！那是什么意思！」

The person who had spoken up was Gagaran, the lady warrior who was built like a brick shithouse.

出声的是一堵厚墙般的女战士、格格兰。

“Exactly what I said. ...She’s not a warrior, no matter how you look at it. Now this is a warrior.”

「就字面上的意思啊。……那女孩不是战士，无论怎么看。所谓的战士是这个」

“Oi oi, you can train your body with experience, you know.”

「喂喂，只要累积经验，肉体就能更加得到锻炼的喔」

“So you’re going to evolve then, Gagaran?”

The thieves’ faces hardened.

“Don’t be mean, I feel sorry for that girl.”

「格格兰是快要进化了？」盗贼的表情一下子变得尖锐起来「别说那么过分的话，那女孩真可怜」

“Hey! Is it me or have you gotten full of yourself since you went training with me? Oi!”

「喂！妳这家伙在跟老子一起进行修行后是不是变得更过份啦？吶！」

“Nothing’s changed. Just that it hurts when you grab me with your retard strength when I’m sleeping--”

「什么变化都没有喔。睡觉的时候被妳的怪力抱着，侧腹痛的——」

“--That’s enough out of the two of you… I’m sorry, that’s just how we are.”

「——两人都差不多一点。……真抱歉呢，我们的人这个样子」

“Please pay it no heed. Her name is Neia Baraja. She has keen senses, and she’s made a lot of contributions during our journey here.”

「请不用在意。她是涅亚·巴拉哈，是我们的侍从。她的感觉很敏锐，在到此的旅途上出了很多力」

“I understand.”

「了解」

The reply was flat and emotionless, not cute in the slightest.

说得平淡不带感情，一点都不可爱。

“..Mm. Well, while that was our fault, we haven’t made any progress at all. If nobody minds, shall we begin discussing the matter? Also, there’s no point talking like fancy nobles, is there? Let’s get right to it, shall we?”

「……嗯。虽然是我方不好，但是话题完全没有进展啊。要是谁都没意见的话，那么就快点开始谈事情吧？还有各自用贵族风格的绕圈子说话方式也没用吧？单刀直入的来说话没问题吧？」

“Evileye,” Lakyus said in a reproachful tone.

「伊维尔哀」拉裘丝责备似的叫了她的名字。

That was the arcane magic caster Evileye. Clad in her mask, she could use powerful spells, but she never removed it under any circumstances. She had a very slight frame -- some rumors said she might be from a small-bodied species.

魔力系魔法吟唱者(Magic Caster)伊维尔哀。带着面具的她能使用强大的魔法，不管何时都没脱下面具。身体很娇小——有传言说她可能是别的什么身型矮小的种族。

“No, that’s fine. I’m not good at all this wheels-within-wheels stuff myself.”

「不，那样也没关系。我也很不擅长这种话中有话的方式」

“Captain…”

「团长……」

“...Kuku. Well, the other side’s boss has given their approval -- how about ours? Besides, once they pay the appropriate fee, they’ll be our clients. Let’s not bother with feeling each other up and get to the question of money. Won’t it be better to seal the deal sooner rather than later?”

「……呵呵。对方的老大很好说话，我们家的老大又如何呢？再说，支付了与情报费相应金额的报酬的话，对方就是委托人。与其互相探对方的底去浪费时间还不如快快地谈钱的事，把契约早点定下不是更好吗？」

Lakyus sighed, and Evileye continued, seemingly sneering at them.

拉裘丝唉地叹了口气后，伊维尔哀以咧嘴笑的氛围继续开口道。

“Well, our boss has given her okay too, so shall we firm up the details before we talk about payment? I take it you want to talk about the person messing up your country. Jaldabaoth?”

「已经得到我们家老大的默许了，那么在谈委托费之前让我先确认委托内容喔？有想要谈的事情，那是指在贵国作乱的亚达巴沃的事吧？」

“You knew?”

「妳知道的吗」

“OI oi, do you think we wouldn’t know something the nobles did? The Kingdom has marine traders too, you know. Plus, the Adventurer’s Guilds do exchange information as well. That said, how about it? Want to share what you know, too? Frankly speaking, we’d be happier to obtain information than money.”

「喂喂，妳觉得贵族们知道的情报我们会不知道？王国也有商人使用海路移动。而且冒险者工会之间多少也有情报交流。虽说如此，那么，是怎样？不来交换下彼此的情报吗？比起拿到钱，对我们来说弄到情报更高兴」

“Mm… may, may I have a moment to discuss this with Gustav?”

「唔……。稍、稍微让我和古斯塔博讨论下可以吗？」

Evileye waved to indicate that they should proceed, and then Remedios and Gustav rose and entered the adjoining room -- the bedroom.

伊维尔哀做出请吧的手势，蕾梅蒂欧丝和古斯塔博就站起来，进到隔壁的房间——寝室里。

“Then, can we use this flask?”

「那啥，这个水壶可以用吗？」

Gagaran pointed to the flask of water and the glasses around it as she addressed Neia.

指着桌上正中央摆着的水壶和杯子，格格兰向涅亚发问。

Why me, Neia fretted as she replied, “Please do.” She wanted to praise herself for her perfect tone and not letting her voice tremble.

为什么是我啊，涅亚一边心里焦虑不已一边回答「请用吧」。声音没有发抖，自己都想赞美自己的态度真完美。

After Gagaran had poured water for everyone, Remedios and Gustav returned.

格格兰准备好全员的水后，蕾梅蒂欧丝和古斯塔博回来了。

“We’ll pay your fee, so can you tell us what you know?”

「我们会付委托费的，所以可以就听你们那边的情报吗？」

Uwah, Neia thought. For some reason, she had the feeling that Remedios, who had complained about the expense of staying in an inn, would not approve. While Gustav had probably said something to her, Neia had no idea what reasons he had used to convince her.

喔呀，涅亚这么想。为什么觉得旅馆的费用很浪费的蕾梅蒂欧丝会没有同意呢。虽然大概是因为古斯塔博说了什么吧，但涅娅并不清楚到底是出于何种理由而去说服的她。

“That’s fine too, although I think we’d be able to tell you what you need to know if you told us about the absolute state of the Holy Kingdom now.”

「那也没有关系喔？只是觉得知道圣王国的现状的话，更能够提供你们想要的情报」

“Please let us pay the appointed fee.”

「让我支付指定的费用吧」

Gustav promptly placed a small pouch on the table.

古斯塔博立刻把小小的皮袋放到了桌上。

“Mm, oi.”

「嗯，喂」

Evileye jerked her chin at one of the thieves. In response, she swiftly reached out and snatched up the pouch, tossing it up and down lightly in her hand. Then she caught it and nodded to Evileye.

伊维尔哀对盗贼的一人扬扬下巴。于是其中一人快速的向皮袋伸手，轻轻地抛了起来。然后再抓住它，向伊维尔哀点了点头。

She was probably trying to see if it contained the expected amount by the sensation from throwing it up and catching it.

是为了从抛起的感触和、落在手里的感触，判断其中是否有装入预想的金额吧。

“Alright. Then I, Evileye, Shall explain on their behalf… Although, like I said just now, it’s a little unrealistic for you to demand all the information we have about Jaldabaoth. Let’s start by talking about what happened in our country. But before that, I want to verify something with you. Your Jaldabaoth looks like this, right?”

「好吧。那么就由我伊维尔哀作为代表来说明吧。……虽然如此，刚刚我也讲过，即使说你们想要有关亚达巴沃的所有情报也有点不着边际啊。首先先说说在这个国家发生了什么好了。但是在那之前有个大前提需要确认。那个叫亚达巴沃的是长这个样子的家伙没错吧」

Evileye took a pen and paper from beside the table and began drawing with fluid strokes. However, the picture she produced could only be regarded as childish scribblings as best.

伊维尔哀从桌子旁边的书桌上拿起笔跟纸，以流利的动作沙沙地画了起来。但那之后的完成图，就算说得好听点也只是小朋友的涂鸦。

Remedios was about to say, “No, that’s not…” before one of the twins snatched back the paper and tore it in half.

蕾梅蒂欧丝刚要说「不对，不是……」但还没说完其中一个双胞胎就把画收了回去、然后撕成了两半。

“What the hell are you doing!?”

「妳这家伙，在做什么！」

While Evileye was furious, the other twin snatched away the pen in the meantime and drew swiftly on the new piece of paper, then showed Evileye the finished product. The masked magic caster muttered, “Uguu…” in a disgruntled tone. The truth was, it was of far greater quality than the picture just now.

虽然伊维尔哀激动不已，但是双胞胎的另一人却趁隙拿走笔，在新的纸上快速的动着，然后将完成品摆在面前。带着面具的魔法吟唱者(Magic Caster)发出了「呜咕咕……」这样不甘心的含糊呻吟。老实说，完成度之高与刚才的根本无法相提并论。

His appearance was very difficult to describe with words. He was dressed in foreign clothing and wore a strange mask. After seeing the picture, Remedios angrily clenched her fists and growled like a wild beast.

“That’s the bastard.”

看上去的确是很难用言语说明的服装。从没见过的异国服饰和奇怪的面具。看了画之后，蕾梅蒂欧丝因愤怒而双拳颤抖不已，同时像是野兽一样吼着说「就是这家伙」。

After seeing this, the twins and Evileye ceased their feuding and turned back towards Remdios.

看了这情况后冷静下来了吧，伊维尔哀停下与双子的争辩，再度转向蕾梅蒂欧丝。

“Then we’ve verified one thing, that this is the same per-- the same demon. Well, if demons like that could appear one after the other, we’d be in trouble. Thank heaven for small mercies, as they say. Now--”

「那么这样就能确认一点了啊。确实是同一人——同一恶魔。嘛，要是这样的怪物一个接一个跑出来就麻烦了。该说这是不幸中的大幸吗。那么——」

Evileye then proceeded to narrate the events that had transpired in the Royal Capital, and Neia winced in her heart.

接下来伊维尔哀将在王都发生过的事说了个大概，涅亚在心中做出痛苦的表情。

She knew Jaldabaoth was strong. And she knew that the demon army and that scaly demon existed, so she was not shocked by them. But the fact that there were five maid demons who could each take on an entire adamantite-ranked adventurer team by themselves intensified her sense of utter despair.

对于亚达巴沃的强大已经做好了觉悟。而且已经确认了恶魔大军和有鳞恶魔的存在，因此并不吃惊。但是居然还有五名能在精钢级冒险者队伍们的围攻下、打的平分秋色的女仆恶魔的新情报让绝望感愈发加剧。

I don’t think anyone spotted the maid demons in the Holy Kingdom. So they’re Jaldabaoth’s trump card? To think he had something like that...

（应该没有在圣王国目击到女仆恶魔过。是亚达巴沃的王牌？居然藏着这样的……）

“--Then, what would you estimate Jaldabaoth’s difficulty rating to be?”

「——那么以各位的判断，亚达巴沃的难度推测是多少呢？」

Gustav’s question caused Blue Rose to look at each other, but in the end it was still Evileye who spoke on everyone’s behalf.

古斯塔博的发问让苍蔷薇全员面面相觑，最后果然还是由伊维尔哀作为代表开口。

“Let me get this out of the way first; this value is just a conjecture. It might be higher, it might be lower, so I hope you’ll keep that in mind. We estimate that demon’s difficulty to be around two hundred.”

「我先说在前头。接下来说的数值仅仅只是个推测而已。有可能比较高也可能比较低，这件事希望你们先放在心上。我们认为那个恶魔的难度大概在二百左右」

“Two hundred…”

「二百……」

Gustav gasped. Neia very nearly gasped as well, but she managed to resist that impulse. Some of the paladins lining the walls were not so successful. Remedios was the only one to remain calm, her expression unchanged.

古斯塔博发出了像是喘气的声音。涅亚也一样要发出喘声，不过却拼命忍了下来。沿着墙壁整队的圣

骑士之中也看到有几个没忍住发出一样的喘声。蕾梅蒂欧丝却是其中唯一冷静的，表情连一点变化也没有。

If Neia recalled correctly, difficulty one hundred monsters were not something which humans could defeat.

如果涅亚的记忆正确的话，一百不是人类能打倒的极限吗？

“Exactly how powerful is a rating of two hundred?”

「两百具体来说多强呢？」

Evileye seemed to have a bit of trouble answering Remedios’ earnest question.

对于蕾梅蒂欧丝老实的提问，伊维尔哀像是有点困扰的回答。

“While difficulty two hundred beings have never appeared in the human world before… well, old Dragons would be roughly around one hundred.”

「虽然两百的存在并没有在人类的世界出现过……嘛，壮年(Old)的龙[Dragon]的话大约在一百左右吧」

“An old dragon… while I’ve never fought those before, would that be around the same as the Guardian Deity of the oceans?”

「壮年的龙吗……。虽然没有战斗过……差不多和大海的守护神大人一样吗？」

The Guardian Deity of the ocean referred to a Sea Dragon which dwelled in the sea.

大海的守护神指的是住在海里的海龙[Sea Dragon]。

It had two arms and feet and a long, thick tail that replaced its atrophied wings. It resembled a Sea Serpent more than a Dragon, and its intellect was on par with or surpassed mankind. It was quite a benevolent being that would protect ships if it was properly venerated.

有双手双足，有着取代了退化的翅膀的又长又宽的粗大尾巴。样子比起海蛇[Sea Serpent]更接近龙族，拥有与人类相等或着之上的智能。要是上供的话，就会保护船只，是相当温厚的存在。

Neia had the very good fortune of seeing it once, from a distance, when they had gone to Rimun on holiday.

在涅亚一家旅行时去过的里穆恩，就曾经很幸运的远远看到过一次。

It had raised its head high above the surface of the seas, and it was a sight majestic enough to earn it the title of Guardian Deity. It was hard to imagine a human being could defeat such a being.

从海面上高高伸起的头。那样的姿态的确伟大到能被称为守护神。实在难以相信有人类可以赢过那样的存在。

“Captain Remedios. If we use defeating the Guardian Deity as a baseline… hm, if there were a fisherman here he’d be giving us the stink-eye. Still, that means he’s twice as strong as an old Dragon.”

「卡斯特迪奥团长。将打倒守护神大人基准来考虑……这里要是有渔夫在的话可是不会给出好脸色的喔。但是，也就是说比壮年龙还要强上两倍呢」

“Indeed. We’ve determined that he’s stronger than the legendary Demon Gods who were defeated by the Thirteen Heroes. That is to say, his appearance in the human world would be a great tragedy and several nations will be destroyed. That’s how powerful he is.”

「也是啊。我们判断那家伙比，据称被十三英雄打倒的传说中的魔神们还要强。在人类世界出现的话绝对是大惨案，好几个国家会因此而毁灭。就是那么强的意思」

“Although, I hear that when Jaldabaoth was wreaking havoc in the Kingdom, he was driven off by Momon-dono. That would mean Momon-dono must be just as powerful, right?”

Remedios swallowed, and then continued.

“Or does that mean -- he used some kind of special item when defeating Jaldabaoth?”

「可我听说亚达巴沃在王国作乱时，被漆黒的飞飞阁下给击退了啊。那也就是说那位飞飞阁下也有着同样的强度吧？」古斯塔博吞了一口气「还是说——在击退亚达巴沃时有带着什么特别的道具吗？」

That was when Evileye’s attitude changed.

顿时伊维尔哀的气氛发生了改变。

Neia could not see her face, but she had the feeling that her face was flushing under that mask of hers.

虽说还是无法看到其表情，但是总感觉在那面具之下的神色正泛起红潮。

“I don’t think he used any such item. However, Momon-sama fought magnificently when he duelled Jaldabaoth. I was fighting Jaldabaoth’s subordinates back then, so I did not see the full fight, but it was a terrifying battle. It was a battle fought by a hero among hero, a champion among champions.”

「我不觉得有用什么道具。但是那勇猛的战斗身影——飞飞大人和亚达巴沃进行剑斗的时候，我正和那家伙的部下战斗，并没有看到全部的过程，但那是非常令人惊愕的战斗。那才是英雄中的英雄，勇者中的勇者的战斗」

“Is, is that so?”

「是、是那样子吗？」

It was all Gustav could do to squeeze those words out after being crushed by Evileye’s presence as she leaned herself out.

被探出身子诉说的伊维尔哀的魄力压倒，古斯塔博挤出这一句已经是尽最大努力了吧。

“Precisely! Ah, what an amazing battle. Momon-sana defended me while he was fighting Jaldabaoth, you know.”

「就是这样！呀，那真是太厉害了，飞飞大人可是一边保护着我一边和亚达巴沃战斗呢」

“So he fought Jaldabaoth -- that monster -- and drove him off? Is that true?”

「和亚达巴沃——和那个怪物正面战斗还将其击退了吗？这是真的？」

“What!? Are you saying what I saw with my own two eyes was a lie!?”

「什么！妳想说我亲眼看到的事情是在说谎吗？」

Evileye countered Remedios’ question with a vicious retort. Gustav struggled to clear the uneasy mood in the air.

伊维尔哀对蕾梅蒂欧丝的提问以严厉的声音反问。这不安的气氛让古斯塔博急忙来打圆场。

“Ah, no, what our Captain meant was that if Darkness could attack some weak point of Jaldabaoth’s, perhaps we could do something too. I apologize for not clarifying.”

「啊不、我们团长的意思是，漆黒若是能攻击到亚达巴沃那不知在哪的弱点的话，即使是我们说不定也能做些什么。话没说清楚真是非常抱歉」

“No, we should be apologizing for the childish tone our Evileye is taking with a client.”

「这边才是，我们的伊维尔哀对委托人的各位用这般幼稚的态度真是抱歉」

That reply came from Lakyus. What was this, when the two main players were cast aside and their supporting cast went on to smooth things out between themselves.

回答的是拉裘丝。将两个当事人丢在一旁，旁边的人擅自调解起来是怎样啊。

“Mm… well, assuming Jaldabaoth really does have some weak point, Momon-sama must have won by attacking it. It’s hard to imagine a demon like that would leave his weaknesses unguarded.”

「嗯。……就算亚达巴沃真的有弱点，而飞飞大人朝此攻击并取得了胜利。也很难想象，像那样的恶魔会就这样放着弱点不管」

“Indeed… perhaps he used an item or a subordinate to make up for it.”

「的确如此……。是有可能会利用道具或是部下来弥补这点」

While this was the first time she had heard of the maid demons, Jaldabaoth had several powerful demon minions.

虽然女仆恶魔是第一次听说，但是亚达巴沃有几个强大的恶魔部下。

After questioning demihuman captives, they knew there were at least three of them.

从亚人俘虏那里问出的情报来看，可以知道最少也有三只。

There was the demon who ruled the wilderness where the demihumans lived.

支配着亚人们所居住的荒野的恶魔。

There was the demon who ruled the port city of Rimun.

支配着港湾都市里穆恩的恶魔。

And then, there was the scaly demon who commanded the demihuman army.

还有指挥亚人军队的有鳞恶魔。

“Right, can you tell us in detail about that scaly demon you mentioned earlier?”

「对了，能详细说说刚才提到的有鳞恶魔的事吗？」

“That’s right, can you tell us what abilities it has?”

「没错，能详细告诉我们具有哪些能力吗？」

“Right, I fought it before, so I’ll take Evileye’s place and describe it in detail.”

「好的，就由我来代替伊维尔哀，来详细说明与我战斗过的恶魔吧」

She described its abilities and how they fought it. Lakyus’ tale ended with Brain Unglaus -- a man on Gazef’s level -- slaying that demon.

讲述有着怎样的能力，还有是如何进行战斗的。拉裘丝的一番话以被认为和葛杰夫·史托罗诺夫同等级的布莱恩·安格劳斯这个男人打倒了那个恶魔作为结尾。

“...That’s strange. Jaldabaoth hasn’t made any movements after conquering the Holy Kingdom’s capital, but that scaly demon’s been commanding the demihuman armies in his place. Wasn’t it already defeated?”

「……那就奇怪了。亚达巴沃攻陷了圣王国首都后，虽然没有动静，但是代替他指挥亚人们的军队的就是那个有鳞恶魔。不是已经打倒了吗？」

“I see… however, we’ve met this Brain fellow before, and I don’t think he was lying. It’s probably not a unique demon, just a high-level one.”

「原来如此……。但我们和布莱恩这个男人有过面识，不觉得他是在说谎啊。恐怕，那并不是独一无二的恶魔，而不过只是高等级的恶魔吧」

“In other words, Jaldabaoth can conjure that demon any number of times as long as certain conditions are met? Or perhaps he can summon the same demon multiple times?”

「也就是说达成某些条件的话，亚达巴沃就可以无数次召唤那个恶魔吗？或着是说可以多次召唤同样的恶魔？」

Neia could not cast spells, but she had heard this during her lectures.

虽然不能使用魔法，但涅亚在讲习里学过。

When it came to summon magic, summoning multiple beings was a very difficult thing.

召唤魔法中，复数个体的召唤是件很困难的事。

In other words, when a summon spell was active, casting another summon spell would cause the previous summon spell to end. The currently-summoned monsters would go back from whence they came and new monsters would be summoned in their place.

这是说在发动召唤魔法的期间，发动了其他的召唤魔法的情况下，之前的召唤魔法会失去效果，至今召唤而来的魔物会归还，而新的魔物会被召唤。

However, people capable of high-tier summoning spells could simultaneously conjure several weaker monsters at once, of the sort that one would evoke with a low-tier summon spell. For instance, one could use a fourth-tier spell to summon multiple monsters that could be invoked by a third-tier spell.

但是，能使用更加高阶魔法的人可以同时召唤数只、能以低等的魔法召唤出来的魔物。比方说，使用第四位阶魔法，就可以召唤数个可以用第三位阶魔法召唤出来的魔物这样的情况。

“I don’t understand at all. His methods of summoning demons is still a mystery. While it felt like he was summoning them with spells, he couldn’t have summoned multiple demons of such power… but if he could, that would beg the question of why he did not do so in the Kingdom. Perhaps if he were a magic caster who specialized in summoning, he could simultaneously summon multiple copies of such a creature…”

「搞不懂啊。那家伙到底是用什么手段召唤恶魔的，现在还是一个谜。虽然感觉利用魔法召唤的话，若是有如此差距也不是不能召唤出复数个体……但那样的话，就又会产生为什么在王国没那么做的疑问。如果是召唤特化的魔法吟唱者(Magic Caster)的话，可以例外的同时召唤数个种类的魔物的样子……」

“So even if we defeated all the scaly demons, Jaldabaoth could immediately resummon them?”

「就算打倒有鳞恶魔，亚达巴沃也有可能立刻再度召唤吗？」

“Just so. However, that refers to the situation where Jaldabaoth conjures them with magic. If he used some kind of special ability to do it, that would be another matter entirely.”

「就是这样。但是，那是指亚达巴沃用魔法召唤的情况。利用特殊能力的召唤的情况，又是另一回事了」

“So you don’t know much about that side of things.”

「关于那方面并不清楚吗？」

“Sorry, but I don’t. We know very little about him.”

「抱歉啊，那方面并不清楚。关于那家伙的情报非常的少」

Evileye sounded clearly disheartened.”

伊维尔哀明显地气馁了下来。

“...Erm, I didn’t get any of that at all, you know?”

「……唔嗯，我搞不懂在说什么喔？」

“...I’ll explain it to you later, Captain.”

「……团长，之后我会再说明的」

“No, start clarifying now. I haven’t been able to keep up since just now.”

「不，现在稍微说明一下。从刚刚开始就跟不上话题」

This is our Captain… the person in charge of all of us...

（这就是团长……我们的最高层吗……）

“That being the case, was that disgusting insect maid one of Jaldabaoth’s summons too?”

「这样的话，那个恶心虫女仆也是亚达巴沃召唤的吗？」

“I don’t know. I don’t want to think that way…”

「不知道。虽然不想这么考虑……」

Blue Rose’s members began discussing among themselves.