Kays Translations

Chapter 161: Mask of Glory

"Have you ever heard of the heroic figure 'Kaikei Samurai Mask'?"

"What did you say?"

During dinner, Claudia often shared gossip she picked up in town with Lutz. Lutz, who spent most of his time locked in his workshop, was somewhat disconnected from the world's happenings, so Claudia tried to keep him informed whenever possible.

She usually summarized things concisely and clearly, but this time, Lutz couldn't make any sense of it, so he asked for clarification.

"Who is this peculiar person... it’s a person, right?"

As a side note, "Kaikei" was a term used to describe someone with exceptional abilities, not necessarily someone who "solves" things. It was quite confusing, as "solving" might also work in the context.

"Yeah, probably a person. It seems a merchant acquaintance of mine was attacked by bandits on his way back to this town."

"The security is still terrible here, huh?"

"No need to worry. He's alive. Apparently, he was rescued by someone who seemed like an adventurer passing by. It's said that this adventurer effortlessly cut down five bandits."

"That’s good. Wasn't there any outrageous fee demanded later?"

Lutz, who was well aware of the town's poor security, the marquis, the country as well as the rough nature of adventurers, was naturally cautious.

"Strangely, nothing was demanded. They just said, 'I'm glad everyone's safe,' or something like that."

"What a pretentious guy."

"You like that sort of thing, don't you?"

"I do."

Lutz nodded in agreement.

"It seems like he doesn't have a comfortable life, though. He did rummage through the pockets of the dead bandits. Anyway, the merchant group suffered no harm. They asked him to at least tell them his name as a sign of gratitude."

"And what was the response?"

"He said, 'Call me Kaikei Samurai Mask.'"

"With a hearty laugh?"

"You know me well."

Claudia chuckled lightly. She didn't seem impressed by Lutz's quick understanding but rather exasperated by how easily the man's romantic sensibilities took over the conversation.

"So, about this mask, does it mean he's hiding his face?"

"I heard this from an acquaintance, but apparently, he's a man who hides the upper half of his face by splitting an Eastern-style bamboo hat in two."

"Gives off the vibe of a suspicious do-gooder."

"You like that, right?"

"I do."

The two repeated their exchange once more.

Despite his eccentricity or suspicious nature, Lutz wanted to admire those who fought for others. He felt that the phrase "live for others" might resonate with him somehow, but for now, he nodded and urged Claudia to continue.

"So, I got curious and started spreading rumors about him in town. Once I did, they started pouring in."

Claudia counted them on her fingers as she spoke.

"Rescued a woman in trouble with rogue knights, took the lead in exterminating dangerous monsters, stormed the bandits' hideout to recover stolen goods... Wait a minute."

Lutz noticed something odd.

Claudia had been praising the masked hero, but her tone had a hint of distrust. And the narrowed eyes she used to assess the situation were focused on him.

"Lutz-kun, about the weapons used by the Kakei Samurai Mask, it seems to be a katana."

"...Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"

"Nowadays, katanas are the hottest items in the Marquisate. Merchants won't mistake them. Plus, they've had more opportunities to see them lately."

"Yeah, I wonder where he got it..."

Normally, he wouldn't get tired of looking at his beloved wife's face, but right now, he couldn't meet her gaze. Claudia's eyes narrowed even further. For the first time, he realized how unsettling her pursuit could be.

"I know you're hiding something, aren't you?"

"Ugh..."

"Lutz-kun, I see you more clearly than anyone else in this world. You can't hide anything from me."

Affectionate words and threats were made simultaneously. At this point, there's no need to hide it anymore. I'm not doing anything wrong, to be clear.

"It doesn't seem like it's about infidelity or anything, but I've been leaving you alone. Isn't it about time you tell me?"

"...I met a guy, it's not infidelity."

"Do you have any idea who the Masked Man is?"

"I do. I haven't told you to the extent of revealing it..."

Lutz talked about a man named Donald, who was a former knight.

Lutz quickly explained that the man who injured himself with the cursed sword 'Tsubaki,' went into seclusion for training in the mountains, and had recently returned. He also mentioned that this man had become obsessed with the allure of the sword, had killed the two knights, and how he had encouraged Donald, who was in deep despair, and gave him an unmarked katana suitable for a master swordsman.

"I'm sorry. I thought you might take it badly if I said I was meeting with a knight."

While listening to the story, Claudia had been wearing a stern expression all along.

Claudia, who had experienced the fear of being unjustly arrested by the knights and awaiting death and humiliation in a musty underground cell in the past, had developed a strong dislike for knights. Even now, she occasionally had nightmares, and for her, the past was not something that could be easily forgotten. She still couldn't sleep without clinging to Lutz afterward.

Claudia sighed heavily. She didn't blame Lutz, but she had to address his concerns.

"...Well, I didn't want to restrict your interactions with other knights too much. But, Lutz-kun, do people's true natures change so easily?"

"It's not easy to change one's true nature, I suppose. However, I don't think Donald's path over the past year has been easy. I might have said 'live for others' on a whim, but even thinking back on it, it wasn't a bad idea."

"Hmm..."

Claudia's lowered eyelashes trembled slightly. Lutz remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"Well, let's observe for a while longer. If the knight is using his strength for something good, it's great. I won't interfere for now."

"Thank you, Claudia. I'm sure you have things to say as well."

"I do, to both the knight and you."

"...I'm sorry."

“But, well, the fact that the two knights have been killed off has made me feel a little better, so let's just be happy about that for now."

With somewhat sinister acceptance, Claudia agreed.

"But seriously, the name 'Kaikei Samurai Mask'... What do you think about that sense of style?"

"You're right..."

They exchanged glances and sighed.

A new hero's birth or a new fool's entry? Lutz hoped it was the former.

They couldn't afford more fools.

They decided not to dwell on whether the man who immediately associated the phrase "live for others" with becoming a masked hero and acted on it was sane or not.

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