Kays Translations

Chapter 16: Knight Attendant(Tsukaeshi)④ – With Shardina

Shardina.
She was the very first Minos Doll that appeared.

A woman with pure white skin. Long golden hair.
In truth, that white skin was a mistake in her initial settings—every Minos Doll created after her has blue skin.

Because her appearance is based on it, she resembles Munieka.
She has blue bull’s horns, and wears the same black-and-white maid uniform as Munieka.

According to Munieka, Shardina has the appearance she had four years ago.
Back then, Munieka was apparently in her “lost years—her dark era.”

For once, Munieka didn’t want to talk about that time.
And Shardina… she was frightening in many ways, so I banned her. I haven’t met her since.

So then… why has she shown up now?

“Whaaat? It’s Shardina, the banned one. Munieka, did you summon her?”

“No. I did not. I should have summoned Kartaroveda. Since you forbade Shardina, Master, I haven’t released her. She shouldn’t be able to appear.”

That’s right—she shouldn’t be able to appear.
And yet, here she is.

“My, my, looks like something amusing is happening.”

“That Minos Doll… I sense a will in her.”

“Oh-ho. No wonder she was banned.”

The bystanders are noisy.
Sipping tea from the sidelines, as if this were a casual matter.

Shardina opened her eyes and stared directly at me.
It felt as though her gaze was glaring at me.

At first I thought it was resentment over being banned—but no, it felt different.
…She was challenging me?

Yes. Ever since she first appeared, she has lost to me over and over.
She’s always been losing. Isn’t that frustrating?

I know it’s frustrating—I was frustrated when I lost to Alweld. Bitterly so.

But that’s because I have emotions. Minos Dolls aren’t supposed to.
And yet, looking at Shardina now… I can’t say that anymore.

“……”

I activated [Silent One].
If she truly has a voice inside her heart… I should be able to hear it.

(…Push him down… push him down, push him down, push him down… push him down….)

“Wait, wait, wait a second!!”

I shouted before I could stop myself.
Everyone jumped. Even Shardina flinched.

“T-that’s not right, Shardina-san!”

(…What isn’t?)

She tilted her head, answering with a question.
What do you mean, “push me down”?! Why that of all things?!

“Shardina. Return.”

Munieka spoke quietly.
Shardina glanced at her for just a moment, then turned her gaze back to me.

She had no intention of obeying.

Munieka, unusually for her, let emotion show on her face.

“Shardina!”

But she ignored her. Willfully, obstinately.
Munieka took a step forward, ready to use force.

“Munieka-san! Please wait!”

At my words she stopped, though she looked displeased.

“Would you leave this to me?”

“…As you wish.”

“…Shardina. Let’s have a match. But this time, it’ll be a little different.”

(What will we do…?)

“I’ll use a Relic on you. If you can withstand it, you win.”

(If I win, I want a reward….)

“…Fair enough. What do you want?”

(…I haven’t thought of it. I’ll decide if I win… desu.)

“Well… I guess that’s fine.”

“Hmm~ Wof-kun. By any chance… are you talking with Shardina?”

“Ah—uh, yeah… something like that.”

Crap. Shardina isn’t speaking aloud. She’s only talking in her heart.

I never told even the witch that [Silent One] can read minds. That’s one thing I absolutely can’t reveal.

“Oho. So a voice only Wof-boy can hear, hmm.”
“Most likely because he holds Master authority.”
“Eh? No, wait, isn’t Munieka the Master normally?”
“I am the Sub-Master, under the next level of authority.”
“…Why?”
“It is only natural that Master should hold the true Master authority.”
“…Huh.”

So how far are they going to take this “Master” business with me?

I always thought Munieka was just teasing me.

But lately… I’ve been starting to realize.
She’s serious about this—serious about forming a master-servant bond with me.

Why? Why does she…?

“Master. I have something to discuss with you later.”

“…Y-yes.”

Munieka-san spoke up after seeing my state.
I had a vague idea of what she meant.

(…You’re not going to fight…?)

It sounded almost sulky.

“Ah, sorry. Let’s begin.”

When I said that, Shardina brought both arms together in front of her chest.
A defensive stance. From the looks of it, solid as a wall.

I raised my hand.
Through the Awakening Water, I remembered how to properly use [Vanish].
I released it.

“Vanish.”

The instant I invoked it, a shock rippled through the air and erased space itself.
It was over in a heartbeat.

In that single moment, Shardina and everything around her vanished. Nothing remained.
Everything within my field of vision was erased—trees in the distance included.

“………………”

I remembered. Nothing remains.
This was the same sight I saw the first time I used [Vanish].

Back then, I was terrified and screamed that I couldn’t use something like this.
And my uncle, who was nearby, laughed and said:

“Well then, let’s make it so you can use it. I’ve got something good for you. A real special treat.”

What he pulled out then was… Awakening Water?
So the reason I could wield [Vanish] so easily… was because of my uncle’s Awakening Water?
Wait—why on earth did my uncle have something so absurdly rare in the first place?

The witch gave her impressions.

“Well, well, that’s tremendous.”
“Utterly dangerous.”
“Uwahhh… that’s insane. I wonder if even Zomorodnegarr could cut through it~”

Zomo? What’s that supposed to be? Munieka called out.

“Shardina.”

Ah—Shardina!?

“Shardina!!”

She’d been completely erased, not a trace left.
I was stunned. This wasn’t supposed to happen… not like this…

At that moment, the Minos Doll Limited Multiplication Core System floating at Munieka’s side glowed.
From the ground, Shardina was generated anew.

“Shardina!?”

She looked at herself, then at her surroundings, and finally locked eyes with me.
The moment our eyes met, she came running over and started pummeling me with her fists, teary-eyed.

(Push down… I’ll push you down, push you down, push you down, push you down, PUSH YOU DOWN DESU!)

“Ow, ow—okay, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!!”

It actually hurt a bit, and since Shardina is taller than me, her fists landed on my head.
Munieka sighed.

“Shardina. That’s enough.”

Shardina looked at her, then stopped instantly.
She muttered in frustration:

(Next time, I’ll win… desu.)

She glared at me once, then disappeared.

Shiro muttered.

“Comical and entertaining, but this can’t be used.”

“…Yeah.”

What should I do? This just became a huge problem.

Then the witch folded her arms, perked her fox ears, swished her three tails in unison—
and smirked.

“Well, well… maybe there’s a way.”
“Really?”
“Mhm. Wof-boy, you’re just one step away now. I’ll go confirm that last step.”
“Confirm?”

Saying that, the witch declared she was stepping out for a bit and left.

Shiro, watching her go, remarked:

“For an eternal shut-in, she’s gotten awfully proactive.”

“Ahaha~ but she really has changed, hasn’t she?”

“Oh my, is it only the witch who’s changed?”

“Hehh~ funny for you to say that. You’re usually always alone, so this is unusual.”

“What are you implying?”

“I know, you know~ about you and Wof—”

“Sounds like you’re asking to die. Fine, I’ll show you a sweet, white death.”

“W-wait a sec—!”

Somehow… things over there sound like a peaceful kind of bickering battle. Or maybe that’s just me.

“Master.”

Munieka stepped three paces back and stood before me.
I couldn’t help but give a wry smile at how far she went with that, but she was serious.

I could feel it in the way she carried herself.

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