Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had died. The feeling was... Disgusting. Unbelievable. Horrifying. Unimaginable. Terrifying. Unforgivable.
Kiyotaka: (I died... I really died. It felt even worse than being on the brink of death. That helplessness. For all my strength and intellect, I could do nothing but watch my blood pool.)
Kiyotaka stood in the alley holding in the bile in his stomach.
Kiyotaka: (I was sent back to this point in time... given a second chance. I don't know how, but I won't waste this second chance.)
He looked over his stomach.
Kiyotaka: (No injuries. It's a miracle. A genuine miracle.)
Kiyotaka's thoughts shifted to the girl who had claimed her name was Satella. The girl whose kindness and nature reminded him of Matsuo.
Kiyotaka: (She's innocent just like Matsuo, but... I won't put my life at risk for just that.)
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: (There's no need to involve myself at all. I'll just live my life here safely. There's no point in becoming a『Good Person』if it ends up getting me killed. There's no telling if this ability will activate again after all. It could be a one-time activation.)
Three thugs walked into the alleyway, smirking.
Thin Thug: [Hey there, mister.]
Suddenly, he felt a severe pain in his face as he was sent flying through the air and out of the alley.
Fat Thug: [What the hell you bas...]
He felt intense pain in his abdomen if his bones broke as he fell to the floor, unable to move, gasping for breath.
Kiyotaka: [Hm. You're weaker than I thought.]
The Small Thug fell to his knees, looking at Kiyotaka in fear as he soiled himself.
Small Thug: [Hey, I'm sorry. Please don't...]
Kiyotaka walked past him.
Kiyotaka: [I don't care about you. I don't care about anyone.]
Kiyotaka: (What was I thinking? Being capable of compassion? Me of all people? Ridiculous.)
Kiyotaka left the alley.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Anastasia Hoshin, Royal Candidate for the Throne of Lugunica and a Merchant at heart, was walking through the busy capital city. She was satisfied with the fact that she only had two other Camps to worry about in terms of competition. The fourth candidate was never found, and apparently, the Half-Elf who was supposed to be a candidate lost her life to an assassin in the slums.. The『Bowel Hunter』herself.
Anastasia: (What a scary girl she is. Glad I never had ta meet her.)
She was, however, disappointed that her competition could die so easily. She wasn't used to having it so easy with little competition. It especially bothered her for another reason. Emilia's death had caused the『Beast of The End』to go wild. Half the slums were slaughtered by the sudden and violent decrease in temperatures. It would have been worse if not for the『Sword Saint』being in the city and stepping in.
Anastasia: (Then there's...)
She looked to Julius, who was walking next to her. His face showed a pained expression hidden within his professionalism.
Anastasia: (Julius can't seem to get over the fact that she died either. They were friends after all. He didn't want things to end that way.)
Julius: (Did I make a mistake swearing loyalty to Anastasia-sama? She was the one I believed best for the throne, but... Emilia-sama... she was my friend. Should I have supported her? If I had been there... couldn't I have prevented her death?)
Julius gritted his teeth.
Anastasia: (Julius...)
Anastasia shook her head empathetically. Then she saw it. A small shop.
Anastasia: [Hm?]
She looked to see the man at the shop selling small metal boxes that could fit in a person's pocket.
Anastasia: (Now what's that?)
She walked over as Julius followed her.
Anastasia: [What are ya sellin' here?]
Man: [Oh... the inventor called it a『Lighter』.]
Anastasia: [『Lighter』?]
The man took one of the boxes and flipped the top of the box open, revealing a hole and a disc mechanism.
Man: [Stand back a little. I don't wanna frighten ya.]
Anastasia took a step back as Julius stood between her and the man. The man tugged on the disc mechanism, which spun slightly as it sparked, triggering the lighting mechanism as a small flame came from the hole, bringing consistently.
Anastasia: [That is...!]
She immediately walked forward, moving past Julius.
Anastasia: [Now that's a nifty tool, ain't it, Julius?]
Julius: [Indeed. It is intriguing, Anastasia-sama.]
Julius: (I must steel myself and carry my regret. There is no way to change what has happened. I will not fail Anastasia-sama the way I failed Emilia-sama as a friend.)
Man: [It's for lighting stuff for people who can't use magic. Cooking. Camping. It's useful in many ways. Oh, it can do this too.]
The man tugged at the side of the box, pulling part of it as the flame's size and brightness increased.
Man: [This way, ya can use it as a lamp too.]
Anastasia: [That's amazin'.]
Julius: [Might I ask how it works?]
Man: [Well, I don't really get it myself. You'd have to ask the inventor about that.]
Anastasia: [Can we meet with 'im?]
Man: [He likes to keep to himself, but I can tell him that you're interested.]
Julius: [Why did he choose for you to sell this item?]
Man: [He ain't got any connections yet. He saw I was down on ma luck and gave me a chance ta work with 'im. Honestly, I think he's just usin' me. 10% commission. He's basically turned me inta a slave or somethin'.]
Anastasia: [How scary.]
Julius: [He sounds like a shady individual.]
Man: [Sure, but it seems like he'd just tryn' ensure his own survival.]
Anastasia: (I understand that feelin'.)
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Anastasia walked into the restaurant with Julius beside her, and she saw Kiyotaka sitting at one of the seats. Anastasia and Julius took a seat across from him.
Kiyotaka: [It seems I've caught the attention of a Royal Candidate.]
Anatasia: [Yeah. I heard ya don't got connections. I can fix that if ya want.]
Kiyotaka scanned her expression thoroughly.
Kiyotaka: (She's not lying or hiding malicious intent.)
Kiyotaka: [Very well. Then let's make a contract.]
Kiyotaka set out a paper.
Anastasia: [Yer already prepared an everythin'.]
Kiyotaka: [I suspected I'd catch your attention eventually.]
Anastasia read the contract.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka will give Anastasia Hoshin the rights to sell and distribute his products.
Anastasia Hoshin will receive a 10% commission for each sale.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka is not obligated to provide new inventions until his previous product has become commonplace.
In the event Anastasia ascends to the throne, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka will be provided a position as a nobleman.
In the event Anastasia Hoshin fails to ascend to the throne, this contract will be voided, and a new contract will have to be written up and signed in the event of further cooperation.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka is not obligated to follow any commands given by Anastasia Hoshin regardless of her station in the past, present or future.
Anastasia Hoshin is required to ensure the safety of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Anastasia Hoshin may ask 3 favours of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. They cannot be unreasonable, impossible or endanger Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's life.
Anastasia Hoshin must provide a factory for the mass construction of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's products.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Anastasia Hoshin will be considered equals during the duration of this contract's validity.
Anastasia: [Hm... interesting.]
Julius: [Anastasia-sama, are you sure you want to give this man such powers? He won't be obligated to follow your orders.]
Anastasia: [Add one condition. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka is required to invent at least 5 inventions that have the potential to become commonplace within his lifetime.]
Kiyotaka wrote it down.
Kiyotaka: [Do we have a deal?]
Anastasia signed her name, and Kiyotaka did the same.
Kiyotaka: [I look forward to working with you.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kiyotaka sat down in his chair, enjoying the delicacy of Lugunica, when he heard a knock on the door. He set my dish to the side and went to the door of my mansion, opening it to find Julius. His face was still slightly torn. Kiyotaka had heard he was friends with Satella. Well, now he knew that her real name was Emilia. Her death had lingered in his mind even after 3 years.
Kiyotaka: (Julius Juukulius. Had he known that I abandoned her, he would surely despise me.)
Julius: [Ayanokoji-Sama.]
Julius bowed to Kiyotaka, and one Anastasia Hoshin walked up to him.
Kiyotaka: (Over the years, I had given her dozens of inventions to sell. Her reputation increased, and so did her resources and popularity. Eventually, not even Priscilla, with her sheer determination for the throne, could compete. This led to Anastasia Hoshin becoming the Ruler of Lugunica.)
Anastasia: [So Ayanokoji. Any more interesting inventions?]
Kiyotaka: [You know the contract. Make the previous one commonplace, and then I'll give you the next one.]
Anastasia: [Yes, yes, of course. But nowhere did it say I have to wait to ask you. In case you're feelin' a bit inventive or somethin'.]
Kiyotaka: (Greedy girl.) AN: If you get this reference, you're cultured. Reward: 1 Cookie.
Anastasia licked her lips.
Anastasia: [Your ideas are so lucrative, though. A girl like me can't help but want more.]
Kiyotaka: Be patient and don't push it. Or eventually you'll unknowly step out of the bounds of the contract. In that case, I'll pull all of my products out of your markets and sell to someone else. After all, I already have enough wealth to live lavishly, and you've achieved your desire to have your own kingdom.]
Anastasia: [Yes, yes. I understand who has the leverage in this relationship.]
Kiyotaka: [Then get the last one to be commonplace.)
Kiyotaka: (It's important not to rush the technological development of this world.)
Anastasia: [Fine.]
Julius: [I understand you are an important benefactor, but you should mind the way you speak to the King of Lugunica. It's a matter of respect.]
Kiyotaka: [Respect is earned both ways, and so is disrespect. Coming to my home and bothering me when you haven't met the requirements of the contract. Wasting my time.]
Julius gritted his teeth.
Anastasia: [Come on, Julius. No need to get angry. I'm quite happy with what the three of us have accomplished. Even if Ayanokoji-San is a bit indifferent to the joy of it. Besides, he isn't wrong. We did come here with mischievous intentions.]
Kiyotaka: [If you wish to maintain an amicable relationship, then abide by the terms of the contract and don't disturb me unless you have fulfilled its requirements.]
Kiyotaka: (It's good that I made those specifications in the contract so that she can't exploit me. She hasn't even used one of those three favours either. She's too cautious to use them, and it fools her into thinking she has any level of control, but in the end, she'll never end up using all three of them. Always thinking "It's too valuable to waste on that".)
Kiyotaka: [If that is all. I would like some peace and quiet.]
Anastasia: [Of course. Let's go, Julius.]
The two left.
Kiyotaka: (She's an annoying yet necessary tool.)
Kiyotaka sighed as he closed his door and sat back in his seat.
Kiyotaka: (Even though I am living lavishly, I don't feel satisfied. I had not grown at all from my time in the world I was born in. I was the same. Stagnant.)
Kiyotaka pondered to himself.
Kiyotaka: (If I had gone to the Loot House, could I have saved Emilia without dying? Would I be more satisfied with my life? Or would it have ended up the same as it did with Horikita? Was I really capable of genuinely showing compassion for someone?)
Kiyotaka contemplated this thought for the rest of the day. He wanted to know it was capable of compassion, but the chance to test if he was capable of it had long since passed him by. His indifference had robbed him of that chance to become a real person. A『Good Person』.
Kiyotaka: (Was this the life I was meant to live coming to this world? I have everything a normal person does. So why? Why am I not satisfied?)
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End Of Indifference Route
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