Chapter 137: CH 140

Chapter 140 – Those Who Stand in the Way

For some reason, Nike responded with outright refusal.

“…! But why…?” (Torakado)

“I… didn’t know anything.” (Nike)

“……..” (Torakado)

“I had no idea what the Empire had done to all those innocent people. Nor did I know that it had been destroyed by the wrath of its own people. I only just found out about it.” (Nike)

“There was no helping it. You are just a child.” (Torakado)

“That is no excuse. I may be small, but I am the child of the emperor, with his blood flowing in my veins. So I should have known all of this. But… I was only ever thinking of Mother. But ever since being separated from her… I haven’t seen her at all in several years now.” (Nike)

…Does he seriously not know that his mother is dead?

“I’ve heard about the atrocities committed by the Empire from the guards. And also from someone named Dragia.” (Nike)

So he had come here too.

“If the Empire is to perish, then I too must perish here. That is the atonement I must give to the people. But my mother…! I just want Mother to be saved! Because I was born… I caused a huge amount of trouble to Mother. So please… free her from the ties of the Empire,” Nike said, bowing deeply.

Is this what a 9-year-old child would normally do? A normal 9-year-old child would only cry about being trapped in a place like this. As the resentment and hatred for the ones who kept him locked up in here grew, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to become mentally ill.

And yet, here he was, a child putting his own mother before himself. He was bowing to a stranger, whom he had just met. Perhaps it was a level of intellect that came from possessing the bloodline of the emperor.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t grant your request.” (Torakado)

“W-Why not?! I would offer up my life as long as you save Mother’s life instead!” (Nike)

“That’s not it. No matter how much you give up, no matter who you ask… There are just some things that can’t be done.” (Torakado)

“That’s right. Your mother—Shuren-san, is dead.” (Torakado)

“…?! Y-You’re lying! There’s no way that… something like that… could…” (Nike)

“It’s the truth. Shuren-san took her own life four years ago.” (Torakado)

“N-No…” (Nike)

“These… are the final letters she left behind.” (Torakado)

I had borrowed the letters from Rajie’s private room in the palace before the start of the rescue operation. Rajie had told me in advance that he kept the letters in a locked cabinet there.

I’d asked Shiki to help me break into Rajie’s room and retrieve the letter, thinking it would come in handy. Well, I would just have to apologize later for borrowing it without permission.

Nike pored over the letter that I’d handed to him, frantically reading through it as if he were devouring the contents inside.

—Drip, drip, drip.

Teardrops spilled from Nike’s eyes, landing drop by drop on the surface of the paper.

“Uguu… W-Waaaah… Mother…..!” (Nike)

He must have known that the words written in the letter were definitely penned by his mother. Nike began to sob and grieve over the loss of his mother, which somehow seemed to resonate with the tragic cry for help recorded within those letters.

“All of this… was caused by the rotten emperor and the terrible people around him. And yet, you would still give your life for such a nation?” (Torakado)

I looked down at Nike, who was sobbing on his knees, and continued.

“And now, there are people who are trying to save you, who are defying the Empire to do so. Will you betray their wishes? Shuren-san would never have wished for you to die here.” (Torakado)

This was as much as I could say.

Any normal kid wouldn’t have needed to be told this, but he was quite the precocious child. But if he still wanted to die here after knowing all of this, I would have to knock him unconscious and take him away, no questions asked.

“…What is your name…?” (Nike)

“…Torakado Shiina. This is Shiki, my Familiar.” (Torakado)

“…I see.” (Nike)

You are reading story As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth's Payback Lifestyle~ at novel35.com

Clutching the letters tightly to his chest, Nike stood up and wiped his tears vigorously on his sleeve. Then, he looked up, meeting my gaze.

…Hoh.

He was no longer grieving and lamenting. His clear, determined gaze at that moment made his juvenile face seem a little more mature.

“Will you take me out of here, Torakado?” (Nike)

“That was my mission from the start. I was going to get you out of here even if you didn’t want me to.” (Torakado)

Through , I told Izu, who was still in the sky, that I had secured Nike, and I instructed them to come to our location to regroup with us.

Then, I heard someone call ‘Master!’ from behind me. It was Yofel, who seemed to have defeated that garbel with the pike.

“As expected of Yofel. Nice timing. Can I leave Nike to you?” (Yofel)

“By all means. Nike-dono, please get on my back.” (Yofel)

“Y-Yes! Please take care of me!” (Nike)

After that, we ran back down the stairs we had come up earlier. We were able to exit the tower without incident, but just as we were about to meet up with Sol and the others and make a clean getaway…

Several knives came flying at me from above my head.

“―Shiki!” (Torakado)

“Leave it to me!” (Shiki)

Shiki jumped out of the shadows and flicked the knives away with his weapon. Then, a large figure rapidly closed the distance and threw a fist at me.

—Clang!

I tried to use my katana to cut through his fist, but…

—What the hell is with this guy’s fist?!

I was astonished because the sound it emitted was almost like the sound of metal clashing against metal.

“Wow, she blocked my attack!”

The man in front of me was a monkey garbel. Shiki swung his scythes to ward him off, but he exerted his agility and moved away with a nimble hop.

Then, two other figures landed next to the ape garbel.

….These people are…?

The fact that these people were here in front of me meant that they were strong enough such that Izu’s song wasn’t effective against them—especially the one with the biggest build of them, who looked like a lion garbel.

Perhaps he’s at the same level as Shiki? …Does that mean they’re A-Rank or above?

I couldn’t tell exactly, but he gave off the same aura of a powerhouse that Shiki possessed. In other words, he was just as dangerous of a guy as King Dragia.

“Wow, so their goal really was His Highness Nike,” the monkey garbel said, shrugging his shoulders in an exaggerated fashion.

“In the middle of the night too… Really, what a nuisance.”

This time, it was a sheep garbel that spoke… But the reason why he was holding a pillow was a bit of a mystery.

“You guys, don’t let your guard down, okay? They decided to invade with such few people. Since that’s the case, they must be quite confident in their abilities.” (Ouza)

“Yeah, I know, right? Seems like they were even a match for that Galuin, who was fairly strong by his own rights.” (Tanbu)

The monkey garbel took the staff that he was carrying on his back into his hands.

“So I’m actually pretty excited ‘bout this.” (Tanbu)

The monkey garbel leveled a ferocious, predatory glare at me, like a beast that was eyeing its prey.

This guy was pretty strong too. But I don’t really have the time to deal with all of them… What happened to Sol and the others…?

When I looked up, I saw Sol, but she was already engaged in combat.

If you appreciate the translation or want to sponsor a chapter, please consider supporting me on Ko-Fi!

You can find story with these keywords: As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth's Payback Lifestyle~, Read As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth's Payback Lifestyle~, As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth's Payback Lifestyle~ novel, As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth's Payback Lifestyle~ book, As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth's Payback Lifestyle~ story, As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth's Payback Lifestyle~ full, As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth's Payback Lifestyle~ Latest Chapter