“I see. So that’s what happened.” “Yes, sir. Basically, Shuri was caught up in the Second Prince’s plot.” “That bastard. How dare he involve Shuri in something like this.” “Absolutely outrageous.”
I’m receiving Tegue’s report in a room at the inn. It’s a sparse room with only two beds and no entertainment. When five captain-level members are crammed in, it feels cramped. We’re being confined in this inn.
Our Gungrave Mercenary Group has been ordered to stay here under house arrest for showing disrespect to Lord Sounité. The cause of this lies with Shuri. That banquet was going well up to a point. When we served that magnificent roast pork dish, I was finally ready to rejoice with open arms at the prospect of getting our own territory. However, Shuri suddenly knocked Lord Sounité’s wine glass out of his hand. For this act of disrespect, Shuri was imprisoned, and we were ordered to stay at this prepared inn until the facts could be confirmed. Of course, our contract with Sounité is already over. It was fulfilled when we won the war. I could have taken forceful action right then, but I hesitated in my judgment, anxious about losing the chance to get our territory. So my subordinates were confined in another inn, and we’re all crammed in here.
“Looking at it one way, Shuri saved the lord.”
Since being confined to the inn, I’ve been thinking. I believe the other captains have been contemplating Shuri’s actions too, even if they don’t say it out loud. It’s not a lie to say I felt like blaming Shuri. If he hadn’t done that, we’d probably have our territory by now and be starting to build our town. We would have been one step closer to our dream. But because of what he did, things got complicated and we ended up in this sorry state. I thought I’d give him an earful of complaints when I saw him. But no matter how much I think about it, strange feelings keep welling up. The complaints surface for a moment, then fade away.
Shuri isn’t the type to do something like that without reason.
He’s surprisingly tough in his own way. With me, with Nuvicht, with Arturia – he’s always gotten through with his wits and cooking skills. I can’t believe someone like that would show disrespect without any thought or realization.
The other captains feel the same way. Lill said, “Hamburger steaks don’t lie.” I don’t really get it. Kuuga said he just wants to eat Shuri’s food again. Me too. Arius said, “We still haven’t celebrated our wedding.” That’s right. Tegue said he can’t abandon his best friend. Indeed. Best friend. Comrade. Family.
That’s reason enough.
He’s someone who can walk shoulder to shoulder with us five childhood friends. To me, Shuri is one of the few friends I can stand beside and laugh with.
That’s reason enough to believe in him.
Once that’s decided, things move quickly. First, we start by establishing communication with our subordinates. We pry up the floorboards in the inn room, and Lill and Arius work together to create a tunnel leading outside. Once it’s open, Tegue and Kuuga go out to keep watch. Tegue uses his scouting skills, with Kuuga as his guard. After confirming it’s safe, we ask Tegue to go around the inn and contact our subordinates. For this, we use paper developed by Lill. This paper is something Shuri taught us about long ago for pranks. Apparently, if you write on the paper with fruit juice and then heat it later, the juice burns and the writing appears. It seemed too childish or simple to be useful in battle, but it gave Lill more than enough inspiration. She modified it to create special coded paper. Even if it’s stolen, no one will be able to tell what’s written on it. Tegue takes this and visits the various inns, making contact with our subordinates. What we learned then was the difference between new recruits and veterans. The new subordinates express unconcealed anger towards Shuri. The veteran subordinates believe in Shuri, and even laugh it off as typical of him. I see. Surprisingly, Shuri had been deepening his relationships with the subordinates over a long time. And in a good direction, at that.
After establishing a communication and information network through the cooperation of Tegue’s subordinates and Lill’s subordinates – the archery unit and the Magic Engineering Unit – we share various pieces of information. First, Shuri is safe. He hasn’t been killed yet. He’s being held in the castle dungeon. No further information is coming in. Either the guards are extremely tight-lipped, or information is being deliberately concealed. A power struggle is occurring between the First Prince and the Second Prince. It’s about how to deal with Shuri. The First Prince is in favor of keeping him alive, while the Second Prince wants him dead. This is probably related to the recent events. Whichever side prevails in this will likely extend their influence. Though if you ask me, it hardly qualifies as a power struggle. It’s more like a difference of opinion. However, it’s the Second Prince who’s really taking this struggle seriously. He might be trying to expand his influence and move up in the line of succession. The First Prince? When asked about him, it seems he’s also expanding his influence and amassing wealth. Apparently, he’s distributing that wealth to the poor. The First Prince might be focusing outward to gain public support, while the Second Prince is focusing inward to gain the support of the castle staff.
Taking advantage of this, I decided to devise a strategy. While letting the castle dispute play out, we’ll guide public opinion towards supporting the First Prince. And just in case, we’ll leak a bit of information about Shuri. Eight parts lies, two parts truth! The two parts truth is that Shuri is being held captive. The eight parts lies are:
Shuri, a kind-hearted cook, served food at the lord’s request, but the Second Prince found fault with it and had him imprisoned. He then pressured Shuri to become his personal slave cook. Despite facing harsh treatment for refusing, Shuri is enduring with pride, maintaining his integrity as a chef. His comrades in the mercenary group are standing up to this, championing justice.
We spread this story bit by bit. Public opinion is shifting somewhat towards resentment and support for the First Prince, but I think things will be in quite a state by the time Shuri gets out. I won’t take responsibility for that.
And so, after we’ve sufficiently established our information network and stirred things up, Tegue, who had been infiltrating the castle to gather information, says he’s obtained information about Shuri and First Prince Aeclys. To summarize briefly: Shuri knocked over the wine glass because there was danger to the lord’s life due to a tampered glass. The one who tampered with it was Second Prince Gyngus. First Prince Aeclys is asking Shuri to help him escape in exchange for helping Shuri. That’s about the gist of it.
“But to think the First Prince was a woman.” “I was surprised too, sir. I thought the First Prince seemed rather androgynous, but it turns out she was the subordinate’s sister. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard their conversation. Thanks to them letting their guard down, I was able to see the entire report without missing anything.” “Probably. If they were passing information so secretly, that subordinate must have been very confident in his espionage skills. Otherwise, he couldn’t have acted as a double agent.” “If they’re caught, he’ll definitely be killed. The Second Prince will definitely lose it.”
I agree. That Garn guy – the fact that he noticed Tegue’s presence in the first place means he’s no ordinary person. Whether relaxed or on guard, he shouldn’t have been able to detect Tegue’s presence suppression. The scouting and espionage techniques Tegue honed after Shuri joined us have surpassed the level of a master. His information has saved us in battles before. And yet, for someone to notice him…
“What about Shuri’s location?” “I think it’s in the castle dungeon, just like we heard. I’ve drawn a simple map here, sir.”
Looking at the paper Tegue hands me, I see a route drawn to Shuri’s location. Indeed, we’ve seen the inside of the castle during the contract signing and the banquet, so this much information is enough.
“Alright. Now, about First Prince Aeclys. She says she wants to join our mercenary group. She probably thought it would go smoothly if she returned to being a woman, since her true identity wasn’t known. But now that it’s been exposed, she might use other methods.”
When I obtain the information and confront them, I’ll definitely cause harm to Lord Sounité’s family. This is probably insurance for that moment. They’re underestimating us. And they probably approached Shuri with a similar offer.
They’ll help the mercenary group. In exchange, help with their escape.
I grind my teeth. It’s a cowardly negotiation. Sure, there’s no such thing as fair play in negotiations. I’m spreading rumors and stirring things up myself. But Shuri is in no position to fight, and he’s a captive on top of that. There’s no way he could refuse. If even the First Prince turns to the execution faction, Shuri’s life is over. I can’t accept someone like that as a comrade.
“For example, what kind of methods, Gungrave?”
Kuuga asks, his crossed arms tensing. He must be feeling angry about Shuri’s current situation and Aeclys’s negotiation.
“Well, it wouldn’t be strange if the Second Prince resorted to forceful measures soon. After all, he tried to harm his own father. It’s not something that can be forgiven even as a member of the lord’s family. There’s a possibility he could lose his right of succession. Before that happens, Aeclys will try to escape with Shuri. The only ones who have noticed the information leak are Aeclys and her subordinate Garn. When I take action, those two will be the first to evacuate. As long as they have Shuri, they can escape however they want with his cooking skills. Whether it’s a food stall or a shop, they can wander around while having him cook.”
This is one of the “worst-case scenarios” I have in mind. Everyone here acknowledges Shuri’s cooking skills. To be honest, I’ve thought more than once or twice that if he didn’t join our group and opened his own shop instead, it would probably flourish and be successful. With those skills, plus a clerk who’s good at calculations and a subordinate specialized in gathering information, they could travel around pulling a food cart as much as they want. In other words, they’d use him to escape far away.
“They could also use their subordinates to secure Shuri now. They could use him as a bargaining chip to level the negotiation table with us.”
This is another “worst-case scenario”. The fault in this incident clearly lies with them. We’ll need to gather evidence, but when they’re held responsible for it, the lord’s side won’t get off easy. There will be heavy compensation and damages. It’s impossible for the lord’s side to cover it up and prevent it from spreading to the public. My subordinates have already laid the groundwork for guiding public opinion. If they try to get away with just an apology here, we’ll just have to spread the cause of the recent food shortage.
The Second Prince is the type who might kill civilians to hide his own mistakes. And he’s the kind of guy who would secure food for himself without caring if the people face food shortages.
If we spread this kind of information and I actually stir things up and take action, the people won’t stay quiet. They might explode with dissatisfaction and storm the castle. Even now, they’re barely maintaining their reason thanks to Aeclys’s support, but if the cause is found to be with the Second Prince, they’ll probably snap. They’ll say things like, “Don’t involve us in your family shame.” In any case, once the seed of dissatisfaction is planted, we just have to wait for it to bloom. To prevent that, they’ll use Shuri, who they’re holding captive, to negotiate with us.
“We acknowledge our fault and apologize. In exchange, we’ll return your subordinate safely.”
It’s clear that we’ll be furious, but if we don’t do something like this, the damage will become serious.
“Do I need to explain the other possibilities?” “No need.”
Tegue replies with anger in his voice.
“Leave the evidence gathering to me. I don’t want to leave my best friend in a place like that any longer.” “I’m counting on you.” “I’ll make sure my sword skills don’t get rusty until then.” “I’m counting on you too.” “As for me…”
Arius looks worriedly at the bed.
“I guess I’ll take care of Lill for now.”
Lill is currently lying in bed. She’s broken. Her eyes are turned upward, looking at who knows where. Her face is expressionless. Her complexion has a grayish tinge. White hairs are mixed in with her hair. Her skin is dry and flaky. She’s broken. Lill is lying broken in bed.
“How’s Lill?” “She still hasn’t regained consciousness.”
Arius shakes her head.
“She just mumbles in her sleep, with no response.” “I see…”
To be honest, I say exasperatedly:
“Is not being able to eat hamburger steak really such a shock?”
Yes, Lill has aged rapidly since she became unable to eat hamburger steak. For the first few days, she managed somehow. She endured by eating the tasteless food at this inn. But according to her, her HP (Hamburger Power) was running out. I didn’t really understand. As this went on, she became unable to stand, unable to get up, and now her strength has run out like this. Occasionally, she mumbles in her sleep, “Potato… the revelation of potatoes that go well with hamburger steak…” It’s creepy. But we can’t leave her like this any longer. We need to start moving in earnest to gather evidence and organize information. Lill is a necessary presence for arranging Shuri’s rescue. Well, it’s about time we wake her up.
“Arius, you don’t need to take care of her anymore.” “Eh? But…” “I’m going to wake her up.”
I approach Lill’s bed and whisper:
“Hey, can you hear me? We’ve decided on a plan to rescue Shuri. It’s time to take action. Once we rescue him, we’ll have a big party with Shuri’s cooking.”
Lill’s body twitches slightly. Good, there’s still a response.
“We’ll have him make whatever we want, and celebrate our reunion. I might have him make cream stew for me. I’ll eat my fill. Kuuga, what do you want to eat?” “Huh? …Well, I guess some delicious fish dish.” “What about you, Tegue?” “Anything’s fine with me, but if possible, I’d like some potage. Or maybe some oden.” “Arius, what about you?” “Of course, I’d like some yudofu. My subordinates would probably want that too.”
Everyone’s mouths are watering as they imagine their favorite foods. Of course, mine is too.
“Since you’re still in bed, maybe you’d like something filling? Or…”
I pause for a beat before saying:
“Would you like some hamburger steak?”
Lill’s body jerks violently. Her skin color improves rapidly, and her hair color vividly returns to normal in the blink of an eye. Her skin regains its luster and elasticity. I can see strength returning to her previously lifeless eyes.
“Ah, but if you’re bedridden, at most you’d get some rice porridge. Knowing Shuri, even his porridge would be delicious. But is that okay with you? Have you been enduring the tasteless inn food until now, putting up with everything until today, just for some porridge? When Shuri comes back, will you be satisfied with porridge? That’s not right, is it! You’ve been dreaming of smelling the savory aroma of meat, imagining the meat juices that overflow when you cut into it with your knife, dreaming of experiencing the simple harmony of salt and pepper with a light sauce when you put it in your mouth!”
Yeah, honestly, I don’t know what I’m saying either. The three behind me are looking at me with cold eyes. I wish they’d stop me.
“Wake up, Lill! Now is the time for you to be free!”
BOOM! A powerful shock reverberates, and dust swirls up in the room.
“Someone once said,”
Lill stands amidst the settling dust.
“Only those prepared to be devoured by hamburger steak are worthy of eating it.” “I don’t get it at all…?”
Tegue, don’t interrupt.
“So Lill accepted the geas (constraint).” “Just for eating hamburger steak?”
Kuuga, I said don’t interrupt.
“’Fear of Death (Fasting Hamburger)’, Lill’s rebirth.” “…”
Yeah, just look on with warm eyes, Arius. That’s enough. As the dust settles to the ground and visibility clears, Lill stands there. Like an addict who has regained their strength.
“Thank you, Gungrave. It seems Lill was having a long dream.” “Because you were sleeping.” “That’s over now. Let’s begin.”
Lill spreads her arms wide and declares:
“Operation ‘Beef Requiem (Hamburger Requiem)’!” “That’s not the name. Alright everyone, now that the little skit is over, let’s plan our strategy.”
There’s no good in playing along with someone like this.
Wait for us, Shuri. We’ll definitely save you.
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Chapter 31
“I see. So that’s what happened.”
“Yes, sir. Basically, Shuri was caught up in the Second Prince’s plot.”
“That bastard. How dare he involve Shuri in something like this.”
“Absolutely outrageous.”
I’m receiving Tegue’s report in a room at the inn.
It’s a sparse room with only two beds and no entertainment.
When five captain-level members are crammed in, it feels cramped.
We’re being confined in this inn.
Our Gungrave Mercenary Group has been ordered to stay here under house arrest for showing disrespect to Lord Sounité.
The cause of this lies with Shuri.
That banquet was going well up to a point. When we served that magnificent roast pork dish, I was finally ready to rejoice with open arms at the prospect of getting our own territory.
However, Shuri suddenly knocked Lord Sounité’s wine glass out of his hand.
For this act of disrespect, Shuri was imprisoned, and we were ordered to stay at this prepared inn until the facts could be confirmed.
Of course, our contract with Sounité is already over. It was fulfilled when we won the war.
I could have taken forceful action right then, but I hesitated in my judgment, anxious about losing the chance to get our territory.
So my subordinates were confined in another inn, and we’re all crammed in here.
“Looking at it one way, Shuri saved the lord.”
Since being confined to the inn, I’ve been thinking.
I believe the other captains have been contemplating Shuri’s actions too, even if they don’t say it out loud.
It’s not a lie to say I felt like blaming Shuri. If he hadn’t done that, we’d probably have our territory by now and be starting to build our town. We would have been one step closer to our dream.
But because of what he did, things got complicated and we ended up in this sorry state.
I thought I’d give him an earful of complaints when I saw him.
But no matter how much I think about it, strange feelings keep welling up. The complaints surface for a moment, then fade away.
Shuri isn’t the type to do something like that without reason.
He’s surprisingly tough in his own way. With me, with Nuvicht, with Arturia – he’s always gotten through with his wits and cooking skills.
I can’t believe someone like that would show disrespect without any thought or realization.
The other captains feel the same way.
Lill said, “Hamburger steaks don’t lie.” I don’t really get it.
Kuuga said he just wants to eat Shuri’s food again. Me too.
Arius said, “We still haven’t celebrated our wedding.” That’s right.
Tegue said he can’t abandon his best friend. Indeed.
Best friend. Comrade. Family.
That’s reason enough.
He’s someone who can walk shoulder to shoulder with us five childhood friends.
To me, Shuri is one of the few friends I can stand beside and laugh with.
That’s reason enough to believe in him.
Once that’s decided, things move quickly.
First, we start by establishing communication with our subordinates.
We pry up the floorboards in the inn room, and Lill and Arius work together to create a tunnel leading outside.
Once it’s open, Tegue and Kuuga go out to keep watch. Tegue uses his scouting skills, with Kuuga as his guard.
After confirming it’s safe, we ask Tegue to go around the inn and contact our subordinates. For this, we use paper developed by Lill.
This paper is something Shuri taught us about long ago for pranks. Apparently, if you write on the paper with fruit juice and then heat it later, the juice burns and the writing appears. It seemed too childish or simple to be useful in battle, but it gave Lill more than enough inspiration.
She modified it to create special coded paper. Even if it’s stolen, no one will be able to tell what’s written on it.
Tegue takes this and visits the various inns, making contact with our subordinates.
What we learned then was the difference between new recruits and veterans.
The new subordinates express unconcealed anger towards Shuri.
The veteran subordinates believe in Shuri, and even laugh it off as typical of him.
I see. Surprisingly, Shuri had been deepening his relationships with the subordinates over a long time. And in a good direction, at that.
After establishing a communication and information network through the cooperation of Tegue’s subordinates and Lill’s subordinates – the archery unit and the Magic Engineering Unit – we share various pieces of information.
First, Shuri is safe. He hasn’t been killed yet. He’s being held in the castle dungeon.
No further information is coming in. Either the guards are extremely tight-lipped, or information is being deliberately concealed.
A power struggle is occurring between the First Prince and the Second Prince. It’s about how to deal with Shuri. The First Prince is in favor of keeping him alive, while the Second Prince wants him dead. This is probably related to the recent events. Whichever side prevails in this will likely extend their influence. Though if you ask me, it hardly qualifies as a power struggle. It’s more like a difference of opinion.
However, it’s the Second Prince who’s really taking this struggle seriously. He might be trying to expand his influence and move up in the line of succession.
The First Prince? When asked about him, it seems he’s also expanding his influence and amassing wealth.
Apparently, he’s distributing that wealth to the poor.
The First Prince might be focusing outward to gain public support, while the Second Prince is focusing inward to gain the support of the castle staff.
Taking advantage of this, I decided to devise a strategy.
While letting the castle dispute play out, we’ll guide public opinion towards supporting the First Prince.
And just in case, we’ll leak a bit of information about Shuri.
Eight parts lies, two parts truth!
The two parts truth is that Shuri is being held captive.
The eight parts lies are:
Shuri, a kind-hearted cook, served food at the lord’s request, but the Second Prince found fault with it and had him imprisoned. He then pressured Shuri to become his personal slave cook. Despite facing harsh treatment for refusing, Shuri is enduring with pride, maintaining his integrity as a chef. His comrades in the mercenary group are standing up to this, championing justice.
We spread this story bit by bit.
Public opinion is shifting somewhat towards resentment and support for the First Prince, but I think things will be in quite a state by the time Shuri gets out. I won’t take responsibility for that.
And so, after we’ve sufficiently established our information network and stirred things up, Tegue, who had been infiltrating the castle to gather information, says he’s obtained information about Shuri and First Prince Aeclys.
To summarize briefly:
Shuri knocked over the wine glass because there was danger to the lord’s life due to a tampered glass.
The one who tampered with it was Second Prince Gyngus.
First Prince Aeclys is asking Shuri to help him escape in exchange for helping Shuri.
That’s about the gist of it.
“But to think the First Prince was a woman.”
“I was surprised too, sir. I thought the First Prince seemed rather androgynous, but it turns out she was the subordinate’s sister. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard their conversation.
Thanks to them letting their guard down, I was able to see the entire report without missing anything.”
“Probably. If they were passing information so secretly, that subordinate must have been very confident in his espionage skills.
Otherwise, he couldn’t have acted as a double agent.”
“If they’re caught, he’ll definitely be killed. The Second Prince will definitely lose it.”
I agree.
That Garn guy – the fact that he noticed Tegue’s presence in the first place means he’s no ordinary person. Whether relaxed or on guard, he shouldn’t have been able to detect Tegue’s presence suppression.
The scouting and espionage techniques Tegue honed after Shuri joined us have surpassed the level of a master. His information has saved us in battles before.
And yet, for someone to notice him…
“What about Shuri’s location?”
“I think it’s in the castle dungeon, just like we heard. I’ve drawn a simple map here, sir.”
Looking at the paper Tegue hands me, I see a route drawn to Shuri’s location.
Indeed, we’ve seen the inside of the castle during the contract signing and the banquet, so this much information is enough.
“Alright. Now, about First Prince Aeclys.
She says she wants to join our mercenary group.
She probably thought it would go smoothly if she returned to being a woman, since her true identity wasn’t known.
But now that it’s been exposed, she might use other methods.”
When I obtain the information and confront them, I’ll definitely cause harm to Lord Sounité’s family.
This is probably insurance for that moment. They’re underestimating us.
And they probably approached Shuri with a similar offer.
They’ll help the mercenary group. In exchange, help with their escape.
I grind my teeth. It’s a cowardly negotiation.
Sure, there’s no such thing as fair play in negotiations. I’m spreading rumors and stirring things up myself.
But Shuri is in no position to fight, and he’s a captive on top of that. There’s no way he could refuse.
If even the First Prince turns to the execution faction, Shuri’s life is over.
I can’t accept someone like that as a comrade.
“For example, what kind of methods, Gungrave?”
Kuuga asks, his crossed arms tensing.
He must be feeling angry about Shuri’s current situation and Aeclys’s negotiation.
“Well, it wouldn’t be strange if the Second Prince resorted to forceful measures soon.
After all, he tried to harm his own father. It’s not something that can be forgiven even as a member of the lord’s family. There’s a possibility he could lose his right of succession.
Before that happens, Aeclys will try to escape with Shuri.
The only ones who have noticed the information leak are Aeclys and her subordinate Garn.
When I take action, those two will be the first to evacuate.
As long as they have Shuri, they can escape however they want with his cooking skills.
Whether it’s a food stall or a shop, they can wander around while having him cook.”
This is one of the “worst-case scenarios” I have in mind.
Everyone here acknowledges Shuri’s cooking skills.
To be honest, I’ve thought more than once or twice that if he didn’t join our group and opened his own shop instead, it would probably flourish and be successful.
With those skills, plus a clerk who’s good at calculations and a subordinate specialized in gathering information, they could travel around pulling a food cart as much as they want.
In other words, they’d use him to escape far away.
“They could also use their subordinates to secure Shuri now. They could use him as a bargaining chip to level the negotiation table with us.”
This is another “worst-case scenario”.
The fault in this incident clearly lies with them.
We’ll need to gather evidence, but when they’re held responsible for it, the lord’s side won’t get off easy.
There will be heavy compensation and damages.
It’s impossible for the lord’s side to cover it up and prevent it from spreading to the public. My subordinates have already laid the groundwork for guiding public opinion.
If they try to get away with just an apology here, we’ll just have to spread the cause of the recent food shortage.
The Second Prince is the type who might kill civilians to hide his own mistakes. And he’s the kind of guy who would secure food for himself without caring if the people face food shortages.
If we spread this kind of information and I actually stir things up and take action, the people won’t stay quiet. They might explode with dissatisfaction and storm the castle.
Even now, they’re barely maintaining their reason thanks to Aeclys’s support, but if the cause is found to be with the Second Prince, they’ll probably snap.
They’ll say things like, “Don’t involve us in your family shame.”
In any case, once the seed of dissatisfaction is planted, we just have to wait for it to bloom.
To prevent that, they’ll use Shuri, who they’re holding captive, to negotiate with us.
“We acknowledge our fault and apologize. In exchange, we’ll return your subordinate safely.”
It’s clear that we’ll be furious, but if we don’t do something like this, the damage will become serious.
“Do I need to explain the other possibilities?”
“No need.”
Tegue replies with anger in his voice.
“Leave the evidence gathering to me. I don’t want to leave my best friend in a place like that any longer.”
“I’m counting on you.”
“I’ll make sure my sword skills don’t get rusty until then.”
“I’m counting on you too.”
“As for me…”
Arius looks worriedly at the bed.
“I guess I’ll take care of Lill for now.”
Lill is currently lying in bed.
She’s broken.
Her eyes are turned upward, looking at who knows where.
Her face is expressionless.
Her complexion has a grayish tinge.
White hairs are mixed in with her hair.
Her skin is dry and flaky.
She’s broken.
Lill is lying broken in bed.
“How’s Lill?”
“She still hasn’t regained consciousness.”
Arius shakes her head.
“She just mumbles in her sleep, with no response.”
“I see…”
To be honest, I say exasperatedly:
“Is not being able to eat hamburger steak really such a shock?”
Yes, Lill has aged rapidly since she became unable to eat hamburger steak.
For the first few days, she managed somehow. She endured by eating the tasteless food at this inn.
But according to her, her HP (Hamburger Power) was running out. I didn’t really understand.
As this went on, she became unable to stand, unable to get up, and now her strength has run out like this.
Occasionally, she mumbles in her sleep, “Potato… the revelation of potatoes that go well with hamburger steak…” It’s creepy.
But we can’t leave her like this any longer. We need to start moving in earnest to gather evidence and organize information.
Lill is a necessary presence for arranging Shuri’s rescue.
Well, it’s about time we wake her up.
“Arius, you don’t need to take care of her anymore.”
“Eh? But…”
“I’m going to wake her up.”
I approach Lill’s bed and whisper:
“Hey, can you hear me?
We’ve decided on a plan to rescue Shuri. It’s time to take action.
Once we rescue him, we’ll have a big party with Shuri’s cooking.”
Lill’s body twitches slightly. Good, there’s still a response.
“We’ll have him make whatever we want, and celebrate our reunion.
I might have him make cream stew for me. I’ll eat my fill.
Kuuga, what do you want to eat?”
“Huh? …Well, I guess some delicious fish dish.”
“What about you, Tegue?”
“Anything’s fine with me, but if possible, I’d like some potage. Or maybe some oden.”
“Arius, what about you?”
“Of course, I’d like some yudofu. My subordinates would probably want that too.”
Everyone’s mouths are watering as they imagine their favorite foods.
Of course, mine is too.
“Since you’re still in bed, maybe you’d like something filling?
Or…”
I pause for a beat before saying:
“Would you like some hamburger steak?”
Lill’s body jerks violently.
Her skin color improves rapidly, and her hair color vividly returns to normal in the blink of an eye.
Her skin regains its luster and elasticity. I can see strength returning to her previously lifeless eyes.
“Ah, but if you’re bedridden, at most you’d get some rice porridge.
Knowing Shuri, even his porridge would be delicious.
But is that okay with you?
Have you been enduring the tasteless inn food until now, putting up with everything until today, just for some porridge? When Shuri comes back, will you be satisfied with porridge?
That’s not right, is it!
You’ve been dreaming of smelling the savory aroma of meat, imagining the meat juices that overflow when you cut into it with your knife, dreaming of experiencing the simple harmony of salt and pepper with a light sauce when you put it in your mouth!”
Yeah, honestly, I don’t know what I’m saying either.
The three behind me are looking at me with cold eyes. I wish they’d stop me.
“Wake up, Lill! Now is the time for you to be free!”
BOOM! A powerful shock reverberates, and dust swirls up in the room.
“Someone once said,”
Lill stands amidst the settling dust.
“Only those prepared to be devoured by hamburger steak are worthy of eating it.”
“I don’t get it at all…?”
Tegue, don’t interrupt.
“So Lill accepted the geas (constraint).”
“Just for eating hamburger steak?”
Kuuga, I said don’t interrupt.
“’Fear of Death (Fasting Hamburger)’, Lill’s rebirth.”
“…”
Yeah, just look on with warm eyes, Arius. That’s enough.
As the dust settles to the ground and visibility clears, Lill stands there.
Like an addict who has regained their strength.
“Thank you, Gungrave.
It seems Lill was having a long dream.”
“Because you were sleeping.”
“That’s over now. Let’s begin.”
Lill spreads her arms wide and declares:
“Operation ‘Beef Requiem (Hamburger Requiem)’!”
“That’s not the name. Alright everyone, now that the little skit is over, let’s plan our strategy.”
There’s no good in playing along with someone like this.
Wait for us, Shuri.
We’ll definitely save you.
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