39 Leo starts a negotiation. (3/3)

(O3O)/ – Here is Ch-39.3!!!

(OwO) – This chapter was short, so I managed to finish it earlier than expected.

(-.-) – And then, I thought: Why wait till Monday if can post it right now?

(O-O) – Oh, just one more thing. I’m not that good with comedy, so I hope this chapter is as good as the original. And if you didn’t laugh, I’m sorry, I’ll try harder next time.

(OwO) – Anyway, enjoy the chapter∼♥

---

(Fufu, this is something that all water spirits have been waiting for! This is a magic crest that’ll help you send water to the world of men–!) – Said Leo, in an excited tone; there was a huge smile plastered across his face.

However, he wasn’t over yet. Above all else, Leo was a salesman… and he still had to appeal to everything his product could do.

(–And I can guarantee you that this is an outstanding product! You just have to leave it at the bottom of your lake and then it’ll do all the heavy work for you, like sending water to other places! But that’s not everything, Carnelian-sama! This magic crest is also a limited edition product! There’s only one of it in the market! It even has your name written on it! And that’s exactly why I–no, we, need your blessing! Without it, the crest won’t work in it’s full potential!)

Leo was trying to imply that Carnelian wouldn’t lose anything if she accepted this deal, however, she couldn’t just trust someone as greedy as Leo. A deal like this was too good to be true, so she approached the crest to see if she could find anything suspicious about it, just let out a surprised voice a moment later.

—I have no words to describe this magic crest… it is really well made. I can not believe that a human child managed to create something like this….

(Huh…?)

Leo was quite taken aback by Carnelian’s sincere praise. He thought he’d have to try even harder if he wanted to impress her, but that didn’t seem to be the case. That’s just how good of a product the magic crest was… and it was all thanks to Albert.

—I do not know much about sorcery*, but this scarlet crest is much more than just beautiful… the full cycle is engraved on it. We give water to the humans and they receive it, which becomes gratitude. The gratitude become prayers. The prayers turn into light. That light reaches the heavens and turn into rain. And then, that water returns to the lake, making it even more beautiful. – Said Carnelian, as she traced the surface of the magic crest with her fingers.

(*Tl/n: Magic power based sorcery, but I shortened it to just sorcery… it’s easier to write.)

However, she wasn’t the only one impressed by the sheer complexity of the crest–

(Wow! Albert created that!?)

–Leo was also really impressed. Self sustainability was a complex concept, but if applied right, it could leverage the economy of any Kingdom, which showed just how far ahead Albert had planed things.

This wasn’t a deal anymore… this was a win-win situation. And the one who made it possible was none other than Albert himself, so Leo couldn’t help but think that he was really awesome.

—Albert? Who is that person? I thought you were the one who created this magic crest….

(Ah, no, I’m not that great of a mage to make a magic crest like this one. The First Prince of this country was the one who made everything. Oh, except the middle part though, that was me.)

Leo was many things, but not a liar. He wouldn’t claim someone else’s merit, even if it meant he’d make a lot more money.

—I see… no wonder you survived.

(Eh? W-what do you-?)

—This crest was made out of dragon blood, so it repels any outside interference. That is why you survived. Since you had this on you the whole time, none of my spirits managed to end you. But even though it is made out of dragon blood, I still want to keep it.

(What!? Really!?)

Apparently, the crest that Albert made was protecting Leo from the nearby spirits, which meant that the prince wasn’t just a money hungry beast, he was also a guardian–no, not just a guardian… he was Leo’s guardian–

(–But that’s a pity though. If his personality wasn’t that warped, I think we’d probably be good friends. Not to mention that I don’t even know if he’s really a good guy.)

—Are you not being a little bit too mean to him right now? He even protected you….

Carnelian was right. Doubting someone who went out of their way just to protect you, was, indeed, a little bit too mean. However, that wasn’t the biggest problem right now. Leo had just realized something really important.

(Hmm, that, what is gonna happen to me if I give you the magic crest?)

As soon as she heard his question, Carnelian looked at Leo with the brightest smile that she could muster, before saying–

—You will die.

(Eeeeeeeh!?)

—What? Why are you that surprised? Not only you failed your baptism, but you also know my name, so I can not let you leave this place… well, at least not alive. That is why you should take that thing with you, while you still can, and go home. – Said Carnelian, as she pointed towards the surface of the lake.

(I-I know I failed the baptism, but I’m still alive, right!? So shouldn’t you at least reconsi-!)

—I am not going to reconsider anything, child. You are only alive because the prince protected you, not because you passed your test. Well, I still want that crest… but I will make an exception for you this time. If you leave my domain, I promise my spirits will not chase after you.

(B-but didn’t you say: I do not mind granting those kinds of wishes!? Then why are you sending me home!?)

—If you survived your baptism. But that is not the case. So? What are you going to chose? Will you stay here, or will you return to the surface?

(Kuh…! I-I know you’re right, but-!)

—Look child, I only bothered talking with you because I felt the spirit of light… and because I love cute things. You are really, really cute… but you are a bit too crude for my tastes. You talk like a man and I detest that, so even if you passed your test, I would probably still reject you. With that settled, this conversation is now over! Shoo, shoo! Go home!

(Y-you’re rejecting me just because of that!?)

Unexpected. That’s all Leo could think of. Who would’ve thought Carnelian disliked men that much. Leo even thought about speaking like a girl just to make her acknowledge him… but it was already too late.

Now, faced with just two options, Leo had to chose between forfeiting his life in order to complete his mission, or forfeiting the mission in order to live.

Well, the right answer was obviously the latter. And Leo knew that. However, he couldn’t simply run away.

Leo was so close to completing his mission, that the first option almost seemed worth it. He just had to cut the extra line on the magic crest, and then it would activate–

(Khh…!)

–But Leo couldn’t do it… he was afraid. If he really did that, he wouldn’t be able to see his friends ever again. However, while he was pondering on what to do–

[In the name of Gustav Schneider, the Holy Knight, I beg thee, Carnelian, the Great Spirit of Water and Lady of the Lake, please, show yourself to me and release that innocent girl you are holding captive!]

–Leo heard Gustav’s voice coming from the surface.

(Sensei! So he came to save me! Hey, did you hear that, Carnelian-sama!? Gustav-sensei called you, so you should answer him!) – Said Leo, with a beaming smile.

His hopes and dreams were reignited when he heard the priest’s voice. With Gustav now here, everything would be okay. He would certainly find a way to save Leo.

However, Carnelian wasn’t of the same sentiment.

—Humph! Even if he is Chris’s little brother, he is still a man! There is nothing cute about him, so I refuse to go!

(You’re refusing him just because he’s a man!? Isn’t he one of your Holy Knights!?)

When Chris told him that Carnelian would only make a contract with someone she liked, Leo thought the second condition would be relatively easy to achieve… but he couldn’t be more wrong. After all, even though Gustav was still calling her name, Carnelian didn’t move a muscle.

—Iyada∼*! I don’t like burly men! Stop calling me!

(You’re too picky, you know that!?)

(*Tl/n: To those who don’t know, Iyada can be translated to I don’t want to or No way in hell, but I chose to leave it in JP because it’s cute.)

Like always, Carnelian’s sudden change of personality was… amazing, to say the least. One moment, she was acting like a dignified Goddess, on the other, she was like a little kid throwing a tantrum. Even Leo was having problems dealing with her.

—I-I am not picky, okay!? I already told you I would not mind giving my blessing to that other child named Bianca. She is cute and refined, just the way I like it.

(Huh…? So you weren’t saying that just to tease me?)

True, Bianca was really cute and refined, but knowing that Carnelian preferred her was still a shock to Leo, after all, Leena’s body was even cuter.

—How rude, I always tell the truth! Besides, she is so delicate and her blonde hair is so beautiful, that I almost could not hold myself back! Oh, but that is not all, she also has a dark past, which is a welcome plus! Ahh∼, and the way she was crying∼! I can not forget that beautiful sad face!

(Wait, so you’re an S!?)

Another unexpected side of her popped up out of nowhere.

At this point, Leo wasn’t even surprised anymore. He just accepted that as one of Carnelian’s many weird quirks.

—Not at all. She is a proud noble lady, so I bet it would feel really good to be ordered around by her. – Said Carnelian, with a straight face.

(Ah, great! So you were an M!)

Well, Carnelian was 2000 years old, so it was normal for someone of her age to have a lot of kinks… or at least, that’s what Leo told himself before running away from reality.

(Ha… hahaha… haaah∼, the world is wilder than I thought, huh…?)

Now, the first option didn’t seem to be as reckless anymore, after all, Leo would do anything just to get away from this perverted spirit.

However, as he reached down to cut the extra line on the crest–

[Carnelian, return my best friend!!!]

–A beautiful and dignified voice echoed throughout Carnelian’s divine realm.

---

(OwO) – A perverted God.

(O3O)/ – You meant an M God, right!?

(-.-) – No, she’s an M, a Lolicon AND a God.

(O-O) – Well, that’s it for now. See you all next week.

---

Previous – TOC – Next