The Branded Female Fencer

Missing Talent, Part 10 - Lifeless Depression

"How about that?

"... you've done a good job. How did you do that?

"I haven't been informed that far either. But their behavior seems to be gradually surfacing everywhere. I was wondering if you would find out more in a few moments."

"Yes. But isn't there anything I can do at the moment? There's no way you're breaking an NDA from me."

Alphilis answered looking bored. But Maple's response wasn't what Alphilis expected.

"Is that really what they think?

"Why do you ask me that?

"Alfi is now, honestly, in a state where they keep him alive. I traveled with you to find out that you are not at first sight distracted or joking, that temper is not quiet, and you are also a proud person. I'm not supposed to be spoiling the situation right now.

It seems to me that you are always thinking about the art of defeating them. Different?

"It's a buyout. There's no way I can do anything. I'm not that big of a person."

"If so..."

Maple nearly said something, but I felt Alphilis' gaze sharpened and swallowed the words. Maple often stares into the eyes of Alphilis. Given the meaning of that gaze, the maple stirs.

Then Alphilis grinned and grinned, and as he turned to his desk, he removed the wrapper like object from the drawer.

"More than that, please deliver this baked treat to Miriazal. I tried to bake it myself while teaching the cook pieces, but I wanted Miriazal to taste if it was working. Always looking out for you, just think of it as a thank you."

"... I see, is that a handmade baked treat"

"Yes, it's my own. Therefore, please hand it directly to Miriazal. Nice."

"Yeah, be sure."

That's all Maple said, he left apologizing for the disrespect he had visited late at night. And when the maple returned, Alphilis turned off the lights, and fell asleep.

"... you finally slept..."

One stares at that alphilis from far away. To be precise, it is lifeless, monitoring alphilis from above through the demon of use.

Lifeless was still monitoring the Alphilis. Lifeless people who don't need to sleep are great for surveillance. Besides, there is no new directive from Oranzeble. It was more of a lifeless thing than not being called to Orangeables at all since then.

Lifeless is not an inherently long tempered personality. I'm not supposed to be the one doing this assignment in a big way. But the claustrophobia to different spaces gave him too much time for thought, but after the claustrophobia felt forever, the only thing that remained lifeless was the urge to "fight". Lifeless was somewhat relieved to find out that his own nature, which he stuck and pursued, was struggling. The answer to simplicity made him think that fighting was his own truth. And he searched for the good enemy, and rejoiced to know that Alphilis was one who could fight himself.

Recently, however, there has been a slight disturbance in the lifeless mood as we look at the daily routine of Alphilis. Alphilis laughs a lot anyway. I get chased to work. There's just more serious expressions these days, but basically she's always laughing when she talks to someone. That, too, sounds like heartfelt fun.

I guess I know my surroundings well, too. Everyone talking to Alphilis seemed to enjoy themselves. Make fun of Alphilis, and respect Alphilis, it seemed equally fun.

Lifeless doesn't always know why Alphilis smiles. Such a person should not have been around Lifeless yet. No, Lifeless came to that idea, and it's the first time I've noticed it. What the hell were the people around you?

Lifeless remembers all the people he set foot on. Thousands of battlefields in life, but Lifeless remembers every one of them. And I remember the faces of those who buried themselves. Lifeless was firmly sworn that it was the fate and duty of the winner.

I remember those who fought with me again. Its name, its voice, its face. But I can't remember what they wanted, where they came from, or why they were serving themselves. No, I realized now, rather, that Lifeless didn't try to find out.

Lifeless has been thinking about how he was such a person these days. But I can't really remember. Why did I persevere in seeking and continuing to win so much in the first place? Lifeless was following one battle at a time the other way around, trying to figure out his origins. The mission is free anyway. Lifeless thought that there would be that much time.

But there are those who interrupt the task. It is a blanche.

"... chi... it's you again..."

It still is. Whenever Lifeless tries to conjure up his thoughts in the past, his thoughts are interrupted because Blanche snuggles up somewhere in his body. Most of the time the figure remains a beast, but sometimes it snuggles up in the form of an alphilis. Every time, lifeless people make me feel weird. Because the color of your hair is the same as the other person you admit to being a good enemy.

It's a lifeless body that no longer even feels its temperature, but I know that something is touching it. Lifeless neglected Blanche's existence.

"... hmm... this happens because Erlich's guy can't take care of one beast satisfactorily..."

Because of the extreme incompatibility between Erlich and Blanche, Blanche was directly taken care of by Lifeless. Anyway, when Blanche and Erlich were leaving messages together, Blanche would kick Erlich's ass. It would bite, and the base and the designated location would break out so useless.

"... he's totally, unblemished... and Erlich is the demon king who terrorized the humans with it... but it's a big deal, Blanche, you..."

Blanche shook her tail with joy as Lifeless turned Blanche's head. There's one shadow approaching from behind.

"I'll get in your way."

"... you or... did you say yugdrasil or something..."

Lifeless answered without even looking behind her back. I knew Yugdrasil would come close for a long time. Because Yugdrasil, unlike before, has walked on the ground with idiot honesty. Lifeless was convinced that Blanche wasn't even alert for some reason, but that anything could happen with Yugdrasil.

Continued