Your and My Asylum

Book 3: Chapter 8

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This world is cruel.

All words are cruel. Something like a gentle world only exists within creative works, and even those are gradually growing smaller in number. Its most likely because people are gradually losing their dreams. I had as well. Miracles are called miracles because they do not happen and hope is called hope because they are never achieved. Things do not come to fruition just because you wish for it to happen. You cant positively say that youll one day be rewarded once youve endeavored long enough. This world was that cruel.

I thought that way.

I believed that was the case.

Thats why, when a miracle had actually occurred, I was in a daze. Not a miracle that I had acquired through working hard, or a hope that had at least some realism to it, but the most irresponsible type of expectation. Since the miracle had suddenly appeared in the form of a transfer student, the flaming princess, my goddess, Chanmi, I had no other choice but to be in a daze.

However, that fact didnt make me into a believer of the bestseller The Secret. There were many cruel things that happened after that as well. I had personally committed some of the cruelest things among them. Regardless, it ended up being a type of revelation to me. Although this world was certainly cruel, it wasnt as cruel as I had thought it was. Although we were certainly filled with problems, we were capable of somehow improving those issues. Thus, there was no need to throw away all of your hope. Even if it hurts at times or you feel as if youll die, you have to endure.

I thought that way.

I believed that was the case.

Because we are not beasts. As it was those very expectations, that very arrogance, that very source of all those suffering, and the very thought that things cant continue like this that made us humans human, this will also continue to be the case.

The root of dignity was in Hell. However, it was thanks to that Hell that were able to to see Heaven.

Its dangerous.

Ariya spoke the instant Roroa had left the room.

Fair Grace, its truly dangerous. That sort of trash that monster, can you trust her?

Among the people Ive met ever since Ive come to this world, shes the type of person who cant be trusted the most. Ill tie her down as much as possible in order to restrict her freedom and keep watch over her so she isnt able to do something foolish.

That isnt enough we should kill her.

I put my hand on Ariyas mouth.

You shouldnt carelessly talk about taking the lives of others.

Fair Grace.

I know. Youre probably worried about Alshi. Its fine. Even if the worse situation were to occur, Ill at least protect Alshi.

Ariya pressed her hand against her forehead. The angle of her head, was a slight 27 degrees angle.

Alshi, that idiot. But Fair Grace Alshi isnt the only one Im worried about.

Youre worried about me?

Im also very slightly worried about Sii as well.

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Siis astonished expression was a bit interesting to look at.

Of course, its dangerous for Sii and me. But well have to endure it. If were able to take hold of the guards with just this much risk, then this is on the cheap side.

Sii nodded as well. She must have felt pain from doing that action as she had let out a groan and held onto her arm. Ariya supported her in a panic and I,

Yujin?

while lowering my head, spoke.

I apologize, Miss Sii. I should have prepared better.

Eh, its fine Im, completely okay. Even before I was caught, I was already planning to do this if something like what happened earlier were to perhaps occur.

Planned.

Mm~~ Yujin, you said it before, right? To think. If someone here were to perhaps become a hostage, then thatll be me since Im the only one whos already injured.

Sii giggled.

.

This is why I cant help but have hope.

Mm? What, do you mean?

I answered her by kissing the back of her hand.

Siis cheeks became flushed. Ariya lightly cleared her throat.

Mm, in any case Fair Grace, and Sii. Why? Why exactly are you shouldering such a dangerous burden and taking the hands of the guards. When you told Roroa that youll change the city and rehabilitate Her Excellency the Earl.

Mm~~ Yujin, should we give her an answer?

We should. Ariya is in the same boat as us now. I turned back towards Ariya and spoke. As you heard, Im going to rehabilitate the Earl.

I then explained.

Everything she has done until now. Well make her take those sins to heart. Well make her plead that she wont do them ever again. Well make her give a sincere apology and atone for all of the crimes she had committed throughout her life. In order to do that, we intend to shoulder this dangerous burden.

. Ariya looked back and forth between me and Sii. Is that so.

Yup. Moreover, since youve heard about our plan now, Id like it if you cooperated with us. Once Alshi wakes up, explain everything to her. Well also match our stories regarding the attackers. Well start off with things like that.

I believed that she wouldnt refuse. It wasnt only because of the favor that I had done for her. It wasnt also because of the pretext of rehabilitating the Silver Lion Earl. Just as Roroa had said, we already made her witness us making a secret deal with Roroa. Like we had reminded her more than anything else during that exchange, her lover, Alshis life was on the line here.

An accomplice mentality and compulsory power that was incomparable to what she had felt when watching something like hidden cameras together. Ariya betraying us in a situation like this, at the very least, I believed that it wouldnt happen.

However, Ariya was unable to nod her head readily and instead hesitated.

But I.

The instant Ariya had mumbled that, the closed door swung open and a shadow entered the room.

It was a long shadow.

It smelled like wet grass. Before the backlight could even fade away, Ariya was the first one to utter the name of the owner of the shadow.

Miss Sophna.

M-Miss Sophna! Welcome.

You may stay seated.

Sophna stopped Ariya and Sii, who were both about to stand up, with her staff and approached us. Once more, her figure reminded me of a willow tree. There was a befitting cheerful smile lingering on her lips.

Kuhuhu. Youre just as I had heard. For you to not panic upon my arrival and also have the leisure to examine me.

And youre different from what Ive heard. They said you were a hikikomori so I had a darker image of you in my head.

If I did, then would I not overlap with Yudia?

Are you not allowed to overlap?

Ahyeon had claimed that that was the case.

I shut my mouth. With a gaze that felt like a pine tree that was growing on the very summit of a mountain and gazing over the horizon, Sophna spoke.

My, Mii, and Zias ways of speech in Korean were most likely for that purpose. When learning a new language, it means that youre able to become a new character in a new genre. If possible, itd be good if that didnt overlap, is what he had told us.

This was something that I had heard from the Earl before.

Rather than that, Miiwas probably the Earl.

Sii, Mii No, it wasnt a naming sense that I couldnt understand, but.

Ahyeon may be gone, but that desire of his is still maintained. Even when Azure Rose and I taught the illegitimate child of the young master, Brown Lion, the Korean language, we placed an emphasis on creating a sort of character trait. In Korea, this is referred to as he may have gone, but I did not send him, right?

Finally, Ive met someone whos interested in normal literature.

I cannot help but have a preference towards poetry. In any caseseeing that you are not showing much surprise, were you expecting my arrival?

Of course not. I never imagined that you would come here so soon. However, I did see that you came up from your room.

I glanced at Ariya.

I have heard the term an unpredictable person.

Sophna laughed with a kahaha once she heard that I had at least readied myself to meet her. She then slowly walked towards me.

So, Sophna pushed the end of her staff against my chin. Can you predict the reason why I am here?

Most likely to pass your judgment on me.

Bingo. Sophna turned towards Ariya. Although I did send Ariya with the purpose of keeping an eye on you, as I thought, the final decision should be made by myself.

Ariya couldnt understand Korean. However, she most likely was able to guess at what Sophna had said when she turned to look at her. After looking at the guilt spread across Ariyas face for a moment, I spoke.

Did I pass?

What makes you think that?

Sophna retorted immediately. There was no doubt that she had contemplated a lot beforehand in preparation to respond to this question. And, as expected, I had also contemplated a lot beforehand in preparation to respond to this retort.

The fact that you came here to meet me, I started off. is because you felt that it would be fine to leave me at the Earls side, right?

Huu, what to do? To be exact, its the complete opposite reason of that.

The opposite?

That is right. If youve lived for as long as I have, then you will have witnessed a countless number of occasions where scars are reopened after someone needlessly gets involved when it could have just been left alone. Like a certain letter, and recently, ah, yes, like the medicine for ones own mother.

Both Sii and Ariya drew back their heads. The eyes of Sophna, who had glanced at the two girls once, became dim like that of a frog.

So, Korean child. I have started to harbor the same belief towards you as well. The fact that you are going around this castle freely how should I say it?

Get crushed somewhere. Mari. You gave me quite the vital piece of advice. Get crushed somewhere. However, I still cant listen to that advice.

What is it?

Hm, think of it like this. You are a foreign substance. A foreign substance from another world, at that.

Each time she said the phrase foreign substance, Sophna pronounced it in a way that sounded as if an overripe fruit had fallen and hit the floor.

Someone like that is next to Mii and Azure Rose. Moreover, theyre outspoken and go around making their own faction. In the eyes of an elder like myself, hm, it isnt very pleasing. Who knows what sort of negative influence youll have on them.

You said Ahyeon was like that as well.

Thats right. You are also not Ahyeon. If I were to add something else, then even when Ahyeon was here, I played the role as the final boulder for quite a long period of time. Kuhuhu. You should be aware since youve seen her for yourself, but all of Our Lordships screws are loose, so shouldnt someone take the role as the skeptic?

As Sophna spoke, she put more strength into the staff that was pressing against my chin.  My head was forcefully pushed back and like a crescent looming over an old tree on a foggy day, her eyes shined brightly within the hazy darkness.

Thats why, Yujin.

After calling my name, Sophna spoke.

Ill ask you, why shouldnt I kill you

She tilted her head in a way that felt like a crooked reed that was being blown by a breeze.

And, after concluding that stability has returned to this Silver Lion Castle, return back to my research room with a peace of mind?

The sound of a gasp. The sound had come from Sii. Ariya was wordless. I couldnt confirm her expression either. The strength that Sophna was putting into her staff was becoming stronger. I wasnt allowed to do anything other than look at Sophnas face and it was also becoming physically exhausting.

The fact that youre saying this, I spoke. must mean that youre still hesitating.

You are right. I shouldnt make rash decisions. Ariya Orgit.

The instant Ariya flinched, a cluster of light burst out from the end of Sophnas hand and wrapped around Ariya.

Even the slightest lie shall not be forgiven.

After declaring so, Sophna continued.

I shall ask you under the name of the most ancient tree, according to your observations, this boy, is this individual known as Yujin a harmless existence with no malice whatsoever? In other words, are you certain that he is an existence that will cause no harm to Her Excellency the Silver Lion Earl?

Miss Sophna! Thats.

Sophna didnt even act as if she had heard Siis cry.

Answer me. I shall count down from 3. 3.

Both Sii and Ariya made eye contact.

2.

Ariya looked at me.

1.

And finally, Ariya Orgit opened her mouth.

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TL note: Thanks for reading. This is the last chapter for volume 3. Yes, I know, its a cliffhanger. The short story is next and its probably as long as the last chapter, so expect it either later this week or next week. Ive also been getting distracted by SINoALICE, so who knows.

The short story is mainly about Roroas past, (Itll also involve Ahyeon) so you can look forward to that. Once Ive finished that up and the afterword+character sheets, then Ill be taking a one week break before going back to translating. I still havent decided whether I should just translate volume 4 of YaMA or actually try to get around to doing Million Dollar Bills. Ill decide during the break.

In any case, see you guys in the next chapter.