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Translated by M; Proofread by Annie.
Chapter 7
Figaro: Well, if you’re going to go that far for her, you got any ideas, Shylock?
Shylock: Mm, how about this? We join the Master Sage in that fantasy world and show off our own hospitality.
Rutile: We’re going to entertain him as well?
Shylock: Rosa will be offering all sorts of hospitality to keep him inside her fantasy world.
Shylock: That’s why we must enter and please him ourselves.
Shylock: We’ll show him our form of hospitality and bring him back out of that illusion.
Rutile: I’m with Shylock!
Chloe: Me, too!
Figaro: I do too. If Rosa intended any ill-will on the Master Sage, killing her wouldn’t be a good idea.
Cain: I guess we’ve learned enough here, let’s go show the Master Sage some of the best hospitality he’s ever had.
Murr: It’s not everyday you get to be trapped in a fantasy world! I’m with you guys!
Shylock: And what for you two?
Shylock: I’m sure you both have had plenty of interactions in this salon and gotten numerous tips on hospitality.
Shylock: Rosa’s hospitality or ours. Which will the Master Sage choose?
Shino: …
Mithra: …
Mithra: It will be mine, of course.
Shino: How can I be beaten by such a novice witch?
Shylock: I had a feeling you two would say that.
Shylock: Well then, Rosa. Will you allow us to join your fantasy world?
Rosa: I cannot turn down a request from you after all you all have done for me.
Rosa: …Now it’s my turn to provide you a favor.
Rosa: Alright, enter my fantasy world. The Master Sage will meet you there.
[Inside Rosa’s fantasy world]
Akira: (Oh… Is it night already?)
Before I know it, lit candles appear at the steps of the gazebo, their flames flickering.
Time continuously alternates between slow, fast, and slow here. I have no idea how long it’s been since I’ve arrived.
Whenever I start feeling lonely, a cute animal appears and comforts me.
Whenever I feel sleepy, a plush bed appears, lulling me to sleep.
Even if I don’t outwardly speak my desires, the world listens to my thoughts and presents me with what I want.
Akira: (But… I wonder why it still feels like something is missing…)
Akira: (Yes… It’s because everyone’s not here… I think… I’m feeling lonely…)
Shylock: Master Sage.
Akira: Huh, Shylock!? How long have you been there…?
Mithra: You must’ve been lonely. But you’ll no longer be lonely with me here.
Just like Shylock, Mithra appears before me.
Akira: Um, Mithra…
Mithra: What is it?
Mithra smiles gently.
The smile leaves me feeling more confused than happy, as I’ve rarely been given such a soft smile.
Akira: (Something feels wrong…)
Rutile: Master Sage, do you want to play with us?
Murr: You don’t have to speak!
Chloe: Just think of whatever you’d like to do!
Murr: You don’t even have to say anything! Just let your imagination run free!
Cain: Anything you wish will come true. Haha, isn’t that great?
Figaro: Nothing is impossible here.
Shino: Whatever you want.
Shylock: Come now, Master Sage. Whatever it is that you desire.
Akira: Ah-....
Akira: (I can see everyone now… This is… What I wanted…)
All I had to do was wish in my heart, and the people I held dearest appeared.
These that I wished for will help all my other desires come true.
It’s a perfect model of hospitality… Yet, my heart is left unsatisfied.
No matter how similar they are in appearance, these illusions are not the same people I wished for.
[Illusion shifts]
Shylock: Master Sage.
Akira: Shylock…
A laugh escapes me.
This Shylock must be an illusion, born just out of my desires.
Akira: Oh… I’d love to see the “real” versions of everyone…
Shylock: You didn’t want to see just me, did you?
Akira: Um, well… I-I’m sorry.
Shylock: Fufu… So honest. I like that about you.
I secretly feel happy when Shylock says he likes me.
To say something that Shylock liked is the greatest thing in the world.
Under the glow of the stars, a scent of blue roses wafts through the air.
Shylock’s smile grows slightly mischievous.
Shylock: How awful… I can’t believe you’re laughing.
Shylock: I came all the way here, because I was worried for you.
This Shylock is just an illusion… It makes me feel bold.
I touch his soft, pale cheek.
This illusion feels oddly warm. Beautiful red eyes shine above me, glimmering like mystical, candied flames.
He pulls back from me and chuckles.
Shylock: You’re doing something tonight that you wouldn’t normally.
Akira: Because I can’t with the real one… Did you not like it?
Shylock: That’s not it.
Shylock gives me a catlike grin – one that reminds me of Murr, and he laughs like a cat, too.
With that though, I begin to realize, isn’t this illusion far too real?
Is it even possible, in the first place, to create an illusion that perfectly encapsulates someone so noble yet charming, lustrous yet elegant?
Akira: (Perhaps it is the real thing…?)
Shylock slightly narrows his red eyes. His gestures and tone of voice are the perfect depiction of the real Shylock.
Unlike the one I saw earlier, this one seems to act on his own will, rather than what I imagine.
Akira:: It’s incredibly realistic…
Shylock: Yes, it is because I am real.
Akira: Wha-..!?
Akira: R-Really…? But how did you get here?
Shylock: I asked Rosa. She let us into her fantasy world.
Akira: Everyone else is also here?
Shylock: Yes, though I think we all appeared in different areas. Either due to Rosa’s mischief, or just because of how this place works.
Shylock: I believe they are most likely looking for you now.
Shylock: I just happened to be lucky.
Akira: Shylock… I’m sorry.
Shylock: My, what do you have to apologize for?
Akira: I’m sorry that just because of Rosa’s hospitality, I brought you all into such a mess…
Shylock: Master Sage, we both know that’s not true. We simply just wished to see you, just as you had wished to see us.
Shylock: We decided by our own volition to enter this fantasy world.
Rutile: Master Sage, so we finally meet!
Figaro: Shylock, were you trying to run away from us?
Chloe: You must’ve been so scared and lonely. But we’re here now!
Murr: Master Sage, hi there!
Mithra: Master Sage, you shouldn’t have gotten yourself thrown into here.
Shino: Sage, I bet you missed us. We’re here to see you.
Akira: Everyone is here! All the people I wanted to see are right here in front of me. Not just an illusion created by my desires, but actually, truly here.
Of their own volition, they came for me.
Shylock: Just as you were looking for them, they came looking for you. That includes me, of course.
Shylock: With you here, I can finally enjoy this gorgeous scenery and delicious food.
Shylock’s words were exactly what I was wanting since I arrived here.
They desire me, just as I desire to be with everyone else.
My heart fills with joy. I feel as if I’ve been given the most wonderful gift.
Mithra: …Well, here we go.
Mithra says while gazing upon the long dining table.
Mithra: Here, for you.
He then thrusts a piece of boned meat towards me.
Akira: Um…
Mithra: You’re not going to eat it? Alright, then I will.
Before I can even speak, he brings the same piece of meat to his own mouth.
When he bites into it, the boldness of the display stimulates my appetite.
Akira: Well, I wasn’t very hungry before, but now I feel a bit peckish. Maybe it’s from the relief of having you all here with me.
Mithra: What a great time you must be having then.
While munching with his mouth wide open, Mithra hands me another piece of meat.
Akira: (I hope this means you’re offering to share with me…)
Akira: Thank you very much. I’ll join you then.
After accepting it from him, I take a large bite.
Akira: …! It’s spicy, but also very tasty!
Mithra: It’s no wonder it tastes so good, with me being the one to choose it.
Mithra swallows a large chunk of meat and nods proudly.
Figaro: Master Sage, would you kindly accept my hospitality as well?
Figaro raises a glass from the table. Inside is a drink matching the color of the clear, blue sky.
Figaro: Try a sip of it for me.
Akira: …It’s so refreshing, and its flavor compliments the other dishes!