Malice Before The Theatre

Malice Before The Theatre

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Translated by: Ringo17, Garcar

Proofread by: Garcar

Special thanks: Ice, Garcar

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Clangs of chains spiritedly resounded.

A clear sky overhead, the plashes of water tickling one’s eardrums affirmed the hospitability brought by the waterways dispersed across this great city. Perhaps the very refreshness promulgated by the water’s flow was the source of the clearness in the hearts of the people residing in this『Watergate City』.

“Yes, yes, surely that is also connected to this delightful song.”

Varnishing over the ambient notes of the chains’ clangs and water’s plashes, was a song echoing across the entire cityーー the broadcast enounced through the『Meteor』stationed at the City Hall, jolted the emotions of all hearers without choice.

The song inescapable even to plugged ears succoured the days of the city’s residents.

“I imagine the both of you also adore this song, yes?”

Whilst listening to the magnificent song, she turned her head around and addressed the two behind. Nestled there next to each other were a young boy and girl, their petite frames shuddering upon that enquiry.

Both of them teetered at about seven to eight years of age, the age of childhood. Their large, round eyes and florid cheeks were an incantation that spontaneously tickled instinctive protectiveness. Children should be adorable. The two who seemed considerably close with one another, hugged each other as to not be separated, a valiant sightーー truly, wonderful.

“ーーA deed of『Love』, isn’t it.”

The sweet bond made excitement bolt down her spine, she inadvertently charged her breath with heat.

She firmly reprimanded herself that this was wrong. When the two were already laded with worry after being taken to this unpopular alleyway, she’d frighten them further with that attitude.

The two huddling together were the main guests for an incredibly, incredibly important ceremony.

“Thank you, my apologies.”

“ーー~hk.”

“Ah, you need not be so afraid. I am not thinking of anything so terrible as wanting to torment the two of you. It’s just that looking at you two, I was suddenly reminded of my past…… the beginning of the love between my husband and I. Wow, I’m so embarrassed.”

Palms on her cheeks, she shook her head, writhing from her bittersweet old memories. ーーHer and her husband’s meeting had truly been an act of destiny.

The hand of that person proffered to her amidst the abyss of death, showed hope and despair to her self, for whom it was natural to be oppressed and trodden upon, appeased her lacerated body with blessedness and misfortune.

Life was both sour and sweet, and what her husband bestowed upon her was『Life』itself.

“What can I describe that as, if not『Love』? Both of you would agree, yes? My apologies, thank you.”

When she apologised for making them listen to her loving recollections, the young boy and girl hugged each other harder. With tears sojourning their eyes, they peered at her as though praying upon every single one of her actions.

It resembled faith stemming from affection, coming across even as unconditional acceptanceーー.

“ーーOne of you.”

“Huh……?”

“One of you…… yes, either one of you is fine. My program that will happen in the city’s plaza after this, my act of affirmation of『Love』, could I ask for your cooperation in that?”

Smiling as to comfort them, she candidly communicated her intent. Using all words necessary to ensure there were no misunderstandings was incredibly important. The disparity between emotions or thoughts, was unmistakably the most lamentable tragedy of this world.

The connection between this young boy and young girl ought to be esteemed and treasured. ーーWith just the most convenient physique to carry, and yet a loving couple was a fairly lucky draw.

No matter right or wrong, she wanted to choose one of these two to cooperate.

Andーー,

“For the both of you to raise your hand, you must be truly close, yes. But, thank you, very sorry? The boy was just a very teensy bit faster, so I applaud your bravery~.”

Clapping her hands, she indulged in the『Love』of the two who had volunteered at about the same time. Pronouncing a “Well then”, she then offered her hand to the brave young boy.

As she smiled,

“Bearer of incredibly marvellous『Love』, what is your name? Ah, I amーー”

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“Huh? I thought it was just some decrepit building looking at it from the outside, but it’s rather refined from the inside.”

Enunciating so, with the hem of his long, white robes waving, a white haired man stridently surveyed the building’s interiors.

Like the man had spoken, the stone structure’s age exceeded a century, but by virtue of prudent care and maintenance it did not give an antediluvian impression. The building was structured to be a cathedralーー a place only to bring prayer and blessing, boding an apprehensible air of solemnity.

Furthering that impression above all else was a beautiful engraving limned on one of the inner walls. Graved were perhaps the Three Heroes spoken of through generations in the Kingdom of Lugunica, the『Divine Dragon』, the『Sage』and the『Sword Saint』ーー,

“But, it’s just this artwork that’s unacceptable. An identical one is also carved behind coins, but even if they get themselves some bigshot name like the Three Heroes I’m sure they’re just a horde who’d be powerless before me. For this bunch to be venerated, ignorant individuals oblivious to what’s genuine are pitiable.”

Gazing up towards that engraving, the man grumbled his impressions devoid of any respect. Her ears unwittingly trembled for an instant, and she faintly held her breath.

“What? Judging from that reaction, do you mean to disagree with my thought?”

As usual, the man overlooking of not even the slightest of her reactions plunged into displeasure, and the diligent and composed woman calmly lowered her head, not letting any of her internal trepidation show on her visage.

“ーーMy apologies. I merely thought that even those revered as legends in the kingdom would stand to be nothing before Husband-sama.”

“Say, you don’t need to be awestruck by each and every obvious thing. You knew that from the beginning. I possess all things needed. I am an unselfish and perfected being. Any lizard inflated in size or hubris in swordsmanship has no basis to be compared with me to begin with.”

“ーーーー”

“Yet, to compare me to a horde of that sort, is to doubt my way of life that happens to be perfect and bearing no connection to any flaws. Actually, it’s much more so an act of looking down upon me. That blasphemes my very existence, and is an infringement of my rights. I don’t think I can quite turn a blind eye to that.”

Prattling on with his substanceless talk, the man continued to add to reasons he was giving himself to be angered about. As his irrational fury accrued, the woman made no unneeded rebuttals.

Rebuttals were futile. She shall do nothing but await the storm of ire to pass. ーーJust as ordinary people could do nothing but pray before genuine genius, the woman hung her head low, when the man’s hand about reached her as he pronounced a “Sa~y”.

“ーーHusband-sama, there is something I wish to enquire about.”

Interposing her voice there was a different woman, discernible through the entrance of the church. Though immediately sensing the tense atmosphere inside the church, the woman stiffened her cheeksーー,

“I was speaking just now!?!?”

“ーー. My apologies. But, there is something that necessitated your judgement, Husband-sama…… regarding the choice of the bride’s dress.”

“……Dress. Ah, the dress. I see I see, that’s certainly right. The garb that the new bride shall wear. Even in spite of being my wives, that is not something I can make you choose.”

It was apparent that the emotions nearing eruption withered away upon hearing a reason enough to intercede his mouth. As the man fidgeted his bangs with his upraised hand, asked “Where’s the dress?”,

“I’d like to choose by looking at the real thing. Besides, I have to coordinate my attire with it as well, you know? To be honest, I don’t think weddings are something one does frequently, but I must attune to the bride’s sentiments as well.”

As the man started an alacritous walk with a self-indulgent spiel, the imperilled women beside him exchanged glances, intently congealing their expressions and cognized anew of each other’s circumstance. That they and so many other women, were birds inside this white man’s cageーー.

“You all are truly fortunate. There’s no knowing what you would’ve been put through had you been found by people other than myself. In that regard, the conditions I correspondingly seek from you are quite extraordinary, don’t you think? After all, I amーー”

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“From what we heard, it seems like the Sin Archbishops besides us have also come to the town?”

“Huh, condolences to this town’s people then. If it’s just us then that’s still something, but if guys like Regulus or Sirius, and even Mama on top of that have shown up then hell would be more preferable anywa~y.”

“To begin with, us coming together only happened to be the direction of the『Gospel』by chance anyway, isn’t it.”

“That’s right that’s right. But, a large city’s great ~tsu! How nice ~tsu! Old and young and men and women, human and demi-human, as far as the eye goes it’s all up for plucking you know ~tsu!”

“Heyhey, it’s totally pointless to interfere in our ways of eating so we won’t do that bu~t…… stop with the nonchalant all-you-can-eat oka~y? If not……”

“We know we do know. If we do it till we’re full, then your side of ingredients will disappear is what you want to say, right? We know, we know. We know bu~t.”

“ーーFirst come first served, don’t say that up against us would you? Something like that is fruitless for us. Isn’t that right? Surely that is right, certainly that is right, because that is right, because that needs to be right ~tsu! Gluttonous drinking ~tsu! Gluttony ~tsu!”

“……That being said, you’re aware of who loses out the most when we eat competing together, ri~ght?”

“Yeah, we know. We sure do know. We know and so we won’t. On top of that, we also know who benefits the most when we eat competing together.”

“A~h, that’s true too. True true. Who will benefit the most other than us, it’s……”

 

““The other Sin Archbishops.””

 

“A~haha~, that’s absolutely intolerable, isn’t it. For that horde to be satisfied, that is one thing that just cannot be overlooked other than diet. That, belongs to us.”

“Won’t let even Mama impede on our meal. Meals are important. For we, for us, and for that child as wellーー”

“That’s right, that’s indeed right, that’s certainly right ~tsu! That is why we areーー”

“We know, we do know, we indeed know ~tsu! That is why we areーー”

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“Hey hey, uncle, how do you reach the City Hall?”

“Oh, are you lost? Perfect. The City Hall happens to be my workplace. I’ll guide you to it if that’s fine with you.”

“Wow, really? Thank you, uncle. I’m glad you’re a kind person, uncleーー”

 

“……Just kidding, I got you with that heartwarming exchange~!”

 

Upon that shrill proclamation of the petite girl capturing the attention of all those around, the eyes of Garek Thompson rounded as he walked to the City Hall alongside the young girl. He was aghast by the『Transfiguration』of the girl midway through their journey to the City Hall. It was not something in the realm of a changed attitude or person. The young girl had, verbatim, metamorphosed into『Someone Else』.

“Truly, this lovely lady was taken aback by your insanely deficient sense of danger! If it’s a cute little girl you’re gonna defend her no-questions-asked? Every single guy thinks they can do whatever they want with a small girl through brute force so they’re all too imprudent.”

Features that despite metamorphosing could still be labelled as cute, distorted with cruelty and spewed vituperation impossible to bear hearing, to which Garek remained lost for words.

He momentarily opened his mouth to refute her jeers, but was what he ought to do at this place to correct the young girl’s conduct, this impractical vexation restrained him.

Consequentlyーー,

“Little girl, this is everyone’s important workplace. So, making a scene like this isーー”

“And, found one sense-of-danger-deficient fool as this lovely lady had mentioned!”

On one hand was the taciturn, frozen Garek, and in his stead one of the workers there approached the young girl to reprimand her words.

And thereafter, in the moment that followed, was assailed by a side-swiping impact, blown away.

The worker, blown away so effortlessly as though a weightless doll, swept into the work desks and ornamental plants and embroiled the other workers before collapsing onto the floor. That spectacle was an agonising sight akin to the occasional crash of dragon carriages, but nobody could vocalise a scream.

That was because an impact greater than the one just earlier, clogged the throats of everyone with a baffling fright.

“Well well well? How heartlessly cold for nobody to go and help. Even if you are animals wonderstruck by this lovely lady and forcibly pressed back, you’re men? All the female creatures around, this is the perfect chance to rush over to that slumped fellow and show off your femininity. Go on, now, I’m telling you to go!”

Her temper flaring with her speech, the young girl swung both of her armsーー two gigantic beast’s arms unbalanced on her petite frame, and began to wreak havoc on the City Hall’s parlour with the entirety of her might. The floor and walls smashed, and witnessing the chairs and desks about thrown into the air, Garek screeched a “Sto~p!”.

The engrossed Garek then vaulted onto the young girl with large, beastial arms,

“You must stop! All this…… just what, are you?”

“Wow, so passionate. Are you feeling liable that you made a mistake by bringing this lovely lady here? If that’s the case, then this compassionate, merciful lovely lady shall award that guilt.”

“What, are…… ararararararar.”

Even when grappled, the girl’s sadistic expression wavered naught. Instead, Garek who seized hold of her felt an abnormal heat in his body, and his voice trembled.

The unanticipated turn of events made his heart raceーー moreover, he felt his blood simmer.

“This lovely lady just happened to need at least one cool manservant for herself.”

Even the way he heard the voice of the girl whispered into his ears altered from the way it had been just a few moments ago, and he realised his perception of the world transform alongside the height of his vision.

Screeches and roars submerged the City Hall, and Garek discerned they were not directed at only the girl but also himself, whilst he flapped the『Wings』he was unacquainted with.

He had no clue, what was happening. But simply, only the faces of his wife, who saw him off to work per usual, and his two children surfaced in his mind.

“Just what, are, you…… ~hk.”

“Amazing amazing, you can still chatter? If that’s so, you must be given one reward, that sort of thing. This lovely lady isーー”

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ーーClangouring the reports of golden chains, before the shivering boy and girl the enigma in bandages smiled.

“Witch Cult Sin Archbishop representing『Wrath』, Sirius Romanée-Conti.”

 

ーーThe hem of his long robes waving, with his wives bearing congealed expressions towed in company, the white-haired ruffian smiled.

“Witch Cult Sin Archbishop representing『Greed』, Regulus Corneas.”

 

ーーAvowing no hindrances in each other’s meal, the blasphemers of Gourmet and Bizarre Eating scorned each other and smiled.

“Witch Cult Sin Archbishop representing『Gluttony』, Ley Batenkaitos.”

“Witch Cult Sin Archbishop representing『Gluttony』, Roy Alphard.”

 

ーーLusciously listening to the resonating roars and screeches ecstatically, with a bewitching glint in her eyes the monster smiled.

“Witch Cult Sin Archbishop representing『Lust』, Capella Emerada Lugunica.”

 

Bound to deliver a wretchedly disastrous spectacle to the『Watergate City』Priestella, were these atrocious villains.

Those who were originally never supposed to gather had gathered, and in order to fulfil their respective avarice, each would employ their own repulsive techniques and Authorities, and plunge the pristine city into a crucible of chaos.

Even within the long history of the Kingdom of Lugunica, the only precedent for such a dreadful situation harkened all the way back to the era of Witchesーー.

Within the city on track to be trampled by such an atrocious bunch, also were present those with an unceasing will to oppose them.

The good and the evil were clear, justice and villainy evident, no hesitation necessary to make the distinction between lux and nox, those two camps would clash against one another in a battle to determine the Watergate City’s tomorrow, and the rising of the curtain, was nighーー.

 

Fin.