Hakushaku to Yousei Vol 2 Chapter 5

P. 162 

        “Ow……, ooh, what have you done! You little midget! Baldy! Fatso!” 

        However, Lydia wasn’t really in pain. Only her soul was trapped in the bottle, which only felt like her body was shrunken down and put in the bottle, but that was only according to Lydia ’s imagination. 

        Even if she knew that, it still felt like it hurt. 

        (What a stupid fairy doctor. It’s because you tried to capture me that you’re in that state!) 

        She had put herself in danger like the bogey beast of the possibility of being sealed in by just one strand of her hair. 

        She couldn’t help but be intimidated by its words. If that were to happen, she would end up floating around forever in who knows where of the vast ocean. 

        In front of Lydia , it was squashed by some sort of thin and tall thing covered in fur. 

        “Nico!” 

        Nico stomped down onto the bogey beast several more times and kicked it away, throwing it into the air and smacked against the wall and disappeared in a puff of dust. It had only lost consciousness and was sure to wake up after some time, but it wouldn’t be able to return to normal for a while.

P. 164 

        “I came to rescue you.” 

        She figured that out by his tail that was dangling down. And yet however much she waited he didn’t come out to do something and she was about to lost her patience with him. 

        “Just for your information, I was waiting for the best opportunity.” 

        “Oh, well, then. ...Thank you.” 

        “How did you find me?” 

        “I see, those biscuits of mothers really please the fairies.” 

        “It was carried off somewhere, I don’t know.”

P. 165 

        One of them was Lord Graham and he had apparently came to take away Doris . 

He apparently had put them on a small boat on the riverbank just outside as she could hear the sound of the water and the creaking of the wooden boat. 

        「Is it a corpse?」 asked one of Graham’s men. 

        「No, it looks like she’s only sleeping. But, why, isn’t this girl the fairy doctor that was with the Earl Ashenbert.」 

        「I’m not all that sure, but I think they’re something like a psychic or fortune-teller. They apparently have some sort mysterious power.」 

        「I remembered something, Sir, some days ago, didn’t you hire that “dog tamer”? To go kidnap a fairy doctor girl.」

P. 166 

        「Yes, but that man was killed. The word spread that there’s an excellent guardsman under the earl, so all the hoodlums who accepted the kidnapping jobs up till now are all scared away, so I was just looking for a new man for the job.」 

        「If it’s a human with extraordinary powers, that man would pay any price. And this girl has the title as the privately hired by the earl family. She’s sure to have some kind of power. She’s the perfect catch for us to get a large sum of money at once.」 

        Oh, lord, she panicked, but there was nothing Lydia could do as she was inside a bottle. 

        「Children of the poor won’t sell for a high price. All the humans with extraordinary powers I’ve sold up till now didn’t have that amazing an ability and he wasn’t pleased, so I want to get back his favor around now.」 

        「Doris was saying something like Rosalie was jealous of this girl and had locked her in. Then as long as we silence Rosalie, it would mean no one who know of the whereabouts of this girl.」 

        Even though Lydia wished that, she could only watch as her body was carried out.     

        “So, that Graham guy is trying to sell you off. Who was Graham talking about when he said ‘He”?” 

        Eight years ago, Edgar was brought here to be sold off. So, in other words, Graham was linked with the one who made Edgar into a slave. Most likely, Graham prepares white slaves, not only Edgar, to a certain someone. 

        “What’ll I do, Nico…..” 

        Nico picked up the bottle Lydia was in and hid in shadows. Since there was the noise of the front door opening. 

        The light of a lantern was being used to carefully inspect inside and a shadow came to the back of the building. 

        “We were too late.” 

        She wondered if they came to look for her. 

        Lydia peeked out of the shadows along with Nico. 

        “Raven, there’s a hankerchief.” 

        “It has the initials D.W. embroidered into it.” 

        Hold on a moment, thought Lydia. They brought up Graham’s name like it came to no surprise to them. Had they known that Doris was being confined by her uncle? 

        “Then, do you think Miss Carlton was also taken along with the baron daughter?” “There is that possibility.”

P. 169 

        “If she’s handed over to Prince, there’s nothing we can do. Before the ship leaves port, we need to get her back at the London docks.” 

        Was “He” who Graham was talking about really referring to “Prince?” If Edgar even knew about that, then it means….. 

        “I shouldn’t have made Lydia a bait.” 

        “But Lord Edgar, it was inevitable in this situation. Even if Graham didn’t know that Miss Carlton did have a special ability, if she was here with Lady Doris, then she was bound to be taken away.” 

        “What is the meaning of me being a bait! Edgar, are you saying that you were planning on having me be kidnapped by Lord Graham?” shouted Lydia , not able to stop herself.

P. 170 

        “Impossible, there’s no space where a person could hide….” 

        “Nico? That voice….couldn’t have been you.” 

        “It’s useless to hide now, so I’ll just explain. Besides, it looks like they can hear me.” 

        “First of all, Edgar, I’m going to have you explain yourself! What’s the meaning of bait!” 

        “Raven, can you see something?” he asked and turned towards Raven. 

        “Why are you surprised when you can see?” 

        “Excuse me, but I’m not extraordinary.” 

        “Then tell me. Only a tiny figure of Lydia appears in my eyes?” 

        “What do you mean more or less! Stop doing a short comedy together!” 

        Edgar picked up the bottle with his hand and looked completely amazed as he was about to pop open the cork. 

        “Huh? Why?” 

        He threw his hand off the lid. 

        Lydia nodded. 

        “You’re right. Raven, go back to the hotel and keep an eye on Graham. The news about his assets being claimed would reach his ears soon. When he finds Rosalie in that room, he’s sure to put her on the same ship and Doris and Lydia . We’ll determine which boat it is he’s using for human trafficking from that.”

P. 172 

        “Rosalie…., what happened to her? Hey, did you do something to her?” 

        “And use every possible means to put pressure on all the ships he owns so they won’t leave port.”   

        “Are you mad?” 

        How could she not be angry after she was told the truth. 

        He was aware that Graham was the cause of Lady Doris’ disappearance and the possibility that Lydia might be targeted, and yet he made it so that Lydia would purposefully get the attention of Graham.

P. 173 

        Having her meet Graham at Cremorne Gardens was also part of his calculations. 

        The reason Edgar came to that warehouse was apparently because he was told by Rosalie of Lydia’s location. But it didn’t seem like Rosalie would tell him that honestly as Edgar was keeping that part quite vague. 

        To act that kind and fond of her, only to turn out that he was using her. What does he think of people? He really is the worst kind of person. 

        This wasn’t like it was her first time being tricked, but that made it all the more made Lydia feel miserable about letting her soft self go and believe in him just a little.

P. 174 

        “I don’t want to hear excuses.” 

        Lydia felt starved and that made her feel even more depressed. 

        “Are you cold?” 

        “Maybe….. I should have at least put on a shawl.” 

        “I think that’s pointless.” 

        Giving it a little thought, Edgar softly picked up the bottle with Lydia with both hands. 

        “Who knows. But this appearance is only because I can imagine myself like this. I wish I could have appeared more attractive.” 

        “Even if you try to coax me, I’m still angry at you. ……Hey, what are you doing.”

P. 175 

        “I thought you would feel warm this way.” 

        As she said that, Lydia realized that Edgar went through that kind of frightening experience. 

        Even in the short period of time she was locked up by Rosalie, she was desperate in trying to calm herself down, but she really was extremely scared that she wanted to cry out loud. 

        She wasn’t able to look up at his expression, but his voice sounded serious. His voice sounded like he was holding down his emotions and spoke the words like he was swearing an oath, and that must have been similar with his swear for revenge. 

        She should have been resenting Edgar, but she was imagining herself relax from her head being padded like a child.

P. 176 

        He was a man who was merciless against his enemies and used others with his glibly smart talk. But he was a man who would protect his allies even at the cost of himself. 

        She was unrelated to him enough to be used, but an ally enough to be protected. 

        And now there was only Raven left. 

        “Hey, for your revenge, what were you planning to do with Lord Graham?” 

        “Is revenge the only way? Do you believe that’s the only thing you could do for your friends that had all died?” 

        “You asked me to help save the boy who was taken and disappeared into the fog.” 

P. 177

P. 178 

        “Well, I’m not sure.” 

        “Isn't it you that really needs to be saved?” 

        “You yourself are still trapped in the fog. That’s why you’re not able to accept the fact that your friends were sacrificed… But, even if you paid your revenge against Lord Graham, I don’t think that will make you relieved from your grief.” 

        “It isn’t bad having you this small. I can always keep you near me.” 

        She couldn’t say that Edgar wouldn’t keep Lydia like this as a pet. So Lydia seriously denied his idea.

P. 179

        Of course I would. 

        Then she wouldn’t have been able to be beside Edgar after finding out about the lie that she was used as a lure.

        Lydia had a feeling like Edgar might be shedding tears as he was holding the glass bottle for a while.

        She thought of him as the arrogant and overconfident and the type who would die than show the weak side of himself. Even if he looked sad or depressed, he was the type of person who even calculated that and threw Lydia around.

        Perhaps what Raven had told her was stuck in her mind. 

P. 180

        She must have really have a soft-heart to not hate him even when she was in a dangerous situation. But.

        Through the glass, she pressed her cheek against his shirt. It was something she couldn’t never do in her real body.

        Who knew that you would get sleepy even as just a soul. 

        For some strange reason, the bottle Lydia was in was wrapped around with cushions and sheets. He should know that it’s useless, and yet he went through the trouble for such a meaningless thing.

P. 181

        Her body was heavy as a rock and couldn’t move.

        She was filled with the fear of unexpectedly vanishing. Since it was a very delicate condition for a human to remain as just a soul, there must have been something happening to herself.

        “Edgar, …..where are you?”

        A gray-haired cat snooped down in front of her.

        Last night, Nico had returned to her house. To explain to her father and camouflage that Lydia had been forced to go to the party of an acquaintance and had gotten drunk and took the offer to stay at the residence. She didn’t want to cause her father to worry, and she definitely couldn’t show herself in this state.

        “Stop saying nonsense. ….I just felt a little sick and didn’t know what to do….”

P. 182

        Nico crossed his front arms in a serious manner.

        The one who entered the room was Edgar. He noticed Lydia who was sitting slumped down at the bottom of the bottle and peered down at her with a worried look.

        Nico answered in her place as she had no idea.

        “What? Then we need to hurry.”

        “So, did you find out where that Graham guy is holding Lydia captive?”

        “Ahhh, sorry but we have no time for discussing the mechanics of human affairs. Just say it in a nutshell.”

        “Huh? Aren’t you a former criminal? Just use a bloody weapons and attack it and hijack it.”

        “There isn’t any vulgarity or propriety in being a thief!”

        Lydia gave a proposal, but that would take too much time, said Edgar.

        “Then, lord earl, think of some way that wouldn’t take time.”

        “AlL right, I’ll use the last resort.”

        “I’ll have to think as I go in order to know if we can really use it, though.”

        “And, Tomkins, send a word out to Raven to come to this place.”

        The deep breath she drawed was from the suffocation she was feeling and Edgar’s dawning decision that came from that.

        He might have made the decision that decided someone’s life or death alone and had to make things turn to the most best outcome.

        The side of his face that showed through the glass bottle looked like a knight that was heading out to the battle field and she saw the light of fire that was shining in his ash mauve eyes.

        There must have been so many times when it didn’t end like he said. And yet, the part of him that had the determination to take the lead was making him say that.

        Beautiful eye colors, and a beautiful person.

        A nobleman from his core. A merciless criminal. A frivolous lady’s man. A charismatic leader.

P. 185

        Which is the real Edgar?

        “I want to ask….., is there a chance for this to succeed?” asked Lydia as she fought against her suffocation in the carriage.

        “…..You’re lying.”

        That’s a lie too. You don’t have any certainty and yet you don’t say anything that would make the ones following you nervous.

        “Lydia, you’re losing your courage.”

        “Do you think me as a criminal who would leave you to die after you say that of me?”

        For a brief moment, Edgar titled his head to the side but then burst out in a chuckling laughter like he was delightfully amused.

        “……No, you’re wrong, I really, meant when I said I hate you….!”

        I don’t want you to shoulder everything by yourself. 

        “But, you know, I can’t let you go free. Don’t you feel like by partnering up together we would have the fairy’s luck would be on our side?”

        And yet, perhaps she was fortunate to have someone who understood the duty of a fairy doctor appear before her.

        What a strange man. He has no idea how much I am disappointed in your ways.

        Eventually, the carriage approached the road that Lord Graham’s office resided.

        Nico followed after them.

        “You’re out of the question. Bring me Lord Graham.”

        “Are you making light of me because you think me as an amateur?”

        “Oh, not so ever. It’s just the owner hardly ever comes to this place. I’m sorry, but sir…..” 

P. 188

        “Pardon me, my lord.”

        “….And you mean by?”

        The man escorted Edgar into a different room in a completely panicked state.

        The bonds of the banks and casinos that Graham had debts to were all completely bought by Edgar. Because of Edgar who immediately collected those places whose payment returns were left unpaid, Graham was trying to get back his fortunes.

        Still, of course, Graham was sure to be struggling to stop even just a little from being completely robed, and Edgar must have foreseen that he would use this shipping company as his hideout, and paid a visit expecting that he would be here.

        Graham came into the reception room, and had a look like nothing was the matter, but one could tell at one glance that he was completely exhausted. 

        It was quite the direct approach. Lydia watched as she worried if everything would be alright, and made caution to their conversation, but her listlessness was only growing. She was barely able to grasp the situation, and didn’t have the strength to give her opinion, but either way, she was left to leave everything up to Edgar.

        “I’m here to talk business. Are you not interested?”

        “I’m saying that I will buy from you.”

        “Of course, my fairy doctor.”

        “Like I had already said, I am in a hurry. This is the most important reason why I am bargaining with you. Under these circumstances, I don’t care about this being absurd or being a crime. Even if someone had stolen my jewel and was making a profit off of that by selling it, I plan to pay a suitable price to get back my jewel.”

        Most likely, Graham needed to get his hands on a large sum of money as soon as possible, and although he was being cautious, he didn’t look like he was going to slap away Edgar’s offer. He only replied with vague responses.

        “Hmm, well. …….Let’s see.”

        “There are periodically cases where one would arrange rare things of great value for something they are familiar with. But it isn’t an easy task, and there are times when one must cross a dangerous bridge, and even if you are lucky to find the thing you are looking for, you would have to cross an unlawful path,” said Graham.

        “First of all, since you would be trading with those who broke the law, one of the conditions would be to keep it strictly confidential.”

        “Of course I understand. They are bound to be in a collusive relationship with those in power. And even if you were to file an suit against them, and I am aware of the fact that there wouldn’t be anything good to come out of that, and so I am asking to bargain with you,” said Edgar.

        He was the kidnapper and yet he has the nerve to ask for a large amount of money. Lydia was so furious that she nearly forgot her ill state, but unfortunately she didn’t have the energy to deliver a protest.

        The price Graham asked for was an unreasonably high price. At least, Lydia couldn’t imagine what a person could buy in their lifetime to use up that much money. 

        Eh? Edgar….., I can’t believe you are willing to pay such a price in my exchange. It would take longer than her lifetime to repay such money.

        “I have no time to spare. In the cast I wait here, and it turns out to be too late, then I will not pay a cent.”

P. 192

        “Lydia has an illness. She should be asleep and unable to wake up, so if we leave her in that state, it will be too late.”

        Aside from Lydia’s panic, the trade was strangely being continued in a calm manner.

        The reason Edgar said that was because they needed to return Lydia’s soul that was in the bottle to her body as soon as possible.

        At any rate, Graham weighed the fact that he desperately needed a large amount of money and the risk to get that against each other, and in the end, he chose the money.

        Why, would he do such much for me, I don’t understand.

        Using his money for that would be much more economical and have no danger. 

        “My lord, the only one I can escort can be you alone. I would like to ask for your valet to wait here.”

        For Edgar to go alone to the place that Lydia’s body was being confided and Graham planned to do something with Edgar, than it would be an easy task.

        And yet, Edgar held Lydia in the bottle with so much gentleness and going along with what Graham was saying.

        Edgar obediently took out the pistol from inside his frock coat and placed it on the table.

        “It’s just an empty bottle.”

        Edgar was such an odd man. He wasn’t able to see fairies and had a very realistic and pragmatical view of the world, and accepted the spirit inside Raven and didn’t have any doubt in Lydia and her ability. 

P. 194

        Even to Lydia, he would do inconsiderate things like he was unconcerned, by at times, more than anyone else, he would understand her.

        For the present time, he was a gentleman who was kind to the ladies. His kindness could just be an extra act to that. And yet, for her who was being used as bait, she would have the misconception of being treated with great care by him like a princess.

        If that happened, she had the silly high opinion that Edgar would have to carry another scar.
        Seen off by Raven, Edgar got onto the carriage with Graham. Lydia felt the presence of Nico, who was following them with his body remaining invisible, and heard ‘it’s just a little longer, hold on’ said by Edgar who had encouraged her in a whisper.

Chapter end