Nac Stein 4 Anniversary Card Story
“Beyond the cursed fate”
※Important Notice Before Reading the Butler Story
This story contains spoilers for "Main Story Episode 5". You can still enjoy this story even if you haven't read Episode 5. However, please be aware that it does contain spoilers for parts of the story... Please proceed with caution. If you wish to further enjoy the story, please read Main Story Episode 5 first.
………
Part 1:
Nac: For those of the Stein family...
From the moment we are born, there are things we must relinquish.
That is, "the happiness of an ordinary human"...
Because of our clan's cursed fate...
It is said many have lost their minds.
Even I, when I killed a person for the first time...
Cursed my own destiny.
My mind was disturbed...
I even saw phantoms of plates that weren't there...
...It was my respected father who saved me.
He taught me the nobility of our clan's mission...
Showing me the back to follow, so his son wouldn't lose his way.
That's why my heart didn't break.
Even after becoming a demon butler...
No matter how weak my heart grew, I avoided being exploited by demons...
When my heart threatened to shatter...
It was because I had already learned how to escape from that place.
No matter how deeply despair engulfed me...
My father's teachings guided me.
Even if I were at the very bottom of despair...
As long as I have a mission to fulfill, I can move forward.
And when I finally accomplish my mission someday...
I must die to atone for my past sins.
......
That's what I believed.
...At least...
Until I destroyed the Stein family with my own hands.
After annihilating the Stein family, fallen into darkness...
I wandered aimlessly through the city.
...I didn't know where I was walking.
But I knew where I would end up.
It was "death"...
At that time, I was seeking a place to die...
....................
...I buried the fallen Stein family in darkness.
................
All that remained was to settle my own affairs...
The Stein family would be utterly finished.
...I too had spilled much blood.
Even if it was for justice...
It didn't change the fact that I had killed people.
In the end, I must atone for my clan's sins with my own blood...
Plunging this knife into my chest would take but an instant...
....
In an instant, I...
Male voice: This debt... How are you gonna pay it back, huh!?
Nac: ...Hm? That was...
Butcher Shop Owner: So, so... There must be some mistake...
Violent Man: I'm telling you the meat I bought from your shop was rotten! Or are you calling me a liar? Just give me my money back already! Or do you want to die!?
Butcher Shop Owner: H-hiiii...!
Nac: ...Hey.
Violent Man: Huh!? Who the hell are you? This ain't a sideshow! Get the hell outta here!
Nac: "You wanna die?"... That's what you said.
…..Just right now. Kill me.
Violent Man: ..................Huh?
Nac: Getting stabbed to death by a thug... It's a fitting end for me right now.
Violent Man: Wh-what the hell are you... You got some nerve! Don't you dare underestimate me! You really wanna die!?
Nac: Yeah.
.................Just do it already. Shopkeeper, Give this man the meat cleaver over there.
Butcher Shop Owner: Huh!? Um...
Violent Man: A-Are you out of your mind...? Hmph! Who's got time to talk to a nutcase like that?!
Thud... Thud...
Nac: ……….
Just a petty criminal, huh... In the end... I have to settle my own affairs myself... But settling it in an instant... Wouldn't match the weight of the sins l've committed... The only atonement I can manage now... Is to choose a way to suffer as long as possible...
Nac: ...Then I stopped eating...
Until I could no longer move.
When I had weakened to the brink of starvation...
That's when I first met Mr. Lucas.
He carried me, unconscious...
All the way back to his mansion.
And then he...
Offered me this: "Would you like to become a demon butler?"...
Part 2:
Lucas: Hmm... Looks like your health has stabilized. Well then, Nac. Tell me again what happened. You were supposed to be the Stein family's heir... Why were you collapsed in that alley?
Nac: …………
Lucas: Of course, I won't force you to talk. But... From the information I've gathered myself, I can make some educated guesses. To put it bluntly, there was a factional conflict within the Stein family... The faction prioritizing profit seized control. But you, who values tradition and justice, eliminated them all... That's about the gist of it.
Nac: …………
Lucas: ...The recent actions of the Stein family have been less than desirable. I understand your anger. But... What surprised me when I actually met Nack was... How deeply "guilt" was etched into your face. So much so that you wished for your own death.
...I want to know why. If you feel guilt over taking a life... How have you managed to keep your sanity until now?
Nac: ………..
...Even if the demon butler knew that.... What good would it do?
Lucas: Fufu... I just want to understand Nac-kun's character more deeply. Besides, you must have already figured it out, right? We're always looking for capable people. But not just anyone will do. Being able to endure a contract with a demon is important too, but... The person's character is also a crucial factor. After all, we absolutely cannot empower villains.
Nac: ..Indeed... Superhuman strength, literal immortality... Even if it meant risking their lives... There'd be people who'd want it.
Lucas: Impressive, you know your stuff.
Nac: ....The Stein family had its own intelligence network. Things not publicly known would reach our ears. But... If you're trying to recruit me, don't bother. I've taken many lives. You shouldn't give more power to a killer like that.
Lucas: …..Nac…..
...I too, once...
...caused many people to die.
Nac: ....! You were...
...a doctor, weren't you?
Lucas: That's right. I believed I was walking the right path. But even so... i can't shake this guilt. My choices still brought sorrow to many bereaved families.
Nac: …………
Lucas: …So here's the thing. What I want to tell you is... Since you've been blessed with such incredible abilities, why not put them to good use?Of course, I can't force you... But I strongly urge you to. It'd be a shame for such talent, useful to the world, to just fade away like this. If you're going to live and break away from the past...
There's no better way to live than as a demon butler. There's no work more fitting for atoning for past sins than fighting for humanity.
Nac: ................I appreciate you inviting me. But... I can't imagine the other butlers accepting someone like me.
Lucas: You don't need to reveal your past. Besides, no one will pry into your background. All demon butlers carry some darkness from their pasts, you see. We're all in the same boat. So if you, Nac, would join us... I'm sure everyone would gladly welcome you. We're all wounded by our pasts... I guarantee that spending time together will surely bring peace to your heart.
...What do you say? Would you consider it?
Nac:……….
...Just a moment. Let me think.
(Comrades.)
Nac: Just as Lucas said.
The demon butlers accepted me.
Without delving deeply into my past...
They welcomed me as a comrade.
Having gained my first equal comrades...
I was happy about that, yet at the same time...
...somewhere deep down, I felt guilty.
Even though we didn't pry into each other's pasts...
I was convinced that no one was more sinful than me.
If anyone knew my past, they'd surely want to avoid me.
...Looking back on it now, after all this time...
I realize how deeply entrenched my own assumptions were...
I feel ashamed.
Yes...
That my comrades would shun me was also just my own delusion.
...I learned this after I had left Devil's Palace on my own accord...
After receiving my master's permission...
When I returned to the mansion once more.
Far from avoiding me...
They held a welcome party for me.
Hanamaru: Veggies good, dessert good, no alcohol... Yep, the welcome party prep is all set now.
Haures: All that's left is to call Nac and the Master. Someone should go get them from their rooms...
Nac: ...Excuse me.
Lamli: Huh? Nac? Hey~ I told you to wait in your room until the party started.
Nac: Yes, but before that... I wanted to convey my feelings to everyone.
Miyaji: Nac-kun's feelings...?
Nac: Yes. First of all, this time... Because of me, I caused everyone a great deal of trouble. Once again, I offer my deepest apologies.
And... Knowing of my past deeds... Many must have been offended. That is only natural. However you may feel about it, I hold no grudge.
But l... Still wish to serve my Lord, with all my heart. What I have done in the past is unforgivable, but... As long as you grant me your forgiveness... I am prepared to risk my very life to protect you more than ever before.
...That is my honest state of mind at this moment. I wanted to take this opportunity to convey my feelings once more...
Berrien: Nac-kun...
Lamli: Yes, yes. Still so stiff, aren't you~. Just when we're about to get the party started, hey. How about reading the room a little?
Lucas: Huh... I'm sure it's not just us—Master is looking forward to the party too.
Nac.
If you wouldn't mind, could you escort Master to the venue?
Nac: ...Is that alright?
Lamli: Huh? You don't want to? Then I'll go instead...
Nac: Thank you, everyone. I'll be off then.
Lamli: Tch… That Nac...
Fine.
Well, just for today, since he's the star, I'll let it slide.
Nac: At that moment, I...
...repeated words of gratitude in my heart.
That someone would accept my detestable past...
Nothing could make me happier.
Of course, I didn't think my sins were erased.
The weight of the guilt I bear remains unchanged...
But I...
Ever since I was born, I've carried something...
Responsibility, pressure, guilt...
No matter how heavy they became, I fulfilled my duty.
...That has never changed.
Once, as heir to the Stein family, my mission was to eradicate evil.
After becoming a demon butler, my mission became defeating angels...
And now...
Protecting my Master is the greatest mission of my life...
Just one thing.
There is one difference from how I lived before.
That is...
I have begun to think about how to live after fulfilling my mission.
The old me would have thought, "Fulfilling my mission is the sole purpose of my life."
But now...
I gaze beyond my mission.
With these hands, I will protect my master to the end...
And someday, when the world finds peace...
...even if the past cannot be erased...
...if my master is by my side...
For the first time...
I feel I can walk my own path.
At the end of that road...
I wonder if I might even find the ordinary happiness I never imagined...
Still...
If that were to happen, it would be a long way off.
For now, my only mission is to protect my master, even at the cost of my own life.
By my master's side...
Dreaming of a future that will someday come...
Fufu... Right now, I must be...
The happiest man in the history of the Stein family.
End
This is my first card translation, so I hope it came out well🥹
English isn't my first language, so there may be errors.
