[Akuneko TL] Crowther Knox Initial Card 2 Story 【荒事の流儀 / The Art of Rough Combat】
⚠️ I'm not a professional translator, so errors and mistranslations may occur. Thank you for your understanding.
❌ Please dont repost my translations or use them for machine learning, AI training, or any data collection purposes.
EPISODE 1
Some time had passed since Crowther became a Devil Butler.
As I walked near the hall, I overheard Haures and Nac talking about Crowther.
Haures : …So, Crowther-san still hasn't returned?
Nac : No. He said he'd be back by morning…
Haures : I see. Then I suppose inviting him to a sparring match today is out of the question.
Aruji : Is something wrong?
Haures : Ah, Aruji-sama. Good morning.
Nac : Good morning. It seems Crowther-san hasn't returned since last night…
Aruji : What? Where did he go?
Nac : He said he was "heading into town on mafia business"… but that's all he told us.
Haures : Still, it's not unusual for him to head out in the middle of the night, so… I don't think there's much cause for concern.
Aruji : I see.
Haures : Yes. After all, he's pulling double duty as both a Devil Butler and a mafia boss.
Haures : I hear his Family can operate even when he's absent… though it seems his subordinates still end up relying on him.
Nac : Oh? Speak of the devil…
Crowther : I'm back. Nothing unusual happened while I was away, I hope?
Aruji : Welcome back, Crowther.
Crowther : Oya? Goshujin-sama. Coming all the way out to greet me? That's rather adorable of you.
Haures : Crowther-san, your return was quite late. You had Aruji-sama worried. I understand you're busy, but please remember your duties as a butler.
Crowther : Don't be so quick to scold me. This job was necessary for my work as a butler as well.
Aruji : Necessary for your work as a butler…?
Crowther : Heh… Curious, are you?
In that case, why don't the three of you lend me a hand?
It concerns our precious Goshujin-sama's safety, after all…
And since you've all pretended to be mafia members before, this should be easy enough for you.
Accepting Crowther's invitation, I headed toward Slick's underworld.
[Black Fade]
= Later That Night =
Since we were heading somewhere dangerous, Haures and Nac came along as well.
Nac : Crowther-san, it's about time you explained what this "job" actually is.
You said it concerns Aruji-sama's safety… but what exactly are we going to do in the underworld?
Crowther : Heh… My men recently picked up some interesting information.
Apparently, a group of fools with a death wish is plotting revenge against the Devil Butlers.
Aruji : Revenge…?
Crowther : That's right. Some time ago, one of you wiped out an assassin organization, didn't you?
The survivors have gathered together to form a new organization.
their rallying cry is "revenge."
Which is why… tonight, we're crashing their meeting.
Nac : …The remnants we failed to eliminate, huh…
I see. As the mafia boss, you can crush a rising organization before it gains strength…
And as a Devil Butler, you can protect Aruji-sama's safety.
So that's what you meant.
Crowther : Exactly. Feeling a little more motivated now?
Ah… We're almost there.
Haures, stop the carriage. We'll continue on foot from here.
Quietly… And boldly.
Let's storm the place.
Men in Suits: Gah…!
[Black Fade]
= Assassin Organization Hideout =
Men in Suits: Ugh… T-they're too strong…
Crowther : I couldn't agree more.
As allies, their strength is incredibly reassuring.
Now do you understand just how foolish it is to seek revenge against the Devil Butlers?
Haures : …Though I'd say you're quite formidable yourself, Crowther-san.
Nac : Indeed.
When it comes to fighting people, you're exceptionally skilled.
I suppose that's only natural for someone who rose through the underworld by sheer ability.
Crowther : Oh, stop.
I've always been a man who loves peace.
If violence can be avoided, all the better.
The ideal outcome is resolving things through intimidation alone.
Crowther : Though…
Sometimes you need to make an example of someone for those threats to carry weight.
Haures : …!
Crowther-san… what are you planning to do?
Crowther : Isn't it obvious?
I'm going to make sure they never do something this foolish again.
That way, others won't get any similar ideas in the future.
Aruji : Don't tell me…
Man in Suit: Eek…! P-Please… spare me…
Haures : Crowther-san.
We are Devil Butlers—not murderers.
We should hand these men over to the military police…
And let them be judged according to the law.
Crowther : My, my.
How naïve. These men had their organization destroyed once already…
And yet they still came back, obsessed with revenge.
Crowther : Men this stubborn…
The only use they have is serving as an example.
Man in Suit: P-Please forgive us!
We swear we'll never lay a hand on you again!
Crowther : That's a lie.
Men like you bare your fangs the moment you see an opening.
Crowther : Unlike the other Devil Butlers…
I'm not so forgiving.
Tough luck.
Crowther sank deeply into a chair.
As if savoring the exchange, he continued speaking to the man kneeling before him.
He looked every bit the king of the underworld…
Overflowing with the dignity and authority of a true mafia boss.
Crowther : But at the same time…
I'm still the boss of the Knox Family.
This city is under the Family's control.
Crowther : Which means…
I am the law here.
So why should I hesitate to clean up this city…
By taking out worthless trash?
Nac : …Crowther-san.
As I've already said, we are Aruji-sama's butlers.
Even so, if you insist on acting against Aruji-sama's wishes…
Then we have no choice but to stop you.
Crowther : Excellent.
That's exactly how a loyal butler should behave.
…So?
Crowther : What do you think, Goshujin-sama?
These are the people who tried to harm you.
Are you really going to tell me to forgive them?
His tone remained calm…
But his eyes gleamed dimly, as though testing my resolve.
Even so, I couldn't back down.
To protect the trust that all the butlers had worked so hard to build…
I had to stand my ground.
Aruji : …Let's leave the rest to the military police.
Crowther : Heh… I see.
Even I ended up asking a question whose answer I already knew.
Crowther's smile never faltered, as though he had expected that answer all along.
Or perhaps everything that had happened today…
Had unfolded exactly according to his plan.
Crowther : Well then.
If that's settled, today's job is finished.
Cleaning up always leaves me feeling refreshed. Nice bit of exercise, too.
Crowther rose from his chair and walked past the man kneeling on the floor.
At that very moment…
I caught a glimpse of something gleaming beneath the man's jacket.
Man in Suit: …
…Crowther…
You… lapdog of the Devil Butlers!!
Aruji : Crowther, look out!
Before I could even finish shouting, the man lunged at Crowther's back with a blade.
Yet even faster than the attack itself…
Crowther's sword flashed, slicing cleanly across the man's arm.
Man in Suit: Gah…!
Crowther : Whoa, that was close.
I almost killed him by accident.
But…
This much qualifies as self-defense, doesn't it?
Nac : …Crowther-san…
You… You deliberately left yourself open, didn't you?
Crowther : Who knows… Whatever could you mean?
======================
EPISODE 2
Later that night…
After everything was over, I returned to my room.
Crowther came with me.
The two of us had something we needed to discuss.
Crowther : Good work today,Goshujin-sama.
So? What did you think of seeing the mafia's work up close?
Heh… Even though you're exhausted, you wanted to speak with me alone…
Is it because you want to praise me for eliminating the danger before it could reach you?
Crowther : Or…
Did you summon me here to reprimand me as the Aruji-sama of the Devil Butlers?
Choose whichever you like…
Just choose carefully.
Aruji : I simply wanted to talk with you.
Crowther : I see.
You're an unusual one yourself.
Right after going through something so frightening…
You still wanted to talk with the very man who caused it.
Aruji : Frightening'…?
Crowther : Yes.
here's no point pretending otherwise.
You watched a man prepare to take another person's life right before your eyes.
Crowther : Of course you were afraid.
And I have no intention of pretending to be someone I'm not.
That was the real me.
Even if I've become your butler…
Crowther : I can't change the way I've lived my life.
The reason I deliberately showed you who I really am…
Was because I wanted you to know exactly what kind of man stands beside you.
As my goshujin-sama…
You have the right to know everything about me.
Aruji : …So that's why you did all of that…
Watching a genuine mafia boss pursue his objective without mercy…
I couldn't deny that it had sent a chill down my spine.
At the same time, though…
Everything he did had been for one purpose:
To prevent anyone from seeking revenge against the Devil Butlers.
Crowther had acted for our sake—as a butler.
That much hadn't changed.
And in the end… He spared the attacker's life.
That choice… Was proof that he had respected my wishes.
Aruji : Thank you… for everything today.
Crowther : "Thank you"…?
And what exactly are you thanking me for?
Aruji : Because you granted my request in the end.
Crowther : …Ah.
You mean not killing them.
I wouldn't say I granted your request.
Crowther : It would be more accurate to say I had no choice.
Even if I had intended to kill them…
The others would've stopped me.
Crowther : To be honest…
I still think your decision was too soft.
No matter how heartless it may seem, it's better to eliminate future problems entirely.
That's the responsibility of anyone who leads an organization.
You have an important mission to fulfill, don't you?
Aruji : …That…
Crowther : …Though, listen to me.
I sound like I'm lecturing you.
Truth be told…
I don't dislike a kind-hearted leader who can't bring themselves to be completely ruthless.
Crowther : But that kindness is also your greatest weakness.
Those survivors we dealt with today…
They were once members of the organization that kidnapped you by exploiting the Devil Butlers' compassion.
Crowther : Am I wrong?
Remaining a good person…
Can sometimes become a set of chains that limits your choices.
If every time you reach a crossroads, you always choose the same path…
Your enemies will simply wait there and lay a trap.
Crowther : That's why…
You need someone who can choose the other road.
Someone who can walk the path you and the others could never bring yourselves to take…
Without the slightest hesitation.
…You understand what I'm getting at, don't you?
Aruji : …You're saying that person should be you, Crowther?
Crowther : Exactly.
The one willing to dirty his hands for your sake…
Is standing right here. I belong to the underworld.
Crowther : My hands have been stained from the very beginning.
I have no hesitation about staining them further.
Naturally…
I'll make sure the public never learns of it.
Crowther : The Devil Butlers' reputation will remain untarnished.
That's all I wanted to tell you.
I'm not asking for your permission.
From now on…
I'll continue doing whatever I deem necessary…
Out of your sight, and in secret.
The only reason I told you…
Crowther : Was because, as the boss of the Knox Family…
I wanted to do things properly.
Aruji : …Crowther…
Perhaps…
Everything Crowther had said was true.
There might come a day when someone would have to make the ruthless choice.
And if Crowther intended to shoulder that burden in secret…
I doubted I had the power to stop him.
Even so…
There was one thing in his words that I simply couldn't let pass
Aruji : You're not one of 'you all' anymore.
Crowther : …Hm? What do you mean?
Crowther always referred to me and the other Devil Butlers as "you all."
But to me… Crowther was one of the Devil Butlers too.
No matter what he thought of himself…
That was something I wanted him to know.
Aruji : From now on… say 'we' instead.
Crowther : …! …….
Crowther : …I see.
You're right.
Up until now, whenever I said "we"…
Crowther : I was referring to the Family.
It seems I've been avoiding the word without even realizing it.
Apparently, I still lacked a sense of belonging as one of the Devil Butlers.
Crowther : …A good observation.
I'll keep that in mind, Goshujin-sama.
For the first time that night…
My words caught Crowther completely off guard.
Yet it lasted only a moment.
Soon, his usual composed expression returned, along with the dignified smile he always wore.
I could only hope…
That my feelings had reached, if only a little, the cold heart hidden behind that smile.
Even after he left the room…
That was all I could wish for.
Crowther : ……
= A Short While Later =
[Black Fade]
Mafia subordinate : Boss.
Mafia subordinate : Just as planned, we've paid off the military police standing guard.
The men in custody can be… dealt with whenever you give the order.
hall we begin?
Crowther : ….....
Crowther : No…
Postpone the plan.
For now, just keep them under surveillance.
Mafia subordinate : …What?
But…
If we leave them alive, won't they just cause trouble again later?
Crowther : I know.
As the boss of the Family…
I'd rather erase them this very moment.
Crowther : But… It seems this is how we…
…the Devil Butlers, do things.
Mafia subordinate : …..! Boss…...
Crowther : …Heh.
That kind of innocence almost managed to take the edge off me.
Well… Since I'm still the newcomer…
Crowther : I'll follow the way my superiors do things for the time being.
Until the day comes… When they truly need someone like me from the bottom of their hearts…
END