Chapter 236 (1/2)
The large enterprise called tourism had started, and the Zadark Kingdom had taken a new step forward.
Friendship with mankind, and peace for the Mazoku. The Zadark Kingdom had started to see the future that Demon King Vermudol desired, but right now, within that nation, there was a strange rumor floating about.
It was a sort of ghost story. However, as the days passed, there gradually started to be people who discussed that rumor with serious faces.
And then, today as well, in a bar in the Zadark Kingdom’s Western town of Aizaido, there was a Norm and a Beastia talking about that rumor.
「I’m tellin’ ya, it seems to come out.」
「So you’re talkin’ about that story again. You’re not drunk already, are ya?」
Maybe because he believed that he already knew what the Norm woman was starting to talk about, the fox Beastia man had a fed up look on his face as he leaned his back onto the chair and looked up at the sky.
The Norm woman was a bit irritated by that man’s attitude, and hit the table with a *ban*.
「Grock. I’m talkin’ seriously here. Besides, I still haven’t had even a single cup yet today.」
「Ou, of course ya are. You’re always sober and deadly serious. Not too long ago, you made a serious face and said that Margaret-sama had gigantified and grappled with a Dragon or something, didn’t ya. At that time, how many cups did you have?」
「Grock!」
When the Norm woman hit the table again, Grock breathed a tired sounding sigh.
「Alright, alright, I got it. So, who are you sayin’ came out this time. Is it Deddedo-sama? Or is it Iifon-sama?」
「I told you to listen to me seriously.」
「And I am listenin’ to you seriously. If i wasn’t I would have long started drinkin’ already. Ah, sorryー, she and I will have some Ringil Alcohol. The biggest size you’ve got. Also, some snacks to go along with that. No, not somethin’ like skewers, some deep-fried food like -gue!」
「Ya want me ta fry you up! Huh, dammit! I told ya ta listen ta my story!」
The Norm woman jumped over the table, got onto Grock’s lap, and pulled his nose.
What she was trying to talk about was one of the rumors, and the names that Grock brought up were the names of people who might be related to that rumor.
That rumor was something that was extraordinarily simple.
I saw a guy who should be dead. It was a story that could be finished up with that single sentence.
Since it was way too absurd, most people who heard that would say this.
You were either drunk, or that was actually an Amoeba.
If one was an Amoeba, they would resuscitate when given enough time. Plus, there might be cases where an Amoeba would borrow the appearance of a dead Mazoku when they resuscitate.
For example, 「Arum the Explosive Flame」, who was famous in the East, had changed their appearance several times, and was said to currently have the appearance of a little twin-tailed girl.
Even if Arum, who still revived after being turned to small pieces by the East’s strongest, 「Fainell the Thunder Blade」, was special, Amoebas were creatures that were extraordinarily tough and capable of having an ever-changing appearance.
That’s why it wasn’t strange whatsoever for an Amoeba to be hanging around with the appearance of a dead person.
「Gueh, gegoh, st, stop it, Chaktuu! You’re gonna warp my prided nose!」
「Shut up! Polishin’ up yer nose whenever you have the time each and every day!」
「Gueー, my, my nose is gonna be pulled off!」
Even now, when Chaktuu was pulling on Grock’s nose, the Norms and Beastia around them were cheering on saying “keep on going”.
The two of them fighting was an everyday occurrence, and the two of them also knew when to stop.
That is why there was almost no one who tried to stop them……but on this day, it was a bit different.
「Now, now, can we leave it at that?」
「Ah?」
Chaktuu, who was still grabbing Grock’s nose, turned around to face the voice that she heard……then unconsciously let go.
The one who was standing there, was a single young man that was expressing a gentle smile.
No, his height wasn’t tall enough to be called a young man.
He had blue hair and blue eyes, and his looks that still had some childishness remaining in them were also cute.
Feeling that warm and gentle atmosphere that the young man possessed, Chaktuu unconsciously had her malice removed.
The young man had enough charm to make her do that, and even the female employees were doing their work while turning around to look at the young man several times.
He had a casual appearance, but a black sword with some sort of flashy design was hanging on the young man’s waist. Although that was a bit unbalanced, just the fact that he possessed it made it seem like it was vaguely a charming type of fashion.
「I am sorry for that, even though I don’t even know the circumstances. I might have instead caused a bit of trouble for you.」
「Eh!? Ah, no. Th, that ain’t the case at all! A, ahaha! Sorry ’bout that, showin’ ya somethin’ so disgraceful!」
「O, oi, Chaktuu……」
Grock unconsciously extended a hand out towards Chaktuu, but due to her jumping off of his lap, that hand fruitlessly cut through air.
「Ahー, I thought that you were small for a Majin, but it looks like I’m still the shorter oneー」
「Ahaha, looks like it. But for me, I really would like it if I were a bit taller though.」
「That so? It’d be a bit troublin’ if there were nothin’ but huge guys around here though. Besides……」
「Uoi!」
Maybe because he couldn’t take it anymore, Grock stood up from his chair and pulled Chaktuu close.
「What the heck, Grock. Don’t just shout all of a sudden. Yer bein’ a bother, ya know.」
「Don’t you go tellin’ me that! Rather, oi oi! Why did ya suddenly calm down with some unknown guy!」
「It’s not really something that you should be bothered about, right, Grock?」
「Ah, erm. This is troubling.」
The young man scratched his cheek, and displayed a look that said he wasn’t sure what he should do.
Grock sternly glared at the young man, then stepped up in front of the young man.
「Ahー, well. Sorry about earlier. It was our bad for startin’ somethin’ like a fight at the shop. So, I’m a craftsman called Grock, but who are you. You’re not from around here, are ya.」
Certainly, there was no one who had seen the young man’s figure in this area before. If a young man like this were in the town, putting the men aside, he was confident that the women wouldn’t forget him.
「Ah, now that you mention it, I haven’t introduced myself.」
After saying that, the young man sent a smile with no hostility towards Grock.
Seeing that look, Grock, who was completely showing hostility, unconsciously went “ugh” and nodded.
Feeling as if he had come to realize how small his own caliber was, Grock ended up sinking into silence just like that.
And then, the young man held his hand out to Grock as he was like that.
「My name is, Lumon. Part of the Eastern Army’s unit in charge of the Lulugal Forest……I was the commanding officer. Ah, I’m off duty for today though.」
Hearing the name “Eastern Army”, Grock’s wariness loosened.
When speaking of the Eastern Army, there was a rumor that it was mostly comprised of guys in the 「Fainell Fan Club」 who idolized the Eastern General Fainell.
Of course, the truth was different, and Fainell would undoubtedly fly into a rage if she were to hear that, but having believed in that rumor without any particular basis, Grock breathed out a breath of relief.
He thought that in that case, this man that introduced himself as Lumon wouldn’t steal Chaktuu away.
Having his vigilance undone, Grock made an insincere smile to Lumon.
「Ahー, is, is that so. Sorry ’bout that, gettin’ belligerent and all.」
「No, I don’t mind. I was the one who poked my nose into the conversation after all.」
「Is, is that so. It really helps for you say that.」
While scratching the back of his head, Grock made an apathetic laughter.
When he did, Chaktuu came out from behind him, and grabbed Lumon’s hand that was still being held out.
「Well, in any case, thanks. I’m Chaktuu. I’m this idiot’s senpai as a craftsman. Ya sure are a weird guy to come to the West while off duty. There’s nothing here, right?」
「Th, that’s right. You’re a weird guy, haha……kuh, you…hahaha!」
Grock did his best to try and tear away Chaktuu’s hand that was tightly gripping Lumon’s hand, but he was glared at by Chaktuu and had no choice but to fall silent.
Seeing that Grock had become submissive, Chaktuu suddenly let go of Lumon’s hand.
「Erm……That’s true. My business here isn’t because I had something in particular to do. It’s just, look. The tourism had started, right?」
「Ahー, pretty much. But the West isn’t related to that, right?」
「That’s right, that’s right, if you’re gonna go sightseeing, you should go to the South and -buah」
After Chaktuu grabbed Grock’s nose again to shut him up, she then shrugged her shoulders.
「Well, it’s just as this idiot says. The West has been left out from the tourism plan. What’s there to see in a place like this?」
「Well, I came here thinking that I’d instead try going to a place that’s quiet and isn’t a tourist attraction.」
Chaktuu unconsciously burst into laughter at Lumon who was laughing with an “Ahaha”.
「Ya sure are a weird guy, aren’t cha!」
「Ahaha, I’m told that often. So, I’d like you to tell a weird guy something weird. Is that alright?」
「That way of sayin’ that is also weird, haha. That’s fine, what do ya wanna hear about?」
After Lumon gave a nod to Chaktuu, he made an order for his own juice to the employee that was straining their ears to listen.
Seeing off the employee as they hurriedly withdraw to the back, Lumon returned his gaze to Chaktuu.
「That story that you were trying to tell earlier before you two started fighting, I’d like you to tell me about it.」
「Eh?」
Lumon smiled at Chaktuu who had unconsciously asked that in return.
「What I’m saying is that rumor from earlier. Won’t you please let me hear it?」
Saying “I really like those sorts of stories……”, Lumon pulled up a nearby chair.
「Do you know a Majin called Meshram?」
「Nnー……No, I don’t. What kind of person was he?」
「Nah, I haven’t met him either.」
After Lumon shook his head sideways, Chaktuu also said that and shrugged her shoulders.
It was there that Grock opened his mouth with an “ahー”.