*Unedited
When I looked up the sky, the stars were shining dazzlingly. This world is yet polluted, from the fresh air and the clear sky which the stars glittered brightly. The feeling of travelling after crossing the Iza river, as well as the drop in temperature might play a part in me feeling this way as well.
” …..Why? ”
The inns were looked suspicious. And in spite of this being a city / town for the country’s border, there were hardly any inns around. And when evening came, none of the existing inns had any space.
So we ended up setting up camp.
” …..Why? ”
Sharp-sighted Shiro noticed me slumping my shoulders and muttering to myself.
” Hm? What’s that, Master? ”
” …..Even though it’s my first trip overseas…. Even though it is going to be my first time staying at an inn…. ”
Something was definitely messing with me. Like how I got a address-unknown-jobless Onii-san as a reward for me crushing a illegal slave merchant, or how I was camping in the streets despite being my first overseas trip.
” It’s because you have a disaster constitution. ”
As I was raking my brains for an answer, Shiro dropped a bomb on me. The sudden attack made me jumped around in surprise.
So..so that’s how it was…
I, who had an average face and was not popular like those main-characters.
Ah, but I had a feeling these days, the Light Bell… I was so shaken that my language ability took a hit… Light Novel, or LN for short, featured ordinary MC. Ordinary yet surrounded by high-leveled oddballs and caused trouble for them.
” …Ha ha ha.. ”
I see, so that was it.
My god. This was nothing to laugh at. There was no way I can laugh at this.
I mean, disaster constitution, disaster constitution….
Oi oi, really, what did the First Founder taught this Sacred Beast(Shiro)? Why was he taught all these ridiculous nouns and verbs?!
I can’t. It’s exhausting to talk to him every time.
And when this exchanged was taking place..
” Gwah.. ”
A groan sounded somewhere down from where we were. By reflex, the both of us turned towards the origin of the noise. The man made a noise like he wanted to get up.
Shiro moved towards the man who was stirring by rolling a little on the ground. Please don’t scold him for rolling. There was no space in the horse carriage available for an injured man to sleep, Watson. No place.
No no no, I did not hear anything like it’s cold outside.
” Are you, awake? ”
I squatted beside Onii-san and looked at him. He groaned.
” ..Ah..er…Where’s…here? ”
He frowned in agony as he pushed himself up.
” We’re outdoors~ ”
I said, directing an innocent smile at him. Having to act innocently after a while was quite painful.
” ……eh. ”
Please don’t stare at me like that, my mouth was cramping.
” ….Onii-san? ”
After continuously calling him, he turned towards me suddenly. He must still be half-asleep just now. He then started to look around, turning his face left and right. Slapping his own cheeks with his hands, he nodded to himself, finally calmed.
” ……Willia-chan, do you know why are we outside? ”
” I will be explaining that instead. ”
When I was about casually give some answer in a child-like way, Zirco-san came out of the carriage at the perfect time. As ever, his Jill Stuart-mode was perfect. Be it the speed he can changed his clothes, be it his acting, be it his appearance, if it was Earth, he could became the best illusionist there.
Surprised, Onii-san turned towards Zirco-san and nodded frantically. Well, to see the sky dark when you woke up, was rather surprising. Anyone would want to know what happened. Sorry, currently, I was a innocent-child character. Though I did want to explained it to you as soon as possible.
” Firstly, here is a little away from the north gate’s streets. ”
I nodded self-importantly at Zirco-san’s words. As there were no available inns, we went out of the streets as we had decided to camp. We were planning to head towards the center of Hattuo so it did not matter which direction we headed out, so we randomly choose a place to camp.
By the way, the checkpoint was at the south gate.
” So it’s Foir Centeru Street…right? ”
” Yes. After catching the illegeal slave merchants, we wanted to look for other inns. But they turned us down as they don’t allow Beastmen and before we knew it, it was evening and every place had been filled. So we ended up setting up camp instead. It doesn’t matter as we are aiming to go to the center of Hattuo anyway. ”
How rare was it to see the ever-smiling Zirco-san. How rare was it to see Zirco-san talk for so long.
” Why was I…..? ”
The obvious question. Why was he even carried along? Because we had discussed and decided to carry him along. Zirco-san smiled, a fatherly, gentle yet slightly troubled smile that makes people feel like destroying it.
Damn it, stick that smile up your nose!
” You quit your job as a soldier right? ”
” About that, your captain was in cahoots with the slave dealer, which was why he stopped you. It is partly my fault for you losing your job and I cannot just leave you alone at the street as it was dangerous, so I took you along without asking. ”
” ….The captain is? Damn it, I finally get his attitude. Rather, how did you guys know? ”
Looking regretful while spewing abusive language, Onii-san asked, as expected, the reason.
” Ah, I just politely ask him to talk. ”
I was assaulted by Zirco-san’s smile. His eyes were not smiling. Somehow, he felt like someone I knew…
Onii-san gulped.
I get it! Zirco-san referenced his friend(John-sensei) for his character! I finally got that weird deja vu feeling off my chest. That was why that smile had such power behind it.
Onii-san turned slightly pale. I get you, my friend, I get you. Ignoring the pale Onii-san, Zirco-san continued.
” And so, what are you planning to do from now? ”
” Since you quit the military, I supposed you can’t continue to stay in Flowason. Do you have a destination in mind? ”
” …. Ah,no… ”
Onii-san only seem to realized that after being told by Zirco-san.
” In that case. ”
Zirco-san paused, before continuing.
” There is something I would like to discuss with you. If you don’t mind, I would like to hire you. It is my fault that you ended up like this and I do have connections. If you prefer to enter into other occupation, I can introduce you. ”
After digesting what Zirco-san said, the stunned Onii-san stood up.
” Do you mean you want me to be Willia-chan’s guard?! Wahh… ”
Ah ah.
He stood up in rush but instantly fell flat back onto the ground. He seem to had forgotten the pain he felt earlier. His muscle ache. That was the payment for forcing mana, which he hardly use, into his muscle to get them to move beyond their capacity.
” Argh…oww…. ”
Looking at the sprawled Onii-san, Zirco-san and I looked at each other and nodded.
” Masterzzz, it seems like there is a soldier near Williamzz. ”
The huge demon, sitting on the sofa, twisted it’s body, holding a big bee-like demon beast. A bee that was almost like a hornet, it’s weapon jutting from it’s butt looked even more atrocious. Although it was dancing around the demon’s hand obediently but raging around was most likely it’s default state.
It would attack anything that moved. To add on, the poison from it’s sting was lethal. Anyone who saw the hornet-like creature would frantically forced down their screams as they slowly back up.
” What? ….How convenient. So Hornet could speak. ”
In contrast, Spinel was moving towards the sofa agitatedly. As a matter of course. Hornet, and even the Demon was his summoned beasts. He shouldn’t be afraid of his own summoned beasts. But Spinel’s face was paler than usual. Even so, his self-mocking smile was still playing on his face.
” What are you saying, my beast. There is no way you can’t understand each other. ”
Demon answered as he stroked the hornet.
” That is true. Where are they now? ”
” The road near Foir Centeru Streetzz. ”
After getting that information, they turned and faced Spinel, who smirked wryly as he started walking.
” Well then. Let us invite them to our house, shall we? ”
Laughing inside, Spinel’s job was ending soon. It won’t be perfect, but it shouldn’t be difficult to get it done. He was going to give it his all.
As he felt his body being eaten up little by little from the inside, he looked out the window. The stars were glittering and sparkling brightly. But now, Spinel could feel a closeness to a falling ‘star’ instead.