Botsuraku Youtei
Chapter 104
It seems like the money I received from Barol was a bit more than I expected since I could buy five whole pies with it.
I wanted that mysterious, pretty girl to also have the freshly-baked pies. And so I hurried back to the building in which I woke up. Going back now, what was I thinking leaving the doors unlocked with a pretty girl sleeping inside? Although, I wasn't really in the right mind when I woke up either. When I got back, I found the girl sleeping peacefully, so it was all good for now.
Looking at her again, she really is a very beautiful person.
Her skin is so smooth that I feel like touching them a bit. But that would end up being sexual harassment so I stopped myself. Although I brought some pie, the mysterious, pretty girl still wouldn't wake up. She was peacefully sleeping inside the white cocoon.
I would like her to wake up before it gets cold but I have no idea when she will be waking up. What exactly happened to us? I couldn't remember no matter how hard I tried so I stopped thinking about it.
At this rate, the pies will go to waste…
I brought the pies as close to the cocoon as possible and made it so that the mysterious girl could get a sniff of its good smell which could act as a stimulus.
"…..Nnn……"
……The mysterious girl let out a voice.
This is unexpected. I wanted to try and see if her appetite for food could wake her up but this is an unexpected result.
I tried letting her sniff it again.
"Ah……"
What is this feeling, like I have conquered something?
Come on, try sniffing it again.
"Kyaa……"
She let out a louder voice than before, making her cheeks red. This might be heaven. And this pretty girl in front of me might be the goddess-giving me reward for piling up good deeds? No, let's think straight.
I tried doing that a few more times and she moved her body a bit each time.
Is she waking up?
This time, her finger clearly moved. And next, strength came into her whole body as she woke up and opened her eyes.
Her big, pretty eyes were visible through the transparent cocoon. She looked even prettier than when she was asleep. Although her impression of being strong-willed also feels more apparent now.
It seems like she didn't quite understand what was going on but she still immediately tore apart the cocoon wrapping her with both hands.
And naturally, her awareness was now set towards me.
"Who are you?"
"I don't know myself."
"….I wonder if you are a dangerous person."
"I don't think so. I just can't remember anything. Well, can you remember who you are?"
"Of course, I am…… Hmm? Who am I?"
"Right? I was like that too."
"Ah, I see…"
She looked around the building once again. There was no signs of living and there was also another cocoon the same as hers beside hers.
"Have you awakened just now as well?"
"No, I awakened a bit earlier. And I bought these from outside. Pies, they are extremely delicious."
She took the pie I offered but looked kinda reluctant to eat it.
"Try eating it-you must be very hungry."
"Y-yes……"
She nervously took a bit.
……Nom.
……Nomnom.
……Nomnomnom, mmmm—-!!
She ended up putting the whole pie in her mouth, making her cheeks swell and turn red as tears of deep emotion came pouring out her eyes. And for some reason I am not quite sure of, she also thrusted her hands to the air as if she had triumphed,
"Umm…… can I get another……"
"Here."
I had predicted she would ask for another and so I handed over another. I also showed her the rest to let her know there's more but she also put that one in her mouth in one go and again thrusted her fist of victory.
And right afterwards, she clogged her throat and I had to save her from writhing in agony…… which I thought would be better if I remove from my memory. I wouldn't want to remember something that would ruin her prettiness.
"Fuu, I feel somewhat happy now that my stomach is full."
"About to remember something about yourself?"
"Nope, not at all."
I guess that is also natural. I also ate the pie but didn't go through any change either. It didn't seem like a full belly would bring back memories, after all.
"Hey, what should I call you?"
She looked into my face and asked.
That's a tough question. What shall I be called? I can't even remember anything about myself.
And suddenly, I remembered the stuff that happened in that old man's blacksmith. The one who made that famous sword, Kururi Helan, was it? Seems like he was quite talented but died a few years ago. To be honest, I was a bit jealous of his fame. Because I felt like I could make swords just as good as his, if not better. That's what my instinct tells me.
"I guess… I will go by the name Kururi."
I don't have a clear reason behind it but I kinda felt right to borrow that name for now.
"Hmmm, it kinda has this loose feeling to it-it resembles you."
What harsh things this girl says. I had thought she would have a very strong personality, looks like I was on point.
"And what about you?"
"Eh?! Me too?"
"Of course. It must be some kind of fate to have met here so let's decide on what to call you too. Besides, you also made fun of my name. Please, let me see what good sense of naming you have."
I provoked her a bit. She did call my name loose, so this much should be fine.
"H-how about E… Eri?"
She said, looking restless.
Eri… Eri, eh? Hmm, it is frustrating to admit but that's kinda cute. Sounds good.
"W-well?!"
"Hmm, it sounds a bit childish, I guess?"
In a flash, two hands came rushing at my neck. I barely dodged it but was she trying to strangle me? That's seriously absurd! Strong-willed? She isn't that simple! This woman is dangerous!
"Scary! What are you doing?!"
"It's because you insulted it."
"I didn't insult it. By the way, why Eri?"
"….Among the little memory I have left, there's one of a movie I saw long ago. It's a story about how a noble's daughter ran away with a thief and lived happily in a city. That heroine's name was Eriza. Why do I remember this? Well, I guess it doesn't matter. I took it from there."
"Do you look up to this Eriza?"
That might be it. But she was too embarrassed to answer. And instead, different words came out.
"….I hate you."
"The feeling's mutual."
Her face is my type. Of course I wouldn't mention that, though.
After the bloodlust in the atmosphere drifted away and we were thinking about what to do, the door to the house was opened.
"Ah."
A girl came in letting out her voice like that. She looked to be 16 years old with a naive-looking face of a 7 year old. She had thin eyes and tanned skin. She looked like a country girl.
"Ah, you woke up?"
"We woke up, yes."
"Ahaha, I didn't know when you would wake up so I couldn't make any preparations. Sorry about that."
She hurried inside the room and put her cleaning tools at a corner. It seemed like this place was clean thanks to her.
The girl beside me… It seems like Eri also thought that and so we both greeted her with respect.
"You two, there's no need to be so formal. I am just a country girl. And you two are probably of a higher status so I should be the one being formal."
"Probably?"
"Eh, yes. I just thought maybe you two are of the high class. You both have pretty faces so I thought maybe the blood of high class people are in you."
"Sorry, it seems like we can't remember anything. If it's okay with you, could you tell us everything about what you know?"
"Of course! That is also my job, after all. But for now, let me make something. You both are probably hungry, right?"
"That's fine. Just a while ago we had pies from the marketplace."
"Ah, that. I also saw that. It had a really nice scent but it felt like it might get stuck in the throat so I didn't buy it. I am a careless person so I get things stuck in my throat quite often, you see. Getting stuff stuck in the throat is very painful, isn't it? Ah-sorry. I ended up talking about myself. You two seem very elegant, so surely you haven't experienced that. Ahahahaha."
Not like I remember but Eri just got it stuck in her throat a while ago so I can guarantee you're not the only one.
The kind-looking girl sat in front of us and put a finger on her chin, pondering on where to start from.
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Poly. I help around the liquor store my parents run. My dream for the future is to marry a man who can make delicious liquor. I am 16 years old. My favorite foods are foods which go well with liquor. Although, I can't drink liquor. Ahahaha, seeing my parents and the customers at the shop have it, I kinda came to like it as well. And then, you see, long ago, before a friend like……"
"I, I think that's nice. You sure seem like a wonderful person!"
She is really at her own pace! That, I understood.
"Ahahah, thank you very much. I am not praised much so that makes me happy. If you were to say you like me, please become a man who can make liquor. I can't go out with someone who can't make liquor."
"….Yes. I will keep that in mind."
Poly's long introduction came to an end and she again began to wonder where she should start from. Will we really be able to learn of the past?! Surely I am not the only one feeling anxious seeing Poly.
"It was raining that day. My father had agreed to shoulder an old friend's debt after he was requested. That was 10 years ago."
10 years ago?! What are we getting ourselves into?! Can it be that we have been sleeping for 10 years?!
"Ah, they opened the liquor store 12 years ago. Even though I was small, I still remember. I was filled with hope at that time. Those were also good times. I also got a lot of flowers from the neighbors."
The story is going offroad, isn't it? There's no mistake. There's no way we've been sleeping 10 years.
"A lot happened after that and I met you two 3 years ago."
So you're gonna cut it short?! You were a person who would cut short 7 years all along?!!
Well, for what it's worth, she does seem like our savior so I will listen quietly. But, I really wanna say it. Are you seriously cutting out all that?!!
"You, are you not getting a bit hot?"
Eri pointed out to me. Seems like I was getting worked up so much that it was visible.
"And then it seemed like they couldn't pay off the debt and had to let go of the shop. I didn't want that-I really didn't want it and so I desperately protested against it to my parents. But my father said we had no other choice. And mother also just smiled. But I couldn't forgive my father's old friend-who disappeared after making him shoulder the debt. But I could do nothing…"
But I do want you to cut that off. Strongly.
Hearing such a grand story of hardship, Eri and I felt quite a bit down. I really think that old friend is to blame. Really.
"And at that time, a person called Moran appeared. He was an old man but was kinda dandy and I thought I could marry him if he was able to make liquor and what not… Then more stuff happened and he paid off our debt. I was happy. I thought that there were bad people in the world but there are good people too. And so, that Mr. Moran came requesting me to look after you two as he didn't know how much longer he would live."
"And that's us?"
"Yes, that's right. Mr. Moran didn't tell me the details about you two. He just gave me a lot of money 'cause he didn't know when you two will wake up. To be honest, I thought the amount was too much and that with this I could even open a 2nd shop but then I thought that I couldn't do that to another person's kindness and so for the next three years, I rented this empty place and have been taking care of you two. Well, even though I say take care, Mr. Moran said you didn't need food nor baths so I didn't really have much to do. I just had to make sure you two were safe."
"…..Moran."
I couldn't remember that name at all.
"That cocoon was a very impressive magic, wasn't it? I still can't believe you two being awake like this healthily. I was grateful to Mr. Moran for so long-it seems like I will finally be able to repay the debt. Really, thank you for waking up."
"No, thank you too."
Seems like we were saved by this person called Moran at first. He even paid a huge amount of money to the girl for our safety and disappeared.
Why? Why did he do so much for us?
"I can't be thankful enough to Mr. Moran. He even gave me so much money. And that Mr. Moran said you two were very respectable people to him. And so, you two are respectable to me too. Please stay here as long as you like, I will take care of all your troubles."
I even thought that she could have just hid the fact that she received money. But I can tell that she is a very pure person just by looking at her.
"Ms. Poly, thank you very much. I can't remember what happened to us but we were able to wake up like this thanks to you and that Mr. Moran. Please use all the money you received from Mr. Moran for yourself. Now that we have woken up, we will make a living for ourselves by ourselves. Although we might rely on you a bit."
"I will feel guilty to Mr. Moran like that. Please order me anything to do."
That's really okay. At this rate, it will become a dispute so I glanced at Eri for help.
"What kind of work can you do?"
For some reason the question was thrown at me. I guess that is only natural, since I said I would make a living myself. I should have said something more specific, as well.
"I can do smithing. If I had a little fund, I think I could open a shop. Will this house do as the shop? I have confidence in my skills… I think."
"Then, how about borrowing that little fund? And then we will have Ms. Poly be the first customer. If the shop goes well, Ms. Poly wouldn't need to feel guilty to Mr. Moran either, right?"
Looks like I was right to look to her for help. She gave me the precise solution right away. Also, seeing Eri talk so smartly like that, I thought she looked cool.
"That was amazing!"
Seems like Poly also thought the same.
"I really did receive a lot of money so please take as much fund as you like. You were a smith, huh? Ah, I haven't heard your names yet."
"You can call me Kururi."
"Please call me Eri."
"Mr. Kururi and Ms. Eri. Looks like it will get a lot more fun from now on."
Poly stood up, saying 'then let's get to cleaning!' but then turned back to face us again, saying 'ah, right!'.
"There was something Mr. Moran said I should definitely tell you. Umm, please listen carefully."
W-what is it? I kinda feel scared.
"G-go ahead."
"You both have fulfilled your duties. After waking up, please live your lives for your own happiness."
Muttering 'thank God I didn't forget', Poly went back again to get her cleaning tools.
It was a line that showed how kind this Moran person is. Is that why it strangely resonates in my heart?
After that, Poly said she would go clean but we declined and got to cleaning the place ourselves. It's the house we will be living in for a while. We should be the ones cleaning it thoroughly. I looked around the room while cleaning. There's basically nothing in the room so it feels very lonely. That made me think that we also need to get some furniture.
Hmm?
I had a little doubt so I called out to Eri, who was cleaning diligently beside me.
"Umm, about the conversation with Poly. Judging from how you said that last bit, it kinda felt like you will be staying here too?"
"Isn't that obvious? I don't have anywhere else to go. Half of this is my territory."
Territory? That's grandiose.
"Will you perhaps be helping out with the shop too?"
"Of course. I don't feel like I will be able to do any other job either. With my beauty, wouldn't people still come to buy the swords even if they are bad?"
"That's rude. You will fall in love when you see my skills. In the first place, why do you know you're pretty? You just woke up."
"Hmm, you have been looking at me frequently, haven't you? That's proof enough."
Uuuu…… So she knew.
"I guess I have no choice. Let's work hard together."
I said while extending my hand. But she just looked away. Looks like she won't handshake for reconciliation.
"What? That's not nice, you know?"
"I did say I do not like you."
"But we will have to work together, right? Then it will be hard if you hate me."
"I do hate you. But I don't hate your face. So I will tolerate it."
Eri said and left to clean the 2nd floor.
…… Hmm, well, that works. Hmm? So she doesn't hate my face…? Ahh, that woman, don't tell me! Ts-tsundere?! Is she a tsundere?!!