Jidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta ore wa Meikyuu o Samayou
Author: Hiru Kuma
—
Everyone had strengthened their determination to oppose the strongest enemy, the Ruler of the Netherworld, and when Ramis left the meeting room with me in hand, I don't know what he's thinking, but Mishael cut around to my front.
"Hakkon-san. I apologize for thanking you so late. If it weren't for your doings, I would not be here right now. I truly don't have the words to express my gratitude."
He bowed his head deeply, bent 90 degrees at the waist. He's truly a proper, polite young man. Even though, like this, if he didn't have a communication disorder, he'd be completely perfect.
"I have truly, truly been moved! I've been thinking about this ever since before! With an iron body, your noble gentleness, and your splendid concealment that allows your presence to be completely undetected. In addition to that, you not only have impregnable defenses but even the ability to resuscitate others… Hakkon-san!"
He brings his face close, like he's going to stick it to my frame. His watery eyes are glinting to the point it's scary. E, what, what, what? You're rough breathing is also scary, you know?!
He's praising me like crazy, but I think my presence being undetectable is because I'm a vending machine!
"Something like being a magic tool, that has nothing to do with it, I've fallen for you! May I call you Master(shishou) Hakkon from today onwards-!?"
"Wh!"
I was so shocked that my mind became blank for an instant.
Ramis is also surprised, with her mouth wide open next to me, but I think I'd be like her if I had a flesh and blood body.
I'm happy to be praised on my inner qualities rather than appearances, but for a vending machine to be a master… it's not that falling for someone of the same gender is bad, but 'falling' only has that meaning towards people, na. It's definitely not that kind of meaning, na. It's different…. …. right?
"I,is it no good, calling you Master Hakkon?"
Guh, he's staring at me with the androgynous face of an ikemen with watery eyes. It's a situation where, if I was a woman, I'd have fallen in one shot, but I have no such inclinations so it's fine, it's fine.
This guy just has honest and pure feelings of attachment. To distrust that would be rude. I can't treat him like an adult, na.
"Welcome."
"That means you don't mind, right! Thank you very much, Master Hakkon!"
Mishael, overcome with emotion, gave me a hug, but there's no other meaning, right. Right?
"Hmmm, you got a disciple, good for you."
Why is Ramis glaring with half-closed eyes?
Like this, although I'm a vending machine, I've made a human disciple. No, well, even if you call me Master, there's nothing I teach you, you know?
—
Underneath the cloudy sky, when I take a break from my usual selling of products in front of the inn, someone smoothly drew near.
"Master Hakkon. Allow me to wipe your body."
Mishael appeared with a clean cloth and wooden bucket with water in hand.
Since then… Mishael became emotionally attached to me. Somehow he's been at my side often, being gallantly helpful.
He's probably doing it to show his esteem for me, but the amount of people in the Lamentations of the Dead Community is increasing every day and how often he's exposed to other peoples' stares is increasing so he can't calm down, so I also feel like he just wants to be around me.
"Mishael. Hakkon's brilliance is from the inside. You don't have to do that."
"Is that so, I've done something meddlesome, my apologies. Then, I'll come again at noon."
He immediately pulls back without persisting; he's not a bad person.
"Hakkon, recently you've been too nice to Mishael. If he's being a bother, you have to tell it to him straight."
Ramis struck her waist with her hand and puffed out her cheeks. She's been harsh on Mishael, lately. She's probably thinking that I, who was always with her, is getting stolen away.
I haven't started thinking it's a bother, so I'd be happy if the two of them got along a little bit better.
"Just kidding. Because I know Mishael's not a bad guy. But Hakkon's mine. I'm not giving you up, ne~."
If you say that while acting bashful, even though I have a mechanical body, my heart's going to jump with mistaken expectations. Even though she's just thinking of the vending machine me as an important friend and important partner, with this kind of body, what can I misunderstand?
", it's today. The hunters who are members of Clear Lake Level are coming. Everyone's bodies haven't recovered and they can't participate in the subjugations, so I have hopes for the hunters."
"Welcome."
That's right, it's today. The members … come to think of it, you can choose to be a member of a Hunters Association within the dungeon, separate from the Hunters Association of the world outside.
There are merits both for the Associations and the hunters; for each level's Hunters Association, in the case of a troublesome situation arising, it's possible to request that the work there be prioritized.
For the hunters there are various benefits, such as the Hunters Association on their level will accommodate them, the offering of beneficial information, and offering the transfer services for moving between levels cheaply.
For that reason, it's said that it's a vital job for each level's Hunters Association to solicit and take in strong hunters. By the way, Ramis is a member of Clear Lake Level's Hunters Association, and actually, I'm also a member.
Although you might be wondering how such a thing came to be, it was triggered when I previously fell to the Maze Level and was picked up by the Big Eaters Brigade. If I properly became a hunter and a member, then it would be easy to deal with it if a similar problem occurs. I became the first magic tool to become a hunter.
President Bear said, "For us too, we're appreciative if we're able to have Hakkon on hand," and leaked out his true feelings. It's not exaggerating to say that those words were what sealed my fate as a hunter.
"I wonder who will come. Famous hunters from Clear Lake. U-n, I didn't interact much with the hunters, so I don't really know."
President Bear had passionately declared that he'd bring along excellent hunters, so I think we can have high expectations, but there wasn't anyone who stood out much when we defeated the king-frogman demon. The Fools of Whimsy Brigade were by far superior.
'O, it's been a while, Ramis, Hakkon. Staying good?"
"How are you doing?"
Huh, isn't this the gatekeepers, Karios and Gols? Why is the always-splendidly-bald-guy and the unchanging-stone-face combo here?
"Huh? Why are you two at the Lamentations of the Dead Level?"
"Didn't you hear from President Bear? We're participating in the subjugation squad. Me and Gols, na."
"'Be in your care."
Aa, I see. If it's these two's skills, then of course they'd be chosen; it was a blind spot.
"It's been a while, ne. Hakkon-san."
"Are you doing well? To commemorate our meeting, should we buy water and soup? Today as well, let me see if I can put the numbers together."
Huh, it's two of my four early morning regulars; why is the old couple here? And their outfits are completely different from usual.
Both of them are wearing, with slightly different designs, clothes that I can't see as anything but kimono. The old man's kimono is only fastened with the obi; I'm pretty sure it's a casual way to wear it. The fabric is a deep navy blue, but the lining is bright red; within the refined is the stylish coexisting together.
There seems to be a number of folding fans stuck in the obi, but he doesn't seem to have anything like a weapon.
The old woman, like always, has her staff that's shines as if it had been lacquered. Her clothing is an indigo kimono with a black obi, but at her feet are black boots and on her arms are kendo-like arm guards.
It's attire that's way too different from the usual two, but it's honestly not strange looking.
But so, this world also has kimono? I can't judge whether there's some other Japanese people other than me who have transferred over, or if there just so happens to be some Japan-like country that has similar clothing.
"Oh my, it's certainly been a while. Hakkon-san, Ramis-san. Oh my, Shimerai-senpai and Yumite-senpai, even."
"What, you're also participating." (old man)
"Oh my, Oxy. Have you been well?" (old woman)
The one who newly appeared is the Principle of the orphanage who is dressed like a nun. She's already armed with her black longbow and a quiver of arrows.
Rather than wondering why she's on this level, I'm more surprised that she's acquainted with the old couple. The three rush towards each other and chatted away.
"Hm, looks like all the members are gathered together."
Further adding to the group here is President Bear. -tte, if I didn't hear wrong, he said the members are gathered. E-, the Clear Lake Subjugation Squad, it's made up of these members-!?
E-? E-? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-!?
"President, you mean the excellent hunters are Principal and the others?" (Ramis)
"Aa, everyone here are the hunters who fought by my side in the past. I guarantee their abilities. I think Ramis and Hakkon are already acquainted, but let me introduce the members this time anew. First are the two we've entrusted the gates of Clear Lake Level to, Karios and Gols."
"Ou, saying it properly has a weird feeling to it, but let's get along."
"Let's get along."
We know these guys' abilities very well, so we can say that they're appropriate people. But the problem is …
"And, the ones I had grouped together with in the past, Shimerai and Yumite."
'It's been a while since I've been on the battlefield, but y'don't have to worry. I'll show you the difference between me and those greenhorns."
"Grandfather, if you're going to brag so much, don't come to me when you make an embarrassment of yourself."
The old man full of pride and the old woman who chides him. It's been a while, but this is the first time I heard the old couple's names, So the old man is Shimerai, and the old woman is Yumite.
There are a few wrinkles around President Bear's mouth so I thought he wasn't young, but he might actually be in the old couple's generation.
"The last is Oxy, who currently runs an orphanage. She's also the archery instructor of the Fools of Whimsy Brigade member, Shui."
"Ramis-san, Hakkon-san, you were a great help at that time. This time as well, let's get along."
She's giving off a gentle, pleasant smile, but you can't let yourself be fooled by that face. I've grasped her abilities to some extent from that previous incident. I didn't actually see it, but if I can believe Shui's words, there's no point to worrying.
They have President Bear's recognition, so I think there's no room for doubts about their abilities. But the average age just shot up all of a sudden.
Even if their skill is certain, I'm worried about their physical strength. And, even if they were excellent in the past, it's normal to weaken with age. Even so, President Bear has complete faith in them, so it should be fine. Gotta be.
"Grandfather, what should we get as a souvenir for our granddaughter?"
"Hm, how about the skeleton doll that's only sold on this level?"
'It seems like Shui is indebted to you two, so thank you. Oh, that child, she's always pushed herself too far, so didn't she cause you trouble? A, that's right, the children are all saying that Ramis-san and Hakkon-san should come again -"
Ramis seems to be bewildered, not knowing how best to deal with the Principal's non-stop chattering. The old couple are going at their own pace, searching for souvenirs… i,it will be fine, really.
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