short story (1/2)

It’s Because You Said There Would Be Candy!!

Collection: Froe World of Sweets

By Yuukisanto

(Yuuki-san to)

ncodesyosetucom/n1354ck/

Athe chaotic crowds

Carrying in hand a sacred treasure, and the flames of hope

Alongside those that sought out their destines

To seal the root of evil, the lord of demons

They brought along the light of hope to illuht

… They were the ‘heroes’

The warriors of salvation chosen by God

There are places in the world one mustn’t tread out of pure curiosity

For exa in search of fruit That one was the worst Because of that, I ended up in tears, chased by a wolf My parents gently used their fists to teach me the foolishness of my actions A number of stars twinkled in the backs of my eyes when they did

Also, don’t touch the white ith a ‘do not touch’ sign leaned against it That one was also terrible I ended up scrubbing e of tears The owner of the newly built house, the friendly old blacksot to ranny, and have a conversation with her for the first in a long time

The one with a bit of a toht this year

… Yeah I becaossiped about, who e Yeah, yeah

But that couldn’t be helped

My parents both ran a bakery I was fifteen when I lost the there was no way in hell I’d lose the store they treasured so much, I resolved myself, took a loan, took over the enterprise, frantically studied, earned up ot the business operational again And when I looked at e

Yep, so there was no helping it My best friend already has three children, carrying a fourth, she had beco it That’s what I told myself I mean, I ay too busy I don’t envy the lifestyles of others I don’t freaking envy it, I tell you

Early in thethe day, I’d sell bread and candy; when night came, I’d prepare for the next day, take bath, and fall asleep like a log As I was living that life without a fragular vacation day for the shop, as I was ai the capital

In a corner of the street, a re had formed, so I peered in with the pure question of ‘why?’ to see a large ilded sword stuck in a stone with a bright red face

After that, a wide variety of people took up the challenge, but it wouldn’t budge What’s this, a contest of power? Or so I thought as I watched over it, when it had already come to my turn

Well since I was already there, why not take a whack at it for old time’s sake And as if the scenes froilded sword parted from the rock The hell’s all this, now that was easy… Or so I was shocked, as my heart beat over the possibility of a reward for all this I turned to the one standing to the side, with splendid facial features, a ave off a minister-of-the-castle vibe

No~ I was just a bit lucky there Eh? What’s the trick? Well let’s see here, instead of the wrists, get power fro, perhaps It’s just like popping the tight cork off a wine bottle… or so a strea prepared in my head, but the old man wouldn’t open his mouth at all No, his mouth was open, but no one around let out a word of their voices

Just what could this be? I gazed over s, and spotted a billboard posted up

On it, ritten inciting words that sounded like a joke

And it was only at that moment I had noticed them

『The one who pulls the sacred sword froranted the title of, ‘Hero’』

… Yeah It looks like I haven’t advanced a single step from my childhood Ha Ha

☆彡

The result: they gave me money and equipment, and drove me out of the town

No, driven out may not be quite accurate

They o away

They wantedthat had revived

The king of my own country did

I questioned his sanity No, Ia huhter-looking ht the cakes and biscuits I baked, so we had a bit of a strange clientele, but that was all We were a cohts, I’d never once been in one since I attained mind and matter

To ask a lady such as I to go slay the deht in the head? I diluted those words a hundred tiive a kind, bitter-sweet and awesome explanation, but it didn’t work out

It see had only just revived, and after he fully regained his strength, it would be difficult to completely defeat hiician had detected the feeble De’s mana, and noas the chance left to humanity to slay him… Also, 『The other countries have already found and sent out heroes, so we’ll be in hot water if we’re the only ones not doing anything』 he said soest reason

What’s more, the other three heroes had journeyed out alone, so they wouldn’t even give uard

Just what do you want ive a danity, but the whole country was already ablaze with a, ‘with this, we can finally defeat the De I could do about it

So after spending a week carefully preparing for a journey, I reluctantly left the capital I had become accustomed to

Now then, the first place I reached was a poor village on the outskirts

At a nearby ’s revival as a precursor, the strongest dragon called the Dragon King was de a sacrifice

The Dragon King was known as the strongest ’s subordinates Two hundred years ago, he’d served as one of the Deht cruelty to its extremes, and until he was beaten by a hero of the time, he was feared by the people as the Syh you had to look up to see, and claws akin to swords His bloodstained black scales could fend off any attack, and his sharp fangs and jaw could chew through stone That was the depiction of the Dragon King that ree chief explained Ieven was

No, you’re wrong It’s not that I didn’t feel a sense of crisis, I honest-to-goodness never had the ti like that Fro out at the shop, and

So, dear villagers, could you stop looking at ht?’ faces I’m not uneducated It’s just that to me, education is the pursuit or recipes to create delicious breads and confectionaries There should be a li field

I’ a hero like this Maybe humanity is already doomed

I already have my suspicions little holy sword over here athered info on the De to die from this personnel selection that’selse

The Deo To protect hu now, four heroes selected by the legendary devices worked together, and soed to seal him at the ends of the earth

Hey, defeat hireat heroes My chest was full of such dissatisfaction, but that’s just hoerful the Deerous entity, as I thought, that king and his people were really off their rockers

If I do end up dying, I’ll haunt the space by their pillows, and whisper curses of, ‘one soul… two soul… looks like I need one more…’ in their ears as I fill their mouths with bone-dry scones, or so I resolved my heart

Whatever the case, the one before ht at the open of the curtain Seriously, what do you expect froe, only chosen by soo at this with so a few h

But it was there, that soly beneficial information entered my ears

Of all things, the Hero of the Boas in this town

shi+eld, Bow, Arendary artifacts He likely heard run land

Wanting to meet him with all due haste, I asked for directions

And after being led to a conspicuously large wooden building, he was definitely there

Silky flowing golden hair Deep blue eyes like the bottom of the ocean Fearless facial features, and an appropriate tense and splendid body, he was boldly lying on the bed…

… Covered in bandages

Oh, dear God Please forgive this sinful la thee to thy rest…’ in disappointuided allant one,’ and showed me some dreams

Couldn’t he have said, ‘Leave the Dragon King tolater? If need be, I had even thought to hand over the holy sword, you know

… No, I’ any romance out of this, you know? There’s a limit to how shae can be, and even I know full well my place in life

But…

“… Oy, who’s that woman?”

“Yes This is the Ludom’s Hero of the Sword”

“Hah? Hero? This old woman is?”

… What’s with this guy

He suddenly looked down on me with scorn He suddenly called enerally accepted e of the late teens, but even so, that’s way too rude a thing to say to one you’refor the first time

Frohteen His appearance was fine, but how unfortunate for his insides What’s more, I didn’t even ask for it, but he was already proudly reciting his tale of bravery According to hienius at the bohen he was five, and froical beasts This village was the first place he ventured after being selected as a hero, and after challenging the dangerous Dragon King alone, he fell to dastardly means, and suffered heavy injury Just a little , said he

Looking at his present state, I suspected it rapes, but I endured it in the hopes that, at the very least, I could obtain some valuable infors

… But even someone as open-hearted as me, has a point when my reason reaches its limits

“And that’s how it is… oy, old woman Give your holy sword to me”

“Heh?”

“A divine artifact for a woainst the Dragon King”

He said such nonsensical things as if giving a verdict from above

“… Hero of the Bow, I cannot give my holy sword to you”

“Hah? What are you talking about? It couldn’t be that a woman like you is to defy the orders of a hero like me?”

“No sh… Of course I mean, I am a Hero as well… and…”

Standing, I gently reached over my hand

… Right on top of the bandages a wee bit stained with blood

“O-oy, what are yoGYAAAAAAH!?”

“You have suffered such severe wounds, Hero of the Bow Wouldn’t it be best you get some rest? … Well then, I’ve already finishedmy leave Good day to you”

When I grinded against his wound a bit, the hero of the bow(?) let off a grandiose scream, so I left him, and left the room

… But I don’t get the feeling those wounds were anything special, you know…

The adventurers and soldiers that stop by our place get over st the another medal of honor’

Not that iton others for now

If I had to rely on so myself

Gettingto head for the mountain

☆彡

While clion’s ical beasts

A world where the Deerous monsters in the fields as if it were natural

In front on the e horned wolf-like ic beasts

… But no need to panic

I’ve thought up countermeasures, and I’ve already succeeded in a number of experiments

I calmly opened a sealed pouch at my waist, and took out its contents

It was a spherical bread with the fruits h

What’sdown, and condensing those fruits

On its intense fragrance, the beasts’ attentions locked on in an instant

It was enough to attract them

“Here, go fetch”

I threw the bread with all ht

The horned wolves raced after it I saw other beasts coive chase as well, and all of the away

… Hic beasts are still animals

If there’s a source of foodthan the hurossed in it at once

I haven’t been serving adventurers for nothing I’ve always been researching the ecology ofic items

After gathering infor the preferred bait for each type, they’re no enemy to me

I sealed ain, and leisurely walked down the path on which the danger had passed

Eh? Holy Sword? … I’redients, you know?

The pareen and solid-stiff skin, as well as the walnut’s rock-like shell can be sliced through like butter As expected of a Holy Sword! I was honestly ili ona bit dull, so is it around tiet a skilled blacks nice

Throwing around a few ic beasts in the area, I aimed for the summit

I laboriously moved on King lived

As I thought, an unfa I did usually walk around a lot on my days off, but the forests around the capital, and a mountain road were cos tre

If I ht that as I looked around, but it see wasn’t home

I lowered -like stone nearby, and stretched outmy face, I saw an unimpeded blue sky The clear reen let off a gentle scent

Taking a big stretch, and a deep breath Aaah, this is nice air It’s not byhere

I took a canteen froulp of some sweet and sour lemon water

『…… That’s quite soon’s tail』

“Heh?”

I heard a sort of roaring low voice

Eh? From where? I looked around, but I didn’t see any suspects

No, no, wait Coon’s tail, so…

Huh, could it be… u-up?

『What’s with that overly idiotic expression of yours?』

That voice was undoubtedly descending froe mouth overhead

A jaith lines of s opened up

A long neck was coiling around to look

… A grey dragon was looking over me

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaah!? I-I really do apologize!? I… I-I-I-I never thought it would be a tail, so I just went and- and wait, you’re not even black! You lied to e chiiiiiieeeeeef!?”

『… For now, calm down You’re too noisy』

That fed-up order came down, and I shut and fastened my mouth closed

W-hat should I do? At this rate I’ll be e… eat… wait, huh?

… He’s not going to move?

“Um…”

『What?』

“W-well… I’racious Dragon King doesn’t have the intent to eatyou know? So how about it?”

『It feels disgusting to hear you depreciate yourself in your speech You were justwater, and letting out a voice like an old man』

Guh… O-oh shut it, won’t you? Even women will let out old h

And wait, he atching? How e

『… I don’t eat humans』

“Eh?”

As I felt ht whisper

I couldn’t help but look up at the Dragon King

『Why do you look so surprised?』

“Ah, no, I was just thinking you’re different froo, didn’t you attack huet yourself defeated by a Hero?”

『That’s the previous generation I becao And even since then, I’ve never once attacked a human in my life If you attack a human, they make alliances, and come back for retribution, don’t they? When I live on a o out of my way and eat a human?』

“S-so that’s how it is… no, wait I heard you were dee at the foot of the mountain”

『They’re doing that all on their own Convincing those cowering girls, and sending theunnecessary』

“If you didn’t need the… no, I see So they can’t return”

『You’re sharper than I thought A girl who’s failed to fulfill her purpose could never live out her ree that’s offered sacrifices all by itself』

What, then it was all the villagers’has totally been frairls offered as sacrifice even lose their places to live… uwah, it’s the worst

But it’s a good thing Mr Dragon King is a nicer person(?) than I thought He did just casuallyto be like that, there’s no need to worry

『… Oy』

“Yes?”

『If you’re going back down the mountain, then take my heart with you What you have on your back is the divine vessel, the holy sword, is it not? If it’s that, it should be able to pierce my scales』

… Hah?

“W-what sort of drivel are you spouting!? As if I could do anything like that!”

『I’on even tries to hear otten tiresoful conversation with another? … If it’s going to end anyways, it would better be by your hand, than that low-life Hero of the Bow, or whatever he’s called』

The fact his voice sounded soination

Getting a little caught up in his words, I backed myself up a bit

And I finally noticed

The reason Mr Dragon King didn’t move… why he couldn’t

… In Mr Dragon King’s feet, a nu out

“T-that’s… could it be the Hero of the Bow…?”

『Yeah… that whelp, I’ve no idea where he got it, but he used a dragon child as a shi+eld when he attacked I ed to let the chick flee, and have him retreat, but this is the state I’ve been left in Perhaps he cast the curse of the dragon slayer on them I cannot touch these arrow It’s only a matter of time before life leaves this body of mine Before that happens, quickly…』

“… I can’t!”

I unintentionally cried out

Ihasn’t done anything All of it, everything was aon the humans’ side

Trying to kill him is a mistake

… I definitely can’t recognize it

“I’ll pull out your arrows! And I have so effects, so please eat theet a little better!”

『O-oy, what are… ghh!?』

I went into pulling out one of the deeply embedded arrows I tried to make it as painless as possible, but the arrow’s head had eaten in too deep,it difficult

I grit my teeth, and put all my power in Finally, the first arrow came out Blood poured out of the deep wound

This wasthat Hero suffered But Mr Dragon King only groaned a little without raising a scream

I took a cloth froh on hand? I must hurry to pull the other ones

Every ti the pain coh

… Ah, so Mr Dragon King had been enduring it like this the whole time

No le cry

Every time he was presented sacrifices he never asked for, every tiirls he had no intentions to hurt, every time he was assaulted by hu this whole time

I pulled out an arrow A pained voice leaked out A non-insufficient aon blood poured out

Its color was definitely the sah my body

… By the ti out all on their own

“… Sorry”

『…… Why do you apologize?』

“Because this is humanity’sSo I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

My voice shook pitifully

We kill other lifeforms in order to survive Otherwise, ouldn’t be able to eat our meals We wouldn’t be able to survive the harsh colds of the winter We wouldn’t be able to protect out lifestyles So I don’t think of that a mistake

Playing with the food chain, iance

But dragon meat was too hard No matter how processed, a hu but divine artifacts could cut the scales and claws, so they would have to be discarded

If he was ra hadn’t even descended to a huht for the futures of the girls offered to him

It was all so the humans assumed on their own

I could do nothing but apologize, and it’s not like that would do anything to heal his deep wounds

I felt that was too pitiful, as I cried, and continued pulling out the golden arrows

By the ti was dead tired, and every part ofdown

My ars My whole body felt heavy, and it felt like I was going to collapse, but I still had so I had to do

I wiped offon my back, I took a pouch of cookies

“Mr Dragon King… these are cookies containing herbs that ell on cuts I think it’ll also help a bit with the pain, so… please, eat…”

I held out everything I had on hand

I worried that heopened his large mouth just a little

I put the cookies on his tongue, and used the lemon water from my canteen to wet his mouth

I turned from the movements of his powerless jaws to his wounds

The soldiers and adventurers often said, ‘It’s because of your cookies that I was able to survive,’ in exaggeration, but are they properly doing anything?

… Iin the back yards, you know

But it’s the specialists we’re talking about here, so even if it’s just flattery, I’m sure it’ll do at least a litt… HWHAAAAAAAAAAAT!? T-the wounds are visible closing up on their own, but what the hell is thiiiiiiis!?

Eh? The herbs? Just how strong were those herbs supposed to be!?

『… Oy』

“Fue…? Ah, yes”

『You… what did you put in these』

“What, you ask? … Just sorew in the back yard”

『Liar! As if gardening by hobby could grow miracle-class medicinal herbs!!』

Even if you tellI can really do about it More than that, I’m also a little lost here

I mean yeah, everyone came to buy the cookies Even when the shop had a relatively cute design

Dumbfounded, our faces met and stiffened

The i was a little ahed out

『… I can’t accept it』

“Kufufu… well, well, it healed you up, so isn’t that fine? More importantly, is there anywhere around where I could wash o back to human civilization like this”

『Muh… um, sorry That one’s my fault』

“Don’t worry about it… in exchange, I would be happy you forgive us, if just for a little bit”

I tried to act i My eyes were searching for salvation outside my control

But as if he had seen through h

『Then I’d best repay the favor Letknows of』

Saying that, he gently held upbody in his thick arms

“What sort of place is this spring only Dragon Kings know about?”

『It’s a spring that gushes out hot water It has a fatigue recovery and a beauty-preserving effect』

“Well that’s a to enter too?”

『… How about you get a little more self-awareness as a woman?』

“Watchu talkin’ ‘bout Even if you’re a on!”

『…』

☆彡

… U just take on human form?

Eh? What? Could dragons do so to his back, super handsoht with me as a woman? W-what’s more, when he transformed, he as n-n-n-naked… and more than that, he saw meeeeeeeee!! And while I couldn’t move my weary body, I let him wash every nook and cranny!?

Waah… I can’t get married anymore…

…… not that I had such plans

“Marie, you’ve been wriggling around like that for a while now”

“I beg of you, just leave me be for now”

“I don’t really ht now”

Who’s a monster?

While I wanted to punch this Dragon King, who see, I started off towards the land of the next elite four

With all that happened this time around, I decided it best to see what the other ones known as elite four were like

Perhaps there was a ends, and I couldn’t discard the chance it was a erous But if there was a sorrowful misconception, I wanted to correct it

I was a pastry chef

One who made pastries for people

And if you asked why Ihappiness to those that ate my food

… The soul of a craftsman, I’ll show it off to the world

Anyways, with this and that, I was going to continue … Zelosphede decided to coon form, so I had him wear a robe because his human form stood out

By the hen I asked if it was alright that he discarded his nest like that…

“… It’s not a bad time for me to find a mate”

H about there

Think you’ll find someone so easily? This is why you pretty folk are… yes, yes, if you’re like that in huon for

“Oy! Old wo–”

“『Burning Breath』!!”

“Giiyaaaaah–!?”

When I remembered it and sulked to myself, I heard a fierce explosion and a scream from behind

I hurriedly turned around All that was there, was a scorched road, and Mr Zelo, who see I heard another voice too, but…

“W-as that?”

“No… it’s that A monster came out The sort that cries 『Oldwo~, oldwo~』as it ai bird”

“What’s with that? That sounds gross”

“It was co into the distance with my 『Breath』”