Vol 3 Chapter 5 (2/2)

After having laughed at Rudius, who shrugged lightly, and Haruna who smiled and smacked his arm Crane strode into the crowd alone.

Both sides of the main street of Narcissus Port were filled with stalls covered in colorful fabrics. The feeling of the stone beneath his feet was unique to the Professor Country. The stone pavement that surfaced the road had been crafted through the Law magic of the Crusader Cross Legion and was gentle on the legs. For the hospitable Professor Country and the pavement that felt carefully crafted to welcome people, Crane felt his heart warmed.

“Hey young man! …I think I’ve seen your face somewhere. Well then, would you like one for cheap?” (fish seller)

“Ahaha, then I’ll get a grilled one if you would.” (Crane)

“Which would you prefer, Sailfish or Pirahna Whet?” (fish seller)

“I’m sorry, but Sailfish please.” (Crane)

“Hahaha, it’s a joke.” (fish seller)

Being told this cheerfully by the middle-aged shop keeper, Crane accepted the skewer of grilled fish with an uncomfortable smile. By the way, Piranha Whet is a demonic beast of the sea, and is not really meant to be eaten. Naturally it wasn’t even found in the shop.

He felt like the shopkeeper’s casual manner was unique to the Professor Country.

This was his second time coming to Narcissus Port after the one time he had come as a child.

He remembered that the monsters around here were reasonably strong, and before becoming the Kamiko of Light they were not something he could fight.

Though what about now?

There was a little bit of apprehension, but he was confident that he could fight them with the friends he had now.

“I think that they are bright people.” (Crane)

He thought while eating the grilled fish.

He was standing now while being supported by his comrades.

It would be alright even if it were the monsters around here. At that thought to himself he involuntarily smiled. Although he doesn’t know if he can win against the Demon King right now, he believes that he has grown a lot since the beginning.

Going through the marketplace, he entered a residential area where there was a change in atmosphere. It was a well-kept alleyway, where red brick buildings stood out. The inn as well as a few weapon and armor shops should be around here.

He looked down the street and around his surroundings, where there were buildings that stood as tall as three stories high. There, he found the word “INN” written on one of the doors, and unconsciously his expression relaxed.

The town’s inn was a completely separate building from the bar. Some towns merge them together, but Crane remembered this one well. Feeling nostalgic about the place he had once stayed in during his childhood, he slowly opened the wooden door.

“h.e.l.lo-” (Crane)

Opening the door with a light greeting, it was a rather wide building with many four-seater tables. No receptionist was at the front counter. Only the chiming sound of a bell attached to the door echoed in response.

Looking around the inside of the oddly empty building, he eventually noticed the sillhouette of two people in the back right corner table. One of them was a girl with a bandanna over her hair and an ap.r.o.n giving her the air of a waitress. Thinking that she was probably an employee of the store, he was about to call out but they looked back and noticed him on the other side.

“Ah, welcome~!” (waitress)

“Sorry to bother you, I would like to have two rooms.” (Crane)

“Oh, it’s fine-! Since there aren’t many customers right now, onii-san has nice timing!” (waitress)

“That’s good.” (Crane)

The girl slid behind the counter on the right side of Crane, before filling in a ledger with something like a feather pen.

The girl slid behind the counter on the right side of Crane, before filling in a ledger with something like a feather pen. She seemed about the same age as Haruna, and with an eye of experience Crane thought the girl was more reliable than her. Though compared to Haruna any girl would surely seem more reliable.

“What about meals?” (waitress)

“Two in the evening and one in the morning.” (Crane)

“Alright, thank you very much! For three people, erm…with meals, will end up as 1,800 gold, though we need a 1000 of the gold paid in advance.” (waitress)

“Got it.” (Crane)

Pa.s.sing over the coins, two keys were given. (TL: gyah! I’ve been translating the currency as ‘gold’ this whole time, but according to this sentence these coins are silver, so I might have to go back and use ‘garde’ instead. What do you guys think?)

“The two rooms are at the back of the third floor. But, no matter what! Evening meals will go out whether you are here or not. I’ll throw it away if you don’t pick it up.” (waitress)

“Eh?” (Crane)

“It’s a joke. The food will cool down but we’ll keep it properly.” (waitress)

“Ahaha” (Crane)

As the girl grinned Crane laughed awkwardly, remembering something about this place. Many of the people in the Professor Country, especially those involved in business, joked often.

“Well then, I welcome the arrival of three guests!” (waitress)

“Yep” (Crane)

The girl bowed her head neatly before quickly returning to the back table. He considered going straight to the bar next door, but remembering the other customer in the place besides himself, he looked over at the other person. It was a young man who sat at the back table.

“…!” (Crane)

Unconsciously, Crane gasped.

This was the presence of a strong person. There was the tremendous yet dignified pressure that came from him. Crane also got a strange feeling from the well-used polearm next to the man, as he understood that while it both was, and was not, a magic tool.

The gears of fate moved in crazy new ways, bring together these warriors who were originally never supposed to meet. A young man who would never have visited this place were it not for a demon, and a boy who increased his desire to become strong by meeting that same demon. What would these encounters bring?

“Yep, you seem a little troubled–.” (waitress)

“…No, I’m just a little unhappy.” (young man)

“Such a thing…Oh? It’s the man from before.” (waitress)

“Ah, h.e.l.lo.”

Crane had naturally approached the table. He wanted to become strong. If he could learn something from this strong man, perhaps he will improve even more. He could not deny such reckless thoughts.

“Um, what are you doing?” (Crane)

“This person is called Desiree, but I didn’t know what he meant even after giving a description of person of interest, so he trying to drawing it for me.” (waitress)

“Ah, no. It’s not like I cannot draw it. This brush just doesn’t seem to work well and goes in strange directions. It seems like unnecessary lines will increase from this? The drawing of research materials has been thrown to subordinates more skilled in art I believe. Though, yes, in the past even I made drawings just like this.” (Desiree)

There was a sheet of paper on the table. Before looking at it, Crane stroked his chin in thought.

The young man rambled excuses about this and that. He certainly seemed to be a strong person, though one that was definitely hiding his power.

As for drawing a picture, Crane had his own thoughts. He thought it would be okay to lend a hand, rather than let the man become more melancholy.

“…A picture, is it?” (Crane)

“…Um…?” (waitress)

“Oh, I’m called Rain.” (Crane)

He introduced himself to the waitress again. The girl smiled and nodded. He didn’t want to be caught up by the Professor Country’s Temple of Light. It wasn’t a very good alias, but he thought it would be enough so the Temple of Light wouldn’t realize he was near the capitol.

“Rain, is it? Are you able to draw well?” (Desiree)

“I used to paint landscapes, and people as well.” (Crane)

“I see. Sorry, but could I trouble you to draw with a personal description?” (Desiree)

“I can do it this once.” (Crane)

The intelligent young man replaced his monocle and slightly nodded his head while presenting the paper. After receiving it, Crane froze.

“I wonder what this is. I can only see a circle with arms growing out of it.” (Crane)

“…Sorry.” (Desiree)

“What is this?” (Crane)

“It’s a demon. An oni wearing wooden clogs and a deep blue Kinagais.h.i.+, with long black hair and twisted horns.” (Desiree)

“I thought it was a radish with a beard. Hm? A Kinagais.h.i.+-wearing demon?”  (Crane) (TL: pft! Btw, the radish here is more specifically a Daikon)

With Desiree beaten down with the radish description, Crane took the brush in his place.

“I can’t believe it…” (Desiree)

While moving the brush smoothly, Crane muttered as he scavenged through his memory. After a few minutes, he called to Desiree and showed him what he drew.

“Was it something like this?” (Crane)

“That’s hiiiiiim, the &%# demoooooooooooooon!!” (Desiree)

“S-sir?” (Crane)

Crane could not keep up with the cry of Desiree, as a blue vein bulged on his forehead.

However, his thoughts again welled up.

Because the demon he had drawn on the paper was the “Power” itself that Crane had met in the Alfan Ranges.

The prophecy from that time. The words of the reclusive fortuneteller were rather unusual. Of clues to the Demon King, and of a “Power.”

That “power” itself was not a clue to the Demon King was it?

Crane could no longer ignore the questions he had for this man.

“Desiree?” (Crane)

“Sorry, I was upset. Thank you. I will pay, I just don’t have that much on hand—“ (Desiree)

“Instead, for the reward, could I ask you two things?” (Crane)

“Hm?” (Desiree)

Crane stopped Desiree who tried to take out his purse from his pocket, before saying,

“Please tell me about that demon. Also, if you don’t mind, would you tell me your story?” (Crane)

To those serious eyes, Desiree’s gaze changed.

No one would yet understand the direction this encounter would lead the ‘story.’

<script>