Chapter 58: The Neighborhood Demon King XII (1/2)

When I returned to the camp, there was a bit of a commotion. Misuranika-sama, who had returned to the form of a cat, went back into the tent.

「Souya!」

Shuna beckoned to me when he saw me.

I was rushed into a seat.

「What? What happened?」

「This person said that she’s a Brave!」

I had never seen Shuna's eyes sparkle like that before.

「Tell me, tell me such things first」

「Did I not tell you?」

「You didn’t~!」

I had thought that kids nowadays weren’t interested in things like Braves, but it seems like that isn’t true in the alternate world.

「She calls herself a Brave, but she’s the Hemus’ Brave, right? She has nothing to do with elves~」

「Shuna-san, something like a Brave isn’t anything decent, you know?」

The elven sisters were calmly speaking coldly.

「That’s right, Shuna-sama. Braves are people who can’t make a proper living and sleep in stables, you know? Souya-sama, who properly arranges for a place for you to live, prepares delicious meals, and supports the party, is many times more commendable」

Lazarissa, you should be defending her.

「Gr, grrr」

The Brave herself was making an expression that was unbecoming of a Brave.

However, perhaps because she had no words of response, she was eating the curry voraciously. That was my share that she was eating though.

As everyone took refills freely, the pot of curry was emptied completely, and then we drank tea while taking a breather.

「But the tea is utterly no good. The tea leaves are cheap」

「Certainly, it’s as Ojou-sama said」

The tea got criticized by Frey and Lazarissa.

Rana glared at the two of them with wide eyes.

As a matter of fact, tea leaves were a problem, and I had just been searching for a way to resolve it. It was just right, so I tried asking them.

「Umm, there’s this merchant company that I’m a consultant for that’s looking for people who can appraise tea leaves. But do the two of you, errm, want to become appraisers?」

「Lazarissa does!」

Lazarissa leaned over the table and drew closer to me.

「This Lazarissa is somewhat well versed in the tea leaves of the left and center continent. So, Souya-sama, can you introduce me to that merchant company? How much pay will Lazarissa receive?!」

She was desperate.

That's right, isn’t it? There’s no money in defeating a Demon King who hasn’t done anything bad, is there?

「Lazarissa, stop it. I won’t allow an attendant of a Brave to become something like an appraiser」

「Ojou-sama, Lazarissa is resigning as of today. Lazarissa will become Souya-sama’s mistress. It hasn’t been fun thus far, goodbye」

『Hey!』

The voices of Rana, Ea, and Frey rang out in unison.

It was a good thing that Lanseal wasn’t present. Blood would have flowed.

「Lazarissa-san, I’m not looking for any more mistresses」

「Because you already have a silver-haired, big-boobed Fox-Nee-chan, right?」

Shuna stabbed me with great force.

「I promise that the pay will be exceptional. However, it comes with the condition that you must vow to not do business with any merchant company other than the one I specify」

The tea leaves appraisers had been rounded up by the merchants from the center continent. If she was willing to work for our side exclusively, she would be hired at a fairly high pay. Moreover, she was the Brave’s attendant and a highly skilled adventurer. Her strength was at the level where she could snort with laughter as she beat the heck out of the hoodlums and the like that the merchants from the center continent would hire to threaten her.

「Yes, Lazarissa is okay with that」

「Then the earlier the better. I’ll introduce you immediately after this. For the time being, your food, clothing and accommodations will also be taken care of. There will be nothing left to be desired」

「That’s absolutely wonderful」

Lazarissa’s face was impassive, but she seemed happy. Frey was pulling on her sleeve. There were tears in her eyes. I felt somewhat bad for her, so I added something.

「I want to give it the distinction of being appraised by the Brave, so please have Frey-sama do it together with you as well」

「That is, hmm, but……」

Lazarissa had a complicated look on her face.

I had said that just to give it a shot, but certainly, a Brave doing something like appraising tea leaves――

「Tea leaves that have been appraised by a Brave will acquire value. We’ll surely get even more money as well」

In the end, Frey was into it, so it turned out alright. She was a mercenary person.

She took my hand all of a sudden. Rana's eyes were scary.

「Well then, it has been late in coming, but I’d like to express my gratitude. In the name of Frey・Dis・Gastolfo, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Souya and his party members. The spirit of protecting the peace that everyone has is more valuable than pyroxene. As long as there are people with that spirit, the world will never be destroyed」

Her pure-hearted words pricked my conscience.

「And the one who protects the Brave is also a Brave」

Hmm?

「In the name of Gastolfo, I acknowledge the ”new Brave” here」

Huh?

「Oh Souya from a foreign land, accept this」

「Hey, wait a minute」

She was strong. I couldn’t pull my hand away. Frey's palm shone with a warm light.

This is bad. Because it's too unexpected, I’m completely unable to respond.

「I hereby confer upon you the crest as the 1,432nd Brave. Oh Brave, in order to bring glory to that name, do your best to act fittingly and behave in a manner that won’t bring shame to that name」

My face twisted at the burning pain in my left palm, and when I pulled that hand away from Frey……

……there was a distorted V-shaped pattern on it.

「What the heck is this?!」

「It’s the crest of the Brave, Souya. Someday, on the day the Demon King is reborn, you will surely be guided by that crest」

「Souya, that’s awesome!」

Shuna’s eyes sparkled even brighter.

I'm sorry, I don’t care about being a Brave and whatnot, so I’m really fine without it!

「I don’t want it! Please rescind it!」

「It's no use. A Brave cannot be rescinded. You’ll be a Brave until the day you die」

「That's malignant!」

Is it a curse?!

「For example, even if you cut off your left arm, the crest will surely appear somewhere else. Give up and play your part as a Brave. You cannot escape it. You have that qualification」