Arifureta Vol 6 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1 : Once Again, In Brook Town
“Fufuh, your silliness, thoroughly show me how you sticky you get today!”
The crescent moon sometimes hidden by clouds illuminated the dark night. Even now, the face that possessed radiance peeped from above the clouds that was moved by the wind. That light began to illuminate a certain building on the ground. More accurately, a rope hanging from the roof of that building, and what was illuminated was a girl that displayed excellent rappelling skills, just like a special forces from somewhere.
Surusuru, as she descended to the corner of a window in a certain room on the third floor, she turned around. While being upside down. her face peered in from the upper part of the window.
“For today’s sake, I had Crystabel-san teach me her Climbing technique! I never thought of using it at this place, kukuku. Now, what kind of abnormal plays will you do, I will absolutely confirm it!”
“Haa haa,” rough breathing came from the excited girl as she focused on peeping into the room before her. Concealing herself, this girl was none other than Souna-chan; the inn girl of Brook Town’s “Masaka Inn”. Bright and energetic, able to talk without hesitation, and working hard all over the place. Even though she couldn’t be called beautiful, the inn girl was simply lovely just like a blooming flower on a plain. There was a considerable amount of single men targeting her in this town.
That girl was currently using all the techniques she knew to “peep” on certain guests with all her might. If her expression was seen by the men who fell for her would make them instantly feel as if they’d been disillusioned… … It was as if she was a perverted old man.
“Kuh, it is dark after all. I can’t see anything. If only the angle s.h.i.+fted a little more…”
“Like this?”
“That’s right, if it’s from this angle… … Even so, isn’t it too quiet? Even I thought I’d hear more moaning…”
“Isn’t it possible to use magic to intercept the sound?”
“Hah!? There is also that move! Kuu, how crafty! But, I won’t give up! Even if it’s only their silliness, I’ll burn it into my eyes…”
Just saying this once more, here was outside the window on the third floor. Even if Souna was an idiot to the limits, she couldn’t believe she’d hear a voice from nearby. Souna instantly sweated like a waterfall, and gigigi, turned around with an awkward movement just like a machine that was forgotten to be oiled. There was…
Hajime standing in the sky like a Niou statue, with a cold smile plastered across his face.
“I-ich not what you think, you know? Dear customer. This is, that’s, umm, right! A regular inn maintenance!”
“Hou~, in the middle of the night?”
“Th-that’s right~. Look, if I don’t do it some time in the middle of the night, such as during the day, the repair work will end up being seen. Because it’s an inn, there will be some backlash, right?”
“I see, isn’t reputation an important thing?”
“Th-that’s right! Reputation is important!”
“By the way, apparently there is a peeping tom in this inn. Do you know something about it?”
“Th-that’s a serious situation! T-to peep, th-that’s unforgivable, right?”
“Aa, just as you said. Isn’t peeping unforgivable?”
“E, ee, it is unforgivable I think…”
Hajime and Souna looked at each others’ faces and “Hahaha”, “Fufufu”, laughed together. However, Hajime’s eyes weren’t laughing, and even though Souna was laughing, she was trembling a little while sweat continued to drop.
“Die.”
“Hii—, I am sor~ry.”
Hajime suddenly reverted to his serious look and iron clawed Souna’s face. Merimeri, sounds came from Hajime’s fingers. Souna who could only flail around in the air, let out a scream and desperately asked for forgiveness. Souna is an ordinary girl. That’s why Hajime adjusted his power to a level that wouldn’t overdo the punishment. If this was her first offense, then he would’ve be more lenient. But the day after he returned from the Raisen Great Dungeon, and every night since they checked into the inn, she kept trying to peep using various methods. That’s why his leniency was fading. By the way, the reason they were still staying at this inn was because the food was delicious.
Hajime could only let out a sigh and carry Souna, who was now only capable of twitching, in his arm. Souna was finally able to let out a relieved sigh when her face was released. But, when she looked down… … there were devils. Even though there were smiles on their faces, they were her parents that looked like devils whose eyes didn’t smile, just like Hajime’s.
“Hii!!”
They noticed that Souna had seen them. She was slowly descending while her parents raised their hands to receive her. It was just like an invitation to h.e.l.l.
“This time, it’ll probably be forgiven only after a hundred spankings.”
“Iyaaaa—!”
Towards Hajime’s words, Souna remembered her punishments up to now, and was screaming. Surely, at breakfast the next day, he’ll see Souna rubbing her swelling b.u.t.t with teary eyes. Every night and every morning, Hajime could only sigh at such spectacles.
Having handed Souna over to her parents, Hajime returned to his room and collapsed onto his bed.
“… … Thanks for your hard work.”
“Welcome home.”
The ones who greeted Hajime were of course Yue and s.h.i.+a. The room was illuminated by moonlight s.h.i.+ning in through the windows, and the pair fleeting figures could be seen. The girls sitting on the opposite bed were Yue and also s.h.i.+a who sat shamelessly. Only wearing negligees, their appearances were somewhat lascivious. Coupled with their beautiful faces, if they were drawn on a painting, it’d be described as a masterpiece even by a second-cla.s.s writer.
“Ou. Even so, what on earth drives that child… … to even climb down from the roof, that’s not normal, right? As expected, no matter how delicious the food, we should search for another inn.”
Hajime spoke with an amazed tone. Standing up, s.h.i.+a laughed and sat on Hajime’s bed. Yue also steadily stood up and moved to Hajime’s bed, then she put her knees below Hajime’s head. As the result, they became lap pillows.
“Surely, our relations.h.i.+p has ignited the flames inside that Souna-chan’s girly mind. It can’t be helped for her to be curious about us. Isn’t that cute.”
“… … but, for her to become more and more skillful… … it worries me.”
“Yesterday, she used a handmade snorkel tube to hide at the bottom of the bathtub… … When I saw her glaring and sparkling eyes, it made me s.h.i.+ver.”
“U~n, certainly, that’s bad manners for an inn’s daughter… … For now, it’s only towards us but…”
While they chatted about Souna’s eccentric behaviors, s.h.i.+a quietly drew her body near Hajime. She naturally extended her hand, then guided Hajime’s hand towards her breast. s.h.i.+a’s face turned crimson, and she was nervous at what might happen from this situation.
Hajime gently grasped s.h.i.+a’s hand back. Kyuh, he put in more power that made s.h.i.+a’s body respond with a twitch. Because she was happy, she also put her power into her grasp. Hajime continued to put more strength into his grasp.
Kyuh… PIKUNh, Gyuh… BIKUNh, GIRIh… BIKUBIKU, MIs.h.i.+h… GAKUBURU
“Wa-! Hajime-san! It will be crushed! My hand will be crushed!”
MEKyah!
“Hii—! I am sorry, I am really sorry! I just got a little carried away! That’s why release it! It’ll break! I’m going to break if you do anymore than this!”
“What are you trying to do by casually making a good mood? To begin with, your room is next door. So why are you here?”
Towards her hand that was gripped by Hajime, s.h.i.+a tried to somehow release it while trembling, but she couldn’t release it because of the vise-like grasp.
“Th-that’s, I was just wondering~ if I can get into the same bed ☆, something like that. Rather, our relations.h.i.+p is already at the stage where we kiss. It’s okay if it’s only that much.”
“As if. Even though I have said it was a life-saving action.”
“Well, from my intuition, Hajime-san has started to become dere! Compared to the beginning, you’ve become very gentle! Because that is a fact, then… … Guhehe “MEKHOBAKIh” Doon’t—! It’s going to break—!”
Unable to endure hearing s.h.i.+a’s rude plans, Hajime inadvertently put more power into his grip. s.h.i.+a whose hand was released, trembled at the edge of the bed while crouching and holding her hand to endure the pain. Ignoring s.h.i.+a, Hajime turned his glance toward Yue. Yue immediately looked straight at Hajime.
“Rather, Yue. Recently, aren’t you too lenient? Did you have a change of heart?”
Yue tilted her head and thought about Hajime’s questions. Just as Hajime said, having returned from Raisen’s Great Dungeon, Yue’s att.i.tude towards s.h.i.+a become more lenient. Before, when s.h.i.+a tried to stick to Hajime she’d immediately blow her away without arguing, but recently she didn’t say anything about s.h.i.+a’s skins.h.i.+p. Even so, if it was something excessive… … for example when s.h.i.+a tried to kiss him, she’d immediately become displeased…
“… … s.h.i.+a did her best. She’ll continue doing that from now on. Because she likes Hajime and me.”
“Nn? Well, that’s so…”
“… … I also… … don’t hate her.”
“No matter what, you’re actually getting along well. I can understand that just by watching. Nn~”
The main point that Hajime guessed from Yue’s few words, Yue was pleased by s.h.i.+a, but not at the level of thinking of her as someone important.
That was the truth. Inside Raisen’s Great Dungeon was magic power disintegration that was even stronger than in the ravine, so Yue was unable to display her full power. It was the same with Hajime. They could guess how much hards.h.i.+p they’d have experienced if it were just the two of them. Surely, Hajime alone would be able to clear it, in exchange, the probability of him using one or two Holy Waters was high. To be able to conquer it without consuming them could be considered as thanks to s.h.i.+a.
Just a little while ago, s.h.i.+a was an existence that had no connection to fighting. Rather than being unrelated, it was more like she disliked it. This girl was surely frightened and uneasy, but she kept following Hajime and Yue without complaining. They went into the h.e.l.l-like Great Dungeon, and while grinding her teeth, she was finally able to beat it with a splendid result.
She was single-mindedly doing that for the sake of her love towards Hajime, and her friends.h.i.+p toward Yue. Because she wanted to be together with them, s.h.i.+a had changed herself and advanced ahead with all her might.
Yue of course held jealousy and a desire to monopolize him. Therefore, s.h.i.+a’s feelings towards Hajime were not easily acknowledged. That’s why, at first, although it was hard to support it… … towards s.h.i.+a who’s able to jump straight even after being treated cruelly, friends.h.i.+p was spread after so many times, following that it was further proven by how they conquered the Great Dungeon… … that became the tangible proof.
If she thought about it, Yue had no memory of anyone she could call her friend. Before she was sealed, she was busy with studying politics. There was no one who could be her friend on equal footing. In other words, she was alone. That’s why, toward s.h.i.+a who said, “We are comrades~!”, straight without being two faced, excluding the parts about Hajime, from the beginning she was unable to hate her.
Because of that, regarding Hajime recently, “Well, if it is s.h.i.+a then just a little…”, she showed her generosity.
“… … Even so.”
“Nn?”
Yue looked up at Hajime while continuing her words. Her eyes were bewitching and filled with sincerity, confidence, and resolution. Added to Yue’s gleaming smile that also reflected all of the above, she was so lovely, so charming, and made Hajime instinctively hold his breath. As if she was possessing gravity, Hajime was unable to move his glance and could only look at her in admiration. Hajime once again returned the look at Yue.
“… … Hajime’s heart is already mine.”
“… …”
No matter who else loves Hajime, no matter who else came to be attached to him, the number one, the most important is… … me. There was such a declaration. Yue’s declaration of war. A declaration of war toward those they had, and would meet from now on.
Hajime was speechless. He was sucked in by the radiance of her eyes, Yue once again as if entwined by him, caught Hajime’s glance. Following that, Hajime’s hand touched Yue’s cheek, while Yue put her hand over his. The moonlight reflected their shadows on the wall, their shadows slowly became closer. Then, at the moment they almost met…
“Gusuh, umm, can you at least please stop forgetting my existence? It feels so empty and lonely… …gusuh.”
s.h.i.+a was sitting while holding her knees on the corner of the bed; while crying and wiping her tears she watched Hajime and Yue create a world for two people.
It was a truly pitiful appearance, Hajime felt somewhat bad, and Yue was telling her to come closer. “Yue-zaa~n”, while shouting that, s.h.i.+a dived into Yue’s bosom and sniffled. s.h.i.+a’s head was gently stroked, and because it felt pleasant she closed her eyes, then started to sleep just like that.
Hajime who saw their appearance could only wryly smile and say,
“Rather than a friend, aren’t you more like a mother?”
“… … I prefer Hajime’s child.”
“… …”
“… … Won’t you be gentler to s.h.i.+a?”
“… … About that, I’ll do my best.”
“Nn… … I love you”
“… … Ou”
In the end, with s.h.i.+a on his left side and Yue on his right side, the three of them fell asleep. After this day, s.h.i.+a who was allowed to be in the same room would dance in ecstasy, and get carried away by repeatedly trying to attack Hajime every night, only to be severely punished by him.
By the way, at the time s.h.i.+a screamed when her hand was grasped, Souna who heard that further intensified her misunderstanding, curiosity, and her delusions. Then she became an inn girl that possessed high infiltration skills… … but this was another story.
KARAN, KARAN
Accompanied by the sound of bells, the door of the adventurer’s guild: Brook’s branch opened. Three silhouettes entered, they were Hajime, Yue, and s.h.i.+a who had completely become celebrities after several days. Inside the guild’s cafe, several adventurers spend their time freely just like usual, but there were some who greeted Hajime and his party by raising a hand when they noticed them. As for the men, they looked at Yue and s.h.i.+a as usual, then turned their glances filled with envy toward Hajime, but there were no malicious ones here.
They had stayed at Brook town for a week, there were several people who didn’t learn and caused a commotion by challenging him to a duel to obtain Yue or s.h.i.+a during that time. In the past, they were unable to persuade Yue who was known as “Crotch Smasher” because they were frightened by her, as such they tried to capture Hajime and bury him outside the moat.
Of course, Hajime wouldn’t do something as troublesome as that. Finally, “Duel me!”, when the line was only on “Duel,” he already fired the gun. What shot out was a non-lethal rubber bullet that exploded as it hit the pitiful challenger’s head, and made him spin three times, then kiss the ground.