Volume 3 Chapter 2.2
Smoldering Fire Part 2
Translator : PolterGlast
Nozomu and Somia
walked down the main street of the commercial district. From the side, they
looked like brother and sister who are far apart in age.
"So, where shall
we go?"
"Ah, actually,
there's a store I'd like to go to!"
When Nozomu asked
Somia where she wanted to go, it seemed that she already had some plans.
"Hee~, what kind
of store is it?"
"It's a
fortune-telling shop. It has a reputation in my class recently for being very
accurate."
"A fortune teller,
huh ...... do you know where it is?"
"Yes, I heard it
is in the commercial district. I've also made sure to ask for the
location!"
Swept away by Somia's
cheerful voice and smile, Nozomu naturally smiled as well.
(The problem is Iris
in the distance, huh?......)
Nozomu let out an
inward sigh and glanced behind him. Her black hair, much like that of the girl
beside him, was sticking out from behind a store sign.
When he deliberately
intensified his gaze, the black hair that had been sticking out suddenly
returned to the shadows.
"Is something
wrong, Nozomu-san?"
"No, it's
nothing. Rather than that, let's hurry on ahead, shall we? If we are late and
the store closes, it would be no good."
"Ah, that's true.
Let's go then!"
Somia pulled on
Nozomu's arm again. Being pulled by the small hand, he began to walk a little
faster.
After walking down the
street for a while, they arrive at their destination. Nozomu checked out the
store in front of him and frowned.
"......
Somia-chan, are you sure this is the store?"
"Yes! The
appearance of the store matches what my friend said, so there is no doubt about
it."
"But this store
is-......"
The store itself is
not that big. It would be better to call it a stall rather than a store.
Cards and crystals
lined up on a desk. Talismans and accessories to ward off evil hung on the
walls with no space between them. And a goat skull sitting in the center of the
store.
The store was a true
embodiment of chaos, crowded with items that no one besides the owner knew the
purpose for which they were collected.
Nozomu was familiar
with this unforgettable store. And he also remembered the owner of this store.
"Oya~, is it a
customer?"
"...... I knew
it."
The man who appeared
from the back of the store was Zonne, the old man who had previously tried to
sexually harass Irisdina.
"What the heck,
it's you again, brat? As you can see, I'm busy. Go home, shu-shu."
"What a way to
greet someone, huh, Ero-geezer? No matter how I look at you, you don't seem to
be busy at all."
Nozomu also responded
with rude words to Zonne, who took a cold shoulder when he saw Nozomu.
It was out of
character for Nozomu, but he knew that the old man would take advantage of him
if he was reserved.
"Hmph! Youngsters
these days don't know how to show respect to their elders. That's not how you
should treat your elders."
"If you show us
that you are worthy of respect, we will treat you well. However, judging from
your previous ugly behavior, that's unlikely to happen."
"Kah~~! This is
why youngsters are like this. They do nothing but complain. They are so proud
of themselves that they can be so rude to others easily. Utterly
lamentable."
"I don't want to
be told by elders who can only pick up women in a sexually harassing manner. Your
words are too sloppy, which makes us think of you lightly."
"You sure have a
lot of nerve, brat ......."
"The same goes
for you......"
Suddenly, Nozomu and
Zonne begin to glare at each other. Their glares started to produce sparks, and
Somia, although she was a bit nervous about it, gathered up her courage and
opened her mouth.
"U-, umm... I
want you to foretell my fortune!"
"Oh, pardon me,
ojouchan. I was distracted by this cheeky little brat. A promising young girl
has asked me for a favor, so of course, let me foretell your fortune."
"T-thank you very
much!"
"Now, let's start
with your palm."
"No, you're not
going to do that."
"What do you
want, brat? Don't interrupt me."
"Just do it and
you'll see......"
"Come, ojouchan!
Come touch this crystal!"
Nozomu kept Zonne in
check when he attempted to touch her on the pretext of fortune-telling, just as
he had done with Irisdina. Of course, he pulled out his katana to hint that he
was prepared to use force.
As Somia sat across
from Zonne on the desk with the crystal, Irisdina, who had been watching from
afar, also intensified her gaze on them.
If Nozomu had not kept
the old man in front of him in check, the older sister might have charged at
him.
When Somia touched the
crystal, the transparent sphere began to emit a pale light.
It changed from soft
white to red, purple, and gray, and then faded away.
"Fumu, ojōchan,
you seem to be having some trouble right now. The vague color of grey is proof
of that."
"...... Yes.
That's true. I would like you to tell me about that......"
"The white color
at the beginning means ojōchan herself, the red means your goal, and the purple
color means your anxiety. It looks like that's what's bothering you,
ojōchan."
Somia nodded silently
in affirmation of Zonne's words.
Nozomu was surprised
by her words and actions. As far as he could see, the girl was always full of
energy and had never shown any signs of being troubled.
"Perhaps it is
red you feel troubled about. Red means energy and vitality, but in your case,
is it about your goals?"
Somia nodded to
Zonne's words again, regardless of what was going through her mind.
"Fumu. But both
your anxiety and hesitation are important to you, and you are still a young
girl. It is good to keep running toward your goal, but sometimes it is also
necessary to look back."
"Looking back, is
it?"
"If you have
doubts, don't lose sight of what is important to you now. If you are having any
anxiety, I think it is important not to keep it to yourself for too long. Human
beings are too weak to live alone."
"......Yes."
"You have someone
you care about, don't you? Then it'll be all right. Your own color is white.
With your bright and gentle color, you are a kind girl who can cherish someone
as much as the person who cherished you......"
Zonne spoke to Somia
with a gentle smile on his face, as if he were a grandfather talking to his
granddaughter.
Nozomu was surprised
to see that he was not the ero-geezer he had seen before, and at the same time,
he was impressed by his ability to see through Somia's problems and provide a
solution in a short period of time.
At the same time, he
looked a little frustrated. Even if he were to hear her problems, would he have
been able to understand and explain them so thoroughly and lighten the weight
in her mind?
"T-Thank you very
much! Um, about the fee-......."
"Don't worry
about it. It's your first time, so think of this as a free service. But if you
like, how about a date with me in about ten years!?"
"U-,
umm......"
"You have such a
bright future ahead of you, this grandpa would do anything for you if you're
willing to go on a date with me."
"Just when I
thought you had a good message to tell her, and now you're back to this
bullshit!"
Nozomu, who had been
impressed by Zonne's unexpectedly profound words, quickly revised his
evaluation in a downward direction. He slammed his knife-hand down on Zonne's
head without any restraint.
"Gefu~u! What are
you doing!? Hitting me on the head every single chance you get!"
"That should be
my line! Why do you have to pick on women every time you see one!?"
"Of course not! I
have my own standards about women! I am selective about the women I speak
to!"
"What a load of
nonsense!"
"Of course, the
first thing I pick is a good-looking woman, such as that dark-haired beauty I
saw the other day! She's really my type! I can't understand why she was with a
brat like you! Good grief, a fine woman like her deserves a better man like
me......"
"Y-you,
ero-geezer......"
"Now, now,
Nozomu-san."
Nozomu was about to
reach for the hilt of his katana again, but Somia was trying her best to calm
him down.
Nozomu himself is
aware that he is not suitable for Irisdina.
Irisdina is a very
attractive woman. She has impeccable looks, noble principles, and the will to
carry them through. To put it bluntly, she is out of his reach.
He understood that it
was absurd to compare her with himself, who had escaped from his past and did
not try to face the reality in front of him, but still, it made him angry when
he was told so by this ero-geezer.
"What's more, she
is a promising girl like this ojouchan. Ah, ojouchan, don't get me wrong, I'm
not one of those bastards who breaks young flowers. Young children are not to
be broken, but to be adored. It is also a man's duty to patiently wait to see
what color the still-blooming flower will show in the future!"
"......I knew it,
I should cut this old man down. I'm sure he won't die anyway, just like
Shishō."
"Nozomu-san! Hold
it, hold it!"
"And finally, the
flowers that still retain their beauty even after they have fallen. Indeed,
they no longer have the beauty of their youth. Age has robbed them of their
white skin and beautiful hair. How despairing they must be to have lost the
petals that make a flower a flower......"
While raising both
hands high to the sky, Zonne proceeded to shout at the top of his lungs as if
he were giving the speech of the century.
The old man seemed to
be so absorbed in his own world that he paid no heed to the suspicious glances
of the passersby around him.
"But despite
this, they still attract people's interest. Even though they have lost their
former beauty, they still shine, proof that they have already turned into
flowers that even the passage of time cannot easily take away! Then I can only
stand in awe of these flowers as they have acquired a form that cannot be
destroyed!"
The content of his
speech itself might be great. However, even those wise words could not overturn
the evaluation of the old man, who had even hit rock bottom due to his previous
remarks and actions.
"Even though what
you are saying is supposed to be a good thing, it is all ruined by what you
said before......."
"A-,
hahaha......"
"Why? Even though
I went to such great lengths to convey wise advice to you. My Lord! It is rare
to meet such a stunningly beautiful woman. If I were you, I would have proposed
to her in a heartbeat."
"You are as
unscrupulous as ever, you know that!? Why can't you control yourself a little
bit better!?
"It's better than
not telling anything at all, because sometimes hiding something hurts both you
and the other person the most."
Those words pierced
Nozomu's heart. For a moment, he shuddered and forgot all the abusive words he
had been saying.
"I would rather
tell them than hide it, because there would be still hope that way. And if I
have to hide it, I'll hide it so thoroughly that the other person won't even
notice the slightest hint of it. Half-heartedness is the cruelest thing of all.
Both for the other person and for oneself. I once had a serious problem with my
grandmother when she found the obscene picture I had hidden from her...... I
wish I had told her honestly that I had it. That obscene picture was my favorite......"
Zonne looked pensive
with a distant look in her eyes. His eyes seemed to be moistening somehow.
Meanwhile, while Zonne
was thinking about the past, Nozomu's eyebrows were furrowed and he bit his
lower lip.
"Hmm, ojōchan,
it's about time to close the store, please come back again. Cute girls are
always welcome."
"Ah, yes. Thank
you very much!"
Even as Somia
expressed her thanks to Zonne with a smile, Nozomu simply stared at them in
silence.
Suppressing the
uncontrollable emotions swirling inside him.
◆
After leaving the
fortune teller's store, Nozomu and Somia walked down the main street of the
commercial district once again.
What came to his mind
were Zonne's earlier words.
His situations, in
which many things were being kept secret, including him being a Dragonslayer.
He wanted someone to
know about this big secret. Such a desire constantly welled up in him.
(But if I were to tell
them......)
Will they reject me?
His anxiety never went
away. The fire kept smoldering and gradually grew.
"Nozomu-san? Is
something wrong?"
"Eh? N-no, it's
nothing."
Somia, who was walking
beside him, spoke to Nozomu as if peering into his face.
He quickly acted as if
it was nothing.
However, his voice
trembled slightly, showing his agitation.
"B-by the way,
Somia-chan, what are we going to do now? We still have time......"
"Hmm~m. Eh?
Something smells sweet."
"This
is......"
At that moment, a
sweet fragrance brushed the two noses who were walking along the street. Nozomu
and Somia looked in the direction of the fragrance and saw a small stall where
children were gathering.
"Hey, oneesan!
Give me that candy, too!"
"Ah, that's not
fair! I was supposed to get that!"
"Now, now, don't
fight. I'll make one for everyone."
A cool voice was
heard. At the end of the long line, in a stall, a girl was dexterously making
candy crafts, her blue hair fluttering in the wind.
"Shina-san?"
"Nozomu-kun? What
are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm
just-......."
Shina's gaze fell on
Somia, who was standing next to him.
"...... Are you
on a date?"
"No, well, yeah.
I guess...... By the way, why are you here selling candy? And all by yourself
at that."
"I found a
miscellaneous request from the Adventurers' Guild. Actually, Mimuru was
supposed to accompany me, but she didn't show up, so I have no choice but to do
it by myself......"
Many customers lined
up at the stalls. Upon closer look, there were many young men as well as
children.
Their gazes pointed
toward the beautiful-looking elf girl. Some men turned their eyes toward
Nozomu, but their gazes were, without exception, filled with suspicion and
intimidation. It was obvious what they were lining up for.
"Gosh, I wonder
what's keeping Mimuru......."
Seemingly quite busy,
Shina let out a tired sigh.
Somia, who had been
thinking about it with her hand over her mouth, suddenly opened her mouth.
"U-um. If you
don't mind, could I help you run the stall?"
"Eh?"
Shina's eyes widened
in surprise at the unexpected offer.
"I've never done
this kind of work before. And I don't need to be paid, so will you let me do
it?"
"Of course, you
haven't", Nozomu murmured so in his mind.
She is an aristocrat.
She is the daughter of a prestigious noble family from the Kingdom of Forsina.
There would be no way she would have any experience doing business in a stall
like this.
Nevertheless, it is
precisely because she is in such a position that Somia would like to give it a
try.
"Are you
sure? I thought you were on a date with
him?"
"W-well, yes,
but......"
The two peering gazes
then turned to Nozomu.
"Nozomu-san, may
I?"
"...... I think
it's fine. I'll be helping out as well. Shina-san, please let me help
you."
"All right. I am
Shina Juliel. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Somiriana
Francilt. Nice to meet you!"
"...... Eh,
Francilt?"
Shina, who had no idea
that Somia was the daughter of the Francilt family, blinked her eyes upon
hearing her surname. She then turned to Nozomu in a rigid manner.
Her gaze asked Nozomu
whether it was true.
"Well, that's how
it is, I suppose. You must be surprised. I was the same way."
"Ha~a ...... You
are truly unusual, aren't you?"
Shina was amazed by
Nozomu's friendships, but even now she still has no idea how he came to be
acquainted with such a high-ranking aristocrat.
If it had not been for
the incident with the Waziart family, they would never become this close to
each other in the first place.
"Umm, Shina-san!
How am I supposed to make this candy?"
"Let's see. Let
me handle that one, so can you help me with the wrapping? Nozomu-kun, can you
help as well?"
"Sure. Should I
take care of the customers?"
"Yes,
please."
At Shina's request,
Nozomu handled the customers.
"Thank you,
Onīchan!"
"Tch......"
"I don't want it
from you. I wanted to receive it from the beautiful elf or the dark-haired
beautiful little girl over there......"
"Or rather, how
is it that someone as dull as you are acquainted with such beautiful girls?
Die."
The children who
genuinely wanted the candy thanked him, but the men who came to the store for
Shina's attention hurled abusive remarks at him. And now that Somia, who is as
beautiful as Shina, has joined the group, even murderous intent is beginning to
mix in.
Therefore, it would be
cruel to let Shina and Somia stand in front of such men with their instincts on
full display, so Nozomu was serving them with a mask-like smile on his face.
(They're crows, I'm a
scarecrow, they're crows...... -ouch!)
Among the male
customers who were releasing murderous intent kicked him in the shins over the
shade of the stand as he received his candy.
In order to make it
easy to move, this stall had only a framework made of wood and covered with a
cloth. In other words, from the customers' side, they could kick Nozomu's legs
as much as they wanted.
But even so, Nozomu
did not change his expression and kept on handling the situation. This is
nothing compared to how he was treated at the school. His bizarre experience
came in handy, Nozomu thought to himself as he endured the pain in his shins.
The line had thinned
out, and the peak of the crowds had passed. But then, a very suspicious-looking
person visited the stall.
"Wel-, come,
eh?"
The person covered his
body with a cloak and hid his face with a big hat.
Although he was
clearly suspicious, Nozomu was very familiar with this person's presence.
"...... Iris,
what are you doing?"
"M-my name is not
Irisdina. I'm just a customer."
(The voice is also the
same ...... or rather, it's meaningless if you say your own name......)
Nozomu's shoulders
slumped at the sight of the beautiful girl who had thrown off her usual
dignified appearance and was exuding the stench of disappointment.
"So, Iris, do you
need something? If Somia-chan were to find out, she'd be upset, wouldn't
she?"
"A-as I said, I'm
not Irisdina ......."
"I can tell just
by your voice. You'd better hurry up. You're too suspicious and attracting too
much attention."
Irisdina's shoulders
trembled unnaturally whenever Nozomu pointed it out, and her eyes wavered
behind her hat. Somia, concerned about Nozomu's strange behavior, called out to
him.
"Nozomu-san, is
something wrong?"
"Ah, no, it's
nothi-, ~!"
Irisdina grabbed
Nozomu by the collar with great force, put her face close to his ear, and
whispered something in a low voice.
"Listen here
Nozomu, be sure you don't make any mistakes!"
"Even if you say
so. What do you mean by "mistakes"? I won't do anything to an
eleven-year-old girl......."
Intense glare and
curse-like tone of voice directed at him from a close distance.
However, because of
the reason, he felt demoralized rather than frightened.
"Nozomu-san?"
Seeing Somia
approaching, Irisdina hurriedly grabbed the candy bag, forced the payment into
Nozomu's hand, and ran away.
"It looks like
you got tangled up with some strange customer, are you okay?"
"Ah, yeah, I'm
fine. Haa~......."
He lightly waved his
hand at Shina's concerned voice and looked down at the payment that was imposed
in his hand.
"...... Five
silver coins is way too much."
By the way, the candy
cost three copper coins. It was roughly seventeen times the price of the candy.
What should I do with
the change?
While throwing the
silver coins into the payment box, Nozomu let out another sigh over Irisdina's
antics.
◆
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
Aiden Elliott
Hikari Ashta
Kcx1
KevinP
Kyle Wiggins
Matthew Shuler
Swagaraga
[Gold]
Godman gaming
Matt Nieschburg
[Silver]
Carl
CoolmanMTD
Glasses Kun
Maddes
Matzar1
ONEEYED_SLOTH
Alden H
Anton Lim
Curious Panda
Eric Martinez
Стас Удрис
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
