Chapter 20: A Lively Encounter
As the evening sun began to shine, Liz and Shaula stopped by various shops and ended up parading through Granden without buying anything.
“I wonder why all the stores around here have such bad taste.”
“Granden was originally a fortified city, and houses started popping up all over the place, so it’s no wonder it’s so unpretentious.”
“I don’t understand how anyone can live in a city like this. ……”
The pure white wolf girl, Shaula Blancneige, suddenly found a stall.
It seemed like a nondescript store, but the items placed on the paving gave her a nostalgic feeling. The owner is an old man, sitting absentmindedly in a chair.
“Hey, owner. I wonder if these are from Lugal?”
“Hmm, yes, but ……”
What Shaula held in her hands was a sculpture of a strange creature.
Carved from wood, it has a wolf’s head with a lion’s mane and a tiger-like body. Its arms and legs are bear-like, and its tail sprouts from its hips like a fox’s.
“Wow, what a …… weird creature sculpture.”
“This is Lugal, the Beast God King.”
“Oh, you know a lot about ……, and if I look closely, you’re a beastkin.”
The old man, who had never met her before, seemed surprised to see Shaula for the first time. He stared at the pretty girl’s snow-white body and red eyes.
But Shaula didn’t care, she picked up the sculpture and looked at it.
“It’s quite well done. I think Roka would be happy with this. ……!”
“Hmm, so this is the Beast God King? It’s kind of weird, all these different animals mixed together.”
It was the first time she has ever seen such a thing.
If you look, you’ll see that Shaula had stopped the fingertips of one hand just before they dug into Liz’s throat. The feeling of her fingernails touching her skin felt very creepy and made her break out in a cold sweat.
“Liz. I will not allow you to insult the Beast God King or our people of Lugal, no matter who you are.”
“Oh, I’m sorry! But it really feels like that, the Beast God King.”
“Yes, it is. You can’t tell because it’s carved out of wood, but it’s said that the hair on the body was silvery white or golden. It must have been very mysterious. Lugal-sama is guiding us beastkins. …Don’t say those words in front of Roka. You might not get killed, but you might get your arm broken.”
Shaula said earnestly.
“Surely that… [mixed person] is a forbidden word.”
(まざりもの also means impurity)
“Yes. Roka is especially sensitive to such things because she has a deep faith in Lugal-sama …… Hey, can I have this?”
“Oh, yeah, no problem. The people in Granden’s territory don’t seem to be very interested in it. It’s like a leftover, if you ask me. I’ll give you a discount.”
“Thank you.”
After saying it plainly, Shaula tried to pay for it.
The old man who owned the store, who was staring at the gesture, said as if he had made up his mind.
“Little girl, maybe you’re from …… that Blancneige family?”
“Blancneige is dead, all its pride and honor is gone, and all that remains is the glory of its past. I’m just a scrap of what’s left.”
Shaula quickly paid the old shopkeeper, who was unable to continue, and received the sculpture.
“Don’t you have to wrap it for a gift or something?”
“No need. Roka is not interested in such things. Even if you go to the trouble of wrapping it, she’ll tear it to pieces and be done with it.”
“That’s a lot of energy, really.”
The old man looked at them as they walked away, talking about such things, and muttered.
“The proud white wolf royalty …… no longer have the prestige of the first Blancneige family, who were able to keep out both lions and tigers. May God bless the girl.”
They looked around the city for a while, but couldn’t find anything else good at all.
Nevertheless, Shaula seemed to like the wood carving very much and was very happy with it.
Seeing her, Liz smiles at her.
“That’s kind of surprising.”
“What? What’s that?”
“Shaula always seems to be in a cold mood, except when she’s flirting on a girl. And now she’s in such a good mood.”
“I got a very nice one for my Master’s memorable birthday. Well, in the end, I could only find this sculpture …… and, come to think of it, I’ve kept you company for a long time. I’m sorry it’s none of your business.”
“So Shaula can apologize.”
“I’ll slit your throat.”
“Haha, I’m kidding. I’m just kidding, it’s fine. I had a lot of fun going around the store with you.
“Then we’ll have more fun in bed tonight.”
“I’m afraid I can’t. I have a prior engagement. He’s called Theo-kun. I’m going to spend the night with a very cute, dignified, and wonderful boy-”
“You’re having a nasty fantasy, aren’t you? You lascivious bitch. I don’t believe you’re that intelligent and proud elf.”
“I don’t want to hear it from Shaula! I mean, there are very few of them nowadays. Most of the girls nowadays are carnivorous, although they look like it. If they like you, they’ll drop you hard and fast.”
“It would ruin my image of elves. Especially since you’re the first one I’ve met. I feel like my fantasy have been destroyed.”
“Don’t get your hopes up and then get disillusioned! I was also surprised when I met Shaula. I was surprised to see her. I thought she was so pretty and fragile. But after about three seconds of talking to her, I realized that [oh, something different about this one.]”
“Hmm, I guess we’re even.”
As the two of them were walking along, laughing together, Shaula suddenly stopped in a panic when she almost bumped into someone walking from the alleyway.
“Wait, that’s dangerous. ……”
“Oh my God, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Are you hurt!”
The girl with the purple hair apologizes to her and bend down.
Shaula was taken aback, but as soon as she realized that the other party was a beautiful girl, her expression relaxed.
She immediately grabbed the girl’s hand and held it tightly.
“I’m fine. What’s your name, anyway?”
“Toto is called Toto!”
“Yes, your name is Toto. Cute name, cute face. I love it.”
A girl named Toto was unfazed when she stroked her cheeks with a grimace expression that ruined Shaula’s well-groomed face.
Normally, girls would be surprised or panic and run away. Liz stared at the two of them, thinking about that.
“If you’re talking about cute, then you’re cute too, beastkin. What’s your name?”
“My name is Shaula.
“Hoo-hoo. You’re Shaula? I’ll remember you. …… Anyway, let’s see.”
“Huh?”
As soon as Toto suddenly touched Shaula’s ear, a strange voice came out.
Afterwards, Toto continued to stroke Shaula’s body, making admiring noises.
Finally, Toto’s hand grabs the base of Shaula’s tail.
“Oh, ……!”
“Oh! Is it possible that you’re a little sensitive here? That’s it, Fluffy.”
“Ahh ……, you …… are bolder than you look …….”
“I’m often told that. But your skin and fur are pure white and you’re so beautiful. I want to take you home with me.”
“I’d love to be taken home. …… But I’ve got things to do today that I can’t miss.”
“What’s going on?”
“Umm. Roka…. my master’s birthday is coming up. I was just shopping for it.”
“I see. But your master? …… Are you a slave by any chance? I don’t see that very much.”
“Mmm. She’s treating me well. I’m being loved. Mmm-hmm.”
She patted Shaula on the head to bring her back to the real world, as she was about to enter a mysterious world.
“Come on, Shaula. You don’t have time to talk too much. It’s about time to meet up with Theo and the others.”
“Yeah, that’s true, too. ……”
Shaula looked at Toto regretfully before saying.
“Maybe we’ll see each other again soon!”
“Of course. Toto and her companion are planning to stay here in Granden for a little while longer.”
“Companion? There are other pretty girl besides you?”
“No, no, no, I wish there are. …… Unfortunately, it’s an unsociable, creepy guy.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I guess it doesn’t matter then. So, are you an adventurer or something?”
“That’s right. I’m adventuring and working as a kind of anything-goes work. The last time I was here, I was guarding the temple, and I’m planning to do it again soon.”
“Hmmm …… is that how you make money? The priests in the temple are pretty strong, aren’t they? I don’t think you’ll have much use for them if they got attacked.”
When Shaula tilted her head, Toto smiled wryly.
“But you know, ……, things have been a little crazy around here lately. If you just sit idly in the temple for a day, you can get a lot of money.”
“Hey, Toto. They’re asking an adventurer to guard the temple? Isn’t that weird? Can’t the military do it?”
Toto’s expression did not change as she looked at Liz, who interrupted her.
“Normally, it’s done by the military. But it seems like they were short on manpower or something, so they hired a skilled adventurer. So, what’s the name of you, elf sister?”
“I’m Liz. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, nice to meet you too, Liz!”
Toto took the elf girl’s hand and shook it roughly, but then a look of realization crossed her face.
“Oh, right. This is not the time to be doing this. …… Excuse me, guys. Have you seen a tall man in all black?”
“Is this about the guy from earlier? I don’t really care. But if I saw such disgusting guy in public place, I’ll remember him. How about you, Liz?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. I don’t think I saw anyone dressed like that.”
“Tsk, ……, where did that bastard really go, ……?”
Toto scratched her head and muttered to herself with “yareyare.
Liz’s eyes fell on the scabbard and the pommel head of the fine sword attached to her waist.
“Well, Toro is still in the middle of looking for him, so I’ll take my leave!”
“Oh, by the way, where are you staying? I’d like to visit you soon!”
Toto tells Shaula, who is eager to get to know her, the name of a cheap hotel.
She just waved cheerfully and quickly disappeared.
“What strange girl. No, but she was quite a beautiful girl. If I could have groped that body, I would have …… hehe.”
“……”
“…… Why are you silent, I think this is the part where you’re going to butt in.”
“No, I’m not that reckless.”
“What? Is there something about the girl that bothers you?”
“Hmmm, ……, that sword that that girl Toto had was a little bit…”
“Oh, by the way, she had a slender sword. …… Is that it?”
“No, no, it’s nothing. Come on then, Shaula.”
“Oh, hey, don’t break up the conversation at the wrong place!”
As she smiled at Shaula, who was following her from behind, complaining, Liz remembered the strange feeling she had felt from the girl’s sword.
–The Divine Sword Revisistra.
The power of God’s blessings from the divine sword that the great hero Claude Duras possessed. She also felt that from girl’s sword.
A divine sword is one that is directly created by God, or one that has been given tremendous power.
There are many holy swords that are said to have been given fragments of divine power.
However, it was doubtful that anything in the realm of the divine sword even existed.
It was the first time Liz had seen an actual divine sword, as she hadn’t seen a divine sword before. If the sword that the girl was holding was really a divine sword, it didn’t seem to make any sense.
Why would a girl who is only an adventurer carry around such a magnificent item?
No matter how much she thinks about it, there are so many things she doesn’t understand, and in the end, time goes by without her knowing what’s going on.
☆
“Theo, huh? ……”
Toto, who was walking fast, suddenly stopped and muttered.
“They were both students at the military school, weren’t they? And even though today was the first time I saw them, the two of them together made such a strong impression that I couldn’t forget them once I saw the. I wonder if they’re the special students who’is recently arrived.”
Toto stroked the hilt of the fine sword in its scabbard, which was strapped to his waist.
“The wolf looked pretty strong, but I don’t think it’s enough to go toe-to-toe with ……. what do you think, Mare Viper?”
She felt the slender sword tremble for a moment. Seeing this, Toto huffed.
“Alright. Well then, I’ll have to look for Theo-kun. I want him to have duel with me before I leave this town.”
Toto muttered at last, imagining the face of a strong man she had yet to see.
“General Duras’ daughter didn’t seem to be big deal, but …… I’d like to see the blue-haired owner show us what he’s capable of.”
