Reijou Wa Mattari Wo Goshomou Volume 2 Chapter 14

Reijou wa Mattari wo Gosh.o.m.ou Chapter 2-14

「Chise and I don't really talk to him much?」

Ryuse-san answered. He answered for Chise-san who was engrossed in eating as well.

「For me, it's usually about work. Ah, I would also recommend your coffee to him when I'm handing in my reports.」

「Thank you.」

Sensan said as he flipped through the pages of his novel. When I turned my gaze to s.h.i.+ze-san, he just continued quietly eating his steak. I heard that he was drink buddies with the Baron. This was what I was looking for. I was very concerned with the contents of those conversations.

「s.h.i.+ze-san is closest to the Baron, right? What do you guys usually talk about?」

「......Just some boring stuff.」

「......Is that so.」

I felt like it was impossible to get anything out of the man of few words, but I couldn't just throw a straight ball. Like......do you know about my ident.i.ty? I felt some resistance to doing that. 

——In the end, the day ended before I could properly enjoy it.

That night, I took a bath and prepared to sleep, burrowing under my covers. 

I thought about it carefully.

Honestly, I only want them to know the current me. I wanted to be just "Rhonya" in this town. 

I suddenly recalled the Beastmen squad's past. A story Sensan and s.h.i.+ze-san had told me. Thirteen years ago, a criminal organisation from a neighbouring country brought devastation to the nearby towns. The Beastmen's hometowns were also attacked. That's when the Lord of Domuskasa decided to fight alongside the Beastmen. In this battle, s.h.i.+ze-san and the rest lost both their parents and their homes.

Despite their past, the formed the Beastmen squad in this border city. 

......I knew their story, yet I kept silent about my own. How cunning. 

Such thought began to well up. If possible, I wanted to just be "Rhonya"......Since it's them, couldn't I just come clean about everything? Shouldn't they hear it from me and not anyone else? 

......Even if they knew I was someone who quit being an aristocratic lady and ran away from home, they would still accept me as I am. 

Even though I didn't know for sure, if it's everyone from the Beastmen squad. I believe that they would treat me the same when I tell them the truth. And I highly doubt that they would reveal my ident.i.ty to others.

However, I needed courage...... I also needed to find the right timing. 

The night grew darker as I carefully contemplated the words I needed to come clean to them.

——The next day. After the rush of the morning service, I took a quick break. 

Just the thought of confessing my past to the Beastmen squad made me jittery and my heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest. I put a hand to my chest and took deep breaths. Then, I proceeded to prepare for lunch——

「How could this......!」

I had forgotten to buy bacon. Without the main ingredient for the steak dish, I had no choice but to go out to purchase it. I rushed out of the store in a hurry. I left a note at the door in case of any misunderstandings. Then, I hurried over to the butcher. 

「Oh! If it isn't, Rhonya. How rare to see you at this timing? Did something happen?」

Once I entered the store, a healthy man with a white moustache said to me. He's the owner of the butcher shop.

「Actually, I accidentally forgot......to buy the meat for the Beastmen squad.」

「Oh no, that's really bad! Who knows if they might go on a rampage because you don't have meat for them. Is bacon ok?」

「Since I'm here, I'd like some beefsteak. I'll get the bacon tomorrow morning」

「Oh, so you want to reserve the bacon?」

「Yes.」

I received the beef needed to make steak, wrote down the amount of bacon on the reservation form and signed it with Rhonya.

Then, till tomorrow. And I left the butcher. 

Alright, now it's settled.

I carried the bags and was about to go home, but I stopped dead in my tracks. 

Because they stood on the opposite side of the road home.

Jet-black long hair, jet-black robes. Even though we were in the city, their horns which were usually concealed were in plain sight. Black horns that extended backwards like that of a goat. The area around the eyes was bordered by a red line, and the colour of their iris was a mysterious grey.

「I've. Found. You~」

The demon's mouth distorted into a crescent moon shaped smile, revealing his sharp, shark-like teeth. Their ominous magic was very present, though it couldn't be seen by the naked eye.

The first thing that came to mind was the crystal and Laclain's feather. But I didn't have them on me right now as I was in a rush when I left. 

Why did they have to appear now?

Really, the symbol of doom and ominousness——the root of all evil. I couldn't call Gray-sama who promised to seal this demon away for good. The demon just laughed as I took in a sharp intake of air.

6 An ominous premonition

「Today is the day you fall to me! My Angel!」

I smiled awkwardly to the demon whose eyes opened. Then, I bolted straight for the cafe where a barrier was set up.

(lilies: lol rhonya why are you smiling at the demon -_-)

「Wait for me~!」

Although it was said in a gleeful tone, it sent s.h.i.+vers down my spine. I hugged the bag with the beef with my left hand and lifted the hem of my skirt with my right, and ran across the street with all my might.

I said 「Sorry」 as I pushed through the crowd of people whose eyes widened in shock. While I was running away from the terrifying sound of them closing in, the cafe soon came into sight. 

(lilies: DUN DUN DUUUUUUN)

「Don't think you can get away from me!」

The demon's voice was alarmingly close, but I did not look back. I just continued running straight for the door. I opened the door which had a note stuck to it, and just as I was about to go through it——

Thud.

My leg got caught in something and I fell flat to the ground. My left leg was caught in the demon's hand. 

The barrier was set up beyond the door. However, only half of my body made it through the door while the other half was outside. Even if I tried to pull my leg into the store, the barrier which rejects demons would block their hand out.

The amethyst was placed on the counter which was too far for me to reach. I didn't even have the Laura ring on me. There couldn't be a worse situation than this.

「Mufufu......」

The demon who caught me laughed strangely.

「It's about time for you to give up on me, Demon Belzeta.」

「I can't believe that Schneider actually let go of Rhonya. Despite that, your heart still remained untainted. You really are an angel. It's the first time I've met such a pure and dazzling person. Mark my words, I will make negative emotions well up in you and make you give in to me for sure.」

(lilies: Schneider has. .h.i.t a new low. even the demon is surprised by his idiocy)

Demons preferred people who are more likely to have negative emotions and dislike those who are blessed with magic. Since you don't like people like me, I really hope you would leave me alone, but——

「There's no one standing in my way now......I shall corrupt the annoyingly virtuous heart of yours!!」

Their words made my skin crawl and my hair stand on end. Belzeta wanted to make me submit and corrupt me with their magic. 

Please stop saying that! It makes me so uncomfortable!

「——What disgusting words are you spouting?」

Then, the demon's head was smashed into the ground. The one crus.h.i.+ng their face underfoot was a man with hair the colour of the sky. Chise-san.

「Ojou, are you alright?」

Appearing from behind Chise-san was Ryuse-san who was stepping on the demon's torso.

「D-Don't screw with me!」

(lilies: FUZAKENNA!!)

Belzeta shouted while struggling to get up. But being stomped on by two strong Beastmen, getting up proved to be harder that it seems.

「You're too noisy, pervert.」

「Shut up.」

Both Chise-san and Ryuse-san increased the force exerted without holding back.

"Chise-san, Ryuse-san! T-Thank you! Please continue holding them down just like that!"

The moment my leg got out of the demon's grasp, I stood up and started chanting. I opened the s.p.a.ce created through magic and took out a magic spellbook. I flipped to the page about Sealing magic and cast the spell while releasing my magic power. And drew a cross in front of my chest.

"Please move aside!"

"Uooh!?"

A blinding light enveloped everything. 

When the light finally faded, Chise-san and Ryuse-san blinked their eyes. Standing behind them were s.h.i.+ze-san and Sensan. 

"Are you alright? Do you guys feel any discomfort?"

Since I had blessed them with protection magic, so they shouldn't be affected by the demon's magic. However, just in case, I had to double-check with them. 

"What was that just now? What a scary magic......"

Chise-san said as he entered the cafe while looking around nervously.

"I guess this is that sealing magic huh."

Ryuse-san said, following behind Chise-san.

"It's nothing, but......Weren't you going to ask the Magician Gratia to seal it?"

"Ah......"

It suddenly hit me now that Sensan pointed it out. 

"Ah......Oh no......we did say that."

I felt appalled and like I was put in a spot by my biggest blunder of today. 

"Puhaha, you accidentally sealed it! This is hilarious!!"

Chise-san was doubling over in laughter. Yes yes, please keep laughing. 

"Ojou is too cute~" 

Even Ryuse-san was teasing me.

"My apologies......I felt like I had to do something before anything disastrous could happen so I accidentally..."

"Is it possible for you to do a double seal? Put a seal on top of another seal?"

With regards to Sensan's suggestion, I shook my head.

"It might be possible based on the compatibility.......but it's impossible with this seal."

"......So, you've made a mistake."

"Uwuu......yes......"

I took Sensan's hand and got to my feet. 

Come to think of it, how did they find me? Up until now, the demon had been using the school as a landmark to locate me. I don't think it's easy to find this place.

While I was deep in thought, Sensan gently said to me.

"Well, we'll just have to seal them completely the next time they come. Now that you've been discovered by the demon, you should be extra careful." 

I nodded at his words.

"Ah ah, I thought it would be stronger, how boring."

Chise-san complained.

"I'm happy for your victory against the demon. Really, thank you. Just to be cautious, I need to purify you."

Although we shouldn't be in any danger, I still went up to the second floor to get the sage to for purification. I lit up the sage. It may be a little hard for the Beastmen and their acute sense of smell, but please bear with me.

After that, I went to put away the beef. As I about to return from the kitchen to take their orders, something hit me. Demons were the manifestations of bad omens. My brother knows that Belzeta is obsessed with me. I'm afraid he might have been investigating the demon's tracks as well. This attack may be the trigger that reveals my whereabouts. 

The moment this thought crossed my mind, I lost all strength in my body. 

"What's wrong, ojou?"

Although Ryuse-san called out to me, I couldn't respond to him. As he rested his weight on his arms, peering into the kitchen from the counter, Sensan spoke up this time.

"Rhonya, are you alright? You look ghastly pale. Were you hit by the demon's magic?"

"Ah, haha......It's just that I haven't run in so long, so I feel a little tired. Can I sit down for awhile?"

I staggered over to the counter and took a seat. What I said was not exactly a lie. I felt a sting in my calf, which might have been from all the sprinting I did. 

"Are you that tired? How useless."

(lilies: excuse me wth!!??)

"I'm embarra.s.sed by myself."

"......I really can't tell if you're strong or weak, Manager."

I laughed bitterly at Chise-san's words.

"Ojou, shall I ma.s.sage for you?"

"No, it's fine."

As Ryuse-san flashed a teasing smile at me, the floor started to glow. And from that light, three Lotos popped out. They were spinning on the ground like a spinning top as they lifted their hands in an attempt to stop. Causing Ryuse-san to burst into laughter, "Puhaha!"

"h.e.l.lo"

I greeted them while Sensan went and crouched down beside the Lotos.

"Can you help me tell Laclain that the demon has come?"

"Eh, that's......"

I tried to stop him. He didn't have to inform them specifically, but——

Hearing the word "demon" caused the Lotos to tremble in fear, as they lost all colour in their faces and jump back into the magic circle in a panic. That faint glow disappeared and in its place, the entire floor started to glow. 

In an instant, the air had changed. And we were standing in the middle of the forest where warm rays of light shone down on us.

"My friend! Are you ok? He didn't do anything to you right!?"

The person who came to me Orphedoto, who had skin the colour of wood and eyes that resembled peridots. When he heard of the situation from the Lotos, he immediately teleported us over. Only a Spirit was capable of something like forced summoning. 

"He didn't do anything."

I held Orphedoto's hands and smiled at him.

"Quickly clean yourself with this sage."

He handed me a bunch of sage, but I had already purified myself.

"Where's Gratia?"

"Ah, that......"

Orphedoto did not say h.e.l.lo to the Beastmen squad, but instead asked for Gray-sama, thinking we were together. When I was about to tell him about my blunder, a strong gust of wind blew through the peaceful air. 

"Where is the demon!"

Along with the violent winds, Laclain's voice reverberated through the forest. There seems to be a misunderstanding.

"I-I sealed him!"

I shouted, to tell him that the demon was gone. Then, the strong winds stopped immediately. 

"Why? What happened to Gratia?"

Laclain landed next to me and patted my back with his wing-like hands. 

"They were immediately sealed by Rhonya."

Sensan replied in my stead. 

"......Did you use the normal sealing magic? How unlike you."

"I can't have you guys......"

(lilies: kinda like the chinese direct translation to "no face" to describe disgrace or embarra.s.sment)

"Anyways, let's call Gratia over first. If it's him, he should be able to deal with it even after being they've been sealed."

Hearing Orphedoto's words, I shook my head frantically.

"N-No! It'll be a bother for Gray-sama who already has his hands full."

"What are you saying! If it's for Rhonya, any work can be dropped to rush over to your side!"

"No!"

Gray-sama was an incredibly busy person. I'd feel bad for bothering him. I planned on penning down what happened today and my wish for him to seal the demon the next time they appear, in a letter and send it to him. 

As I was trying to calm Orphedoto down, I heard a loud noise coming from behind me. When I turned around, I was greeted with the sight of a huge caterpillar coming towards me, with a bunch of Fiis, woolly fairies that resembled toy poodles, sitting on top of it.

"What's with you! Grrrr!"

Chise-san growled, feeling threatened. He seems to be the kind who would either be silent or be on alert when meeting someone for the first time. The caterpillar stopped dead in its tracks, tears welling up in its big round eyes. Its large body also started trembling.

"Chise-san, this is the Millenium Caterpillar. It is a resident of the forest."

(lilies: reminds me of millenium earl from D.Gray-man hehe)

I introduced the caterpillar to Chise-san before running to its side. 

"I'm sorry. He got a shock because of your size. It's been awhile."

I gently petted the Millenium Caterpillar's head and its trembling stopped. On the other hand, the Fiis slid down the caterpillar's back and approached me cheerily. Fiis say h.e.l.lo by rubbing noses with each other. So I crouched down and greeted everyone in turn. Ah, this is fluffy heaven~

Just then, a whole patch of snow-white fluff ran all over my body.

 These are the mischievous Ferris, small, cat-like creatures. Thanks to them, my entire body was covered in white fur. After Laclain blew their fur off of me with his wind, I stood up to get ready to return to the cafe. However——

"Alright, it's time to go back......eh? Where are Chise-san and Ryuse-san?"

"They went Ferris-chasing."

"Eh eh?"

Sensan took a stretch and sat down. He even went on the lie down. 

Well, the two of them went out to play and Sensan seemed to be planning to take a nap. So, we're not going back to the cafe? 

While I was confused, Sensan gently said.

"We'll go back for lunch later. You should take a rest too. You didn't look too well just now, I think it's better for you to take a nap."

The Lotos came to Sensan, who was worried for me. Even the Fiis snuggled up to him to nap with him.

"That's right, that's right! You should rest my friend."

Orphedoto said happily as he gently pushed me. 

Though I lost my balance and fell to my back, I didn't feel any impact. Orphedoto had caused the gra.s.s to grow rapidly and wrap around my body like a bed. Being encased by such soft gra.s.s made it extremely difficult for me to get up. Furthermore, the Millenium Caterpillar moved in such a way that it completely blocked the sun with its large body. By the time I came out of my daze, my body had lost all its strength and my eyelids gradually shuttered down. 

Then, I felt something being draped over my body. It was s.h.i.+ze-san's black jacket. Speaking of which, I haven't heard s.h.i.+ze-san's opinion on this. Was it really ok for me to take a nap before making food for them? But before I could voice my query, s.h.i.+ze-san lightly pressed on my eyelids with his fingertips, blocking my view. As if to say that it was ok to rest. 

Being prompted by those warm fingertips, I slowly gave in to sleep. 

——Warm fresh air, along with a soft bed of gra.s.s. These were the perfect combination for a nap. When I gently opened my eyes, I saw that the Beastmen squad was taking a nap as well. Along with the forest kittens, the Ferris, Fiis, and Lotos were all sound asleep. Seeing their sleeping faces made me want to fall back asleep with everyone.

However, for Chise-san who would cry out in hunger the instant he opened his eyes, I decided to take my leave first. I went back to the cafe with Laclain who insisted on following me. 

When I started meal preparations for the members of the Beastmen squad, a slightly grumpy voice was heard. 

"Didn't I tell you to call for me when the demon appears?"

"I forgot to buy something......so, I left in a hurry and forgot to bring the feather with me......"

"Be sure to not forget and always have it on your person in the future."

"Yes, I will bear that in mind."

Laclain and I talked while I made the sauce. After a while, I heard an energised voice.

"Manager~ I'm hungry."

It was Chise-san. Laclain reminded me once more, "Call me the next time", and left like the wind. After that, the Beastmen squad and I spent the afternoon as we usually do. 

——That night, when I got to bed, I was thinking about my brother. My whereabouts might have been revealed due to the demon's attack. There was an ominous feeling that I couldn't shake off no matter what. And I tried to brainstorm possible measures that I could take. Once I came up with an idea, I went to sleep peacefully. 

I feel like I might be forgetting something......

The next day, I got up early in the morning and used some magic while mixing some herbs. With this, I would be able to temporarily change the colour of my hair. If my brother was aware of the demon's attack, he would definitely send his subordinates over. At that moment, I felt like if I were to change my appearance. It was highly possible that they might not be able to find me.