An
Annoying Pattern
If it were the previous world
it could become a tourist attraction, but the police would definitely intervene
on the shop. A one-handed buster sword, a dagger for self defense, sets of bows
and arrows, spears, cudgels made for adults, together with shields and armor to
defend oneself with. Up till now I’ve never once come to this shop so to me it
had the feeling of a museum. However, I was at a loss deciding what weapon I
should use.
「I haven’t come here before,
but as expected of the royal capital, it’s got a good selection.」 (Melma)
「Well I’m here to pick out a
weapon. But, nothing really stands out right away.」 (Velt)
To be frank, when it comes to
swords and spears, I’ve never touched a real one before, though I do have
experience with wooden swords. In any case, in order to get used to it, I’m not
sure how many years of training I’ll have to go through. In any case, I should
choose something that’s easy to handle and that I’m familiar with.
「Asakura, what sort of style
did you fight with」 (Melma)
「Kicks. I’ll kick and kick and
kick. I didn’t really punch much.」 (Velt)
「Ooh, you’re pretty unusual.」 (Melma)
「But, in this world there are
common demons and demi-humans who are several times stronger than humans,
aren’t there? I haven’t met them before, but if that’s the case then fighting
unarmed is basically suicide right?」 (Velt)
「Hmmm, I see～ Have any experience fighting with weapons then?」 (Melma)
「When I fought against a bunch
of people, when my opponent took out a spiked bat, I struck back with a baton.」 (Velt)
「A baton? Is that really how
you’ve been carrying yourself?!」 (Melma)
「Buuut, thinking about that
there ain’t anything like a baton. It might be because it’s a different age in
a different world.」 (Velt)
If I were to use a weapon,
it’d be good if it were something I’m experienced with. I’ve used batons and
metal bats a few times before. However, as expected I don’t see them. There are
cudgels, but there aren’t many kids that can carry something around like that.
「Whatsat～ Going to use a weapon kid? Even though we only sell to people
over 13?」 (Shopkeeper)
Looking over the figures of
sensei and I who extensively looked through the shelves, the old man sitting on
the chair spoke out to us.
「That’s why, sensei is going
to hand you the money and buy it for me.」 (Velt)
「Nonsense! The point is, like
I said, a kid will be using a weapon that I’m selling!」 (Shopkeeper)
Well, that’s how it is. Since
I wanted to smoke in high school one of my senpais bought it for me. But, even
then I didn’t leave.
「Hey, old man. I’m asking you.
In this world I’m trying to get strong enough to protect my family and
childhood friend. Especially since I don’t know when the demons and demi-humans
are going to come and attack with their armies.」 (Velt)
Everything was a lie. But,
it’s better to reason with the geezer. However, the old man had a weak
response.
「Fu~n, you’re a pretty cheeky
brat for saying these things aren’t you? As far as how much you’ve fought
through, you should know this country’s army isn’t weak.」 (Shopkeeper)
「Er- well, that’s true.」 (Velt)
「Even then, kid, come and
stand over here for a bit.」 (Shopkeeper)
「Kay.」 (Velt)
Doing as he said, I stood in
front of the old man. He silently looked at me from the bottom of my feet to
the top of my head, and finally gazed right into my eyes. Or rather, there was
a serious look in the old man’s eyes.
「Fu~n, you’re pretty dull huh.
You don’t have the hope, talent, or resolution.」 (Shopkeeper)
「Haa? What the hell are you
saying all of a sudden? Or rather, what the hell can you see with your eyes you
senile old man?」 (Velt)
「Ooh, a boy without manners or
sensibility. Well, getting to the point, you don’t have the qualifications or
the resolution to go about wielding a weapon, kid.」 (Shopkeeper)
「Resolution?」 (Velt)
「You listening? You hold a
weapon to take out your opponent, but you need the resolution to be killed
yourself.」 (Shopkeeper)
At this time, I had a bad
premonition. This pattern was a pain in the ass. This old man will be burdened
with the responsibility of people hurting others, which is why he has to blab
on about resolution.
「If you’re going to injure
someone you’ll need to resolve yourself and take responsibility for becoming
fit to do so. If you don’t have the resolution nor the responsibility, don’t
even think about holding a weapon.」 (Shopkeeper)
Look here. Ever since the
past, and in whatever world there is, there hasn’t been anyone lecturing and
twisting themselves over this as much as this guy. As for how it should
be, kids shouldn’t have to think about every single damn thing, right?
「What a pain......」 (Velt)
「What was that?」 (Shopkeeper)
「Well, although there are
things that are important, I’m not interested. As for weapons, in my case I’m
not wielding a weapon to injure someone, I’m wielding a weapon to protect
myself so that I don’t get hurt. With that, my chances of winning a fight and
surviving will increase, and the rest is using it with the resolution to beat
my opponent. I don’t want to die, nor do I want to get hurt. As for taking responsibility,
I haven’t killed someone before, nor have I irrevocably harmed them. I don’t
know if I can go that far.」 (Velt)
What a stubborn old man. But
somehow, it seems like I was talking back in retaliation. Without holding
back, the stuff the old man talked about was perfectly righteous, but he spoke
like he was looking down on people, which pissed me off.
「You’re too honest, and all
the more that I ain’t selling to you」 (Shopkeeper)
Well, that’s what happened.
The old man was also making a disgusted face.
「YOU IDIOOOOOOOOT!!」 (Melma)
「That hurts, sensei, don’t hit
me.」 (Velt)
「No matter how you think about
it, what this person was saying is much more just than you!」 (Melma)
「No, well that’s true, but
nonetheless.」 (Velt)
Sensei also got mad at me.
「Well, nothing I can do, I’ll
come again another day.」 (Velt)
Back in my life as Asakura
Ryuuma, the old lady at the store calmly let me buy dirty books at the
bookstore, but that doesn’t seem to apply in this world. Although I say that,
it’d be unreasonable to do so as in actuality I haven’t even found a suitable
weapon yet. From here, I suppose I could only obediently leave, and as I did,
「Oh? If I’m not mistaken is
that Velt over there?」 (????)
Suddenly a childish voice
called out to me. As I turned my head, there was a young boy wearing trousers
and a white shirt covered with a purple mantle.
「It’s Shalt, yo.」 (Velt)
(TN: His name is written as
“Shout,” but the name will cause a mess later, so we changed it to Shalt.)
「Yaa, fancy meeting you here,
something happen?」 (Shalt)
(TN: They both say the
equivalent of “yo” in Japanese and English, so I’ll just leave the Japanese one
as “Yaa” (やあ).)
With a figure overflowing
with cleanliness, he had well-featured looks and silky blonde hair. He was slender
and the embodiment of “well-bred.”
「Asak- no, Velt, is he an
acquaintance of yours?」 (Melma)
「He’s a classmate of mine at
the magic school. He’s the son of the kingdom’s strongest, General Taira.
Although he’s weak he’s the magic school’s top student. He got along with my
parents, and is more or less an acquaintance.」 (Velt)
He’s pretty much a classmate.
There’s nothing particularly special between us.
「Calling me weak, isn’t that a
bit mean, Velt? At any rate, what are you doing here?」 (Shalt)
「I came here to look for a
weapon. What about you?」 (Velt)
「Haha, today is papa’s day
off. I came here to get a preview of my weapon.」 (Shalt)
「Papa?」 (Velt)
In that instant, a chill ran
up my back. I reflexively jumped to the side, then realized that there was a
lone man standing behind me without knowing it.
「It’s been a while, Velt. As
usual, you’ve got a cheeky look on you.」 (????)
「Ta-Taira!」 (Velt)
「Call me uncle Taira. Really,
for the kid of Aruna to have such a rude mouth, unthinkable.」 (Taira)
He had a slender stature,
narrow body, and was different from Escort Captain Galva; at a glance it looked
like he had no strength. With youthfulness that made it seem like he would have
no children, it was as if he were only ten years older than Shalt. Just looking
at it, he looked like Shalt’s older brother. Although it looked like he was in
his teens, Taira was an older man. But, even though he was constantly smiling
and didn’t give off a manly feeling, he was the country’s strongest spellsword
and was well-known in foreign countries. I didn’t have any interest in wars nor
their heroes, and even though I’ve in reality never fought in a war before, I
still knew of him. As sensei arrived in this country even he knew of him, and
was surprised at the current state of affairs.
「Oi oi, like how you’re with
the princess, why is it that you’re acquainted with these incredible people?」 (Melma)
「It’s not particularly like
we’re friends or anything, they’re just people I know. Because of Forna, I’ve
somehow become well-known.」 (Velt)
「My, isn’t that mean, even
though I thought we were friends.」 (Shalt)
「As usual you’re a pretty
twisted kid.」 (Taira)
I’m the son of a simple
farmer yet I had these over-the-top connections. It wasn’t unreasonable for
sensei to be shocked.
「Speaking of which, I remember
seeing the princess. When I was on the way here with papa, we passed by her.
You guys weren’t with her?」 (Shalt)
「Haa? It’s not like you should
think we’re always together you know? I’ll do things at my own convenience.」 (Velt)
「You really are selfish aren’t
you. One day, you’re going to become part of the royalty in this country, so
you should at least have a bit of composure when the time comes, right?」 (Shalt)
?
「Shalt, why is it that I’m
going to become part of the royalty?」 (Velt)
「Isn’t it obvious? That’s
what’s going to happen when you marry Princess Forna right?」 (Shalt)
「Oi, why are you saying that
with such a serious look?」 (Velt)
「Likewise why are you
responding like that? Just the other day, you made a ruckus with Princess Forna
and proposed to her right?」 (Shalt)
「What?? I didn’t friggin' do
something like thatー...... Wait, could what I
said have been interpreted like that?」 (Velt)
I did say that I’d marry her
if she became a good woman, but was this taken as an actual proclamation?
「I've heard of it too. From
the maids to the guards in the castle, even the king was talking about it
happily.」 (Taira)
This is a problem. From
parent to child, why were they all smiling?!
「Well, you should think of
taking responsibility as a man. When you become the king, Shalt will have
become a general right? If that were to happen, this country would be safe.」 (Taira)
And this is the bad part
about this country. From the nobles to the top brass of the army, even though
our societal positions were separated like heaven and earth, there was no such
thing as a fixation on one’s social status. Normally, something like a peasant
becoming the king would be taken as a joke, otherwise causing a disturbance.
Nonetheless, right now it seemed that starting from Taira and Shalt, everyone
was wickedly letting out their true feelings.
「Hey, Asakura, is it better
for me to from now on start selling (ramen) to you with flattery?」 (Melma)
「Stop it, sensei. When it
comes to treating me, doing so like when I was in high school is good enough.」 (Velt)
Rather than feeling awkward
It was uncomfortable. That’s honestly how I felt.
「I’ve had enough of this, I’m
heading back.」 (Velt)
「How difficult, since we’ve
met after such a long time, let’s go and eat cake after this.」 (Shalt)
「I’m going to enjoy myself
with some nice, rich cake.」 (Taira)
I didn’t have anything else
to do, so I’ll immediately make my way back. As I was thinking that on my way
out,
「I’ve kept you waiting,
General Taira. This is the rapier I’ve produced for your son’s personal use.」 (Shopkeeper)
「Let’s have a look.」 (Taira)
What?
「WAIT A SECOOOOOOOND! What the
hell’s the meaning of this, old man?! You gave your opinion earlier but now
you’re selling weapon to a noble’s son?! That’s bullshit! He’s also ten year’s
old!」 (Velt)
「You fool, don’t compare your
shallow self to Shalt-sama! Shalt-sama has the potential to go with the hero
and bring an end to this period of darkness. His readiness, resolution, they
are clearly different from yours. Shalt-sama is special!」 (Shopkeeper)
Urgh, I couldn’t deny it.
Certainly Shalt’s talents are comparable to Forna’s. He's mature in spite of
being a kid. But even then, I who had the mental age of a seventeen year old
had lost to a ten year old, so it’s fine if I feel down about it.
「Now now, let’s calm down.
Nonetheless, Velt, I’m surprised you want to carry a weapon. Did something
happen?」 (Taira)
I’m a ten year old brat who’s
going to save this world. But it’s actually that I’m going on a journey to
search for the girl that I love who might be out there, so I wanted a weapon to
defend myself with. How am I supposed to say something so embarrassing?
「Nothing at all.」 (Velt)
「Fufu, could it be frivolous
circumstances you can’t talk about?」 (Taira)
It’s embarrassing so I’m not
going to talk about the situation. Or rather, if I told them my reason, Forna
would beat me up. But, Taira was interested in something and took a little look
at my condition,
「Alright, Velt. Just for a bit
will you show me how far you’re willing to go?」 (Taira)
「What?」 (Velt)
「It’s a connection from you
being my son’s friend. If you’re able to land a single hit on Shalt, then I’ll
grant your wish. How’s that? Won’t you show me your resolution?」 (Taira)
Not good. It's following the most annoying pattern.