Long. As a result of procrastinating on Tuesday, the part today is longer, my brain worked harder than usual and I feel like I’m about to have a headache.
Episode 46 — A Succubus’ Homework
～ Part 2 ～
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After that, everyone once again went to the beach where the caravan anchored. While many merchants were watching with quizzical look, Ryuzaki greeted Welkano-shi. Ryuzaki was still okay, but Goubayashi standing behind him while crossing his arms had an amazingly intimidating atmosphere.
That Welkano-shi was the one who managed the caravan, but the maritime caravan wasn’t a one-man organization by him alone. He too, in these last few hours, should have talked with the young merchants and gathered their opinions, but looking at their behavior, the attitude of the other side might not be favorable.
What Ryuzaki was going to talk with Welkano-shi was, well, various.
Mainly, it would be about the request to accompany the humans’ caravan that was going to embark for Albadanba after this, but knowing they were merchants, the story didn’t limited to just that. Transportation of the caterpillar unit that they had no choice but to discard at the moment, purchasing materials, etc., there were heaps of things Ryuzaki wanted to borrow their help for.
Besides, this would be a difficult request, but there was also the ‘human’s blood’ Akai wanted.
Once it became the stage of all-out negotiation, Ryuzaki decided to talk to Welkano-shi one-on-one. Kyousuke and the others who accompanied him had to leave their seat.
“Then during that time, Akai and Sakuma can talk to Kaoruko.”
On the sandy beach, Goubayashi, arms still crossed, said so.
“I think it will be hard to talk when we or the other merchants are looking. You can leave clearing out the people to me.”
Compared to the bigness of his body, he was a man who could make this kind of attentive consideration. Clearing out the people, or more precisely, if Goubayashi just crossed his arms and stood imposingly, ordinary humans would be too scared to approach, so well, he was the ideal candidate?
Kyousuke and the others, immediately after returning to this beach, had talked to Welkano-shi, so Akai or Goubayashi had yet to talk to Kaoruko. He, while having the imps and sahagins he tamed using «Evil Eye of Fascination» watch the surroundings, seem to be continuing to be vigilance as a guard himself.
“Yup, understood…. Thank you, Goubayashi-kun.”
Sakuma said so and nodded, then pulling Akai’s hand to go looking for Kaoru. These days, he often saw Sakuma was assertive with Akai. It wasn’t extreme enough to be called two-faced, but the scene where the originally introvert Sakuma Sachiko pulling the Class Queen and leaving was a little amusing to watch.
“Like I said just now, I’m going to stand watch so other merchants won’t approach while Sakuma is talking, but how about you two? Stand watch together?”
“I will refrain.”
Nekomiya the cait sith answered Goubayashi in a theatrical tone.
“Being next to you seem suffocating. Utsurogi?”
“Since I don’t have any particular purpose, being together with Goubayashi is also okay, but then,”
Kyousuke looked around the sandy beach.
The sahagin corpses that were made in the previous battle were beautifully cleaned up. The merchants were probably sleeping in the sailing ship; there was no facility that could accommodate humans. However, cargo-like things were gathered in one place, and the figure of a petite girl inspecting that was visible.
A brown-skinned little girl. He saw him some time ago. It was a girl named Remy.
“Are you curious too? Just right, let’s go socialize a bit.”
Looking up at Kyousuke, Nekomiya Miya said.
“Curious?”
“This caravan’s lifestyle, how are the humans in this kind of fantasy world living and such. You can’t really get a chance to interview like this just by living normally.”
Speaking of which, when they were at the Knight Kingdom, Kyousuke did remember Nekomiya walking around here and there in the royal palace. Because I’m in the drama club, wasn’t the reason. She probably had a character brimming with curiosity from the start.
“…Curiosity killed the cat.”
“Stop the kind of joke that I can’t laugh at. And so, Goubayashi, I and Utsurogi are taking a stroll around here.”
“Fumu, understood.”
Before Kyousuke indicated his consent, Nekomiya had forcibly advanced the story. Well, since Kyousuke had no particular reason to refuse, if said no problem, then it was no problem.
“You said so Nekomiya, but since the other side is wary of us, something like interview is impossible, isn’t it?”
While seeing off Goubayashi’s back, Kyousuke said so. In his heart, he was thinking: Looking from the side like this, all I can see is an ogre following behind two beauties, so it’s a considerably suspicious scene, isn’t it?
“In that case, we can just look around on our own. Ahh, are you saying wary in a sense of socializing with me? As expected, I don’t have the bad taste to steal other people lover.”
“Well, I don’t particularly have any wary or conceit about that, but…. I like cat.”
Nekomiya Miya, she was a black cat wearing leather boots. When she was in a good mood, she would straighten her prided key tail and walked upright.
Kyousuke, he had been living a relatively narrow world even at school. By narrow world, that meant a world of only Kyousuke, Akira and Kogane. He had talked to Sakuma in a space called the library sometimes as well, nevertheless, the humans necessary for his school life didn’t even reach 5 people.
Because Kyousuke was like that, these past two months when he started having conversations with various classmates was a considerably surprising incident. What he talked and understood was that «I’m not as shunned as I thought», but since delicately measuring the distance was too much for him, he was weak at conversing one-on-one with the types like Nekomiya.
A skeleton and a cait sith walked along the sandy beach, young merchants were warily watching them. Only, when they were trying to withdraw to the sailing ship before sunset, it might be more correct to describe it as hurriedly escaping.
“There are still humans remain and are working. There’s an extraordinary young girl as well.”
“Ahh, her name seems to be Remy. I heard she’s the first one Kaoruko met.”
Remy, documents in one hand, was checking the barrels and wooden boxes lining up on the sandy beach one by one. Every time Remy passed by, the men would exchange a few words with her and carry the wooden boxes and barrels to the sailing ship.
A brown-skinned girl. Age was about 13, 14. Ears bouncingly protruded. Appearance-wise, she looked like Kogane, but possibly, she too was an elf.
“Yo!”
Without being timid, Nekomiya greeted. A man who was about to talk to Remy was evidently startled and took distance.
As for Remy, she didn’t particularly appear to be frightened, and finished with only a slight bow.
“Working hard, aren’t you? What are you doing?”
“Cargo check.”
Remy said so, however, Kyousuke felt that her impression was subtly different from when he saw her earlier. Just a few hours ago, she should have been wearing cloth like a tattered bag, but now she was just a little bit fashionable.
“(That’s Kaoruko’s sense, right?)”
Nekomiya said in a whisper.
“(That’s right, she may have eaten a fashion check)”
Fashion check was Kaoruko’s hobby. His favorite motto was «We are on stage», with that as a premise, he was especially strict toward girls. In short, «Since you’re born a girl after much trouble, be more cute!», he said. At first, he was thought to be creepy, but by the time two months had passed, Kaoruko completely became the class’s fashion leader.
Since there was no way they can get something like beautiful clothes in this uninhabited coast, so did they embezzle some of the merchandise or something else?
“…These clothes are from the abandoned cargoes, Kaoru-san said it’s too wasteful.”
Apparently it was correct. Was she embarrassed by the unfamiliar clothes? Her voice was a little tense.
“There are abandoned cargoes? Wasteful, isn’t it?”
“I think it’s related to the current, but quite a lot cargoes from the other caravan ships that had sunk in the storm was washed ashore. What I’m doing is checking that. Which company the cargoes belong to, what do they contain? There are also cargoes of company that had been completely destroyed, so when you want something in that, it will be auctioned. Properly check it, and when we return, part of the sales will be paid to the guild, the rules too are complicated.”
“Indomitable commercial spirit.”
Even Kyousuke had leaked an admired voice.
This maritime caravan seemed to be formed by multiple companies affiliated with the Continental Southern Commerce Guild. Remy, as a newcomer of Welkano Company, had accompanied the journey this time. And immediately, it was this, indeed, this could only be said as bad luck.
“And then, the sahagins everyone got rid off. Sahagin’s tridents are popular in seaside towns as warding charms, scales are traded as material as well, so those are split equally to the remaining companies.”
Whether explaining was getting fun, a little natural gentleness was returning to her words. But then, Remy suddenly stopped speaking, and looked around to Kyousuke group. Even before a skeleton and a cait sith, she didn’t appear faltering all that much.
“The skeleton person there, you’re the person who exterminated the sahagins some time ago, aren’t you?”
“Ah, yeah.”
“I have one question. Why did you think about saving us?”
That was a question Kyousuke was poor at. «Isn’t it natural to help people in need?», somehow, he just couldn’t say it by himself. Kyousuke was hesitating on how to answer, but immediately afterward, he noticed that the answer itself missed the mark.
“Certainly, sahagin is brutal, difficult to come to understanding species. However, I don’t quite understand the reason why everyone attacks the sahagins and not us. If we assume that this area is the sahagins’ turf, the one who invade are definitely us.”
That’s certainly true. I didn’t notice it before she said it.
Kyousuke and the class were thinking of themselves as humans. Appearance might have changed, but heart was human. Recently, the students who said the standard unhuman joke «Although we’re not humans» was also decreasing. Well, not that there wasn’t a strange bunch like Rin, who took actions that humans absolutely couldn’t imitate yet insisting herself was human; having said that, the mentality of each of them was mostly no different from the time they were humans.
Only, to explain that in words, was extremely difficult, Kyousuke thought. He was also doubting whether it was okay to carelessly tell the absurd story that they were in fact tripper.
“Well, we think that where’s whose turf is trivial.”
Nekomiya spoke words that barely didn’t become a lie.
“Is that so? Kaoru-san is also the same, but every is too human so…”
“Then how about Remy? Your ears are pointed though?”
“Ahh, yes. That’s because I’m half elf. Only I don’t know who my parents are.”
Easily confessed a shocking truth.
“I was sold to a slave dealer in Zelga Gladiatorial Principality. In that place there was monster trading, and many individuals were trained to talk as well, so I wasn’t too surprised when seeing everyone.”
“You’ve live a considerably hard life.”
“Only, I feel that everyone’s way of thinking is clearly different from the monsters I saw there. Well, that’s all.”
Zelga Gladiatorial Principality was a country on the East side of the Grand Canal, opposite from Pirika Southern Kingdom. Because the North was protected by the rigorous summit of the Beast King mountain range, it was a country where the domination of the Empire didn’t directly reach. Backing by such a circumstances, it was also the sole country in the continent to approve of slave dealing.
More or less, the place didn’t even touch the presently assumed traveling route, so he didn’t think about it too deeply.
“Oi, Remy, come over here for a bit–!”
Thereabouts, Remy was called by other merchants in a loud voice.
“Ah, yes! I’ll go immediately! Then, please excuse me for a bit.”
Giving a little bow, Remy ran on the sandy beach. Being left behind, Nekomiya, while watching the wooden boxes Remy had been checking until just now, asked Kyousuke.
“What do you think?”
“There’s quite a lot of information, I don’t know which of it you’re asking about though?”
“Well, summarize that. What do you think?”
As he was told, Kyousuke ponder.
“As expected, what’s bothering me the most is that we look like an amazingly bizarre group judging by human’s standard.”
“Well, that’s an obvious thing though. Selena said so as well, didn’t she?”
While being monster, their mentality was still human, therefore a sense of incompatibility would definitely be born. When interacting with humans, he was forced to feel that. Even looking at the attitude of those merchants, themselves were still just monsters.
“Then, Nekomiya. What do you think?”
“Me? What I think? Hmm, that’s right, isn’t it?”
Nekomiya Miya, while swaying her key tail like a metronome, pondered in a theatrical gesture.
“She is half human, moreover not afraid of monsters, so if we ask, could she let Akai drink blood? That’s my thought.”
That suggestion seems like a good idea, a seemingly good idea. No, this is definitely no good.
“Or rather, is the story of Akai starving for blood already that famous…”
“I think that not everyone knows. But the person herself didn’t plan to hide it so much, did she?”
She was talking jokingly, but the practical matter was that she was worry about Akai. In all appearance, this caravan had many humans, it would be best if they could offer their blood, but in an emotional sense, it would be difficult to request that.
“Akai won’t do anything like being unable to endure it and attacking humans, right?”
“That Queen? As expected, she’s not that uncouth.”
That Akai should be talking to Sakuma and Kaoruko right now. I hope she could take back her calm a little by conversing with her best friends.
“You seem healthy, Kaoru.”
“You too, Asuka.”
Words to confirm each other safety was fine with that much. Akai wasn’t the type to speak more than necessary, on that point, Kaoru was talkative, but he didn’t have the personality to continue speaking senseless things endlessly. After exchanging the minimum words necessary, neither of them said anything in particular, Sakuma too, didn’t intend to say anything unnecessary.
Rather than that, there were mountains of things they have to tell.
Sakuma, exchanging looks with Akai, when Akai nodded, she started telling Kaoru one-by-one, in an orderly manner.
That Kogane was kidnapped. That they made contact with the human force for the first time, that they remodeled the heavy cruiser, making it a moving branch school.
That Washio had died.
That Akai was a vampire before the transference.
That the trip this time was plotted by Akai’s blood clan.
Kaoru, without cutting in midway, carefully listened to it in details, and then finally, he silently nodded.
“So, Kogane-kun, Washio-kun is…”
“Sorry. Talking in one go like this … may be difficult to accept, however…”
“It’s okay, Sachi. You have held out well so far.”
Gently smiling, softly brushing Sakuma’s silver hair, immediately afterward, Kaoru turned his gaze to Akai.
Akai narrowed her eyes slightly. Arms crossed, she took a deep, deep breath, then unwrapping her arms, she slowly bowed to Kaoru.
“From me as well, I’m sorry. Kaoru. If possible, you and Sachi…”
“That sort of thing,”
Akai raised her face, on her lips pressed Kaoru’s index finger.
“Is not something you say at this timing. Asuka, unfashionable?”
“…Yeah.”
“Well, saying I don’t care about it would be lying. But this was also a good chance to confront myself. Besides, the target I should get angry at is not you. Isn’t that right?”
Okama Kaoru was this kind of man. There might be some problems in determining him as a man. But Sakuma, from the bottom of her heart, thought that she was glad to be Kaoru’s friend, that too was probably the same for Akai. Akai, after looking around as if she was worrying about the surroundings, suddenly breathe out.
“Haaa…!!”
“Asuka-chan?”
Confirming that there wasn’t anyone, Akai, as it was, sat down on the sandy beach. Needless to say, her clothes were a sailor uniform. Sand got on her skirt, but she didn’t appear to mind it.
“Steeling myself, I’m tired…. It’s stupid to keep up appearance in front of you two…”
“Araa? Walls have ears, sliding doors have eyes?”
“Pardon me for a bit now…”
Akai smiled bitterly.
Presently, Goubayashi was letting out fighting spirit at full throttle, simultaneously performing clearing out people and vigilance, so actually, the possibility of this scene being seen could be said to be nil.
“Well, it’s an honor if you say you can only show this kind of appearance to us. But Asuka, your friends are not only the two of us, don’t forget that. There are your two followers as well.”
“Ahh, Harui and Hebitsuka…”
“Because those kids has been thinking of Asuka as friends from the bottom of their heart, they must be shock when you’re keeping a secret, so properly follow-up, okay?”
Kaoru’s words were gentle, but the things he was saying was strict. Certainly, after the case of Akai’s confession, Harui and Hebitsuka had become a just a little distant from her. Probably because everyone was species that was good at keeping up appearances, there was hardly any students who noticed that slight different.
Although it wasn’t something limited to just Harui and Hebitsuka, but what Sakuma had seen and been worrying about the most was, as expected, the slight ditch born between these two and Akai.
“Yeah, I will try my best…”
Akai, after hesitating a little, clearly nodded.
“Nn, that’s a good reply. And then Asuka, can I ask one more thing that’s been bothering me?”
“I’ll answer anything. What is it?”
“It lightly came out in the story. Phase 2, 3? Do I have that too?”
“Uh huh…”
Akai, sitting gym-class-style on the sandy beach, looked at Kaoru, and then looked at Sakuma.
“That’s right. Since it’s a good chance, let’s talk. As far as I heard the story, Kaoru has already awoken to Phase 2 ability.”
“Ah, was that the case?”
“In the first place, a dream demon’s Phase 2 ability has been concluded to there only be one on theory.”
Dream demon’s, the fact that she had expressively said this, was because incubus and succubus were, as expected, the same species. In other words, that would also influence Sakuma’s Phase 2 ability. So far, Sakuma Sachiko had read through various documents gathered in the class, but she mostly didn’t look at the things about dream demons.
The reason, even she herself knew.
“«Brainwashing Strengthening», is it? The thing that strengthens overall ability of mental interference type. Kaoru being able to make allies with incubus ability «Temptation» regardless of genders and species was thanks to this.”
“Is that so? Then, Sachi’s Phase 2 ability is this too?”
Yup, Akai nodded, then hesitating a little and continued:
“But Sachi originally has never used «Temptation» even once, so her homework is a stage before that…”
It didn’t mean she was particularly angry. Neither was she astonished. Akai Asuka was just stating the fact indifferently.
But that stabbed deeply into Sakuma big chest.
Because she was a succubus, she should have been able to use the racial ability «Temptation». But Sakuma had never used that.
While everyone in the class was waking up to Phase 2 ability little by little. Wherein, just herself didn’t show any sign of becoming able to use Phase 2, in the first place, she didn’t use the prerequisite ability even once.
“(Is it better, to use, it…)”
Ignoring Akai and Kaoru’s conversation, Sakuma imagined a certain boy in her mind.
Next Episode: To use, or not to use?
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