Chapter 2
Part 1
“Damn, ever since I came to Little Garden, there have been many incidents involving water.”
Water dripped down from Izayoi’s school uniform as he was wringing it dry while making his way to the rendezvous point. Ever since he came to Little Garden, he had gotten himself wet a couple of times. Hence that would explain why his movements could be said to be much more skillful.
Walking along the abandoned pathway that hasn’t been repaired, Izayoi reached an abandoned area that was devoid of inhabitants at the moment but was soon alerted by the screeching, loud sound of houses being destroyed.
Patting off the dust and sand that covered his body, he lifted his brows in surprise.
(What could have made that sound….)
KABOOM! Violently bursting through the doors that were already decaying, he sped up his pace towards the direction of the ruckus. Since this is a deserted place, there shouldn’t be anyone living or coming here.
These ruins had been due to the Greatest Natural Disasters of Little Garden---the trace of the Demon Lords’ passing could still be seen everywhere, and it was so bad that bandits that preferred to prey on those that were already in down times wouldn’t even consider coming here. The once great and powerful community was nothing but a shell of its former glory as only ruins and withered trees remained.
(Just what is that noise?) As Izayoi silently trudged through the road as the noise continued.
Well, that’s pretty high profile for a bandit. Izayoi laughed.
“—DDDDEEEEEEENNNNNNN!!!!!”
The culprit finally revealed itself. Beside it, the culprit’s master also gave a sharp command.
“Deen, I’ve told you many times that you can only shout if you’re fighting.”
“….Deen.”
The giant automaton responded softly.
Incredibly, as Deen’s voice got softer, his body size shrank accordingly.
Izayoi drooped his shoulders and walked over to Asuka, disappointed.
“Ara…Izayoi-kun, what are you doing in a place like this?”
“That’s my line, Ojou-sama. What are you doing in this desolated place?”
“We’re doing demolitions and rebuilding houses. Even if the top priority is the farm, we cannot neglect the residential area completely, right?”
Izayoi nodded with an “Ah, I see” look.
“But Ojou-sama, aren’t you abusing the giant a little? I mean, you’ve been working Deen day in and day out without rest, right? Since the work at the farms has already come to an end, shouldn’t you at least give it some rest?”
Asuka seemed a little embarrassed[13] as Izayoi made the dig at her with his words.
“That…Forget it, you’re right. Fine, we’ll call it a day.”
“Deen.”
Deen nodded its head that housed only one eye and stretched out it’s gigantic hand towards Asuka. With an elegant movement, Asuka gracefully lifted her dress a little as she bent to seat herself on the hand and was brought to rest upon Deen’s shoulders.
Seeing that, Izayoi leapt to stand upon the other shoulder of Deen.
“Sorry for the rudeness.”
“If you’re sorry, then jump off.”
“Well, then I’m not sorry.”
“Then have it your way……But come to talk about it, have you gotten yourself a nice reward?”
“Hm, you can count it as catching up after some struggle.”
Following the tremble and swaying that was Deen’s heavy steps, the two were having a cordial conversation.
Shortly after, a gust of strong wind blew from above and at the same time, Kasukabe Yō’s voice could be heard.
“Were you two on the way back?”
“Mhn. Kasukabe too?”
“Mhn. Me too…..Deen, can I sit on top of its head?”
“Sure, no problem.”
“Oi oi, that’s not fair, Ojou-sama.”
Izayoi protested as Asuka purposefully turned her head away with a smug look.
Spreading her arms and legs wide like a [大] character, Yō got herself close to Deen’s head before making her landing and when she did, she gave a sigh.
“Izayoi, did you get any achievements?”
“Oh yeah, it’s fantastic. Better stay tuned. Ahahahhahha!”
Izayoi hugged his chest as he gave a loud laugh.
“Is that so….” Yō seemed more sullen than usual as she lay down upon Deen’s head. Izayoi and Asuka also noted that something was amiss but they dismissed it as fatigue from a hard day’s work and hence decided to let her rest quietly.
Deen eventually walked to the reservoir. Although there were other ways to reach the main block, but Deen would’ve destroyed a good chunk of the road and buildings so this was the only road wide enough for him. The trio originally wanted to make a beeline to the main building but a shout from the lane leading off to the farm lands halted them in their tracks.
There, the apron wearing fox girl, Lily appeared.
“Ahh, goshujin-samas[14] welcome back!”
“We’re back, Lily, is the farm doing well?”
“Yes, other than planting and sowing, the rest are all completed. I’ve just gone to confirm the water canal that leads the water from the reservoir to the farm regions and was planning to do up some adjustments before the fields are complete.”
Looking closely, Lily’s hands were covered with mud.
Perhaps it was due to the fact that the she had worked through the hot afternoon sun in the fields, her perspiration on her forehead was reflecting the light of the setting sun. And though she might have worked in the hot weather, Lily continued to have that usual energetic smile with her two tails, which were half her height, wagging without a sign of weariness.
“You look happy.”
“Correct! To be able to contribute to the Community with this sort of work is my greatest joy! For lunch would taste much better!”
Lily smiled as she picked up her kitsunemimi. Glancing over at the cluster of trees that was the route to the fields, she clenched her muddy hands before turning back to look at Izayoi and the rest.
“Besides, my family has always been in-charge of overseeing the farmland of our community. In the past when I used to see the barren and wasted land……I was always in a state of despair, for I had thought that my generation wouldn’t be able to get the chance of looking after the fields anymore.”
Lily clenched her muddy fist cutely again. Being more serious in her work than the others, Lily seemed to live an enriched life every day.
At this moment...
Guuuuu~~~~!
Four stomachs began to grumble and the four of them (especially Asuka and Lily) were red in the face.
“……Uhhh…that…”
“…..Asuka. It’s rude.”
“..Wha-wait a minute, Kasukabe?”
“Really now. That’s why I said that you were an Ojou-sama who had lived a comfortable life……”
Tch! Asuka shot a sharp glance at Izayoi. “Normally, isn’t this the time for men to be in the spotlight?”---Although under such a poisonous stare and chiding, Izayoi just ignored both the comment and the stare.
A panicking Lily then recalled about having mentioned the word lunch as she said.
“W-Well, we are preparing lunch over at the main block now. Although we are only making some simple onigiri, if you are willing to wait a little while longer, we can get more varieties prepared. Are there any special orders……?”
“Really? Then Umehachin[15] and Soy sauce.”
“I’ll just have mine with Kombu[16].”
“Hmmm….Sea chicken mayonnaise.[17]”
“Eh?” Asuka and Lily became confused. Yō wanted to explain but she does not know how to do it.
Izayoi, trying his best to hold back his laughter, leapt down to Lily’s side and carried her up.
“I-Izayoi-sama! Wha-what are…”
“Lily, you’d better sit up here, If you aren’t faster, Ojou-sama’s tummy will be making noises again.”
“Ara, who said that you can sit?”
“Heh? I can’t?”
“Didn’t you say before? If you’re rude, please leave. So only Lily is invited to come up here and we’ll let the ruffian walk on his own.”
Hmph. Asuka turned her head away. Izayoi smiled wryly as he placed Lily on Deen’s hand and walked by himself.
By the time the group made their way to the end of the road that led from the main block to the reservoir, it was already one pm in the afternoon.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login