Part 5
After a five minute trek in the crevice of the Underground City, Izayoi and the others found Lily in a pretty neat location that has a similarly neatly arranged shop.
Asuka hurriedly strode over to hug her in worry.
“Are, Are you alright, Lily?!”
“Ye, Yes…… I’m just feeling a little dizzy until now……”
Even though the stars were still spinning above her head, Lily was still able to give a polite reply. And after everyone felt relieved, the spears of anger were then pointed towards the rampaging horses from before.
“Kasukabe. What do you think about horse meat sashimi for tomorrow’s dinner?”
“Agreed. Let’s just throw in barbecued rampaging beef on the side as well.”
Mhm, they gave a hard nod of their heads at each other. Although Sala was very surprised, she proceeded to light a fire at the end of her finger as a substitute light source, illuminating the area while taking the lead. After all, the moonlight overhead was blocked off by the network of roots from the Great Tree.
The territory of the crack was still slightly moist and this meant that it was created during the appearance of the Huge Dragon. Then at the very least, this shop would have appeared during the span of ten days prior to the discovery.
(This, could this be……? )
Even though there was a bad premonition that nagged at Sala’s mind, she continued to walk on the path that was painted and tidied in quite a neat condition.
Finally arriving before the shop, the group of five stood before the black doors which were the topic of their journey. The Geass Roll that stated “Only accepting the patronage of customers who have passed the Game” was stuck to it and the extravagant style coupled with the gold leafed patterns gave an undeniably posh feeling to their senses.
The group of five glanced at each other before placing their hands on the door in a slow motion.
In the midst of opening the doors, the blinding light streamed into their eyes.
“—Hey……!”
The thing that emitted the blinding radiance was found to be a large amount of indescribably elegant jewelry and antiques. Draped across the display cabinets, which were lined with ruby and gold rings, was an iridescent piece of tapestry that seemed to be a work produced with the finest techniques of craftsmanship. If one were to look for the highest priced item in the shop, it would most likely be that veil for it was emitting a fine radiance that would not lose if it were to be compared to other precious metals and it was definitely the work of a famous craftsman of some unknown lands.
Just a little distance away, in the forefront of the slightly too exquisite carpet, there stood a finely crafted antique made with the most detailed of techniques.
The entire room was efficiently utilized to display the items that ranged from large clothing racks, longcase clocks, and miniature models of water wheels[39] that are powered by the principle of buoyancy, tumblers that do not stop rocking and many other items of unknown uses. The space was clearly larger than what it had appeared to be on the outside.
“This really …. Looks more of a museum than a shop house to me.”
“Ara, but it seems like that isn’t the case. If you take a closer look, you will be able to find the price tags on all the items right?”
What? Asuka asked in reply but immediately took a ring off a nearby shelf to have a closer look.
Stuck to it was a small price tag that was equivalent to ten years of living expenses for their current [No Name] Community.
“…… . This is really sickening.” Izayoi commented while giving a light shrug of his shoulders.
It didn’t matter how much those items glittered or caught the eye for the moment because it would be no different from a museum when the prices deter any desire to purchase.
On the other hand, Yō and Sala had strode ahead, having no interest in those gems and treasures. The duo, who moved in a straight line down the shops aisle, soon discovered the shopkeeper’s chair and the blue eyed female doll. And true to Lily’s description, a [Geass Roll] was held in her hand. Although Yō read the document held in her hand, she fell into a contemplative silence after a single glance.
<<– I’m the most hardworking person in the world—
The first me is the most hardworking person in the world!
I could work, work and work non-stop without a need for a helping hand, you know?!
And because of my efforts placed in my continuous hard work, number 1 father was also very happy!
But there came a day when that was found to be a lie.
My first father and I were then destroyed by the unravelled lie.
The second me is the most hardworking person in the world!
Due to help from friends, I’m then able to work, work and work non-stop, you know?!
And because of my efforts placed in my continuous hard work, number 2 father was also very happy!
But there came a day when that was found to be fake.
But my second father and I were able to continue working due to help from friends.
The third me is the true hardworking person!
Although it is yet to be born, but it will continuously work non-stop, you know?!
Hurry up and be born! Hurry up and be born! Oh, that’s what everyone is saying!
But there came a day when I was found to be unable to be born.
So number 3 father abandoned the third me!
But that is not permitted! Many fathers are awaiting for my arrival!
Fortune! Fame! The dreams of Man! It will all be true if I can be born!
So I plea…… Do not give up on me……! For those who comply, will reach the truth……!>>
“That’s….the [Geass Roll]?”
“Although it is quite an unusual style in the content arrangement, it would most likely be so.”
Sala gazed through the contents of the scroll with a serious focus in her eyes, but after reading through it once, she simply gave up.
“Sorry about this, but I really can’t understand it at all. I guess I will leave it to you guys then.”
“Oi Oi. How can the newly appointed [Floor Master] be like that?”
Hearing Izayoi’s teasing comment, Sala gave a reply while giving a rare pout of her lips.
“I’m not good at this sort of intellectually stimulating games. Although in [Salamandra], there is this specialized department for the solving of riddles……”
“But there is no such department in the [Draco Greif] Alliance right? So what happens if you were to be faced with an intellectual type of Demon Lord in the next battle?”
Ugu, she fell silent at that. It was the pain of having hit the mark that stopped any other retorts.
Sala’s red hair shook as she turned her head away, while her cheeks reddened slightly.
“……I know that. But not everyone can be a jack of all trades like you or Shiroyasha-sama you know?”
Sala was slightly displeased. However, she then relented with a shrug of her shoulders to pick up the scroll again to have another look. Although Izayoi temporarily rested his hand on his chin while delving into his thoughts…… he suddenly squinted his eyes to stare into the distance.
“For those who comply, will reach the truth……? Ha, this really is quite a cruel game.”
“Aye?”
Yō and Asuka were in concerto when they made that exclamation. But soon after, the shop suddenly started to be filled with the sounds of a tremor.
“What…. What’s happening……?!”
Although there were no windows close to them for them to ascertain the situation, it was clear enough that it was no normal earthquake. It was the shop itself that was shaking. Within this dazzling shop, there was some sort of thing that was crawling through.
Sensing that, Sala and Yō gave the shout to sound the alarm.
“Be careful! There seems to be something coming!”
“And it is probably…….more than a few……!”
Yō opened up her senses to pinpoint the source of the tremor and discovered its source to be in the exact opposite direction from the entrance. In the very depths of the shop, where the signage of “No entry for unauthorized personnel” was, there seemed to be a type of threat coming closer.
Izayoi wordlessly placed Lily onto his shoulders,
“Lily. Stay close, no matter what.”
“Ye, Yes!”
“— here they come!”
With Yō’s words as the lighted fuse, they then appeared at the doorway, in numbers of a hundred strong and of different sizes—
A group of strong men dolls.[40]
“ “ “ ——Waaaah! ” ” ”
The trio gave a horrified scream at the same time. Just like a timed reaction that did not have any discrepancy of a delay, it was truly the epitome of being united as one.
Even Sala, who had entered combat mode, was impacted to the extent that her beautiful red hair had lost its sheen to be a state of grayish white. While Lily was already scared to the point of tearing at the corner of her eyes.
The metal arms of the enemy were crafted with the details of a glossy muscle. Any expert would have understood the beauty of those muscles with just a look. From the brown tanned muscles and the majestic tyranny of clothes which was a pair of briefs, to the subtly twitching chest and back muscles, one could see the fine craftsmanship in the detailed work. The person who created these dolls was undoubtedly a fine doll designer. And after posing a few graceful poses, the strong men dolls flashed a bright smile that showed off their dazzling white teeth,
“……Angry!”
“Angry?!”
“Angry?!!”
“It said angry right?!! It just said angry right??!”
“Hey, the girl’s camp should calm down. What you’ve heard just now, should not be their voices.”
Izayoi tried to calm down the girl’s camp that was entering a state of confusion. Though this sort of scenario was also quite a rare sight to behold.
Taking this opportunity, the atmosphere around the muscled dolls had changed to enter a combat state,
“…… Strong men!”
“Strong men?!”
“Strong men?!!”
“Strong men?!! It definitely said strong men just now!”
“Yes they did. It did shout strong man just now.”
Regarding the extremely chaotic state of mind that the girl’s camp were in at the moment, Izayoi judged that there was no other cards for him to play and promptly gave up. On the other hand, Lily was already *Ka Da Ka Da*ing away, trembling on Izayoi’s shoulder.
The scouting party which had lost its chain of command Vs the assortment of Strong men dolls of different sizes.
Izayoi’s group had entered an unprecedented state of emergency.
Both parties were temporarily eying each other — And the first to react was from the side of the strong men.
“——CHARGE WUOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
“—–Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
Charging bravely, yes, charging bravely[41] is the only phrase that could describe the approaching group of strong men dolls which were howling in their charge.
It would also be not too much to call the scene of rippling tanned muscles, in the midst of their charge, as a fantasy like moment. The big muscles that were filled with a wondrous sense of touching beauty did not only represent muscles in itself but the energetic run that they were engaging at the moment.
In the face of such ideal muscles, gold and gemstones were unable to hold a candle in comparison and the strong men’s stride ploughed through the precious metals and smashed them to powder. It would seem that being caught by them would not be a joking matter after all.
But what caused the girl’s camp to fear, was another aspect of the matter.
“It’s, It’s disgusting! Really disgusting!!”
“No way, this sort of thing should not exist.”
The faces of Asuka and Yō were pale and they were backing away from the sight of these men with ideal muscles. As for Sala, she was already out of the door by then. It would seem that she’s also quite scared by this. No matter how stern the atmosphere around her was in the usual situation, it would seem that she had just been faced with the bottom line of biologically induced disgust that should have never been touched in her lifetime.
Izayoi was the only one who was backing away while saying softly,
“……I would like to have one.”
“No, don’t!”
“Stop it!”
“Please, Please do not do that Izayoi-san!”
*Uu* giving that unfortunate sound that sounded like a sigh in resignation.
Izayoi then grabbed Asuka under his arm to break into a dash in the attempt to break away from the crowd of strong men.
At the last moment before exiting the shop—Izayoi gave a sidelong glance towards the silent and lonely looking doll which sat upon the shopkeeper’s chair.
“…… . No matter what, I must come here again.”
"Firmly Rejected!!"
It was rare for Yō to have the moment of being as loud and vocal as Asuka in voicing her thoughts like this.
Up till the point of the cliff crevice entrance, the group of four who escaped the shop were continuously pursued by the group of strong men.
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