YABYS Chapter 1「.......What is this?」
Staring at that piece of paper which came to her hand, the girl said out the question that surfaced in her mind.
「Didn’t you say you wanted to see a story that has yet to be seen before. So I made one for you. Are you happy?」
「This drawing is done by stepmother?」
「Yes. For someone who is not in this career, it should be considered as a remarkable work. I have worked very hard to draw it out.」
She gave a “fufu” sound, and a triumph expression was shown on her face. The girl turns her vision towards the thin piece of paper again.
The drawing depict a scene of a swordswoman with a courageous expression, facing against a demon who is probably the demon king. The drawing is a very time consuming work, but the story ended completely in 6 panels.
The girl indeed did said that she wanted to see a rare story, but this can’t be considered a story. Something like this, even a kid can think of it in 3 minutes. The legend of the hero fighting against the demon king is already very common. From this piece of paper, you can only see that the girl became a hero, and the demon king and the demons were defeated. Just that.
「Please tell me, where is the rare and never been seen story? Maa, if you wanted to play me like a fool, then you have achieved your aim.」
「Because this is the only copy of the story in this world. It is my favourite as well as my hated story. Is that complicated irony properly shown here?」
「Completely didn’t. Please write it with more content, how about expanding it to two books worth of letters? If it is this, you can finish it in 3 seconds.」
「The useless parts are all cut away, papers are a luxury you know. Isn’t this better!」
She reached out with her fingers and lightly flicked the girl’s forehead, her face revealed a smile like she did a prank.
The girl who felt that she had been played with, crumpled the paper into a ball and throw it on the ground. Stepmother’s work has become crumpled but the girl did not have any guilty feelings.
The courageous swordswoman’s expression seem to be twisted in pain, but there is probably an illusion in the girl’s eyes. Anyway her eyes are not good and her stepmother’s brain isn’t smart.
「I am really grateful for creating a story for me, I have indeed received stepmother’s feelings.」
「It is good that you understand. If you wish, I will write more for you. Then I am also quite busy. Don’t just keep studying, go out and have a walk occasionally.」
「Yes, yes.」
「Then pull the curtains apart. If you continue like this, it will not be good for your eyes——」
「So noisy, hurry up and get out!」
「Then good luck with your studies, Katarina “-chan”」
Leaving these lines, the smiling woman leave while humming a tune.
The girl who was called Katarina”-chan” threw the paper that was rolled into a ball but the target has already closed the door.
The girl took a deep breath and adjusted her mental state. Although following her words makes herself angry but the girl still opened the curtains to let the sunlight into the room. The glaring sunlight made one unhappy. And her eyes felt very painful.
The girl stared that the crumpled paper for a while and then picked it up.
She pushed her gla.s.ses and sighed, then roughly shoved the paper into the drawer.
◆
「Oi! What are you doing!」
The girl’s hard work was rolled into a ball and thrown back at her own face. She was not only red in the face, but also raised her voice and shouted. Although it is called hard work, but it was only something that she created using 3 minutes while she hummed a song.
「I am really sorry. Just a careless motion. Then if you are done, please return.」
「It has not ended! I have already made an “application”, so hurry up and give the permit——」
Raising a hand to stop the agitated girl, the woman at the counter used a monotonous voice and said.
「This counter only attends to the people that has gotten the confirmation from the guild. It is not a place that attends to a brat like you from the village. If you entered the Labyrinth, you will die in 3 minutes, so wipe your tears and return. Shoo, shoo!」
The woman used her nose to laugh at the girl, while using her wrist to move like shoo-ing an insect at the girl.
The face of the girl who was laughed at, turned red like a tomato.
「Th..this d.a.m.n woman!」
「Even so, but there are also many idiots that does not understand, so we will also introduce jobs for newcomers —— the window over the “side”. After looking at your history, they will introduce you to a suitable place. You can thank the star G.o.ds for compa.s.sion.」
The girl looked at the counter beside, there seems to be quite a party. From people who seems like they are male farmers, or guys that are full of muscles, or people who wear skirts, a stern monk, there are many types. And all of them seemed to have queued up for the sake of getting an introduction letter.
The girl who finds queueing up a ha.s.sle, hence made a beeline to this counter, and did not have other considerations.
「Afterall you are also very bored, then help me write a recommendation letter.」
「That is true. If you beg me, I can also help you write one. Lower your head properly, and said out the words that will satisfy me enough to help you write a recommendation letter. Then I will consider about it.」
This d.a.m.n old hag! The girl cursed as much as she could in her heart. Although the woman at the counter not at the age where she should be called old, but she has a s.h.i.tty att.i.tude. Although the girl also want crumple up the application form and throw it at her, but she has to endure it. If not she ends up being unable to enter the labyrinth, then it will be bad.
——Because she has no money.
「......Pl..please.」
「I didn’t hear anything.」
「Pl..please, pl..please. The gu..guild introduction letter, pl..please write it…...」
「Hmph— it can’t be helped. Who won’t write it if they were being begged with that sort of funny face. Today I could enjoy myself due to that funny face of yours ah, I will just write it for you for the sake for easing my boredom. Hmm, give me that rubbish like application form.」
Endure endure, calm down, the girl endure the impulse to throw the application form over, opened the rolled up paper and handed it over.
「Let me see. Your experiences. Oh『become a hero and kill the demon king for world peace』, incredible. Hmm, you forgot your name due to amnesia? Hohoho~ but being anonymous is kind of annoying, so let’s call you Yuusha. It must be tough having amnesia. I pity your brain from the bottom of my heart.」
「...... that, thanks.」
「There is no need for thanks, this is just sarcasm. Then for Yuusha-san who is delusional, I will give you the Warrior Guild’s recommendation. After all you don’t seem to know how to use magic. There are many types of people there, from those who are capable to those who are like trash. Maa, but most of them are trash. …...Okay, done.」
After putting the anyhow written paper into an envelope, she threw it toward the girl—— Yuusha’s face. Then did the action of chasing her out again.
「Hmph, b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I will remember it.」
Yuusha gave the sentence which most common villains often used. With her inner heart feeling like a beaten dog. I see, this are the feelings of the small fry that were beaten before.
「Okay, next.」
Don’t know where, but a man who was waiting to do his task stood behind Yuusha, he pushed away Yuusha with a face of anxiety.
「Finally it’s my turn. You are in the way, get lost.」
「O...ouch!」
This b.a.s.t.a.r.d! In an instant, the blood rushed to Yuusha’s head, but as her stomach has started growling so she could only endure it. If she waste anymore energy, she will definitely collapse.
Aiya aiya while sighing, Yuusha exited out from the something something church building.
When she came out, she took a leaflet from the entrance. Knowing the necessary news is quite important.
Her mind that has not been working, read through it roughly but she could not understand it after reading.
「......what what, it is really meaningless.」
Small words has covered the entire leaflet tightly, she could only force herself to finish it. There should be more drawings and colors—— Yuusha strongly hoped. This leaflet is indeed very hard to read.
She endure the urge to destroy it and continued reading, and finally roughly understood what it is trying to say.
—— The content of the leaflet is roughly this.
If you want to get the permission from the something church, first you must belong to a certain『Guild』in this Art Town.
If you have a certain strength and is acknowledged by the Guild, then you will be given the『Vocational Certificate』.
The demons hunted from the labyrinth should be brought back to the specific department and use it to exchange for money.
——above.
「Isn’t the last one an advertis.e.m.e.nt. And it is called Gokurakutei. It gives off the feeling that you will soon die.」
While she found that name familiar, she also shoved the leaflet into her bosom.
Keeping the information in her mind, Yuusha began to walk towards her destination. A map was on the leaflet, so she roughly know the position. With a st.u.r.dy log that she picked up when she entered the streets, she used it a clutch.
Now Yuusha completely doesn’t look like a person who is a 『hero』. With cheap cotton clothes, a log that is picked up from the roadside, perhaps even the farmers are dressed better—— at least they are holding farming tools that are made of metal.
And Yuusha does not have any money. With no money, she also can’t have a meal. To her, other than fighting, she can’t think of any other methods of earning, but if she attacks humans then she is no different from a demon. So there is only the choice of going to the labyrinth. If killing demon can get money, then her stomach will also be filled. Then the world will be at peace. All of it will be good, so there will be not any problems.
As the killing intent of Yuusha towards the demons heightened, a certain voice from who knows where, joined her.
「Th..that—」
「Ahh, I have no energy. So troublesome. Even breathing is so troublesome…...」
「S..sorry!」
A young tall female called out to her from the sides, but Yuusha continued on without caring about it.
「Is it just an illusion? Even sounds also appeared. Perhaps it is about time for it to pick me up. After all if I have to die, then I should enjoy myself at Gokurakutei. Heading to h.e.l.l is troublesome. Once I think about having to continue to kill demons after death in h.e.l.l, then I could only feel depressed.」
Yuusha ignored the girl’s voice who is mumbling some lines, and continued forward. When you are in trouble, you can only proceed forward. Until now, she has always got through the tough times this way.
She will also do this in the future, Yuusha affirmed her determination. But a pity is that, she was blocked from the front.
「Excuse me! Th..that, if it is possible, will you go to the guild with me?」
「Why? Then again, who are you?」
Yuusha seems to be judging this young female. She seems like a good person, but in actuality—— it will be good if she is a good person like how she looks like. Basically the correct answer is to doubt others.
「That, I saw what happened to you just now at the church. I am about to go and apply at the guild, if it is possible, can I go with you? I feel uneasy if I am alone. Ah, I am also holding the recommendation letter for the 『Warrior』Guild. 」
The young girl proposed with a warm smile. She does not seem to give off any feeling of acting, and after conversing with her, it does not seem like she has any ulterior motives. This girl seems to be how she looked like. Yuusha can tell from the smell that a person gives off and differentiate what kind of person is that.
If it was a person who is covered in blood and is rotten and despicable, even if he tries to hide, Yuusha will be able to smell the stench from his body; their stench is so much that Yuusha will be unable to endure it, until the extent that she wanted to crush the source of the stench.
「......Why did you think I am from the Warrior Guild? Do you feel that even my brain is full of muscles? Yes I am a muscle-brain girl. Before I think, I have already acted.」
「No..nothing of that sort. Just now I heard from your conversation that the Warrior Guild was mentioned. And now the wind of the Warrior Guild is blowing! Everyone is saying that it is only the matter of time before it surpa.s.ses the Swordsman Guild」
「No, I have already said, I am a hero…...」
「Mm,mm, I understand! Because no matter who is it, all of them admires 『hero』. Embracing that sort of feelings and long term goal, no, continuous training is also very important. You also know that very well! Perfect!」
The young tall girl suddenly clenched her fist and emphasised it.
『Ah, this girl is a troublesome type of female.』Yuusha understood that in an instant. This sort of people, not only wastes your energy and also exhaust a lot of your mental strength—— the wasting is not her own physical and mental strength, but others’.
Yuusha once again judged her looks—— she was taller than Yuusha by a head, with a height similar to an adult man, wearing heavy st.u.r.dy silver colored armour. Along with a shield engraved with a family crest, and a long sword by the belt. She is a ideal warrior.
Her hairstyle is that of a golden ponytail, her dreams burns pa.s.sionately in her eyes, causing her eyes to shine with brilliance.
「.......Maa, okay. If you can lead the way then it will be good. Because this town is too big and I can’t grasp hold of it yet. Then again how big is this place.」
This town is situated in a place where it is surrounded by high city walls and a river. With a “if a flood occurs, it will be severe” kind of mentality, initially Yuusha came to this town without any aims. The streets are crowded and the people will pa.s.s by each other without crossing eyes, this kind of crowd can be called noisy; hence it can be seen how prosperous this town is.
「That is natural! This Art Town is built around the 『Underground Labyrinth』. This is the final defense line against the demon that came from the underground. If you end the labyrinth, then you can see the barrier. —— something along that line, now that it has come to this, there is no need to explain anymore.」
After explaining, a shy smile surface after the laughter. But to Yuusha who is not very familiar with this place, this is a very interesting story.
What will be waiting there at the『Underground Labyrinth』. Why not find the culprit directly. If you know the origins then there will be a method to settle it. And why do they seal the labyrinth.
When she is considering about this, Yuusha’s stomach growled and her energy that was saved for thinking was all used up.
「Ah, should we eat something before going to the guild?」
「...... I have n..no money.」
「If it is just some small change, I do have it, so let us go eat!」
The girl who was beaming said with a smile, just like a merciful G.o.ddess.
「....... Yo..you are really a good person.」
「This is a return gift for being willing to accompany me to the guild. Ah sorry for saying this so late! I am Matari•Art. Please take care of me!」
「......Art? I seemed to have heard it somewhere.」
The name of the town is also called Art, so Yuusha had to ask.
「Ah, yes. I am also considered as a member of Art. Just that I have yet to get official approval. And the earliest Art name has already become something like an ornament. …...that is just past glory.」
Matari said with a sorrowful expression, a big difference from just now, a shadow also appeared on her back. Although she did not understand what a member of Art is, but Yuusha still consoled her—— as a thanks for treating her.
「Hooo, Maa, it is also tough for you. Anyway cheer up, if you are that down, you will also become unlucky. Then good things will not happen and you will not put up good stuff.」
Yes, picking up cursed equipment or rotten bread, that is something very scary. The equipment that Yuusha has used until now, are all obtained from demons, and she has also met with many unlucky stuff. Like a sword that will paralyze your hands once you hold it, or a helmet that kept shrinking when you wear it. Even with this, the weapons from the demons are still much more st.u.r.dy and better than the weapons made by humans, so she cannot belittle them.
As a thanks, Yuusha used the weapons that they are proud of to kill them.
「So..sorry. That is right. I just ranted for a bit. Let us cheer up and proceed!」
Matari laughed with a “hehe”, and stuck out her tongue; a really adorable action, but Yuusha felt that it is not very compatible with her who is stained completely with blood.
「Then I will leave the leading to you? I will follow behind.」
「Of course! Then, let’s go. This is our first step to glory!」
Compared to Matari whose mood has turned for the better, Yuusha was bending over; the last of her strength has been sapped away by the energetic girl. In order to not deteriorate her posture, she used the log to support herself and inject more strength into her legs.
「Then again, I forgot something very important. Can you tell me your name?」
Matari clapped her hand and brought her smiling face closer.
“What should I do”, Yuusha pondered. Say out a fake name? But Yuusha decided against it.
——there is no need for a name. Because she is a hero. Before being a human, she is first a hero. An existence for the sake of killing demons. There is no need for a name for such a person. And there won’t be anyone who will call her name.
「Yuusha. My name is Yuusha. Because of amnesia, I have forgotten all my past. So you can call me in anyway you like.」
「M..memory loss. Bu..but if you do not have a name…...」
Yuusha’s words, caused Matari to give a troubled sound. But Yuusha remained relaxed and patted Matari’s shoulder before moving off.
「I will remember it before long. So it is fine for it to be anything. Then let’s us hurry on.」
「Pl..please wait a moment! Yu..yuusha-san? Is it really okay with that na..name? If it is a more adorable name——」
「I have already said anything is fine so isn’t it okay. Until I find my memories, I will endure it. The important thing is, name whatsoever, as long as it can be identified by “that” then it is fine.」
「I..is that so? But it’s a name.」
To Matari who cannot accept it, Yuusha announced with a stern and cold tone.
That gaze was too cold, so Matari could not continue.
「——by the world, that sort of thing.」
◆
Part 2
。
Email This
Share to Twitter
Share to Pinterest