Kamisama Shop de Cheat no Kaori

Chapter 111. A Night In The Wilderness

I held hands with the frozen Cherina and headed to the market square.

Embarrassed? Not really. I’m not that childish. But the stares piercing from the entire square were quite painful.

“Excuse me! Are you the one who was selling those unusual potatoes here until recently?”

While everyone else kept their distance, a man who looked like a traveling merchant approached us.

“Hmm? Oh, yes, I am.”

What is it, a complaint? I’m quite experienced in handling complaints, having done it as a job before.

“Could you please sell me some of those potatoes?! I heard the rumors and was searching for them, but couldn’t buy any in the end.”

The merchant eagerly pressed me.

“Ah, I’m sorry. They’re all sold out… I don’t have any left.”

“No way… ahh.”

The man collapsed to his knees. I could easily sell them via SHOP, but that would only confuse. I’m sorry, but he’ll have to give up.

As I extended a hand to help the merchant up, I heard a scream. A moment later, I thought I heard a distant explosion.

Instinctively, I grabbed the light sword in my pocket, but it seemed the old man had tripped and was rolling on the ground clutching his thigh.

There appeared to be some blood, but it seemed unrelated to us, so I helped the merchant up and told him, “Maybe next time.” Since this isn’t Japan, I would never say, “I’m sorry.”

We navigated through the slightly distant crowd like Moses, and walked around the market stalls.

“What’s this dried thing?”

I picked up a wrinkled yellow fruit-like object. It was completely dehydrated and looked tough to eat.

“That’s dried mango. There’s a secret drying method, so it lasts a long time. It comes from the south.”

“Oh, is it good?”

“Wealthier families eat it as a snack. They shave it with a knife and eat it little by little. It’s quite tasty.”

“Interesting… I’ll take one.”

The shopkeeper, who had been staring wide-eyed at Cherina, responded loudly, “Yes, sir!”

“How much?”

“No, no! Please take it for free!”

I glanced at Cherina. She looked stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded knowingly.

“…What’s up?”

“Just impressed by how you handle things, Akira-sama.”

I’m happy she looks at me with such admiration, but it’s a completely wrong assessment. She’s a total klutz when it comes to herself…

“Well, I’ll gratefully accept it.”

I tossed the dried mango with one hand and moved to the next stall.

The crowd moved in waves with us, but I decided to ignore it.

“I don’t have a knife…”

I wanted to eat it, but I had no knife. I had a box cutter in my stationery set, but it was in my carry-on bag. I didn’t dare to pull it out in front of everyone. So, I discreetly stored the dried mango in my container via my pocket.

Dried Mango (Midal) = 423 yen

Cherina seemed to relax, her initial stiffness fading, and we were finally able to talk naturally.

We browsed a second-hand clothing store, peeked into a dried goods shop essential for travel, and looked at shops selling used pots and kettles.

Cherina was smiling the whole time.

So, she can make such an untroubled face.

I was curious about people occasionally clutching their legs and rolling on the ground, but I guessed it was a trend.

Cherina guided me to the country’s best restaurant, we checked out a stable where I was shocked to see zebras among the regular horses, and laughed about it. For some reason, we ran into a hag brawling with about thirty dwarves in the middle of the main street and sold her some single malt. She was laughing the entire time.

I think I was laughing too. Albeit awkwardly.

We ate, shopped (without paying even once for some reason), and walked around the city. I think it was fun. The city seemed cheerfully excited in a good way.

As the sky darkened, turning the same color as Cherina’s hair, we finally arrived at our usual spot overlooking the port.

We sat side by side, looking down at the harbor. A giant wooden ship that had been docked for a while was being loaded with cargo continuously.

“Is that ship departing?”

“Yes, we can only load a sample amount of washi paper, but we’ll mainly transport charcoal and clay.”

“Ah. You’re selling charcoal.”

“No, we’ll rent land there and make a brick kiln. We’ll turn all the clay into heat-resistant bricks and sell them.”

I see. Adding value instead of just selling clay. The people of Veliero are truly ingenious.

“Is that young man boarding?”

“Of course. That’s about all my brother can do.”

Still harsh!

But they don’t seem to have a bad relationship. In fact, they seem close.

“Family, huh…”

“What?”

Oops. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.

“Do you miss your family since you’re separated from them?”

“No, not at all.”

I answered immediately. Cherina’s eyes widened.

“Were you not close?”

Cherina asked cautiously.

“Not close?”

My expression must have startled Cherina, as she looked shocked. I must have had a sharp, self-deprecating look in my eyes.

“Heh… not close, huh… yeah, not at all. If murder wasn’t a crime, I’d have killed them myself. The only regret I have about being sent to this world is that I can’t do that.”

I clenched the air with my tense, sinewy hand. Cherina was speechless for a while, but then she hesitantly continued.

“Can I ask what happened?”

“Nothing special. Since I was a kid, I was beaten, kicked, tied up, locked up, dunked, burned, yelled at, abandoned, starved, extorted for money, saddled with debts… just the usual story.”

Cherina didn’t move a muscle. Only her red eyes quivered.

“I’ve always wondered…”

Without asking “what,” I waited for her to continue.

“The numerous scars on your body, Akira-sama.”

She must be referring to the time we made the outdoor bath. She saw me completely naked then. A lucky pervert moment.

“At first, I didn’t think much of it. Anyone who travels accumulates some scars. But you said there were no battles in your peaceful world, Akira-sama. So, where did all those scars on your body come from…?”

Although many had healed, my body was still marked with numerous scars, mostly in places hidden by clothing. Proof that my parents were real scum.

I dug my nails into my shoulders and curled up. Remembering the past filled me with anger from deep within.

Let it go as usual.

As I trembled in that position, Cherina gently embraced me.

“Am… am I not enough?”

Her voice was barely audible over the sea breeze.

“Can I… not be your family?”

The strength of her embrace increased. My trembling stopped, and instead, her body began to shake. Her warmth slowly thawed my heart.

But…

“I don’t have the confidence. To have a family, I mean. I only know two parents, and they’re the only example I have. I have no confidence that I won’t become like them…”

The cloudless twilight stretched out endlessly. Ahead, the horizon spread wide, and beyond the city walls behind us, the earth must stretch out infinitely. The world is vast, yet my heart remains so narrow.

I sat up and faced Cherina.

“Forget about me and be happy…”

“How can I?! How can I forget and be happy?! I! I!”

She clung to my neck, crying. Sobbing, she clawed at my head.

“I can’t forget… I care so much… so much…”

Her cheek pressed against mine. The heat from her face buried in my neck transferred to me. Her tears soaked my shirt.

I found all of this… endearing. As I patted her head, I spoke.

“I’m sorry. I take back what I said about forgetting. Yeah, it’d be a little lonely if you forgot me.”

“Of course… I won’t forget…”

Finally, she relaxed. I gently grasped her shoulders and pulled back. But with her face now directly in front of mine, she seemed even closer.

She stopped crying and gazed straight into my eyes. The distance between us slowly closed.

I still hesitated. I wasn’t confident I could accept her feelings.

“…just today…”

Her slightly trembling, wet lips whispered.

“Just today…”

How much courage did it take to say that? I stopped thinking about the future.

On the hill at sunset, our shadows overlapped.

After that, we didn’t speak at all.

We just trudged along, with Cherina holding my hand, and me walking silently. Almost unconsciously, we ended up in front of the Whale Inn.

“…Sorry, let’s head back.”

I started to lead Cherina back to the guild, but she pulled me back.

Cherina, looking down, fidgeted with her hands.

“…Stay… please.”

I couldn’t see her expression, but I could easily imagine her face blushing more brightly than her beautiful dress.

“I’m leaving. Tomorrow. You know that, right?”

It was a farewell. Whether we would meet again was up to fate.

“…I know.”

Cherina slowly raised her face. Just as I expected, her expression was strained. Her mouth was downturned, and her whole body was trembling.

“Even so… with you… with Akira…”

She would surely regret this. She understood that, yet couldn’t suppress her feelings.

“Are you sure?”

Cherina nodded slightly.

“Do as you… as Akira wishes…”

That obliterated my restraint.

I firmly grabbed Cherina’s hand and pulled her into the room without a word.

――――

――On a building rooftop, a shadow merged with the twilight.

Long ears adorned with large feathers. A light leather jacket. Dreadlocked blonde hair.

The figure pointed the muzzle of an M4A1 carbine skyward.

“Always causing trouble.”

He muttered in Elvish, a thin smile on his lips.

――――

Added to list/container.

Hay Bed = 132,600 yen

New Wooden Bed = 78,000 yen

Remaining balance: 301,299 yen.