episode_0765

“The story about who is strong and who is weak is primal and provocative.”

We stopped by a tavern, sat down in a corner, and continued our conversation.

“Children who listen to the bard’s story talk about which hero is stronger, and shout about which monster is stronger. It’s no different for adults. They only save face on the outside, but inside they are just like little kids.”

Listening to Arthur’s words, old memories came back to me.

Should we call it a memory from another world, to be exact?

When you enter an anonymous community, there are always a few topics that are discussed.

The strength of something is contained within its subject matter.

Which player is the best?

Which group is doing better?

Which drama is the most popular?

People love to judge things based on their own standards.

I did that too.

Back when Soul Academy was popular, which characters were good and which characters were crappy…

“Why are you suddenly looking at me?”

“I feel guilty.”

“… Guilt?”

“Button often goes around saying that he’s a piece of trash.”

It’s definitely good in the beginning, but the high point is ambiguous compared to other characters.

The best character to use as a starter is the one who eats.

People who invest in characters like this just want to do entertainment.

In addition, the words I had said to the community crossed my mind.

My face feels hot.

I was so stupid. How embarrassing it was when I realized I was wrong.

Eww! This is so annoying!

Whether it’s this world or that world, why is my past so full of dark history?

‘…ah.’

When I realized my slip of the tongue and raised my head, I saw Arthur frozen in place.

Even though I couldn’t see Arthur’s face because of the mask, I thought I knew what kind of expression Arthur was making.

Because there is only one emotion that can flow out of a clenched fist.

“That was an old story. I don’t think like that these days.”

“Huh. Are you saying that you really did that? ”

“Oh. That.”

“Before today ends, listen carefully. About what you’ve been talking about.”

This is totally fucked up.

“That’s outside the conversation. Be polite.”

“Do you have a conscience?”

“There isn’t any.”

“Huh? Really?”

Arthur laughed incredulously, then crossed his arms.

“Make sure you find your conscience outside.”

“Yes. Go out.”

Phew. I barely made it.

It’s a good thing I have a mask.

If my hardened face had been revealed as it was, it would have been difficult to be shameless.

“Anyway, if you’re going to make a fuss, the best thing to do is to bring up the topic of strength, right?”

“Yes. It doesn’t matter what the objective strength is. What matters is that opinions will inevitably differ.”

“I understand that much. But I don’t think it will be easy.”

Those who visit the village will be fed up with the problems outside.

Otherwise, those with power and authority would not want to hide their faces.

Would those who escaped the pain of reality go to a resort and make a fuss?

If it’s a sensitive topic, that’s possible, but talking about strength is a little different.

It’s definitely something that people are interested in, but it’s not something that I can’t stand to see popping up.

“If it doesn’t involve alcohol.”

“You’re surprisingly smart. That’s the first thing we have to do. Get them to drink.”

Alcohol takes away a person’s reason and makes his buttocks light.

So I understand that you have to make them drink alcohol to induce a fight.

“The feeling is a bit odd.”

“What nonsense are you talking about again?”

“When you say hospitality, I think I know what the sinister Mr. Brown is expecting.”

I pretended to pour a drink and let out a sarcastic laugh, but Arthur clicked his tongue and rested his chin on his hand.

“If you feed them one by one like that, you won’t get an answer even after several days.”

“Then what should I do? Is there a good way?”

“Think about it. When do people drink the most alcohol?”

“Don’t ask me back, just tell me. I’m already smart.”

“It’s a festival.”

Isn’t this prince too unrealistic?

A festival isn’t as easy to hold as it sounds.

It usually takes at least several months to prepare for a festival that lasts only a few days.

That’s why people above you who don’t know the field can’t do it.

I was listening to Arthur’s story with the intention of laughing a lot, but my thoughts changed halfway through.

His story was persuasive.

At least, it was at a level that was feasible for me.

There are things in this world that cannot be hidden even if you want to hide them with a mask.

*

“Roman. You look like you’re in a good mood today?”

Roman flinched at Atelier’s question, then smiled awkwardly.

“Is it that obvious?”

“The mask is slightly misaligned, so you can see the expression on your face.”

Roman, who had unconsciously moved his hand towards the mask, realized that it was a joke only after Atelier burst into laughter.

“Atelier.”

“Hahaha! To think that you’d fall for something like this! Did you find a cool girl somewhere?”

“I met a woman, but that’s not what I meant.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! There’s no such thing between men and women!”

“I don’t think that’s something you, a woman, should say.”

Atlia, like Roman, is someone who lives in this town as if it were her real life.

Having lived in the same area for a long time, we have become quite close, but there is no such atmosphere between us.

“Except me!”

When I pointed that out, Atelier responded shamelessly.

I won’t let you go until you explain it in detail.

Roman, who knew his friend’s personality, shook his head and continued speaking.

“It’s really impossible. Because the guest who came today was barely able to fit into my waist.”

“…Really?”

“As you know, I am not a pedophile. So there is no subtlety.”

If there is a person who has sexual desire for a girl who has no trace of maturity, then that person is not a human being but an animal.

Roman didn’t think he was a very good person, but that didn’t mean he gave up on being human.

“Not fun.”

Atelier narrowed her eyes, looking extremely disappointed, as if she had been expecting something.

“Then why were you so excited?”

“That woman didn’t deny our lives.”

“Is this your first time here?”

“And even though he holds a fairly high position.”

Those who have stayed in this town for a long time naturally become accustomed to the contempt of outsiders.

To those who lived a noble life, those who threw away power and responsibility were nothing but human garbage.

That’s why I couldn’t help but feel good whenever I heard the rare affirmation.

“Maybe we’ll get one more resident.”

“Hmm. Well.”

“Why? People who talk like that usually settle down in the village.”

“No. He is different from us. It’s hard to explain clearly, but…”

Roman, who was struggling to put his vague feelings into words, turned his head in surprise at the noise outside.

“What was scheduled for today?”

“You know, Roman. I don’t know what you don’t know.”

“Then what about the sound outside?”

This town has a fundamentally social character.

So it’s not surprising that things are getting noisy.

The problem is time.

There aren’t many people in the village yet.

There’s still a lot of time left before the real social scene begins.

The fact that there was a big commotion at such an early hour did not bode well.

“I should go out and check.”

The two people who had anticipated an accident and rushed outside blinked when they saw the crowd of people gathered in the middle of the village.

Roman, who came to his senses first, tapped one of the villagers on the shoulder.

“What’s going on? Why is everyone here?”

“Instead of talking like that, why don’t you go sightseeing?”

“View?”

The attitude of the residents, as if they didn’t even have time to talk, confused Roman even more.

Everyone gathered here was accustomed to extravagance.

Since most of them were people who went around various social circles, they didn’t even pay attention to anything out of the ordinary.

Something has appeared that catches the eyes of those people?

Bewilderment and surprise. Curiosity and anticipation.

Roman turned his head with mixed emotions and found a welcome sight there.

The girl standing in the middle of the crowd was the one he had guided today.

She was facing a man with a wooden sword, holding only a shield the size of her torso.

If we were to list only the simple facts, this would have been an ordinary sparring match.

A common occurrence where one drone and another drone exchange each other’s drones.

A daily routine that occurs when you go to a place like the Knights Templar.

There is only one reason why people get excited about something so simple.

This may be because the subject of the conversation is a girl.

Why can’t I take my eyes off it when I’m just blocking and avoiding attacks?

Why do I feel admiration for each and every one of those light steps?

Why do I feel attracted to a girl who doesn’t seem to have any femininity at all?

Watching the girl respond to the sharp blows of the man’s sword, Roman was reminded of a fairy tale he had read as a child.

A story about fairies, once considered a fantasy, but now a reality once again.

Clearly I was possessed by a fairy.

Otherwise, there would be no way he could follow the girl’s every move as if he had lost his soul.

“Up to here.”

The moment the girl opened her mouth, the man lost his magic.

He was drenched in sweat and had a look of discontent on his face, but he suppressed it and stepped back.

The girl who was left alone in the center looked around at those who were possessed by her and smiled lightly.

“Anyone else who wants to spar with me?”

And then he reached out and invited people into his fantasy.

Loud voices erupt from all over.