EP: 88
It was unexpectedly easy to persuade the Murishi. It was surprising how fast the guys famous for being timid accepted the proposal.
“I won’t let you go hungry. I’ll feed you everyday, a place to rest, and protect you from hunters.”
[You’ll give us food?]
[Monster. Monster meat.]
“Yes. I’ll catch well… monster meat every day and bring it to you, so join me.”
[Human liar. Liar.]
[Lots of monsters? Lots?]
“I’m not lying. You see him, right? He’s very strong, so he can catch any monster you want. Shall I show you how strong he is?”
When Muriel pointed at Kaiton, the eyes of the Murishi turned to him in unison. Kaiton, who had been looking only at Muriel with a crooked expression, raised an eyebrow as if the Murishis stares directed at him were unpleasant and asked,
“Are you talking about me?”
“…Yes, just now. Didn’t you hear?”
Muriel, curious what he was talking about, raised her eyes that had been avoiding him and looked at him. He was standing very close, so the distance wasn’t the issue.
“…kyuu-kyuu.”
“What… What is it, all of a sudden?”
Was he trying to act cute? As Muriel took a step back to create some distance, Kaiton glared at her as if he was annoyed. It was Muriel who couldn’t help but feel icky after the unexpected aegyo-cuteness attack, but she didn’t show it.
As Muriel wiped off her forearm, still puzzled by Kaiton’s sudden aegyo…or cuteness attack, Kaiton calmly continued speaking.
“That’s what it sounds like. The words you keep saying.”
What?
Muriel just spoke normally. The Murishi responded in a normal way as well. Although there was a strange habit of making pig-like squealing sounds like “kyuu-kyuu” like Kaiton imitated, the Murishis’ words were conveyed naturally.
“You weren’t aware?”
“No… not at all…”
“It seems like it’s not something you can control.”
That was a sharp observation. Muriel had only discovered that she could communicate with Murishi randomly one day, but she didn’t know why she had been given this ability or how it was possible.
“It’s a strange ability, isn’t it?”
“…”
Kaiton’s expression darkened. He was lost in thought for a moment, then looked at Muriel with a complicated expression. He seemed like he wanted to pout and also that he wanted to say something sarcastic, pushing his lips tightly together.
She thought he would give a short answer as if saying he didn’t care or to mock her in an unexpected way that would upset her. But he gave Muriel a mixed, bitter smile that left her perplexed.
Kaiton hesitantly opened his mouth as he looked at Muriel, who was watching him with concern.
“It’s a legend that is little known, but… it is said that Sharan and the three Guardians weren’t the only ones who protected the Kingdom from the Demon King Callahan Ur. There was also a saint who guided them to obtain the treasures of God. They say that this saint could talk to all living beings in the kingdom and, thanks to that, she learned how to reach God by asking the spirits.”
“But I can’t even talk with spirits…”
She couldn’t even talk to Fen, for that matter. Though it felt like she could understand what that white-furred guy was thinking just by looking at it, it was just guess-work.
“It’s just a legend.”
Even though Kaiton said that, it seemed like he believed that Muriel’s ability was similar to the power of the legendary saint. Kaiton had the blood of Ur flowing through him, while Muriel possessed the ability of the saint who had brought down that Ur. Originally, Muriel and Kaiton were doomed together. It seemed like Kaiton was thinking about that, and his expression sank heavily.
Originally, Muriel and Kaiton were fated to be unable to be together. It seemed like Kaiton was pondering over such thoughts, and his expression grew heavy.
Muriel wanted to say something that would cheer him up. However, all that came to her tongue were awkward words that she couldn’t easily utter. When she first met him, she confidently declared that she would help the Demon King, but thinking about it now… she was dizzy thinking about where such audacity and brazen confidence came from.
“That’s right.”
Muriel awkwardly responded with meaningless words and looked at the Murishi who were still earnestly discussing among themselves whether to follow Kaiton or not. In the eyes of the group, Kaiton seemed strong enough to defeat any monster, and their opinions leaned towards trusting and following him. Muriel now only needed to drive the wedge to make it happen.
“Um… Can you step back a bit?”
Muriel gently pushed Kaiton with her elbow when he said her words sounded like “kwiing-kwiing.” She felt a bit embarrassed about it, and didn’t want to show it to him.
“Why?”
“When I talk to the Murishi… it sounds weird. Move back a bit… so you can’t hear.”
“I didn’t say it sounds weird.”
Kaiton smiled strangely as he said so.
“…Then, that expression… what’s with it?”
“Well…”
“….”
Tired of the staring contest, Muriel finally gave up and began talking to the Murishi about the monster moat. Throughout, Kaiton never took his eyes off Muriel. A playful smile still hung from his lis mouth.
***
There were various monsters trapped in the moat, so it was no different than an all-year ‘round buffet-style banquet for the Murishi. Perhaps thanks to this, they decided to join without hesitation.
Their lodging was the stable. It was a place the Murishi chose themselves. Thanks to this, the beautiful horses that August had brought so far had lost their place to go. The black wizards, who had worried about what would happen if the Murishis entered the castle, quietly celebrated.
Even Muriel felt that the stable was an excellent choice. Except for their faces resembling demonized wild boars, the Murishis looked like horses. Horses wearing rags that had been lying for a hundred years. No matter how much they ate, their rib bones were oddly exposed, and the movement of their muscles was disturbingly visible, reminding Muriel of horses right before they died of starvation.
For now, the Murishi devoted themselves to devouring the monsters strewn across the estate. Debbie was anxious and impatient to find Taphite, but Muriel and the others could no longer bear the smell of rotten demons, so they wholeheartedly welcomed the Murishis as they greedily licked up the sticky slime oozing from the ground.
“Black wizards were not enough, now even the Murishis… This place is truly a villain’s den now.”
Sadie murmured, watching the Murishis devouring the monsters and grabbing her stomach as if holding back the laughter that came at her own words.
“What do you mean a villain’s den, Sadie… The Murishis may have a slightly rough appearance, but they have kind and gentle personalities.”
August, who pitied the Murishis for being hunted indiscriminately due to people’s prejudice, was more favorable towards them than anyone else. While the other black wizards grimaced and wrinkled their brows at the sight of the Murishis inhaling the repulsive smell of monsters, August maintained a polite smile.
If you looked closely, he couldn’t bear to look directly at the Murishi either, but he smiled the mechanical smile he’d learned throughout his life at them anyway, with his focus blurred.
“I don’t think the surrounding estates will think that way, Eklum. On the day it is discovered that black wizards are lobbying around with Murishi here, this place will become the breeding ground of evil, the headquarters of the Demon King, the stain of the kingdom.”
“Such…”
August smiled awkwardly at Sadie’s scathing words like she was imitating Debbie. Even in his opinion, the combination of black wizards and Murishis was not a particularly welcome one. Furthermore, although August was unaware of it, they even had Kaiton, who was called the Demon King. There was no doubt this would be called a villain’s den everywhere.
“Still… we’re trying to do something good, aren’t we…?”
“That’s true.”
Sadie giggled gleefully, and upon seeing her, Muriel burst into laughter as well. The same was true of August, who looked troubled.
“Captain. You have now become the leader of the villain’s den that does good things.”
