Kuro no Maou - Chapter 379

Chapter 379

On the way back from the workshop after receiving my new weapon, I overhear this conversation .

“It’s Wing Road after all; they’ve gotten really serious lately and they’ve been doing Rank 5 quests . ”

“Yeah, with the rampaging Ancient Golem, the Elixir recovery and the suppression of the Slime fever, that’s three in a month . But on the other hand, the Element Masters are still in the middle of the Lich extermination . ”

“Wing Road are on a different level; they are true elites . ”

“Right? I was scared of the Berserker during the parade, but I’m sure that’s because he was using some kind of pressuring spell . ”

We’ve already cleared the Lich extermination . We took so long because we were busy experimenting, and me scaring everyone was completely natural . I have all kinds of explanations to give, but I’m not going to go out of my way to complain .

We Element Masters performed brilliantly during the battle of Iskia and made a sudden Rank 5 debut . Along with setting the fastest Rank-up record with a time of three months, we’ve drawn attention as the rivals of Wing Road, the party that has been the youngest and most active up until now .

However, just as the rumors say, we, the newer party, haven’t reported the completion of a single quest; our results for the month that has passed since our increase in Rank are poor .

In contrast, Wing Road has been clearing Rank 5 quests one after another, as if to claim back the spotlight that was stolen from them in Iskia .

The difference between us is clear . This is even truer for the townspeople, who know of nothing other than the results of quests . It seems that this month has been plenty of time for the rumors that Wing Road is a step above us to start spreading .

I-it’s not like I’m upset about or anything, you know…

“U-umm…”

That’s right, it’s not like we want to stand out . We have our sights on our objective of defeating the Apostles and we’re progressing steadily towards it, so we’re fine with it . Isn’t everything going well? Just what could we possibly be dissatisfied about – ah, well, there’s also a vain part of me that wishes that we could do some work that I could brag about to Nell .

“Umm, excuse me!”

“UOH?!”

I’m completely surprised by the voice that suddenly calls out to me . I was so totally immersed in my thoughts that I didn’t notice being approached .

As I hastily turn around, I see a female student so small that her head just manages to enter the bottom of my vision .

“Uu… U-umm… You are the Nightmare Berserker, Kurono-san, aren’t you?” she asks, looking like she might cry at any moment .

Uwah, I don’t want to answer . I don’t want to puff out my chest and say, “Yes, I am the Nightmare Berserker . ” But I can’t just not answer, I suppose .

“Yes, I’m Kurono . ”

I ran away a little . Even though ‘Nightmare Berserker’ has become my formal class title, what’s embarrassing is still embarrassing .

Anyway, let’s set aside my trivial embarrassment . The problem at hand is this girl who has called out to me with tears in her eyes .

Judging from the close-fitting black uniform blazer that she’s wearing, there’s no doubt that she’s an academy student . Incidentally, it seems that I’ve returned to the academy without even realizing . I’m a short distance past the gate .

“What did you want with me?” I ask .

She has brown, almost-black hair in a bob cut, and tears are swimming in her round, adorable eyes . Combined with her slender, small body, her face somewhat reminds me of a small animal . I have no memory of this face – no, I do . This is a face that I’ve seen somewhere before . I’ve definitely seen it somewhere before, but I can’t remember when or where .

Due to this tantalizing sensation caused by my memory, I’ve ended up speaking to her quite bluntly .

My sharp ears didn’t miss that really, really small scream that escaped her .

What have I done? I’ve gone and frightened her for no reason…

“Umm, that’s… err…”

Tears finally spill over the edges of her eyes . Her small body trembles .

This is bad; my image as a criminal is rapidly increasing in this place . I have a feeling that in another five minutes, Safiel will show up, saying something like, “Get away from that girl, Nightmare Raper . ”

Still, I’m unable to think of an effective way to overcome this situation . This is where, you know, to stop a small child from being frightened, I have to make eye contact, call out to her gently and pat her head or something… That’s no good . I get the feeling that this is an act that would only be allowed for people as handsome as Nero . At the very least, the only one I could successfully perform this on is probably Lily .

In the end, I just stand rigidly on the spot as if I’ve been petrified, silently waiting for her response . Damn it, I feel even more tense than when I was about to fight the Lich .

“M-my friend… was in Iskia, umm, and… you saved her, Kurono-san, so…”

Her words are intermittent, but I am quickly able to understand what she is doing her utmost to try and tell me .

“Could it be that you’ve come to thank me?” I ask .

“Yes… Th-thank you!” She expresses her gratitude with a teary voice and her head flies downwards in a bow .

When a girl does this in front of me, I normally can’t react in any way other than to be flustered or panicked .

But today, I’m simply happy . I see . This is what saving people is like . I can really feel that sensation again .

“I see . I’m glad I could save your friend . ”

I certainly didn’t go to Iskia Fortress because I wanted to be praised . But I can’t help being happy when being thanked .

I felt this when I rescued Jenna and the others from the bandits, but having my efforts rewarded properly is an extraordinarily happy thing .

“Ha, wawa… U-umm, Kurono-san…”

While thinking about how happy I am, I’ve unconsciously started patting the back of the girl’s head that has been presented to me .

“Ah, sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” I say in earnest apology as I quickly remove my hand . Damn it, I got this image that this girl would love having her head patted, so I don’t feel any guilt at all . But no, really, I’m sorry .

“I-it’s not that! Having my head patted by Kurono-san is a-an honor!” she exclaims .

If you tell me that it’s an honor with tears in your eyes, it feels like I’m forcing you to say it .

But still, what is this tight feeling in my chest? An honor… Having her head patted by me is an honor, she says…

“The truth is that I was watching the Curse Carnival! From the front row! Kurono-san, you were very cool! I’m your fan, please give me your autograph!” she goes on, as if to catch me while I’m busy dealing with these indescribable, perplexing emotions .

Now I can’t help but to feel like she should just go ahead and say everything .

“Eh, that tournament, you were watching? Fan… autograph?”

“Yes! Please!” She pulls a student diary from the breast pocket of her uniform and holds it out to me . Along with a pen .

I freeze . I mean, even if you ask for my autograph, what kind of publicity stunt is this supposed to be… No, it’s a fact that I’m a Rank 5 adventurer who has received an award from the king, and I’m a well-known person in Spada now . I’m an authentic famous person .

But I want her to wait a little . Even if I have become famous, whether I can become naturally able to give my autograph away as a gift for people is another matter entirely .

Thinking about it normally, it’s hard . Just imagining practicing giving autographs to prepare for the future, preparing a pen-name and coming up with an elaborately-designed signature is embarrassing enough for me to want to bury my face in a pillow and flap my legs .

No, I’ve never done this . I’ve definitely never done this . Coming up with a cool name while I was in middle school is as far as I’ve gone!

“Umm… You won’t?” the girl asks, looking like she’s going to cry for real this time .

Men are weak to the tears of women . I’ve never felt this law of nature so strongly as I do right now . Despite how embarrassing it is, my reply is immediate .

“Ah, I don’t mind if it’s just an autograph,” I say .

Now then, I’ve managed to gracefully take the student diary and pen, which is good, but what am I supposed to write…

“Here you go,” I say .

“Thank you very much!” The girl takes her signed student diary with a smile that covers her whole face .

The words ‘Nightmare Berserker Kurono’ are clearly written on it .

I’ve gone and done it . This is the second time that I’ve called myself by my embarrassing title . It really is embarrassing . Damn it, Will, this is the one thing that I resent you for .

“Really, thank you very much . Please do your best from now on as well!” the girl says .

“Yeah, thanks for cheering me on . ”

Completely oblivious to the complicated feelings in my chest, the girl leaves cheerfully .

She was in tears at first, but she left smiling in the end, so I suppose I can say that this was a good encounter .

But still, having a thankful fan who wanted my autograph, this was a scene that let me experience the charm of ‘fame’ all in one go . Isn’t it possible for me to actually become a popular person – This meeting was so impactful that I might get this delusional idea in my head .

It’s fine . I don’t crave the limelight so much that I would be blinded by a desire for fame . I am completely aware of what is most important here . Fame is secondary or even tertiary .

For now, being immersed in the fluffy feeling of knowing that I have an adorable fan out there is good enough for me .

I didn’t ask for her name or class, but I’ll work hard so I can do better for her if I see her again . May I escort you somewhere, Ojou-san? Something like that .

“… Ah . ”

I’ve remembered .

My stupid delusion has unexpectedly produced the answer . Escort, guiding, showing the way .

That’s right, that girl was the female student that I asked for directions to Simon’s dormitory when I first visited the academy . I recover my memories of her being very frightened and me wondering why I called out to female students instead of male ones .

But even she has become able to show me a smile now . I feel strange thinking about that, because it’s like I’ve come a really long way .

In any case, I’ve become used to the refreshing feeling of this wonderful encounter . Good, good . I found the quest for my trial today, too, I’m kind of lucky today – perhaps I shouldn’t have thought this .

The moment the dormitory that I’m returning to enters my sight –

I hear the voices of girls arguing .

“Hmm, this voice is Lily… and Nell, I guess . ” I immediately realize that this is a bad combination and let out a small sigh . “… Again, huh . ”

Now then, what should I say to mediate peace between them, and what should I tell them? I harden my resolve and press on to the dormitory as I rack my brains .