Monster no Goshujin-sama - Volume 5 - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The White Spider and the Puppet’s Clothes ~Gerbera’s POV~

Two boys and a girl appeared.

“You are...”

They looked familiar. They were visitors from another world, much like my lord. Their names were...what again? I didn’t remember. It was possible I’d never even heard their names to begin with. I had never really gotten involved with them. Why were they here? I was bewildered more than I was suspicious.

“Holy shit. This is my first time seeing a monster up close like this.”

The boys looked extremely cheerful as they stared at me. I didn’t sense any sort of malice. Their attitudes were actually on the favorable side. However, mysteriously enough, I found their gazes strangely unpleasant.

“Wow. It’s really a monster.”

“H-Hang on, isn’t it dangerous?”

“I’m telling you, it’s fine. That’s Majima’s monster, right? That elf girl is here too. She would’ve been wasted already if it was dangerous.”

The group came closer as they chatted. The two boys were red in the face. A peculiar stench emanated from them.

“I wonder if they’re drunk...?” Kei muttered by my side.

I knit my brows. I didn’t really understand what “drunk” meant, but I pretty much grasped the situation. The Alliance Knights had cleared this spot of people. Neither the soldiers nor the villagers could approach. However, the knights couldn’t deny visitors—saviors. In fact, there were a few bewildered knights standing behind them.

It seemed the boys had lost their sense of reason. This was probably an effect of what they called “alcohol.” Drinking too much apparently caused one to do things one normally wouldn’t do. Having said that, I still didn’t have a clue why they came here.

“What are you...?”

“It’s really half spider.”

I tried asking why they were here, but the boys weren’t listening.

“Yo, check this out.”

On the contrary, one of the boys came up right next to me and stretched out his hand. His behavior was so rude I hadn’t expected it, and my reaction was delayed. His presumptuous hand was about to touch my lower body, my spider half covered in white hair.

A man is about to touch my body? A man other than my lord?

I flinched. Physiological revulsion sent chills through my entire body. My spider hairs stood on end. My legs reflexively squirmed about, and then...

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

A reprimanding roar pierced through the silent forest.

The boy’s hand came to a sudden stop. Everyone present turned their gazes at once. A petite girl was stomping toward us, her shoulders squared back.

“Katou...?”

I uttered her name. Katou was supposed to be observing Rose’s training. She must have returned for some reason. Nobody was able to react as she came to a stop and glared at the boys who were trying to touch me.

“I said, what do you think you’re doing trying to touch a girl’s body without consent?!”

“A-A girl? It’s a monster.”

“So what?! She’s still a girl! Hammer that into your thick skulls and think about how absurd a thing it is you’re doing!”

The boys looked utterly daunted. Katou’s anger had blown the wind out of their sails.

“You little...”

They realized they had lost their nerves because of a girl, a petite one at that. The shame they felt was an indication that their reasoning was functioning properly again. Even I could tell their trivial pride was ablaze. Things were reaching a boiling point. Having sensed that, my legs skittered about as I straightened my posture. I planned on stopping them if necessary, even if I had to be somewhat rough.

“S-Stop it you guys,” the girl in their group said in a panic.

“Tada?”

“L-Let’s just leave, okay? We went too far. This is our fault.”

The girl’s eyes were fixed on the object hanging from Katou’s waist. It was a rather large knife. Rose had made it the other day for Katou’s self-defense. Its ultrathin blade was light for its size and had a dreadfully sharp edge. Katou’s left hand rested on its grip, the knife still sitting in its sheath.

“W-We’re sorry, okay?”

Katou maintained her imposing stance a short distance away from us, telling them to get out of here with her eyes. The other girl forced a smile and ran away, completely pale. The boys followed suit, despite looking dissatisfied. The knights, who looked apologetic, left after them.

I finally let out my breath. My spider hairs lay back down. They were truly a rude bunch. It was an unpleasant experience. Still, it was fortunate that things had ended uneventfully. If I, a monster, resorted to violence, no matter the circumstances, it would affect my lord’s position. Even I could see this. It was all thanks to Katou’s interference that we managed to get by without aggravating the situation.

“You have my thanks, Katou.”

She didn’t reply. I cocked my head and looked at her more closely. Her face, which usually looked innocent, was now deathly pale.

“Katou...?”

She didn’t react to my calls and collapsed to the ground.

◆ ◆ ◆

Fortunately, Katou’s condition didn’t appear to be serious. She had collapsed from feeling sick, but she said that she would get better with a little rest, so I let her lie down for a while. After Kei replaced the wet towel covering her forehead several times, Katou sat back up.

“Sorry for causing you trouble...” she said.

“So long as it’s nothing serious,” I replied. Humans were so fragile. Just watching her was bad for my heart. I let out a sigh of relief and shrugged. “That was quite rash of you, Katou.”

From what she told me about this afterward, the reason Katou had come to a stop where she had was because she couldn’t force herself to move even a step closer. The reason she’d had her hand on the knife at her waist wasn’t because she had been ready to attack at any moment, but because she had been clinging to the object that my lord had gifted her and that Rose had made for her. She’d known she was being rash.

Katou looked a little awkward as she said, “Well...I thought it was just that important to step in,” she said.

“I’m very grateful for that.”

I could honestly admit to this. My legs had reflexively come to a stop. If Katou had not forced her way in, there was no telling how things would’ve ended up just one second later. I couldn’t even claim that my body wouldn’t have acted without meaning to. It would be one thing if I had jumped back abruptly, but it was entirely possible I would’ve shredded the rude boys to pieces. It sent shivers down my spine.

“It’s understandable for a girl to reflexively lash out at someone of the opposite sex trying to touch her body...” Katou said with a wry smile. “But your specs are in another dimension; you might’ve ended up hurting them a little.”

“Right...maybe a little.”

I averted my gaze. We were viewing things with a different scale, but I decided to keep quiet about it.

Seeing my reaction, Katou continued with a slightly curious expression. “Well, I wouldn’t really care if they’d gotten hurt. Regardless of their intentions, that was just sexual harassment. It’d do them good to feel some pain, but...”

“It would trouble my lord as a result.”

“That’s how it goes,” Katou agreed with a nod. “It’s a good thing it ended without incident.”

“It is... What exactly was with them?” I grumbled with a grimace.

A crease formed between Katou’s brows as well. “It’s because they were drunk. They probably came out here without thinking it through.” Her tone was clearly angry and directed at the thoughtless boys. “I think they look down on you and the others because you’re Majima-senpai’s servants, whereas they’re visitors just like him. That’s probably why they did something so rude, though the alcohol didn’t help.”

I suddenly recalled the two monsters who obeyed the other monster tamer, Kudou Riku. He treated those girls, who he called Anton and Berta, as nothing more than pawns. The reason I felt disgusted by those two boys was perhaps similar.

Presumptuous curiosity. Physical contact without a hint of consideration. It wasn’t okay simply because they didn’t have any ill intent. To put it bluntly, those boys only looked at me as an object. Visitors from other worlds didn’t possess a deep-rooted hatred toward monsters like the citizens here did. However, that didn’t necessarily mean they treated us as equals. Our fortuitous meeting with our lord was a blessing unlike any other.

“Although,” Katou continued, “once they sober up, I’m sure they’ll realize their mistake. They’re not planning on picking a fight with Majima-senpai, after all. Besides, from what I heard, Miyoshi-senpai is actually a fairly good leader. This incident happened while he wasn’t around, and if he finds out, he’ll probably take action to preserve his relationship with Majima-senpai. In a sense, it might be a good thing to warn Miyoshi-senpai sooner than later. If such a thing happened to Rose, I’d feel too guilty to face her.”

“You have a point there. Unlike me, Rose is calm. Even if such a thing were to happen to her, she might quietly allow them to touch her so as to avoid any conflict.”

“Please don’t say things like that. Senpai is the only one who can touch Rose.”

Katou looked like she seriously hated what I said. She really was close with Rose.

“Hrm?”

I suddenly raised my head. Someone was approaching again. I stood up on reflex, perhaps because the recent events unknowingly had a lingering effect on me. Fortunately, it was needless anxiety on my part. The person walking toward us with well-regulated footsteps was an elf with swaying blonde hair, white armor, and an eyepatch over one eye—Shiran.

She was my lord’s newest servant, but she had lived as a human before that, so he treated her as a friend rather than his servant. The rest of us emulated his behavior in this regard. I didn’t see her as my new little sister, but as Kei’s older sister and my lord’s companion.

“Oh? Shiran? Why are you here?” Kei asked curiously.

“I heard from my subordinate that there was some sort of trouble here,” Shiran replied with a grim expression as she looked around and walked up to us. “Though nothing serious happened, just an almost-quarrel, it seems to have struck a nerve with all of you. I came by to check up on you and apologize.”

“There’s no need to apologize, Shiran. The knights weren’t at fault, and you weren’t even involved,” Katou said.

“But Mana...”

“I’m fine. I just got a little sick. Kei took care of me,” Katou replied with a smile to contrast Shiran’s stern expression. I found this strange. Katou’s smile looked stiff to me. “Mm. I should be fine to move about now. Thanks, Kei.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I wasn’t able to do anything...” Kei replied dejectedly.

“It’s fine. Kids shouldn’t worry about stuff like that.”

Katou gently brushed Kei’s head and stood up. Even from my perspective, she didn’t appear to be forcing herself. She wasn’t putting up a brave front; she really had recovered in such a short time. It had taken much less time than before. Perhaps this was a result of this rehabilitation of hers, the one that Mikihiko was helping with. Or perhaps her favorable relationship with my lord had a positive influence on her mind.

Shiran continued staring at Katou. Noticing her gaze, Katou’s eyes widened in curiosity. She returned a pretty smile. “What is it, Shiran?” she asked.

“No, um, it might just be my imagination, but...” Shiran said, sounding a bit awkward. “I feel as if there is some sort of wall between us, Mana. Have I done something to offend you?”

This was what I had found strange myself, and it seemed Shiran was of the same opinion. Well, even I had noticed, so it was obvious to everyone else too.

“If I have, then I would like to apologize.”

Shiran’s attitude was sincere, embodying the virtues of a knight.

“No, you haven’t...” Katou began, but she came to a stop when she noticed me and Kei looking at her. Her eyes widened ever so slightly, and an ambiguous smile came to her lips. “Was it that noticeable?”

“Even I could tell,” I told her.

“Oh. That’s depressing.” Katou’s shoulders drooped. She turned to face Shiran. “Sorry. I wasn’t really self-aware...”

“Don’t be. There’s no need to apologize for it.”

“Is it a personal matter?” I asked.

“It’s something pathetic...” Katou said, smiling bitterly. “I’m happy he worries about me now. I’m happy he trusts me now. But if possible, I wanted to be the one who caused that change in him... That’s all...” She let out a sigh. “There’s no point in being resentful. My mind understands, but my heart is a different matter.”

Katou was being rather vague, but I felt like I knew exactly who she was talking about. She had been so happy lately that even I could tell despite being mostly dense regarding such matters.

“So, Shiran, I don’t hate you in any way. On the contrary, I like you. I’d be happy if we could get along,” Katou said amicably.

Even though Katou thought it was pathetic, she still got jealous. The human heart didn’t work the way one wanted it to. Regardless, she was trying to resolve her ill feelings in her own way.

I didn’t know how Shiran viewed this, but she suddenly smiled.

“I can understand your envy quite well... Of course I don’t mind. I hope we can get along as well,” she answered.

Katou broke into a huge smile. It was far more natural than before.

“According to Takahiro, you are trying to learn magic, correct? I may be able to be of assistance.”

“Really? Thank you very much. I finally managed to sense mana recently, so I was thinking it was about time to take the next step.”

“Then how about after dinner? I can drop by the manamobile.”

Kei cheerfully watched the two of them. I had been watching as well, feeling a bit of a chill, but now I was relieved. And just then...

“Oh yes...which reminds me,” Shiran said, placing her hand in her pocket. “I forgot to ask. Mana, do you know what this is?”

“Oh!” Shiran held out the scrap of paper I had just gotten from Mikihiko. “Where did you find that...?” I asked.

“I picked it up on the way here. It was blowing in the wind. I could tell right away it was something from another world, so I thought it belonged to Mana. Is this yours, Gerbera?”

“Indeed. It seems I accidentally threw it away during the commotion earlier.”

“I see. Then here.”

“My thanks.”

I took the folded paper and sighed with relief. That was close. I’d nearly wasted Mikihiko’s goodwill. I had to be sure not to lose it again.

“Hm... Right. I suppose this is a good opportunity.” I was about to put the paper away, but I suddenly turned toward Katou. “There’s something I’d like you to look at.”

“Me?”

I nodded deeply. “Mm. About the clothes Rose requested I make for her. I asked Mikihiko for some help.”

“Huh...? Kaneki-senpai? Is that what that paper is?”

Katou’s expression didn’t usually change much, but right now it was strangely clear how questionable she found this.

“Hmm... Kaneki-senpai... I have a bad feeling about this.”

“What are you saying? Mikihiko said he’s proud of this, and Kei said it’s cute. Have a look before you say such things.”

“That’s true. Okay, can you show me?”

“Mm.”

I unfolded the paper and handed it to her. Katou looked down at it, and in an instant, her eyes shot open.

“Huh? A maid outfit?!” she screamed, pointing at the paper.

“Oooh. So you do know about this?”

I let out a sigh of admiration. It turned out this was some sort of famous outfit. Katou’s surprised expression was more than I’d hoped for. Mikihiko was my lord’s friend, so I had been right to entrust this to him.

“I am told this is something all men in Mikihiko’s world like. I’m sure my lord will be pleased with this. I should be able to satisfy Rose’s request.”

However, just around the time I was brimming with confidence, I cocked my head curiously. The only one with sparkling eyes was the young Kei. The other two reacted weakly, especially Katou. I wanted to think she was pressing her hand against her forehead because she was deeply moved, but it seemed this wasn’t the case.

“Isn’t it amazing, Shiran?” Kei asked excitedly. “There’s so much frills and lace! It’s so cute!”

“Y-Yes, there is, but is this not an excess in decoration? This is...clothing for an attendant, correct? I feel like it lacks practicality, and is a little too flashy...”

“Oh, now that you mention it... I didn’t give it that much thought.”

Hmmmmm...? The conversation between the elven sisters, especially the off-putting impressions of the older sister, sent a cold sweat running down my cheek.

“The skirt is too short, and it shows too much cleavage. Perhaps it’s rude to put it this way, but I feel it is a little lewd...”

Did he actually set me up? No, no, no... That can’t be...

“Gerbera?” Katou called.

My legs jolted. I timidly examined Katou’s expression...and almost screamed in terror.

“Do you plan on making Rose wear this?” she asked.

Her quiet voice was actually terrifying. Her fists were trembling slightly.

Oh no... This one’s out of the question...

“P-Please calm down, Katou. I didn’t say anything about making this as it is.”

Flustered, I tried spinning excuses as Katou drew nearer with unsteady steps. She remained completely silent as she stared holes through the paper in my hand. I felt scared. Memories of what she’d done to me before were resurrecting, bringing on a bout of dizziness. I had to do something about this. That single thought drove me to try and say something, anything to calm her down.

“This is nothing more than a concept. In fact, given the opportunity, I wanted to ask your opinion, just as I am doing now. I can’t deny I wouldn’t have shown you had the opportunity not arisen, and I don’t have any other ideas... But...!”

“Actually, maid clothes might not be a bad idea, huh?”

I was curiously stunned. What had Katou just uttered?

“Give me that,” she said, plucking the paper out of my hand.

“Ah.”

She looked at it deep in thought.

“Are you being serious, Mana?” Shiran asked incredulously. “Normal attendant’s clothing would be one thing, but this is... I don’t know how things are in your world, but would there not be problems wearing this on an everyday basis?”

“Please don’t misunderstand. This isn’t everyday clothing in our world either. I don’t know about ‘Kaneki-senpai’s world,’ though.”

“Did the two of you not come from the same world?”

“Yes we did, but we think profoundly differently... I don’t know much about it myself. How do I even put it? This is a uniform from shops catering to a certain kind of interest...”

I didn’t really understand much of what Katou was saying, but there was one established fact here. It seemed I’d managed to escape the death sentence. That was all I needed to know. I let out a sigh of relief, then turned an earnest gaze toward Katou.

“Then it’s okay to make this?” I asked.

“No. Out of the question.”

“Oh?”

Struck down with a single stroke. Shiran was also nodding. So it was out of the question.

“This kind of cute, energetic, and perverted clothing doesn’t suit Rose. She needs something more chic, with a mature design. Actually, this really is entirely out of the question. He put too much of his own tastes into this. He’s probably laughing it up because he knows what he did...”

Katou looked exasperated as she neatly folded the paper and put it in her pocket.

“I’ll put a draft together,” she said.

“I believe that’s a good idea,” Shiran agreed.

Kei was also nodding repeatedly. This was the moment where Mikihiko’s painstaking work filled with his manly passion was put aside. It was honestly a little sad to me.

“Using your threads will make everything white, won’t it?” Katou continued. “It’d be nice if we could get some dyes once we reach a city.”

“I can arrange for that,” Shiran said. “The knights who deal in such goods should know of some shops.”

“Thank you, Shiran. Oh yeah, while we’re at it, it might be a good idea to make some long gloves and knee-high socks.”

“Oh! That way we can naturally hide the joints on Rose’s body!” Kei exclaimed.

“Yep. If it goes well, Rose might be able to walk around town with Majima-senpai... Hee hee. This is getting kind of fun.”

I shrugged as I listened to their harmonious conversation. I felt a little bad for Mikihiko, but... Oh well. It wasn’t like his idea was outright rejected. It was a good reference point, so I decided I would thank him myself later.

For example, I could... Right, that’ll work. I thought of a great idea. I could send the outfit he’d designed to that gallant woman he was smitten with. Mikihiko judged my lord would be pleased if I made such clothes for Rose, so the same was sure to apply to the man himself. He would definitely be pleased by this.

“Okay then. Now that we’ve reached a conclusion, it’s about time to get back to it, Gerbera,” Katou said, bringing my thoughts of the future to a stop.

“What do you mean?” I asked curiously.

“I mean you should be choosing your weapon,” she said as if it were perfectly obvious. “I came back here to help you with that in the first place.”