Summoned Slaughterer - Book 5

by Ido Masayoshi

  Hifumi has a character to not care about other people’s looks “if there’s no killing intent and hostility” emanating from them.

  “The food from stalls is nice as well, but at such place they also pay attention to the appearance of colouring and arrangement of the things to eat.” (Hifumi)

  “Why? Isn’t it fine, if it’s tasty?”

  “Humans also enjoy such “pointless things.””

  “Is that so…?”

  Helen is repeatedly puzzled and Reni feels admiration.

  Then the waiter came carrying the first dish.

  “Waah…”

  Steam is rising from the served dish. It was steamed chicken meat.

  Once Hifumi briefly explains the way to use fork and knife, the two, feeling irritated, break the meat into small pieces with their hands and stuff it into their mouths.

  “There’s is such tender meat as well.”

  “It’s the cooking which makes it tender. There’s no way it will become like this, even if you roast it as it is.” (Hifumi)

  While Hifumi also fills his mouth with one piece of meat after the other, he gives a proper explanation.

  Due to the appearance of a human and beastmen peacefully eating their meal, the surrounding customers also gradually lost interest.

  There was even a customer, who wanted to complain about manner and smell at the time when they came entering in the beginning, but seeing the two, who have a neat appearance having taken a bath, eating the food with delight, it apparently became difficult for them to raise their voice.

  There are even some among the female customers, who feel that it is a pleasant scene. They are watching the smiling faces of the beastgirls, who are able to eat the dishes, which are brought one after the other, with sparkling eyes.

  Once Reni, who noticed the state of such surrounding, showed a bewildered look, Hifumi stopped his hands.

  “Did you realize?” (Hifumi)

  “Ah, yes.” (Reni)

  “This is the sole pleasant aspect of humans. Their treatment will change with the circumstances, even if the target is the same.” (Hifumi)

  Hifumi stabbed the meat with his fork.

  “Even killing targets and targets of admiration are the same. I, myself, don’t believe it to be strange at all. It’s a simplicity that appears to be complicated.” (Hifumi)

  “That’s somehow incomprehensible. What do you want to say?” (Helen)

  Helen pouts and shakes her ears.

  “If you consider it fun to watch such “humans”, I wonder whether you want to do interesting stuff together with me from now on.” (Hifumi)

  “Interesting stuff?” (Reni)

  While biting in a crisp, long and narrow vegetable, similar to cucumber, which was put into the salad, Reni showed great curiosity.

  “Yea, it will be interesting. In the country, I come from, it’s a very popular game.” (Hifumi)

  Hearing of a game, Helen apparently got curious as well.

  “The game is?” (Helen)

  “Ah, it’s an enjoyable game. It’s name is Take the nation.” (Hifumi) (T/N: There is actually really a game called like that 国盗り … Kuni tori. Feel free to google it)

  Chapter 91: Smile

  Having an amount of gold coins, he hadn’t seen yet, being piled up in front of his eyes with a jingling sound, Swordland’s slave trader was stumped.

  The person, who produced that mountain of gold, was a man, who had a hood pulled over his entire face, wore a mantle and strange clothes from the beginning. Only the mouth can be seen. Going by the pitch of the laughter, which causes the corners of his mouth to lift as if a crescent moon, he’s likely a still young man, the slave trader judged.

  There’s a petite pair lining up in the back of the man, but although these two are also wearing hoods, they seem to be beastmen going by what can be seen. They are probably the man’s slaves.

  “What’s up? Didn’t you hear my order?”

  “P-Please wait! Even if you tell me that you are going to buy all of this shop’s beastmen…”

  “What is it? Isn’t it enough money?”

  “That’s not what I mean…”

  Where did he take those out from? The person adding even more gold coins is of course Hifumi.

  “If that’s the case, what do you mean?” (Hifumi)

  “Although they might be called slaves, there are various ones. I will also be troubled by getting complaints afterwards, if you don’t choose them properly. There are even those, you can’t use for manual labour due them being sold as disposable waste by the castle due to their wounds…”

  “I don’t care.” (Hifumi)

  “Hah?”

  “I don’t give a damn whether they have injuries or other problems. Hurry up and get them ready since I will buy the entire bunch.” (Hifumi)

  Due to the far too pushy way of talking, the slave trader brought out more than 30 slaves from within the store while grumbling 「Don’t come complaining to me afterwards」.

  All of those, who were brought out, were standing with an absent-minded facial expression having their hands and feet bound with chains.

  As the slave dealer had said, there are some, missing legs and arms, mixed in-between and there are also those, who are showing an exhausted state to the degree of barely walking being supported by other slaves.

  “These are all I have.”

  “Fine, fine. Well then, everyone follow me.” (Hifumi)

  Hifumi, who tries to hurry up and go outside having finished his business, was stopped by the slave trader in panic.

  “No, if you aren’t registered in the slave tattoo…”

  “Ah, that, huh?” (Hifumi)

  Hifumi recalled the situation at the time he purchased Origa and Kasha.

  He admired magic being something mysterious at that time, however having gotten used to life over here, he bitterly smiles to himself due to the fact of having completely accepted the existence of magic.

  “There’s no particular need for that.” (Hifumi)

  “B-But, customer, if you don’t register in the slave crest, you won’t be able to stop the slaves opposing you.”

  “There are many precedents of owners being killed by their slaves as well”, the slave trader says while getting worked up, but Hifumi, stopping him with his right hand, has a nonchalant air.

  “It will be very welcome, if they come assassinating me while I’m asleep or launch a surprise attack. If there isn’t at least this much tension, there won’t be an actual feeling of being alive either. If I get killed by these guys, that will only mean that this was my limit.” (Hifumi)

  Hifumi, who turned around to the dumbfounded beastmen, checked the faces of all of them.

  “You heard it. If you are up to it, it will be fine for you to aim at my life any time. But…” (Hifumi)

  Hifumi draws the katana and mutters, while ecstatically gazing at the beautiful hamon,

  “I will kill you, if you attack me with a half-hearted resolution. I will kill you, if you do it with a naive plan. I will kill you, if you do it half-assedly.” (Hifumi)

  The light being reflected by the blade appeared to shine on Hifumi’s left eye.

  “In short, you will die, if you fail. Do remember only that.” (Hifumi)

  Everyone gulped and nodded weakly.

  “Alright. Let’s go then?” (Hifumi)

  “Thank you very much.”

  At the end of the line of slaves leaving the slave trader’s shop to follow Hifumi, Reni, who waited silently, smiled at the slave trader.

  “A-Ah…”

  “Let’s go, Reni”

  Leaving behind the bewildered slave trader, for whom it was the first time to have a beastman’s smile turned upon him, Reni left the store with Helen leading her by the hand.

  ☺☻☺

  The place, the slaves were brought to, was the high-class inn lodging Hifumi’s group.

  Without showing absolutely any manner of restraint or such, the
beastmen are brought along and step into the building. Even the employees’ forced smiles were unreasonable by now.

  “J-Just a second, guest-sama!”

  “That’s right, they are guest-sama’s. Please prepare rooms for these guys. Also hot baths in order to wash their bodies. Since we will naturally go to the dining room to eat our meals, prepare plenty of food just like yesterday, please.” (Hifumi)

  Hifumi, who handed over a large amount of money saying “It’s the inn fee”, passed further money to a single employee and told them to go buy a plenty amount of clothes and footwear for the slaves.

  “Although I don’t have to tell you, but treat them properly. They are guests, who properly paid the money. And, you guys as well.” (Hifumi)

  He turns his look towards the beastmen, he brought along.

  Are they scared of Hifumi? Without matching his look, they cast their eyes down with terror in their faces.

  “Violence and abusive language is absolutely forbidden. Wash your bodies obediently, wear your clothes and grab your meal. And then go sleep for today. There are plenty of things we will do, but all of those can wait until tomorrow.” (Hifumi)

  “Hey, wait!” (Helen)

  Helen chased after Hifumi, who quickly heads towards his room upstairs, in a rush.

  Reni, trying to follow after Hifumi and Reni, stops, turns in the direction of the slaves and takes off the hood.

  Reni, who lightly shook her soft, white hair and the grown, twirled horns, smiles sweetly.

  “It will be alright. I was taught various things after I met Hifumi-san. I’m sure it was difficult for you until now, but undoubtedly it will be fun from now on.” (Reni)

  “A-Are you a slave of that human? Considering that, umm…”

  What Reni is wearing is the white one-piece, Hifumi bought for her.

  “Following Hifumi-san, whom I met in the wastelands, I’m studying humans. And, for the sake of playing something called “Take the nation”?, we picked up all of you since it seems to be the type of game, which is more fun with many companions.” (Reni)

  “Let’s do it! Surely it will be fun”, Reni says laughing. The slaves, in a state of not comprehending, washed their bodies in turns following the instructions of the employees and changed into the brand new clothes.

  It may be because of the large number of people, but the inn is in a state of being close to booked out.

  Even the dining room has almost all seats taken by beastmen. The dishes, being carried over, vanish one after the other.

  “It’s delicious…”

  Once one of the slaves showed their feelings by murmuring just those few words, the slaves, separated at the tables all over, raised their voices to a “Delicious, it’s delicious” as if in concord and not few were shedding tears.

  Having obtained a decent meal after a long while and it even being different from the food in the wastelands, which was at best meat roasted to some degree, the slaves tasted intricately and variously seasoned dishes and digested being alive for the first time.

  Eventually the slaves approach Hifumi’s seat in turns to express their gratitude with a “Please treat me well” and bowing their head.

  Without even especially having the intention to make them feel grateful, he considers they will be likely useful, if they are my subordinates one way or the other. Hifumi, who only ordered them to wash their bodies because he wanted to eat a meal with that filthy-smelling lot, has a bitter expression.

  “… How irritating.” (Hifumi)

  Reni, being with him, smiles at the griping Hifumi.

  “But, all of them are happy.” (Reni)

  “Oh well. I can probably tell because I knew of it as well, but once you eat food made by humans, you will find it strange that you were satisfied with the meat you ate up until now.” (Helen)

  “Though, rather than eating something cut up, I like to sink my teeth into a fruit”, Helen laughs, too.

  Gradually it reaches the point that laughter can be heard in the dining room. With the stimulus from their fellow slaves, even different races talk together about their hardships and similar with a smile.

  “Hifumi-san.” (Reni)

  “What’s up?” (Hifumi)

  Reni called out to Hifumi, who frowned due to it having become noisy.

  “Is this “Take the nation”? Everyone’s enjoying it, right? It’s as Hifumi-san said.” (Reni)

  Looking at Reni facing him with a pure smile, Hifumi smiled and said “That’s right.”

  “It will probably be alright, even if this is just the first step of taking the nation with such kind of nation being the target. Let me teach you guys the absolutely magnificent concept of “Freedom and Equality.” If you are able to comprehend it, you beastmen will likely be able to create delicious dishes and sturdy homes without having to rely on humans.” (Hifumi)

  “Is that so!? Not only is “Take the nation” this much fun, but it will even become such an amazing thing!” (Reni)

  “Yea~” (Hifumi) (T/N: Ebil, he is way too ebil, that Hifumi)

  At the side of Reni, who accepts his words upfront, Helen is looking at Hifumi with eyes full of doubt, but since she isn’t able to properly understand it either, she doesn’t go as far as objecting him.

  Noticing the matter Hifumi is talking about, the beastmen turn silent and prick their ears to listen attentively.

  “But you know, to get this far, your cooperation will be necessary as well.” (Hifumi)

  “I, I will do my best! I want our fathers to eat something delicious, too!” (Reni)

  “Well, if it’s for such reason, I wonder whether you know…” (Hifumi)

  A single dog beastman stood up and got down on both his knees facing Hifumi’s seat.

  “I’m a dog beastman called Gengu ~ssu. I was greatly impressed by master’s compassionate story ~ssu. Freedom and equality, aren’t those nice words? I will use all my strength to help with what master is trying to accomplish ~ssu.” (Gengu)

  The other beastmen also swarmed to Hifumi one after the other due to Gengu, who made such drama-like speech. They told him that they will do whatever they can as well.

  “I got it, I got it.” (Hifumi)

  Hifumi, who shrank back from the beastmen with their excessive and sweltering enthusiasm, has everyone shut up by telling them “Calm down for a moment.”

  “Doing your best or whatever, you guys are slaves though. Settle down since I will prepare a bed and food for you, if you properly do the things that have to be done.” (Hifumi)

  Hifumi tells Reni and Helen to stand up. Once the two do as told, the gazes of the beastmen slaves focus on them.

  “The sheep type is Reni and the rabbit type is Helen.” (Hifumi)

  “Now then, I want you guys to do something very, very fun”, is what Hifumi told everyone with a well-carrying voice.

  “I plan to make these two the rulers of this country. Being their vassals, you guys will attempt to take this country. How far will the beastmen be able to hold out? I want you to show me.” (Hifumi)

  Listening until Hifumi’s final comment “Don’t worry. I will teach you the method”, the dining room abruptly falls into chaos with some roaring with motivation, laughter or astonishment.