She was told that Hifumi was able to read and write the general sentences in a few days, but Helen is doubting that.
“What do you want to do once the city is built, Helen? Is it a store? It seems to be interesting, even if you say you will grow vegetables, right?” (Reni)
“Growing vegetables and selling them in a store, even if I become a ruler?” (Helen)
“Eh…? I wonder what will happen?” (Reni)
The beastwoman in front of the two, having such conversation, had a damaged voice. Same as Helen she is a rabbitwoman, but, with an age of around 20 years, she is missing one ear from the root. Apparently it was cut off at the time she was caught by humans when she was still a child. (T/N: For an illustration, check the volume cover in the ToC)
“Both of you aren’t used to a human city. As a more important character than soldiers and knights, the king’s job is to manage the country by giving out directions. Although it’s not by all means, you won’t have the time to run something like a store, will you?”
The rabbitwoman with the slightly drooping eyes smiles gently at Reni and Helen.
“Becoming this old, I certainly didn’t think I would be allowed to study by a human. If I imagine future, it’s nice to have a dream. 10 years already passed since I was caught and turned into a slave, but it’s the first time I’m able to ponder what I want to do or what I will do like this.”
Listening to her words, Reni noticed something.
“Is that so? Helen, at the time, when we were in the wastelands, we just thought about our immediate safety and the matters of being able to gather food, but we did have a conversation about our future unnoticed during our talks with Hifumi-san.” (Reni)
“I see.” (Helen)
Helen also opened her eyes widely.
“If I remember correctly, the things, I talked about with you, Reni, increased as well, though it was just me being afraid of something. Talks such as about food or tools to be sold at a store…” (Helen)
“If the beastmen city is built and if it’s possible to invite everyone, it will become wonderful!” (Reni)
“Alright, I will do my best”, Reni once again clasped the pen with a rough nasal breathing. Helen also followed up by muttering Let’s do my best within her mind.
“Didn’t that human tell us to study something once we done with characters?” (Helen)
Helen voiced out her question in a murmur.
“Mmh~ that is.” (Reni)
Reni looks up at the ceiling and recount what she remembered,
“If I’m not mistaken, it’s the know-how of serving customers? Or something like that?” (Reni)
“What’s that?” (Helen)
“I don’t know.” (Reni)
While watching the two looking at each other, the one-eared rabbitwoman had an unfounded feeling to try believing into her new master. Though they have been associating with him for only a few days, looking at the state of Helen and Reni, he appears to be a nice master.
☺☻☺
On a certain day in the local area, a strange commission was delivered to the craftsmen of Swordland.
From the craftsmen in the industrial fields, such as carpenters and blacksmiths, to chefs, like bakers and such, and even those employed in the service sector, such as inn employees, it reached various people.
Given that it had also an excellent reward, many of them headed to the designated inn.
They flinched at the beastmen lining up in a row there, but receiving a properly polite 「Please」 and seeing them enthusiastically trying to collect information with shining eyes, even if it wasn’t about a significant craft, on top of them listening to their speeches honestly, the craftsmen even were in a good mood before realizing it.
Gradually splitting the groups by the learning content, they get into the core of the parts of their professions.
From the start there is a considerable number of beastmen slaves within the city. It may be because there were also beastmen doing the shopping for their masters among them, that for commoners, with the exception of nobles, there was a weak feeling of shirking away from the beastmen’s existence in itself. The emotional part, which Hifumi confirmed by experimenting in the dining room of the inn, was no issue, but only if you restrict the talk to commoners.
At the same time the carpenters were requested to do a different job, too.
It’s a large-scale repair operation of the slums.
Being attentive to the astonishing detailed blueprints, the carpenters skilfully dismantled the old buildings in order, starting with the dwellings of the beastmen, and constructed buildings, to be used as stores, manufacturing cabins and moreover even smithies and bathhouses.
Given that the beastmen carried in wood, which was used as material, from outside in succession, the work advanced at a quick pace without being delayed.
Beastmen, who participated in the carpentry work, appeared as well and those, who have strength, and those, who are specialized in acrobatics, played a central role in tasks, that would usually require the help of several humans. Since it was steadily making progress with just the beastmen joining in, some among the carpenters appeared, who proposed that they wanted help with the work down-town as well.
The slums, which were occupied by deserted houses and debris, has gradually turned into a new city that can’t be called slums anymore.
The person, who has been providing the funds, had many obscure parts, such as the source of money, with him only appearing sometimes at briefing sessions. But due to the easiness beyond expectations to associate with the beastmen, who were said to be the investor’s slaves, and the virtue of monetary payment, there wasn’t anyone pursuing that point either.
Before long, beastmen, who have obtained the know-how in running businesses, have started to appear. At last the slums have finished the facilities to function as healthy city.
“Hyaa~ … Somehow it’s an amazing situation ~ssu.” (Gengu)
“There ain’t no appearance or shadow of slums either.”
The dogman, Gengu, and the one-armed leopard beastman walked to a nearby place in the city, where the shop area was created earlier.
“The human’s intelligence is somethin’ terrific. Although we used the buildings without thinkin’ anythin’ ’bout it, it was unexpected for them to have been built with various ideas to that extent.”
“Did we live by ‘us beastmen are great’ because we are strong and because we don’ quite understand human matters?” The leopard beastman spit out self-depreciating words.
“Moreover, until we were bought by Hifumi-san, we didn’t even consider to do such a cooperative work with comrades from other tribes and much less with humans ~ssu.” (Gengu)
“That’s right… However, there’s a single matter I’m worried about.”
The leopard beastman, having a serious look, stroke his chin with his remaining arm.
“Even among humans, aren’t there those coming to catch beastmen like us such as soldiers and knights? Leaving aside the normal humans, it won’t even be funny, if 5~6 soldiers come here, but…”
The leopard beastman’s worry was something occurring in reality.
At the time the carpenters returned from the slums when the day came to an end, several soldiers came entering the slums.
A single youth stands in front of them, who have been surprised by the appearance of the slums lining up clean buildings.
With his usual black hakama on the dougi and the katana hanging on his hips, it’s Hifumi.
“You are… not a beastman. What are you doing here?”
Once a single soldier asked for his identity, Hifumi smoothly drew the slender sword.
The sword has a curve with a single edge. The beautiful, as if charming people, hamon is reflecting the pale moonlight.
“If I were to say it one way or the other… I was waiting for intruders like you guys. This might be the most truthful answer. It’s something I have put you through every and every night.”
(Hifumi)
“The people, who went to investigate and haven’t come back, are… everyone, prepare your swords!”
While feeling a bizarre atmosphere due to the young man laughing with a “Kukuku”, the soldiers drew their swords.
“You drew them. Then it’s fine.” (Hifumi)
It seems Hifumi will be able to enjoy this evening as well. He was thankful to the beastmen city, which became an excellent bait, though it cost money.
Chapter 93: Twist and Shout
The soldiers of Swordland are holding their swords with both hands as well.
Having a length of around 1 m with their blades extending straight-lined, they give a boorish impression coupled with thickness.
The soldiers, who are facing Hifumi, grasped those swords tightly. They broke into a run while motivating themselves with “There’s just one enemy.”
“You mad friend of the animals! Die!”
A single sword, swept sideways, approaches Hifumi rapidly.
But, taking one step forward, Hifumi prepared the katana vertically and hit his enemy’s elbow with it. Assisted by the weight and force of the soldier’s sword, the elbow broke with a dry sound.
“Gyaaa…”
At the point the soldier gave a short scream, Hifumi’s katana slips into the soldier’s neck.
The soldiers faltered from the smiling man, who deliberately bathed in the spurt of blood.
“Aren’t your swings fairly fast? However, it’s not merely about swinging it.” (Hifumi)
“You use the hamon like this”, Hifumi stepped into and hit the group, which was is in a sorry state, with thrusts. He stabbed both eyes of the soldier, standing at the forefront, up to the brain.
Sending the soldier, who collapses without even a single sound, flying with a kick, he cut up the bellies of the soldiers, flinching from the thrown body, horizontally in a straight line.
There are two left.
Hifumi slowly approaches the soldiers, who have already lost the will to fight, holding the katana, which is dripping with blood.
“W-Why are you acting as ally of the beastmen?”
“I’m not particularly their ally.” (Hifumi)
In reality he had crushed several villages killing more than 100 beastmen in the wastelands.
“If you become my enemy, it will be the same treatment for beastmen as for humans. If you cut them, meat can be seen and blood gushes out. Look.” (Hifumi)
With a sharp thrust he sliced the carotid artery of the asking soldier with a snapping sound* and a red fountain gushed forth. (T/N: パックリ or pakuri)
“All living beings trying to survive in this world have the same flesh and blood. I’m supporting the principle of equality, thus I won’t discriminate.” (Hifumi)
The soldier, who collapsed losing blood, died before Hifumi finishes his speech.
The remaining soldier has already let go of his sword and is retreating slowly.
“Don’t run away. Let’s enjoy it until the end.” (Hifumi)
“U-Uwaah…”
The second the soldier turned his back unable to endure it, the katana’s point pierced through the back of the neck and was reflected in the soldier’s view.
While struggling due to choking and confusion, he vomited blood violently.
How was the appearance of Hifumi, who looked down on him, reflected in the soldier’s field of vision, which was blacking out? In a state of having his eyes widely opened in terror, the last one passed away.
“He died, huh? The level of the underlings is around this much, eh? I wonder, will I be able to enjoy the feast a bit longer, if it’s a group of knights? Say, do you know?” (Hifumi)
Hifumi threw a question facing the shadow of a building close to him.
A large shadow of a person shows a sign of surprise and escapes without saying anything.
“Yes? … I wondered whether it will be a match with someone quite powerful, but… well, who cares.” (Hifumi)
“The next prey probably won’t come to today’s spot”, Hifumi wiped the katana with a folded paper and returned to the building, which he is using for lodging.
☺☻☺
The one who escaped from being asked about his identity by Hifumi at the stage of the tragedy was no one else but Salgu.
He, who returned to the slums after observing the human area for a while, was surprised of the slum’s appearance, which completely changed in a short time.
“What the hell, this is… a human?” (Salgu)
In the slum city humans are walking alongside beastmen as if it was a common occurrence. Their state can’t be seen as anything else but them being close friends, with no distinction of slave and master.
Once he proceeded into the slum’s interior, reflexively hiding himself and moving stealthily, he discovered the remains of the previous slums’ appearance with old houses, which haven’t been demolished yet.
“Oh, Aren’t you Mr. Ally-of-Justice?”
The one who called out to Salgu, who is at a loss, was the one-armed dogman. It was the man, he met first, when he entered the slums.
“Is the rescue of beastmen or such making progress?”
The dogman, who is laughing loudly*, is completely different from the time when he met him the last time. He wore neatly tailored clothes. (T/N: *karakara*)
“What the heck happened to the slums? It looks like humans have entered, too.” (Salgu)
“Even if you ask what happened, I dun’ know either. What I know is that there’s work I can do as well. Even if it’s only for the obtaining of decent food.”
“Work, you say?” (Salgu)
Salgu tilted his head to the side due to the words he hasn’t heard about in the wastelands.
“Well, yea. Even one-armed I’m able to at least carry goods and hammer nails. Even this house, I was contracted to help with it. Well, I was mostly trained by humans though.”
Salgu faced his fangs at the bashful dogman.
“Is it that much fun to have been used by humans? In the end, if you have become a slave…” (Salgu)
“Your outlook is really narrow.”
The dogman shook his head and shrugged his shoulders with a “Good grief.”
“It’s different from being a slave. Working and receiving money for that work, you can buy food with it. I bought clothes, too. There’s no danger to my life either. You won’t be able to anticipate something like being able to relish variously tasting food in the wastelands, right?”
“But you don’t have to do something like following what the likes of humans tell you!” (Salgu)
“We lived by “us beastmen are fine” due to the “likes of humans.” Are you still unable to comprehend that? Even if you killed one or two humans, it will only be natural for our standing to not change, if we don’t change.”
“Though that’s second-hand telling of what the sheep jou-chan said”, the dogman laughs looking embarrassed.
Salgu isn’t able to understand that at all.
Running about freely in the wastelands and spending time in nature without being tied by anyone should be the best for beastmen. But, the man in front of him is glad being used by humans and to associate with them.
“You are… what is it with you?” (Salgu)
The dogman can’t help but smile bitterly due to the words, which rushed out of Salgu’s mouth.
“Oi, oi, are you alright?”
The dogman, who drew near in worry, tried to place his hand on the shoulder of Salgu, who is much larger than him, but Salgu, displaying his nimble ability, knocked that arm away.
Summoned Slaughterer - Book 5 Page 19
