Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Vol. 2 Page 17

  Hajime’s face stiffened a little, but he feigned composure and took a seat. The same girl from earlier came to take his order, blushing furiously.

  “I’m sorry about what happened earlier,” she apologized. But there was more curiosity than remorse in her eyes.

  The food they’d ordered was indeed delicious, but Hajime had a hard time enjoying his first decent meal in ages because of all the curious and jealous gazes directed his way. He sighed as he finished his food, wishing he could have eaten under less draining circumstances.

  And even though he’d gotten separate times for the guys and girls, both Yue and Shea had come to intrude on his bath time. Before another scene of carnage could begin he’d had to calm them down with his fist and force them to make up with tears still streaming down their eyes. Of course, the girl had come to peek on them too, and when her mom discovered her it turned into another big affair with the girl getting spanked...

  Then, when he’d tried to sleep, Yue had sneaked into his bed to sleep with him. Naturally, Shea had to follow suit, so Hajime had ended up with Yue clinging to his right arm and Shea crying softly as she clung to his cold, metallic left one. However, the artificial nerves in his arm still let him feel things like it were a normal one, so Hajime was acutely aware of Shea’s twin torpedoes pressing up against it. And that, of course, led Yue to then glare angrily at him, making it difficult for him to get any rest at all... The next morning, Hajime made an oath. Next time, he’d just share a room with Yue. Shea’s sulking was nothing compared to her wrath. That cold glare of hers had probably shaved a few years off his life.

  Once they’d eaten breakfast, Hajime paid for the food, then asked the two girls to get the supplies they’d need. Checkout wasn’t until noon, so he could still use their room for a while longer. There was something he wanted to finish up while Yue and Shea were out buying supplies.

  “What is it you need to finish?” Shea asked, curious. Hajime’s reply was snide.

  “There’s something I want to try making. I have the basic idea down, so it should only take a couple hours. I was actually going to make it last night, but... well, I was really tired for some reason.” He glared pointedly at them as he said that.

  “I-I see. Yue-san, I want to go look at some clothes, is that alright?”

  “Yeah, that’s fine. I want to see the stalls too.”

  “Oh, that sounds like fun! We only got to look at them yesterday, so it’ll be nice to get something to eat and spend more time shopping around.”

  They both turned away and began talking about shopping. Both of them knew it was their fault, but neither of them wanted to admit it, so they had simultaneously decided to change the topic.

  “You two really do get along pretty well.” Hajime’s comment was conveniently ignored as well.

  The two girls fled into town, hurrying to escape Hajime’s admonishing gaze. Though they had a few hours until noon, they’d still have to plan their trip out if they wanted to get everything in time. The main things on the list were food, new clothes for Shea, and medicine.

  Shea was still wearing the same tattered clothes she had been in the sea of trees. The revealing outfit that looked more like a swimsuit than anything was the rabbitmen’s traditional outfit, and all she had to put over it was the white and blue coat Hajime had given her in the gorge. But that outfit still left her stomach and legs dangerously exposed. More importantly though, such clothing wouldn’t be fit for the kind of rough conditions they were bound to encounter during their journey. That was why Shea wanted sturdier, less exposing clothing. Thanks to Hajime, they didn’t need to restock on weapons or equipment.

  Even though it was morning, the town was already bustling. Merchants were already trying to lure in customers, and housewives and adventurers alike haggled fiercely. Though breakfast had just passed, the food stalls were crowded with people, and the smell of grilled meat and sweet sauces wafted through the street.

  The item and food stores were all packed, so the two decided to get Shea’s clothes first. Their map had neatly marked which stores were good for casual clothing, which were good for formal wear, and which were good for adventurers and travelers looking for something more durable. The old woman... Catherine, really was something else. She was thorough to the extreme.

  The two girls headed straight for the store dealing in adventurer’s clothing. The fact that it also sold casual wear was what convinced them to try it first. Both the variety and quality of the clothes in the store was impressive, showing the true depths of Catherine’s knowledge. Not only that, but all of the outfits were very practical and very fashionable. It did not disappoint. However...

  “Oh my, welcome. What a pair of cuties we have today. Onee-san’s so glad you came! I’ll get you two fitted up juuust right.” The store was run by a monster. More specifically, a two-meter tall muscled hulk that could barely be called human. Its face was so chiseled that it looked like it came out of a comic strip, and though the top of its head was bald, the long hair growing from its sides was tied up in a complex weave. It rose up past its bald head like a dragon ascending to the heavens, and at the coif’s summit was a cute pink ribbon.

  Its muscles rippled with every movement, which destroyed the effect he was trying to go for by cupping its cheeks bashfully. Its clothes were... No, some things are better left unmentioned. Needless to say, its arms, legs, and stomach were all exposed for the world to see.

  Yue and Shea both stared in shock. Shea had already fainted where she stood, while Yue looked as if she was preparing to face down a monster worse than any she’d faced in the abyss.

  “Oh my? What’s wrong, my two little cuties? Such grim expressions don’t suit your lovely faces! Come on, smile!”

  You’re the reason we can’t smile right now, both Yue and Shea thought, but refrained from saying aloud. Those two were among the strongest people on Tortus, and even they didn’t think they stood a chance against this monster.

  As it continued to approach them with the same beaming smile on its face, Yue finally snapped and muttered something.

  “...Are you human?” That single question sent the monster into a fit of rage.

  “And just who are you calling a terrifying demon that even legendary monsters flee from!? A creature so horrifying it turns anyone who sees it insaaaaaane!?”

  “I-I’m sorry...” Yue took a trembling step back, tears in her eyes. Shea just slumped to the ground... an odd chill spreading through the lower half of her body. The moment Yue apologized the monster’s smile, if it could even be called that, returned. After that, it once again began treating them like customers. The instant transformation was frightful.

  “Apology accepted. So, what kind of clothes are you girls looking for todaaay?” Shea was still out of commission, so Yue steeled herself and explained what they were looking for. Shea tugged on Yue’s sleeve and shook her head, her eyes pleading with Yue to leave, but before she could reply the monster said “Just leave it to meee!” and carried Shea over to the back of the store. She looked like a lamb that knew it was about to be slaughtered.

  In the end, the two discovered the monstrous shopkeeper, Crystabel, had a wonderful fashion sense. And that she was far gentler than she looked. She’d only carried Shea to the back because of how shoddy her clothes were.

  Once they finished buying Shea’s clothes, the two thanked Crystabel and left her shop. They’d even come to see her — though they weren’t 100% sure she was actually a girl — smile as one of her charms.

  “Man, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen to me, but it turns out she’s a surprisingly nice person.”

  “Yeah... I guess you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

  “Yep!”

  They made their way over to the item shop as they chatted. Unfortunately, the two stood out a great deal. Before they’d gotten very far, they found themselves surrounded by dozens of men. Most of them were adventurers, but a few of them were sporting aprons and were clearly store
clerks.

  One of them even stepped forward. Though Yue didn’t recognize him, he was one of the guys that had been in the adventurer’s guild when they’d visited the night before.

  “You two were called Yue-chan and Shea-chan, right?”

  “Hm...? Yeah. That’s right.” Yue narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Shea was surprised anyone else was acting so friendly since she was a beastman.

  The man turned back and nodded to his companions. Then, with a determined expression, he turned back to Yue. Many others also stepped forward as well. And then...

  “Yue-chan, please go out with me!”

  “Shea-chan, please become my slave!”

  Well, this was hardly unexpected. The reason everyone’s confession toward Shea sounded so different was because she was still a beastman. Technically, a slave could only be transferred to another owner with their master’s permission, but the guys at the inn had seen yesterday that Shea and Hajime were extremely close. That was why they were certain that if they could get Shea’s approval, they’d be able to persuade Hajime somehow... Or something along those lines.

  As an aside, the conversation last night had been so shocking that it had slipped their minds that a slave normally would never have been able to go against the orders of her master. Had they been paying more attention, they would have realized Shea couldn’t possibly have been a slave. It was possible to give a slave less restrictions in their contract, but no one ever did. Upon hearing their heartfelt confessions, Yue and Shea...

  “...Shea, the item shop’s this way.”

  “Oh, okay. It’d be nice if we could get everything in one place.”

  ...ignored them completely and continued walking.

  “P-Please wait! Won’t you at least give us a reply!? Please, at least just—”

  “No.”

  “Nope.”

  “Guh... Shot down... so fast.” Some of the men crumbled to their knees after being nonchalantly discarded by the girls. Others were unwilling to give up so easily. Frankly speaking, Yue and Shea were unmatched when it came to looks. It was understandable why some of the guys might want to resort to violence.

  “Fine, then I’ll just make you mine by force!” At his spirited yell, a glimmer of hope began to glow in the eyes of those that had given up. Everyone began surrounding the two girls.

  When the encirclement was complete, the man who had yelled earlier charged at Yue. Had any Japanese person been present, they would have commented on how his lunge looked just like the Lupin Dive. Yue, however, merely gazed coldly up at him and muttered two words.

  “Crystal Coffin.” An instant later, the man was buried up to his neck in ice. This added weight sent him careening to the ground. He let out a very unmanly grunt as he crashed into the floor.

  The others all looked on in amazement. Yue had cast one of the highest level water spells, Crystal Coffin, without a chant. They began whispering furiously to each other. “She must have chanted it ahead of time,” or “I bet she’s hiding a magic circle under her clothes” could be heard among the many voices.

  Yue walked briskly up to the frozen man. Though they were awed by her power, the men all prepared to charge anyway, ready to become the next Lupin for a shot at becoming her lover. In order to save herself time, Yue decided to make an example of the first man.

  She waved her hand, and the ice covering him slowly started to melt. Thinking she was freeing him, the man smiled in relief. Assuming this meant he still had a chance, he gazed passionately at Yue.

  “Y-Yue-chan. I’m sorry for running at you so suddenly! Look, I just want you to know that I’m serious—” Still mostly covered in ice, the man suddenly stopped mid-confession. Because he’d realized Yue was only melting the ice around one part of his body. Namely...

  “U-Umm, Yue-chan? Why are you only melting... the ice down there?” Indeed, Yue was only melting the ice that surrounded his crotch. The rest of him was still firmly stuck in place. A terrible premonition ran through his mind, and he gazed fearfully at Yue. No way, she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t, right?

  Yue simply grinned.

  “Shoot him down.” Balls of wind started slamming into the man’s balls, one after another.

  “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! Please stop! Mommyyyyyyy!” The man’s screams echoed throughout the streets. Each sphere that slammed into him made a noise similar to the one heard when Mario collects a coin. No, honestly, the real sound was nothing like that, but because it was too gruesome to describe, it was just better to pretend it was something so soothing. His testicles jostled around like a punching bag being hammered by a boxer.

  All of the men in the area, even the curious onlookers and the stall owners who had nothing to do with the situation, instinctively clutched their balls.

  The continuous barrage finally came to an end around the same time the man lost consciousness. She had purposely made each individual wind sphere weak enough that he wouldn’t lose consciousness right away, but still strong enough to hurt. It was truly a godlike feat. Yue blew on the top of her finger like it was a gun barrel and hammered the final nail in the coffin.

  “...You might as well be a girl now.” That day, one man died, and a second Crystabel, or rather Mariabel, was born. In fact, he would go on to train under Crystabel, and open up a branch store in her (his?) name. It actually became quite popular... but that was a tale for another time.

  From that day on, rumors began to spread about “The Ball Crusher.” The rumors eventually reached as far as the capital, and Yue’s new alias became a symbol of fear for male adventurers worldwide, but that too was best left for another time.

  Yue and Shea ignored the fearful gazes of the other men and walked off to the item shop. A couple of women who had been watching the exchange muttered “Yue onee-sama...” as she walked past, but she ignored them too.

  They completed the rest of their shopping, and when they returned they found Hajime just about done with his work. He was about to welcome them back, but the words died on his lips when he saw how Shea looked.

  “Ehehe. What do you think, Hajime-san? Do I look more like an adventurer now?” Shea did a little twirl as she said that. Her short skirt fluttered up to a dangerous height, and her boobs jiggled wildly underneath a shirt, if one could even call it that, which emphasized her cleavage. Like before, her midriff was completely exposed.

  Honestly speaking, her new clothes were about as revealing as her old outfit. The only real difference was that her threadbare sandals had been replaced with sturdy boots. That being said, they laced up only to her ankles, so nothing much had changed even there.

  “...What did you guys even go to buy? Looks to me like this worthless rabbit’s still wearing the same revealing outfit as before...”

  “Come now, what are you saying, Hajime-san? Look closely. Even if my skirt gets flipped up, these hot pants will keep anyone from seeing my panties. See?” Somewhat bashfully, Shea lifted up her skirt to show Hajime. Indeed, there was a pair of white hot pants underneath, which looked surprisingly durable. Apparently the upper part of her outfit, which resembled a swimsuit more than anything, was also a kind of bikini armor, so it actually protected her vitals effectively. But even so, how’s this supposed to protect her stomach, or her thighs, or any other part of her body? Hajime gazed questioningly at Shea.

  “...It’s fine. Shea said all the other clothes were too tight and made it hard to move.” Yue answered for her. It seemed Shea emphasized flexibility of motion over any amount of protection clothes might offer. Thus, the bunny girl was outfitted in a new ensemble that was practically no different from her old one, with the exception that it was a bit more stylish, and offered marginally more protection. The getup was topped off with one of Yue’s handmade coats. Well, whatever. If she’s fine with it, then I guess it’s fine.

  “Anyway, as long as we got everything done, that’s all that matters. Thanks for doing the shopping. Oh yeah, it was pretty noisy outside a while ago. Did something happen?” Ha
jime ignored Shea, who was still twirling about in her new clothes, and changed the topic. Even he’d noticed the earlier commotion. Shea deflated a little when she saw Hajime ignoring her attempts to show off her charm, while Yue answered his question.

  “...Sort of. It wasn’t a big deal.”

  “Ah, I see. That’s good, then.”

  The monstrous shopkeeper and the man Yue had nearly sent to heaven were all waved off as “no big deal.” Hajime gazed suspiciously at the two of them for a few seconds before shrugging his shoulders.

  “Do we have everything we need?”

  “Yeah. We got it all.”

  “Yep. We got a ton of food too, so we won’t go hungry anytime soon. That Treasure Trove of yours sure is useful!”

  Hajime had let them borrow his Treasure Trove while they were out shopping. Shea stared enviously at the ring, to which Hajime only smiled awkwardly. At his current level of skill, he wasn’t able to create something like the Treasure Trove. But because of how convenient it was, he wanted to be able to make some for Yue and Shea too.

  “Now then, Shea. This is for you.” Hajime held out a cylindrical, mechanical object that was about fifty centimeters long and forty centimeters in diameter. The whole thing was a glossy silver, and there was a little grip-like thing attached to the side.

  Shea reflexively took it in her hands, and the unexpected weight of it caused her to stumble backward. Hurriedly, she used her body strengthening to steady herself and lift it up.

  “Wh-What is this thing? It’s super heavy...”

  “It’s the new warhammer I made for you. Heavier’s better, right?”

  “Huh? This is... a hammer?” Shea’s question was to be expected. The cylindrical handle part did kind of resemble a hammer, but the grip was too short to swing properly. It was far too unbalanced.