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One night after the battle with the Power of God Sharluel.
On the main street of the town of Canal, commonly known as “Full Belly Street”—
“There seems to be a monster called Tofu Boy.”
When I say it, the wizard Alraune and the martial artist Kyuu-chan, who walked next to me, looked down at me and confusedly tilted their head.
Is Sergeant also tilting his head while inside the backpack?
However, this is just a metaphorical expression because he has no neck.
“Tofu is this that tofu, right?” (Alraune)
“Is it a swear word?” (Kyuuketsu)
“Probably not, but…… I heard that there used to be such an (employee) monster at Inanaki Sacred Mountain, a drunken Momiji said at yesterday’s victory party.”
“Hmm…” (Alraune)
“What kind of (employee) monster is that?” (Kyuuketsu)
“It looks almost the same as a human child.”
“Oh, it looks like Narugoa-san.” (Sergeant)
“It seems that it distributes tofu to humans.”
“…………Hmm?” (Alraune & Kyuuketsu)
Alraune and Kyuu-chan tilt their heads again.
“…is it poisoned?” (Alraune)
“Will it explode?” (Kyuuketsu)
“It’s just tofu, high quality and nourishing.”
“Will they attack while you receive it?” (Alraune)
“No, they can’t, because they are just as powerful as a human child just like how it looks.”
“But…” (Kyuuketsu)
“It’s really just giving out tofu.”
Alraune and Kyuu-chan’s brows wrinkled as they looked at each other.
Why offer food for free? Why for humans? Why? They don’t understand the meaning. What could the benefits be?
That’s the look on their faces.
I’m sure before I would be as frowning as they were now, but…
“Now I can understand somehow, the Inanaki Sacred Mountain used to coexist with humans.”
“Coexistence?” (Alraune)
“Both monsters and humans?” (Alraune)
“… Is that possible?” (Sergeant)
Sergeant, who was holding his breath in my backpack, seemed to be unable to bear it and muttered in a voice that only I could hear.
“At least, I’m sure that the former Inanaki Sacred Mountain coexisted with humans, do you remember the story we heard from that merchant?”
“Oh, the story of the famine that happened 50 years ago.” (Sergeant)
“It was said that the people of the town were saved by a mysterious boy who distributed… oh.” (Alraune)
“That’s right.” (Kyuuketsu)
Alraune and Kyuu-chan looked at each other again.
…Basically, the Demon King did not have any hand in the operation of the dungeon, and everything is left to the middle boss.
But still, for (employee) monsters to help humans. That was quite a strange phenomenon.
However, that inevitably raises another question…
“Why are we fighting humans in the first place?” (Kyuuketsu)
Kyuu-chan was the first to ask that question.
The one who answered is Alraune.
“…Isn’t that because the humans are attacking the dungeons?” (Alraune)
“Then why are humans attacking?” (Kyuuketsu)
“Because we monsters annoy them…” (Alraune)
Having said that, Alraune’s expression becomes complicated since that reason doesn’t seem to fit well.
“Do you know Narugoa-san?” (Sergeant)
“There’s no particular reason for it, it’s no different than humans going to war over territory or food… it just is.”
“And?” (Sergeant)
“…None, nothing.”
It’s a good idea to keep your mouth shut.
I’m sure that’s the official reason, of course.
But lately, I’ve been thinking about this very thing.
If the Demon King is defeated, a new Demon King will be elected, and if the Hero dies, a new Hero will rise.
The same goes for dungeons.
No matter how many are captured, a new dungeon will soon appear.
The reason for this endless cat-and-mouse game is really… Just this?
But such speculation was interrupted by the strangely boisterous voice of a merchant.
“—Come on, come and witness! This is a new form of miracle food. Tofu!” (Merchant)
Tofu.
As it was a dish that was just talked about when I looked at it as a focus of interest. There was a crowd in front of a familiar store.
Oh yeah, it’s natural to be familiar with it.
It was the first time we had entered a public restaurant since we came to this town.
“What? They’ve become quite prosperous without me even knowing it! I was hoping to make it my own hidden gem…” (Alraune)
“If it’s popular, it’s a good thing, but what the hell is…” (Alraune)
A glimpse from the situation over there from the crowd.
Just at the store, there is a boy Cain, and next to him… an absolutely huge man who is hiding his face with a hood is screaming loudly.
That guy…
“Look, you old man there! Have you been eating delicious food lately!? If it has a strong taste, your stomach will be heavy and your teeth will be loose and you won’t be able to eat it!” (Merchant => Huge Person)
The huge person screamed at the old man who looked at him from a distance.
Laughter bursts from the crowd.
“Oh yes, it seems that the streets here are full of flavors, and I’m afraid for the elderly.” (Madam)
“That’s right! The Madam shaped like a balloon there would think so too!” (Huge Man)
“Well—” (Madam)
A middle-aged woman, who had been peering from the center of the crowd from afar out of mere onlooker’s curiosity, frowned.
“You’ve been eating all that fatty food for years; you’re going to burst! But with our food, you don’t have to worry! We call it ‘Firm Tofu’! Our tofu is not like those fake ones you see around! Our tofu isn’t like the ones you find at the stores. They’re made from 100% beans!” (Huge Person)
“Beans? Stupid! I heard that tofu is made from pork fat!” (Rubbernecker)
“Who’s spouting that bullshit? Ours is the real deal! If you eat this, you’ll have good health, longevity, and beauty! It’ll bring you everything you need!” (Huge Person)
The crowd erupted in cheers.
The crowd cheered, and right next to me, Kyu-chan was shouting, “Whoa!”
“Of course, I guarantee the taste! There is tofu hamburger steak, tofu soup, tofu gnocchi! Come on, it’s a quick win!” (Huge Person)
“That looks delicious!” (Kyuuketsu)
Kyuu-chan tried to run with her eyes shining brightly in the crowd, so I and Alraune took control.
Apparently, Alraune also noticed the man’s identity.
“Wait, don’t go there Kyuu-chan!” (Alraune)
“Ehhh!? Al-chan why!? No illness, health, longevity, and beauty!” (Kyuuketsu)
“No! If they see you, you’ll be in trouble!” (Alraune)
“What do you mean …?” (Kyuuketsu)
“Nothing, let’s resume the trip.”
As Alraune dragged her away, Kyu-chan pouted and rolled her eyes.
I took one look at the big guy and muttered as I left.
“…Well, I think they are doing good business.”
I laughed and suddenly caught sight of a boy busily moving around at the man’s feet.
He puts a dish that seems to be tofu on a bowl and looked happy.
…Hmm? Wait, tofu?
“Oh, is that… is he?”
The reasons and questions about life that can’t be understood.
Thinking about what I now knew, I followed Alraune.
Then at that time.
“—Narugoa-san!”
A voice calling for my name from behind.
Looking back… There is a girl wearing a huge hat that is covering her eyes.
“Haa… haa…!” (Girl)
She was breathing hard and seemed to be hesitating about something.
She was probably wondering what she should say to him.
And after a while, she finally opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind—
“—For the first time in many years. We had a day off… I was able to spend it properly! thank you very much!” (Girl)
She just said that and bowed deeply.
In response, we said…
“You’re welcome”
And so the girl’s request was completed, and we left the town of Canal.
Our journey is not over yet.
Going back in time, this is the night that we defeated the Angel Power of God Sharluel.
At the Inanaki Sacred Mountain, there was an uncontrollable drinking and singing party to celebrate the victory.
In some places, the Harpies, led by Diva, sang and danced, while the Bakenekos, led by Nekomata, provided musical accompaniment, enlivening the stage.
At another, Alraune and Yukime were drinking and talking, and Sakura and Momiji were enjoying the cherry blossom viewing, huddled together.
Outside of the never-ending feast and bustle.
In the middle boss’s room – at the shrine on the top of the mountain.
As the moonlight faintly illuminated the area, I asked Senri.
“Are our enemies angels?”
“…that is half correct.” (Senri)
Senri responded with a strange expression.
“……What do you mean?”
“It means exactly what it says. When the Pillar of the World was attacked ten years ago, half of them were indeed angels.”
“Attacked…? Was the Pillar of the World was attacked!? But even angels can’t do anything about the Pillar of the World…!”
“I said half, the other half… worms from within the lions.” (Senri)
Worms within the lions.
As I understood the meaning of her phrase, I became terrified.
“—There is a traitor among the Keepers!?”
“Ummm…! Your voice is loud! Only a few demons know that there was an attack in the first place…!” (Senri)
“But…”
Senri exhales deeply.
“You really don’t know anything… Yes, the enemies are angels. However, for some reason, some of the Keepers joined hands to create a coup d’etat.” (Senri)
“A coup…”
Fortunately or unfortunately, I had disappeared from this world for a hundred years due to my forced reincarnation, and had just been happening then.
Now, I understand why Senri was wary of me at the beginning and why Sharluel talked and acted that way.
“How many are the enemies?”
“Honestly, there are many things I don’t know, like how many are from the Keepers. I don’t even know if they’re alive… However, one thing is for sure. The coup was successful.” (Senri)
“Did they defeat God and the President…?”
“……Yes.” (Senri)
I wanted to laugh at Sharluel’s words, but Senri immediately affirmed it.
The situation is absolutely hopeless.
The identity and scale of the enemy, everything is unclear. Moreover, there is an absurd Allied Forces of Keepers and Angels.
A pessimistic feeling came over me that there was nothing we could do.
Perhaps anticipating my feelings, Senri said with dignity,
“—But there is hope.” (Senri)
I raised my face and stared at Senri.
Her eyes are shining brightly with a strong sense of mission.
“ There are many Keepers who managed to escape to the surface that day during the attack on the Pillar of the World, just like me, and there are dungeons… So what we need to do is–” (Senri)
Then Senri said even more strongly, with the light of her mission in her eyes.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s to take over an existing dungeon or to create an entirely new dungeon, we the Keepers must create a dungeon strong enough to defeat them, and that is the last order of business that President Overlord has left us.” (Senri)
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