“Another one of those.”
“That’s the explanation. Did you understand?”
“…”
After receiving Makol’s explanation, I shifted my gaze toward Marianne, who was standing behind her with a strained smile.
‘Do you really think this explanation is enough? Why would you even try to have her explain this nonsense?’ I sent a gaze that seemed to say that, and in response, I received a strained chuckle. Or not.
“Ahh, it hurts…”
“There’s no way anyone can understand with that explanation, seriously. Rolando-san, I apologize. From here, I’ll explain.”
“…Please do.”
“Why? Well, I don’t understand…”
That’s right, I don’t understand, too. It was we who were forced to listen to your incomprehensible explanations…
After Marianne’s explanation, I finally got to know the overview of the Demon Hunting Guild. In simple terms, the guild’s principles weren’t that complex. There were mainly three things to follow.
These three things were: First, you must not commit crimes. Second, you must participate in emergencies like stampedes when required. Third, the guild remains neutral in inter-country wars; if you participate in a war, you’ll be expelled from the Demon Hunting Guild. That was it.
In addition, there were rank classes within the Demon Hunting Guild. The lowest was ☆1 class, equivalent to the C-rank among adventurers. As the stars increased, it went up to B-rank, A-rank, and the highest rank, ☆6, which seemed to correspond to SSS-rank.
While it might seem like having at least the abilities of a C-rank was a high bar for entry, it was actually different due to some specific circumstances.
In general, demons, compared to other races, tend to be stronger on their own. Even among the villagers who fought against the ogre horde, there were many individuals with abilities equivalent to C-rank or higher. So, why weren’t they part of the Demon Hunting Guild? The answer was simple: being a demon hunter was a profession that involved risking one’s life.
Unlike the human world, the average strength of monsters in the demon realm where demons reside was high. As a result, if one chose to make a living by hunting monsters, they must be ready to risk their lives every time.
Since doing something like that every time wasn’t sustainable, there weren’t many demons who were bold enough to become demon hunters unless there was a very good reason.
Perhaps due to such circumstances, demon hunters seem to have developed a sense of arrogance, thinking they were “chosen” or something along those lines.
“That concludes the explanation. Do you have any questions?”
“It’s not a question, but what you explained initially and what she just explained are completely different.”
“I apologize. Even though I’ve been teaching her as her mentor…”
No matter where you go, there were people who just couldn’t get things right… Well, not me, since I couldn’t be considered a person anymore in my case, though.
For now, after hearing the overview of the Demon Hunting Guild, I wanted to inquire about the “other thing” that had been on my mind. So, I asked Marianne if she had any recommended inns.
“In that case, I recommend the ‘Resting Tree of the Demon Realm’ inn. The food is delicious, and the prices are reasonable.”
“I see. Then, I’ll stay there. Well, I’ll see you again.”
“Yes, we’ll be waiting. …Makol, come over here. I need to talk to you.”
“W-What is it? I explained everything properly, didn’t I?”
“…”
Despite feeling inwardly exasperated at thinking she had explained things properly, I detached myself from any further concern and left the guild.
By the way, the content of Makol’s explanation was basically: First, “Don’t be a bad child.” Second, “If you get excited, express your excitement.” Third, “If you get into fights with the other kids, you’re out.”
…Really? How am I supposed to understand this? I sent a reproachful gaze toward Marianne, but she just returned it with a wry smile. Ah, speaking of sending glances, since I’ve been using it as ‘present,’ using ‘send’ for ‘send’ is appropriate, right? TLN: Yep, it’s confusing I know. I don’t know if there’s a better translation for this (I’m sure there are some), but! I will explain this part if you’re interested below. But also! If not, just think of this as just Japanese grammar/something similar. It’s not a big deal anyways.
With all that going on, I moved from the guild to the inn as a gesture of gratitude. Surprisingly, the inn was quite close to the guild, and I arrived there in about five minutes on foot.
“Welcome. Are you here for a meal? Or for lodging?”
(Hmm, this is as expected…)
The one who greeted me was a beautiful woman. Considering her age, she should have been in her mid-thirties, a time when feminine charm would normally start to wane. However, the woman before me was different. With her lustrous, flowing hair and an allure that seemed to have increased rather than diminished, she defied the expectations of her age.
Her long purple hair cascaded elegantly, and her orange eyes sparkled warmly. A single smile could pierce one’s heart. Her figure was perfectly balanced as a woman, and to put it bluntly, her physique could be summed up in one phrase: “gorgeous body.”
With a well-defined waist and voluptuous curves, not to mention her motherly twin peaks that seemed to envelop everything, there was no denying that she was flawless from every angle. And how many single men must have been plunged into the depths of despair by the fact that this incredibly stunning woman was already married? Just imagining it stirred a sense of sympathy even in those who were not directly involved.
“Um?”
“Oh, sorry. How much for one night?”
“With meals included, it’s five Demon silver coins. Without meals, it would be four Demon silver coins.”
“I’ll take three days with meals. By the way, I’m Rolando. And what’s your name?”
“In that case, it will be one medium Demon silver coin and five small Demon silver coins. As for me, I’m Massana.”
“I see. I’ll be in your care for a while.”
After this brief exchange with Massana, I received the room key and, given the lunch hour, decided to have a meal right away. The dining hall was quite crowded, with only one or two empty seats among dozens of tables. The few empty seats were quickly taken, and the hall soon became completely full.
After a short wait, a cheerful voice suddenly exclaimed, “Welcome, welcome!” as a cup of water was placed on the table. I turned my gaze toward the source of the voice and saw a lively-looking girl standing there.
“Please go ahead and place your order.”
“Since it’s my first time here, I’ll leave it to your recommendation. I’m Rolando, a demon hunter.”
“I’m Massa. I’m the poster girl for this inn! I may not be as pretty as my mom, but I’m full of energy!!”
With that introduction, Massa left the table to convey my order to the kitchen. Ah, I see. This time, “Massana” and “Massa.” Perhaps their name began with “Ma” because they were demons? That’s what it might be about.
By the way, even though Massa claimed not to be pretty, she had slightly droopy eyes just like her mother, and although she had less flesh on her frame than her mother, her chest was still of average size, and her smiling face was radiant and adorable. She seemed like a lively and cheerful young beauty who could brighten up anyone’s day just by being around.
After a while, the recommended dish that I had ordered arrived. It consisted of a plate with a chunk of what appeared to be some sort of meat steak, accompanied by a soup filled with plenty of vegetables and a side of black bread.
I didn’t know what kind of meat it was, but the aroma and juices emanating from the steak were so inviting that they immediately whet my appetite. Despite my initial surprise at how similar it looked to what humans eat, I decided to try Martha’s recommendation.
“Let’s dig in. Nom, nom… Oh?!”
First, I savored the steak, which could easily be called the main dish. The appearance matched its punchy flavor, and as soon as it touched my tongue, the savory taste exploded in my mouth.
Despite its thickness, it was surprisingly tender, and the flavor spread throughout my mouth with every chew. I quickly chewed it and swallowed, and as it went down my throat and into my stomach, words naturally slipped out of my mouth.
“It’s delicious…”
Although my remark was just a mutter, it seemed loud enough for those nearby tables to hear, and a man who was having a meal at a neighboring table chuckled and struck up a conversation.
“Hey, kid, was it really that good?”
“Yeah, it’s delicious. Is this some specialty dish from this Demon Lord’s capital?”
“Nah, the owner of this inn really loves cooking. Everything on their menu is superb. Especially that ‘Horn Buffalo Meat Steak,’ it’s the specialty of this place.”
“I see, so this meat is from a Horn Buffalo.”
As I said this, the man decided he also wanted to try the dish and called over Massa to order the same thing I had. Despite having already ordered other dishes, it was amazing how he could still fit so much food in.
While exchanging such words, I continued savoring the meal. Suddenly, a scream from the inn’s entrance caught my attention.
“Sto-stop, please!”
“Aw, come on, don’t be so uptight. Let’s have some fun together!”
“Well, I have a beloved husband and daughter. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline!”
As I turned my gaze toward the commotion, I saw Massana being forcibly pulled by a man. Despite her clear refusal, the man seemed more intrigued than deterred, which had the opposite effect.
“With a look like that, you have a husband and daughter… I like you even more now! Come with me!!”
“Noo.”
As the man’s persistence grew even more bothersome, I decided I needed to leave. Just as I was about to stand up, someone appeared and twisted the man’s arm.
“Ouch, what the hell are you doing?!”
“That’s my line. What husband who’s just standing by while his wife is harassed? Huh? Say it, you bastard!!”
“H-Honey.”
The one twisting the man’s arm was Massana’s husband, a burly man with a sturdy build. His rugged features and sharp gaze could easily intimidate anyone, and in fact, even the man who had been pestering Massana appeared frightened by him.
“Let go! I told you to let go!! Ugh…”
“Get lost, you idiot. Show your face around here again, and you’ll regret it.”
In his attempt to escape from Massana’s husband and retaliate with a punch from his free arm, the man ended up taking a powerful right straight to his own face instead. The force behind the fist that was delivered from his muscular frame was incredible. While the man sustained significant damage and was immediately thrown into the air, he landed on the ground with a solid thud, describing a graceful arc. Despite taking quite a hit, he managed to get back on his feet quickly, though his enthusiasm seemed dampened. With a click of his tongue, he left the scene.
Around Massana and her husband, a pink atmosphere seemed to linger. Their relationship seemed quite harmonious. Other customers who had been observing the situation commented on it.
“Hah, there’s no way he could win against Gaspar’s husband.”
“Yeah, isn’t his younger brother the head of the security squad?”
“That’s right. But I’ve heard rumors that the husband is even stronger than the younger brother.”
“Having a regular citizen stronger than the head of the security squad, isn’t that something?”
I shared their sentiment, but once the situation was under control, I resumed my meal. Finishing every last bite, I then headed to my room.
“Another one of those.”
“That’s the explanation. Did you understand?”
“…”
After receiving Makol’s explanation, I shifted my gaze toward Marianne, who was standing behind her with a strained smile.
‘Do you really think this explanation is enough? Why would you even try to have her explain this nonsense?’ I sent a gaze that seemed to say that, and in response, I received a strained chuckle. Or not.
“Ahh, it hurts…”
“There’s no way anyone can understand with that explanation, seriously. Rolando-san, I apologize. From here, I’ll explain.”
“…Please do.”
“Why? Well, I don’t understand…”
That’s right, I don’t understand, too. It was we who were forced to listen to your incomprehensible explanations…
After Marianne’s explanation, I finally got to know the overview of the Demon Hunting Guild. In simple terms, the guild’s principles weren’t that complex. There were mainly three things to follow.
These three things were: First, you must not commit crimes. Second, you must participate in emergencies like stampedes when required. Third, the guild remains neutral in inter-country wars; if you participate in a war, you’ll be expelled from the Demon Hunting Guild. That was it.
In addition, there were rank classes within the Demon Hunting Guild. The lowest was ☆1 class, equivalent to the C-rank among adventurers. As the stars increased, it went up to B-rank, A-rank, and the highest rank, ☆6, which seemed to correspond to SSS-rank.
While it might seem like having at least the abilities of a C-rank was a high bar for entry, it was actually different due to some specific circumstances.
In general, demons, compared to other races, tend to be stronger on their own. Even among the villagers who fought against the ogre horde, there were many individuals with abilities equivalent to C-rank or higher. So, why weren’t they part of the Demon Hunting Guild? The answer was simple: being a demon hunter was a profession that involved risking one’s life.
Unlike the human world, the average strength of monsters in the demon realm where demons reside was high. As a result, if one chose to make a living by hunting monsters, they must be ready to risk their lives every time.
Since doing something like that every time wasn’t sustainable, there weren’t many demons who were bold enough to become demon hunters unless there was a very good reason.
Perhaps due to such circumstances, demon hunters seem to have developed a sense of arrogance, thinking they were “chosen” or something along those lines.
“That concludes the explanation. Do you have any questions?”
“It’s not a question, but what you explained initially and what she just explained are completely different.”
“I apologize. Even though I’ve been teaching her as her mentor…”
No matter where you go, there were people who just couldn’t get things right… Well, not me, since I couldn’t be considered a person anymore in my case, though.
For now, after hearing the overview of the Demon Hunting Guild, I wanted to inquire about the “other thing” that had been on my mind. So, I asked Marianne if she had any recommended inns.
“In that case, I recommend the ‘Resting Tree of the Demon Realm’ inn. The food is delicious, and the prices are reasonable.”
“I see. Then, I’ll stay there. Well, I’ll see you again.”
“Yes, we’ll be waiting. …Makol, come over here. I need to talk to you.”
“W-What is it? I explained everything properly, didn’t I?”
“…”
Despite feeling inwardly exasperated at thinking she had explained things properly, I detached myself from any further concern and left the guild.
By the way, the content of Makol’s explanation was basically: First, “Don’t be a bad child.” Second, “If you get excited, express your excitement.” Third, “If you get into fights with the other kids, you’re out.”
…Really? How am I supposed to understand this? I sent a reproachful gaze toward Marianne, but she just returned it with a wry smile. Ah, speaking of sending glances, since I’ve been using it as ‘present,’ using ‘send’ for ‘send’ is appropriate, right? TLN: Yep, it’s confusing I know. I don’t know if there’s a better translation for this (I’m sure there are some), but! I will explain this part if you’re interested below. But also! If not, just think of this as just Japanese grammar/something similar. It’s not a big deal anyways.
With all that going on, I moved from the guild to the inn as a gesture of gratitude. Surprisingly, the inn was quite close to the guild, and I arrived there in about five minutes on foot.
“Welcome. Are you here for a meal? Or for lodging?”
(Hmm, this is as expected…)
The one who greeted me was a beautiful woman. Considering her age, she should have been in her mid-thirties, a time when feminine charm would normally start to wane. However, the woman before me was different. With her lustrous, flowing hair and an allure that seemed to have increased rather than diminished, she defied the expectations of her age.
Her long purple hair cascaded elegantly, and her orange eyes sparkled warmly. A single smile could pierce one’s heart. Her figure was perfectly balanced as a woman, and to put it bluntly, her physique could be summed up in one phrase: “gorgeous body.”
With a well-defined waist and voluptuous curves, not to mention her motherly twin peaks that seemed to envelop everything, there was no denying that she was flawless from every angle. And how many single men must have been plunged into the depths of despair by the fact that this incredibly stunning woman was already married? Just imagining it stirred a sense of sympathy even in those who were not directly involved.
“Um?”
“Oh, sorry. How much for one night?”
“With meals included, it’s five Demon silver coins. Without meals, it would be four Demon silver coins.”
“I’ll take three days with meals. By the way, I’m Rolando. And what’s your name?”
“In that case, it will be one medium Demon silver coin and five small Demon silver coins. As for me, I’m Massana.”
“I see. I’ll be in your care for a while.”
After this brief exchange with Massana, I received the room key and, given the lunch hour, decided to have a meal right away. The dining hall was quite crowded, with only one or two empty seats among dozens of tables. The few empty seats were quickly taken, and the hall soon became completely full.
After a short wait, a cheerful voice suddenly exclaimed, “Welcome, welcome!” as a cup of water was placed on the table. I turned my gaze toward the source of the voice and saw a lively-looking girl standing there.
“Please go ahead and place your order.”
“Since it’s my first time here, I’ll leave it to your recommendation. I’m Rolando, a demon hunter.”
“I’m Massa. I’m the poster girl for this inn! I may not be as pretty as my mom, but I’m full of energy!!”
With that introduction, Massa left the table to convey my order to the kitchen. Ah, I see. This time, “Massana” and “Massa.” Perhaps their name began with “Ma” because they were demons? That’s what it might be about.
By the way, even though Massa claimed not to be pretty, she had slightly droopy eyes just like her mother, and although she had less flesh on her frame than her mother, her chest was still of average size, and her smiling face was radiant and adorable. She seemed like a lively and cheerful young beauty who could brighten up anyone’s day just by being around.
After a while, the recommended dish that I had ordered arrived. It consisted of a plate with a chunk of what appeared to be some sort of meat steak, accompanied by a soup filled with plenty of vegetables and a side of black bread.
I didn’t know what kind of meat it was, but the aroma and juices emanating from the steak were so inviting that they immediately whet my appetite. Despite my initial surprise at how similar it looked to what humans eat, I decided to try Martha’s recommendation.
“Let’s dig in. Nom, nom… Oh?!”
First, I savored the steak, which could easily be called the main dish. The appearance matched its punchy flavor, and as soon as it touched my tongue, the savory taste exploded in my mouth.
Despite its thickness, it was surprisingly tender, and the flavor spread throughout my mouth with every chew. I quickly chewed it and swallowed, and as it went down my throat and into my stomach, words naturally slipped out of my mouth.
“It’s delicious…”
Although my remark was just a mutter, it seemed loud enough for those nearby tables to hear, and a man who was having a meal at a neighboring table chuckled and struck up a conversation.
“Hey, kid, was it really that good?”
“Yeah, it’s delicious. Is this some specialty dish from this Demon Lord’s capital?”
“Nah, the owner of this inn really loves cooking. Everything on their menu is superb. Especially that ‘Horn Buffalo Meat Steak,’ it’s the specialty of this place.”
“I see, so this meat is from a Horn Buffalo.”
As I said this, the man decided he also wanted to try the dish and called over Massa to order the same thing I had. Despite having already ordered other dishes, it was amazing how he could still fit so much food in.
While exchanging such words, I continued savoring the meal. Suddenly, a scream from the inn’s entrance caught my attention.
“Sto-stop, please!”
“Aw, come on, don’t be so uptight. Let’s have some fun together!”
“Well, I have a beloved husband and daughter. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline!”
As I turned my gaze toward the commotion, I saw Massana being forcibly pulled by a man. Despite her clear refusal, the man seemed more intrigued than deterred, which had the opposite effect.
“With a look like that, you have a husband and daughter… I like you even more now! Come with me!!”
“Noo.”
As the man’s persistence grew even more bothersome, I decided I needed to leave. Just as I was about to stand up, someone appeared and twisted the man’s arm.
“Ouch, what the hell are you doing?!”
“That’s my line. What husband who’s just standing by while his wife is harassed? Huh? Say it, you bastard!!”
“H-Honey.”
The one twisting the man’s arm was Massana’s husband, a burly man with a sturdy build. His rugged features and sharp gaze could easily intimidate anyone, and in fact, even the man who had been pestering Massana appeared frightened by him.
“Let go! I told you to let go!! Ugh…”
“Get lost, you idiot. Show your face around here again, and you’ll regret it.”
In his attempt to escape from Massana’s husband and retaliate with a punch from his free arm, the man ended up taking a powerful right straight to his own face instead. The force behind the fist that was delivered from his muscular frame was incredible. While the man sustained significant damage and was immediately thrown into the air, he landed on the ground with a solid thud, describing a graceful arc. Despite taking quite a hit, he managed to get back on his feet quickly, though his enthusiasm seemed dampened. With a click of his tongue, he left the scene.
Around Massana and her husband, a pink atmosphere seemed to linger. Their relationship seemed quite harmonious. Other customers who had been observing the situation commented on it.
“Hah, there’s no way he could win against Gaspar’s husband.”
“Yeah, isn’t his younger brother the head of the security squad?”
“That’s right. But I’ve heard rumors that the husband is even stronger than the younger brother.”
“Having a regular citizen stronger than the head of the security squad, isn’t that something?”
I shared their sentiment, but once the situation was under control, I resumed my meal. Finishing every last bite, I then headed to my room.
