Reijou Wa Mattari Wo Goshomou Volume 2 Chapter 12

Happy Chinese New Year in advance!! ♪───Ｏ（≧∇≦）Ｏ────♪

The busy morning frenzy was over in no time as I sent off the last customer. It's been a while since the buildings were damaged by the bandits. Repair works were still ongoing and everyday life had gone back to normal. I brewed a cup of black tea and sat at the bar counter. As I relaxed and took a sip of raspberry tea, the doorbell rang. They were earlier than usual as I got on my feet to greet them.

「Welcome, everybody.」

First to enter was a white cheetah, Ryuse-san. 
He only answered with a 「Un」 and sat at the counter with his head facing away. When we had first met, Ryuse-san had a cold att.i.tude. These days he had started affectionately calling me 「Ojou」. But recently, there were many where he had a cold att.i.tude to me.

I wonder if I was hated.
However, when I went over to clear his empty cup, Ryuse-can would gently caress my torso with his white tail. When I looked at him, he would quickly turn away. 
......I don't seem to be hated. I guess it's his "dere" is on a break and the "tsun" period is here.

「Manager~ I'm hungry~」

The blue wolf, Chise-san, called out from his seat at the table.

「Today we have Gaou steak. Laclain brought it for me.」

As I told him with a smile, Chise-san's eyes open wide.

「I want, I want!」

The black lion s.h.i.+ze-san sat down opposite Chise-san whose tail was wagging violently.

「I'd like the same. My drink will be the same as always.」

I responded with a smile to s.h.i.+ze-san's low, baritone voice.

「Noted.」

「I'd like the same as them, but a smaller portion. For drinks, I'd like a cup of latte.」

It was the green jackal, Sensan, who said that. He sat at the table next to s.h.i.+ze-san and Chise-san with a thick book in his hands. When I turned to Ryuse-san, although he looked away, he still nodded his head. So it should be the same order as the others. 

I went straight to the kitchen and started making the drinks. I'd serve that first, then prepare the steak. 
I could feel Ryuse-san's gaze from the dining area and when I looked up, I saw him staring into the kitchen. He seems really intrigued by how I cooked the steaks with magic. I, on the other hand, was more concerned with his swaying tail. As I was distracted by his tail, the steaks were somehow done and I returned back to the cafe.

「Sorry for the wait. Your Gaou steak is here.」

「Oh! It smells so good! Itadakimasu~!」

Chise-san who looked like he couldn't wait any longer, dived right into steak, seasoned with herbs.

「Aiya......Sensan, are you reading the book about demons again?」

I unintentionally raised my voice when I saw the book Sensan had placed on the table.

「Un. It doesn't hurt to be prepared.」

I immediately replied to him with a troubled smile.

「So hardworking. But, you don't have to worry.」

Then, Ryuse-san spoke up in a frustrated tone.

「What's with this? Is it because there's that magician, so we're not needed!?」

He glared daggers at the amethyst on the counter and dropped it to the ground with his tail. Ryuse-san doesn't seem to like Gray-sama very much. Sometimes, he would hide the crystal, like a mischievous cat. 
I picked up the crystal and answered.
(lilies: jealous boi awhh)

「That's not what I meant......what I'm saying is that the possibility of the demon finding me is very low. Ah, speaking of which, Laclain gave this to me, just in case......」

I recalled the exchange that took place this morning and took out Laclain's feathers. They all looked over, except for s.h.i.+ze-san.

「If the demon does appear, you can call him with this. When you put your power into the feather, Laclain will rush over in an instant.」

There was only one feather for the Beastmen squad. I looked around, not knowing who to pa.s.s it to. Technically, I thought it'd be the best to give it to s.h.i.+ze-san who was the boss......but he looked completely uninterested. Hence, I thought of handing it to Sensan, who's the vice-captain, but Chise-san took it from me before I could do so. 

「Could we call Laclain at any time? If so, then let's call him now! Let's have the steak together!」

「Hey, you shouldn't call the mythical beast randomly. This should only be used at an appropriate time.」

As he finished his line, Sensan took the feather away from Chise-san and quickly closed it in his book. 

「Eh——petty!」

Chise-san pouted. Ryuse-san, on the other hand, was angry for other reasons.

「Why do you have to call Laclain? Don't you have us? Rather than getting a magician to seal it, isn't it better for us to just destroy it?」

「That's right, we can get rid of a demon too. Don't underestimate us, Manager.」

Chise-san agreed with Ryuse-san in a m.u.f.fled voice while chewing on a piece of steak. 
......Do the two of them not know?

「Unfortunately, demons can't be disposed of like that. Have you heard of the dark grounds of ruin?」

「Dark......ah—I think I might have heard of it somewhere.」

Ryuse-san said, with his head tilted to the side, while Chise-san groaned as he gobbled up his steak. 
Then, Sensan explained to them after sighing deeply.

「A long time ago, there was a dark patch of ruined land. It's a place filled with poisonous miasma so thick, not even monsters could go near it. Even the earth had turned black. Didn't I tell you about this in the past? Have you forgotten? That land originally housed a country that it caught the eye of a demon, resulting in its gradual collapse. At some point, a  hero confronted the demon to save the country——」

「Ah, so they lost. That's why it's gone?」

Sensan snapped at Chise-san who interrupted him.

「Of course not, you idiot.」

I took over and answered in with a sad smile.

「It was precisely because they won, that it was destroyed.」

「What? Why......Didn't the hero win?」

Ryuse-san asked with a puzzled expression on his face.

「It seems that when the demon perished, evil magic was released, which plagued the land. He was stabbed to death by the hero and it is said that that was the reason for the destruction of the country.」 (Rhonya)

「That's why a demon can only be sealed.」 (Sena)

「......Hmm」 (Ryuse)

Ryuse-san finally understands the situation after our explanation. 

「Uwah, so it's bad even when it's dead. Manager, isn't it simply the worst being targetted by something like that?」

While Ryuse-san was expressing his sympathy, s.h.i.+ze-san called.

「Manager.」

As I turned to him, I noticed that he was done with his steak. 

「Would you like your after-meal coffee now?」

s.h.i.+ze-san nodded his head silently. After receiving his confirmation, I went to the kitchen to make him a cup of coffee and served it to him. 

「By the way, what is the demon that is targeting you like?」

I thought about it for a while at Sensan's question.

「Demons can appear both as a man and as a woman. Though they would usually take on the form that lets them bewitch the other party as easily as possible, that demon has appeared before me in both forms. They to be about 20 years old with long, jet black hair, grey eyes that look like they were lined with red eyeliner. In their male form, they're clad in a black robe. In their female form, they're wearing a black gown with their hair tied up into twin tails. They really like the colour black, so all their clothes are black. Also, since you are Beastman, you should notice their wicked magic.」
(lilies: I realised I've been using the p.r.o.noun 'he/him' in the previous chapters for the demon. I'll change it to 'they/them')

「A person in black with ominous magic. I got it——」

Chise-san nodded his head slightly and finished his orange juice. 
After that, I had my lunch at the bar counter and spent the time relaxing with the Beastmen squad. Soon after, s.h.i.+ze-san stood up and extended a fluffy black hand to me. 

「The food was delicious. Help me give Laclain my thanks.」

s.h.i.+ze-san said as he handed me a gold coin.

「Thank you very much......Are you going home today?」

「Ah, to sleep.」

s.h.i.+ze-san answered with a sleepy tone.
It's a bit of a pity, but it can't be helped. 

「Thank you, please come again soon.」

I walked them out and waved them goodbye. 
Then, I saw Sensan walk in another direction by himself. There's a bookstore down that path. He must be going there to look for books. How typical of a book lover like Sensan. I laughed out loud and returned to the cafe to start packing up.

......Un, it's still such a shame. Since the Beastmen squad had gone home, the store somehow feels even bigger than usual. It feels so lonely. Just as I was feeling lonely, a glowing circle appeared on the ground. And a cute voice resounded through the store, 「Aye! Aye!」 From the circle, the Lotos marched out in rows of three with their hands and legs completely in sync. 

「h.e.l.lo」

As I crouched down to greet them, they suddenly stopped and began looking around. 

「If you're looking for the members of the Beastmen squad, they've gone back.」

The Lotos were clearly disappointed. They seem to have become friendlier with the Beastmen squad after napping with them in Orphedoto's forest. Although they were only close to Sensan, the distance with the others seems to have decreased. I gave the Lotos whose shoulders were drooping some cake and they immediately went back to their cheerful selves. And as always, I had them help me with cleaning up the store.

3 The gift of a book

「Manager, the cake today is delicious as well!」

Serensan, the girl with a characteristic style, happily expressed her thoughts to be from the counter. Today, her olive-yellow coloured hair was tied into a ponytail with a ribbon. Her outfit comprised of a pink frilly blouse, a corset, and shorts paired with tall black leather boots. It was really fas.h.i.+onable. 
(lilies her hair is described as yellowish-green)

「Thank you very much. Would you like the cake to go?」

Serensan often buys cakes home. When I asked, she nodded her head enthusiastically.

「Un! My brother has been crazy about books recently. Since he's reading at home right now, I'll get some cakes as a souvenir for him. Hmm......Manager, please give me a chocolate cake and fruit tart!」

Serensan seems to have a very gentle brother who styles her hair for her. Their relations.h.i.+p seems very good. How enviable. 

「Understood.」

I prepared the cakes for takeout while preparing the other orders. After a while, Serensan stood up to get the bill and I pa.s.sed her the box of cakes.

「Thank you and I hope to see you again soon」

「Yep! Thanks for the food——」

After Serensan left the store energetically, I served the customers in a flurry and it was soon time for lunch. Once the last customer had left, I breathed out deeply. Right, when I was about to take a rest——

「Kalang Kalang」

The doorbell rang and an excited Sensan appeared. 

「Rhonya, have you read this book?」

He stuck out his right hand that was holding on to a book, to me. 
How rare. He was usually so calm and collected. Yet, his big ears were twitching and his tail was wagging audibly. 

「Welcome, Sensan. Hmm, I haven't read this book before.」

I greeted him with a smile, before confirming if I had read that t.i.tle before. It looked like a novel. 
This must be the book he found in the bookstore yesterday. Hearing my answer, his eyes started to sparkle. 

「Then, you should read it.」

It looks like it's an interesting book.

「Since it's so highly recommended by Sensan, I‘ll grab a copy from the bookstore as well.」

Sensan shooked his head at my answer and lifted his other hand. He was holding the same novel in that hand. 

「It's alright, this is my gift to you. My copy is over here.」

My eyes rounded in surprise at his unexpected words. 

「I'd like you to read it, so take it......but I'm not sure if you'd like it or not.」

Seeing his ears droop down, I decided to receive the book.

「Thank you Sensan. I'll definitely read the book.」

It's nice to find a book so good, you'd want to give it as a gift. Hopefully, I'll be able to Sensan a book as a gift someday. 

「Would you like something to drink?」

It's still before noon. Sensan may be off duty today. As for the others, they'll probably come round a little later. As I was about to go to the kitchen to get a drink, Sensan reached out and grabbed me by my arm. 

「There's no need to serve me now, please read the book instead.」

「Oh no, I can't do that. Please place an order, Sensan. I'll be having a latte. How about you?」

「......I'll have a latte as well.」

「Alright, I'll be back with your latte soon.」

Sensan looked so distracted as he sat at the counter, fidgeting. It was such an amusing sight to see. I couldn't help but let a chuckle slip while I prepared the latte. Sensan was usually the one lecturing Chise-san and the others, but he somehow looked so cute right now. 

「......」

Sensan looked to me when I came out with two cups of latte. Under his eager gaze, I sat down beside him and flipped open the book. Although I really minded his gaze at first, once my eyes were following the words as they flowed. I threw it to the back of my mind. I was drawn into the story in an instant. And in the blink of an eye, I had finished the first chapter of the book.

I turned to look at Sensan and said.

「......That was very interesting.」

「Right?」

「Yes.」

「Do you like it?」

「I do.」

Sensan's tail was wagging non-stop. He seemed really happy. 
Though I felt that I should've articulated my impressions of the book a little better, I couldn't seem to find the words for it. I suppressed my excitement and said.

「From the beginning, I was drawn in by the world view. The writing is very charming and I found myself unconsciously flipping through the pages, one after another......This style of writing is reminiscent of the other author, whose book I had borrowed from you. I supposed Sensan likes this style of writing.」

「Un, that's right. Just like a new writer.」
(lilies: ??)

「The setting is different as well. How nice.」

At the beginning of the story, the heroine is shrouded in mystery. But as I read on, I was shocked by her ident.i.ty. She was an infamous killer on the streets, but she was no ordinary murderer. What she kills are vampires. And the heroine is a vampire herself. This is a story about a beautiful heroine who hunts vampires that have slipped in amongst the humans. 

By the way, vampires do exist in this world. Since nocturnal beings are collectively known as monsters, vampires fall under the umbrella of monsters as well. 
This was the first time I had read a book with a monster protagonist since coming to this world. This might be a new genre.

「......However, your taste in books seems pretty vast.」

Not everyone would be into this type of book. Whether or not this is popular, it is definitely an acquired taste. Sensan nodded his head at my words.

「It's like that. Books with darker themes tend to be swept to the corner of the bookstore and left to rot. But I'm glad you like it.」

「Fufu, thank you for the present.」

Although I had only read one chapter, this thrilling book seemed to be worth the read. 
A gentle smile formed on his face. 

「Read two more chapters, it only gets better from there.」

As he pressed me to read on, I flipped open the book once more. 
Then, Sensan placed his tail on my knees. It was a lovely tail that made my heart flutter. And I read on while gently stroking his tail.

Sensan's well-maintained tail felt really good to the touch. It was extremely glossy, smooth and fluffy. As I spent my time relaxing, enjoying the tail and a good book, the doorbell rang. 
When I looked over, it was the Beastmen squad. 

「Welcome.」

I got up from my seat to greet Ryuse-san and the others. 
Sensan seemed a little disappointed. However, as much as I wanted to know what happens next in the story, I had to do my job. 

Ryuse-san frowned unhappily and sat at the counter with a chair between him and Sensan. I wonder what put him in such a bad mood today. I tilted my head and briefly cleaned the countertop. 

Sensan continued to sit at the bar counter while Chise-san and s.h.i.+ze-san sat at their usual table. Then, I took their orders and served their meals. Today, I had an avocado sandwich for lunch with them.

After we were done with lunch, everyone got comfortable and I went back to reading the book. Then, Sensan who was seated to my left put his tail on my knees again, so I reach out to it again too. 

But before I could sink my fingers into the soft, fluffy tail, a snow-white tail entangled itself around my hand. The owner of that tail was Ryuse-san, who was seated on my right. Every time I tried to touch the green fluff, I would be blocked by a white fluff. Sensan looked at Ryuse-san's tail with a surprised look on his face. 
(lilies: WHAT IS THIS SITUATION AAAAH SO CUTE)

「Don't disturb her reading, Ryuse.」

Sensan said that as he shook his fluffy tail. After that, he stuck his face close to my shoulders with his large ears in my face. Ryuse-san got a shock, seeing Sensan like that.

「I'm not disrupting her!」

Ryuse-san then tried to grab Sensan's tail, but Sensan moved it out of the way before he could catch it. And thus, their battle began. 
Meanwhile, my heart was racing from Sensan's sudden movement. Calm down my heart, calm down......I muttered internally.
(lilies: But my heart cannot calm down?????)

「Manager......」

Just then, s.h.i.+ze-san called out to me. Ah, yes yes, you want your coffee. I quickly got up and went to the kitchen to prepare the coffee. But when I served it to him, he just stared at me without even blinking. Did you have another order?

When I asked, 「Would you like a chocolate fondant?」, he quietly nodded his head.

Chise-san looked at me with fire in his eyes, like he wanted to say something. So I asked him the same question. To which he nodded his head violently in response. So adorable.
When I brought the cake to s.h.i.+ze-san and Chise-san, s.h.i.+ze-san grabbed my hand and gently guided me to the seat beside him. 

「How's the c.o.c.ktail making coming along?」

s.h.i.+ze-san asked. He once invited me to go drinking with him but I refused. At that time, I said I would try making a chocolate c.o.c.ktail for us to enjoy at the cafe instead.

By the way, have y'all taken those "What dere are you" quizzes? 
Well if you haven't, then you should!! Hehe 
I think I'm a deredere with kuudere tendencies though you might prolly think I'm a yandere based on the note at the bottom of Chapter 2-11 lollol

Also, I went back to edit Chapter 2-2 a little (since we're kinda nearing the end. I think I can finish this volume in feb) and like... Was I like drunk when translating that chapter??? Am I drunk when translating all these chapters??? There were missing words or like extra words and a lot of other problems lollol Sorries ahahah A lot of times, I change the sentence in my mind but for some reason, my typing can't keep up with the change and this happens. 

So if you notice any missing/extra words or like just utterly horrid grammar, and you feel that it really affects your reading pleasure. Please don't hesitate to point it out. Like quote the part or something. Because not only is my brain to hand and eye coordination non-existent, I'm pretty crossed eyed as well (◐‿◑)

Thank yous ^ω^
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and it's time for good food and red packets woohooooo!!

peace lilies~