Chapter 42: The Promised Future of Victory for Hero Ryuguin③
☆《Ring of Friendship》☆
An item owned by Gilbert.
It has the effect of making the speaker more eloquent as the listener opens their heart.
However, it has little effect on those who are suspicious or hostile, which is why its rarity is not particularly high.
Nonetheless, if used correctly, it can exhibit a very powerful effect, making this rarity an underestimation.
“Hero-kun, you have a good look on your face! Could it be that you’re a sister enthusiast?”
Gilbert asked Ryuguin with an expression of surprise.
“Ah, yeah.”
“Nice! You can actually talk!”
Gilbert, arms crossed, nodded in agreement. Seeing his reaction, it was as if Ryuguin’s previously low spirits had been lifted, and he was starting to feel good again.
“Well, it’s true that the sisters from the church are wonderful. The girls I’ve seen have all been quite impressive.”
Despite the solemn atmosphere, the conversation veered into risqué territory.
“Wow, for someone like you, who has experience with women, to praise our sisters, it must be genuine. By the way, have you perhaps spent a night with a sister?”
If I were told that, I would think it was sarcasm, but Ryuguin took Gilbert’s compliments at face value, showing just how thick-skinned he was.
“Of course! Believe it or not, every time I arrive in a new town, I make it a point to spend the night with at least one sister.”
“Really? Is that so?”
Ryuguin casually declared something that would make anyone think, ‘What is he saying?’ in front of Gilbert, who held a significant position in the church.
“The sisters of Klaatel are all pure and innocent, with hearts as clear as day, and they don’t intrude unnecessarily. You could say that in a negative light, they’re naive and sheltered, but that’s what makes them so appealing.”
“And what makes them appealing?”
Ryuguin continued to speak with a smile, oblivious to the change in Gilbert’s demeanor. He seemed almost entranced.
“In my country, we have four seasons. After the comfortable autumn, the harsh cold of winter arrives. When winter comes, the cold intensifies day by day, as if the warmth of the previous season was a lie. Then, one day, perhaps due to the nighttime chill, snow may accumulate outside.”
With a dazed expression, he continued his tale.
“Every year, when I find the first fresh snow, I rush outside in my boots before anyone else. I walk through the town, completely absorbed in the moment. It’s exhilarating, my heart dances with joy. Because, you see, I can leave my footprints in the pristine, untouched snow—an indelible mark of my existence.”
Ryuguin’s face lit up as if recalling a cherished memory.
“I thought about it, and the sisters of Klaatel are like fresh snow. In my world, we call it ‘virgin snow,’ and it’s a perfect expression. I can trample upon the pure existence of the ‘sisters’ and imprint my presence upon them, marking them deeply in their hearts, never to be forgotten, over and over again.”
A tense silence fell over the group as everyone held their breath at his bizarre aura.
“You understand, right?” Ryuguin smiled at Gilbert, who nodded in response. This only further boosted Ryuguin’s spirits.
“As expected of you, Hero-kun. You have quite the perspective on handling women. By the way, you’ve been with Lemone for quite a while, right? How were the sisters there?”
After a brief pause of contemplation, Ryuguin’s face brightened as if he had just remembered something.
“Oh, the sisters from Lemone were great too. I was busy, so I could only spend time with one, but she was a cute girl. What was her name again? Something like Haro?”
“Haro.”
“Right, right! Haro! The Haro of ‘Hello, Goodbye, See You Again!’ She was short and had a baby face, but she was well-endowed. They call that a ‘loli big breast’ nowadays, or ‘transistor glamour’ in the old days. You could see her curves even through her frumpy sister’s outfit. It was like she was inviting men in. Plus, she was exceptionally innocent. It seemed everyone in town adored her, and all the church members liked her too. On top of that, she was capable, so I asked her to assist me with my work, but she turned out to be completely useless. She made an irreparable mistake at a crucial moment, and when I scolded her a little, she burst into tears. Honestly, that was quite a hassle.”
Is this guy really capable of talking this much…? I felt something strange in Ryuguin’s eyes. He was still the same despicable person as ever.
“When she was feeling down, I tried to cheer her up, but she rejected me. So, as I mentioned earlier, I forcibly brought her into my room and—”
“That’s enough!”
Gilbert interrupted Ryuguin, rubbing his temples.
“I’ve heard what I wanted to hear, so our conversation ends here.”
“What!?”
Ryuguin’s expression turned blank at Gilbert’s sudden decision to cut off the conversation.
“Why…?”
“There’s no reason to explain. I already told you at the beginning. ‘Sometimes lies are necessary.’ You agreed with that, didn’t you? ‘You seem to understand the subtleties of things,’ if I recall correctly?”
Ryuguin appeared lost for words, struggling to keep up with the unfolding situation. However, Gilbert continued without concern.
“Oh, and just so you know, my desire to borrow your power was a lie too. Who would want to borrow power from a kid like you, who is all ego and no ability? The ideas and concepts you have are things your predecessors have already taught us, who have contributed to the development of this world.”
Even dishes like chocolate and curry have been recreated. The stage uses magical effects. Carriages have springs. Refrigerators are modeled after iceboxes, and if you don’t consider structural differences, there are countless similar items. Even I, a mere high school student with little knowledge, had noticed more than what I just mentioned. If you’re going to bring in some knowledge, you need to check if it already exists.
“How can you talk so freely about empty topics? It was almost pitiful, beyond just being ridiculous.”
At that moment, Ryuguin finally snapped back to reality.
“You tricked me!!!”
He tried to hurl insults at Gilbert, but it was in vain. As Gilbert’s fingers sliced through the air, a barrier was once again placed over Ryuguin’s mouth.
“Be quiet. I’ve heard what I wanted.”
Ryuguin mumbled incoherently.
“I was contemplating your punishment.”
Gilbert began to speak slowly.
“You have indeed committed a grave sin. However, our world forcibly summoned you here. It would be a lie to say there was no sense of guilt about that. Chancellor Madison had suggested ‘killing you,’ but I was unsure of what to do.”
Gilbert’s gaze turned toward me.
“I received a message from Anon, who acted as a mediator. He had one request from the Holy Knight-kun: ‘Please don’t kill him.’ Coming from someone like him, how could I refuse?”
Then Ryuguin’s eyes were directed at me. It was as if they were asking why it was always him.
“And so, it was decided that you would live and atone for your sins. The next question was how you would atone if you were to be spared. This will be entirely up to us. Don’t worry, Hero-kun, you can rest assured. I will never kill you, no matter what.”
—It will be entirely up to us.
—You can rest assured.
—I will never kill you, no matter what.
However, Ryuguin shivered at the thought of the future that awaited him, as he imagined the implications of Gilbert’s words.
Gilbert’s words are actually quite complicated. He claims he won’t kill Ryuguin because Yamada asked him not to, but he never intended to kill him in the first place. It’s not out of mercy; rather, he wants to subject Ryuguin to a fate worse than death.