Chapter 13

Volume 1 — Different World Life, Start

13. Hinami and Ikuru — 1

Morning came and I woke from knocking sounds.

I liked how the sound gently echoed through the room, so I shut my eyes again and was about to throw myself back into dreamland… before I heard Ikuru’s voice.

“Hinami-sama, if we don’t have breakfast soon, we’ll be late.”

“Ah, yes.”

Right. I was too used to being alone, so I forgot that I started living with Ikuru from yesterday…! I’m not alone anymore. That makes me feel nervous for some reason.

Also, yesterday, when I was thinking of taking a bath… there wasn’t any! Indeed, I could get why Thia-chan was surprised at the bath in my house. By the way, I washed my body by getting hot water from the lady at the front, wiping my body with that.

I told Ikuru that I’ll get ready and stretched to warm up my hardened body. Then I opened the exchange diary I put by my bedside.

Yesterday, the absurd entry of: [Extinction of the ‘curse’] 1,000,000,000, was added. I wonder what it is, I wonder if I have to get rid of the ‘curse’. Of course, I want to do it if I can, but to be honest a little girl like me doesn’t have much need for contracts so I’m not sure. So… I asked G.o.d through the exchange diary. “Is it possible for me to annihilate the ‘curse’?”

– – – – – – –

Hina, there’s punishment later, okay?

– – – – – – –

Eh…!?

I wonder why… did I make him angry…?

It’s scary. I’m not scared of punishment, but I’m scared that I made him angry. But I don’t know the reason. …Is it because I formed a curse-slave contract…? It is different from the slaves I know, but I shouldn’t have after all…!!

What… What should I do…?

“G.o.d… I, I……”

I don’t want to be hated by G.o.d…!

I clutched the exchange tightly and rolled up on the bed. Shaking from fear, I had tears forming at the edges of my eyes.

“Right…! First, a response…!”

I have to say something… to G.o.d…! I don’t know what I want to write, but I have to tell him something!

The moment I opened the diary and picked up a pen… large teardrops fell from my eyes.

– – – – – – –

Hina, there’s punishment later, okay?

I’m joking! Did I surprise you? Sorry.

I am a man too, so I do get jealous.

Well, it’s a curse-slave so it can’t be helped… you can’t be seduced by men other than me, so be careful.

Right, about the curse-slaves.

In other words, it’s achieved when there are no more curse-slaves nor people with the curse. Even if it might be too hard right now, I’m sure Hina can do it. I won’t ask specifically how you got rid of all the ‘curse’, so Hina, do your best.

To be honest, I want to give you more tips… but I can’t spoil you too much, you see?

– – – – – – –

“Ah… Uu… I was scared… G.o.d…!”

I wasn’t getting hated… Ahh, what a relief…!

Tears of relief came out…! I rubbed my eyes and wiped off the tears. Maybe from the relief, strength left my body and I fell limp on the bed.

“Haua—…”

I breathed deeply and calmed myself. Then I realised that I made Ikuru wait. Oh no… I have to prepare quickly. I quickly took out my clothes from the rucksack and put my hands through the blouse. I like the soft knee-length skirt. …I know that we’re going to the forest, but I can’t help that I only have cute clothes. When I changed my clothes and opened the door, there was Ikuru.

“Wah! Why are you here!? Ah, never mind, morning, Ikuru.”

“Then, let’s go have breakfast! I’m hungry.”

“Yes.”

For some reason, Ikuru’s gaze stung a bit. Could it be that, my eyes are red now…? If so, that ’s a little embarra.s.sing. The two of us went downstairs together, heading for the dining hall. Then, on the way, I realised something.

We arrived at the dining hall at the corner of the 1st floor and Ikuru and I started having breakfast. While eating, I took glances at Ikuru.

His light yellow-green hair was silky, that I almost want to pat it. It’s very enviable as a woman. …But how did he take care of his hair before then? Since curse-slaves are commodities, maybe he was taken care of…? Mn, this is complicated. Or, could Ikuru be have that sort of hair? Not needing shampoo… or something? Then I can’t even be envious of that. Also, his eyes are… dark green. Right, I was captivated by these eyes at first. I wonder if this is what you call a sight for sore eyes.

“…What’s wrong?”

“No worries.”

“I was thinking that I should buy clothes for you, Ikuru.”

For a moment, Ikuru made a blank expression.

Could it be, could it be…?

“Hey Ikuru. I’ve been living alone in the forest, so I don’t really know how curse-slaves are treated… but how are they treated normally?”

“Does everyone do that?”

“Ah, I see!”

Hearing that not all owners give harsh treatment, I felt a little relieved. But I must be a rare kind.

“Mostly, it depends on the usage of the curse-slave. Curse-slaves bought for labour are given the minimal. However, curse-slaves that accompany their masters wear good clothes at least… or so I hear. Then… s.e.x curse-slaves’ clothes vary greatly depending on the owners’ taste. I hear that there are a lot of clothes for decorating.”

“I see—”

But having only good clothes… I don’t like that.

I popped in the last piece of bread and drank down the gla.s.s of milk.

“Extinction of the ‘curse’… I want to do it.”

“Eh?”

My thoughts escaped my mouth. Panicking at Ikuru’s question, I shook my head.

It’d be nice to do it in the end, but it’s impossible for me right now. However, possibly… I’ll become strong and get rid of the ‘curse’! Or so, I felt enthusiastic.

“Wa—! Look at that! It’s cute!!!”

“Moo…?”

Ikuru and I were at the market.

I bought clothes for Ikuru, but since we’ll get dirty in the forest anyway he’s still in the rags he was wearing. By the way, we bought a bag too and I’m planning on placing the things we’ll buy at the market in the bag. Heavy things are too much for me, but I feel that Ikuru can lift anything…!

“A moo is an animal that produces milk. It’s about 1 metre big and grows to be about 2 metres.”

“Heh—…”

A cow? Hey, is it a cow? ‘Moo’ is the cry of a cow, right? Rather, it looks like a cow too.

Anyway, getting milk at home would be nice. I want to raise one. But raising a cow will be hard… no, this cow… this moo is for sale!

I definitely thought it was for selling milk, but there was a price tag on the moo. I was looking at a small moo of 1 metre size. The price was 5,000 Ril.

“Eh, it’s cheap…?”

I accidentally blurted that out. I don’t know if it’s cheap, but according to what Ikuru taught me about the market rates of moo, it is on the cheap side. If it’s 5,000 Ril, I want it… M—n.

“Are you thinking about the moo?”

“Fufu. You can get delicious milk from a moo or butcher it for meat. Also, it’s herbivorous and docile. Any gra.s.s is fine for food, so it’s easy to raise.”

The merchant lady spoke to me and explained.

I see, it can be used for meat, not just milk. But still… butchering, I feel too sorry for it, I can’t do it…! I want it for milk… but I think taking it back will be impossible.

“Buying?”

“The moo can walk along, and the forest we’re going to doesn’t have any strong monsters so we can take it.”

“Eh! Really!? Then I’m buying!”

Hearing Ikuru’s words, I immediately decided to buy it.

After paying the lady, I walked in a buoyant feeling with the moo. Very docile, it was calmly walking beside me as I lead it by the rein. Then behind us, Ikuru was following.

“Mn, Ikuru! Did we shop enough?”

“Well, isn’t it enough?

Hm.

The things I bought at the market… there’s the moo, but not that much else.

Ikuru’s clothes: 2000 Ril

Cutlery: 200 Ril

Magic stone: 15,000 Ril

Total: 22,900 Ril

By the way, this magic stone is an ingredient for the deep sea restorative (marine potion). When I saw it, I thought, Could it be! and the merchant taught me that the stone is an ingredient. Ikuru too confirmed that, so I bought it.

I don’t really know how to use it, but this is one step forth.

“Hinami, about getting to the forest… There’s a stagecoach heading that way, so we could ride that or we could walk.”

“Understood. Ah, come to think of it… do you have any potions? I don’t have any problems with a forest of that difficulty, but just in case you get injured Hinami-sama, you should have one on you.”

“Ah—…”

I sold everything.

I told Ikuru, “I got it,” and spoke to a nearby merchant who was selling restoratives (potions). There was a cloth on the floor with potions scattered above it. Unlike mine, the green liquid was in an oval bottle. As I thought, my potions and the bottles are special.

“Welcome! These are my handmade, super effective potions!”

“Thank you! 500 Ril each… so 1,000 Ril.”

It’s 200 Ril cheaper than the price I sold it to Clef-san…!

When I looked at the potions I received, they had a slightly murky green shade. Thia-chan’s comment about restoratives (potions) not tasting good echoed in my head. Then, thinking of the disgusting magic restorative (mana potion), I felt as though I would puke. Urk, no giving up before I even give it a try! …This one might taste nice!

On the way to the stagecoach, I glanced at the restoratives (potions) sold at the market. They all were in oval bottles. Some of them were sold in big cauldrons. It seems like the buyer uses their own bottle and scoops up some.

“Ah, Ikuru! That potion costs 300 Ril! Cheap…!”

“I see. But truthfully, I don’t really know well…”

“Those are great gaps…”

But, I see. I didn’t think that the skill of chemister makes that much different.

Come to think of it, I wonder what Ikuru’s status is…? But asking such things are not nice! The person at the guild said that too. I’ll endure it.

“Is there a problem?”

“HP are life points. The more there are, the harder it is to die. MP is magic. It is reduced when magic is used. Wait, Hinami-sama, you’re a chemister?”

“That’s right—”

Ikuru was a bit surprised, but his expression turned to normal quickly. “I did tell you that I lack common sense, right?” I laughed and strode ahead.

Then, about the HP and MP Ikuru explained. So MP was needed for using magic after all… Though I don’t have any magic skills. HP is life. Well, there shouldn’t be many occasions for it to be reduced. I think.

“Well, there are unfortunate chemisters without the knowledge… but Hinami-sama, why are you a chemister?”

“Apt.i.tude…? That’s rare.”

Mn? Rare??

“I heard that there are a lot of chemisters though.”

“Yes, there are many chemisters. Just that, not many have the apt.i.tude for it. One can be a chemister even without the apt.i.tude. Just… there are many poor chemisters without the apt.i.tude so the general opinion of chemisters isn’t very good.”

That’s a new fact.

I heard a bit from Thia-chan, but it seems like adventuring earns quite a bit of money if skilled. Otherwise, such expensive restoratives (potions) would be unusable.

“……Hey, can you teach me various things once we get home…?”

“Thank you!”

While feeling satisfied at Ikuru’s answer, I saw the gate and the stagecoach station. To get home, it takes about 2 hours on the stagecoach and then 30 minutes on foot through the forest. By the way, it cost 200 Ril per person.

Now, I’m heading home!!