Butcher Demon - Chapter 311

“I’m back, Faye-san.”

Kyo said as she got out of the car and slammed the door shut.

As she did, a woman dashed out of the crowd towards her. The woman took Kyo’s hand and, as if to confirm her safety, looked at her face multiple times and finally let out a sigh of relief.

“I see that you are safe…..! I was worried since you didn’t come back well past your appointment.”

the woman spoke in a sing-song manner.

“Oh, it’s been… really tough.”

Kyo said and glanced at me briefly.

Feeling like I was being summoned, I got out of the car.

The sudden appearance of the Butcher startled the crowd, and screams erupted. The people around Kyo quickly moved away, all at once.

I met eyes with the woman who had been gripping Kyo’s hand.

She had aqua-blue eyes.

Faye’s fine beautiful silver hair flowed down to her waist, catching the sunlight and making her shine. She kept the style simple, letting it parted down the middle, yet her strong brows and caring eyes showcased her inner strength. A golden headband completed her look.

She appeared to be about the same age as Kyo, and undoubtedly, she was the person Kyo referred to as the town head.

“Kyo?! What in the world is…!”

“Oh, it’s okay. It’s okay. This person is Gevaudan-san, the Butcher, I met him in the forest during the recent investigation. There were various things in the forest, I was in a bit of trouble… so he….helped…? Well, whatever. He’s the one who helped me. Gevaudan-san, this is the person who coordinates Hazafungi, and her name is Faye.”

“Faye. Nice meet, I, Gevaudan, helpful, Butcher.”

“Gevaudan… -sama…”

When I greeted her, Faye just blinked, her mouth open wide in astonishment

“I… I beg your pardon. I am Faye. Kyo is an indispensable friend to us. Thank you for saving her. On behalf of the residents of Hazafungi, I express my gratitude.”

“Oh, come on. You’re exaggerating.”

Kyo scratched her head, looking embarrassed. It seemed she was a relied-upon figure in this town.

“Um…so, who’s the child inside the carriage?”

“That is Yakumo-san. He’s with Gevaudan-san.”

In response to the collected gazes, Yakumo answered with a honk from inside the car.

“Anyway, please go into the town, everyone. There has been a sudden increase in the number of monsters around here recently. It would be dangerous to stay here.”

“Town, safe?”

“We have magic stones set up to repel them. To some extent.”

When Faye answered, Kyo pointed ahead.

“First, let’s go to the tavern. There’s a space to park the car.”

Guided by the two, we headed towards the center of the town.

The tavern served as a restaurant, a pub, and a branch of the adventurer insurance association.

I tow Yakky. The two are walking side by side in front of me, they seemed relaxed.

――She’s reaaally beautiful.

That girl, Faye. She was like the epitome of femininity. Since becoming a Butcher, I’ve seen various types of beautiful young ladies, but Faye surpasses them all in feminine grace. How do you describe it…..she just…..beautiful? not just cute or sexy, but somehow both. Just standing there, she’s like a masterpiece, every detail perfect from head to toe. I’m blown away. Even my son is bowing down to her. Is this what the real nobility looks like…..?

As I let my imagination wander, we had somehow arrived at the tavern.

Hazafungi seems to be a settlement made by clearing the forest, with just a few dozen households. I could see some fields, but my initial thought was of a small rural town without big buildings or visible animals. It seemed peaceful and quiet. On the downside, it feels deserted and desolate.

I parked the pickup truck I had been towing and took Yakumo out of the car. Yakki’s height is too high for him to just get in and out. It is scary to watch him climb up on the tires. Until now, I had relied on Kyo for assistance, but now that I have clipped my nails, I am invincible, I can get him down of Yakky with no problem at all. I repeat, I am invincible with my nails clipped.

The tavern was nearly empty.

“Cause, you see, I am the owner of this place, the head of Hazafungi’s adventurer guild, and the only adventurer here.”

Kyo said, puffing up her chest.

“Independent, business owner. Respect.”

“Well, um, it’s just that….Basically, there’s not much reason for adventurers to stop by in such a remote, small settlement.”

She sighed somewhat self-deprecatingly and then offered me and Yakumo chairs.

The supposed most important person in the town, Faye, was the one standing in the kitchen. Seems like they were short of staff.

“Faye-san’s cooking is superb.”

“Mushrooms, famous?”

I recalled that mushrooms are a specialty here.

‘Yeah, absolutely. If you stir-fry them with meat, the meat turns really tender. And some mushrooms, when you simmer them with fish, they make the dish smell great. We also use mushrooms for making tea and sake. Plus, I can make medicine from them.’

“Mushrooms, amazing.”

“But these mushrooms are difficult to distinguish, some are really dangerous….But if a subhuman wants to earn a living in Mifosis, dealing with some danger is just part of the job.”

While we were talking like that, Faye’s mushroom dish arrived.

The aroma was very rich. It looked delicious. It seemed delicious, but…

——Only mushrooms?

There was no trace of ingredients other than various stir-fried mushrooms on the plate. What about the part about meat and fish?

I discreetly made eye contact with Kyo, and confusion was evident on her face too.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“Ah, well. I, um, I’ll have my usual tea, please. Is it okay if Gevaudan-san has the same?”

Faye withdraws into the kitchen.

I waited until she disappeared from sight and then lowered my voice to ask.

“Mushrooms only, always?”

“No…..We don’t exactly live the high life here, but it’s not usually this rough… This could be—”

“I’m sorry I can’t offer anything better than this.”

Faye peeked out and said, her gaze lowered.

“Right after Kyo left the town, the magical beasts suddenly became active to the point where I couldn’t go set traps like I usually do. So, I had to make do with whatever was close by…”

“Don’t worry, it’s fine. I’m back now, so if I start hunting right away, maybe I’ll get one or two…”

“I have not seen any wildlife nearby since the thunderclap. Perhaps they have been hunted down by the agitated magical beasts.”

“S-seriously…?”

In Mifosis, it seems they usually don’t eat magical beasts. The whole deal with magical beasts multiplying while regular wild animals vanish is a real life-or-death situation for them.

“The residents mentioned they saw a Luna Seerhino in the usual spot…”

“Oh, well, Lunacy Rhino is a bit… I hope there are other animals still around.”

“Lunacy Rhino?”

When I interjected, Kyo explained, “It’s like a rhino. Incredibly strong and fierce, not inferior to magical beasts. But they’re so big that it’s a bit too much for me to handle, they can’t even be caught in traps.”

At that moment, Kyo was interrupted by the clinking of tableware.

Yakumo was devouring the mushroom stir-fry. It must taste good. I should give it a try too. Umm. Delicious!

While Yakumo and I were eating, Kyo continued her story to Faye, and a moment of furrowed brows and attentive listening followed.

The Iron Road. Baghwan. Treasure chests. Green little people. Horse-head giant. Got defeat. Imprisoned in a cave, moments away from violation. Rescued by me. Journey to the earth planet. Our formal meeting. Somehow managing to return to Mifosis. Yakky comfy ride, and so on.

Throughout the explanation, the instances where I had taken liberties with her were tactfully omitted. It put me at ease. Faye’s initial impression of me must remain favorable.

“That’s… I’m truly glad you’re safe…”

Faye, giving me a concerned look. In response, Kyo lightly pokes fun at her, crossing his arms behind her head.

“I keep telling you all the time. It wouldn’t be strange for someone like me to die anytime. Don’t worry too much about me.”

“Stop saying things like that again!”

“I’m an adventurer, you know. That’s just how it is. Selling our lives, living like thugs chasing after money.”

“Faye. who are you, really?”

I couldn’t contain my curiosity about Faye. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman, unlike what you’d expect in this small, run-down countryside town.

In response to my obvious curiosity, she answered without a hint of annoyance.

“In this town, I mainly assist the residents with their concerns, and I also conduct Funeral Rites for the departed.”

“Funeral Rites?”

“<Funeral Rites>(Funeral) is the power to crystallize the remnants of life left in the bodies of the deceased as magic stones. I use this power to send the people of Hazafungi.”

“In addition, Faye-san has the power of <Reading> which allows her to read the memories left in the belongings of the deceased. It’s amazing.”

Reading memories left in belongings? Indeed, it sounded quite impressive.

However, I still had one pressing question.

“Faye, here, why?”

“That’s because I am a subhuman.”

The answer was straightforward. But with that, another question arose.

“Subhuman? Skill? How can use it?”

“The <Funeral Rites> and <Reading> are both elite skills. Unlike skills that can be acquired through learning and training, elite skills can be used without requiring much magical power as they are blessings from the <Ancient God>. Just like how a dragonkin can control the wind subconsciously and can fly through the sky wearing heavy armor, I, too, can help the deceased, offer prayers, and guide them without needing to exert much magical power.”

“You, lineage?”

“Faye-san has inherited the blood of Valkyries! She’s like demi-god-like being. Isn’t that amazing?”

Kyo proudly boasted. But for some reason, Faye smiled with a somewhat troubled look on her face.