Chapter 43
Having gotten my loot, I quickly blocked Luan’s nagging and gave him a push.
Hmm, a combination of handsome and handsome. Very nice. A picture-perfect scene.
As Luan and Sophia climbed onto Lunatis’s back and left for the village, I strode toward Gerald, who was grinning from ear to ear while staring at the house engulfed in flames.
I’d been waiting for this moment. Of course, everyone would.
Kidnapping, attempted murder, arson, killing animals… Gerald had gone way beyond even the standard for a third-rate villain.
“Monster Summon (Evocation).”
–Hey, do you have to call me so often?!
After dismissing the summon, I called Number One back to its original position.
“…Did you bring what I asked for?”
–Here. But what are you planning to do with this?
“Hehehe… everything has its use.”
–…Look at that vicious glare. Poor whoever it is. Oh right, the house repairs are almost done, so come back soon. I’m off then!
I stuffed the item Number One handed me into my pocket and headed toward Gerald.
“Excuse me.”
“Hehe, serves you right… Ugh! W-Whoa!!”
As I approached silently and spoke, Gerald let out a shriek, startled.
‘Ugh, his face…’
Gerald’s face, all flabby like jelly thrown against a wall, made my fist twitch automatically, but I held back and continued speaking.
“Um… I have a favor to ask.”
“Damn it, who dares summon me… Hhhgh.”
Gerald, whose every gesture screamed cheap arrogance, turned his attitude around as soon as he saw my face.
He hurriedly flicked his messy bangs and lowered his voice as he replied.
“Ahem! As you can see, this place is dangerous since the house is being demolished. What can I do for you, beautiful lady?”
He set the house on fire and now calls it a demolition. I missed my chance to respond, and Gerald shamelessly continued.
“Hmm? Oh, did you lose your way? I mean the shortcut straight to my heart! Hahaha!”
I couldn’t help but tremble at his eighties-style cheesy line. But, as if sensing it, Gerald approached me with a vacant smile.
“May I ask a question before my eyes are blinded by your beauty?”
“Your eyes are already blinded… but what is it?”
“Were you expelled from heaven, or did you come down willingly?”
“Wha…”
“Or was it an accident, fallen angel who lost your wings?”
Ah… damn it.
I was overcome with the urge to rip Gerald’s foul-mouthed face apart.
“Joe, that guy’s totally insane…”
Exactly my point.
“Hmph, my name is Gerald Rasven. The eldest grandson of the Rasven family, mind you. Ha-ha-ha!”
“…I see. Really something, Gerald. I need to say something—come closer, would you?”
“What a bold young lady! Ha-ha! Let’s get a little closer, shall we?”
‘A little closer’ is way too casual, you jerk.
Fine, let’s fix Gerald’s bad manners first.
“…Get ready, fire!”
With my eyes closed, I thrust my fist into Gerald’s jaw with full force.
“Ugh, ughhh—what the—aghh!”
Critical x1,000,000!
If this were a fighting game, it would have been a KO instantly.
Gerald let out a heavy scream, flew in an arc, and crashed to the ground.
[<System> Notice! ‘Gerald Rasven’ shows faint life signs.]
Even the normally stoic system gave a thumbs-up.
The admins were waiting for this kind of satisfying moment too…
“Joe, that was an awesome punch! I picked the right master! Kyuuuu!!!”
“Ruby, geez… I was just warming up a bit.”
“Hmm… even the Demon King would be impressed…”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Ah, nothing. Joe…”
I tilted my head at Ruby’s mumbling about the Demon King and slowly approached Gerald, who was sprawled out in a grotesque heap.
“Guh, guuuuuh.”
I had actually planned to completely disable his reproductive function, but he went down so easily with just one punch… tsk.
It was too anticlimactic; my excitement faded.
This wouldn’t even meet today’s arm-strength workout quota.
“…Good thing I asked Number One for ‘this’.”
With a satisfied smile, I finally took out the mysterious object I’d been keeping in my pocket.
I had even summoned Number One again to make this request.
It was a small, round, grotesque fruit covered with tiny nodules.
“…Transform him, please.”
I clenched the bizarre, deep-purple fruit in both hands, whispered softly, and then tossed it straight into Gerald’s mouth.
“Attica, it’s time to add water.”
Pouring water from Attica into his mouth, Gerald’s throat gulped, and I counted silently:
3, 2, 1…
Bang!
A hard reddish-brown shell and long antennae sprouted on his back.
Six thin, delicate legs appeared.
It was the creature that used to haunt my tiny room in the dorm back when I was preparing for exams.
The one whose unsettling rustling used to give me chills…
“Ugh, he actually… turned into it?”
I couldn’t even say the full name. I glared down at the insect Gerald had become.
“Joe, what did you feed him?!”
“This is an Insect Transformation Fruit. Make a wish, swallow it, and he becomes the insect I intended.”
“Ah, so that’s why he’s a bug now! Joe, can I play with him?”
“Yes, but don’t kill him. Ruby.”
Ruby rolled the bug Gerald across the ground like a soccer ball.
“Ahh! Why do I look like this! Go away! Stop it!”
Good grief… now he even understands insect language.
When this came out of the random seed at first, I wondered where I’d use it… but everything has its use, indeed.
For reference, this insect transformation lasts one week.
It was a fitting end for Gerald, who acted like a pest.
Heh, let’s see how well he survives here among all his natural predators.
“Ruby! Don’t eat that! Gross, spit it out!”
“Kyuuuu… ptooey.”
“Come on, let’s head to the village. If we’re late, Luan will scold us.”
“No way, Joe would’ve beaten him anyway!”
Of course, probably… but I promised Luan we’d return quickly.
Sigh… somehow I can’t refuse Luan’s words.
I touched the blue gem on my necklace and looked at Ruby.
“…Ruby, are you hungry? Let’s go back to the village and eat.”
“Yay!!! I’m starving! Kyuuuu!”
In the forest fading behind us, Gerald’s scream echoed:
“Ahhh! I-I want to go back!”
