The Spearmaster and the Black Cat

I checked Elixir Law.

※Elixir Law - Catfish Conception※

※Requires a demonic art user-based combat occupation in addition to skills such as <Guidance Sorcery>, a higher proficiency level of <Magic Hand guided by Thought>, <Guidance Sorcery Knowledge>, <Spirit Employment>, <Sage Art - Understanding of the Yellow Water Ribbon>, and <Spirit Ball Conception>. It's the outcome of the user's high abilities and water-based manifestation powers. The subconscious intervention of the employed spirit also plays a role, but Elixir Law belongs to the category of unique systems. Albeit being in its early stage, it is likely a completely original sage art※

I guess it's only natural for it to have various conditions.

An original sage art.

The part about the catfish is an outcome of Helme's subconsciousness having intervened, huh?

"――Hero-dono."

This voice belongs to Gramps Ton. It looks like he's entered my home from the training ground.

Still, again with the hero-dono? I've asked everyone to simply call me Shuuya, but only Gramps Ton stubbornly doesn't listen to my request, excusing it away as being too troublesome.

While thinking all that, I erase the status screen and get up. Gramps Ton watches me with his back leaning against the railing of the stairs.

"――Is something the matter? How is your new home?"

"Nice. You have my heartfelt gratitude for it. The house's facade is boorish, but luckily you followed my requests on the interior design."

"That's great to hear. It means it was worthwhile to have built it."

"Donagan has been more grateful for the brand new plowing tools than his new home,saying that they made tilling fun."

"Well, we've got many orc weapons left over. So I thought it'd be an effective use for the weapons we're not going to sell."

"You're really skillful, Hero-dono! Truly magnificent!"

"By the way, the dishes from the other day were quite delicious. We won't be able to eat orc meat anymore, but the well-done grilled chicken meat was superb. The outside was crispy while the meat inside was tender and overflowing with fragrant meat juices. And the salty sauce was great, too. It was an exquisite sauce combining an unusual oil with nuts, herbs, and red spices. Your Eight Delicacies cooking is truly incredible."

To be honest, he might be better suited to be a cook than a strategist.

"Hu hu hu, you're quite the smooth talker, Hero-dono."

"No, I'm not just flattering you. Your sweets and the rare, unknown cooking that contains mana…those make one feel as if they're tasting superb gourmet food of a royal purveyor! Quiche even muttered that she wants to eat it again while smacking her lips."

"Hu hu, you're exaggerating…but, I'm most delighted to hear you liked it. To borrow the words of a demonoid I adored in my younger days: "Three years for the neck swinging, eight years for the sound." It's not quite like the bamboo flute played by that demonoid, but you could say it's the outcome from me having continued to research nuts for a long time." 1

Gramps Ton smiles all over his face. It looked like the wrinkles on his face even deepened.

"So you lived together with a demonoid?"

"Indeed. Her name was Sumeragi Fubuki. Thanks to her, we could spend our time safely…"

"Hee. So you separated from her along the way?"

"Yep. Fubuki talked about recovering her guardian…while touching the scar on her forehead, and left on a journey. I haven't seen her ever since then…"

Gramps Ton explains while looking sad, but Sumeragi Fubuki and a guardian? She appeared in Gramps Kistrin's story, as 『Solomon's unusual beast Dominator, who had been entrusted to him by Tenisha Fubuki』. And dungeon master Suzumiya Akemi-san mentioned a guardian.

Assuming all of this is no coincidence, Fubuki-san has been living while Gramps Kistrin was still alive…in that case, she's already way beyond an age where you could call her granny. That's why demonoid, huh?

I wonder whether she's Akemi-san's acquaintance. Well, they might have been able to meet thanks to a whim of the God of Fate.

"…I see. Let's get back on topic. Gramps Ton, did you come here today to gather ingredients for your cooking?"

"No, no, Hero-dono. Did you forget? The precious treasure you've entrusted me with is still in my possession."

Oh, now that he mentions it!

Gramps Ton retrieves Iglued and Demonic Marquis-kun out of his pocket. It's completely slipped my mind that I had Gramps Ton take care of them.

Gramps Ton trots over, and passes me the two bundles in his dry, seedy hand.

I bow while feeling thankful, and accept the round stony object of Iglued and the spherical, wooden prison of Demonic Marquis-kun.

"――I forgot about them. Thank you."

Gramps Ton nods several times in response to my words. At that moment, the round sphere around demonic marquis-kun, who's been moving his mouth as if chewing, vibrates. He's not Saraten, but…I'm sure he's going to be annoying if I release him…

"….Hu hu, so you did forget just as I thought, eh? Still, you're an honest man."

"Sorry. The village's defenses have been strengthened recently, but there's still so much to do." I explain while rolling around Iglued and demonic marquis-kun on my palm.

"Things to do, huh? Which reminds me, I met the orcs earlier. Not only did you turn a huge darkness whale into a friend, but also orcs. That was unexpected."

"They're called Quema and Solobo. Sorry for startling you."

"No, you're following a plan with that, aren't you Hero-dono?"

Gramps Ton has completely shifted away from being a good-natured, old man. A sharp glint dwells in eyes just, just like during the time when he exhibited his ability to criticize.

"I don't know whether you can call it a plan, but I asked the orcs about ordinary things."

"Just that shows that you're deeply investigating things ever so often. Small opportunities are important."

"Yes. I was able to mostly determine the location the large-scaled orc clans use to come onto the surface. Since a map doesn't exist, I can't pinpoint it, but…I've informed Quiche of this. I think she's going to inform all of you in due time as well, though it should only happen after she's closely investigated herself."

"I understand."

"However, even if the precise route between underground and surface becomes clear, we can't deny the possibility of a ruse, so we won't strike from our side just yet."

Gramps Ton joins his hand, just to release them in the next moment, nodding deeply.

"…As I thought, you've apparently taken it into consideration. If we're talking about "counterintelligence," does that make the orcs on the training ground disposable pawns?"

So Gramps Ton knows the strategy of using counterintelligence… He's definitely not some ordinary Joe. As expected, far from being an old cooking geezer who likes nuts, it looks like he'll become a great strategist on Quiche's side…

"…No, not at all. I believe in the two orcs as our friends."

If I welcome them into the Lucival family as <Servant Leaders>, they won't betray me most likely, but our acquaintance still has been way too short for that. The beauty Quema would be fine, but Solobo is too grim…

"…Very well. I'll pass on your thoughts to the children."

"Okay. But, information is ultimately just information. Quema and Solobo belonged to a small group that lived in one of the many underground cities. Therefore it's possible that other orc clans use invasion routes unknown to the two."

"We're in the Sea of Trees, so it's truly complicated…"

"Indeed. Although the orcs have their own, internal conflicts, we never know when they're going to start their invasion towards Cydale again…"

"…"

"Also, the troll crying has stopped, but it still bothers me. There's also the Ancient God Go Rad's dragonfly army, which 【Red Tiger Storm】 encountered, and the monkey-like monsters. Add to that the forces of the Tree King of Wonders. And as if that's not enough, a multitude of other such powers exist like the Death Butterfly people for example…"

Gramps Ton nods, "Hero-dono, you're the actual manifestation of the proverb, at times a cat, at others a tiger. You've been mentioning that you're going to head out on a journey, but are you going to remain with us for a while longer?"

"Yes, I'm not leaving yet. Though I might prioritize exploring the mirrors while taking some people with me."

"I see, I see. Your gentle attitude of not boasting your own strength on top of this honesty is something I'd love to adopt myself…if I had been a bit younger, I might have sworn my allegiance to you as well, Hero-dono."

"Huh?"

"Well, just listen. The hero, who rescued us, is hard-working, taking the initiative in everything. And he gave us work as well as building us homes without any favoritism. It's the perfect example of "The tail moves if the head does." Eboue, Maurique, Pal, and everyone else have mentioned that they'd be able to put their life on the line if it's for the sake of that gentleman…from the bottom of their heart. I also think that he's a great man of honor…"

Since I believe that a person like Gramps Ton suits the attribute of being great, I feel deeply thankful for his words.

"Just having you believe so makes me very happy. But, deep down I'm a whimsical adventurer who's unsuited to be described as a hero as I got where the wind carries me. And being a blood-loving monster is also a part of me."

"Still…"

"The true hero is Quiche. For the sake of her family's homeland, she accepted children completely unrelated to her, and she happily took in the people I brought along. There exists no female knight for whom the description hero fits more than her. Though, maybe I should rather call her heavy knight. That's why I'd like you to put your life on the line for Quiche and the children…"

Gramps Ton bows his head, and answers with a serious look (his eyes are possibly bloodshot), "Hu hu hu…you're a kind man. Very well. I fully understand why the village chief-like beauty of an elf, Quiche-dono, and the ancient wolfman princess Higlia-dono have fallen for you, Hero-dono."

"…I plan to be a guy who can answer their feelings."

"Wonderful. Your spearmanship training and being a great role model for the children. I believe both will become a guiding principle for the children's future life. On top of that, you don't have any greed. So much that you forgot about the treasure you entrusted to me and didn't even ask for any money, including the leftover orc weapons. It's as if you have no weak spots…no, I guess you do…your philandering, but well, assuming we ignore that small blemish…" Gramps Ton coughs.

I'm really sorry.

Gramps Ton has apparently recalled it in the middle of talking too.

The indecent moaning that can be heard every night from this house…

My night life where I furiously shake my hips instead of working my brain…

With Kisara, Helme, and also Quiche…

With Quiche whining that she can't move anymore while her whole body is trembling…

Well, seeing her like that just made my dick stand tall once again.

Many times, over and over again, gently and intensely…I worked on Quiche and Kisara's pussies at the same time.

After shaking my head to rid myself of those indecent thoughts, I look at Gramps Ton, "…Gramps Ton, thank you very much for having taken care of my treasures."

"Don't mind it, don't mind it. So, the other moving over there is blabbing some crab prayers all the time, but…the stone one has remained completely silent so far… Seeing it, Granny Bang shouted, "It's alive! Aliiiive!" while mumbling some ghastly prayers, but is this one really alright?"

Imagining Granny Bang with bloodshot eyes, I rather wonder whether Granny Bang is alright! But I won't retort at that part with the spear kumite's right spine arrest. It would kill Gramps Ton.

"…Apart from demonic marquis Ado-something being alright, Iglued over here…I can feel mana from her, but it's also possible that she died. Well, I'll do my best to save her in my own way. After all, we share a relationship of having fought to the death." I explain to Gramps Ton while checking out the small cage around Iglued on my palm.

I remember the illusion of Iglued that dissipated like steam…

Gramps Ton smiles, "Then it's fine! It's your "Everything can become a treasure if it serves your purpose." Anyway, allow me to excuse myself now."

He says and turns around with an agility you wouldn't expect from an old man. I can spot no openings in his movements either. Him walking away with his hands linked behind his back gives him a peculiar aura of a refined grandpa.

His skills at criticizing and this; has he studied some ancient Japanese martial arts? I've witnessed it before, but the blaming where he used an acorn was magnificent.

He calls himself a humble cook, but…he might have studied akido.

Still, his cooking tastes great, so I guess it's fine either way.

Now then…

"Rollo."

Rollo has been watching Gramp Ton go downstairs. She's keenly watching how he's tossing up two acorns in alternation. It looks like he's juggling those while descending the stairs.

"Nn, nya?"

"I don't think I need to mention it, but…don't play around with Iglued and Ado-something, okay?"

"Nyaa."

It sounded like 『I don't care～』.

"…They're no SuperBalls, got it?"

I place Iglued on top of a shelf while recalling the fluorescent toy from my childhood. First I'm going to take a look at Ado-something.

I focus on <Tail of the Crushing Evil Spirit Tree>, canceling the small wood cage around Ado-something. It exposes a miniature figure with a single, round eye that's clad in a noble's attire. He flaps the tiny wings on his back.

"――Phooey, phooey, phooey! Damn you for stuffing wood into my mouth, not even allowing me to talk! Don't fuck with me! But, you've done well to release me. Let me praise you for that alone!"

One-eye-kun spat out the wood in his mouth, just to immediately start blathering and then smirking at the end of his remark. His face looks fiendish.

In the next instant, the metallic patterns on his attire start glowing crimson. They float up and expand while moving right above and finally overlapping with One-eye-kun. Is it a Demonic Eye power as might be expected of a demonic marquis?

It looks like a special, bloody contact lens.

"――I'll show you my inherent magic which is a favorite of Meliady-sama!" Demonic Marquis Adombraly announces and releases a pretty red light from his eye.

Thereupon, the metallic pattern, which I believed to be a contact lens, floats up once more while scattering dazzling, red light…suddenly transforms, and turns into a crimson sphere.

"Look! That's the power of an Amshabis for you!"

The crimson sphere appears to be the pride of Amshabis folk. Demonic marquis-kun sure is lively. But, once I hear the sound of glass shattering, cracks form on the pretty globe…and the crimson light gradually grows weaker.

"S-Shiiiit! My power is…"

It's because you're forcibly trying to use your power after having had it sucked up by Iglued…