Angry Curry Rice - Part Two

To me, Gungrave is the person I love most in this world.

Since we first met, through numerous battles and time.

Protecting and being protected, we have fought together.

Your back always gave me courage.

The hand you held for me was warm and comfortable.

However, the person you love might vanish someday when something happens.

I had forgotten the fear of being separated.

Even though important things are always right beside us.

I, Arius, have a fiancé.

While we have not held a wedding ceremony yet, he will hold one for me someday.

Gungrave is that kind of person.

Recently, I have been scratching my head as the stock of magic crystal stones, one of our essential supplies, has become suspicious.

Magic crystal stones are formed when mana in the atmosphere settles and solidifies in places where nature is rich or where nature has remained since ancient times.

It possesses a mysterious property, absorbing or amplifying surrounding mana.

In magi-engineering, that absorbing property is used to serve as material for magi-spells. By doing this, it absorbs mana and functions semi-permanently. However, if the magi-spell vanishes, it is the end. Rain and the like are great enemies, you see.

In magic, one places one’s own mana onto the absorbed mana, amplifying it to increase the power of the magic. When using this property, magic crystal stones wear down, gradually lose function, and perish. Since they are different from ordinary stones, they slowly become smaller and disappear at the very end.

And my magic manifests by interfering with atoms and molecules. That consumption is immense, meaning magic crystal stones vanish in no time.

This journey toward Alturia is for the sake of replenishing them.

Alturia itself is not a large country. Owing to being a snowy country, its food self-sufficiency is not favorable, nor is it blessed with trees.

However, mineral resources and stone materials are abundant.

Even so, unlike the nation of Yuyubi, there is no fear of depletion. Of course, iron, copper, and the like might eventually run out.

The primary industry gathered here is magic crystal stones.

Though magic crystal stones can only be gathered in places rich in nature or deep in nature, here, as much as one digs, any amount comes out. On top of that, after a week passes, magic crystal stones restore themselves in the mining site.

Presumably, this is because the mana of this continent circulates and settles in this location, but in any case, thanks to that, Alturia stands as a country.

Naturally, because it is such a land, its magi-engineering technology and magic technology standards are also high.

During such a journey, Shuri was making something mysterious.

The first time I noticed was when I went to sleep at night and a delicious scent reached my tent from out of nowhere.

However, I went to sleep as it was that day. I mostly thought my sense of smell had gone strange because it was too cold.

The next day, and the next day as well. If that continued for days, I would notice that this had not gone strange.

Tracing the source of the scent, I bumped right into Rir.

“Rir. What is wrong at such a late hour?”

“Somehow, there is a good scent. An alluring scent that would match Highball Steak.”

Has this child’s perception of the world gradually become limited to only Highball Steaks?

Next time, I shall warn Shuri. Let us do something about the junkie, I will say.

Circling behind Shuri’s tent, he was making something in a pot.

“Is it that over there?”

“No mistake. Rir feels it too. That right there is the partner to Highball Steak.”

Those were the words of a junkie.

However, what is this aroma?

It is very fragrant, or how should I put it…

I feel as though my stomach would become full just from the scent.

“What is that over there?”

“Surely a new menu item for Highball Steak. Rir’s justice is screaming.”

Let us set aside Rir’s slightly strange remarks. If I mind them, I lose.

Looking from a distance, it looks like soup. How should I put it, it is brown.

I can see potatoes and carrots, but beyond that, I cannot say anything.

“Following where justice leads! Shuri, what are you doing?”

Rir launched a surprise attack. Before I realized it, she was no longer beside me.

“Ah, Rir-san. I am sorry. Did it smell bad?”

“No, a very good scent. Fragrant. So, what is that?”

“This? It is just a new menu item I could not make until now due to lack of ability and lack of knowledge.”

“If it is tasting, I can help.”

Ah! Rir, that is unfair!

Even I want to try eating it!

“I am sorry, today’s batch is a failure. It is not something to serve to people.”

Shuri smiled bitterly in an apologetic manner.

It is unexpected. For Shuri to fail at cooking.

Though Shuri has subordinates, educates them, and makes meals for everyone, that work is flawless and without missteps.

I have never seen a failed creation, nor has mealtime ever been delayed due to a failure.

Even so, for him to fail from the prototyping stage is rare.

“Even so, it does not matter. Rir’s hunger-justice is screaming to eat it.”

Has Rir fundamentally mistaken how to use justice?

“No, I will serve it properly after it is done. Please wait until then.”

Seeing Shuri politely decline with a gentle smile, I felt that this would be impossible.

That face of Shuri’s was a face that stubbornly refused to let anyone eat.

Surprisingly stubborn in some ways, or rather, it would be impossible to make Shuri bend when he holds such obsession for food.

I quickly departed and left that place behind.

However, the next day and the following day after that, Shuri’s trial and error continued.

At first, I left it alone. Since it would eventually be finished and available to eat, I thought I might as well wait.

However, no matter how much time passed, a finished product was not brought out.

Night after night, forced to smell the delicious aroma.

Falling into a sensation like even greater hunger after meals.

At last, I came to lurk behind the shadow of a tree so that I could go taste-testing at any time.

It seemed that was the same for everyone around as well.

Before anyone noticed, Teg was up in the tree.

“What are you doing, Teg?”

“Ah, no, I was just practicing long-distance viewing from atop the tree.”

He was making excuses while his eyes swam around immensely.

I mean, climbing up a tree in the middle of the night to practice long-distance viewing makes no sense, right?

When I noticed, Rir was under the ground.

Apparently, she used magi-engineering to dig a hole in the ground and stand by.

“Rir. What are you doing?”

“Rir is not here. Rir is not in this place.”

Even for an excuse, there must be a better way to say it.

Noticing a presence, Kuuga was swinging a sword far off in the distance.

If it were just that, I could dismiss it as mere training.

However, reading the movement of the wind and continuing training in a downwind position from Shuri made the desire to smell the aroma completely obvious.

“Kuuga, training again?”

“Yeah, I’m still not there yet, see.”

“If you go over there, there should be a watering place and better footing.”

“Ah, no, today I feel like doing it here. Hahaha.”

S-So deliberate!

Naturally, I was peering from the shadow of the tree.

Above the tree, under the ground, or reading downwind, it was going too far.

Besides, a non-combatant like Shuri should not be able to read everyone’s presence.

“Arius-san. What are you doing over there?”

Exposed!?

N-No, that cannot be.

Most likely, assuming I was among the subordinates crowding the tent, he must be bluffing.

“Hmm, as expected, roux is difficult…”

My, the direction of the wind is suspicious.

“Ah… Is it no good again…”

W-What did you say!?

When Shuri fails, he eats it himself and cleans up.

He does not let others eat a failed creation.

I understand that, but even if it is a failure, I want to taste just one bite!

While thinking that, Shuri scooped the failed creation onto a plate.

He ate it by himself.

“”“Aaaaah…!!”““

Unintentionally, a voice of disappointment came out.

Since I synchronized with everyone present, there was no mistake that everyone shared the same feeling.

Ah, I wanted to try eating it.

“It is because there was no answer when I called out earlier~. If no one is there, there is no need to let anyone eat either~”

W-What did you say!?

Through Shuri’s monotone reading, I realized that we had been noticed.

I-If we had answered, we could have eaten it?!

Ah, the ground, trees, and tents are trembling.

They are angry over there…

Tomorrow looks like it will be hell…

“Well, before that, it is a failed attempt. There is no way I can let anyone eat it anyway~”

Shuri added a follow-up, but that was no follow-up!

In the end, even after that, without being allowed a taste test, the march continued.

Gungrave casually secured a promise for a taste test, but I had no words for it other than unfair.

However, even such thoughts.

Turned completely blank upon reaching the audience chamber.

---

“We have no magic crystal stones to sell to savages like you lot. Go back.”

In the audience chamber, the lord, Fleure Alturia, said to us.

In the splendid audience chamber, as soon as the five of us captains together with Shuri sat at the venue for negotiations, Lord Fleure blurted it out.

To be sure, we were hostile during the war last year, so it cannot be denied that there is a sense of enmity.

However, I had not imagined that we could not even talk, let alone negotiate.

As a matter of course, mercenaries are hired with money, pledge loyalty to anyone, and strive for victory. Therefore, it is a friendly relationship and a hostile relationship only while hired with money.

In short, to put it plainly, we are no different from merchants selling military force. Against those merchants, refusing to even talk is out of the question.

Naturally, the magic crystal stones sold in this place might turn around and become hostile to this country, but even so, there is no choice but to say these words are far too harsh.

However, whether Gungrave anticipated this, he remained calm.

Shuri was dumbfounded, not understanding what was what. Well, in this place, doing so is helpful, though.

“Please reconsider. It is necessary for our activities. As compensation…”

“Very well. As compensation, if you make the two women over there into my son’s female slaves, I will sell them to you.”

…Hah?

What is this person saying?

This fat pig-like guy, father and son both, female slaves?

“Papa, I don’t want to embrace a rustic woman like that~”

“It is fine, my son. I will properly disinfect her with medicine, after all.”

Pop.

The sound of everyone present snapping resounded.

The hair on the nape of Teg’s neck stood on end, Kuuga’s aura rose, and Gungrave’s anger seemed to dominate the space.

Rir remained detached. She stayed expressionless.

No, this was suppressing and condensing anger into every part of her inside.

Is this what Shuri previously called the wave of murderous intent?

Naturally, I was angry as well.

Unless I viewed everyone objectively, my mana felt as though it would run wild according to emotion.

Somehow I felt a cat’s presence coming from Shuri… Was it just my imagination?

“Lord, King Fleure. That argument lacks common sense to a degree. If neighboring royalty or lords learn of this, what kind of eyes will they look upon you with?”

Gungrave tried to negotiate calmly, even in this place.

However, Lord Fleure did not stop his vulgar laughter.

“In that case, we need only stop the sale of magic crystal stones to territories that look with such eyes. Because this territory possesses that much resources.”

Gungrave clicked his tongue softly.

That was indeed correct, as magic crystal stones are resources indispensable to the present world.

This territory, where they can be mined in large quantities without depleting, can be called precious.

If that is taken into negotiation, any territory would find it difficult to argue back.

However, I doubt the nerve to explicitly say that in this place.

“Papa. I don’t want the small girl with the poor frame next to her.”

“Hmm, then you don’t mind the woman over there?”

Me?!

For me to become such a person’s concubine?!

“That is how it is. If you hand over that woman to this side, we will sell about half the quantity at ten times the market price. It is not bad, right?”

R-Ridiculous.

There is no need to even conduct such a negotiation. It is better to return quickly.

However, Gungrave endured his anger and tried to negotiate somehow.

While that is admirable…

Honestly, in this place, I wanted him to get angry for my sake and say a word.

I understand. If we do not obtain magic crystal stones here, it will turn into a terrible situation later.

There are even places in other regions that will not sell.

Obtaining them in this territory, which sells stably, is the most efficient.

“That is far too… Not something to be laughed at as words.”

“There is no need to laugh. You want magic crystal stones, right? This too is a negotiation.”

However, responsibility as the leader of the band.

And his position as my fiancé.

It feels as though they are being weighed on a scale, and I am brought to tears.

“Well, that is how it is. She is too country-bumpkin to give to my son, but I will settle for that woman.”

“…That is…”

“Gungrave…”

Gungrave’s shoulders trembling from excess anger.

Though he was suppressing it with reason somehow.

If this continued, there was no telling when he would explode.

“Hey, hey. Excuse me for a moment.”

It was at that moment.

Suddenly, Shuri stood up and began acting like a fool.

Because it was sudden and without prior alignment, neither I nor anyone could stop him.

Teg even reached out his hand to stop him, but it was impossible.

“What are you, brat?”

Lord Fleure also gathered wrinkles between his brows at the sudden impolite action.

Naturally. If one took such an attitude toward a lord, one could not complain even if one’s head were severed.

“I am the cook of the Gungrave Mercenary Band, named Shuri. Forgive my rudeness, but one thing. The alluring sweet snack eaten by the prince, where did you obtain that?”

Sweet snack?

What was Shuri suddenly blurting out?

To be sure, the prince was eating a strange sweet snack, but… What about it?

“…It is Niewbist. What about it?”

“No, no, just in case.”

Niewbist?

What was the meaning of Shuri’s confirmation?

“Here, would you let me prepare a dish?”

What was Shuri suddenly blurting out?

Did he intend to switch from negotiation to culinary diplomacy?

Indeed, if it was Shuri’s skill, breaking through this situation was also possible.

“Why must we have a dish prepared by a country cook like you?”

Yes, just as the irritated Lord Fleure said.

A meal for royalty is not something made by a mercenary band’s cook.

In the case of Niewbist, the royalty themselves desired it, so it was left unquestioned, but using it in this place right now was close to impossible.

Where did Shuri’s brimful attitude of confidence come from?

“No, no, the prince’s sweet snack. I shall show you that I can transform it into an alluring dish that surpasses it.”

All of us captain-class members looked at each other’s faces in confusion.

Making a dish out of sweet snacks? Making sweet snacks using sweet snacks would make sense, but… Out of sweet snacks? An alluring dish?

“An alluring dish, you say?”

However, Lord Fleure took the bait.

Appetite just as he looked.

However, I wanted to know as well.

What would he make out of that brown sweet snack?

“Yes, potatoes, carrots, onions, and meat. That alone is sufficient. With just that, I shall prepare and present a dish many times more delicious than that sweet snack.”

Eh? Could those ingredients possibly be…

“…Interesting. A meal with chocolate and those ingredients? Just try and show me. If it tastes bad, I will chop off both of those arms of yours.”

“Go right ahead. Then, I shall commence cooking.”

Chop off both arms?!

What an absurd talk. Before anyone realized, it had turned into a cooking showdown.

Gungrave’s face turned pale as well. Naturally. If it failed, there was a possibility that everyone present would suffer some kind of punishment.

Right now, our fate rested upon both of Shuri’s arms.

While that was happening, Shuri commenced cooking.

Taking out the kitchen knife and stove he brought along, borrowing a pot and cutting board, he aligned and chopped onions, carrots, and potatoes to appropriate sizes.

I had a bad feeling. An overwhelmingly bad one.

And, as expected, he began stir-frying the spices he kept hidden!

He intended to make the dish he was prototyping every night right here! Adding sweet snacks to that dish?!

Previously, Shuri had a history of making a dish that possessed all tastes, but adding sweet snacks to a dish was a bit too much, wasn’t it?!

While doing so, adding butter and flour to create a soup base, he changed pots and seared ingredients in a deep pot.

When thoroughly cooked through, he poured in water, brought it to a boil, added the soup base, put in the sweet snack, and closed the lid.

“…What is that disgusting-colored dish?”

Lord Fleure asked with a suspicious face.

Actually, because I had only seen it from a distance and at night, I did not know, but I never thought it would be such a brown soup.

How should I put it… It was a dirty color.

“Come, come, please have some here.”

“…Well, fine.”

Confirming it was thoroughly cooked through, Shuri opened the lid of the pot with full confidence.

The instant. An indescribably wonderful aroma spread throughout the room.

The stimulation of spices, slight sweetness, and a scent that could only be smelled when ingredients were cooked to perfection.

Unintentionally, Teg’s throat rumbled, Kuuga wiped his saliva, and Gungrave stared with wide eyes in shock.

Rir was muttering, “Highball Steak… Truly Highball Steak…” It might already be too late. The figure of a complete junkie was right there.

I was made to imagine the taste of the dish from that scent.

Is it sweet, or spicy? Stimulation of spices amidst a melting sweetness like a sweet snack. Or is there still something…?

It is violence. There is no choice but to say this scent is violence itself.

An overwhelmingly superior military force felt in battle long ago.

Even more unreasonable violence than that existed here.

Because, in this place, we could not eat it.

There was no choice but to watch Lord Fleure and the prince eat while sucking our fingers.

“This is…”

Lord Fleure was merely surprised. The prince’s eyes were sparkling as well.

“Here you go.”

“N-Ngh.”

Receiving the presented dish, Lord Fleure ate it immediately without even a taste test.

Normally, that would be impossible.

Because it is natural to think that a dish made by an ordinary cook contains poison.

Even if cooked in front of his eyes, mixing it into the spices was also possible. Rather, it should be done in this place. By using hallucinogens or obedience drugs, cutting through this situation was also possible.

However, Lord Fleure could not even harbor that thought. A scent that alluring, harboring fascination. And a mysterious appearance that aroused intense curiosity.

Harboring those expectations in his chest, Lord Fleure was chewing.

“THIS IS…!!!”

Lord Fleure’s eyes widened to the limit, and the hand holding the spoon was trembling.

Just how unexpected a taste was it, what kind of taste was it?

From the perspective of us watching, predicting it was entirely impossible.

However, the fact that he made a dish using sweet snacks and created an alluring dish could not be erased.

Because it was precisely as Shuri had said.

“Indeed. My skill with a kitchen knife is not to be thrown away either, is it?”

“U-Ugh…!!”

Saying so, Shuri was showing off his kitchen knife.

Ah, dangerous. If that touched the reverse scales of the Royal Guard, he would be dragged off!

Drawing a blade in front of the lord!

“Here is some for the prince as well.”

“Mm!”

When the fat prince received the plate, his eyes immediately sparkled.

“It is delicious! For chocolate to become this delicious!”

“Thank you very much.”

“Papa! Rather than that woman, I want this cook!”

“T-That is…”

? What was it? Lord Fleure’s eyes were swimming.

He was flustered ever since being shown the kitchen knife earlier, but what had happened?

Gungrave alone made a face as if he noticed something, but catching on was impossible.

“This can be made if you combine this powder with chocolate. I do not mind giving it to you.”

“Is that true?!”

Solid matter.

Mixing the earlier seasonings and spices together and solidifying them, a soup base.

If combined with sweet snacks, it could be made easily, did that mean?

“In exchange, we would like magic crystal stones, however.”

And the main thread of negotiation. Magic crystal stones.

Our goal, and the magic crystal stones that the Alturia side never intended to yield.

Shuri’s cooking skill dragged it into the negotiation venue without a second thought.

Once again, it was a moment to learn Shuri’s greatness.

Teg and Kuuga also desperately tried to hide it, but since the corners of their mouths were turned up, they must have been enduring the urge to laugh.

“Papa!”

Whether the prince was foolish, he had a face that could not bear the desire to exchange any longer.

Ordinarily, pulling out concessions by hesitating lightly here would shift to negotiations.

With this single word from the prince, even that could not be done.

Because he made clear what he wanted and sought it.

“S-Silence! …What is your motive?”

?

Magic crystal stones are the motive, but…

How should I put it, Lord Fleure’s state has been strange for a while.

Ever since seeing the kitchen knife, he seems to be trying to end things amicably, or rather, without stirring up trouble.

I do not understand what he is afraid of.

Gungrave alone seems to understand.

“That is why it is the magic crystal stones. Please part with them at the market price.”

“…Understood. In exchange, drop the matter of my son trying to recruit you.”

Is it… this?

Wanting to erase the fact of recruiting. That means, in short, wanting to gloss over having been involved with Shuri.

It looks as though he would also like to pretend the fact of talking like this in this place never happened if possible.

However, in this place, he wants to nullify only the recruitment.

I receive the impression that he somehow voiced a concession he could barely draw out.

What happens if Shuri is recruited? What kind of inconvenience would the fact of being involved with Shuri produce for this territory?

With insufficient information, even predicting is impossible for me.

“Yes, I do not mind.”

Be that as it may, magic crystal stones were obtained within budget value.

Leaving the territory and returning to the campsite.

We were finally able to catch our breath.

After all, we thought our heads would be chopped off by Shuri’s sudden action, but on the contrary, we were able to obtain magic crystal stones.

As a negotiation, it can be called a success.

Given that the opponent originally showed an intention not to sell, this negotiation can be said to have been a difficult hurdle.

“Still, why did that fat king-san fear Shuri, I wonder?”

Kuuga voiced a question.

Indeed, that remained unknown in the end.

Hearing that, Gungrave let out a suppressed chuckle.

“That was because the prince dug his own grave.”

“Dug his own grave?”

“Yeah. Do you remember when there was a squabble over additional rewards in Niewbist before?”

I remember it well.

It was a strange incident. Wanting delicious meals prepared if additional rewards were desired, something normally impossible.

“Back then, when things managed to work out through Shuri’s quick wits. After that, a letter of thanks and a kitchen knife arrived from Niewbist.”

“A kitchen knife and a letter? What about that?”

“Ah, if it’s just that, it’s no wonder Teg doesn’t get it. To this, add that the princess recruited him, and Shuri turned it down. And then, that kitchen knife was a masterpiece bearing the crest of the Niewbist Royal Family, and the letter was sealed by the royal house.”

Ah, I see. I finally understood.

In short, Shuri is currently in a state of being marked by Niewbist.

It is a sign that when he leaves our mercenary band, preparations to hire him at any time are complete.

In short, that kitchen knife is likely a chain and armor preventing another from sweeping in sideways to snap up a person Niewbist intends to employ first.

Presumably, Shuri does not understand. However, showing the kitchen knife shook the opponent and drew out a slip of the tongue.

That was precisely why this negotiation succeeded.

However, I did not know that kitchen knife had such an origin.

Even Shuri only said about the level of “I will use this because the crest looks cool.”

“However, with this, the trash-like negotiation is over! When we get back, we’re eating!”

Gungrave said with a bright and clear appearance.

Toward such a Gungrave, Shuri approached.

What could it be, a word of appreciation?

“Gungrave-san.”

“Ah, Shuri. That was a big help—!?”

Smack.

Without giving him a chance to speak, Shuri punched Gungrave right in the face.

It was instantaneous. No one could react.

Neither Teg, nor Kuuga, nor Rir.

They, veteran warriors who have experienced hundreds of battlefields.

Naturally, me as well.

Shuri’s sudden outrage.

We had not even predicted it.

Even Gungrave himself who was struck had a face that did not understand what happened.

It was to the extent that touching his struck cheek with his hand was how he finally realized he was struck.

“Why did you not object immediately? Which is more important, the person you love or a clump of stones! It is not something to hesitate over to the point of making her cry!!”

At Shuri’s angry roar, we could make no counterargument.

Even Gungrave, who excelled at mental sharpness and intrigue.

Could not talk back a single word.

Just like that, Shuri returned alone to the campsite with an angry appearance.

We who remained behind were left standing still.

Even as we felt the coldness of the snow on our feet.

“…That’s right, huh.”

Suddenly, Kuuga opened his mouth.

“When you put it that way, that’s right. We who stood listening silently to those guys’ demands to steal Arius from Gungrave are trash. We were floating because negotiations went well, but…”

“That’s right. We didn’t do a single thing. It’s like Shuri established the negotiation all by himself.”

“It’s not ‘like’, he did establish it. Rir didn’t say a single word. Gungrave’s words had no meaning either. Shuri established it all by himself.”

Everyone voiced aloud to expose their own miserable state.

“…You guys aren’t at fault.”

Gungrave said in a voice that seemed about to vanish.

The floating face from earlier was not there at all.

A face of suffering, as if miserable, as if wanting to cry.

“There was no need to be stubborn about the magic crystal stones here. It would’ve been fine if we had them share even a little bit from a friendly territory. And yet, a guy like me…!”

“Gungrave…”

“I was an idiot…! I said I wanted to liberate the people from trash like that and make a peaceful country, but if I can’t protect what’s important to me, how can I do it…! Even if Shuri loses patience with me, I can’t complain…!”

Gungrave turned his feet toward the campsite.

“What an idiot… I am…!”

His back was tragic to the utmost.

His back, which usually looked large, was small.

Learning how foolish a thing he did, how idiotic a thing it was.

Gungrave was depressed to the point of crushing down.

I had forgotten as well.

Even though there was a danger of being torn apart from Gungrave.

Just because the negotiation succeeded, I forgot and laughed.

Originally, I should have been the first to get angry.

Shuri got angry in my place instead.

At Gungrave, at Teg, at Kuuga, at Rir.

And at me, Arius.

In the end, Shuri did not come out for dinner.

We ate what Shuri’s subordinates made instead, but somehow it had no flavor.

That was conveyed to everyone as well.

Since circumstances were not told to the subordinates, detailed things were probably not conveyed.

Even so, because all the captain-class members had depressed faces.

They were worried that something had happened.

“Hah…”

After eating dinner, I was wandering around the campsite alone.

What I was thinking about was Gungrave.

This mistake had the possibility of leaving a large scar on Gungrave.

The genuine anger of a trusted subordinate. Its meaning and his own fault.

Because he understands that, Gungrave must be agonizing without a doubt.

Originally, I would want to comfort him.

But what should I do?

“Arius.”

While thinking so, I was suddenly called out to.

“…Gungrave?”

Gungrave, looking as if troubled by something, stood there.

“I looked for you. Because you weren’t there when I went to your tent.”

Gungrave looked for me?

Looking closely, his trousers were soaking wet.

Just how much did he come looking for me in this snow?

“Come. I have something to talk about.”

“Yes.”

I do not know what it is, but if it is talk, I shall accompany him.

Leaving the campsite, coming near the forest, Gungrave suddenly stopped his feet.

“You know, me. Until now, I’ve never been gotten angry at in earnest like that.”

Suddenly, I did not understand what was being talked about.

However, I recall that it is about this afternoon.

“Because I’ve lived by my mouth, brain power, and brute strength.

I don’t have parents either.

So, honestly, I was bewildered.“

“…Yes.”

“But being genuinely worried about and gotten angry at, I think about how painful it was.

My own miserableness too, but thinking about making an important guy say it, or the guy who was forced to say it.

Really, I’m an idiot, huh.“

“…That is right.”

He was an idiot.

That is right. He is an idiot.

“Both I and you were idiots.”

I who caused painful feelings to the person I love was an idiot as well.

“Hey, Arius. Is it okay for me to remain your fiancé?”

“I cannot think of anyone other than you.”

An immediate answer.

Is it not obvious? Because the one I love is Gungrave alone.

“Is a guy like me fine?”

“It is precisely because you are that kind of person that you are fine.”

Regretting and repenting.

Even so, because you are the person who somehow walked with feet on the ground.

“That is right. However, I must be allowed to say this.”

Grabbing both of Gungrave’s shoulders, I face him from the front.

Gungrave looks as if about to cry. Even so, you who are enduring at the bare limit.

I, upon Gungrave’s cheek.

Slapped him lightly.

A slap to the extent of a light touch.

“Gungrave! Which is more important to you, me or a clump of stones! You idiot!”

Gungrave was a little stunned, but he quickly noticed the intention.

“…Haha, of course.”

Firmly grabbing the slap and pulling me close.

I exchanged a kiss with Gungrave just like that.

Is it not a bit forceful?

“It’s obviously you.”

However, that slight forcefulness.

It is manly, and I like it.

“Haha, I’m done thinking gloomily. Arius. Let’s get married right now.”

Eh? That forceful!?

“Thinking about dying or the future complexly is troublesome. I want to become husband and wife right now with you, whom I fell for.”

…Goodness gracious.

“Children are a long way off, you know?”

“Then until that time, I’ll live and protect you.”

Because you are forceful.

---

The next day.

Shuri timidly came before us.

We were worried that he might have packed his bags during the night, lost patience, and gone off somewhere.

“Um, am I fired?”

Apparently, Shuri was afraid of being fired for punching Gungrave.

“As if that’d be true. Even though me and Arius became husband and wife happily, are you not even going to make a single celebratory meal for us?”

“Eh?! Husband and wife?! …Ah, if that is how it is. I have to make it, don’t I?”

Shuri began preparations for breakfast with a relieved face.

It was good that things returned to normal.

“Thanks to you, I realized what was important. Thank you.”

Shuri smiled embarrassedly.

Really, it was good that he realized what was important.