The night before the game against the school, a dinner party is held.
And this would take place every night for three days.

On this day, Masamune had come to Enumasan, Keikoku, to buy dresses for the three of them.

The dinner is tomorrow, but........is it okay?　I think dresses are supposed to be prepared more in advance...

Toa is more worried about being able to prepare for the day than about being able to buy it.

'It's okay. I told them to get it ready ahead of time.

The day before the academy's transition took place, an announcement was made explaining that I was urged to prepare my dress for the dinner party.
At that point, I had already told the three dwarfs.
They gladly accepted the announcement and said that they would prepare even more than usual.

"But the town is always the same, isn't it?

'Does your master come to this country often?'

Well.

There's another reason why those three guys were sticking it out.
It's simple, because I showed up again rather early on while saying 'we won't come here anymore for the time being'.
Apparently, those three had a longer period of time in mind.

Nevertheless, as I said, the town is still the same as always.
The same glittering streetlights and flashy decorations in the shops.
I thought when I came here before, but I guess the sun doesn't come out here.
It's still noon, but it's dimly lit.
The slums are naturally more shrouded in darkness than here.
Living in such a dimly lit place rots the personality.
The faces of all the people who pass by are badly rotten.
The eyes are bad.

We followed the light of the streetlamp and followed the path.

"Huh?　Are you sure about this? .....

Then Toa spotted a sign on one of the lampposts in the alley.

''It's the Jishi's bloodline. As I recall, it was in the Demonic Communications.''

That's what Sufilia explained to me.
According to Sufilia, since then, she had seen another article about this organization in the demonic communication.
It seems that they are expanding their organization.

''They're recruiting in this country as well, aren't they?

The sign reads, 'The God of Life is able to save any man. 'May the blessing of Ankh Amadeus be upon you,' it states.

'It stinks.'

Then an old man who I didn't know spoke to me.

"Don't do it,

When the old man appeared in front of us, he just said one word.

"What?

I can't help but ask back.
He shows up out of nowhere and that one word doesn't make sense to me.

I said, "I told you not to do that. That's a nasty piece of shit," he says. I don't know if you're the God of Life or what.　Worldly gain is all about money. They don't help people without anything in return. There's always an explanation. They get hooked on it, they get ripped off or driven crazy. If you guys understood that, you wouldn't be involved in that kind of thing.

Saying that, he left immediately.
When I turned around, the old man looked at me several times.

You are rude, aren't you? You are rude, sir. Did you expect me to join such a thing?

I'm just curious, right?

The two of them were complaining, a little irritated.

'That's all well and good as long as Nem is with his master!

He patted Nem's innocent head as usual.

'Well, never mind, let's go. Besides, it's nothing to be ashamed of, right?　That old man was helping us not to get lost. I don't know what the benefit is, though?

Consoling the two complainers, we head straight to the shop in question.

We arrived at this place, the House of the Three Dwarfs.
At the sound of a light bell we entered.

'Nito-san!'

Tom was the first to appear.
He has a prominent count-like beard that grows under his nose.

'Long time no see!　Is the dress ready?

Of course!

Then Dean and Sam peeked out of the bamboo screen.

Welcome!　Mr. Nito!

'Oh!　How you're doing!

Toa pulled back next to me at my excessive greeting, which I usually never do.
Sufilia had a question mark on her face with a smile on her face.

Nem was pecking at Tom's nose beard in a curious manner, wondering what was bothering him.
Tom didn't refuse to do so and didn't move slightly.
Tom stared at Nem as he was pecked.

Um ... well ... you're an interesting person, aren't you?

Tom was a little confused by Nem's actions, and then said to me.

'It's Nem. Get along with him.

'Of course!　Mr. Nito's friends are our friends!

Then Nem had touched Dean's beard as well, though he didn't know what had caught his attention.
And he was comparing the faces of Sam, who had no beard, and the two bearded ones with interest.

'It's unusual for you to be white cat people, isn't it?'

It was Tom who said that.

'Unusual?　What does that mean?

'I see. Wouldn't you like to know? Actually, among the cat race, the white cat race is a whole lot less numerous.

You mean ... endangered?

''I've heard there are few of them in the Beast Country. I've heard that even just those few white cat people have been taken away by the Empire for the most part...

Nem heard the story and was a little sullen, perhaps because it was a kindred spirit.
Nem's tail was hanging down sadly.

It's going to be all right. I'll take care of it in time. But for now, it's the dress.'

I understand!　I'll bring it to you now!

And the three of them disappeared to the back of the store.


And after a while, a large number of pure white cases were laid out on the counter in front of them.
In them, of course, were dresses.
There were also some mannequin-like things on display that were dressed to look like mannequins.
You can choose all you want with this one.

''As Nito-sama requested, we've got everything of the highest quality!

Tom explains in the representative.

'Isn't there something too big for you?'

No problem. We'll work our magic on your measurements.

Magic is a useful thing.

'This is what Nem is good for!

Then Nem was the first to choose.

'It's early, are you sure you want to do that?　There's more, you know?

It's all right!

Nem chose a brightly colored red dress.

''This will match your master!

I see, you wanted to wear the same thing I did.
But I'm going to wear a simple black dress at the dinner party.
But it seems that Nemours is fine with that.

As expected of Nito-sama's friend!

Then Tom explains the dress.

That red dress is made of a rich variety of the Millennium Rose, which is said to have never withered from its full bloom. It's a dress for roses, so to speak. Each time the dress waved, the rose petals would scatter and then sadly disappear, creating a magical wear.

That's the magic.
I didn't know you could do that.

Then I shall wear this sky-blue dress.

Then the Sufiria chose it, too.
And Sam explains.
Apparently, this dress was purchased by Sam.

'That dress is made from a bluebird core. Every time the hem of the dress flutters, a blue flame with no temperature dissipates in and out. That's it!　You are nowhere near ready for a dinner party.

Then, on the other hand, Toa seemed to be a little lost.
I didn't call out to her in particular, but I snuggled up next to her and together we picked out Toa's dress.

Red and blue were picked out by the two of us, so preferably different colors.......
White ... or black ...

I picked up a black dress that happened to catch my eye and then unfolded it so I could see the whole thing.

'That's the 'Black Day' dress,'

'Black Friday?　What's that?

I didn't get it and asked Tom.

'It's the name of a giant bird that's now extinct.

An extinct bird.

'Toa?　How about this one?

I recommended the black dress to Toa.
The black one goes well with Toa's white skin.

Then Nem and Sufilia disappeared into the back of the store, with Dean leading them to try on the dress.

'It?'

Yeah, I'm told it's very rare.

Nito... well, what do you think?

Me?　I think it's good for me. It would go with Toa's beautiful white skin.

Okay, well I'll take it.

For some reason, Toa fumbled and said this was fine.
Then Toa and her black dress disappeared into the back of the store.

'Where would you like to go, Nito-sama?

In fact, I asked for one just in case.
But honestly, I don't really feel comfortable wearing a tuxedo, or something so stuffy like this.

But since we're only going to be at the dinner party, I should buy one too.

Which one do you think is best?

Well, how about this one?

Tom recommended a black suit of sorts.
But the hem of the jacket seems to be long.
It looks like it would be worn by someone with the title of Earl.

'It's the same dress that Master Toa chose earlier, a black dress.

That's it, then. Thank you.

No, no, no, not at all. Whenever you ask me for help, Master Nito, I will do it.

Tom said and lowered his hips even lower.

Just then, the three of them appeared in dresses.

'What do you think, Nito-sama?'

Sufilia looks at me with a flirtatious expression.

''I'm with my master!

Nem slips up to me happily in her dress.

'I don't know ... nito?'

...Yeah, that's fine.

There was the figure of Toa, dressed in jet black.

I couldn't help but be transfixed, and for a moment I felt as if time had gone into slow motion.
It was just as I thought.
The black dress accentuated Toa's white skin.
And it seems to go well with Toa's light pink hair color.

'That's it?'

I came back from the slower world and responded to Toa's voice.
Then Toa and Sufilia were musing.
Apparently, there's no praise in it.

I hurriedly reiterated.

'You two are beautiful!　I'm sure he'll stand out at a dinner party!

I'm not exaggerating, but let's say I'm exaggerating.

I'm sure of it.

The three dwarfs nodded next to me.

''I never thought the day would come when I, who had never been around women, would be able to attend a dinner party with a beautiful girl like you all. I'm grateful....

Honestly, that's the truth.
They're probably two beautiful girls like no other, and Nem is going to get more and more beautiful from now on.

When I said that, the two of them laughed with an expression on their faces, whether they were embarrassed or not, I'm not sure what it was.

'Nem is happy too!　You will cherish it for the rest of your life!

Nem's dress on the other hand was just as flattering as his.
But still, "for the rest of my life" ... well, never mind.

It's not true!　I'm the one who's grateful!　Thank you for saving my life and even dressing like this........thank you!

Sufilia smiles with a natural expression and tells me so.
It felt as if there was no such thing as a lie there.

''S... well... thank you.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of it.

You are not honest. You.

When I said that, Toa's cheeks were red and she was hiding her face.
But this is the Toa.
That's okay.

"The Toa?　What did you do with that pendant?

Then I found a red glowing pendant on Toa's chest.
A large gemstone can be seen in the center.

''That one is called 'Red Eyes'. It's a rare gemstone. I'm going to give it to you, Master Toa. It's a gift from me.

It was Tom who said that.

'Are you sure?　It's an expensive one, isn't it?

No, no, I'm doing you a favor, Nito-sama...

Well thank you.

Tom bows his head deeply.

Then the three dwarfs gave Sufilia a gemstone pendant called 'Twilight'.
And for Nem, they gave me a necklace called 'Sapphire Rose', a necklace that glistened casually and glistened.

''I'm sorry for everything, aren't I?''

No, no, no, not at all. We owe you a great debt of gratitude, Master Nito.

A favor?

Toa reacts to his words and asks.

'It's no big deal. Tom's overreacting.

Then Tom bowed his head without speaking further.

Each of them changed into their original clothes and put their dresses away in their cases.

'The dimensions have been adjusted, so I'm sure it won't be a problem next time. And if it gets dirty, damaged or missing, we can restore it to its original state with just a small amount of magical power flowing through it.

Finally, Dean gave a brief explanation.

'Thank you. You've been a big help today. Sorry about the pendants, too.

No. No. It's just a feeling.

Finally, I thanked Tom, Sam and Dean and we left The House of the Three Dwarfs.




o.




After leaving the shop, we walked to the main gate, heeding Sufilia's words about wanting to see some more of the town, and we walked to the main gate.

'They were good guys, weren't they?'

Well, they were a bit of a strange bunch.

Toa chuckled.

'That's the way to communicate with those guys. We definitely have to be in a good mood to talk to them, even if they look grumpy. But it's the only way to build a good relationship. And those guys had a hard time with that one, too. So there were a few times when the mention of human beings put them in a bad mood, but it's not their fault, and they don't mean any harm themselves. It just can't be helped.

'Then again, it's unusual for a dwarf tribe to set up shop in such a wealthy country, isn't it?　And that's three people. As I recall, the dwarfs were killed in large numbers due to human discrimination, and I'm sure most of them are gone now...

Yeah, those three are the ones that survived. Yeah, those three are the ones that are still alive and well. I hear there's hardly any persecution from the humans anymore, but they can't forget it themselves.

If it wasn't for the humans, maybe those guys wouldn't have had to be in that personality.
Maybe they would have been three more naturally affable people.


That restaurant picks people.

Their skills are solid, and they've been endorsed by adventurers of that stripe, but customers who don't fit in don't fit in any time soon.
Especially for those who look down on beastmen, dwarves and dwarves and all sorts of other people, it's impossible!


-- 'Hey!　You blunt!　Get your ass up and walk!


Just then, an unpleasant conversation could be heard up ahead.

A human.....................A middle-aged man is having a beastman carry a heavy load.
What is that beastman?
A bear?　Her whole body is covered in brown fur.　
But he is still young.
He is muscular, but short in stature.

'That's a slave, isn't it?'

Then Sufilia saw the scene and replied.

'There is a slave crest on your leg.'

Nem grabbed my hem.
My hands are shaking.
They look completely different, but they're the same beast.
Maybe there's something about him that makes me feel something.
Even I, a human, feel disgusted.

''A slave........''

All the people who pass by pretend not to know each other.
Some of them even continue to chat happily without paying any attention to the sound of their voices.

This is the norm in this world.

Even so, it seems to be getting better.
But to humans, beastmen are still tools.
If I hadn't found Nem Nem, he might have ended up like this.

"Hey!　How many times do I have to say it!　This!

Then the human kicked the beastman in the face with his foot.
Of course the beastman is sturdy.
But that beastman is still very young.
A little older than Nem, perhaps?
The trauma may be fine, but emotional wounds don't heal that easily.

'I don't understand that kind of thing when I say it,'

Nito?

I'm just going to hurt you a little.

I reversed the magic 'Offensive and Defensive Enhancement Grant (Odium Aura)' in my mind.

''[Vomiting Debility [Vomiting Lano Roach]!

I cast a spell on the ugly human ahead of me.

'Nito, what the hell did you do?'

We'll find out soon enough.



Then suddenly the old man vomited.

'Master?　What's that? .....

"He won't even touch the beastman for a while. He'll be in a state of monstrous nausea.

We gingerly approach the beastman.


--Master?　It's like he's a bug lover, huh?　Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!


People won't be able to see this guy.

Beside the man, there is an old woman that only I can see.
In her left hand is a large bottle.
In the bottle, a large number of insects are wriggling around inside.
The old woman puts her hand in the man's mouth and puts the cockroach-like insects into his esophagus one by one.
The man doesn't notice it. He doesn't realize that the old woman has put her hand in his mouth and is making him eat the insects.
But that's not unreasonable.
He doesn't feel his arms in the air.
It doesn't matter if her mouth is closed or not.
The old woman's hand slips through the target's skin, and the bug that leaves her hand goes straight into the esophagus.

Thereby, the one under this spell would continue to vomit for no reason.

''Ooohhhhhhhh!

Then the bug that the man had just eaten popped out of his mouth.

'Hiiiiiiii!　What the hell?　What the hell is going on here?

The man can see the bugs.
That's the magic of it.
Only when you vomit can you see the bug.
You can't see it before.
But the moment it drops down your throat, you can feel it.
It's like touching the shell of a shrimp at the back of your throat and the smell of the bug.

'Sir!'

"Come on!　Don't touch me!　Eeeeeeeeeeee!

A man who cripples the heart of a caring beast and then spits out another worm.

Come on!　Ate a lot of food?　Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!　

I almost laughed.
Because for a moment this man looked so unhappy.
Still, the old woman was relentless and fed the man a worm.

'This is the slave crest, isn't it?'

Yes,

There's only one slave crest?

That's pretty much it.

If Sufilia is right, then turning this off will free this beastman.

''Hey, you?　Is this all you have on your slave crest?

'What? ...and who are you guys? .....

Don't be alarmed, I'm just trying to help you.

The beastman was puzzled.
No wonder.
He was still very young, and he had probably been treated badly so far.

''That's all the slave crest is, isn't it?''

'What?　Um ... yes.

'Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!'

Another one!　Another one!　Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

An old woman smiles wryly beside me as I proceed.

According to Vel, the abyss is always a reflection of my mind.
If that's the case, then this magic is also a reflection of my heart.
You're going to be able to find out more about this.
I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.
You're going to be able to find out what you're looking for.
After all, this is my magic.

I'm not going to be able to get rid of it. It will hurt a little bit, but it will go away. Just don't scream, and don't move. You understand?

...Yeah. Okay.

The beastman was quiet.
I could see it in his eyes.
He wants something from me.
Because I said I'd help you? .... so maybe that's where he sees hope.
He wants me to save him.

''[The Wave of Erosion, Disappearing Aura].......''

I have eroded only the slave crest and erased the mark.
But the markings are now part of your body.
It cannot be removed without invading the skin.

'Ugh! .....

The beastman with an expression of grief and pain.
But I can't afford to worry about it.
If we don't do it quickly, the guards will come.

''Wave of Healing (Heal Aura)!

I healed the wound.

It's going to be okay.

There were no more signs of slavery there, just a free beastman.
I put down what I was carrying and released the beastman.

The bear beastman looked curiously at the foot where the slave crest had disappeared.
He touched it repeatedly, checking the spot where the mark had been.

'What is your name?'

What?

What's his name?　Do you have one?

Oh yeah. Todd.

"Todd....

I put my hand on Todd's shoulder and urged.

'The slave crest is gone. You are free now. Go where you will..........

Yeah, okay.

Then Todd walked away from the scene and galloped away.

'Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!'

The man is still vomiting.

'Hey, what's going to happen to this guy?'

Toa asked, looking a little worried.

'It'll go away in time and we can leave it alone.

Then Toa looked a little relieved.
Do you even worry about this guy?

Let's go earlier than that.

People are watching us as we go by.
If we get caught, we're in trouble.
We don't want to get into too much trouble.

"Uh-oh!

Several black bugs come out of the man's mouth.
The insects are lost at the end of the man's drool as he kneels down.

Then, master, I'll leave the rest to you. This human will stay with me until he dies.

The old woman asked me for confirmation.

I don't need to say a word to convey the message.
This magic is me.


The four of us leave and run outside the main gate, where there are few people in sight.

The fact is, I lied to Toa a while ago.
There is no way that man can be saved.
Just like that old woman had said, that man will have a bug in his mouth until he dies.
He would not be able to move, he would not be able to eat anything but worms, and he would die a debilitating death.
Of course, if I break the spell, he'll live.
But there's no need for that.
That man shouldn't be alive.
He will be punished for what he did to Todd.
And he will die.
I don't think the guy is going to see his guilt for what he did.
Then letting him live is the least of our worries.

"Hey, Nito?

Hmm?

For some reason, Toa has an uneasy look on his face.

''Well ... she's going to be helpful, right?

Yeah, I told you.　They'll be fine. Besides, I've already broken the spell, and I should be better by now. You're going to be fine.

Toa is a kind man.
He can even care for someone like that.

But I don't intend to.

'Well that's good to hear.

No matter how many humans die...

--I don't care.