Surviving in a World Teeming with Monsters with the Useless Skill 【Everyday Items Master】! I Was Just Hunting Wild Animals with a Crowbar, So Why Is Everyone Screaming It's an S-Rank Monster? - 95

Chapter 95: The Princess Hates Being Bored

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

In the end, her Onii-sama had gotten busy right after breakfast, and by late morning, he had gone out with Shachimaru and Ui.

Left behind alone, Luna found it boring to stay cooped up in her room like her Onii-sama had told her to, and so, sulking, she wandered aimlessly around the Ferocious Shark Gang’s base.

“Hmph, what’s so great about this ‘Shadow Wolf’? What kind of plan is this, anyway? Ever since we came here, Onii-sama hasn’t paid any attention to me…”

As she muttered to herself, a wave of loneliness surged up inside her, and she felt like crying. Luna wiped away her tears with her sleeve and began to walk again, aimlessly.

I only have Onii-sama left. I just want to play with him more…

Yesterday, she had been so happy to get to play a lot with her Onii-sama. He had said it was because he’d earned a break after working hard the day before. It really had been fun. Just the two of them, spending time together.

And that was exactly why today, being left behind, felt so unbearably lonely to Luna. As she continued to walk with no particular destination in mind, Luna suddenly realized she had ended up in an unfamiliar dead-end alley.

“Huh? Where am I…?”

“Hm? …Hey, you guys, look. It’s that old guy’s little girl.”

In the dark alleyway, just as Luna turned to go back, three large young men stepped in to block the exit.

“…Who are you?”

“Hey there, little lady. Cute outfit you’ve got on—that apron dress. Your dad’s been real active lately, huh?”

“Dad? If you’re talking about Taku Onii-sama, he’s my older brother. My father is—Mama’s sewing p—”

“Ah-ah! No one cares about the details! That’s not the point here…”

With unsettling grins on their faces, the young men took a step toward Luna.

“We hate that old man, you know. Showing up outta nowhere acting all high and mighty in our Ferocious Shark Gang….”

“…High and mighty? Onii-sama said he’s only working here because Shachimaru asked him to.”

“That’s exactly it! We’re pissed that Shachimaru-aniki even calls that guy ‘aniki’ like he’s one of us!”

One of the young men shouted, and Luna flinched, covering her head with a little yelp.

“Shachimaru-aniki used to be our hero! Stronger than anyone, smarter than anyone! And now what? Why is he wagging his tail for some washed-up old guy like that!?”

“Th-That’s because Onii-sama worked really hard…”

“He’s getting all the big jobs handed to him on a silver platter! Of course the boss likes him and he’s moving up the ladder! Isn’t that right!?”

They’re not listening…

Luna faltered. The young men hurled complaint after complaint about her Onii-sama directly at her.

“So that’s why…”

When Luna saw the crude grin stretch across the young man’s face, she hesitated.

“You’re gonna help us vent our frustration, little lady. Just imagine what kind of face that old man’ll make when he finds you all messed up, huh? Hyah-hah-hah!”

“H-Hey. Are you really gonna lay your hands on a kid?”

“Then what do you suggest!? You think you can take that monster on head-on, or catch him off guard while he’s asleep!? He’ll kill us if we mess up!”

Ignoring his friend’s attempt to stop him, the young man stepped up and roughly grabbed Luna’s arm.

“Ow… Th-that hurts…”

“So, what now? Beat her up first? Or if any of you sickos like the loli type, knock yourself out.”

“…W-Well, then, I…”

“Bwahahaha! After trying to stop us, you’re gonna go for it? You’re trash, man… Alright, I’ll go first. Can’t do much if her face is all swollen, right?”

He raised Luna’s arm high, immobilizing her. Another young man approached, breathing heavily with excitement.

“Hah… Hah… L-Luna-chan, right…? Y-You’re so cute… That tiny body is so girlish, it’s adorable…”

“Eh…?”

Luna didn’t understand what was happening. She didn’t understand why these young men were shouting about her Onii-sama at her, or what exactly they were trying to do to her. So, she thought. She thought, and thought—and then she realized.

These people are just like me!

“I see. So that’s what this is!”

“…Huh? What the hell are you talking about, kid?”

Turning to face the young man gripping her arm, Luna spoke clearly.

“All of you are feeling the same thing as me when Onii-sama left me behind. You’re lonely because Shachimaru left you behind, right? So you were trying to comfort yourselves with me!”

“…Shut up, kid.”

“I understand that feeling. Being left behind is sad, right? I feel really, really lonely too. And that’s why—I have this great idea!”

“I said shut up, you damn brat—!”

The young man raised his fist and brought it down toward Luna. But Luna—had already locked eyes with him.

“【I bestow upon you a name. Your name is ‘Trump Soldier.’】”

At those words, the young man’s fist stopped just before hitting her.

“…I-I… I-I-I… I am… T-Trump… Soldier…?”

“Yes! Then, Trump Soldier? Your first order: My arm is tired, so please let go.”

“…Understood, Princess…”

He released her. 

“Ow…” 

Luna murmured, rotating her arm before turning to the other two young men.

“Wh-What the… What’s wrong with you?”

“H-Hey. Isn’t her eyes glowing in pink? And him too…”

Facing the confused young men, Luna declared.

“【I bestow upon you names. Your names are also ‘Trump Soldier.’】”

“Guh—Ah—I—I am… Tr-Trump Soldier…”

“T-T-Tr-Trump! TrumpTrumpTrump!”

“Hm? One of you is a little broken. Well, just one is fine! Now then, Trump Soldiers? I’m lonely because Onii-sama left me behind today, so I want to go after him.”

With a bright smile, Luna gave her command.

“So, take me to where my Onii-sama and the others went today!”

She commanded, delivering her words with an innocent, radiant smile. The Trump Soldiers straightened up and answered as one.

“Understood! Princess of Hearts!”

“We shall escort you with utmost responsibility!”

“Truump!”

“Ufufufu! Alright! Then let us go! The fun, fun beginning of an ‘unbirthday’ party!”

Luna marched forward with cheerful vigor. Behind her, the Trump Soldiers began to march in step.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー