The Man Who Remained — His Second Life Began with a Humble Bow of Apology. - Chapter 69: Unyou’s Replacement—Ahem—Townscape Introduction (Part One)

Unyou’s Replacement—Ahem—Townscape Introduction (Part One)

For Unyou, it was a scene that could only be described as despair itself.

From his demeanor, it was clear that Unyou was a man who paid little attention to clothing. As long as it was easy to wear, easy to move in, and could get dirty without issue, he did not care about appearances. He wore kimono only out of long-standing habit, having worn them since childhood, and not out of any particular attachment.

And yet, even Unyou, who held no affection for clothing, felt that this was unforgivable – such was the sight before him.

Haku, for his part, could not even process the reality before him and had fainted.

What had happened was exceedingly simple – an event that could be described in three short lines.

As they stepped out of Asagiya, a one-eyed child came running towards them, holding a soy sauce-glazed rice cake on a stick. The child ran straight into Ellie, as if drawn to her.

It was an everyday scene, nothing special. But for those who understood, it was the worst possible sight.

The child apologized with tears brimming in their eyes, while Ellie smiled gently and patted their head. Cross also reassured the child, saying it was fine. Bowing repeatedly, the one-eyed child left, shoulders hunched in guilt.

That was it. A trivial matter, something no one should be angry about. Even if… even if the cost of the kimono exceeded that of an entire castle.

Unyou and Haku felt a fear deeper than any battlefield they had faced. They didn’t want to look, but they could not look away. Summoning all his courage, Unyou, nauseated just imagining it, turned his eyes to the sleeve where the rice cake must have landed.

“…Huh? What…?”

He tilted his head, staring intently at the spot. There was no stain. Not only was there no rice cake stuck to it, but not even a trace of soy sauce remained.

Did it hit somewhere else? He circled Ellie, examining every inch of her kimono, but there was no stain anywhere.

“Hey… just now, that kid ran into you, right?”

Ellie nodded at Unyou’s puzzled question.

“Yes, a child bumped into me. Looked Cyclopsian.”

“It’s not Cyclops, it’s Tatara. Well, close enough. More importantly, didn’t it get dirty?”

“Ah, no. It’s fine. I put up a protective barrier, knowing it was expensive.”

“…Protective barrier? I didn’t see you use any spells.”

“I’m that kind of monster, after all.”

Ellie smiled serenely as she spoke.

Given her nature, which was deeply tied to her mental state, circulating her magic through her clothes as if they were part of her own body was as natural as breathing.

Seeing this, Unyou let out an enormous sigh, filled with both relief at being freed from his worries and a hint of frustration that she hadn’t told him sooner. As he thought it over, he realised something.

The shopkeeper at Asagiya must have known. Even if he didn’t explicitly know, he must have sensed that Ellie could wear it without staining it. Otherwise, that man would never have entrusted such a kimono to her.

“That kimono probably costs a fair bit more than you imagine. So take good care of it. Unlike Cross’s, that one is formal attire suitable even for gatherings of the highest nobility.”

“Ah, I see. I will.”

Ellie replied with a calm smile, and Unyou let out another long sigh.

After Unyou had regained his composure and Haku had come back to consciousness, the four of them began strolling leisurely through the town.

As they walked, Haku spoke up to Cross and Ellie.

“Um… Horai Village used to be its own country, so even though it’s small for a nation, it’s still quite vast. There aren’t formal divisions, but it’s generally split into four gates.”

“Four?” Cross asked.

Holding up four fingers, Haku explained, folding each down one by one.

“This is Seiryumon, the Azure Dragon Gate. Then there’s Suzakumon, Byakkomon, and Genbumon. Each is named after one of the four divine beasts and corresponds to a direction. Though the village head didn’t designate them officially, people just use these names for convenience.”

“Hmm. And how are they different?” Cross asked.

“Well… it’s more of a nuance, but Seiryumon is free-spirited yet retains an old-fashioned feel. Suzaku Gate has many who love drinking and tend to be hot-tempered. Byakko Gate is flashier in appearance but strict with the law, while Genbu Gate has a laid-back atmosphere and residents who love new things and imports. Just my impression, but that’s how I see it.”

“Sounds about right,” Unyou agreed, and Haku turned back to Cross.

“I see. Sounds like there are plenty of places to enjoy… but we might not have enough time. Ellie, how long is our planned stay?”

“About a week, by my estimates. Though to be honest, the limiting factor isn’t time but budget. If we take on some side work to earn money along the way, we can extend our stay a bit.”

“Then let’s do that,” Cross replied simply.

“Understood,” Ellie said with a bow, perfectly reading the meaning behind his brief words: “Let’s extend our fun as long as possible.”

“You two really are like a married couple…” Haku muttered under her breath, before shaking her head. “Anyway, for the next two hours before the formal reception, I’ll guide you around. Anywhere you want to go?”

Haku glared at Unyou as he interjected with casual speech, but he ignored her and waited for Cross’s response.

“What kind of places are there? Preferably something fun,” Cross asked.

“Hmmm… well, the first that comes to mind is the gambling den— ouch!”

“Don’t you dare take important guests to such a place!” Haku scolded, smacking him hard.

“Come on, gambling, drinking, and eating are the universal forms of fun.”

“Even so, gambling is off limits, especially considering how shady our dens are here.”

“Shady? How so?” Cross inquired.

Realizing her slip, Haku grimaced. Unyou answered for her, nonchalant.

“Ah, the gambling dens here are run by ruffians.”

“And the authorities turn a blind eye?” Cross asked.

“Yeah. As long as they aren’t too unscrupulous, it funnels money back to the ruling class. Though technically it’s outside the law, so it gets complicated.”

“Why are you explaining all this to Lord Cross, you fool…” Haku muttered, trembling with exasperation.

Unyou merely smiled.

“Ah right, Cross is the Demon King’s representative. Forget what I said.”

This time, Haku smacked him so hard that the sharp thwack echoed pleasingly, prompting Cross to applaud in admiration.

They couldn’t very well take such esteemed guests near the ruffians. Yet, neither Cross nor Ellie were hungry enough to visit restaurants. When Haku suggested art galleries or streets with traditional architecture, both agreed – Cross enjoyed experiencing new things, and Ellie loved appreciation of fine arts.

But Unyou pouted and rejected the idea. He insisted that showing something so mundane would tarnish his reputation – though in truth, he simply found it boring.

And so, returning the discussion to square one, Unyou brought them to…

“Yo! We’re coming in!”

Sliding open the door with a clatter, Unyou announced himself.

Inside was a young woman with tanned skin wearing a sleeveless white work outfit. Sweat poured from her as she turned with a bright smile.

“Welcome! Oh, it’s you, Unyou-sama. What’s up? Broke something again?”

“Nah, I brought some very important guests. I was wondering if they could have a look around.”

The woman frowned.

“Look around? The master’s going to flip again, you know.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Just call him for me?”

“…Sigh. Fine. But leave your sword here. If it’s something I can fix, I’ll do it.”

She walked into the back. In her place emerged a tall young man carrying a massive hammer.

He looked to be in his early to mid-twenties, human in appearance, with a lean yet muscular build, a handsome face, and two small horns protruding from his head. His eyes glared murderously at Unyou.

“Do you have any idea where you are right now?” he asked in a low, dangerous voice.

Unyou nodded with a smile. “Yeah. Your forge.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I wanted to let these important guests watch. They came all the way from the capital, probably haven’t seen proper smithing before.”

What he said was not wrong. For Cross, a former hero’s comrade, and Ellie, an active knight, weapons were not only tools of survival but hobbies as well. Watching swordsmithing was an ideal choice for them – though for the blacksmith, being treated as a spectacle was another matter.

The man gave a dry laugh, set down his hammer, and picked up a sword hanging on the wall, drawing it with a sharp metallic ring.

“Today’s the day I kill you. Definitely.”

He raised the sword high, but then his eyes met Ellie’s.

Instantly, the murderous expression drained from his face. He lowered the sword, sheathed it, and placed it back carefully.

“Oho… have you fallen for Ellie?” Unyou teased with a grin.

With a light swing, the man smacked him hard with the hammer, producing a dull thud that reverberated painfully.

“Don’t be stupid. So, her name is Ellie. And the man with her…?”

He turned to Cross with unexpectedly gentle eyes.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Cross. Sorry for the trouble.”

“No trouble. That idiot causes problems all the time. Besides… Cross, Ellie – today, I don’t mind if you trouble me. In fact, if you want, I’ll even forge a blade for you.”

Unyou’s eyes widened.

“What!? This is the first time I’ve heard you offer to forge for someone yourself.”

“That’s because you’re an idiot. And… well, Cross, Ellie – it seems you’ve done a good deed today.”

Neither understood, tilting their heads in unison.

“It’s nothing major. Just… I owe you as a smith. Normally I hate letting outsiders in, but you’re welcome here. Watch all you want, ask anything. If you see something you like, take it.”

“…I’m not sure what you mean, but if it’s no bother, I’d love to see your work. I’ve always been curious about single-edged swords with such unique shapes. May I ask you something right away?” Cross said.

“Sure. What is it?” the man replied.

“Your name.”

“Didn’t you see the sign outside?”

“Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Very well, let me introduce myself properly.”

Clearing his throat, the man spoke with a curt smile.

“I am Mabito, eighth-generation master of Kajyu Forge. Call me Mabito or Kajyu, whichever you prefer.”

Mabito said this with a mirthless smile.