Chapter 52: Demon, huh—

In the end, it’s me.

Of course, I miss things. That’s only natural.

Gentle to the weak, unwilling to grovel before the strong.

With that way of sorting, I end up overlooking the second-most valuable kind of person. I secured the most valuable ones—the ones who can throw away pride and appearances for the sake of children. That’s enough, maybe. But leaving the others as they are feels wasteful, and it seems pitiful for them, too.

Well, what’s been dropped can be picked up again.

So I gathered the “clever, even if rotten” lot into my pillbox room. About five of them.

They’re clever—or rather, quick to read the room. Good at grasping what kind of people others are. …That’s what I figured when I called them here, but because they were quick to read the room, most of them had already picked up on what they had in common from the faces around them, and their expressions had gone stiff.

Maybe they were imagining a future where I disposed of them.

“The man in a cast who was among the wounded soldiers, the young man leaning disinterestedly against the wall, the plump woman wearing an apron, and the lady with a cane. Those four are the people you were looking for, yes.”

Among them, one woman stood out.

Eyes so narrow it was hard to tell if they were open. Black hair down to her waist. Wearing what looked like cosplay—a cheongsam with a deep slit.

“…I see.”

I was taken aback for a moment. Three of the people she named I’d already heard about from Vulture.

Could someone really read that far ahead? Impressive.

The Chinese beauty with a smile that fit too perfectly, so perfectly it felt fake, just kept grinning with an unreadable face.

I thought for three seconds.

“Then I’ll have those four called over. Thank you for your cooperation.”

No more use for the rest. They could go. I told them so. Everyone shuffled out.

“Oh? You trust me that easily?”

One stayed behind. The woman in the cheongsam.

“…”

I looked at her once, but gave no other reaction. I didn’t like her much. Childish of me, but I decided to ignore her.

“My name is Marche, Ratchet-sama.”

—or rather—

“Toji-sama?”

Why does she know my name? I wondered and turned my eyes back to her. Dog Unit and Tiger Unit, standing as my guards, stepped forward a little as if to shield me.

“Have we met somewhere before?”

“Oh no, no. Hajimemashite is fine.”

She dipped into a graceful bow.

“I see. Then, hajimemashite.”

I bowed my head in return. Probably not gracefully.

“…”

“…?”

I tilted my head slightly. The woman standing before me was smiling for some reason.

“Um?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Could you leave, please?”

I want some time to myself. Rudo, who had been sprawled on the bedding, has already sensed the end of the conversation—he’s got a ball in his mouth. I have to play with him.

“I see. Just as the rumors say.”

For some reason, after a brief pause, that’s what she said.

“If someone knows your name when you never gave it, you ought to be on guard.”

“Right.”

Fair enough. That made sense.

“But honestly, I’m not that interested in you. So I really don’t care.”

So hurry up and go. I wave my arm lightly, chasing her out.

“Well, well, I went and ruined it by putting on airs. Next time, I’ll prove my usefulness and make sure to catch your interest.”

“I see.”

Good luck with that. I’ve already forgotten your name, though.

***

I had the people I’d brought into my squad live inside the pillboxes.

Tents would have worked, but honestly, there weren’t enough of them, and besides, those belonged to the human village.

It was a hassle to prepare, but there was no choice except to have the Monoz build pillboxes.

Of course, the material was only earth, so they wouldn’t hold up in combat. Still, if this place were ever caught up in war, we’d already be evacuating, so it wouldn’t matter.

But then a problem cropped up.

There was plenty of soil, but we ran out of construction filler to mix in.

If we were inside human territory, resupplying would have been simple. But right now, we were in a Tooth settlement, enemies of the humans.

No easy resupply here.

When Rikan found out, he showed up looking pleased with himself, carrying maggots. I politely asked him to take them back. I had no intention of living in that kind of house, and even less intention of letting anyone else live in one.

So, a few people came to the grandest house of them all—my house.

“We look forward to your favor, Lord Ratchet,” said the head maid, bowing her head.

“…The same here,” I replied.

They were all young women.

I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being saddled with unnecessary considerations. …But maybe there was another reason behind it, too.

Some of the women’s eyes were already dead. A few had swollen bellies. Well… it was obvious what that meant.

Bringing young women to live around me might have been a matter of “unnecessary kindness,” but it was probably also that they wanted to use me as a guard dog.

After all, I was seventh in rank. Only six people stood above me. If the women were kept by me, others would find it hard to lay a hand on them.

I scratched my cheek lightly and decided to pretend I hadn’t noticed those two things.

“There’s no toilet or bath. My room’s at the very end of the hall, so feel free to use any of the other rooms—Rudo, stop. That wasn’t directed at you.”

Don’t start dragging a towel around. Don’t try to mark your territory.

I grabbed him by the scruff and lifted him up. Rudo licked his nose with a quick flick of his tongue and stared at me with round eyes. Trying to act cute won’t work.

“Well then, that’s that.”

If I stayed here, all I could see in the future was Rudo getting into trouble, so I decided to retreat to my room before—

“Hey, big brother, would tonight at my place be good?”

That side ponytail girl from before was smiling at me again.

My careful self-restraint had gone to waste in an instant.

This pretty girl, with her slightly drooping eyes and airy, soft aura, was probably the natural-born type.

“Look, you helped me out the other day, right? This is my thanks.”

Smiling sweetly, she clasped her hands at her chest. Whether she was conscious of it or not, the motion pushed her chest forward.

“Oh yeah, I’m Akane. It’s my first time, so be gentle, okay?”

“…”

Little devil.

I shifted Rudo in my arms and turned back. Rudo, perched on my shoulder, started climbing up toward my head. Very annoying.

“Uh… head maid?”

Please save me.

I put that feeling into my voice as I called to the leader—at which point a current of electricity seemed to run through the group of women.

—We’ve lost, it’s the boobs! Men are all into big boobs, that’s it!

—It’s fine, Akane! You’ve got enough! Right?

—Hey, why’d you look at me just now? Explain yourself!

—That’s right! Akane’s got plenty, just let him touch them and it’s a done deal! Some of us don’t have anything to touch, you know! Right!

—Oh? You looked at me again? What’s that about? What’s that about, huh? You wanna go? You wanna go right now? Huh!?

—Or maybe Doggy-senpai’s just into older women?

—Ahh, the type who wants to be led by an older woman, huh… ugh, doesn’t that sound like a mama’s boy?

—We’ve lost, it’s because I’m still a fresh teen! I can’t compete with Kouko-san, who’s already past Christmas and heading toward New Year’s!

—Wait! Akane, you!

—Kouko-san! Wait! She’s just flustered, please wait!

—Oww!

—Akane? Akane? Akaneee!

—Damn it! Vital signs dropping! Medic!

What followed could only be described as some kind of girl talk that I had no idea if I was supposed to be listening to. Also, I thought I heard some kind of nickname for me in there. Doggy-senpai? What even is that.

…Seriously, am I really supposed to be listening to this?

“Nnngh! …forgive me, Lord Ratchet.”

“…No, please don’t worry about it.”

The head maid—Kouko-san—had swung her fist with something like fighting spirit aura trailing from it. She’s probably stronger than me. Better not make her angry.

“So then…”

Kouko-san lowered her face, looking embarrassed—

“Really… are you sure it’s okay if it’s me?”

“…”

She went and said something maiden-like. I’ll admit it hit me a little, just a little.

What a demon woman.

But that’s not the kind of reaction I was hoping for.

“That’s not what I meant…”

“R-right, of course! Someone like me, already past thirty, there’s no way—”

“No, Kouko-san, I actually think you’re a very attractive woman.”

Your beauty mark and your chest are both really wonderful. Also, women only truly start shining after thirty. Even Ken, the leader of Gatchaman, said so—so it has to be true.

…Okay, I went off track.

Anyway. That aside, what I actually meant was this:

“I can’t sleep when I don’t know who’s nearby, so please make sure no one comes close to me while I’m asleep.”

I said what I needed to and started walking.

I’ve said it again and again: I’m the pure love type.

I don’t need that kind of thing.

***

The Monoz have started a new thread!

【Carnivore Type】A Thread for Observing Our Friend’s Love Life, Part 5【Local Wife ← Average Bust】