Ex-Hero, Now Freeloader – Chapter 55
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Translator: Kobracon
Editor: jturtle136
55 – Rain Manor
I reunited with Florence, sixth of the Seven.
She had golden spiraling twintails, and jade-like eyes; a gorgeous dress wraps around her voluptuous figure.
She looks at me, with my horns on, and she knows that I’m the Hero Rain instead of mistaking me for a Majin.「It may fool the eyes of the common man, but, I? Mistake Sir Rain? Impossible.」
Now that she mentions it, the horns have the ability to make it difficult to see me as Human, but Eleanor can still recognize me even with it on. In other words, it has no effect on people who know my true identity. Even though it’s been five years, she still met me. The second she saw me, she connected the dots.
「…I have yet to grasp the situation, but am I right in assuming that that young boy is Master Hero?」said Celine.
Celine is a sheep Demi-Human. [1. TL Note: Heh, cute pun here. Sheep = Hitsuji. Butler = Shitsuji.] Her fluffy white hair is just short of her shoulders. With her butler outfit fitting tightly on her, she looks like a beauty disguised as a man.
「That’s right! This gentleman is none other than… the great Savior who saved me from an evil ritual held by a vile skeleton mage five years ago! Sir Rain!」
Before I knew it, Florence was next to me. She opened her fan with a snap, and puffed out her chest. At that instant, her breasts bounced and shook. I was worried they might just pop out of her dress.
「sigh…I see. Certainly, he is extremely adorable…」said Celine.
「Quite so, quite so! By the way, Sir Rain, were these horns made by Monana?」responded Florence.
「Yes, actually.」
「Am I right to surmise that it is also furnished with the ability to suppress your charm so as not to cause the common folk to faint at the sight of your loveliness?」
「…Eleanor said something to that effect.」
In her case, she really does faint. True enough, with the horns on, she can resist more than usual, so there is an effect.
「I knew it! Me? Not notice the presence of Sir Rain nearby? Impossible! It was all because of Monana’s creation hindering your overflowing charm!」
「A Magic Tool by Monana the Peerless Magic Tool Engineer…?」 asked Celine.
Celine was surprised. That makes sense. An ordinary person could go about their whole lives never seeing a Magic Tool. It must be surprising to hear that the nation’s treasured Magic Tool Engineer created a mysterious item to suppress the Hero’s cuteness.
「Also, are those not Louto’s horns?」
「For today. This horn part is interchangeable.」
「My! So with this, you can change it to Eleanor’s, Vivi’s, or Lejie’s on a different day?」
「That’s how it turned out, yeah.」
The Seven had a meeting and that’s the conclusion they came to. I don’t mind, so I change it everyday.
Judging by how the crab-headed shopkeeper reacted, the headband also makes this hard for people to notice. Once again, Monana’s Magic Tool is incredible.
「Well then, let us have my horns added to your rotation.」 Florence smiled softly, but her eyes were serious. She quickly snapped her fan shut and looked at Celine. 「Today’s rehearsal is over. Tell them I shall contact them again and disperse them.」
「…Understood.」 Celine approached the actors who were still rehearsing the play without an actor in my role.
「Now then, Sir Rain, we could stand around and talk but why don’t we find a quiet place to chat? Or…are you busy?」
The way she talks to her butler and the way she talks to me really is different. It isn’t the noblewoman tone she had a while ago. It’s a tone filled with polite affection, like when Eleanor talks to me.
「No, I’m free. I heard there was a play rehearsal going on, so I came to see.」
「My! How wonderful. With the lack of the leading role currently, it is in no state to be seen but… More importantly than that…」 Florence snapped her fingers.
As if in response, a horse carriage came; a “private room on wheels” that rich people ride.
「Shall we go?」
「…Guess so.」
Oh yeah, that reminds me. There was something Eleanor mentioned a little before I reunited with Monana – about how Monana was the one who wasn’t prepared to reunite with me.
The explanation for the remaining two was…
『One is a fellow Big Four and her missions send her away for long periods of time… The other is troublesome, so I do not wish to meet her.』
Based on the information so far, I suppose Florence would be the troublesome one. Realizing that, I got on the carriage.
◇
We arrived at what looked like a luxurious mansion for noblemen. Is that her home, I wonder? I expected no less of the businesswoman who manages all the gambling dens of the royal capital, but I was still impressed.
「This is the mansion I had built for you, Sir Rain.」
「What?」
「From today onwards, would you mind living here?」
「What?!」
◇
We passed through a large gate. To the left and right were wide-spreading green gardens. In the central part, a fountain was installed on the path paved with white stones. There’s a pedestal in the middle of the fountain, atop it stands a statue of a boy sticking his sword into the ground.
「Is…this…」
「Yes. It is a statue of you, Sir Rain.」
In direct opposition to the outlandish face I was making, Florence’s face was ecstatic.
「I…is that so?」
「Yes. It is far from the real thing, but to me, it represents the bravery of the Sir Rain who rescued me five years ago! Such nobility! The warmth of his reassuring smile! His lovely loving loveliness! In order to condense all of these charms, I had the best sculptors create a prototype. Of course, I carefully selected the craftsmen to carry out the casting and add the finishing touches…」
Florence’s explanation continued for quite a while after that, but it was long and went in one ear and out the other..
The statue’s expression, with its powerful eyes but gentle smile, showed the effort of the sculptor who strove to meet Florence’s request.
「Yeah, I-it looks great…」 I managed to convey my thoughts and Florence shook like she was moved. I could tell from how much force she used to grip her fan.
「Quite so, quite so! I knew Sir Rain would understand! Incidentally, I’ve been thinking of having a statue of the present-day Sir Rain be made in commemoration of our reunion, but where do you think we should put it?」
This one alone already makes a huge impact, but she wants to make another one?
「…That, uh… Let’s think about that next time.」
「You’re right! I’m showing you around Rain Manor right now!」
We head towards the front entrance.
「Rain Manor… You said that earlier too. Is this…my house?」
「Yes! After becoming successful, the first thing I did was construct this mansion. Once Sir Rain was rescued from the clutches of the Human Saviors, he would need a place to stay, no? I wished to present this as a gift.」
「Th-that’s amazing…」
「Nonsense! Compared to the heroic deeds of Sir Rain, this is nothing of the sort! So, how do you like it?」
When she says that with her eyes sparkling like that, it’s hard to say no. Currently, I am borrowing a room in the Demon King Castle, but even that is more than enough.
…Wait, wouldn’t it be a pain if I stayed rent-free forever? When I think about that, wouldn’t accepting Florence’s kindness be the better course of action?
「I…wonder. Uhm, I’ve never had my own house before, so I don’t know how to value it.」
Florence keeps smiling, even in the face of my complicated answer.「I suppose you’re right. Then, I shall convey unto you the charm of this place, more splendid than any temporary lodging you’ve been in up till now, until you wish to live here forever!」
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