Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master
chapter-307

Chapter 307 – Intermission (The Edgy Kid)

People are all weak and stupid.

To a genius like me, that was a normal feeling.

――Expel Slayer

――The child of the dead concubine… I took pity on him and took him in, but he’s dangerous.

――He’s the son of a concubine and will eventually try to threaten the position of the Master.

――Indeed. I don’t like the way he looks down on us with his condescending eyes.

I can remember some of my past, but I’ve already cut it out of my mind.

I don’t want to have anything to do with people who cling to power, status, and other things that were worthless to me… no, I didn’t want to have anything to do with those fat pigs.

I was born alone.

That’s why I am free to go anywhere.

The moment I realized that, I quickly cut off my past.

――Are you that genius Slayer? What do you think? Would you be willing to lend that power to the Allied Forces?

―― Is that you, Mr. Slayer! How about it? Why don’t you form an adventuring party with us?

――Hohoho, Slayer the genius. What do you say? How about I be your sponsor, and you be my personal Hunter?

――You’re just a child, so you wouldn’t understand, would you? I’ll teach you how to manage money and quest tips~. So in return——

But, when I tried to live freely, the pigs came swarming around me, trying to take advantage of me.

They don’t even like me, but they try to win me over with their verbal nonsense.

It was so disgusting that I felt like throwing up.

They hated me because of whose child I am, and then when I became famous, they came back to me as if I was the one that turned my back on them.

It’s unpleasant. Get lost. Don’t hang around me. Stay out of my life.

I will live alone.

Forever and ever… I’ve always thought that way… I should have…

“Alright, Slayer. Is the rice almost done cooking?”

“Uh huh. It’s cooking well, Brother. You see, I have a lot of camping experience as a Hunter.”

“Oh, that’s great. I’m still not used to this, so thanks for the help.”

Brother treated me like a child and patted me on the head.

He genuinely compliments me and gives me a smile.

Normally, I would have been annoyed by that…

“Uh… un.”

I’m embarrassed… I feel a little happy… Why?

“Mmm~…… Big brother! I’ve caught a lot of fish in the river, you know?”

“Oh, Espie too, good girl.”

“…… Nihera~♪”

On the other hand, Espie … I mean, I was surprised that he was the Espie of the Seven Heroes, but aside from her power, she really was a little child, and whenever Brother praised me, she gets jealous and becomes competitive.

Hmm… it’s annoying that she gets as much praise as me, even though I’m better than her…

“Brother, you want to have dessert, don’t you? I’ll go find some fruit or something.”

“Huh! Big brother, I can find it faster, so I’ll go.”

“Don’t get in my way, kids should wait like kids.”

“You should just wait!”

“I’m more experienced, and Brother thinks I’ll be more useful.”

“No, it’s me! I also went camping during the war.”

I admit that she’s strong because she’s one of the Seven Heroes, but… I’m more amazing… I’m more useful to Brother… seriously, this child is so…

“You guys~, be good friends~”

Come to think of it, I don’t know what kind of relationship Brother and Espie have with each other or how these two came to be on this journey together, but he must be having a hard time. It would be nice to have a partner like me who is mature, smart, and talented, but I can’t believe that he’s with such a selfish girl.

On the other hand…

“Geez, then you two should go after you finish eating. Let’s enjoy it freshly made now, shall we?”

“”Mmm…””

Brother treats me like a kid, just like Espie. I’m a little miffed about that.

Sure, Brother is strong, seems to have a lot of experience, and is so cool.

For the first time in my life, I was shown the difference in power, and that’s why I decided to become his disciple in order to grow.

―― Didn’t I tell you? I just wanted to know what kind of guy you were. On top of that, it would have been nice if you could get to know me a little bit about me along the way, that’s all I wanted.

When we played tag on the ship, I felt disrespected and made fun of, which was frustrating, but now I don’t blame him for being a little snobbish.

But…… it’s kind of annoying to be treated the same as Espie…

“Hey, Slayer, Espie, put some rice on the plate.”

“Okay~! Curry~♪ Curry~♪”

“Un. Come to think of it, Brother has been stewing it for a long time… eh? Do you put it on the rice? You don’t drink it?”

“Kuhahaha, drink~, but you’re not wrong. You can get so addicted that you gobble it all down.”

“Hmph~, but Slayer is a child, so I think it’s too spicy for him~♪”

“Hmm? I don’t know if it’s spicy or not, but there’s no way I can’t have something that Espie can handle!”

Meanwhile, dinner was finally ready.

“This is Curry. Look, it’s all melty on the rice.”

“Wa, ah, oh, wow.”

The moment he opened the lid, I was a little concerned about the unique color of the soup-like substance that had been simmering in the pot for a long time……. but even more than that, there was an appetizing aroma that stimulated my nose!

I wonder what this is… this is my first time… do you eat this with rice?

“Here, Espie too.”

“Hmph~♪”

And even though she was arguing with me, Espie hummed and returned to her good mood the moment she was ready to eat.

Do you like this that much?

“Alright, now it’s ready to go! Well, the three of us did well today, and we got through it in one piece, and with Slayer’s welcome… thanks for the meal!”

“Thanks for the meal!”

“Eh, uh, th, thanks for the meal.”

The three of us sit on the ground in a circle and say, “thanks for the meal.”

Come to think of it, since when was the last time I gave “thanks” at a meal?

In the first place, eating with someone else…

“Oh. K, karah!?”

Tte, th, this Curry! The moment I put it in my mouth, my tongue felt numb! S, spicy!

“Kuhaha, well, I guess that’s how it is at first?”

“Nihi~ such a kid~♪”

The stimulation was more than I expected, and in an instant, sweat poured out of every pore on my body.

Even though I usually camp, I don’t really care about seasoning, I just grill the meat of the animals, so this was my first time doing this.

And yet…

“…… ahm…… ah, Kari… ahm, ahm-ahm…… ahm”

And yet… I can’t stop! The mixture of rice and the mysterious substance called curry.

Along with the juicy meat, the sweet, tender vegetables change the taste.

At first, the color was a bit “ugh”, and it was also spicy. Normally, I would find it distasteful.

And yet, I keep eating more. What?

“Do you need another helping~?”

“Oh…”

Huh? My plate is empty… huh? I ate? No. It felt like I had drunk it all, and before I knew it, I had eaten it all.

“There is plenty more, by the way, I’ll have another plate full!”

“Aah, Big brother and Slayer are so fast! I’m having seconds too! Om-nom-nom-nom!”

“Espie~, don’t rush.”

“But, you’re going to eat it all!”

I mean, I ended up eating a whole lot of food in front of other people…but…is that okay?

Both Brother and Espie do it that way… well… I don’t know…… I don’t think it’s undignified to see.

It’s weird…

“Is it good, Slayer?”

“Ah… um… yeah… oh, it was delicious…”

Sure, this is the first time I’ve eaten it, but… it was delicious.

“Right~♪”

And Brother smiled happily and somewhat proudly.

He has the strength to compete with the Six Supremacy, is strong enough to play with me in the palm of his hand, is cool, kind, and knows many things.

“Hey, Brother.”

“Hmm?”

“About being a disciple…”

If I learn from Brother, I can live stronger and more freely on my own.

I thought that again.

That’s why I wondered if he would take me as a disciple.

But Brother…

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m still too inexperienced to be a Master.”

“But…”

Brother chuckled a little, but soon patted me on the head again…

“Well, but instead… let’s experience a lot of things together for a little while, and just have fun! We’re all in this together.”

Also, Brother said something that I had never thought of.

Have fun.

I want to be strong enough to live on my own, but he wants us all to have fun together.

I don’t know what it means to have fun. I had never thought about it.

He said it like it was obvious.

And it’s weird.

I couldn’t argue with him about anything.

“…… un…”

Rather, I naturally nodded to Brother’s words, “Let’s have fun.”

It’s really weird…