Chapter 677 - Intermission : A Certain Demon's Timidity

One afternoon, I came to Elise-sans fortune-telling shop that I had visited before. Elise-san and I unfortunately werent close yet, and we could only be described as acquaintances, but she gave me a big hint in my match against s.h.i.+ro-san, so I came to the store to say h.e.l.lo and thank her but

[..Ughhh, its Human-san huh.]

[h.e.l.lo, Elise-san.]

A blatantly displeased look on her face even when we just met. I heard that its not that she hates me, but that would mean she really thinks Im a pain in the a.s.s.

She really doesnt hate me, right? I dont feel that much repugnance coming through, so that probably means its okay, right?

[Yeah, yeah, h.e.l.lo. Or rather, Human-san, its been a while. I dont think Ive seen your face around for a few months. Or was it years?]

[Ah, yes. Errr After having a little confrontation with the G.o.d, going just as you had foreseen, I went back to the other world for a while.]

[I dont know what the heck youre talking about. At any rate That means youre involved in something nonsensical again, right?]

[A- Ahaha.]

Indeed, thinking about it again, one might think that Im saying something crazy. But unfortunately, all of it is true.

[But still, youre still arriving at the most irritating time as ever. It makes me think youre doing it on purpose.]

[Yes?]

[Even though it might look like there arent any customers at the moment, my shop is fairly popular. If there had been other customers at the time you had arrived, I would have had an excuse to turn Human-san away but unfortunately, I cant turn you away because there isnt and was just about to take a break.]

[H- Huhh]

How should I say this Well, for the time being, it seemed like I wouldnt be turned away.

[Well, fine. Human-san, mind flipping the hanging sign on the door?]

[Eh? Ah, yes.]

[Then, just go sit on a chair you want. Human-san, are you fine with coffee? Rather, I dont like tea, so I only serve coffee here. I wont accept any complaints.]

Saying this, Elise walked towards the back of the store, and came back a little later with two cups of coffee. Placing the coffee on her fortune-telling table, she urged me to sit down.

Hmmm, being served coffee like this doesnt that mean that she doesnt hate me?

[So, what are you here for today, Human-san?]

[Ahh, errr Thanks to Elise-sans fortune-telling, I somehow made it through s.h.i.+ro-sans ordeal, so I thought of thanking you.]

[Thats okay. Fortune-telling is my job. When youve paid for my services, thats already enough No, speaking of which I didnt receive any money from Human-san at that time, did I? Well then, Ill receive that thanks of yours.]

[Huhh Errr, Elise-sans fortune-telling really helped me out. Thank you very much.]

[Your welcome.]

Elise-san is kind of a unique individual. Just talking with her like this, I dont feel anything unpleasant or rather, Im having fun talking to her.

Chuckling at her slightly odd phrasing of words a bit, I thanked her, to which Elise-san nodded in satisfaction before drinking her coffee.

[So, those things you talked about how you confronted G.o.d or that you returned to the other word, in the end, what the heck does those things mean? I think you should explain those things properly.]

[Ahh, youre right. Errr, where should I start]

I still feel like she thinks of me as a pain in the a.s.s, as she still wont call me by my first name but then again, it doesnt seem like Elise-san hates me or anything like that.

I guess I havent reached the point where she considers me a friend, but at least, she chooses to talk to me during her breaks

After chatting with Kaito for a while, Elise told her that her break was over and sent him away. Thereupon, as she sat on a chair in her store, waiting for customers to come in as usual, the door was roughly opened and several ill-bred looking men came into the store.

[Welcome!]

[Yeah Were going to look around for a bit.]

[Yes, take your time.]

Instead of the annoyed look she gave Kaito earlier, Elise responded with a cheerful smile even to these ill-bred-looking people. After briefly answering Elise, the men approached the shelves lined with amulets and other merchandise.

And then

[Oops, my hand slipped.]

[Ahh]

[My bad, shopkeeper-san, I knocked over a shelf.]

[No, no, are you hurt?]

With a nasty grin on their faces, the men repeatedly knocked over the shelves of merchandise, claiming their hands slipped, and stomped on the merchandise, claiming their feet slipped.

Theyre obviously hara.s.sing her and even when they spoke out apologies, they didnt look apologetic at all.

However, Elise continues to deal with such people with a smile on her face. Elise, as she said, is a very timid person, and she doesnt go out of her way to make enemies or make things worse.

She just kept her business smile on her face, occasionally worrying if the man was injured, and waited for the storm to pa.s.s.

Because this store is located on the main street of the royal capital, she understood that these men wouldnt do more than accidentally knock over her shelves or destroy her merchandise

As she had expected, the men vandalized the store for a while, before talking to Elise with a nasty grin on their faces.

[Well~~ sorry about that, shopkeeper-san. Were a bit clumsy, you see. Im sorry for causing you trouble I think well go home for the day. Heres money for the repairs. You can keep the change.]

[Even so, this is quite a great shop, isnt it? I didnt find anything I wanted to buy, but well come back tomorrow.]

[Ahh, yeah. It was such a great shop that I want to come back every day.]

Claiming that it was for repairs, the men gave Elise money about the size of a childs allowance which of course, wasnt enough to pay back the damages they made, they left the store with a happy smile on their faces.

Not uttering a complaint about the money given to her, Elise saw the men off. She knew that if she complained about the money, she would get into even more trouble.

And remembering the words saying how they will be back warning words no, threatening words, she stared at the door through which the mend had left and the smile on her face disappeared.

[I guess thats an out.]

After muttering this, Elise lightly flicked her fingers. Thereupon, the fallen shelves and scattered products returned to their original positions, and the doors of the store were locked at the same time.

Making sure that everything has been set properly, Elise took out a small magic tool from her pocket and imbued it with her magic power.

Yes, yes, what is it?

[Shalltear-sama, how about I borrow a favor, including the post-processing of this matter? Ahh, theres no need for tedious exchanges. Its not like you dont know about it, so just give me the information I need.]

Fine The people who came to your store are just paid thugs. The main culprit is that shop on the same street youre in a newly opened one about 150 meters south of yours. It seems that they consider your store, which is in the same line of business, to be a hindrance.

Using a communication magic tool directly connected to Shalltear, her lord, which is given only to the executives under the Phantasmal King, Elise obtained information on the mastermind behind the people who visited the store earlier.

After hearing that, with her eyes as cold as ice, she took out black tarot cards.

Youre still moving as fast and merciless as ever Im even feeling bad for that person who put their hands on you.

[Its natural. Shalltear-sama should know about it, right? Im a timid person. If I find any insect that could even slightly threaten my peace I will make sure to immediately and thoroughly destroy it.]

How scary Well, thats why youre my executive after all.

[I still think youre bringing me nothing but trouble, but for this situation, I guess Im a little grateful.]

As the person herself said, Elise is a timid person. She basically never antagonizes anyone, nor does she get close to anyone more than she has to.

Always putting on a faade, she rarely shows her true colors to others.

Elises way of thinking isnt easily influenced by her emotions, prioritizing her own peace and anyone who threatens it or has the potential to threaten it would be eliminated by her upon discovery.

The next day a few people and their lackeys went missing, and one of the stores that had just opened on the main street suddenly had their store closed, but strangely as if someone had manipulated the information This matter never became a big topic of conversation.

A few days later, at Elises store, which was open for business as usual, the shopowner, Elise, had a blatantly displeased look on her face.

[Uwahhh, youre here again. Are you that free, Human-san?]

[A- Ahaha Well, I brought you some sweets to thank you for the coffee from before.]

[Youre just being conscientious that youre making it hard for me to turn you away. Good grief, I want to curse my bad luck for getting to know Human-san Ahh, you just take your seat somewhere.]

One might think that Elise loathes Kaito, if not adverse towards him but thats just a big misunderstanding.

In the first place, Elise treats most people wearing a faade. She always uses a polite tone of voice, and doesnt try to make enemies.

There are only a few people she deals with in a harsh manner. One of them is her lord, Shalltear, while the other is Kaito.

When Elise shows her true colors and speaks abusive words, its a sign that she trusts the one shes speaking with. Even if she shows her true self, she knows that this person will not become an enemy that threatens her peace, which is a very big trust from a timid person like her.

He has supported her dream in the best possible way, and having a good eye for people, she was able to understand Kaitos character through her frequent contact with him.

After taking all these factors into consideration, for Elise, Kaito is well, a harbinger of troubles, but she likes him to a certain extent.

Incidentally, the reason why she calls Kaito Human-san and doesnt want to call him by his name was that she thinks its not a problem since being called like that makes her distinguish him from the others.

[Human-san, its just about lunchtime. Making one or two portions doesnt make any difference, so you can go eat with me.]

[Eh? Ah, yes. Thank you.]

[Putting aside if I will consider it, Ill just ask you something. Is there any food you dont like.]

[Bell peppers.]

[Youre all grown up, and yet, youre quite childish, arent you?]

[Ughh.]

[Well, lucky for you, I dont have any plans to use bell peppers for todays lunch, Human-san. Well then, wait right there.]

Even though her tongue was sharp, there was a faint smile on Elises lips as she walked to the kitchen.

Serious-senpai : [Nice seriousness. There really is someone decent among Phantasmal Kings executives huh!]

? ? ? : [She certainly is someone who sticks to her logic even more than I do and works really fast but shes basically a hikikomori, complaining everytime I ask her to do a job, and not easy to handle. Well, shes still one of the decent ones among Alice-chans executives.]

Serious-senpai : [Incidentally, which one of them is the best and the worst?]

? ? ? : [The most decent one is undoubtedly Pandemonium. She is always in regular contact with us, and she works quickly and accurately. She is the conscience of the Ten Demons, and the one with the most decent personality. Then, the worst one would either be that freaking m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t of a bird, as when she has a job to do, she would always freaking make sure she dies once before finis.h.i.+ng it and coming back with a look of ecstasy on her face, or that loud sh*tty snake that cries every time she finishes work, but in terms of personality Needless to say, it would be Pandora.]

Serious-senpai : [You have it hard, eh?]