Chapter 31: The Darkness Beneath the Prosperity
When Kobayashi's figure reappeared, he felt the slender, smooth, and tender touch in his hand, and a complex feeling of both relief and disappointment arose in his heart.
"So you're still not recognized as a living being even with your own consciousness? I'm sorry, RyuZU."
"There is no need for you to apologize, Master Kobayashi. On the contrary, this is for the best. Without me, your attendant, by your side, you would surely die the moment you turn your head. After all, you are just that useless, Master Kobayashi."
"Can I interpret that as you being worried about me?"
He was already used to RyuZU's tsundere sharp tongue. It wasn't hard to discern her true feelings from it.
Kobayashi turned his head and said to her, "But you're right, RyuZU. Having you by my side makes me feel at ease; that much is undeniable. Thank you, RyuZU."
"Does Master Kobayashi wish to rely on me that much?"
"Ah, so may I ask you to, Miss RyuZU?"
Kobayashi bent his knees slightly while extending his right hand to her, his eyes full of expectation, as if inviting a girl to a dance.
RyuZU was hit by this sudden, direct approach. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something sharp, but after a pause, all she said was, "It cannot be helped. Who told me to be your attendant, Master Kobayashi?"
She placed her hand lightly in his.
Then, Kobayashi squeezed it tightly.
The two of them looked at each other and smiled.
"Alright, what should we do next?"
Looking at the buildings that were completely different from Konosuba's and the hurried pedestrians, Kobayashi's initial nervousness and caution made him seem like a small deer wanting to cross a river, constantly testing the current's speed.
There were many pedestrians around, yet no one seemed curious about Kobayashi's sudden appearance. It was probably an effect of the ring, temporarily concealing his presence.
Suddenly, he was bumped from behind.
"Ah, that hurts."
A soft cry of pain and the sound of something falling came from behind him.
He turned around and looked down.
A very small, thin girl, about 11 or 12 years old and dressed in coarse sackcloth, had fallen to the ground. A few rotten and moldy, shriveled apples were scattered around her.
Kobayashi squatted down, helped her pick up the apples, and asked with concern, "Are you alright, little one? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Thank you for your concern, I'm... fi...ne...?!"
The little girl thanked him politely.
But when she saw RyuZU, her smiling face instantly stiffened. Her big, lively eyes revealed obvious fear, and even her voice began to tremble.
She looked as if she had seen a ghost.
Seeing her pale face and terrified eyes, Kobayashi became concerned for her well-being. "Are you alright?"
However, this simple expression of concern only made the little girl even more terrified.
She quickly knelt before Kobayashi, her hands on the ground, and began to kowtow desperately.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!..."
She used a lot of force, not stopping even when her forehead was scraped raw, all the while repeating words of apology.
The little girl's sudden action startled Kobayashi, leaving him no time to react.
"Hey, you...! Why are you doing this?"
After coming to his senses, he quickly helped the little girl up, stopping her from continuing to harm her fragile body.
At the same time, Kobayashi keenly noticed the strange gazes being cast in their direction from the surroundings. They were gazes of pity, worry, disgust, and hatred. Good and evil glances flickered back and forth, landing respectively on the little girl and himself. But when he turned his head to look, the people quickly turned away, avoiding his gaze, not daring to pry any further.
What in the world is going on?!
Although he didn't understand why the little girl was reacting so extremely, Kobayashi knew he had to stop it quickly, otherwise it would certainly cause a large commotion and attract unwanted attention.
Even after being helped up, the little girl continued to apologize, saying in a panic, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you, Lord Noble! I have a sick mother and a young brother at home who need someone to take care of them! Please forgive me! I'm begging you, please forgive me!"
Lord Noble?
Is her fear related to nobles?
Kobayashi keenly picked up the keyword from her words. He thought for a moment, tried to put on a gentle and friendly expression, and said softly, "You've misunderstood. I'm not a noble."
"...Eh?"
"I'm just an ordinary commoner, like you."
Hearing his explanation, the little girl was a little disbelieving. After carefully glancing at RyuZU, she asked meekly, "Really?"
"Ah, really. I'm not lying to you."
Although he explained, she still seemed unconvinced and couldn't help but ask softly, "You're... not angry that I bumped into you?"
"I'm not. So, please stop hurting yourself."
Kobayashi touched her scraped forehead with a pained expression and used a skill to heal the wound.
"You're... really not angry with me?"
"Of course. Alright, alright, don't you have a sick mother and a young brother to take care of? You should hurry back."
Hearing him say this, the little girl suddenly fell silent, her eyes becoming as dead as ashes. She gently picked up the basket from the ground.
She walked very slowly, glancing back every few steps, as if waiting for something.
And Kobayashi just stood there, watching her with a smile on his face.
It wasn't until the little girl reached a corner that her eyes regained their initial spirit. She turned around, gave Kobayashi a deep bow, then lowered her head and hurried away, her figure flashing for a moment before disappearing into an alley.
"Master Kobayashi..."
"Ah, I know. There's something wrong with this city."
Kobayashi looked at the magnificent palace in the distance and the bustling, prosperous streets. Even though such a commotion had just occurred, it hadn't drawn too much attention from the people around... No, they had noticed, but they didn't do anything, as if they were already used to it.
A dark side hidden beneath the prosperity?
"Hmph, interesting."
Kobayashi became even more interested in this new world.
However—
Whether it was bad luck or good luck, he bumped into someone again.
This time, it was an old woman leaning on a cane.
"Ouch~ this old woman is going to be the death of me."
The old woman who had fallen to the ground cried out softly in pain.
Kobayashi quickly squatted down, extended his right hand to her, and asked with concern, "Ma'am, are you alright?"
"Oh, young man, I'm so sorry for bumping into you," the old woman said, grabbing his hand with an apologetic look on her face. "This old woman is blind. I hope you won't blame me."
Kobayashi helped her pick up her cane. "How could I blame you? Here, ma'am, take it easy."
"Thank you."
The old woman grabbed onto his clothes with both hands, as if using him as a handle to help herself stand up. After getting up, her hands fumbled around, searching for her cane. It seemed she really was a blind old woman.
"Here, for you."
Seeing her struggle, Kobayashi proactively placed the cane in her hand.
The old woman felt the familiar cane, smiled with relief, and said, "Thank you, young man."
"You're welcome."
Kobayashi also smiled shyly and asked, "Where are you going? Do you need me to walk you?"
"No, no, I live just around the corner ahead. I won't trouble you," the old woman said, waving her hand, seeming not to want to bother others.
"Alright, if you don't need my help," Kobayashi said, seeing no reason to insist.
The two then waved goodbye.
"Goodbye, young man."
"Goodbye, ma'am..."
Kobayashi smiled and said goodbye to her, but that smile was incredibly strange.
PS: Come on, smash me to death with your power stones!
(End of Chapter)