A Stuffed Cheonma in my Head - Chapter 29



Only Noblemtl

Episode 029. Brothers of Grim Reaper

* * *

The silence stretched on for a long time.

At that moment, Shushuruta, who had finally managed to calm his cough, was fidgeting and trying to make an excuse.

A reply came from the deceased brother.

“… … Just pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“why?”

“It’s an old name that was buried a long time ago.”

“Hmm. I guess there is something you can’t tell.”

“Then it counts.”

I nodded and answered.

“Okay, I understand. I won’t ask any more questions.”

“Then I would appreciate it.”

“I’m sorry for being rude. I’m just curious.”

“… … Forget it.”

With those words, the meal resumed with the sound of dishes clinking again.

That was it. No more voices were exchanged.

The meal ended quietly.

After the meal, when I tried to help them clean up, both of them firmly refused.

Then while one person was cleaning up, another one spoke to us.

I still can’t tell who is Heaven and who is Legard.

“Go up and rest. You said you were going to Mount Parbat?”

“That’s true.”

The man nodded and said.

“I guess I’ll have to leave early in the morning. Get some rest.”

With those words, he turned away. It was a notice that he had nothing more to say and that he should go inside and sleep.

We had no choice but to go up to the second floor.

As soon as I came up to this floor and closed the door, Shushuruta started nagging me.

“Why on earth are you asking that? Is there anything to make a fuss about? Why don’t you just spend the night quietly and leave? It seemed like everyone was asking you not to ask. Are you doing that on purpose? Huh?”

I lay down on my side, rubbing my ears.

“Hey, be quiet.”

I made a pillow under the back of my head with my hands and closed my eyes.

Shushuruta grumbled at me for a while, then sighed deeply and shook his head.

“Oh my. What can I say?”

Then I heard a rustling sound, and then it became quiet.

“… … .”

I slowly lifted my blindfold and looked for Shushuruta.

She was sitting with her back against a large box containing various items, hugging her knees, and staring blankly at the floor with her pouty lips.

“Hey, Shushuruta.”

“… … something.”

Shushuruta glanced at me and then turned his gaze back to the ground.

“You said you run a thieves’ guild?”

“Yes.”

“So I think I know most of the information.”

“… … That’s right.”

“Brother Grim Reaper. Have you ever heard of him?”

“… … .”

Shushuruta looked at the floor in silence and answered.

“… … I’m not sure, but one thing comes to mind.”

“What is it?”

“It happened so long ago that I don’t know the details, only bits and pieces… … .”

“It’s okay, just tell me.”

Shushuruta glared at me, then slowly explained while staring at the dusty floor.

“About ten years ago, there were brothers who caused a stir in the Kingdom of Blake. They were called the messenger brothers of Menes.”

It was an interesting introduction.

Just listening to it made my mouth feel bored, so I looked for something to chew, but then got lazy and lay back down.

“At that time, they sought out the famous strongmen in the kingdom and challenged them to fight. It wasn’t unusual. At that time, there were many who tried to prove their strength in that way.”

“hmm.”

“The Grim Reaper brothers became famous by defeating strong men one after another. They were unique in that they used sickles instead of swords, and they were called the Grim Reaper brothers because they used strange techniques to cut off their opponents’ wrists and ankles like ghosts. I heard that their combined attacks were particularly excellent.”

“Oh.”

“As his fame spread by seeking out and defeating strong men one after another, one day they suddenly disappeared.”

I asked, blinking my eyes.

“why?”

“I don’t know for sure. There are just various theories.”

“What kind of snow is it?”

“Some say that they realized their limitations and quietly returned to their hometown, while others say that they finally achieved enlightenment and went into the mountains. Still others say that they fought each other and destroyed themselves.”

I thought for a moment and then said.

“I don’t think that’s all true. I see what’s here.”

Shushuruta nodded.

“The most plausible theory is that he was defeated by the Knight of the Cold.”

“Knight of the Cold?”

“There is a story that the Grim Reaper brothers saved their lives by vowing to live out their lives in hiding after being brutally defeated by the Knight of the Cold, and that they have since left the secular world and are living in hiding.”

“I think that’s correct given the circumstances.”

“Maybe so, maybe not. I’m not sure.”

I looked up at the ceiling for a moment and then asked.

“Is the Knight of the Cold really that strong?”

Shushuruta nodded.

“He is strong. He is a royal knight.”

“ah.”

Only then did I remember where I had heard the word “bitter cold.”

Just before entering Scarab, Shushuruta had a conversation with the Acorn Man, and he had mentioned the bitter cold in passing.

“They said the royal family dispatched a knight. Then, wouldn’t it be possible for that knight of the cold to come?”

Shushuruta shook his head.

“A knight of the cold is a knight who acts only on the king’s orders. Unless the king suddenly goes mad, there is no way he would send a knight of the cold for something like this. Especially when the royal family is in turmoil due to the power struggle over the next throne.”

“okay?”

“Yes.”

I guess so.

Since he had a confident face, I just let it be.

I don’t know much about how things work in the Kingdom of Maia, where I was born and raised, let alone the situation in the neighboring country.

I didn’t really want to know, and I wasn’t interested.

Because I don’t plan on staying long anyway.

Shushuruta suddenly looked at me and said.

“Ashvan.”

“hmm?”

“Don’t think of anything else. If they are really our brothers, we must be even more careful with our words and actions. They are definitely not easy people.”

“hmm.”

“Do you understand?”

“hmm.”

I looked up at the old ceiling, vaguely mumbling my answer.

Before I knew it, it was full night and faint moonlight was streaming in through the window in the wall.

“Shushuruta. Grow up. You have to wake up early tomorrow.”

“Stop thinking nonsense and grow up.”

“check.”

After exchanging warm greetings, we went to sleep.

A smile appeared on my lips.

‘Master. I can’t wait for tomorrow. My heart is pounding. Is tomorrow a picnic day?’

[… … Pathetic guy.]

But even as he spoke, an eerie smile appeared on the corner of Cheonma’s mouth like a waning moon.

* * *

The morning dawned.

The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs was heard, followed by the sound of knocking on the door.

-Come down and have breakfast.

“I’ll be there soon.”

I answered while sitting down.

Then, he woke up Shushuruta, who was still sleeping curled up on one side, by tapping her.

“Hey, hey. Get up.”

“Ugh… … .”

I could tell just by the way this guy kept slumping around like this.

The brothers who died have no hostility towards us.

This cannot but be a very difficult problem.

How can one fight with those who have no will to fight?

How can I start a fight?

I woke up early in the morning and thought about it.

I was tempted to ask them how they would have fought the powerful men of the past.

Up until now, I didn’t have to worry about anything because I just killed all the guys who rushed at me with the dagger of Oposis.

Since the opponent was after my life, it was only natural that I should kill the opponent.

On the other hand, the brothers who died were kind people who gave them a place to stay and shared food with them.

There was no sign of any enemies. They didn’t look like villains worthy of death.

What should I do in this case?

Cheonma clicked his tongue.

[Do you think they attacked you after seeing all the circumstances when you were in your prime? Just kill them. Even earthworms wriggle to survive. If you attack them, they will fight back.]

… … But I felt reluctant to do that.

Isn’t it repaying their goodwill with a sword?

Then how am I different from the Baron?

[… … Then what do you want to do?]

After thinking about it here and there,

I came to the conclusion that I would feel a little better if they pointed their swords at me first.

I’m a beggar who has no choice but to fight to survive.

There’s no choice.

[… … .]

Thinking about it that way, a good idea came to mind.

I was worried that it wouldn’t work out, but at that time, I decided to just give up and leave.

It was a kind of test.

If they don’t point their swords at me, then they are not devils.

If you’re not the devil, you can’t kill him.

But if it turns out he was a devil in human skin, he deserves to be killed.

“Haha. That was good.”

After making up my mind like that, I picked up the back of Shushuruta’s neck, who still had no intention of getting up, and used the scabbard as a cane to stomp down the stairs.

On the first floor, a simple breakfast of bread, milk, cheese, eggs, and dried fruit was prepared.

“I will eat well.”

“You have a long way to go, so eat plenty.”

Shushuruta ate breakfast half-asleep, still with a sleepy face.

Suddenly, Heaven spoke. No, it was Legard.

I still couldn’t tell the two people apart.

“The road is rough, so I’ll take you all the way to the front.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

“You don’t have to decline since you’re going to pick herbs anyway. I’ll just see you off until you get there.”

“Thank you.”

As the warm breakfast came to a close, I stumbled as I tried to get up from my seat.

“Oh my.”

Let’s lean our upper body forward.

Ring!

The dagger in his arms fell onto the table.

“Oh my, this is so.”

I hurriedly put the dagger back in my bosom and checked the face of my brother.

“… … !”

They were staring at me with their eyes wide open, or rather, at the arms where the daggers were inserted.

Shushuruta also looked at me with a face that was suddenly wide awake.

‘So, what do we do now?’

I waited for their reaction.

The dagger itself is very old and famous.

Even if you haven’t heard the latest news that the dagger has a new owner, you probably know the dagger’s true identity.

So how would they react to the poor blind man and his frail sister having this dagger?

If they are truly good people, I will pretend not to see them and let them go, but if they are devils who live while deceiving their true nature, I will kill them and take them away.

A blind man and a weak younger sister. There is no easier target than this.

My heart was pounding.

‘How will it turn out?’

There was an awkward silence for a moment.

And then, the two men began to hurriedly clear the table.

Regard, or rather Heaven, said.

“Please wait a moment. I will clean up and then see you off.”

I felt my excitement cooling off.

They were truly good people.

I sighed deeply and nodded.

Shushuruta also let out a sigh at the same time, which seemed like a sigh of relief.

Then he stared at me intently, so I avoided eye contact.

* * *

The brothers took their sickles and clubs and set out.

Because it was early, there were no people on the streets.

“Follow me.”

We followed them through the quiet village.

As they came out of the village, Heven took the lead, followed by Regard.

No, it’s the opposite. I still can’t tell the two apart.

“It’s a dangerous place, so be careful, as demons may appear very occasionally.”

“Okay, I understand.”

As he said, the road was indeed rough.

A narrow path continued through the dense trees on both sides.

I walked slowly along the road, supported by Shushuruta.

How long did it take to walk like that?

When the village became too far away to be seen.

Legard, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped walking.

“Huh? Why are you stopping?”

Legard slowly turned around, took out a scythe from behind his back and held it in his hand.

“Oh, brother!”

Shushuruta said, clinging close to me.

Looking back, Heven had also stopped walking and had taken out a scythe from behind his back.

So, we were surrounded from the front and back.

Legard said.

“Hand over the dagger.”

“ah…….”

Only then was I able to grasp the situation.

“Pfft… … Pfft… … Puhahahahaha!”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter so I just laughed heartily.

I felt Heaven and Legard looking at me with strange eyes.

I said, waving my hand.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I have a disease that makes it hard for me to hold back laughter.”