CHAPTER 12: ABILITIES COME IN DIFFERENT FORMS (1)
The restaurant hall had undergone some changes in my absence. A stage-like structure had formed at the back, and tables were arranged in a semicircle in front of it. Our group had already descended, and now Group A was seated at two tables at the edge of this makeshift crescent. One table was occupied by Kei, Akira, and Babe, while Natal was engaged in conversation with Eris at the second one.
In addition to our team and the performers, there were a significant number of people in the room. The number of future spectators didn't surprise me too much; after all, this wasn't Earth, and there weren't that many entertainment options. Who would want to stay home in the evening? It wasn't ideal for me, as I've never been a fan of noise and large crowds of strangers, but it wasn't unbearable either. It just prompted me to once again scan the visitors in search of potential threats.
Natal touched the blonde girl's shoulder and gestured towards the frozen figure in the doorway with a smile.
"Kurome!" The girl who had jumped from her seat rushed toward me, relief written all over her face. My ears were immediately bombarded with a barrage of reproaches and concerns, to which I started to nonchalantly dismiss, perplexed by such a reaction. Who was this random acquaintance to be so concerned about?
Even though I didn't show it, the concern turned out to be... nice. The chill that had been burning in my chest gave way to a pleasant warmth. Eris seemed to bring a burst of positivity with her.
If we filtered out the emotions, the girl was upset because she had been misled. Well, she also underestimated the power of a kind sorceress, apparently.
Upon learning from the guys that I was out walking, she decided to inquire with other performers about the local attractions. And they spun tales about the nearby slums that would make Chicago during the Prohibition era seem like a haven of lawfulness and piety. It wasn't surprising that Eris was genuinely concerned. The concerned girl even attempted to persuade the guys from the group to go out in search of me.
Hearing this, I couldn't help but smile, imagining how the blonde girl had tried to get them to rescue "poor Kurome" from the clutches of the terrifying bandits.
"...Your friend Natal also said I was worrying for nothing. He's so kind and good! But Kei Lee just brushed it off and laughed. He said you'd appear right after they set the table. He also said that the bandits should be scared because you'd start mastering southern cuisine. I just didn't quite understand what was funny about it. Southern dishes are spicy but delicious, and chocolate with fruits and nuts is simply exquisite," Eris exhaled and tossed a strand of her light hair behind her shoulder.
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"Some tribes practice cannibalism," I replied in a slightly cooler tone.
Kei's joke had struck a chord. Not because he compared me to southerners, whom I didn't particularly like, but because of the hint of truth in his words. I had no intention of putting anything in my mouth that wasn't kosher (bandit meat definitely didn't qualify as such, heh). No, it wasn't Kei's comparison to southerners that bothered me; it was the implication that I was the most dangerous monster on these streets.
A truthful implication. I enjoyed killing.
That bothered me. And in turn, it triggered a surge of anger towards our sharp-tongued friend.
...the slippery slope began after my sister's escape. The cold-blooded execution of orders shattered into pieces and became unattainable. I tried to channel my anger on enemies and the gnawing realization that things would only get worse. It even helped for a while, but over time, the attempts to release my anger turned into a bloody spree. And who said I would stay on the edge of that abyss, not descending into manic madness like some Khornite? Yes, I didn't revel in killing indiscriminately, deriving pleasure only from the murder of the "bad guys." In other words, enemies. And those I didn't like. And those who irritated me. Or just when I wanted to improve a bad mood, which had been rarely good lately. Mm-hmm...
Considering the internal conflict after clearing out the audacious bandits, it was time to start seriously worrying about my sanity.
In general, the thoughts weren't the happiest, and here was this clown, too!
Turning away from the girl, I shot a glare at Kei Lee, who had turned in our direction. The mischievous glint in his brown eyes and the smirk on his face made it clear that he was preparing a new, very, in his opinion, funny joke. Nodding to Natal, I gave Kei an evil squint and showed him my fist. The prankster didn't seem particularly impressed. Pretending to clutch his heart (on the right side of his chest, yep), he turned away with exaggerated fear.
"Are you mad?" the blonde girl's slightly trembling voice pulled me away from my bloodthirsty thoughts. "I'm too persistent and talkative, aren't I?"
"Not with you. I enjoy your company, Eris," I replied, nervously tugging at the sleeve of her dress. "It's just that one individual with too long a tongue will soon realize that not all of his jokes are equally healthy."
Kei pretended to be as stiff as a log, as if he hadn't heard my words and didn't feel my gaze.
"Well, well, I'll buy some blade covers or proper training swords tomorrow, then try not to feel them!" I mentally warned him, calming down.
As I walked to the table, I sat down next to my friend. Eris positioned herself on the other side, leaning her guitar against the wall. Next to her, Natal's glaive and Bayb's two-handed sword leaned against the wall as well. Unbuckling the scabbard from my belt, I placed my katana within arm's reach, next to the other, um, tools of our trade.
"May I?" I asked the girl, nodding towards the musical instrument with my eyes.
"Do you know how to play the guitar?" the blonde girl asked in surprise as she pulled it out of its case. "Usually, everyone learns to play the piano."
I shook my head in the negative.
"Our school's program didn't include music lessons, but I'm interested in watching and maybe learning," I said as I gripped the fretboard and tried the strings. The instrument felt rather unfamiliar in my hands, and despite its similarity to Earth's guitars and my memory of past skills, I wasn't lying.
"Really?" The girl's bright green eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Let me be your mentor! You can play simple melodies almost immediately!" Eris clearly wanted to start her lessons right here and now, but I restrained her. After all, a restaurant wasn't the best place for a lesson.
"Yes, yes, Kurome-chi, you'll learn to strum and become a true bard of our Squad," Kei laughed. "You'll sing your lullaby to the music."
"So, do you compose too?" The blonde girl's excitement increased. "I simply must hear it! Let's start learning tomorrow! Um, if you don't mind, of course."
"Why not? I actually asked you to," I replied. "But I have a rather dark or gloomy repertoire, so you might not like it."
"Go for it, Kurome-chi! Bring the heat! We believe in you!" Natal and Bayb supported the prankster with nods.
"Just not that horror like last time," added Akira.