Chapter 45 – Ralph, Totto and the Shit Bastard
“Now, time to get ready again!”
There were still two requests left for the Yan Valley. If we did not deal with them today or tomorrow, there would be a penalty. And so we had to hurry.
Since we meant to camp out, there were also preparations to be made. And so we would go shopping during the morning.
As Totto wanted to gather herbs and magic stones, he would accompany us, even if it was a hunting quest.
Muzeria was called the processing industry city, and it created and sold many products, from dyed cloth to magic goods.
They also made exported goods for other countries, which passed through the checkpoint that was the royal capital.
On the continent side, there were mountain ranges, and on the other side was the sea. While the actual land was small, the terrain made it easy for magic energy to gather, which resulted in a great variety of plant life.
Fish was also processed there, but their main products were dyed cloth and the precious stones and magic gems that were mined in the mountains.
There was an industrial guild, as well as many workshops and factories for the crafters, alchemists and blacksmith.
A short distance from the main street, there was a morning market where you could buy food.
The three had decided to look at some food.
As Ralph was adamant that they eat vegetables, they were currently buying vegetables and fruits.
(Now that I think about it, we still don’t know the secret of the insane alchemy…)
He could just ask about it. But perhaps it was best to leave it alone.
Menew had not cared too much about it before. But now, he was full of curiosity.
Around the city, there were things that they kept seeing rolling around on the roads.
They looked familiar, only they were incredibly large and fast. But then again, he had only seen such things in documentaries…
(What are they…?)
These things that looked like dung beatles…!
No one else in the city seemed to notice them. But they did not seem like the kind of things that would normally live in a city.
They had been in the forest and valley as well. Though, the ones in the city seemed just a little smaller.
“Hey, there is something that I’ve been wondering…”
They were even in the market they were currently walking through. Cutting through the streets like it was normal.
“What?”
“What is it?”
Ralph and Totto stopped to look at Menew.
Menew looked at them seriously and opened his mouth..
“…Why are their dung beetles all over town?”
The two looked at each other. Huh? What a stupid question.
“Oh, yes. Mr. Menew has lost his memory.”
“They aren’t dung beetles. They are servants of the great Scarab god.”
This was a busy market place. If they were going to talk, it was best to do it without getting in peoples way. And so they went into a back alley.
“Long ago, there was a terrible plague. And so these scarabs were sent by a god.”
“They gather all of the waste from horses and the poor districts, and roll them into a ball that is enveloped in a protective film so they are harmless. And then, as if they all have the same will, they roll these balls outside of the city into a compost heap.”
“While there is a sewage system, it does not reach every corner. And so their contribution to sanitation is tremendous.”
“Yes! They are wonderful and useful insects.”
Ah. So it was wrapped up in a layer of membrane, so people didn’t mind. Indeed, it was not as if they smelled. It was no wonder that the streets were so clean, in spite of the amount of horses and carriages being used.
“Still, I’m surprised no one accidentally steps on them…”
Yes, there were that many. No matter which street you were on, you were bound to see them.
And yet everyone walked and talked as if they were not there…
“Mr. Menew. Even if you step on a scarab, you just have to take it to the church, and it will revive the next day.”
“Seriously?”
That seemed like quite a cheat.
“After all, they are a symbol of life. Their population does not increase or decrease too much. Since there are so many people, accidents do happen… But in general, they are good at avoiding people.”
They were very different from the dung beetles that Menew knew about.
(They detected and avoided the sudden and random movements of humans. And they also revived in 1 day? This god really was doing a lot for them.)
A scarab was pushing a ball right in front of them now.
As Menew watched, the scarab left its ball and moved towards Menew.
And then, most shockingly, it turned around and began to kick Menew with its hind legs, as if to roll him away.
“!?”
“Hehe…I’m sorry.”
“Ah, there is a saying, but I have never seen it before! It’s kicking you!”
Hey, stop laughing, Ralph!
It did not hurt Menew at all. Well, there was definitely some psychological damage being dealt.
(I don’t know. I’m feeling quite depressed now…)
“…A saying?”
As the scarab would not stop, Menew ignored it and turned to Totto.”
“Getting kicked by a scarab… People say ‘I got kicked by a scarab’ when something bad happens or if they feel abandoned by god. Or if a child behaves badly, you might say, ‘A scarab will kick you.’ My mother even said it to me.”
God?
Menew realized that he would have to speak to Seker two nights in a row.
“Usually, it is only people who are a nuisance or criminals who get kicked… But, well…”
“What?”
Ralph was trying his hardest to not laugh.
Menew had a bad feeling, but he preferred that he just say it.
“Adults call such people…shit bastards… Ahaha!”
Don’t laugh at your own joke!
“Uh…am I really that bad?”
Menew asked the other two. Totto shook his head, but Ralph was laughing too hard to answer.
Menew even thought of stepping on the scarab, but there was no point in doing that. They were useful insects, and would revive anyway.
“Sometimes, they even come inside of your house. But people just use a broom to push them out.”
“…They are sent by a god, so you must treat them well. Hehe… Shall we move along then?”
As Ralph was assaulted by a wave of laughter every time he looked at Menew, they decided to move.
When Menew walked away, the beetle returned to its original ball and pushed it away.
(What did I do to deserve that…?)
Menew asked himself. However, he had been doing a lot lately without thinking. So perhaps there were more than a few things.
“Ah, there are some cooking tools.”
“I nearly forgot. Let’s buy them.”
“We have materials now.”
Menew and Ralph did not mind eating dried meat. But Totto was with them now, and so they would try to cook when possible.
And Ralph did not like the sketchbook food.
As they looked at the pots and knives, another nearby scarab started kicking at Menew’s feet.
“Bahaha!”
“…”
“I will pay for these!”
It was as if Totto had awakened to the thrill of shopping. And while Menew smiled like a kind parent, he also felt even more psychological damage again. Of course, Ralph was nearly dying of laughter now.
Menew wanted to disappear into dust.
(I would rather be dust…than shit…)
After that, every time they stopped at some stall, a scarab would come and try to kick Menew, and so they did not depart until it was slightly past midday.
I feel really bad for the guy!
Thank you for all of your hard work!