Chapter 103 That Mysterious Item Shop Again？ Why Am I the Target？!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Despite it being such a backwater, we’ve managed to gather most of our travel gear, ‘kay?”
”Nya-nya. Now we just need to secure food for the trip to Scandinavia, and then we’re off in a few days, nya?”
”That’s right, ‘kay. At first, I thought I was going to get caught by Oberon’s fake and killed. But somehow, I’m going back home, ‘kay?”
”Nya. This journey has honestly been full of so much trouble, nya. I just want to go home and relax already, nya.”
Those two playing the role of the blockheads¹ are looking back on the journey so far. I wonder if they had a lot of trouble even before they met me? I hope they can get back to this place called Scandinavia safely after they part ways with us.
”The selection is truly too rich for a place this rural. This Item Shop is… Mister Shopkeeper.”
”Hmm? Ah, well, this place has been a shop for ages, you see! So, we just have a lot of leftover supplies. Not many people come by, so I’m glad things are finally selling!”
”That’s good to hear… So, where is the real shopkeeper, then? The shopkeeper that smells strongly of death?”
”…Oh dear, oh dear. What are you going on about, young one? I’m just a simple, deathless item shopkeeper, I am.”
”Is that so? I happen to know someone who’s very skilled at disguising themselves as a shopkeeper, so seeing your low-level disguise makes me feel quite sorry for you.”
”…Is that right, is that right. I look pitiful to you, do I… Shut up, you. Dark Bell Arts: Needle Bell.”
Shalaang!
Oh, my! A concealed weapon², huh? That’s unusual. An assassin in broad daylight like this.
”You’re slow. Kamiki Takeomi Style: Tiger Strike.”
I mercilessly slammed an attack powered by my elbow’s pivot right at the mysterious assassin who was impersonating the shopkeeper.
Crack… D-DOOOM!!
”Gah?! Such an attack from a little girl can’t possibly be this strong!”
The assassin’s disguise, which had made them look like an old shopkeeper woman, completely shattered from the single blow I delivered. Half of the ‘skin’ came peeling off to reveal the person underneath.
”That’s the truth of it, though. I’m actually pretty strong, and I can beat you, too!”
”…An imposter like Alexia Churidince dares to get cocky. A fake spat out from the Royal Capital.”
Huh? Wait a minute, that’s strange! Could this person have mistaken me for Alexia?
There’s absolutely no way that’s possible. Mistaking my pure, cheerful, and lovable most-favored daughter, Alexia, for a brat like me? Is this assassin playing a joke?
”…The one I have business with isn’t you. The person who desires it is the body of Shin Seyfried, which is said to possess a perfectly healthy physique.”
”…Excuse me?”
M-My body is the target?! What is wrong with this person? Are they a shotacon³? Are they one of those shotacon people who love cute boys? I can’t tell their age from the disguise, but they are clearly older than me, right? They attacked me, so that makes them a real, honest-to-goodness perverted shotacon? I really don’t want to be kidnapped by someone like that.
”What, what? What’s wrong, Shin-kun? Is Karentisia-chan bullying you again?” Alexia chirped.
”You idiot, Churidince. You were just chatting quietly with me a moment ago. This is an enemy, an enemy! The clue that has been setting up this whole chain of events has finally appeared right here,” Karentisia exclaimed sharply.
”Hmph, hmph! Karentisia-chan, what do you mean, idiot? What is an idiot, anyway?! You shouldn’t say mean things like that. Naughty!” Alexia scolded.
”…That mutt (Shin) really cherishes Churidince, doesn’t he. Why is she so innocent? Churidince, you’ve been thoroughly spoiled by that mutt (Shin), haven’t you? If you keep being so carefree, someone will eventually come along and devour you. This isn’t the Magic Academy, you should be more careful to…” Karentisia was cut off.
”Shin-kun! Are you okay? Are you hurt at all?” Alexia asked worriedly.
”…Hold on, Churidince, listen to the end of what I’m saying!” Karentisia complained.
Alexia and Karentisia-chan rushed over to me. What was that? Were they performing a comedy routine just now?
”Tch! They just keep gathering one after another… And with the villagers watching. I’ll retreat for now and come back to kidnap Shin Seyfried tonight… Dark Bell Arts: Exhaustion.”
Ah! The assassin is trying to run away. No way! I’m not letting them escape. After all, I’ve finally met Assassin Celia-chan, one of the hidden heroines of Maidens x Cross-dressing!
Now that she’s had an encounter with Alexia, I need to raise her flag and make sure she gets a happy ending that involves some nightly hanky-panky.
”Sacred Artifact Activate: Princess’s Silver Blade—Silver Thread!”
”Hmph… It’s too late even if you activate something like that. My body is already accelerating—He-buh?!“
Thump!
”W-W-Why? Why are strange threads wrapped around my body?!” she cried in confusion.
”…The fight is already over the moment it began, Assassin Celia-chan,” I stated with a smirk.
”C-Crap! Alexia Churidince. Always interfering with me. Remember this!”
”I told you I’m not Alexia… But directing such hostility towards Alexia is not good. I guess I’ll have to give you a little training, my new best friend, Celia-chan.”
”…Huh? What is that? W-What are you going to do to me? I am, after all, a knight of the Regain Kingdom… Wait! No, nooo!” she shrieked in panic.
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Summary:
An attempted kidnapping and assassination by the shopkeeper, who turns out to be Celia, a hidden character from the game! Shin defeats her easily with his overwhelming strength, but she makes a critical mistake, confusing him for Alexia before revealing her true motive: she wants Shin’s body. Before she can escape, Shin uses a Sacred Artifact to capture her, hinting that he’s going to ‘train’ his new ‘best friend’ and trigger a character flag.
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Character Insight:
Shin is delighted to encounter a character from the game’s meta-narrative, showing his tendency to treat real-world events as an enjoyable extension of the RPG. He is fiercely possessive of the real Alexia’s reputation and uses the fight as an excuse to rope Celia into his life. His casual use of Sacred Artifacts confirms his high power level. The real Alexia remains pure and oblivious, while Karentisia is the sharp one.
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Behind the Scene:
The chapter is setting up the introduction of Assassin Celia, a potentially romanceable character in the original game, by having her directly target the protagonist. The misunderstanding of Shin’s identity (as Alexia) is a recurring gag, which is quickly resolved to reveal the true target is Shin himself, likely for his unique body/abilities. The final line strongly implies a non-safe-for-work scenario as a means of ‘training’ or ‘bonding’ with the new heroine.
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T/L:
¹ The original term is Boke-tantou (ボケ担当), referring to the ‘funny man’ or ‘clown’ in a Japanese comedy duo (Manzai). It highlights their role in the conversation as the slightly goofy one. ↩
² Anki (暗器), or concealed weapon. It refers to a weapon designed to be hidden and used for surprise attacks, commonly associated with assassins. ↩
³ Shotacon (ショタコン) is a portmanteau of ‘Shota Complex,’ referring to an attraction to young boys, in this case, a term Shin uses to joke about the assassin’s creepy motives. ↩
Notes:
• Oberon – The former Fairy King, currently appearing as the ‘Mysterious Shopkeeper’ but revealing his true identity. He is a wise, cryptic figure who helped Seyfried eliminate a future threat at the cost of his physical form.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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