Vending Machine – 157 – Shoe Obsessed

Chapter 157: Shoe Obsessed

Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7583de/

Author: Hirukuma

Translated by Zzonkedd

Edited by Gumihou

 

“Ah, Mister Hakkon, you know the person who provided the shoes, right? [1] A Miss Suori?”

Hevoy was leaning very close to me, and whispering in such a low voice that if I had not seen his face, I would have mistaken him for someone else.

“Welcome”

“May I trouble you for an introduction? There are some questions I would like to ask about those first-prize shoes.”

His reaction alone tells me he had strong feelings about those shoes. Still, I agreed to it. After all, who knows what would happen if I declined and he tried to force a meeting by himself?

“Welcome”

“Thank you very much.”

After our little exchange, Hevoy returned to his seat as we quietly waited for the end of the contest.

Throughout the rest of the event, his eyes were fixed upon the shoes while his face showed no expression at all. Looks like it would be best to address this matter sooner rather than later.

After the closing remarks [1] I suddenly noticed that it was getting darker. Ah, looks like dusk has fallen.

The people still milling about the stage were dyed in the hues of the setting sun. People gradually dispersed until there was only Hevoy and I in the seats. Director Bear offered to take me back to my usual spot, but I politely declined and stayed back instead.

“Hakkon, I got first place! Woo-hoo!”

Ramis rushed towards me, bodily throwing herself at me so hard that I actually swayed from the impact.

It looks like Shui, Hyurumi, and Kikoyu had also stayed back. But what about Suori?

“I wanna stuff myself full!!” was the first thing Shui declared as she thrust forward one of the free meal tickets.

Looks like Ramis gave those to her without any problem. However, there was one thing I needed to do first.

After dropping Kikoyu’s favourite drink into the slot, I manipulated it with my <telekinesis> and sent it to Kikoyu.

“He-re”

Since I had made this request a few times before, she understood immediately and walked over to touch my body.

I mentally conveyed the message that Hevoy wanted to meet with Suori. I also told her to be careful, because he was acting a little strange.

“”Understood, I will have Botan and Kuroyata protect us, so don’t worry.””

I shall be on guard as well, so please take care.

“Su-o-ri”

“Ca-ll”

“I believe she is near the stage area. I shall call her over now,” said Kikoyu, as though we did not have that conversation through telekinesis.

Kikoyu walked towards Botan, who was waiting nearby, hopped onto its back and made for the stage. Kuroyata was circling above, keeping watch.

“Hakkon, do you need something from Suori-chan?”

“Welcome”

“No, I am the one who wishes to meet her. I asked Hakkon to act as an intermediary.”

Hevoy, who had been sitting silently until just now, had stood up from his seat with his usual smile. He must have regained enough control over his emotions to show a composed face.

“How suspicious, are you after more shoes again?” Shui asked. She was already narrowing her eyes at him. I guess this was the result of his behaviour until now.

“Indeed. Miss Ramis, would you mind showing me your first-prize shoes?”

“Sure, no problem,” said Ramis easily as she took out the shoes from a bag.

Most people would have hesitated at least, especially those who knew about Hevoy’s peculiar… obsession. It’s possible that Ramis did not quite care because she had not worn those shoes before.

The shoes were more like regular shoes at about ankle-high rather than the usual knee-high boots favoured by most hunters.

The red trim and the mysterious text on the body of the shoe made it look very cool, although I can’t say that I recognised the characters written in that fancy script

“The size, this shape… there is no doubt about it…”

Hevoy was staring at the shoes so intensely that it felt like he might poke a hole through them with his gaze alone. He must have received some kind of confirmation or something, because after that intense staring, he closed his eyes once, before staring up to the sky.

Shui frowned at this odd behaviour. “What is it? You’re not yourself. Did you eat something weird?”

“Unlike you, I don’t eat things I [2] found in bins.”

“I don’t do that any more!”

The bins? Did she actually have to do that before? The person who ended up vehemently denying things appeared to have changed, but let’s not say anything about it.

The two continued to trade barbs for a while and Hevoy seemed to have regained some of his usual energy. Could it be that Shui had deliberately riled him up? She was the one who knew him the longest after all.

“Mister Hakkon, I have brought Suori-chan~” Kikoyu called from her position on Botan’s back. Suori was seated just behind her.

The two of them looked like they were having fun, like a real pair of children. However, as soon as they noticed us looking, they forced their faces into those weirdly tight expressions again.

Personally, I think it is ridiculous for little kids to maintain composed expressions like adults, especially after we have seen them acting like children.

[1] Botan brought Kikoyu and Suori so close to me that they were within touching distance. Have they deliberately come within the range of my <barrier>?

I should be able to protect the girls if anything happens quickly. However, I also don’t want to believe that Hevoy would suddenly become violent and attack us. Something was strange about him, but I wanted to believe that he was not that kind of person.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Suori. I am Hevoy. I worked with Mister Hakkon in hunting down monsters and exploring the dungeons.”

“Thank you very much for your great contribution. I am called Suori. Very pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Suori must have deemed it too impolite to remain sitting on Botan, so she had gracefully leapt off the Unasus to properly return Hevoy’s bow with a little curtsey of her own.

Moments like this reminded me that she was a proper young lady. I wonder if her usual black-suited escorts were lurking nearby as usual?

“I hear that you have something you wish to speak with me about?”

“Indeed, these shoes. These first prize shoes… may I ask if these are the Tireless Divine Feet?”

“Hmm? Is that what they are?” Hyurumi said contemplatively.

If Hyurumi recognises the name ‘Tireless Divine Feet’, it must be something quite famous.

“So, you know it well. It is one of the masterpieces of the renowned shoemaker, Loggiem. It is said that those who wear these shoes would feel light of body and no matter how much one walks, they would never tire.”

It would be quite amazing if it were true. I wonder if it’s been imbued with some fatigue recovery magic or something.

That aside, I don’t think putting such rare items as contest prizes is a good idea.

“I believe that only a few pairs were made and each one was slightly different in terms of colour and design. The craftsman is said to be quite particular.”

I see. So it was not a ‘one and only’ item? I guess it makes sense for the shoemaker to make more of it. If they really do have such a useful function, everyone would want it.

“If you do not mind, please tell me how you have obtained these shoes?”

I thought he was going to try to persuade Suori to give him the shoes. Apparently, he only wanted to know where to buy them?

“Indeed, that is no trouble. Hmm, a moment, please.”

Suori clapped her hands twice, and a man in black suddenly appeared from a gap in a narrow alley and stood behind her.

“These shoes, how did we obtain them?”

“Miss, the master mentioned that he obtained them from the Scorching Sand Floor.”

“Is that so?”

“From the Scorching Sand Floor? Do you happen to know from whom they were purchased from?” asked Hevoy.

“Answer the question,” said Suori.

“Yes. The master said they were purchased from a magic tool shop at Scorching Sand Floor. It was a great find and I remember master speaking happily about this purchase.”

Would Suori be scolded later for offering such a valuable item as a prize?

I haven’t visited the Scorching Sand Floor Yet. Director Bear had sent some people to scout out the area, but they haven’t returned yet. Or, so I’ve heard.

“Is that so? The Scorching Sand Floor, you say? Thank you very much. As you can see, I, as a lover of shoes, am very interested to know how these rare shoes reached your hand.”

What he said made sense, but I saw the expression he made when he lowered his head and chills went up my spine.

The usual smile had disappeared, replaced with a sharp narrow-eyed look.

Just what is he hiding?

Nothing of note happened after that, and everyone, including Suori, left soon after.

I was still concerned about Hevoy’s behaviour, but there was a post-contest party and I was taken along to provide food and drinks. In the end, I was not able to pursue this line of thought or find out anything else about it until the next morning.

 

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I was at my usual spot in front of the Hunter Association. Unusually, however, I was surrounded by a bunch of people lying on the floor around me.

A lot of alcohol was sold last night. I took advantage of the celebratory atmosphere and sold a lot of cocktails, Japanese saké and shochu with tonic water or ‘chu-high’. As a result, the party became too lively and this was the result.

I also sold a lot of snacks, so I’m pretty happy with the situation. The fact that many people ended up passing out like this is not my fault.

Considering the situation now, I think sports drinks and clam soups would sell well today. I had already picked out the lineup of products for hangover treatment and was looking forward to making some sales when I noticed a figure running towards me.

“Hakkon! Have you seen Hevoy?”

It was Shui. Her desperate voice and pained expression marked the end of the slow, slice-of-life moment at Clearflow Lake Floor.

 

[Gumihou: Well, the peaceful time has to end someday.]

[1] Adjust details

[2] The word is actually 拾い食いwhich means ‘scavange for food’, but the exact term don’t quite deliver the imagery, so I went with ‘found in the bins’, my other option was ‘pick things off the floor’, which, though correct, doesn’t seem to match with Hakkon’s ‘concerned observation’

 

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