bookbashuk #466 - The master said nothing, just apologized
#466 - The master said nothing, just apologized
Undeniably, everyone has an idol, someone they admire in their youth and secretly strive to become.
While whether they can actually become that person is debatable, it's certain that the idol has played a significant role in their life.
“Zunzun, are you nervous?”
“I… yes.”
Zunzun didn't deny Erika's question; he was indeed a little nervous.
He knew very well that what he was about to see wasn't the true idol—would he vehemently deny and despise it, or would he, like Luo Hao, consider it a disgrace and be enraged, or perhaps go mad after the filter shattered?
Before the torii gate of Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
This is the mausoleum built to enshrine the deified Tokugawa Ieyasu—Tosho Daigongen—a splendid and luxurious shrine, so school excursions are often held here, and many tourists come to visit.
However, those are just ordinary people.
Zunzun, a Godslayer, appearing here would already make people feel very nervous.
“Let's go, Erika.”
“Yes.”
No one came to greet them.
No, it should be said that those who were supposed to greet them had already been dismissed; only the two of them were here now.
They passed through the torii gate, entered the main hall through the famous Yomeimon Gate, then the main shrine, and finally entered the Okusha—this was the regular route, but Zunzun, after walking halfway, changed course and headed towards a simple building.
It was as if something was guiding him.
This was a small, unadorned house, out of place with the luxurious decorations seen so far, and it looked particularly old.
Inside the surrounding fence were two horses, as if to say that this was just an ordinary stable.
Under the eaves of the ordinary residence, monkeys were carved from left to right, some lying down, some standing, some looking up, in various and strange poses, totaling more than a dozen.
“Zunzun, let me…”
“No, leave it to me.”
Zunzun stopped Erika, who wanted to break the barrier with force, and with a wave of his hand, a black kitten jumped out of mid-air.
It first lazily stretched its back and meowed, then gently bit the air.
To be precise, it bit the barrier.
A faint cracking sound could be heard in their ears.
The two strode towards the vast forest behind the stable, and after entering the woods for about ten minutes, they finally came to an ancient shrine.
—West Heaven Palace.
This was the shrine where the Monkey God was imprisoned.
It was also a barrier specially set up by Susanoo-no-Mikoto and other gods of the Netherworld, with the purpose of using the Monkey God as a tool to drive away and eliminate other disobedient gods or divine beasts.
It was also because of this that Luo Hao felt ashamed.
Without Zunzun's command, the black kitten immediately understood what it had to do, so it stepped forward again and tore the barrier to pieces in a few strokes.
As expected of a dark-type fairy spirit, it was too good at dealing with barriers.
You should know that this was a cage specially set up for the Monkey God by several disobedient gods in the Netherworld, but it was still broken without alarming others.
The moment the barrier shattered, a different kind of aura rushed towards them.
Erika subconsciously stood in front of him.
“Don't be nervous.”
“But…”
Zunzun shook his head.
It was no wonder Erika was excited; what came after the seal was broken was the aura of the Netherworld that had almost killed her once.
Without thinking further, he stepped forward.
Stepping onto the corridor of West Heaven Palace, which connected to the Netherworld, the surrounding darkness obscured all vision. Zunzun's instant movement could be used at any time, and he held Erika's hand just in case. However…
“Erika, you're too close. If we encounter danger, I won't be able to cope.”
“Then I'll act as Zunzun's meat shield.”
“I'm not that demonic.”
“It doesn't matter, I'm willing.”
Erika hugged Zunzun's arm tightly and wouldn't let go. Whether it was because Luo Hao had been monopolizing him, causing Erika to have an unnecessary sense of crisis, in any case, the physical contact between the two became more frequent.
Because they were very careful, they walked very slowly.
No, it should be said that they knew what kind of mood to face, and they deliberately walked very slowly.
But even the longest passage has an end, and after half an hour, a dozen meters ahead—within the distance Zunzun could see—there was a square hole, and strong light shone in from there.
Passing through the square cave, they came to a new space.
In this suddenly open small world, there was a dilapidated hut, uninhabited, probably a stable, just like the stable they had just seen at Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
Outside, under the sunlight, was a refreshing clear sky.
In the distance, they could see a very spectacular building.
It was a huge house, no, it should be called a palace, a celestial palace similar to Mount Lu in China.
A gentle breeze caressed their faces.
Zunzun's nostrils twitched slightly, he smelled a special scent, and then his soul trembled, his whole body tensed up, and his blood boiled, as if entering a battle stance.
“Over there.”
Erika said.
Following the direction of her finger, Zunzun looked towards the corner of the stable.
A monkey was lying on the hay.
It wasn't a Japanese macaque; its face wasn't red, but pinkish-white. Its fur was very bright, almost orange-golden, and its body length was about 80 centimeters.
Just as Zunzun noticed it, it also noticed Zunzun.
“Welcome to my palace. It's been a long time since I've had guests, and there's even a Godslayer… By the way, why do you look like you're about to cry?”
The monkey, while getting up, replied in a bright voice. Its movements were very similar to those of a human, like a nimble child jumping off a bed.
The monkey… no, the Monkey God scratched his head.
“Oh dear, I'm the worst at dealing with crying children. You know, the shrine maidens who come to play with me are always very happy. Okay, okay, don't cry. Or else, I'll let you touch my fur… Whoa~”
As if trying to cheer Zunzun up, it made a funny face. Coupled with that rather festive monkey face, it felt very amusing.
“Hehe.”
“Oh oh, he smiled, he smiled.”
The Monkey God, like a cheerful child, hopped around Zunzun, not treating him as his nemesis at all.
So cheerful and frivolous, to be honest, gradually overlapped with Zunzun's impression of his idol.
“But you probably didn't come here to play with me, right?” It was a little melancholic, and then showed a lonely expression, “Speaking of which, it's been a long time since anyone has come to play with me.”
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“Play?”
“Yes. It's the shrine maidens who play with me, sometimes talking about the world, sometimes playing hide-and-seek or sugoroku. I really like it when it's lively. If they can also sing and dance, I'll give them an even higher rating.”
“What's that?”
It seemed that this was what Luo Hao meant by playing with others.
“Play with me… No, wait a minute. Come to think of it, you wouldn't want me to drive away dragons or kill snakes, would you? No way! I have to fight gods and demon kings every time, I can't take it anymore!”
The Monkey God somersaulted as if he couldn't take it anymore, and then lay lazily on the ground.
“—Don't want to!”
“What?”
“This kind of thing is too annoying for me. Rather than thinking about these things, I might as well think about how to play.”
This kind of slacking off made Zunzun see the shadows of the demonic and genuine, as well as the idiotic Aqua.
“Okay!”
After saying that, he saw it pull out a dice cup from under the pile of hay, as if by magic.
“Let's play! You too!”
“Me?”
Erika pointed at herself. After seeing Zunzun nod, she smiled confidently.
“Don't cry if you lose!”
“How dare you, I should be the one saying that!”
So the three of them happily played dice.
And this game of comparing dice sizes ended with Zunzun in first place, the Monkey God in second place, and Erika in third place.
“Wait a minute, no matter how you look at it, it looks like you're cheating. Although I can't compare to you two, isn't it a little abnormal to not win even once?”
“Let me state in advance, I didn't cheat.”
“Me neither.”
“—Not that!”
Erika stomped her feet in frustration. It was very rare for a well-mannered young lady to be so flustered.
Zunzun and the Monkey God looked at each other, and then burst into laughter.
It seemed that teasing her was a very interesting thing.
Then they played hide-and-seek, sugoroku, and card battle games. The Monkey God, like a child sharing toys with a good friend, kept taking these out, with an air of wanting to have fun to the fullest in the end.
And no matter what the game was, Zunzun and the Monkey God had their own wins and losses, and in the end, only Erika always lost.
Godslayer, Disobedient God, and ordinary person.
The former two had their own wins and losses, while the latter had no power to resist at all. Even a great knight couldn't do it. The hierarchy was unexpectedly strict.
After a pleasant game time—
“Hoo… I had a great time.” The Monkey God lay leisurely on the hay. He casually said, “So, what's the matter that you came here for? … Oh dear, I asked a boring question.”
“What?”
“As a Godslayer, there can only be one reason for you to come here, right?”
Those eyes seemed to see through everything, but he still maintained a smiling expression as if it was none of his business.
“…I'm sorry.”
“Wait, wait. Why are you crying again?”
Zunzun thought he would have feelings like anger, rage, or shame, but after seeing it, he was inexplicably left with only sadness and guilt.
“…I'm sorry.”
“I became a monkey who only knows how to joke because I was sealed, and I even lost my sense of shame. I should be the one apologizing.”
Knowing full well that it wasn't the true idol, but a clone of countless worlds, he could completely treat it as another person like Luo Hao, or even weaken the idol's divinity.
“…I'm sorry.”
“You are a Godslayer, and I am a Disobedient God, natural enemies. But if I return to my original appearance, I seem to be quite difficult to deal with. Are you really okay with this?”
When Megumin and Wobak were dueling with Explosion magic, they must have had the same entanglement and distress. Zunzun actually empathized in this situation.
“…I'm sorry.”
“—It's okay, I forgive you.”
A furry palm was placed on his shoulder, and the reddish monkey face showed a hearty smile.
Zunzun's heart was fiercely squeezed.