Konjiki no Moji Tsukai

Nikki had been sulking with her cheeks puffed out ever since the bamboo bear, Ikki, had run away.

No matter how much she had been raised to be a monster, at this moment she looked like a normal child.

Hiiro wanted to ask Nikki about the black bamboo, but determining that this was not the time, he remained silent.

.........Hi

A voice slightly echoed in the ears of Hiiro.

It was Hiiro's first time hearing that voice. He looked around to see who it was.

Hey. You. The one in the red robe

Hiiro felt the voice coming from the big bamboo bear in front of him.

Was it you? Who spoke just now?

Hmm? What are you saying all of a sudden Hiiro?

Liliyn looked strangely at Hiiro, who suddenly started to speak to the bamboo bear.

Yes. It was me desu. As I thought, you can understand our words.

............how were you able to tell?

Because you were able to listen in on the conversation of the children, and had a few reactions; you murmured, although you were quiet, I was still able to hear it.

Certainly I remembered having a worrisome expression, and I was about to react during the fight, between the two of them.

Is there something that you wish to talk to me about?

The child who ran away earlier is called Ikki, and I apologise for the words spoken by the little one.

It's alright, I don't mind.Because I can understand where his feelings are coming from

.........Youre the gentle kind desu-ne.Thank you very much

Thanks are unnecessary

While the two were having a conversation, Liliyn and the others heard Hiiro and the bamboo bear speak somewhat like this gagagaaa, it was quite the mysterious sight for them.

Oi Hiiro, Can you possibly speak to the monster?

Well yeah.I am currently speaking to this fellow, so could you keep quiet for a while.

mu......

Lililyn, with her grumpy face looked at Hiiro while he ignored her.

Hey big bear, can you tell me what the deal about this black bamboo is

..........what do wish to know?

This black bamboo is related to the demon that appeared from the sky right?

Yes

Then, is it true, what little bear said, that these monsters were made by people?

.....It's true.It was a while ago

Then the bamboo bear said.

Until a while ago, the bamboo retained its prior greenness.

But one day, a person wearing black clothes appeared and seemed to walk around the

Bamboo Hillwhile doing the *Fura Fura*(Ritual Dance).

The bamboo bear thought that the person was a traveler, but the children were all panicking, and at that moment a high condor monster appeared.

The high condor was a monster that also lived on theBamboo Hilland the bamboo was his favourite food. It would come down and also eat bamboo bear's occasionally.

But suddenly, the high condor screeched loudly.

When the bamboo bears came near the scene, there was a person in black clothes along with the high condor.

Apparently the black robed person had almost driven the high condor to the verge of death.

The body of the high condor was completely bloodied.

The black clothed person threw a red stone into the mouth of the high condor, and the high condor gave out a loud cry as it gradually changed its form.

The face had turned ugly like a goblins, and two big, black, fang grew from its mouth whilst the body of the condor grew and became huge.

While bleeding from the baleful aura, the high condor bit a bamboo with its fangs.

Then the bamboo turned completely black starting from the area it was bitten from spreading as if it was being corroded.

The bamboo bear felt that the Bamboo Hillmight get destroyed if the monster continued, and so it charged and attacked the high condor.

Tl: This part is being narrated in a 3rd Person POV

Ikki and Nikki tried to attack the black clothed person who had just arrived, but when the black clothed person touched the black bamboo, surprisingly the bamboo changed shape and its form changed similar to the form of the high condor, that was nearby.

The Bamboo high condor blew off Ikki and tried to bite Nikki, but the bamboo bear saw that Nikki was about to get bitten on her left hand and charged towards the monster blocking it with his own arm.

Then the left arm of the bamboo bear turned as black as ink.

While reeling in the pain, the bamboo bear struck the Bamboo high condor which was still chewing on his arm, but its body scattered and turned into sand when it was struck.

Then the bamboo bear tried to find the high condor and the black clothed person, but there were no one there anymore.

The black clothed person did not appear again, but only the high condor came regularly to this place, and continued to dye the bamboo black by repeatedly biting the bamboos around.

As a result of this, Hiro started an examination. Hiiro touched the black bamboo, realizing that his magical power was being absorbed and was fueling the bamboo to turn itself into a monster.

It was the same for the bamboo leaves. However if the bamboo leaf was left alone, then it seemed to turn to sand. It was the bamboo that was growing on the ground that one had to be careful about.

However when the bamboo bear touched the bamboo nothing happened.

It only reacts when Nikki touched it.

That's why Hiiro touched the bamboo, and Nikki gave such a desperate expression.

It was the result of being slow.

The size of the demon that would appear would be similar in size to the bamboo or the bamboo grass it touched. If the bamboo grass was not torn off then it's size would increase.

Hiiro did not understand what the people were plotting, but Ikki did not discriminate against the people who had threatened their home.

That was the reason for Ikkis kind attitude towards Hiiro and the gang.

I understand now. About the black bamboo, but there is one more thing.......

Hiiro glimpsed at Nikki who had unknowingly leaned against the bamboo bear and fallen asleep,

Why is there a child here? and moreover this child is not a Demon Evilabut a Humasright?

That's right, Nikki did not have any features of the Demon Evilaor the features of the Beastmen Gabranth.That's why Ikki presumed that Nikki was a Humas.

..........I don't know desu

Don't know? what do you mean?

It was about 12 years ago. One day, I heard a crying voice, and when I went in search of it, I found her at the base of the Bamboo Hill. I found this baby child....

....Did someone abandon the child

Hiiro creased his eyebrows and muttered some unpleasant words.

However Hiiro did not expect that this child was only twelve years old.

12 Years is too little.

I don't understand.Of course since this child was a baby, it did not own anything either.

and I am monster desu.I thought that I would not be able to raise this child, and I thought of leaving the child there....hoping that the parents would reconsider and come back to pick her up.

but.......she looked at my face........and she laughed

.........

And my heart melted.I could not take my eyes off of her. Ikki who was still young went up to her and licked her face

...............hm? Oi, it can't be that the chibi is a girl?

Isn't it natural. She is so cute after all

Unexpectedly the bamboo bear seemed to be a doting parent.

After that, we have always lived together. However that may be, but my life.....

The bamboo bear was about to speak, and I could hear a familiar cry.

The voice is!?

Hiiro turns his headed towards the direction of the voice,

Without a doubt, it was the voice of the high condor.

It had appeared again.

Then suddenly Nikki woke up.

.......ikki,,,,,,?

Suddenly with her eyes opened wide, she started running in the same direction.

Wait Nikki!

The bamboo bear shouted but Nikki continued to run.

As she ran closer a crying sound was heard.

This time it was the voice of ikki.

The bamboo bears face stiffened, it tried to stand up desperately.

From its right hand to its right shoulders it was completely black.

It put its arms on the ground and rose up.

Moving its body skillfully it ran behind Nikki.

While Hiiro and the gang remained still.

What should we do? Should we go after them?

liliyn asked.Hiiro sighed and scratched his cheek.

Hiiro, speak, what were you talking about with the bear

Milady, wouldn't it better to chase after it first?

Why? The source of the problem is here, wouldn't the people here want to solve it themselves? Right Hiiro?

Well Yeah, it looks quite troublesome, if I were to poke my head a little bit more then it would only get more troublesome

But Milady, that child......

I know what Silva wants to say. That bear is trying to do something well over its limits right?

Yes

But it seems that they are quite happy as they are? Only if they desire can we hold out our hand.

................It is certainly true

Silva gently shook his head.

And then Liliyn once again asked what Hiiro and bamboo bear spoke about.

Unwillingly he summarised what happened.

Hoho, the story about the person in black clothes, i'm quite curious.

Apparently it seemed to have raised Liliyn's interest.

And I am also wondering why that child is a Humas.fuu, as expected Humas are worthless

Indeed Liliyn was quite irritated by the fact that the children's parents had thrown away their own child.

Shamoe was also shedding tears while saying such a poor thing~~

Silva had serious face.

Hiiro-sama, certainly Hiiro-sama has come here just to find bamboo shoots right?

Hmm? Aa

If that high condor was to completely erode all the bamboo shoots then............ wouldn't all the bamboo get wiped out?

................!?

The impact caused his brain to go into shock.

Immediately Hiiro moved from his spot and like wind, he chased after the bamboo bear.

...........Silva, did you purposely trigger Hiiro?

Nofofofofo! what are you talking about?

..........Well it's fine.Let's go

Understood

And soon, everyone else also chased after Hiiro.