Chapter 249 – [Side Story 2] Eshen, Nidroga – Buy a Brain You Haven’t Tried Before (1)
The Demon King is dead. The demon spirit was purified.
The evil energy and magic energy floating in the air is gradually fading away. The momentum of the monsters is also weakening little by little.
Our world has become a little safer.
Although this is good news for the public, it is not very happy news for the adventurers in the warrior party. Because it means that earning a living is decreasing day by day.
The apostles of peace who fight against danger, ironically, will be of little use once a peaceful world is achieved.
Therefore, there has been a sharp increase in the number of nobles who give up their hero life and return to their families, or those who start businesses based on their adventures.
But this does not apply to our party. Thanks to the Soprania-Nitro Foundation’s two-way portal technology.
I got a new job. We will now invade the Demon World and engage in grandiose chaos.
He strikes down the demon that rules the area and defeats it, catches and dismantles rare monsters, and returns with a bag full of rare artifacts. The demons of the demon world who pushed their demons into our world will now fully realize how shitty that was.
And we are slowly realizing how delicious a predatory economy can be. Tena no longer needs to worry about the party’s income. Nidroga jokes that he has to give his mother pocket money.
Ville I will never run out of things to do for her.
It’s all well and good… But the last one may not be such a good thing.
A few days ago, Villena’s laboratory was destroyed by an explosion of artifacts. Fortunately, I am safe, and she is not seriously injured.
But one fool suffered an unfortunate accident. I was rubbing my eyes because I was sleepy and didn’t see the no trespassing sign, so I got caught in the explosion while passing through a nearby hallway.
Eshen lost his memory.
“Hey, calm down and explain again.”
“I don’t think you can calm down on your own, Eshen.”
“Shut up. So I.”
Eshen made a big movement and pointed at himself. With an attitude full of pride.
Then he made a small movement and pointed at me, Tannhäuser Bantay. It looks like he can’t understand it.
“With this bastard?”
“I did it.”
“I guess we just did it. We liked each other, so it wasn’t a big fuss. It even seemed like you liked it more.”
“I bit him, sucked him, crushed him and made him cry, and when he got horny, he ran to me and pushed me in the butt and told me to scold him. Do you really not remember?”
“Damn it…!”
With all her recent memories gone, the proud warrior of Hwan-Hwa Gok screams, tearing out her hair.
And worrying about Eshen and being embarrassed only lasts for a moment. Everyone was giggling as if they thought it was this time.
Except me. What am I doing?
“Why am I fawning over this petulant weakling?!”
···I am dragging my feet. I’m so angry that it’s true that I’m being a dick and that I’m whining.
Eshen let out two deep sighs. One time I saw myself immersed in something similar to the pain of heartbreak. And… There was one scene where my younger brother comforted me by stroking me as if he was fawning.
“Eshen… You forgot me…!”
“Woojjujju, our ride. Don’t lose your strength in catching this bitch. I’ll do better than you…”
“···Let’s say I gave in a hundred times a thousand times and treated someone weaker than me. It would never have happened!”
“What? Phew.”
“But why are you there, clinging to that bastard and tearing it apart, Garam?”
“From my point of view, I couldn’t help but laugh. I saw clearly from the sidelines how the guy who used to stiffen his neck even at his mother turned into a she-cat and gently rubbed her tail.”
Garam stroked my head and gently raised the corner of his mouth.
“Didn’t you enjoy it when you snatched this guy to show off? Once your memories come back, your situation will be reversed, right? At that time, you’ll be embarrassed and angry, so you don’t know what to do?”
“···Wait a minute, wait a minute. I mean.”
Eshen waved his hands in confusion.
“Are you going to say you’re going to be hugged by that guy too?”
“Then what are we going to do?”
“···What kind of trick have you used, you evil Western porter! Give my delicate little sister back!”
“···I think Garam also said something to the effect of asking what on earth possessed you.”
Morgan muttered with a bored expression. Garam blushed as if he was embarrassed and turned away from everyone. Eshen was amazed and looked back at the party members.
And then I discovered an even more amazing scene.
“Your name was Nidroga?”
“Fortunately, I recognize him. It seems like I still have memories from the time I joined the party. I guess my memories were cut off from the time when I was fussing over Tena and I to sort out the ranks.”
“···You were a very strong bastard. But···.”
Eshen pointed to Nidroga’s horn with a trembling finger.
A dragon’s horns grow throughout its life. In the chaotic era in which everyone lived, an unbroken horn was a symbol of strength, but not in the reign of Ragnaroka.
As dragons became civilized and had homes and common spaces, their long horns that hung here and there soon became uncomfortable.
Nidro has been having a lot of trouble these days because of the horns that he couldn’t cut. There were a lot of marks left from being bumped and scratched against cupboards and bedposts.
Fortunately, I had free time a few days ago. Just then, a professional horn barber came from the dragon’s nest.
And Nidroga made a somewhat secret request. He requested that a long hole be made by digging in the middle while cutting.
···So that you can insert your fingers comfortably no matter how you hold it.
“It seemed like fun.”
Nidrogar smiled and picked up the fruit and ate it. Ignoring the glares from Isilun who was cutting fruit for patient Eshen.
Normally, she would have bitten Nidroga’s finger the moment her snack was taken away, but the devastated Eshen had no time to do so.
“Who told me to catch him…?”
“Well, whatever.”
Nidrogar laughed, pointing at me with his chin. Eshen looked at the expressions of the other party members one by one. Everyone is holding back their laughter.
Eshen grabbed the back of her neck and laid her down on the hospital bed.
“What now?”
When I came out of Eshen’s hospital room and asked everyone, their expressions hardened as if the laughing was just an act.
“That’s right. It’s a big deal that one of the best combatants has a problem, and more than anything…”
“I’m especially worried that you’ve forgotten everything we ever did together. What should I do with this?”
Villena shrugged her shoulders with a worried look on her face.
“If the theory goes, the memories will come back someday. The problem is that I can’t say for sure when that will be.”
These are hopeful and despairing words at the same time. I nodded while fiddling with the ring on my ring finger.
And he frowned as if no one could see that.
“···Throw one away now.”
“···What did you just say, Mom?”
“This is what happened, so let’s say it out loud. What kind of souvenir is your wife? Collect one from every place you stop!”
A fire-like warmth spread across my back. I was hit directly by the smashing that I remembered, and I screamed and fell to my knees.
The attacker, with whom I had had a heart-warming reunion not long ago, kicked me and screamed.
“Your father was a fool who had a hard time finding a partner, but he still had the idea of monogamy, you retarded son of a bitch!”
“Ahh! Now, wait a minute! Don’t hit me again when I hit you…!”
Rolling over in pain like a whipped slave, she looked back at her wives with an earnest expression. But no one helped me.
“Shall I stop you? I think I should stop you.”
“···Let’s leave it alone. I’m scared that my daughter-in-law’s life will be ruined.”
“Aunt Calle, your hands are still very sensitive…”
Thena flinched and crept behind her. Everyone followed that example.
···The last expedition changed the number one ranking of the party. The strongest player in the legendary party is now Calle Banta, not Thena.
———-
First, due to the backlog of work, everyone had to leave the headquarters.
It was decided that Eschenman would not be allowed to leave headquarters. This was partly because he didn’t know what kind of problems a person with an intact memory might run into, but also because he had already taken leave for another reason.
“···Hard heat? Ha, that’s no big deal! I’m going to compete too. Let me out!”
“It would be better to listen to the party leader. We know you better than you lately.”
Nidrogar laughed and dismissed Eshen’s arrogance, pretending to be strong for no reason. Eshen flinched as if he was a little scared.
Nowadays, I have mastered the martial arts of Hyanghwagok in earnest, and my strength has become quite high, but when I just joined the party, I said that I got scolded after attacking Nidroga.
Since the end of my memory remains at that point, I seem to become conscious of the hierarchy of those days.
“···But why are you here? Are you afraid of the demon world?”
“It’s just a mandatory rest for me. I get tired easily because I have to take on all of you with my body.”
“···Who is that guy?”
“It’s your role as a caretaker. Because of you, a first-class porter has been removed from the field. Please feel responsible and remain calm.”
Erina will fill my void, but Nidro said, acting stern for no reason. I combed Eshen’s hair and nodded grimly.
Eshen was grinning in satisfaction at the somehow familiar touch, but the next moment he frightened and slapped the back of my hand to swat the comb away.
And I stiffened at the knife-like gaze I felt from somewhere.
“Whose son is this?”
“Hi.”
“What do you mean by telling me to stay calm? I’m just calmly receiving care like a patient! Furthermore, I’m sure this-“
As a storm of admonitions from an unknown woman continued, Eshen unconsciously curled up on the sofa and crumpled.
My mother, who had completely subdued Hyeon Hyeon-gyeong Gokju without even using her hands, snorted and took a look at the back of her red hand.
Then she put it down with a sharp throw and turned around to leave the lounge.
“Go to Nidro, but don’t get into trouble either.”
“Of course.”
“If you turn around and find another wife, you will die.”
“···What does my mother think I am?”
“···At least I don’t think I’m that innocent Adlaemi who turns red whenever Tena holds my hand.”
I automatically close my mouth at the point that is difficult to deny. My mother, who was looking at me with suspicious eyes, pointed her finger and grumbled for the last time.
“I put some side dishes in the kitchen. Eat them.”
“···It’s nice to hear those words after such a long time.”
My mother seemed a little worried, but then she smiled. I also approached her mother with a grin.
The warrior Kale Bantai cleared his throat for a moment and waited for my hands to straighten his clothes. And just like in my memory, he patted my head once before leaving for the rugged terrain.
“I think I’ve said this ten times, but I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Mom, too. Be careful.”
“What’s there to be careful about? The party that defeated the demon lord is on my side, and the demon world is as familiar as looking into the palm of your hand.”
Still, I let her mother go only after making a new request.
While she was looking at her mother walking away across the hallway with both amusement and worry, something crazy came from behind her.
“Hey, I’m just saying this just in case.”
“What is it?”
“Is that woman too?”
Even before I could understand what that meant, my younger brother figured it out first.
A thunderbolt flew and struck Eshen on the back. Glaring at Eshen, who was jumping up and down from the burning sofa and screaming, Millicent spat out with a terrifying expression.
“What? Did this go around?”
“···Have a nice trip to you too, Millicent.”
“Just like Mom said, don’t take another lover while you’re back. If you have a fifteenth step-sister, she’s going to go crazy.”
Millicent walked past me, kicking my legs. Without even having time to reply.
It’s been so long since we had a heart-warming reunion that everyone treats me like a fool. Is this so sad that I can live with it?
As I was sighing, Eshen, stretched out, muttered again.
“Who is that woman?”
Lightning struck once more. Nidro pretended to cover her with his body and quickly dodged it.
The moment the door slammed shut, Eshen moaned like a death.
“···Did you just dodge to get hit by me, flying lizard bitch?”
“Because I said something worthy of being beaten. Those two are Tan’s family.”
“I don’t think she would say that a brainwashed porter who carries more than ten people is her family.”
I couldn’t stand it any longer and rolled my eyes, but Eshen just ignored me and turned over.
“Ugh, it hurts a bit. Is this how you treat patients?”
“You were pretending to be fine until now, but when you’re at a disadvantage, are you pretending to be a patient? This is true.”
Nidrogar laughed and told him not to be afraid. It’s just as they say.
Even after being hit twice by a battle wizard who graduated from the prestigious Magic Tower, Eshen, who is extremely strong, stands up growling with his head standing erect.
The momentum is perfect. I tamed a wildcat and turned it into a domestic cat, and it ended up like this.
Nidro and I sighed.
“Caregiving must be difficult.”
“My words.”
———-
As expected, it is as expected.
In the span of half a day, Eshen escaped from the hospital room three times, attacked the kitchen twice, and attacked me six times.
As I was going to the bathroom, I was caught in a Cheonmu Shinyo-style trap and hung upside down. Nidroga rushed over and freed me.
Eshen, who was looking down from hiding in the ventilation shaft, bared his teeth.
“Shaaaaak.”
“···I knew how to act like a wild animal, but it was too severe. What kind of person was Eshen when he first joined?”
“It was just like that back then. Just like you said, I was a complete animal. I wasn’t used to living in the West, so I couldn’t trust anyone. I miss those days.”
“···I don’t miss you. Give me back my cute Eshen!”
“Shaaaaat!”
The wild cat that attacked me hid in the ventilation shaft. While untying the knot on my ankle, Nidrogar smiled, glaring at the vent as if he had suddenly remembered something.
“The only time I can act like that is now.”
“Only now?”
“Even if you don’t remember it, your body will remember it. As Leni said, if you run up to me, push me on the butt, and beg me to scold you, and you talk without me knowing, your memory may come right back with that help.”
Nidrogar laughed while fiddling with her horn.
“Give that ass a good spanking, husband.”
