Bringing along the ticket with all my money on the line, I return to my seat.
It looks like the race will start soon, as the large monsters are gathered in front of the starting fence.
And among them, the Behemoth was staring at our direction again.
I’m not entirely sure if it could be understood because of the distance between us, but I used my Sympathy Magic to send my will to the Behemoth.
What happens will depend on your hard work……
After a while, the Behemoth gave a small nod and removed its gaze from us, and after confirming that, I sat down.
[Alice, does the Behemoth have a chance for it to win?]
[Hmmm. This main race is…… well, as you can see, there are lots of belligerent monsters, so it often turns into a brawl. And as expected, it would be unreasonable to expect the baby Behemoth to mow down all the other monsters…… It would be great if the Red Dragon and the Fenrir crushed each other and perhaps……]
[I see.]
[……However……]
[Unnn?]
I guess it really looked pretty tough for the Behemoth to win, but apparently, it’s possible if the other strong contenders strike against each other.
In fact, it wasn’t impossible for us to win since the main race is set up so that unexpected situations may happen.
However, after speaking all that, Alice tilted her head as if there’s something she’s curious about.
[Ummm, that Behemoth…… looked a little different from what I know.]
[Different in what way?]
[Well, I haven’t seen that many Behemoths either…… but I think the horns of the Behemoth were “red”.]
[Red horns? No, but that Behemoth’s horns are black though?]
[That’s right~~ That’s why, if it’s really what I think……]
“Now, the main race has finally started!”
Just as Alice was about to say something, the live commentary of the main race resounded, and hearing that, she stopped talking and shifted her gaze to the course.
The moment the fence in front of the monsters disappeared and the race started…… It happened.
The Behemoth that had been walking on four legs suddenly raised its paws and roared.
Jet-black lightning shot out from its black horns and pierced the red dragon that was flying in the sky.
“W- What a surprise!? The Red Dragon was shot down in a single striiiiiiiiike! Could this be the power of a legendary magical beast!?”
[As I thought, that Behemoth…… is a Special Individual.]
[A Special Individual?]
Talking about Special Individuals, as I recall, it was also the case with the blue ogre Acht, beings that are different from the norm.
[Kaito-san! With this, the possibility of its victory really increased! I only know about it from books, but it is said that the Special Individuals of the Behemoths are clad in jet-black lightning, and have several times the power of a normal Behemoth.]
[Several times…… That is……]
“Whoa! The Behemoth’s fast! It’s already catching up with the Fenrir, who’s currently in the lead!”
As if to affirm Alice’s excitement-filled words, the Behemoth, which shot down the Red Dragon, ran down the course at a terrific speed and began closing in the distance between the giant wolf in front of him…… the Fenrir.
The Fenrir also sensed the Behemoth’s approach, and after stopping in its tracks, it let out a howl.
“The Fenrir is about to intercept the Behemoth!!!”
Huge icicles appeared around Fenrir, heading towards the Behemoth with the speed of a bullet.
It seems that if a monster’s as powerful as a Fenrir, they can also use magic, while the Behemoth evades them with his quick steps, but some of the icicles still managed to graze it.
The Behemoth, who reached Fenrir even as wounds were inflicted on its body in multiple places, waved its horns at the Fenrir…… but just as the Fenrir looks like a wolf, it also had the evasiveness of one, quickly and easily evading the Behemoth’s strike.
[As expected of a Fenrir, it’s really light on its feet. However, if that Behemoth is a Special Individual…… even a baby should be able to use that.]
[That?]
[Yes, watch closely. Its victory would probably be settled in an instant…… It’s coming, the Behemoth’s “breath”.]
When I followed Alice’s words and looked at the Behemoth, the Behemoth stood up on its hind legs again, and let out an earth-shaking roar.
In response to its roar, the lightning that had been gushing out of its horns converges on its mouth.
[This is what is said in legends. The breath of the Níðhöggr of the Skies burns the land in hellfire, while the breath of the Behemoth of the Earth…… would pierce the skies with a flash……]
[ ! ? ]
A black flash gushed forth from the Behemoth’s mouth…… A flash that didn’t even take more than a blink of an eye before it pierced the Fenrir.
It seems that the breath that was released with the speed of literally lightning couldn’t be dodged, no matter how fast the Fenrir was, and thus, the Fenrir fell down on the ground.
“The Fenrir has fallen! The race has been settled! The other monsters are even terrified of that previous battle! This is unexpected, truly unexpected…… and now, the Behemoth reaches that goal in first place! The first place is the Behemoth! It’s the Behemoth!”
[Yaaaaaaaaayyyyyy! Kaito-san! We won!]
[Yeah, that was really amazing!]
[Yaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!!! I made lots of mon—– Ouch!?]
[You, can’t you read the mood at all……]
Has the seventh race started in the venue already? Alice and I didn’t join in after the fifth race, and now, we had come to the large building behind the monster racetrack.
[Miyama Kaito-sama, thank you for your purchase today. My name is Chapel, the manager of the Monster Race. Pleased to be your acquaintance……]
[Ah, yes. I’m Miyama Kaito. It’s nice to meet you.]
The manager in charge of the monster racetrack, dressed in glittering clothes…… Chapel-san speaks to me with a bright smile.
Well, I did just buy the Behemoth…… so if I had to describe it with something, it would be like I’m a good customer who made a big purchase, so I can understand why they’re being courteous to me.
Well, I could somehow understand but… being bowed to by someone obviously older than you is something that…… I just can’t get used to.
[Rumors of Miyama-sama have reached me as well.]
[Rumors?]
[Yes, I heard you are a close friend of the Six Kings and how you admirably won in the recent Sacred Tree Festival.]
[Y- Yeah…… Well……]
[I guess it’s to be expected from a first-rate gentleman to have an eye for good things. Please continue to patronize our establishment in the future.]
[Ah, yes.]
It seems that my victory in the harvest festival has already spread to the other countries, and how should I say this… I’m kinda getting embarrassed now.
No, it may just be that Chapel-san’s information network is wide…… or rather, I hope that’s really the case.
By the way, the behemoth’s multiplier is a considerable 205 times, and I have more than 100 white gold coins left in my hand after paying for the Behemoth.
(T/N: He’s not the only one who bet on behemoth, so the winnings will be shared among those who bet on it, is what I think.)
I kinda feel sorry that I won an outrageous amount of money, but Chapel-san still has a smile on his face.
Come to think of it, I’ve heard that horse races and the like are structured to make the bookmaker profitable no matter what, so I wonder, was it the same case for the monster race too?
[Excuse me~~. More sweets please—– Gyaaahhh!?]
[Can’t you just be reserved for even a bit……]
[No, no, go ahead, be my guest…… Ahh, please excuse me. It looks like the hand over is ready, so please come this way.]
[Yes.]
Hitting the head of the idiot who even asked for a refill after eating up all the sweets served to us, it seems that the hand over of the Behemoth is now ready, so Chapel-san began leading us.
And then, as we walked, Alice walked next to me, speaking in a soft voice that only I can hear.
[……It’s quite clear that he’s trying to butter up to you. This person’s quite skilled in his work.]
[……What do you mean?]
[That Behemoth is a Special Individual. It would normally have double the value of a normal one…… And perhaps, there were probably many other great nobles who wanted to buy it.]
[Really?]
[It’s just my conjecture…… but he’s probably thinking that it would be better to have a good impression on Kaito-san by selling it to you instead…… That’s also the reason why he gave you that discount, I guess?]
[Indeed……]
Just as Alice said, when I bought the Behemoth…… It had gone from 300 platinum coins to 280, as this was apparently “my first purchase”.
A 200-million yen discount…… That’s how much he wants to show me his sincerity.
In fact, Alice’s prediction doesn’t seem to be wrong, as Chapel-san would sometimes glance at me while speaking with a smile on his face.
[Miyama-sama, please do come again. If it’s alright with you, you may come with Underworld King-sama and World King-sama…… Ahh, in that case, of course, please do let me know and I’ll do my best to accommodate you.]
[Ah, yes. I understand. I’ll tell Kuro…… Underworld-sama and the others about how Chapel-san has been good to me.]
[Ohh, I’m grateful for those words…… It’s quite an honor.]
It seems that Chapel-san knows from the beginning that we know how he’s calculating, and since he came to me in a roundabout way to express his wish, I also expressed my thanks, though it might be in the form of formality.
Apparently, just as Alice-san said, he’s really good at what he does…… Why is it that you have a keen eye for others, but have no business acumen at all?
In the meantime, we arrived in front of a very large cage, and as I moved my gaze, I could see inside the Behemoth from earlier.
When the Behemoth noticed me, it slowly got up and approached me in the cage, before staring at me again.
[It’s very ferocious, so let’s register you first as its lord—– wait, Miyama-sama!?]
[Eh?]
When I casually approached the cage, the Behemoth looked at me and lightly lowered its head.
I didn’t feel any hostility, but rather gratitude and goodwill, so I reached out my hand and patted its head. The Behemoth comfortably rubbed its head against my hand, which made Chapel-san quite surprised.
[……How…… could that Behemoth be this docile…… Good gracious, I guess I should just say that it’s to be expected from Miyama-sama.]
It seems that the Behemoth already acknowledges me as its lord, as it stayed docile without any resistance to the collar-type magic tool that would register me as its lord.
And after the lord registration has been peacefully completed, the cage is opened and the Behemoth slowly rubs its face against my body.
[Gaoooo……]
I knew that it was still a baby, and seeing it behaving like a spoiled child looked pleasant…… but the two horns on its head were very frightening. Please make sure you don’t pierce me, okay?
Dear Mom, Dad—— I honestly don’t know how it happened, but in a strange turn of events, I decided to buy a Behemoth. Well, I’m a little nervous about the future but—— I got a pet.
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<Author’s Notes>
A Certain King from Somewhere => Prioritizing his own emotions
Chapel => Pushing away the demands of the great nobles, he gave Kaito a warm reception, receiving the younger Kaito respectfully and modestly.
I guess a certain someone has the eye for the big picture.
T/N: 3/11
I guess it’s about time for me to upload volume 4 illustrations huh.
T/N: Shameless : How about checking out Saikyou Juzoku Tensei Cheat Majutsushi no Slow Life?