ebookland #438 - Not all Italian mafia members have the spirit of gold
#438 - Not all Italian mafia members have the spirit of gold
"Ah, ah, what should I do?"
The seawater shimmered, the sun illuminated the sea like scattered gold, and seagulls called out in the distance. The blue sky was cloudless, making one feel refreshed.
This was a scenic seaside location.
If I were to come here with Alice and the others, it would surely be a delightful outing, but that's only if they could come.
—I've transmigrated, again!
Every time, every single time... it unfolds so unexpectedly, it's truly exhausting.
Normally, Zun-zun should be very angry with Prince Revi, but...
He touched the jewel on his forehead.
After so many times, he had discovered that these jewels were very special and rare.
For example, the red jewel that the old Red Demon found after searching for a long time as a substitute, the blue jewel found in the Axis Church, and the yellow jewel that even Vanir felt pained to part with.
This green jewel must be priceless.
But could it be said that he was doing a good deed that turned out badly?
"It turned out like this... oh well, complaining won't help. The immediate priority is to find a passerby to ask for directions, and then find a way to go home."
This should be modern society.
Zun-zun, who had been gazing at the sea for a long time, saw a huge cruise ship sailing on the surface of the water. If there are no accidents, it will be a society with well-developed transportation and communication, which is relatively friendly to him.
After all, if he were to encounter a different world like in *Konosuba*, where the language is incomprehensible, it would really be a headache.
It was very painful not being able to communicate effectively when he first met the elf girl.
He moved away from the beach and headed inland.
There were many pedestrians on the street, and Zun-zun specifically found a middle-aged man who looked like a well-mannered gentleman and took the initiative to talk to him.
"￥(%*!#..."
"Scusa, non ho capito."
Could it be that... this person was speaking Italian?
The familiar yet unfamiliar language made Zun-zun slightly stunned.
This is a headache.
He is good at Heavenly Dynasty language, Japanese, and English, but Italian...
"Sorry, can you speak English?"
"Of course, miss."
"I'm a boy!"
After a brief conversation, Zun-zun finally knew where he was. That's right, it was Italy... to be precise, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, and even more precisely, the island of Sardinia.
His impression of Sardinia was only that it was the second largest island in Italy, nothing more.
"Why did I end up here? No, that's not important, what's important is how to get back."
"Are you in trouble? Do you need help?"
"No, it's already enough to be grateful that you told me this. I shouldn't bother you any further. Well then, goodbye."
"Ah..."
Zun-zun decisively bid farewell to the gentleman who seemed to want to say something more.
I have to say, he was a very nice person.
He told me my location and even wanted to help me with my troubles, but when he heard that I was a boy, his eyes seemed to light up for a moment... no, no, no, this isn't Japan or Great Britain, how could he like little boys?
I must have misunderstood.
Walking on the ancient Italian streets, feeling the long-lost modern atmosphere... it must sound strange to say that, but for Zun-zun, who lived in *Konosuba*, where the civilization level was in the Middle Ages, this was modern society.
"It's been a long time..."
Zun-zun stroked the tall building.
This was a magnificent church, in the Baroque style. This type of architecture focuses on color, light and shadow, sculptural quality, and strong Baroque characteristics. Baroque buildings have a stronger emotional appeal and shock, and on the other hand, they are eye-catching and flaunt the wealth and power of the church.
...Of course, all of this was learned in textbooks.
He was interested in this church because the Eris Church and the Axis Church he went to in *Konosuba* were very different, so he was interested.
This is bad, thinking of the Axis Church is a bit of a headache, it's better to forget about those guys.
Zun-zun rubbed his forehead and continued forward, but at the same time, he noticed a presence following behind him—too obvious, that abundant magic power was clearly different from ordinary people.
No, it's more like this person wasn't even trying to hide, and was even deliberately emitting their magic power, acting in a provocative manner.
...Interesting.
This provocation reminded Zun-zun of Megumin, especially when she had just learned Explosion magic. That guy didn't accept anyone and wanted to show off and compete with others.
This person behind him is also like that.
It's as if they've just learned something and think their strength surpasses everyone else, and that everyone else is just a pushover.
It's purely because they haven't been beaten up by reality yet that they're so arrogant and conceited. The way to correct them is simple: fight more with the strong.
Megumin also recognized the gap between them and her own weaknesses and gradually matured after fighting Wiz and Wolbach.
Forget it, I'll ignore this person.
The fact that they didn't attack in the street meant that they had some scruples, or didn't want to attack in front of ordinary people, so wouldn't it be fine for me to just follow the crowd?
Speaking of which, I've also grown.
If it were the me who had just left the village, I would have definitely lost my temper in the street when I realized someone was provoking me.
Yeah, yeah, people have to grow.
"...That hurts! Hey, are you blind when you walk!?"
Just as he couldn't help but sigh, a dark-skinned, yellow-haired punk brushed past, deliberately bumping into Zun-zun, and then said rudely in English.
"These are the clothes I just bought, and you've dirtied them all!?"
"Do you know who we are!?"
"Pay up quickly!"
"Don't even think about running away, we won't let you off easily until you honestly pay up!"
"Let's just make this guy kneel down and apologize!"
As if by prearrangement, several small-time thugs surrounded Zun Zun.
“I can't stand it… Although there are many members of the Italian mafia, it's not like they all have the golden spirit of someone like Bucciarati. There are probably more low-level thugs…”
He couldn't help but sigh.
“What are you muttering about, you punk!?”
“Wait a minute, looking closely, aren't you quite handsome?”
“Alright, little chick, come with us for a while.”
As the dark-skinned, blond-haired thug's hand reached out, about to touch the hem of Zun Zun's clothes, a smug smile on his face, his chin met with a violent impact, the pain causing him to lose consciousness instantly, without even a whimper.
The other thugs suffered the same fate.
Zun Zun elegantly took out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped his clean white hands, and then casually discarded it.
“Take back what I said earlier, I'm still immature.”
Stepping on the back of the fallen thug, he leisurely left, while the surrounding pedestrians whispered to each other. But they did not condemn Zun Zun; on the contrary, some stall owners were cheering him on.
It seemed these guys had been up to no good for quite some time.
It was probably a premeditated attempt to extort a foreigner; otherwise, they wouldn't have used English to threaten him.
The commotion was only temporary.
When he arrived on another street, no one cared about what had just happened, and Zun Zun was no longer the center of attention… well, not entirely. The person behind him was still following.
Ignore, ignore.
However, just as he was about to continue ignoring them—
“Smells so good.”
Zun Zun stopped in front of a stall selling fried meat dumplings, sniffing the aroma as his stomach rumbled slightly.
Come to think of it, he hadn't eaten anything since dinner, and after enchanting Darkness and Aqua's equipment, he had been teleported here and had been wandering around for so long…
“Sir, can I help you with anything?”
“Please give me one of these… ah.”
Zun Zun remembered.
He didn't have the local currency. Would it be a bit much to pay with gems or gold…
“Please give me two.”
“Alright, miss, please wait a moment.”
As the stall owner deftly picked out two fried meat dumplings, the person beside him paid and received their order as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Then, one of the meat dumplings was handed over.
“…Thank you.”
Zun Zun thanked him and took the fried meat dumpling, then popped one into his mouth.
“—Delicious! As expected of a country famous for its olive oil, stuffing meat in olives, coating them in breadcrumbs and deep-frying them, the meaty aroma and the refreshing olive achieve a perfect balance in the mouth, plus it's freshly made and piping hot, making it even more delicious!”
“Oh my, I didn't expect you to be a food critic. But it does taste good.”
The person beside him seemed slightly surprised.
Although Zun Zun was good at cooking, it didn't mean he had a divine tongue like a certain tsundere goddess; he would still properly praise delicious food.
The two of them sat down on a bench by the side of the road.
Zun Zun savored the delicious olive-stuffed fried meat dumpling and said, “I'm surprised; I thought you would keep following me silently.”
“That's what I was planning to do. But I can't help but lend a hand when I see someone in trouble. Because I am a knight.”
She elegantly picked up a fried meat dumpling and put it in her mouth.
“A knight… huh.”
“But even a knight wouldn't extend a helping hand to just anyone. As for those thugs from earlier, I actually punished them quite a bit. I apologize to you for their rudeness.”
“It's fine, it's fine.”
Zun Zun casually waved his hand.
This person was a bit like Darkness, taking responsibility for things that weren't their fault, but the difference was that, although she was very respectful in her words to Zun Zun, her tone and attitude were a bit off.
Yeah, that's what happens when you haven't been beaten down by reality.
“I thought you were helping me because you thought I was handsome.”
“That's a big part of the reason.”
“Really?”
Zun Zun was just saying it casually; after all, he had been getting quite a few looks while walking on the street.
“Wearing such strange clothes is very eye-catching.”
“…Ah, is that so?”
So he had misunderstood!?
It wasn't his looks but his clothes; could it be that those thugs thought the same way, so they deliberately came over to cause trouble?
A little embarrassed.
“I'm sorry, I'm short on time, so I'll get straight to the point.”
She seemed a little impatient, staring directly into Zun Zun's eyes.
“May I ask, which god are you?”
“…What?”
“There's no use pretending. Earlier, you had a nostalgic expression when looking at the Baroque Church, but then your eyes showed obvious contempt and disgust, plus the red eyes and black hair… Could it be, you are Cain?”
“Huh?”
“You're not denying it, so I guessed right. After all, Baroque churches usually enshrine Catholicism, not to mention the Trisanti Dome Church. Red eyes, black hair, beauty that is so handsome it is tempting to fall… plus the contemptuous expression you had towards the church, there is no doubt that you are the progenitor of evil in mythology—Cain. However, in the records, Cain is not the ancestor of vampires, and vampires cannot move in sunlight…”
“Huh? ? ?”
Stared at by the girl with a desire for knowledge, Zun Zun could only return a blank look.
The more she said, the more confused he became.
And the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, arrogant girl in front of him spoke again: “I apologize for confusing you, my self-introduction was late. I am Erica, Erica Blandelli. I am a Great Knight of the Magic Society · Copper Black Cross, the Crimson Devil! Please be sure to remember it!”
She seemed very proud of her title.