037: Fujoshi Convention

October 7, 2020 - 7 minutes read - 1402 words

“That’s funny… I’ve lost Silvio” Al

I was standing alone on a busy road lined with food stalls. While eating the salted beans I picked up, I looked around again. Even though it had passed noon, the liveliness of the village has only picked up. Parents and children are happily chatting alongside the stall owners announcing their products. It’s becoming more crowded as the night approaches.

“Is Silvio lost?” Al

It’ll be difficult for me, who’s short, to find Silvio in this crowd. At least, it’ll be a hassle to find him, I concluded. Perhaps, he was kidnapped by some rotten people? I think that’s extremely unlikely. Silvio’s appearance would make him stand out. Considering the security of Koriat Village, I find that nigh impossible.

“I saw a really handsome blond boy a little bit ago” Weird Villager A

“Cha-ching, for real?!” Weird Villager B

“Yes! He was holding hands with a younger darker-haired boy” Weird Villager A

“You’ll give me a nosebleed, I would love to check them out.” Weird Villager B

“He’s probably still nearby, let’s look around right now.” Weird Villager A

“Oh, yes!” Weird Villager B

“By the way, where’s your husband at?” Weird Villager A

“I don’t know and I don’t care! Right now, I’m on the hunt for that cute blond kid!” Weird Villager B

“Yeah!” Weird Villager A

“Hue hue” Weird Villager B

“I wonder if Silvio was kidnapped…” Al

I muttered while watching the backs of those weird women who started running from the alley. Listening to their conversation, I feel like there’s a strange humour going around today. If there was a police force, I would have reported Silvio as a missing person. Since the weirdos said they just wanted to check Silvio out, it shouldn’t hurt him, physically at least.

I’m still busy with visiting stalls, I’ll leave the search for Silvio to the oddballs, they’re more committed.

What food looks good?

“Hey, did you find the boy?” Weird Villager A

“He’s not over here either.” Weird Villager B

“I wonder where Silvio has gotten off to…” Weird Villager A

“Nora said she saw him off to the west!” Weird Villager B

“For real?” Weird Villager A

“Let’s go!” Weird Villager B

“Yes!” Weird Villager A

For some reason, there isn’t much happening other than the strange women running around. I turned from walking west to east instead. Why? I smelled something good from the east and thought I should try it.

I continue along while exchanging greetings with villager I had met before. In the village square, there’s currently an arm wrestling tournament. There’s a peculiar kind of excitement infecting the crowd.

As I approached, Roland daringly took off his shirt to reveal his upper body. He flexes his arms to show off his muscles. What is Roland up to?

After that, the audience roared while holding up their ale and food.

His opponent, Wester is watching Roland’s display with his arms crossed. Then Wester matched Roland’s display by taking off his shirt as well.

“Woah! Did he lose weight to look like that?”

“Can’t believe it! Is it easy to look that ripped?”

“Yeah, I’ll put my money on Roland”

“No, look at Roland’s arm!”

“Wow! It’s a thick as a log! He could knock off a goblin’s head in one swing!”

“It’s like an oak tree…”

“I want to be hugged by that muscle…”

“Eh?”

“Hmm?”

Wester was as well-muscled as Roland. It was hard to notice since villagers wear loose clothes, I guess. The muscles are so swollen he would make a fine macho man. Wester swings his head side to side then cracks his knucles while wearing a fearless smile.

Roland responds to the provocation with another flex of his arms.

“Five deci’s for Roland”

“Seven deci’s for Wester”

“I’ll bet a bronze coin”

“Oh hoh!”

While the two contestants are glaring at each other, gamblers are putting down more and more money. It’s clear that the village has a healthy population of gamblers. Well, it’s the country and there’s not an excess of entertainment. As the shouts from the audience increases, the two contestants place their elbows on a large wooden barrel and grip each other’s arms.

“Chaaaa!”

“OK!”

“The arms of strong men are intertwined!”

“Sweat that travels along the swollen muscles!”

“Eyes staring at each other over such a short distance!”

For some reason, the weirdos are getting excited now. Their voices are making the contest more lively.

“Arm wrestling is especially popular with some of the women every year.”

“Oh, that’s right…”

“Your wife is in with them, are you listening?”

“I tried to listen once, but I didn’t get it. It’s a thing that’s passed down generationally.”

“Well, don’t you worry about it?”

“Uhh, not my highest priority”

Young men nearby are discussing the strange behavior, there are many things that people are happier off not knowing. Filled with regrets, I had to leave the crowd, since I could no longer make out what was happening due to my height.

“Start!”

“Oh oh oh oh!”

“Fuuuuuu”

The contest has started, the shouts are split between the strange women and the gamblers.

“I know that beautiful and smooth blue hair!” Al

It was the hair of a beautiful girl that passed through my peripheral vision. I’ve only seen that color hair on her. I chased after her, since I lost sight of her when she turned a corner. While I was running, I may have heard someone calling me, but I’m not sure. When I turned the corner, I can now see Emma, the owner of the blue hair.

A white nape behind blue hair. She’s not wearing the usual training clothes and wooden sword, probably because it is a festival day. Instead, she has a long brown dress with white sleeves and a tight waist, the very image of a village girl. I walked over to greet her when I notice a guy beside her.

“Ms. Emma, who is your friend?” Al

“Eh?” Thor

“Huh? Who’s this rude guy?”

As Emma looks over to me, the freckled boy next to her yells at me. What a bastard to say to a person who he’s never met before.

“No, I asked first?” Al

I responded quickly, perhaps the voice of my heard came out?

“Hey, Thor! You can’t just say that! That’s the second sone of the Lord, Alfred.” Emma

“Eh? Still, who is this guy?” Al

“Don’t call him rude! I’m sorry Alfred, this is my poor younger brother.” Emma

Emma makes a pained smile and

“This is bad, my sister isn’t this polite at home…” Thor

“What are you mumbling about?” Emma

Emma pulls Thor’s cheeks, for mumbling about private things…

Is Thor OK? He looks to be in tears. His cheeks may have been pulled too much, I can see his gums.

“It hurts! I get it!” Thor

Thors shouts his defeat which prompts Emma to let him go.

“Well, I’m sorry. I’m named Thor, younger brother of Emma. I’m eight years old.” Thor

Thor introduces himself while rubbing his cheeks. I wonder if Emma is stronger than she looks?

“I’m Alfred, the second son of the Lord of this village. I’m six years old with an older brother and sister.” Al

“Hmm? Sister? Lord? Unbelievable!” Thor

“Hmm?” Emma

When he heard my introduction, Thor seemed to get really fired up about something.

“Are you fine with Alfred now?” Emma

“Yeah, what of it?” Thor

Suddenly Thor turned really friendly. What’s that about? He didn’t change his attitude after Emma told him I was the son of the lord, so what made him so nice all of a sudden?

While I was trying to figure out what he was up to, Thor grabbed my shoulder and led me over to the side of the road. Does he want to talk privately?

“Well, what do you want to say?” Al

“Well, uhh… you know, that thing.” Thor

Thor clearly wants to know about something I would know about, but is having trouble saying what that thing is. It’s like he’s a comedian or something.

“I’m not your mother, so I can’t know off of ’that thing’.” Al

“That’s, uhh, is there a fiancé?” Thor

“Huh? I don’t have a fiancé?” Al

Why is he asking me about a fiancé?

“Dummy, I’m asking if Eleanora has a fiancé.” Thor

“Eh? Augh!” Al