"That should be everything..."
I sighed in relief as the last cricket in my mouth jumped onto the guard's back.
After that, I flicked my tongue at the alien who had come to take Abigail back, and *plop*—it stuck to their back.
On the way to who knows where, I *plopped* onto the back of the alien walking in front of me.
While being dragged around the facility, I secretly opened my mouth and *plop*, *plop*—stuck a few more.
Over the course of two full days, I scattered the Third Legion throughout the facility, and finally, my job was done. I wonder what Titania's plan is with all this.
Whatever it is, I'm not opposed to helping her.
And now, here I am, working hard at my part-time job as a butcher.
*Thunk!* I slice through a thigh with an ordinary butcher's knife.
*Thunk!* Bone and all!
My cutting skills are perfect, even if it's rough work. I can adjust to the gram. I'm really getting the hang of it. I think I'm stepping into the realm of craftsmanship. I'd love to enter a freak show.
*Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!*
As I honed my mysterious skills even further, a quiet murmur arose at the storefront.
Was it another call from Ferris?
Lately, she's become something of a celebrity in town, parading around Butcher like a pet dog. Wherever she goes, crowds part, and she's met with awe-struck gazes.
Well, it's probably better for Ferris if she's not underestimated, but I can't help worrying about her future. I hope she doesn't end up with strange rumors and no one willing to marry her...
When I turned my attention to the storefront, it wasn't Ferris talking to the Minotaur store manager—it was an Orc officer.
"Pork loin, 500 grams."
A pig eating pork...
And it's kind of funny how he's a bit of a light eater. When aliens buy meat, it's usually by the kilo. Is he on a diet? Make sure you rebound by the time I eat you, okay?
As I wrapped the pork loin and handed it over, the Orc officer looked at me with a slightly confused expression and said something. Beside him was the demon maid with completely black eyes—the one I almost, but not quite, managed to trap.
"You're in a tough spot too, huh? After what you've been through, you're still working for him? If you tell me, I'll eat both you and the pig. Of course, I'll eat you while violating you. Anyone associated with the Orc officer is already on my target list."
—Suddenly, *whoosh*, it felt like part of the scenery shifted.
When I focused my attention on the Orc officer's side, there she was—the ninja girl from before. She was one of the two standing beside him in his room the other day. Her alert eyes gleamed from behind her ninja attire. I hadn't noticed her.
"I see, so that's one of your techniques. I'll remember it for when I kill you."
Speaking of kunoichi, it's all about gang rape, right? Someone used to say that, I think. Now I get it. In my case, it'll just be me, but I'll make it just as intense.
"Oh? Here comes the Demon officer from over there."
The Demon officer greeted him with a smile, and the Orc officer started a conversation with the Minotaur store manager, the three of them standing together.
While they talked, I finished receiving the new meat delivery from the supplier.
I accepted two human bodies wrapped in straw mats, stamped them with Butcher's mark, and carried them to the store's refrigerator. The Minotaur store manager trusts me enough to handle this kind of discretion. Humph.
As I was moving the meat into the fridge, I saw familiar faces walking together from across the street. It's strange how many acquaintances are showing up today.
This time, it's definitely Ferris, and... is that an Elf girl?
The two were walking side by side, chatting in a calm atmosphere.
"Weren't you two fighting? Did you make up already? Youth is wonderful."
But no matter how much you fought, don't throw your friends into Butcher's cage anymore, okay? If it's any Butcher other than me, their life would definitely be over.
"Oh, Jivodan! ※○▲◎☆◇〆〒●▲!"
Ferris approached me, waving her arms and tail excitedly. She looked up at me cheerfully, speaking in words I couldn't understand. Sorry, I have no idea what you're saying.
Is Lydia not with you today...? Too bad.
And you're still calling me Jivodan? I told Lydia my name was Gévaudan, right? Did she not pass that on? I get deflated when you call me that, so I wish you'd stop.
Meanwhile, the Elf girl stood a little distance away, her cheeks twitching silently.
Don't worry. No matter what, I wouldn't start anything right in front of the store where I'm working, in broad daylight. I'm not that ungrateful.
When I returned to the store, Ferris and the Elf girl started arguing over croquettes and other items at the storefront.
Eating snacks on the way home from school—the essence of youth. I want to stain that shiny page of their lives completely white.
As I was thinking such terrible things, suddenly, the Minotaur store manager patted my shoulder and handed me some grass with a laugh. Thanks.
As I munched on the grass, he casually left me behind and walked off with the two officers.
"Take care."
That was the last instruction I received from the device.
What do you mean? I couldn't ask, and there I stood, a bewildered Butcher in the store.
At the storefront, a small line of aliens seeking meat had formed.
*Rustle... rustle...*
The aura of confusion emanating from them.
The dwarf-like alien with a beard at the front of the line cautiously pointed to the meat in the display case and said, "◇＃☆□○..."
I don't understand. Do you want this meat?
I tilted my head, and he slowly held up two fingers.
Aliens usually buy by the kilo. Two kilos of chicken meat.
I went to the back, wrapped two kilos of chicken meat, and brought it out. Here you go.
He took the package and offered me some coins in return.
—Hmm.
Is this the right amount? Does he want change?
I took four coins, examined them, and froze.
The dwarf didn't move from his spot. He was paralyzed, dripping with sweat, as he stared into the red glass eyes glowing from the depths of my paper bag. I was sweating inside too.
He seems to be waiting for change. But I have no idea how to count these coins...
As the dwarf and I stared at each other in despair, a lively savior appeared—Ferris.
She trotted around the store, came beside me, looked at the coins in my hand, said something energetically, and then took a few appropriate coins from the coin pouch and handed them to the dwarf. He looked relieved, took them, and left.
You saved me!
As a thank you, I licked her cheek. *Lick.* Ferris smiled and waved over the Elf girl, who had been watching from a distance.
At first, the Elf girl shook her head with a stern expression, but after Ferris's persistent calls, she reluctantly entered the store.
Now, an alien with a face like a Baltan alien stood on the other side of the counter. He pointed to the meat and said something. Then, his arm—shaped like a crab claw—rose slowly... I can't even tell what the numbers mean. Does that mean two?
"One kilo of beef tenderloin, four kilos of beef rump."
I looked over, and Ferris was operating the control terminal. Smart. So smart, Ferris.
I went to the back, wrapped the meat from the fridge, and brought it out.
Ferris was handling the payment, so I handed the package to the Elf girl standing beside her. She looked confused but obediently passed it to the Baltan-like alien. He laughed, "Fofofofo..." as he left. Could it really be...?
Like this, the two took over customer service for me, and I settled back into my usual role of cutting and bringing meat.
As the part-time leader, I wanted to act like a senior to them, but there was no need—they were working so efficiently.
Usually, the Minotaur store manager would be here, but now, a fox girl and an Elf girl stood in his place. And both of them looked like fresh-faced high school girls.
Ferris, especially, had a slightly childlike build.
The Elf girl was slender and delicate.
With their novelty, combined with the desires and protective instincts they stirred in men, word spread in real-time, and soon, the longest line I'd ever seen formed at the storefront.
Thanks to them, the store was bustling. It was definitely buzzing at that moment.
I kept cutting meat and handing it to Ferris. The Elf girl started frying things midway through, making croquettes and fried chicken one after another.
At first, she looked pale standing next to me for the frying work, but as she got busier, her discomfort with me seemed to fade. Eventually, she tied her hair back, rolled up her sleeves, and by the end, she was smiling, sweating, and saying, "※ー☆っ!" brightly.
Ferris seemed to be having fun from start to finish. She probably enjoyed giving me orders.
The customers facing Ferris had relaxed expressions the entire time.
Watching the two of them work tirelessly, I enjoyed a side of part-time youth I'd always kind of envied.
This is the kind of thing I'd dreamed of.
As the line started to shorten, the Minotaur store manager finally returned, looking astonished. "Bumooh!" The coin pouch was overflowing.
Ferris and the store manager chatted.
So, those two knew each other a bit, huh? Good, good. I thought the store manager might scold me for letting strangers into the store.
That day, the meat stock ran out, and we closed the store.
As the Minotaur store manager left to take me back to the facility, Ferris stopped him.
And so, Ferris took me back to the facility.
Yes, to her, I'm a pet. A high school girl walking her dog after school.
I bet there's no one foolish enough to mess with Ferris now, right?
The Elf girl and Ferris were chatting completely normally.
Maybe my theory was off... I thought Ferris was thrown into my cell because of the Elf girl's bullying, and later, the Elf girl was punished by the perverted fox woman in my cell. But they seem too friendly for that.
No, but I was definitely told to punish her back then.
Maybe aliens are just really straightforward—fight one day, friends the next. Lydia's a bit... no, quite strange too. I can't figure out what she's thinking.