Hataraku Maou-sama! Vol 4 Chapter 4.2

Chapter 1 was too long to be put in one post, here's part 2

Compared to the luxurious envelopes normally sent by the landlady, Maou and the rest estimated that nothing important would be contained in the package. As they were worried that it might contain mysterious local products or something on par with “that photo”, they were already on their guard.

As Suzuno lectured Maou and the others, “What if there is an important notice inside’, they finally decided to open the package.

However, there was no letter, instructions or label, just a fully black tape. The inhabitants of the Demon Fortress, faced with “the incident of photos of the landlady in a swimsuit”, which caused heavy casualties, who could blame them for not wanting to play the tape because of a bad feeling they had?

Basically, even if the landlady did send the tape over, there was no equipment within the Demon Fortress which can play it.

Ashiya frantically went out on Durandal II and finally managed to buy a high class cake. However, if they did something impolite to Chiho’s family members, it might betray the trust which Chiho harbored, so Maou really spared no effort.

In addition, Emi even followed them in order to watch him.

Logically, Ashiya should be the one to visit, but Emi was worried that if these two people left together, they might secretly get rid of the tape.

As a group of people coming over at the same time would cause some inconvenience to the Sasaki family, so except for Maou and Emi, the rest of them are staying at Villa Rosa to take care of Alas=Ramus and wait for good news from Maou and the others.

Even though Emi always cursed the demon forces in a nonchalant manner, and did not care about their life or death, for an unknown reason, she is actually sincerely helping Maou and the rest solve their problem.

“Mum…… is too excited.”

Once Chiho entered the living room, she lowered her head, sapped of energy.

The living room, cleaned until it was free of dust not only had a brand new table cloth on the table, there was even a vase containing various types of flowers.

Perhaps it was because scented candles were burnt or air fresheners were used, there was a slight flower smell in the living room.

Even the seat cushions were obviously changed into thick cushions which were not used on a normal basis, making Chiho, the original resident, feel awkward. As for Maou and Emi, they only understood that they were very welcome.

“Er, erhm, I’m sorry, uh, please take a seat. Ah, Maou-san, the tape……”

After Chiho, who sounded like she ran out of energy, took the tape from Maou, she knelt down in front of the LCD television on top of a television stand in the corner of the living room.

Maou and Emi looked at each other while sitting down nervously. Underneath them, the new seat cushion crackled.

Chiho awkwardly sat down next to her mother and turned her line of sight to the television monitor. A black screen was displayed for a moment before a video was shown----

Blue skies, gold coloured land, and the pyramid on top of it. After one hundred people sees this, those hundred people will definitely reply that this background is at Egypt.

“Ah~~ ah~~ cough.”

The landlady’s voice sounded like she was testing the microphone. Maou subconsciously clenched his fists because of the terror he felt.

“Erhm, Maou-san and Ashiya-san, it’s been a while. I, Shiba, am going to explain things in front of the Giza Pyramids in Egypt.”

Rather than that, it was harder to explain why the landlady would use such a troublesome method to notify the Demon Fortress. If she used a letter notification like the one she sent to Suzuno, Maou and the rest would find out about this a lot earlier.

Just as Maou was finally getting used to this shocking footage, and felt unsatisfied inside his heart-----

“In addition, there is another matter which I would like to trouble Maou-san and Ashiya-san.”

After talking about the renovation period of the apartment, the landlady continued to speak.

“Actually, I have a niece.”

Maou and Emi looked at each other in reflex.

The landlady’s…niece? The two of them never thought that this landlady will have parents, siblings, nephews or nieces, or other normal family members, so they were quite shocked when they heard this.

“This niece is currently operating a beach house at a beach in Chiba.”

Talking about the landlady and beaches, Maou remembered that “Swimsuit photo incident”. Just as Maou though that this tape will finally show its fangs and wanted to press the stop button on the tape player------

“If it’s convenient for you, can all of you go to my niece’s store to help out?”

He stopped in his tracks because of this sentence.

“That store is situated at a beach in southeast Chiba. Taking to account the location and the renovation of the apartment, accommodation will most likely be provided, so there’s no need to commute. As my niece’s family have other things to handle, so this will probably last from the beginning of August until after the Obon holiday, what do you think about it?”

From the beginning of August until after the Obon holiday, and the job even provides accommodation?

For a job like this to suddenly appear at this time, could it be a joke? It is something which would push them to the depths after making them happy, or a kind of prank segment?

“Southeast of Chiba…… is it Choshi?”

Chiho mumbled to herself softly, like she wanted to confirm her memory.

“If there are guys around, it would be more assuring in case something sudden occurs. Of coruse, you have your own job to handle, so I will not force you on this. However if it is convenient, please think about it. If you’re willing to take this job, please call this number……”

From this series of conversations, it’s expected for Maou to have this question.

“Ah, I get it, Maou-san already has a partner?”

“Not at all!!!!”

Maou said this at a louder volume than what he was using so far, and from the corner of his eye, saw Chiho, Emi and Riho widened their eyes in surprise as they did not know what was going on.

Normally, calls which talk about work issues should be more tension filled and filled with work related elements. Of course, if it was a workplace which is laborious, impersonal and only earns money, it will be very troubling, but not feeling any tension is also an issue.

Because of Kisaki’s personal values, the work at the MgRonalds in front of Hatagaya station is not especially strenuous, but there will be still unique standards of operations, work etiquette and unwritten rules present at many large scale chain stores.

For Maou, who had worked under such an environment, the feeling which Daikoya gave off totally exceeded his predictions.

Just as Maou was gasping for air, the other party seemed to be thinking about something.

“If you’re a hardcore Herbivore male (Note: Refers to the group of guys who have little or no interest in the opposite gender and only focueses on one’s own hobbies), then I can rest easy. But it feels a little off. From what I heard from Aunt Mi-chan, I thought it would be a more bold and generous group of people.”

Exactly how did the landlady describe Maou and Ashiya, and what kind of impressions did Daiko imagine from that?

Maou was confident that it was not possible to be able to find someone else like him, a hardworking, honest, upright Demon who is living seriously while conquering the world and working, in the past as well as the future.

He has work perform well as work in other to clear the various misunderstandings which arose from this phone call.

“In short, on the day after tomorrow, I will come here as early as possible!”

“Understood, I’ll wait for you guys.”

He didn’t do anything special, but after this conversation which lacked any feelings of tension, Maou still felt strangely tired.

“What were you guys talking about?”

Emi was the first one to raise a difficult question. For those people who were listening from the side, it wasn’t a normal interview discussing about work.

“I’m not too sure myself.”

Right now, even for Maou himself, he could only answer that it was a unfamiliar job, working under a unfamiliar person, in an unfamiliar place.

“So, how did things go? Is everything alright work wise?”

Riho asked with a shake of the ice filled glass. Maou kept his mobile phone and bowed deeply.

“Thank you for lending us the tape player. Thanks to you, we finally do not have to drift into the streets. From the day after tomorrow, we will work at the beach house in Chiba.”

“Oh, that’s really great.”

Riho nodded with a smile.

Chiho looked like she breathed a sigh of relief, but still, she suddenly remembered something and asked,

“Three people, does that include Urushihara-san? Would that be alright? Is he able to go out, or talk to people normally?”

Expectedly, Chiho had thought of the same questions as Maou, and from the look of unease on her face, she seemed to have decided that Urushihara would give the other party a bad impression.

“What is it? Is Urushihara-san the type of person who would stay at home?”

Riho, who was not in the loop, deciphered the uneasy atmosphere around Chiho and asked this at the same time.

“I’m sorry, letting you see such an embarrassing thing…... but the other person and I would do our best to cover for him.”

And Maou just admitted it without any reservations.

“Hm……”

Riho, who looked like she didn’t mind that much, nodded while glancing at her daughter’s face from the side. And Chiho was currently looking at Maou with wistful expression on her face.

“Ah, thank you for your notepad and pen.”

Maou returned the stationery for taking notes back to Riho. As for Emi, she spoke to Maou while looking at the notes he wrote,

“I hoped you learnt your lesson. Next time when the landlady sends other things over, you have to open it properly.”

“Uh……yeah, that is, I will deal with it appropriately.”

Maou thought that because Emi could only say those things because she had never seen ‘that photo’. However, the fact that the landlady had saved him is also the truth. Just on this point, he must thank her properly.

Just as the group of people realized that the tape was still playing and turned towards the screen with the intention to switch it off, at this point of time------

“Oh yes, I had the chance to learn belly dancing in Egypt.”

The landlady who seemed to be talking about random topics until now, said this on the video.

When the group was not noticing, the background behind the landlady had changed from the pyramids in the desert to a place which looks like a luxurious palace ballroom.

“A member of a tribe who made music and dance their profession decided that I am a first rate dancer. After this, I will take part in a major dance event being held here. Everyone, please watch my dance.”

“Oh my, such beautiful clothes.”

From Maou’s point of view, Riho’s opinion is too abnormal.

The landlady, being shown on the screen, had already changed into a blouse which revealed her shoulders. On top of her abdomen where her waist cannot be identified, it was decorated with countless numbers of dazzling gems and coins and with her fluttering bright red skirt made of chiffon and satin, she had instantly turned into a giant flower monster.

Maou’s movements can only be described as lightning speed.

I can’t allow this tape to continue playing. If it continues, it will only cause misfortune to others!

However, as Maou’s fingers touched the stop button on the tape player, accompanied by oriental style music , the video started to mercilessly show the landlady’s shaking arms, abdomen, neck and various places on her whole body. Starting to shake her waist and bottom, she performed the eastern secret dance which once sucked the whole of Europe into a whirlpool of senses ------ the scene of “Belly Dancing”.

After that, Maou lost all his memories from now until the morning of the next day.

“Seriously…… mum, you’re too excited.”

After seeing off Maou and Emi, as well as Ashiya, who came to pick up the unconscious Maou, Chiho started to complain to her mother after closing the main door on the porch.

Even though she could understand her mother’s feelings, but if she welcomed the guests with such passion, it would be awkward for the child when they meet their friends later on.

“Oh my, does it matter. Even though I know that Maou-san is very serious when he works, if I don’t know what kind of person he is, it will difficult for me to make a judgment.”

This sentence which her mother said while clearing the tableware in the living room caused Chiho to widen her eyes in surprise.

“You said you know…… Mum. Did you go to the store?”

“Why are you so surprised? Isn’t that to be expected?”

“I told you before that I will be troubling for me and you should not go……”

“So I exercised self-control and didn’t greet anyone. However……”

Riho glanced at the notepad which Maou used.

“He’s a good person. Maou-san.”

“Eh?”

“Yeah, if he’s that kind of person, it’s fine if Chiho likes him.”

“Mum!”

In a rare occurrence, Chiho said this in an agitated manner, but Riho turned a deaf ear to this.

“He’s diligent and polite, for a guy, his handwriting can be considered to be rather beautiful. He does not give off a flippant feeling, and does not have any cigarette smell on him. And from the fact that he uses such an old mobile phone, he should be very thrifty on his daily life, right? Is the person who came to get him Ashiya-san? In this day and age, it’s rare to see a simple and unadorned guy like him.”

For Ashiya’s situation, rather than saying that he’s simple and unadorned, it would be more accurate to say that he is poor.

“Your father used to be a poor student who lived a hard life, I guess this is hereditary?”

Ignoring the fact if the liking of certain types of guys can be inherited, but for the daughter who is being counselled by her own parents, it was really an uncomfortable feeling.

“Currently, it’s difficult to find such an honest person like him. You shouldn’t have anything to worry about, right?”

“Wo, worry?”

Chiho looked at her mother’s eyes in surprise.

“Do you think you can deceive your mother’s eyes? For example, knowing that Maou-san working place is in Chiba, or when talking about Urushihara-san, you were frowning so badly.”

Chiho blushed subconsciously, and belatedly used her hand to cover her forehead.

“That’s, that’s because……”

With her right hand covering her forehead, and left hand grabbing the hem of her skirt, Chiho said bashfully,

“How should I put it, even though Maou-san and Ashiya-san are down to earth and capable people, but Urushihara-san is a lazy bum who is sloppy in various areas and does not take things seriously. Every day, he only surfs the internet. I’m worried that Maou-san would end up causing harm to his body because he is covering for Urushihara-san in an unfamiliar place, or that Urushihara-san’s attitude would cause them to get fired and so on. If so, not being able to stay in Sasazuka…… is very possible……”

After fluently saying various criticisms about Urushihara, Chiho suddenly fell silient.

In the past, Chiho had thought that even if Maou and the others did not have a job, in the most serious case, their food and living conditions will become worse, but she finally realised that the situation is not that simple.

The rent in Sasazuka is very high because of the land price. If Maou and the others lost just half a month of income, it is possible that they would have to leave.

In this case, Emi and Suzuno, who chased after them, would definitely do the same.

It wouldn’t be that bad if it was just like that. In the worst case, if Maou and the rest returned to Ente Isla because they have nowhere else to go, perhaps the Hero and the Maou would have to “settle things with each other”.

“…… I do not wish, for things to turn out like that.”

“Chiho?”

Chiho leaned against the wall at her home, sighing.

“If something went wrong at work, Maou-san and the others may end up going to someplace far away…… Yusa-san, and Suzuno-san at well……”

Even though she cannot fight like Emi, Suzuno or Alas=Ramus, but she could at least help Maou when it comes to work. However, the pre-requisite would have to be that their workplace needs to be near to Sasazuka.

Right now, she is still a normal high school girl being protected by her parents and cannot imagine how she could be like them, surviving on their own.

Chiho lowered her head with a darkened expression.

Currently, only the sounds of Riho washing the cutlery could be heard.

“Let me say this first, even if you want to go together with Maou-san and the others, I won’t agree to it.

“……Yeah, I know.”

It was expected for her mother to say that. No matter how much they trusted the other party, there wouldn’t be any parents who would allow a high school girl to work in a place where she had to live with other guys.

She couldn’t lend Maou-san her power.

Just as Chiho dejected decided to raise her head.

“Then again……”

“Eh?”

“No just Maou-san, Yusa-san seems like a dependable person. She may be young, she responds to others in such an awe-aspiring manner. I feel that the aura she gives off is rather different from the young people today.”

Her mother suddenly started talking about Emi.

Even Chiho, who was not a native of Ente Isla, can also guess that Emi must have experienced a cruel past for her to become the person she is now.

But Chiho did not feel that her mother and Emi spoke that much during the period of time when Maou fainted. Or did they talk about some deep topics when Emi was about to leave?

Chiho paused in shock because she could not guess her mother’s intentions.

“Since you are earning your own money, as long as your reason is sensible and logical, I won’t say too much about it.”

“Mum……?”

After washing the cutlery and wiping her hands, Riho mischievously winked and patted her daughter’s head.

※

“Hey! What happened? Why does his complexion look worse compared to when he first left the house?”

“Papa, what’s wrong?”

“You’re back. But what exactly must happen for something like fainting in Chiho-san house to occur?”

Urushihara, Alas=Ramus and Suzuno welcome Emi, Ashiya and Maou with different questions of their own.

When Emi saw that Urushihara is placating Alas=Ramus, who was on his back, and that Alas=Ramus looked like she was enjoying herself, she got a huge shock.

Could it be that Alas=Ramus had sensed some kind of resonance from Urushihara?

“…… I’m not too sure, it could be that too many things were too much of a shock for the Maou.”

“So it was a cursed tape after all?”

Compared to the pale looking Maou, Emi replied, as cool as a cucumber, however Urushihara’s face immediately became a shade of pale which did not lose to Maou.

As Emi did not want to bring Maou, who had collapsed at the Sasaki home, back by herself, she called Suzuno, and asked her to get Ashiya to come over to fetch him instead.

After Maou, who was holding on to Ashiya’s shoulders, paid his respects, he left the Sasaki home and returned to the Demon Fortress.

Maou walked shakily into the porch and was immersed into the darkness of the Demon Fortress.

“What cursed tape. It’s wasn’t anything much at all.”

Emi nonchalantly looked at the pale faced Maou.

“Actually fainting after seeing a female dance, how rude.”

“Dance……”

Urushihara seemed to remember something because of this sentence and his face started to stiffen up.

“Seriously, you guys are too exaggerated. Chiho and Chiho’s mum finished watching it normally.”

“Ehhh? You’re lying?”

“Lucifer, Mama won’t lie!”

As Urushihara did not believe Emi’s words, Alas=Ramus, who was on his back kept hitting the back of Urushihara’s head with a “Papapa” in protest.

But Emi’s testimonial is the truth.

Riho honestly praised the landlady’s clothes, and apart from being surprised that the landlady is a large sized woman, Chiho did not have any other special reactions.

“Anyway, from the day after tomorrow, you will be going to Chiba with the Maou. You will stay at a beach house run by the landlady’s relative until the end of the Obon festival in August.”

“Oh? In other words, it’s a job which provides accommodation. Doesn’t that fit your wishes nicely?”

Suzuno clapped in admiration.

“Is Mama going to Chiba too?”

Alas=Ramus asked as she poked her head out from her perch on Urushihara’s back, Emi smiled wryly and lifted Alas=Ramus from Urushihara’s back.

“Mama will be together with Alas=Ramus, okay?”

“Yeah!”

In order to avoid the situation in which Alas=Ramus will keep asking to go to Chiba together with “Papa”, Emi carried the young girl and changed the topic with an adult’s slyness while looking towards Urushihara.

“She’s not that light now. Ah~ how heavy. So, Chiba? Hm, it doesn’t sound so bad.”

Emi did not miss what Urushihara said to himself as he shook the arm which supported Alas=Ramus.

This fallen angel did not include himself as part of the working staff at all.

“Even though I’m thankful that you helped to take care of Alas=Ramus, you shouldn’t start complaining because of such a small thing. Work at a beach house sounds difficult, you know? I think this is a good chance for you to change those Neet habits of yours.”

“Eh, what, I have to work too?”

Emi thanking him and the content that followed caused Urushihara to be surprised twice in different ways.

“At least that’s how those guys planned it. Then again, accommodation is already provided, do you still think you’re the only one who doesn’t have to work?”

“Uh, that, because, eh?”

Urushihara fiddled with his bangs and stuttered when he answered.

“What is this, isn’t a beach house too much. It’s so hot already, why do we have to specially go to a place with such a high temperature…… then again, why didn’t anyone discuss this with me first……”

“You are really clueless about your own standing.”

Suzuno, who stood at the side, lectured Urushihara sternly as he talked to himself.

“Even if it was discussed with you, there won’t be any constructive opinion. Emilia is right, this is a good chance. Just treat it as going to a counselling centre!”

“I don’t want to! What kind of analogy is that! A, and, I never worked before, and I might cause trouble to others instead, in addition, even if Orba is in detention, it wouldn’t be good if I appeared in front of other people now, isn’t that right?”

Towards Urushihara, who shamelessly kept making excuses, both females looked at him coldly.

“Since you’re making so many excuses, how long do you plan on not working?”

“You say that it’s inconvenient for you to appear in front of other people, then why do you always meet with the driver from Amazon’s Sasuke Delivery Company so nonchalantly? Hm?”

“It’s been almost three months after the incident with Orba, has anything happened? Don’t you go to the bath house as well? Or has the police looked for you before and put you in some dangerous situation?”

“Bu, but, it’s easy to get careless when the sense of danger is lacking! Even if nothing happened today, it doesn’t mean nothing will happen tomorrow, if anything, it’s because I admit that I have committed a crime, so I’m staying at home to reflect……”

“If you are really staying at home to repent and reflect, then I have nothing to say, but you, who is idly wasting time and leeching on your superior and colleague, you have no right to say such nonsense. Rather than that, you would be a little cuter if you had helped the Maou make plans to conquer the world instead.”

“Uh…ughh!”

Having the two females lecture him in such an organized and logical manner, tears started to appear in the corner of Urushihara’s eyes.

“If you don’t work, then what do you plan to do? You don’t have a place to live, so how are you going to shut yourself at home? If you plan to do evil things like when you teamed up with Orba, I won’t let you off this time.”

“Even though it is still possible for you to be the only one who doesn’t work and impose on the other party, but it should be rather embarrassing. However, if you have the courage to ask a stranger for food even through you don’t work, that would be another matter.”

“Mama, Suzuno onee-san, don’t bully Lucifer, okay?”

Even though Alas=Ramus only knew the two people were lecturing Urushihara, she still protected Urushihara with a troubled look on her face. However, this only hurt Urushihara’s pride even further.

“Sigh, this is a matter of the Demon Fortress anyway, I have no reason to be worried about all of you.”

“True. He’s just a low grade demon who fell from the sky. His sense of shame and hardworking attitude must be fallen with his status as an angel.”

“Y, you people! I’m going to cry! If you continue, I’m really going to cry! Basically, isn’t Bell not working as well? Don’t act so high and mighty!”

Urushihara shouted loudly with a voice which sounded like he is already crying.

“Even though Bell isn’t working in Japan now, but she is a proper inquisitor in Ente Isla, and is taking action with a clear goal in mind. In addition, whether it’s cleaning, laundry or cooking, she does it all herself. Even though she doesn’t have a job like you, the disparity between you and Bell is like sky and earth.”

“Damn……! Damn! Actually looking down on me!”

“Lucifer, boys can’t cry, okay. pain pain go away, Away!”

“I’m happy, yet not happy at all!”

Even though it seems like only Alas=Ramus is on Lucifer’s side, Urushihara still rejected the frantically outstretched hand with teary eyes, causing Emi and Suzuno to roll their eyes.

“Forget it, I understand! As long as I get serious, Maou won’t be able to match me when it comes to work! I will definitely make you take back your words!”

Urushihara shouted agitatedly and closed the main door to room 201 without waiting for their reply. Emi and Suzuno saw this and looked at each other, relieved.

“Looks like it went well?”

“It should be alright… mostly.”

“Mama, Suzuno onee-san, don’t keep scolding Lucifer, okay?”

With a tried look on her face, Emi pacified the protesting Alas=Ramus while looking at the tightly closed door of the Demon Fortress.

“If they became homeless because they are unemployed and gave up entirely, it would be troublesome. Excluding the Maou and Alsiel, as Lucifer might really harm the Japanese, so it’s especially worrying.”

The reason for Emi’s strange behaviour in helping Maou solve his unemployment problem was because of this.

Emi was worried if Urushihara, who lacked self-control, lost the current stability in his life, there was no telling what he might do. Now that the three demons finally found a stable job and a place to stay, she could finally relax.

“However, that city called Choshi should be really far away from Sasazuka.”

Simply put, it is in Chiba, but this range is still very large, and Emi wasn’t sure where exactly is Kimigahama situated. However, just this time, Emi wasn’t that worried about the movements of Maou and the rest.

“Bell, have you met with the landlady before?”

“Hm, we have only communicated via letters……”

Emi remembered the first time she met the landlady---Shiba Miki of Sasazuka Villa Rosa.

“I can’t really express this well…… but as long as it is related to that landlady, I think that even if those guys want to do bad things, they won’t be able to achieve their goal. Of course, I don’t plan to just watch from the side, but even if I don’t follow them closely, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

“What does that mean?”

That day when Urushihara and Orba took Chiho as a hostage and challenged them.

Even though only a few months passed since then, it felt like something which happened a long time ago.

“As a human from Ente Isla, we own a lot of this world, or we have a power and unexplainable things that the people of Earth do not. However……”

----Shouldn’t you be the most knowledgeable about how powerful belief and faith can be?

“The Earth must have a lot of power which we do not know about and unexplainable things.”

Suzuno, who did not understand what was said, tilted her head.

“In addition, there is still the matter of Chiho.”

“Chiho-san?”

“Whether that child is willing or not, but she is already too deeply involved with us. Even if we want to go after the Maou and the rest, we need to ensure her safety before leaving Sasazuka.”

The inhabitants of Ente Isla and Heaven have already decided that Chiho is one of the people involved in the battle between the Hero and the Maou. Currently, even if they manipulate Chiho’s memory, it will not change the fact that she is important to Emi and Maou.

If Chiho was captured by Sariel or Gabriel as a hostage, it would be too late.

Emi crossed her arms in front of her chest, deep in thought.

“The best way would be to obtain consent from Chiho’s mother, and bring her along……but it should be difficult to do that……it would be a lot easier if her parents happened to go overseas.”

“You should face reality.”

A high school girl would still have to act according to the situation of the adults, this is the troubling thing.
 

Chapter end