#750 Troubled Men

My name is Orkubo.

I serve as an orc under Lord Saint.

An orc is a monster birthed from a dungeon's stagnated and condensed mana.

We're beings that have deviated from the original course of life, almost like pseudo-organisms.

However, most of the monsters on the farm, including myself, defy this norm.

All due to our master, Lord Saint.

Serving him allowed us monsters, who were not meant to possess an ‘ego,’ to acquire one.

His greatness made this possible.

Even the other orcs and goblins can not only act as our master's limbs but also find personal fulfillment in our work.

For me, working on the farm under Lord Saint was a genuine joy.

I believed these days would continue forever, but an unexpected event turned my life around.

To my surprise, talks of my marriage started.

Me, a monster. Can you believe it?

My partner is Zoth Syra, a mermaid.

She's been kind to me since we met, but I never imagined we would grow this close...

Frankly, I'm still bewildered.

***

When I entered the shop and pushed aside the curtain, a pleasant smell wafted through the air.

“Hey, welcome.”

The usual short greeting.

Without asking the shopkeeper, I noticed a familiar face at the counter.

“Gobukichi...?!”

“I arrived before you.”

Without any further confirmation, I sat down next to him.

Gobukichi, a goblin, joined the farm at the same time as me, and we've been working together since then.

While I've been serving Lord Saint with the orc team, Gobukichi has been doing the same with the goblin team.

In a sense, we are the two pillars of the farm... at least, that's what I pride myself on, and I think Gobukichi feels the same. However, I never thought we would be grappling with the same troubles simultaneously.

“Boss.”

“Yeah?”

“Rice shochu with hot water, radish tsukune with shirataki... and an egg.”

“And rice?”

“I'll have that later.”

By the way, this bar's owner is the god of alcohol, Bacchus.

Recently, he has been providing a place of relaxation for us farm dwellers, not just in the Demon Capital but also by opening a branch on the farm.

Gobukichi seems to be drinking dry sake.

There’s an empty cup beside him. Though he arrived before me, our work finished roughly the same time.

I can tell he's been drinking at a noticeable pace.

This haste is unlike him.

“... Is it because of that issue?”

“You got it, Orkubo.”

Gobukichi took a sip from his cup, draining his second cup.

As for me, the shochu I had just ordered was already finished. Following my companion's lead, I placed another order.

“...Is it truly acceptable for monsters to get married?” he slurs, reeking of alcohol. 

I can't answer his question, as I'm wrestling with the same conundrum.

“Monsters are dubious beings, not truly alive. Originally, they should function solely based on instinct...”

“Lord Saint’s divine intervention gifted our self-awareness. It was through serving him, through being exposed to his holy power, that something that should have been impossible for us took root...”

But that doesn't mean we've become genuine living beings. 

Monsters, regardless of their evolution, remain monsters. 

We, the orcs and goblins, are known as ‘pseudo-humanoid monsters’ since we possess complete limbs and bear a resemblance to humans. 

However, that doesn't mean we're the same as humans. We belong to entirely different species. 

As I mentioned before, even our status as living beings is questionable, and if we were to be classified as organisms, we are significantly different from humans. 

There have been instances of marriages between demons and humans among those associated with this farm... but a union between a human and a monster feels far more foreign.

Is that acceptable?

What about the differences in our races? If they mate, will they be able to successfully procreate? 

No, even before that... will the gods permit it? 

Can these grotesque pseudo-humanoids walk alongside actual humanoids?

“I... I lack confidence,” Gobukichi groans.

Another empty cup is added to his collection.

“I feel the same way. But our partners won't back down... you must feel the same.”

“Absolutely...!”

Teacher Carp, who adores Gobukichi, is fervent and forthright, despite being an educator. 

She's persistent, sticking to the one she loves no matter what. This trait seems common among the mermaids we've encountered so far.

Perhaps it's natural for all mermaids. 

It's unlikely we can dissuade them, and the wedding will probably be pushed through. 

But even if we become a married couple, will I be able to make Madam Zoth Syra happy...?!

“Me, a monster... a pseudo-life form?!’

“I can't reciprocate Teacher Carp's feelings! I'm just... I'm just an aberrant goblin!”

Both Gobukichi and I had quite a bit to drink and were getting emotional.

We might be disturbing the other customers...

Realizing this, even in my inebriated state, I look around...

“...!!!”

“What is it, Orkubo?”

“My Lord...?!”

“What?!”

Right beside us, where we were babbling, sat our master... Lord Saint.

Did he overhear all our complaints?!

“M-M-M-My My Lord, about what we just said...!”

“Boss, another Highball, please.”

While we were panicking, Lord Saint remained composed.

“Also, kombu with tofu... and eggs, eggs, and more eggs.”

That's a peculiar order.

“There's no need to feel embarrassed. Men often overthink things before marriage.”

“Wha...!”

Could those words from Lord Saint...

...Be directed at our current strife?!

“I understand your worries. I'm an otherworlder, an existence that wasn't supposed to be here initially. I was nervous too when it came to getting married.”

“My Lord...!”

“But there are times, despite the hesitation, when you must step forward. Zoth Syra and Teacher Carp's feelings for you are genuine. If you don't reciprocate with the same sincerity, you'll surely regret it.”

My Lord... Lord Saint is scolding us...!

“Moreover... should you really be pondering now whether you are authentic creatures or not? If you were fakes, would that mean the days I spent with you were also fake?”

“My Lord...!”

“No, right? The days I spent with you... the joy and pleasure we shared, they're real! I can attest to that from my personal experience!”

Indeed.

We were with Lord Saint...

We constructed houses, cultivated fields, ventured into and out of dungeons...

The emotions we shared during those moments were real, weren't they?!

“Don't begin doubting yourselves now... that’s too disheartening...!!!”

“MY LORDDD!!!”

Gobukichi and I sobbed and clung to Lord Saint.

That's right, even if we are synthetic life forms, the days we've spent on this farm until now are irrefutably genuine!

So the future that extends from here must also be genuine!

What were we wavering about until now?!

“Do you get it? I'm so gladddd!!!”

“Waaaaah!!!”

“Bebbebeebebebe...!!!”

We huddle together, weeping.

We affirmed that these feelings are genuine and pledged to stride into the future without hesitation.

“...What fine folks y’all are!”

The boss of the pub delivered the final words.

Speaking of final... I’d like to have my rice to wrap things up.

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will be away for the next two weeks... but! i already have posts scheduled for each day, so don't worry!

if there's any urgent message you'd like to relay, my dms are always open :)