Chapter 54
“Hmm... It is true that I am also called Chainsaw Man. Did you know?”
No. You just look like Chainsaw Man to anyone.
Of course, I didn't know your nickname was actually Chainsaw Man.
I held back what I wanted to say and answered, “Yes. I heard it from others.”
Perhaps thinking his fame had spread, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly above his impassive expression.
Well... as long as he's happy, I guess that's Fine.
Anyway, it was definitely that Ronin from before.
His appearance aside, how many other people in this city would walk around carrying a 1-meter-67-centimeter Super-Vibrating jet engine saw on their back?
He was a person who left a strong impression, so there was no way I could forget him.
I could still clearly picture him with that huge build throwing a tantrum, claiming he couldn't stand the anxiety of being without his saw.
Besides, more than anything, the connection involving that Super-Vibrating Chainsaw was huge, since I owed it a great debt last time.
I felt like I had to address it. It would be better if I brought it up first.
“Um... I'm sorry.”
When I started by bowing my head and apologizing, the muscular hulking man tilted his head.
“...? What are you sorry for?”
He wasn't being sarcastic or Scolding me; he asked with his thick eyebrows furrowed as if he genuinely didn't know.
Even knowing there was no hostility in that fierce appearance, I naturally shrank back.
It was an Awkward situation.
He seemed to cherish that engine-saw so much. Shouldn't he be the one demanding answers first?
Rolling my eyes at the Unexpected development, I explained.
“Well, I'm talking about what happened yesterday because I used that saw carelessly without even getting permission.”
“Ah, yesterday! It was truly magnificent.”
Magnificent?
This was also a reaction that defied expectations in many ways.
The Chainsaw Man crossed his arms, showing off his bulging pectorals and biceps, and spoke in a solemn voice.
“It was the most magnificent Display I've seen recently. You looked scrawny, but to think you could handle a saw so well! As soon as I saw that sight, the word 'Butcher' popped right into my head.”
“...No way.”
Come on, it couldn't be.
When I spat that out with an Ominous Premonition, the Chainsaw Man grinned and nodded.
He spoke while thumping his chest.
“Yes, I was the one who gave you that nickname.
hand Butcher, hand Butcher!
A name that will resonate with everyone who witnessed that sight and everyone who heard the news.
I don't really have a talent for naming things, but on that day, it just struck my mind like a bolt. When I told the others, they all said it suited you perfectly and promised to spread it around. Have there been people who Recognized you?”
My vision spun at the innocent question of whether there were people who Recognized me.
My ears were practically bleeding because of that damn hand Butcher name, and I had suffered so much from arrogant Ronin picking fights to test my skills.
To think that the person in question who created that cursed nickname was standing so proudly right in front of my eyes!
Was this his revenge for my using his saw however I pleased? Of course, that was my fault, but still.
The blood in my entire body felt like it was rushing backward. I felt like grabbing the Chainsaw Man by the collar right then and there and demanding to know why on earth he did that to me.
Of course, seeing his build, two heads taller than mine, which forced me to crane my neck up to look at him,
those broad shoulders, and the thick veins writhing like live snakes, I naturally learned how to control my anger once again.
I was by no means on the short side, but this Chainsaw Man was on a completely different level in terms of his physique.
Should I say it felt like the man himself was strong?
His height was one thing, but because he was clad in muscles all over his body like full plate armor, it looked as if a stabbed knife would just bounce off, blocked by the hard muscle fibers.
How much did he Exercise, or was it the help of drugs and machines? His body looked even better than the Man Hunter's steroid-pumped subordinate gang members' bodies I saw last time.
It was like looking at a Medieval Knight suited for the 12th century rather than the 22nd century, his speech and disposition too.
He really seemed like a person who chose the wrong era in which to be born.
“...There were quite a lot of people who Recognized me.”
When I spoke while trembling, the Chainsaw Man, perhaps interpreting that tremor as a sign of overflowing joy, smiled, revealing pearly white teeth that contrasted with his bronze skin.
“There's no need to be so thankful, hand Butcher. You deserve to be called that. I merely played the role of a small catalyst.”
“Right. Still, if it hadn't been for that catalyst, the nickname wouldn't have been created in the first place...”
“Haha, if you look at it that way, the fundamental cause would be your dazzling Sawing skills that made me fall in Love at First Sight! You should stop with the modesty.”
At this point, wasn't he deliberately pretending not to know?
My head spun at the sight of him taking my subtly resentful tone as Praise for his contribution and secretly enjoying it.
Did this Crazy Chainsaw Knight Leave his tact back in the middle Ages too? Why on earth did so many weird people come to this bar?
I suppressed the rising dizziness and spoke, trying to maintain my own sanity at least.
“So, you're saying there was no problem with me using the saw without permission?”
“Of course. If you had used it poorly, it might have been a problem, but since that wasn't the case, there's no reason to care. Thanks to you, I saw a very good show.”
“...And there were no issues like the saw blade getting damaged?”
“Hah, our Ferdinand isn't the type to get worn out just from cutting off a single soft hand! There's absolutely no reason to worry.”
“Ferdinand?”
Suddenly, a German name popped out. For a moment I thought I misheard, but I hadn't.
“Ah, you don't know yet. It's the name of this friend you've already spent time with. Everyone, say hello to Ferdinand, my lifelong companion, and Welcome the beloved weapon that will be with me until I die!”
He said this while waving the vicious-looking Super-Vibrating jet engine saw in the air. All the people around startled and backed away.
...Is he really a Crazy person?
Whether I thought that or not, the Chainsaw Man didn't care in the slightest about the gazes around him and held the saw out to me with one hand.
“To follow the rules here, I have to check my weapon. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to Entrust Ferdinand to you again today. Please take good care of him.”
I grabbed its side in an Awkward posture, and my body momentarily staggered when the Chainsaw Man suddenly let go of the handle.
To think that this was a saw that guy carried around effortlessly with one hand, yet I was struggling to catch it even using both hands.
...Anyway, it was because of muscle pain. My limbs were still stiff due to the cyberware side effects.
I asked, struggling to endure my burning face.
“Last time, didn't you protest very... fiercely, saying you could never be separated from it, that you couldn't Entrust your beloved weapon to someone else's hands?”
Protest was a very polite expression; in reality, it would be more accurate to say he just acted like a Troublemaker.
Thinking back to our scuffle then, I was still dumbfounded.
His excuse that this wasn't a saw used as a weapon but something akin to a dining knife was the absolute pinnacle.
But to think he would now willingly Step forward and hand over his jet engine saw, Ferdinand, is astonishing.
“Because back then, I couldn't trust you enough to Leave Ferdinand with you. You looked scrawny and weak, and I couldn't trust you at all. But not anymore. I know your true nature.”
At his words, spoken while thrusting a thick finger out as if to poke my eyeball, I asked with a sigh.
Though I felt like I already knew the Answer without even having to ask.
“What is my true nature?”
“What else, the hand Butcher. I can trust Ferdinand with the expert who butchers the Man Hunter so cleanly! Ferdinand seems to like you too. Thanks to that, I can rest easy.”
“...I will show you to your seat.”
Suddenly, I had become a person whose true nature was a Butcher.
Feeling like my head would only hurt more the more I talked to him, I guided him to a seat while holding the chainsaw, a seat as far away as possible.
Then, a certain intuition flashed past me.
I tried to back away right then, feeling an Ominous Premonition at the sight of him smiling brightly while Cramming his huge body between the table and the wall with a heave-ho, but it was too late.
A thick forearm suddenly reached out and grabbed my wrist. He was so strong that I couldn't budge an inch while being held.
Tap, tap, beep-beep-beep.
He tapped my Cyberwatch a few times before letting go of my hand.
When I belatedly pulled away and looked at him with a wary expression, he winked and said,
“It's nothing much, just an invitation to a small Club. I felt you were qualified to become a member of our Club. Check it out if you're interested.”
At those words, I checked my Cyberwatch, and there was a message saying a new electronic business card had been registered, sent at some point.
When I clicked it, an upright, bold font on a black and red background floated up as a hologram.
《Chainsaw Lovers' Club》
...I didn't know what kind of Club it was, but just from the name Alone, I already had a bad feeling about it.
I probably wouldn't Ever see the day I participated in that gathering.
Out of politeness, I told the Chainsaw Man, who was sending me sparkling eyes full of expectation, that I was thankful and would definitely check it out.
Afterward, I quickly moved my feet, took the saw to the Warehouse, and only then was I able to return to my spot.
At least it was a relief that the Chainsaw Man Ronin hadn't brought any other weapons besides the jet engine saw, both last time and this time.
“Haa...”
I let out a sigh while rubbing my stiff shoulder.
Today, as expected, was full of Formidable customers.
I already want to get off work.
Wishing for an impossible hope, I automatically moved my body at the sound of the shop door jingling open once again.
Please, I hope this Customer is a somewhat normal human being.
* * *
“Are you the hand Butcher who killed the Man Hunter?”
“...Yes. I suppose that's me. I didn't kill him, though. I only cut off his hand. Is there something you want from me?”
“You look more ordinary than I thought. On the Outside, you just look like East Asian. Well, it doesn't matter. I have a proposal for you."
A sharp-looking Blonde Woman, who looked young enough to have just become an adult, spoke while looking me up and down as if she were grocery shopping.
"My name is Alexandra Amadeus Schneider. Become my exclusive samurai. I will make sure you are compensated well."
...samurai?
Did I hear that right?