Chapter 775 – Dancer Henderson
My name is Henderson.
Henderson Wilson Johnson.
I’m aware that I have a strange name.
However, it was given to me by my parents.
It’s a name I can’t dismiss.
Besides, Wilson is the name of my father and Johnson is the name of my grandfather.
I will always cherish it.
Well, my family will continue to use the names of my father’s side of the family.
It’s so obvious.
Ah, we don’t mean to belittle our mother’s side of the family.
We have a solid relationship with my mother’s family.
The last things I can rely on are my blood and muscles.
Hahahaha.
-0-
I’m currently living in Village Five.
My work is going well and I have no trouble making a living.
Hnn?
Ah, my apologies.
I’m a backup dancer and costume designer for Five-kun, the proud mascot of Village Five.
Today, I performed six times on stage and received an order for costumes for the next performance in spring.
It was quite tiring.
No, not the choosing and preparing costumes but being a backup dancer.
However, being Five-kun’s backup dancer is a very popular job with high competition.
I am happy to have won a slot and to be able to protect it a number of times.
Of course, it is also an honor to be able to work with Five-kun.
Fufufu, wait wait.
Don’t panic about what I’m going to tell you.
You probably don’t know this but let me tell you a secret.
Five-kun has no one inside him.
-0-
One day, when I was working on this and that for my daily work, my grandfather called me.
He wanted me to help him make clothes.
Unexpected.
My grandfather is the type of person who would monopolize that fun.
He also said that he had acquired a rare piece of cloth. I was puzzled since I can’t think of any cloth that would require my muscles to handle.
With that in mind, I headed for my grandfather’s workshop.
-0-
My grandfather’s workshop is just behind his second-hand clothes store.
Although it’s small, it has enough space to provide a comfortable environment for making clothes.
I’m envious of it.
I wish I had a workshop like this.
Where is grandfather?
When I was thinking so, I saw a spider.
I woke up but I’m in a state of confusion.
Why am I lying down?
Had I fallen?
Had I fainted?
Why then?
As I was thinking about it, an image of a spider came into my mind.
It was a fist size spider.
There’s no doubt.
It was a demon spider.
Right.
Is it still here?
Is this place safe?
Where am I to begin with?
This looks familiar….
Is this the small bedroom built next to grandfather’s workshop?
This should be the bed grandfather used to sleep on when he works overnight, right?
Why?
Ah, no, more importantly, is grandfather safe?
I just slept on his bed so he should be okay…..
Is the spider still there?
No, am I hallucinating?
There’s no way something like a demon spider will appear in a city.
They are supposed to be in the depths of the forest or at the deepest part of the dungeons.
It is said that those who’ll see them will die.
Of course, I’ve never seen one myself.
However, for some reason, the words “demon spider” came to my mind the moment I saw that spider.
Thus, it must be a demon spider.
Why?
Thinking about it, I got out of the bed and went to the workshop next door….
Both my grandfather and my father were there.
-0-
Father came in a hurry when he heard I collapsed.
I apologize for worrying you.
I’m okay.
Well, I’m okay….I think.
By the way, there’s a spide….
Before I managed to say what was on my mind, my grandfather covered my mouth.
「There’s no spider. Got it?」
Eh?
I was surprised at grandfather’s words and father backed him up.
「I agree. There is no way there can be a spider here.」
Huh?
…….
…………………………….
I think.
Then, look around.
On the desk of the workshop was a piece of cloth that looked expensive and unfamiliar.
This must be the rare cloth grandfather mentioned.
I don’t know the details though.
However, from what I heard, it was for one dress but no matter how I looked at it, it was for two.
………
Also, the buttons on father’s clothes.
They are wooden buttons that look unfamiliar….no, it’s the other way around.
They are buttons made of big, indestructible trees that are only used on the village chief’s clothes.
The material itself is precious but the technique of processing it into a button is even more amazing.
I had always wanted to see it up close too but…..
How can father’s clothes have those buttons?
……
Grandfather and father’s behavior is also unnatural.
It could only mean one thing.
They were bribed!
Before I could scream, a piece of signed color paper was presented to me.
「It’s a signed color paper prepared for you. It was signed by the acting village chief, Youko-sama, herself.」
……
A signed color paper is a further processed paper on which, a signature is written with ink.
I don’t know about other areas but in Village Five, it is one of the fan goods that became popular when Five-kun started giving them away.
The good thing about these signed color papers is that they can be easily obtained as long as you have the paper and something that can be used to write on it.
Thus, not only Five-kun, but also the Ramen Queen, “Kuro and Yuki” assistant manager Kinesta, and the “Niz’s Alcomeat” manager Niz’s signed color papers were selling like hot cakes.
No, they are no longer in circulation because no one’s willing to part with them.
And I recognize this one.
As you can tell from how I reacted, I am a big fan of the acting village chief, Youko-sama.
Ah, let me say it out loud.
I AM A BIG FAN OF YOUKO-SAMA!
So, you thought you could bribe me with her signed color paper?
I’m not a fool!
I already have seventeen signed color papers of Youko-sama!
Do you think one more will be able to sway my heart…..
…….
Areh?
This is a signed color paper signed by the cute Youko-sama.
Just recently, she changed from a strict Youko-sama to a cute Youko-sama!
I love how she uses “kon” at the end of her sentences!
However, the cute Youko-sama did not respond to our request for her signed color papers.
No matter how many times the big guys ask her, she will refuse.
She wrote a few signed color papers to prevent fakes but the only one that was made public was the one displayed at the village hall.
Since there were several incidents of theft over that one piece, security was tightened and time limits were imposed but the residents of Village Five still lined up to see it.
I have seen it many times.
This one is a little different from the one on display but it’s the real deal.
A seal is stamped as proof of authenticity as is the quirkiness of Youko-sama’s writing.
Forgery of a seal is a serious crime.
No one in Village Five would be stupid enough to forge Youko-sama’s seal.
In other words, no matter how one looks at this, it’s genuine.
Moreover, there’s a number on it.
The signature of the cute Youko-sama has numbers and the number of this one is….004?
004?
The one displayed in the village hall was 003.
According to rumors, 001 was given to the village chief and 002 was given to her daughter.
004.
In other words, this is the first signed color paper given to the public?
And it’s currently in front of me….
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
There’s no spider.
Yeah, absolutely none.
My mind was occupied with what to do with this signed color paper.
-0-
AN: The father’s name is Wilson Johnson Jackson.
The grandfather’s name is Johnson Jackson Jeniferson.
-0-
Village Council: Please exhibit a real one as a countermeasure against fakes.
Youko: Won’t fakes be made in reference to that kon?
Village Council: There won’t be that problem.
Youko: Wouldn’t it be better if it didn’t exist kon?
Village Council: It’s alright.
Youko: Understood kon.
Village Council: Also, please prepare one for village chief and one for Youko-sama’s safekeeping.
Youko: I guess it can’t be helped kon.
-0-
Village Council: There have been many theft attempts on the signed color paper on display so we will increase security.
Youko: Why don’t you just cancel the exhibition?
Village Council: We will increase security.
Youko: No, that’s….
Village Council: We will increase security.
Youko: Understood kon.
These two conversations may or may have not happened.
Visit freewe𝑏n(o)vel.𝑐𝘰𝑚 for the best novel reading experience