75 – 75. Because you’re special.
Kitagawa Kenichi and Shiki Ichimaru suddenly raised their heads at the book laid on the desk.
A design that could be seen in an antique shop.
After something a witch would unfold, it felt like a grimoire that might recite a strange incantation.
If it had been on the gloomy guy’s desk, one might think an otaku had brought in a curious item.
They might have flipped through it, but both the desk and the ancient book were clearly not ordinary human possessions.
“Oh, Kenichi. What’s with the sudden interest in books?”
Shiki Ichimaru smiled with a face that seemed to be constantly chattering.
Unlike his face, fixed into a smile, his hands were moving around the book on the desk, standing it up, laying it down, tilting it diagonally, in a dizzying motion.
“…Is that so dazzling for no reason?”
The unnecessary busyness of his hands seemed like watching a preview of a Turkish ice cream show or a magician’s act.
Perhaps he could excel even at a casino among the gamblers and tricksters.
No, he would surely excel.
Despite being so certain, Kenichi couldn’t quite abandon his curiosity.
“Is that really a magic book then?”
“Huhuhu.”
If it was a book brought by Shiki Ichimaru, it wouldn’t be strange even if it had a peculiar ability.
It might be a fixed idea or prejudice, but that expectation seemed not to be wrong.
The man with the cool eyes nodded without a hint of hesitation.
“Huhu, is it a very fresh magic book plundered from a dragon’s nest this morning? Oh, are you interested in having it?”
“…No, I don’t particularly want it… But, did you really snatch it from a dragon?! It doesn’t sound like a joke coming from you.”
“Huhuhu, what do you think?”
“…I’d go crazy. If it’s real, isn’t it extremely valuable? Can you give me something like that?”
“Hmm, I’m actually considering it. Should I give it to Kenichi, or is it better if I use it myself?”
Suddenly placing the ancient book on the desk, Shiki Ichimaru smirked with one corner of his mouth.
“Indeed, which side would help kill the god, I wonder.”
Kitagawa Kenichi and Shiki Ichimaru paused for a moment, then furrowed their brows slightly.
“…Is this some kind of adolescent delusion?”
“Oh, it was a serious conversation? Interested in defeating the demon king, perhaps? Hero.”
“No, absolutely not.”
Kenichi replied firmly.
Shiki Ichimaru returned to his chattering expression and shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, then, nothing to be done about it.”
Having finished all her schedules, she returned to the mansion and was in the middle of training.
Sawamura Sento, who was manipulating the starlight in the air, let out a deep sigh as the light formation unexpectedly crumbled, contorting her face.
Having repeated this process several times already, her entire body was drenched in fatigue and sweat.
Closing her eyes tightly and taking a few deep breaths, Sento suddenly asked, “You know, why don’t you ask me?”
Perhaps her soul had been stimulated over numerous occasions.
In her eyes, which had reopened, there were now several flickers of a pale pink flame of the soul.
Will-o’-the-wisp.
Sento’s wild nature ignited the magical power. It wasn’t that the demon within her soul had fully awakened.
It was merely a sign that her soul was beginning to bloom, a precursor.
Well, it was a good thing anyway.
If things went wrong, they would endlessly worsen, but as long as I did well, it would be fine.
“hahahaha, what are you talking about?”
Bowing deeply as a great master, I clasped my hands together.
“What did I do wrong? Shall I fetch you some water? Was the training difficult? Or lack of sleep? Should I reduce the training amount from tomorrow?”
“…You don’t have to bow like that. Besides, that’s just teasing.”
“Oh, Sento. Will it be crooked if I don’t bow? Really?”
“Stop it, as it might actually get crooked.”
After a deep sigh, Sento, with sweat-drenched hair, pushed it back and added, “In the morning, it’s about the ancient book. Since Kitagawa Kenichi said he might give it to you, I wondered why he didn’t tell me.”
Certainly, Sawamura Sento was right there. As her partner, she had been right next to me, staring at the ancient book with wide-open eyes.
Unlike the foolish Kenichi, she seemed to immediately recognize the sophistication and vastness of the ancient book due to her exceptional nature.
Moreover, being a shaman, she would instinctively covet a grimoire.
However, this was an item with a designated owner.
“Well, I won’t give it to you.”
“…Why?”
“Because you don’t need it, right?”
As Sento’s face furrowed even more, I grinned.
The ancient book was best suited for someone like Kenichi or me, with a balanced overall proficiency in abilities.
Above all else-
“Sawamura Sento, even without items like the demon blade or the ancient book, you are more than capable of handling your share.”
The woman before me already possessed so much.
Innate intelligence, abilities, uniqueness of the soul, she embraced them all.
Perhaps her talent as a shaman surpassed mine.
But since I had devoted more time to this world, I stood a bit higher.
“Hmm.”
Even though I conveyed my sincerity, seeing Sento’s rough expression, I sighed.
“No, and I gave you a gift earlier!”
“What was it.”
“Brooch! You’re still wearing it, aren’t you!”
With a careful gesture, she pointed to the brooch attached to Sawamura Sento’s chest.
A luxurious feeling red gem sparkled.
Fortunately, she seemed to like the design as it always adorned her body whenever they met.
From Noble mtl dot com
Glancing down at the brooch absentmindedly, Sento responded with a surprised expression for a moment.
“……Th-this is completely different from that!”
As that was also an item imbued with a divine beast, it was incredibly precious. It was disappointing that she didn’t understand the dedication in my heart.
“Well, if you really want the book, how about exchanging it with the brooch-“
“……I will never do that.”
She responded firmly, glaring at me with sharp eyes.
I decided to avoid any further exchange-related discussions as it seemed pressing her might lead to a confrontation.
‘I thought about stealing it from Sento and giving it to the Fire Priestess Hotaru instead…’
Hmm, the atmosphere definitely didn’t seem conducive to that.
Well, it was already a gift, and it had its own synergy.
“Now, have you rested enough? Let’s resume training!”
“……Yes.”
What she needed now was repetitive learning and a little motivation.
***
“Inheriting bloodlines or honing one’s soul to the limit allows each person to develop their own abilities. Talent is crucial, but you can do it too.”
The man said with a smile.
“Sento, you’re special.”
Ichimaru Shiki reaffirmed.
“You are a very special person to me.”
His face, usually serene, felt somehow smoother, and the dialogue seemed somewhat distorted.
Even though she knew something was off, it felt so vivid.
Well, it might be natural.
After all, this was a dream.
“……Ah.”
Facing the ceiling of the tatami room, Sawamura Sento tightly shut her eyes.
It was a long-awaited nightmare.
After tossing and turning in bed for a while, she got up, looking exhausted after about ten minutes.
…She needed to get ready for school.
“Huh? Ichimaru didn’t come today?”
From the strange dream she had, it was already shaping up to be an unusual start to the day, but after arriving at the classroom, Sawamura Sento felt even more peculiar.
For the first time in a while, the seat next to her was empty.
As Sento blankly stared at the vacant seat, it was her classmate, Kitagawa Kenichi, who responded to Hotaru’s inquiry.
“Yeah, he’s not coming today.”
“Why?”
“Don’t know, said he’s going to catch some moles.”
“……What?”
Sawamura Sento thought to himself.
After finishing training, he had promised Kenichi that he would go see him, that’s what he had said back then.
It was just a simple conversation, yet for some reason, he felt strange.
Although there was no need for his partner to know everything, still, there was something…
“Hey, Sawamura?”
“…Yes?”
Sento, momentarily distracted, quickly corrected his expression and looked at Ichinose Hotaru in front of him.
Hotaru spoke with a bright face, completely different from Ichimaru Shiki’s sinister smile.
“Um, Sawamura, how about going to a live cafe after school? A band I’ve liked since middle school is performing, and I have two extra tickets.”
“…Oh.”
It wasn’t common to have two extra tickets.
Briefly pondering this very natural question, Sawamura Sento soon shook his head.
“No, thank you.”
Usually, they would have gone together to increase their intimacy, but today, he just wasn’t in the mood.
He didn’t enjoy crowded places, that was true.
Moreover… today, he just didn’t feel like going anywhere.
“I’ll do my part well enough.”
Sawamura Sento thought, chin resting on his hand, gazing out the window.
“After finishing library duty, should I train separately?”
It was necessary to do so to straighten out that man’s nose.
Suddenly recalling Ichimaru Shiki’s face, Sento let out a wry smile.
His thin eyes were indeed distinctive.
***
At the same time, in Shibuya, Tokyo.
“Hmm, let’s start with one.”
Amidst the bustling noise.
Right next to him, in a secluded alley, he caught a mole.
It was a fake guy who moved discreetly, drawing symbols in the shadows underground.
“…Keek!”
Setting a rough goal as he watched the struggling guy caught by the neck.
“I should be able to catch about a hundred, right?”
“…Ugh, ugh!”
“Oh, there are a thousand more? hehehe. Well, I guess I have no choice but to catch them all.”
I am, indeed, a diligent person.