48 - Chapter 3 Epilogue
"Stop it already!!! Stop it!!!"
Inside the meeting room within the Jewel Orb, I am slumped on the floor, covering both my ears.
Even as I scream and plead, the torment inflicted upon me shows no sign of ending.
There were six villains there.
No, five.
The Fifth Generation is looking at the other five with an exasperated expression.
"I still think the best one was 'Kiss the Sleeping Beauty!'"
The Third Generation is standing in front of the blackboard, selecting the most amusing actions from this growth spurt.
From the various actions listed, the Second through Seventh Generations were engaged in a heated debate to decide the grand prize for this round.
The Fourth Generation agrees with that opinion.
"I agree. Riel's action of giving his first kiss to an automaton this time is, no matter how you look at it, the clear winner."
The Second Generation voices a dissenting opinion.
"The 'I love you' comment to Novem-chan is also hard to discard. Novem-chan ignoring Riel with that subtle expression... don't you think it's great?"
The Sixth Generation speaks up.
"For me, jumping over the fence, sliding, and then getting his hand bitten by a bug was also quite something."
The Third Generation starts laughing, recalling me at that moment.
"This time was a bumper crop. What was that about 'not making the same mistake'? Man, maybe we should decide a 'Best Riel Award' every time from now on."
The Seventh Generation looks at me and says,
"Riel, it's rare to find such a talent who can make us laugh this much during a 'growth' spurt."
He probably thinks he's comforting me, but I don't feel comforted at all.
In my opinion, these guys definitely enjoyed it and kept quiet on purpose.
Why did I keep performing those kinds of actions... no matter how much I think about it, I can't find an answer.
"I've had enough. Next time, I'm absolutely not going outside. Absolutely!"
When I say that, the exasperated Fifth Generation speaks.
"You're overreacting just because you're being laughed at. More importantly, shall we get to the main topic?"
Then, the Third Generation stops the Fifth Generation.
"Wait! Just a little longer until we decide the Best Riel Award!"
The Fourth Generation also speaks, his glasses glinting.
I hate these guys.
"The final comment about wanting to eat Shannon is also hard to discard. Well, that was partly because the Fifth and Sixth Generations were overthinking it."
The Fourth Generation's gaze shifts to the Fifth and Sixth Generations.
The Fifth Generation remains composed, while the Sixth Generation has his arms crossed, looking awkward.
As for Miranda-san, there has been no change since she returned.
Regarding Shannon, she told me she wanted me to leave it to her.
Since she said she wanted to have a passionate talk as sisters, I decided to leave it to her.
As far as I'm concerned, as long as I don't have to do things like gouging out eyes, there's no problem.
"I didn't mean it like I wanted to eat her..."
When I resist, the Second and Third Generations—
"Heh, then what kind of feeling was it?"
"I'd love to know the feeling at that moment."
""Now, tell us, Riel!!""
"You guys are the worst! If you noticed, you should have stopped me! I mean, stop them, Grandfather! No, Old Man!!"
When I look at the Seventh Generation, he is covering his mouth and banging on the table.
He must have hit a funny bone, but watching him makes me irritated.
However, since these actions were the result of my own doing, I can't really complain.
The Fifth Generation lets out a sigh and finally stops the flow of the conversation.
(Wait, has a lot of time passed? These guys have been tormenting me for two hours...)
Thinking that they should have stopped it sooner, I turn back to the Fifth Generation.
"Are you satisfied? Well, you can decide the Best Riel Award however you like, but first, let's talk about that automaton."
Right.
That foul-mouthed maid-type automaton that I kissed and registered as my master.
Right now, she is in Damian's laboratory undergoing various interviews.
What I hate is that it was decided that my conversations with her would be recorded in detail and treated as official records.
That bastard Damian... he was fired up, saying he couldn't miss a single word and would share the conversations between me and the automaton in papers and research presentations.
In my high-tension state, I had permitted it.
Right now, it's undoubtedly being compiled as reference material.
(I bet saying 'Actually, tomorrow is a no' won't work at all.)
The number of students and professors gathering in the laboratory was staggering.
Damian is probably only thinking about his research funds increasing, but if I think about it, it's a great discovery.
I had thought too lightly of the fact that an ancient automaton had awakened.
Damian Barre... he's a pervert, but he's truly a genius.
"Well, it would be bad to rely solely on Novem, so if you think of it as having more help, there's no problem. The problem is how to maintain her."
I asked Damian, and he said she is basically maintenance-free.
However, that "basically" part bothers me.
Then, the Seventh Generation, returning to a serious expression, tells me.
(You're slow, Old Man.)
"Actually, Riel... it seems your magic power is being drained by someone other than us. Separate from the magic power you're accumulating to use the First Generation's skill [Full Burst], a new line has been formed."
"A new line?"
I tilted my head at the fact that my magic power was being drained.
I didn't have that sensation.
The Second Generation says,
"Basically, your magic power has increased, so it's fine for now... but this is constantly draining a certain amount. The burden on you has increased. So, as a result of our own thinking,"
The Third Generation took over the explanation.
"We've reached the conclusion that the foul-mouthed maid is suspicious! Man, I feel a kind of talent in Riel, who has his magic power drained just as it increased."
The Sixth Generation also agrees.
"You'll be able to use magic more than before, but if you use it too much, you'll run out of magic power quickly."
The Fourth Generation summarizes.
"Whether a constant amount is drained or if there are waves... it'll be tough going forward."
It seems I might have acquired a truly terrible foul-mouthed maid.
Am I going to consume the magic power I finally increased to take care of an automaton like that?
(No, am I going to be taken care of? By that thing?)
It's doubtful if she'll even work, but more than that, the magic drain is the problem.
Since I was planning to fight using magic from now on, my plans are being thrown off.
"Does this mean I'll be fighting in the same style as before for the time being? After experiencing such an embarrassing growth spurt, my magic restrictions aren't even lifted..."
To my depressed state, the Fifth Generation says,
"Oh, while I'm at it, Riel... you're banned from using skills for a while."
"Eh?"
I looked up and saw the Fifth Generation's face.
He didn't look like he was joking.
Then, the Sixth Generation continues.
"Your skill [Experience] is a constant-activation type, so that can't be helped, but all other skills are completely banned."
"Eh, wait..."
The Seventh Generation also agrees.
"We will impose the usage restriction from our end. You really won't be able to use skills for a while, so keep that in mind. Oh, the First Generation's skill too. That greatsword is..."
The Second Generation says,
"The greatsword is also banned. For a while, really do your best as an adventurer using only your own strength."
"U-um, I don't understand what's happening..."
While I was confused about what was going on, the smiling Third Generation continues.
It was the condition for me to use skills.
"Conquer the boss of the thirtieth basement floor and return to the guild... if you can do this, we'll let Riel use skills again. Oh, we'll give you some advice, so don't worry."
I swallowed the words that I'd rather have my skills than your advice, and looked at everyone.
Everyone had a serious expression.
The Fourth Generation explains.
"No matter how you look at it, the current Riel has strength that exceeds first-class adventurers through the use of skills. To the extent that just six of us could conquer the fortieth basement floor of the labyrinth, indeed."
A floor that normally requires a party of fifty people to challenge and finally conquer was cleared by the six of us.
"And that's a problem?"
The Seventh Generation says,
"Using skills isn't a problem. Using the talent you have isn't bad. But, if things continue like this,"
The Second Generation tells me,
"Your basic strength won't grow at all. Not like this growth spurt, but growth in the true sense. If something happens, you'll rely on skills. Then one day you'll run out of magic power, or a growth spurt will occur and Riel will leave the front line. What happens then?"
I could easily imagine it.
The moment I became unable to move, the party would become unable to move.
At worst, total annihilation awaits.
In a party that relies entirely on my skills, just my absence creates that much danger.
The Third Generation says,
"Using skills is fine. But with this many, they'll definitely cause a problem someday. You'll start taking requests beyond your basic strength, and the number of troubles will increase. Before that happens, I think it's time for Riel, Novem-chan, and Aria-chan to polish themselves."
The ancestors who had been teasing me until a moment ago were seriously thinking about me.
(Was this what Damian was talking about?)
I nodded and vowed to conquer the thirtieth basement floor without skills.
Until then, skill usage would be limited to my own innate ones.
And then the Third Generation—
"Now that the main topic is over, this is the important part... No objections to 'Kiss the Sleeping Beauty!' for the Best Riel Award?"
The Second Generation says,
"Objection! You're forgetting the flow from 'I love you' to the ignore!"
The Fourth Generation says,
"They're all hard to rank, but it's probably the Sleeping Beauty."
The Fifth Generation—
"It had impact. It'll be hard to beat that."
The Sixth Generation...
"I'd be troubled if you forgot the sliding and getting the hand bitten by a bug!"
The damn Old Man...
"As expected of the House Walt's prodigy... to make us worry this much!"
Everyone—
""We're looking forward to the House Walt's prodigy's growth in the future!!""
They said with smiles.
"The meaning of 'looking forward to it' is different, you brats!!!"
I, who screamed, believe I am absolutely not in the wrong.
—Late at night.
Released from the Jewel Orb, I went out to the garden, sat on a bench, and looked up at the night sky.
When I drank water in the kitchen, the face reflected in the mirror was completely exhausted.
"To push me this far... damn it."
The fact that a past I want to forget has become important school material.
I thought many times that I'd fall in love with myself, but why did I think that way?
No matter how much I think about it, I can't find an answer.
"I wish I could go back to the past."
As I said it aloud, Novem approached the bench next to me.
"What is the matter, Riel-sama? Can you not sleep?"
Novem, who is worried, is in her sleepwear.
I thought she was cute, but at the same time, I remembered the kiss with that foul-mouthed maid.
I wish my first kiss had been with Novem.
"I just want to disappear..."
"Ah, is it about today? It cannot be helped. Anyone can get carried away. It's just that it manifests more prominently in Riel-sama."
Even if I'm comforted, it doesn't change the fact that I lost my first kiss.
"It'll never come back..."
"Eh?"
"My first kiss will never come back! I want to punch the me from that moment!"
When I say that, Novem makes a troubled expression.
Am I the only one who makes Novem troubled? Thinking that makes me even more depressed.
"Can we not count it? After all, I heard she is a doll."
"She's incredibly human-like. So I can't think of it that way, and that foul mouth will definitely come to break my heart. If I hadn't been in that mood, my heart would have definitely broken."
That ancient automaton, terrifying even in memory.
Why did the ancients create such a terrifying maid?
(I wonder if there were perverts even greater than Damian in ancient times? ...I don't really want to think about it.)
"Besides, I... can't use skills for a while. With everything happening, I feel like my heart is about to break."
When I say that, Novem, who sat next to me, takes my hand.
Looking up at the sky, she says,
"May I ask the reason why you cannot use skills?"
"Eh? Ah, well... if things stay like this, I'll become useless, and I want to be able to defeat the thirtieth floor boss with my own strength at least once."
There's no way I can say my ancestors told me no.
If a worried Novem thought I was sick and tied me to the bed to nurse me... would that be okay too?
No, that's no good. I'll become the breadwinner and live quietly with Novem... if we can live together, that would be nice.
Seeing me feeling weak, Novem says,
"A little—"
"Hmm?"
"Just a little, I was jealous. Hearing that Riel-sama's first kiss was stolen by an automaton... is that strange?"
Hearing that, I stood up and grabbed both of Novem's shoulders.
"I-it's not strange! I'm happy! I'm so happy, Novem!"
"I-is that so?"
Seeing me excited, Novem is bewildered.
I told myself that the fact that Novem was jealous must mean she's interested in me.
It's okay... I haven't been looked at with exasperation by Novem yet, right?
"I... want to kiss Novem."
When I say that, Novem's cheeks flush.
Then she quietly closes her eyes and raises her chin slightly, taking a posture that makes it easy to kiss.
I am excited, and my heart is pounding loudly.
On a beautiful moonlit night, I and Novem—
"I'm so happy, Novem!"
"My heart is breaking~"
"My first kiss will never come back!!!"
"...Pfft."
"Even 'I wish I could go back to the past' was impressive."
"To be at that level in his natural state... Riel is truly terrifying."
"Stop messing around, you brats!!!"
Later, I was mentally devastated by my ancestors, who used the events of that time as material to tease me.
What should I do... I'm starting to want to throw away the Jewel Orb.