kscans

Chapter 136 - A Wonderful Holiday

The time was a little past four in the afternoon. We had returned to Okutama Island. There were still plenty of people I could introduce them to, but our haul from Iwashi's place had been massive.

"Nfufufu."

Hikaru-kun was grinning from ear to ear as he looked at the ring on his index finger. He seemed to really love it, and he had been like this the entire time. There were other items he wanted among the ones we were shown, but...

"A-kun, you’re still a beginner, right? Then I probably wouldn’t recommend buying this."

Someone with a mind for business would have sold it to him regardless of safety or stability, but Iwashi was different. The weapon that had caught Hikaru-kun’s eye, the one with a built-in transformation mechanism, had issues with its durability, so it was meant to be used in conjunction with advanced enhancements. Iwashi chided him, saying it was too soon for a rookie like Hikaru-kun, and he accepted it with a dejected look. That was probably why he had become so attached to the ring, his only prize from the venture.

"I bought this on a whim, but what should I do with it?"

"The concept is interesting, but the power output is a problem."

Then there were Takahashi and Suzuki, who had also impulsively purchased items. One of them was a rosary-style magic item, a device that could turn "power" into wings. For example, if you poured the magical power of fire or something similar into it, wings of flame would sprout from your back. For powers other than elemental ones like fire and lightning, such as gravity, repulsion, or other forces difficult to express with color, it seemed translucent wings would appear. This item was not just for show. It also granted the ability to fly, making it quite a practical piece. There were several techniques for flight, but they could only be acquired by intermediate users, and flying freely required even more training from that point on. However, the flight formula inscribed on this magic item was a thought-activated type, so as long as you poured power into it, you could fly with a certain degree of freedom. Well, it was a fairly advanced formula, so it was quite expensive, making it a tough purchase for an intermediate user.

"If we pour all our power into it, it’ll break for sure, right?"

"Judging from the explanation, it seems we can only put in about thirty or forty percent of our power."

The maximum amount of power it could handle would probably increase if the quality improved, but that would not happen overnight. I would put up the money, but this was a different matter. They had no choice but to improve their skills through steady trial and error.

I may have gone with Hikaru-kun just to keep him company, but this was an unexpected windfall.

The three of them were not the only ones excited. I was too. I had bought most of the items as an investment, so I was not particularly drawn to them, but there were a few that hit the mark perfectly.

That Iwashi, he really gets it.

One of them was this ornate, ridiculously huge belt. Alright, I will just say it. It is a transformation belt, a henshin belt. I mean, if it is just about changing my appearance, I can do that freely, you know? But this is different. This is totally different. A henshin belt is a separate indulgence, you know? You think I could just buy one in Ura-Akiba? Well, as it happens, that is not the case. The people there are all eccentrics who have gone all in on their hobbies. They would never create something based on demand. That means unless there is a guy with this specific hobby, this kind of item will never be born. And right now, there is no such person. There are probably some hero enthusiasts in the back alleys, but for one of them to also have the technical skills, well, you know? The probability is low. Then what about those who make magic items for business? They would make things that are more profitable than a toy like this, so they would not make it either.

What makes me so happy is the wonderful fact that I can't transform unless I follow the proper steps.

It was designed so that you could not don the suit stored inside unless you fiddled with the belt's gimmick and struck a pose. Inconvenient? No, you are wrong. It is romance, pure romance. There is also the purpose of improving the formula’s precision by intentionally incorporating a troublesome procedure, but that is just a bonus. At least for someone who would buy this, it is not a negative element, but a positive one. And there is one more thing that I personally love, the suit's design.

I remember now, the hero I used to love as a kid.

It was not a perfect copy. He is a creator too, after all. He said he just incorporated some of the essence at most. He said he was from a different generation, but he watched it on DVD and fell in love with it. So he tried to incorporate it into the design. Well, the reason does not matter. The important thing is that I can see a semblance of the hero I loved. To be honest, I cried a little when I recalled my childhood memories.

Next time, I'll take a request that's perfect for using this, and I'll use it then. I'll definitely use it.

I have to practice properly until then. As my ambition burned quietly, meramera...

"Oh, right. Satou-san, besides Rampage Summon, there’s another technique I’d like you to teach me."

"What is it?"

"You mentioned it before, Cocktail Burst, was it? I want to learn that."

"Why, oh, no, I get it. You’re going to combine it with the ring, aren’t you?"

"Yes."

He nodded, looking shy and fidgety.

"That decision, I say YES to that!"

Cocktail Burst is an enhancement that disregards the strain on the user. It is a risky power-up. That is precisely why it will look absolutely amazing when combined with the ring's dramatic effect.

"Cocktail Burst, huh. That takes me back."

"There was a time you were covered in injection marks from looking for the right drug enhancement."

"It’s weird for me to say it, but from an outsider’s perspective, I must have looked like a seriously sketchy guy back then."

It was not like they were illegal drugs, but the visual was just the worst.

"By the way, what’s the trend for enhancement drugs these days?"

"Ah, I wonder? I haven’t used them in a while, so I don’t know."

There are all sorts of enhancement drugs. There are multiple manufacturers, and product development advances daily. The last time I used Cocktail Burst was over ten years ago, so I have no idea about the current trends.

"Well, Hikaru-kun isn’t at a stage where he needs to be particular about drugs yet. For now, you should buy the ones sold at the Mutual Aid Society’s shop."

"Understood."

"As for enhancements that use techniques..."

I then gave Hikaru-kun a verbal lecture for a while on enhancement techniques he would likely be able to use. I would give him proper instruction at a later date, but it was better for him to at least have the knowledge in his head first.

"Whoops, it’s getting late. Hikaru-kun, I’ll send you to the front of your apartment."

"Okay. Thank you so much for today. I had a truly wonderful day."

"Not at all. I had fun too, so we’re even. Oh, here’s the manual for Rampage Summon."

"When did you..."

"Well, see you."

"Yes, see you."

I teleported Hikaru-kun to the front of his apartment and took a breath.

"Are you guys free after this? If you are, come eat at my place."

"Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Saku-chan likes it when it’s lively, too."

"Then I’ll do the cooking..."

"I’m inviting you as guests. I’ll cook. The man who will one day be known as the Iron Chef of cooking."

"Your vanity is off the charts."

Haa, it is not completely over yet, but I have had a fulfilling Sunday.

I will do my best starting tomorrow too.