kscans

Chapter 75 - The Beginning of Further Tribulations

The day after going to the dark market, Light came to the Mutual Aid Society with renewed determination to work harder than usual since he had spent so much money yesterday. There were still thirty minutes before his appointment with Yoshino, but in addition to the reason above, he was eager to try out his weapon and had arrived much earlier than usual. And it wasn't just Light,

"Hey there!"

"Saionji-san... you're early."

"Well, I couldn't wait to fire that thing... You too, right?"

"Yeah, well."

Light laughed embarrassedly at Rika's observation. Rika had been laughing too, but her expression suddenly turned thoughtful.

"..."

"? What's wrong?"

"Well, we've gotten to know each other pretty well, haven't we? I mean in terms of depth, not just time."

Rika said that continuing to use surnames felt too distant. She had no ulterior motives, she simply felt that way.

"Can I call you by your first name? You can call me by mine too."

"Ah, sure. Um, then I'll call you Rika-chan... is that okay?"

"I'm younger, so you could just drop the honorific."

"No, that would be a bit..."

Light sat down across from Rika and pulled his light saber from his pocket. He had grown so fond of it that even after returning home, he would sneak out at night to swing it around.

"Man, yesterday was incredible."

"Ah... yeah. I guess there really are perverts like that out there."

"The opponent was amazing, but Uncle was something else entirely."

"I think so too."

The two had become fairly accustomed to handling their power. That's precisely why they were made to realize once again just how unfathomably strong Satou was. They had always thought he was strong, but now that they had grown somewhat and could see things more clearly, they understood it even better.

"Creating a robot on the spot... what the heck was that about?"

After returning home, Rika had asked her mother Chikage what that had been all about. However, even Chikage couldn't fully understand it. Apparently, he had created it by mixing multiple techniques, but,

"Each one alone would be something that an ordinary person might spend their entire life dedicated to just to master."

That's what she said.

"Well, that's impressive too, but personally I think what happened after the battle was more amazing."

"Ah... they seemed to hit it off."

"Though it was more like Satou-san skillfully won her over..."

The robot woman had woken up just minutes after being captured. After that, this exchange took place:

"Hey, that was fun."

"Yes, it was quite enjoyable. You're a reasonable person."

"Well, yeah. That aside, involving civilians is forbidden. I'd prefer if you didn't do anything like that again."

"Ridiculous. No one can stop my dream. This time my desires were satisfied, but that's that and this is this."

"Then I'd have to kill you... and that would be quite, no, very painful."

"Painful, you say?"

"Yeah. Having to kill a reasonable friend I finally met with my own hands would be agonizing. Not just the killing part."

We wouldn't be able to play like that anymore... when Satou said this, what happened? An emotion like guilt appeared on the face of the woman who had maintained her solitary arrogance until now.

"Th-that would be... n-no, but..."

"That said, I understand the feeling of wanting to fulfill your desires, no, your dreams, painfully well. So here's a compromise."

"A compromise?"

"Right. Let's play regularly. Until you beat me, no games involving civilians... how about it?"

"Th-that would be... hmm..."

"Well, if you can't make a robot that can beat me, I won't force it."

"What!? A robot that can beat you!? I can do it!!"

"OK. I think you'll be fine, but please keep your promise, alright? Breaking it would be an act that betrays your dream."

And so they exchanged contact information, Satou released the woman, and she went home normally. Seeing that scene left both Light and Rika stunned. The adults, meanwhile, looked at Satou like they were watching a con artist.

"That was incredible."

"And Uncle's approach wasn't all just empty words either."

"Ah, he said that."

When Takahashi said, "How can you spout such insincere nonsense so easily," Satou replied:

"It's not all lies. Crazy friends are the most fun when you hang out with them occasionally."

While it was exasperating, that was that. He said he thought it might actually be interesting to spend time with her, and Satou was laughing. Whether you'd call it being big-hearted or being crazy...

"Oh, speaking of which, Rika-chan. Have you decided on a present for Satou-san?"

"Yeah. I'm thinking of a necktie for now. If it's too expensive, Uncle would feel awkward about it. What about you, Light?"

"One of my mom's colleagues knows a lot about alcohol. They told me about an assortment of unusual snacks to go with drinks."

"Ooh, he'll be pleased with that."

While they were talking like this, Yoshino arrived and the two cut their conversation short.

"Hey there. I heard you bought weapons?"

"Yeah! I'm just itching to test-fire it!"

"That's great, but today I'm the main event."

"You are, Yoshino-san?"

"That's right. You two have gotten nicely stronger, so I'm going to have you handle something a bit tougher."

With their current abilities, they would very likely die. So today their job would be to hunt small fry and watch his battle, Yoshino said.

"The location is here."

When shown the materials, Rika's eyes widened.

"That's near my school... huh, did something happen there?"

"I'll explain properly, so just listen."

"Ah, yes."

"This time's enemy is an aberration, but it has different characteristics from the ones you've faced so far."

Aberrations that exceed a certain standard generally create nests, he said.

"Small to medium-scale alternate realms. They distort reality, form alternate spaces, and put down roots there."

And like moth traps, they lure in prey and devour them.

"Alternate realms naturally spawn small fry in addition to the aberration that rules them, so the enemies along the way are your responsibility. Can you handle it?"

"Yes!!"

"Good response. I'll take on the main one, but if I judge that watching is dangerous, immediately distance yourselves until you can't see us."

"...Yes."

"Very good. Well then, let's go."

They took a taxi to the site and everyone entered the alternate realm. If we're talking alternate realms, the shadow puppet city that Satou had created last night was also one, but the atmosphere was clearly different.

"I wonder what it is... it feels disgusting..."

"...It makes me shudder."

"Well, queen-class ones, the level that makes nests, have clear malicious intent."

In terms of attacking people, the aberrations the two had faced so far were the same, but those were mostly like beasts. Since they acted on instinct rather than malice, they probably didn't evoke such revulsion.

"Incidentally, they're called queen-class, but there are detailed rankings, and today's is the lowest."

"...Even the lowest is still too early for us."

"Right. But you'll be able to face them before too long. If it's you two. Now, let's proceed."

After advancing for a while, defeating enemies along the way, Yoshino stopped when they had reached about halfway.

"Yoshino-san?"

"...I sense a human presence. Ah, there's already been damage."

"! You mean"

"Ah sorry, they're alive. By damage I mean their power is starting to awaken, like you two."

This way, Yoshino led them, and at their destination Rika opened her eyes as wide as possible. Hiding in a small cave was,

"...Sarna-chan?"

"R-Rika... san?"

It was her friend.