kscans

Chapter 241 - Professor Arisugawa Will Commit Seppuku in Apology

The day after the battle with Shuten Douji, where I received an all-range muscle-worship reception from the SDF at the store, I went to Shizuku-san's workshop with Erina-san after school.

"You…"

"I'm so, so sorry…!"

The Bracelet of the Flame Horse I handed her was in a truly terrible state.

The bracelet, once silver with a red pattern, was now warped and distorted because I'd pushed it too far. The excessive mana supply had caused the magic tool itself to overheat.

"I told you to put it on your tab… What in the world did you do to it?"

"Well, I just went all out, like…"

"You pushed it beyond the output I wrote in the manual, is that it? You got a habit of removing limiters or something?"

"I have no words to defend myself…!"

With me only able to apologize, Shizuku-san sighed and scratched her head.

"It broke in a fight. You don't need to apologize. From the looks of it, only the surface is damaged. The important parts are still usable. In fact, the function itself is fine. It'll last a few more battles in this state, so if it happens again, just keep using it until you're out of the dungeon. As a craftsman, I can't recommend it, though. No telling when it'll actually break."

"Oh, as expected of Shizuku-san's work!"

"Don't flatter me. If it's just fixing the exterior, I can get it done tonight. Gimme."

"Okay."

"Also, I'm almost done with a spare. Come pick that up another day."

"I will. Thank you very much."

"Jeez…"

Shizuku-san carefully examined the bracelet she'd taken, finally turning it over to look at the back.

"…This part is fine, at least."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing."

"My name and Shizuku-san's are engraved on the back, you know. I think she was just relieved that part was okay."

"Shut up."

Aika-san, the commentator, explained.

I see, so that's what it was.

"An inscription is the mark of the creator. It's important for a craftsman."

"…Yeah. Right."

"Ugh, this normally unreliable hero…"

"Eh?"

For some reason, Shizuku-san and Aika-san were giving me exasperated looks.

I mean, engraving your name on someone's equipment and treasuring it… it's like something lovers would do. I figured it would be rude to misunderstand it that way, so I came up with my own interpretation.

"Ah, and also…"

Feeling a little awkward, I changed the subject.

Well, this was also something I felt bad about, something difficult to ask.

"What is it?"

"Actually, Blanc's armor was also damaged… I was hoping to request a new set and a spare."

"…Well, can't be helped. But I'm charging you properly for that one."

"Yes, of course."

"I've actually already made a set. You can take that one today."

"Thank you so much."

"I'll go get it now, so wait here a bit. Aika, help me out. And Erina. You can look, but don't touch the tools."

"Yes."

"Okey-dokey!"

Shizuku-san and Aika-san disappeared behind another partition at the back of the workspace.

While waiting for them, I decided to look at the tools and equipment displayed on the walls, just like Erina-san.

A kite shield with no crest, bearing a pattern like Damascus steel.

A silver chainmail shirt, so finely and smoothly woven that you couldn't see the gaps unless you were up close.

A flail with a fist-sized weight, so black it seemed to absorb light, connected by a chain.

A six-foot staff with a white shaft, golden decorations on both ends, and red cloth wrapped around the grip.

A rugged composite bow, unstrung, bent backward like the letter 'C'.

And various other weapons and armor. It seemed the bladed weapons were stored elsewhere, but everything I could see was imbued with high-purity mana.

These were all weapons that, depending on the wielder, could likely stand against Fafnir or the Rey Cuelebre. That shield, for instance, might even be able to block Cerberus's claws.

It was a magnificent sight, a lineup of what could be called legendary arms and armor. Even someone who couldn't sense mana would instinctively feel a sense of awe from their presence.

As I thought, Shizuku-san's skill was incredible. She probably had help from her father and the factory workers, but it was still an unbelievable quality for a girl our age to produce.

Her skill probably had something to do with it… but she was surely some kind of genius.

Thinking about it calmly, having someone like that as a semi-exclusive craftsman is pretty amazing, isn't it?

"It's okay, Kyo-chan! Shī-chan and the others are probably thinking the same thing!"

"Could you not read my mind so casually?"

"My bad!"

"I forgive you."

As we were talking, Shizuku-san and the others returned with a full set of armor on a cart.

"What are you two talking about?"

"About what an amazing craftsman Shī-chan is!"

"Yes. Thank you so much for everything."

"…Yeah."

Shizuku-san's cheeks colored slightly as she answered gruffly, her eyes darting away.

Behind her, Aika-san folded her arms at this reaction, nodding with an expression that said, 'Yes, yes. This is good, this is good.'

"Anyway, here you go. Blanc's armor."

"Thank you… hey."

What was on the cart was undoubtedly Blanc's armor.

However, its color scheme was different from before.

"It'd be confusing if it stayed the same as Byakuren's forever. As its own dedicated equipment, I took the liberty of changing the color."

The armor was posed in a sitting position, using an armor case and a display stand.

The basic shape was the same, but the parts from the elbows down and knees down were dyed a deep navy blue.

Furthermore, the torso piece had three vertical, flower-shaped iron decorations on the right side of the center.

"If you think it's none of my business, I can change it back."

"…No."

What she said was right. Keeping the design exactly the same as Byakuren's could lead to mistakes, given the changes like the Magi Battery socket.

Such mistakes probably wouldn't happen often, but it was better to reduce the possibility if we could.

Above all… Blanc is Blanc, after all.

"Thank you again, for everything."

*

'Hey, Kyo-chan-kun. You free right now? You are. Then how about a match with me… won't you?'

"No, I'm not free."

'Wha… what…?! You have something more important to do than play with me?! Don't tell me it's an eroge! What kind of game is it! Explain in detail! In detail!'

"I'm making spare parts for Blanc, you idiot."

'AHO?!'

That night, as I was adding various things to the transmutation circle I had stored, a Telepathy call came in from Aira-san.

'So… me or your work, which is more important?!'

"Are you a high-maintenance girlfriend?"

'Is being a ninja a job! Or a way of life!!'

"Completely unrelated."

Some self-proclaimed ninja just joined the conversation.

'Sob, sob… Erina-kun, listen to me. Kyo-chan-kun says he won't play with me…! Don't you think that's cruel?'

'That's not right, Kyo-chan! You're the one who said you'd take proper care of her, didn't you?!'

"I did not."

'That's right, Kyo-chan-kun! You have to take responsibility!!'

"Are you okay with being treated like a dog?"

'Excuse me, did you just say Nee-san and 'puppy play'?'

"Ugh, she's here."

Now a top-tier pervert had joined in, and I couldn't help but purse my lips.

What is this? An oversupply of jesters. Maybe I should call Eric-san now.

…No, that won't work. For some reason, I could picture Eric-san being pestered by his wife and some old man who can break chopsticks with his butt cheeks, shouting, 'I'm busy over here, too!?'

What even is an old man who can break chopsticks with his butt cheeks?

"Alright, fine. I'll take a break, so let's play a game or something in the meantime."

'Hoo! As expected of Kyo-chan-kun! I love ya! ☆'

"Yeah, yeah."

'A confession battle game! Then, first up, Erina, go!'

"Eh, no, I don't think that's what this is…"

Is it that 'I love you game'?

It was probably just Erina-san messing around, but I was a little curious. I didn't deny it outright and focused my attention on listening.

'Ahem… Mic test, mic test. Fresh wheat, fresh rice, fresh eggs!'

"…"

'The guest next door is a guest who eats a lot of persimmons! Tokyo Special Patent Permit Bureau! There are two chickens in the garden!'

"…………"

'Jugemu Jugemu Gokō-no surikire Kaijarisuigyo-no suigyōmatsu Unraimatsu Fūraimatsu! Kuunerutokoro-ni sumutokoro! Yaburakō—'

"Just get on with it!"

Crap, I couldn't help but butt in.

'Alright, here I go!'

"Ah, yes."

'This is so exciting…!'

'Now, let's see what you've got…!'

Mia-san aside, what position was Aira-san speaking from?

Ignoring the disappointing sisters, I could feel Erina-san making a determined face through the Telepathy.

A short intake of breath, and then.

'I've fallen in love with your eyes, ZEEEEEE!!'

"Three points."

That was so far below my expectations.

'What! A five-point scale?!'

"Out of a hundred, you moron."

'Which means! If I multiply the number of characters by three!'

"That's not how it works."

'Kyouta-kun times Erina-san…!'

"No, that's not it. And stop joining in weirdly, Disappointment Number Two."

'I am not a disappointment?!'

My only other option would be to call her a pervert, but I thought that would be too mean, so I didn't press it.

"I mean, setting aside how incredibly cliché the content is, what's with the 'ZE' at the end? 'ZE'?"

'Nooo! It's 'ZEEEEEE'!'

"That's even worse."

'Hmph, Erina-kun is the weakest of the four confession lords…'

"Where did that come from?"

'Now, Mia! Gooo!'

'W-Wha?!'

'Yo, I wanna see Mia's good side!'

'Senpai! Please!'

"What is this turn of events?"

'I-I suppose I have no choice…!'

"Seriously, what is this?"

'Ahem.'

After a small cough, Mia-san took a deep breath.

'Kyouta-kun is like an amusement park of perver—nnnngh!'

'Did she just bite her tongue?'

'She totally did!'

"Um, are you okay? Also, what were you about to say, Disappointing College Student Number Two?"

'N-no, that's not it…! It was a slip of the tongue…!'

"I'll say it anyway, okay? That's even worse."

Between Erina-san and Mia-san, why do they always cause another accident right after messing up? I just don't get it.

'You can't help it, Mia. Alright, the finale is up to you, Kyo-chan-kun!'

"Uh, no thanks."

'Alright, the finale is up to you, Kyo-chan-kun!'

"No, I said—"

'Alright, the finale is up to you, Kyo-chan-kun!'

"…Ah, this is one of those loops that continues until I say 'yes', isn't it?"

'Alright, the finale is up to you, Kyo-chan-kun!'

"Ugh… Fine, damn it."

How did it come to this, I wondered, but it would be rude to be the only one not going along with the flow.

I mean, I think it's weird how Aira-san is suddenly acting like her turn is over, though. I'm pretty sure that wasn't your original intention.

"Um…"

'…………'

'…………'

'Hey, hey, the pitcher's getting scared.'

"Um, why is everyone except Disappointment Number One silent?"

'Because we were forming hand signs!'

"Why?"

'Just a little image training.'

"Why???"

'Delaying tactics are not befitting of a man, Kyo-chan-kun! Come on, out with it!'

"Don't try to make me drink. And you've been drinking, haven't you?"

'It's not a no-alcohol day, so it's fine!'

"Damn you…"

'C'mon, con-fess! Con-fess!'

"Alright, fine! I'll do it, okay?!"

This kind of thing just gets more embarrassing the more you get flustered.

It's just a game. Just humoring a drunkard's antics.

The moment I took a breath, even Aira-san went silent. I felt myself hesitate, but I forced myself to move my mouth.

If… if I were to confess to someone. The words would be.

"No matter what happens to the world. I will—"

'Aira. I have a question about the report you submitted today. Is now a good time?'

Silence fell for several seconds.

'Hm? …Were you in the middle of a Telepathy call? I seem to have interrupted. By the way, what were you talking about?'

'It was Kyo-chan's confession time, Grandma!'

"Well, yes, but that's not the point—"

'—I see.'

The professor took a long, deep breath.

'I will commit seppuku to apologize.'

'Wait, Baba-sama?! Why are you summoning your Arcane Gear?! Wait, are you serious?!'

'Oh, this is bad.'

'Eh, wait, are you for real?! I'm on my way!''

"Calm down, Professor! It's a game! Just a game!"

'What? So you were just playing with my granddaughters?'

"I think something's getting lost in translation here!?"

'That's not it, Grandma! Kyo-chan's not at fault, we are!'

"What a way to put it!?"

'That time… I thought my daughter was old enough, so I did nothing… and that child…!'

"Oh no, trauma switch activated!"

'That's not it, Baba-sama… about that person…'

"Crap, that one too!"

'Hehe… I… even I… why at that time…!'

"Is this whole family a minefield?!"

After that, I had to explain the situation in excruciating detail.

And for my trouble, the professor told me some lovey-dovey stories about her late husband 'for reference'.