kscans

Chapter 54 - Chapter 3: Prologue

June. It's the season they call June Bride, but honestly, that has nothing to do with high school students.

The big event for us this time of year is, of course, the sports festival.

...Yeah.

Not that it has anything to do with me, either!

'Yagawa... do you, by any chance, have a chronic illness where... running might kill you?'

I wonder what the correct answer was to the gym teacher's roundabout way of asking, 'You're not participating, right? Please say you're not participating.'

For the time being, I just told him, 'I tend to feel unwell in June.'

Man, I've never seen a gym teacher look so relieved. While I question his integrity as an educator, I also think about my own current physical condition.

120 kilometers per hour.

That's the top speed I can hit in a straight line. I measured it the other day at the city's training facility for Awakened Persons.

I'm sure it would be a bit lower without using 'Wind,' but I'd still definitely break 100 km/h. According to Aira-san, that's pretty fast, even among the Awakened.

If a human-sized object collides with someone at that speed, a non-Awakened person could, in the worst-case scenario, die.

I think it would be better to just have the Awakened run by themselves, but there have been cases of 'Awakened Persons getting seriously injured due to their own speed,' like when they trip and fall into a person or a utility pole.

As a result, the Board of Education and individual schools are still afraid to let Awakened Persons participate carelessly in P.E. classes.

...I was never a fan of sports to begin with. So I don't really mind not participating.

However.

"Hey, hey. Seriously, can you take my place as the anchor in the relay? The pressure is insane!"

"No way, do your best, track team!"

"We're counting on you! Go pass like, everyone!"

"Hey, you wanna practice for the three-legged race again later?"

"Sure! Let's do it during lunch break."

"I'm going to go negotiate directly with the sports festival committee to see if we can add 'cross-dressing' to the obstacle course."

"When are we leaving? I shall accompany you."

The cheerful conversations filling the classroom.

Not everyone, but most are getting excited for the sports festival. And I can't be a part of it.

...I don't like the jock-like atmosphere, but still. This sucks.

Alone, I fiddle with my phone and let out a small sigh. Was it already like this back in my second year of middle school when I Awakened? No, back then I still had friends in my class.

I just want school to be over. I wanted after-school to come as quickly as possible.

"Hm...?"

A message from Erina-san popped up in the SNS group I made with her and Aira-san.

It was about the dungeon we were going to after school today.

...I felt the corners of my mouth turn up just a little.

*

After school, at the Sahagin dungeon we'd visited before. After clearing out most of the surrounding monsters.

"Alright, Kyo-chan! Let's let 'er rip!"

'Heeey, batter batter! Pitcher's scared!'

"Isn't that a weird taunt to use right now? And don't taunt me in the first place."

Urged on by Erina-san and Aira-san, I pointed my left hand forward.

I'm a little nervous. It's my first time using 'this,' after all.

I channel mana into my outstretched arm... and let it pool at the tip of my index finger.

Then, with the image of opening a gas valve, I released it.

"Whoa...!"

Instantly, red flames erupted from my left hand. A torrent of fire filled my vision, but strangely, it wasn't hot enough to burn me.

After letting the flames flow for a few seconds to get a feel for it, I stopped the supply of mana with the image of closing the gas valve. Just like that, the emission of red flames ceased.

All that remained were scorch marks on the walls and ceiling.

"Oooh. You did it right."

'I see. I knew its capabilities from the Appraisal, but seeing it in action is quite impressive. Well, for me it's through a mirror, of course.'

Listening to their voices, I partially dematerialized the gauntlet on my left hand.

My black sleeve was revealed, along with my bare wrist and hand. On my index finger was a ring.

A simple golden band with a small red gem. Despite its simple design, the ring had a strange, captivating allure.

"This was a really nice drop."

'Indeed. Just what you'd expect from a boss monster's drop.'

'Ring of the Flame Horse.'

That's the name of this 'magic tool.' It was a drop from the Leucos.

Erina-san recovered it, and Miyoshi-san corroborated her story and handled all the paperwork. Its effect is to 'convert mana into flame.'

It doesn't have the same output as the 'Mana Conversion' skill, but it's still plenty powerful. If I use it together with wind, I could probably produce some serious firepower.

"But, are you sure about this? Miyoshi-san said she didn't want any claim to it?"

"Yup. That's what she said. She said being able to defend the shelter was enough for her."

'Tch! Trying to act like such a good girl. Shouldn't my dear little sister be more greedy?'

"Haha..."

I feel like Aira-san has started talking about Miyoshi-san a little more naturally than before.

Just that alone was enough to reassure me that our meddling hadn't been in vain.

"Kyo-chan, Kyo-chan! Me next, I wanna try it next!"

"Ah, yeah. Go ahead."

I take off the ring and hand it to Erina-san, who's jumping up and down with her hand raised.

...On another note, her chest is bouncing all over the place, so I wish she wouldn't jump so much. I don't know where to look.

'Oh, a ring exchange? Hold on. I'll play some appropriate BGM.'

"Wh-what are you talking about!?"

"Thank you. I am Rinzaki Erina, and I would like to make a speech. Kyo-chan! Congratulations!"

"Are you the matchmaker?! Then who am I exchanging rings with?! Nothing?!"

"They say there are three important bags in a marriage!"

"You're still going with this?"

'Very well, I shall listen.'

"This is just bizarre."

"The stomach pouch, the sleeping bag, and the ball bag—"

"Only one of those is right!?"

'My, my, Kyo-chan-kun. Interrupting a lady is bad manners, you know?'

"That's right!!"

"Remember what you said three seconds ago. This is a problem that predates manners."

A proper lady doesn't say 'ball bag.' That's not a lady. Even if she were a lady, she'd be a perverted lady.

"Just hurry up and try it. Even if we've defeated the nearby monsters, we're still in a dungeon."

"Yes, teach'."

'Teacher, what's the spending limit for snacks!?'

"Go take a hike to the hospital."

'So harsh!?'

I place the ring on Erina-san's palm.

...Damn it, against my will, my heart fluttered just a little.

"Okay, here I go!"

After putting it on her left index finger just like I did, she suddenly started making some strange movements.

Shubaba, her fingers moved with such sharp, crisp motions that it looked like they had sound effects. Is that the hand sign ninjas in anime make when they use ninjutsu?!

"Fire Style───Acid Reflux!!"

"That's a medical condition?"

While spouting utter nonsense, a considerable amount of fire spewed from Erina-san's mouth.

It seems the firepower is sufficient even when she uses it. It might be best to switch who wears it depending on the situation.

As I was thinking that, Erina-san's shoulders slumped and she turned back to me.

"Kyo-chan... It hurts..."

"Eh, what? Did you get burned or something?"

"No, my mana."

With that, Erina-san took off the ring and offered it to me.

"This thing's not very fuel-efficient. Considering my spatial ninjutsu, I can't really use it much."

"Ah, I see."

In my case, I don't have to worry about running out of mana because of the 'Sage's Nucleus,' but for her, pacing her usage is important.

Spatial Magic, especially 'Teleport,' is our lifeline in an emergency. We need to keep Erina-san's mana above a certain level at all times.

"Got it. Then, I'll hold on to this ring."

"Please do. You can always let it rip, Kyo-chan!"

"What's with that sound effect..."

'Wait! I found the perfect BGM for a ring exchange!'

"I'm going to send you to the hospital."

'Now you're just threatening me, Kyo-chan-kun!?'

We're in a dungeon right now, seriously. They're letting their guard down way too much.

I slip the ring onto my left index finger and reform the gauntlet.

"For now, let's finish exploring. Aira-san, navigation, please."

'Right. If you proceed straight down the path you're on, there should be a gentle curve followed by a T-junction. Turn left there.'

"Understood."

"Okay. Oh, right, Kyo-chan."

"Hm?"

Just as I was about to start walking, Erina-san called out to me.

"Later, I have a favor to ask."

"Yeah, what is it?"

I waited for her to continue, while still keeping an eye on our surroundings.

"Yeah. Um, I want some of your 'fingernails' or 'hair'."

'Eh?'

"Eh?"

Did I just get asked for something incredibly weird?

I stared at her, my mouth hanging open as she spoke so casually.

...But why???

"Um... may I ask the reason?"

"Of course, for my ninjutsu... no, for my 'ninja tools'!!"

A cheerful reply, as usual. Wait, ninja tools?

...Ah, I see.

"Alright. After we get back."

"Okay!"

'Eeeh!?'

Even after being separated from my body, my hair and nails retain very little of the 'Sage's Nucleus' power. However, they do retain normal mana.

Drawing on my knowledge of alchemy, I figured out what she was getting at.

'Eh, Erina-kun, Kyo-chan-kun... s-since when did the two of you have such an abnormal relationship...?!'

...These two really are sisters, her and Miyoshi-san.

Aira-san's voice from the earring sounded genuinely flustered, but Erina-san just tilted her head in confusion.

Does this mean I'm the one who has to explain? We're in a dungeon, you know?

It seemed like too much trouble, so I put it off and we continued hunting Sahagin for as long as time permitted.

During that time, Aira-san managed to clear up the misunderstanding on her own, so I guess it's fine. I'm pretty sure it was written on the 'Alchemy Enthusiasts Club' website, anyway.

The body of an Awakened Person can be used as a material for 'magic tools.'

It's not a widely known fact, but it's not impossible. However, it can only be done by someone with a 'production-type' skill, after making the proper preparations.

So Erina-san had Awakened acquaintances other than us...

On the bus ride home, Erina-san struck up a conversation.

"You know, Kyo-chan! Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to her... no, to the other one, too!"

"O-okay."

Her? And another one? So I'm being introduced to two people.

Come to think of it, I think I saw Erina-san chatting with two other female students in the hallway the other day.

"Let's all four of us have lunch together! It'll be fun for sure!"

"Huh?"

Does that mean I have to join a 'friend of a friend group' and spend my lunch break with them? And a group of girls, at that?

...Oh, boy.

"Sorry, but tomorrow I'll be suffering from an illness 'where I die if I spend lunch break with three or more people'."

"What kind of illness is that!?"

'I understand... I understand you, Kyo-chan-kun...!'

"Paisen?! Is that a real illness!?"

I would very much like you to stop issuing these roundabout death sentences.

As Erina-san grabbed my shoulders and shook me, asking, 'Are we going to the hospital right now?! Is Kyo-chan going to explode?!', I stared out the window.

I see... So tomorrow, I die...