A Misunderstood Mentor

“What’s this? There’s rice inside the chicken meat”

The meal I brought out shocked Reia.
I stuffed rice and some vegetables into the chicken’s stomach and roasted it, it’s one of my specialty dishes.
I put some more effort into making it to celebrate Sasha coming over and it seems to have gone well.

“Fufu, that takes me back.
When we were adventurers, you would always make this after we finished a large quest”

Sasha eats happily.

“…..You didn’t make this when I came over”

Reia’s face, which was bright just a moment ago, darkens.

“H-Hold on Reia.
That time was before the harvest so I didn’t have much rice”
“I-Is that so.
I see.
I was greatly welcome me at that time too”

No, if anything you were a great nuisance.
But if I say something like that she might talk about cutting her stomach open again so I stay quiet.

Sasha watched us cheerfully as we spoke back and forth.
We spent time together back when I didn’t know she was a princess, but knowing that now I feel somewhat nervous.
Even if its just for show, is it fine to start a newly married life in a dirty cave like this.

After cleaning up dinner, Reia desperately drew a line on the floor with the sheath of her sword.
Since last night, Reia, me, and Sasha were split in that order into separate areas starting from the entrance.

“Hmm? This is my spot? It seems further away from Takumi than yesterday though”

I take my eyes off them for a moment and a strange mood comes between them.

“Last night, I saw you get closer and closer to Takumi-san’s face.
I won’t forgive that sense of distance”
“I’m not sure what you mean.
Weren’t you the one who was watching him from close by.
Takumi was sleeping facing my direction though.”
“Hm hmmph, Takumi-san has a habit of showing the back of his head to those he likes”

That’s right, I have the habit of showing the back of my to those I like…..
as if!

And could the two of you please stop peeking at my sleeping face.
Knowing something like that makes it hard to sleep comfortably from now on.
At the very least let me have some peace when I sleep.

“Then you also can’t enter this area.
With this the terms are equal”

Sasha draws a line with her foot.
A princess shouldn’t be doing such improper things
Being provoked by Reia, Sasha tone has changed.
What happened to the friendly atmosphere when she was teaching how to do laundry before.

“Hold on.
That side is two centimeters closer”
“Don’t be stupid.
Your side is still closer isn’t it? If you have a complaint then lets swap”
“Can’t do.
I have an obligation to defend Takumi-san from attackers”

It didn’t seem like the problem was going to be settled so I redrew the lines.

“Aah! I’m even further away now!”
“You’re awful, Takumi-san!”
“It’s your punishment for fighting.
We’re sleeping like this today”

I ignore the booing from the two and lay out the futon.
If they aren’t a bit further away then I won’t be able to stay calm.
I swear tonight I’ll sleep facing not left or right, but directly upwards.

Late in the night, unable to sleep, I stare at the ceiling with bleary eyes.

Is it because I woke up late yesterday I wonder.
I can hear Reia and Sasha both snoring softly.
I quietly exit the cave, trying to not wake them.
The snow has stopped falling but unlike daytime, it is quite cold outside.
I wrap the thick pelt I brought around me.
My breath is visible as I walk up to the large rock in front of the cave.
I take a seat there and look up to the night sky to see an expanse of stars that seems as if they could fall at any moment.

Back when I was alone, I would often do this on nights I couldn’t sleep.
Before Takumi Points existed, there was not just Reia, but Chiharu and Demon Sword Karna too.
Chloe also visited frequently.
Furthermore, one month before the Great Martial Tournament, Miacis and Sacher, Rick and the Goblin King, and even the Hero End would stay over.
The time when I would come here to watch the night sky seems far in the past.

Just who and what are they planning.

Takumi Points, the mastermind, Rick who has gone missing.
Sasha said that some person is using me and Alice in some scheme but I wonder if that’s truly the case.
I investigated various things when Takumi Points were established but the system was unusually complex and of a large scale.
Sasha said it was finely managed through magic but it’s probably not just that.
It was well hidden with magic but, there’s monitoring devices set up in various places.
It’s probably a technology that’s been developed in Southcity.
Furthermore the devices give a presence similar to that of the Four God Pillars used during the Great Martial Tournament or Reia’s Diving Possession.
Perhaps they’re working with Reia and Yoru’s hometown, Eastpark as well.
Maybe by calling upon the power of the gods with science and magic, the Takumi Point system was made.
I don’t think it’s a system made by one person.
It’s more fitting to think of it as a joint effort between multiple people, no, multiple countries.

And there’s one thing I’ve noticed after dealing with Takumi Points this past month.
I grew famous after the Great Martial Tournament ended and many people became interested in me and came in droves to see me but, as if blocked by an invisible wall, none came close.
If not for Takumi Points, many people would likely have been coming here every day.

If that had happened, I would definitely have fled this place and looked for somewhere new to stay.
I fully appreciate how I have been protected by Takumi Points.
And it’s even somewhat nostalgic, that’s the feeling I got.

It doesn’t feel like Takumi Points were created with bad intentions.

As I was thinking that.

“Good evening, Takumi-kun”

He suddenly appeared before my eyes.
A man in a white coat and glasses.
He’s short and skinny with a large head.
The balance is off.
It almost gives the impression of an adults head on top a child’s body.

How long has he been there? No, how did he get there?
It’s only possible to come here up to eight in the evening with Takumi Points.
Normally he should not be able to come close.

“Professor please wait a moment, this thing is damn heavy”

With a clattering sound, a girl carrying an unbelievable amount of combat equipment appeared.
A machine gun in her right hand, beam saber in her left, and giant rocket launchers on her back.
A cross belt full of bullets is wrapped around her chest and there are two small guns and a large shield mounted on her waist.
Half her face is hidden by goggles but shes a cute girl with a small build.
She doesn’t look like someone who can move wearing all this equipment.

“With your power you should be able to move faster than that.
Don’t slack off and run, Ex”
“Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
I climbed the mountain with all this equipment you know.
I’m exhausted.
My powers at zero”

So she says but there’s no tiredness in her voice.
No matter how you look, she isn’t a normal person.

“Can’t be helped.
Then before you fight how about a self introduction”

The man known as Professor turns towards me and bows.

Did you just say fight?
Could it be that these guys came here to fight.

“Nice to meet you, Takumi-kun.
My name is Deus.
Professor Deus”

He’s completely different from the strong foes I’ve met before.
He looked so weak that if we fought, I would have a slim chance of winning.
However, compared to everyone who’s come before, he’s the most frightening.
It’s the eyes.
The way he deliberately observes me, it’s not how one looks at a human being.
As if looking at a laboratory animal, his emotionless eyes send a shiver down my spine.

“I wanted to discover your strength so I utilised a secret password to come here.
It was outside my calculations that Machina would come back with basically no information of you”

To discover my strength?
Secret password?
I had basically no contact with Machina but she was investigating me?

“That’s why we came to investigate directly”

Before I knew it, the girl named Ex was standing behind him.

“Then let’s begin”

Ex turns her gun towards me as a sickening smile appears on Professor Deus’ face.

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