ch1-ch20 · 020-ch20

Chapter 20: Awakening

○ Experimentally changed the writing style this time.

Several days had passed since joining the guild.

There were only ten days left until the World Clock opened.

As for these past few days — yelled at by the department head, lunch with everyone including Lumiel, overtime then home. Bath, study sessions, dinner, sleep — despite having signed a 500 million yen contract, I was living exactly the same days as before, almost unbelievably so.

Momose-san seemed holed up in his room handling guild master duties, so the frequency of seeing him had noticeably dropped.

My sister had just returned to active duty, so she seemed busy with paperwork and visiting old acquaintances.

Shiki-kun apparently worked as a model on the side, between photoshoots and TV appearances (he was on a morning cooking show the other day), so everyone was busy.

Wait a second.

"(Nobody's training...)"

We've already agreed that Remnant will handle the next World Clock on our own.

If we can't stop the World Clock, the guild gets disbanded — and Aoba Town still isn't fully fortified yet, so there's even a risk that if the defense fails, monsters could break out.

— And yet, nobody's training.

To top it off, I still haven't met the last member of Remnant. In fact, apparently nobody knows where they are.

If that person doesn't show up on the day, we'll have to handle it with just three — wait, is this really okay...?

Even if we have Lumiel in a pinch, I can't help but worry.

"Alright, starting today, I'm going to have you contribute to the guild."

Momose-san, wearing a snug-fitting training outfit, said cheerfully.

Starting today, Momose-san was back on site, meaning we were finally joining guild work for the first time.

"Of course. What should we do?"

"To put it simply — self-training."

The place we were led to was the training room, and following Momose-san's lead, Lumiel and I changed into workout clothes too.

Lumiel-san in a tight green jersey — very cute.

"Does self-training count as contributing to the guild?"

Having imagined patrols or volunteer work, I couldn't help thinking, "Is this something I should be doing while getting paid?" Momose-san nodded emphatically.

"It's the same as with athletes. What's ultimately demanded of us is essentially just one thing — strength. If you train, your magic power increases, and if you achieve great results, that in turn contributes to sponsors and the nation."

"I see, when you put it that way, it makes sense."

Hunters are active in a wide range of fields — actors, idols, politicians — but their reason for existing is to close World Clocks.

"And the World Clock is coming up soon."

"Really... um, are we going to be okay?"

"Of course we'll handle it perfectly. We're professionals."

Momose-san said, winking refreshingly.

An independent guild whose members are all S-Rank. They must have something unconventional going for them.

"Now that you understand, first let me show you my ability."

I could see magic power gathering around Momose-san. He mentioned being a summoner earlier, right?

Something burst out of a faintly glowing magic circle, and its shadow landed beside Momose-san.

"Allow me to introduce you. This is Ken-kun."

"Uh... a pheasant?"

When I shifted my gaze, there was indeed a pheasant there.

That said, it was a giant bird nearly four meters long, and it looked anything but gentle.

So this is a summoned beast.

"Summoned beasts can basically manifest in this world using the required amount of magic power. It's like paying the price upfront. In that sense, Descent Arts is more like payment on delivery."

Momose-san continued, stroking Ken-kun's throat.

"Descent Arts is an unknown skill with only three confirmed cases worldwide, including you. On top of that, the other two died after using the skill just once. You two are the first successful case on a global scale."

"So I've heard. My sister told me."

I also heard that they died horribly.

Experts' view was that their lives were taken as the price — but on that point, Lumiel just asks for a single hug.

"That's why I get a mountain of offers every day wanting to talk to you. From all over the world, no less."

Momose-san laughed, saying "Man, Hagane-kun sure is popular," but this made it clear why he'd been so busy. He'd been handling inquiries about Lumiel.

"...As long as there's no risk of them taking Lumiel to a national research institute or anything like that, I'd like to cooperate too."

To prevent any more victims of Descent Arts, I want to help however I can.

Momose-san smiled gently and nodded. "You're cool, kid."

"For now, our top priority is focusing on the World Clock. The other parties are understanding, so they haven't pushed further — which means I can put you through some intensive training starting today."

Momose-san flashed a bright smile, showing his white teeth.

I'd also taken two weeks of paid leave (the department head was screaming incomprehensibly, absolutely furious), so bring on the training or whatever!

"If I work hard, will my rank go up?"

If magic power is an indicator of strength, then training my magic should raise my rank.

"About that — Shiki-kun says your magic power seems to be depleted. He theorized it might be because of Lumiel-kun's influence from being near you, but that's just a guess."

"Depleted?"

"Yeah. Being even lower than an average person — that's not normal."

Depleted, huh...!

This might be good news.

In other words, the magic container I thought was only a spoonful might actually be much bigger, right?! It might be empty, but maybe the container itself is the size of a swimming pool, right?! Don't you think?!

Lumiel wasn't participating in the conversation at all, just standing there blankly.

If her hugs had been draining all my magic power... wait, hold on.

"(The first exam was before I even met Lumiel, right?)"

I got my G-Rank assessment at that point.

So my depleted magic power has nothing to do with Lumiel's hugs? Huh?

"Anyway, before training, there's something I want you to eat."

"Eat?"

"Yeah. Alright, Ken-kun, if you would!"

As Momose-san signaled, Ken-kun let out a deafening "KYEEN!" and then, with great effort, laid an egg. Wait, Ken-kun is a girl?

"Go on, dig in."

"Something about this really puts me off!!"

It was steaming! It was actually giving off steam!

And eating it in front of the parent is just too cruel!

Ken-kun also let out a "KYEEN!" as if to say "Eat it!" And then laid another one.

"Hagane-kun, this is Ken-kun's ability. He makes dumplings infused with the magic power stored in his body, and whoever eats them has their magic power restored. I call them kibidango, you see."

"No matter how you look at it, those are eggs."

"Don't sweat the details—"

"Mmghggh!?!"

The egg forced its way into my mouth!!!

The texture was definitely more dumpling than egg — chewy and sticky. If only I hadn't seen it coming out from around Ken-kun's rear end, it might've even been tasty...

By the way, it was about the size of a man's fist.

"How is it?"

"Ehb guhd ih not bahd (It's not bad)."

"Good to hear. Well, I'm going to have breakfast, so Hagane-kun, keep eating these until you're full, alright?"

There's absolutely no way I'd finish just one of these giant things.

"Don't worry, these don't stay in your stomach — feeling full means your magic power is topped up. When you're done, do some stretching and wait for me."

With that, Momose-san left the training room.

All that was left was the quiet Lumiel, me, and Ken-kun, who kept laying eggs.

"Lumiel, why do you go quiet whenever Descent Arts comes up?"

"..."

"Did something unpleasant happen? Hm?"

Talk to me, old man style. Hm?

Lumiel glanced at the kibidango and said one thing.

"It's useless, you know."

"Useless!?"

Don't tell me my efforts are wasted?

No way — look, I just finished one and I can still eat more! I'm forcing myself to have another!

◇◆◇◆

"Sorry about that, some agents from the US kept pressing me and I got delayed."

"Ah, wehcome bahck (Welcome back)."

"...Huh?"

Momose-san froze mid-step.

There's no doubt about the cause — it was this.

"Sorry, I cahn't seem to get fuhll (I can't seem to get full)."

How many had I eaten now? 20? 30?

For the tens of minutes Momose-san was gone, I'd been eating kibidango non-stop. Poor Ken-kun looked exhausted.

"Don't be ridiculous...!"

Momose-san rushed over and held some kind of small crystal near me. After a moment, he pulled it away and muttered, looking shaken.

"It hasn't increased at all...?"

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