79-Episode 77: Makoto Takatsuki Remembers



 I had a dream.
 Not a unique place for Master Noah. It was just a dream.

 It was just a dream.

 --A room in a low-rise apartment in Higashi-Shinagawa.
 There's not a lot of stuff in there, and it's a bit of a bleak room for me.

"Hey, Takatsuki's parents are always gone.
 When I was in middle school.
 It was a dream I had when Sa-san and I were playing a game together.

'We work together, and we don't come back until midnight every day. Thanks to that, we get to play all the games we want.
Isn't that lonely?
It doesn't matter. It's what I'm used to.
 Even if my parents were together, there wouldn't be much, if any, conversation.
 It's easier to be alone.

'You have three younger brothers at your place?
There are four of them. Don't talk to me about it.
But you're good with them, aren't you? I'm an only child, so I don't really know.
'Well, yeah. But before, she used to be a big girl. Nowadays she won't play games with me.
 Sa-san puffs out his cheeks in disapproval.

So that's why you're coming to my house. Aren't there any girls who play games?
'There are, but.... I don't have a girl who likes action games that I like.
I'm not that good at action games either.
'Okay, I've been going out with Takatsuki-kun's RPG game too.
Well, yeah.

 I always thought I liked playing games by myself.
 I recently learned that it's fun for two people to stand side by side like this.

 Mr. Sa-san next to me was eating a pokie.
 He likes sweets and always brings them to me.
 I like sweets like potato chips and salty ones.
 We share our sweets with each other.

By the way, don't you spend a lot of time preparing for the boss battle? Weapons, armor, and all, and buy so many items.
Yeah? That's normal.
'Well, why don't you just check the strength of the first round first? You can continue if all of them are killed.
I don't like to play like that.
Hmm.

 I'm a proponent of proceeding with RPG games with as little game over as possible.
 But apparently, Mr. Sa-san is very stubborn about it.
 Well, he loves action games and his play style is based on the premise of continuation.

If you beat this boss, the next game is mine.
I'm sorry.
 Sa-san brings a game to my house.
 We take turns playing the game we both want to play.
 It's a rule that has been going on somewhat since the first year of junior high school.

 In the game, you go through the dungeon and come to the front of the boss.

'There's a boss in this room! Are you ready?

 Yes, sir. 
 No.


 A cute, cartoon-like heroine talks to the hero on screen.
 Her eyes and breasts are large. The heroine is dressed in an exposed and sensational outfit.
 Hmm, if anything, I'm not a fan of RPGs that emphasize character illustrations.

'Takatsuki-kun, do you like these characters?
No, sir.
'But she's cute, isn't she? You really like her, don't you?
 d*mn, you're making fun of me.
 Are you ready for some payback?

Hmmm, I like my breasts not to be so big.
 I glanced at Sa-san and said.
 When she was in the eighth grade, Sa-san's breasts were very modest.
 Even in the first year of high school, they weren't particularly large.

"...why are you looking at me?
I don't like my breasts to be too big, you know?
 Smirk. It's important (below).
We'll get you out of here, Takatsuki.
"Against Violence
 The payback was complete, so I took on the boss.
 I took him down without any danger, as I made all the preparations.
 Save and finish the game I was playing.

'Well, next time I'll bring ________ to you today.
'Oh! Is that the one that went on sale yesterday?
My brother bought it for me. I'm going to Takatsuki's house today, so he can lend it to me!
Poor little brother.
 I've heard it happens when you have an older sibling.

 Such is the usual scene in middle school.
 I miss it.
 Ah, the scenery is getting blurry.
 I can't wait to wake up.
 Why did I have this dream?

 ...Now that I think about it, she looks a bit like Lucy, the heroine of that game.
 That's what I thought right before I woke up.


".........
 I'm awake.
 This is the room of the brave man (me) of King Roses Castle.
 I've been staying here since yesterday.
 Is the bed a king size? I guess that's what it's called.
 It's just huge.
 It's about the same size as my room in the previous world.

"Takatsuki-kun! I found a great crepe shop!
 As I was rubbing my eyes on the bed, Sa-san came over.
 She still has a sweet tooth.
 I look at her, who hasn't changed much since I was in my dream.
 In fact, I've been reincarnated as a demon.

 That's right. In my dream, I remembered something important.
 Lately I've been doing nothing but training myself.
 But I've been wrong.
 We're a party.
 So we need to make sure that everyone in this party is in top condition.
 We've got to have the best equipment we can buy right now, and every item possible!
 That's my style of play.

'Sa-san, let's go shopping!
Hmm?
 His face, like that of a small animal, has not changed since junior high school.


 ◇


Nah. I thought you were asking me out on a date.
It's like a date, right?
'Yeah, I'm not going on a date to an arms store! Takatsuki-kun.
 Puffing and puffing, Sa-san says.
 It's a bit of a mockery, isn't it?

So, which one do you want?
 Swords, axes and spears.
 Weapons shops in the royal capital have more weapons than McAllen's.
 And if you cut a receipt in the name of a brave man, the Roses royal family will pay for it.
 ''Excellent!

Hmm...... I'm not really a blade........
Sa-san makes a difficult face, saying
'Huh?'

 To hear the story.
 I'm a fan of fantasy to begin with, but not me.
 She's a Japanese high school girl, and apparently she's not comfortable with wielding a sword or a knife.
 Well, that's just as well.
 When living in the Great Labyrinth, it was unavoidable, but she said she doesn't want to actively use a blade to cut down demons.
 And it would bleed.
 So, Sa-san is basically bare-handed.

But there are demons that can't be touched with bare hands, like the abominable giants.
That's right.
 Huh, we both sigh.

''Well, let's look around for equipment and items.
Yeah, I'm sorry. Takatsuki-kun.
It's okay. There's no point in trying to hold onto a weapon you're not good at.

 Saasan bought a set of martial arts clothes and accessories with defensive magic effects.
 I bought a few bulky recovery items.
 The receipts are paid to the Royal Family of Roses.


 ◇


Makoto-san, are you back, Aya?
 On my way back to my room at Roses Castle, I met Prince Leonard.
''I was training in magic with Miss Lucy today.
My Lucy wasn't bothering you...?
 I didn't mind that you were going to practice magic for the day, but you didn't let your magic run amok in Roses Castle or anything, did you?
 Lucy's fireball would burn up all the flowers in the garden.

''Haha........it's fine. It's just that she seems to have gotten a little magic drunk, so she's resting in her room right now.
 Hmmm, you're trying too hard.
 I'll go check on you later.

By the way, are you two home from shopping?
Yeah, I got some clothes and stuff. I bought a lot of stuff!
 Sa-san, it sounds like fun, but it's him (royalty) in front of me who's paying me.

'Actually, I was hoping to see a weapon.
 Prince Leonard's face lit up as I said this.
'Then why don't we look at the royal treasury? If you're brave enough to use it, Makoto and Aya-san, there's no problem for you to use it.
 Seriously?

Oh, my God. I wanna see it.
 Saasan is jumping around.
'Well, come on in.
 I should have consulted Prince Leonard from the beginning!

 We were taken to the treasure room underneath the royal castle.

 ◇

 He opened the large metal door and entered a dimly lit room.

''It's kind of ... moldy, this room.''
Yeah but the magic power (mana) that weapons and armor have is amazing. They're all magical weapons.
 The weapons, arranged seemingly haphazardly in a large stone room, would probably cost enough to buy a house.

'Feel free to look at them, but please speak to them before you touch them. Particularly those that are tightly sealed with chains and cloth are weapons with a 'curse', so be careful.
Yes, sir.
 Mr. Sa, get your hands on it!
 I'll be careful.

 Look around for a while.

"Prince Leonard, what is this sword?
''That one is the 'Holy Sword Ice Sword'. Would you like to use it?
This is the Ice Sword...
 Let's take the ice sword of the year...........or let's not.

Can I hold it?
Come in.
 Smiling, Prince Leonard recommended that I pull the sword from its sheath.

 The slender blade is beautiful, glowing blue-white.
 This is the holy sword ............................heavy.

"Takatsuki-kun, are you okay?
Yeah, thanks.
 I'm on wobbly legs, and I can brace myself.

'Was it a little ... heavy?'
 Prince Leonard laughed at me.
'I guess it wasn't for me.
 I put it back in place.
 Huh I couldn't get the ice sword out of my hand.

"Prince, what is this?
 I think Mr. Saasan found something.
Mr. Saasan, is that a hammer?
 The shape is not the kind a carpenter would use, but rather like a bleeping hammer.
 It looks like it's made of copper, but it also looks like pink gold.
 You chose it for its color, right?

''What?''
 Prince Leonard looked astonished.
'What's the matter?'
'Aya-san! Can you hold that in one hand?
'What? What?
 Sa-san is swinging a hammer around.
 Is that also a magic weapon?

Let me look at that.
Okay, it's a little heavy.
Hmmm, let's see... uhhhhhh!
 He handed it to me with one hand and the moment I took it, I was pulled to the ground.
 What's this?

Makoto! It's the Demon God's Hammer. A thousand years ago, a brave man used it, but it was so heavy that no one had used it for a thousand years.
Isn't that too heavy?
 It looks small, but it looks like it weighs about a hundred pounds.

'I'll show you the true form of your weapon....................er, turn it here.
 Prince Leonard spun the end of the handle around.

'Wow.'
 In the blink of an eye, the hammer turns into a stupidly large object more than 2 meters long.
 I see, a weapon that can be changed in size at will...
 This isn't even close to 100 kilos.
 You've been wielding it with one hand?

It's interesting. The design is cute too.
I hope she's cute.
 The giant hammer is being swung around as well as earlier.
 Oh, that's dangerous.

I'm sure you'll like it. I'll let your sister know.
 Prince Leonard is pulling back a bit.
 How's that for a brave man to be a bit of a draw?

What do you think, Mr. Saunders?
Yeah, I'll take this one.
 Sooooo, the hammer became smaller.

'At its smallest size, it's about the size of an accessory and lighter. Carry it like that when you're not using it as a weapon.
Yes, sir.
 Heh, that might be kind of handy.
 But it's really limited to only a few people who can use it. 
 I'm glad you like it, Sa-san.


 ◇


Lucy, are you okay?
Really...?
 I was thinking about leaving Sa-san and practicing my own magic when I met a wobbly Lucy.
 Something about her clothes are out of shape more than ever........
 Aren't you showing your shoulders too much?

They say you've been using so much magic that you've gotten spellbound.
Well I've been sleeping for a while.
 He looks at me with those blank eyes.
 He's not awake yet. 

Well, go easy on him.
You've been training for years, you know.
 He gives me a "moo" look.

'I'm going back to my room to train, do you want to come too, Lucy?'
 I've been wanting to talk to Lucy for a while now.
The truth? Yeah, yeah. Come on.
 Why are you so surprised?
 It's a borrowed room.

 ◇

'Lucy. Wouldn't you like to learn a skill before training in magic?
What? Why?
'When the last abominable demon came out, all wizards lost their magic, didn't they? I figured if I could learn the 'clearing water' skill, it would help me the next time I fight.
 I mean, it's not just Lucy who should do this, but the wizards and adventurers of the kingdom should do it too, right?
 Maybe I should talk to Princess Sophia or Prince Leonard about it later.

True.........the 'clear water' skill is a rare skill, right?
What?
 Huh? Really?

There are a lot of tranquilizer skills, but the one you have is one of the top skills. If I could learn the 'calm' skill, it would be the 'calm' skill.
I see. There's a lot going on. Also, I've been using the 'clear water' skill all day, and I don't think I'm losing focus.
Have you been using it all day?
 He looked at me with a perverted look.

''Maybe it's the same effect as the 'Concentration' skill........ I see, I wonder if it would be more effective if I used the skill to cultivate it.''
I wasn't really aware of it, but I guess so.
 I was just using the skill to suppress my anxiety about my classmates disappearing more and more during the water temple days....
 I guess it had an unexpected effect.

'Yeah, but maybe Makoto is right. I've been desperately trying to train my magic until now, but maybe it's better to learn the 'calm' and 'concentration' skills first! Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
 Now the next time an abominable demon attacks, Lucy can fight with him.

 And you got your weapon.
 Yeah, there's a lot of things we can do.

Then let's go practice our skills.
Yeah!


 ◇


...zzzz.
You're asleep.
 I did my best for a while, but practicing skills makes me sleepy.
 I put the covers over Lucy, who fell asleep in my bed, and let her fall asleep.
 I felt sorry for her to wake up.

 Lucy is sleeping comfortably.
 Watching her sleep all the time was going to make me feel funny, so I went back to my training.

'Genie, genie,'
 I turn off the 'clear water' skill and use spirit magic.

--Hmm.

 I hear voices again.
 Is that it?
 Is it the voice of a spirit?

 Has my spirit magic progressed?

 Well I don't know...

 I can't do any major magic, partly because I'm in a room.

 ........sleepy.

 I too had fallen into bed at some point.