A few days after that, everything went back to being pretty normal… at least for me.
A few days ago, Lala finally finished her armor and wanted to test it. So she and I went out to look for some low-level curses. The armor was strong, but since it had to be put on manually, it wasn't very practical to carry around. Lala is now trying to find a way to bring it with her everywhere. I suggested turning it into something like Peke or just attaching the armor to Peke so he could transform into it. She seemed to like the idea and immediately started modifying Peke.
I've also been trying to get closer to Yuki by talking with her. When I come with Lala, she's relaxed and talks comfortably. Sometimes she and Lala even chat privately, though I don't know what they're talking about. But when I come alone, she becomes a bit cautious. We usually talk just fine, but now and then she suddenly goes quiet and tense. I had no idea what was going through her head until Lala told me that Yuki thought I had hypnotized her to make her comfortable and fall for me… What is wrong with this girl's imagination? I'm not some yellow-haired guy with bangs covering one eye, or a chubby dude with round glasses.
I cleared up the misunderstanding, and she seemed relieved… though she's still a bit wary. Well, Yuki being a little cautious is cute too. I also told her that I knew she and Masachika were siblings and that she didn't need to act like a princess around me, that she should just be herself. She stared around, then started laughing, saying I'd use her secret to blackmail her so I could do whatever I wanted with her body… This girl's imagination is wild.
I also ran into Yotsuya-san in the school hallway. I asked her how the bracelet I gave her was working. She thanked me because she no longer sees spirits, but she still feels like something is watching her, which makes her uncomfortable. So I told her to buy a charm or something. She said she already had, but it didn't help. So I gave her another charm to help her feel safe.
That's the summary of what happened over the past few days. Now that school is on break, I'm at the mall. Why? To look at clothes… or more accurately, to check out designs. I can make clothes easily, but they usually end up being simple shirts or basic button-ups. So I came here to get inspiration.
"System, can't you display images?" I asked.
[Yes, host.]
'Why didn't you say that earlier… Haah, show me your full functions.'
[System functions:
1. The system answers any question from simple to complex and specific. (Warning: knowing too much is not always good!)
2. The system can transfer or erase information it gives directly to the host's brain if the host wishes. (Does not apply to knowledge gained without system help.)
3. The system can generate images based on the host's description or request. (Warning: sometimes you really don't need to know what something looks like!)
4. The system can display maps and mark locations the host wants.
5. The system can convert text into audio, depending on what the host wants.]
'You actually have a lot of functions I didn't know about… This is Craftbot's fault for falling from the sky into my backyard and making me skip reading everything.'
While I was looking through women's outfits for Lala, I spotted Masachika and Yuki browsing clothes together, with Alisa-san spying on them from behind.
"Hey, Masachika, Yuki, Alisa-san!" I called.
Alisa jolted, and the siblings turned toward me.
"Yo. Shopping for clothes? And Alisa-san, why are you behind that pillar?"
"N-nothing, I was just leaning on it. I'm tired," she said.
"Yo, Ace. You're shopping for clothes too? Why are you in the women's section? Don't tell me you're one of those guys." Masachika said.
'This bastard… I can see Yuki smiling.'
"No, I'm—"
'I can't say I'm checking designs for women's clothes. They'll think I'm actually a pervert.'
"So, what are you doing, Ace?" Yuki asked with a tiny smirk.
"I'm checking if there's anything that suits Lala."
"Where's Lala-san?" Alisa asked, narrowing her eyes.
"She's at the bookstore with her mentor? Teacher? Whoever. She's studying how to write novels because she's addicted to them lately."
We ended up going to lunch together. Masachika didn't seem happy that Alisa joined us, probably because the place we were going only served spicy food. In the end, she insisted on coming anyway.
At the entrance, Alisa looked nervous. Well, standing in front of a place called "Iron Pot of Hell" with flames and a red oni on the sign would make anyone hesitate.
"This… is a ramen place?" Alisa asked.
"Yeah," Yuki answered.
"There's literally the word 'hell' in the name!"
"Maybe we shouldn't…" Masachika muttered, but she ignored him.
We sat down, placed our orders, and waited.
During small talk, Alisa commented that Yuki's outfit looked tomboyish today. Yuki said she just wanted a change of pace because it's a day off. Then Yuki casually dropped,
"Actually, this morning I was in Masachika-kun's bed."
Masachika spat out his drink.
"Together… on the bed?!" Alisa asked, clearly annoyed. People were starting to stare.
Yuki kept teasing her, and Masachika tried calming her down. Then Yuki elbowed me and whispered,
"Ace-kun, are you jealous of my brother? Aww, so you can get jealous."
"Hm… Aren't you the one who's jealous of Lala? Lala and I live together, so we often sleep on the same bed. If you moved in, you could too." I whispered back.
Yuki blushed slightly.
'Did she think she could make me jealous that easily?'
When the ramen arrived, we stopped to watch someone take on the shop's new challenge: "One Step to Hell."
The broth was even redder than ours.
"Oh, you've already started serving it? Kotomine-san works fast," I said.
Yeah, the owner's name is Kotomine Kirei. It sounds a lot like a certain priest from another world, but thankfully this Kotomine is just a normal guy and not a death apostle or anything weird. I already confirmed that with the system.
"Excuse me, do you know the owner?" the waiter asked.
"Yeah. I'm the one who created that recipe, and Kotomine-san uses it. We split the profits," I said.
"That's the food you mentioned, Ace?" Masachika asked.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Think he can finish it?" Masachika asked.
"No," I said.
"Why are you so sure?" Yuki asked.
"Just watch."
He took one spoonful and passed out instantly.
Everyone panicked, but Kotomine-san came out of the kitchen and assured them the guy was just knocked out by the heat.
"ACE! WHAT KIND OF RECIPE DID YOU MAKE?!" Masachika yelled.
"I told you I'd make something extremely spicy."
"This isn't spicy. This is attempted murder!"
We finished eating, though Alisa suffered a lot. Yuki even added extra spicy seasoning to her bowl.
After that, I went with Yuki to buy something. Masachika probably realized I was trying to get closer to her, so he let me go with her.
As we walked, I asked,
"So what are you buying, Yuki?"
She shook her head lightly while wagging her finger. "That's a girl's secret, Ace-kun."
"If I'll see it when we get there, is it still a secret?"
"In that case, wait until we arrive."
"We're almost there, so be patient, Ace-kun."
But then I noticed something wrong. The street was empty. Too empty.
"Yuki, let's go back. Something's off," I said.
"What do you mean?"
"No one else is walking here. I have a bad feeling."
She teased me for being scared, but I was already talking to the system.
'System, what's happening? A curse?'
[Alien, host.]
'Alien? An assassin? Give me the data.'
[Name: Torvex Mirral
Race: Vharraxian
Planet: Vharrax-6
Weapons: Six throwing knives
Background: Torvex Mirral is a bipedal alien with six flexible arms and fast movement. His skin is bluish-gray with fine scale-like texture. He has four eyes, two in front and two smaller ones on the sides for peripheral tracking. He's a bounty hunter known for always completing his jobs.
His throwing knives are made from living minerals from his planet and return to him when summoned. He controls them like extensions of his own body. Skilled in stealth and close combat, though physically fragile.
Despite his cold demeanor, he has a strict code: he never takes jobs that target children or innocent people.]
'Annoying…'
Before I could react, two knives flew toward me and Yuki. I summoned the Thousand Demon Dagger, pulled Yuki into my arms, and blocked the knife aimed at me.
'Why is he attacking Yuki?! Didn't his code say he avoids harming innocents?!'
[The knife would only graze her. It's coated with a sleeping drug.]
Yuki was shocked at me pulling her and seeing my weapon.
"What was that, Ace?!"
Three more knives flew in. I controlled two fragments of my blade, turning them into small knives to intercept the attack.
"Yuki, I'll make an opening. When I do, run," I whispered.
"What? You'll play the hero?!"
"He's after me, not you. He won't chase you if you run."
"What about you?!"
"I'll tell you something… I'm pretty strong."
I created smoke bombs so she could escape.
"I'll call the police!" she yelled as she ran.
When the smoke cleared, I stood there with the Thousand Demon Dagger pointed forward.
"Showtime," I said.