Chapter 159: Feeling the Gaze
In a bar, a woman was in a bad mood.
[Why do I have to go through this!? You’ve got to be kidding me!]
The woman’s name is Tedes Rittenpike.
Until recently, she was a teacher at the Adventurer Academy, but her illegal actions with her students had been discovered and dismissed as a disciplinary measure.
Since the day she was fired, Rittenpike has been drinking day and night.
[Seriously, what’s with the students these days? Their attitude towards their superiors is appalling! They are but mere students of the prestigious Academy. And yet, even though I have contributed so much to the study of Ancient Treasures, for them to fire me would be a loss to the world!]
Rittenpike’s complaints continue as she drinks heavily.
[In the first place, it’s that Yahagi guy who’s to blame! I don’t know what that Sweets Baron whatever means, but a guy banging that gloomy skank freaking dare interrupts my plans! I’ll definitely get my revenge on him……]
Muttering a curse, Rittenpike gulped down the beer left at the bottom of her mug.
[Hey, quickly bring me more beer! Geez, how long are you gonna make people wait…… What? The f*ck are you looking at!? This your first time seeing a woman get drunk!?]
Customers and waiters are fed up with the way she picks a fight with everyone.
The owner of the bar, who had decided that they’d be in trouble if she were allowed to drink any more, mildly suggested.
[Ma’am, I think we’d better leave it at that……]
[Shut your trap, baldy! Who do you think I am? I’m the world-famous Professor Rittenpike! Quickly bring me my beer!]
Incidentally, Rittenpike has no qualifications to call herself Professor.
She isn’t even a member of the Academy anymore.
The owner could only shrug his shoulders, wondering what to do.
[Get the lady over here a drink. Get on with it!]
A man said as he threw a silver coin on the counter.
The man’s face still seemed to hold innocence to it, but one could sense his bad personality within it.
[Ara, we have a clever one here. Wait, you are……]
[My name is Marl, eldest son of Viscount Parmanen. I was drinking over there, when I heard something that caught my attention.]
[W- What is it?]
Rittenpike was nervous because she was dealing with a noble.
She thought he might be one of Yahagi’s comrades.
[You said you were going to take revenge on that man.]
[T- That is……]
[Don’t worry. I’m also one of the people who has a grudge against that dagashi shop.]
[Is that right…… However……?]
Rittenpike warily looks up with her drunken gaze
[He’s acting all arrogant just because he’s on good terms with Prime Minister Essel-sama. I got caught up in that too.]
[Oh my, that’s just like me.]
Both Marl and Rittenpike had been the ones to blame for their actions, but their memories of those events had been conveniently falsified in their minds.
When their beers were brought to them, Marl’s face contorted, seemingly finding the beer unpleasant.
The beer seemed to be from an old cask and had a strong sour taste.
In the past, he would have called the owner and complained.
Not only that, he would have beaten him up and not paid for what he consumed.
But now, such freedom is nowhere to be found.
He has even been told that the next time he is found to have behaved outrageously, he will be stripped of his title.
This is all Yahagi’s fault.
[I don’t have a concrete plan yet, but I intend to somehow make that man pay for his actions.]
When Marl said this, Rittenpike nodded deeply.
[That would be wonderful. By all means, allow me to help you.]
Rittenpike’s previously loud voice gradually quieted down, and now only their whispers could be heard.
As the two kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, they conversed in secret.
◆◆◆
The sweltering summer is over and a new school year has begun.
Dagashi Yahagi is thriving as ever, with shaved ice and ramune selling well.
[Here we go, Hogan! Take this attack!]
Kurtz is battling with his familiar, Hogan, using his Mobile Force Gufufu.
Hogan had grown over the summer and was about the same size as a Mobile Force. The Mobile Force is about the right size for Hogan to spar with.
[Training them like this makes the familiars grow faster.]
Children sure can come up with all sorts of ideas.
By training this way, Kurtz trains both himself and Hogan.
[Uwahh!?]
In the wrestling ring-type arena, Hogan threw the Gufufu against the ropes.
As the Gufufu lost its footing and was recoiled back into the center of the ring by the ropes……
Hogan finished him off with an explosive lariat.
[Gwahhh!]
With his Gufufu blown away, Kurtz’ link with it was broken.
However, Kurtz holds Hogan up with a big smile on his face.
[That was amazing, Hogan! You’ve developed a new special move.]
[Number One!]
I don’t really know why, but Hogan has started saying this when he’s happy.
He’s still small at the moment, but I think he’ll be one heck of a fighter when he’s the size of a human.
I’m looking forward to seeing his growth.
[Yahagi-san, give me a Kame Senbei! I have a Tank Endurance Supplementary Test tomorrow.]
[Aye.]
Product name: Kame Senbei
Description: Grain-type fried rice cracker. A long-selling product popular for its sweet and spicy taste. Eating it slightly increases defense.
Price: 30 rims
[Yahagi-san, I’d like to order a yakisoba.]
[Wait a moment.]
The sky is filled with clouds and the last remnants of summer.
The wind that shakes the curtain and blows in is beginning to give off the feel of autumn.
Today too, the dagashi shop is peaceful.
However, recently, I’ve been feeling eyes on me from somewhere……
I don’t have any proof, but I feel like someone is watching me.
Even now, over there!
I turned around with a start, but there was no one there.
[What’s the matter, Yuusuke-chi?]
Seemingly chuckling at my sudden actions, Carmine asked.
[I felt like I was being watched. It seems like it was just my imagination though.]
[Wasn’t it just Michelle-san?]
[Why Michelle?]
[Because she’s already happy just by watching Yuusuke-chi. Also, couldn’t she be checking if you’re cheating?]
That certainly is plausible, but I don’t think that’s the case.
I could somewhat tell if it was Michelle’s gaze.
Margarethe on Carmine’s lap looked up at me.
She hasn’t foreseen the future since that time.
It seems to be because she ran out of mana in her body.
[Hey, don’t you know something, Margarethe?]
[…………………]
Because it’s a plushie, Margarethe shouldn’t have any expressions, but is it perhaps just my imagination that it looks like she was trying to say something?
[It must have been Yuusuke-chi’s fans who were secretly watching you. Or perhaps, is there something else you were worried about?]
[No, I wouldn’t say that was the case. Unnn, I guess it was as Carmine says. They must be my fans. Or perhaps, they’re customers hoping for the re-release of Chocolate Eggs now that it’s getting cooler.]
I had been taking it easy at that time.
<Afterword>
Lariat: Hulk Hogan’s finisher when he was in Japan, Axe Bomber, is a crooked arm lariat.
- Number One: When Hulk Hogan started appearing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Japanese wrestling fans nicknamed him “Ichiban” or “Number One”.
- Kame Senbei: Rice crackers shaped like a turtle. Doesn’t actually contain any turtles.
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