Chapter 157: Time to Pay the Piper
We were almost in the area where the gargoyle statue is.
As Pluto kicked the side wall and sharply turned in a corner, I could vaguely see four figures in the dimness at the far end of the passage.
[Rittenpike! That’s far enough!]
Rittenpike’s body freezes at our sudden appearance.
The look of composure on her face vanished, leaving only a forced smile.
[Yahagi-san!]
Kurtz and the others rushed towards me, letting out a sigh of relief.
[It’s alright now. It’s because I’m here now…… or rather, it’s because Michelle’s here.]
I turned to Rittenpike.
[Rittenpike, your misdeeds end here.]
Rittenpike was at a loss for words, but she somehow managed to keep up appearances.
[W- What are you talking about? I was just an examiner here for the midterm exam……]
[We know you were trying to take the golden statue away from Kikka and the others. We’re witnesses.]
[Can you not make false accusations!? In the first place, who the heck’s gonna believe anything you say!? You’re just a mere snack shop owner!]
Kurtz came forward at Rittenpike’s words.
[Nah, nah, Rittenpike. Don’t think of Yahagi-san as a mere dagashi shop owner. He’s the famous Sweets Baron!]
[Wha!? The one who manipulated the military coup from behind, destroyed the monster army in the north, and is rumored to be the head of a newly organized secret force!?]
And the rumors are turning out bigger again…….
The heck is that secret force?
Well, we do sell gummies called “Shinobi Meshi” though.
Product name: Shinobi Meshi
Description: Just one of these gummies provides all the nutrients necessary for long dungeon exploration. Comes in three flavors: grape, plum and cola.
Price: 100 rims
This product is popular among veteran adventurers who go on long exploration trips.
The best thing about them is that they aren’t bulky and don’t take up much of the luggage.
[I will have this reported to the academy through my connections.]
[Connections……?]
Rittenpike asked with a pale face.
Even though I say “connections”, the only noble acquaintance I have is that man.
[Prime Minister Essel.]
When I told him his name, Rittenpike lowered her head in astonishment.
Then, she started mumbling something.
[What’s she mumbling about?]
[Yuusuke, be careful! She’s chanting magic.]
Michelle jumps in front of us.
[This is…… an Escape Spell!?]
An Escape Spell is a fairly high-ranking magic that allows instantaneous travel over a short distance.
No matter how corrupt she is, she’s still a teacher at the Adventurer Academy!
[You’re trying to escape huh. Like I’d let you!]
In an attempt to cancel her magic, Michelle tried to release a simple offensive magic.
Kurtz and the others also took up arms and readied themselves.
However, neither Michelle’s nor Rittenpike’s magic had been activated.
[Eh?]
[What’s going on!?]
Michelle looks stunned, while Rittenpike seems to be both irritated and surprised.
[Yuusuke, did you use some sort of dagashi?]
[No, I didn’t do anything……]
In the first place, there’s nothing in my products that can stop Michelle.
[Yahagi-san, Suama is……]
Gort points to Suama, who should be on my shoulder, seemingly surprised.
[What’s the matter with Suama……? Eh?]
The always pure white Suama had turned pink.
Now, it really looks like a red tsurunoko mochi.
[W- What’s the matter, Suama? Are you alright?]
Suama just trembled as usual.
It doesn’t seem to be in any particular abnormality.
Did its color just change……
[In any case, let’s capture Rittenpike!]
Michelle suggested, and Kurtz took out a rope used for exploration.
[Let go of me!]
Rittenpike screeched, but she couldn’t use magic, and as she herself didn’t have much strength, Kurtz and the others tied her with the rope.
[We’ll be taking her with us. Kurtz and the others, do your best on the exam.]
[That’s right! I’d forgotten we were still in the middle of the exams.]
[Yahagi-san, could we keep this for us?]
Kikka held out the Billiken statue and a rolled-up piece of parchment.
Putting aside the Billiken statue, what’s with this parchment?
[It was in the box with the golden statue.]
[Are you sure you want to leave this with me?]
[If it’s Yahagi-san, we can be assured. After all, the dagashi shop is always on the children’s side, right?]
[If Kikka feels that way, then I’ll repay your trust.]
And so, Rittenpike was captured and had to undergo questioning.
When we returned to the shop after that incident, it was already evening.
Carmine stands alone in front of the shop, lit by the setting sun.
It seems she had been waiting for us to come back here all this time.
[Yuusuke-chi!]
I calmed Carmine, who hurriedly came running up to me.
[Kurtz and the others are safe. I guess this is thanks to Margarethe.]
Carmine exhaled heavily and then hugged Margarethe.
[Thank you, Margarethe.]
[Do you want to come by for a bit? I’ll make you some tea now.]
I invited Carmine to join me in the shop.
After making a pot of tea and settling down, I told Carmine what had happened.
[Even so, Margarethe’s prophecy sure is quite something. Without it, things could have turned for the worst.]
[It was her first prophecy, so I was surprised, but I’m really glad Margarethe is here.]
[Pluto has also been a big help today. I’m glad everyone’s familiars were helpful.]
Michelle puts down her cup and speaks.
[Speaking of familiars, about Suama……]
[What about this guy?]
I poked Suama on my shoulder with my finger.
Its squishy texture feels good to the touch.
It seems that Suama also felt happy as it rubbed against my fingers.
It turned reddish in the dungeon, but before I knew it, Suama’s body had turned back to white.
[At that time, both my magic and Rittenpike’s magic won’t activate, right? I wonder if that was Suama’s power?]
[You don’t mean……?]
This squishy boy stopped Michelle’s magic?
I don’t feel like it’s capable of such grand actions though……
[Can’t we just try it out?]
Carmine took out a small staff.
Upon seeing her actions, the expression on Michelle’s face changed.
[What are you trying to do!? If you hurt Yuusuke, even if you’re my student, I will not permit such actions!]
[I’m just gonna shoot a light Lightning Magic. Just a little bit of a jolt……]
[Even so, that won’t do! What am I gonna do if Yuusuke awakens to being an M and becomes addicted to it!? Ah, I suppose I could just do it for him every night…… but still, no! If someone’s gonna awaken Yuusuke to a new fetish, it will be me!]
There it is again, her delusion overdrive!
[No, I won’t awaken to some stupid fetish. Well, whoever between you two is fine, just test it out. If Suama had the power to nullify magic, I wouldn’t be paralyzed in the first place.]
[In that case, it really should be me doing it then.]
Michelle channels magic into her hand.
[O- Oi! Don’t make it too strong.]
[Ufufu, don’t worry. This is just a spell that’ll keep you immobile for a couple of hours.]
[What will I do if I need to go to the toilet?]
[I’ll take care of everything?]
[Give me a break!]
I looked at Carmine’s face for help, but all I received in return was a look that seemed to say “My condolences”.
In this situation, I have no choice but to believe in Suama’s power.
[Well then, here I go.]
[Suama, stop Michelle.]
Puru puru puru puru
[Eh?]
Suddenly, the magic power in Michelle’s hand fizzled out.
When I looked at Suama, its body turned reddish.
[It really was Suama’s doing?]
I put Suama in my palm and deeply looked at it.
Just like before, I couldn’t see any abnormalities in it.
[Carmine, you try your magic too.]
[Yes, Teacher Michelle. Arehh?]
Carmine can’t seem to activate her magic either.
[It really seemed as we conjectured. I still don’t know the logic behind this, but it seems Suama can make it so magic is disabled around it.]
Is this Suama’s special ability?
I thought of it as just a mascot-like presence, but it seems this guy actually has some hidden power.
We called this power the “Zero Magic Area”.
<Afterword>
Shinobi Meshi
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