Chapter 63

Previous Summary:

Kanhi's future is clouded with dark clouds.

Will he be able to survive this harsh fate...!

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"Could you at least tell me how it feels so far?"

"Yes, I did. I tried the sword that the Lord is using, but it's difficult to consciously try to form a blade while fighting. It's not impossible, but it might even weaken me."

"So, the sword is out of the question."

"I also tried the axe, but the feel was lacking. Now I'm trying the spear. It's not very promising either. I'm starting to think that it might be better to just break a tree and swing it around."

"By the way, I should mention that there aren't trees everywhere once we leave this forest, you know?"

"I can carry one."

"...Ah, geez. I don't even know where to start."

The conversation resumed, and my weapon selection began again.

Kato got into the car with Kei.

"There are quite a few. Wow. They all seem familiar, like something I've seen in manga or something."

"Is that so? But I think many of them aren't weapons from Mana's world. For example, the shuriken used by NINJA, who have lived in the shadows of the world since ancient times in Mana's world, are unfortunately not here."

"...Who told you that? Ah, no. You don't have to answer. I get it."

"Um?"

"Well, I'm sure someone was just trying to entertain Kei-chan with a funny story. ...But, maybe that's one way to go."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. Let's just look at what's here for now."

It seems that Kato, who was supposed to be watching Lord Rose's training, came here because he predicted that our work would be difficult.

He has a keen eye, as always.

However, he didn't expect to encounter other transfer students on his way back.

"Whether it's good timing or bad timing, I wonder."

"I think it's good."

From the car parked nearby, Kato replied.

"As long as the other party looks down on Gerbera and the others, it's better for me, who am in the same position, to reject them. That way, it won't cause any unnecessary friction."

With Kato's voice, the sound of something hard rubbing against each other could be heard.

Kato was looking for weapons, while Kei was taking things out of the car one by one. Incidentally, Shiran had already returned to the Lord and the others.

"Besides, even if there is some resentment, the target will be me, not Senpai."

"Is that a good thing?"

"It is. I can't do much for Senpai since I don't have the power to fight. If I don't do something like this, it's hard to see why I'm here at all."

I turned to look at the car, but unfortunately, I couldn't see her from here.

Instead, I saw Kei come out of the car with a weapon in his arms.

I put down the weapon I was holding, which was neither a spear nor an axe.

Kei collected a few weapons, including the one I put down, and placed the next one.

"At least if I could awaken my power as a transfer student, things would be different."

"Cheating abilities, huh. Lily-sama said something similar."

"Yes. The other day, I consulted with Lily-sama about this. Whether I can handle cheating abilities or not."

"Is it really impossible?"

"...I'm not sure. I've been thinking about it a lot."

A thoughtful voice came back.

"Lily-sama is just mimicking Nishima-senpai. She's not a transfer student herself. So, she thinks she can't awaken abilities because she's a fake. It's understandable that she would think that."

"Is it understandable?"

"It's Lily-sama's complex. She seems to have overcome her anxiety about not being able to stay by Senpai's side, but inferiority complex isn't something that goes away easily."

"Hmm. Inferiority complex, huh."

I didn't quite understand what Kato was saying.

To me, Lily-sama seemed to be like a big sister to the vassals, always taking care of everyone.

I couldn't imagine her being troubled by her own problems.

But perhaps it's because of her constant efforts that she is the way she is.

"Lily-sama's thoughts have some persuasive power. Indeed, Lily-sama's mimicry can't avoid the degradation of abilities. Also, Nishima-senpai died before manifesting cheating abilities, so there's no way to reproduce them."

"True."

"However..."

The sound of things being moved around stopped.

"The degradation that comes with Lily-sama's mimicry is usually not 'impossible' but 'possible but incomplete.' Moreover, the potential to become a cheater was likely present in Nishima-senpai, who was a transfer student."

"Um... Are you saying that Lily-sama should be able to mimic the potential to manifest cheating abilities? If that's true, then there must be another reason why Lily-sama can't manifest abilities."

"That's what I think. For example, even I, a transfer student, haven't awakened my abilities yet."

"True... The boys earlier were in the same situation. I'm not sure if everyone has the same reason, but it's a bit premature to conclude that Lily-sama can't manifest abilities because of her mimicry."

"Exactly. It's not too late to give up after thorough consideration..."

As her thoughts deepened, Kato's words gradually turned into a monologue.

"Our abilities as transfer students reflect our desires. So, I think abilities won't manifest unless there's a strong desire from the bottom of one's heart, or if the desire is weak even if it exists."

I thought of the Lord.

He once didn't have any abilities either.

No one knows about that time except for Lily-sama, but from what I heard, the Lord was in a terrible state when he first met her.

That's why the Lord awakened his abilities.

In other words, he wouldn't have awakened the ability to lead monsters if it weren't for that.

Thinking about it this way, I feel a complex mix of emotions.

His unhappiness, in a sense, led to our happiness.

However, the Lord wouldn't want me to think that way.

So, I stop my thoughts. Past unhappiness is unhappiness, and present happiness is happiness. The fact that the Lord is here and I am here is enough. I know the Lord thinks the same.

"Not having a desire strong enough to awaken abilities. I think this is the case for most transfer students. However, I don't think it applies to everyone."

Kato was lost in her thoughts.

Her tone was sincere, and it was clear that she was seriously considering the matter.

It's not just this issue. She is always thinking about various things.

She has something that makes her do so.

"Thinking about it, we still don't fully understand cheating abilities. Why do we, as transfer students, have such things? No, that might be a bit off the mark—"

"Hey, Kato-sama."

"—Ah, yes. Gerbera-sama. What is it?"

When I called out, she seemed to snap back to reality.

I was a bit hesitant.

I had a small question in my mind, but I wasn't sure if I should voice it.

But I decided it was fine because it was Kato-sama.

It's pointless to think too much when dealing with someone much smarter than me. I decided to ask straightforwardly.

"Why do you push the Lord down?"

There was a loud clatter.

It was a loud noise. It seems Kato had overturned the weapons she was searching through. I heard Kei's panicked voice, "Are you okay, Mana-sama!"

I was worried too, but soon came Kato's groaning response, "I'm... fine."

I snorted.

"Be careful with the weapons, Kato-sama. You might hurt yourself."

"You're one to talk!"

Kato's face appeared from the car, her neck red.

"Gerbera-sama? What did you mean by that?"

"Hmm? Did I say something strange?"

I tilted my head in confusion.

"I want to push the Lord down. Don't you feel the same way?"

"Too blunt!"

"You're overreacting. I've been thinking for a while that you're too fragile when it comes to the Lord."

"Ugh..."

Kato flinched and was at a loss for words.

Behind her, Kei appeared with her cheeks flushed, holding her face with both hands. "This is an adult conversation..." she said and hurriedly retreated.

I faced Kato again.

It was a rare situation where I was calm and Kato was flustered.

Feeling a strange sense of nostalgia, I tilted my head.

"However, in reality, unless the Lord is pushed down, he won't see you as that kind of person."

"...You sound like you're joking, but you're surprisingly perceptive, Gerbera-sama."

"In this case, sharpness doesn't matter. I'm connected to the Lord through a bond, so I can see it clearly. And when it comes to the passion with which I look at him, I don't intend to lose to any of the other sisters."

From what I've seen, the Lord doesn't see Kato as a potential partner.

Of course, the Lord isn't completely oblivious. He seems to have a vague sense that something is off.

However, he hasn't reached a conclusion.

Why?

I remembered Kato's earlier reaction to physical contact with a man.

"Of course, it's understandable. A person who becomes so weak just from talking to a man wouldn't be imagined to want to push someone down, even by the Lord."

"Gerbera-sama, can you please stop using such blunt words?"

"In simple terms, 'that's the way it is.' At least, I don't want to push anyone down except the Lord. That's why the Lord is even further from the answer. Because he is honest, he wouldn't even consider showing any beastly side to a woman."

I sighed.

"You should know this without me saying it."

This girl, who once defeated me, the white arachne, still makes me a bit afraid.

I think she understands what I know.

"That's why I'm asking. Is this okay for you? I think you feel the same way."

I asked straightforwardly.

Kato sighed as if giving up.

"The same feelings, you say. Let me make it clear, I don't want to push anyone down like you do."

A bitter smile appeared on her lips.

"However, I didn't expect you to notice my feelings, Gerbera-sama."

"I said, I don't intend to lose to any of the other sisters when it comes to looking at the Lord. But you were quite something too."

We were looking at the same thing. It would be strange not to notice.

Once I noticed, it would be unnatural not to be curious.

"Why haven't you told the Lord about what you feel? You once stood in front of me. I don't think you're the type to back down."

"That's exactly it, Gerbera-sama."

"...What?"

I frowned at Kato's words, which were accompanied by a wry smile.

It was a natural reaction. In my mind, she was a 'monster' who feared nothing.

However, the girl in front of me was different.

Did I misjudge her?

No, that's not it. The Kato I met was indeed a terrifying monster.

Someone has turned the monster Kato back into a girl.

Kato smiled at me, who was convinced of this.

"I had given up on everything. I had lost everything and had nothing, so I could do anything. I wasn't afraid of anything. Even the Gerbera-sama who was my enemy back then. That's why I could help Senpai. ...But then, Rose-sama said I shouldn't give up."

Kato sighed.

A conflicted yet happy emotion seeped through her lips.

"Then, I became afraid of everything."

"Despite that, you seem to be as active as before."

"Hehe. It's contradictory, isn't it?"

Nodding at my comment, Kato gently closed her eyes.

"But, it can't be helped. Thanks to Rose-sama, I could say 'thank you' and 'I'm saved' to Senpai. If he's happy, I'm happy. If he trusts me, I'm happy. I thought I should try harder."

Kato smiled faintly and touched her chest as if confirming something.

"The human heart is truly unpredictable. Even though I had given up on everything, once I decided not to give up, my desires grew. So..."

I sighed in understanding.

...Then, why doesn't she just tell him how she feels? I think, but it's probably impossible.

She's afraid.

Afraid of losing what she has gained by moving forward, she hesitates to take a step, and it takes time to muster the courage.

Still, she won't stop moving forward.

The girl who once led her by the hand now guides her, moving forward slowly but surely.

It's frustratingly slow for me, but she keeps moving forward.

If that's the case, I'm still afraid of Kato.

Her heart and body are so weak, yet so strong.

It's a way of being that I can't understand at all.

I smiled because I found it appealing.

"I understand. You are..."

What do you call someone like her? I remembered and nodded.

"You're a coward when it comes to the Lord."

Kato's eyebrows twitched, and she looked at me with a serious expression.

"...You know that expression well."

"I heard it from Kanhi-sama."

"That person..."

Kato looked at me with a resigned expression.

"It's fine. Because of that, I can be of help to Senpai. ...So, how about this?"

"Hmm?"

"This came out when I overturned things earlier. I think Gerbera-sama can handle something like this."

Kato got out of the car and handed me a weapon with both hands, which seemed heavy.

"What is this?"

It wasn't a sword or a spear.

It was a rod about the length of an arm, with a large metal block attached to the end. The metal block had sturdy protrusions, giving it a more menacing feel than a sword.

"This is a mace."

Kei, who ran over, explained.

"It's a weapon used to strike the opponent with the head attached to the end. In one of the three countries in the Eastern Domain, Viskum, there are many hard monsters that blades can't penetrate, so they are often used."

"Rose-sama has only made bladed weapons so far. I don't think Gerbera-sama has considered a blunt weapon. How about it? I think it's better than breaking a tree and using it as a makeshift club."

"True. At least I don't have to worry about the edge."

Nodding to Kato's question, my mind was half taken by the weapon in my hand.

This might work...

I took a few steps away from Kato and others and swung the mace.

"Shaaa!"

Gripping it tightly, I swung it without holding back. The air struck by the mace exploded into a fierce wind around me.

The sensation in my hand.

I couldn't help but smile.

This is good. It feels right in my hand.

Most importantly, its structure is simple. Yet, it's interestingly different from a mere stick.

By utilizing the weight of the head, it naturally becomes a weapon when swung. Even just swinging it can generate a certain level of power. Of course, mastering it as a martial art would be a different story.

"The only downside is that it's too light."

For a human, this might be fine, but it's a bit lacking for me.

"I prefer something heavier. I also want it to be longer. I'll consult with Rose-sama about that."

A pleasant feeling welled up in my chest.

Naturally, a smile escaped.

"Hehe. This is getting interesting."

"Um, Gerbera-sama?"

"...What is it, Kato-sama? I was just feeling good."

When I turned to her with a dissatisfied look, Kato was frowning.

Pointing at something, she said,

"The handle of that m