Chapter 87

"Let's take this one too!"

"Taking it is clearly a violation of the knife law, so it's not allowed."

While preparing to return home, Rin hugged the sword and started making such a capricious request.

This sword was supposed to be sealed in the living room, but somehow it had escaped and was cooperating with Rin to apprehend the kidnapper.

"It's fine, I'm telling you."

"Huh?"

When Rin said this, the sword she was hugging transformed into a house key.

Even the keychain and the peeling coating were accurately reproduced. The craftsmanship was impressive.

"Does it have such abilities? And can you understand what the sword is saying?"

"Kind of, I can understand it."

I had been thinking this since the sword started glowing like a light saber, but it seems to have a will of its own.

A sword with a will, it's getting more and more dangerous.

"It seems that when the kidnapper was apprehended, the sword transformed into a house key and went with Rin. I was confident in my ability to see through illusions, but I failed."

Kuro seemed to have developed a mysterious sense of rivalry.

Well, let's put that aside. I don't sense any malice from the sword, and since Rin likes it, it's fine to take it along.

"It helped you in the fight against the kidnapper and has a will of its own, so let's welcome it as a new family member."

"If you decide so, I have no objections."

"Kaka-ka"

"I don't think there's a problem either."

"It seems like it will be my younger brother. Or maybe a younger sister?"

"Yay! Family!"

Since there were no objections, the sword became part of the family. The explanation to my parents when we return home will be more complicated.

"Should we decide on a name?"

"A name...?"

I don't have much confidence in my naming skills, but since I named Kuro and the others, everyone is looking at me with high expectations. I even feel like the sword is sending me an expectant gaze.

"It's a sword, but it glows and changes..."

Since everyone's names are two characters, I think a two-character name would be good. If so, I should use two characters that share a common feature.

"Then, you'll be 'Karu.' It glows, changes, and hunts enemies. I named you with those meanings in mind."

Right after I said this, the sword, which had transformed into a house key, started glowing in seven colors.

This must mean it likes the name, right?

"It seems happy!"

"Is that so? I'm glad."

According to Rin, Karu is happy.

"Let's get some rest for tomorrow."

"Karu will sleep with me too!"

Karu transformed into a pillow and seemed ready to sleep, but it kept glowing in seven colors, looking very pleased. In the end, since the light didn't stop even when it was time to sleep, I wrapped Karu in a blanket and went to bed.

◇

"Ahhhhhh"

On the train, the class president was extremely pleased, holding Kuro and Shiro in both hands.

Since the class president's workplace was where I was returning home, I had asked for an internship as a sorcerer.

The first day of the three-day weekend was spent explaining things to my parents, and from the second day, I planned to help the class president with her work. Therefore, we were now on our way to Takikawa by train.

By the way, the place we are heading is Takikawa City, while the person who kicks my shin and loves the occult is Takigawa. It's a bit confusing.

"Ahhhhh, this is the best."

When I introduced Shiro and the others to the class president, she was surprised by the unusual lineup, but as soon as she picked up Kuro and Shiro, she stopped thinking and was now relaxing.

She really loves animals.

"By the way, are you going to meet a freelance sorcerer and start working?"

"Yes. At first, I'll go around the surrounding cities and towns of Takikawa City, and from the second day, I'll focus on Takikawa City. So, I think I'll meet up with you then. I might ask you to be a guide, but is that okay?"

"My hometown is on the outskirts of Takikawa City, but I think I can guide you."

My hometown is in the suburbs of Takikawa City, where the nearest house is over 50 meters away, and I encounter more arctic foxes than stray cats. Since I lived in such a rural area, I used to ride my bike to the city of Takikawa to find places to play when I was young, so I know the area pretty well.

"By the way, I forgot to ask, but do freelance sorcerers need any qualifications?"

I think there will be opportunities to call myself a freelance sorcerer in the future, but if someone says, "Show me your qualifications," I would be in trouble.

"There are no qualifications. As long as you have the permission of the five major yin-yang families in charge of the area, you can call yourself a freelance sorcerer. By the way, your father has already given you permission to operate, so you can call yourself a freelance sorcerer without any problems."

"Really, just permission? There are no exams or issuing of qualifications?"

"Sorcerers themselves are a secret, so there are no qualifications issued."

The recruitment, training of sorcerers, and response to supernatural phenomena in various regions are basically under the authority of the five major yin-yang families.

Therefore, if you are recognized by the five major yin-yang families in the area, you can call yourself a freelance sorcerer and operate.

"The scope of work using sorcery is also decided by the five major yin-yang families in each region, so there are people who use specialized secret golems to intentionally cause ghostly phenomena."

"Ghostly phenomena... Ah!"

I remembered a ghost show I had seen before. In a segment of the show where a famous celebrity explored a ruin to capture ghostly phenomena, a cat-shaped golem with advanced concealment techniques was used to slowly open and close doors and tap the floor, creating simulated ghostly phenomena.

Wow, it must have been that.

"Even if you do such things, you won't get in trouble with the authorities."

"Ordinary people can't see it, and even ordinary sorcerers can't see specialized secret golems, so no one knows what's happening."

I see, even if you know about sorcery, you don't have the power to monitor it.

That's why the five major yin-yang families have such authority.

"Of course, the five major yin-yang families monitor each other to ensure that no one exceeds their authority, so it's rare for anyone to use sorcery recklessly. So far, this system has been working without any problems."

In other words, intentionally causing ghostly phenomena on ghost shows is being overlooked. Well, it is a ghostly phenomenon, but since it's intentional, it feels like a gray area...

Monitoring among the yin-yang families seems to be quite challenging.

"Oh, and by the way, is it okay to tell my parents about Kuro and the others?"

I had already told the class president that I was going home to introduce Kuro and the others, but she didn't stop me at the time, so I think it's fine...

"Of course, it's fine. Of course, I hope you won't spread the word to anyone other than your parents, but even if you do, no one would believe it..."

"Indeed, even if I show them sorcery, they might think it's magic..."

The regulation of information seems to be surprisingly lax.

"Rather, try your best to explain. Some of the sorcerers affiliated with the Mizukami family have already explained the situation to their families, but they all said it was difficult... If the explanation takes a long time, you can cancel the work assistance from the second day onward, and if you need help, I can come and assist you."

"Thank you, Mizukami-san. But, I will definitely come to help. I think the explanation to my parents will be fine."

Actually, I don't think there will be any problems with the explanation. That's because my parents are also quite unusual.

"We've arrived, so let's part ways here for now."

"Okay, see you tomorrow!"

Realizing we had arrived at the station, I parted ways with the class president, changed to a bus, and headed home.

Well, the explanation should be fine. The real problem will be my parents after the explanation.

Our battle is just beginning!

The ghostly phenomena caused by the cat-shaped golem is part of the original story in the second volume of the manga, titled "Ghost Show."

The outline is the same as in the main story.

The sorcerer who makes money with the cat-shaped golem will appear in a different chapter!