Volume 5 Chapter 17 Let's Quit Being a Salesgirl
"Huh!?"
Her reaction was dramatic.
Hakamada-san appeared flustered as she turned on her heel and left the 100-yen shop. The items she had in her hand scattered on the floor.
"Wait! ...Geez."
Her decision-making is too fast. She could probably handle a battlefield like that.
As I got closer and noticed, Hakamada-san was holding magic coins. And not just one or two. There were enough to feel a clear magic power, possibly more than ten.
If she's just collecting them, that's fine, but probably not.
If that's the case, it's dangerous to let her go like this.
I picked up the items and returned them to the shelf. Then I looked around the store and called out to Lisha, whom I spotted.
"I'm sorry, Lisha. I need to leave for a moment. Don't leave Kanami's side, and if anything happens, contact me immediately!"
"Huh? Oh, yes, I understand!"
As I left the store, I put something like an earphone in one ear. This was a magic device Kanami made for communication, so as long as we both wore it, we could stay in touch.
At the same time, I enhanced my hearing with magic power, picking up the sounds around me.
Hakamada-san hadn't gone too far yet.
I'll just keep an eye on her a little longer. So, I began to follow her with quick steps.
* * *
Why, why? Such thoughts kept swirling in her head.
Her heart was pounding so violently it felt like it would burst, and her throat was gasping for oxygen.
But still, Hakamada Chiho didn't stop running.
Her favorite sandals were heavy and made it difficult to run. Her carefully styled hair was sticking to her cheeks with sweat.
And all of this was the fault of some strange guy named Yuusuke Yamamoto that she had encountered at the 100-yen shop. She had called out to him because she was with her childhood friend Takayama Shouta, hoping to obtain some information about the Uraten Matsuri. There was even a faint hope for that.
After all, Yuusuke Yamamoto was an unremarkable guy. Not stylish, and his sanpaku eyes gave her an oddly sharp and intimidating impression.
He probably wasn't popular, she thought, but it was an impolite thought that crossed her mind. But such peaceful thoughts would quickly be shattered.
'Where did you get those magic coins?...'
The moment she heard that question, her head boiled, and her blood ran cold as if it had been drained.
Why, why does he know!?
Certainly, Hakamada Chiho had many magic coins, but they were not for her personal use. They were given to her for a certain job.
She wasn't a fool. She had a vague sense that the job wasn't entirely legitimate, but the rewards that had piled up had blinded her. She had done her best to keep it a secret from everyone. And yet, he had asked her the moment he saw her. It didn't make sense.
Anyway, for now, she wanted to put some distance between them. If she didn't make eye contact, she could pretend this encounter never happened. Yes, she wanted to believe that.
Now, how long had she been running?
No matter how much she breathed, her lungs refused to take in oxygen. Her legs were trembling, like a newborn fawn. Her skin scraped by the sandals was painful.
If only she had worn sneakers that were easier to run in.
Even so, she thought she would be fine if she could just calm down. When she got home, she would put her bag down.
As she was thinking that, a shadow fell over her head.
"Hey, why are you in such a hurry?"
"Uh, ah..."
When she raised her head, there stood a middle-aged man. Though he might still be in his late thirties, his disheveled white hair mixed with gray and the deep bags under his eyes made him look much older.
The moment she saw the man, Hakamada felt the blood drain from her face.
This man was the one who had approached Hakamada with an offer for the "Magic Coin" transaction.
In contrast to his suspicious appearance, the Magic Coin suddenly seemed quite enticing. Surely, with this, even she can make a sale.
"Uh, well, it's not like I was in a hurry..."
"Did someone get hold of a magic coin?"
"Huh!?"
The words 'Why' got stuck in her throat.
Ever since the man appeared in front of her, she had a vague expectation. Otherwise, there would be no need to come to Hakamada now.
He put on a gentle smile and continued in a calm tone.
"It's not like I'm blaming you. If you continue, such things will happen."
"Y-yes."
"However, recently, dogs have been sniffing around this area. You two are excellent salespeople, but I want to erase your footsteps as much as possible."
"Huh...?"
She couldn't quite make sense of what he was saying. However, within that gentle smile, an unsettling premonition pricked at her skin.
"Sometimes, dullness becomes a virtue. Pigs don't feel fear until the moment they're slaughtered. You should be grateful for being born with a dull mind."
"What... are you talking about..."
"This is what dullness is."
he said as if that explained everything.
With a gesture that seemed to signal he had nothing more to say, the man raised his hand. As his hand closed in on her face, Hakamada found herself unable to move. Even though she knew she should run, her body remained frozen.
Surely, if that hand touched her, something terrible would happen.
Someone, please help...
Her plea never found words. But——
"Bu-guaaah⁉"
In an instant, the man's figure vanished.
"Eh?"
No, someone else had rushed from behind and kicked the man away.
A sound unlike anything she had heard before, one that sent shivers down her spine. Hakamada involuntarily flinched.
"Hey, you perverted old man. Don't you dare lay a hand on a college girl."
The one who had kicked the man away was Yusuke Yamamoto, the same person Hakamada had been running from just moments ago.
Yuusuke stepped forward, as if protecting Hakamada.
The man also got to his feet, clutching his stomach where he had been kicked, and glared back.
"You... don't think you'll get away with this scot-free."
Simultaneously with his words, an ominous atmosphere swirled around the man. Hakamada didn't know what it was, but her instincts screamed that it was dangerous.
However, whether Yuusuke realized this or not, he began to walk forward.
* * *
The man began to release magic energy.
I had followed Hakamada-san and, as expected, had made contact with the intended target.
The one who had given her the Magic Coin, turning her into a salesgirl to the buyer. As I had surmised, this guy was a magician, probably affiliated with the magic society Kagami-san had mentioned.
"I don't know what you're up to, but it'd be wiser to stay quiet and avoid unnecessary trouble."
"Haha, the concept of school truly is a pointless thing. Teaching you lot until this age only creates ignorant people who misunderstand their own abilities. True pursuit lies only in what one discovers for themselves!"
The man shouted as he reached into his pocket.
"Watch out!"
Hakamada-san's voice echoed.
I was curious to see what kind of magic a member of the magic society would use, but...
"Enough of your nonsense."
"Bu-guaaah⁉"
I stepped in and punched him in the face. One common trait among research-oriented magicians is their lack of close combat abilities. In Asteris, the art of combat using magic has been refined over many years. It's not a world where you can become a warrior just because you're good at magic.
The man, who hadn't even used any enhancement magic, was slammed into the ground with enough force to make a complete somersault. Cards or something similar scattered from his hand.
The man groaned as he crawled on the ground.
"What... are you..."
"Just as you said, I'm a useless university student. I've had a little experience with fights, that's all."
"That, can't be..."
The man passed out before he could finish speaking.
I didn't think I could trace this guy back to the top, but we might get some useful information from him. I should contact Kagami-san to have him retrieved.
As for...
"Hakamada-san, was it?"
"Y-Yes!"
Whether she knows or not, she's been involved as a salesperson. I might need a little cooperation from her.
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