Kays Translations

Chapter 13: Choose Your Job!

I tried various attempts to recreate "Oborozuki" using Nina-chan's concept of "reversal inside the shadow" until the sun set, but in the end, I couldn't create "Oborozuki."

First of all, "Oborozuki" is a magic that combines "Guide thread silvate."

Trying to reverse it didn't quite sit well with me.

So, that day ended with a series of trials and errors.

There was no progress.

However, when it comes to creating new magic, it's always like this. Simple "Attribute Changes" or "Transformation Changes" in magic may be relatively easy, but complex magic that combines multiple spells isn't something you can create overnight.

You need to experiment many times before you can finally succeed.

In exchange for that effort, though, I got better at catching flying models.

It might be similar to practicing catching a baseball for some people, but for me, it wasn't a glove but "Guide thread silvate" that I used.

I thought It's kind of a waste to get good at something useless, as I stopped my magic practice at a reasonable point and headed back home.

"Do you always practice magic when you're alone, Itsuki?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Even until this time?"

Nina-chan gazed up at the sky.

The sun had already set, and the sky was dark. The moon was visible, hanging beautifully in the sky.

"Yeah, usually until this time."

"...I see."

Nina-chan responded somewhat reservedly to my answer.

Why?

Nina-chan practices magic when she's alone, too, right?

Still, I can understand why Nina-chan might feel a bit hesitant.

I'm striving to get stronger with the fear of "death" driving me forward. It's like I'm being pushed from behind by an obsession to practice magic. That's why I practice so diligently.

However, Nina-chan is only seven years old.

For a seven-year-old girl, it might not be necessary to practice magic so seriously... or at least that's what I think.

Well, it's not my place to decide.

"What do you do when you're alone, Nina-chan?"

"Well, I practice magic, of course... and sometimes I watch TV or read manga."

"Manga?"

Oh yeah, Nina-chan reads manga.

She mentioned using manga to study about Japan when we first talked during the entrance ceremony.

But there's something I'm curious about. I've never seen manga at Nina-chan's house.

"Do you have manga at your house, Nina-chan?"

"...I read them on my tablet or smartphone."

"I see. Is it easy to read?"

"It's easy. Itsuki, you should try it sometime. I'll lend you one."

"Uh, sure. Sometime."

Quite the modern child, I thought.

Personally, I'm a bit reluctant to buy manga electronically, but I guess that's not the case.

That’s it, right?

Isn't she reading girls manga or something like that?

I wonder if it would be interesting for me to read...

As I contemplated this, I heard the sliding door open from the entrance.

My mother and Hina had returned from shopping.

My mother, who had just returned home, looked at me, holding shopping bags in one hand and an oddly shaped letter in the other.

I wondered why she was holding a letter, but my mother handed it to me.

"Itsuki, a letter arrived for you."

"For me?"

"Look, your name is written here, right?"

Upon my mother's words, I checked the addressee, and indeed, it was addressed to me.

A letter for me?

I wondered who it could be from and opened the letter.

"What does it say?"

Nina-chan, full of curiosity, peeked at me as I unfolded the letter.

I responded to Nina-chan's curiosity by reading the beginning of the letter aloud.

"Well, it says... it's result from investigation about the Actor."

"It's already here?"

"It seems like it."

Nina-chan's question was quite reasonable.

After all, I had just talked to Akane-san about the Actor's story a few days ago.

Even if the Tsukishima family is experienced in investigations, could they really finish a monster investigation in such a short time?

As I read through the letter, the conclusion was written right away.

"In summary, the identity of the monster known as the Actor remains unknown. We are currently making inquiries with other organizations."

...Well, I kind of expected that.

I mean, even if the Tsukishima family is good at investigations, I think I should have received a more meaningful response when I asked Akane-san.

However, when I talked about the Actor, Akane-san's reaction was completely one of surprise.

So, I think it's possible that the Tsukishima family didn't have information about it stored.

I'm curious about which organization they're referring to as "another organization."

"Do they know the true identity of the Actor?"

"Nah. They don't know anything."

"I see."

When I looked up from the letter and answered, Nina-chan nodded expressionlessly, as if she hadn't expected much either.

However, the letter was oddly long for just conveying that there were no clues about the Actor.

As I wondered why, I found out that there was a proper reason for its length.

It was actually an invitation for the next job.

They shouldn't be inviting me this frequently, right?

While thinking that, I looked at the job details.

For the next job, I had three options.

I could choose any one of them, or two, or even none at all, as the letter kindly mentioned.

As my mother filled the refrigerator with groceries out of the corner of my eye, I scanned the job descriptions.

The first job involved a Rank 2 monster.

There were reports of a suspicious person doing continuous somersaults on a swing in the park at night, and when investigated, it turned out to be a monster.

But this seemed impossible to handle until nightfall, so I passed on it.

The second one was also a Rank 2 monster.

There were sightings of a shadowy figure on the station platform and on the train tracks. Station staff were keeping watch, and apparently, one high school student had already been forcibly pulled down to the platform during the night while waiting for a train.

I put this one on hold.

The last option, the third one, was about a monster appearing at an amusement park.

Apparently, an unknown mascot costume appeared and disappeared within the amusement park. Already, three children had gone missing in the park.

This was a Rank 3 monster.

The monster appeared during the day, and the location wasn't too far from home.

If I were to take the next job, I thought this one might be a good choice.

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