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Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? (Light Novel) - Volume 3, Chapter 1: Games and Lottery
Volume 3, Chapter 1: Games and Lottery
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Part 1
Friday, July 10th
Entering July, Koutarou and the other residents of Room 106 could feel summer approaching.
Cicadas could be heard crying from outside as the strong sunlight entering the room raised the temperature.
The temperature was even higher with seven people crowding in a small six tatami mat room.
“Waaaaa! Blue Knight dieeeeeed!”
“Well, if you keep pushing deep into the dungeon, it was bound to happen...”
“Tell me, pleb! How do I save Blue Knight!?”
“Form a rescue party and get to where Blue Knight died.”
“Alright, I'll give it a try! Stay here and give me advice, pleb!”
“I got it, just calm down. It's just a game.”
“As if I could calm down! My Blue Knight died, you know!? Ahh, getting lazy and calling the magician Yurika backfired!”
“That's a false accusation!”
The temperature in the room was even higher because of the worn-out console attached to the TV.
Koutarou had gotten his parents to buy him the console when he was young in order to keep up-to-date, and he had gotten so attached to it he had brought it with him to Room 106.
And after Ruth found it while cleaning the wardrobe, it led to the current situation.
“You need useful members for a rescue mission, so leave the low levels behind. You won't need a thief, either.”
“And what about the equipment!?”
“It's common for the rescue party to get stranded as well, so use the best equipment that you have available.”
“I see, then let's go!”
Coming from a different planet, Theia showed interest in the console.
At first she was startled, but as she picked up a controller she behaved just like a kid playing a game for the first time.
Ever since then, she had Koutarou accompany her as she went on adventures.
“But to think Theia would be interested in a game this old...”
Sanae was amazed by Theia's behavior.
As she saw Theia holding the controller, Sanae gave Theia a cold glance.
“Fufu. Her Highness does love competition. In fact, she loves most games, but this time is special.”
“What do you mean?”
On the other hand, Ruth and Kiriha were warmly watching over her.
The two of them were sitting down by the tea table drinking tea while gently staring at Koutarou and Theia playing games.
“Actually, back when Her Highness was in school, she was researching computer history. Which is why Her Highness has a special interest in early games.”
“A research project... At her age?”
Shizuka showed a surprised expression.
Having nothing to do, she had joined Ruth and Kiriha for some tea.
“The Forthorthe royalties has always been encouraged to study literature and military art, so it is tradition to finish their university research projects before starting their trial.”
“So you mean it's a custom in Forthorthe... Customs are rough no matter where you go, huh.”
Kiriha brought her teacup to her mouth as she smiled wryly.
Kiriha had her own opinions on customs, but she chose not to mention them, and Ruth didn't notice the slight change in her expression.
“Being a princess really must be rough...”
Shizuka sipped her tea as she admired Theia.
In the warm room, the cold tea quenched Shizuka's thirst.
“Amongst the large history of computers, Her Highness chose to focus on games.”
What did it mean to use computers to play?
With that starting point and the following development, she would analyze the current situation and predict future developments.
Theia's research started from explaining a single game and ended by discussing media theory.
Her diverse research received high acclaim in the university.
“Forthorthe's history is over 2000 years long, so the oldest game still in existence is far more advanced than Earth's games. Which is why one of the earliest games of this planet is almost like a legendary treasure for Her Highness.”
“I see. Theia-dono doesn't just love games as a hobby, but it's also thanks to her research project.”
“Exactly.”
“Haaa... I'm glad I wasn't born a princess.”
As Kiriha, Ruth, and Shizuka were chatting, Theia's and Koutarou adventured continued.
“Hey, Tulip. Yurika B is about to die.”
“I don't care. Leave her be. I don't have the potions to spare.”
“Oh, then all is good.”
“It's not all good!! Please heal her!”
“I refuse!”
“Whyyyyy!?”
Yurika had joined Theia and Koutarou on their adventure before anyone had noticed.
The three of them were fussing over what to do while staring at the TV.
“And you too, Koutarou, you're already a high school student, what are you doing?...”
Sanae was left amazed by the three.
However, Sanae was just unhappy being left out.
But she wasn't mature enough to be honest and join the group.
“I quite like Her Highness and Satomi-sama getting along like that.”
“They're both just kids, geez.”
She couldn't join them even though she wanted to, and because of that, Sanae had been glaring at Koutarou's back for quite a while.
Despite what she was saying, Sanae was the most childish of them.
“A magician without mana is useless, just like you.”
“She'll be of use! Just stay at an inn and recover her mana, please! And I'm not useless either! I really am a magical girl!!”
“A magical girl, right...”
Yurika desperately tried to plea her case.
“W-What-”
“How about you face reality already?”
Koutarou turned away from the TV and turned his attention towards Yurika.
Yurika flinched and objected as Koutarou gave her a cold glance.
“The reality!? I really am a magical girl!
“It's already July, and those enemies you mentioned are nowhere to be seen.”
“They'll come! They'll definitely show up!”
Feeling the sincerity from Yurika's desperate appeal, Koutarou remembered something.
“...Does that have anything to do with next month’s ComiHa?”
Comic Heart Network, or ComiHa for short.
It was a manga related event that would be held next month, the largest event in the world for cosplayers.
Koutarou figured Yurika was desperate because she and her cosplay friends would be having a showdown at that event.
“It has nothing to do with that! Why does it always turn into cosplay!?”
“That's because it's cosplay no matter how you look at it.”
Sanae butted in, she had a gentle look of sympathy.
“D-Don't look at me with pity, please!”
“That's because I'm pitying you!”
“Well, just wait a little, Sanae.”
“Koutarou?”
“Yurika, you won't admit it if we just do this like always. It's about time you understand it too.”
As he said that Koutarou put his hand into his clothes and began searching for something.
“What? What's happening?”
Interested, Theia threw the controller away and approached the tea table.
“Ah, found it...”
Koutarou pulled out two photos from his inner pocket and put them on top of the table.
The other six – Yurika, Sanae, Ruth, Theia, Shizuka, and Kiriha peeked at the photographs all at once.
“Ah, it's a picture of me!”
“And that girl - what was her name again?”
“That's Sakuraba-sama, she won the sports festival.”
“The sports festival... I just remembered the disgrace I suffered...”
“This photograph was taken pretty well.”
“So, what about these two photos, Koutarou?”
Koutarou showed them pictures of Yurika and Harumi.
He pointed at the two photos and opened his mouth.
“Let's pretend that out of these two, one is a magical girl.”
“Alright, and then?”
“I'm not pretending! I really am a magical girl!”
“Calm down; just open your mind for a while.”
“Well, I can't agree, but...”
Yurika couldn't agree with Koutarou, but she reluctantly withdrew.
Since Yurika backed down, Koutarou continued.
“Let's say one of these two is a magical girl and one is a normal girl. With that in mind, I have a question for you all: who do you think is the magical girl?”
Apart from Yurika, the five girls pointed at one of the pictures.
“This is the one you'd expect.”
“From personal data, I can tell she is mentally strong.”
“It's incredibly displeasing to admit, but out of these two, it has to be this one.”
“I feel like this person has a mysterious aura around her.”
“I'm sorry, Nijino-san...”
The five of them pointed at Harumi's photo without any hint of hesitation.
“Ugu!”
Instead, Yurika was the one hesitating.
“T-This is unfair!”
If it wasn't Harumi, Yurika would have picked herself immediately.
However, Yurika admired Harumi.
When she got involved, Yurika couldn't choose.
“I think s-she is the magical girl a-as well...”
Yurika's trembling finger pointed at Harumi's photograph.
Her voice trembled like her fingers.
And her expression was unpleasantly distorted.
Yurika also thought that Harumi was a more fitting magical girl.
So she heartbreakingly pointed at Harumi instead of herself.
“Do you understand now, Yurika? Whether you can use magic or not isn't important.”
“I know... Even I know I'm not suited for this job... If only the enemy would show up... If only you could see me fight... Then you'd believe me... Hurry up and attack, Darkness Rainbow... Hurry up and disturb the peace and save me...”
Tears streamed down Yurika's cheeks.
“...I believe in love and courage~♪ What's important are the bonds you make~♪”
Yurika started humming a song and vanished into the wardrobe.
“...I know it's a strange thing to say, but... Satomi-kun, isn't it about time you believe her?”
A sobbing voice could be heard from the wardrobe.
Shizuka couldn't help but feel pity for Yurika.
“It's getting pretty bad if she's wishing for enemies to come and the peace to be disturbed, don't you think?”
“She is calling herself a magical girl of love and courage after all...”
Harumi would never have wished for enemies to appear.
The real problem was Yurika's personality.
She just wasn't acting like a heroine of justice.
“By the way, Koutarou...”
“Hm?”
Called out by Sanae, Koutarou stopped moving as he picked up a photograph from the tea table.
“Where'd you get that photograph?”
“W-What does it matter!?”
Koutarou hurriedly put away the photographs in his pocket.
“It does matter! You showed Yurika's picture to the cosclub, but where'd you get Harumi's photograph from!? You pervert!”
“T-That's not my intention at all!”
“Then spit it out! When did you take that picture?! You've never taken my picture before!”
Agitated, Sanae grabbed onto Koutarou's neck like always.
“E-Even if I take a picture of you, it'll just turn into a ghost photo!”
“Even then, it's unfair! This is humiliating!”
“S-Stop it, Sanae!”
“Take a picture of me dammit! In fact, just be true to yourself and say 'You're cute, Sanae, let's try a more daring pose'!”
“D-Don't get too full of yourself!”
In order to combat Sanae, Koutarou brought his clenched right fist towards her face.
In his hand was the usual 'Be gone evil spirits' charm.
“Hah, like I'll fall for the same trick again!”
However, Sanae bounced her head back and forth like a boxer, dodging Koutarou's fist.
“C-Curse youuu!”
Because he was being choked, Koutarou moved slower than normal.
And since he'd used to charm to blow Sanae away several times before, she had finally learned her lesson.
“Oh my, you always get along so well, Satomi-kun, Sanae-chan.”
“You look like you're siblings. Being an only child, I'm quite envious.”
Shizuka and Ruth watched over the two with smiles on their faces.
Though Shizuka was strict with fighting in the room, she left those two be.
This didn't count as fighting to Shizuka.
“Hmph, they're both just the same mental age. They're both kids.”
Theia was dissatisfied.
As she irritatedly spat out those words, she picked up the controller again. However, she didn't have the same happy expression as before.
“...I see, things are getting quite complicated.”
Kiriha smiled as she shifted her gaze between Theia and Sanae.
Leaving Koutarou in between them out of it, Theia and Sanae's wills were clashing.
Kiriha could clearly feel it.
“Nyahahaha! Hurting a maiden’s feelings is a sin! As punishment, I'll have you pass out!”
“A-As if I'd let you!”
A large boom sounded out.
“Gya!?”
However, in the end Koutarou held the advantage.
Koutarou wasn't holding the charm in his right hand, but in his left.
Being distracted by his right hand, Sanae was easily blown away.
'Family Safety':
The charm Sanae was blown away by had that embroidered into it with golden thread.
“Fufu, Don't expect me to always use the same trick, you fool!”
“D-Damn it, using two is... unfair... Ugh...”
With smoke rising from her head, Sanae collapsed onto the tatami mat.
“Thank you, grandma!”
Koutarou paid no attention to Sanae and was instead staring at the charms in his hands while thanking his grandmother in the country side.
Part 2
“Well then, it's about to time to go shopping.”
As Shizuka watched Koutarou and Sanae playing, she finished the last of her tea and stood up.
Since this was an everyday occurrence, she wasn't worried about Sanae at all.
“Ah, let's go together.”
Ruth also stood up, and she quickly grabbed Koutarou's wallet next to the phone.
She was in charge of the budget in Room 106.
That was because Koutarou trusted Ruth.
“Are you going shopping, Landlord-san, Ruth-san?”
“Yes, the timed sale at the supermarket by station is about to begin.”
“I'll do my best not to lose to the neighborhood wives!”
Seeing Shizuka and Ruth standing, Koutarou also got up.
“I'll carry the bags. I have nothing to do anyways.”
“W-Wait just a second, pleb! You're planning on leaving your master behind as she's about to go on an adventure and go shopping!?”
Flustered, Theia shook her controller and stopped Koutarou.
However, Koutarou simply shook his head.
“Sorry, Tulip. We'll continue when I get back. You can't get by in life by only playing games.”
“....Uuu~”
Theia looked at Koutarou with an dissatisfied glance.
It wasn't just her normal piercing glance; instead, it had a different nuance.
“Are you sure, Satomi-sama? I could carry it all on my own...”
Ruth noticed her master’s state.
And she tried to persuade Koutarou to stay in the room.
“No can do. If the old man finds out I'm leaving all the housework to a girl, I'll get scolded.”
However, Koutarou didn't approve of forcing all the housework onto Ruth.
“...”
Noticing that Koutarou wasn't going to change his opinion, Theia turned her back on him.
“That's not what this is about, though...”
“Koutarou, are you going shopping!?”
“Yeah.”
“I'll go with you! I want to eat takoyaki[1]!”
Ruth tried to continue persuading Koutarou, but gave up after Sanae joined the conversation.
“Well then, let's go.”
“...Okay.”
“Takoyaki, takoyaki!”
“Is food all you ever think about, Sanae?”
“It's fine, I'm still growing!”
“No, you're already dead.”
With Shizuka in the lead, Koutarou and Sanae left Room 106.
Ruth called out to Theia, who was playing games on her own.
“I'll be taking my leave for now, Your Highness.”
“....Yeah...”
Theia's answer was short.
Ruth wondered what expression Theia was making right now, but she couldn't tell with Theia's back towards her.
Your Highness...
Ruth backed away and left Room 106.
The only two left in the six mat room was now Theia and Kiriha.
For a while, the only sound in the room came from the game Theia was playing.
10 minutes after Koutarou and the others had left, Kiriha opened her mouth.
“...Was it really alright to not go with them, Theia-dono?”
Theia's hands stopped moving after hearing that question.
“Hmph, why do I have to do something like that!? I'm busy playing games!”
“I see. Well, in that case...”
“It's none of your business!”
Theia shouted at Kiriha and continued playing the game.
And just like she said, her hands busily moved, controlling her character.
However...
However, it didn't look like Theia was enjoying her game.
“But to think Tulip loved games that much...”
“She's just a kid!”
“There, there, Sanae-chan.”
Koutarou and the others were walking down the shopping district while talking about Theia.
They had already finished shopping, and Koutarou was carrying most of the luggage.
Now, they were planning on using the lottery ticket they had gotten at the supermarket register and were heading for the edge of the shopping district.
This shopping district connected Kitsushou City and Harukaze City, and the neighborhood had regained much of its vigor thanks to the newly constructed highway.
In order to capture the new customers, the shopping district was in the middle of a lottery campaign.
“Her Highness’s love for games is in large part due to her mother’s influence.”
“Theia's... mother?”
“Yes. When Her Highness's mother, who is the current emperor, Elfaria-sama, was still a student, her research project was about archeology. Because of her influence, Theia-sama took an interest in computers of the past and began her study.”
Learning of her mother’s research theme early on, Theia spent a lot of time when she was young playing with computers, and her research theme naturally became computer history.
Computer technology would get mentioned from time to time in her mother’s research project, and Theia herself excelled at using computers.
“But, choosing games as her theme was because of Theia-chan's hobby, right?”
“Yes. That's right.”
“Well, she loves competitions...”
And amongst the vast history of computers, Theia took an interest in game software.
Being hot-blooded, this was only natural for her.
Koutarou himself was the same, so he understood her feelings.
“But that is also the reason for her uneasiness. The real Theia-sama is a shy but gentle person.”
“...Eh?”
The next words Ruth said surprised Koutarou.
She's shy but gentle...?
To Koutarou, Theia seemed like an arrogant and selfish girl.
But Ruth had called her the complete opposite.
“...With the Forthorthe's system for selecting successors being the way it is, there's been a power struggle inside the royal family since ancient times. The legend of the Blue Knight was a result of one of those power struggles.”
Ruth continued with a serious yet grim expression.
Looking at her, Koutarou believed she was telling the truth.
“Her Highness is the current emperor’s only child, but as the seventh princess, she has many rivals.”
Being the emperor’s child didn't mean they were the successor to the throne. Instead, anyone born in any of the royal families was given the chance to become emperor.
They just had to complete their trial before anyone else.
Because of that, the royal families held a strong sense of rivalry against one another.
“On top of that, being unable to align with the conservatists and unable to compromise with the military, there are always suspicious rumors regarding her majesty Elfaria.”
“Her mother...”
“This is why Her Highness always boasted about her own skills since her childhood, to protect herself and her mother. She couldn't lose, whether it was in a game or in a fight.”
Since she was the only who had watched over Theia as she fought daily, Ruth's words carried great weight.
If that's true, she's been defending her everything using force...
Koutarou felt he understood Theia a little better after listening to Ruth's explanation.
“Her Highness probably named her personal warship Blue Knight for the same reason. She probably wants to defend her mother, like the Blue Knight of legends.”
“The Blue Knight, huh...”
It was the name Theia would always say when she would bring out her weapons.
And this was the reason for it.
I wonder if it would have been better to just stay at home and play games with her instead of going shopping...
That sudden thought entered Koutarou's mind.
He remembered that Theia had called the game’s hero Blue Knight.
However, the very next moment he shook his head.
No, no, what am I thinking, being merciful!? I need to chase her out! I can't bother with her feelings! What am I doing getting along with her!?
As Koutarou was puzzled about his own feelings, Ruth smiled towards him, and as the evening sun lit her face up, her expression left a warm and gentle impression.
“But Her Highness has changed a bit since she came to this planet. And from time to time, she behaves like a girl of her age should. This is all thanks to Satomi-sama.”
“M-Me?”
“Yes.”
Koutarou stared in wonder as Ruth smiled and nodded.
“Satomi-sama has no interest in Forthorthe. As such, you'd normally have no reason to fight, so there is no worry of assassination attempts. Satomi-sama is the first person Her Highness has met that she can trust.”
“Well, I don't care about her status or position, but when it comes to Room 106, we share an interest.”
“...Koutarou, Theia probably wants an opponent she can fight with.”
Sanae, who had been quiet up until this point, opened her mouth.
But at that same time she was in a bad mood.
“I think it's just as Sanae-sama said. Her Highness has never had an equal she could quarrel with before.”
“...Someone she can fight with. In that case, I can kind of understand.”
In Koutarou's case, it was the difference between having Kenji in his life or not.
Having an equal he could fight with changed how much he had in life.
“That is why I want Satomi-sama to continue defending Room 106.”
“Eh?”
“Why!?”
Koutarou had been surprised by what Ruth had said before, but this time he was left speechless.
Those words were just too inappropriate for someone who was supposed to be Theia's ally.
This didn't just surprise Koutarou and Sanae, but also Shizuka.
“Why is that, Ruth-san?”
Koutarou and Sanae's jaws dropped, so instead Shizuka asked Ruth a question.
Ruth smiled lightly and slowly explained herself.
“Her Highness gaining control of Room 106 would mean she would return back to Forthorthe. And she would return to a life where she could never let her guard down. Before that, I want Her Highness to live life as a normal girl for a while.”
Those were not the words of Theia's vassal, but of her childhood friend.
That was what Ruth wished from the bottom of her heart.
Ruth wanted Theia to be happy more than she wanted her to become emperor.
“Hmm, you have quite the responsibility there, Satomi-kun.”
Shizuka smiled and tapped Koutarou's back.
“If you lose, Theia will go home, so hang in there!”
“I have no intention of losing, anyways. That room is mine!”
After hearing about Theia's situation, the thought of losing did cross Koutarou's mind, but after hearing Ruth's intention he felt the opposite.
It's fine the way it is now! That room is mine!
As Ruth said, Koutarou not losing right away was the best for Theia, so he had no reason to hesitate.
It was fine with things the way they were, that way the end results would be better for everyone.
“Well said, Satomi-kun! I'll support you from the shadows!”
“Fufufufu, nyahahahaha! That's right, something was wrong with me! Even thinking of losing is not befitting of me!”
As Koutarou decided on what to do, he completely regained his motivation.
“...Please continue treating Her Highness like normal, Satomi-sama.”
Ruth bowed gently towards Koutarou.
And when she raised her head again, traces of tears could be seen in her eyes.
The tears were shining orange, dyed by the evening sun, and left a deep impression in Koutarou.
They were a symbol of her gratitude to Koutarou and her relief that her childhood friend would be able to spend some more time in peace.
“I'll beat her to a pulp, though!”
“Yes. Please do.”
She's really beautiful...
Koutarou unintentionally admired her.
And because she could smile like this, Koutarou felt he had made the right choice.
“Koutarou... You...”
Sanae was the only one with a clouded expression amongst them.
That was because she could sense the change occurring in Koutarou.
Sanae had thought it was strange for a while now.
Koutarou and Theia would never have played games together when they first met.
But at the end of the sports festival, as they were running away from Shizuka and Kenji, they ended up like this.
And looking at those two, Sanae couldn't help but feel uneasy.
“Why am I?... This...”
Sanae's heart was throbbing in pain.
At first it was barely noticeable, but the pain grew stronger each day.
And as she felt Koutarou's change right now, the pain felt like her heart was being stabbed with a knife.
From the day she had felt this pain, Sanae hated getting blown away by Koutarou's charm.
She felt she was being rejected as she was blown away.
And she was reminded that Koutarou only thought of her as an evil spirit haunting his room.
Even though she knew that was reality.
“...What does it matter if Koutarou thinks I'm just an evil spirit? I've chased everyone out like that up until now!”
Sanae talked to herself, but no matter how many times she said the same thing, she didn't feel any better.
Part 3
“There it is, over there. This way, Ruth-san.”
“Okay, Satomi-sama.”
When Koutarou and the others arrived at the lottery tent, they found that there was no one other than the clerk in charge there.
Thanks to that, there was no line.
“Hmm, it's not the scraping kind, but the spinning kind.”
“There are prices from first to fifth place.”
The lottery at the tent was a wheel you would spin using a knob, causing a marble to fall out.
Five types of marbles could fall out: gold, silver, copper, white and red. They corresponded to the five prices.
Gold was first prize: tickets to a hot spring.
Silver was second prize: an LCD TV.
Copper was third prize: a bike.
White was fourth prize: a set of canned fruits.
And red was the participation prize: pocket tissues.
“These prices sure are luxurious for a lottery in a shopping district...”
“Welcome! Are you here to spin the wheel?”
The clerk in charge of the lottery was an easy-going man.
The flashy red happi[2] he was wearing gave off a frivolous impression.
“Yes, that's right. But it won't be me, but this girl... Go on, Ruth-san.”
“Kya!?”
Koutarou grabbed Ruth's hand as she was looking around the tent and pulled her in front of the lottery wheel.
“S-Satomi-sama?”
“Since we're already here, why don't you give a shot? You won't get that many chances, unlike the rest of us.”
“...U-Um...”
Ruth was puzzled having been dragged in front of the lottery wheel all of a sudden, but she was even more puzzled that Koutarou had grabbed her right hand.
Having recently shown her tears, Ruth was extra conscious of Koutarou and couldn't stop her cheeks from blushing.
“Is this lady your girlfriend? I'm envious that you have such a cute girlfriend!”
“I know, right? I would have no complaints if she was my girlfriend either.”
“I guess it won't go that easily!”
“Nyahahaha, exactly!”
“Reality is harsh, isn't it? Wahahaha!”
Koutarou and the clerk were laughing loudly, but Ruth was not in a state of mind where she could laugh.
Ruth was born from a noble family and had spent most of her time in a girls-only officers school, so she was unused to men.
It was of course the first time a man had grabbed her hand.
“...I...”
Ruth, whose face was dyed deep red, stiffened up and just stared at Koutarou in front of her.
“Ruth-san, is something wrong?”
Koutarou looked back at Ruth.
Because of that they were now staring at each other from close range, and Ruth was getting cornered.
If I stretch... we're close enough... to... k-kiss...
As Ruth was seconds away from exploding, her brain began creating odd thoughts, and Shizuka, who was nearby freed Ruth from Koutarou's hand.
“Satomi-kun, can't you tell Ruth-san is troubled!?”
Ah...
Thanks to that, Ruth’s brain began to cool down.
“You can't just casually grab a girl’s hand like that!”
“Ah, s-sorry. I just happened to act like I do around Mackenzie...”
“L-Lottery, that's right, I still have to do the lottery!”
As Ruth cooled down, she couldn't help but remember her embarrassing thoughts just a moment ago.
Because of that, she started to heat right back up.
“Hey lady, because you have three tickets, you need to spin three times.”
“Y-Yes!”
Unable to think properly, Ruth spun the lottery wheel with all of her might.
Normally, the marbles would only fall out one at a time, but because the wheel was moving too fast, three marbles dropped out simultaneously.
The colors of the three marbles that fell out were gold, silver and copper.
“Congratulaaatiooons! First prize, second prize, and third price! A triple bingo!”
The man’s voice and the bell he was holding in his hand rang out across the shopping district.
All three marbles were all big hits.
“A-amazing! Is this what you call beginner’s luck!?”
“A complete sweep of first to third prize!?”
“Ruth, you're amazing!”
Because of this unthinkable situation, Koutarou, Shizuka, and Sanae showered Ruth with compliments and applause.
“A-again! I'm spinning three times!”
However, Ruth kept spinning, oblivious to the fact that the lottery was over.
After the commotion at the lottery died down and Koutarou and the rest had left the shopping district, the cashier at the supermarket came running for some reason.
“Aniki, how'd it go?”
The cashier was covered in sweat.
The fat cashier was out of breath having only run from the supermarket.
“Hey, Hachi! Rejoice, everything went just according to plan!”
The clerk welcomed the cashier with a smile.
As the fat cashier stood in front of the thin clerk, their appearances contrasted, making the clerk look even thinner.
“So the tickets made their way into their hands then?”
“That’s right! Now all we have to do is wait for them to walk right into our trap!”
“As expected from you, Aniki!”
The cashier and clerk were acquaintances.
And they were pleased with having succeeded at something.
“Although, them taking the LCD TV and bike too was a miscalculation...”
“Eeeeeeh!? They took those as well!?”
“It was a miscalculation. The girl who was spinning had abnormal luck.”
“I can't believe it... that TV and bike were supposed to become ours after we were done with this fake lottery... Since it's a fake lottery, it would have been fine to just fill it with red marbles apart from first prize...”
“It's all about the reality! If there aren't prizes lined up at the lottery, nobody would take it seriously!”
“I can't watch TV using reality! And I can't ride the bike either!”
“But who would think they would get the second and third prizes out of 100 marbles...”
“I guess there really are people blessed by God...”
The two of them looked at each other and lowered their heads and shoulders.
However, the clerk quickly shook his head and pulled himself together.
He tapped the cashier's shoulder.
“Don't lose heart, Hachi! This is nothing!”
“But Aniki! The TV! The bike!”
“Did you forget? Once our 'It's the Ocean, Yahoo! Ghost Capture Operation' succeeds, we'll be able to buy as many TVs or bikes as we want!”
“T-That's right! That's why we did this fake lottery in the first place!”
“Just think of them as sacrifices for the greater good, Hachi! The die has already been cast!”
“You're right! There's no time to be depressed!”
This lottery was created to hand over the hot spring tickets to Koutarou and the rest. It was a complete fake.
Having observed their behavior patterns, they took up a part-time job at the supermarket.
Then they would wait for Koutarou and the others to come shopping and hand them the fake lottery tickets.
And finally, the lottery wheel had been rigged to give them first prize.
It was all according to the two's plan in order to make them go on a hot springs vacation.
“Kukuku, and if she's bound to the house, she'll be left in the house all alone. And even if she can travel, we'll have plenty of traps at the inn!”
“You're quite the evildoer, Aniki!”
Their goal was to capture Sanae.
If Sanae followed them to the hot springs, they'd set up traps to catch her.
And if she didn't, they'd just capture her when nobody else was in the house.
Either way, they'd be able to set the date and place, giving them a much better chance than just trying to capture her without a plan.
“We'll capture that stable high density ghost and say goodbye to our life of poverty!”
“We'll be able to graduate from exterminating small fry ghosts and join the celebrities!”
And after they captured Sanae, they would sell her for a large amount of money.
“Hip hip hooray!”
They were ghost hunters: professionals when it came to ghost extermination.
Part 4
“Sorry for disturbing you when you're celebrating, but I have some truly regrettable information to share.”
As Koutarou and the others were celebrating their lottery winnings, Kiriha appeared in front of them with a serious face.
“Kiriha-san?”
“Yurika collapsed.”
As they entered Room 106, the group saw that Yurika had collapsed in the middle of the room.
“Waaaaaah, Yurikaaaaa!”
Seeing Yurika, Koutarou rushed into the inner room.
“She entered the closet in this kind of temperature and it seems to have been too much for her.”
Yurika had passed out because she had shut herself into the wardrobe during this hellish heat.
Even though it was just the beginning of July, the constant strong sunlight shining into the room had turned it into a sauna.
“Is she an idiot!? You'd figure out what would happen if you'd just stop and think for a second...”
“I wonder why Nijino-san didn't come out despite the heat...”
Sanae was dumbfounded and Shizuka tilted her head in confusion.
The two of them had completely forgotten that Yurika had shut herself into wardrobe because she had gotten depressed.
“Pull yourself together, Yurika!”
“S-Shatomi-shan...?”
As Koutarou shook her shoulders, Yurika opened her eyes.
Yurika was covered in sweat and her bangs were stuck to her face, blocking her view.
Koutarou reached out his hand and moved the bangs away.
“S-Shorry...”
“Why are you always this useless!?”
“I'm fhine. Jusht leave me alone. I'll recover afhter a while...”
“As if I could do that!”
Koutarou laid Yurika back down and began preparations to nurse her back to health.
He pulled out several towels from the wardrobe, put water and ice in a washing bowl, and grabbed a bottle of drinking water from the fridge.
Yurika followed Koutarou with her glance.
“Yurika, do you have a headache or anything like that?”
As Koutarou was washing Yurika's face off with the cold, wet towel he worriedly stared into her eyes.
“No, I'm fhine.”
“What about water? Are you thirsty?”
“I'll drink some afhter a while...”
“I see... Rest easily, Yurika.”
“Yesh...”
Yurika couldn't move her tongue properly, but her answer was clear.
Seeing that, Koutarou let out a sigh of relief.
For shome reason, Shatomi-shan ish being nice...
That thought crossed Yurika's mind as she looked at Koutarou smiling.
I can't get him to believe in magic like alwaysh but it fheelsh like he'sh treating me better than befhore... Ish it jusht my mishunderstanding?
In reality, it wasn't Yurika's misunderstanding, but the truth.
Koutarou was certainly treating Yurika better.
“Don't do something stupid and make Sakuraba-senpai worry.”
“Yesh... I undershtand...”
Koutarou had changed how he interacted with Yurika ever since the sports festival.
That was because Yurika had unexpectedly made friends with Harumi.
If she had just been a noisy cosplayer he would probably have left her be, but since she was Harumi's friend he couldn't.
That was because if something were to happen to Yurika, Harumi was sure to worry.
So Koutarou had put the magical girl business aside and treated Yurika as being Harumi's friend.
Which was why he would nurse her when she collapsed, and if she got hungry, he would feed her.
It wasn't purely for Yurika's sake, but as a result he ended up treating her better.
“You really are...”
Koutarou picked up a nearby fan and began cooling off Yurika.
“I'm shorry fhor making you washte your time on me...”
Yurika revealed a small smile as the cool breeze washed over her.
Seeing that, Koutarou determined that Yurika was okay.
Ruth approached the two.
“Is Yurika-sama alright?”
Being a proper person, Ruth was worrying about Yurika, who had essentially self-destructed.
Ruth furrowed her brows and peered at Yurika.
“I think she's fine. She's usually pretty tough.”
“Shorry fhor making you worry~”
“No, I'm just glad you're okay. We'd be unable to celebrate winning the lottery if you fell ill.”
Ruth smiled as she pulled out the tickets from her pocket.
“What's that?”
As Ruth entered the room, Theia let go of her controller and headed towards Yurika.
“Your Highness, when we went shopping we received some lottery tickets and won tickets to a hot spring.”
“Lottery?”
Being raised as a princess, Theia had no idea what lottery was, and she looked at Koutarou next to her.
“It was a campaign to raise income to the supermarket, and the customers had a chance of winning presents.”
“Oh, I see...”
Ruth handed over the tickets to Theia, and she examined them thoroughly.
“That's right, would all of you like to go to the hot springs together?”
Ruth smiled and asked.
“Are you okay with us tagging along with you, Ruth-san?”
When Shizuka asked her that question, Ruth gave her a big nod.
“There are tickets for six, and me and Her Highness only make two. Besides, vacations are more fun with more people, and we're still not used to living on Earth.”
“You're going to bring them with us!?”
Theia pulled her eyes away from the tickets and stared in wonder.
“Yes. I think it would be perfect to leave our daily fights behind and be refreshed for a while.”
Ruth said as she answered Theia.
Theia stared at Ruth for a while before looking at the rest of the people in the room.
Ruth, Sanae, Shizuka, Yurika, Kiriha, and when she looked at Koutarou's face, she slightly blushed and turned her face away.
“...T-They're the tickets you won. Do with them as you wish.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
After saying her thanks to Theia, Ruth called out to Koutarou and the others.
“So how about it, everyone? Wouldn't you like to come with us to the hot springs?”
“In that case, I'll gladly tag along♪”
“I'll come, I'll come! I want to jump into the hot springs!”
“I have no objections. It's been a while since I took a break.”
Shizuka, Sanae and Kiriha all agreed right away.
“Ish it okay ifh I come too~?”
Still lying down, Yurika worriedly raised her hand.
Yurika, who was shunned daily, couldn't help but ask.
“It's impossible, isn't it? There are only tickets for six of us.”
As Sanae said that, she started counting the people in the room.
Sanae, Koutarou, Ruth, Theia, Shizuka, and Kiriha added up to six.
There was no room for Yurika.
“That'sh...”
Hearing Sanae's answer, tears began streaming down Yurika's face.
“Sho you're shaying magical girlsh can't go to the hot springsh! Ugh...”
“In that case, it'll be settled if I stay behind. I'll leave the vacation to you girls.”
“S-Shatomi-shan, are you sure!?”
Surprised by Koutarou's gentle words, Yurika jumped up on her feet.
“I've alwaysh known you were a nice person shince we fhirsht met!!
Yurika's eyes sparkled as she grabbed Koutarou's hand and shook it.
“You sure are selfish...”
“Eeeeh!? Why can't we just leave Yurika behind!?”
“We can't have that. Look carefully, it says we only have one room on them. I can't sleep in the same room as five girls...”
“He's right. Satomi-kun, you sure are perceptive...”
On the ticket there was a small notice saying that the six people would share one room.
”...Okay, I have something to say.”
At that moment, Kiriha who had been thinking for all this time, opened her mouth.
“I see no problems going with the seven of us.”
“But Kiriha-san, there's only tickets for six of us.”
“I know. Which is why only six of us will be customers. Me, Koutarou, Theia-dono, Ruth, Shizuka and Yurika. That adds up to six. No problems.”
“W-Wait just a minute! What about me!?”
“...I don't think the inn can charge a ghost.”
There were seven in the room, but in reality, only six of them needed tickets.
“Ahahahaha, T-that's right. I'm a ghost. I completely forgot!”
“This is great, Satomi-sama. Now all of us can go!”
Ruth smiled at Koutarou, but he shook his head.
“Ruth-san, I really can't go. You're all young girls.”
“What does it matter? It won't be very different from how we always do.”
“It will!”
Normally, only Koutarou and Yurika slept in Room 106.
And Yurika slept in the closet, so technically speaking they weren't in the same room.
“It'll be fine, Satomi-kun. We're just sharing a room.”
“Landlord-san, not you too!”
As the only two people with common sense were trying to convince Koutarou he began to panic.
“Or do you think you'll be able to do something indecent to any of us and survive, Satomi-kun?”
“Ugh...”
If Koutarou tried to do something to Kiriha, Theia, Ruth or Shizuka, he'd probably not survive.
And Sanae was out of the question.
This left only the cosplayer Yurika, but Koutarou didn't want to do anything to her for several reasons.
And even if he did, the other five would beat him to a pulp.
“T-that's true, but...”
“See? Then it's settled!”
Koutarou found himself unable to argue against Shizuka as she forcibly brought the discussion to a close.
“Ah, Landlord-san, wait!”
“Let's enjoy our summer vacation at the beach and hot springs! I'm glad I bought a new swimsuit a few days ago!”
Shizuka's eyes sparkled.
In her mind she was already enjoying her summer vacation at the hot springs.
“Swimsuit? What do you mean?”
Ruth tilted her head in confusion.
And Kiriha began explaining as Shizuka was in the middle of dreaming.
“The inn we'll be staying at is next to the beach. Leaving the inn, you'll reach the sea in less than three minutes. It's one of their selling points.”
“Swimming in the sea...”
Suddenly, Ruth's expression got darker.
“What's wrong, Ruth-san?”
“Satomi-sama... Ah, no... It's nothing important. I just don't have a swimsuit.”
“No problem! I have several swimsuits I've bought and never worn; I'll give you those!”
“In that case, there won't be any problems.”
“Thank you very much, Shizuka-sama!”
With the problem solved, Ruth bowed to Shizuka.
But for some reason, Ruth's expression was not brightening up.
Koutarou normally never noticed these kinds of things, but this time it hit him.
I guess Ruth-san wants to go with her own swimsuit. She is a girl, after all...
And as an even rarer occurrence, Koutarou wanted to do something about it.
He wanted to show his gratitude to Ruth who had helped him out daily.
The explanation about the Forthorthe family situation also played a big part in that desire.
“Ruth-san, I'll buy you a new swimsuit.”
With the low rent of 5000 yen, Koutarou had some room for luxury.
Buying Ruth a swimsuit wasn't that big of a hit to his budget.
“Eh?...”
Ruth stared at Koutarou, trying to figure out the intentions of his words.
“I want to see Ruth-san wearing a risqué swimsuit and ogle her body!”
Koutarou joked with a mischievous grin.
“O-Ogle..”
Ruth's cheeks turned red instantly.
At the same time, she remembered fantasizing about kissing Koutarou, and her embarrassment multiplied.
“Do you think you can get away with saying something like that!?”
“Of course! In fact, it's duty of a young man!”
However, Ruth noticed Koutarou's eyes were not showing any desire.
Satomi-sama... Are you saying those things on purpose, for my sake?...
The moment she noticed, her embarrassment vanished and was replaced by a feeling of happiness.
“I feel like you'll steal my points if I look at you in swimsuits, but Ruth is different! I'll ogle her body with enthusiasm fitting of a man in his teens!”
“U-um... if you're fine with my meager body...
Pierced by pleasant feelings, Ruth smiled.
This was unusual for Ruth, but she wanted to rely on Koutarou's good will.
“So... Please buy me a swimsuit...”
“Ah, eh, ehh!?”
Oddly enough, Koutarou began to panic.
Koutarou had been speaking the way he did in order for Ruth to agree without feeling bad, but Ruth showed no signs of disgust and instead obediently accepted his offer.
“Fufu. Surprisingly, you have a good side to you, Koutarou.”
“As expected from Satomi-kun, a Japanese man!”
Kiriha, with her sharp observations, and Shizuka, who had remembered the discussion before the lottery, had understood Koutarou’s intentions.
“I just―”
“It's fine, we know you're embarrassed! Ruth-san, let's go shopping first thing tomorrow!”
“Ah, yes.”
Geez... Next time I'll need to do it more subtly...
Having been seen through by Kiriha and Shizuka, Koutarou let out a heavy sigh.
It was more embarrassing having been seen through.
“Ah, um...”
At that moment, Koutarou noticed that Theia was fiddling with her fingers and staring at him.
“What is it, Tulip?”
As Koutarou asked her, Theia's cheeks turned red and she barely managed to whisper her next words.
“U-um... I don't... have a s-swimsuit...”
Ah, that's right...
If Ruth didn't have a swimsuit, of course Theia wouldn't have one either.
“I see. That's too bad!”
...Just a few hours ago, that's surely what Koutarou would have said.
But that was not what he said now.
Theia was looking at Koutarou with an embarrassed expression.
Noticing Theia behave like that, Ruth looked at Koutarou as if she was expecting something.
And most of all, looking at the screen behind Theia was the biggest mistake.
What was shown on the screen was the character status menu.
One of the characters, 'Yurika B', had a single figure health bar.
She was still out of mana.
It was the same status screen as before Koutarou and the others had gone shopping.
So Tulip hasn't played since then...
Realizing that, Koutarou couldn't simply reject her.
“...I-In that case, if you can save Blue Knight until tomorrow, I'll buy you one too.”
Like a normal girl.
The words Ruth said during their shopping echoed in Koutarou's head.
“W-Why are you only discriminating against me!? You didn't give Ruth a condition like that!”
“That's because you're always getting your way! Or are you not confident enough that you'll be able to save Blue Knight?”
But even then, Koutarou bullying Theia was his way of hiding his embarrassment.
“What are you talking about!? I'll save Blue Knight right away and make you regret ever challenging me!”
But Theia might have been the same.
She excitedly turned back towards the TV and picked up the controller.
Weird... Something's wrong with me... Why did I say that I'd buy Tulip a swimsuit...?
Staring at Theia's small back, Koutarou was puzzled about the situation, but he also felt he had to do this.
That was because this was the first time Koutarou had seen Theia as a girl, but Koutarou himself was unable to recognize that and found himself puzzled.
“Satomi-sama... Your Highness...”
Watching over the two, Ruth found herself moved to tears.
If only these two would become master and servant.
Ruth, who had always been with Theia, couldn't help but feel that way.
“W-What a misshtake... ifh I knew it would come to thish, I would have bought a swimsuit...”
“...I won't buy one for you, no matter what.”
“Hauuuuu, t-that'sh just unfair....”
“Pleb! Hurry up and get over here and watch your master’s courage up close!”
“Just be honest and ask for help... Geez...”
Unaware of Ruth's emotions, Koutarou and Theia sat themselves down in front of the TV and argued as they continued playing the game.
“Foundation of Forthorthe, the goddess of daybreak, please watch over Her Highness's future...”
Watching the two's backs, Ruth was overwhelmed by emotions and was unable to do anything for a while.
“...”
And one more was overwhelmed by emotions.
That was Sanae. However, her emotions were the complete opposite of Ruth's.
Koutarou really is...
Koutarou, Theia, and Ruth; watching those three, Sanae felt an incredible unease.
She felt she had to do something, but she wasn't sure how.
What is happening to me...?
So just like Ruth, she was unable to do anything while watching Koutarou and Theia.
Translator's Notes and References
1. ↑ A ball-shaped Japanese snack consisting of wheat flour and octopus
2. ↑ Japanese straight-sleeved coat imprinted with a distinctive crest, usually worn on festivals.
