After finishing the trial, I walked over to Mitsuki and the others with a smug look on my face.
“I don’t know whether to praise you or be speechless,” Mitsuki said, and the Hisame Family event felt like it had come to a complete end. I’ll provide a supplementary explanation just in case.
I stored the flying “Kongou Toshi” in the cooler box. This was, of course, possible only because several conditions were met.
First, no matter how lax the “Nekoneko” system was, it couldn’t store items that a person was equipped with. I was able to store “Kongou Toshi” this time because Asahi specifically used a throwing skill.
Due to the specifications of “Nekoneko,” when a weapon is thrown and leaves the body, it is no longer equipped. In fact, obtaining equipment thrown by an enemy was something I often did in games. Some Katana-type items that didn’t normally drop were unobtainable unless you skillfully caught them when a Monster threw them, which was a struggle.
However, it is difficult, or rather impossible by the system, to obtain “Kongou Toshi” by simply catching it. It’s practically impossible to grab a spear flying at super-high speed with bare hands. Even if you could grab it, its power would be too great to suppress. And even if you could temporarily suppress the spear, its guaranteed hit attribute would continuously target the Player’s forehead, making it entirely pointless.
This is where the cooler box, which freezes the time of inserted items, comes in. In the game, however, the cooler box’s position was fixed at the right hip, making this countermeasure unrealistic. With various restrictions in the event, even skilled “Nekoneko” Players couldn’t guide the super-fast, accurately forehead-targeting “Kongou Toshi” to their right hip.
But this world is different, where the restrictions on storage items have been lifted. You know the timing and location of its arrival, and once the motion begins, it cannot be changed. So, it’s simply an easy job to ready the cooler box while the opponent is preparing their skill. Although I hesitated a bit, this attempt was a complete success.
Of course, there’s a difference between thinking something seems possible and actually being able to do it. I was relieved that things went as I imagined, but it’s understandable that I was nervous, as I would have likely died if I had overlooked something.
And regarding the main use of “Kongou Toshi,” Mitsuki seemed concerned about it and asked me on the way back to town.
“So, can you wield that spear?”
“Huh? No, I can’t,” I replied casually.
“Eh…?”
Mitsuki’s expression froze, and her cat ears seemed to freeze with her. It’s only natural. “Kongou Toshi” is a family heirloom of the Hisame family and a dedicated item for its head, Asahi. Neither I, Ringo, nor probably Mitsuki can wield it. Furthermore, since I obtained it by doing something akin to theft without obtaining prior consent, there’s even a possibility that the spear has a stolen goods tag.
Ah, but I did quickly check that. While the affinity with “Hisame Family Members” doesn’t change for murder, it decreases for theft. After casually probing Domdoki-onna-san and others, it seemed there was no decrease in affinity, so I don’t think it’s considered stolen. However, just in case, it’s not something I can easily show to others.
But more importantly than that, “It’s stored with me as the target, so if I take it out, it’ll probably fly at me.” The problem is instant death upon retrieval.
“So, that spear is…”
“Yeah. There’s no way I can use it as is.”
I said with finality again. Mitsuki looked at me with a gaze that seemed to ask, “Then why did you take it?” Her cat ears were trembling as if trying hard to express anger, which was a little cute. While I wanted to admire this rare cat ear movement a bit longer, it was too pitiful, so I continued.
“Well, I said ‘as is.’ Of course, I have a countermeasure.”
“…Are you plotting something again? What kind of unreasonable thing are you going to do this time?”
Mitsuki said something unintended, and I frowned slightly, answering vaguely.
“Well, I’ll leave that to the laundering techniques favored by ‘Nekoneko’ Players.”
“Launder…?”
Mitsuki tilted her head at my unfamiliar words, her cat ears bending as if bowing.
I said that grandly, but it’s the same as the cooler box. I believe it might be possible in this world, but if it follows the game’s specifications, it’s a technique I can’t use, so I’ll stop there to avoid lying if something goes wrong. Besides, before anything else, there’s a problem that absolutely must be resolved.
“…? Is something wrong?”
Mitsuki, walking beside me with Ringo. It’s about her relationship with me.
First, to avoid any misunderstanding, let me reiterate. The “Hisame Family Visit Event” is one of the events for marriage with Mitsuki, but it is by no means the marriage event itself. In game terms, it’s just one flag, and realistically, it’s merely “permission from parents to marry,” which is a separate issue from the person’s will to marry.
Mitsuki is a character who requires special conditions to trigger the marriage event; you can’t get married by simply raising her affinity. Or perhaps, internally, there’s a cap on affinity, and it’s just unlocked by an event, but for Players, it’s the same. In any case, to marry Mitsuki, you need to complete at least two mandatory events.
In the standard game flow, after the marriage mandatory event, “Hisame Family Visit Event,” Mitsuki can be freely recruited as a companion, and simultaneously, several events to raise her affinity are unlocked. By traveling with her and completing events, gradually raising her affinity, the other marriage mandatory event, “Ring of Illusory Stone,” will eventually appear. This is an event where Mitsuki says, “There’s a place I want to go,” you visit her hometown, the “Cave of Illusory Stones,” and create a marriage ring specifically for Mitsuki using an item called an illusory stone. It’s said that proposing with this ring leads to marriage.
In the game, even after Mitsuki became recruitable, I played solo. However, I completed all of Mitsuki’s unlocked events and, at crucial points, received her help. I confirmed that the “Ring of Illusory Stone” event would eventually occur after a long time. However, as I’ve said many times, I had no intention of marrying her, so I left this event unfinished. In other words, the marriage event can be stopped by not going to the “Cave of Illusory Stones,” so that’s not an issue.
The problem is whether we will be acting together with Mitsuki. And whether Mitsuki wants to act with us.
I first turned to Ringo.
“Hey, Ringo. If…”
“…It’s fine.”
Is this what they mean by a perfect response? Ringo answered before I could ask. Although I can’t fully trust her due to the previous Ringo’s core incident, this seems to indicate she understood my intentions. I felt that Mitsuki and Ringo didn’t quite get along, but thanks to the Hisame Family Trial, they seem to have hit it off somehow.
(Then, the remaining are me and Mitsuki.)
As for me… how am I feeling? To be honest, I don’t strongly feel like recruiting Mitsuki. But I’m not at the point where I absolutely don’t want to be with her anymore, like before. Like Ringo, fighting alongside Mitsuki in that trial definitely changed my feelings towards her. Mitsuki, being a Hisame family member, has a complete warrior’s mindset, or rather, preferences, but she is also loyal and compassionate, and her cat ears are cute. She’s undoubtedly competent, so I think our journey would be easier in many ways if she joined us. My own feelings also suggest that, while I wouldn’t say adding one more person to the party is the same as adding any number, my resistance to making friends has certainly lessened. Moreover, with Mitsuki, I might be a burden, but she wouldn’t be a burden to me. Considering Ringo’s safety, someone like Mitsuki is invaluable. I feel like I’ll have more mental strain, but her cat ears are cute, so there’s a chance for healing during our journey.
(…Yes, that’s right.)
I concluded that it might indeed be a good idea to have Mitsuki, or rather, her cat ears, join us.
Therefore…
“Hey, Mitsuki. If you’d like, would you consider traveling with us for a while?”
So, from now on, what we do will simply depend on Mitsuki’s will. According to game standards, this is how she’d become a companion, but during the visit event, if I acted too hostile towards Mitsuki, she might not join me due to insufficient affinity. Given that Ringo was involved in the event, I couldn’t properly handle the romantic comedy event with Mitsuki, and her reaction to completing the trial was also lukewarm. There’s a significant possibility that she’ll refuse my offer to travel together. Furthermore, although I can’t be sure, I have the impression that in this world, affinity is determined more by a person’s emotions than by game systems. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have become friends with Ena and Domdoki-onna so quickly.
And looking back on my relationship with Mitsuki, aside from the event perspective… perhaps I’ve been quite terrible.
In our first meeting, I used a duel to beg for my life. In that duel, I won using a trick. At the next Subjugation Tournament, I won using a Bug Skill. When we fought directly, I attacked her with a “wet t-shirt” sexual harassment. In her family’s trial, I stole a family heirloom without fighting.
…Why is that? When I list it like this, it seems like there’s no reason for her to like me. As if to prove this, Mitsuki’s eyes widened at my words, and then her cat ears moved busily as she seemed to be thinking. After a long silence, she said, “…Are you asking me to become your companion?”
“Yes.”
“Then, I have just one condition.”
This development, not present in the game, made me a little flustered. Should I interpret this as a state where “my affinity isn’t enough to become a companion unconditionally, but high enough not to refuse”?
“Tell me.” I asked, intending to grant it unless it was an extreme request. Mitsuki gave a faint smile at my attitude.
“It’s nothing much. When we travel, there’s a place I’d really like to visit when we’re nearby, so I’d like you to go with me then.”
“Oh, is that all?” I was about to readily agree, but (Wait a minute?) I stopped myself just before. I stealthily glanced at Mitsuki. She appeared expressionless and wasn’t even looking at me properly, but her cat ears were stiff and straight, like in a “stand at attention” pose. This is a cat ear sign of extreme tension!
“Of course, I’ll consider Mitsuki’s wishes regarding the travel destination, but I can’t casually agree without knowing what kind of place it is.” I said, instinctively feeling danger and trying to make an excuse. Mitsuki’s expression didn’t change, but her cat ears noticeably drooped. However, they soon perked up, and she proposed, “…I see. Then, for now, let’s have me accompany you as a temporary member. We can decide on things later based on how it goes.”
“R-right. That sounds good. Ringo, you’re okay with that too, right?” I quickly turned and asked. Ringo nodded.
“Well then, please treat me well from now on.” I held out my hand, and Mitsuki immediately took it.
“Yes, thank you for your continued support.”
Mitsuki and I shook hands firmly… and Mitsuki’s grip was so strong that my hand went numb.
As we were having this conversation, Richter’s town finally came into view. Seeing the town lights, I finally felt a sense of having returned. I had escaped those crazy trial days where my life was constantly in danger. I decided to take it easy for a while once I returned to the mansion.
The first thing that caught my eye was the monolith on the outskirts of town. And then, a few people who looked like merchants were chatting there. They seemed to notice me, so I casually nodded…
“Wh-what!?”
As soon as they saw my face, the merchants hurried into town.
“Wh-why?”
I checked, but no one was drawing a weapon, nor did they show any hostile gestures. Yet, their reaction was extremely rude. I felt I had a right to be angry, but why? I had a terrible premonition. It became more pronounced as we approached the town. People who saw me either fled at full speed or spoke in hushed tones while avoiding eye contact. The town gate guard pointed at me and then quickly ran off as if to call someone, confirming my suspicion. It’s undeniable. This is almost the same reaction as when I killed disciples at the Hisame Dojo. The faction affinity has decreased.
(Why? What did I do wrong?) Did the “Final Trial” do this? Or was it because Ringo and Mitsuki interfered? As I was pondering, half in a daze, my sleeve was tugged.
“…Look at that.”
I turned to see Ringo pointing at a bulletin board near the monolith.
“What!?”
Seeing it, I was struck speechless. Because the paper posted there had a large drawing of my face, and clearly printed above it were the words, “Wanted.”
“Ah, I see. So that’s why they reacted like that before. You’ve certainly become famous all at once.”
