Kousuke had devised two main mechanisms using the barrier in Seuri Forest for the Divine Tool.
One was to prevent the Divine Tool from leaving the barrier.
Although the Divine Tool had significantly altered its interference with the barrier upon entering from the Divine Realm, it was designed so that it could not pass through this mechanism by using its power.
This was because the mechanism was designed to strengthen the barrier’s power the more the Divine Tool used its own.
Furthermore, as a bonus, it also continuously tracked the location of the Divine Tool moving within the barrier.
Thanks to this, Yutta no longer needed to constantly track the Divine Tool using spirits.
Incidentally, the Divine Tool would be permanently trapped within the forest, unable to escape Seuri Forest.
Another function was the ability to monitor the flow of power around the Divine Tool.
Specifically, it could confirm whether the Divine Tool was trying to accumulate power and how much power it had stored.
This could support Kousuke’s conjecture that the Divine Tool was accumulating power.
Upon hearing these explanations from Kousuke, Floria had a slightly exasperated expression.
“If you could create something this convenient, why didn’t you make it from the beginning?”
“Ah, yes. That’s certainly true, isn’t it?”
Kousuke deflected the question with a subtle shift of his gaze while agreeing, which made Floria glare at him.
“…Did you forget?”
“No, it’s not that. I didn’t forget, I just didn’t think of it… ah!”
Kousuke, who almost blurted out the truth by reflex, tried to stop his words, but it was too late.
Words, once spoken, could not be taken back.
Floria sighed, looking at Kousuke, who had completely turned away.
“…Well, it’s not wrong that things will be somewhat easier from now on, so it’s fine.”
“Y-yes. Mr. Kousuke’s absent-mindedness isn’t something new… ah!”
Silvia, trying to cover for Kousuke, said something that was not helpful and covered her mouth with her hand.
Seeing this, Kousuke stood up abruptly and squatted in a corner of the room.
“It’s fine. I’m just absent-minded after all…”
Seeing him sulking, Floria and Silvia exchanged glances and then looked at Shurein.
Faced with their gazes, Shurein smiled slightly, nodded, and walked over to Kousuke.
“Well, don’t say that. Kousuke has plenty of good points, doesn’t he?”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes, it is.”
“…For example?”
“F-for example? W-well, let’s see. For example, your blood is delicious?”
Shurein blurted out what she said, and Kousuke looked at her with a glare.
“…Isn’t that a good point from Shurein’s perspective?”
“Y-yes. That’s true. But, is there any problem with that?”
Confirming Shurein’s defiant statement, Kousuke chuckled.
“No, well, yes. It’s certainly not a problem, is it?”
“Right?”
Looking at Shurein, who nodded confidently, Kousuke’s deflated spirits began to recover.
***
Regardless of Kousuke’s absent-mindedness, after that exchange, Shurein and the others successfully managed to embed a wedge into the Divine Tool.
Upon hearing that the operation was successful, Kousuke showed a look of relief.
He had been worried whether the device he had carefully made would work, as he couldn’t go to the site himself.
“Is that so? It was successful, wasn’t it? That’s good.”
“Ah. If we had gone any closer, there might have been a possibility of it noticing us. It didn’t seem to notice us at all.”
Shurein added that it would have been bothersome if it hadn’t succeeded, and Kousuke shook his head.
“If I made a tool that I knew would fail from the start, it would be the maker’s mistake. Since we know our opponent is a wolf (and the Divine Tool), we can predict the range where it’s safe to get somewhat close. Besides, since we’re using the existing barrier, we didn’t need a very elaborate mechanism.”
If they had tried to create a tool with a similar effect without the barrier in Seuri Forest, it would have required something quite large. However, since that was unnecessary, they only needed a small tool.
This too played a part in the success of this operation.
For now, they had succeeded in embedding a wedge into the Divine Tool, but they hadn’t discussed what to do next.
Shurein, wondering what they would do, asked.
“So, what happens now?”
“Hmm? Nothing really. The mechanism was designed to seal the Divine Tool within the forest, after all.”
Originally, it was made with the idea of being able to track and seal the Divine Tool.
Checking whether power was being accumulated was merely a secondary function for Kousuke.
As long as the location of the Divine Tool was identified and the damage from a rampage could be minimized, Kousuke’s stance was not to stir up trouble.
Of course, Kousuke had no intention of stopping the women if they wanted to obtain the Divine Tool.
Shurein, hearing Kousuke’s thoughts, put her arms together in a thoughtful expression.
“I see. Indeed, as long as it’s within the forest, there’s no need to retrieve it by force. If it were to enter the Elf Village, things would be different, of course.”
“Of course. That’s why we have the monitoring function.”
“So, it’s a matter of our motivation from here on.”
Floria, who had been listening to Kousuke and Shurein’s conversation, interjected.
“That’s right… but do you want the Divine Tool?”
“No, I wonder. Even if we obtained the Divine Tool, I can’t think of a use for it.”
The water mirror they obtained previously was stored in Kousuke’s Divine Realm and used by Silvia and Peach.
However, it wasn’t that they were trying to become full-fledged possessors of the Divine Tool, but rather using it to improve their own abilities.
The Divine Tool was merely a tool for support.
Perhaps with more use, it could be used as a Divine Tool in its original capacity, but neither Silvia nor Peach had shown any signs of that yet.
Regarding the Magatama this time, in addition to its original abilities being unknown, there was the issue of what purpose it would serve after recovery.
As Kousuke said, if its location is known and there is little concern about a rampage, leaving it as it is would not be a problem.
“I do feel that leaving it in this state, in limbo, is problematic… but it’s probably better than getting unnecessarily involved.”
“Right? Well, that’s just one way of thinking, so from now on, it’s up to Shurein and the others to decide.”
Since they were being prevented from approaching the Divine Tool, there was little Kousuke could do.
If Shurein and the others asked for help, he would provide as much support as possible, but it would only be supplementary.
Kousuke believed that instead of saying anything in that situation, Shurein and the others should discuss and decide what to do.
Later, Shurein and the others would hold a discussion, and Wanri, who was present, would make a proposal.
Everyone present was slightly surprised by this, but they readily accepted Wanri’s proposal.
And so, the recovery of the Magatama would enter a new phase.
I played around a bit too much in the first half.
I just felt like writing it. Please forgive me. m(__)m
And so, the Magatama Divine Tool ended up being locked in a cage.
Just as it seemed like there was no need to retrieve it, Wanri made a proposal…
The continuation is in the next chapter lol.
