Final Chapter: Well, Whatever the Case, Good Work!
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The graduation ceremony of the Seventh Esper Academy had ended, and the current students were on spring break.
Kazuma returned to Ivy, and the three of them—Sakura Hakanai, Momoko, and himself—were taking care of the children.
Students of the Combat Course generally split into two types.
Those who used spring break to train hard and improve their skills.
Those who returned home from the dorms to rest and recover from the year’s fatigue.
They were divided into these two types, and Kazuma was the latter.
However, even back home, Kazuma didn’t neglect his training.
“Have the number of children increased?”
“Yes. There were children who lost their parents in the large-scale terrorism at the end of last year. We took in a few of them here.”
“I see…”
“It’s not something you need to worry about. You’ve more than fulfilled your role.”
He felt a slight pang of regret.
He had power.
Power that even aliens considered a threat.
If only he hadn’t hidden his power, if he had wielded it from the start as he did now, he might have been able to prevent the Ivera Church from carrying out their terrorism.
Thinking about it, Kazuma regretted that his selfish reasons had caused so much sadness.
But Honoka forgave him for it.
Everyone makes mistakes.
She knew Kazuma possessed overwhelming power, but she also understood why he was trying to hide it.
If others knew the truth, many would surely blame Kazuma.
Why didn’t he use such power from the beginning? they would ask.
If she were in a similar position, she would probably think the same thing.
“Trying to save everything and everyone by yourself is an impossible task.”
“…You’re right. It was like that over there too.”
“I imagine so. Even a Hero probably couldn’t save everyone. But that’s fine. It’s okay. You’re just one person, so you can only do as much as your two hands can manage. If you try to save more than that, you’ll surely break under the pressure. So, just do your best within your limits…”
“…Mm.”
His head was roughly, affectionately ruffled.
Honoka always did the same thing when comforting children.
But that, in turn, felt comforting.
Kazuma narrowed his eyes and let her do as she pleased.
“Well then, I’m counting on your help again today.”
“Oui.”
“Not ‘oui,’ it’s ‘hai,’ isn’t it?”
Honoka pinched Kazuma’s nose firmly, as if to scold him for not giving a proper reply.
Glared at with reproachful eyes, as if asking what he’d do if the children imitated him, Kazuma obediently replied.
“Hai.”
“Very good. Well then, I’ll leave this to you.”
Patting his head lightly, Honoka went back inside the building.
Kazuma took a dustpan and broom and went to clean the area around the building.
Strolling leisurely, Kazuma looked up at the sky.
“What nice weather~”
It was still a bit chilly, but soon it would be the season when cherry blossoms bloom.
Kazuma cleaned while thinking that once the cherry blossoms bloomed, he might invite his friends for some flower viewing.
He deeply felt that so many things had truly happened this past year.
What should he do during spring break?
Just thinking about tomorrow made Kazuma happy. He finished cleaning and spent time playing with the children until lunchtime.
Lunchtime arrived, so Kazuma headed to the kitchen to help.
Together with the other staff, he prepared a large amount of food for the children.
Of course, since he would be eating too, the amount of food he made was three times the usual.
He was even using his clones, so his work efficiency alone was on a completely different level.
It was a sight that would surprise ordinary people, but the staff were used to it, so they even gave instructions to Kazuma’s clones, having them carry the finished dishes.
“Huh? Everyone, when did you get here?”
When Kazuma went to the dining table, he found the four graduates—Souji, Aoi, Hayato, and Shiori—along with the student council members, Momoko, Sakura Hakanai, Alicia, Charlotte, and Yayoi.
Kazuma tilted his head in puzzlement at the large number of guests.
He had said they could come visit anytime, but since there had been no contact, Kazuma was surprised.
“We heard you were here and came to visit, and since it was about to be lunch, we were invited to join,” Souji answered Kazuma’s question, glancing briefly at Honoka.
“Is that so? Well then, this doesn’t look like it’ll be enough, so I’ll go make some more.”
“Ah, in that case, we’ll help too. We must have troubled you by showing up so suddenly.”
Shiori stood up and offered to help, but Kazuma refused, saying he couldn’t let guests help.
“It’s fine. You’re guests, so please sit and wait.”
“But, is it really okay…?”
“No problem-ssu. I was planning to make a lot from the start, so a little more won’t cause any issues.”
Saying that, Kazuma returned to the kitchen and prepared food for Souji and the others as well.
“Skillful, or rather, how should I put it…”
“Amazing… To make this much food in such a short time…”
“Maybe we should have him become a cooking teacher…”
As usual, the girls praised Kazuma for his excellent cooking skills.
He was usually a clown and a foolish guy, but thanks to Honoka’s discipline, he was good at all sorts of housework.
Moreover, while his skills weren’t quite professional level, they surpassed those of an average housewife.
“Well then, let’s put our hands together.”
Honoka put her hands together, and after confirming that all the children had done the same, everyone chanted “Itadakimasu,” and lunch began.
Kazuma, who was gobbling down food as if competing with the children, received a fist from Honoka sitting next to him and ate quietly with a bump growing on his head.
“Isn’t his mental age the lowest…?”
“His manners are refined, though…?”
“The perfect bad example. But since he’s good at all housework, he’d actually be an excellent teacher too.”
Lunch ended, and after finishing the cleanup, Kazuma put the children down for a nap and then rejoined Souji and the others.
“Seriously, sometimes I just don’t get you…”
“Why is that? I don’t think there’s anything strange?”
“No, it’s not that you’re strange, Kazuma-kun. It’s just that our perception of you gets a little skewed.”
“Is that so? That sounds tough.”
The group was sunbathing in the garden.
There had been suggestions to go out somewhere, but since the weather was nice, Kazuma proposed they just sunbathe, and everyone agreed.
Now they were relaxing, eating Kazuma’s homemade pancakes.
“By the way, Souji-senpai. Where are you staying tonight? If you haven’t decided, how about our place?”
“That’s a kind offer, but I’ve already booked a hotel, so I’m fine.”
“I see. Are you okay with money and stuff?”
“I saved up from my part-time job. I actually have quite a bit of leeway.”
“Ohh~. What kind of part-time job were you doing?”
“It’s an official part-time job offered by the academy. Things like patrolling the defensive walls, removing Ibinom carcasses, and subjugation missions.”
“Eh!? What’s that-ssu!”
“From the second year, there are various things. Normally, you can’t go on Ibinom subjugation missions… but if a teacher approves, you can participate.”
“Seriously-ssu!? By the way, what about the pay?”
“You get hazard pay and stuff, so it’s high even for a working adult, let alone a student. Believe it or not, it starts at a minimum of 500,000. Depending on the area, it can even reach seven figures!”
“Uooh! Awesome!”
“Kazuma, you’d probably get permission right away, so why not try it when you’re free?”
“I’ll do that!”
With a monthly income of 1 billion, he didn’t need to work, and on top of that, he had received special rewards for things like the Hawaii reconstruction and repelling aliens, so Kazuma’s assets had already surpassed a trillion.
Moreover, he had entrusted the management to Momoko, who was also handling his investments, so Kazuma could live comfortably for the rest of his life without ever working again.
Though, even without money, Kazuma had the ability to live off the land somewhere in the mountains.
“By the way, let me tell you something good. Earning money through official part-time jobs from the academy affects your grades and improves your job prospects. And, best of all, you don’t pay any taxes on it! Well, it’s just a part-time job, so you can’t become a billionaire or anything. Still, not having to pay taxes is the biggest advantage.”
“Ooooh~! That’s the best-ssu ne!”
Hearing Hayato’s explanation, Kazuma’s eyes sparkled.
Just last month, he had witnessed Momoko struggling with tax-related matters, so he was delighted to learn that academy part-time jobs were tax-free.
“Oh? Did it just shake?”
“Yeah. It’s been happening a lot lately.”
“Maybe it’s a precursor to a big earthquake.”
For Japanese people, it was a tremor barely worth noticing.
Kazuma and the others worried that it might be an omen of something.
He had a bad feeling.
Perhaps Kazuma’s extraordinary days were far from over.
He wanted to deny it, to say “that can’t be,” but Kazuma was convinced that something outrageous was bound to happen.
◇◇◇◇
In a distant land, an older man and an elderly man were looking out at the scenery from a room window.
“Have you found out anything about the recent tremors?”
“Unfortunately, the cause is still unknown…”
“I see…”
The older man sighed heavily, his brow furrowing with melancholy.
“Remnants of the Demon Lord’s army, plus the activation and increase of dungeons… And now, these mysterious tremors. Problems are piling up.”
“It cannot be helped…”
“Haa… Was sending Hero Kazuma back a foolish move?”
“If that fool were here, he might have been useful, but he’d also give me an even worse headache, wouldn’t he?”
“He’d readily fall for any pretty woman’s invitation and get himself poisoned or assassinated… Well, ironically, thanks to that, we were able to eliminate those who were colluding with the Demon Lord’s army, so he was useful in that sense, I suppose.”
“Among them were those whose families were taken hostage, leaving them with no other choice, you know.”
“That can’t be helped. You have to turn a blind eye to it.”
“There’s a limit to what one can overlook, I tell you!”
“That’s Hero Kazuma for you…”
Perhaps the memory of Kazuma made his head throb; the middle-aged man pressed his temples.
“Hm? Did it shake again, I wonder?”
“If this isn’t a precursor to something, then it’s merely a groundless fear…”
The middle-aged man gazed at the distant scenery from the window, then turned to the elderly man behind him.
“Ludwig. My apologies, but I’m counting on you for the investigation.”
“Good grief, when will I ever be able to enjoy a slow life, I wonder?”
“The ‘slow life’ Kazuma mentioned, eh… I too wish to retire soon.”
Sage Ludwig, having received the King’s command, left the room to investigate the mysterious tremors that had been frequently occurring in various regions.
“You’re late, you lecherous old coot.”
“What were His Majesty’s words?”
“Master, please hurry up~”
“…”
“Ludwig-dono. Where might you be headed today?”
“Gramps. Aren’t you looking a bit tired?”
At Ludwig’s destination, four women and two men were waiting for him.
Seeing them, Ludwig shrugged with a sigh of ‘good grief’ and joined them.
“On top of dealing with the remnants of the Demon Lord’s army and investigating the activation and proliferation of dungeons, His Majesty has also tasked me with investigating these mysterious tremors. It’s a bother, but you’ll all be accompanying me, I say.”
So saying, Ludwig led the six of them, and thus their aimless journey began.
The Hero’s party that once saved the world had set out once more.
to be continued?