Chapter 55: Monster
Aisha stated it with a serious look, but Kanzaki was dumbfounded by her words.
“Hey, are you serious?”
“Of course.”
“I know you’re an excellent scholar, but that’s impossible. The machine’s broken. Fix it and then tell me!”
As Kanzaki tried to leave, Aisha stopped him, saying, “Wait!” When Kanzaki turned around, Aisha stared at him with a grave face.
“There’s only one thing I want to ask you.”
Aisha walked briskly, stopped in front of Kanzaki, grabbed his collar, and pulled him close.
“Where did you bring that monster from?!”
“Monster!?”
Kanzaki brushed off Aisha’s hand, straightened his clothes, and snorted.
“Hah! What monster? Nonsense, my buzz is completely gone.”
Kanzaki opened the door roughly and left the room.
“Kotaro.”
“What! Is there something else? I won’t listen to any more nonsense!!”
As Kanzaki spat out the words, Aisha chuckled softly.
“Well, it’s natural you can’t believe it. I can hardly believe it myself.”
“Of course! Who would believe such a thing!!”
“Then have Mitaka use magic.”
“Huh?”
“With that enormous amount of Mana, it’s likely overflowing outside his body. If that’s the case, he should be able to use magic on the surface.”
“Hmph! Ridiculous.”
Kanzaki slammed the door shut and left the room.
◇◇◇
The next morning, Kanzaki, having returned home, slept until late in the afternoon, finally getting up to take a bath.
After relaxing for a while, he sat at the dining table, ready to eat the dinner Maika had prepared.
Maika asked, “What happened yesterday?” and “Was something wrong?” but Kanzaki gave only vague answers.
He went to bed that day, still feeling troubled.
And the next morning, as he was smoking a cigarette at his desk at the company, Yuma came to work.
“Good morning!”
He exchanged greetings with Tanaka-san and Maika, and then came over to him.
“Good morning, President.”
“Oh, good morning.”
Yuma put his belongings in the locker and sat at his desk. He was chatting happily with Tanaka-san next to him.
Kanzaki leaned back deeply in his chair and unfolded the newspaper.
But the contents didn’t register in his mind at all. He didn’t believe what Aisha had said, but the fact was that he was concerned.
Kanzaki stood up abruptly. –There’s no choice but to confirm it.
“Hey, Yuma.”
“Yes?”
“The other day, you had your Mana measured at Aisha’s Laboratory, right?”
“Ah, yes, I did.”
“I got a call saying the results are in. It seems you do have Mana.”
“Eh!? Really?”
Yuma’s eyes widened with joy. Tanaka-san, who was sitting next to him, also broke into a smile.
“That’s great, Yuma-kun! I’m so glad. Really glad.”
“I knew it, it was strange to think you had no Mana Index.”
Maika also came over, joining in the celebration. Everyone seemed to have been worried about Yuma.
“We’ll get the detailed results later, but for now, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I see… so you still don’t know how much Mana I have?”
“Well, we’ll find out soon. Maika, prepare that.”
“Ah, okay. Right!”
Maika crouched in front of a safe in the corner of the office, turned the cylinder, and unlocked it. She opened the door and took out a small case inside.
“Here you go, President.”
The case was handed to Kanzaki. Opening the glossy black lid, he saw several Magic Gems inside.
They were all ‘Blue Magic Gems’, sparkling brilliantly.
“Maika, what’s the estimated Mana Index for Yuma?”
“Hmm, considering the number of Monsters he’s defeated so far, he definitely has a Mana Index of 10 or more.”
“I see.”
Kanzaki picked up a gem from the box.
“Yuma, this is a 1-carat Magic Gem ‘Iolite’. It has a Mana Index of 10. I’m giving it to you, so try eating it.”
“Eh!? Is that okay?”
As Yuma looked surprised, Tanaka-san next to him explained.
“Yuma-kun, this is one of the company’s benefits.”
“Benefits?”
“It’s compensation other than your salary. Especially Magic Gems, since they’re necessary for work. You should accept it without hesitation.”
“That’s right.”
When Kanzaki also urged him, Yuma said, “Thank you,” and took the Magic Gem.
Maika wiped the Magic Gem with a wet wipe and handed him a glass of water. Yuma swallowed the Iolite in one gulp.
“How is it?”
If Aisha’s device was completely broken, there was a possibility that Yuma had no Mana at all.
Even if he had no Mana at all, it would just come out as waste, so there shouldn’t be any problem…
“Ah! My stomach is getting hot.”
“Yes, that’s proof that you’ve successfully absorbed the Magic Gem. I’m glad, Yuma-kun.”
Tanaka-san was as happy as if it were her own success.
Maika also breathed a sigh of relief, looking relieved. But Kanzaki alone was struck by an indescribable anxiety.
Just as Aisha had said, Yuma really did have Mana.
‘Have Mitaka use magic.’
Aisha’s words echoed repeatedly in Kanzaki’s mind.