Chapter 40: Land a Love Body Blow!
Momoko felt as though she’d been dropped from heaven straight to hell, but since she’d finally gotten a long-awaited vacation, she decided to say a quick word to Kazuma before heading home.
“Well then, I’ve received my vacation, so I’ll be taking my leave now. Please, by all means, do not contact me unless it’s an emergency.”
“No, I said it earlier, but I will tell you about the Powered Suit matter.”
“Then, please do so by email only.”
“Do you dislike phone calls that much?”
“There’s nothing more unpleasant than a phone call from your boss on your day off.”
Seeing Momoko with her dead eyes, in addition to her rather dark statement, Kazuma couldn’t say anything more.
“Well then, excuse me.”
Bowing politely like a working adult, Momoko quickly scurried out of Kazuma’s room.
Her movements were just like those of an office worker desperate to go home even a second sooner.
Then again, she was the only working adult among them.
“Alright then, I have a small errand to run until the Christmas party, so I’ll be heading out. What will you two, Alicia and Shar, do? I can tell Mom you’ll relax here, or you could go sightseeing in Japan?”
“The errand, is it about the Powered Suit you mentioned earlier?”
“Huh? Did I say that?”
“You said it to Momoko-san. That you’d call her when the Powered Suit was complete.”
“Come to think of it, I did say that… Oh well, it’s fine. I’m going to give one to Shar too once it’s done, anyway.”
“Eh! Kazuma. What about me?”
“Alicia, you want one too? If so, I’ll think about it.”
“Eh, ah, it’s fine…”
“You don’t need one? In that case, I won’t make it.”
“I need one!”
And so, Kazuma hurriedly decided to develop a Powered Suit for Alicia as well.
However, since she possessed two types of Gifts, Telekinesis and Barrier, she didn’t really need something like a Powered Suit.
Of course, her physical body was no different from an ordinary person’s, so she was vulnerable to attacks, but with her Barrier, she wouldn’t be hit in the first place.
Last time, it wasn’t so much that she was careless, but rather she prioritized the safety of the citizens and thus took a hit; normally, unless something extraordinary happened, she was invincible.
That said.
It wouldn’t hurt to have something like a Powered Suit to cover her physical aspects.
That way, she wouldn’t expose herself to such a disgrace as last time.
“Hmm. Understood. I’ll handle things on my end. Hey, Sakura Hakanai. I can’t leave you alone, so come with me.”
“How forceful. Where are we going?”
“To the factory where the Powered Suits are being developed. We’re going by Teleportation, so get close to me.”
“Understood.”
Sakura Hakanai clung to Kazuma’s arm as he was about to activate his Teleportation Magic.
Pressing her ample bosom generously against Kazuma, Sakura Hakanai, wrapped around his arm, gave a bewitching smile.
“I said get close, not cling to me.”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? This much.”
“Get off. You’re annoying.”
Kazuma lightly shook off Sakura Hakanai, distancing her from himself.
“Ahn. You’re so mean.”
Shaken off as if swatting a bug, Sakura Hakanai showed an exaggerated reaction.
“Don’t blush. Let me tell you, I’m not the type who enjoys tormenting others.”
“Perhaps you’re the type who enjoys being tormented?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Oh? You never know. Strong men, in particular, sometimes have a dormant desire to be dominated, you know?”
“…I understand now that I can’t win against you in an argument.”
Realizing anew that he couldn’t win an argument with Sakura Hakanai no matter what, Kazuma looked up at the heavens.
“Haaah… Let’s get going quickly.”
“Oka~y.”
“Ah, wait a moment!”
Just as Kazuma was about to teleport, Alicia called out for him to wait.
“What’s wrong? Is there something else?”
“Can we come with you too?”
“Nnngh… Ahh, probably not. This one is my subordinate, so it’s fine, but you two, even as friends, are outsiders. I can provide you with Powered Suits, but showing you while they’re under development is impossible… Sorry.”
“I see. You’re right. We’re sorry for asking for something unreasonable.”
“Really sorry. I’ll make it up to you next time.”
Kazuma, apologizing with his hands pressed together, then immediately teleported with Sakura Hakanai to Kurashige Industries and disappeared from the room.
Left behind, Alicia and Charlotte discussed what to do next.
“Kazuma’s gone, so what should we do?”
“Shall we go sightseeing in Japan as he suggested? Or, since there are golems in the training facility Kazuma-san left for us, shall we train?”
“That’s fine too, but… That’s right! Shouldn’t we talk to Mother-in-law about Kazuma? You know, Sakura Hakanai told us, right? That Kazuma is different from other people.”
“That may be so, but will talking to Honoka-san solve anything? She is Kazuma-san’s mother, after all…”
“I don’t think that part will be a problem, but…”
If it was Honoka, the mother who raised Kazuma, she might be able to resolve the problems he was facing.
However, Honoka was Kazuma’s mother and his ally.
If Kazuma didn’t wish for it, she probably wouldn’t side with Alicia and the others.
But, she might at least give them some advice.
“Let’s consult with her first and then think. With Kazuma as he is now, only a yes-man or a ‘mommy’ type could become his girlfriend.”
“That’s not good~. We have to correct that somehow…”
Alicia, currently judged as a ‘friend’, and Charlotte, whose status was ambiguous.
The two of them somehow wanted to date Kazuma, but unfortunately, his sexual preferences, or rather, his sense of ethics, had become extremely problematic.
Because of that, Alicia had been demoted from “more than a friend, less than a lover” to just a “friend.”
And that was just from lecturing him a little and showing her disgust.
The girls had judged this to be quite severe and were thinking about how to correct it.
For now, their discussion had concluded, so Alicia and Charlotte left Kazuma’s room and headed towards Honoka, who was working.
She was doing paperwork in Ivy’s management office and looked busy, but that was only an appearance.
It wasn’t that she was slacking off, but Honoka was clearing up the documents while taking appropriate breaks.
There, Alicia and Charlotte conveyed to Honoka the matter they had just been discussing.
“Oh, what’s wrong? Just the two of you?”
“Kazuma seems to have an errand, so it’s just us. And, we have something we’d like to talk to you about, is now a good time?”
“Of course. Could you wait for me in the reception room?”
“Understood.”
As instructed, the two moved to the reception room and waited for Honoka.
After a short while, Honoka entered the reception room carrying tea and sweets.
She sat down in front of the two, placed the tea and sweets on the central table, and turned her face towards them.
“Please. Don’t hesitate to eat.”
“Thank you very much.”
After drinking some tea, Honoka asked what the two wanted to consult her about.
“So, what is it you wanted to talk about? Could it be about Kazuma?”
“Your perceptiveness is a great help…”
“Judging from your expressions, it doesn’t seem to be anything good.”
Seeing Alicia and Charlotte’s downcast expressions, Honoka sensed that Kazuma had done something again.
“Could you tell me about it?”
“Yes…”
First, it was about what Kazuma had done.
Honoka heard in detail from Alicia and the others what Kazuma had done to them so far.
And, upon learning the details, she let out a big sigh and simultaneously pressed her temples.
“I see… I’m so sorry. It’s because of my foolish son and me.”
“N-no, the ones at fault are… well, us for falling for him, or how should I put it…”
“Thank you. For your consideration.”
Comforted by the two, Honoka drank her tea to calm herself down and took a breather.
“Phew… I knew he was somewhat twisted, but I never thought it was to this extent. He must have been lectured so many times…”
“But, that was out of concern for Kazuma-san, you weren’t despising or feeling disgust towards him, right?”
Honoka nodded at Charlotte’s question, stating that she had never felt any disgust towards Kazuma.
“That’s right. Even when he did foolish things, I never came to hate him. But, I never imagined that because of that, he’d start to give up on people if he thought they disliked him even a little…”
“Can’t something be done about it…”
“Regarding this, it seems like it wouldn’t mean much even if I said something… Not unless he himself becomes aware of it.”
“What should we do?”
“That’s a difficult question~. In the first place, he used to say he likes girls who like him, so that’s probably true, but… could it be that his experiences in the other world are influencing this?”
That was likely the crux of the matter.
Or perhaps he also had a complex about being abandoned.
Either way, if Kazuma wanted to get a girlfriend, this was a fatal flaw.
“…A powerful blow is needed.”
“A powerful blow? You mean, hit him?”
“It would be good if hitting him would wake him up, but that’s not it. You have no choice but to hit him with the full force of your feelings.”
“Eh! You mean we should confess?”
“A normal confession won’t do. Even if you managed to start dating, you’d end up breaking up quickly. So, you have no choice but to make Kazuma realize.”
“So, it means if we don’t try hard, it’s no good?”
“It’s a pathetic thing to say, but there’s nothing I can do. As you say, if you truly want to be with Kazuma for life, that’s the only way…”
Honoka looked at the two in front of her and thought.
Both Alicia and Charlotte were beauties who wouldn’t lose out to idols or actresses.
They were undoubtedly in high demand and could probably pick and choose men as they pleased.
There were surely sincere men out there who would truly love them, unlike a troublesome man like Kazuma.
“I know it’s not my place to say this, but don’t you think you girls could find better men?”
“That might be so, but I want Kazuma. It’s what they call being weak for someone you’ve fallen for, you know.”
“Me too. In the first place, Kazuma-san has to take responsibility for various things, after all.”
“Wait. Don’t tell me, did Kazuma make a move on you girls?”
“…In a sense.”
“Please. I won’t ask for details, but could you just tell me whether he did something or not?”
“In that sense, nothing happened. It’s just a wholesome relationship, that’s all.”
“I see… I’ve talked to him about that sort of thing, but at his age, he’s bound to be very curious. I won’t say don’t do it, but just make sure you’re not irresponsible, okay? I’ll have a word with him about it too.”
“Yes!”
Although no concrete solution came to mind, they were able to inform Honoka of Kazuma’s current situation.
This wouldn’t magically solve anything, but they would likely be able to secure Honoka’s cooperation.
Having gained his foster parent as their greatest collaborator, the two of them joined hands, aiming to improve Kazuma’s sense of ethics while also trying to win him over.
◇◇◇◇
Meanwhile, Kazuma was at Kurashige Industries with Sakura Hakanai and had begun development of the Powered Suit.
Just as Ema had told him over the phone, many workers had gathered at Kurashige Industries.
There were at least fifty people or more.
Moreover, they were all experienced veterans, and the development team, in particular, was a hidden treasure of the Japanese government.
“Hmm… This factory feels cramped.”
“Well, that can’t be helped, can it~? This place is just as it looks, a factory in the old part of town, right? If so, this many people is a bit much.”
“Can’t be helped. Guess I’ll expand it.”
Kazuma called Shouzo over and told him he was going to expand the factory.
“Shouzo-san. I’m going to expand the factory a bit, no problem with that, right?”
“Eh…?”
“Well, you probably wouldn’t understand even if I told you, so it’s faster to show you.”
Saying that, Kazuma used spatial magic to transform the factory’s interior into an alternate dimension, expanding it to many times its original size.
Kazuma spoke to Shouzo, who was gaping, utterly bewildered as if he’d been tricked by a fox.
“How’s that? This much space should be enough, right?”
“Ah, yes…”
Shouzo decided it was best not to question Kazuma any further.