Episode 30: I’ve Got a Bit of an Interesting Story for You~
“I shall teach you. The meaning of true despair!”
“That’s just like a villain’s line, isn’t it~…”
“That being said, it suits him perfectly right now.”
Right now, Kazuma was outnumbered, and Momoko and the others formed a composition like that of a Hero’s party challenging the Demon Lord.
In addition to Momoko and Sakura Hakanai, the actors, actresses, and stuntmen present on set had ganged up to confront Kazuma.
“Hmph! You lot don’t stand a chance.”
“Well now, we won’t know that until we try, will we~”
It wasn’t as if Sakura Hakanai didn’t understand the difference in their abilities.
Kazuma sensed she was plotting something and raised his guard.
This was Sakura Hakanai, who had already used Brainwashing on the entire staff.
If he didn’t move cautiously, he’d likely be tripped up.
“Whatever you’re scheming, I’ll crush it all.”
“Ufufufu…”
No matter what kind of plan they devised, Kazuma could easily overpower them with his overwhelming strength.
“Well then, how about this?”
Momoko, who should have been behind Sakura Hakanai, stepped in front of Kazuma, holding a cell phone in one hand.
Momoko thrust out her arm as if to show off the phone’s screen.
“Hm?”
A bad feeling ran down his spine. Kazuma tried to stop Momoko’s and Sakura Hakanai’s subjective time and snatch the phone, but his magic didn’t work on the phone, and Honoka, who knew the whole situation, appeared on the screen.
“‘Kazuma. You’re in for a punishment when you get back.'”
“Th-That’s dirty! Bringing Kaa-san into this!”
“‘What’s dirty about it? Using an unconventional power like magic to threaten people is far dirtier.'”
“Ngh… I’m sorry.”
“‘Stop doing unnecessary things and come home.'”
“Aye…”
His shoulders slumped in dejection, Kazuma dispelled his magic, freeing Momoko and Sakura Hakanai.
“Good grief~”
“Thanks to you, I was able to explain the situation to Honoka-san. Thank you very much.”
“So while Sakura Hakanai was buying time using Brainwashing, Momoko-chan was calling Kaa-san… I’ve been had~”
Completely tricked, Kazuma looked down, frustrated.
He wouldn’t lose in a head-on fight, but it turned out he was exceptionally weak against indirect tactics.
“From now on, if anything happens, shouldn’t we just report it to Okaasama?”
“We already do. You might not think it, but he’s been disciplined by his mother many times.”
“He never learns, does he~”
“Because he’s a dyed-in-the-wool show-off…”
“Hahaha, you’re making me blush~”
“”We’re not praising you.””
As if on cue for their usual routine, Kazuma played the fool, and the two delivered their retorts along with a chop to the crown of his head.
“If it weren’t me, I’d be dead, you know?”
The two had partially deployed their Powered Suits before bringing the chop down on Kazuma’s head.
They figured that was the only way to actually inflict damage on Kazuma.
“Isn’t that obvious? Otherwise, it wouldn’t serve as a punishment, would it?”
“We only have the strength of ordinary women, so of course.”
“I’ve been training you, so you should be stronger than ordinary women…”
Kazuma gave the two a reproachful, deadpan stare.
“More importantly, we’re probably in the way, so let’s go home.”
“No, but, I want to talk to the Director-san…”
“It’s probably something trivial, right? If you don’t want to be scolded by Okaasama, let’s just go home quietly.”
“It’s not trivial!”
He retorted like a spoiled child, but once Honoka’s name was mentioned, Kazuma had no choice but to obediently listen.
However, there are times when he just can’t back down.
For Kazuma, that time was now.
“I’m going to discuss a special collaboration with the Director-san—!”
“Ah, hey! Wait!”
“Someone stop him!”
Shaking off their attempts to stop him, Kazuma pushed forward.
The people Brainwashed by Sakura Hakanai tried to block his path, but it was utterly meaningless against Kazuma; those who formed a wall were enveloped in magic to prevent injury and sent flying.
“Gwahahahaha! My victory!”
“H-Hey, we won’t help you if you get lectured later!”
“I’m used to Kaa-san’s scoldings!”
Having completely thrown caution to the wind, Kazuma headed straight for the director.
Then, as he approached the director who was arguing with Seiichi, Kazuma stepped in between them.
“Excuse me. We have to go home soon, so could you please let my father go?”
“Ah, uh…”
It was a common line, but coming from Kazuma, a student, it was remarkably effective.
The director became flustered in a very obvious way.
Because, just as Kazuma said, it was clear that his own adult response was inappropriate.
However, that being said.
Fully aware that he was in the wrong, Saeki Director bowed his head to Kazuma in a fawning manner.
“Kazuma-kun! You have to help too! I desperately want to make contact with the Crimson Knight! So, I need you to persuade your father!”
“Hmm… And the fee?”
Saeki Director’s eyes widened at the sudden demand, but since he was the one making the request, paying a reward was naturally expected of an adult.
Besides, if paying money would get Kazuma on his side, it meant he could be trusted.
“Ten thousand, no, how about one hundred thousand yen!?”
“That’s quite generous!”
Kazuma was surprised at how readily he offered money, more than expected, but it conveyed just how serious he was.
That’s precisely why Kazuma decided he wouldn’t hesitate to cooperate with this man.
“Director, I don’t need money.”
“Eh!? But you’re a student, right? I’d think a hundred thousand would be attractive.”
“I’m not hard up for money.”
“Are students these days rich?”
“That doesn’t matter. More importantly, I have a favor to ask of you~”
“A favor other than money… It depends on what it is, I suppose.”
“W-Wait a minute, Kazuma-kun.”
Sensing an ominous atmosphere, Seiichi tried to stop Kazuma.
“What is it?”
“What are you planning to do? I’m telling you, you can’t ask for anything too unreasonable. Saeki Director doesn’t have that much authority, you know?”
“It’s fine! I’ve got the highest authority in this country on my side!”
“Don’t tell me you were serious about getting the Prime Minister to appear!?”
“Of course, I am~”
As Kazuma cackled, the color drained from Seiichi’s face, eventually turning deathly pale.
Thinking this was truly bad, Seiichi looked towards Momoko and the others as if seeking help, but they too just shrugged their shoulders as if to say, ‘We’re helpless.’
Seeing that, Seiichi was aghast, and realizing the situation was beyond salvaging, his shoulders slumped heavily.
“Uhm, are you done talking?”
Sensing that the private conversation with Seiichi was over, Saeki Director timidly spoke to Kazuma.
“Yes. We’re done. Continuing from before, Saeki Director~”
Saeki Director felt wary of Kazuma’s wheedling, somewhat creepy voice, but his curiosity won out even more, and he decided to listen.
“Why don’t we have the Prime Minister appear in this production?”
“…”
Saeki Director was bewildered, wondering just what this boy was saying.
To begin with, there was no way the Prime Minister, the highest authority in Japan, should appear in a Sunday morning tokusatsu drama. No, there was no way he would appear.
Asking the Prime Minister, busy with affairs of state, to appear in a Sunday morning tokusatsu drama could only be seen as making a fool of him.
If lèse-majesté were a crime, this would undoubtedly be an act punishable by death.
“Ah, are you perhaps thinking, ‘What on earth is this kid saying?'”
“Well, to be honest, yes.”
“You’re honest. I like that. But don’t worry. I’m serious. The kind of serious where you’d write the formal characters for ‘serious’ but read it out loud as ‘totally’.”
“I… This old man doesn’t quite get what you’re saying.”
“It’ll be fine! If I make one phone call, the Prime Minister will weep with joy and agree to appear.”
Thinking he couldn’t deal with Kazuma any longer, Saeki Director tried to move away from him, but Kazuma forcefully put an arm around his shoulder, making escape impossible.
“Hey hey, where do you think you’re going?”
“Well now, this old man… my stomach’s suddenly started to hurt…”
“Did you think you could escape?”
The moment Saeki Director instinctively sensed danger, he tried to call out to Seiichi for help, but Kazuma clapped a hand over his mouth.
“Too late. Director, let’s you and I get along real well, okay~?”
In that instant, Saeki Director intensely regretted getting involved with someone he never should have crossed.