Chapter 6: Like Weaving Words Together②
The conversation progressed bit by bit, and Sensei casually asked, “So, it has been four days since Ash performed the last seal?”
I didn’t miss it. Sensei referred to Ashley as “Ash.” To call someone by a nickname so soon after meeting them shows just how close Sensei is willing to get. It’s a complete extrovert move.
If Sensei were in the same class and of the same age, I could imagine them saying something like, “Hey, Otaku-kun! I love manga too! Especially One Piece!”
While half of my brain was lost in that fantasy, I decided to ask Sensei, even though it might be a bit awkward.
“Sensei, you just said ‘Ash’…”
“What’s the matter, Son-in-law? Are you curious about why I called the Young Lady ‘Ash’?”
“N-no, it’s not that I’m particularly curious or anything…”
I was way too curious, actually. Just saying it out loud made me feel embarrassed about my own pettiness.
“I like hardworking people, you see. You feel the same way, right? You have a soft spot for them too, don’t you?”
I couldn’t deny it. It felt like Sensei could read my every thought, and it was infuriating.
“Ugh…”
“If you don’t like it, I can stop.”
In response to Sensei’s words, I declared, “No, don’t stop. Omi-san, I want you to keep calling me ‘Ash’ from now on.”
Ashley had requested it instead. I noticed Mr. Justus beside me biting down on his handkerchief, but I chose to ignore it.
“This might actually be perfect. Not just you, Omi-san, but I want Row-kun to call me ‘Ash’ from now on too. We are about to dive into a life-or-death battle. Therefore, I wish to build a relationship where we can trust each other completely. If we call each other by nicknames, we can grow closer, don’t you think?”
Ashley looked at us, her bangs fiddled with, and her cheeks slightly flushed. “What do you think?”
“Nice to meet you, Ash,” I replied, extending my hand.
“Ah, likewise,” Ashley said, firmly shaking my hand.
Sensei squinted as if he were looking at something dazzling, surveying us.
“Now then, let’s return to the topic at hand. It has been four days since Ash awakened. The last Demon Seal skill was interrupted by those fools before it could finish, so I suspect the seal will begin to unravel in about four to five days.”
Sensei’s gaze shifted to me, and the previously relaxed atmosphere suddenly felt tense.
“You saw it today, didn’t you, Son-in-law? That Moya Beast. That is the beginning of the seal’s unraveling.”
Moya. The beginning of the seal’s unraveling. Those ominous words hung in the air.
“Hmm, yes. First, we need to explain the Moya Beast to everyone.”
“Row, did you see anything?” Sensei’s words prompted Ashley to ask me.
“Yeah, this morning when I was with Sensei, I was attacked by the Moya Beast. It had a faint presence and was quite a troublesome monster.”
“The Moya Beast… That matches what I was told by my master—”
Ashley murmured, her ominous premonition growing stronger.
“From now on, the Moya Beasts will likely start to increase in number. However, their combat power isn’t particularly threatening, so you can take some comfort in that.”
I sensed Anon and Ashley relax a bit. It made sense; a new unknown monster had appeared. It was surprising that anyone could remain calm.
“I will now tell you what we must do.”
The other members, including myself, nodded.
“The seal has begun to unravel today. What we must do is eliminate the Moya that has leaked out. At the same time, we need to contact the Holy Knights guarding the other two seals. We need to explain what will happen and ensure they can respond accordingly.”
Anon raised her hand eagerly.
“If that’s the case, leave it to me. While Ash was sleeping, I contacted Arrogance and Virtuous.”
“Impressive, Anon. You’re quick to act,” Ashley praised her, and I could feel the trust and years of camaraderie between them.
But how did she manage to contact them in such a short time? As if reading my thoughts, Anon spoke up.
“Ah, Row. You’re curious about how I contacted them, right? The Holy Knights, including Ashley, were given a very valuable item in case something unusual happened to the seal.”
Ashley cleared her throat, interrupting Anon’s enthusiastic explanation. She shot Anon a look that seemed to say, “That’s enough.”
“I’ll explain. The item given to us Holy Knights is this Communication Orb. With this, we can contact each other’s registered orbs in case something happens.”
It was an orb about the size of my fist. The smooth surface was adorned with smaller gems and other items, firmly set into its base.
“Wow! That’s handy! I want one too!”
With this, I could contact Sena even when I’m out in town. I’m a genius. A brilliant idea!
“Wait, you want one?”
Ashley looked at me with a troubled expression, her eyebrows furrowed.
“Row-kun, this is a precious item… I can’t just give it away… But you’re my best friend, and you’re saying you want it…”
“What are you hesitating for, Ash? It’s common sense not to give it away! And when did we become best friends?!”
Anon grabbed Ashley’s shoulders and shook her vigorously. Apparently, I had become Ashley’s best friend without realizing it.
This is bad! This is really bad! Ashley is probably the type who would just give in to a needy guy in modern society. Someone save her!
“Sorry, Ash. I was just joking about wanting it.”
“Ah, I thought so! Jokes like that aren’t good, Row-kun!”
Holy Knight Ashley—my first impression of her had completely vanished. The way she spoke, her slightly shorter height for a woman, and her combat demeanor had led me to believe she was a tough woman.
But after actually talking to her, I found myself thinking she had a somewhat endearing, older sister vibe, especially with her drooping eyes that looked troubled.
“Is it alright to continue now?”
Sensei, with a hint of exasperation, brought the conversation back on track. My apologies.
“It is only natural for those who are sealed to attempt to break free. Therefore, please contact the other two families again and tell them to strengthen the defenses around the shrine.”
“Omi-san, understood.”
“Also, it will take about two weeks for the Labyrinth to fully manifest after the seal breaks. This means we have about ten days of leeway.”
“What should we do to prepare during that time?”
“What we need to prepare, above all else, is our defensive forces.”
“Defensive forces…” I repeated, sounding like a parrot.
“We must continue to eliminate the Moya until we conquer the Sealed Labyrinth. Especially in this area, which is under the protection of the Noble, we can expect the Moya to appear quickly and in greater numbers. Therefore, we need a force to keep the Moya threat at bay.”
“Leave that to us. Ashley and I will go speak with the Lord of Bordaf.”
“We still have time. There’s no need to rush; we can take it one step at a time.”
With the wisdom of experience, Sensei calmed us down. Well then, I’ll add my two cents here.
“I agree with Sensei. So, let’s take a breather and have lunch.”
Since it was a serious discussion, everyone here, including me, had missed lunch. That won’t do. You can’t function on an empty stomach.
With a feeling that my Magic Bag’s spices would come in handy, I headed toward the kitchen.
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