Magical★Explorer

BEHIND GABBY ASSAULT

Shion-san’s POV

———————-

“Gabriella should be meeting Takioto-kun right about now huh.”

Lord Benito said so with a cheerful smile while closing his Tsukuyomi Traveller.

“Is that okay? Saying something like that and leave it all to Kou. She’s Lord’s important little sister right?”

After I said that, the Lord says [Of course] and nodded.

“I think it is for the best. it is for Gabriella’s own good that I leave her in Takioto-kun’s care. It is not something that I should interfere with. I do feel sorry for Takioto-kun though……I will have to apologize to him later.”

I don’t know the full details but since it’s the Lord,

“You have your reason right? Well, it’s that child after all, it should be fine as long as you explain your reason to him.”

But it’s another question whether the Lord will talk about that or not. I also have something that I don’t talk about unless I get the result after all.

“…….”

“What is it? Looking at me like that.”

“Come to think of it………aren’t you like Takioto-kun quite a lot too, Shion-chan?”

“He is cute you know. I can see why Yukine likes him so much.”

The fact that he can make Yukine that much into him is already quite impressive in the first place.

“I see, then that’s all the more reason for me to left her in Takioto-kun’s care.”

“Hou…then don’t you have to tell her? The fact that she was eligible to join the three committees and the fact that her own brother, the Lord, rejected her application to the Shikibukai. I really do want to hear your reason on this Lord.”

Hearing so, the Lord replied with a bitter smile.

“For better or worse, I think Gabriella is forcing herself this time.”

“Why? How is she forcing herself?”

“You know, to me I think that in order to grow up, there are times that you have to force yourself to do the impossible.”

…..Well, I understand what he wants to say. People can grow up by purposefully putting themselves into a difficult position and polish yourselves through it. Even I have repeatedly put myself in danger to do that countless times before.

“But you see, the Shikibukai is really a harsh place. Everyone is not as strong as Shion-chan and Takioto-kun you know.”

“Well, I think those are just the cry of the losers though.”

“There aren’t many people who think like that you know. Especially, Gabriella, I think she is very conscious about it. Of course, it is not a bad thing to be a little conscious about such a thing. However, that is the thing that we, the Shikibukai must show that we can take.”

The Lord takes a small breath and stands up.

“Gabriella is a serious child but she is too serious. That’s why the Shikibukai is not suited for her. But you know, I think that if everything goes well, it can serve as an obstacle for her to grow.”

Hearing his reason so far, I know that the Lord is really thinking about Gabriella.

“If Gabriella has the conviction to overcome this and the friends that are ready to support her, I don’t mind having her here at the Shikibukai. I am really sorry for Takioto-kun but I will have him ascertain that for me. And if possible……”

So after he considered it, again and again, he decided to leave her in Kou’s hand huh.

The Lord moves his eyes away from me and looks at the door. At the same time, a knock can be heard from the door.

“Good afternoon, Benito-kun. Shion. And…..Ara, he’s not here?”

President Monika entered the room. She said that as she sweeps her eyes over the room and walks toward us.

Seeing that, I immediately stood up and start preparing the tea.

“So rather than me, you are here for him huh? I’m getting envious!”

“That’s only natural right?….. Speaking of which, I just remembered, it seems like he’s planning to seduce me you know. I am looking forward to it.”

She said so and laugh. Looking at her, and I don’t intend this as a lipservice, she seems to be really looking forward to it. Lord Benito bearing his usual smile pulls out a chair for her.

“Aah, it’s about his standing in the three committees, right? So, what is your business today? You are not just here for him right?”

“It’s about the three committees member selection. There are a lot of amazing children this year, right? Compared to last year, they joined the three committees a lot faster too.”

While listening to the president, I pour magic power into the magic stone and activate the magic circle. When I heard the sound of boiling water from the kettle, I poured hot water into the teapot that I prepared beforehand.

“There’s certainly a lot huh. Starting with Takioto-kun, Trefle-san, even Gabriella too……”

“What are you going to do about Gabriella? She is your little sister, right? I thought that you would just accept her into the Shikibukai…..Ara, thank you.”

As president Monika accepted the tea from me, she immediately takes a sip.

“Haha, Shion-chan also said the same thing you know.”

“Isn’t it natural? Haven’t you always brag about how great your sister is? I thought that you were a big siscon you know. So, Benito-kun, do you want Gabriella to join the Shikibukai? Or……”

“If you ask me whether or not I want her to join then yes, I want her to join but that will be after Gabriella made her resolve. Not some image that she was instilled by me but her own resolve.”

“Her own resolve?”

“That girl chased after me too much.”

Saying so, the Lord gulp down his tea.

“You see…..I have a thought. There is a person who acts as a [light] in this world. In our generation, it would be you, president Monika.”

“Ara, Thank you. I’m happy you said that.”

“Then in Shion-chan’s generation, it would be our vice-presidents. And for this year….among all the people I have seen, he is the person who left the most intense impression.”

“And that person is Takioto Kousuke right?”

The Lord places his cup on the saucer and gives me a small nod.

“Yeah, that’s right. He is interesting, right? He became such a hot topic among us. And not just that, both in a good way and a bad way, normal students are also taking their interest in him. Even talented people such as yourselves are attracted to him, even headmaster Hanamura has placed great expectations on him as well.”

“….That is certainly so.”

“A bright light huh, sometimes a goal, sometimes a rival and some times an ally. And most importantly, a light that leads the way. For everyone, and Gabriella too. Well, he also cast a big shadow at the same time as well.”

Shadow, huh. I kind of understand that. There are those that dropped out of the academy. Losing their confidence to the bright light, they lost their own goal.

Both I and Lord Benito believe that such people are better off dropping out. Especially those who are aiming for a dangerous future like that of an adventurer.

“And I have a feeling that ultimately, he will be able to bring it to an end…….No, I think that it will go well if we work together.”

“What will?”

“If I, president Monika, Stefania-sama, and the sempais at the three committees were to——-”

“—STOP.”

President Monika stares at Lord Benito with a serious expression.

“I am going to see that duty through to the end myself.”

“Aah, that’s right, isn’t it. We still have a year to afford. You might have to be the one to do it in the end. However, I think Takioto-kun might offer to do it himself too. Also, I get the feeling that you and I might be included as his party members as well.”

I don’t understand what they are saying. Sometime after I joined the three committees I get the feeling that the sempais are hiding something from us. But I’ve never spoken that feeling out loud.

“I thought that you were hiding something, so it was the case after all.”

The Lord put his hands together and wink.

“Sorry, we want to tell it to Mizumori-san and the other as well so can you wait for now?”

“then…..I don’t mind.”

There are parts of me that want him to hurry up and tell me though.

President Monika was staring at Lord but she eventually gives up and let out a small sigh.

“….so you have that much expectation for him.”

“Yeah, I expected a lot from him. A big, big expectation. Just like what we are expecting from vice-captain Mizumori.”

After he said so, he loosened his expression and smile.

“Well, at the same time, I’m excited to see him wading through the strange event that will happen around him. Especially his relationship with women and how he is going to determine the course of the Shikibukai in the future!”

Certainly, he seems like the type that would cause problems huh. Even if he is being careful, there’s nothing to do if he is suddenly attacked after all.

“WaHaHaHa! That’s right, that’s right, he will definitely start something up.”

“Haa, when the number one problem child in the second year said that it sound so persuasive…..it would be good if it is just on the level of his previous dungeon capture but I don’t want to deal with something even more strange than that you know.”

“OOH, that’s painful to hear.”

As I put both of my hand to cover my ears, Lord Benito takes out his Tsukuyomi Traveller and said: [Ah, it’s finally here].

“Who?”

“It’s a call from Gabriella.”

“Ho, about that huh.”

“What is it? Can I hear about it too?”

“I don’t mind, I don’t mind. It is about what we talked about earlier. Lord Benito deliberately directed Gabriella to attack Kou you see. Of course, we didn’t tell Kou beforehand either.”

“I see, Un Un, you already met Takioto-kun right?”

Lord Benito is talking happily with Gabriella.

“Arara, poor Takioto-kun. Should I invite him over to the student council, I wonder.”

“Hahaha, that’s already impossible isn’t it.”

“Eeh!? Wh, Why?……I, I see. U, Un, I understand. Then I think a dungeon capture would be good. I will arrange it for you.”

“……………….Hey, doesn’t he look kinda suspicious? Perhaps something already happened?”

“I agree, that’s what I am thinking too.”

Looking at Lord Benito’s bitter smile, there’s no mistake.

“I screw up. I know that he is a person who did a lot of unexpected things but this is truly outside my expectation, Hahaha.”

“What happened?”

Lord Benito makes a bitter smile to president Monika’s question.

“If his luck is bad I thought that it would end up in a duel but….well, it is still a duel in a certain sense though.”

“So what happened?”

“President Monika should know him well right? Hijiri Iori-kun.”

The man that Kou said to pay attention to?

“Yeah, come to think of it, he is close to Kousuke-kun huh. Ah, I am thinking about recruiting him to the student council someday, please take good care of him okay.”

Not only Kou, he also received a good evaluation from president Monika huh.

“….did he defended Kou?”

Since they are close, that might be the case. I won’t feel anything no matter how much people talk badly about me, but if they make a fool of Yukine, Fran or Kou then it won’t end with just me being a little angry.

“No, you see, about that, it is a little different……..it was Iori-Kun’s step-sister instead.”

“Sister? Ah, I heard about her, she is the child that transferred in recently right? Come to think of it, headmaster Hanamura also said: [She’s not on Kou-chan’s level but she is a talented child. I think she’s a good candidate for the three committees].”

“Hou, she is in the same grade even though she is his little sister huh.”

“It seems she became one after the remarriage so she’s his step-sister. Actually, I was about to talk with you about that child too.”

“Fumu, to received the seal of approval from the headmaster, she must be quite talented…..speaking of which, Lord, what happened with her?”

“……it seems like Hijiri-san also joining the duel too so she wants me to prepare a three-ways competition with Takioto-kun you see……. Moreover, it seems like she is eager to fight with Hijiri-san even more than Takioto-kun now.”

And when we thought that we could leave this to Kou, this happened.

“Hou! Isn’t it getting interesting!.”

Alright, let’s call Kou to get the details!