Chapter 126: Special Training 16
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 126: Special Training 16
A secluded corner of the Academy.
With spirits keeping watch nearby to ensure they wouldn't be disturbed, Loki and Sepia were deep in conversation.
"I'll take the mask back for now. Though I'll just be lending it to you again when we train later, Sepia."
Loki reached into the already open safe and pulled out the white mask. Then, he extended a hand toward Sepia, gesturing for her to follow.
"Shall we head back to class, Sepia?"
"Don't you 'shall we head back' me! Are you kidding? Hand over that magic tool right now!"
Sepia shouted at Loki as he tried to casually gloss over the situation.
There’s a limit to how shameless someone can be! I almost just said 'okay' and followed him!
"Huh? A magic tool? I have no idea what you're talking about... Did you perhaps have a dream or something?"
Sepia’s body trembled as she watched Loki scratch his head, feigning total ignorance.
No, stay calm. If I get swept up in his pace, I lose.
She was always getting caught up in this Pushover’s rhythm. It often resulted in her being unable to say what she really wanted to.
Not this time.
Sepia took several deep breaths. She even visualized a blue river and a lush green forest to suppress her rising anger. Then, she spoke as calmly as possible.
"Pushover. I'm talking about what's in your hand."
"Hmm..."
Loki stroked his chin thoughtfully, then thrust the hand holding the mask forward, waving it around.
"Do you mean the mask? I'm not sure if this qualifies as a magic tool, but if you want it, I can lend it to you whenever—"
"Not your right hand, your left! You! You know exactly what I'm talking about! I'm actually going to get mad!"
The composure she had maintained through deep breathing shattered in less than ten seconds. Watching him act so shamelessly while knowing everything made it impossible to stay calm, no matter how hard she tried.
"Ah! You meant this?"
Loki tucked the mask into his Pocket Dimension and opened his clenched left hand to show her. Resting in his palm was a small, cube-shaped magic tool.
"You should have just said so. Then there wouldn't have been any misunderstanding... You know, Sepia, you can be quite mischievous sometimes."
Sepia wanted to smack the back of the insufferable man right then and there, but she held back.
"So, you want this magic tool?"
As he spoke, Loki pressed down on the cube.
— Click.
[I said thank you! Thanks for helping with the special training! Thanks for lending me the mask! Just... thanks for everything! Happy now?]
The words Sepia had uttered moments ago flowed out of the device.
"..."
Sepia wanted to let out the rage bubbling up to her throat, but she restrained herself. First, she had to retrieve that magic tool immediately.
It wasn't that she regretted saying those words. In fact, she knew that a mere thank you couldn't possibly repay the debt she owed him.
But that doesn't mean you go around recording a thank-you message!
Loki held the magic tool out toward her. Interpreting this as a sign that she could take it, Sepia reached out.
Swish.
Loki snatched his hand away. Sepia stared at him with trembling eyes.
You're giving it to me, right?
"No. I'm going to pass this down to my descendants as a family heirloom."
— Click.
[I said thank you! Thanks for helping with the special training! Thanks for lending me the mask! Just... thanks for everything! Happy now?]
"Why would you leave something like that as an heirloom?! Are you messing with me?"
"Well, since it's you saying thank you, of course I have to pass it down. Isn't that just common sense?"
— Click.
[I said thank you! Thanks for helping with the special training! Thanks for lending me the mask! Just... thanks for everything! Happy now?]
"It's not common sense at all! And stop acting like I'm someone who doesn't know how to say thank you!"
"Hey now, I never thought that for a second."
— Click.
[I said thank you! Thanks for helping with the special training! Thanks for lending me the mask! Just... thanks for everything! Happy now?]
"And stop pressing it! How long do you plan on playing that?!"
Sepia screamed at Loki, her face flushed red. It wasn't the first time her face had turned red in front of him, but this time, it was purely out of sheer irritation.
"Hmm, if you're going to ask that nicely, I suppose I'll stop for today."
"I never asked nicely! Sigh..."
The word 'today' felt ominous, but Sepia gave up. Surely, if he had any sense at all, he wouldn't play it in front of other people...
He does have sense, right?
She was genuinely worried. She knew the Pushover enjoyed teasing her, but she hadn't realized it was to this extent!
He wouldn't actually walk around the Academy playing that magic tool just to mock me later, would he?
An ominous scene flashed through Sepia's mind: Loki traversing the Academy on a tightrope while constantly playing that recording, and her chasing after him, trying desperately to stop him.
Loki looked down at Sepia, who was trembling with her head bowed, muttering, "No, that can't happen. Absolutely not."
It seems Sepia thinks I'm teasing her for no reason.
Of course, he wasn't teasing her without cause. There was a very important reason for his constant provocation.
"Sepia, this is all part of the training. Training to maintain your composure and not get agitated by an opponent's taunts."
"Really?"
"Nah, just kidding. I'm just doing it because your reactions are so good."
As if. It was just one of his small pleasures in life.
"................"
"Oh? Wait, Sepia, why are you clenching your fists and coming toward me... Gah! Wait, Sepia, that hit a bone! A bone! At this rate, I'm actually going to di—"
"Just die already!!!"
The spirits, who had been watching for anyone approaching, looked on with amusement as Sepia pummeled Loki and Loki screamed in pain.
They're getting along well again today.
Indeed.
* * *
"Do you have... cough... anything else to say? Or more hitting to do?"
A battered Loki asked as he straightened his clothes, which had become disheveled from rolling around on the ground. He could have easily dodged Sepia's palms, but he hadn't.
If he dodged all of her attacks, her anger wouldn't subside, and then he wouldn't be able to tease her next time. Sacrificing his back for the sake of the next prank—wasn't this the true meaning of equivalent exchange?
— Chirp.
"Sigh... I have one thing I'm curious about."
Sepia, exhausted from hitting Loki, spoke with slightly heavy breaths.
"It's not a question about whether you can hit me more, is it? I don't think I can take any more today, so if it's okay with you, maybe I could take the rest on an installment plan..."
"It's not that! Haa... Can I ask where you got that mask? Ah, if it's awkward, you don't have to tell me."
Sepia asked more cautiously than usual, mainly because the mask's abilities were so bizarre.
Training with the mask was significantly more efficient than training without it. She couldn't even begin to guess the principle behind it. Even if it was a reward from a dungeon, a dungeon containing such an abnormal mask would surely have an abnormal difficulty level.
Since it wasn't a critical secret anyway, Loki decided to tell her the 100% truth.
"It has been with me since the moment I appeared in this world, just like my handsome face."
Everything Loki said was 100% true, but naturally, Sepia assumed it was a lie.
"If you don't want to tell me, just say so. You don't have to tell such a ridiculous lie."
Sepia pouted, feeling a twinge of disappointment.
"Hmph. It's the truth. You really need to learn how to trust people, Sepia. My feelings are very hurt right now. Sniff, sniff."
Loki crouched down and pretended to sob.
— Chirp.
Sepia's eyes drifted to Loki's back, which was more visible now that he was crouching. As always, the red cloak occupied its place there.
"Does that cloak have a special ability like the mask? Or is it just a normal cloak?"
Loki turned his head to look at what others called a red cloak.
"Ah, this. Well... how should I put it? Hmm... Insurance? A joker?"
It was insurance to be used just before the worst-case scenario struck, and a joker card that could turn that worst-case scenario into the best opportunity. Because it was that important, it was the first thing he had looked for when he was first dragged here and was still disoriented.
Of course, there was a high probability he would never have to use it...
But whenever I think like that, I always end up needing it.
— Chirp.
"What does that even mean? Is that a secret too?"
Naturally, Sepia had no idea what Loki was talking about.
"If you're unlucky enough, you might find out what it is later."
"Don't people usually say you'll find out if you're lucky?"
"We can talk more about the cloak if the opportunity arises later. For now, I have something I'm curious about too. Can I ask?"
Actually, he had wanted to ask this since he first met Sepia today, but the timing had been off. Loki pointed his finger toward Sepia's head—specifically, just above it.
"It's been bothering me since I first saw it. What on earth is that yellow bird on your head?"
— Chirp?
"Is it emergency food?"
— Chirp! Chirp!