The Fox's Road Back to Everyday Life
“A penguin, huh... What a cute hologram.”
“The examiner specially designed it for young Awakeners.”
Normally they used holograms that looked like real monsters, but it seemed they'd prepared this one for cases when a young Awakener like Naru showed up.
Just then, as Naru took down the penguin, I asked the administrator standing beside me about something that had been on my mind.
“Is it all right to give buffs during the measurement?”
“Ahaha, you noticed right away?”
“Well, that timid Naru went straight into fighting, after all.”
“No problem at all. My buff doesn't raise abilities—it just gives a little bit of courage.”
The administrator skillfully operated the machine and shut down the hologram.
“Kyaooo!!!”
Naru climbed onto the vanished penguin and let out a victory roar. The hologram soon disappeared, revealing the sandbag that had been underneath, but Naru didn't seem to notice at all.
I immediately went into the room and approached her.
“Good work, Naru. You were incredibly brave.”
“Heh! Because I'm a great and mighty fox!”
I recalled how she'd first been scared, run away, smashed her head into the wall, and shown her belly, but for the sake of her self-esteem I didn't bring it up.
I simply scooped her up into my arms and celebrated her victory.
With her tail wagging like she was about to take flight, there was no way I couldn't congratulate her.
“But Boss disappeared.”
“Boss disappeared?”
“This super strong-looking Boss was cheering me on, but then he vanished!”
Ah, that must have been the buff the administrator cast. To Naru, it looked like Boss was cheering her on.
“Maybe he cheered you on from afar, and since you won, he went back?”
“Is that it?”
“Yeah, that's it.”
“Uwahaha, Boss must have acknowledged me for sure!!”
Just then, the waiting administrator called out to us.
“All right, everyone, great work. The test results are in—would you like to see them?”
“I wanna see!!”
Naru naturally climbed onto me for a piggyback ride, and I laughed as I carried her over to look at the results.
And then...
Mana Capacity:F
Strength:F
Speed:E
Combat Judgment Ability:F
Mana Operation Ability:Unmeasurable
“...”
I'd expected it, but sure enough, Naru's rank was only F.
Moreover, mana operation ability unmeasurable... That meant Naru had fought with her bare body, without even basic physical enhancement.
She didn't know how to use mana at all.
Once you Awaken, mana operation is something you naturally come to understand...
“Technically we should also measure dodging or blocking attacks, but since she's a young Awakener, we took that into consideration and didn't measure those parts.”
“Thank you.”
The administrator had also noticed that Naru couldn't operate mana and made a good call.
We could teach her that slowly from now on, but I was worried about how Naru would take the results.
I couldn't see the expression of Naru riding on my shoulders, but I hoped she wouldn't be too disappointed about being F-rank...
“Naru, even if it's F, don't be too disappoin—”
“It's F!!”
“Huh...?”
For some reason, Naru was proudly wagging her tail as if an F result was only natural.
“My status window also said F! It's definitely the F for fox!”
“R-right. Our Naru even knows English—amazing. And originally, the status window and measurement results can differ, which is why we do the measurement...”
“What's different?”
“Simply put, the status window tells you about Naru's physical condition. So there can be differences in actual combat.”
For example, even if your rank is C, with personal experience, sense, or mental fortitude, you might fight at a B-rank level.
And ranks rise through personal growth.
That's why the Association does these measurements—to free people from the fixed ideas about the ranks shown on their status windows...
“...?”
Even after the explanation, Naru just stared blankly, not understanding.
“Well, simply put, it means Naru will get stronger too.”
“Yeah, I'm gonna get even stronger!!”
“By the way, what's your class?”
“Fox!!”
“Of course.”
If Naru was happy, that was okay with me.
“Here are the temporary ID and temporary Awakener certificate.”
“Thank you, Ms. Yu Nara.”
“Not at all. If you need anything, please contact me here.”
I took the business card from Ms. Yu Nara and nodded, and she let out a big sigh as she spoke.
“Now I have to clean up the mess that idiot caused. If it's not too much trouble...”
“You want me to do an explanation stream, right?”
“It's shameless of me, but yes. That lard-ass already appeared on the news, so the Association has no reputation left to lose. And since Naru's involvement is known...”
“Ahaha, I don't have any attachment to the Association so I wasn't planning on it, but I don't want to see Ms. Yu Nara overworking herself, so I'll do it.”
“Thank you, for everything.”
“By the way, where did Ms. Kim Seoyeon go? I thought she'd be waiting for Naru.”
“If you mean that idiot, I've put her to work taking responsibility for her own mess.”
There was a murderous aura in Ms. Yu Nara's expression as she spoke with terrifying intensity.
“Uhuuhu, she won't be leaving the office for a while.”
“I-is that so. Do your best.”
“Are we going to the Tower now?”
“No, you're already tired today. We'll go to the Tower later—let's go eat something delicious!”
“Something delicious? Casioote??”
“It's castella.”
“Yeah, that!”
“Anyway, since Naru worked hard today, we're going to eat meat!”
“Meat!?”
Meat? Was she going to hunt and eat it?
“Mice? Or moles? Ah, maybe birds??”
“None of those. And never will be!”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. And on the way, we should buy our Naru some clothes and shoes.”
“Ah, are you planning to buy clothes?”
Just then, Ms. Yu Nara, who had been working while listening to our conversation, looked at Naru and spoke.
“Then how about trying this shop? It's run by an Awakener and they do quick clothing alterations. I thought it might be necessary for Naru.”
“Thank you so much.”
Unlike other people, Naru had a tail, so she couldn't wear ordinary pants.
I'd been wondering what clothes to buy, but if they could alter them quickly, that changed things.
I put Naru into the bag and immediately headed toward the shop Ms. Yu Nara had recommended.
“I also... want to buy clothes for Lady Naru...”
“No. Work.”
“Didn't Seoyeon just say something?”
“Must be your imagination.”
“Is that so? Then we'll be going. Naru, say goodbye.”
“Goodbye? Bye!”
“It should be 'Goodbye, take care.'”
“Yeah, that! Goodbye, take care!”
After I'd taught Naru last time that greetings were important, she adapted to saying them... well, not quite, but she seemed to like it in her own way.
Of course there was still a lot to teach her about manners like honorifics... but teaching her one thing at a time was best.
“Take care. Next time you come, I'll prepare more chocolate.”
“Choco!!”
“And lastly, Ms. Yerin.”
“...!”
“Two weeks.”
“...”
“Within two weeks, decide on a childcare facility and let me know. I'd appreciate it if you prepare.”
“Yes, understood.”
I hugged Naru, who was inside the bag, and nodded.
I knew.
Naru needed to be happy receiving love and education in a proper family, and that I wasn't qualified for that.
Still, the lonely feeling was hard to hide.
It wasn't like we'd never meet again, though.
“This way, please. We'll escort you. There are reporters gathered outside.”
“Yes, understood.”
Escorted by Association staff, we left the Association.
Still, the Association has definitely changed from before...
“I don't really get it, but now let's go eat meat!!”
“Before that, we have to buy clothes.”
“I know!”
“And now that we're outside the Association, stay a little quiet, Naru.”
“Okay!”
I was wagging my tail inside the bag at the thought of eating meat, while Yerin waited for Subin.
Recalling the conversation they'd had over the phone...
"Why are you only answering now after I called like that!! What the hell is this news coming out??? Pillow sales at the Association??? Sexual harassment?? Child abuse??? Is Naru okay??"
“Don't worry. It wasn't as big a deal as Unni is thinking.”
"What on earth happened that you're talking about it so lightly!!"
“We're going to buy Naru clothes—are you coming?”
"I'm coming. Absolutely coming!"
“Ahaha, that was a fast change of tune. Anyway, I'll send the address, so come over.”
That was the conversation they'd had, but all I could think about was buying clothes roughly and getting to the meat as fast as possible.
I'd gift some meat to Boss too, and now that I'd become an Awakener... whatever that was, all that was left was to enter the Tower and get rich.
“Ah, here she comes.”
“...?”
Through the gap in the bag's zipper, I could see Subin in the distance, running for all she was worth.
“Naru!! Clothes!! Cute!! Clothes!! Me!!”
“You got here faster than I thought, Unni.”
“Haa... haa... Well of course—I can finally graduate Naru from those rag clothes!”
“So what's the real reason?”
“Because I want to see her looking cute. I'm gonna take a ton of pictures.”
“If it were before, maybe, but after seeing Kim Seoyeon, this is about the level that still feels cute.”
“Ahaha, that person was a bit... yeah.”
“Anyway, shall we go buy Naru's clothes?”
“Agreed, totally agreed! While I was waiting I thought about what to put her in—maid outfits or sailor uniforms would be good too... ah, which one first?”
“Unni, we're putting her in everyday clothes.”
“Naru would look good in anything, I'm sure of it.”
“Haa, she's not listening, is she?”
“Yep!”
Yerin and Subin were having some kind of conversation, but I just wanted to eat meat already, so I poked only my face out of the bag and said,
“Hurry up! Meat!!”
“Sorry, Naru. Made you wait.”
“Great, let's go right now!”