Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: A Boring Day Off
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"......I am utterly bored, it seems."
On that particular day, John found himself bored out of his very mind.
The vacation schedule for the Owl members operated on a rigorous and strict rotation system, and this time, the turn had fallen to John. The problem was, he possessed absolutely nothing to occupy his time.
Abandoned as a helpless orphan and taken in by the Imperial government, he had spent the entirety of his life living as one of the shadows among the owls.
Whether the task involved direct combat or silent assassination, he was one of the top names on the continent when it came to the art of killing or harming others. But when it came to the simple act of killing time like a normal person? He was significantly worse off than even the most average civilian.
'Perhaps I should have thrown a tantrum like Christina did and volunteered myself to guard the Minister...'
He had harbored a desire to do so, certainly, but he was far too embarrassed to actually voice such a request out loud.
Looking back now, he felt a sting of regret for not speaking up, even if it had meant swallowing some of his pride.
Not that wallowing in regret at this stage did him any practical good.
Letting out a heavy sigh, John stood up, thinking a walk might soothe his mind, when his foot caught on a stray object.
It was a colorful flyer he had picked up off the street some time ago without giving it much thought.
'Oh, right... Isn't today the grand reopening of the magic tool department store?'
Glancing down at the flyer he had casually retrieved, John checked the specific date.
Indeed, it was today.
'I have nothing better to occupy myself with. I might as well go and check it out.'
Throwing on a light jacket to complete his preparations, John headed straight out the door and made his way toward the department store.
It used to be managed directly by the branch chief of the Merchant Union's capital branch, but after the Fairy Tail fiasco—spreading that insidious new drug across the Empire—it had been surrendered to the Imperial side as compensation.
There was no need to state it, but everyone knew that was the Minister's handiwork.
'Not content with merely cutting off their Fairy Tail supply, he pries the entire department store away from them as well. He is my boss, but damn, he is truly terrifying.'
Rumor had it that the Emperor was over the moon with joy when he heard the news. Standing in front of the massive structure now, John could clearly see why.
'It is absolutely huge.'
It was truly enormous. The department store was ridiculously and impressively massive.
It loomed over the street with such overwhelming grandeur that it easily backed up the claims of being the largest of its kind on the continent.
'The name has been changed as well. Now it is known as the Acherus Empire Magic Tool Department Store.'
And to celebrate this grand reopening, they were running all sorts of vibrant events and promotions.
John grabbed a discount coupon at the entrance and felt a small, unfamiliar thrill as he stepped inside.
'I never thought I would have a need for magic tools, but damn, there is some fascinating stuff here.'
The categories of items were far more varied and diverse than he had ever expected.
From basic, everyday household goods to specialized survival gear for adventurers—finding something they did not have seemed like the harder task.
'Hmm, this particular item could actually be quite useful...'
Eyeing a hand warmer that kept functioning with simple cartridge swaps—requiring no mana or oil—he wondered if it would come in handy for his cold winter missions.
That was the moment he spotted a very familiar figure standing over yonder.
"Ah, Minister."
"Hm?"
John immediately set down the hand warmer and hurried over to greet the Minister properly.
--
"What brings you here, John? I am fairly certain I gave you official time off."
"Yes, sir. I am currently on my vacation."
Ah, so this was just a mere chance encounter, then.
Meeting your boss while on vacation always felt awkward, so I was about to make myself scarce when John surprised me with an unexpected request.
"If it is alright with you, would you mind if I tagged along and browsed the store with you, Minister?"
"It is no skin off my nose if you do."
"Thank you very much, sir."
What exactly was there for him to thank me for?
Still, choosing to tag along with his superior on a rare day off? Was he truly okay with that? Christina was the same way—the Owl members certainly had their unique quirks.
Or perhaps it was that common affliction. The kind where you are so used to the grind of work that downtime just makes you feel antsy and restless?
If that was the case here, I would have to say it was a pretty sad state of affairs.
"What brings you to the department store today, Minister? Are you looking for something in particular?"
Perhaps because he was on vacation, John's tone lacked its usual stiff, professional clip, and he was being far more chatty than normal.
As long as it helped him unwind from the stress of his work, the specific method was not my place to judge.
Thinking that, I gave him an answer.
"My little sister mentioned that the magic tool she developed is on display today, so I came to check it out."
"Your little sister who is at the Magic Tower...?"
Unlike me—the walking embodiment of utter incompetence—my siblings were all exceptional talents. They were geniuses, even.
My third youngest sister, Angela, had shown massive and undeniable magical talent since she was a child. Right after graduating from the capital academy, she joined the Magic Tower as a researcher and magic tool developer.
"What kind of magic tool did she create this time?"
"Your guess beats me."
Her letter to me just said to come today—and that she would cry if I did not show up.
She could have at least told me exactly where to go, my dear little sis.
The new Magic Tower products were located on this floor, so I figured we would just wander until we found it—that was when someone suddenly hugged me from behind.
"Onii-chan!"
"......Like I always tell you, you are a grown adult now, Angela."
Sighing deeply, I pried the hands from around my waist and turned around to see my sister—her body had grown, but she was otherwise unchanged since childhood—pouting at me.
"That is so mean of you! You won't even hug me anymore just because I'm not your cute little Angela!"
"Do not talk about your brother as if he were some kind of pedo. The point is, you are an adult now—you should act like one."
Referring to herself in the third person... It was cute in its own way, but I wanted her to cut it out anyway.
"No way! Angela is going to stick to Onii-chan forever!"
Normally, the person saying something like that would be the first to get married off. But coming from Angela, it did not sound like a joke in the slightest.
It makes sense—she is completely obsessed with the world of magic.
"Are there truly no good guys for you at the Magic Tower?"
"I don't need any guys! Onii-chan is all I will ever need!"
She is still such a kid at heart.
"Fine. So, what is this magic tool you have made?"
"Oh, that is right over there!"
"Over there?"
She surely did not mean that massive swarm of people, did she?
"That is a huge crowd."
"Of course it is! Angela made it! So you must pat my head!"
I have always thought our family's specific use of the word "so" was a bit off.
Not that it was a difficult task, so I did as she asked.
"At this rate, we won't even get a chance to see it."
"It is perfectly fine! I knew it would be packed, so I saved a demo unit just for Onii-chan!"
Following Angela's persistent tug, we ended up at a secure warehouse located behind the department store.
We passed through bustling crowds and busy workers to reach the staff break room.
"Wait right here!" Angela rummaged through a box she had apparently stashed away, pulling something out and spreading it before us with pride.
"Ta-da! Behold Angela's newest and greatest magic tool!"
"......A simple blanket?"
If my eyes were not lying to me, it looked like a perfectly ordinary, mundane blanket.
Me, John, and the escorts had all expected some flashy new gadget, so we were momentarily baffled. Angela wagged her finger with a know-it-all tsk, as if she had seen our reaction coming.
"Good magic tools do not have to be flashy to be effective. Here, Onii-chan—wrap yourself up in it."
I did as she instructed.
Of course, it was warm.
"Hm?"
Hold on just a second. This thing is actually and remarkably warm.
"Hehe, do you feel it? It is no ordinary blanket! Just pop a cheap fire magic stone into the little pocket at the end, and voilà—even in a frozen hellscape, you will stay toasty for hours!"
That little pocket was the storage space? It even featured a dial for precise temperature control.
"That is quite impressive."
"But that is not all it does! The defense rating is off the charts too... Hyah!"
Suddenly whipping out a sharp dagger, Angela stabbed with full force at me—while I was wrapped in the blanket. The blade snapped clean off upon impact.
Ooh, that is truly impressive...
Wait, hold up just a minute.
John and the escorts. I just got stabbed—why on earth did none of you move to protect me?
If it had actually pierced the fabric, I would be dead right now!
"What do you think? It's awesome, right?"
"Awesome is one word for it. It is more like mind-blowing. How does it work?"
"Eh, the base is salamander hide blended with this and that. It's too technical—you wouldn't get it. Skipping the explanation!"
She is treating her big brother like an utter idiot.
I mean, I am one, but still—it is quite infuriating.
Anyway, setting aside the fact that it is my sister's invention, this blanket looks insanely useful.
I should hand one to everyone in the Intelligence Department. Lisana would especially love it.
"Include the ones here—I will take a hundred of them. Send them straight to Intelligence."
I did not need quite that many, but it was better to stock up on something this high-quality.
John and the escorts freaked out, immediately trying to stop me.
"M-Minister! We will buy our own!"
"Money is no issue at all! It's for Onii-chan—so it's on the house!"
"Quiet, both of you."
If I am offering to pay, just take the gift.
--
The researchers from the Magic Tower's First Magic Tool Development Division were currently gripped by something bordering on absolute horror.
"Onii-chan! It has been ages—go on a date with Angela! Pleeease?"
The Ice Devil herself was not just speaking in the third person—she was bouncing around with a bubbly, flirtatious lilt, begging her big brother to play with her.
They wanted to pat themselves on the back just for not foaming at the mouth and collapsing on the floor.
'That woman is the same one as that inhuman, cold-blooded witch?'
The woman who had made them test unfinished and dangerous magic tools under the guise of "trials," then unleashed lethal spells upon them.
The one who had grabbed a heavy axe to "check the defense" and beaten the absolute crap out of them.
The one who had ventured into a dangerous dungeon for "materials," massacred monsters, and skinned them barehanded—covered head to toe in blood—giggling all the while.
The one who had squared up against the Tower Master himself over some minor nitpick and actually won.
And now that very same woman had turned into a lovestruck girl clinging to the man she called "Onii-chan."
'Urk.'
No joke—they really felt like puking from the cognitive dissonance. The researchers clamped their mouths shut and stared at the man receiving the devil's affections with abject terror.
'The Iron-Blooded Minister... How the hell does he manage...'
They could not even imagine what it took to make that devil wag her tail like a happy puppy meeting her owner.
Soon after, they promised to meet again that evening, and the Minister took his leave. The devil—who had been waving enthusiastically—turned back to them, her joyful expression already completely gone.
"Get a hundred of these to Intelligence by the end of the day. Mess up or be late, and you are as good as dead."
The researchers scrambled frantically to pack the units.
Not sparing them a single glance, Angela sat at her station and pulled out a hand mirror to check her makeup.
It had been ages—truly ages—since her last real date with her beloved big brother.
She could not forgive herself if she did not look absolutely perfect for the occasion.
'Haa... Onii-chan...'
Angela's eyes blazed with a fervent, burning passion as she thought of Erwin.