Chapter 16: A Misunderstanding
.....
To act as bait, Rikka Takarada deliberately chose a quiet backstreet, one that was almost always empty after school.
Not only would it keep unsuspecting pedestrians from getting dragged into danger, but the area also had plenty of obstacles she could use as cover.
Even knowing that Kihara was already transformed and hiding somewhere nearby.
She couldn't stop the uneasiness creeping into her chest.
"…Alright. Calm down."
She whispered to herself under her breath.
"You chose to trust Kihara . So play your role properly… don't let that monster notice anything strange."
Keeping up a casual front, she continued walking forward.
But her eyes constantly scanned her surroundings.
Every nerve in her body was stretched tight, like a bowstring ready to snap.
At the slightest sound of something cutting through the air.
She would immediately dive behind cover.
She refused to slow him down again.
Meanwhile—
Kihara was fully focused.
He still didn't know how well the mantis-wolf monster could regenerate.
Could those shattered scythe arms grow back?
He didn't intend to find out.
The moment it appears.
I'm ending this.
Inside his dimensional storage, stacks of bread were piled up to absurd levels.
As long as items were identical, they could stack up to 999 per slot.
Before coming here, he had eaten until completely full.
This time—
There would be no energy shortage.
No mistakes.
Then—
A heavy thud echoed from the rooftops lining the street.
Rikka flinched.
Without thinking, she sprinted behind a vending machine.
A dark shadow dropped from above.
Straight toward her.
And then—
The world froze.
A crimson targeting marker locked the creature in midair.
Like someone had paused reality itself.
"Crimson Drill!"
A streak of red lightning tore across the sky.
Kihara 's kick struck clean through the monster.
Blasting away half its body.
Without its scythe arms, it had no way to defend.
Its body crumbled.
Turning into sand that scattered into the wind.
Just to be sure.
Kihara fired off another Crimson Drill, completely annihilating what remained.
Only after watching the last grains vanish did he cancel his transformation.
He walked over and gave Rikka a thumbs-up.
"Rikka, that was really brave. Let's head back."
She smiled back.
"Not at all. Without you, Mr. Hero, I'd never stand a chance against something like that."
They exchanged a glance.
Then walked side by side toward her home.
Meanwhile…
"OOOHHHHH!! Alexis, did you see that!?
That's EXACTLY the kind of scene I wanted!!"
Akane Shinjo slammed her hands excitedly against the monitor.
"…That's great."
Alexis Kerib replied flatly, clearly uninterested.
Then his tone shifted.
"By the way… Shinjo, what are those clay figures over there?"
Akane removed her glasses and walked over to a display shelf.
Despite the heavy bags under her eyes.
Her expression was filled with pride.
"These? My Orphnoch species."
She smiled smugly.
"Pretty unique, right~?"
"…An entire species of monsters?"
Alexis' tone finally showed genuine excitement.
The red glow behind his sunglasses flared.
"With this… I won't need to micromanage every creation."
"They've got a bit of intelligence too."
Akane waved her hand casually.
"No need to rush. Just materialize them one by one, from right to left."
She paused—
Then added with a grin:
"Oh, and have them pass a message to Kihara ."
"…What message?"
Akane's smile deepened.
"If he wants to find the heroine…"
"…then he'll have to overcome the trials and reach the King of the Orphnochs."
"'Heroine,' huh…"
Alexis didn't think much of it—just another keyword from her "script."
"…Understood."
"Bye-bye."
Akane shut off the computer and stretched.
After pulling an all-nighter creating those monsters.
She was ready to collapse.
"…Time to sleep."
...
The Next Day
On their way home.
Kihara and Rikka encountered something new.
A pale humanoid figure.
Wrapped in thorny vines.
It wasn't attacking.
It simply stood by the roadside…
Quietly admiring a red rose in someone's garden.
Kihara 's instincts screamed at him to attack.
He began pulling his arm free from Rikka's grip.
Ready to transform.
Then—
It moved.
The creature turned its petal-shaped head.
And bowed politely.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Kihara … Miss Takarada."
"…It talked!?" Rikka's eyes widened in shock.
Kihara stepped forward, shielding her.
"Who the hell are you?"
"I am Thorned Rose. I come not to fight, only to deliver the will of the King."
"The King's will?"
Kihara scoffed.
"Save it. If you've got something to say, survive a kick first."
"The King says—"
The creature spoke calmly.
"If you wish to find the heroine… overcome the trials and stand before me."
Kihara 's thumb hovered over the "5" button of his transformation device.
But didn't press it.
"…What kind of trials?"
"What you have already been doing."
A slight pause.
"Defeat us."
"…Fine."
A grin spread across his face.
"I'll take that challenge."
"The King will be pleased."
And just like that.
The creature vanished into thin air.
Rikka frowned.
"…Kihara , what if it's a trap?"
"Trap or not—"
He shrugged.
"If it's related to the heroine, I have to check it out."
Kihara wasn't much of a strategist to begin with.
And ever since befriending Kaguya Houraisan.
He had fully embraced a reckless, charge-first playstyle.
Thinking?
Planning?
That was her job in games.
His current personality?
Yeah—she was mostly to blame.
"…The heroine…"
Rikka's voice softened.
"…Is she that important to you?"
"…Yeah."
Kihara answered without hesitation.
"Pretty important."
…Since it determines whether I can return to Gensokyo.
He didn't say that part out loud.
Rikka felt something tighten painfully in her chest.
So…
He already had someone important to him.
Kihara didn't notice anything wrong.
He just tilted his head, confused by her sudden silence.
Rikka lowered her gaze.
Scrolling through her phone.
"I'll… try looking up some clues online for you."
"…Thanks. I appreciate it."
"…Was that just my imagination?" Kihara muttered.
"What is?"
"…Nothing."
He shook his head.
"Let's get back to your place. I still owe your family a lot of money, after all."
…So that's why you're protecting me so desperately?
Rikka's eyes dimmed slightly.
A trace of sadness flickered.
Then vanished.
Like a windshield wiping away rain.
"…Yeah."
She smiled faintly.
And buried those feelings deep within her heart.
...
Thank you for reading.