Chapter 156
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ms. Sakura had awakened to the use of teleportation.
It was the sort of ability I’d seen across countless works in my previous life—something so coveted because it let you ignore distance and appear instantly wherever you wished. After all, to move without losing time meant you alone could spend more of that universally scarce resource. Naturally, it was immensely useful.
Of course, depending on the story, there were always conditions: distance limits, restricted uses, or dangerous risks. So the question became—how did it work for Ms. Sakura?
She demonstrated in front of me. One moment she was on the bed, the next she reappeared behind me—only to land on her rear with her legs awkwardly spread, since she’d carried over her seated posture into the middle of my floor.
So, she maintained height during transfer. That suggested she wasn’t targeting a “place” but actual “coordinates.” Which… was troublesome.
If she could set coordinates, then she might teleport to places she’d never been. That would make breaking into private residences frighteningly easy. Considering how many secrets my own room contained, I couldn’t help but wish she’d avoid using it carelessly.
But I couldn’t simply forbid such a useful power without a convincing reason.
There was always the warning that one might materialize inside solid rock, but she’d likely argue that as long as she knew the destination was clear, it posed no problem. And as my manager, she already understood the layout of my quarters well enough to teleport there without issue. Weak justification, then.
So I needed stronger reasons. With that in mind, I decided to probe her.
”Uh… teleportation, huh? Convenient, but… can you only move this short distance?” I asked.
She pushed herself up from the floor and answered, “Hmm… not sure unless I try, but it feels like anywhere within sight is possible. Even if I can’t see it, as long as I know the exact spot, I think I can.”
Oh. That’s very versatile. Maybe too versatile. But she added a caveat.
”Ah, but once I use it, I can’t again for a while. I see numbers floating here—three, two, one—counting down. I’m guessing when it hits zero, I can use it again.”
She pointed to empty air. I saw nothing. Likely, as with Seria’s Commercial Recovery, only the ability’s owner could perceive it.
Apparently she’d glimpsed those numbers once before, long ago, when she unconsciously triggered teleportation, and with her memories of other worlds’ works, she’d immediately understood their meaning.
”So, how long until you can use it again?” I pressed.
She focused a moment. “Seventy-two hours… about three days.”
She translated it quickly into “three days” for my sake—considerate, given she wasn’t sure if I knew how long a “day” in this world lasted. That meant the numbers weren’t just plain digits—they were a digital-style time display.
”Once every three days, then. Handy, but does it take anything else? Magic power, energy?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Just the time.”
So the only requirement was waiting. That made it practical in emergencies, but not something to throw around casually. And that gave me my first real argument for restraint. Still, the bigger danger was how others might perceive her.
If you could move into any locked space by coordinates, then in criminal hands the ability was unstoppable. Not as alarming as Ms. Wendy’s storage into another dimension, perhaps, but alarming enough.
I told her as much, and she nodded gravely.
”You’re right. People could suspect me of misusing it. Even if it’s only once every three days, breaking into the wrong place could mean execution.”
”Exactly. Better to keep it secret. By the way—have you ever taken the Ceremony of Blessings?”
The ritual in which a cleric revealed your titles and abilities… If she had, then the church already knew what she could do.
She shook her head. “I was poor enough to be sold off, remember? Paying for a ritual to identify an ability I might not even have wasn’t an option.”
”I see. Well, I suppose it worked out. Otherwise the church might have claimed you.”
”Yes. Thanks to that, I met you, Mr. Koji.♡”
She hugged me tightly.
There was always the possibility of disclosing her power to the authorities for protection, but that would interfere with my plans. Under their supervision she’d never want for money again…
She giggled softly, pressing close.
Well, she seemed happy enough. That was enough for now.
By the time I left her room, too much had already happened in just one night.
She kissed me at the door. “See you again… mwah♡”
* * *
On my way back, I stopped by Iris’s room, where Arisa had joined her for breakfast.
”So,” Arisa leaned in, “how was it?”
I hesitated. “Well… I’d say I enjoyed myself enough.”
”Planning to keep her, too?” she asked.
”What do you mean, ‘too’? I’m not keeping anyone.”
”Then you don’t mind if a woman you’ve slept with ends up with another man?”
”If that’s what she wants, I won’t stop her,” I said. “Time is limited. The more people involved, the less of it I can give each, and some will be unhappy with that. If someone else can give them what I can’t, then fine.”
Unless I learned how to split myself into copies, I couldn’t do better. Women leaving me was a possibility I’d already accepted.
Both Iris and Arisa gave me uneasy looks at my answer.
”…So there’s still hope for us,” Iris murmured.
”But it also means we’ve still got a long way to go,” Arisa added.
They were relieved that the place for my true partner hadn’t been filled, but at the same time unsettled that they hadn’t drawn close to it yet. Realistically, because of their family obligations, they were further away from becoming that partner than others. Perhaps that was why they kept talking about children, at least ensuring some claim through blood.
I told them I was heading to the dungeon.
Iris had her magic, and Arisa was well-regarded for her spearwork and mounted combat. Both wanted to come with me. I refused.
”I already told you—I can’t take noble daughters into a dungeon. Stay put in town and behave.”
They both pouted. “Mmm…”
Their true aim was either to secure me or carry my child. Whether I’d agree to that was another matter, but I might need their families’ help one day. For that, I kept them close, but I had no intention of dragging them into danger unless absolutely necessary. Better they stayed safe in town.
Not that town was completely safe—but ever since the Gem Snake had been dealt with, security had improved dramatically. Just in case, I asked the Silver Orchid to keep an eye on them as well.
The two of them saw me off with a kiss. I returned to my own room, rested briefly, then set out for the dungeon.
* * *
The gate was noisy as ever, the entrance crowded with adventurers. Voices echoed in the chill morning air, people wrapped thick in layers against the lingering cold. It was already late for morning, but perhaps the weather had slowed everyone down.
I bought only a torch from a stall, then slipped past the clamor and descended. It had been a while since I’d entered, yet I reached the third district without incident.
Screeches, wet cries, thuds.
I cut through a pack of monsters, my Magic Armor’s tendrils pulling the stones free. Two hidden crates were already full, their weight invisible yet solid. A third could have been filled as well, but I kept it empty—I needed to absorb some myself.
One crate held stones from the third district, bound for Hooters. The other was packed with stones from the second, for Ms. Monoka’s orphanage to sort. Wendy had promised financial help regardless, but relying entirely on her would be poor practice.
I sighed. Today I’d focused on replenishing my magic power, but tomorrow I ought to stop by Monoka’s. We were close enough that courtesy mattered, and I wanted to hear how the coats I’d left—thick quilted Dōtera and Tanzen winter garments—had fared against the cold.
”Time to head back.”
The clock showed four in the afternoon. I’d started late, and the days were still short. By the time I left Hooters, it would already be dark.
The streets weren’t pitch-black, but I had no interest in walking them at night surrounded by armed strangers. Even with my Magic Armor, I wasn’t invincible. Better to return while there were still plenty of people around.
With that, I ended the day’s hunt.
Notes:
• Seria – The first cleric.
• Wendy – The daughter of merchant guild Hooters
• Arisa – Alicia’s (Iris’ sister) fake name.
• Iris – The first collaborator to request a curse-breaking item.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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