Chapter 164
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I returned to my apartment from Vermillion House and explained the situation about the “Saint” to Ms. Sakura.
The thought that she might become a “Saint” herself surprised her, and she frowned as she weighed the pros and cons.
”‘Saint,’ huh… hmm…”
Having mentioned the downsides, Ms. Sakura fell silent, clearly deep in thought.
From the perspective of maintaining order in town, I hoped she’d step up, but it felt wrong not to explain the disadvantages.
It wasn’t that I was being noble—it was just that I didn’t want to be blamed later.
Still, the thought of her being part of the Holy Church was frightening.
She might exploit some kind of knowledge cheat. If it became known that someone had memories of a past life, people might start wondering if there were others like that.
If that happened, I’d have to hold back my actions even more to avoid attracting the Holy Church’s attention.
That would be a hassle.
Some problems might only be solvable with that kind of knowledge, and it would be unpleasant to ignore them just out of fear of being exposed.
Worst-case scenario, I’d have to tell Ms. Sakura about my past-life memories and ask her to avoid using them at the Holy Church…
While I was lost in these thoughts, Ms. Sakura cautiously spoke up.
”To be honest… I’m drawn to the idea of such a role… but if I take it, I wouldn’t be able to meet you casually anymore, right?”
”Huh? Oh… yeah, I guess that would be the case.”
I’d heard that the Holy Church secured Saints both to prevent misuse of their powers and to use them ‘appropriately’ themselves.
That meant Ms. Sakura wouldn’t be free to use her teleportation at will, and naturally, she wouldn’t be able to see me casually either. That seemed to be the main obstacle for her in stepping forward as a Saint.
She must have encountered many works of fiction in her past life, too. Hearing me say that she could fulfill a role she’d admired didn’t seem to displease her.
But since I was the only one capable of handling this situation, I couldn’t ignore the safety of the town. I hoped she would step up to the Holy Church without hesitation.
If only there were a way to shorten her teleportation cooldown…
There was one possibility: that black mini tomato.
It had enhanced Ms. Wendy’s dimensional storage ability, expanding the space and even allowing people to pass through.
This meant even if someone suspected theft, they could check inside and confirm innocence. And even if others learned of the ability, it wouldn’t lead to endless suspicion.
If I could give that to Ms. Sakura and enhance her ability, her cooldown could shorten, easing her worries.
The tricky part was how to explain the black mini tomato.
Safety was easy to assure, but she’d naturally wonder how I confirmed the ability’s growth.
I couldn’t mention Ms. Wendy, because even now, she could be targeted by anyone wanting to exploit her.
Ferris had eaten one, too, but the effects were limited to controlling power and undoing abnormalities.
The results depended on Ferris’ own feelings, so I couldn’t definitively prove the tomato’s effects. And demonstrating the ability to remove abnormalities required another collaborator, whose ability would need to be visible.
Even if it were visible, dragging Ferris around casually might raise suspicion. That wouldn’t be convenient for me.
Besides, having a special person prove it directly would be conspicuous and risky.
Perhaps a third party could verify… Seria?
Her healing magic was weak, but her “Commercial Recovery” was strong.
She was a regular cleric, so going to confirm wouldn’t attract too much attention.
Church records could confirm ordinary healing magic, and Ms. Kokol’s Lyle could confirm “Commercial Recovery.”
Okay. I decided to keep that detail secret and present it as black mini tomato-enhanced healing magic.
I explained the black mini tomato to Ms. Sakura.
”Um… there might be a way to make it work.”
”Really?”
”Actually…”
I explained how the tomato enhanced Seria’s healing magic, and Ms. Sakura’s eyes lit with interest.
I’d considered everything—no one would doubt the effect.
Given how she reacted when I revealed my past-life memories, she must recognize their importance and trust me accordingly.
”That thing… it’s safe to eat, right?”
”Yes, definitely. I even gave it to criminals through intermediaries, and nothing happened.”
”I see…”
She seemed satisfied, but I added, just in case:
”I’ll eat one too. That should put you at ease, right?”
”You’re sure? Using two… aren’t they rare and expensive?”
”It’s fine. If it got out, people would try to track down the source, monitor me, or interrogate me.”
”Ah…”
”If people suspected I was hiding any, proving otherwise would be troublesome. So I have no intention of sharing the black mini tomato.”
”I see… that makes sense.”
Having been sold by her real parents in the present world and armed with knowledge from past-life stories, Ms. Sakura easily understood my concerns.
Then… she took both my hands.
”I understand. I think it’s better to step forward as a Saint, especially since women in town could be targeted. But…”
”But?”
”Even if the black mini tomato doesn’t enhance my ability… would you still come see me… no, hold me?”
I hadn’t forced her with guilt about the Holy Church, and I hadn’t mentioned the potential decline in town safety… she’d already considered it herself.
Even if the tomato didn’t shorten her cooldown, if I still came to see her, it would cement her resolve to step forward.
Though it was a concern, I couldn’t exactly say “come hold me” myself.
But if she was asking…
”I can’t do it often, but as long as you don’t mind, I’ll barge into the Holy Church to hold you.”
”Mr. Koji!”
She lunged at me!
My words might not have been perfect, but they clearly made her happy.
”Mmm♪”
Smack…
She hugged me and kissed me, and I responded for a long while.
* * *
Since Ms. Sakura was going to eat the black mini tomatoes, I decided to head to Ms. Wendy.
I had left the ones I’d harvested before leaving town with her.
The idea was to check whether the materials taken from enhanced monsters had changed.
Depending on the results, Ms. Sakura’s identity as a “Saint” might need to remain secret, and I couldn’t use her as a reason to pull out more black mini tomatoes.
So I needed to get back a decent number.
When I arrived at “Hooters,” I went straight to Ms. Wendy’s office and smoothly retrieved about twenty black mini tomatoes.
That should be enough for the first time.
Though there wouldn’t be a second round.
Back at my apartment, I immediately sat down with Ms. Sakura to eat the black mini tomatoes.
”So, this is…”
The color was unnatural for a tomato, and Ms. Sakura didn’t just flinch—she practically recoiled.
In her past-life experience, tomatoes were red, after all.
Well, she’d feel reassured once she actually tasted one.
I picked up a black mini tomato from the box and offered it to her lightly.
”It’s fine. It tastes just like a normal tomato.”
”Ah… o-okay, then…”
She picked one up, brought it close to her eyes, and squinted as she examined it.
Still nervous, I see.
I suggested a way to ease her anxiety.
”I’ll eat one first, if that makes you feel safer.”
”Oh, no… I-I’m fine.”
Though she was anxious, she probably felt awkward about doubting me… and then she opened her mouth wide.
”Ahh—”
Chomp, munch…
She chewed the black mini tomato quickly, then swallowed.
”Mmm… gulp… ah, it’s delicious.”
The flavor and texture were fine. She swallowed and gave me her verdict.
She was eating with gusto, and though I hadn’t taken mine yet, I needed to check the most important thing.
”So, has it affected your teleportation at all?”
”Oh, yes. Uh… wait? Huh?”
She looked down to her left, tilting her head in confusion.
”What’s wrong?”
Worried that something had gone wrong, I asked, and she replied:
”The cooldown until I can use it again… it’s zero.”
”Wait, zero?”
”Well, to be precise… like this.”
I nodded at the 00:00:00 written on the paper.
The cooldown had been over 24 hours before.
If it was now zero…
”Does that mean the cooldown is gone?”
”Not sure. If so, this number itself becomes meaningless…”
”I see. Anything else change?”
”Nothing I can see.”
So, the only visible change was that the cooldown had reset.
There were no outward signs, and the limited information didn’t reveal much.
But… remembering past examples helped.
Ms. Wendy and Ferris had both experienced effects that solved their personal problems, so it wasn’t unreasonable to assume the same here: the cooldown hitting zero simply addressed her own issue.
The key question was whether this was permanent.
If so, Ms. Sakura could teleport freely, which might become problematic.
I wouldn’t want her popping into my room unannounced.
To confirm, I suggested:
”Ms. Sakura, why don’t you try teleporting? Let’s check the cooldown.”
”Alright… then…”
She immediately agreed, disappeared the next moment, and appeared hugging me from behind.
”Gotcha!”
Hug
”How was it?”
Naturally, I asked about the cooldown without being startled.
”It’s the same as before. About three days, counting down one by one.”
”So it’s not that the cooldown disappeared entirely.”
”Right. Which means…”
The conclusion was clear. I nodded at her and repeated her words.
”Yes. Eating this black mini tomato seems to reset the teleportation cooldown to zero.”
Notes:
• Wendy – The daughter of merchant guild Hooters
• Ferris – The representative of Silver Orchid
• Seria – The first cleric.
• Ms. Kokol – The first female magician the protagonist saw when he first entered the dungeon.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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