Chapter 165
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After discovering that Ms. Sakura’s teleportation had a 72-hour cooldown, we decided to investigate a little further using the black mini tomato.
As for the results of testing Ms. Sakura’s teleportation… even when she ate it while the ability was available, it had no effect beyond reducing the cooldown. Eating multiple at once didn’t let her increase the number of consecutive uses either.
We also learned something about what she could teleport. Whether this became possible because of the black mini tomato is unclear, but it seems she can move only what she touches directly—without teleporting herself.
It turns out that the objects only need to be in indirect contact. So whether it’s a person or an item, if they’re linked in a chain of touches, she can include them as teleportation targets.
The key is that Ms. Sakura can freely choose which items to include. Even if she touches many things at once, she can teleport only specific ones.
On the flip side, if she doesn’t touch it, it’s excluded. She can’t pull something from far away toward her.
Hmmm… I thought the black mini tomato might grow abilities, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
At least for Ms. Sakura, its only effect is on the cooldown. Whether she’s an exception or the tomato doesn’t grow abilities at all remains to be seen. This will need more testing.
So far, we’ve used ten black mini tomatoes to investigate, and Ms. Sakura is starting to tire of them.
For now, we decided to end the testing of teleportation effects using the tomatoes and discuss what to do next.
”Well… we’ve learned a lot, but a big problem remains,” I said.
”A big problem?” Ms. Sakura asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
She probably thought the cooldown issue was already solved.
But this is a literally big problem.
”That’s… the availability of the black mini tomato,” I explained.
”Oh, it is rare. But… was it okay to use so many today?”
”Well, it was necessary. At the moment, they only grow where I know, and the supply is limited.”
”So… we still can’t use teleportation freely?”
”Exactly. Even if we brought tomatoes there, they might be taken away. People wouldn’t want teleportation used at will—there are places they don’t want accessed. And since tomatoes are limited, I’d want to save them for important use.”
”I see… that makes sense,” she murmured.
I continued, seeing she understood.
”Also, we have to consider explaining the tomatoes. If we say they’re necessary for teleportation, others might try them too. If they learn it can grow or strengthen abilities…”
”Then others wanting to grow abilities might eat them, leaving fewer for me,” she concluded.
She nodded again, then asked me for a solution.
”Can’t we get more of them somehow?”
”I don’t know. We might not be able to get more…”
I’d cleared the black mini tomatoes from the town and even sprayed weed killer on that mountain peak. It might not be possible again.
I wondered if spraying weed killer was a mistake. Well, I can try again elsewhere if it fails.
Suddenly, Ms. Sakura panicked.
”Wait, really? And we used so many just today?”
”As I said, it was necessary. It affects your future, and we aren’t strangers either.”
”Mr. Koji…”
She looked at me with teary eyes, moved by the thought that I had used something that might not be available again for her sake.
It’s partly for her, partly for the town, and ultimately for myself too—so it’s a bit awkward if she likes me too much.
I decided to move the conversation forward and keep her from jumping on me.
”For now, let’s keep the fact that the black mini tomato removes the cooldown a secret. Then we can treat it as just a favorite food, and you can use teleportation freely while others think you can’t.”
If we reset the cooldown immediately after teleporting, the Holy Church might ask for teleportation, thinking it’s ready. They’d want to use it efficiently, and if it works when needed, there shouldn’t be a problem.
As I considered this, Ms. Sakura raised a concern.
”Won’t there be people like attendants?”
”Sure, it’s possible. They might not stay all the time, but if we ask them to give you private time to study, that should work.”
”But… could they secretly watch me? From somewhere else?”
Like the ceiling or hidden rooms, perhaps. In past creations, there were such surveillance systems, and some apparently existed in real life.
If monitored like that, she might be seen using teleportation without waiting 72 hours.
Fortunately, we can use what I mentioned earlier.
”If we say you need to concentrate, they could give you a box over the desk…”
Like a personal soundproof booth I’d seen in my previous life. In the medieval setting of that world, people didn’t care much about soundproofing, and here it’s similar.
I couldn’t call it a full soundproof room in this world, but she seemed to understand and nodded.
However, she noticed another problem.
”Ah… but then you’d need light. Using lamps or candles in a closed space is dangerous, and the Holy Church might oppose it.”
”Oh.”
I’d overlooked that. Even if it’s just for studying, light is needed, and carbon monoxide poisoning is a real risk. They might reject the request.
What now…?
I paused, thinking, then quietly made something using imitation (T/N: a crafted replica item).
When I handed it to Ms. Sakura, she immediately understood its purpose.
”Eh? Is this… a desk lamp?”
Exactly. I had taken an LED light from my bag. It’s simple—touch to turn on and off, foldable, about 20 cm tall.
The cover over the light and pole is transparent reinforced glass, and inside is a solar panel for charging.
I made sure this light could last a long time, unlike regular battery-powered ones that die out. I unfold its frame, grinning at Ms. Sakura’s words with a playful tone.
”Oh, you call it a ‘light,’ huh? Stretch this part, touch here, and it glows.”
”Uh, yeah… we had these in my past life. But where’d you find this?”
”From a dungeon. Got it there, so it’s probably a magic item. Your past world had no magic, right? How do you know about it?”
”No magic, but we had tools like this. They ran on electricity, like tamed lightning.”
”Got it. So, does this work the same way?”
Click. Fwip.
I tap the switch, and the light spills out from the uncovered side, bright and clear.
Ms. Sakura watches closely and answers.
”Who knows? The ones I knew used batteries—little boxes that hold electricity.”
”…”
Fwip.
I flick the light off and turn it over, pointing to a cover at the bottom.
”This part, maybe?”
”Yeah, that’s it. Can I check?”
Click. Pop.
She slides her fingernail under the cover, pops it open, and points to the battery inside.
”This is it. The electricity’s stored here.”
”So, it’s like something from your past world, then.”
I nod, satisfied, but Ms. Sakura’s face clouds with worry.
”Well, not exactly the same…”
”What’s wrong?”
She points to a solar panel, her voice hesitant.
”It’s just… batteries run out, but this one recharges with sunlight. It could last a long time.”
”Oh.”
”And if I borrow it, I might need it for a while…”
”Ah.”
She’s worried about taking it from me. I shake my head.
”It’s useful, but I don’t need it. You can have it.”
”What?! Are you sure?”
”Yeah. Better than letting things get worse around here. A friend runs an orphanage. I don’t want those girls getting hurt.”
”…”
Swish. Tap tap tap… Click. Rummage… Snap.
Ms. Sakura stands from the bed, clutching the desk light. She crosses to a shelf, opens a drawer, and tucks the light inside.
Turn. Tap tap tap…
She spins back, steps close, and places both hands on my shoulders, her eyes locked on mine.
”Let’s do it.”
”Huh?”
Her sudden words hit me, and her gaze burns with a fierce heat.
”It’s not just the black mini tomatoes. You’ve done so much for me. I can’t let that go without giving back. It’s for the town’s safety too, but honestly… I just want to do something for you!”
”Even if you say that…”
It’s still morning. I could give in, but I hesitate, not wanting to feel like I’m pushing her away for my own sake.
Ms. Sakura leans closer, her breath warm.
”Black mini tomatoes aren’t guaranteed. I might need them for other things. That means less time with you. Less time to repay you. So while I’m here, I want to be with you as much as I can.”
It makes sense, but her eyes hint at something deeper.
”…”
”…”
”What’s the real reason?”
”…Fine. I’m just… my heart’s racing, and I want you.”
Gratitude’s part of it, sure, but I’d rather she want me for me. I grab her hands on my shoulders and pull her close.
Yank.
”Wah!”
Thump.
I fall back, and Ms. Sakura lands on top of me. She catches my meaning, her lips curling into a sly smile. Her hands slip under her skirt, moving with purpose.
Rustle rustle…
”Haah… haah… Just relax, okay? ♪ I’ll take care of everything today. ♡”
Her hands move again, dropping something soft to the floor. She reaches out, her touch trailing over me, teasing without looking.
”♪”
She senses I’m ready, her breath quickening as she presses closer, our bodies aligning.
”Hehe, let go as much as you want. ♪ Here I go! ♡”
With a swift motion, Ms. Sakura moves, and a sharp thwap echoes, the air thick with heat and unspoken promises.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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