Episode 136: Is It My Turn? —By Mad Doctor☆

“Um... aren't you pushing yourself?”

I would never forget those words.

At eighteen, thanks to my natural talent, I had already been granted my own laboratory. I spent my days creating and providing various Magic Tools for the government and for Adventurers.

When I was a child, I’d looked at Magic Tools with a sense of wonder. I wanted to make things that could put a smile on people’s faces.

I didn’t care if they were worthless. I didn’t care if they were trivial. I just wanted to make something that could help someone—something that could bring joy to a person, even if they didn't possess an ounce of mana.

But the world only demanded things from my talent that served the state or the progress of technology. They wanted profit. They wanted things that generated money.

The things I actually wanted to create weren't permitted. My days were consumed by fulfilling requests. If I said I felt no fulfillment at all, I’d be lying. I had the highest quality materials and an ideal environment. There was never a day when I failed to produce exactly what was asked of me. Yet, as the praise overflowed and the money piled up, the days passed idly. I was surrounded by "value" that others assigned to my work, value that meant nothing to me.

It felt nostalgic to remember how I’d grown weary of that cycle, given up, and learned how to wear a mask.

Meeting him in the midst of those days must have been a true coincidence.

The catalyst was a vocational field trip for a nearby middle school. Students from a school focused on Dungeons visited my laboratory. I wore my usual mask, playing the part of the ideal Ena Himuro. I led the tour through my solitary lab, putting on a show so the middle schoolers would enjoy themselves.

I think I had a good reputation back then.

Everyone listened with smiles and seemed to have fun testing the Magic Tools. For a brief moment, I felt like my mask had slipped. More than anyone else, I remembered a first-year middle schooler named Reima, who stood out in a way that was impossible to miss.

He was a strange kid. He took notes on every little thing and fired off multiple questions about every single Magic Tool. What was truly odd, though, was that he only showed interest in the "worthless" tools I’d made as a child—things I kept on display and only introduced on a whim.

It was almost funny. His attitude toward those toys was clearly different from his interest in practical Dungeon-clearing gear. It was mysterious. After all, he hadn’t looked like he was having any fun at all when the other students were obsessing over the practical equipment.

Actually, he had looked like he was enjoying himself at first. When did his attitude change?

“What’s the matter, boy? It’s break time, but aren’t you going to try the tools?”

“Ah, no... I’m fine.”

“Hmm. You showed more interest than anyone else, so why the change of heart? You have a rather gloomy look on your face. Did you get bored?”

During the break, for some reason, my curiosity about him wouldn't subside. I approached him while he was resting away from the group.

“No, well... they’re fun, and I like all of Ena-san’s Magic Tools. It’s just...”

“My, you’re being hesitant. Please, don’t hold back.”

“...Don't get mad, okay? I’m going to be completely blunt.”

He paused for a beat, looking awkward.

“Um... aren't you pushing yourself?”

He’d seen right through my mask. He just blurted it out.

To me, a girl who had spent years hiding behind a facade while churning out things she didn't even like... he said that.

“...What makes you think that?”

“I thought I was just imagining it, but the way you acted was different between the tools you showed us in the middle and the ones at the end. Or rather, the way you laughed to cover things up while introducing them felt really weird. Even though you looked truly happy when you were showing us that trampoline-looking Magic Tool earlier...”

“Hey... what’s your name?”

“Um, it’s Reima Kariya.”

Reima Kariya.

It was a name I knew from the Supporter community. I’d heard from Senka that he was a child Supporter, much like that Yukizaki kid who was popular at the time. He was known for his skill with Magic Tools, and Senka had mentioned he used my creations often.

If that had been all, I wouldn't have been so interested. But the boy had a characteristic I couldn't ignore: he possessed no mana.

That was why I’d remembered his name.

I hadn't known what he looked like, but I knew his achievements. Despite having no magic, he was recognized as an Adventurer—a boy who fought like the Heroes from the dawn of the Dungeon era. I’d heard he was a young, tireless worker. I’d always intended to meet him someday. I’d never had the time, so I’d remained a bit of a distant fan.

Hearing those words from him was a shock. I was stunned that he’d seen through me.

He had found me.

“Hey, kid. Why don’t you exchange contact info with this big sister?”

For the first time, fueled by genuine curiosity, I thought that I wanted to try making a Magic Tool for someone’s sake.

---

“Hey you! Come on over!”

It was after school, following a summer training course about Dungeons.

That was the only message that popped up on my phone. I didn't recognize the sender from the notification, but when I opened it, Ena Himuro’s name was at the top.

“............”

I pressed a hand to my forehead and stood in silence.

I considered pretending I hadn't seen it and started to shove my phone back into my bag, but another message arrived immediately.

“...Heh. You just tried to put it away, didn't you? No ignoring me. Come over—give me some attention.”

“How the hell does she know?” I muttered.

“It’s just a hunch, by the way. No special abilities involved. I’m just predicting your reaction,” the next text read.

“...Creepy.”

She called herself Mad Doctor☆. I hadn’t known her long, and I hadn't really felt much "madness" from her yet, but having my reactions predicted so accurately was unsettling. I didn't actually have plans, but I really didn't want to go.

“Should I go...?”

Still, she wouldn't contact me for no reason.

Resigning myself to a certain amount of physical and mental exhaustion, I agonized over it for five minutes before finally messaging her that I was on my way.

“Hell yeah! Alright, I’m getting ready, so get here fast!”

The reply came instantly. Her high tension was palpable even through text. Reflexively, I sent back a message telling her to at least put some clothes on.

“I’m here, Ena-san.”

“Alright! Welcome, Another Reima! Now, let’s get straight to the experiment.”

“Okay, I’m going home.”

The person who greeted me at the lab was a naked moron.

She was wearing her usual lab coat, but her suggestive areas were covered by a bizarre, floating light. The moment she said the word "experiment," I put my hand back on the door handle, fully committed to leaving.

“Wait, wait, wait! Stay! You went through all the trouble of coming, there’s no way I’m letting you leave now!”

Clack.

The door that had opened so easily moments ago locked tight. I was trapped.

“Fufu... now we can talk to our hearts’ content! Oh, right, I want your feedback. What do you think of this? My brand-new [Mysterious Light Generation Device]!”

“What the hell is that...?”

“You’re the one who told me to wear clothes, remember? That was a hassle, so I whipped up this Magic Tool instead! It detects my nudity and covers the risky spots with light!”

“Wouldn't it be easier to just put on a shirt?”

“Gasps! That’s a forbidden phrase! Besides, where’s the Romance in that?”

I don’t know what kind of "Romance" is involved in being naked, and I don't want to know.

We were in the stupidly large entrance hall of her laboratory. I could already feel a headache coming on. As she made grand, exaggerated gestures, the mysterious light tracked her movements perfectly. I had no idea how I was even supposed to comment on this.

“Now I’m mad! As I thought, you don’t understand the Romance of Magic Tools! Wastefulness is beauty! I don't care if you're 'Another' or not—we are going to have a long talk about this right now!”

“This is exhausting. Can you just get to the point?”

“Ah, right, okay. Um... why did I call you here again?”

“............ I’m leaving.”

“Wait, I’ll remember! Just wait! Waaaah! If you leave, I’ll run outside like this and tell everyone Reima abandoned me! Give me attention!”

I was genuinely worried she’d actually go outside in that state.

I know she’s playing with me. I know she’s just messing around. But I could also tell that she had been someone very important to the original Reima.

“Sigh... fine. Until you remember, tell me about my past self.”

“Eh? What’s this? Are you entering your 'dere' phase?”

“Just do it. Please.”

“Fufufu, leave it to me! I’ve got stories for days!”