After finishing my visits with Flare-san and Magnawell-san, I intended to head home and check on Amel-san’s schedule. However, I realized that a magazine I follow was being released today, so I decided to pick it up while I was already out.
I had registered a Teleportation Point near the Nifty Store in the Kingdom of Sinfonia, so I warped there first and made my way toward the bookstore on foot.
I had just passed through the high-end shopping district and reached the Main Street when, by some stroke of luck, I spotted a familiar figure walking toward me.
She was a petite woman with loosely waved golden hair and a bucket hat pulled down low over her eyes. She wore a fluffy high-neck top under a long skirt, topped with a stunning long coat adorned with intricate gold and silver embroidery. It was Tetra-san.
"Hello, Tetra-san. What a coincidence to see you here."
"Oh, hi, Kaito. It’s a surprise, but a welcome one."
"Are you working?"
"I came here to see you, my beloved, obviously. You’ve made me quite infatuated with you, yet you’re as indifferent as ever. It's heartbreaking."
"You literally just said it was a coincidence yourself..."
"Hehe. Well, in truth, I’m on my way back from a budget meeting at our branch here in the Royal Capital."
Her eyes were hidden, but Tetra-san’s mouth quirked into a playful smile. She spoke in a clear, beautiful, and composed voice, and as usual, I could never quite tell how serious she was being.
"Now that I think about it, I heard about you, Kaito. Didn't you drop by Trois’ place recently? How cruel of you not to visit me when I was pining for you so. It's truly a tragedy... Though, I suppose I was out that day anyway."
"Then I wouldn't have seen you even if I had visited."
"If I had been there, would you have come to see me and shared a sweet moment together?"
"Would you like to go get some cake or something?"
"Still as indifferent as ever, I see. I adore you."
It was always difficult to read Tetra-san’s true intentions. She spoke with a tone that practically screamed she was teasing me, making it impossible to know if there was any sincerity behind her words. Then again, I got the feeling she enjoyed the back-and-forth precisely because of that ambiguity.
"Well, since fate has brought us together, why not make the most of it? If your schedule is clear, Kaito, won't you join me for a sweet interlude at that cafe over there?"
"I’m not in any particular rush, so that sounds fine. Shall we?"
"By the way, what were you up to today, Kaito?"
"I was visiting Flare-san and Magnawell-san just a moment ago. I wanted to show them those specialized brushes."
"Ah, the ones from the Victor Trading Company? How were they? Quality items, I trust?"
"Yes, they were quite impressive. There are some additional features, too..."
At Tetra-san’s invitation, we headed to a nearby cafe for tea. Since I had only planned to buy a magazine, I had time to spare. We chatted about nothing in particular as we walked, and once we were seated and had placed our orders, Tetra-san murmured with an intrigued expression.
"Uniformity of Magic Power Penetration Rate... I see. That certainly sounds like something with high demand. In any era, beauty captivates people almost as much as gold does."
"Now that you mention it, Tetra-san, you’re a beastman-type demon, right?"
"Classification-wise, yes. See? I’ve even got horns."
As she spoke, Tetra-san lifted her bucket hat, revealing sheep-like winding horns on the sides of her head. Actually, it was a bit of a mystery how she managed to fit horns of that shape inside that hat in the first place.
"Well, I can manage the Magic Power Penetration Rate on my own, so I like to think my fur is quite lovely all the way to the tips... Would you like to check every inch yourself?"
"Your hair really is like gold, Tetra-san. It’s a bit of a darker shade, but the luster is beautiful."
"Should I lament your indifference or rejoice in the praise? You always leave my heart in a flutter. Honestly, I don't mind the feeling of being toyed with. But, setting that aside, I’d love to hear more. If you don’t mind, Kaito, could you show me that device you use to convert magic power?"
"Sure, here it is."
Canalis-san generally follows a contract with Shiro-san to only create items that can be replicated using the technology of this world. There are exceptions, like Isis-san’s bracelet, where she uses divine power for something otherwise impossible, but she always gets Shiro-san’s permission first.
This attachment for the brush handle was something she made immediately after Nebula asked for it, so it likely falls into the category of replicable technology. I didn't see any harm in showing it to her.
"This is... Oh, I see. Replicating it to be this small might be a challenge, but it could definitely be done as a magic tool... And Trois is heading to the Sharon Count House soon... Hehehe."
"Tetra-san?"
"Oh, thank you. You’ve shown me something very interesting. You truly have a knack for delivering fresh surprises—and the wonderful scent of gold. I find myself falling for you more every time we meet. I love you, darling."
"Right... th-thanks."
"Oh, come on. You could at least play along and call me 'honey' in return."
"If I did that, I’m sure you’d just start claiming you’ve secured a verbal commitment from me."
"You really are cold. I love that about you, I really do."
She laughed joyfully, pushing up the brim of her hat as she looked at me with her silver eyes and gave me a playful wink. The emotions flowing through Sympathy Magic were just as cheerful. I still couldn't tell how serious she was being, but since she seemed to be having a good time, I decided to just enjoy the moment with her.
Serious-senpai: "After seeing the lineup from the last few chapters, I’m terrified to find there was still room to spread the damage even further. The Stomach Pain Devil’s reach is truly absolute."