My name was Result of the Match—or "Result" for short.
I was a skill. Depending on the region, such things were sometimes called Gifts or Talents. I hadn't always possessed an ego, but I awakened quite recently. My Master was a member of the Demon Race named Surkarl Jandore.
My Master's ultimate goal was to become the strongest person in the world. To achieve that, he never neglected his daily training. My abilities required him to possess a certain level of power to function correctly; otherwise, I could only show him a future where he suffered defeat. My Master understood that perfectly and worked incredibly hard. He was truly impressive.
Through various circumstances, my Master ended up taking up residence in Village Five. Since he was quite a stickler for good food, he took a particular liking to the many delicacies found there. However, I had my doubts about his diet. I never suggested that he should establish a strict rotation of ramen, yakiniku, ramen, and yakiniku. There were so many other options available, like curry, udon, katsudon, karaage, burgers, tempura, grilled fish, or even seafood grills. He had even admitted himself that every one of them was delicious.
Furthermore, I didn't think it was right to make cake his staple food. Cake was supposed to be the treat you looked forward to after a meal! Even the shop assistant told him that while cake was delicious, he shouldn't eat nothing but sweets.
Lately, the amount he ate had increased significantly. He claimed his appetite had suddenly become uncontrollable, and I suspected that might have been my fault. Maintaining me in my awakened state likely required a great deal of energy, which translated into hunger for him. I felt a bit sorry about that.
I worried if the food budget would hold up. Since the fees for his Inn were separate, there was no danger of him ending up on the streets, but with his increased consumption, he eventually had to look for a steady job. He put in the effort and found work as a Martial Arts Home Tutor. He had been scouted for the position, which meant his daily training had finally borne fruit. He was as impressive as ever.
The person who scouted him certainly had a good eye, but I liked to remind myself that I found him first. I had been with him since the moment he was born! I just wished he wouldn't take his students on that same rotation of ramen and yakiniku. And while I didn't mind him treating the students, those children—the kids of my Master's employer—were likely much wealthier than he was.
When he decided to move into a House, I thought it was perhaps a bit too early to upgrade from his previous Rank of lodging. However, I eventually concluded that if he intended to live in Village Five permanently, owning a House was a wise move. He managed to secure a brand-new home for a very low price, thanks to a discount provided through his tutoring connections. It was a price he could afford, though it left him with very little financial leeway.
I tried to use my power to check if the purchase was a good idea, but the result was too far in the future for me to see. Still, he didn't seem to regret the decision in the short term, so I let it be. He was in high spirits after the purchase and hosted party after party. He wasn't loud enough to bother the neighbors, and since he invited them over, he didn't get scolded for the noise. Nevertheless, his finances were tight, and I eventually had to advise him to settle down and focus on a stable Lifestyle.
My Master listened to my advice obediently. He began to train hard in his spacious garden, which was exactly why he had wanted a House with such a large yard in the first place. He worked toward his goal of being the strongest with renewed vigor.
I knew he wanted to be the strongest, but I hadn't known why until that day. He confessed to his students that his primary motivation was that he wanted to be popular with women. It made sense; many were naturally attracted to strength. This also explained why so many of the opponents he had checked through my power in the past were women. He had been looking for a result where he won a match, showed off his strength, and the opponent fell in love with him.
It was a very good thing that such a convenient result never occurred, not even once. Me-without-an-ego had done a great job! But for some reason, thinking about it made my chest feel strangely restless.
And so, I evolved. My name became Advisor.
I was still a skill, but I had changed. I possessed the same power as Result of the Match, but I could now give direct advice to my Master. Most importantly, I gained the ability of Materialization. I could now take on a physical human form. I couldn't wander too far from my Master, but I could materialize freely whenever I wished.
I had hoped for the appearance of a peerless beauty, but unfortunately, I took the form of a small child of about five years old. Perhaps it was because I hadn't had an ego for very long, or maybe it was just a side effect of the evolution. Regardless, by staying close to my Master, the chances of him becoming popular with other women plummeted. This wasn't out of spite; I simply knew that if he didn't become popular, he would seek even greater strength. I wanted him to be the strongest, so this was my way of supporting him.
"Master! Let's do our best today too!" I told him.
For lunch, I suggested ramen. When I was materialized, my Master didn't have to eat my portion for me; I could eat it myself. Although I looked like a child, I ate as much as an adult, which often surprised the people around us. Now that I could taste for myself, I finally understood the irresistible charm of the ramen and yakiniku rotation.
My Master even gave me a shoulder ride as we walked. I couldn't see the results of my own matches, but I was certain the future was bright.
"I woke up, and there was a little girl..." Surkarl muttered, looking dazed.
"Teacher suddenly had a child..." the students whispered among themselves.