Returning to the Award Room, Todo-sensei and Master Logan were deep in conversation. They noticed us and offered warm smiles.
"Yo, Reo! I knew you could do it!" Todo-sensei said. "Liesha also did a great job protecting Reo, too!"
"Eek!? Geez, Todo-sensei! You're messing up my hair!"
"Fofofo! Well done, Reo-noja! As expected of my disciple!"
"Owah! Your beard, your beard is prickly, Master Logan! No, seriously!"
"What a cute little one you are-noja!"
"That's a line for women and kids!"
Liesha-san had her head vigorously ruffled by Todo-sensei, while I was subjected to Master Logan nuzzling his cheek against mine. Ugh, the beard is subtly painful and prickly.
After reporting the details of what happened, Liesha-san left to train with Todo-sensei. I'm sure her skills as a Sword Saint will become even more brilliant. The swordsmanship Todo-sensei uses is packed with high-output techniques; if Liesha-san masters them, her strength will be polished to a terrifying degree. Even for her, learning those moves must be a grind... but I'm rooting for her.
I took the opportunity to ask Master Logan about something that had been bugging me: adjusting the output of Buffs¹. He told me it was possible, so we spent the rest of the afternoon training on how to fine-tune Buff percentages. Master Logan stayed with me the whole time, teaching me with such patience that I felt incredibly guilty for taking up his time. This is the highly sought-after Master Logan we're talking about. I'm using his precious time. I have to take this seriously. As his disciple, you know?
"Umu, umu. You really are a diligent one. It's a joy to have a student so worth teaching."
"Aren't all your disciples diligent, Master Logan?"
Master Logan is such an incredible magic user that people practically beg for an apprenticeship. We're chatting normally right now, but even that is already at an abnormal level.
"Well, that may be true, but you have... a certain honesty, I suppose. Magic users, myself included, all have a stubborn streak. We don't like to budge on our own assertions. But you don't have that. You learn like a dry sponge, soaking up water as fast as it's poured."
"I see...?"
"Fofofo... it's fine, it's fine if you don't quite get it yet. Now, since you've gotten the hang of adjusting single-target output, shall we move on to multiple double-casting?"
"Yes! Master Logan! I look forward to your continued guidance and discipline!"
"Hrm, you're too stiff, Reo. You can be more frank with me, you know-noja?"
"That's asking the impossible."
There's no way I could take a casual attitude with the Master Logan I respect so much.
"Well, I suppose I'll just have to take my time winning you over-noja~"
"Um, you're thinking out loud, Master Logan."
"I'm saying it on purpose!"
He said it in that way, like he's hitting on me. After that, I kept training until it was pitch black outside. At the shoe lockers on the way out, I ran into my oshi².
"Misuzu-san?"
"Oh, Reo. You were training until this late? How impressive. I find people who don't just rest on their laurels quite lovely."
"If you're going to say that, the same goes for you, Misuzu-san."
Setting aside whether I actually have talent, I know Misuzu-san is someone who never slacks off. She must have been training until this hour, too. The only weird thing was that she wasn't actually putting her shoes on... and then it clicked.
"Well then, I'll head out first. See you next week, Misuzu-san."
"Yes. See you next week. Have a nice weekend, Reo."
I raised my hand to the smiling Misuzu-san, pretended to walk out, and then doubled back. Heh heh heh... I know exactly why she's hanging around the lockers. She's waiting for the protagonist, Rekka! She's always acting prickly toward him, but every single user knows that's just a cover for her blushing. The scenes where Misuzu peeks at Rekka training late were truly numerous.
She's definitely waiting for him today, too. Even this late, after finishing her own training.
"Oh? Misuzu! You were at it this late, too?"
"A-Ah. Rekka, what a coincidence. I just finished up and was about to head home."
"I see. Well, we live close, so you wanna walk back together?"
"!! ...Yeah!"
That ultra-happy smile. It's dazzling. It's cute. Rekka, you're lying if you look at that smile and think she doesn't like you. Now, time to tail them without getting spotted. Stalker? Yeah, if it's to witness the te-e-te-e³ of my fave, I'm prepared to accept that reproach.
"Come to think of it, Reo was just about to leave earlier. He's amazing, isn't he? He has the talent, the insight, and the knowledge, yet he still puts in all that effort."
"Yeah, I totally get it. Reo is one hell of a guy."
Pffft! My faves are talking about me?! They're praising me?! But you're wrong! You shouldn't be wasting breath on a Mob like me! There are way better topics to discuss!
"But you know, you're amazing too, Misuzu."
"W-Wait, what?! Why me?!"
"Even Reo said it, didn't he? That your support abilities are better than his. And even with that, you stayed late and worked your butt off, right? That's not something just anyone can do. Seriously, since there's no set time for afternoon training, most guys just bail early to go play."
"It's just... I'm frustrated."
"Huh?"
"Reo makes moves that I can't even begin to fathom. It's like he knows the correct answer from the start; he always shows us the optimal path. I want to be like that, too! I want to be someone who can actually support you, Rekka!"
"Misuzu... Heheh, thanks. That makes me really happy. Knowing I've got you and Reo at my back is the only reason I can charge forward with zero worries, you know? I'm sure Mikiya feels the same. Saionji-san and Liesha-san... well, who knows with them..."
"...Yeah!"
Te-e-te-e was right here. Ah, I think a nosebleed is coming. Suppress it, me...!
"In yesterday's team match, the reason my team won was because Reo was there. I think Liesha-san is a step above us in raw power, but that's our common understanding, right?"
"Yeah. I think so too."
"And that same Reo says you are better than him. Have some confidence, Misuzu."
"!!"
"Just like you notice my hard work, I notice yours. If we're lacking something, we just help each other out. That's what teammates are for, right? Besides, if you just ask him, Reo would definitely help you out. He shares that massive mountain of knowledge without being stingy at all. Honestly, having a guy like that in our year... we're lucky."
"Ahaha! If Reo heard that, he'd probably turn bright red and be so happy!"
"Ha, I can totally see that. I dunno, his affection meter for us is way too high, isn't it? He doesn't even try to hide it. It actually makes me embarrassed sometimes."
"I know, right?! He was beet-red just because Rekka and Hyouga cornered him during the break!"
"Yeah, at first I was worried he swung that way, honestly. But he was the same with you, Saionji-san, and Liesha-san, so I'm relieved."
"Ahahahaha! Stop, I'm gonna lose it if I remember that!"
"Hahaha!"
Guh... to think they thought of me that way. My hand is glowing red! Its loud roar tells me to grasp happiness!⁴ Could anything be more blissful? A mere Mob, being the topic of conversation for the protagonists, getting to watch them laugh like this.
...Part of me wants to watch them forever, but if I stay out any longer, I'll make Saki and Taku worry. Fighting the urge to stay anchored there, I dragged my body away and headed home.
* * *
"Sheesh, Reo is such a worrywart."
"Ah, so you noticed too, Rekka?"
"Duh. He was following us so obviously, not even trying to hide his presence."
"Reo is so incredible, yet he's so ditzy in the weirdest ways."
"Haha. Remember in the cafeteria when that Demon Race intruder showed up? He's probably worried because our way home is late, so he watched over us until we got close to the house."
"Ah, that's right. Todo-sensei took them down, didn't he? Maybe that's why Reo and Liesha-san were busy today."
"Yeah. I think it's probably related to that. He's our King, after all. I bet he's already taking on super important requests. ...We've gotta get recognized soon so we can stand on the same level and take missions with Reo, Misuzu."
"Yeah! Let's work hard, Rekka! So that Reo can rely on us!"
"Hell yeah! Let's do it!"
Completely unaware that such a conversation had taken place, at the same time I returned home:
"Big bro!? Why the nosebleed!?"
"Brother!? What happened!? I'll go get some tissues!"
Apparently, I couldn't stop my nasal limit from overflowing.
Summary:
Reo trains late into the evening with Master Logan, refining his magical control. On his way out, he stalks his 'faves,' Rekka and Misuzu, witnessing a wholesome moment between them. He discovers that they actually hold him in extremely high regard, though he still considers himself just a background character.
Trivia:
- Reo is being taught 'multiple double-casting,' a high-level skill.
- Master Logan was actually talking out loud about 'winning Reo over.'
- Rekka and Misuzu noticed Reo stalking them the entire time.
- The protagonists believe Reo is working on secret royal missions.
- Reo's nosebleed is a classic anime trope for overexcitement/euphoria
Character Insight:
Reo's inferiority complex as a 'Mob' character is heavily challenged this chapter as he hears the protagonists praising his talent and effort. Meanwhile, Rekka shows unexpected emotional intelligence by noticing Reo following them and interpreting it as protective concern.
Behind the Scenes:
The author added the protagonist interaction after readers requested more scenes with the main party. The 'Gundam' quote at the end is a famous line from Domon Kasshu in G Gundam.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Buff: A gaming term for temporary status-enhancing magic.
2 ↩ Oshi: A Japanese term for one's favorite character or idol whom they support.
3 ↩ Te-e-te-e: Otaku slang for something extremely precious, wholesome, or heart-warming.
4 ↩ My hand is glowing red: A reference to the anime 'G Gundam,' expressing burning passion or excitement.
Notes:
• Logan - An Archmage and Reo's master. An elderly man with a grandfatherly demeanor who possesses immense magical knowledge and power.
• Reo - Reincarnated HS dude who grinded 'Brave Fantasy' 100+ times, now a bland mob in the game world—black hair, Class E #6 by the back door, F-rank stats but plot meta-knowledge + magic flow reading to sideline-support heroes. Lil' bro to Saki & Taku, survives as background bro.
• Saki - Reo's younger sister, two years his junior. Handles housework and cooking. Has a kind but slightly blunt personality toward her brother. Highly concerned for her brother's safety. A middle schooler with Sage-level magic power who has been scouted by Valhalla.
• Taku - Reo's younger brother. Protective and prone to outbursts of anger against those who hurt his family. A middle schooler. Over 180cm (6 feet) tall with a massive, intimidating build. Skilled in sewing and housework.