Chapter 19: Challenged to a Race?

The entire Kanezuka family stared in silence at the unfamiliar fellow.

He stood tall in what resembled an all-black suit, the buttons undone, revealing a crisp white dress shirt beneath. His hair and eyes gleamed a dull orange.

After several awkward seconds…

Leina clapped her cheeks, squirming. “Dear, it looks like our little Ayame has found her first suitor.”

“Mom?!” Ayame shrieked in protest.

“Listen here kid. If you think I’d let you near my daughter you’ve got anot—”

Ragan froze as the young man’s steely eyes pierced his. They reflected an unmatched resolve—unshakable, as they held his gaze.

“You know,” Ragan’s tone shifted. “I kinda like this kid!”

“Dad?!”

“We’ll be inside if you need anything.” Leina grabbed Ragan’s hand, scampering to the house—giving Ayame some “alone time.”

“Err… who are you again…?” Ayame asked, lacking interest. “Have we met before?”

“You’ve forgotten me? It hurts!” He clutched his chest.

“Gō Sato…” Meisatsu said in a low grumble.

“At least someone remembers me,” Gō snarled at Meisatsu.

“Ehh?” Ayame blinked between them.

Their glaring made the atmosphere feel heavy, leaving Ayame wondering what led to such animosity.

First Akira, now him… Meisatsu bit his lip.

The discovery that an old friend attacked him the other night was still fresh on his mind.

Akira—the usually the quiet, shy, and reserved one—had turned into a psycho—at least according to Ayame.

And now the one Meisatsu despised the most—Gō—shows up, right in front of his home.

Meisatsu was pissed.

“What are you doing here?” Meisatsu snapped, stepping up to him. “Here to bug me again about Ayame, huh???”

“What if I am, hmm???” Gō glared down at him. “Think you can stop me?!”

The reason Meisatsu hated Gō so much—

His unfathomable obsession with Ayame.

Each day as kids, the older boy would hound Meisatsu with heaps of threats and demands, all for a chance with his sister.

Gō had ruined more than a few of Meisatsu’s daydreams about guns with his constant pestering.

Meisatsu considered him a pest. One that Ayame had always dealt with.

Ayame’s brows furrowed as Gō’s face finally clicked in her memory. “Oh, it’s you…”

“Yay! She remembers.” Gō clapped like a child.

“Anyway, I just had to come see for myself.” He shook his head. “Before I moved away, I got appraised as an Explorer. Impressive right?”

“I settled in Bac—yes, that Bac.”

Bac was a one of the central cities, on par with Moonlit Sonat in influence.

“Took private jobs, acted as a bodyguard for some big-shots, raked in some serious coin.” He tapped the hood of the vehicle. “And that’s how I got this baby.”

“I heard some rumors about a new Hero in Beetho. When I got here, I couldn’t believe who it was.”

His eyes panned, then locked on Meisatsu. “I challenge you to a race. By the way, is that a slime?”

“A race?” Ayame and Meisatsu exchanged baffled looks.

“Yes! Down Mt. Diminuendo.”

The spot was a well-known tourist attraction in Beetho. Travelers often hiked to the top to enjoy the breathtaking view of the town from above.

A spiraling road led to the top of the mountain, wide enough for just about anything to traverse.

For added safety, the towns people worked together to build a sturdy railing that lined the full length of the path.

“And why would I accept this, ‘challenge’?” Meisatsu asked with disdain.

“Isn’t it obvious? For your sister!” Gō grinned. “The winner earns a kiss from the illustrious Ayame!”

Woah, hold it! Some lines just aren’t meant to be crossed!!!

“Ayame, get a load of this…” Meisatsu paused when he saw her face beet red. Trails of steam rising from her head.

K-kiss?!! M-Meisatsu?!! She shot him a glare with curling lips. Kukuku

He flinched.

“I accept!” Ayame blurted with shimmering eyes. “T-though only on the cheek...”

She twiddled her thumbs as her heart pounded. T-this is all so sudden… Meisatsu will be fighting over me…?!

Ayame squirmed in place.

“It’s settled!” Gō laughed. “I’ll be back in a week.”

“Don’t I get a say in this?!” Meisatsu shouted as Gō sat in the driver’s seat. “Where’d I even get one of those?!”

Gō blew a kiss at Ayame which she promptly swatted away. “Later peeps!”

The wheels spun and the car sped off.

“Eeeep!” Ayame shrieked, startled when Simuru suddenly hopped of Meisatsu’s head.

“Don’t scare my like that!” She shouted at the slime, bouncing away.

Meisatsu couldn’t help but admire the Magi-Mobile as he watched it shrink in the distance. What’s up with this world?

Behind them, both parents spied from beneath a window, watching the whole thing.

“I wish we could hear them,” Leina pouted.

“They’re coming!!!” Ragan shouted in a whisper, pulling his wife away from the window.

As Ayame swung open the door...

“So, how did it go?” Leina asked sweetly, seated cross-legged across the living room.

Ragan tried to imitate her pose, but failed—his leg was uncooperative…

“I-it was nothing!” Ayame darted to her room.

Both parents snapped their heads to Meisatsu.

He shrugged.

Ayame didn’t leave her room till the next morning.

The next day, Ayame and Meisatsu took a stroll through the market, bustling with the chatter of various stalls.

Meisatsu however was lost in thought, trying to understand what exactly a Magi-Mobile is.

For one thing—the most troubling—it was fairly silent.

The engine roar you’d expect from such a vehicle, was absent. Instead, it made a sort of whirring sound.

The head and tail lights also looked like they were made of crystals.

“What even is a Magi-Mobile?” Meisatsu unconsciously asked, staring at an odd-looking mango.

“They’re like cool carriages that run on magic. Not too popular.”

Ayame joined him to stare at the fruit. “You’d see them a lot more in the major cities. I saw some on a trip to Bac once.”

“Why’s that?”

“They’re a little pricey.” She scratched her head. “That Dorvette yesterday? At least twenty thousand gold.”

Meisatsu choked then jerked back at the amount.

His sudden movement caused the mango to sprout a pair of muscular arms and legs.

It hopped off the table, sprinting away.

Look at it go!!!

“Oi! You scared off my Man-go!” the stall owner yelled.

Ahh… It’s in the name.

“Sorry!” Ayame chased after the fruit.

Waiting for her return, Meisatsu spotted a head full of hazel colored hair.

“Kaito?” He jogged to where he stood. A meat stall. “It’s been a while.”

“O-oh! Mr. Hero… I mean, Meisatsu,” Kaito said with a flustered smile. “You came to shop too?”

Kaito shuffled nervously in place.

“Just passing through.” Meisatsu waved his brows, elbowing Kaito.

“Here for some meat, eh?”

“Y-yeah!”

Meat sizzled on a grill. The pleasant sound mixed with the tantalizing aroma put Kaito in a trance.

“Kaito, how’re your grandparents?”

“Hmm?” Kaito hummed, confused.

“You know,” Meisatsu held his shoulder. “Your dad sent you to give them some money that time.”

“Ah! R-right!”

Kaito’s face turned pink.

“Find him!” A man’s voice boomed. “Leave no stone unturned.”

The clatter of armor rang through the crowd. Fully armed guards brandishing silver swords and spears tore through the masses, continuing their search.

They marched past Meisatsu.

The guys from the capital?

“Hey, Kai... to?!”

Meisatsu craned his neck around. Kaito wasn’t in sight.

“I-I’m here!” Kaito called out from under the stall.

He crawled out, shifting the cloth draped over it.

“I dropped a coin.” He lifted a single gold piece.

“Found you!” Ayame ran up to Meisatsu, panting. “That Man-go was quick!”

“Here Sir.” Kaito handed the stall owner ten copper coins, grabbing two skewers,

Blushing, he handed one to Meisatsu.

“T-this is, for you…”

“Really? Thanks!” Meisatsu grabbed it, sinking his teeth into the meat.

Ayame sulked, watching the two eat.

“I don’t like him…” she grumbled to herself.

“I got to run!” Kaito giggled. “See you later, Meisatsu.”

“Be careful around him,” Ayame warned, standing beside Meisatsu. “He looks harmless, but he’s strong. Too strong… I can sense it.”

“Kaito?!” He gaped, pointing in the direction Kaito went. “Him?”

Ayame nodded seriously.

Is she jealous? Meisatsu wondered. “If you say so.”

“And how’ll we get a Magi-Mobile?” Meisatsu tore another chunk of meat to ease his worry. “I don’t think my savings would cover it.”

To be exact, his total savings was a hundred silvers—from the slime quest.

Essentially, one gold.

I’m a little short—fine, nineteen thousand short.

“After some high-level quests, we’ll get the money in no time!”

“Whaa?!” Ayame stared at Akane behind the desk.

They dropped by the Guild on their way back.

“Meisatsu hasn’t been here long,” Akane said. “And you know the rules. If he must take a high-level quest, he has to be accompanied by an Explorer of the same rank.”

“B-but I—”

“Sometimes take quests on that level, I know. But for Meisatsu’s safety, I have to follow protocol.”

Ayame grumbled.

The Guild’s doors burst open.

It was Umare—party members in tow.

Shizuka was inconspicuous as always.

Kurito had his signature dorky grin on display.

Kiku scolded Kurito as usual, while a weary Akito dragged himself along, tailing them.

“Why, it’s the Hero.” Umare strolled up to the desk. “What brings ya to these parts?”

“Hey Umare,” Meisatsu said, his tone serious. “I need to take a high-level quest. It’s important.”

Is it though? Meisatsu questioned himself.

“I’m here to take one myself.” Umare smirked, slicking back his hair. “Wanna tag along?”