This guy actually called himself an ordinary high school student? The fact that he could say that with a straight face was astonishing. She even felt a little sorry for his teacher—having such an unreliable student must be exhausting.
But when she recalled the magical scene she had witnessed—his sudden appearance out of thin air and his ability to conjure objects from nothing—Tohka couldn't help but feel shaken.
"As a teacher, I firmly believe in science," she said slowly. "Whether it's supernatural rumors or paranormal phenomena, I've always considered them false." Yet now she felt as though a crack had appeared in her long-held worldview.
"That just means you haven't seen enough," Kazuma shrugged. "After all, you're just a teacher in a rural town. You should go out and see more of the world. Times have changed."
"I may have lived here my whole life, but that doesn't mean I'm cut off from the outside world, alright?" Tohka stared at him with a calm expression. Instead of showing anger, she asked meaningfully, "So, Kazuma-san from the big city, are you trying to say that many supernatural creatures have appeared outside? That Kyoto has been overrun by them?"
"It's not that extreme. There are just some signs. And besides, you've already seen it with your own eyes." Kazuma finally got to the point. "In any place, urban legends and supernatural stories are never scarce. I assume it's the same here, Teacher Tosaka. This town must have some unusual rumors or legends, right?"
"Is that why you came here?"
Miss Tohka seemed to understand. She ordered a bottle of beer and drank it, and after savoring the taste of alcohol, she slowly spoke, "No."
Kazuma frowned.
"No way," Nanakamado Nanaka, who was beside Kazuma, couldn't help asking. "This town looks quite old. Are there really no ancient legends or stories at all?"
"I grew up here. After becoming a teacher, I learned a great deal about local history and customs. Many students at school are interested in supernatural phenomena or folk tales, but it's all just for fun."
"Things like divine disappearances, mysterious vanishings, or strange murders have never happened in this town. There haven't even been any major car accidents. It has always been quiet and peaceful," she finished, looking earnestly at Kazuma. "Maybe big cities have many urban legends. Maybe there really are yōkai and evil spirits in Tokyo. But those things have nothing to do with this town."
Kazuma wasn't convinced. He gestured toward the distant mountains. "Has anyone ever gone into that forest?"
"Of course people have. Aside from dangerous wild boars and bears, there's nothing unusual. Oh, and there's a large population of deer. Every year, hunting teams are organized to control the number of sika deer. Otherwise, the forest and farmland would suffer serious damage."
"Have there been any strange incidents recently? Or even within the past few years?"
"No. I told you, this town is very peaceful. There's none of that kind of chaos," Tohka said. She suddenly tilted her head back and took a swig of alcohol. A faint gloom appeared on her delicate cheeks. "But you did remind me—there actually has been some big news recently."
"Oh?"
Tohka, her mind slightly numbed by alcohol, spoke coldly into the summer night breeze. "A very well-known teacher in town was cheated on. They were a couple blessed by everyone. They entered marriage together, and after so many years of affection, he ended up keeping a mistress behind his wife's back. How's that for news?"
Kazuma fell silent.
I was asking about supernatural events, not gossip.
"You're not talking about yourself, are you?" he asked strangely.
Tohka didn't answer. She simply took another frustrated gulp of alcohol. No explanation was necessary—he understood.
Kazuma was just thinking about how to respond—whether to comfort her or change the subject—when Nanakamado Nanaka, the ghost girl beside him, suddenly spoke with pure innocence.
"Is keeping a mistress really that strange? Even having two wives isn't such a big deal, right?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Kazuma and Teacher Tohka both froze and stared at her. Nanakamado Nanaka remained unconcerned.
"Kazuma, don't you have many women too? Far more than two. That's called having a harem, right? I know about it."
You talk too much!
Seeing the mischievous glint in Nanakamado Nanaka's eyes, Kazuma's expression darkened.
She was definitely doing it on purpose.
When he noticed Tohka's gaze shifting toward him, his scalp tingled. It wasn't that he intended to hide the fact that he had a harem, but saying it out loud in this atmosphere was far too awkward.
"Miss Nanakamado Nanaka, you're becoming quite mischievous," Kazuma said, pinching her cheeks lightly and pulling them sideways. "You were so well-behaved before. Now you're causing trouble? Acting like an informant too? Do you want Luna to teach you another lesson?"
"Wuwuwu, I was just telling the truth! How am I an informant? Wuwu~"
Kazuma released her. "Fine. Normally, having a harem is indeed wrong. But I'm an exception! I saved them and changed their tragic fates! Do you understand the value of being a 'friend of women'? Comparing that scumbag to me is an insult!"
He slammed the table angrily.
Kazuma, you're shameless.
Although she wanted to say that, Nanakamado Nanaka blinked and realized she couldn't refute him. If it hadn't been for him, Akane Nanao's fate would have been tragic. Because of his existence, those girls were living happily now.
On that point, Miss Ghost—who had observed everything—was very clear. And now she herself had become one of them.
"That's true. Just like how you're helping me now, right?"
"Good that you understand. I've been running around for your sake, and you still slander me? Sigh, how disheartening."
"I was just joking," she said, hugging Kazuma's arm, sticking out her tongue, and smiling sweetly. "Kazuma-kun, don't be angry~ I know you're the best. How could other men compare to you? They're not even worthy of your pinky toe!"
"Hmph, that's more like it. Keep going. Don't stop."
"…"
Tohka felt completely out of place. The playful flirting between the two only deepened her bitterness. She took another gulp of beer and muttered, "Hmph. All men are the same. They're all scumbags."
"Well, let's change the subject back to supernatural phenomena," Kazuma said, trying to steer things back.
However, Tohka suddenly put down her bottle, wiped the corner of her mouth with a tissue, and turned toward him. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. Though she seemed tipsy, her eyes were clear and steady.
"I haven't personally discovered any supernatural legends. But as a teacher, I can help you search for ancient records related to that topic," she said seriously. "But I have one condition."
"Oh? What is it?"
She bit her lip, anger flickering in her voice. "I want you to help me get revenge on that scumbag—my husband."
Unexpected, yet somehow reasonable.
Is this a woman's desire for revenge?
"Well…"
"You're not an ordinary person, are you? This kind of thing should be simple for you. And judging from your earlier words, aren't you a so-called 'friend of women'? You help girls often, don't you? Then helping me shouldn't be a problem. If you agree, I'll help you investigate the supernatural matters. Trust me, no one is more suitable than me—a teacher."
"Teacher Tohka, to be honest, I hate two-timing scumbags the most. It's entirely his fault. Your anger is understandable," Kazuma said solemnly. "I can see you're in pain. Don't worry. I'll help you. I won't let that bastard off easily."
"Then it's settled. You help me deal with my husband, and I'll help you investigate the supernatural legends."
Kazuma didn't give her time to reconsider and immediately adopted a professional tone.
"Teacher Tohka, just give me a photo of him. Rest assured—from now on, I'll make sure he stays bedridden and can't get up again. He won't be able to keep a mistress."
Tohka stared at him in shock. "You're going to break his legs? That's not what I asked you to do…"
"Huh? It's not? Do you want me to… cripple his manhood? Isn't that too cruel?" Kazuma was startled. Women could be terrifying when angry.
Tohka's mouth twitched. "It's not that either… and that would be too easy for him. I want him to experience the despair of being cheated on."
Kazuma froze.
Nanakamado Nanaka also stood there blankly.
"Huh?"
"I no longer have any feelings for him," the woman said expressionlessly. "I want him to taste despair, to watch his wife writhing in another man's arms, to watch his woman being played with by another man, and then divorce him while he's drowning in regret and despair…"
Kazuma and Nanakamado Nanaka both gasped in unison.
After a long pause, Kazuma said in a heavy tone, "Miss Tohka, you're being a bit extreme."
"Kazuma, you'll help me, won't you?" Her faint voice came. "You saw my body, right? How was it? It shouldn't be worse than those women in the big cities, right?"
Kazuma covered his face. "Yes, yes, you're very beautiful. So when I accidentally saw you naked, you already had this idea?"
Tohka didn't answer, but it was clearly the case. When he suddenly appeared while she was bathing, Tohka found that instead of anger, she felt more of a sense of vengeful pleasure. If he could keep a mistress outside, then why couldn't she?
Of course, there was another reason: this mysterious and special young man from Tokyo was also quite pleasing to her eyes. Otherwise, she wasn't the type of promiscuous woman who would accept just any man.
"Alright, fine, I agree."
[Wish List (Tohka): Revenge]
Looking at the list in the system, Kazuma shrugged, having no choice but to agree.
"Thank you." A faint, barely noticeable smile finally appeared on her face since she first showed up. "Let's go, to my house now."
You're too impatient!
"Not tonight. We still need to go back," Kazuma rolled his eyes. "Today is Thursday—oh, it's already Friday. I'll come back here for our appointment on a rest day."
Kazuma reminded her, "Teacher Tohka, don't forget about my matter either."
"…"
Watching Kazuma and Nanakamado Nanaka disappear into the darkness, Mrs. Tohka's expression was complicated. "Did they go back to Tokyo?"
That young man really is mysterious. But it's precisely because of his uniqueness that she would ask him for help… Wait!
"He's still a high school student, and he even seems a bit younger than my daughter…"
*****
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