Chapter 75: Otherworldly Author

Translator: Soafp

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Crimson Revolution

In a certain room, a woman is writing on manuscript paper with a fountain pen. The desk is filled with numerous reference materials, and the woman is wearing a haori to endure the cold as she desperately continues to write. [TL: The haori (羽織) is a traditional Japanese hip- or thigh-length jacket worn over a kimono. Think of Tanjiro from Demon slayer]

At that moment, the phone placed on the desk starts ringing. The woman pauses the fountain pen and answers the call.

“Hello…”

She speaks out grimly.

“Yes… I’ve finished writing the fourth volume… How’s the content?… I see… In a nutshell, I added new elements to the folklore of Unabara Cho Town and introduced a youkai that rules the dream world. Kataumi Aoi gets her entire body torn apart multiple times by the youkai and ultimately has her soul devoured.”

She continues to speak in a disinterested manner, and her eyebrows furrow as she listens to the demands from the other end of the line.

“Yes… A bad end after gaining the magical outfit, right? You want me to start with Akai Karen’s story? And you’d like to decide the order? The higher-ups? Alright… I understand…”

One request after another is made, and she doesn’t refuse any of them, not even the demands from a certain benefactor…

“This time, they want something with a cruel aspect… I’ll consider it.”

After hanging up the phone, she throws the mobile device onto the desk and murmurs to herself.

“Haa… Akai Karen, or rather, when it’s time to draw, it should be Hihara Karen… I don’t want to draw it, but… before the end of summer vacation… I’ll create an antagonist character for the ‘middle part’…”

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[Moegi PoV]

Finally, she came to his house. Her belongings were packed in numerous cardboard boxes, and we helped with the moving.

Our belongings were stored in the magic room, so we spread out and organized her belongings there. Now, it’s just the two of us.

I have a feeling that we’ll get along… it’s just a gut feeling. Kohaku-chan and Karen-chan have been showing more composure lately, but you never know when they might go wild like before. When one of them goes out of control, it can trigger the other as well.

That’s why the current situation is completely peaceful… but if they go wild, having her around makes me feel like we can overcome it together.

I won’t have to be afraid all alone like before. No, thanks to you, Aoi-chan!

“Aoi-chan, what’s in this box?”

“That’s my clothes.”

“Can I open it?”

“Sure.”

To organize her clothes, I open the cardboard box. And indeed, there are clothes inside…

Hoodies, another hoodie underneath, and another hoodie below that… No way, right? I opened another box… Hoodie, hoodie, a slightly nice-looking shirt, hoodie… Jeans, women’s pants, hoodie…

“Hey, Aoi-chan, are you a fan of hoodies?”

“Eh? Of course. Hoodies are the most useful clothing for humanity, you know.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah, they’re comfortable to move in, easy to wear casually, and I can put my hands in my pockets when it’s cold…”

She seems to be a total hoodie enthusiast. It’s unique and I think it suits her, but I also believe that other clothes would look good on her…

“Most importantly, it has a hood. Don’t you feel invincible when you put on a hoodie’s hood?”

She proudly tells me, somewhat exaggeratedly. Well, maybe it’s just a bit over the top.

“I don’t think so… but if you mean that you look cute in it, then maybe invincible.”

“…Even if you flatter me, nothing comes out of it.”

“No, no, I mean it.”

“I see… then, I’ll treat you to some juice next time.”

Ara, how adorable… She looks a bit embarrassed, but she seems happy. Though her expressions don’t change much, I can tell. She’s also going to treat me to juice, so she’s definitely pleased.

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[Izayoi PoV]

I carried her cardboard boxes, and afterwards, I was thinking of doing some training. I need to be prepared for anything and make sure I do everything I can right now.

I returned to the living room to quench my thirst and opened the refrigerator. I found a bottle of water and took it out, putting it to my lips…

I swallowed it down with a gulp.

At that moment, my body started to emit a light, and my consciousness flew away…

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[Moegi PoV]

After organizing our belongings, we headed to the living room to take a break. As we walked through the hallway, Mel-chan came out of the study room.

This house… has been quite heavily modified, but I wonder if it’s okay. Won’t his parents get angry or something?

“Are you done organizing the stuff?”

“Yeah, all done.”

“Then let’s have snack time together.”

“Sure.”

Mel-chan seemed to show little reaction, but I noticed that her steps became slightly lighter at the mention of snacks.

Then, the three of us headed to the living room… and we saw his clothes scattered around near the refrigerator. Moreover, a bottle had toppled over, and water was splashed all over.

“Huh? Why are his clothes…”

“Water is spilled too…”

“Aah! This water, it’s the water I made to turn people into infants!!”

Mel-chan shouted and pointed at the water. Turning people into infants? What kind of water is that!?

“What’s that? Why did you make something like that?”

“Izayoi-han asked me to make it. He said it could be used for a surprise attack.”

“What the heck…”

“Then… does that mean his clothes are scattered because he turned into an infant and went somewhere?”

“Probably… Actually, this is still a prototype. The downside is that when the body becomes an infant, the mind also becomes like that of a child… so I put it in a bottle and chilled it for now.”

“Why would you do such a thing?”

Her retort was on point. I was thinking the same thing. But more importantly, where did he go?

Just as I was thinking that, the living room door opened.

There stood… a young child in a black robe, wearing an eyepatch over his left eye, a chain wrapped around his right hand, and for some reason, a goggle on his head, even though we were inside the house, he wore shoes… the infantile version of him, around five years old.

“I am the Black Knight… a being surpassing gods born from chaos…”

He touched the eyepatch over his left eye and spoke quietly. I couldn’t quite understand what he was saying, but he looked cute.

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“Anyway… When will he return to normal?”

“Well, it should be back to normal in about a day.”

“Until then, he’ll stay like this…”

As the two were talking, I was watching him. I had a feeling from before that he had a chuunibyou-like personality…

Well, if he remains this childish, it’s kind of cute, I guess…

Kohaku-chan and Karen-chan aren’t here, they went shopping, but I wonder what will happen when they come back…

“The awakening of the Overlord is near…”

He suddenly said something…

He was sitting on the sofa, watching a children’s program. It had an age-appropriate cuteness to it. I want to talk to him a bit…

“Uhm, h-hey….”

“What is it?”

“Well, uhm, what would you like for dinner?”

“Dinner End Roll of Chaos by the Great Blessing of the Sun The Phoenix Rises (a summer vegetable-filled curry or chicken karaage)

“Um… sorry… I don’t really understand.”

I couldn’t understand what he was saying at all. Is there too much furigana? [TL: This joke here is a fourth wall because in the raw the text Izayoi says has a lot of furigana]

He was swaying to the rhythm while watching the children’s program. When the show ended, he looked a little disappointed… I want to do something for him.

“Uhm, shall this Onee-san play with you?”

“Hooh, now you’re talking. Can you keep up?”

“I haven’t even said what we’re going to play yet.”

He laughed happily. I wonder what he wants to do? What do children his age usually do…?

“Try telling me what you want to do.”

“War of the End of God” (Infinity Ragnarok)

“That might be a bit much… How about playing house, tag, or hide-and-seek?”

“Tag, huh…”

He closed his eyes as if pondering for a moment.

“Let’s play tag.”

“If I were the oni, I could catch everyone in less than a second without waiting. But if I were the one running away, even if the era changes, I won’t be caught, so it’s boring.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Hide and seek, it is the same. If I were the seeker, my magic eye could see not only the hiding places but also people’s personal information. On the other hand, if I were hiding, finding me would be five hundred million times harder than finding a bead in the desert, considering my past as an assassin.”

“Oh, I see.”

This is what is commonly referred to as black history. Aoi-chan, who is watching this exchange, gives him a warm look.

“Then, how about playing house?”

“No, let’s play tag.”

“In the end, it’s tag, huh?”

“Rest assured, I’m adjusting to human standards.”

“Yeah, alright. Then, Onee-san will be the first one to play the devil. So run away.” (Moegi)

“Pfft, it’s no fun if you come alone,…… Aoi and Mel can join too,…… it’s three against one.”

“I’ll play.”

“Ah, I’ll pass. I need to do some research on the medicine.”

“Alright, then it’s two against one. Well, either way, catching me is impossible.”

“Okay, I’ll count to ten, and then come to catch you. Run!”

“Sure. Rocket start!”

After watching him, Aoi-chan asked Mel about his condition.

“What’s going on with him?”

“I think his memories are still intact, but his mind has become childlike. He acts on his thoughts and feelings right away, says whatever he wants, and displays a lot of innocence. It’s like he turned into a toddler while retaining his memories. Just let him play for a while.”

“Understood.”

For now, it’s fine with Aoi-chan, but when the other two come back… Aah, it might be troublesome. I feel a bit anxious, and my stomach tightens with that feeling. Anyway, I should go and chase after him soon, as I don’t want him to be lonely. I leave the living room.

“Alright, let’s catch him together, Aoi-chan.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”