Chapter 371. The Genuine Cannot Become Fake, Absolutely Not
「Dinner was prepared by Crusch. Everyone else, including Hikigaya Hachiman, only acted as helpers, performing auxiliary tasks. Within this Sage's Tower, after all the calculations were made, only the post-amnesia Crusch possessed culinary skills above the average.」
「Julius had initially wanted to take on the job, but unfortunately, his cooking skills were about the same as Hachiman's—utterly inadequate.」
「The dinner Crusch prepared completely conquered Shaula, who likely hadn't eaten anything different for four hundred years. Moved to tears, Shaula used every laudatory word she had learned in her life, praising Crusch until she felt quite embarrassed.」
「Because of these praises, Crusch tucked a strand of her falling green hair behind her ear and lowered her head shyly. Her aura as a "virtuous wife and wise mother" surged in intensity.」
「She stole a glance at Sir Hachiman—Hikigaya Hachiman really wanted to praise Crusch, just as he used to praise Yukinoshita's cooking in the Service Club, but constrained by his previous agreement with Ram, he could only remain silent to avoid any misunderstanding.」
Regarding this, Crusch back at the Karsten Mansion didn't have much of a reaction anymore, aside from her heart feeling a bit colder, her expression more distorted, and her determination to snatch him in reality growing deeper.
Ever since Sir Hachiman made that promise back at the sand cavern, she had anticipated this kind of situation. Compared to this expected defeat, Crusch was now more curious about how Sir Hachiman would crack that nonsensical trial later.
Roswaal, Elsa, and the others were also extremely curious; regardless of how much they racked their brains, they couldn't figure out how to solve this vague, head-scratching trial.
"Boring."
In Advanced Nurturing High School, Class D, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka let out a bored yawn, just like Echidna in the tomb of the other world.
In terms of the reserve of miscellaneous knowledge, he had studied far more than Hikigaya Hachiman. He saw through it instantly: the trial of the Sage's Tower was actually a metaphor for a star.
Having pierced through this point, his interest in the Sage's Tower plummeted to an all-time low. To any person from Earth who had studied astronomy, this was an incredibly simple trial.
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「Shaula was still gorging herself, reluctant to leave the dining table.」
「The others had returned to the Green Room to hold a meeting. Hikigaya Hachiman proposed a viewpoint: everyone should maintain a certain degree of distance from Shaula. Although she was friendly at the moment, it was hard to say she wouldn't suddenly become hostile for some reason.」
「Meili also raised her hand, interjecting with a point: "I say, Big Brother, isn't that exhibitionist stalker-sister treating you as her old Master? If you ordered her not to hurt us, it should work, right?"」
「Hachiman paused upon hearing this and gave a wry smile. "Maybe it would... but, sorry, I don't want to do that."」
「"Why?" Meili asked in confusion. Just as she finished, Emilia gently stroked her hair and spoke like a mother educating a child: "Everyone has things they don't want to do, and that goes for Hachiman too... So, don't push him to that extent, or you'll be a bad child. Meili can't be a bad child, okay?"」
「"Sir Hachiman is worried that after giving an order, he would truly be usurping the position of Shaula's Master."」
「Crusch spoke even more directly. "Being called Master when you clearly aren't is agonizing enough. If you were to give orders, it would be utilizing Shaula's mistaken perception for your own gain."」
「"Given Sir Hachiman's kindness, he is certainly unwilling to do such a thing."」
「Her analysis was piercingly accurate. After speaking, she puffed out her chest and looked at Hachiman proudly, wanting to receive a certification of "Full Marks in Hachiman-ology."」
「What she received in response was an expression of extreme shame from Hachiman, who looked as if he wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into.」
「While everything Crusch said was right... it was precisely because it was all correct and analyzed so transparently in front of so many people that he felt as if he were standing naked before Crusch, having been seen completely through.」
「Meili blinked innocently. "But when Big Brother asked that exhibitionist sister all those questions earlier, he was already being placed in the Master's role by her, right? Why is giving an order not okay? Isn't that just self-deception?"」
「"If you don't know how to speak, then say less!"」
「Beatrice slapped the floor in anger, glaring fiercely at Meili.」
「"Let her speak, Beatrice. What she says is the truth." Hachiman shook his head slightly. "Maybe I really am just deceiving myself, being overly dramatic... but I truly cannot bring myself to give Shaula orders. I'm sorry."」
「The meeting broke up on an unhappy note.」
「Meili had successfully used one sentence to earn the unfriendly glares of almost everyone except Hachiman. Especially Beatrice, who practically told her with her eyes, "You'd better watch your back."」
「Even as simple as she was, Emilia could tell... That night, she stayed with Meili the entire time, both to protect her and to earnestly teach her not to force others to do things they don't want to do.」
「Hachiman, meanwhile, successively turned down the implicit or explicit comforts from Ram, Crusch, and Julius. Meili spoke the truth; he wasn't so petty or fragile.」
「To avoid these comforts, he wandered the halls and corridors of the fourth floor alone.」
「"Hey, hey, Master."」
「He encountered Shaula, who had specifically come looking for him.」
「This girl who claimed to have lived for four hundred years looked at him sincerely with a bashful smile. Her expression was by no means fake; it gave off a pungent sense of "Genuine" happiness.」
「"I still have something to say to you before bed. If I don't say it, I won't be able to sleep tonight—Welcome back, Master! I, Shaula, have been looking forward to the return of the Sage Flugel from the bottom of my heart for a very long time."」
「She smiled brilliantly, like a radiant gemstone that one would want to protect and cherish.」
「Unfortunately, Hikigaya Hachiman was a common man. He would shatter this gemstone with his own hands. Staring fixedly and directly at Shaula, Hachiman spoke each word deliberately: "My name is Hikigaya Hachiman. I am just Hikigaya Hachiman. I am not some Flugel, and I am definitely not your Master—and that's all. Listen to me clearly, Shaula."」
「"Oh, stop it. Even now, Master is still talking nonsense? Mm-hmm, it's okay. Once we pass the trial and find a way in the library, Master will definitely be able to recover his memories and remember your star pupil, Shaula! Hehe!"」
「Shaula made a peace sign, her enthusiasm undiminished. As she backed away, she said: "In any case, being able to see Master after such a long time makes me very satisfied. Hearing Master's voice and thinking of Master's face, I'll definitely have a good sleep tonight!"」
「Her enthusiasm remained.」
「But the back of her figure as she turned and walked away looked, no matter how one saw it, slightly lonely and panicked in a way that was almost imperceptible.」
「"Shaula..."」
「Since she was the "Genuine" thing, he, Hikigaya Hachiman, would absolutely not let this person become a "Fake." Never!」
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