I Became a Time-stopping Narrow-eyed Character

Chapter 13

Same time.

Sawamura Sento found herself in a sudden crisis.

'......The atmosphere is heavy.'

After Ichimaru Shiki left, the reception room, now occupied by just the two of them, was engulfed in silence.

It was as if the smooth conversation they had earlier was a lie, and no words came out.

If she could maintain her facade like she did at school, she could somehow steer the conversation to her pace.......

Glancing sideways, Sento sneaked a look at the woman in a yukata sitting directly in front of her.

The head of the Shihei Family, the Grand Sorcerer, and Ichimaru Shiki's sorcery mentor.

Shihei Rin, still wearing a serene smile, sat calmly in her seat.

Perhaps because this was her domain, she appeared completely at ease as she waited.

Although she had declared herself as her mentor starting today, there was no sign that she intended to lead the conversation.

Sawamura Sento shifted her gaze elsewhere and quickly tried to think of a topic.

No, she tried to come up with one.

Unlike their first meeting, she couldn't just stare at her large chest, and she needed to talk about something, but the only topics that came to mind were formal ones.

'She'll see through everything anyway, so wearing a mask feels pointless.'

In that case, it might be better to mix in some sincerity.

Sento relaxed her briefly furrowed brow and cautiously began to speak.

"......Earlier, you said you would become my mentor, so may I ask you something?"

"Oh my, feel free to speak casually."

"Why did you decide to become my mentor?"

At the sudden question, Shihei Rin widened her eyes and tilted her head.

"Oh my, you? I thought for sure you would ask about Shiki."

"I'm certainly curious about that too... but right now, the one in front of me is you, my mentor. I just thought we should have our own conversation."

Shihei tilted her head as she looked at the girl in front of her, and Sento spoke in a clear voice.

"......So, what is the reason you decided to become my mentor? Was it because of Shiki's request? If it's a one-sided debt, I would prefer to repay it personally. If it's just money, I have quite a bit......"

"Stop, stop! It's true that I was introduced to you through Shiki, but that's not the only reason I took you as my disciple. Also, I have no intention of receiving any compensation in a teacher-student relationship, not even a tiny bit."

The head of the family and sorcerer shrugged her shoulders and continued speaking with a laugh, as if finding the situation amusing.

"The Shihei Family and I owe a debt of gratitude to Shiki. It's true that I decided to meet you because he told me about your unfortunate circumstances."

"......."

"But taking you as my disciple was entirely my decision after meeting you."

"Why......."

"Hmm, the reason is simple."

Sorcerer Shihei Rin kept her smiling face as she stared directly at Sawamura Sento.

"You have a talent greater than anyone else."

Sento's eyes widened.

"Don't be afraid that everything will go wrong. You have all the qualities needed to become a sorcerer. Although your exceptional origin has brought you misfortune, if you can control it, it will become a great blessing."

"I'm not particularly afraid......"

"Your lack of attachment to human relationships and your reluctance to owe debts are probably due to the misfortunes you've experienced so far."

"......."

"I understand, but how about working hard with me, having gained a chance after so many years? I guarantee this opportunity won't come again."

The Grand Sorcerer, who had approached right in front of her, smiled and urged her to respond. Sawamura Sento alternated her gaze between the massive chest and the face before reluctantly answering.

"......Yes, I understand."

"Great, then before we begin the actual lessons, why don't we take some time to get to know each other?"

"......Pardon?"

Sento questioned, but Shihei Rin quickly sat beside her, clasped her hands, and said.

"Since we're meeting for the first time, let's chat and bond! For example, we could talk about Shiki."

"......You probably know much more than I do."

"No, Shiki rarely sticks around the mansion....... I know he does a lot of work outside, but you're the first person he's brought home!"

At that, Sento tilted her head.

"I'm the first?"

"Yes, the first. I thought his sociable personality meant he had good relationships, but since I couldn't see it myself, I wondered, 'Could Shiki-chan be a loner at school?' and got excited."

"......Excited?"

"Oops, slip of the tongue! Hahaha! What I meant was, I'm glad our Shiki-chan... Ichimaru has many friends. Please don't misunderstand! Hohohoho."

"......."

This person is quite cheerful.

She's undoubtedly beautiful, with a great figure, but somehow, she resembles Ichimaru Shiki's slyness.

Sawamura Sento felt a bit uneasy but managed to ignore it somehow.

She subtly shifted the topic of the conversation.

"That, Shiki...... no, Ichimaru said he learned sorcery from you."

"Shiki did learn from me. It was brief, but he was a very bright student."

"But earlier, you said it wasn't his aptitude."

"Did Shiki really say that?"

This time, Shihei Rin tilted her head with a smiling face as she answered.

"He probably said it wasn't his 'preference.' He refused to learn curses or elemental magic because of his stubborn insistence on only handling swords, but he certainly wasn't lacking in talent. In fact, over the past few months, the number of sorceries he learned from me was a staggering-"

"......?"

"One hundred fifty-six thousand seven."

Shihei Rin covered her rising lips as if even she found it amusing.

"Ichimaru Shiki is the greatest genius I've ever seen, apart from you."

***

Although most enemies can be handled with time-stopping abilities and swordsmanship, it's still important to increase the ability to deal with various situations.

If caught in something like an illusion before even realizing it, even I might fall victim, so I made sure to acquire all the related knowledge.

Among the things I acquired were detection and tracking-type sorceries.

"This is troublesome, really."

Tracking, what a bother.

Ever since I got possessed, I've been the one doing the tracking, not being tracked. This is such an unfamiliar sensation.

As soon as I stepped outside the barrier, I stopped time and smiled as I looked around.

'At least they're not right nearby.'

That meant the opponent's level was lower than I had expected.

I had scattered detection nets of varying levels, and they couldn't even break through those.

Feeling a bit disappointed, I trudged back along the path I had just passed.

Dodging the frozen passersby on the street of the stopped world, I walked several hundred meters until I found it near the station.

A glowing cluster caught in the detection net.

It was the creature of a mage who had been stealthily following me.

The creature, with a single eye and wings, was floating high in the air, frozen in time.

"Wow, is this just average level? They must not have been focused since they did it so casually. If they were serious, I'd be really disappointed......."

Shaking my head slowly, I leaped into the air and grabbed the creature.

It looked like a one-eyed bat with wings, a bizarre-looking thing, and I locked eyes with it.

Smiling, I gave sincere advice to the mage who had sent the tracking creature.

"Haha! It's too sloppy right now, so work harder than before!"

.......

"Ah, right. I had stopped time. Oh dear, I've been so busy lately that I'm losing my mind."

Mumbling to myself to hide my embarrassment, I faced the creature again with a sly smile.

Although I couldn't convey words in the frozen time, it wasn't all bad.

For example, if you kill someone in a world where time is stopped, they wouldn't even have time to feel their life flashing before their eyes.

They wouldn't even know who killed them.

That was the case now too.

Crack─!

Crushing the creature instantly with my grip, I grinned and muttered.

"Haha, it's the perfect crime!"

Feeling like I had gone from a good citizen to a criminal, I released the stopped time of the world.

The distance, which had stopped equally for everyone, began to flow again.

The reversal of magic power was no exception.

***

Crack!

"......Ugh."

The mage suddenly shut their eyes tightly in pain as the creature was destroyed.

The people around were even more surprised because it happened during an otherwise ordinary day.

"Lady Eris?! Are you alright?"

"C-could it be that you're hurt somewhere?!"

"......Ah, it's just that some dust got into my eyes for a moment. Please, everyone, calm down."

The Star Mage, Eris Betelgeuse, forced a smile and reassured the others.

Her calm tone, as if nothing had happened, convinced the others that 'it seems there really wasn't anything serious,' and they returned to their seats.

Once again, the social gathering in the garden resumed peacefully, with tea and refreshments being enjoyed leisurely.

The golden-haired young lady, Eris, also displayed a relaxed demeanor, shyly smiling or engaging in conversations like the others at the gathering.

Of course, even at that moment, her mind was spinning rapidly and tensely.

'......The creature has been exposed.'

The mage reviewed the magic circuits within herself.

The one that had been destroyed this time was the Stealth-Operating Creature she had attached to Ichimaru Shiki.

Although it had been set to autonomously follow him, she hadn't expected it to be discovered this quickly.......

"So, there really is something going on."

Among the dozens of young ladies, the High-Ranking Mage Eris Betelgeuse muttered softly and made a decision.

Ichimaru Shiki, a classmate who had recently been making a name for himself in various ways within the class.

If he was an ally, she would recruit him,

'and if he was an enemy.'

She would eliminate him.

Eris made her decision.