Volume 11 - CH 2

Uematsu Yurika is Summoned

“Can you stop summoning me for these Gift Hunters’ meetings already……….?”

“It’s, it’s not my call alright……….It was Sensei who summoned Uematsu wasn’t it……….”

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Today, Uematsu Yurika was summoned by the teacher, Takiguchi, for a Gift Hunters’ gathering and she has to sacrifice her precious lunch break confined in a small consultation room.

While feeling frustrated, Yurika voiced her dissatisfaction to Seki.

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“………………”

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Though she had already walked away from the Gift Hunters, Yurika knew that she could not stay out of the game completely.

Rather than being branded as a traitor, she still prefers forcing herself to attend their meetings.

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“Hey, Yurika-kun, it’s been a while. And good work, Seki.”

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After a few awkward minutes in the consultation room, Takiguchi entered the room and greeted the two with a friendly smile on his face.

This room is practically Takiguchi’s territory. Since students aside from the Gift Hunters rarely hang around here, it became an unofficial gathering place for the Gift Hunters in the Academy.

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“Sensei! I already quit Gift Hunting! Why do you still keep calling me here!?”

“Oi, Uematsu. Mind your language.”

“It’s all right, Seiki.”

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Takiguchi said with a smile.

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“You see, it’s because I took quite a liking to you, Yurika-kun. I do not have any intention of forcing you back into the fold. But since you know quite a lot about us, this is necessary to give the others some peace of mind, no? It wouldn’t do if the others start saying that we should get rid of you after all. In effect, you’re a Gift Hunter in name only. It’s also the reason I only called you first years here without the 2nd and the 3rd years.”

“Then how long will my name have to be attached to the Gift Hunters?”

“Until you graduate, perhaps. We can make up some excuses that you got married or some such after your graduation and say that you retired. So, I’d be happy if you can put up with these meetings until you graduate.”

“……….can’t be helped then.”

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Indeed, Seki did explain to her that the fact that she quit Gift Hunting was known only to the first-year Gift hunters.

As Takiguchi said, it appears that they are concealing the fact from the upperclassmen by not inviting them.

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“……by the way, there are 3 Gift Hunters in the first year right? Where’s the last guy?”

“Who the hell would invite that woman!?”

“………well, what he said.”

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Seki spoke in a flustered voice while Takiguchi simply followed up with a wry smile.

The last Gift Hunter and Yurika are acquaintances but she understands why the two are so reluctant.

They probably didn’t include that person on purpose.

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“So, about the subject of this meeting. The woman we blacklisted, Sawatani Umeko, it seems that she’s dead.”

“Sawatani…….”

“That old lady who did all those curse stuff and summon [Ghost King] or whatever!? She’s dead!?”

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Takiguchi reported the death of one of the dangerous individuals who was marked by the Gift Hunters. Yurika and Seki were shocked by the news.

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“PHEW! Now we can get some peace of mind!”

“I heard her dried-up corpse was found near a certain campsite. From the way she died, the investigation team seems to conclude that it was the work of [Ghost King].”

“That’s karma for you.”

“The campsite was in the countryside with no nearby surveillance cameras so we can’t really find out the truth though. Well, it’s better for us if the Bureau believes that to be the case so we will feed that information to them later.”

“You’re so awesome, Sensei!”

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Seki got excited by Takiguchi’s report.

Meanwhile, Yurika has mixed feelings about it.

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“What do you think, Yurika-kun? You wanted to know about the fate of Shibata’s murderer right? He did protect you before after all.”

“……..yes. Thank you for telling me about this.”

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Yurika lowered her head to Takiguchi.

It was a long time ago. Shibata was a person from the Bureau of Gift Control who protected her when her brother was murdered. Getting to know that the person who killed him is now dead is worth her coming here.

In truth, she isn’t certain that Ghost King is really dead.

Still, if someone out there did indeed take revenge for her, she would like to thank that person.

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“Well then, if you will ex-……”

[[-cuse me]] it was when she was about to take her leave.

“Kyahahahaha” The door to the consultation room was opened accompanied by a woman’s laugh.

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“Kyahahaha. Hola Gift Hunters!”

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A flashy-looking woman stepped inside the room with a cola-flavoured lollipop in her mouth.

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“Tsk…..” Takiguchi clicked his tongue.

Though it was only Yurika who noticed that.

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“Oi, What’s with that attitude!?”

“HAA? WHAT? Pretending to be the leader, eh? Know your place and shut yer trap, Seki.”

“WHAT DID YOU SAY!?”

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With flashy make-up, the girl has yellow hair with blue meshes done into twin tails.

Seki showed clear hostility toward her inappropriate attitude.

This again? Yurika thought as she sighed.

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“Well, I’m the strongest after all. Isn’t it obvious how I’d feel when a weakling like you starts acting all high and mighty?”

“Haa? Don’t get carried away you pipsqueak!”

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In front of this 150cm-tall woman, Seki shows a side of him that he never reveals in front of Yurika.

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“Kyahahaha. Big words coming from Seki-kun who has to steal Gifts from others since he can’t do shit on his own. Kyaha, you can’t even properly copy my Gift when I went out of my way to show you, how absurd.”

“You little, your Gift is just too damn inconvenient alright! Who would use a Gift like that!”

“Kyaha, is that an excuse I hear?”

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While chewing on the lollipop, she turned away from Seki as if she lost interest in him.

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“My? Oh my? If it isn’t little Ms Traitor Yurika-chan? It’s been a while.”

“You’re as annoying as ever…….”

“Hic, how cruel. Mai-chan is going to cry.”

“Just cry then.”

“Ugh, a pain as always.”

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She ceased the fake teasing tone and said the last part with a low-pitched voice.

She then renews her smile and walks up to Yurika with a mocking remark.

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“Since when did Yurika-chan the weakling get so carried away I wonder? I don’t mind frying you up now you know.”

“The only reason I couldn’t beat you was because of the difference in our Gifts. Without Gifts, I’m the stronger one.”

“Ha? What? Is it a weakling’s habit to shift the goalpost?”

“A Gift Hunter acting all haughty because of their Gift huh? To be honest, I can’t admire your kind of strength at all, Ms Self-proclaimed Strongest.”

“……….*snap*. You’ve got some balls, Yurika-chan.”

“I don’t want to fight you so I’ll take my leave now.”

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Saying so, Yurika walks past Misaki Mai and leaves the consultation room.

With her mood completely spoiled, she also left the room.

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“Ohh, that was scary…….”

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After watching the two women’s tense conversation, Seki can’t help but reluctantly support Yurika, who already left the Gift Hunters, instead of Misaki Mai, his own ally.

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“Haa……how did that woman know we were having a meeting here in the first place? That Hyena woman……”

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Meanwhile, Takiguchi who remained silent throughout the entire conversation earlier gazed at the door Misaki just left through with a disgusted look on his face.

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“Seki…….”

“Yes.”

“If Mai-kun causes a scene then get rid of her as a Gift Hunter. I don’t mind if you kill her.”

“Geh, I’m no match for that woman you know. Besides, she’s technically our ally isn’t she?”

“To be frank, I would rather have a formidable enemy instead of an incompetent ally. That girl is far too removed from my ideal of Gift Hunters. ………..it looks like you’re the only true Gift Hunter in the first year, Seki……”

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If it was Mai who left instead of Yurika then he would not feel anything.

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“Recently, there seem to be some rats snooping around investigating us. Seriously, maybe I can’t let her do as she pleases anymore huh.”

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The fact that someone asked Yurika about Takiguchi has reached his ears.

Even so, since she still hasn’t done anything directly yet, he intends to let her be.

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“Just a little more and Gift Hunters will grow to become a bigger organization. We will put an end to this world corrupted by Gifts. With our own hands……”

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The voice of pure resentment echoed in the room.

The Gift Hunters.

It is only a matter of time before they become a prominent organization.

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Author Note: Yurika, Seki, and Taikiguchi, all hate the self-proclaimed strongest Misaki Mai.

She’s a different kind of brat from Nodoka.

Gift Hunters are not without their dissent.

I don’t want to be told that there are only men antagonists in the series so I added a girl in the enemy camp.

A female antagonist would make the story more colourful don’t you think?

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Next up, putting this aside, let’s see Female Hideyori going to the classroom…….