High School Hack and Slash Chapter 77 Part 1
Small Greed
「Good day. We’ll be in your care today.」
Seiichi, in friendly formal mode, bows to the store master in a lighthearted manner.
That sociability is something I ought to emulate.
「I think it would be totally impossible for you, Touma-san.」
Shizuka-san says so, but if you give up, the game ends there.
The interior is small, but it’s a somewhat stylish and seemingly Insta-worthy store.
I had imagined an all-you-can-eat buffet-style restaurant where Doggy-senpai would make the restaurant staff cry, but it seems that I have misunderstood.
「Touma-kun. You’ve finally come~.」
The little Doggy-san waves at us from a space in the back of the store.
Apparently, we end up coming a little late.
For the time being, the three of us also move to the space in the back of the store and join them.
The members waiting for us are a boy, a girl, Doggy-san, Lady Guy-san, and Bagworm-san.
It’s one impactful group.
By any chance, I wonder if the so-called 『Seven Deadly Sins』 are a metaphor for a comedy group of comedians?
「Sorry to have kept you waiting.」
「Welcome. Touma-kun. And Seiichi-kun and Shizuka-chan, too.」
We take a seat at the table as recommended by Kaoru-senpai.
Speaking of the three Black Honey members, they are faces I have seen at the Yakiniku Festival.
And then, I have no recollection of the timid and restless male student, but I get the feeling that I’ve seen the girl, who is staring at me with a suspicious look in her eyes, somewhere else.
「Asura… This, is not right.」
「What is it? Kokoa-chan?」
「I thought that by any chance some eccentric deity had descended, but for them to truly be blending in as a student, so bizarre.」
Folding the book in her hand with a snap, she gets up from her seat.
「Thus, do excuse me.」
「Now, now, calm down.… We have various circumstances on our side too, you know. So by all means, I hope you can tell us your insight, senpai.」
「I have to say sorry. I have no wish to make a connection with you guys, so get out of the way.」
「Ah, as expected, don’t you seem to know me better than I do? So very please, Kokoa-senpai.」
Seiichi is doing some kind of passionate coaxing.
The girl, with sweat dripping on her forehead, is on the ropes.
I guess I ought to snitch on this matter to Mai.
「This… I see. Ufufu, so that’s the case, huh…」
Shizuka, who remains having her arms crossed even as she sits down, looks at the direction of the boy and floats a whole face smile.
I feel sympathy for the boy, who is nervous with his gaze wandering about restlessly.
Adolescent boys are creatures with a tendency to act suspiciously when they are stared by a cute girl like Shizuka.
「Now then, it looks like everyone’s here already, so let’s start the tea party.」
Kaoru-senpai, his hands folded on the table, shows a nice smile on his face.
◇ ◇ ◇
Burgers and sandwiches.
Fried chicken and french fries.
Pizzas, meat pies, and apple pies.
The party food for a large number of people is more that of a dinner party than a tea party.
Though, well, it’s true that as long as there are good meals, your mood will also become good.
「You, too, should try to fit in a bit more with everyone else.」
「Now’s not the time for that. Tissue, please.」
All participating members are quite free-spirited.
However, we should follow public order and morals.
Otherwise, if we are not careful, we may be reported immediately, after all.
「Touma-kun. This one is tasty.」
「I see. Bon appétit.」
The cheeseburger recommended by Doggy-senpai is delicious.
It has thick and melty cheese, with the crunchy onions giving a nice accent to it.
「Do you not mind that? So I ask.」
「Yes. Since it’s just a big brother and little sister playing with each other.」
「It’s the first time I’ve seen Asura pining for anyone other than Kaoru.」
For some reason, Shizuka and Kokoa-san are getting along well and hitting it off.
Kokoa-san, who had caved in under the intense push from Seiichi, has a class called『Deadly Sin of Pride』.
She seems to be an old『Seven Deadly Sins』 member, the same generation as Doggy-senpai, and she has been telling us a lot of helpful insights.
「As a matter of fact, even if we’re called the Seven Sins, it’s not that we’re invincible or peerless, but of course.」
It’s just that, it seems that the holders of the『Seven Deadly Sins』 classes stand out because they usually self-destruct and fall in a grand manner.
It’s an unpleasant style of acting.
「In fact, there are also other similarly unique-type classes. Our counterpart, the『Seven Heavenly Virtues』 series, is also well known.」
They seem have the classes of『Charity』, 『Humility』, 『Kindness』, 『Patience』, 『Diligence』, 『Temperance』, and『Chastity』, respectively.
The reason why they are well known but not conspicuous is because there is an irregular in the name of『Hero』 that can use all the skills of the『Seven Heavenly Virtues』 classes, it seems.
「Those who become either Sins or Virtues are usually people with a screw loose on the heads, but I’m proud to say that they’re not as crazy as the Hero.」
It appears that she has seen several preceding heroes.
Given the fact that they are frequently replaced, I guess that means that’s how it is.
It seems that both of their trains of thoughts and actions are quite mind blowing, in a bad way.
I get the feeling that there’s one in our classroom too, but well, whatever.
「There are also many others, such as the『Eight Legions』, the『Six Poetry Immortals (Wakashu)』, the『Council of Five Elders (Queens Dead)』, the『Twelve Star Generals (Zodiac)』, and so on. In fact, be it unique or rare ones, there are even those that aren’t yet made distinct.」
Appearing in a flash and disappearing in a flash, they’re so like fishy idol groups.
「There are surprisingly a lot of them, huh….」
「So you mean these are the transcendent (Over-Irregular) classes, huh.」
「It’s rare for all piece members to be present at the same time. Most of the time, there are missing numbers… Moreover, they are not as inhuman as you guys.」
Leaving Seiichi aside, Shizuka is also treated as out of standard.
Looks like Kokoa-senpai also has a skill similar to my Interface.
「Kaoru. If you get me involved despite knowing all that, that’s cruel of you.」
「My oh my, to be pointed with such a glare, so scary. But be at ease, they’re not bad kids. Betting my life on it, I assure you.」
Kaoru-senpai floats a wide smile as he takes care of Doggy-senpai, who is heartily stuffing her cheeks with food.
Doggy-senpai also seems to be letting it go in one ear and out the other, as she’s unable to understand difficult talks.
I totally feel sympathy for her.
Well, all said and done, Kokoa-senpai might like explanatory talks.
The type that you’d see among cram school instructors or something.
She also tells us many other things.
For example, it appears that in order to acquire a transcendence (Over-Irregular) class, there’s a need to obtain some special items.
They seems to be called『Gear』, items with an inscription on them.
She says that even among『Innate Armaments (Origin Gear)』, items that actually have『Key (Gear)』 inscriptions are exceptional.
And that they will be attracted by karma and appear in the presence of the suitable person.
Quite the fatalistic idea it is.
Incidentally, I guess they are items that I also have one myself.
Moreover, it’s one with the inscription of『Greed』.
After being magically remodeled by Mikan-senpai, its name has ended up changing from『Gaki Lord Rod』 to『Gaki Lord War Casket』, but there is no change in the『Over-greed Gear』 inscription.
There’s no change in it being a mysterious item that I don’t really understand.
We also receive instructions pertaining to the methods to activate the all-important skills.
The newcomer boy, who has been showing a face like he wants to go home all the time from the beginning, is also leaning forward and listening attentively to it.
「First of all, it’s wrong to imagine the skills at the beginning, in fact, it’s harmful.」
「That’s the exact opposite of what we learned in class, though?」
「These are illiterate methods. A system that fits the original『power』 into a mold to mass-produces a degraded copy.」
How should I put it, talk about the opposite approach.
「The means to draw out the power that’s originally there in a way that makes it easy to use is called『Skill』. There is no need to go to the trouble of copying something that is difficult to use for ordinary people, after all. The template method that is used universally is not the best one regardless of anyone who uses it, such is the principle.」
I think it’s a useful system in its own way.
Like a manual book.
Tftc