6. The Trap
It was the fourth day of basic training when Grandfather suddenly complained that he was feeling unwell.
“Urgh... Th-This is bad...”
“Grandfather?! Wh-Wh-Wh-What’s the matter?!” Shihoru exclaimed.
“Ngh, ngh, ngh...”
Grandfather clutched his chest, leaning over in his chair. He might fall out of his chair like that.
Shihoru got up, rushed over to him, making sure he at least didn’t collapse.
“Nnngh... Nnngh... Nnngh... This is bad...” Grandfather closed his eyes and let out a low groan.
Shihoru looked around in vain. “Wh-What can I do...? Sh-Should I call someone?”
“N-No... It’s fine...”
“B-But...!”
“Let me rest a little... Here... Urgh...”
“Y-Yes, that’s okay,” Shihoru said fearfully.
“Ohh... No... My strength... It’s fail...ing... me...”
“I-I’ll support you!”
Shihoru put her arms around Grandfather and held him to give him support when he looked ready to keel over.
Grandfather’s whole body was quivering. There was no other noticeable change, but he was old, so he probably had an existing condition or two. She wouldn’t have been surprised by anything.
Maybe she should call someone. However, ever since the first time she’d met Grandfather, no other mage had come near the classroom they were using for lessons.
If she was going to call for help, she’d have to leave the room. If she did, she’d have to leave Grandfather alone. That worried her.
“I’m fine... I’m fine, so... Leave me... Let me stay like this... Let me rest like this, for just a little while...”
“I... I under...stand. Um, does it... hurt somewhere? If something’s wrong, please, tell me. Please...”
“Yes... I’ll... do that...”
This being an emergency, she couldn’t fault him for it, but Grandfather’s face was pressed up against her chest. Was that making it hard for him to breathe?
“U-Um, Grandfather,” Shihoru ventured.
“Yes... What is it...?”
“Y-You’re not suffering... are you?”
“No... Not at all... It feels nice, actually. No...”
“Huh...?”
“I’m fine... Fine... Yes... Fine...”
Next, Grandfather put his arm around Shihoru’s back—no, her butt—squeezing tight.
Was he feeling better? If he was, thank goodness. But...
“G-Grandfather...?” Shihoru asked nervously.
“Yes...”
“E-Erm...”
“What is it...?”
“I hate to say this... but...”
“Hmm...?”
“Th-The way you’re touching my butt is a little...”
“...Yes?” Grandfather pulled his face away from Shihoru’s chest. “Ohh. Pardon me. Sorry, sorry. It just happened.”
“N-No. It’s fine... if you’d just stop. Wh-Why are you still rubbing my butt?”
“Hmm!” This time, Grandfather pulled his hand away from Shihoru’s butt, then laughed in embarrassment. “Sorry, sorry. Didn’t mean any harm.”
“H-Harm?”
“Girlie,” Grandfather said. “Your butt felt so comfortable to the touch, I felt sad to part with it. There’s no reason other than that.”
“Y-You mean—” Shihoru pushed Grandfather against the back of his chair. “Th-This was just plain sexual harassment.?!”
“Sexual harassment?” Grandfather cocked his head to the side. “This may be my old age talking, but I don’t know what you mean. I was rubbing your buttocks with the purest of intentions, have no doubt.”
“Don’t try to turn this around...”
“I am doing no such thing!” This was the first time Shihoru saw Grandfather open his eyes wide in front of her. “I love girls’ butts!! I love boobs! I am in love with every part of the girl! I don’t want to take on any boys for basic training! I want to spend what little time I have left with girls! Is that wrong?! No! Certainly not! I maintain absolute confidence in my righteousness!”
“D-Did you deliberately make it so Adachi-kun would get impatient...?”
“Correct!”
“What is wrong with you...?” Shihoru muttered.
“Don’t you worry about me, girlie,” Grandfather smirked.
“You’re full of energy, too...”
“I’m 107 this year! No matter how much I love girls, all I can do is breathe air in the same room as them, and if I see a chance, maybe touch them a liiiittle, nothing else! It’s tragic that I can’t do aaaanything else...”
“That’s... not my problem...”
“Could you possibly understand my vexation, girlie?!”
“Not at all! And I don’t want to!”
“My word! Not understanding your own master’s feelings! You fail as an apprentice!”
“Fine! Whatever! Fail me! I’ll learn from Wizard Yoruka, like Adachi-kun!”
“You fool! Yoruka is my student! I am her teacher! She can say what she likes, but Yoruka can never defy me!”
“You’re horrible!!”
“Call me what you will! Mwahahahahah! Girlie! I’m not letting you escape until your basic training is over!”
Shihoru bit her lip.
She was frustrated.
But more than that, she was sad.
Shihoru had never suspected Grandfather in the slightest. She’d cared for him, and tried to help. That was all.
Grandfather had taken advantage of Shihoru’s feelings. Because Shihoru was his apprentice, you could say he’d taken advantage of her weaker position as someone who had to look after him.
“Does it hurt, girlie?!” Grandfather cackled like a devil. “Do you feel betrayed?! Well, know this! All the boys out there in the world are worse than me! I’m doing you a service, teaching you the harshness of reality!”
“Boys?” Shihoru repeated in horror.
Was that true? Shihoru collapsed to the floor.
She was scared. Scared. Scared! Grandfather was decrepit with old age, so she had gotten off lightly. If he had been a healthy young man, what might he have done to her? What horrible things?
“Fwahahahahahahahahaha!” the horrible old man laughed. “Girlie! Know the darkness of this world, and grow to become a woman!”
Shihoru shook her head. She wanted to cry. Or rather, she was already half-crying. The tears were ready to flow.
Just in time, the door to the classroom opened, and Wizard Yoruka came in.
“Fwuh...” Seeing Yoruka, Grandfather clearly started to panic.
Yoruka was the opposite.
She strode towards him with no expression, then chopped him in the head with an open hand.
“Agh...!”
“You filthy old man.”
“Y-You... Yo-Yoruka, how dare you do this to your teach—”
“Silence,” she ordered.
“Urkh...”
“To think you would still act the same even after turning 100. How can you have grown so little? I am too appalled for words, Wizard Sarai.”
“Th-The seething passion of my soul, which still seeks adventure, even after turning 100, is something to be praised! I-Isn’t it?! Right, girlie?!”
“Huh...? You’re turning to me on this?!” Shihoru exclaimed.
“You’re my apprentice, aren’t you? Be a good apprentice, and give me an out! Help me!”
“...N-No.”
“Gasp!”
“Now listen, girlie,” Yoruka said.
Shihoru was shocked to find that even Yoruka was calling her “girlie” now.
“This old man is the oldest, most respected mage alive, but he is also infamous, and especially scorned by female mages, who keep their distance,” Yoruka told her. “His knowledge and talent as a mage, however, is genuine. He is one of the few mages in Grimgar who has attained true magic. His teachings will, undoubtedly, become an invaluable asset to you as a mage. You may not understand that now, but with time, you will. However, if you find yourself unable to deal with the old coot’s behavior, I am willing to take over as your instructor for the rest of your basic training. What will you do?”
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