Because It’s Puberty

“What? Maker, you’re suddenly going to Japan?”

Astra questioned me with doubt.

To that, I nodded obediently and continued speaking.

“Actually, I’ve been planning it for a while.”

Currently, there was only one Vestige of Mystery remaining to cure the Supreme Leader.

It was the Vestige of Mystery located in Japan.

“Well, you said it’s the final ingredient to cure the Supreme Leader.. But are you sure it’s okay to go without any organization members?”

“At other times I might not, but in this case, having more people wouldn’t be much help.”

The final target, the Vestige of Mystery, has a fantasy barrier widely spread around its perimeter.

Once inside that range, one can vividly experience hallucinations or illusions, and ordinary people could never bring back the Vestige of Mystery located beyond that barrier.

“At minimum, one would need either an A-class level of mana, an item that resists hallucinations and enchantments, or at the very least, exceptionally high mental strength.”

No matter how skilled our organization members were or how much they nourished themselves with the Elixir daily, it would be difficult for them to clear even one of these three conditions.

The Life Force most of our members consumed was the mass-produced version, modified for the purpose of distribution to many.

Just consuming that wouldn’t be enough to reach A-class.

Resisting hallucinations and enchantments meant possessing either an artifact or a Vestige of Mystery.

Mental strength might be the easier option, but even the standard for mental strength here was much stricter than one might think.

‘In conclusion, using ordinary people to retrieve the item? Impossible.’

Of course, I had considered distributing replicated World Tree Branches as a countermeasure.

Based on my experience in Tartarus, the World Tree Branch had a calming effect on mind and body, which could help support mental strength or dispel hallucinations.

But in that case, there would be the risk of external leakage, and the information that I could copy and paste the Vestige of Mystery might get out.

‘In other words, I would continuously receive countless unwelcome requests (kidnapping, threats, confinement).’

Even just for that concern, it’s right for me to go.

“If at least the executives could accompany you, that would be different.”

“Unfortunately, they’re all on missions.”

Additionally, the Instructor, the Sword Ghost, and Black Wolf were all busy.

In the end, the only help I’d get from Eclipse would be the cost of the plane ticket.

“Hmph… this is disappointing. Here I am, risking my life to save the Supreme Leader…”

“..Ahem. Sorry, Maker.”

When I put my hands to my face and pretended to sob as if feeling wronged, Astra apologized awkwardly, though she seemed to find it ridiculous.

I guess she was willing to play along since she felt a bit guilty herself.

“Though honestly, I prefer working alone.”

“……”

But when I immediately broke the mood and smiled, I could clearly feel her sentiment of not knowing what to make of me.

I laughed to myself inwardly.

‘I do understand Eclipse’s position.’

From the moment I first became an executive, I had wanted individual activities, and given Eclipse’s current circumstances, it was difficult for everyone to focus on the tasks I was proposing.

“Besides, Eclipse is already having enough trouble with those Tartarus criminals, right? I can’t leisurely complain.”

“..Hah. Thanks for understanding, Maker.”

The current worldwide commotion caused by the criminals.

Eclipse was also suffering from their outlandish actions.

In such a situation, it would be unconscionable to ask for more.

‘Moreover, there’s no guarantee that my proposed method will save the Supreme Leader. So there’s even less reason to take unnecessary losses in the current situation.’

I knew my method could treat the Supreme Leader, but to them, it was just a possibility.

I should be grateful that they’ve helped me this far with what could essentially be seen as my unilateral actions.

As such, I had no reason to be discontented with Eclipse.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

In fact, this might be a good thing for me.

‘..After all, I accepted it.’

I mean Chise’s request to go to Japan with me.

It’s not a bad thing.

An S-class hero who has completed her awakening? If my prediction is correct, bringing just her along would allow me to retrieve the item quite easily.

‘Think positively, positively.’

Although a hero and villain traveling together might seem odd.

As I was thinking this and turning to leave.

“Ah, Maker. If it’s alright, how about taking Irene along too?”

“Ms. Irene?”

When I turned back to look at her, she nodded.

Irene…

I pondered her suggestion for a moment.

‘Wouldn’t it be dangerous?’

Irene, the test subject who escaped from Z-Biotech.

She had grown steadily over the past 3 years and was now 14 years old.

She was the same age as Ga-yeon when I first met her, but thanks to being well-fed and well-rested, it was natural that she had grown better than Ga-yeon at that same age.

But that was still by a child’s standards.

She likely wouldn’t be of much practical help.

‘Considering she’s entering the unstable period of puberty, she might be at risk when we go to the barrier.’

As if understanding my concern, Astra spoke up.

“Don’t take her to overly dangerous places, just play with her. Irene hasn’t been able to go out much.”

“Hmm.”

It did seem like there wouldn’t be a problem if that’s all it was.

Plus, I also wanted to give her various experiences.

No matter how spacious Eclipse was, it was essentially a home to her.

I was worried that if she stayed cooped up without experiencing the outside world, she might become a second shut-in-NEET-loner-Instructor.

“Alright. I’ll tell Irene to come along.”

“..Please, Maker.”

After bidding farewell to Astra, I left the office and headed to Irene’s room.

Having entered puberty, Irene had graduated from living in my room and now had her own.

“Hmm, hmm hmm~”

-Sniff sniff.. grooooan..

Although I felt a bit sad, I understood.

It’s that age.

And even though the distance between Irene and me had decreased, she was still a sweet little sister to me.

-Haah.. haah.. inhale-exhale..

A child who would wag her tail vigorously and smile at me like the 11-year-old I first brought in.

‘She’s a good child.’

I also recall how recently she offered to do my laundry, carrying it with her small hands so diligently.

Of course, perhaps due to carelessness, whenever she finished the laundry and brought it back, somehow a few pieces of clothing always went missing.

-Huff ha..! Huuuff ha..!! Sniff sniff sniff!!

I have no intention of complaining when my cute little sister is making an effort for me.

‘Still, it’s a relief.’

I had been a bit concerned that I might be neglecting her since bringing her to Eclipse, so it seemed fortunate that a good opportunity had come up.

‘Though Astra’s ambiguous expression at the end is a bit concerning.’

-Huuuff ha! Huff ha! Huuuuuff ha!!

Well, surely my good Irene couldn’t be an evil troublemaker to others unlike with me, or could her speech have deteriorated badly without my knowledge?

“Hmm.”

But I can understand. It’s puberty.

Click.

I finally arrived in front of Irene’s room.

It was located not far from my own room.

I found the key to her room that she had often given me, saying to visit frequently, from my inner pocket.

Slide.

The key fit perfectly, as expected.

Before entering, I knocked on the door briefly and spoke.

“Ms. Irene, it’s Maker. I have something to discuss, may I come in?”

-Uh, uhhh!? B-Big brother?! W-wait. Just wait!! Don’t open it!!

“Are you busy?”

-No, that! I’m not busy..!! Just don’t open it! 1 minute!! Just 1 minuuute..!!!

A voice that conveyed desperation beyond panic.

I momentarily wondered why she was acting like that, but there was no need to provoke a teenage girl’s mood, so I easily agreed.

‘It’s an age where she wants to hide many things.’

Like not wanting to show that her room is too messy, for example.

“Alright. I’ll wait for about 3 minutes, so call me when you’re done.”

Bang clatter clatter-!!

As I expected, from inside the door came the sound of Irene running around frantically.

I waited patiently for a total of about 5 minutes, adding 2 minutes to the original 3, to protect my teenage sister’s pride.

-Y-you can come in now..

Finally, Irene’s permission.

I slowly opened the door and entered.

The room was cleaner than I expected.

It was a room that showed no traces of having been hastily cleaned, as if it had been this neat from the beginning.

‘..What? Wasn’t she cleaning up a messy room?’

For a moment, I wondered if she had asked for time for a different reason, given how neatly organized the room was.

“B-big brother.. you’re here?”

Meanwhile, Irene welcomed me.

With rough breathing and dripping sweat, along with a flushed face, she looked at me while gently swishing her tail.

“Hmm.”

“What is it..? Is there a problem with my room?”

“No, I was just thinking that Ms. Irene is indeed good at cleaning and lives very neatly.”

“Really? Ahaha..!”

Watching her overreact to my every attitude, I quickly shook my head.

Her room was neat.

“Hmm.. but you might want to ventilate it a bit better.”

“Whaaat?!”

Instead, there was a strange scent permeating her room.

How should I describe it, a sticky yet intensely sweet scent? It wasn’t a bad smell, but it felt suffocating to breathe it in.

“Ugh..”

And at my words, Irene’s face reddened even more as she lowered her head.

Oh dear, did I unknowingly touch on a sensitive topic?

“..I’m not saying it’s bad, I’m just concerned for your health. Artificial or strong scents can sometimes make you dizzy if inhaled too much.”

“I-is that so..?”

“Of course.”

I tried to comfort her and then took a step forward.

“Anyway, Ms. Irene, the reason I came today isn’t anything special. I was wondering what you thought about travel.”

“Travel?”

At my words, Irene’s shyness disappeared completely, and she opened her eyes wide, perking up her ears.

Her tail began to sway gently, suggesting she was quite interested.

Finding her cute, I chuckled and moved again.

“I need to go to Japan for something, but it’s very simple. After finishing the task, I’m planning to stay for about two more days.”

While it was a mission for me, if she came along, it could essentially be a vacation for her.

As Irene was enticed by this, her tail wagged vigorously.

“So, I was planning to go with my direct subordinates, including Irene… hmm?”

Something caught my attention from the wardrobe near her bed.

Something was sticking out from the gap in the door.

It was a dress shirt.

Even from just the protruding sleeve, it was clearly a men’s shirt with a large fit, not a women’s one.

‘..That looks like mine.’

Though logic was lacking, a strong intuition filled the gap.

But that wasn’t the only surprising thing.

Parts of the shirt were darkened with some kind of liquid, there were animal tooth marks,

and what looked like blood, no, red lipstick marks.

In that moment when various pieces of information were contained in a single instance, my mind froze.

Thud-!!

“Huff..!! Huff..!! Huff..”

She had already approached the wardrobe at the edge of my sight and properly closed it.

I softly opened my mouth.

“..That just now was-“

“I like travel! Big brother! I want to go too!!”

Irene spoke boldly with eyes brimming with tears, as if ready to burst into crying if I said one more word.

And her pitifully drooping tail seemed to express her desperation.

“Hmm..”

In the end, I nodded without asking anything properly.

Well, it’s puberty.

I wondered if this was really something to dismiss as puberty, but it was a conclusion I reached because I didn’t want to think more complicated thoughts.