Volume 10 - CH 42

Bell: [Hatred Amplification]

“…………”

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Even with all that said, Misuzu is still all talk……

Even though Misuzu has hated Onee-sama for many years, Misuzu never acted on it………

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[[I’ll agree if I can call Takeru my boyfriend too.]]

[[!? I, I love you, Mitsuki!]]

[[Ta, Takeru!?]]

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From afar, Misuzu was watching Takeru-san and Onee-sama confessing to each other.

Misuzu’s fists were clenched tight.

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Break them apart, such an urge well up in Misuzu.

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“……Haha, Hahahahaha! ……haha………”

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As Misuzu’s tears begin to flow, Misuzu runs back into the school building.

The earlier scene kept repeating in Misuzu’s mind.

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Onee-sama was a maiden in love.

Takeru-san whose eyes only reflect Onee-sama.

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His expression was gentler than the one he directed toward Misuzu.

His gaze, as he looked at Onee-sama, was stronger than what he looked at Misuzu with as well.

He looked at her like a girl more than he ever did with Misuzu.

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Takeru-san’s face is gradually getting more and more disgusting in Misuzu’s mind. Misuzu doesn’t want to see it anymore.

Why have you never looked at Misuzu that way!?

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[[You seem upset?]]

“!?”

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When Misuzu crouched down and started quietly crying by myself, a man’s voice called out.

The voice startled Misuzu so Misuzu reflexively turned to the voice.

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“Wh, What’s wrong? Fukamori-san!?”

“Ta, Takiguchi-sensei……..?”

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A glasses-wearing 20-ish teacher who gives off a slightly unreliable vibe appeared in front of Misuzu.

He’s the teacher in charge of the Gift Synthesis class for Misuzu’s grade.

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“Are you crying? D, Did you get bullied?”

“……no, it’s not like that.”

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Misuzu replied but Takiguchi-sensei asked [Are you really okay?] again with a slightly nervous expression.

Although he seems unreliable, he is well-loved by the students and is rather popular because of his young appearance.

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“R, Really……. Uhh, can you tell me what happened?”

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Still looking nervous, Takiguchi-sensei brought Misuzu to an empty classroom and made Misuzu sit down in a chair.

After he’s done that, he quietly mutters something.

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“……….[Αυξημένο μίσος].”

“Nn? What was that?”

“Ahh, sorry. It’s a habit of mine. Just a good luck charm. Don’t mind it.”

“I, I see.”

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That wasn’t English.

It’s a little eerie but if it’s just a charm then Misuzu probably doesn’t have to worry about it.

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“So? Actually, I’ve been interested in you for a while now, Fukamori-san. That thing on your face, it’s the [Crest of Gift Acceptance] right?”

“Eh? You know, about it…….?”

“Oi Oi, even as inexperienced as I am as a teacher, I still know a lot about Gifts you know. Just only what you can share is fine, bitterness, envy, hatred……..you can let it out on me. I will take it all.”

“If it’s about how Misuzu got this crest, Misuzu will have to start with the Fukamori family……..”

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Misuzu spills everything.

The hatred toward Otou-sama, Okaa-sama, Onee-sama, and the friends that abandoned Misuzu.

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The love affair between Takeru-san and Onee-sama.

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Whatever Takiguchi-sensei asked, Misuzu would answer.

The pent-up feelings that Misuzu suppressed inside until now, Misuzu just let it all out.

While listening to Misuzu, Sensei would nod and say [I see] many times.

Before Misuzu knew it, Misuzu had already spent more than an hour, telling Sensei all about Misuzu’s life.

In the end, Misuzu asked him [What should Misuzu do with this feeling?]

In return, Sensei starts scratching his cheek, his expression filled with sympathy.

His attitude tells Misuzu that he’s a kind person.

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“I see, I understand now…….alright, leave it to me.”

“Leave it to you…….?”

“That’s right. Fukamori was brave enough to tell me everything after all. I will definitely answer your feelings. I need to get something ready, so give me a few days okay.”

“Y, Yes!”

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Takiguchi said that to Misuzu with a smile.

It felt very refreshing.

The complexes that Misuzu would never be able to discuss with relatives.

The feelings inside Misuzu.

It’s a big relief to be able to let it out to someone.

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“Fufu, I feel better now. I might even be able to forgive Onee-sama.”

“Is that so. Well, it’s already late, you should get home.”

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After that, Misuzu thanked him and left the classroom.

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“She’s such an interesting girl. If she has that many complexes against her sister then she should just let them all explode!”

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Takiguchi returned to his natural tone of voice as he mocked Misuzu.

It was pretty boring listening to her complaints for over an hour. If he has to be honest, it was such a waste of time for him.

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“Hey, what’s wrong, Sensei? Why did you call me out here alone?”

“You’re finally here, Seki.”

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While he was still feeling fatigued from his conversation with Misuzu, Seki Shou arrived at the classroom.

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“Despite you still being a student, you’re already special even among the Gift Hunters, Seki. There’s a reason I called you here alone.”

“Reason?”

“I’m still not certain yet but I think I might be able to sniff out Uematsu Yurika’s murderer.”

“Is, Is that true!?”

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After sending him a message that she would be going after one of her classmates, Uematsu Yurika’s body was discovered shortly after. Her death has greatly shaken Seki.

Even if the suspects were narrowed down to her classmates, there were still more than 30 of them and Seki couldn’t find out anything more regarding her death.

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“Further observation is still necessary but well, I’m mostly sure who did it.”

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Takiguchi has found a man who has a strong hatred for Uematsu Yurika in her class.

If he can find out about his Gift and his physical ability, Takiguchi should be able to arrive at the answer soon.

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“I will kill them! Sensei, tell me who did it!?”

“Now, now, let’s proceed with caution. It would be stupid of us to attack someone who’d already killed one of us. It’s like taking down a bear that has already learned the taste of humans. We need to have a plan.”

“Kuh…….”

“I have watched over many Gift Hunters who graduated from this academy but you or your Gift to be specific, have the strongest potential. Since you can endlessly evolve, you’re our trump card, Seki. I will nurture that potential of yours until you graduate. Be sure to follow my teaching alright.”

“……..yes, sir.”

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Seki replied with a bitter face, holding back his desire to avenge Yurika.

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“Also, Mishima Haruka-kun in your class. She ended up killing 6 people didn’t she…….”

“She didn’t look like a murderer to me……..”

“All Gift Holders are monsters………Someone from the Bureau sent me a message that they want to get rid of her as soon as possible. It seems that his benefactor was one of the victims. You need to learn to be patient. Only an idiot would rush things like that.”

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Takiguchi, the [Gift Revenger], casually commented.

Despite Yurika being one of his own, he still thinks that she brought it on herself for rushing in for the kill and getting the table turned on her.

However, without giving in to his anger, Seki continues the conversation.

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“By the way, will the younger Fukamori be included in the hunt as well?”

“Haha, no way.”

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Takiguchi adjusted the position of his glasses.

His casual approach to the subject made it almost impossible to believe that he was meekly giving Misuzu advice until just earlier.

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“That girl is just a lizard’s tail.”

“Lizard’s tail…….?”

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In his mind, Takiguchi already sees Misuzu as an expendable pawn.

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“Well, from my conversation with her, I don’t think she’s that important……that’s why I used my Gift to amplify her hate.”

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[Hatred Amplification 《Αυξημένο μίσος》]

It’s a Gift that plants a seed inside the target to amplify their hate.

In other words, Takiguchi has fanned the flame of Misuzu’s hatred.

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“Maybe I can give her some poisons and let her kill a few Gift Holders. Well, my expectations for that girl only amount to that much you see.”

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Takiguchi mutters in a bored tone.

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“It is said that this land is where the Dragon that attracts disasters sleep. That’s just how much people around here were consumed by their hatred.”

“Like the guy that started the [HALF DEAD GAME]?”

“Right. This is a school that only births the worst kind of villains after all.”

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The incident was indirectly caused by Takiguchi amplifying the hatred inside Tanuma.

In other words, it would not be inaccurate to say that the real culprit behind the HALF DEAD GAME was in fact, Takiguchi Masaya.

And he himself was the one who killed Tanuma.

In short, what Takiguchi is doing is pushing people toward evil and punishing them himself.

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“I see.”

“That’s right, Seki.”

“Yes?”

“I just discovered an interesting guy.”

“An interesting guy?”

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Takiguchi had already lost interest in the lizard tail.

His voice is now trembling with excitement.

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“Yes! I’ve found someone with a Gift that can nullify my ability. No, it’s probably not just mine alone. It might be able to nullify any and all Gifts.”

“A Gift that can [Erase gift]!? Something like that exists!?”

“That’s right!! Moreover, I found two who have that ability! A boy and a girl. Their ability is most suitable for our cause. I want to take them under my wing. ……..And Seki, I want you to copy their ability! With an ability like that, you will be able to become the Perfect Gift Hunter.”

“The Perfect Gift Hunter………”

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Takiguchi takes his time to guide Seki.

His trust in the potential of the man called Seki Shou is simply that strong…….

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———-The beginning of the era of Gift Hunting which Takeru feared was just around the corner…….

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Author Note: Gift Introduction.

Rank E

[Hatred Amplification 《Αυξημένο μίσος》]

Plants and amplifies the hatred in the target.

Incidentally, most of the students in the academy were already affected by this without realizing it.

Hideyori and Madoka are no exception.

However, it doesn’t work without hatred to amplify and most hatred would dissipate before anyone can act on it.

However, for people like the original Hideyori and Misuzu who already hold a strong resentment for other human beings, their hatred would grow endlessly.

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V6C35

The Gift Hunters that targeted Seiko had done thorough research on her.

It is the MO of the Gift Hunters to thoroughly investigate their target before striking rather than rushing for the kill.

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V9C3

Tatsuyuki mentioned that the area around the 5th Gift Academy is home to the disaster-attracting Dragon, a local belief of why the crime rate was unusually high in this area.

………what kind of setting is that!?

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