<h4>Vol. 1 - Chapter 4.6: Hope And Despair (6)</h4>
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<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Then, three dayster. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "No, enough, I can''t do this anymoooreeeee!!" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi finally exploded. In front of Leelou, his face turned bright red, and he shouted. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "What the hell is supposed to be the point of all this?!! I don''t even know what Pritis means?! Damn it all!! Who the hell do you think you are!? Are you nuts!?" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Usually, training would involve a different kind of struggle and a different kind of sweat. Leelou''s teachings, from up close, seemed to be the kind of foolishness one might expect from a third-rateedian performing in front of a small audience. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Jeez! I, am going home!!" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> This cannot possibly save the world. He onlypletely wasted time---- With this thought in mind, Takashi turned on his heels and headed out of the cabin. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Wait." </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> When he turned around, he saw that Leelou''s body was glowing. As she transforms into Gregorio, the hairy monster, Leelou speaks to Takashi in a hoarse voice. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "I''m going out now. Come with me." </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> ...... </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Gregorio, portrayed by Leelou, headed to the town''s marketce. Today, the market was once again bustling with many stalls and demons. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (Huh!? What the hell are we doing, in this ce?!) </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Come on in,e on in! We have fresh fruits from the forest--!! </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> The owner of the store, a Cyclops, wasying out colorful fruits on a straw mat and shouting at the top of his lungs. Leelou talked to Takashi in his ear. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Suzuki. Go get an apple from that street stall." </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Uhm... what about money?" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "None." </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Huh?" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Go get an apple from that guy. For free." </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Th--There''s no way I can do that!" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "It will be fine. Just go! Come on!" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> With a big push on the back from Leelou, Takashi staggered forward. A few stepster, he turned around only to see Leelou standing at a distance with her arms folded, watching him. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (In--In other words, is she telling me to steal an apple?) </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi looks at the Cyclops shopkeeper. A single vicious-looking eye and fangs as thick as those of ferocious beasts. The huge body, more than three meters high, looked so intimidating. Takashi gulped and swallowed hard. If a fight were to break out, the odds of winning were definitely zero. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (Ah, I want to go home...) </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Once again, he turned around. As expected, Leelou still had her arms crossed. He felt a kind of ck aura rising from her hairy body. If he ran away, he''d be whipped for sure. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (Damn it! Fine. I''ll have to do it!) </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Half desperate, Takashi asked the Cyclops shopkeeper. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Can I have, one apple?" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Oh, if it isn''t Suzuki!? It''s 10 gold!" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Maybe he saw Takashi at the castle or the execution site. The cyclops seemed to know Takashi and was smiling at him. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi hesitantly exined, "Uh--Uhm, that apple... I--I''d like to have it for free." </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> The Cyclops then broke into a broad smile. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "<em ss="chakra-text css-0">Ka-- Ka-- Ka! Hey, hey, Suzuki! Free is impossible, no matter how hard you try! We are a business, you know!" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Th--That''s right, isn''t it?" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "That''s right, you know! That joke is a bit harsh!" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Inwardly, he let out a sigh. It was the natural result. It was the same as a duel in the training ground. The owner of the store also liked Takashi and had a favorable opinion of him. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> But, that was it. That''s all. That was the limit of what he could achieve by being cute. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> He was about to head back dejectedly, but at that moment, he looked back. He saw Leelou, disguised as Gregorio, and their eyes met. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Leelou silently raised her index finger. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (Uh? The index finger? What? ..."One"? Perhaps "one" could mean?) </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Suddenly, the three days of ridiculous training shed through Takashi''s mind. If he went back like this, the whip would be there to wee him. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (No choice. Let''s give it a shot.) </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> What came to Takashi''s mind when he heard "one". It was a gesture from the scroll that he had practiced over and over again. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "...Pritis'' 48 Gestures--First Gesture, <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Upward ce''" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi muttered to himself as he lowered himself and stared into the shopkeeper''s face. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Heyy~. Is it really really impossible~?" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Like I told you, Suzuki! How many times do I have to say it!? I don''t care how cute you..." </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> The Cyclops'' eye creased angrily, but it immediately drew back when he saw Takashi. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "He--Hey! Don''t do that! Wh--Why are you looking at me with those eyes?! I told you! I''m a businessman!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> The Cyclops, who Takashi thought was furious, was in a panic for some reason. Takashi was surprised by the unexpected reaction. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (Wh--What is this? Hesitation? Th--This is...!) </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Immediately, Takashi looked back at Leelou. This time she raised four fingers. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> ("Four"! If I remember correctly, Four is...!") </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Pritis'' 48 Gestures--Fourth Gesture, <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Hands sping''!" </em></em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi gently wrapped his hands around therge hands of the cyclops shopkeeper. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Kya!?" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> The Cyclops shopkeeper let out a high-pitched voice that was unimaginable from hisrge frame and vicious face. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Pretty please~? I''m asking you..." </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Combining it with the upwards nce he had just given him, Takashi pleaded with the shopkeeper while holding the shopkeeper''s hand. The shopkeeper''s cheeks were turning peachy pink. And then... </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "For Pete''s sake. I--I have no choice, right? Just for today, Suzuki! Take it, you cat burr!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> ... </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> ...With the free apple in his hand, Takashi stood stunned. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (Unbelievable...! The demon gave me the goods for free...!) </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> He noticed that Leelou, portraying Gregorio, was standing behind him. He addressed Takashi in a hoarse voice. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "It doesn''t matter how weak you are or how strong your opponent is. The one and only ultimate technique that exceeds attack power and magical power---- That is <em ss="chakra-text css-0">''Pretties''." </em></em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "The one and only ultimate technique that exceeds attack power and magical power..." </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> After parroting back, Leelou tapped him on the head while he was still standing nkly. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Why are you going soft in the head? Let''s go back and continue your training." </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Y--Yes!! Please take good care of me!! Master!!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi called her Master with a naturalness that surprised even him and followed behind her as she started to walk away. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (A--Amazing! I don''t quite understand it, but somehow it seems amazing! With this technique, I might be able to do a lot of good things!) </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi''s heart swelled with anticipation. However, Leelou stopped walking, stood still, and gave him a warning. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Suzuki. Be careful. Your <em ss="chakra-text css-0">Pretties only works on demons. If you do it to a human, the most you can expect is being told something like ''What the hell are you doing?'' or ''It''s disgusting.''" </em></em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Oh... Yes. I guess so, right..." </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Nevertheless, Takashi''s motivation was rising. He was determined to devote himself to Leelou''s training and master the art of Pritis.</em></em></em><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> </em></em></em>