"Are you suggesting I partner with a high school student who is a whole generation apart from me?" The toilet gir... ehem, i mean we are talking about Kichi-san, right? "Yes, that's correct. And there are two of them. Though one is a boy..." You want me to team up with a male and a female high school student? As a 35-year-old man? "I've started to feel the generation gap ever since I hit 30, you know?" "Haha, don't be modest. Yamada-san, you're still very young." We're almost the same age. I mean, in terms of appearance, you're the one who's younger, right? "Why doesn't Kirigaya-san handle it? I'll be fine by myself. I won't be reckless. I have a young child and I'm not of the age to take risks anymore." More than anything, I have Miriam with me. "That's exactly my point. I have a very high opinion of Yamada-san. Despite possessing tremendous magical power, you are humble and well-grounded. You are truly mature, having mastered control of your powers. You are Tadashi-san's grandson after all; it's in your blood. That's precisely why I am asking you, Yamada-san. Indeed, as you say, it would be optimal for me to handle it, but I have other duties too..." "Kirigaya-san, can you please speak frankly?" I can tell there's an ulterior motive behind this sales pitch. "*Sigh*... I belong to the Kirigaya family, a lineage of historic exorcists, as I've mentioned before. And there's a very bad relationship with those kids' family. It's complicated, okey?" So you're one of them as well... "Isn't there anyone else?" "Sadly, we don't have anyone else suitable." That's unfortunate. "What should I do specifically?" "Even if it's only for a month, try to work as a trio and manage to keep those two in check." Trying to keep the youth under control. They might not take kindly to me. "I have a feeling I won't enjoy this..." "If it becomes too severe, let me know. You're too valuable to lose over something that isn't worth the trouble we went through to recruit you." Well, I won't quit because I need to earn money. "Dealing with high schoolers, huh..." "Don't worry. The kid is serious and won't be using any slang like 'totes bad'." Yeah you sound like an old man... "Well, given their family background, they might provide useful knowledge for the future of our exorcist profession." "That's correct, absolutely. Tadashi-san said the same when he decided to partner with me." Could be usefull in my magic research ... "How did you manage to get along with such my curmudgeonly grandpa?" "He's just not much of a talker. And compared to some, he's fairly ordinary." Apparently, a grand wizard is considered normal. "Alright, I get it. I'll partner up with them for now and then we'll see how things go." Setting Kichi-san aside, I'm unfamiliar with the other person's face and name. "Thank you. I'll make sure to add a favorable note to your assessment." "Thank you. Just out of curiosity, how is the reward money distributed when we defeat demons as a team? Is it split three ways?" Won't that be a drawback? "Please be at ease. Those two will not receive any bonus money." "Eh? Because they're part-timers?" "We've made an agreement with their household. After all, we too are accepting the risk involved with taking care of minors."

I wonder if those two high school students are really okay with this? I wouldn't be happy about it. "If I'm the only one to receive it, won't they complain about it?" "Don't worry about it. Didn't I mention those families have their pride? It's not about the money for them." "Um... and in your case, Kirigaya-san?" He's normally getting paid, isn't he? "Well i said we don't get along." Ah, that explains it... "I'll try not to get too involved." "That's probably best. By the way, Yamada-san, do you have a girlfriend or anything?" Eh? Why this sudden diss? "Of course not. I've resigned myself to that sort of thing. Luckily, I have my relatives' kids and a cat at home, so I'm not lonely." Ruri and Miriam are cute, and they make good company. "I see. Just be careful. Even the noble families are struggling with finding heirs these days. You're a talented man, they might try to set a honey trap for you." Hmm, in that case, we would be talking about that girl, right? A high school girl ... Prision awaits. "You must be joking." "Haha. By the way, I've got a little sister, you know." You too, eh...? I'd really not want to get involved. ◆◇◆ When I returned home and began eating lunch, I filled Ruri in on what happened that morning. "So you agreed to it then?" "Well, yeah. I thought I'd team up once, see how it goes. I'm also curious about the kind of magic that they will use." "Indeed. But aren't they in high school? Do they not have school to attend to?" That's the problem. "The activities are at night, or after school ends. Then there's the weekends. Other than that, I was told I'm free to do as I please." "So you'll be visiting the village during the weekdays?" "Looks like it." "Since you switched to a more flexible job, you have the time. Sounds good to me. Oh, and the apple seedlings have arrived, so I've put them in the lab." Ah, they've arrived? "Let's go plant them right away, shall we?" "Sounds good... Where do you plan to plant them?" It's just a trial, after all. "How about in front of that other house?" "Understood. Then, let's do that after we finish our meal." We ate our lunch and then headed to the laboratory to transform the remaining fertilizer into super fertilizer. Next, we used spatial magic to create a hole in front of the house, planted the seedlings, and filled it with the mixed soil and fertilizer. "Ruri, could you take care of finishing with watering them?" "Understood." Ruri nodded, then extended her hands towards the apple seedlings. Water flowed from Ruri's hands like a shower, drenching the seedling. She's just so adorable.