The flow of cosmic energy circulating within Ginko Sora's body made her feel incredibly comfortable. Her eyes closed instinctively, and a blissful smile bloomed across her face.
"This is..."
Seeing the transformation before her, Shouko Kuuhaku's face filled with disbelief.
The changes in her daughter were obvious—the once pale little face now glowed with color and vitality, as if she were the picture of perfect health.
Understanding exactly what was on Shouko's mind, Eriri looked up and smiled reassuringly.
"Miss Shouko, you guessed right. Ginko Sora's congenital heart disease has been completely cured. That's the gift I gave her."
After speaking, Eriri lowered her gaze again, gently moving her right hand that still rested atop Ginko Sora's head.
"Ginko Sora, do you like your gift?" she asked softly.
"I love it! Thank you, Eriri-nee!"
Having lived her whole life with illness, Ginko Sora's mental maturity far exceeded that of most children her age. Otherwise, she never would have had the courage to challenge Kousuke Kiyotaki on her own.
She had always been aware of her physical condition. So after hearing Eriri tell her mother what she had done, she immediately understood that her heart had been healed.
Naturally, she was overjoyed—and deeply grateful to Eriri for saving her.
She didn't know how Eriri had done it, but she didn't question it either. At her age, still believing wholeheartedly in the existence of magical girls, she had no concept of doubting miracles.
Meanwhile, Shouko stood frozen in place, her delicate face pale with shock. Though her heart desperately wanted to believe Eriri's words, her adult reasoning wouldn't let her accept something so impossible so easily.
Still, she couldn't bring herself to speak any words of doubt. Even if there was the slightest chance that it was true, she wanted to believe it.
While Shouko stood speechless, Kousuke Kiyotaki broke into hearty laughter.
"Eriri, truly, thank you! I had a feeling your 'gift' might help Ginko Sora's health somehow, and it looks like I was right!"
His excitement was palpable. He didn't question Eriri's claim for even a second.
His words startled Shouko, who looked at him in confusion, unable to understand why he was so quick to believe something so unbelievable.
"I... Is it really true? Has Ginko Sora's body really recovered?" she asked nervously.
Standing nearby, Keika Kiyotaki immediately stepped forward to reassure her.
"Don't worry, Miss Shouko. If Eriri-nee says Ginko Sora's heart disease is cured, then it's cured. You can trust her completely."
With both Kousuke and Keika so confident, the last traces of doubt in Shouko's heart vanished.
If everyone said it was true, then it must be true. Her daughter was healthy again.
Overcome with emotion, tears welled up in her eyes as she stepped forward and pulled Ginko Sora into her arms.
"Thank heavens... Ginko Sora, you're healthy again!"
Shouko hugged her daughter tightly, her voice trembling with joy and relief.
"Mommy, don't cry..." Ginko Sora whimpered softly, though her own tears began to fall as well.
Eriri and the others said nothing, simply watching the touching reunion with warm smiles.
Even Kousuke, the stoic shogi master, found himself wiping his eyes—though the broad smile on his face never faded.
"Eriri, thank you so much for healing Ginko Sora," Shouko said earnestly after regaining her composure, bowing deeply in a full dogeza to express her gratitude.
"There's no need to thank me," Eriri replied kindly. "It was just a gift for Ginko Sora, after all. You don't need to bow like that."
As she waved her hand gently, the same invisible force she had used earlier to lift Kousuke brought Shouko smoothly to her feet again.
Only at that moment did Shouko Kuuhaku finally understand—Eriri was no ordinary person, and the world itself was far beyond what she had believed it to be.
Although she had already accepted that her daughter's illness was cured, it wasn't until now that true peace finally settled in her heart.
...
Eriri made no attempt to conceal her true identity. She openly explained to both Shouko and Ginko Sora that she and Frieren came from another world.
Given the overwhelming power Eriri had displayed—and with Keika Kiyotaki backing up her story—Shouko didn't doubt a single word.
As for little Ginko Sora, her eyes sparkled with wonder as she listened. For a child, such a fantastical story was nothing short of enchanting.
And finally, Shouko understood that Frieren's long, pointed ears were not fake props after all.
Later that day, Shouko stayed at the Kiyotaki household for a celebratory meal marking her daughter's apprenticeship.
The dishes were prepared by Keika herself. Though her cooking was far from matching Aoi Kujou's culinary skills, everyone—including Eriri—enjoyed the meal with genuine delight.
After the feast ended, Shouko said her goodbyes and left the Kiyotaki residence.
Even though Ginko Sora's body had been restored to perfect health, Shouko did not change her decision. As planned, her daughter would remain here as Kousuke Kiyotaki's disciple.
...
That afternoon, Eriri and Frieren did not leave the Ryuuou no Oshigoto! world. Nor did they stay in Keika's room to continue playing shogi. Instead, they took Keika and Ginko Sora out for a little trip.
"Keika," Eriri began with a smile as soon as they stepped outside, "I promised to give you a sports car like Arelis's. So, what color do you want? Of course, if you'd prefer a different vehicle type, that's fine too."
Hearing this, Keika's eyes instantly lit up with excitement.
She had always admired the High Elf Archer's car—and now that she was about to receive one herself, she could hardly contain her joy.
"Hmm... then I want a chestnut color, just like my hair. As for the model, I'll take the same one as Arelis's!"
"No problem."
Eriri nodded and waved her hand toward a nearby open space. In an instant, a sleek sports car identical to Arelis's appeared on the ground before them.
Its smooth contours, low profile, and stunning design made it radiate beauty from every angle.
This was no ordinary vehicle—not belonging to any car brand of the modern world. Eriri had designed it herself, blending the aesthetic strengths of multiple brands to create something truly breathtaking.
It was a car from another era entirely, far ahead of its time. After all, this world was still in the year 2006.
But since Eriri was the one who gifted it, she also took care of any potential complications. At the moment the car materialized, she subtly altered the world's perception—so that anyone who saw it would regard it as perfectly normal.
Even if Keika drove it as a minor, no one would question her or ask to see a license.
"How is it? Do you like it?" Eriri asked cheerfully, resting her hand on the car's hood and turning toward Keika with a bright smile.
"I love it—it's so beautiful!" Keika exclaimed.
She stepped closer, gently running her fingers along the car's polished body, her face glowing with happiness.
Beside her, Frieren and Ginko Sora stared curiously at the vehicle, fascinated by its elegant form.
Seeing their reactions, Eriri couldn't help but smile knowingly.
"Frieren, would you like one too? You could use it as a convenient way to travel after we return—it's much more comfortable than riding a carriage."
Frieren thought for a moment before nodding slightly. "Alright, then please make me one too."
Without hesitation, Eriri waved her hand again. Instantly, another sports car materialized beside the first—this one gleaming with a silver-white finish, identical in design but matching Frieren's personal style.
She hadn't asked Frieren what color she preferred, but based on her usual attire and silver-white hair, Eriri already knew that white suited her best.
And so, the two stunning sports cars—one chestnut, one silver-white—stood side by side, gleaming under the sunlight like works of art from another world.
As expected, when Frieren saw the sports car before her, there wasn't even a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes. Instead, she gazed at it with visible fondness.
"From now on, this car belongs to you," Eriri said with a smile. "But for now, you should store it away. Once we return to the Saekano world, let Arelis teach you how to drive properly."
Frieren nodded without objection and immediately stored the car into her storage system.
Then, Eriri noticed little Ginko Sora staring at her expectantly. She chuckled softly and reached out to ruffle the girl's hair.
"Ginko Sora, you're still too young. Once you grow up, I'll give you a sports car of your own to play with, okay~?"
"Okay..." Ginko Sora replied, her small face showing a trace of disappointment. But she didn't insist—acting far more mature than her age.
After handing out the gifts, Eriri and the others didn't linger.
Since Keika Kiyotaki didn't yet know how to drive either, Eriri didn't bother implanting the necessary knowledge in her mind. For now, she would be the driver herself.
She retrieved a sleek black luxury sedan from her storage system, took the driver's seat, and invited Frieren, Keika, and Ginko Sora to join her for a trip into the city.
...
The black sedan glided smoothly along the road, drawing the attention of pedestrians wherever it passed.
Although its design was less dazzling than the sports cars, it still stood out as an extraordinary sight for this era.
Keika's home was in the Noda district of Osaka's Fukushima ward, not far from the city center. Within ten minutes, Eriri arrived at their destination.
Instead of parking the car in a nearby lot, she simply stored it back into her storage system. Naturally, no one around noticed anything unusual about a car disappearing in plain sight—after all, altering perception was as easy as breathing for Eriri.
It was already nearing early afternoon, almost one o'clock. Wanting to make the most of their day, Eriri asked Keika to guide them to some fun spots around the city.
Though Eriri herself knew this world's layout better than anyone, she preferred to let the local act as host.
Under Keika's cheerful lead, the four of them—Eriri, Frieren, Keika, and Ginko Sora—embarked on a day of exploration.
...
By the time the clock passed three in the afternoon, their little outing brought them to a large, reddish-brown building.
"Ginko Sora, do you know what this place is?" Eriri asked with a gentle smile, glancing at the large white letters on the wall as she held the girl's hand.
Her right hand, meanwhile, was intertwined with Frieren's left. For most of the trip, Eriri had walked while holding both Frieren's and Ginko Sora's hands.
At first, Frieren had found it awkward—believing Eriri was treating her like a child—but over time, she grew used to it, even finding it somewhat comforting.
Ginko Sora looked up at the building's sign and answered without hesitation.
"The Shogi Association!"
"Very good," Eriri said with a pleased nod. "You've been studying well."
"Mm! When I was in the hospital, I used to read shogi books all the time," Ginko Sora replied proudly, smiling shyly under Eriri's praise.
Standing on Ginko Sora's other side, Keika spoke up with a bright smile.
"That's right, Ginko Sora. This is the Shogi Association headquarters—and it'll be a place you'll visit often from now on."
Keika herself wasn't unfamiliar with the building. She had accompanied her father, Kousuke Kiyotaki, here many times in the past.
However, before joining the chat group, her shogi skills had been only average. She hadn't yet joined the training society or pursued professional matches, so her visits were infrequent.
In the original timeline, she would have joined the training society about three years later to become a women's professional shogi player.
But after joining the chat group, her talent had blossomed—her ability advancing at an astonishing rate. Even so, she had yet to formally test her strength or enter the professional world.
"I see," Ginko Sora said with a thoughtful nod, gazing at the building with fascination.
"Since we're already here," Eriri said suddenly with a bright grin, "why don't we go inside and take a look around?"
Before anyone could respond, she was already leading Ginko Sora and Frieren by the hand toward the entrance, her golden hair swaying lightly behind her as they stepped into the grand building.
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