Mighton Quest: The Old Lady at the Bookstore Was Strong

As a third-year junior high student at the time, I was about to embark on the greatest adventure of my life. That was,

to go buy a grimoire (erotic book).

Up until then, I had only encountered raw erotic books twice.
To put it mildly, my level had not gone up yet.

My first encounter was in a ditch near my parents' house.

The cover must have been soaked and dried by water many times. From the book, which was open in a warped and crinkled state, a glamorous older woman seductively invited me, saying, 'Hey, kid. It's okay to pick me up,' but even I didn't have the courage to pick it up.

The other time was at a small bookstore near my school.

In the back of the store, there was a corner where the item in question sat enthroned. Right next to it was the reference book section, and the boundary between them was practically non-existent. No, it certainly existed, but because the distance was so short, it was a divine realm where perfect positioning could be achieved.

Pretending to read a reference book, I stepped into the divine realm, carefully and quietly looked left and right without being noticed, and after confirming that there were no other customers, I slowly picked up the erotic magazine that was at the very front.

My hands were shaking, and I couldn't turn the pages well.
I wanted to see what was ahead, but I never knew when a friend might tap me on the shoulder from behind.

My anxiety grew stronger than my desire to see, and in the end, I quickly retreated from the scene.
A pathetic defeat right at the start of the battle.

After that bitter experience, I thought about it.
To take my time and look at it calmly, I have no choice but to buy an erotic book.

Fortunately, I have a habit of studying in my own room. No matter what I'm reading while holed up in my room, I probably won't get caught.

The problem isn't after I buy it, but where to buy it.

On the way to school is out of the question.
I'm wearing my uniform.
Unfortunately, my school's uniform is somewhat famous even in Kyoto, so my affiliation would be exposed in an instant.

So, that leaves times when I can buy it in casual clothes, but my parents are always home on weekends.

Even if I bought it and brought it home, would I be able to make it to my room without getting caught?

It's no good after all.
My family spends their days off watching TV together in the living room.
If I go straight to my room after getting home, they'll get suspicious.

As expected, I have no choice but to aim for when my parents are away.

Like an escaped prisoner, I decided to make a mental note of my parents' weekend activity patterns.

Of course, I won't make the blunder of actually leaving a note.
I will make a note in my head so I don't forget.

Basically, my parents never leave the house on their days off.

This is because I have an older sister who is bedridden and has a handicap, so the option of leaving her alone does not exist.

My mother goes shopping alone, and my father stays home.

I waited for an opportunity for about a month, but this pattern never broke.

In the meantime, the curiosity growing inside me kept expanding, and it felt like it was about to burst out at any moment. You cannot underestimate the curiosity of a third-year middle schooler.

Well, as I was wondering what to do, the chance finally arrived.

There was an event at the workshop my sister attends.
I politely declined to participate in the event and offered to stay home alone.

Without being particularly suspected, my request was accepted, and I successfully secured some time alone on my day off.

And so, the X-Day arrived.

I have already decided where to buy it.

An old, small bookstore on the opposite side of the station that I rarely visit.

If I go there, there shouldn't be any classmates from my middle school.

Above all, carrying out the mission within my usual sphere of life is nothing but a risk.

Since it's a small country town, there aren't that many bookstores, so I decided on that one without much hesitation.

Next, what to buy.

I decided not to specifically plan that.
It's not like there is the internet like there is now, and there is no way to search for what kinds exist.
I thought that for this, I would just have to choose on the spot.

Clutching the five thousand yen I had saved up for pocket money, I set off on my adventure, ready for whatever might happen.

It was a twenty-minute bike ride to the bookstore.

My parents weren't expected back for two hours.

I had plenty of time. I did, but there was still a non-zero chance that their plans could change and they might come home early.

Since it wasn't zero, I had to account for that risk and move quickly.

I powered through the twenty-minute ride in just over ten minutes by standing up on the pedals.

I arrived at the bookstore drenched in sweat.

The only clerk was an old lady.

I wished it had been an old man, but there was nothing I could do about that.

Short on time, I headed straight for the adult magazine section.

There were all sorts of varieties, but as a naive third-year middle schooler, I didn't yet have the ability to choose.

"Fellatopía"

I didn't understand the meaning of the title, but I picked up the book that caught my eye first and headed to the register.

The granny took 'Feratopia' and cast her gaze down at it.

The granny shook her head silently.

"I can't sell this to a child."

"Wha—!"

'The granny cast the ultimate spell, "Uremahen!"'

It's my turn.

▶️Negotiate
▶️Call for backup
▶️Run away

The command I chose was, of course,

▶️Run away

I was frustrated. I had never felt such a sense of powerlessness before.
What even is a child?

At what point do you become an adult?

"Ferratopia," which had slipped right through my fingers.

I cried my heart out in my mind while pedaling my bicycle.

When I got home, my parents, who had returned early as expected, grilled me about where I had been.

"Just went on a little adventure."

The meal that day was saltier than usual.

I am participating.

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