Holy Father-Style Tool-Person - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

When the sound of the explosion echoed from the second floor, Hiiragi Eiji and the remaining four used the cherry blossom promotional banners to catch Zhufu Jingguang and the criminal suspect falling from the sky.

Immediately afterward, the familiar electronic voice of the system rang in Hiiragi Eiji’s mind.

[Zhufu Jingguang Affection +5] [Bond Achieved] [Congratulations to NPC Hiiragi Eiji for conquering Zhufu Jingguang]

…Although he really wanted to immediately ask Jingguang where on earth he ordered this fabric from so that its quality could be this good.

But recalling his experiences over the past four years, Hiiragi Eiji tactfully kept his mouth shut.

This world does not care about science!

But that was fine; it happened to save Hiiragi Eiji a lot of trouble. After all, he himself was extremely unscientific.

As Hiiragi Eiji was pulled into the crowd by Matsuda Jinpei, sharing the excitement of their narrow escape, he finally started to smile.

What did it matter? Everyone was miraculous anyway!

After experiencing a series of bizarre events—like using shoelace friction to burn through ropes, drag racing where the road ahead was destined to be a broken bridge, knowing that as long as you floor the gas pedal there’s no terrain you can’t fly over and land safely with zero casualties, and somehow making a sedan drive vertically on its side using only the front and back wheels on one side Hiiragi Eiji didn’t even find it surprising anymore that he was just a “Tool-type NPC.”

In fact, he deeply believed that the fact he hadn’t kicked the bucket yet was a highly metaphysical event of low probability.

After finishing their statements at the police station, Hiiragi Eiji saw everyone looking relaxed. He endured it for a while but finally whispered the tragic reality to them: “…Speaking of which, don’t we still have to go back and clean the bathhouse and the public locker rooms?”

The happy laughter of the five men came to an abrupt halt.

“…RUN——!”

…

“In other words, while you were cleaning the bathhouse, you suddenly used ‘precise reasoning’ to determine that the laundromat owner was the murderer of Zhufu’s parents? And when you went to—quote-unquote—’confront’ him (which was actually an arrest), you discovered the shop not only hid a bomb but also the little girl who went missing a few days ago? And because your timing was just ‘that perfect,’ you pulled off a series of maneuvers to defuse the bomb and save both the girl and the suspect?”

Standing across from Hiiragi Eiji was an instructor with veins throbbing in his temples, having listened to this bizarre story for nearly thirty minutes.

After listening to Eiji’s recount in silence, the instructor calmly summarized the day’s events.

Hiiragi Eiji: “…”

The light faded from Hiiragi Eiji’s eyes. The truth was exactly that, but why—why did it sound so incredibly ridiculous when the instructor said it out loud?!

Finally, the instructor couldn’t take it anymore, slammed the table, and roared: “To fool me, you’ve resorted to switching careers to a screenwriter?! I think the six of you don’t want to stay in the Police Academy anymore!”

Hiiragi Eiji couldn’t help but put on a pitiful expression. His looks were completely different from the rugged police students; he had a fragile, pale, sickly-sweet “beauty” face. Under normal circumstances.

“Stop using that face to bluff me! Back when you charged into the convenience store trying to outshoot a robber with a toy gun; when you drag-raced with those guys to save people; when you carried a concealed weapon and used a throwing knife to cut a safety rope while Furuya shot through it just as I was about to be strangled! I’ve already become immune to your tricks!”

Hiiragi Eiji: “…”

…Under normal circumstances, he was very good at garnering sympathy. But as the instructor who had taught him for so long, the effect had clearly worn off.

Listening to this storm of scolding, Hiiragi Eiji almost wept internally.

When the six of them finally rushed back, the other five unanimously suggested that Hiiragi Eiji should stall the instructor while the five of them cleaned the public locker rooms and the bathhouse before he returned with Instructor Onizuka.

Furuya Rei: “Because Ei has a face that makes people trust him easily!” Hagiwara Kenji: “…Can’t you just say he’s good-looking?” Matsuda Jinpei: “That’s enough, you two! Move it!” With that, Matsuda pushed the four of them toward the bathhouse. Once they were far away, the black-haired curly-headed youth muttered: “Hurry up and get to the office already. Bathhouse duty is exhausting; don’t even think about coming over to help.”

And so, Hiiragi Eiji knowing his companions didn’t want him to overwork himself was forced to experience a “dose of love” from the instructor instead.

To distract himself, Hiiragi Eiji secretly opened his NPC panel. A high-tech light screen projected into the air in front of him.

[Name: Hiiragi Eiji] [Identity: Tool-type NPC] [Main Character Wish Completion: 0% (Timeline not yet opened)]

The world could be roughly divided into two types of people: bystanders, and—Main Characters. And Hiiragi Eiji himself was unique, the only one of his kind in this world—he was a “Tool.”

A so-called “Tool” is someone who becomes a stepping stone for the main characters’ journey without regret, helping them achieve their wishes.

[Conquest Progress]

Furuya Rei: Affection 99 (Bond: Reliable Best Friend)

Zhufu Jingguang: Affection 100 (Bond: Eternal Best Friend)

Matsuda Jinpei: Affection 100 (Bond: ??? [Constantly changing, undetectable])

Hagiwara Kenji: Affection 100 (Bond: Eternal Best Friend)

Date Wataru: Affection 100 (Bond: Eternal Best Friend)

These were the results of Hiiragi Eiji’s hard work for so long. Looking at this data, Hiiragi Eiji took a deep breath.

However In this school, there was actually only one “Main Character,” and that was Furuya Rei. He was the actual mission target.

Thinking of this, Hiiragi Eiji’s heart grew heavy. Because his mission was to help Furuya Rei save these friends whose lives would be in grave danger in the future.

…But he was so curious! What was with Jinpei’s bizarre bond title? Why was it always so mysterious?! And why was everyone else’s affection for him maxed out except for Furuya Rei’s?!

Hiiragi Eiji felt a little sad; after all, he truly liked Furuya Rei as a friend.

As a Tool-type NPC, Hiiragi Eiji always strictly followed his mission, being meticulously attentive to important characters and easily maxing out their affection levels. He even treated the characters around the main leads with care.

Up until now, he had traveled through many worlds. He didn’t have any extraordinary talents; he simply relied on his own hard work and his heart that cherished each important character. In the end, it was about exchanging sincerity for sincerity, but now—

Looking at that affection value that had been frozen at 99 for nearly three months and had been fluctuating wildly for the past month, Hiiragi Eiji was beyond frustrated.

Furuya Rei, you have no heart!

…

The next day, grappling class. When Hiiragi Eiji propped his hands on the ground and delivered two flying kicks to Date Wataru’s protective headgear, Instructor Onizuka announced with satisfaction: “Winner, Hiiragi!”

After the two came down, they were immediately surrounded by their classmates. “…So how exactly did you win against the class rep with that physique?” someone asked a soul-searching question.

In this class full of burly men, the slender Hiiragi Eiji appeared exceptionally thin. Yet, it was this version of him who not only excelled in academic courses but also reigned supreme in subjects that usually required physical bulk.

When he first entered the academy, Hiiragi Eiji was a rising star tied for first place with Furuya Rei. By graduation, he had become a “six-sided warrior,” flawless in every aspect.

Hiiragi Eiji thought for a moment and answered seriously: “By working hard!”

My foot.

Hiiragi Eiji glanced at Furuya Rei with lingering fear. If he hadn’t experienced high-risk combat worlds like the Ninja World and the Soul Society (Bleach) before, his abilities naturally wouldn’t be this strong, and he wouldn’t be able to beat Furuya Rei.

Fortunately, no one doubted Hiiragi Eiji’s words. After all, in the eyes of others, he was exactly that kind of diligent person whose efforts were almost intimidating.

“…Speaking of which, though I’ve asked before, we always got sidetracked for various reasons.” As several of them walked toward the cafeteria, Furuya Rei looked at Hiiragi Eiji and asked: “Ei, why did you want to become a police officer?”

The others also looked over with curiosity. …It was true. Because the bond levels with the others weren’t high enough before, only Hiiragi Eiji knew their wishes and thoughts, but they never knew his.

At this, Hiiragi Eiji smiled. His gentle eyes looked at Furuya Rei as he spoke slowly and firmly: “Because I want to protect the people who are important to me.”

A Tool-type NPC exists for the sake of protection.

Perhaps his gaze toward Furuya Rei was too focused, or perhaps his wish truly struck a chord with Furuya Rei’s sense of justice, for a pleasant system notification rang in Hiiragi Eiji’s mind.

[Furuya Rei Affection +1]

Hiiragi Eiji’s eyes lit up instantly. He waited expectantly for the system’s next announcement. Surely it would tell him he successfully conquered Rei now? Would his bond impression be slightly different from the others?

But just as Furuya Rei’s gaze inadvertently swept over the silent Matsuda Jinpei, the dark-skinned youth suddenly turned away awkwardly. “Yeah… yeah! That wish really suits Ei.”

[Furuya Rei Affection -1] [Please keep trying, NPC Hiiragi Eiji]

Hiiragi Eiji: “??????”

Motherf why?! This wasn’t even the first time!