Chapter 21

Kondo Miyuki remembered that Natsume Chikage's mother passed away very early, and he was basically raised by his father alone.

In the environment of a single-parent family, she had heard that many boys would be instinctively attracted to mature women due to a lack of maternal love.

In the current situation, perhaps this is exactly the case...

Thinking of this, Kondo Miyuki felt a mixture of emotions—both pity and heartache for Natsume's situation, and a mixed, indescribable shy palpitation, and for a moment she didn't know how to face the young man in front of her.

After all, her original plan was to match her daughter with Natsume Chikage.

But who could have expected that things would develop into what they are now...

Natsume Chikage saw her looking down in thought and couldn't help but ask:

"Can I take a look?"

"Oh... of course you can," Kondo Miyuki came back to her senses, and handed over the chess manual in her hand with some shyness and panic, "Rather, I was originally planning to give it to you."

Natsume Chikage took the chess manual, his fingertips brushing over the slightly old cover.

Opening the pages, what came into view were dense and detailed knowledge about shogi, records of classic chess manuals, and exquisite methods for solving difficult games.

He basically knew nothing about shogi.

After all, he had never studied it seriously before, so how could he understand the profound meaning within?

However, this was no longer important.

【You have obtained ownership of this item. Do you want to register this equipment?】

【Yes/No】

The moment this message appeared in his mind, Natsume Chikage felt a burst of ecstasy in his heart!

He originally just came to take back a keepsake of his father, who could have thought that this keepsake itself was a piece of special equipment?

It can truly be said that he traveled far and wide to find it, only to find it effortlessly!

But he was still somewhat curious about the origin of this keepsake.

"Auntie Kondo, why did this keepsake fall into your hands, and why did you want to return it to me?"

A flash of nostalgia crossed Kondo Miyuki's eyes, and she explained gently:

"I mentioned to you before that I was your father's junior at school."

"At that time, we were both in the Shogi Club."

"Before he graduated, he gave three items related to shogi to us juniors as a souvenir."

"What I received was this chess manual."

"The other two people received the chessboard and the shogi pieces respectively."

"The explanations about shogi in here are very profound, but unfortunately, I don't have much talent for shogi..."

"Thinking that since I met you, perhaps you might have talent in this area, I felt it was more appropriate to return it to its original owner."

"So that's how it is." Natsume Chikage heard this and finally understood the cause and effect.

In all fairness, he really needed this piece of special equipment at this moment.

As long as he registered it, he would only be one piece of equipment away from obtaining a precious attribute point!

Combining Kondo Miyuki's words just now, a bold guess suddenly popped up in his mind:

"That... according to what you said, besides the chess manual in my hand, are the other chessboard and shogi pieces a complete set when put together?"

Kondo Miyuki blinked and nodded in confirmation:

"Yes, these three items were originally a whole set."

"I heard your father mention that it seems they were bought at a roadside stall."

"As for the more specific origin, I don't know very well."

Natsume Chikage understood in his heart.

Sure enough!

Since the item in his hand was special equipment, the other two were likely the same.

His panel showed that the synthesis condition for this equipment was exactly that it required three pieces of the same type of equipment.

If he could collect the whole set, perhaps he could synthesize even more powerful equipment!

"That... actually my sister cares very much about our late father's keepsakes," Natsume Chikage weighed his words, "If possible, I would like to collect the other two pieces back. Could you please tell me the information of the other two holders?"

Kondo Miyuki thought for a moment and shook her head with some difficulty: "They are all classmates from a long time ago, and now I have basically lost contact with them... How about this, I will try to help you look for them. If I find them, I will tell you, but it's best not to hold too much expectation..."

"Thank you, thank you very much!" Natsume Chikage said from the bottom of his heart, "Being able to meet you today, Auntie Kondo, is definitely my greatest luck in these days!"

"No need to be so polite, I am just returning the item to its original owner." Kondo Miyuki said this, but her cheeks couldn't help but flush red again.

Returning a chess manual and helping to ask for some news, why did it make him thank her so sincerely and be so overjoyed?

Even saying it was "the greatest luck"...

Hearing this, why does it feel like there is more to it than meets the eye...

Just at this moment, Natsume Chikage's peripheral vision swept across the shelf in the utility room, and his breathing suddenly choked—

A magazine emitting a strange faint light was standing quietly in the corner!

【Collector's Fighting Magazine】

【Quality: Green】

【Effect: After equipping, you have a probability of discovering the weaknesses of the opponent!】

【Introduction: I... have already burned out, turning into snow-white ash.】

【Synthesis condition: Requires at least three pieces of the same type of equipment!】

Natsume Chikage's pupils shrank—this was actually green-quality equipment with a higher quality than the chess manual?!

But the effect was "have a probability of discovering weaknesses"?

Although Natsume Chikage didn't like fighting or anything, this equipment was undoubtedly the highest-grade one he had seen so far.

Special equipment was rare and hard to find, so since he encountered it, how could he miss it?

Must take it!

The prerequisite for obtaining special equipment is to obtain the owner's consent.

This meant that if he wanted to get this magazine, he had to obtain the approval of Kondo Miyuki or her husband Kondo Masae...

"That... are the items in this utility room usually managed by you, Auntie Kondo?" Natsume Chikage tried to sound calm as he probed.

Kondo Miyuki was somewhat confused, not understanding why he suddenly asked this, but still explained: "Yes, my husband basically doesn't care about the things here; they are all left to me to manage. Is there any problem?"

Natsume Chikage breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Fortunately, the items were managed by Kondo Miyuki, and she was an old acquaintance of his father, and her attitude was much friendlier than her family's.

There was still a chance! ===== CHAPTER 22 =====