Chapter 11

Episode 11: Just because she’s a beautiful girl doesn’t mean she has to be involved in the main plot.

For some reason, everyone is being unusually kind.

Is it because I worked hard against Rokuhara?

Tracing back to the root cause, it’s my fault, so there is an element of revenge. …No, the real root cause is the streamer! If that person hadn’t streamed, none of this would have happened!

Next time we meet, I’ll beat them up.

“Well, everyone is safe, so let’s start another fun day at the academy.”

In the student council room, Miroku Senpai snapped her fingers and said with a smile.

Looking at the phone, wondering if I’m off the hook, I see the cord has been unplugged. …Sorry for the trouble.

“I already feel like I’ve done quite a bit of work today… but when I think about it, I haven’t done anything. In the end, I couldn’t even find the target Demon’s Gear.”

Mizuki Senpai muttered discontentedly while polishing her Dive Gear.

If you find it, it leads straight to a BAD ending, so I earnestly hope you don’t find it. In that regard, Rokuhara is still better.

“By the way, Kei wants to register for dungeon rescues.”

“What? Is that true?”

Was it by chance, or did Miroku Senpai sense the air that we might end up going back to that lab again, and thus informed Mizuki Senpai?

That’s right, that’s how it was.

Originally, it was supposed to be a new way to make money through rescues.

“That’s right. I’ve come to understand how to move my body quite well in beginner dungeons, and this time I’d like to go with you.”

“Is that so? Then let’s go immediately.”

“Eh?”

But I haven’t had breakfast yet.

Did Mizuki Senpai understand my gaze? She stood up confidently and nodded.

“It’s fine. I’ve packed breakfast in this Tupperware. We’ll eat on the way.”

“…Is it bean sprouts again?”

“Of course, what’s wrong with that?”

You’re amazing to be able to fight every day with that.

The central city of Hinotuchi Academy City.

At the very center stands a massive tower shaped like a DNA helix structure.

Commonly known as ‘Ariannrod.’

This place is where the headquarters of the Apis Council, which manages the entire academy, is located.

The dungeon rescue system was devised by the Apis Council and has been operated until today.

“This is Ariannrod…”

“Not exactly. The part above the tenth floor of this building is Ariannrod.”

While I looked around the building, Mizuki Senpai said that.

“Being able to enter Ariannrod is proof that you’re recognized by the Apis Council.”

“Hmm.”

I didn’t know that.

There was no such description at all.

Come to think of it, Tourak was already in Ariannrod pretty early on. That guy is really something.

“Let’s hurry up and finish the registration. Rescue requests are happening everywhere constantly.”

“A, yes.”

I stood in front of the machine led by Mizuki Senpai.

It looks like a movie theater ticket machine.

The operation itself is rather simple. Actually, since losing your Dive Gear means you’re in serious trouble due to the amount of personal information stored, once it communicates with the system, most of the process is completed. Welcome to the near-future!

By the way, smartphones do exist, but explorers apparently don’t carry ones that look like they’ll break easily during combat. So what do you do when your stamina overflows in social games?

“With this, rescue requests will now reach Kei’s Dive Gear. Detailed coordinates and the students currently challenging the dungeon will be displayed.”

Upon hearing that, I tried operating my Dive Gear.

Sure enough, there were new icons.

When I activated it, a map of the academy city appeared along with red circles indicating rescue requests, and next to them were the names of students and their school crests.

Wow.

To begin with, I was amazed that this semi-transparent board that emerged from the Dive Gear could be operated like a tablet, but in this world, it seems to be common technology.

“Alright, let’s go then. It’ll be faster to explain things at the rescue site.”

“Yes.”

Mizuki Senpai compared the rescue requests, chose one suitable for us both, and started walking.

The moment I took a step forward to follow her, a familiar voice came from behind.

“—Kei?”

This protagonist-like voice!

I instinctively turned around.

There stood a young man who looked like a perfect sample of a protagonist, with black eyes and black hair.

“Tooth Tower Tourak…!”

Oh my god, it’s really him! Should I ask for a handshake?

Would he sign this Dive Gear for me or something?

And wow, he’s tall.

Isn’t he 180 cm? He’s so tall even though he’s just a first-year high school student!

And I was bullying someone taller than myself, huh. That’s not just about having guts. It’s scary.

It’s like trying to bully a lion in the savanna.

“—K, can you hear me? Kei.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

Oops, Tourak was talking, but I wasn’t listening.

Sorry. But you know, I’m the male comic relief, so it’s only natural to be rude like that.

I can tell I’m getting carried away.

Imagine a kid meeting a real-life hero instead of a hero show.

That’s probably how I felt.

To that extent, I am a huge fan of Tourak.

How can I get a handshake somehow?

“Kei, I heard you suddenly transferred to another school. Did… did I go too far in that duel?”

What a good kid!

Even towards the person who bullied him, he shows such consideration.

He’s such a great-hearted guy.

This is something I understand because I know the original story; Tourak feels deeply grateful to the Kei from Natakikai who invited him when he couldn’t form a party with anyone else.

Even when trapped in the dungeon, there were no insults towards Natakikai.

Though, regarding this, it’s partly because his self-esteem and self-worth were shattered due to family issues, leading him to blame himself.

Still, he’s a good kid.

And I have to interact with him as Natakikai.

Changing attitudes suddenly would be weird, so I’ll stick to being the loser. Woof woof! Grrr~!

“Hmph, it’s not like you’re the reason, third-rate! I left Mikage Academy entirely out of my own will!”

“But..but..”

“Enough already. And what’s with that look you’ve had since just now? It’s like you’re pitying me. Since when did you become greater than me?”

“G, gomen”

Sorry from my side too…

“I don’t have time to talk to you here.”

First of all, there’s no such scene in the original, so I shouldn’t talk too much.

Since Rokuhara’s movements have already changed, further interference with the original story is dangerous.

Then, someone suddenly jumped between Tourak and me.

Familiar half-up twin-tail blue hair swayed.

It was none other than Tourak’s main heroine.

“What kind of attitude are you showing to Tourak!”

“Mihaya Futaba…”

I, with tears of emotion.

Not only did I meet the protagonist, but also the main heroine.

Since I rushed through the transfer procedures after possessing this body, I haven’t had any interaction with characters from the original story.

This is our first meeting.

As far as I know from the latest volume of the original, congratulations on successfully dating Tourak!

“Futaba Mihaya.”

She is the protagonist’s childhood friend, with the overwhelming underdog heroine trait of being a tsundere with twin tails, yet she became the undisputed main heroine.

Later, she becomes a reliable partner ranked A, extremely strong.

Her special ability, “Always deal a fatal blow first,” is terrifying. If she were an enemy, you’d definitely die.

“What, do you have a problem with what I said?”

“Not particularly. You’re annoying, so just disappear already.”

“Huh!? Tourak, let’s duel again! And beat him up! If you don’t want to, I’ll duel him!”

“Eh, Mihaya, no way!”

“Hmm. As always, you’re noisy.”

And that’s her strength.

Whenever the protagonist is about to give up, she stands beside him and pulls him along.

She’s such a wonderful woman.

Especially recommended is her wedding dress appearance in the bonus illustration of Volume 6 of the tankobon—.

“Excuse me, did one of our students do something wrong?”

“Ah, Mizuki Senpai.”

That’s right, I almost forgot.

Sorry, Senpai. My mind went back to being a reader.

…Senpai? Why are you glaring at them so intensely? Senpai!?

“You, what is it?”

“I am Mizuki Teruue, Vice President of Factom General Academy’s Student Council. If you want to duel with one of our students, you should talk to me first. Though, someone like you wouldn’t stand a chance against Kei anyway.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“What? Do you wish to duel with me?”

“Ch, wait Mihaya!”

“Mizuki Senpai, please restrain her. I’m fine with it either way.”

We pacified Tourak and each other.

Sorry about that, our Senpai isn’t usually like this. She’s just someone who makes excuses to want to fight. …So this is her normal mode?

Well, we both have it tough, don’t we? Hahaha… Hmm? Come to think of it, someone’s missing.

“Tourak”

“W, what is it?”

“How’s Lutra doing?”

Tourak’s contracted strongest Demon’s Gear, Lutra, isn’t here.

She’s a little girl with white hair and blue eyes.

She’s usually with Tourak, but I don’t see her anywhere.

There’s that standard thing where she asks, “Tourak, is it okay to cut this guy?” and Tourak stops her.

“Yeah, Lutra’s at Mikage Academy. Because word about Demon’s Gear spread across the academy city, the Student Council President decided it’s best not to let her out too often.”

“I see.”

So, it’s not my fault?

Strictly speaking, it’s not mine and the streamer’s fault either?

I’m truly sorry, Lutra. You love going out so much. Sorry for taking away such a precious outing opportunity.

“…Why does Kei know about Lutra?”

“Huh? You know…oh”

Shit!

I shouldn’t know, right!?

During the duel with Natakikai, Lutra was still in a provisional contract state.

Thus, he wouldn’t know her name or even the fact that she’s a girl. This existence named Natakikai shouldn’t know that info.

What should I do? I got carried away and said something unnecessary, didn’t I?

“It’s none of your business anyway. I don’t have to answer that.”

“…!? Could it be, did you deliberately trap him in that dungeon?”

It’s absolutely impossible.

Natakikai is just a regular jerk and idiot.

Just a male comic relief character who plays with knives.

“…Kei, it’s time to go. There’s a rescue request.”

“Yes.”

Great timing, Mizuki Senpai!

I’ll sell the Solciera I have later and treat you to some meat. Look forward to it!

“Wait!”

I’d like to wait,

but I can’t.

Tourak, I’ll secretly support your activities from the grasses!

Ignoring the protagonist’s call to stop, I left the scene.

■

“He…he just left…”

“Hmph, let that guy be! That Mizuki person is also deceived by that trash and will eventually regret it.”

Mihaya sniffed unhappily.

However, Tourak thought differently.

“Was Kei really such a bad guy?”

“Huh!? Do you even realize what happened to you!? You were abandoned in the dungeon! Without a Dive Gear. If it weren’t for Lutra, who knows what could have happened!”

“—so, Lutra was there. And maybe, he knew that, didn’t he?”

“Huh?”

Tourak recalled the first time he met Kei today. When he tried to talk to him, Kei ignored him and seemed to be assessing something about his body.

“He knew Lutra’s name.”

“It must have been a coincidence he heard it somewhere.”

“Then saying ‘I see’ wouldn’t make sense. I said I left Lutra behind because she’s a Demon’s Gear. If Kei thought of her as just a girl, he should have been surprised at that point.”

Yet, Kei simply responded quietly.

Without showing any surprise, without even pausing to think, he accepted it as if it were completely normal.

That was undoubtedly the clearest evidence that he knows about Demon’s Gear.

“Now that you mention it… Hey, that Mizuki person earlier! Didn’t she say she’s from Factom General Academy!?”

“Eh, yeah, but so what?”

“In that stream, the academy where Demon’s Gear was discovered was called Factom General Academy. …Could it be, she knew about it?”

Tourak nodded.

“Kei was extremely polite towards that person. No, rather, his attitude towards us was too obvious. It was like he was intentionally trying to be disliked… Was that necessary at Mikage Academy? Moreover, the fact that he approached me back then is strange. Isn’t it unusual for someone to bully by specifically targeting someone unrelated until then? No, I need to rethink everything from the beginning—”

Just as he was about to delve deeper into his thoughts,

Tourak felt a light impact on his forehead.

Looking up, he saw Mihaya in a headbutt position, staring at him.

“There’s no point thinking about it anymore. Whatever that guy is thinking, we should focus on what we can do. Anyway, aren’t we heading to Ariannrod today?”

“Yeah, uh-huh. That’s right, thanks.”

Tourak thanked her and headed towards the only elevator connected to Ariannrod.

(Kei, what is your purpose?)

The answer to that question still seemed unclear.

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