Chapter 201

Episode 197: A Gathering of Strong Characters

Hikari and I apparently can’t attend the meeting.

Well, to put it simply, we’re regular students, so it’s only natural.

Thus, we had returned to the hotel ahead of time.

“Bed—!”

Hikari dove onto the bed.

After bouncing on the bed a few times, Hikari began to softly snore.

“Eh… Hikari?”

“Mmmngh…! I’m not asleep yet! I’ll brush my teeth, then take a shower to wash off the sweat…”

Hikari, who was wobbly as she stood up, opened her eyes wide and said this to me.

She clearly looked sleepy.

“I’m going to take a shower first…”

“Uh, okay. Be careful.”

With that, Hikari headed towards the shower room attached to the room.

Since she believes I am a beautiful girl, there was no hesitation in her actions.

But, that’s not right.

There’s no way I should be staying in a room with two beautiful girls.

Mizuki Senpai trusts me too much, and Hikari thinks I’m the same gender as her.

It’s very kind of them to accept me, but I’m not ready yet.

I’m still a trainee beautiful girl.

I can’t stay here.

According to the original plan, I was supposed to sneak out of the room late at night and hunt down impostors while racing through the dark streets.

However, circumstances have changed.

More than anything, I want to attend the meeting!

“Will Solciera’s cool CG appear!?”

“CG…?”

Kame, everyone has a galgame system embedded in their hearts.

Quick load, save, viewing CGs, deleting message windows, and more.

You use those features to create your own Solciera event.

“…?? Sorry, my language function seems to have broken. Could you repeat that?”

Create your own appendix disk!

“It was My Lord who broke instead.”

“The only complaint is that they only released an all-ages version.”

“This side is also broken…?”

No, it’s not broken. ^_^

You’ll understand someday, Kame.

And so, without realizing it, I’ll perform a strong-character move and join the meeting.

Let’s sprinkle some cryptic words and liven up the atmosphere.

“A pure entertainer, aren’t you? ^_^”

“Isn’t it annoying?”

How strange that Solciera’s imposter appears when she herself isn’t here!

I’m S Rank too, so there shouldn’t be any problem with me attending the meeting.

“My Lord, leave the difficult talks to everyone else and you should take a shower. Then brush your teeth and sleep. Don’t worry, tonight’s bedtime story will be from your favorite book.”

Stop switching between being normal and weird.

Which one are you?

“????”

“No, you. Please don’t look so curious.”

There really are only crazy people around.

If I keep chatting with perverts, I’ll be late for the meeting.

I need to hurry!

Watch out! I’m going to be late!

“Hikari, I’m going to run some errands.”

As Solciera, I address her like this from in front of the door.

And immediately, I received a reply.

“……Faa~ Yes.”

“Hehe, good job today. You did quite well.”

“Is that so? Hehe… I’m glad if I was able to help… ”

Even just by tone, I could tell Hikari was smiling.

“There’s a naked Hikari on the other side of this door, isn’t there? ^_^”

That kind of thing isn’t good.

“Sorry…”

“Don’t know where to draw the line.”

Getting excited here would be wrong.

Because that wouldn’t be Solciera.

If I were to get excited here, I’d rip my stomach open with a giant scythe and die.

Then explode after ripping it open and die.

“Kyaa!”

“Ah, I see. So that’s your samurai code, My Lord. I’m impressed.”

“No, I think it’s probably different.”

The only thing I can do is quietly leave behind one lemon candy as a reward.

“Then, take it easy and rest.”

“Yes, thank you!”

With a perfectly calm heart, I left the room.

Getting excited about a beautiful girl taking a shower must not happen.

“Really, your pulse isn’t irregular…!?”

“My Lord, are you human?”

I’m a trainee beautiful girl.

Alright, let’s go to the meeting.

And then scare Ryuko, who’s getting cocky, by defeating Solciera’s imposter. ^_^

“Waay! ^_^”

“Why is only that kid treated like that…?”

■

The conference room of Kroma Music Academy looked like a museum, enhanced by its decorations.

Artisan-crafted chairs and tables, paintings worth hundreds of millions, and relics valued at amounts that could sway nations adorned the space.

Seeing value in relics beyond mere tools,

the student council generations ago established this bizarre conference room, which now opens its doors.

Gathered here are those crowned with the title of strongest.

This marks the beginning of a meeting among kings worthy of this place, each possessing appropriate power and background.

“――Wow, Leader, let’s take that gemstone on the ceiling home. This chair alone could sell even as shavings, right? You can make me a star piercer if you want, but will you shave it? ”

“Of course not.”

“Can I go home, Student Council President Dia? …Ah, no? That’s fine. But Ray can’t sleep if I’m not there… Hmm? She’s sleeping soundly in Kroma’s finest suite? Ah, yes. Well, uh… nothing… yeah.”

“Are Kei and Hikari safe back home… I’m worried… Oh, I forgot the regular check-in with Miroku.”

All gathered here bear the name of the strongest.

Yet, not a single serious face graced this gathering.

At the peak, they remain unbound, each doing as they please.

Well, except for Rokuhara, who kept his eyes on the host of this meeting.

Naturally, his right hand held Eina by the collar.

“――Thank you all for gathering tonight.”

Surrounded by the strongest, this royal young lady spoke with elegance.

A graceful smile graced her face as she sipped tea alone.

“President Dia, won’t you sit over here? It’s unfair to have a birthday seat all to yourself.”

“…Watatori Ryuko. The report for the hundred demon parade you used at noon is required. Fifty pages, please prepare it later.”

“Whyyyyyyy!?”

Those who speak out of turn among the S Ranks end up like this.

Dia made an example of Ryuko, then paused before speaking again.

“Then, let’s begin the meeting. Though, this is actually a request for assistance from Kroma Music Academy.”

Rokuhara nodded at these words.

“The grand festival is the day after tomorrow. If those things are swarming around, it’ll definitely cause big problems. As a protégé of the Board of Directors, I’ll take it on. What about you?”

Without hesitation, Mizuki agreed when addressed by Rokuhara.

“Of course, I’ll lend a hand. It’s also the first Hinotuchi Cultural Festival for Factom General Academy. We can’t let it be ruined. Besides, it’s also revenge for Toa.”

“That’s right.”

“Eh, what about me? My will?”

“You’re S Rank of Kroma, so participation is non-negotiable.”

At these words, Ryuko hung her head in dejection.

Pulling out snacks from her expanded domain, she started eating. Despite appearing disheartened, she seemed surprisingly relaxed.

“Ah, that’s nice.”

“Would you like some, Eina?”

“Thank youuu!”

The moment Eina reached for the snack placed on the table, a shadow swallowed it whole.

Upon seeing this, Eina immediately clung to Rokuhara’s back and screamed.

“Kyaaa! Leader! It’s here! That thing!”

“Wasn’t it here from the start? Why are you panicking?”

“If you saw it, please tell me…”

Eina, with teary eyes, watched as a girl emerged from the shadows.

The composed girl with black hair sat next to Mizuki and smiled.

“Good evening, Mizuki.”

“Ah, Tatarai. …Sorry, I don’t have any food on me right now.”

“It’s fine. I ate a lot on the way here. So this is what instant Solciera tastes like, huh?”

Satisfied, Tatarai nodded and continued munching on the snacks.

None of the S Ranks were surprised at this sight.

The only ones shocked were Eina and Dia.

“N-no, why is everyone so calm…”

“Well, Tatarai is always around. I thought she’d definitely be here this time.”

“Besides, there are many booths during the cultural festival. It’s common to have food lovers at Kroma every year. You should get used to it by now.”

“Eh…?”

“Dia student council president, it’s just that these people’s senses are off. Ours are correct, right?”

It’s undoubtedly abnormal that the Six Waves crew is accustomed to S Ranks casually popping up.

“So, shall we reconfirm? Everyone will assist with the defense operation for this year’s Hinotuchi Cultural Festival, correct? Including you, Tatarai-san…?”

Everyone nodded at Dia’s words.

Just then…

“――Do you intend to just stand there watching forever?”

Suddenly, Rokuhara muttered this.

The space behind him distorted, and black feathers fluttered.

“Y-you!”

Student Council President Dia involuntarily stood up.

“How about we all get along and cozy up once in a while, fellow S Ranks?”

“…Hmph, I dislike familiarity. Stars shine precisely because they are solitary, don’t they?”

The girl leaning against the wall with a large scythe beside her.

Her silver-blue hair and black outfit—this was undoubtedly the real Solciera.

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